Skip to main content

Fernando Nunes

Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Departamento de Química, Faculty Member

Followers

369

Following

77

Co-authors

20

Public Views

I am currently Assistant Professor with habilitation at the Chemistry Department of the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in the field of Food Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry. I am an integrated member of the Chemistry Research Centre - Vila Real since 2005, being the Principal Investigator of the Food Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Line and Vice- director of the Chemistry Research Centre - Vila Real. I am the author of more than 100 international peer reviewed papers and holder of 9 national and international patent applications. I have coordinated 5 projects as the principal investigator and more 5 projects as participant. My current research goals are Food Quality and Nutraceuticals, including gluten detoxification for celiac patients, wine quality and safety and the search for natural sources of nutraceuticals, mainly phenolic compounds.

less

Maria Conceição Rodrigues

Odair Fernandes

Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"

Laura Monteiro Torres

Maria das Graças Wanderley

PCdoB de Pinheiros

Patricio Borges Maracaja

UFCG - Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"

Interests

Uploads

Papers by Fernando Nunes

Poderá o desempenho de Chelonus Elaeaphilus beneficiar do acesso a fontes de açúcar?

Chelonus elaeaphilus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) é um parasitóide específico da traça-da-... more Chelonus elaeaphilus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) é um parasitóide específico da traça-da-oliveira, Prays oleae (Bernard), que, em Portugal, pode originar taxas de parasitismo próximas de 80%. Com este estudo, pretendeu-se contribuir para conhecer as possibilidades oferecidas por 18 espécies de plantas da flora espontânea do olival, na melhoria do desempenho de C. elaeaphilus, ao facultar-lhes açúcar, na forma de néctar. Analisou-se o efeito, de quatro açúcares do néctar (frutose, glucose, maltose e sacarose), na longevidade do parasitóide. Avaliou-se a possibilidade teórica de acesso do insecto ao néctar das espécies de plantas e analisou-se a sua composição em açúcar. A longevidade das fêmeas foi superior nos indivíduos alimentados com sacarose e glucose, comparativamente aos que consumiram maltose e frutose. Verificou-se que o parasitóide consegue aceder ao néctar das plantas estudadas, com excepção das Asteráceas. Os néctares analisados continham predominantemente glucose...

Elimination of ochratoxin A from white and red wines: Critical characteristics of activated carbons and impact on wine quality

LWT, 2021

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin frequently found in wines, with an allowed maximum limit of 2.0... more Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin frequently found in wines, with an allowed maximum limit of 2.0 μg/L. To optimise OTA removal from white and red wines at high levels (10.0 μg/L) using activated carbons (ACs) different commercial deodorising ACs were tested. OTA elimination from white wines was less dependent on ACs characteristics, with 100% removal with all but one AC with the lowest total pore volume. For red wines, only one of the ACs with higher abundance of mesopores was successful in completely removing OTA. This decrease in performance was due to the competition of anthocyanins for ACs mesopores. ACs treatment impacted positively on white wine chromatic characteristics, decreasing the yellowness-brownish colour but for the red wine it was observed a higher but limited impact (maximum 24% decrease) on wine colour. ACs pore volume distribution, with pore sizes in the range 42.6-55.9 Å and 125.6-137.4 Å were important for efficient OTA removal. These results will allow the rational design of ACs with pore volume characteristics for OTA elimination with less impact on wine colour. Therefore, it was shown for the first time that AC with appropriate pore size distribution can remove completely OTA from white and also red wines.

Agaricus bisporus By-Products as a Source of Chitin-Glucan Complex Enriched Dietary Fibre with Potential Bioactivity

Applied Sciences, 2020

Mushroom production generates large amounts of by-products whose disposal creates environmental p... more Mushroom production generates large amounts of by-products whose disposal creates environmental problems. The high abundance of biological active non-starch polysaccharides in mushroom cell walls makes these by-products attractive for dietary fiber-based ingredient (DFI) production. Traditional methods of dietary fiber preparation didn’t allow to obtain a DFI with suitable chemical and functional properties. In this work a simple and environmentally friendly method was developed and optimized for DFI production using a central composite design with treatment time, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide concentration as factors and chemical composition, chromatic and functional properties as dependent variables. The chemical composition of the DFI was strongly influenced by the process parameters and its functional and color properties were dependent on its fiber and protein content, respectively. The method developed is simple, uses food grade and low-cost reagents and procedures yi...

Isolation of secondary metabolites from Geranium molle L. with anticancer potential

Industrial Crops and Products, 2019

Two flavone glycosides, apigenin-6-C-glucoside (1) and lutelin-6-C-glucoside (2), and an anomeric... more Two flavone glycosides, apigenin-6-C-glucoside (1) and lutelin-6-C-glucoside (2), and an anomeric mixture of 2,3-dygalloyl-4,6-HHDP-D-glucose (3a/3b) were isolated for the first time from Geranium molle L., a medicinal plant used in the folk medicine of northeast of Portugal for the treatment of a variety of ailments, including cancer. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was assessed against several human tumour cell lines and non-tumour porcine liver primary cells. The anomeric mixture of ellagitannins 3a/3b, with the two anomers showing considerably different hydrophobicities, was found to be significantly cytotoxic against cancer cells, with only moderate hepatotoxicity.

