Essential Oil Composition and Anti-Cholinesterase Properties of Foliage Harvested in São Miguel Island (Azores) in Two Different Seasons.

The Azorean forest operations and wood industry generate considerable foliage biomass residues that are used for local essential oil (EO) production. However, research on seasonal variation of EO remains scarce. In this study, the EOs from fresh Azorean foliage (Az-CJF) collected in autumn (Aut) and spring (Spr) were obtained via hydrodistillation and investigated for their physical properties, yield, chemical composition, and bioactivities.

Anticholinesterase and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Essential Oils of Sawdust and Resin-Rich Bark from Azorean (Cupressaceae): In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment, affects millions of people worldwide. However, AD therapy remains limited and mainly symptomatic-focused, with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors being the major available drugs. Thus, AD is considered by the WHO as a disorder of public health priority.

Sequential Separation of Essential Oil Components during Hydrodistillation of Fresh Foliage from Azorean (Cupressaceae): Effects on Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Free Radical Scavenging Activities.

wood industry generates large amounts of foliage biomass residues. Due to the increasing applications and markets for essential oils (EOs), fresh Azorean foliage (Az-CJF) residues are used for local EO production. Hydrodistillation (HD), a common process for obtaining EOs, also provides the possibility to fractionate them.

Chemical Compositions and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils of Sawdust and Resin-Rich Bark from Azorean (Cupressaceae).

In the Azores archipelago (Portugal), forest operations and wood industry generate large amounts of biomass residues (CJBR), which can be used to produce valuable essential oils (EOs). In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of EOs from Azorean sawdust (CJS) and resin-rich bark (CJRRB). The CJS and CJRRB EOs, obtained via hydrodistillation, showed different yield values (0.

Biological activities of organic extracts and specialized metabolites from different parts of Cryptomeria japonica (Cupressaceae) - A critical review.

Forest operations and wood industry generate large amounts of residues that are discarded in the field and cause environmental pollution. However, these biomass residues are still raw materials to obtain value-added products, such as essential oils, organic/aqueous extracts and resins that are among the great natural sources of bioactive metabolites. Thus, in recent years, the scientific community is giving special attention to their valorization.

Investigation of the Azorean Processing Conditions to Maximize the Theaflavin 3,3'-di--Gallate Content as a Potential Antiviral Compound.

The molecular constituents of , in particular epigallocatechin-3--gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin-3,3'-di--gallate (TF-3,3'-DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vital individual functional proteins for viral cell replication. Our results for total catechin content revealed the values of 174.72, 200.

Marine Organisms as Alkaloid Biosynthesizers of Potential Anti-Alzheimer Agents.

The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), increases continuously demanding the urgent development of anti-Alzheimer's agents. Marine organisms (MO) have to create their own defenses due to the adverse environment where they live and so synthesize several classes of compounds, such as akaloids, to defend themselves. Therefore, the identification of marine natural products with neuroprotective effects is a necessity.

Comparative Analysis of the Polyphenols, Caffeine, and Antioxidant Activities of Green Tea, White Tea, and Flowers from Azorean Varieties Affected by Different Harvested and Processing Conditions.

This study evaluates the polyphenol profiles as well as caffeine (dry weight basis), and antioxidant activities of green tea (GTs), white tea (WTs), and flowers (Fl) samples from Azorean varieties affected by different harvested and processing conditions. Epicatechins derivatives, determined by RP-HPLC/PDAD, presented higher values in GTs with respect to WTs, decreasing as follows: epigallocatechin-3-gallate > epicatechin-3-gallate ≫ epicatechin ≫ epigallocatechin, and higher values in summer and early autumn than in spring. This was also accompanied by an in consistent withering time pattern.

Variability of antioxidant properties, catechins, caffeine, L-theanine and other amino acids in different plant parts of Azorean .

During tea processing, manufacturers usually remove the internodes, which are classified as waste. This study presents the first determination of plant part contribution, particularly internodes, to green tea quality, in order to find the best blend to maximize impact on human health. Catechins, caffeine and free amino acid (FAA) profiles were determined by RP-HPLC/DAD, total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methodologies, respectively, and antioxidant activities by free radical-scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ferrous ion-chelating (FIC) methods.

Seasonal Variability of the Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of at Two Azorean Islands.

This study evaluates, for the first time, the seasonal (winter and summer) and geographical (São Miguel⁻SMG and Santa Maria⁻SMA Islands) variability of (Fs) biochemical composition (dry weight basis) and antioxidant properties. Protein and carbohydrates presented higher values in Fs-SMG, lipids, total dietary fiber, and energy value in Fs-SMA, and ash and soluble dietary fiber/insoluble dietary fiber ratio in Fs-SMA. The fatty acid (FA) profiles showed a lower SFA in Fs-SMG, whereas MUFA and PUFA presented higher values in Fs-SMG and Fs-SMG, respectively.

Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Activity, Antioxidant Properties, Phenolic Content and Amino Acid Profiles of Fucus spiralis L. Protein Hydrolysate Fractions.

