Ana M. Gonzalez-paramas

• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Professor at University of Salamanca

Phenolic compounds present in plants and foods are receiving increasing attention for their bioactive and sensory properties, accompanied by consumers’ interest in products with health benefits derived from natural rather than artificial sources. This, together with the sustainable development goals for the 21st century, has driven the development...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a major neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the progressive accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, leading to cognitive decline. Despite the existing treatments, their limited efficacy highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The present study investigates the neuroprotective effects of a g...

Background The Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth), locally known as “Mora de Castilla,” is a high-altitude fruit rich in phytochemicals, mainly anthocyanins, with potent antioxidant properties. Although its chemical composition has been studied, the influence of altitude on its phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity is still unclear. T...

The gut microbiota, recognised for its vital functions in host health, operates as an endocrine organ, exerting systemic effects beyond the gastrointestinal tract. This “virtual organ” produces hormones that influence distal organs, including the brain. With its diverse microbial composition, the gut microbiota surpasses the biochemical complexity...

The gut microbiota establishes a mutually beneficial relationship with the host starting from birth, impacting diverse metabolic and immunological processes. Dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance of microorganisms, is linked to numerous medical conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune disorders. T...

The search for natural food additives makes propolis an exciting alternative due to its known antimicrobial activity. This work aims to investigate propolis’ behavior as a nitrite substitute ingredient in cooked ham (a ready-to-eat product) when confronted with pathogenic microorganisms of food interest. The microbial evolution of Listeria monocyto...

Chronic diseases (CD) may result from a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle and social behaviours, healthcare system influences, community factors, and environmental determinants of health. These risk factors frequently coexist and interact with one another. Ongoing research and a focus on personalized interventions are pivotal strategies for...

Medical therapies to avoid the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are limited to date. Certain diets have been associated with a lower incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the regular intake of foods rich in polyphenols, such as epicatechin (EC), could help prevent or mitigate AD progression. This work aims to explore the ne...

BACKGROUND: The Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth) is one of Ecuador's iconic berries that grows in its Andean region, of which a high anthocyanin content has been described. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory potential of the Andean blackberry from Ecuador, with emphasis on...

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial characteristics of propolis, a bioactive compound collected from hives, have prompted its use in the food sector in recent times. This study investigated the physicochemical characteristics, phenolic profile, and antioxidant capacity of 31 propolis extracts collected from Northern Spain. The phy...

Debido a que el proceso de tostado del café puede generar cambios en sus constituyentes, y por ende en sus propiedades biológicas, buscamos identificar los ácidos fenólicos presentes en café Geisha verde y tostado, y a su vez, evaluar sus propiedades antioxidantes. Primero, se sometió la materia prima (granos de café Geisha) a un proceso de “extrac...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of consuming 50 g of raisins on cognitive performance, quality of life, and functional activities in healthy older adults. This is a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial, in which 80 subjects over 70 years of age participated. For 6 months, the intervention group (IG; n = 40) consumed...

Phenolic acids are one of the major classes of phenolic compounds occurring as secondary metabolites in plants; among them, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids are outstanding. These compounds are widespread in the human diet through plant-based foods, where they contribute to sensory and functional properties. Their consumption has also been...

Introduction Increasing evidence supports the role of gut microbiota in many aspects of human health, including immune, metabolic and neurobehavioral traits. Several studies have focused on how different components of the diet, such as polyphenols, can modulate the composition and function of the gut microbiota leading to health benefits. Methods...

The chemical composition and biological capacities of berries depend on environmental parameters, maturity, and location. The Andean blueberry (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth), also known as mortiño, presents a unique combination of several phytochemicals, which play a synergistic role in its characterization as a functional food. We aimed to expose t...

Phenolic compounds have attracted scientific interest due to their bioactive properties. Moreover, the environmental awareness has increased considerably and, with it, research into valorisation processes. Food waste is a source of bioactive compounds, however, the most common methods of extracting these compounds were polluting. Recently, the use...

Several climatic trends are generally associated with altitude, that may influence the nutritional and phytochemical composition of plants. Strawberry is considered a functional food due to biological activities and health benefits. This systematic review and meta-analysis intend to expose possible variations on physicochemical composition and anti...

