In recent years, consumers have been increasingly interested in natural, healthier, functional foods, with a focus on sea-based products such as algae. (BB) is a macroalga that belongs to the Phaeophyceae class. These brown algae are recognized as the source of bioactive molecules of great interest to the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, the search for novel natural-based ingredients by food and related industries has sparked extensive research aimed at discovering new sources of functional molecules. , traditionally known as an ornamental plant, has gained attention due to its diverse array of bioactive compounds with potential industrial applications. Although flowers are edible, their phytochemical profile has not been thoroughly investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis review summarizes the recent findings on the development of different types of single and multitarget nanoparticles for disease detection and drug delivery to the brain, focusing on promising active principles encapsulated and nanoparticle surface modification and functionalization. Functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as promising tools for the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders, offering a novel approach to addressing complex neurological challenges. They can act as drug delivery vehicles, transporting one or multiple therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier and precisely releasing them at the site of action.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhytochemical-rich antioxidant extracts were obtained from Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Critical extraction factors such as time, pressure, and ethanol concentration were optimized by response surface methodology with a circumscribed central composite design. Under the optimal MAE conditions (3 min, 10.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiosensors (Basel)
August 2023
As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee is a rich source of non-enzymatic bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. In this study, twelve commercial coffee beverages found in local Portuguese markets were assessed to determine their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as their antioxidant capacity, by conventional optical procedures, namely, ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH-radical scavenging assay, and non-conventional procedures such as a homemade DNA-based biosensor against two reactive radicals: HO and HO. The innovative DNA-based biosensor comprised an adenine-rich oligonucleotide adsorbed onto a carbon paste electrode.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFucoxanthin (Fx) has been proven to exert numerous biological properties, which makes it an interesting molecule with diverse industrial applications. In this study, the kinetic behavior of Fx was studied to optimize three variables: time (-3 min to 7 days), temperature (-5 to 85 °C), and concentration of ethanol in water (-50 to 100%, /), in order to obtain the best Fx yield from using conventional heat extraction. The Fx content () was found through HPLC-DAD and expressed in µg Fx/g of algae sample dry weight (AS dw).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMajor depressive disorder is a widespread condition with antidepressants as the main pharmacological treatment. However, some patients experience concerning adverse reactions or have an inadequate response to treatment. Analytical chromatographic techniques, among other techniques, are valuable tools for investigating medication complications, including those associated with antidepressants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProteins
July 2017
Transgenic maize produced by the insertion of the Cry transgene into its genome became the second most cultivated crop worldwide. Cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki expresses protein derivatives of crystalline endotoxins which confer insect resistance onto the maize crop. Mandatory labeling of processed food containing or made by genetically modified organisms is in force in many countries, so, it is very urgent to develop fast and practical methods for GMO identification, for example, biosensors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis work describes the development of an electrochemical enzymatic biosensor for quantification of the pesticide formetanate hydrochloride (FMT). It is based on a gold electrode modified with electrodeposited gold nanoparticles and laccase. The principle behind its development relies on FMT's capacity to inhibit the laccase catalytic reaction that occurs in the presence of phenolic substrates.
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