Arbutus unedo L. is a species with great economic impact in rural areas, and its fruits have seve... more Arbutus unedo L. is a species with great economic impact in rural areas, and its fruits have several food applications and beneficial properties on human health. However, the fruits are highly perishable, and little is known about their characteristics. The present work thus aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of Arbutus unedo L. during two consecutive years from four different samples. Microbiological analysis was conducted at different times of preservation (days 0, 4, 11, and 21) and temperatures (room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing). Six fungal strains as representatives of the most prevalent mycobiota in fruits were used for molecular identification. The fruits had aw values of 0.916 ± 0.01 to 0.930 ± 0.01, pH values of 3.81 ± 0.01 to 3.82 ± 0.01, and ºBrix values of 25.02 ± 0.49 to 28.52 ± 1.02. Microbiological analysis revealed that the predominant microbiota in fresh fruits were psychrotrophs (4.07 ± 0.25 log CFU/g), yeasts (3.39 ± ...
Adventitious rooting in microshoots of chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata) in the pres... more Adventitious rooting in microshoots of chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata) in the presence of indole-3-butyric acid: The role of changes in endogenous indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-acetylaspartic acid and indole-3-butyric acid levels
Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species a... more Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species adaptation and distribution. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most vulnerable hotspots for biodiversity conservation under climate change in the world. This research aimed at studying a Mediterranean species well adapted to the region: the Arbutus unedo L. (strawberry tree). The MaxEnt, a presence-only species-distribution software, was used to model A. unedo’s environmental suitability. The current species potential distribution was accessed based on actual occurrences and selected environmental variables and subsequently projected for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid-Holocene (MH), and the years 2050 and 2070, considering the two Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Results from the LGM projection suggest the presence of refugia in the core of the Mediterranean Basin, in particular the Iberian Peninsula (IP). The projections for the MH indicate increasin...
In this study we present the results of growth analysis of in vitro-regenerated chestnut hybrid p... more In this study we present the results of growth analysis of in vitro-regenerated chestnut hybrid plantlets (Castanea sativa x C. crenata), during the acclimatization stage, using two CO 2 concentrations (350 and 700 µLL-1) at 250 µmol m-2 s-1 as irradiance level (PPFD). Elevated CO 2 did not affect the survival rate and it was susceptible to increase progressive autotrophy, expressed by a significant increase in relative growth, shoot/root ratio and leaf area ratio (LAR). The plants under elevated CO 2 showed an higher stomatal frequency but the new leaves developed at the end of acclimatization revealed a gradual normal stomatal morphology and they reduced the stomatal frequency. Their morphology showed an effective water loss control which is one of the most important problem during this critical phase of the autotrophic competence acquiring process. The net photosynthesis rate was similar in both treatments but the plants acclimatized at elevated CO 2 showed an increase in maximum photosynthetic rate (A max), and this can lead to a better physiological development. We think that the gains that we have achieved with the use of elevated CO 2 can be more significant if an higher light intensity can be used instead because they have a better response capacity to an increment of the level of irradiance.
Endogenous levels of IAA, IAAsp and IBA were quantified during the first 8 days of in vitro rooti... more Endogenous levels of IAA, IAAsp and IBA were quantified during the first 8 days of in vitro rooting of the chestnut hybrid, clone M3 by high performance liquid chromatography. Rooting was induced either by dipping the basal ends of the shoots into 1 gl-1 IBA solution for 1 minute or by subculturing the shoots on agar rooting medium with 3 mgl-1 IBA for 5 days. For root development the induced shoots were transferred to auxin-free agar medium. Auxins were measured in the apical and basal parts of the shoots by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Endogenous levels of IAA and IAAsp were higher in IBA-treated shoots than in control shoots. In extracts of the basal parts of the shoots, the concentration of free IAA showed a transient peak at day 2, in both root inductive methods, a subsequent gradual decrease for the remainder of the time course was observed. The concentration of IAAsp peaked at day 6 in extracts of the basal parts of shoots induced with 3 mgl-1 IBA for 5 days, whereas shoots induced by dipping showed an initial increase until day 2, and then remained stable. In extracts from basal shoot portions induced by dipping and by IBA in the medium, IBA concentration showed a transient peak at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, remaining stable after day 4 for the dipping method, whilst showing a significant drop between day 4 and 6 for the other induction treatment. All quantified auxins remained at a relatively low level, virtually constant, in extracts from apical shoot portions, as well as in extracts from control of non-rooting shoots.
