Percorrer por autor "Ramos, Fernando"
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- Cynara Scolymus clustering in plant food supplements by high resolution melting analysisPublication . Batista, Andreia; Costa, Joana; Fernandes, Telmo J.R.; Amaral, Joana S.; Ramos, Fernando; Oliveira, Beatriz; Mafra, IsabelPlant food supplements (PFS) have been regarded with special interest since they are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, contributing to a better homeostatic balance. Weight-loss PFS, one of the most consumed PFS, may include Cynara scolymus (artichoke) as an ingredient due to its antioxidant, diuretic, choleretic and hepatoprotective properties [1]. Considered as foods under the EU Directive 2002/46/EC, the PFS are not usually subjected to any safety assessment prior to their commercialisation. This can lead to adulteration issues, such as accidental swap of plants or deliberate substitution of higher cost botanicals by other similar, but cheaper species. Thus, to ensure consumer’s safety, the development of analytical methods for the correct identification of different plant species in PFS has become essential. Until now, DNA-based methods have been reported as highly appropriate tools for plant authentication [2]. The aim of this study was to discriminate C. scolymus from other Cynara spp. using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled to high resolution melting (HRM) analysis. For this purpose, different Cynara species (C. scolymus, C. syriaca, C. cardunculus and C. humilis) were obtained from Portuguese and French Germplasm Banks. A total of 8 PFS tablets for weight-loss containing artichoke were acquired at local herbal stores. DNA from plant material and PFS was extracted using the commercial NucleoSpin Plant II kit. Former to DNA extraction, PFS were pre-treated with a phosphate buffer 1M (pH8, 15% ethanol) to enhance the purity and quality of the extracts. The specificity and sensitivity of the designed primers targeting C. scolymus were assayed by qualitative PCR and real-time PCR with HRM analysis. The application of the specific PCR assay was successful in the detection of Cynara spp. in some of the PFS samples. The results of real-time PCR with HRM analysis showed that different Cynara spp. were included in three distinct clusters with a level of confidence above 99.4%, thus discriminating artichoke from other Cynara species. The proposed HRM analysis allowed confirming the unequivocal presence of C. scolymus in the tested PFS with high level of confidence (>98.8%). To our knowledge, this is the first successful attempt for the rapid discrimination of C. scolymus in PFS.
- Novas metodologias para a identificação de adulterações de produtos cárneos com carne de cavaloPublication . Meira, Liliana; Mafra, Isabel; Costa, Joana; Amaral, Joana S.; Ramos, Fernando; Oliveira, BeatrizO consumo de carne de cavalo depende, principalmente, dos hábitos alimentares das populações que habitam em algumas regiões. Regra geral, este animal é mais consumido nos países onde é produzido [1]. Ao longo dos tempos, o seu consumo tem variado amplamente de acordo com as dife-renças culturais e económicas da sociedade. Este animal fornece uma fonte, relativamente barata, de proteína ani-mal em países onde os cavalos são extensivamente utiliza-dos como animais de trabalho e transporte humano [2]. A textura da carne de cavalo é relativamente firma, e o seu sabor adocicado é-lhe atribuído pelo seu elevado teor em glicogénio, em comparação com outras espécies [1]. Esta carne contém um elevado teor em água, proteínas, ferro e vitaminas, que são solúveis em água. O seu menor teor em lípidos e elevado em fibras musculares e vitaminas insolú-veis em água torna-a diferente, em comparação com a carne bovina e suína [3]. Muitas vezes a ingestão de carne de ca-valo esteve associada a épocas de escassez de alimentos. Contudo, o consumo deste animal é relativamente popular nos países nórdicos e asiáticos, bem como na Itália [4]. Nos países membros da UE, o consumo médio por habitante é de apenas 0,4 kg por ano, mas devido a uma produção insu-ficiente a importação abrange 66,7% das necessidades do mercado [3].
- Pterospartum tridentatum liqueur using spirits aged with almond shells: chemical characterization and phenolic profilePublication . Garcia, Catia; Dias, Maria Inês; Henriques, Marta H.F.; Barros, Lillian; Ramos, FernandoWith great cultural significance, spirits and distillate beverages constitute an important niche market in Europe. The development of new food products, particularly for the functionalization of these beverages, is increasing exponentially. The present work aimed to develop a new wine spirit beverage aged with almond shells and flowers of P. tridentatum for further characterization of bioactive and phenolic compounds, coupled with a sensorial study to evaluate the acceptance of this new product by the market. Twenty-one phenolic compounds were identified, mainly isoflavonoids and O- and C-glycosylated flavonoids, especially in P. tridentatum flowers, indicating that it is a highly aromatizing agent. The developed liqueur and wine spirits (almonds and flowers) showed distinct physicochemical properties, with the last two samples showing greater appreciation and purchase intention by consumers due to their sweetness and smoothness. The most promising results were found for the carqueja flower, which should be further investigated in an industrial context to contribute to its valorization in its regions of origin, such as Beira Interior and Tras-os-Montes (Portugal).