Ana Maria Carvalho

• PhD
• Full Member at Polytechnic Institute of Bragança

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the second most important vegetable crop worldwide and probably the most preferred garden crop. It is a versatile key component of the Mediterranean diet commonly associated with a reduced risk of chronic degenerative diseases due to its composition in bioactive molecules [1,2]. Throughout its evolutionary and do...

Traditional farmers’ varieties of tomato grown under extensive farming techniques are considered delicious and healthy foods and are preferred by local consumers. Tomatoes are an important component of a healthy diet, as they provide essential micronutrients, including minerals, which are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbe...

Valorisation of natural resources conserved ex situ in the Lavandula spp. collection The Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Collection of the Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (BPGV, INIAV I.P.) has 1238 accessions of 73 species from 39 botanical Genera belonging to 7 Families. The collection began in the 1990s with cultivated species and, in 2000, it st...

The Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Collection of the Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (BPGV, INIAV I.P.) has 1238 accessions of 73 species from 39 botanical Genera belonging to 7 Families. It started in the 1990s with cultivated species and, in 2000, with the collection of wild resources. The criteria that support its constitution are four - what...

Ruscus aculeatus L. is a subshrub used in traditional medicine in different parts of the world, namely in Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. According to reported folk knowledge, the aerial parts are mainly used as diuretics and the underground organs are used for the treatment of disorders of the urinary system and as a laxative. In this work, the...

Little attention has been paid to the phenolic composition and bioactive properties of primary tomato plant by-products (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as compared to fruits. In this study, axillary green shoots resulting from pruning and aerial biomass at the end of the cultivation cycle were characterized for their composition in chlorophylls and pheno...

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) is a semiaquatic plant of the Brassicaceae family highly appreciated in the Mediterranean cuisine. It features a sharp, peppery, and slightly tangy taste and is consumed raw in salads and cooked, especially in soups. Low in fat and sodium, this low-calorie food is rich in vitamin B9 (folates), vitamin C (as...

Several plants have been used for medicinal applications and have been traditionally consumed as decoctions and infusions. Although some herbs are used alone as a beverage, they are often blended in mixtures to maximize their effects. Herein, the nutritional characterization of six infusions from herbal blends was evaluated using the official metho...

On the basis of ecological and cultural characterization of the landscape combined with empirical local knowledge and historic data, this chapter focus traditional plant-use within two internationally adjoining natural protected areas at the Northern tip of the Spanish-Portuguese border (Iberian Peninsula). The gorges formed by the river Douro defi...

In order to characterize and study the bioactivities of individual plant species and to determine how these characteristics are modified when preparing blends, five different plant species were selected: Erica australis L., Genista tridentata L., Melissa officinalis, L., Mentha spicata L., and Prunella vulgaris L.. Infusions prepared from each plan...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) local varieties represent a reservoir of genetic diversity for desirable quality traits. In this study, a representative collection of table tomato germplasm conserved ex-situ in the Portuguese Gene Bank was characterized for its polyphenols composition and antioxidant capacity. Phenolic acids, such as caffeic and p...

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used worldwide not only for its being a subject of dietary interest, but also for medicinal purposes, in prophylaxis, and for the treatment of diverse pathologies. New processing techniques have been developed and placed on the market in recent years to improve the organoleptic and nutritional value of food produ...

The suitability of post-packaging gamma radiation treatment for preserving total folates or vitamin B9 in watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) and buckler sorrel (Rumex induratus Boiss. & Reut.) during storage at 4 °C was evaluated. Comparable amounts of total folates were found in fresh, non-stored samples of both species. In watercress, the...

The aim of this study was to characterize the phenolic composition and evaluate the bioactivity of several samples of Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav, and to compare aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts. Plant materials were obtained by growing some accessions (seed samples) of various wild populations from different regions of Portugal conserved...

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was applied to the extraction of phenolic compounds from watercress (Nasturtium officinale). The process was optimized by response surface methodology using a five-level central composite design combining the independent variables of processing time (t, 1.5-33.5 min), pressure (P, 0.1-600 MPa) and solvent (S, 0-100%...

The effects of γ-ray irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) phenolic compounds were evaluated after 7-day storage at 4 °C. Irradiation doses of 1, 2 and 5 kGy were tested, as well as vacuum-packaging and MAP enriched with 100% N2 and Ar. A non-irradiated, air-packaged control was included in...

Aloysia citriodora Palau, Verbenaceae, known as lemon verbena, is one of the most cultivated and marketed medicinal and aromatic plants in Portugal. Biomass quality and uniformity of the plant material according to stakeholders’ standards are market criteria requiring important amounts of biomass supplied by producers’ organic fields. However, in o...

In this paper, it is described the betacyanins composition (class of betalain with red-purple pigmentation) of globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.) in order to highlight this plant as an alternative source of natural dyes. The analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and mass spectro...

Buckler sorrel (Rumex induratus) is an underutilized leafy vegetable with peculiar sensory properties. Its revalorization and introduction in contemporary diets as a novel food product demands an extended shelf-life for commercialization. Herein, the suitability of different non-conventional atmospheres and ionizing radiation doses for preserving q...