Chemical investigations of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri and L. pedunculata essential oils were ana... more Chemical investigations of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri and L. pedunculata essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS, and the antimicrobial activity was performed against bacteria and fungi isolated from food sources. The cytotoxicity of the essential oil was performed in NHDF cells using the MTT method. According to the results, the main compounds of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil were trans-α-necrodyl acetate (40.2%), lavandulyl acetate (11%), and trans-α-necrodol (10.4%), while fenchone (50.5%) and camphor (30.0%) in L. pedunculata essential oil. The antifungal activity of essential oils was confirmed with MIC values ranging from 1.2 to 18.7 µL/mL; for bacteria, it ranged from 4.7 to 149.3 µL/mL. Both the Lavandula species tested showed low or equal MIC and MBC/MFC values for L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil, revealing greater efficacy in antimicrobial activity. The L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil revealed cytotoxic effects (30 ± 2% of cell viability) in ...
Comunicação da qual só está disponível o resumo.O Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Int... more Comunicação da qual só está disponível o resumo.O Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Interior (CBP-BI) é uma infraestrutura do Sistema Científico e Tecnológico Nacional criado ao abrigo de um protocolo de colaboração entre o Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, a Câmara Municipal do Fundão, a Universidade da Beira Interior e o Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas da Universidade de Campinas, Brasil, contando ainda como parceiro com o Biocant Park. A missão do Centro é criar conhecimento e valorizar a investigação na área da biotecnologia das plantas associada aos setores produtivos da fileira agrícola, florestal e das plantas aromáticas e medicinais. Os seus objetivos pretendem desenvolver conhecimento ligado à biotecnologia das plantas e promover a sua utilização como fator de promoção da atividade económica; estabelecer parcerias e fornecer produtos e serviços que possibilitem a criação e o crescimento de empresas ligadas aos setores p...
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, i... more Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, increasing in prevalence with age. AF is characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation with consequent deterioration of atrial mechanical function. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the adult population in the Covilhã district. Methods: Cross-sectional and prospective study, the sample is not probabilistic and we used the convenience sampling technique. The sample consisted of 1268 subjects and was collected in 2011. AF was diagnosed by a 12-lead electrocardiograms during the study. Results: In 1268 individuals studied, average age, 68,5 ± 13,7 years, 68,8% were female. The overall prevalence of AF was 3.4%. Distribution according to gender: 4,8% in men and 2,8% in women (p=0,060). Prevalence of AF by age groups: 59 to 68, 1,67%; 69 to 78, 4,20%; 79 to 88, 8,79%; over 89, 11,76% (p≤0.001). In individuals with AF 83.8% were overweight (BMI> 25 kg/m 2) versus 66.5% for those without AF. Conclusion: The FA is strongly associated with increasing age, particularly from 69 years. Risk factors and comorbidities associated with AF were overweight, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, changes in ventricular repolarization and bundle brunch block.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo comparativo em microplantas de castanheiro com d... more O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo comparativo em microplantas de castanheiro com dois sistemas de expressão e desenvolvimento radicular, in vitro e ex vitro, e com duas intensidades luminosas (150 e 250 μmol m-2 s-1) durante a aclimatização, e a sua influência no desenvolvimento das microplantas durante esta fase, através da quantificação de parâmetros fotossintéticos. A concentração de clorofilas, após os tratamentos de aclimatização, dependeu quer do tipo de sistema radicular que as plantas possuíam no início da aclimatização, quer do regime luminoso a que as plantas estiveram submetidas. As plantas com enraizamento in vitro e aclimatizadas sob menor irradiância foram as que apresentaram valores superiores para a clorofila total (7,74 mg g-1ps), mas com o valor mais baixo na razão entre clorofila a/b (2,7). Quando comparamos os valores registados para os parâmetros fotossintéticos das plantas dos diferentes tratamentos, verificamos que as taxas de fotossíntese apare...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of aqueous extracts of in vitro shoot cultu... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of aqueous extracts of in vitro shoot cultures and wild plants of Pterospartum tridentatum in order to promote the use of this plant material as a possible source of bioactive compounds. The extraction yield from wild plants compared with in vitro shoot cultures was lower. The total phenolic contents of in vitro shoots were significantly lower compared with those of wild plants. The phenolic profiles of in vitro shoots were very similar to those of wild plants, regardless of the source. However, taxifolin-6- C-glucoside, as well as rutin and isoquercitrin, were not present in extracts of in vitro shoots. An interesting result was the higher molar percentages of rhamnose and uronic acids detected in in vitro shoots compared with the wild plants, which can make the in vitro plant material very useful for obtaining these compounds.