Olive tree physiology and chemical composition of fruits are modulated by different deficit irrigation strategies

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2019

BACKGROUND To overcome constrains affecting olive groves, cropping practices focusing on agronomi... more BACKGROUND To overcome constrains affecting olive groves, cropping practices focusing on agronomic water use efficiency and their impact on quality parameters must be investigated. We evaluated the response of olive trees (Olea europaea, cv. Cobrançosa) to different water regimes, full irrigation (FI, 100% ETc) and three deficit irrigation strategies (DIS) (regulated (RDI, irrigated with 80% of crop evapotranspiration (ET c) in phases I and III of fruit growth and 10% of ET c in the pit hardening stage) and two continuous sustained strategies (SDI), a conventional SDI (27.5% of ET c), and a lowfrequency irrigation adopted by the farmer (SDIAF, 21.2% of ET c). RESULTS The effects of water regimes on the plant water status, photosynthetic performance, metabolites fluctuations and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. All DIS treatments enhanced leaf tissue density, RDI and SDI generally did not affect leaf water status and maintained photosynthetic machinery working properly, while SDIAF treatment impaired olive tree physiological indicators. DIS treatments maintained the levels of primary metabolites in leaves, but SDIAF plants showed signs of oxidative stress. Moreover, DIS treatments led to changes in the secondary metabolism, both in leaves and in fruits, with increased total phenolic compounds, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids concentrations, and higher total antioxidant capacity, as well higher oil content. Phenolic profiles showed the relevance of an early harvest in order to obtain higher oleuropein levels with associated higher health benefits. CONCLUSION Adequate DIS are essential for sustainable olive growing, as they enhance the competitiveness of the sector in terms of olive production and associated quality parameters.

Distributed monitoring system for precision enology of the Tawny Port wine aging process

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2018

Aging of Tawny Port wine is a multifactorial process critical for attaining the desired quality. ... more Aging of Tawny Port wine is a multifactorial process critical for attaining the desired quality. Real time monitoring of important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are known to affect the time and quality of the aging process are important to optimize and to manage the natural variability between wines aged in different longused wood barrels. For this study, a distributed monitoring system was installed in sixteen oak barrels, placed in two adjacent wineriesone of them with controlled temperaturein the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal. The monitoring process was performed using a RS-485 industrial network, which interconnects sensors that continuously measure wine temperature, pH, redox potential and wine's dissolved oxygen, as well as other sensors that measure parameters related to the barrels' environmental context, such as room temperature and relative humidity. This work presents the design, development and implementation of a remote distributed system to monitor such parameters, aiming to determine the existence of behaviour models for Port Tawny wine during aging in long-used oak barrels, depending on their storage history and to understand the evolution of wine pH, dissolved oxygen and redox potential in real winery conditions as well as their dependence on the wine's storage temperature. This approach is based on easy-to-use embedded systems, with the aim of giving a relevant contribution to other projects in the area of precision enology.

Standard methods for Apis mellifera beeswax research

Journal of Apicultural Research, 2019

Due to its multifunctional and complex role in the honey bee colony functioning and health (const... more Due to its multifunctional and complex role in the honey bee colony functioning and health (construction material allowing food storage, brood rearing, thermoregulation, mediation in chemical and mechanical communication, substrate for pathogens, toxins and waste), Apis mellifera beeswax has been widely studied over the last five decades. This is supported by a comprehensive set of scientific reports covering different aspects of beeswax research. In this article, we present an overview of the methods for studying chemical, biological, constructional, and quality aspects of beeswax. We provide a detailed description of the methods for investigating wax scales, comb construction and growth pattern, cell properties, chemical composition of beeswax using different analytical tools, as well as the analytical procedures for provenancing beeswax and beeswax-derived compounds based on the hydrogen isotope ratio (IRMS). Along with classical physico-chemical and sensory analysis, we describe more precise and accurate methods for detection of adulterants in beeswax (GC-MS and FTIR-ATR). Moreover, we present methods for studying the influence of beeswax (comb foundation) adulteration on comb construction. Analytical protocols for determining the pesticide residues using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are also described. As beeswax is an agent of high risk for the transmission of bee diseases, we present methods for detection of pathogens in beeswax. To ensure the reproducibility of experiments and results, we present best practice approaches and detailed protocols for all methods described, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

Holistic and Sustainable Approach for Recycling and Valorization of Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone Used in Wine Fining

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2018

Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) is a synthetic water-insoluble polymer widely used as fining agen... more Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) is a synthetic water-insoluble polymer widely used as fining agent in the wine industry for removing low molecular weight phenolics. Used PVPP, estimated in 2014 of 1,037 tons, ends up on the municipal wastewater treatment plants with a detrimental environmental impact. Recycling of PVPP for obtaining fully reusable PVPP and wine phenolic concentrates for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries would increase the sustainability of its use. An ammoniacal solution of ethanol allows to desorb with high recoveries (average 73%) the PVPP adsorbed phenolics with yields ranging from 2.82-10.80 g/kg of wet PVPP, depending on the wine. Extracts were nearly pure concerning the phenolics abundance (> 89%), without need of further purification. The performance of the recycled PVPP for white wine fining was not significantly different from the new PVPP, can be recycled at least four times without loss of fining performance and allowing maintaining a good recovery of adsorbed phenolics. Results obtained in this work show that by using a simple, cheap, and eco-friendly recycling strategy it is possible to reuse PVPP for wine fining, providing a cleaner winemaking process and additionally obtain wine phenolic concentrates with high purity, antioxidant and bioactivity, valuable for other industries.

