Browsing by Author "Catarino, Luis"
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- Compositional features and biological activities of wild and commercial Moringa oleifera leaves from Guinea-BissauPublication . Fernandes, Ângela; Liberal, Ângela; Pinela, José; Finimundy, Tiane C.; Bancessi, Aducabe; Ćirić, Ana; Soković, Marina; Catarino, Luis; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, LillianMoringa oleifera Lam. is a nutraceutical edible plant used to fight malnutrition in developing countries. This investigation describes the nutritional, chemical and bioactive assets of wild and commercially acquired M. oleifera leaves from Guinea-Bissau. Both samples presented significant differences in the contents of almost all the analysed parameters. Carbohydrates and proteins were the major constituents of the leaves, which also showed an interesting profile of tocopherols, organic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. The infused extract of the commercial leaf sample was more effective than other preparations against lipid peroxidation and oxidative haemolysis. In turn, higher antibacterial activity was achieved with hydroethanolic and infused extracts of the wild sample, which extracts also displayed superior antifungal activity. Overall, the commercially acquired M. oleifera leaves stand out with better quality profiles than the wild collected, which aroused interest in studying the processing methods used locally to process this functional food.
- Editorial: Edible wild plants and fungi - resource to explore, preserve, and valuatePublication . Catarino, Luis; Barros, Lillian; Romeiras, Maria M.
- Editorial: Edible wild plants and fungi - resource to explore, preserve, and valuatePublication . Catarino, Luis; Barros, Lillian; Romeiras, Maria M.
- Exploring Local Maize Diversity for Increased Agricultural Sustainability: New Insights into Drought Stress Response and Recovery of Guinea-Bissau LandracesPublication . Teixeira, Manuela; Feijão, Eduardo; Catarino, Luis; Matos, Ana Rita; Figueiredo, Andreia; Marques da Silva, JorgeLandraces are rightfully known as the backbone of sustainable food production, particularly in areas experiencing significant environmental constraints. However, protecting landraces from genetic erosion and valuing their potential for plant breeding and sustainable food production requires in-depth understanding of their phenotypic traits. Two Guinea-Bissau landraces (GA, GV) and two elite cultivars (P98438, P0023) were subjected to drought stress for 7 (S1) and 12 (S2) days. After this period plants were rewatered (R). The relative water content (RWC) was unchanged in S1 and decreased in S2 in all genotypes. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters changed moderately in S1 and remarkably in S2, including on GA and GV plants, where a decrease of Fv/Fm and PI, and an increase in absorbed, trapped, and dissipated energy per reaction center, was found. P0023 plants showed the most contrasting behavior to Guinea-Bissau genotypes, presenting an increase in Fv/Fm and PI values and a decrease in the specific energy fluxes per reaction center (RC), whereas P9838 presented an intermediate behavior. Drought (S1 and S2) decreased the amount of chlorophyll (Chl.) and carotenoids in GA and GV plants. On the contrary, in the P0023, the only pigment to decrease with stress was Chl. b. Fatty acid (FA) analyses allowed for the identification of C16:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in larger amounts, and C14:0, C16:1t, C18:0, and C18:1 acids in lower abundance. Drought stress decreased C18:3, the double bond index, and the total FA (except for P0023 and GV in S2) and increased C14:0 and C16:0 acids. The expression of phospholipase D (PLD) was higher at S2. After recovery, PLD expression presented a notorious decrease on the Guinea-Bissau landraces. P0023 showed the smallest alterations after recovery, while Guinea’s plants suffered more radical alterations leading to the conclusion that Guinea’s landraces were more drought-sensitive and that their recovery rate was impaired.
- Exploring Local Maize Diversity for Increased Agricultural Sustainability: New Insights into Drought Stress Response and Recovery of Guinea-Bissau LandracesPublication . Teixeira, Manuela; Feijão, Eduardo; Catarino, Luis; Matos, Ana Rita; Figueiredo, Andreia; Marques da Silva, JorgeLandraces are rightfully known as the backbone of sustainable food production, particularly in areas experiencing significant environmental constraints. However, protecting landraces from genetic erosion and valuing their potential for plant breeding and sustainable food production requires in-depth understanding of their phenotypic traits. Two Guinea-Bissau landraces (GA, GV) and two elite cultivars (P98438, P0023) were subjected to drought stress for 7 (S1) and 12 (S2) days. After this period plants were rewatered (R). The relative water content (RWC) was unchanged in S1 and decreased in S2 in all genotypes. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters changed moderately in S1 and remarkably in S2, including on GA and GV plants, where a decrease of Fv/Fm and PI, and an increase in absorbed, trapped, and dissipated energy per reaction center, was found. P0023 plants showed the most contrasting behavior to Guinea-Bissau genotypes, presenting an increase in Fv/Fm and PI values and a decrease in the specific energy fluxes per reaction center (RC), whereas P9838 presented an intermediate behavior. Drought (S1 and S2) decreased the amount of chlorophyll (Chl.) and carotenoids in GA and GV plants. On the contrary, in the P0023, the only pigment to decrease with stress was Chl. b. Fatty acid (FA) analyses allowed for the identification of C16:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in larger amounts, and C14:0, C16:1t, C18:0, and C18:1 acids in lower abundance. Drought stress decreased C18:3, the double bond index, and the total FA (except for P0023 and GV in S2) and increased C14:0 and C16:0 acids. The expression of phospholipase D (PLD) was higher at S2. After recovery, PLD expression presented a notorious decrease on the Guinea-Bissau landraces. P0023 showed the smallest alterations after recovery, while Guinea’s plants suffered more radical alterations leading to the conclusion that Guinea’s landraces were more drought-sensitive and that their recovery rate was impaired.