The morphology and physiology of plants grown in vitro are regulated by various environmental fac... more The morphology and physiology of plants grown in vitro are regulated by various environmental factors such as light, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide. Light, in its various parameters such as spectral quality, photon flux and photoperiod, is an important factor among these and generally influences the overall growth and development of plants in vitro. Light sources commonly used for in vitro plant culture are fluorescent lamps, although some research and commercial laboratories also use sodium metal or incandescent metal halide lamps. The spectral of those lamps range from 350 to 750 nm and contain blend lights that differentially affect in vitro plant growth. Recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been developed and are nowadays used as an alternative source of fluorescent light for the development of plants both in greenhouses and in vitro culture rooms. In order to test the influence of these two types of light during multiplication phase, a multiplicity experiment was carried out using two species: a chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata), clone M2 and the prickled broom (Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk.), Malcata ecotype. Two types of light were tested, "cool white" fluorescent light and LED light with blue and red colors. It was found that LED illumination exerted a significant positive effect on the differentiation of shoots in the case of prickled broom (5.6 instead of 4.9 split shoots under fluorescent light). In the parameters of shoot length, we found that this type of lighting favored the elongation in both species. Regarding the parameters of fresh and dry weight, LED lighting caused a greater effect on the chestnut than on prickled broom. Some physiological parameters (chlorophylls, carotenoids and proteins) were also analyzed and showed to be influenced by the type of light during the development of microplants.
Stevia rebaudianaBertoni, Asteraceae, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Paraguay. This s... more Stevia rebaudianaBertoni, Asteraceae, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Paraguay. This species is considered since ancient times a medicinal plant with important bioactive compounds and pharmacologic and food properties, namely diterpenes glycosides. The high natural sweetener potential stevioside and rebaudioside A produced byS. rebaudianaplants are suitable sucrose substitutes, and their obtention is influenced by environmental, phytosociological, and genetic factors. The plants’ genetic profile and sweet potential depiction are needed for suitable plant selection for improvement and deployment. Thirty-oneS. rebaudianaaccessions grown in the same plot where leaves samples were collected in early 2019, were genotyped using six microsatellite markers, including two steviol glycosides biosynthesis functionally involved markers. Additionally, an aqueous extract of each sample was obtained in a water bath and purified by SPE for stevioside and rebaudioside A quantification by ...
Labdanum resin from Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) is an abundant natural resource in the Iberia... more Labdanum resin from Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) is an abundant natural resource in the Iberian Peninsula worth being explored in a sustainable manner. It is already used in the cosmetic industry; mainly by the fragrances/perfumery sector. However, given the highest market share and traditional uses, labdanum resin also has the potential to be used and valued as a cosmetic ingredient for skincare. Aiming to evaluate this potential, labdanum methanolic absolute and fractions purified by column chromatography were characterized by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and then evaluated for UV-protection, antioxidant, anti-elastase, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Labdanum absolute represented ~70% of the resin; diterpenoid and flavonoid fractions represented ~75% and 15% of the absolute, respectively. Labdane-type diterpenoids and methylated flavonoids were the main compounds in labdanum absolute and in diterpenoid and flavonoid fractions, respectively. Labdanum absolute showed a spect...