Structural polymeric features that contribute to in vitro immunostimulatory activity of instant coffee

Food Chemistry, 2017

An instant coffee fraction, rich in arabinogalactans, obtained by ultrafiltration, using 1 and 5 ... more An instant coffee fraction, rich in arabinogalactans, obtained by ultrafiltration, using 1 and 5 kDa membranes, has previously shown in vitro stimulatory activity on BALB/c mice spleen B lymphocytes. The compounds inducing lymphocytic activation were shown to elute, mainly near the void volume by size-exclusion chromatography, using Bio-Gel P6 (1-6 kDa). Treatment of the compounds with chymotrypsin, a digestive protease, did not affect the induced B lymphocyte activation. On the contrary, hydrolysis with an α-L-arabinofuranosidase, removing single terminally-linked arabinose residues, decreased the extent of B cell activation. The immunostimulatory activity of these compounds was also observed by in vitro experiments, using bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells as responders. Altogether, these results show the relevance of single arabinose residues, present at the non-reducing end of polymeric compounds, to the coffee stimulatory activity in cells mediating innate and acquired immunity.

Reducing the negative sensory impact of volatile phenols in red wine with different chitosans: Effect of structure on efficiency

Food Chemistry, 2017

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service... more This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Reducing the negative sensory impact of volatile phenols in red wine with different chitosans: Effect of structure on efficiency

A useful strategy based on chromatographic data combined with quality-by-design approach for food analysis applications. The case study of furanic derivatives in sugarcane honey

Journal of chromatography. A, Jan 8, 2017

Sugarcane honey (SCH) is one of the Madeira Island products par excellence and it is now popular ... more Sugarcane honey (SCH) is one of the Madeira Island products par excellence and it is now popular worldwide. Its sui generis and peculiar sensory properties, explained by a variety of volatile compounds including furanic derivatives (FDs), arise mainly from manufacturing and storage conditions. A simple high-throughput approach based on semi-automatic microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was developed and validated for identification and quantification of target FDs in sugarcane honey. A Quality-by-Design (QbD) approach was used as a powerful strategy to optimize analytical conditions for high throughput analysis of FDs in complex sugar-rich food matrices. The optimum point into MEPS-Method Operable Design: Region (MODR) was obtained with R-CX sorbent, acetonitrile (ACN) as elution solvent, three loading cycles and 500μL of sample volume. The optimum point into UHPLC-MODR was obtained with a CORTECS column operati...

Instant coffee as a source of antioxidant-rich and sugar-free coloured compounds for use in bakery: Application in biscuits

Food chemistry, Jan 15, 2017

Ammonia caramels are the most common antioxidant colour agent used in bakery formulations, althou... more Ammonia caramels are the most common antioxidant colour agent used in bakery formulations, although their high sugars content. An alternative could be coffee melanoidins, which are brown coloured compounds with antioxidant properties, readily available from instant coffee. However, high caffeine content is limiting its direct application. To evaluate the possibility of obtaining coloured melanoidin-rich, sugars- and caffeine-poor fractions from instant coffee, in this work, simple procedures based on their ethanol insolubility (fraction EtPp) or retention by ultrafiltration (fraction HWSn) were exploited. Melanoidins incorporation into biscuits formulation (amounts of 1, 5 and 10% w/w related to flour content) resulted in acceptable coloured products with higher antioxidant activity. The biscuits supplemented with 1% EtPp or HWSn had a low caffeine content. The caffeine of one espresso coffee was equivalent to 130 biscuits containing EtPp and 31 biscuits containing HWSn. Besides, bo...

Thymus Plants: A Review—Micropropagation, Molecular and Antifungal Activity

Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, 2017

Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic ... more Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic manipulation of plants associated with in vitro plant regeneration systems facilitates efforts to engineer secondary product metabolic pathways. The fungal infections have been increasing in recent years due to several factors, namely, the increased incidence of high-risk patients, particularly immunocompromised hosts. Aromatic plants have been empirically used as antimicrobial agents, but the mechanisms of action are still unknown. Thyme has a great interest due to the possibility of its use in different applications, in medicine, in the cosmetic industry, or as food additives. Several studies have shown that thyme oils possess antimicrobial activity. Increasingly, plant breeding has taken advantage of molecular biology developments in order to genotype the species of interest to accelerate their selection. These approaches consist in choosing desired genotypes based on molecular markers or the knowledge of the genes involved in a particular trait. The in vitro culture techniques can be used to multiply plants selected after molecular and antifungal studies. The course of the investigation and the current state in relation to micropropagation, molecular studies, and antifungal action of the Thymus genus plants will be presented.

