Adriano Costa de Camargo

• PhD
• Professor (Assistant) at University of Chile

Bioactive compounds belonging to phenolic acids, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins of grapejuice and wine-making by-products were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn. The concentration of phenolic compounds in different grape cultivars was in the order of Tempranillo > Cora > Syrah > Isabel. The insoluble-bound fraction was most prominent,...

Peanut skin (PS) and meal from dry-blanched peanuts (MDBP) were evaluated as sources of phenolic compounds. PS rendered the highest total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity towards ABTS radical cation, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals as well as reducing power. Phenolic acids were present in PS and MDBP whereas proanthocyanidins and monomeric flavono...

Free radical imbalance is associated with several chronic diseases. However, recent controversies have put in check the validity of colorimetric methods to screen the functionality of polyphenols. Therefore, in this study two antioxidant methods, based on chemical reactions, were tested for their ability in anticipating the reduction of the activat...

Fish are generally rich sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, and although the edible part (fillet) has been analyzed in many species, less is known about the composition of fish by-products. The analysis of these materials allows them to be evaluated as raw sources of EPA and DHA, thus contributing to sustainable practice...

Growing concern about food quality and safety has driven the search for natural food additives. Furthermore, maqui leaf residue (MLR), recovered from infusions that have long been part of traditional Chilean herbal medicine, still conserves a high content of phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extractio...

Walnut milk residues (WMR) were investigated for the first time through their phenolic characterization including soluble (free, esterified, and etherified) phenolics and those released from their insoluble-bound form (insoluble-bound phenolic hydrolysates, IBPHs) and their antioxidant properties. Free phenolics were recovered and alkaline or acid...

Honey is a natural sweet element that bees make with flower nectar, revered for its distinct flavor, nutritional value, and potential health benefits. Chilean beekeeping has a diverse range of honey varieties, many of which are unique. The quillay (Quillaja saponaria Molina, soapbark tree) is a Chilean endemic tree whose honey has not been studied...

This study developed, validated, and tested a simple method for tocopherol analysis on five different food matrices (sunflower oil, mackerel fillets, almonds, spinach, and avocado pulp). Tocopherol extraction from foods was carried out by the Folch method and with n-hexane, and the identification and quantification of tocopherol isoforms (α, β, γ,...

Propolis is a complex mixture formed from exudates that bees collect from plants and then mix with beeswax and their own salivary enzymes. Chilean propolis is characterized by the presence of phenolic compounds, which are considered responsible for the biological activities. The endemic species Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz and Pav.) Pers. [Escallo...

The global prevalence of cancer continues to increase, so does its mortality. Strategies that can prevent/treat this condition are therefore required, especially low-cost and low-toxicity strategies. Bioactive compounds of plant origin have been presented as a good alternative. In this scenario, due to its abundant polyphenolic content (around 60 t...

Tortola bean leaves are an agricultural by-product from Tortola beans, which is widely consumed in Chile. Free, esterified, etherified, and insoluble-bound phenolics of Tortola bean leaves were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant properties, and phenolic profile using UPLC–MS/MS for the first time, thus all results presented are...

Honeybee pollen (HBP) is a bee product composed of flower pollen collected from diverse plant species. Traditionally, HBP has been used in both healing and human nutrition for its wide range of secondary plant metabolites, including phenolic compounds. Yet, while these natural compounds are currently arousing attention due to their beneficial healt...

Bee bread (BB) is a beehive product generated upon fermentation of pollen combined with flower nectar and glandular secretions. The potential application of BB is related to its nutritional and functional components, including phenolic compounds. This is the first prospective study on palynological parameters, phenolics, antioxidant, and antibacter...

Trypsin inhibitors are proteins found in plant-based foods, mainly legumes and cereals. They have traditionally been described as anti-nutrients since their consumption leads to lower protein digestibility along with pancreatic hypertrophy. Given the problems which can arise, there are various technologies used in food processing which help reduce...

Peanut skin is a rich source of bioactive compounds which may be able to reduce the risk factors associated with metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to characterize bio-compounds from peanut skin (Arachis hypogaea) and their bioactivity (antioxidant activity, inhibition of lipase, and carbohydrase enzymes) and to evaluate their anti-proliferative...

Germination has been regarded as a promising natural process to improve the antioxidant properties of mustard. However, do gastrointestinal digestion and germination improve mustard phenolics' bioaccessibility? The aim of this study was to answer this question by using INFOGEST protocol to simulate in vitro digestion. Resveratrol, formononetin and...