Quercetin, a flavonoid with promising therapeutic potential, has been shown to protect from cisplatin nephrotoxicity in rats following intraperitoneal injection, but its low bioavailability curtails its prospective clinical utility in oral therapy. We recently developed a micellar formulation (P-quercetin) with enhanced solubility and bioavailabili...

In this study, an autochthonous variety of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), namely “Moretta di Vignola”, was processed to prepare extracts rich in polyphenols, which were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation coupled to UV/DAD and ESI-MSⁿ analysis. Then, a sweet cherry anthocyanin-rich extract (ACE) was prepared,...

Moderate wine intake has been related in epidemiological studies with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, as well as a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline in old age. Such effects have been mostly associated with red wine and explained by its greater content and diversity of polyphenols compared with white wine. Never...

A considerable amount of literature has been published claiming the cardiovascular benefits of moderate (red) wine drinking, which has been considered a distinguishing trait of the Mediterranean diet. Indeed, red wine contains relevant amounts of polyphenols, for which evidence of their biological activity and positive health effects are abundant;...

The nutritional composition and bioactive properties of roots and rhizomes of Asparagus stipularis were evaluated. Antioxidant activity of extracts obtained by infusion was evaluated using free radicals scavenging and reducing power methods. Porcine liver primary cell was used to check the hepatotoxicity of infusions. Results revealed that Asparagu...

The presented case study illustrates the possibility of adding value to the biological surplus remaining from the mushroom cultivation industry. In essence, the unused mushroom parts were submitted to UV-C irradiation, with the purpose of increasing the vitamin D2 content and validating its extraction. Vitamin D2 concentration in three different mu...

Portobello variety of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms, appreciated for its taste, makes it desirable to be eaten fresh and also as flour in soups and gravies. Gamma and electron‐beam radiation at four doses (1, 2, 5, and 10 kGy) were used to analyze its preservation effect on Portobello mushroom flour. A proximate analysis, as well as the impact on fat...

Supplementation of the substrate of mushrooms with calcium silicate and other minerals is usually used as a preventive measure against pests and other contaminants during the production of oyster mushrooms. Little is known of the effects of this supplementation on the quality of the mushrooms produced. In the work described herein, the supplementat...

Ecuadorian honey samples of eight genera and 12 stingless bee species from three geographic regions (Andes, Amazon and Pacific) were studied for their physicochemical parameters, chemical composition, mineral elements and antimicrobial activity. Meliponine honey is acidic and high in water content, but our study revealed substantial chemical variat...

Caffeic and dihydrocaffeic acid are relevant microbial catabolites, being described as products from the degradation of different phenolic compounds i.e., hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives, anthocyanins or flavonols. Furthermore, caffeic acid is found both in free and esterified forms in many fruits and in high concentrations in coffee. These phenolic a...

Background: Anthocyanins are a major class of plant phenolic pigments, responsible for the red, purple or blue color of leaves, flowers, tubers, fruits and certain vegetables. They are considered the largest and most important group of water-soluble pigments in nature and have been described to have multiple health-promoting properties. However, th...

Supplementation of mushroom substrates has been linked to a higher resistance against insect pests, although few studies show the impact of this supplementation on the different agronomical parameters of mushrooms or even their chemical composition. In this work, the variation in the biological and chemical composition of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus...

The bioactive compounds, total antioxidant capacity and protective effect against lipid oxidative damage of red blood cell (RBC) membranes of Mauritia flexuosa L. extracts from three altitude levels (low, middle and high zones) were analyzed. The identification of the main polyphenols in the fruit was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromat...

Flavonoids are one of the largest groups of plant secondary metabolites. They comprise several thousand compounds that share a phenylchromane skeleton and can be classified into different classes, namely flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanins, dihydroflavonols, isoflavones, and chalcones. Flavonoids occur in their natural sources...

Food processing optimization can enhance the nutrient bioavailability, storage time, and stability of convenience foods. Baking is a heat and mass transfer process with a high impact on the shelf-life of the obtained product; a small variation in the parameters during baking can lead to significant changes in the end baked product, as it significan...

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was introduced as a model organism in biological research by Sydney Brenner in the 1970s. Since then, it has been increasingly used for investigating processes such as ageing, oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, or inflammation, for which there is a high degree of homology between C. elegans and human pathways,...

