Loading...
Research Project
Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center
Funder
Authors
Publications
Discovery of new antimicrobial drugs active against resistant pathogens agents: The case study of portuguese Asphodelus Species
Publication . Malmir, Maryam; Silva, Olga Maria Duarte; Lima, Maria Beatriz da Silva; Caniça, Maria Manuela Marin
Exploring the multifaceted potential of a peptide fraction derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism: antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties
Publication . Branco, Patrícia; Maurício, Elisabete Muchagato; Costa, Ana; Ventura, Diogo; Roma-Rodrigues, Catarina; Duarte, Maria Paula; Fernandes, Alexandra R.; Prista, Catarina
The rising demand for minimally processed, natural, and healthier food products has
led to the search for alternative and multifunctional bioactive food components. Therefore, the
present study focuses on the functional proprieties of a peptide fraction derived from Saccharomyces
cerevisiae metabolism. The antimicrobial activity of the peptide fraction is evaluated against various
foodborne pathogens, including Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes,
and Salmonella sp. The peptide fraction antioxidant properties are assessed using FRAP and
DPPH scavenging capacity assays. Furthermore, the peptide fraction’s cytotoxicity is evaluated in
colorectal carcinoma and normal colon epithelial cells while its potential as an antidiabetic agent
is investigated through -amylase and -glucosidase inhibitory assays. The results demonstrate
that the 2–10 kDa peptide fraction exhibits antimicrobial effects against all tested microorganisms,
except C. krusei. The minimal inhibitory concentration for E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella
sp. remains consistently low, at 0.25 mg/mL, while C. albicans requires a higher concentration of
1.0 mg/mL. Furthermore, the peptide fraction displays antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH
radical scavenging activity of 81.03%, and FRAP values of 1042.50 32.5 M TE/mL at 1.0 mg/mL.
The peptide fraction exhibits no cytotoxicity in both tumor and non-tumoral human cells at a concentration
up to 0.3 mg/mL. Moreover, the peptide fraction presents anti-inflammatory activity,
significantly reducing the expression of the TNF gene by more than 29.7% in non-stimulated colon
cells and by 50% in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated colon cells. It also inhibits the activity of the
carbohydrate digestive enzymes -amylase (IC50 of 199.3 0.9 g/mL) and -glucosidase (IC20 of
270.6 6.0 g/mL). Overall, the findings showed that the peptide fraction exhibits antibacterial,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activity. This study represents a step forward in the
evaluation of the functional biological properties of S. cerevisiae bioactive peptides.
Diversity and biological activities of medicinal plants of Santiago island (Cabo Verde)
Publication . Romeiras, Maria M.; Essoh, Anyse P.; Catarino, Sílvia; Silva, Joceline; Lima, Katelene; Varela, Eromise; Moura, Mónica; Gomesi, Isildo; Duarte, Maria Cristina; Duarte, Maria Paula
Plants continue to constitute key elements of medical practice in West African countries. The
Cabo Verde archipelago hosts a great diversity of medicinal plants and local markets are
considered important sites for trading plants harvested by rural communities. This study has two
main goals: (i) to assess the medicinal uses of native species in Santiago, the biggest island of the
archipelago, and (ii) to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic/antihyperglycemic activities of two native trees (Tamarix senegalensis and Sideroxylon marginatum)
used in traditional medicine and traded in local markets. Our results revealed that on Santiago
Island, 24 native plants are used in traditional medicine. The main uses of these species (e.g.,
forage, timber, food and fibres), their medicinal applications, the plant parts used, their mode of
administration and conservation status are presented here for the first time. Moreover, the
pharmacological characterization of two native tree species revealed that hydroethanolic extracts
were richer in phenolic compounds and more active than their aqueous counterparts. All the
studied extracts revealed significant antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP assays) and were
generally moderately active against Gram-positive bacteria. All the extracts inhibited the activities of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase in a dose-dependent
manner. For α-glucosidase, the detected inhibitory activity (IC50 values from 2.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL
Organizational Units
Description
Keywords
Contributors
Funders
Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UIDP/04077/2020