The mechanical extraction of oils from Brazilian açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) produces significant amounts of a byproduct known as “meal”, which is frequently discarded in the environment as waste material. Nevertheless, plant byproducts, especially those from oil extraction, may contain residual polyphenols in their composition and be a rich sourc...

Wheat and rice play a vital role in human nutrition and food security. A better understanding of the potential health benefits associated with consuming these cereals, combined with studies by plant scientists and food chemists to view the entire food value chain from the field, pre and post-harvest processing, and subsequent “fork” consumption, ma...

The INFOGEST protocol creation was a watershed for phenolic bioaccessibility studies. Because of this important initiative to standardize bioaccessibility studies, data comparisons between different laboratories are now expedited. It has been eight years since the INFOGEST protocol creation, and three from the latest update. However, the current st...

Cardiovascular disease risk is related to oxidative stress and hypercholesterolemia. Guarana seed powder contains flavanols that possess antioxidant properties and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, the molecular mechanism through which guarana seed powder may decrease cholesterol uptake from the intestinal lumen remains unclear. Thus, this stu...

Chickpeas are rich sources of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids. However, the contribution of insoluble-bound phenolics to their antioxidant properties remains unclear. Four varieties of chickpeas were evaluated for the presence of soluble (free and esterified) and insoluble-bound phenolics as well as their a...

Honeybee pollen (HBP) chemical composition is highly variable conforming to the floral and geographical origin of the pollen grains. The beneficial effects and functional properties of the HBP are well-known and have been mainly attributed to their high content of antioxidant polyphenols. In this work, twelve HBPs samples from the Southern region o...

The Valparaiso region in Chile was decreed a zone affected by catastrophe in 2019 as a consequence of one of the driest seasons of the last 50 years. In this study, three varieties (‘Alfa-INIA’, ‘California-INIA’, and one landrace, ‘Local Navidad’) of kabuli-type chickpea seeds produced in 2018 (control) and 2019 (climate-related catastrophe, herea...

Jua (juá in Portuguese) is an underexplored fruit from Brazil’s northeast. This fruit is rich in antioxidant substances. However, there is a dearth of information about jua’s bioactive potential. The present study evaluated two extraction methods (continuous agitation and ultrasound-assisted extraction—UAE) and employed three different solvents (wa...

Flavonoids display a broad range of health-promoting bioactivities. Among these, their capacity to act as antioxidants has remained most prominent. The canonical reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging mode of the antioxidant action of flavonoids relies on the high susceptibility of their phenolic moieties to undergo oxidation. As a consequence, u...

Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, respectively known as PUFA and MUFA, are considered bioactive compounds. Nuts and seeds, fish, and other marine products are the main sources of PUFA and MUFA. Epidemiological studies support many health benefits of PUFA and MUFA. Accordingly, this contribution summarizes the general chemical aspects...

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant from the Amazon region with cultural importance. Despite its early ancestral use by indigenous tribes, the first reports regarding the benefits of guarana consumption for human health were published in the 19th century. Since then, the use of guarana seed in powder and extract forms has been studied for its div...

Vitamin E comprises a group of vitamers that includes tocopherols and tocotrienols. They occur in four homologues according to the number and position of methyl groups attached to the chromanol ring. Vitamin E, a liposoluble antioxidant, may participate as an adjuvant in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, neurological, and aging-relate...

Oxidative stress is directly implicated in the loss of intestinal epithelial barrier function (IEBF) induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Previous studies by our research team demonstrated that 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone (BZF), a quercetin oxidation metabolite that naturally occurs in onion p...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds comprised of carbon and hydrogen molecules in a cyclic arrangement. PAHs are associated with risks to human health, especially carcinogenesis. One form of exposure to these compounds is through ingestion of contaminated food, which can occur during preparation and processing involving h...

The presence of insoluble-bound phenolic and insoluble-bound alkaloids (e.g., theobromine, trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and paraxanthine) in raw cocoa nibs and husk is reported for the first time. Cocoa nibs contain higher amounts of insoluble-bound alkaloids than the husk, while the opposite is observed for the phenolics. The total protocatechuic...

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that COVID-19 could be characterized as a pandemic in March 11, 2020. As for the food industry and related sectors, food safety and security were the first subject of concern. Since there was no evidence that COVID-19 had any effect on food safety and security, the attention was changed to the potential of...

Herbal teas play a major role in the global traditional food cultures. There are a variety of herbal teas used for general wellness and prevention and management of chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus. The present study aimed to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of herbal teas prepared with matured jackfruit (Artoca...