Food safety and diversification of agri-food products are increasingly important. A new spirit dr... more Food safety and diversification of agri-food products are increasingly important. A new spirit drink produced from the arbutus fruit (strawberry tree fruit) and honey was designed, taking advantage of the best features of these two ingredients and limiting the methanol content. This work reports the first approach to its development, considering in particular its chemical composition, especially the volatile components, and sensory properties. Methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and fusel alcohols were quantified and identified by GC–FID/GC–MS. Sensory analyses were performed by a trained panel. Promising results were obtained, showing that the new spirit has features close to those of honey spirit. Significantly lower contents of methanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate were observed in the new spirit compared to arbutus spirit (359.0 vs. 994.4 g/hL of pure alcohol (P.A.), 20.5 vs. 25.6 g/hL P.A., and 35.5 vs. 53.9 g/hL P.A., respectively), which is advantageous from the food s...
Cistus ladanifer has a well-defined taxonomic identity. 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone may be an au... more Cistus ladanifer has a well-defined taxonomic identity. 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone may be an authenticity and taxonomic marker. Its traits and applications make it a possible economic resource fitted for Mediterranean areas. Cistus ladanifer is a dominant shrub species endemic to the western Mediterranean region. Due to its dominant nature and its potential ecological, aromatic or pharmacological applications, C. ladanifer has been the object of numerous studies. In this review current knowledge on different aspects of this species is summarized, from its taxonomy to its chemical characterisation or its competitive traits. There are no doubts about the taxonomic entity of C. ladanifer, although the recognition of infraspecific taxa deserves more attention. Given that the fragrant exudate of C. ladanifer holds a very specific composition, one species specific carotenoid, 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone, derivative is proposed as an authenticity marker for uses of C. ladanifer in pharm...
Pterospartum tridentatum is an authoctnous shrub abundantly present in Beira Interior, Portugal. ... more Pterospartum tridentatum is an authoctnous shrub abundantly present in Beira Interior, Portugal. This plant was widely used in traditional medicine due to their bioactive compounds. In this region there are various ecotypes of P. tridentatum as Malcata, Gardunha and Orvalho. The objective of this work was to evaluate in vitro development capacity of the three ecotypes under three different types of light: dark, fluorescent light (cool-white fluorescent lamps) and LED (DR/B/FR 150). Explants previously established in vitro conditions, were introduced in MS medium, supplemented with 4,44 μM of BAP and 2,46 μM of IBA to grow under influence of each type of light. The assay was carried out in cycle of 45 days. At the end of multiplication cycle different biometric and biochemical parameters were recorded. In dark treatment all the explants of all ecotypes showed absent of color in stalks, as well as, the low content of chlorophylls. Another characteristic of this treatment was the highe...
In order to improve plant survival and to achieve a better understanding of the rooting process Ž... more In order to improve plant survival and to achieve a better understanding of the rooting process Ž. of chestnut Castanea satiÕa= C. crenata shoot cultures of mature origin, different rooting treatments were compared. For root induction, the basal ends of the shoots were dipped into 1 g l y1 IBA solution for 1 min or planted for 5 days in 3 mg l y1 IBA agar medium. For root Ž development, the induced shoots were transferred either to auxin-free agar medium in vitro. Ž. rooting or to a peat:perlite substrate ex vitro rooting. Rooted shoots were subsequently acclimatized. After dipping induction, the rooting percentage was higher when root development Ž. Ž. was performed in vitro 97% than ex vitro 77%. After induction with IBA in agar medium, the Ž root development conditions did not affect the rooting percentage 93% and 87%, respectively, for. in vitro and ex vitro rooting. In the acclimatization stage, 100% survival was obtained with microplants with ex vitro-developed roots, compared to only 50% for microplants with in vitro-developed roots. After the root inductive treatments, peroxidase activity in the shoots was characterized by an initial reduction during the first 12 h, followed by a transient peak at day 1. From day 4 to day 6, peroxidase activity increased. This increase was faster in the dipped shoots, but on day 8, no difference in activity could be observed between the treatments. The sequential
Arbutus unedo L. is a species with great economic impact in rural areas, and its fruits have seve... more Arbutus unedo L. is a species with great economic impact in rural areas, and its fruits have several food applications and beneficial properties on human health. However, the fruits are highly perishable, and little is known about their characteristics. The present work thus aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of Arbutus unedo L. during two consecutive years from four different samples. Microbiological analysis was conducted at different times of preservation (days 0, 4, 11, and 21) and temperatures (room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing). Six fungal strains as representatives of the most prevalent mycobiota in fruits were used for molecular identification. The fruits had aw values of 0.916 ± 0.01 to 0.930 ± 0.01, pH values of 3.81 ± 0.01 to 3.82 ± 0.01, and ºBrix values of 25.02 ± 0.49 to 28.52 ± 1.02. Microbiological analysis revealed that the predominant microbiota in fresh fruits were psychrotrophs (4.07 ± 0.25 log CFU/g), yeasts (3.39 ± ...
