166 documents found, page 1 of 17
Mexican calea (Calea zacatechichi Schltdl.) interferes with cholinergic and dop...
Garcia, Maria Rita; Gil-Izquierdo, Ángel; Ferreres, Federico; Andrade, Paula B.; Mineiro, Tiago; Seabra, Vítor; Videira, Romeu A.; Silva, Diana Dias daThe use of “Mexican calea” (Calea zacatechichi Schltdl.) in ritualistic ceremonies, due to its dream-inducing effects, was until recently limited to indigenous communities in Mexico. However, the plant has recently gained popularity in Western societies being commonly used in recreational settings. Despite the traditional and recreational uses, mechanisms underlying its reported oneirogenic effects remain unkno...
Chemical characterization and in vitro studies on the impact of the 'Dream Herb...
Garcia, Maria Rita; Mineiro, Tiago; Andrade, Paula B.; Ferreres, Federico; Gil-Izquierdo, Ángel; Seabra, Vítor; Silva, Diana; Gomes, Nelson G. M.An increasing number of psychoactive plants, particularly those with long history of use on ritualistic practices, are now being progressively used in recreational context, many of which remaining unregulated. Calea zacatechichiis traditionally used in divination rituals, due to its oneirogenic properties. Yet, considering the psychoactive effects of this ‘Dream Herb’and easiness of purchase, the potential for ...
Chemical characterization and in vitro studies on the impact of the 'Dream Herb...
Garcia, Maria Rita; Mineiro, Tiago; Andrade, Paula B.; Ferreres, Federico; Gil-Izquierdo, Ángel; Seabra, Vítor; Dias-da-Silva, DianaBackground: An increasing number of psychoactive plants, particularly those with long history of use on ritualistic practices, are now being progressively used in recreational context, many of which remaining unregulated [1]. Calea zacatechichi is traditionally used in divination rituals, due to its oneirogenic properties. Yet, considering the psychoactive effects of this ‘Dream Herb’ and easiness of purchase, ...
Preliminary chemical profile and in vitro pharmacological evaluation of the hal...
Garcia, Maria Rita; Dutka, Mykhaylo; Guimarães, Sofia; Andrade, Paula B.; Seabra, Vítor; Dias-da-Silva, DianaBackground: For the last few years, Ayahuasca ceremonies have been gaining popularity in recreational settings in Europe and North America [1]. Similar to Psychotria viridis, Diplopterys cabrerana is also suggested to contain the psychoactive compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and is therefore used in Ayahuasca rituals for its ability to induce hallucinations, euphoria and entheogenic effects [1-3]. However, whil...
Preliminary chemical profile and in vitro pharmacological evaluation of the hal...
Garcia, Maria Rita; Dutka, Mykhaylo; Guimarães, Sofia; Andrade, Paula B.; Seabra, Vítor; Diana Dias da Silva; Gomes, Nelson G. M.For the last few years, Ayahuasca ceremonies have been gaining popularity in recreational settings in Europe and North America [1]. Similar to Psychotria viridis, Diplopterys cabreranais also suggested to contain the psychoactive compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and is therefore used in Aya-huasca rituals for its ability to induce hallucinations, euphoria and entheogenic effects [1-3]. However, while informatio...
An Experimental Approach to Address the Functional Relationship between Antioxi...
Mendes, Daniela Sofia Sequeira; Silva, Ana Maria; Oliveira, Maria Manuel; Andrade, Paula B.; Videira, Romeu AntónioMitochondrial dysfunction and cytosolic oxidative stress are pathological biomarkers interlinked in several chronic diseases and cellular toxicity promoted by high-energy radiation or xenobiotics. Thus, assessing the activities of the mitochondrial redox chain complexes and the cytosolic antioxidant enzymes in the same cell culture system is a valuable approach to addressing the challenge of chronic diseases or...
The biotechnological potential of Asparagopsis armata: what is known of its che...
Félix, Rafael; Dias, Pedro; Félix, Carina; Cerqueira, Teresa; Andrade, Paula B.; Valentão, Patricia; Lemos, Marco F.L.Marine biomass is a resource with great potential to fuel a circular bioeconomy addressing the current economic and environmental world crisis, while seaweeds are known to be a great source of bioactive compounds with potential use for human and animal nutrition, novel natural preservatives, phytopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, among others. Asparagopsis armata (Harvey, 1855) is a seaweed w...
Exploring the biotechnological value of marine invertebrates: a closer look at ...
Pan, Yu-Lun; Rodrigues, Maria João; Pereira, Catarina; Engrola, Sofia; Colen, R.; Mansinhos, Inês; Romano, Anabela; Andrade, Paula B.; Fernandes, Fátima<i>Sabella spallanzanii</i> and <i>Microcosmus squamiger</i> were profiled for proximate composition, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids (FA), carotenoids, radical scavenging activity on the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and iron and copper chelating properties. <i>Microcosmus squamiger</i> had the highest level of moisture and crude protein, <i>S. spal...
Biological evaluation of naproxen–dehydrodipeptide conjugates with self-hydroge...
Moreira, Rute; Jervis, Peter John; Carvalho, André; Ferreira, Paula M. T.; Martins, J. A. R.; Valentão, Patrícia; Andrade, Paula B.; Pereira, David M.The use of peptide–drug conjugates is emerging as a powerful strategy for targeted drug delivery. Previously, we have found that peptides conjugated to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), more specifically naproxen–dehydrodipeptide conjugates, readily form nanostructured fibrilar supramolecular hydrogels. These hydrogels were revealed as efficacious nano-carriers for drug delivery applications. More...
Evaluating the in vitro potential of natural extracts to protect lipids from ox...
Félix, Rafael; Valentão, Patrícia; Andrade, Paula B.; Félix, Carina; Novais, Sara C.; Lemos, Marco F.L.Lipid peroxidation is a chemical reaction known to have negative impacts on living organisms’ health and on consumer products’ quality and safety. Therefore, it has been the subject of extensive scientific research concerning the possibilities to reduce it, both in vivo and in nonliving organic matrices. It can be started by a variety of oxidants, by both ROS-dependent and -independent pathways, all of them rev...