Thymus Plants: A Review—Micropropagation, Molecular and Antifungal Activity

Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, 2017

Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic ... more Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic manipulation of plants associated with in vitro plant regeneration systems facilitates efforts to engineer secondary product metabolic pathways. The fungal infections have been increasing in recent years due to several factors, namely, the increased incidence of high-risk patients, particularly immunocompromised hosts. Aromatic plants have been empirically used as antimicrobial agents, but the mechanisms of action are still unknown. Thyme has a great interest due to the possibility of its use in different applications, in medicine, in the cosmetic industry, or as food additives. Several studies have shown that thyme oils possess antimicrobial activity. Increasingly, plant breeding has taken advantage of molecular biology developments in order to genotype the species of interest to accelerate their selection. These approaches consist in choosing desired genotypes based on molecular markers or the knowledge of the genes involved in a particular trait. The in vitro culture techniques can be used to multiply plants selected after molecular and antifungal studies. The course of the investigation and the current state in relation to micropropagation, molecular studies, and antifungal action of the Thymus genus plants will be presented.

Higher longevity and fecundity of Chrysoperla carnea, a predator of olive pests, on some native flowering Mediterranean plants

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2016

Biological control is the use of natural enemies, such as predators, of crop pests. For instance,... more Biological control is the use of natural enemies, such as predators, of crop pests. For instance, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is a major predator of olive grove pests. To favor the abundance of C. carnea, flowering plants should provide them with carbohydrates. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology of flowering plants that grow in olive groves. Therefore, we studied in the laboratory 11 native Mediterranean plants commonly found in traditional olive orchards as food sources for C. carnea adults. Male and female longevity and female lifetime fecundity were measured on a daily base. Plant nectar and pollen were quantified by highperformance anion-exchange chromatography analysis (HPAEC-PAD). Our results show that the longevity of C. carnea females was higher, of 17 days, when fed with Conopodium majus flowers, and of 14 days when fed with Lonicera hispanica flowers. Female fecundity was higher for C. carnea individuals fed with C. majus, giving 71 eggs, and with Foeniculum vulgare, giving 66 eggs, than for C. carnea individuals fed with L. hispanica (19 eggs) and Asparagus acutifolius (4 eggs). These findings are explained by the higher concentration of trehalose in plant nectar and pollen. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the sugar profile and content of Mediterranean flower plants as food resource of C. carnea adults indicating that trehalose content in pollen and nectar has a key role in C. carnea fecundity and longevity.

A simple, cheap and reliable method for control of 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol in red wines. Screening of fining agents for reducing volatile phenols levels in red wines

Journal of Chromatography B, 2017

A simple, cheap and reliable method for control of 4ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol in red wines.... more

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of Geranium molle L.: from the plant to the most active extract and its phytochemicals

Food & Function, 2016

The phytochemical characterization, antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity against human ... more

Non-enzymatic Transglycosylation Reactions Induced by Roasting: New Insights from Models Mimicking Coffee Bean Regions with Distinct Polysaccharide Composition

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, Jan 8, 2016

Three mixtures containing different molar proportions of (β1→4)-D-mannotriose and (α1→5)-L-arabin... more Three mixtures containing different molar proportions of (β1→4)-D-mannotriose and (α1→5)-L-arabinotriose, oligosaccharides structurally related to coffee polysaccharides (galactomannans and arabinogalactans), were roasted at 200 °C for different periods. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) analyses of labeled (18O) and unlabeled samples allowed identification of non-hybrid oligosaccharides, but also hybrid oligosaccharides composed by both hexose and pentose units. The identification of hybrid oligosaccharides allowed us to infer the occurrence of non-enzymatic transglycosylation reactions involving both oligosaccharides in the starting mixtures. Also, it was observed that using different proportion of the oligosaccharides in the starting mixtures and extent of the thermal treatment lead to a variation in the composition of the compounds formed. These results have led to the conclusion that, depending on the distribution of the p...

The Effect of Jatropha Curcas Seed Meal on Growth Performance and Internal Organs Development and Lesions in Broiler Chickens

Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 2015

The meal of Jatropha curcas (JCM) seed is a by-product of the biofuel industry and may potentiall... more The meal of Jatropha curcas (JCM) seed is a by-product of the biofuel industry and may potentially to be used as animal feed. However, its toxicity has prevented its utilization in animal nutrition mainly due to its high concentration of phorbol esters. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of JCM on the growth performance, feed digestibility and internal organs development of broilers. Thirty two 48-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens housed in 16 pens (2 birds/pen) were used in this study. Birds were randomly allocated to dietary treatments comprising four JCM levels (negative control, 25, 50, or 100 g JCM/kg of diet) for four weeks. Results showed that increasing levels of JCM had a negative impact on broiler performance, reducing live weight, weight gain, and feed intake. Treatments led to a decrease of the relative weight of testis and spleen, and to an increase in heart relative weight. In broilers fed diets containing JCM, the testis were atrophic, presenting reduced size of the seminiferous tubule, which were small and lined within active sertoli cells and rare spermatogonia. This study illustrates the negative impact of diets containing JCM on broiler performance and JCM pathological effects on several organs.