Agro-industrial activities generate large amounts of solid residues, which are generally discarded or used as animal feed. Interestingly, some of these by-products could serve as natural sources of bioactive compounds with great potential for industrial exploitation. This study aimed to optimize the extraction of phenolic antioxidants from the pulp...

The potential of 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone (BZF), a quercetin oxidation metabolite, and that of a BZF-rich onion peel aqueous extract (OAE) to protect Caco-2 monolayers against the oxidative stress (OS) and an increased permeability (IP) induced by five nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (indomethacin,...

A clear gap with respect to the potential biological properties of wheat flavonoids exists in the available literature. This information is crucial for breeding programs aiming to produce new varieties presenting improved health benefits. Accordingly, advanced breeding lines of whole durum wheat were evaluated in this contribution. The highest reco...

Coffee is the most consumed beverage in the US and several other countries such as Brazil and Colombia. Coffee has been recognized for a myriad of health benefits including those arising from its antioxidant properties. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no literature addressing the fate of phenolic compounds from espresso capsules con...

The approval of new ingredients and compounds for use in food supplements is subjected to governmental regulations in many countries. In this context, there is a gap between what the scientific literature reports and how these translate into food regulation when it comes to bioactives. In this perspective piece, we analyze the case of Anvisa’s Norm...

Herbal teas are globally popular among health conscious consumers. In this study the phenolic content and potential antioxidant activities of bael fruit herbal tea prepared with dried immature bael fruit cuts (Aegle marmelos), traditionally used in the Asia, were determined. Phenolic compounds of the herbal extracts were identified using liquid chr...

Phytoene synthase 1 (Psy1) and lipoxygenase 1 (Lpx-1) are key genes involved in the synthesis and catalysis of carotenoid pigments in durum wheat, regulating the increase and decrease in these compounds, respectively, resulting in the distinct yellow color of semolina and pasta. Here, we reported new haplotype variants and/or allele combinations of...

Grain protein composition is important in wheat quality and may influence the amino acidic sequence of bioactive peptides obtained from this feedstock. However, the genetic basis modulating the amino acid profile in durum wheat is not well understood. Therefore, strong and weak gluten strength durum wheat genotypes were evaluated for their amino ac...

The present study evaluated the influence of training systems and rootstocks on the quality of Syrah tropical wines, produced at São Francisco Valley, Brazil. For this purpose, physicochemical characteristics, phenolic composition, and antioxidant activity were assessed in wines produced with grapes grown under divided trellis system (lyre) and esp...

Current data highlight the importance of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in maintaining the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier function. In contrast, breakdown of intestinal barrier function due to high intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) facilitates lipopolysaccharides (LPS) migration into the bloodstream, thus enabling systemic inflammati...

The Brazilian Food Supplement Law recently recognized that guarana (Paullinia cupana) contains bioactive substances, hence supporting its role as a functional food ingredient. The health benefits of guarana are associated, at least in part, to its phenolic compounds. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no literature addressing the prese...

In the beginning, the diesel engine ran on vegetable oil, and it was peanut oil, an edible oil, that was first used for this purpose. As fossil fuels may become scarce and prices could escalate, soybean, canola/rapeseed, and other known oils are being used. As the discussion on food security, environmental protection, and energy generation continue...

Palm date is an important crop in many Middle Eastern countries. In the present study, seedling date palm wood and old date palm wood were evaluated for their phenolics content. It was found that they may serve as rich source of soluble and insoluble-bound phenolics with promising reducing power and metal chelation. The observed effects were compar...

Food bioactives are important components found in (functional) foods and are responsible for (perceived) health benefits to human health, either as such or their metabolites. The Journal of Food Bioactives had its second year successfully reporting on different aspects of functional food ingredients in 4 volumes and as such captured the attention o...

Food bioactives are important components found in (functional) foods and are responsible for (perceived) health benefits to human health, either as such or their metabolites. The Journal of Food Bioactives had its second year successfully reporting on different aspects of functional food ingredients in 4 volumes and as such captured the attention o...

Carotenoid pigment content is an important quality trait as it confers a natural bright yellow color to pasta preferred by consumers (whiteness vs. yellowness) and nutrients, such as provitamin A and antioxidants, essential for human diet. The main goal of the present review is to summarize the knowledge about the genetic regulation of the accumula...

This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of Agaricus bisporus mushroom as a natural antioxidant, fat/salt substitute and flavor enhancer in beef burger. Ten treatments were considered using a fractional factorial design (salt [0.5, 1.25 and 2.0%], fat [10, 15 and 20%] and mushroom content [0, 15 and 30%]). Treatments were characterized by ins...