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times and emerge nowadays as an alternative for synthetic products, due to their richness in bioactive compounds. Achillea millefolium L., commonly known as yarrow, belongs to the Asteraceae family being found in meadows, pathways, crop fields and homegardens. In the present work, commercial and wild sa...

Ao longo da história da humanidade, aproximadamente 7000 espécies de plantas têm sido utilizadas como alimento e também como um recurso essencial para o nosso bem-estar [1]. As espécies do género Lavandula são muito utilizadas, não só na medicina popular, como também na indústria alimentar, no fabrico de bebidas aromatizadas, gelados, doces e paste...

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are part of the cultural and genetic heritage of different regions of the world. In times of famine and scarcity, these sources of nutrients and health-promoting compounds have received high importance mainly in rural and suburban areas. Although currently underutilized, WEPs are still consumed traditionally by different c...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Combined approaches to local knowledge and folk plant use improve awareness and promote effective strategies for the conservation of significant biocultural patrimony. Moreover, the information reported might be the basis for further appropriate phytochemical and pharmacological research. Therefore we provide an ins...

As plantas contêm na sua composição vários compostos bioativos que exercem efeitos benéficos na saúde humana, nomeadamente na prevenção de doenças associadas com o stresse oxidativo. Os compostos fenólicos são exemplos desses bioativos e, em particular, os ácidos fenólicos e flavonoides que se encontram frequentemente ligados a açúcares, são amplam...

The endemic Algerian myrtle, Myrtus nivelii Batt & Trab., was evaluated for its bioactive properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities, and correlated to the individual phenolic compounds identified in its crude aqueous extract and subsequent organic fractions (ethyl acetate and butanol). Flavonols, suc...

The Portuguese genebank (Banco Portugues de Germoplasma Vegetal - BPGV) develops strategies for the conservation of plant genetic resources and its mission is the collection, conservation, multiplication and regeneration of germplasm, as well as the evaluation and characterization of the preserved accessions. This characterization is performed at d...

Ellagitannins are polyphenols responsible for a number of bioactivities and health-promoting effects. These industrially important molecules can be affected by post-harvest treatments and recovery processes, but little is known about the irradiation-induced effects on its integrity, bioactivity and extractability. Herein, the impact of gamma radiat...

The Portuguese genebank (Banco Portugues de Germoplasma Vegetal - BPGV) develops strategies for the conservation of plant genetic resources and its mission is the collection, conservation, multiplication and regeneration of germplasm, as well as the evaluation and characterization of the preserved accessions. This characterization is performed at d...

Nutrient-rich antioxidant ingredients were produced from tomato fruit wastes using a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) process. Different conditions of extraction time (t), temperature (T), ethanol concentration (Et) and solid/liquid ratio (S/L) were combined in a circumscribed central composite design and optimized by response surface methodolog...

Wild edible plants are of great importance in both former and current human societies. Their use embodies evolutionary trends, continuing interactions between men and nature, relevant traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage. A conceptual approach to wild edible plants, including the contribution of such species to people&;#x00027;s diets and d...

Geranium robertianum L. has been used in folk medicine and herbalism practice for the treatment of various conditions, but the study of its bioactivity has been barely addressed. Although its phytochemical composition has received some attention, contributions to the nutritional composition are practically unknown. Herein, G. robertianum gathered i...

A cor dos alimentos está directamente associada à sua aceitação pelo consumidor. A procura de métodos de processamento seguros e eficazes destaca a radiação ionizante, já que permite a desinfecção do alimento e a extensão do seu tempo de prateleira [1]. O espaço de cor CIELAB é comummente utilizado para avaliar diferenças de cor (ΔE*) entre dois ob...

Medicinal plants are sources of bioactive compounds with recognized beneficial effects on human health. An example is Osyris quadripartita, also known as Osyris lanceolata, which is known for its traditional therapeutic properties in some African countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant (free radical scavenging activi...

Wild plants are widely recognized as high-potential sources of several bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, these natural matrices require effective decontamination steps before they might be considered for different industrial purposes. Irradiation techniques are being progressively acknowledged as feasible conservation methodologies, either for the...

The effects of conventional and inert-gas enriched atmospheres, as well as those caused by different γ-irradiation doses, on buckler sorrel (Rumex induratus) leaves quality were evaluated and compared after 12 days of storage at 4 °C. The green colour of the abaxial surface of the leaves was relatively stable, as well as the carbohydrates content a...

Food irradiation is a treatment that involves subjecting in-bulk or packaged food to a controlled dose of ionizing radiation, with a clearly defined goal. It has been used for disinfestation and sanitization of food commodities and to retard postharvest ripening and senescence processes, being a sustainable alternative to chemical agents [1]. Doses...

Different ethnographic methodologies provided information about the most important and useful woody plants of Montesinho Natural Park (PNM) and a semi-quantitative approach to document the relative importance (IR index) of each species mentioned. Biogeographically in the limit of the Mediterranean and Eurosiberian zones, the PNM have singular geomo...