Performance Improvement of Earth-Based Building Materials by Adding Domestic Sugar-An Experimental Study

Poderá o desempenho de Chelonus Elaeaphilus beneficiar do acesso a fontes de açúcar?

Chelonus elaeaphilus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) é um parasitóide específico da traça-da-... more Chelonus elaeaphilus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) é um parasitóide específico da traça-da-oliveira, Prays oleae (Bernard), que, em Portugal, pode originar taxas de parasitismo próximas de 80%. Com este estudo, pretendeu-se contribuir para conhecer as possibilidades oferecidas por 18 espécies de plantas da flora espontânea do olival, na melhoria do desempenho de C. elaeaphilus, ao facultar-lhes açúcar, na forma de néctar. Analisou-se o efeito, de quatro açúcares do néctar (frutose, glucose, maltose e sacarose), na longevidade do parasitóide. Avaliou-se a possibilidade teórica de acesso do insecto ao néctar das espécies de plantas e analisou-se a sua composição em açúcar. A longevidade das fêmeas foi superior nos indivíduos alimentados com sacarose e glucose, comparativamente aos que consumiram maltose e frutose. Verificou-se que o parasitóide consegue aceder ao néctar das plantas estudadas, com excepção das Asteráceas. Os néctares analisados continham predominantemente glucose...

Elimination of ochratoxin A from white and red wines: Critical characteristics of activated carbons and impact on wine quality

LWT, 2021

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin frequently found in wines, with an allowed maximum limit of 2.0... more Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin frequently found in wines, with an allowed maximum limit of 2.0 μg/L. To optimise OTA removal from white and red wines at high levels (10.0 μg/L) using activated carbons (ACs) different commercial deodorising ACs were tested. OTA elimination from white wines was less dependent on ACs characteristics, with 100% removal with all but one AC with the lowest total pore volume. For red wines, only one of the ACs with higher abundance of mesopores was successful in completely removing OTA. This decrease in performance was due to the competition of anthocyanins for ACs mesopores. ACs treatment impacted positively on white wine chromatic characteristics, decreasing the yellowness-brownish colour but for the red wine it was observed a higher but limited impact (maximum 24% decrease) on wine colour. ACs pore volume distribution, with pore sizes in the range 42.6-55.9 Å and 125.6-137.4 Å were important for efficient OTA removal. These results will allow the rational design of ACs with pore volume characteristics for OTA elimination with less impact on wine colour. Therefore, it was shown for the first time that AC with appropriate pore size distribution can remove completely OTA from white and also red wines.

Agaricus bisporus By-Products as a Source of Chitin-Glucan Complex Enriched Dietary Fibre with Potential Bioactivity

Applied Sciences, 2020

Mushroom production generates large amounts of by-products whose disposal creates environmental p... more Mushroom production generates large amounts of by-products whose disposal creates environmental problems. The high abundance of biological active non-starch polysaccharides in mushroom cell walls makes these by-products attractive for dietary fiber-based ingredient (DFI) production. Traditional methods of dietary fiber preparation didn’t allow to obtain a DFI with suitable chemical and functional properties. In this work a simple and environmentally friendly method was developed and optimized for DFI production using a central composite design with treatment time, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide concentration as factors and chemical composition, chromatic and functional properties as dependent variables. The chemical composition of the DFI was strongly influenced by the process parameters and its functional and color properties were dependent on its fiber and protein content, respectively. The method developed is simple, uses food grade and low-cost reagents and procedures yi...

Isolation of secondary metabolites from Geranium molle L. with anticancer potential

Industrial Crops and Products, 2019

Two flavone glycosides, apigenin-6-C-glucoside (1) and lutelin-6-C-glucoside (2), and an anomeric... more Two flavone glycosides, apigenin-6-C-glucoside (1) and lutelin-6-C-glucoside (2), and an anomeric mixture of 2,3-dygalloyl-4,6-HHDP-D-glucose (3a/3b) were isolated for the first time from Geranium molle L., a medicinal plant used in the folk medicine of northeast of Portugal for the treatment of a variety of ailments, including cancer. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was assessed against several human tumour cell lines and non-tumour porcine liver primary cells. The anomeric mixture of ellagitannins 3a/3b, with the two anomers showing considerably different hydrophobicities, was found to be significantly cytotoxic against cancer cells, with only moderate hepatotoxicity.

