Browsing by Author "Dias, Ana"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- The Pervermac II Project and Its Actions Regarding the Sustainable Use of Pesticides on Agricultural Production, Food Safety and Consumers Health in AzoresPublication . Lopes, David João Horta; Fernandes, Paulo; Aguiar, Andreia; Dias, Ana; Bettencourt, Maria; Tarantino, ElisaThe overall objective of Pervermac II project is to promote a sustainable use of pesticides in the agricultural production and ensure food security in the Macaronesian region (Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde). The aim is to ensure farmer’s safety and health with special regards to those who apply pesticides in field through the quantification of residues level in the vegetable and fruits locally produced and imported and, at the same time, decreasing environmental contamination which could represent a risk for consumer health. The level of residues in agricultural products collected during the last four years (2017 to 2020) were been analysed in order to safeguard food safety for the Azorean population. There were also made food surveys to obtain the real proportion of vegetable and fruits in our diet and the correlated level of pesticides residues in the food intake by humans. On most of the products analysed, no pesticide residues were found. Pesticides residuals were found only on a small portion and in this case, the limit allowed by law was never been reached. Activities to raise awareness about the adoption of good diet and promoting actions concerning the implementation of organic production and consumption were conducted with students and Azorean consumers. Actions of knowledge increasing and technology transfer to farmer and the technicians ensured the adoption and implementation of integrated protection measures, promoting the sustainable use of pesticides by the farmers that implemented alternative means of protection against the major crop’s phytosanitary problems. This work has been funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER), articulated through the Territorial cooperation MAC 2014-2020.
- The Impact of Different Withering Process Conditions on the Bioactivity and Quality of Black Tea from Azorean Camellia sinensisPublication . Paiva, Lisete; Dias, Ana; Marcone, Massimo; Baptista, JoséABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to investigate the variability of natural bioactive com pounds, such as catechin, theaflavin, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC), of Azorean black tea (Camellia sinensis L., O. Kuntze) as well as its antioxidant activities according to different withering times. The TPC, TFC, free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferrous-ion-chelating (FIC) activities were determined by colorimetric methods, and catechin and theaflavin contents were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatogra phy (HPLC). The FRSA shows similar results for the withering range of 6 to 16 h (hours). For FRAP, the best results were observed at 16 h, and for FIC, the highest value was at 20 h. The TPC and TFC showed the highest value at 9 h and the lowest at 20 h. For the total theaflavins, the highest results were obtained after 12 h of withering, and the lowest values were obtained at 16 and 20 h. According to the different withering times, the highest value of total catechin levels was at 12 h, while the lowest value was observed at 20 h. Regarding caffeine content, all samples presented similar results, with the exception of the 12 h time point. In conclusion, the best withering times were observed in the range of 9 to 16 h, showing decreased values at 20 h, with the exception of FIC.