Adventitious rooting in microshoots of chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata) in the pres... more Adventitious rooting in microshoots of chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata) in the presence of indole-3-butyric acid: The role of changes in endogenous indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-acetylaspartic acid and indole-3-butyric acid levels
Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species a... more Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species adaptation and distribution. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most vulnerable hotspots for biodiversity conservation under climate change in the world. This research aimed at studying a Mediterranean species well adapted to the region: the Arbutus unedo L. (strawberry tree). The MaxEnt, a presence-only species-distribution software, was used to model A. unedo’s environmental suitability. The current species potential distribution was accessed based on actual occurrences and selected environmental variables and subsequently projected for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid-Holocene (MH), and the years 2050 and 2070, considering the two Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Results from the LGM projection suggest the presence of refugia in the core of the Mediterranean Basin, in particular the Iberian Peninsula (IP). The projections for the MH indicate increasin...
In this study we present the results of growth analysis of in vitro-regenerated chestnut hybrid p... more In this study we present the results of growth analysis of in vitro-regenerated chestnut hybrid plantlets (Castanea sativa x C. crenata), during the acclimatization stage, using two CO 2 concentrations (350 and 700 µLL-1) at 250 µmol m-2 s-1 as irradiance level (PPFD). Elevated CO 2 did not affect the survival rate and it was susceptible to increase progressive autotrophy, expressed by a significant increase in relative growth, shoot/root ratio and leaf area ratio (LAR). The plants under elevated CO 2 showed an higher stomatal frequency but the new leaves developed at the end of acclimatization revealed a gradual normal stomatal morphology and they reduced the stomatal frequency. Their morphology showed an effective water loss control which is one of the most important problem during this critical phase of the autotrophic competence acquiring process. The net photosynthesis rate was similar in both treatments but the plants acclimatized at elevated CO 2 showed an increase in maximum photosynthetic rate (A max), and this can lead to a better physiological development. We think that the gains that we have achieved with the use of elevated CO 2 can be more significant if an higher light intensity can be used instead because they have a better response capacity to an increment of the level of irradiance.
Endogenous levels of IAA, IAAsp and IBA were quantified during the first 8 days of in vitro rooti... more Endogenous levels of IAA, IAAsp and IBA were quantified during the first 8 days of in vitro rooting of the chestnut hybrid, clone M3 by high performance liquid chromatography. Rooting was induced either by dipping the basal ends of the shoots into 1 gl-1 IBA solution for 1 minute or by subculturing the shoots on agar rooting medium with 3 mgl-1 IBA for 5 days. For root development the induced shoots were transferred to auxin-free agar medium. Auxins were measured in the apical and basal parts of the shoots by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Endogenous levels of IAA and IAAsp were higher in IBA-treated shoots than in control shoots. In extracts of the basal parts of the shoots, the concentration of free IAA showed a transient peak at day 2, in both root inductive methods, a subsequent gradual decrease for the remainder of the time course was observed. The concentration of IAAsp peaked at day 6 in extracts of the basal parts of shoots induced with 3 mgl-1 IBA for 5 days, whereas shoots induced by dipping showed an initial increase until day 2, and then remained stable. In extracts from basal shoot portions induced by dipping and by IBA in the medium, IBA concentration showed a transient peak at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, remaining stable after day 4 for the dipping method, whilst showing a significant drop between day 4 and 6 for the other induction treatment. All quantified auxins remained at a relatively low level, virtually constant, in extracts from apical shoot portions, as well as in extracts from control of non-rooting shoots.