Cigarette smoking has been associated with an increase in oxidative stress (OE) and is considered a predisposing factor to chronic noncommunicable diseases, whilst antioxidants have been proposed as an alternative to protect biological structures from OE. In this study, 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers were studied with the aim of determine their anti...

Anthocyanins have been associated with several health benefits, although the responsible mechanisms are not well established yet. In the present study, an anthocyanin-rich extract from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) was tested in order to evaluate its capacity to modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and resistance to thermally induc...

Interactions between polyphenols and gut microbiota are indeed a major issue of current interest in food science research. Knowledge in this subject is progressing as the experimental procedures and analysis techniques do. The aim of this article is to critically review the more leading‐edge approaches that have been applied so far in the study of...

Pechiche fruits (Vitex cymosa Berteo ex Speng) from Ecuador were studied to determine their phenolic acid profile, nutrient minerals and capacity to protect primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) against oxidative-induced damage. Up to five phenolic acids were identified, with homovanillic acid as the main one. Vitamin C, β-carotene and lutein wer...

Quercetin is one the most abundant flavonoids in the human diet. Although it is well known that quercetin exhibits a range of biological activities, the mechanisms behind these activities remain unresolved. The aim of this work is to progress in the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biological effects of quercetin using Caenorha...

Phenolic compounds have attracted much attention in recent times as their dietary intake has been associated with the prevention of some chronic and degenerative diseases that constitute major causes of death and incapacity in developed countries, such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, some types of cancers or neurodegenerative disorder...

An optimum nutrition through the consumption of a balanced amino acid-rich diet is essential for the good functioning of the immune system of animals. For such reason, the objective of this work was to determine the quantity of free proline, present in the consumed feedstuffs (pollen and honey) by the stingless bee livestock in the Matanzas and May...

The nutritional values, the identification of individual phenolic compounds as well as the functional properties (in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pancreatic lipase inhibition) of Tunisian Feijoa sellowiana (O.Berg) leaves were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and mass spectrometry detector. Feij...

The chemical composition and biological properties of palm Washingtonia filifera (Lindl.) H. Wendl. seeds are seldom studied. Bearing this in mind, the seeds of W. filifera fruits were analysed for their fatty acid and phenolic composition and their antioxidant activity in addition to their cholinesterase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities....

Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the recovery of ergosterol from an agroindustrial residue of Agaricus blazei Murrill, by comparing conventional (heat-assisted extraction, HAE) and more sustainable non-conventional approaches (ultrasound and microwave-assisted extractions, UAE and MAE, respectively). A circumscribed central comp...

Deficiencies of micronutrients, essentially vitamins and minerals, have mainly cause several illnesses, especially in children and women worldwide. Governments and world organizations have focused great efforts to address these shortcomings and improve the health of the populations. This malnutrition can be combated by fortifying basic foods that a...

The phytochemical composition and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of a mixture of 23 plants, named Horchata, traditionally consumed in Ecuador, have been evaluated. The study was carried out using the hydroalcoholic extract (HHext) and infusion (IHext) of the horchata plant mixture. It was verified that thermal treatment affected t...

The global cosmetic industry is constantly searching for new ingredients with multifunctional properties. In this context, phenolic compounds (p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, and protocatechuic acids), cinnamic acid and ergosterol were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial activities, and thereafter microencapsulate...

The aim of this work was to evaluate the biological activity of four grape pomace (GP) extracts that are rich in polyphenols using C. elegans as an in vivo model. Different concentrations of the GP extracts were assessed for their effects on the resistance of C. elegans against thermally induced oxidative stress, accumulation of reactive oxygen spe...

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to examine the influence of epicatechin (EC), an abundant flavonoid in the human diet, in some stress biomarkers (ROS production, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation). Furthermore, the ability of EC to modulate the expression of some key genes in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway (IIS), i...

Influence of 200 μM epicatechin, 5mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and both NAC and EC on lifespan of C. elegans under normal growth conditions, at 20°C. (TIF)

Effect of EC on the expression of sod-3 and hsp-16.2 in old worms (day 9th of adult). Age-syncronized L1 transgenic worms of Psod-3:gfp and Phsp-16.2:gfp were cultivated in the absence (controls) and presence of EC (200 μM) in the culture media. Total GFP fluorescence of each whole worm was quantified using Image J software. Three independent exper...