Olive tree physiology and chemical composition of fruits are modulated by different deficit irrigation strategies

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2019

BACKGROUND To overcome constrains affecting olive groves, cropping practices focusing on agronomi... more BACKGROUND To overcome constrains affecting olive groves, cropping practices focusing on agronomic water use efficiency and their impact on quality parameters must be investigated. We evaluated the response of olive trees (Olea europaea, cv. Cobrançosa) to different water regimes, full irrigation (FI, 100% ETc) and three deficit irrigation strategies (DIS) (regulated (RDI, irrigated with 80% of crop evapotranspiration (ET c) in phases I and III of fruit growth and 10% of ET c in the pit hardening stage) and two continuous sustained strategies (SDI), a conventional SDI (27.5% of ET c), and a lowfrequency irrigation adopted by the farmer (SDIAF, 21.2% of ET c). RESULTS The effects of water regimes on the plant water status, photosynthetic performance, metabolites fluctuations and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. All DIS treatments enhanced leaf tissue density, RDI and SDI generally did not affect leaf water status and maintained photosynthetic machinery working properly, while SDIAF treatment impaired olive tree physiological indicators. DIS treatments maintained the levels of primary metabolites in leaves, but SDIAF plants showed signs of oxidative stress. Moreover, DIS treatments led to changes in the secondary metabolism, both in leaves and in fruits, with increased total phenolic compounds, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids concentrations, and higher total antioxidant capacity, as well higher oil content. Phenolic profiles showed the relevance of an early harvest in order to obtain higher oleuropein levels with associated higher health benefits. CONCLUSION Adequate DIS are essential for sustainable olive growing, as they enhance the competitiveness of the sector in terms of olive production and associated quality parameters.

Distributed monitoring system for precision enology of the Tawny Port wine aging process

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2018

Aging of Tawny Port wine is a multifactorial process critical for attaining the desired quality. ... more Aging of Tawny Port wine is a multifactorial process critical for attaining the desired quality. Real time monitoring of important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are known to affect the time and quality of the aging process are important to optimize and to manage the natural variability between wines aged in different longused wood barrels. For this study, a distributed monitoring system was installed in sixteen oak barrels, placed in two adjacent wineriesone of them with controlled temperaturein the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal. The monitoring process was performed using a RS-485 industrial network, which interconnects sensors that continuously measure wine temperature, pH, redox potential and wine's dissolved oxygen, as well as other sensors that measure parameters related to the barrels' environmental context, such as room temperature and relative humidity. This work presents the design, development and implementation of a remote distributed system to monitor such parameters, aiming to determine the existence of behaviour models for Port Tawny wine during aging in long-used oak barrels, depending on their storage history and to understand the evolution of wine pH, dissolved oxygen and redox potential in real winery conditions as well as their dependence on the wine's storage temperature. This approach is based on easy-to-use embedded systems, with the aim of giving a relevant contribution to other projects in the area of precision enology.

Standard methods for Apis mellifera beeswax research

Journal of Apicultural Research, 2019

Due to its multifunctional and complex role in the honey bee colony functioning and health (const... more Due to its multifunctional and complex role in the honey bee colony functioning and health (construction material allowing food storage, brood rearing, thermoregulation, mediation in chemical and mechanical communication, substrate for pathogens, toxins and waste), Apis mellifera beeswax has been widely studied over the last five decades. This is supported by a comprehensive set of scientific reports covering different aspects of beeswax research. In this article, we present an overview of the methods for studying chemical, biological, constructional, and quality aspects of beeswax. We provide a detailed description of the methods for investigating wax scales, comb construction and growth pattern, cell properties, chemical composition of beeswax using different analytical tools, as well as the analytical procedures for provenancing beeswax and beeswax-derived compounds based on the hydrogen isotope ratio (IRMS). Along with classical physico-chemical and sensory analysis, we describe more precise and accurate methods for detection of adulterants in beeswax (GC-MS and FTIR-ATR). Moreover, we present methods for studying the influence of beeswax (comb foundation) adulteration on comb construction. Analytical protocols for determining the pesticide residues using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are also described. As beeswax is an agent of high risk for the transmission of bee diseases, we present methods for detection of pathogens in beeswax. To ensure the reproducibility of experiments and results, we present best practice approaches and detailed protocols for all methods described, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

Holistic and Sustainable Approach for Recycling and Valorization of Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone Used in Wine Fining

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2018

Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) is a synthetic water-insoluble polymer widely used as fining agen... more Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) is a synthetic water-insoluble polymer widely used as fining agent in the wine industry for removing low molecular weight phenolics. Used PVPP, estimated in 2014 of 1,037 tons, ends up on the municipal wastewater treatment plants with a detrimental environmental impact. Recycling of PVPP for obtaining fully reusable PVPP and wine phenolic concentrates for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries would increase the sustainability of its use. An ammoniacal solution of ethanol allows to desorb with high recoveries (average 73%) the PVPP adsorbed phenolics with yields ranging from 2.82-10.80 g/kg of wet PVPP, depending on the wine. Extracts were nearly pure concerning the phenolics abundance (> 89%), without need of further purification. The performance of the recycled PVPP for white wine fining was not significantly different from the new PVPP, can be recycled at least four times without loss of fining performance and allowing maintaining a good recovery of adsorbed phenolics. Results obtained in this work show that by using a simple, cheap, and eco-friendly recycling strategy it is possible to reuse PVPP for wine fining, providing a cleaner winemaking process and additionally obtain wine phenolic concentrates with high purity, antioxidant and bioactivity, valuable for other industries.