Chemical investigations of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri and L. pedunculata essential oils were ana... more Chemical investigations of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri and L. pedunculata essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS, and the antimicrobial activity was performed against bacteria and fungi isolated from food sources. The cytotoxicity of the essential oil was performed in NHDF cells using the MTT method. According to the results, the main compounds of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil were trans-α-necrodyl acetate (40.2%), lavandulyl acetate (11%), and trans-α-necrodol (10.4%), while fenchone (50.5%) and camphor (30.0%) in L. pedunculata essential oil. The antifungal activity of essential oils was confirmed with MIC values ranging from 1.2 to 18.7 µL/mL; for bacteria, it ranged from 4.7 to 149.3 µL/mL. Both the Lavandula species tested showed low or equal MIC and MBC/MFC values for L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil, revealing greater efficacy in antimicrobial activity. The L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil revealed cytotoxic effects (30 ± 2% of cell viability) in ...
Comunicação da qual só está disponível o resumo.O Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Int... more Comunicação da qual só está disponível o resumo.O Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Interior (CBP-BI) é uma infraestrutura do Sistema Científico e Tecnológico Nacional criado ao abrigo de um protocolo de colaboração entre o Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, a Câmara Municipal do Fundão, a Universidade da Beira Interior e o Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas da Universidade de Campinas, Brasil, contando ainda como parceiro com o Biocant Park. A missão do Centro é criar conhecimento e valorizar a investigação na área da biotecnologia das plantas associada aos setores produtivos da fileira agrícola, florestal e das plantas aromáticas e medicinais. Os seus objetivos pretendem desenvolver conhecimento ligado à biotecnologia das plantas e promover a sua utilização como fator de promoção da atividade económica; estabelecer parcerias e fornecer produtos e serviços que possibilitem a criação e o crescimento de empresas ligadas aos setores p...
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, i... more Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, increasing in prevalence with age. AF is characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation with consequent deterioration of atrial mechanical function. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the adult population in the Covilhã district. Methods: Cross-sectional and prospective study, the sample is not probabilistic and we used the convenience sampling technique. The sample consisted of 1268 subjects and was collected in 2011. AF was diagnosed by a 12-lead electrocardiograms during the study. Results: In 1268 individuals studied, average age, 68,5 ± 13,7 years, 68,8% were female. The overall prevalence of AF was 3.4%. Distribution according to gender: 4,8% in men and 2,8% in women (p=0,060). Prevalence of AF by age groups: 59 to 68, 1,67%; 69 to 78, 4,20%; 79 to 88, 8,79%; over 89, 11,76% (p≤0.001). In individuals with AF 83.8% were overweight (BMI> 25 kg/m 2) versus 66.5% for those without AF. Conclusion: The FA is strongly associated with increasing age, particularly from 69 years. Risk factors and comorbidities associated with AF were overweight, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, changes in ventricular repolarization and bundle brunch block.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo comparativo em microplantas de castanheiro com d... more O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo comparativo em microplantas de castanheiro com dois sistemas de expressão e desenvolvimento radicular, in vitro e ex vitro, e com duas intensidades luminosas (150 e 250 μmol m-2 s-1) durante a aclimatização, e a sua influência no desenvolvimento das microplantas durante esta fase, através da quantificação de parâmetros fotossintéticos. A concentração de clorofilas, após os tratamentos de aclimatização, dependeu quer do tipo de sistema radicular que as plantas possuíam no início da aclimatização, quer do regime luminoso a que as plantas estiveram submetidas. As plantas com enraizamento in vitro e aclimatizadas sob menor irradiância foram as que apresentaram valores superiores para a clorofila total (7,74 mg g-1ps), mas com o valor mais baixo na razão entre clorofila a/b (2,7). Quando comparamos os valores registados para os parâmetros fotossintéticos das plantas dos diferentes tratamentos, verificamos que as taxas de fotossíntese apare...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of aqueous extracts of in vitro shoot cultu... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of aqueous extracts of in vitro shoot cultures and wild plants of Pterospartum tridentatum in order to promote the use of this plant material as a possible source of bioactive compounds. The extraction yield from wild plants compared with in vitro shoot cultures was lower. The total phenolic contents of in vitro shoots were significantly lower compared with those of wild plants. The phenolic profiles of in vitro shoots were very similar to those of wild plants, regardless of the source. However, taxifolin-6- C-glucoside, as well as rutin and isoquercitrin, were not present in extracts of in vitro shoots. An interesting result was the higher molar percentages of rhamnose and uronic acids detected in in vitro shoots compared with the wild plants, which can make the in vitro plant material very useful for obtaining these compounds.