Phenolic compounds possess a myriad of health benefits, thus making them potential ingredients for the procurement of food supplements. Anvisa, Brazil’s national regulatory body, has recently revised the regulation on food supplements and only a few phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, rutin, proanthocyanidins, and tocopherols) have been mentioned...

Response surface methodology was applied to improve the polyphenol extraction process of rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme. Aqueous ethanol (EtOH 50%) rendered the highest polyphenol extraction yield for all tested samples. Based on their total phenolic contents, rosemary, oregano, and thyme were selected for evaluation of their scavenging activit...

Soybean consumption has been associated with health benefits. However, the effect of ultrasound (US) soybean pretreatment in terms of potential health benefits has not been investigated so far. Accordingly, the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total aglycone content (TAC) were optimized using the Box–Behnken design. Contrasting samples regardin...

Winemaking generates large amounts of by-products, a well recognized source of phenolic compounds. However, less attention has been paid to the polysaccharide-rich fraction (PRF) and effects of fractionation techniques on its potential bioactivity. Therefore, PRFs from Syrah and Tempranillo winemaking by-products were extracted under aqueous (neutr...

Soymilk is consumed as such or used in the preparation of tofu, fermented soymilk, and soy yogurt, among others. In this study, hemicellulase-assisted extraction (HAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) were used during soymilk manufacturing. The activity of endogenous β-glicosidases was increased 1.3 and 1.5-fold in soymilk produced upon HAE...

A high daily intake of fruits and vegetables is an important strategy to promote health. The mechanism explaining the health benefits of plant food materials is attributed, at least in part, to their high content of bioactive phenolics. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a typical product from Amazon biota and, mainly as a source of caffeine; its seeds...

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and is amongst the main dietary sources of bioactive compounds. Recent studies have described a positive association between caffeine ingestion and health, including improvement of exercise performance and enhancement of long-term memories in humans. However, from roasting to extraction...

A high daily intake of fruits and vegetables is an important strategy to promote health. The mechanism explaining the health benefits of plant food materials is attributed, at least in part, to their high content of bioactive phenolics. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a typical product from Amazon biota and, mainly as a source of caffeine; its seeds...

Soymilk is consumed as such or used in the preparation of tofu, fermented soymilk, and soy yogurt, among others. In this study, hemicellulase-assisted extraction (HAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) were used during soymilk manufacturing. The activity of endogenous β-glicosidases was increased 1.3 and 1.5-fold in soymilk produced upon HAE...

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and is amongst the main dietary sources of bioactive compounds. Recent studies have described a positive association between caffeine ingestion and health, including improvement of exercise performance and enhancement of long-term memories in humans. However, from roasting to extraction...

Legume seeds are rich sources of protein, fiber, and minerals. In addition, their phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites render health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Lowering apolipoprotein B secretion from HepG2 cells and decreasing the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation are mechanisms related to the prevention of...

Oxidative stress plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease. To arrest oxidative stress, this contribution first identified and quantified phenolic bioactives present in the pulp and peel of pomegranate using high-performance liquid chromatography. Punicalagin β rendered the greatest antiradical activity as evaluated by on-line HPLC-ABTS method...

The functional food, bioactive ingredients and nutraceutical industries are focused primarily on developing and validating the bioactivity of their products. Furthermore, the scientific community is pretty much moving in the same direction. A quick search in the literature demonstrates that phenolic compounds are perhaps the most studied bioactive...

The potential of date palm wood (DPW) as a new source of phenolic antioxidants was investigated in this contribution. The total phenolic content and antiradical activity of soluble and insoluble‐bound fractions of DPW was compared to those of maple wood (MW). Furthermore, salmon was smoked with DPW and MW. Irrespective of the wood type, volatile ph...

Raw chocolate, produced with unroasted cocoa beans, is a novel food product. In this study, phenolics and alkaloids present in the soluble and insoluble-bound forms were identified and quantified by UPLC. The antioxidant activity was investigated by ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP assays. Formulations with raw chocolate showed higher contents of many co...

Isoflavones, which exist in their conjugated or aglycone forms, are well recognized for their potential health benefits. However, isoflavones as aglycone have been regarded as the most bioactive form. In the present study, the profile of isoflavones and their scavenging activity as affected by germination were investigated in several soybean fracti...

Few studies have addressed the distribution of mycotoxins in soybean and/or their processing fractions. In this study, samples from commercial lots were collected in four Brazilian states. The distribution of mycotoxins in soybean fractions, according to their commercial grading system, namely whole kernels (WK), split, broken and crushed kernels (...