Structural polymeric features that contribute to in vitro immunostimulatory activity of instant coffee

Food Chemistry, 2017

An instant coffee fraction, rich in arabinogalactans, obtained by ultrafiltration, using 1 and 5 ... more An instant coffee fraction, rich in arabinogalactans, obtained by ultrafiltration, using 1 and 5 kDa membranes, has previously shown in vitro stimulatory activity on BALB/c mice spleen B lymphocytes. The compounds inducing lymphocytic activation were shown to elute, mainly near the void volume by size-exclusion chromatography, using Bio-Gel P6 (1-6 kDa). Treatment of the compounds with chymotrypsin, a digestive protease, did not affect the induced B lymphocyte activation. On the contrary, hydrolysis with an α-L-arabinofuranosidase, removing single terminally-linked arabinose residues, decreased the extent of B cell activation. The immunostimulatory activity of these compounds was also observed by in vitro experiments, using bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells as responders. Altogether, these results show the relevance of single arabinose residues, present at the non-reducing end of polymeric compounds, to the coffee stimulatory activity in cells mediating innate and acquired immunity.

Reducing the negative sensory impact of volatile phenols in red wine with different chitosans: Effect of structure on efficiency

Food Chemistry, 2017

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service... more This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Reducing the negative sensory impact of volatile phenols in red wine with different chitosans: Effect of structure on efficiency

A useful strategy based on chromatographic data combined with quality-by-design approach for food analysis applications. The case study of furanic derivatives in sugarcane honey

Journal of chromatography. A, Jan 8, 2017

Sugarcane honey (SCH) is one of the Madeira Island products par excellence and it is now popular ... more Sugarcane honey (SCH) is one of the Madeira Island products par excellence and it is now popular worldwide. Its sui generis and peculiar sensory properties, explained by a variety of volatile compounds including furanic derivatives (FDs), arise mainly from manufacturing and storage conditions. A simple high-throughput approach based on semi-automatic microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was developed and validated for identification and quantification of target FDs in sugarcane honey. A Quality-by-Design (QbD) approach was used as a powerful strategy to optimize analytical conditions for high throughput analysis of FDs in complex sugar-rich food matrices. The optimum point into MEPS-Method Operable Design: Region (MODR) was obtained with R-CX sorbent, acetonitrile (ACN) as elution solvent, three loading cycles and 500μL of sample volume. The optimum point into UHPLC-MODR was obtained with a CORTECS column operati...

Instant coffee as a source of antioxidant-rich and sugar-free coloured compounds for use in bakery: Application in biscuits

Food chemistry, Jan 15, 2017

Ammonia caramels are the most common antioxidant colour agent used in bakery formulations, althou... more Ammonia caramels are the most common antioxidant colour agent used in bakery formulations, although their high sugars content. An alternative could be coffee melanoidins, which are brown coloured compounds with antioxidant properties, readily available from instant coffee. However, high caffeine content is limiting its direct application. To evaluate the possibility of obtaining coloured melanoidin-rich, sugars- and caffeine-poor fractions from instant coffee, in this work, simple procedures based on their ethanol insolubility (fraction EtPp) or retention by ultrafiltration (fraction HWSn) were exploited. Melanoidins incorporation into biscuits formulation (amounts of 1, 5 and 10% w/w related to flour content) resulted in acceptable coloured products with higher antioxidant activity. The biscuits supplemented with 1% EtPp or HWSn had a low caffeine content. The caffeine of one espresso coffee was equivalent to 130 biscuits containing EtPp and 31 biscuits containing HWSn. Besides, bo...

Thymus Plants: A Review—Micropropagation, Molecular and Antifungal Activity

Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, 2017

Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic ... more Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic manipulation of plants associated with in vitro plant regeneration systems facilitates efforts to engineer secondary product metabolic pathways. The fungal infections have been increasing in recent years due to several factors, namely, the increased incidence of high-risk patients, particularly immunocompromised hosts. Aromatic plants have been empirically used as antimicrobial agents, but the mechanisms of action are still unknown. Thyme has a great interest due to the possibility of its use in different applications, in medicine, in the cosmetic industry, or as food additives. Several studies have shown that thyme oils possess antimicrobial activity. Increasingly, plant breeding has taken advantage of molecular biology developments in order to genotype the species of interest to accelerate their selection. These approaches consist in choosing desired genotypes based on molecular markers or the knowledge of the genes involved in a particular trait. The in vitro culture techniques can be used to multiply plants selected after molecular and antifungal studies. The course of the investigation and the current state in relation to micropropagation, molecular studies, and antifungal action of the Thymus genus plants will be presented.