The morphology and physiology of plants grown in vitro are regulated by various environmental fac... more The morphology and physiology of plants grown in vitro are regulated by various environmental factors such as light, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide. Light, in its various parameters such as spectral quality, photon flux and photoperiod, is an important factor among these and generally influences the overall growth and development of plants in vitro. Light sources commonly used for in vitro plant culture are fluorescent lamps, although some research and commercial laboratories also use sodium metal or incandescent metal halide lamps. The spectral of those lamps range from 350 to 750 nm and contain blend lights that differentially affect in vitro plant growth. Recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been developed and are nowadays used as an alternative source of fluorescent light for the development of plants both in greenhouses and in vitro culture rooms. In order to test the influence of these two types of light during multiplication phase, a multiplicity experiment was carried out using two species: a chestnut hybrid (Castanea sativa x C. crenata), clone M2 and the prickled broom (Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk.), Malcata ecotype. Two types of light were tested, "cool white" fluorescent light and LED light with blue and red colors. It was found that LED illumination exerted a significant positive effect on the differentiation of shoots in the case of prickled broom (5.6 instead of 4.9 split shoots under fluorescent light). In the parameters of shoot length, we found that this type of lighting favored the elongation in both species. Regarding the parameters of fresh and dry weight, LED lighting caused a greater effect on the chestnut than on prickled broom. Some physiological parameters (chlorophylls, carotenoids and proteins) were also analyzed and showed to be influenced by the type of light during the development of microplants.
Stevia rebaudianaBertoni, Asteraceae, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Paraguay. This s... more Stevia rebaudianaBertoni, Asteraceae, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Paraguay. This species is considered since ancient times a medicinal plant with important bioactive compounds and pharmacologic and food properties, namely diterpenes glycosides. The high natural sweetener potential stevioside and rebaudioside A produced byS. rebaudianaplants are suitable sucrose substitutes, and their obtention is influenced by environmental, phytosociological, and genetic factors. The plants’ genetic profile and sweet potential depiction are needed for suitable plant selection for improvement and deployment. Thirty-oneS. rebaudianaaccessions grown in the same plot where leaves samples were collected in early 2019, were genotyped using six microsatellite markers, including two steviol glycosides biosynthesis functionally involved markers. Additionally, an aqueous extract of each sample was obtained in a water bath and purified by SPE for stevioside and rebaudioside A quantification by ...
Labdanum resin from Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) is an abundant natural resource in the Iberia... more Labdanum resin from Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) is an abundant natural resource in the Iberian Peninsula worth being explored in a sustainable manner. It is already used in the cosmetic industry; mainly by the fragrances/perfumery sector. However, given the highest market share and traditional uses, labdanum resin also has the potential to be used and valued as a cosmetic ingredient for skincare. Aiming to evaluate this potential, labdanum methanolic absolute and fractions purified by column chromatography were characterized by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and then evaluated for UV-protection, antioxidant, anti-elastase, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Labdanum absolute represented ~70% of the resin; diterpenoid and flavonoid fractions represented ~75% and 15% of the absolute, respectively. Labdane-type diterpenoids and methylated flavonoids were the main compounds in labdanum absolute and in diterpenoid and flavonoid fractions, respectively. Labdanum absolute showed a spect...