- Food from the wild—roles and values of wild edible plants and fungiPublication . Catarino, Luis; Romeiras, Maria Manuel; Fernandes, Ângela
- Food from the Wild—Roles and Values of Wild Edible Plants and FungiPublication . Catarino, Luis; Romeiras, Maria Manuel; Fernandes, Ângela
- Food Security and Nutrition in Mozambique: Comparative Study with Bean Species Commercialised in Informal MarketsPublication . Charrua, Alberto B.; Havik, Philip J.; Bandeira, Salomão; Catarino, Luis; Ribeiro-Barros, Ana; Cabral, Pedro; Moldão, Margarida; M. Romeiras, MariaIn Mozambique (South-eastern Africa), Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. are important staple foods and a major source of dietary protein for local populations, particularly for people living in rural areas who lack the financial capacity to include meat in their daily dietary options. This study focuses on the potential for improving diets with locally produced nutritious legumes whilst increasing food security and income generation among smallholder farmers. Using bean species and varieties commercialised as dry legumes in the country, it sets out to characterize and compare the chemical properties of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. among the most commercialised dry legume groups in Mozambique. The principal component analysis showed a clear separation between Phaseolus and Vigna species in terms of proximate composition, whereas protein content was quite uniform in both groups. It concludes that the introduction of improved cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna species maize–legume intercropping benefits yield, diets and increases household income with limited and low-cost inputs while enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers in vulnerable production systems affected by recurrent drought and the supply of legumes to urban informal markets.
- Nutritional and Functional Properties of Wild Leafy Vegetables for Improving Food Security in Southern AngolaPublication . Kissanga, Raquel; Sales, Joana; Moldão, Margarida; Alves, Vitor; Mendes, Herose; Romeiras, Maria M.; Lages, Fernanda; Catarino, LuisIn Southern Angola, numerous non-woody forest products are sold at local markets, namely in Lubango (Huíla Province). Such is the case of herbaceous wild plants, locally known as lombi, which are sold fresh throughout the year and cooked as a vegetable. Although these wild leafy vegetables are commercialized and widely used in local food, there is still a lack of scientific knowledge about their properties. Thus, this study aimed to identify and characterize the species sold, and to determine their nutritional and functional properties. Our results revealed that three species—Amaranthus hybridus, Bidens pilosa, and Galinsoga parviflora—are usually sold at Lubango markets and consumed by local populations. These are annual exotic plants, native to Southern America, and usually occur spontaneously in croplands or disturbed areas, but can also be cultivated, particularly A. hybridus. Physico-chemical analyses of lombi species and mixtures sold at the markets included measurements of moisture, protein, lipid, and mineral content, as well as total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and levels of heavymetal contaminants. The results revealed that lombi contain a significant amount of protein (20–28 g/100 g, dry basis), high values of macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as of phenolic compounds (10–40mg GAE/g) and a good antioxidant capacity. Given the availability of lombi throughout the year, our study demonstrated the importance of wild edible plants in Angola, both as a valuable natural resources and as a complementary food sources, as well as additional sources of income for many families.
- Present and potential uses of Moringa oleifera as a multipurpose plant in Guinea-BissauPublication . Bancessi, A.; Bancessi, Q.; Baldé, A.; Catarino, LuisA field survey in Guinea-Bissau revealed the present uses of Moringa and the knowledge of rural populations about its properties in thisWest African country. Also, a market survey in Bissau assessed the moringa products traded there. The species is planted all over the country,mainly as a living fence in homegardens. The leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant, primarily as food and in traditional medicine. The seeds are used to treat a few ailments. Only in recent years began the seeds and ground dried leaves to be traded in the markets and the local knowledge on the medicinal and dietary properties of moringa to increase. However, many of the uses reported in other parts of Africa remain unknown or undocumented in Guinea-Bissau.Much further potential use and dissemination of the qualities of this plant seem possible in the country.