Thymus Plants: A Review—Micropropagation, Molecular and Antifungal Activity

Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, 2017

Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic ... more Medicinal and aromatic plants are important sources for plant secondary metabolites. The genetic manipulation of plants associated with in vitro plant regeneration systems facilitates efforts to engineer secondary product metabolic pathways. The fungal infections have been increasing in recent years due to several factors, namely, the increased incidence of high-risk patients, particularly immunocompromised hosts. Aromatic plants have been empirically used as antimicrobial agents, but the mechanisms of action are still unknown. Thyme has a great interest due to the possibility of its use in different applications, in medicine, in the cosmetic industry, or as food additives. Several studies have shown that thyme oils possess antimicrobial activity. Increasingly, plant breeding has taken advantage of molecular biology developments in order to genotype the species of interest to accelerate their selection. These approaches consist in choosing desired genotypes based on molecular markers or the knowledge of the genes involved in a particular trait. The in vitro culture techniques can be used to multiply plants selected after molecular and antifungal studies. The course of the investigation and the current state in relation to micropropagation, molecular studies, and antifungal action of the Thymus genus plants will be presented.

Higher longevity and fecundity of Chrysoperla carnea, a predator of olive pests, on some native flowering Mediterranean plants

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2016

Biological control is the use of natural enemies, such as predators, of crop pests. For instance,... more Biological control is the use of natural enemies, such as predators, of crop pests. For instance, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is a major predator of olive grove pests. To favor the abundance of C. carnea, flowering plants should provide them with carbohydrates. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology of flowering plants that grow in olive groves. Therefore, we studied in the laboratory 11 native Mediterranean plants commonly found in traditional olive orchards as food sources for C. carnea adults. Male and female longevity and female lifetime fecundity were measured on a daily base. Plant nectar and pollen were quantified by highperformance anion-exchange chromatography analysis (HPAEC-PAD). Our results show that the longevity of C. carnea females was higher, of 17 days, when fed with Conopodium majus flowers, and of 14 days when fed with Lonicera hispanica flowers. Female fecundity was higher for C. carnea individuals fed with C. majus, giving 71 eggs, and with Foeniculum vulgare, giving 66 eggs, than for C. carnea individuals fed with L. hispanica (19 eggs) and Asparagus acutifolius (4 eggs). These findings are explained by the higher concentration of trehalose in plant nectar and pollen. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the sugar profile and content of Mediterranean flower plants as food resource of C. carnea adults indicating that trehalose content in pollen and nectar has a key role in C. carnea fecundity and longevity.

A simple, cheap and reliable method for control of 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol in red wines. Screening of fining agents for reducing volatile phenols levels in red wines

Journal of Chromatography B, 2017

A simple, cheap and reliable method for control of 4ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol in red wines.... more

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of Geranium molle L.: from the plant to the most active extract and its phytochemicals

Food & Function, 2016

The phytochemical characterization, antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity against human ... more

Non-enzymatic Transglycosylation Reactions Induced by Roasting: New Insights from Models Mimicking Coffee Bean Regions with Distinct Polysaccharide Composition

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, Jan 8, 2016

Three mixtures containing different molar proportions of (β1→4)-D-mannotriose and (α1→5)-L-arabin... more Three mixtures containing different molar proportions of (β1→4)-D-mannotriose and (α1→5)-L-arabinotriose, oligosaccharides structurally related to coffee polysaccharides (galactomannans and arabinogalactans), were roasted at 200 °C for different periods. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) analyses of labeled (18O) and unlabeled samples allowed identification of non-hybrid oligosaccharides, but also hybrid oligosaccharides composed by both hexose and pentose units. The identification of hybrid oligosaccharides allowed us to infer the occurrence of non-enzymatic transglycosylation reactions involving both oligosaccharides in the starting mixtures. Also, it was observed that using different proportion of the oligosaccharides in the starting mixtures and extent of the thermal treatment lead to a variation in the composition of the compounds formed. These results have led to the conclusion that, depending on the distribution of the p...

The Effect of Jatropha Curcas Seed Meal on Growth Performance and Internal Organs Development and Lesions in Broiler Chickens

Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 2015

The meal of Jatropha curcas (JCM) seed is a by-product of the biofuel industry and may potentiall... more The meal of Jatropha curcas (JCM) seed is a by-product of the biofuel industry and may potentially to be used as animal feed. However, its toxicity has prevented its utilization in animal nutrition mainly due to its high concentration of phorbol esters. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of JCM on the growth performance, feed digestibility and internal organs development of broilers. Thirty two 48-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens housed in 16 pens (2 birds/pen) were used in this study. Birds were randomly allocated to dietary treatments comprising four JCM levels (negative control, 25, 50, or 100 g JCM/kg of diet) for four weeks. Results showed that increasing levels of JCM had a negative impact on broiler performance, reducing live weight, weight gain, and feed intake. Treatments led to a decrease of the relative weight of testis and spleen, and to an increase in heart relative weight. In broilers fed diets containing JCM, the testis were atrophic, presenting reduced size of the seminiferous tubule, which were small and lined within active sertoli cells and rare spermatogonia. This study illustrates the negative impact of diets containing JCM on broiler performance and JCM pathological effects on several organs.

Performance Improvement of Earth-Based Building Materials by Adding Domestic Sugar-An Experimental Study

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.

Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy