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- Comparative Studies on the Photoreactivity, Efficacy, and Safety of Depigmenting AgentsPublication . Mota, Sandra; Rosa, Gonçalo P.; Barreto, Maria Carmo; Garrido, Jorge; Sousa, Emília; Cruz, Maria Teresa; Almeida, Isabel F.; Quintas, ClaraDepigmenting products are increasingly used to counteract skin hyperpigmentation and related psychosocial issues. This study aimed to compare different depigmenting agents—4-butylresorcinol; bakuchiol; tranexamic acid; ascorbyl glucoside; α-arbutin; and ascorbic acid—for photoreactivity; tyrosinase inhibition; and safety. Photoreactivity was assessed using the Reactive Oxygen Species assay. In vitro tyrosinase inhibition was compared, and cell viability was assessed in B-16V melanocytes to evaluate safety. Results showed 4-butylresorcinol, ascorbyl glucoside, and α-arbutin are non-photoreactive, while for ascorbic acid and bakuchiol it was not possible to reach conclusive results due to the lack of specificity of the ROS assay. 4-Butylresorcinol, acting as a competitive inhibitor, displayed potent tyrosinase inhibition, followed by ascorbic acid and bakuchiol. Both 4-butylresorcinol and bakuchiol reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The insights obtained in this work support the development of depigmenting products by providing useful scientific guidance on the photostability, tyrosinase inhibitory efficacy, and skin safety of depigmenting agents.
- Exploring Isochrysis galbana Biomass Formats: Effects on Live Prey Oxidative Status and Lipid Profiles for Their Potential Use in Aquaculture Larval NutritionPublication . Galindo, Ana; Pérez, José; Mora, Annia; Reis, Diana; Almansa, Eduardo; Jiménez, Ignacio; Barreto, Maria Carmo; Venuleo, Marianna; Acosta, Nieves; Rodríguez, Covadonga; Wei, Lee SeongABSTRACT: Feeding marine larvae commonly relies on live prey, which must be enriched with lipid emulsions and/or microalgae rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) before being added to larval tanks. This enrichment enhances the nutritional value of live feed and supports larval health and growth. Microalgae are also used in aquaculture as a primary feed source for larvae and for maintaining water quality. However, in-house microalgal cultures are costly, prone to contamination, and require complex harvesting. Sourcing live microalgae from external specialized facilities is also expensive and complicated, as it involves transporting highly diluted biomass, creating a major bottleneck in hatcheries. Consequently, alternative formats of microalgal biomass, including fresh or dried forms, are gaining attention for their ease of use, nutritional stability, and antioxidant potential. To evaluate some of these concentrated biomass substitutes, different formats of Isochrysis galbana (spray-dried [ISD], fresh [IFRE], and frozen [IFRO]) were tested on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia. Prior to the assay, the total antioxidant capacity and lipid composition of the microalgal products were evaluated. Subsequently, live prey were fed the different I. galbana formats for 24 h, after which prey survival, lipid composition, and oxidative status were assessed. Our results showed that fresh/frozen I. galbana exhibited the highest in vitro antioxidant activity, particularly in the ethyl acetate fraction. However, rotifer survival was compromised when using the IFRE format. The spray-dried microalgae was the best format to enhance phospholipid retention in both zooplankton species, also increasing DHA/EPA (22:6n–3/20:5n–3) ratio and n–3 LC-PUFA content in rotifers. ISD also reduced lipid peroxidation in Artemia without negatively affecting the live prey culture. In conclusion, based on lipid composition and antioxidant potential, ISD was the most effective format for feeding rotifers and Artemia.
- Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Artemisia and Salvia Genera in Cancer, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Short Review of Clinical EvidencePublication . Tavares, Wilson; Seca, Ana; Barreto, Maria Carmo; Fukuda, TatsuyaABSTRACT: Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic disorders comprising dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure, and abdominal obesity, is a silent epidemic that may lead to outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Due to the increase in the prevalence of these pathologies, the search for better treatments and more efficient drugs is imperative. Species of Artemisia and Salvia genera are excellent examples of noteworthy sources of bioactive products with health applications, their therapeutic properties being well known both in popular medicine and in the scientific community. There are reports of plant extracts or compounds from species belonging to either of these genera, which were able to combat cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular pathologies. For instance, dihydroartemisinin (analog of artemisin extracted from Artemisia annua L.) can reduce tumor markers p53 and Ki-67 expression levels, leading to a reduction in tumor proliferation. Salvia officinalis L. has antihyperglycemic and lipid profile-improving effects since it decreases total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Clinical trials using mixtures (dried powdered plants or extracts) of known medicinal plants are recurrent in published works, in contrast with the scarce clinical trial studies with isolated compounds. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. was by far the most targeted plant in the clinical trials analyzed here. Regarding clinical trials concerning Artemisia, there are more studies aiming to see its effect on diabetes, but the studies about cancer are more advanced. This review aims to give a critical summary of the most interesting and promising results from clinical trials. The abundance of studies with limited statistically significant clinical evidence hinders progress in clinical therapy. This situation demands far greater rigor from the scientific community, researchers, regulatory agencies, editors, and reviewers in conducting and publishing clinical studies.
- Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Bonnier & Layens Essential Oils: Chemotypes and Bioactivity as Antifungal, Antifeeding and Enzyme InhibitorsPublication . Ferreira, Rui; Martins, Mariana; Santos, Vanessa; Sardinha, Duarte; Tavares, Wilson; Sabina, Samuel; Espinel, Guacimara; Barreto, Maria Carmo; Oliveira, Luísa; Cabrera, Raimundo; Castilho, Paula; Kitić, Dušanka; Šavikin, Katarina; Randjelović, MilicaABSTRACT: Essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Bonnier & Layens, representing three chemotypes—thymol-rich, carvacrol-rich, and a mixed thymol–carvacrol type—were chemically characterized and comparatively assessed for their antifungal, insecticidal, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This integrated approach provides a comparative assessment of all three chemotypes across multiple biological models, including phytopathogenic fungi, insect bioassays, and key enzyme targets. All EOs displayed antifungal activity for the tested phytopathogenic fungi (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium oxysporum) at concentrations above 0.5 mg/mL, with the thymol-rich chemotype showing the highest activity. The minimum inhibition concentration for Oidium farinosum conidial growth was determined and found to be similar for thymol and carvacrol chemotypes and lower for the terpene mixture. Insect control activity was evaluated by an antifeeding assay, where carvacrol and especially thymol chemotypes can be classified as feeding deterrents. EOs and standards revealed a weak toxicity against Ceratitis capitata, with less than 20% mortality at a concentration of 50 mg/mL, and both chemotypes were found to be ineffective in preventing egg deposition. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay revealed that carvacrol had the greatest inhibitory effect on AChE, followed by EOs, and, finally, thymol. Regarding the α- and β-glucosidase (α- and β-GLU) inhibitory assays, thymol had the strongest inhibitory effect on α-GLU, while plant β-GLU was not inhibited by the standards or OEs.