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Research Project
Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences
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Edible flowers of Helichrysum italicum: Composition, nutritive value, and bioactivities
Publication . Primitivo, Maria João; Neves, Marta; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Brito, Catarina; Rodrigues, Ana C.; Carvalho, Carla C. C. R. de; Mortimer, Megan M.; Moreno, Maria João; Brito, Rui M. M.; Taylor, Edward J.; Millson, Stefan H.; Reboredo, Fernando; Campos, Maria; Vaz, Daniela C.; Ribeiro, Vânia
Helichrysum italicum (H. italicum) is a halophyte shrub with bright yellow flowers with a strong curry-like aroma.
The essential oils of H. italicum have been used in the production of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, due to their antiallergic and anti-inflammatory properties. In the agri-food sector, H. italicum flowers can be used for
seasoning and flavoring food, and as natural food preservatives. Here, we report on the composition, bioactive
compounds, and nutritive value of H. italicum flowers. Flowers were mainly composed of carbohydrates (>80 %
dry weight), followed by minerals (6.31 ± 0.95 % dw), protein (5.44 ± 0.35 % dw), and lipids (3.59 % ± 0.53 %
dw). High percentages of Fe, Zn, Ca, and K were found in the flower material, along with a high content in
antioxidants, polyphenols, and carotenoids, as corroborated by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data.
Flowers were mainly composed of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (54.50 ± 0.95 % of total FA), followed by
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (37.73 ± 1.25 % of total FA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)
(7.77 ± 0.34 %), as detected by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The omega-6 PUFA linoleic
acid (22.55 ± 0.76 % of total FA) was the most abundant fatty acid found. Flower extracts showed antimicrobial
activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Komagataella phaffii, as well as against Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. H. italicum flower material was nontoxic to human intestinal Caco-2 model cells at concentrations up to 1.0 % w/v.
Corncob cellulose scaffolds: A new sustainable temporary implant for cartilage replacement
Publication . Cordeiro, Rachel; Henriques, Marta; Silva, João C.; Antunes, Filipe; Alves, Nuno; Moura, Carla
Tissue engineering using scaffolds is a promising strategy to repair damaged articular cartilage, whose self-repair is inefficient. Cellulose properties have been recognized for their application in the biomedical field. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize novel scaffolds based on poly(E-caprolactone) (PCL) and sustainable cellulose. Thus, the performance of corncob-derived cellulose (CC) in scaffolds as an alternative to wood cellulose (WC) was also investigated to reduce the environmental footprint. Two concentrations of CC in scaffolds were tested, 1% and 2% (w/w), and commercial WC using the same concentrations, as a control. Morphologically, all the developed scaffolds presented pore sizes of ~300 m, 10 layers, a circular shape and well-dispersed cellulose. Thus, all of these characteristics and properties provide the manufactured scaffolds suitable for use in cartilage-replacement strategies. The use of 2% CC results in higher porosity (54.24%), which promotes cell infiltration/migration and nutrient exchange, and has similar mechanical properties to
WC. As for the effects of enzymatic degradation of the scaffolds, no significant changes (p > 0.05) were
observed in resistance over time. However, the obtained compressive modulus of the scaffold with 2%
CC was similar to that of WC. Overall, our results suggest that the integration of 2% corncob cellulose
in PCL scaffolds could be a novel way to replace wood-cellulose-containing scaffolds, highlighting its
potential for cartilage-replacement strategies.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UIDP/04565/2020