Food safety and diversification of agri-food products are increasingly important. A new spirit dr... more Food safety and diversification of agri-food products are increasingly important. A new spirit drink produced from the arbutus fruit (strawberry tree fruit) and honey was designed, taking advantage of the best features of these two ingredients and limiting the methanol content. This work reports the first approach to its development, considering in particular its chemical composition, especially the volatile components, and sensory properties. Methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and fusel alcohols were quantified and identified by GC–FID/GC–MS. Sensory analyses were performed by a trained panel. Promising results were obtained, showing that the new spirit has features close to those of honey spirit. Significantly lower contents of methanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate were observed in the new spirit compared to arbutus spirit (359.0 vs. 994.4 g/hL of pure alcohol (P.A.), 20.5 vs. 25.6 g/hL P.A., and 35.5 vs. 53.9 g/hL P.A., respectively), which is advantageous from the food s...
Cistus ladanifer has a well-defined taxonomic identity. 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone may be an au... more Cistus ladanifer has a well-defined taxonomic identity. 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone may be an authenticity and taxonomic marker. Its traits and applications make it a possible economic resource fitted for Mediterranean areas. Cistus ladanifer is a dominant shrub species endemic to the western Mediterranean region. Due to its dominant nature and its potential ecological, aromatic or pharmacological applications, C. ladanifer has been the object of numerous studies. In this review current knowledge on different aspects of this species is summarized, from its taxonomy to its chemical characterisation or its competitive traits. There are no doubts about the taxonomic entity of C. ladanifer, although the recognition of infraspecific taxa deserves more attention. Given that the fragrant exudate of C. ladanifer holds a very specific composition, one species specific carotenoid, 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone, derivative is proposed as an authenticity marker for uses of C. ladanifer in pharm...
Pterospartum tridentatum is an authoctnous shrub abundantly present in Beira Interior, Portugal. ... more Pterospartum tridentatum is an authoctnous shrub abundantly present in Beira Interior, Portugal. This plant was widely used in traditional medicine due to their bioactive compounds. In this region there are various ecotypes of P. tridentatum as Malcata, Gardunha and Orvalho. The objective of this work was to evaluate in vitro development capacity of the three ecotypes under three different types of light: dark, fluorescent light (cool-white fluorescent lamps) and LED (DR/B/FR 150). Explants previously established in vitro conditions, were introduced in MS medium, supplemented with 4,44 μM of BAP and 2,46 μM of IBA to grow under influence of each type of light. The assay was carried out in cycle of 45 days. At the end of multiplication cycle different biometric and biochemical parameters were recorded. In dark treatment all the explants of all ecotypes showed absent of color in stalks, as well as, the low content of chlorophylls. Another characteristic of this treatment was the highe...
In order to improve plant survival and to achieve a better understanding of the rooting process Ž... more In order to improve plant survival and to achieve a better understanding of the rooting process Ž. of chestnut Castanea satiÕa= C. crenata shoot cultures of mature origin, different rooting treatments were compared. For root induction, the basal ends of the shoots were dipped into 1 g l y1 IBA solution for 1 min or planted for 5 days in 3 mg l y1 IBA agar medium. For root Ž development, the induced shoots were transferred either to auxin-free agar medium in vitro. Ž. rooting or to a peat:perlite substrate ex vitro rooting. Rooted shoots were subsequently acclimatized. After dipping induction, the rooting percentage was higher when root development Ž. Ž. was performed in vitro 97% than ex vitro 77%. After induction with IBA in agar medium, the Ž root development conditions did not affect the rooting percentage 93% and 87%, respectively, for. in vitro and ex vitro rooting. In the acclimatization stage, 100% survival was obtained with microplants with ex vitro-developed roots, compared to only 50% for microplants with in vitro-developed roots. After the root inductive treatments, peroxidase activity in the shoots was characterized by an initial reduction during the first 12 h, followed by a transient peak at day 1. From day 4 to day 6, peroxidase activity increased. This increase was faster in the dipped shoots, but on day 8, no difference in activity could be observed between the treatments. The sequential
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Papers by José Gonçalves