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- Flores comestíveis como fonte de compostos bioativos com atividade antioxidantePublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Ferrão, Ana Cristina; Correia, Paula; Goncalves, J. C.; Gonçalves, Fernando JorgeExistem muitas espécies vegetais utilizadas na gastronomia, entre as quais as flores comestíveis (FC). Para que uma flor seja considerada comestível ela deve ser não tóxica, inócua e ter propriedades nutricionais. Historicamente, as FC têm sido usadas para fins culinários há séculos em várias partes do mundo, como Ásia, Grécia antiga, Roma e também na França medieval. Adicionalmente, constituem uma boa fonte de compostos bioativos, nomeadamente fitoquímicos, associados a várias propriedades farmacológicas, destacando a proteção contra doenças cardiovasculares e os efeitos ansiolíticos, anticancerígenos, antidiabéticos, anti-inflamatórios, antioxidantes, diuréticos, imunomoduladores e antimicrobianos. Recentemente, as FC têm despertado crescente interesse, devido às suas propriedades estéticas e organoléticas, bem como potenciais benefícios para a saúde, relacionados com a ocorrência de alguns compostos bioativos. Nesta medida, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os teores de compostos fenólicos totais, antocianinas e flavonoides, bem como a atividade antioxidante num conjunto de FC. Para a análise foram obtidos extratos de onze espécies de FC que foram utilizados para a quantificação da composição fenólica e atividade antioxidante usando métodos espectrofotométricos. Dos resultados obtidos foi possível verificar que as rosas e cravos de coloração vermelha ou rosa se destacaram como contendo maiores teores de compostos fenólicos totais (18 a 27 mg EGA/g), e ainda maiores aportes de antocianinas (3 a 5 mg EC/g). Verificou-se ainda que eram também essas as FC com maior atividade antioxidante (12 a 16 mg ET/g). De destacar por fim o cravo vermelho como contendo maior quantidade de flavonoides (cerca de 18 mg EC/g). Em conclusão, verifica-se que as FC, para além das suas potencialidades gastronómicas, podem constituir um veículo para a ingestão de compostos com efeitos benéficos para a saúde, nomeadamente no que respeita ao combate aos radicais lives responsáveis pelo envelhecimento celular.
- Flour from drone broods: A viable alternative?Publication . Correia, Paula; Vouga, C; Coelho, Catarina; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Gonçalves, Fernando Jorge; C. Goncalves, J.
- Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Bioaccessibility in Physalis Peruviana LPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Gonçalves, Fernando Jorge; Oliveira, Solange; Correia, PaulaThis work evaluated phenolic compounds in Physalis peruviana as well as their antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility, using an in vitro model of the gastrointestinal system. Three combinations of solvents were evaluated for the extraction of phenolic com- pounds. All other chemical components, their antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility were evaluated using established methods. P. peruviana is rich in fiber (4.61 g/100 g), vitamin C (26.70 mg/ 100 g), carotenoids (5.95 µg/100 g), total phenolic compounds (59.9 mgGAE/100 g), flavonoids (0.340 mgQE/10 g) and ortho- diphenols (94.6 mgGAE/100 g). The antioxidant activity varied from 7.7 to 13.7 µmolTE/g. The simulation of the digestive tract showed that only about 40-50% of the phenolic compounds remained available for intestinal absorption, and only 23 – 34% of the antioxidant activity was preserved after passing through the gastrointestinal system. Hence, these ratios have to be taken into consideration regarding the ingestion of phenolic com- pounds in order to expect desired health benefits for the human body, namely in terms of antioxidant activity.
- Production and characterization of powder from drone brood of honeybees (Apis mellifera)Publication . Goncalves, J. C.; Vouga, Beatriz; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Gonçalves, Fernando Jorge; Coelho, Catarina; Guiné, Raquel; Correia, PaulaDrone bee brood are a natural source of food with potential for human nutrition. This work aims to investigate the production and extraction of the drone bee brood (larvae and pupae), as well as the production of powder from this insect for food applications. To produce the drone brood (DB), in some hives of the colony appropriate empty frames were placed. Some measurements were done in the hive to monitor the global wellbeing of the colony, namely, temperature, relative humidity, and weight. After approximately one month, the frames were removed from the hives and frozen. The yield of DB by frame was 38%. For the extraction of the drone brood, different methods were tested, being the best ones the cold room extraction (∼ 6.5 °C), on a cold surface extraction (∼ 11 °C), and in boiling water extraction (100 °C). The results show that the extraction efficiencies were 74.3% (336.3 s), 62.5% (246.8 s) and 84.9% (332.0 s), for extraction in a cold room, on a cold surface, and in boiling water, respectively. After extraction, two drying processes were tested: evaporation and freeze-drying, being the last one the recommended, preserving in a better way the appearance and composition of the DB. DB powders presented different colour characteristics according to the extraction method used. The powder obtained by boiling extraction was darker than the one produced with cold extraction. Powders are rich in protein, fat and carbohydrates, being the fat content quite high for DB powders produced by boiling extraction method.