Epicotyls from germinated soybeans (EGS) have great potential as sources of endogenous β-glucosidase. Furthermore, this enzyme may improve the conversion of isoflavones into their corresponding aglycones. β-Glucosidase may also increase the release of aglycones from the cell wall of the plant materials. Therefore, the aim of this work was to optimi...

Peels and seeds are the primary by-products of the passion fruit agroindustry. This study was designed to evaluate the potential of passion fruit peel and seeds flour (PFF) as a source of fiber and minerals to enhance the functional properties of drinkable yogurt. Proximate composition, mineral content, technological (pH, viscosity, color, and syne...

Ultrasound may convert conjugated isoflavones into their corresponding aglycones, the best form for absorption in the human body. However, ultrasound may also influence the activity of endogenous β-glucosidase. Therefore, the present work evaluated the effects of soybean ultrasound pre-treatment by applying the Box-Behnken design prior to soaking,...

Tocopherols and tocotrienols (alpha, gamma, beta, and gamma), also known as tocols, are natural liposoluble phenols. Their importance stems from their antioxidant and non-antioxidant functions. This contribution summarizes their common and emerging sources with focus on their (bio)chemical effects in food and under physiological conditions. In food...

Phenolic compounds in oilseeds occur in the free, esterified and insoluble-bound forms and serve as natural antioxidants by preventing food oxidation as well as oxidative stress and various disorders in the body. In this work, free, esterified and insoluble-bound phenolics were extracted from defatted camelina and sophia seeds. Samples were evaluat...

New maximum limits (ML) for deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat and its products were set in Brazil in 2017, and new changes are scheduled for 2019. The concentration of DON in wheat and milling fractions (bran, shorts, break flour, reduction flour) was evaluated in samples from commercial fields to discuss the effects of the new legislation. Cleaned whe...

Phenolics exist in the soluble and insoluble-bound forms. In this research, free, esterified and insoluble-bound phenolics of defatted chia seeds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using in vitro methods, namely , and scavenging capacity assays. Their effect in a β-carotene linoleate system, reducing power and metal chelation activities...

Winemaking by-products account for more than 30% of the grape production, but this inexpensive feedstock has not yet been fully exploited. Accordingly, we evaluated the potential biological activity of winemaking by-products produced with Syrah grapes in comparison with those of the wine produced using the same grape cultivar. Winemaking by-product...

Phenolic compounds have generated considerable interest in the scientific community and the media. Much of this interest is due to the properties ascribed to several phenolic compounds for prevention of cancer, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Grape juice made from cultivars Isabel, Bordeaux and Concord, was characterized in this work. Subsequently, twen...

Soybean oil is industrially obtained upon hexane extraction. In biodiesel production, soybean oil is submitted to phospholipid removal in order to improve its quality before transesterification. An extraction process was employed to produce ethanolic oil-rich miscella, which can be directly transesterified to produce biodiesel without prior refinin...

Free, esterified, etherified and insoluble-bound phenolics from three samples, namely meal from whole peanuts (MWP), meal from dry-blanched peanuts (MDBP) and peanut skin (PS) were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC), and phenolic profile using HPLC–DAD–ESI–MSn. The TPC was in the order of PS > MWP > MDBP. Among 37 compounds identified...

Edible oils are the major natural dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as tocols. Plant foods with low lipid content usually have negligible quantities of tocols. However, seeds and other plant food processing by-products may serve as alternative sources of edible oils with considerable contents of tocopherols and toc...

Phenolics from free and hydrolyzed fractions of pomegranate juice (PJ) and seeds (PS) were evaluated. In general, total phenolic contents and scavenging of ABTS•+, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, as well as metal chelation of the soluble fraction from PS, were higher than those for PJ. Insoluble-bound phenolics from PS accounted for up to 27% of total...

Pomegranate peel was separated into outer leathery skin (PS), mesocarp (PM), and divider membrane (PD), and its phenolic compounds were extracted as free (F), esterified (E), and insoluble-bound (B) forms for the first time. The total phenolic content followed the order PD > PM > PS. ABTS(center dot+), DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activiti...

Pomegranate peel was separated into outer leathery skin [PS], mesocarp [PM] and divider membrane [PD] and its phenolic compounds extracted as free [F], esterified [E] and insoluble-bound [B] forms for the first time. The total phenolic content followed the order of PD > PM > PS. ABTS•+, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity and metal chela...

The oxidative changes of peanuts subjected to the dry-blanching process were evaluated and compared with those of their in-shell counterparts. In general, the fatty acid profile was not influenced. The content of α-tocopherol decreased, but the remaining tocopherol homologs were unaffected. Nonanal, an oxidation product of oleic acid, increased. Ho...