Food protein-derived hydrolysates with multi-bioactivities such as antihypertensive and antioxidant properties have recently received special attention since both activities can play significant roles in preventing cardiovascular diseases. This study reports, for the first time, the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibition and antioxidant properties of ultrafiltrate fractions (UF) with different molecular weight ranges (<1, 1-3 and ≥3 kDa) obtained from protein hydrolysate (FSPH) digested with cellulase-bromelain. The amino acids profile, recovery yield, protein, peptide and total phenolic contents of these FSPH-UF, and the in vitro digestibility of crude protein were also investigated.

Nutritional and Functional Bioactivity Value of Selected Azorean Macroalgae: Ulva compressa, Ulva rigida, Gelidium microdon, and Pterocladiella capillacea.

This study presents information on the biochemical composition (dry weight basis), nutritional aspects, and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties of selected macroalgae (Ulva compressa, Ulva rigida, Gelidium microdon, and Pterocladiella capillacea) from Azores. Moisture content was very high (83.2% to 90.

Health-promoting ingredients from four selected Azorean macroalgae.

This study presents, for the first time, the nutritional and health promoting aspects of four selected Azorean macroalgae (Ulva compressa, Ulva rigida, Gelidium microdon and Pterocladiella capillacea) in terms of total lipids, fatty acids (FA) profile, n6/n3 and hypocholesterolemic (h)/hypercholesterolemic (H) FA ratios, minerals, total essential amino acids (AA), anti-ageing and anti-phenylketonuria AA content, coenzyme Q, α-tocopherol, total phenolics, antioxidant properties and energy value, on a dry weight basis. The results revealed low lipid content (1.02-4.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of Fucus spiralis macroalgae and influence of the extracts storage temperature-A short report.

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the marine algae as a natural source of novel angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as the phlorotannins that are the predominant polyphenols in brown algae. This study reports, for the first time, the ACE inhibition of methanol extract/fractions from Azorean brown algae Fucus spiralis (Fs) determined by HPLC-UV method, their total phenolic content (TPC) quantified as phloroglucinol equivalents (PE) and the effect of the Fs dry powder methanol extracts (Fs-DME) storage temperature on ACE inhibition. The results indicate that the ACE inhibition of Fs-DME decreased by 28.

Edible Azorean macroalgae as source of rich nutrients with impact on human health.

Fucus spiralis, Porphyra sp. and Osmundea pinnatifida are macroalgae consumed as food in some of the Azorean Islands, but little information is available on their nutritional value. This paper presents information on the nutritional aspects in terms of proteins (9.

HPLC-UV-ESI-MS analysis of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of Hypericum undulatum shoot cultures and wild-growing plants.

LC-UV and LC-MS analysis were used to study the phenolic composition of water extracts of Hypericum undulatum (HU) shoot cultures and wild-growing (WG) plants. Total phenolic content (TPC), determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and the antioxidant activity measured by two complementary methods were also performed for each sample. Mass spectrometry revealed several phenolics acids with quinic acid moieties, flavonols, mostly quercetin, luteolin and apigenin glycosides, flavan-3-ols (catechin and epicatechin) and the xanthonoid mangiferin.

Content of hypericins from plants and in vitro shoots of Hypericum undulatum Schousb. ex Willd.

This study reports the first quantification study of pseudohypericin (PsHyp) and hypericin (Hyp) in Hypericum undulatum Schousb. ex Willd in vitro cultures developed by a Portuguese company. Both compounds were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography and their levels were compared with those in commercial samples of Hypericum perforatum.

Molluscicidal activity of crude water and hexane extracts of Hypericum species to snails (Radix peregra).

In spite of intense research on both chemical constituency and biological activity of Hypericum species, potential applications of their active components for pest control have been less well investigated. In the present study, Hypericum androsaemum (tutsan), Hypericum foliosum (malfurada), and Hypericum undulatum (wavy St. John's wort) aqueous and hexane extracts were studied for their molluscicidal and ovicidal activities against Radix peregra.

Comparison of the endemic Azorean Hypericum foliosum with other Hypericum species: antioxidant activity and phenolic profile.

Water extracts of Hypericum foliosum (HF) from five Azorean Islands were analysed for their antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents. The results were compared with those from medicinal Hypericum species (H. perforatum, H.

Pentacyclic triterpenes from Euphorbia stygiana.

Two pentacyclic triterpenes, D-friedomadeir-14-en-3beta-yl acetate and D:C-friedomadeir-7-en-3beta-yl acetate, named madeiranyl acetate and isomadeiranyl acetate, respectively, were isolated from leaves of Euphorbia stygiana, together with the two known madeiranes, D-friedomadeir-14-en-3-one and D:C-friedomadeir-7-en-3-one, which were obtained from the stem bark. In addition, four known lupane and taraxerane-type triterpenes, namely lupenyl acetate, lupenone, taraxeryl acetate and taraxerone, were also isolated from the same source. Structures were elucidated by physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods (1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and mass spectra) and by comparison with literature data, and in the case of D:C-friedomadeir-7-en-3beta-yl acetate by X-ray analysis as well.