Survival curves of C. elegans grown in culture media containing 200 μM epicatechin, 5mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or both NAC and EC. (TIF)

Effect of EC on the expression of hsp-16.2 and hsp-70 in C. elegans. Age- synchronized L1 transgenic worms expressing Phsp-16.2::gfp and Phsp-70::gfp transgenes were cultivated in the absence (controls) and presence of EC (200 μM) in the culture media. Relative GFP fluorescence intensities in transgenic A) Phsp-16.2::gfp and B) Phsp-70::gfp worms w...

Effect of EC on DAF-16::GFP nuclear localization. Transgenic worms expressing the DAF-16::GFP fusion protein were cultivated in the absence (controls) and presence of EC (200 μM) and evaluated at 9th day of adulthood. DAF-16:GFP subcellular localization was classified as cytosolic, intermediate and nuclear. (TIF)

Phytolacca, which belongs to the family of Phytolaccaceae, are known for their use in popular medicine. Bioactivity of five extracts from Phytolacca dioica seeds were evaluated in four bioassays. A selected group of compounds from the extract that displayed the best bioactivity was analysed. The ethyl acetate extract (EAE) possessed the highest con...

Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid; PCA) is a phenolic acid present in plants as a secondary metabolite and is also produced in the human organism as a metabolite from the degradation of polyphenols by the intestinal microbiota, particularly of flavonoids. However, PCA, like most polyphenols, is biotransformed in the human body to diffe...

Seven types of wheat and rye flours were studied regarding their physical and chemical properties, as well as the presence of mycotoxins and microorganisms. The results revealed that flours presented moisture and ash contents below the recommended maximum limit. They also presented a low lipid content, which helps avoiding changes in the flours’ sm...

Mushrooms can be used as a source of cosmeceutical ingredients. Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus ethanolic extracts present important bioactive properties, but with some compounds showing easy oxidation and degradation. In the present work, microencapsulation by atomization/coagulation technique was used to protect the extracts. The obtain...

Mushroom production and consumption is increasing, but high perishability still represents a major commercial drawback. Besides increasing the product shelf-life, conservation processes should be innocuous to consumers. Therefore, the effects of gamma and electron beam radiation on chemical and nutritional composition of fresh samples of Agaricus b...

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds widely distributed in the human diet. Their intake has been associated with a decreased risk of different diseases such as cancer, immune dysfunction or coronary heart disease. However, the knowledge about the mechanisms behind their in vivo activity is limited and still under discussion. For years, their bioactivi...

The study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory potential and the protective effect of Asparagus stipularis Forssk aqueous extract against high-fructose diet (HFD; 10% fructose solution for 5 months) induced metabolic syndrome in rats. An A. stipularis shoots decoction (ASD) was administered orally (100 and...

The study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory potential and the protective effect of Asparagus stipularis Forssk aqueous extract against high-fructose diet (HFD; 10% fructose solution for 5 months) induced metabolic syndrome in rats. An A. stipularis shoots decoction (ASD) was administered orally (100 and...

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to examine the influence of epicatechin (EC), an abundant flavonoid in the human diet, in some stress biomarkers (ROS production, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation). Furthermore, the ability of EC to modulate the expression of some key genes in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway (IIS), i...

The nutritional values and phytochemical composition of young shoots of wild Asparagus stipularis Forssk. from Tunisia were determined in this study. The antioxidant (tested by four different in vitro assays) and antiproliferative properties (against human tumour cell lines) of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the young shoots were also inves...

Sardinian honeys obtained from different floral sources (Arbutus, Asphodelus, Eucalyptus, Thistle, and Sulla) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzymes and for their antioxidant activity. Physicochemical parameters, total phenolic, and flavonoids content were also determined. Honey from Arbutus flowers had...

In the long human tradition, bee products have been used not only as nutrient but also as a medicine. Its composition is rather variable and depends on the floral source and external factors, such as seasonal, environmental conditions and processing. In this book, specific attention is focused on chemical composition and the beneficial biological a...

Acerola fruits (Malpighia emarginata DC.) from the central region of Cuba were analyzed to determine their chemical composition and protective capacity against oxidative damage using an in vitro model of human dermal fibroblast (HDFa). The chemical composition analyses showed high content of vitamin C, total polyphenols, β-carotene and folates in a...