- Evaluation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in some edible flowersPublication . Gonçalves, Fernando Jorge; C. Goncalves, J.; Ferrão, Ana Cristina; Correia, Paula; Guiné, RaquelRecently, edible fl owers ( EF ) have aroused increased interest because of their aesthetic properties as well as potential health bene fi ts related to the occurrence of some bioactive compounds. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the total phenolics, anthocyanins, fl avonoids, and antioxidant activity ( AOA ) ( following DPPH and ABTS methods ) in eleven EF. The samples were subjected to three successive extraction steps using methanol, and these extracts were then analysed for the aforementioned properties using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained extracts were used for the quantification of phenolic composition and AOA. The results indicated that, among the fl owers analysed in this study, red rose, pink rose, and red carnation possessed the highest total phenolic contents ( 27.53, 23.30, and 18.17 mg g − 1 gallic acid equivalents, respectively ) , total anthocyanins ( 3.07, 1.97, and 4.47 mg g − 1 catechin equivalents [ CE ] , respectively ) , and AOA ( 12.07, 15.77, and 12.93 mg g − 1 TE, respectively, as given by the DPPH method or 8.23, 9.27 and 8.00 mg g − 1 TE, respectively, as given by the ABTS method ) . The flowers with highest fl avonoids contents were red carnation, Mexican marigold, and pink rose ( 17.50, 16.90, and 16.57 mg g − 1 CE, respectively ) . Cluster analysis grouped the analysed flowers into two groups, those richest in phenolics with AOA and those not so rich. Finally, some important correlations were observed between the total phenolics and the AOA. In conclusion, these fl owers could represent a potential source of natural compounds with antioxidant capacity.
- The Motivations for Consumption of Edible Insects: A Systematic ReviewPublication . Florença, Sofia G.; Guiné, Raquel; Gonçalves, Fernando Jorge; Barroca, Maria João; Ferreira, Manuela; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Correia, Paula; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Campos, Sofia; Anjos, Ofélia; Cunha, Luís MiguelThe consumption of edible insects (EI) is traditional in many parts of the world, but not in others. In fact, despite globalization and the multiple advantages pointed out about the consumption of EI, there are still many countries where entomophagy is seen with disgust and aversion. This systematic review aimed to examine the motivations that influence the consumption of EI in diverse cultures and understand if there are differences between Western countries (WC) and insect-eating countries (IEC). It further evaluated whether the degree of acceptability was influenced by the form of consumption of the insects (eating whole insects or foods containing insects). This literature review was conducted in November 2021 within three databases, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus, according to the Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis and using PRISMA directives. From a total of 245 studies, 31 were selected to be included in this review, based on the inclusion criteria defined: only original research articles, from 2010 or beyond, and written in English. The results indicated that the main motivations that determine the consumption of EI are related to gender, age, sustainability, nutritional value, sensory attributes, tradition/culture, food neophobia, disgust and familiarity/past experiences. Moreover, whereas in IEC, there is a greater focus on factors related to sensory attributes, availability, affordability and preferences, in WC, there is a bigger emphasis on determinants such as nutritional value, sustainability, benefits, familiarity/past experience, tradition/culture, food neophobia and disgust. Finally, it was observed that people in WC are more willing to accept food products containing insects rather than the whole insect, which is one of the most promising points to be addressed in the future. Overall, this review highlights that there are numerous factors influencing the consumption of edible insects, and differences between WC and IEC are clear in what concerns the motivations of consumers. Hence, targeting market segments and consumers’ characteristics has to be present when designing strategies to incentivize the consumption of EI in WC as a part of a global strategy for sustainability of food systems.