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the ageing process and in several chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Endogenous antioxidant defenses, including enzymes and nonenzymatic compounds, try to combat the oxidative stress created by the disequilibrium between the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen speci...

This study addresses the effects of gamma irradiation (1, 5 and 8 kGy) on color, organic acids, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta Wallr.). Organic acids were analyzed by ultra fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled to a photodiode array (PDA) detector. Total phenolics and flavonoids were...

Tomato is the second most important vegetable crop worldwide and a rich source of industrially interesting antioxidants. Hence, the microwave-assisted extraction of hydrophilic (H) and lipophilic (L) antioxidants from a surplus tomato crop was optimized using response surface methodology. The relevant independent variables were temperature (T), ext...

The suitability of gamma irradiation (1, 2 and 5 kGy) for preserving quality parameters of fresh-cut watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) during storage at 4 ± 1 °C for 7 d was investigated. The storage time decreased the protein content and the main carbohydrates, and increased the levels of malic and fumaric acids, sucrose and mono- and poly...

The production of natural extracts requires suitable processing conditions to maximize the preservation of the bioactive ingredients. Herein, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) process was optimized, by means of response surface methodology (RSM), to maximize the recovery of phenolic acids and flavonoids and obtain antioxidant ingredients from t...

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the postharvest quality of fresh-cut watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) stored at 4°C for 7 d was studied. A portion of watercress was immediately analyzed (non-stored control) and the remaining fresh material was stored packaged under atmospheres enriched with N2, Ar, air, or vacuum. The...

Objective: A large body of evidence has confirmed a multitude of health benefits of plant products and their derived formulations. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a good example, widely used due to its therapeutic properties. In the present study, the chemical composition of the different samples and antioxidant properties of E. purpurea hydroet...

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is the second most important vegetable crop worldwide and a key component in the so-called “Mediterranean diet”. In the Northeastern region of Portugal, local populations still prefer to consume traditional tomato varieties which they find very tasty and healthy, as they are grown using extensive farming techniqu...

After harvest, plants remain living organisms with the capacity to carry out metabolic processes. Thus, from the moment they are detached from the source of nutrients, they become entirely dependent on their own organic reserves [1]. Postharvest changes cannot be stopped, but they can be slowed within certain limits. Therefore, this study was condu...

After a period of indifference, in which synthetic compounds were favored, there is an increasing interest in the study of the biological properties of plants and the active principles responsible for their therapeutic properties. Geranium molle L. has been used in the Portuguese folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments including cancer...

This study describes general homegardens former features and primary functions in a protected rural area of the North-eastern Portugal, the Natural Park of Montesinho, and focuses on fundamental socio-cultural roles intertwined with economic and ecological purposes registered during a three year period, from 2002 to 2005, using ethnographic methodo...

Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl. has been used in traditional medicine for many centuries, being nowadays marketed as dried plant material (inner bark) for infusions, pills, and syrups. The main objective of the present work was to validate its popular use through the bioactivity evaluation of the inner bark (methanolic extract and infu...

Angiogenesis is a process by which new blood vessels are formed from the pre-existing vasculature, and it is a key process that leads to tumour development. Some studies have recognized phenolic compounds as chemopreventive agents; flavonoids, in particular, seem to suppress the growth of tumor cells modifying the cell cycle. Herein, the antiangiog...

Increasing rates of opportunistic fungal infections and microorganisms with drug-resistance have been observed. Candida species are the most common pathogens, considered the fourth leading cause of hematogenous infections [1]. Thus, it is crucial to discover alternatives to the current antifungal agents. Healing properties of medicinal plants are w...

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) is a nutrient rich perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family highly appreciated in the Mediterranean cuisine. It is eaten raw in salads, soups and other recipes and used in folk medicine due to its medicinal and therapeutic properties [1,2]. However, it has a reduced shelf-life of approximately 7 days [3]....

The ellagitannins are a diverse class of hydrolysable tannins, a type of polyphenols present in some fruits, medicinal plants, nuts and seeds. They are complex derivatives of ellagic acid characterized by one or more hexahydroxydiphenoyl moieties esterified to a sugar, usually glucose [1]. These compounds play an important role in human nutrition a...

Currently, opportunistic fungal infections are considered a serious problem regarding public health. Despite the advances towards the synthesis of new antifungal agents, an increasing incidence of drug-resistant microorganisms has been observed. In this sense, other alternatives are necessary. In the present work, the antifungal activity of extract...

In this study, the effect of different doses of gamma-irradiation (0, 1, 5 and 10 kGy) on colour, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of shade-and freeze-dried samples of Tuberaria lignosa were evaluated and compared. The last two parameters were performed on decoctions and infusions in order to investigate the influence of the preparation...

Background The use of traditional foods can enrich our diet, perpetuating important elements of local knowledge and cultural inheritance. Raw, soaked and cooked samples of two Fabaceae species (Cicer arietinum L. and Lathyrus sativus L.) were characterized regarding nutritional and bioactive properties.ResultsL. sativus gave the highest carbohydrat...