Background Many plants have been used in traditional medicine for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antiviral, antidiarrhoeal, analgesic, antimalarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. In order to find novel antimicrobial and antiviral agents, the aim of the present study was the evaluation of the antibacteria...

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from different plant sources, which consequently determine its chemical composition, particularly that of the phenolic constituents. According to their phenolic profiles, different types of propolis have been defined, such as poplar or Pacific. The aim of this chapter is to give an up to date...

Honey is one of the most popular natural sweet substances. From a chemical point of view, it could be defined as a natural food mainly composed of sugars and water together with minor constituent such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, organic acids, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds and aromatic substances. Its composition is particularly v...

Dyslipidemia and oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) are recognized as critical factors in the development of atherosclerosis. Healthy dietary patterns, with abundant fruit and vegetable consumption, may prevent the onset of these risk factors due to the presence of phytochemical compounds. Strawberries are known for their high content of p...

Sarcopoterium spinosum fruits have been used to get extracts of different nature; two fixed oils were obtained by means of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 250 bar and 40°C and using n-hexane in a Soxhlet extraction (SE) apparatus. Aqueous solutions: an aromatic water (AW) and a residual water (RW) were obtained by hydrodistillation...

Bioactive compounds from natural sources, due to their widely-recognized benefits, have been exploited as cosmeceutical ingredients. Among them, phenolic acids emerge with a very interesting potential. In this context, this review analyzes hydroxycinnamic acids and their derivatives as multifunctional ingredients for topical application, as well as...

Over the last few decades, polyphenols, and flavonoids in particular, have attracted the interest of researchers, as they have been associated with the health-promoting effects derived from diets rich in vegetables and fruits, including moderate wine consumption. Recent scientific evidence suggests that wine polyphenols exert their effects through...

Background: Asphodelus microcarpus belongs to the family Liliaceae that include several medicinal plants. In the traditional medicine plants of the genus Asphodelus are used to treat skin disorders such as ectodermal parasites, psoriasis, microbial infection and for lightening freckles. In order to find novel skin depigmenting agents, the present w...

The cosmetic industry is in a constant search for natural compounds or extracts with relevant bioactive properties, which became valuable ingredients to design cosmeceutical formulations. Mushrooms have been markedly studied in terms of nutritional value and medicinal properties. However, there is still slow progress in the biotechnological applica...

Diet composition affects organismal health. Nutrient uptake depends on the microbiome. Caenorhabditis elegans fed a Bacillus subtilis diet live longer than those fed the standard Escherichia coli diet. Here we report that this longevity difference is primarily caused by dietary coQ, an antioxidant synthesized by E. coli but not by B. subtilis. CoQ-...

Doxorubicin (Dox), one of the most used chemotherapeutic agents, is known to generate oxidative stress and block DNA synthesis, which result in severe dose-limiting toxicity. A strategy to protect against Dox toxic effects could be to use dietary antioxidants of which fruits and vegetable are a rich source. In this context, strawberry consumption i...

Doxorubicin (Dox), one of the most used chemotherapeutic agents, is known to generate oxidative stress and block DNA synthesis, which result in severe dose-limiting toxicity. A strategy to protect against Dox toxic effects could be to use dietary antioxidants of which fruits and vegetable are a rich source. In this context, strawberry consumption i...

Excessive amounts of free radicals are deleterious for cells, resulting in cell damage, affecting the wound healing process and causing premature ageing or even neoplastic transformation. Here the capacity of Manuka honey (MH) to protect against oxidative damage and improve the process of skin wound healing was investigated. Up to 16 compounds were...

Flavonoids constitute one of the largest groups of plant secondary metabolites. The potential health benefits of flavonoids, and polyphenols in general, have been classically associated to their scavenging/antioxidant activity and interpreted in the framework of the Oxidative Stress theory. The expression of the genes involved in the flavonoid bios...

Strawberry polyphenols have been extensively studied over the last two decades for their beneficial properties. Recently, their possible use in ameliorating skin conditions has also been proposed; however, their role in preventing UVA-induced damage in cosmetic formulation has not yet been investigated. Skin is constantly exposed to several environ...