81 documents found, page 1 of 9
A population under smoke: fire events trigger severe air pollution in Portugal
Miraglia, Simone Georges El Khouri; Debone, Daniela; Ribeiro, Clara Lopes; Barbosa, Rui Moreira; Tavella, Ronan AdlerOur short communication aims to shed light on the critical health implications of the severe forest fires that occurred in Portugal in September 2024, highlighting the immediate surge in hospitalizations, the increase in mortality rates, and the long-term consequences for public health. Additionally, we emphasize the urgent need for updated public policies and air quality management strategies to effectively mi...
Colouring applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria photosynthetic pigments:...
Reimão, Mariana; Almeida, Liliana; Ramos, Cristiana; Eusébio, Nádia; Martins, Rosário; Silva, Manuela Vieira da; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Freitas, MarisaMicroalgae and cyanobacterial photosynthetic pigments possess immense potential for sustainable colouring applications in industries such as food, feed, cosmetics and textiles, primarily because of their vibrant colours, safety and eco-friendliness. These photosynthetic pigments align with the growing demand for eco-conscious products. However, substantial challenges persist at the industrial level, particularl...
2-Styrylchromones as inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes for the ...
Santos, Clementina M.M.; Proença, Carina; Freitas, Marisa; Araújo, Alberto N.; Silva, Artur; Fernandes, Eduardaalpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase are key enzymes implicated in carbohydrate digestion and their inhibition has been suggested as a powerful approach for regulating blood glucose levels. The present work describes for the first time their inhibition by a group of twelve hydroxylated 2-styrylchromones (2-SC). Our findings revealed that 2-SC display strong systematic inhibition of alpha-glucosidase rather than ...
Bioactive compounds and scavenging capacity of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab fr...
Ferreira da Vinha, Ana; Costa, Anabela S.G.; Pimentel, Filipa B.; Santo, Liliana Espírito; Silva, Carla Sousa e; Freitas, Marisa; Fernandes, EduardaBackground: Baobab fruit is valued for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Although it is acknowledged that baobab pulp is beneficial for health, studies that link its nutraceutical properties to the ability to eliminate reactive species (ROS and RNS) are scarce. Methods: The nutritional profile and the antioxidant properties of baobab pulp extracts from Angola were evaluated. Thus, for the first time, the ...
Bioprospecting for cellulose-degrading microorganisms
Almeida, Liliana; Alexandrino, Diogo; Oliveira, Rui S.; Carvalho, M. Fátima; Freitas, Marisa; Freitas, MarisaCellulose, a complex polysaccharide, is one of the main components of plant and algae biomass and therefore the most abundant polymer found in nature, serving as a significant carbon source in various ecosystems. Bioprospecting for cellulolytic microbes is a promising strategy for discovering potential biocatalysts for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials, including residues. This work aims to assess the...
Avaliação de Impacto na Saúde da desinfeção de águas residuais como barreira à ...
Almeida, Liliana; Freitas, Marisa; Miraglia, Simone Georges El Khouri; Abe, Karina CamasmieDesde 1938, com a descoberta da penicilina, que os antibióticos vieram revolucionar a medicina com a sua capacidade de tratamento de infeções bacterianas. Contudo, devido à inata capacidade de adaptação das bactérias a agentes antimicrobianos, verifica-se atualmente que os níveis de resistência a antibióticos estão a aumentar, enquanto o progresso da descoberta de novos agentes tem sido lento e não tem acompanh...
Toxic and non-toxic cyanobacterial biomass as a resource for sustainable agricu...
Massa, Anabella; Santos, Érica; Martins, Diogo; Azevedo, Joana; Reimão, Mariana; Almeida, Agostinho; Azevedo, Rui; Pinto, Edgar; Vasconcelos, VítorCyanobacteria represent a promising resource for sustainable agriculture, as they have demonstrated the ability to restore soil fertility even after death and decay. However, several cyanobacteria can also release secondary metabolites, such as cyanotoxins, which may compromise the quality of agricultural products and pose a potential risk to human health. Depending on the concentration of exposure, few studies...
Determinação de alergénios de amendoim e amêndoa em alimentos comercializados n...
Soares, Renata; Sousa, Carolina; Soares, Sílvia; Moreira, Andreia; Vieira da Silva, Manuela; Freitas, MarisaA sustentabilidade ambiental é um tema de destaque a nível mundial. Considerando os princípios da hierarquia da gestão de resíduos e a maior sensibilização da população para evitar o uso de embalagens descartáveis, é inegável o ressurgimento e expansão das lojas de venda de alimentos a granel (Beitzen-Heineke et al., 2017).
Determination of Vitamin C content in spinach plants grown under the use of cya...
Martins, Diogo; Massa, Anabella; Reimão, Mariana; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Campos, Alexandre; Pinto, Edgar; Freitas, MarisaThe agricultural sector is continuously exploring sustainable and innovative approaches to enhance crop productivity, driving the quest for greener alternatives over synthetic fertilizers. Cyanobacteria have been reported as a promising agricultural fertilizer, with positive effects on crop yield. However, little is known about its potential effects on the produced vegetables' nutritional quality. Studies have ...
Environmentally friendly and cost-effective approaches to reduce toxin content ...
Loss, Letícia; Azevedo, Joana; Azevedo, Tomé; Freitas, Marisa; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Campos, AlexandreCyanobacterial outgrowths are naturally occurring processes in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, as a result of climate change and anthropogenic pollution, cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) are expanding worldwide. CyanoHABs are considered a threat to human health and environment due to the production of potent toxic substances, but at the same time, valuable products can be obtained from ...