Cristina Delerue-Matos

Polytechnic Institute of Porto | IPP

This study aimed at optimizing carotenoid extraction using the macroalga Himanthalia elongata (L.) S.F.Gray as a model. Firstly, traditional extraction procedures were employed, using various solvents and temperatures to enhance the extraction conditions. Once the most effective extraction conditions were identified, the study transitioned to a mor...

Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems pose significant environmental and public health challenges. Identifying the presence and levels of these pharmaceuticals is crucial. This study developed an analytical method to detect pharmaceuticals used for Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) disease, including psychiatric drugs and the stimulant...

Microplastic pollution is a problem of increasing concern in food, and while food safety issues around the world are serious, an increasing number of food safety issues related to microplastics have become the focus of people’s attention. The presence of microplastics in food is a worldwide problem, and they are present in all kinds of foods, foods...

Consumers are increasingly concerned about cosmetic ingredients’ origin, looking more than ever to sustainable and greener formulations. The Natural Park of Montesinho, located in Portugal, is characterized by an enormous fauna and flora diversity. Among them, beeswax and strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) have attracted the cosmetic researchers’ int...

The agrifood systems produce a vast amount of food every year and yet, a large portion of that production is directly wasted. The valorisation of the by-products resulting from this sector is of the utmost importance for a full application of circular economy and the sustainability of the world in general. The residual biomass resulting from the ag...

This work presents an integrated overview of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons’ (PAHs) ubiquity comprising environmental contamination in the air, aquatic ecosystems, and soils; characterizes the contamination in biota; and identifies main biomonitors and human exposure to PAHs and associated health risks. Urban centers and industrial areas present...

Fish by-products can be converted into high-value-added products like fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs), which have high nutritional value and are rich in bioactive peptides with health benefits. This study aims to characterise FPHs derived from salmon heads (HPSs) and Cape hake trimmings (HPHs) using Alcalase for enzymatic hydrolysis and Subcritica...

Natural matrices, such as foods, food by-products, seaweeds, and aromatic and medicinal plants, among others, display a plethora of health-promoting effects, including antioxidant effects. Antioxidants are crucial in protecting the human body from oxidative and nitrosative stresses, which are implicated in various diseases and aging processes. Amon...

The in vitro toxicity assessment using cell-based models is a powerful tool to determine key mechanisms of toxicity induced by food and by-products. The present chapter focuses on cyto- and genotoxicity in vitro methods. For the cytotoxicity assessment, herein are depicted the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) a...

This chapter explores the innovative integration of biotechnology in managing agricultural waste and addressing the escalating global challenge of waste accumulation and its environmental implications. Annually, the agricultural sector generates approximately 1.3 billion tons of waste, including crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts. Traditi...

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a global concern, with studies in all continents highlighting their widespread occurrence and potential ecological impacts, revealing their presence, fate, and associated risks in aquatic ecosystems. Despite typically occurring at low concentrations (ranging from ng/L to µg/L), advancements in analytical metho...

Introduction The occurrence and severity of wildfires, with hotter and longer fire seasons, have increased due to global warming and climatic changes, particularly in Southern European countries. Occupational exposure as a firefighter is carcinogenic to humans due to the development of bladder cancer and mesothelioma. This activity is genotoxic, in...

Introduction The occupational exposure as a firefighter was recently classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The firefighters’ activity is genotoxic, induces epigenetic alterations, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Firefighting forces are occupationally exposed to different chemical hazard...

Firefighters’ occupational activity causes cancer, and the characterization of exposure during firefighting activities remains limited. This work characterizes, for the first time, firefighters’ exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) particulate matter (PM) bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s during prescribed fires, Fire 1...

Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomaces (Vitis vinifera L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina’s Calchaquí Valleys were characterized. Total phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, orthodiphenols, anthocyanins, non-flavonoid phenolics, total flavonoids, flavones/flavonols, flavanones/dihydroflavonols, and tan...

The presence of plastic additives such as plasticizers and flame retardants, in different environments raises concerns about their impact on organisms and health. Plastic additives are found indoors, in water, in the soil, and in biota entering the body through dietary and non-dietary sources, potentially causing health issues. Studies have reveale...

Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomace (Vitis vinifera L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Calchaquí Valleys were characterized. Total phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, orthodiphenols, anthocyanins, non-flavonoid phenolics, total flavonoids, flavones/flavonols, flavanones/dihydroflavonols, and tann...

In the current study, polyphenols were extracted from chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSS) by two eco‐friendly techniques, namely microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE). The bioaccessibility, phenolic composition and bioactivity of CSS extracts were explored upon in vitro gastrointestinal digestion consideri...

Disphyma crassifolium, commonly known as sea fingers, is a halophyte plant recently introduced in gourmet cuisine. The present study aims to extract the bioactive compounds of D. crassifolium using ultrasound-assisted extraction and employing green solvents (water and ethanol). The antioxidant/antiradical activities, scavenging capacity against rea...

Shrimp processing generates substantial waste, which is rich in valuable components such as polysaccharides, proteins, carotenoids, and fatty acids. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the valorization of shrimp waste, mainly shrimp shells, focusing on extraction methods, bioactivities, and potential applications of these bioactive com...

In recent years, the consumption of dietary supplements has grown worldwide, particularly in developed regions. However, this growing market has also become a prime target for adulteration practices, with some manufacturers illegally adding pharmaceuticals into plant-based food supplements (PFS) to enhance their effects. While extensive research ha...

Objectives In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the global consumption of honey, driven by the high demand for natural products that offer health benefits. Consequently, consumers show a preference for honey, recognised for its superior quality, namely honey with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or honey produced in prot...

Environmental sustainability is an increasing challenge in the pharmaceutical field, leading to the search for eco-friendly active ingredients. Among natural ingredients, propolis arises as an excellent alternative, being a complex substance with pharmacological properties. This work aims to explore the potential of propolis as a new pharmaceutical...

Blueberry fruits have been widely explored for their rich composition of bioactive compounds with recognized health benefits. In contrast, blueberry pruning waste (BPW), generated during the pruning stages of blueberries, has been typically overlooked, even though it can represent a potential source of natural antioxidants. This study aims to chara...

This review summarizes the recent findings on the development of different types of single and multitarget nanoparticles for disease detection and drug delivery to the brain, focusing on promising active principles encapsulated and nanoparticle surface modification and functionalization. Functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as promising tools...

The application of sewage sludge (SS) in agriculture, as an alternative to manufactured fertilizers, is current practice worldwide. However, as wastewater is collected from households, industries, and hospitals, the resulting sludge could contaminate land with creeping levels of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydroca...

Conference poster abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are considered a major problem for public health, leading to high rates of lower-limb amputations. Moreover, due to the high prevalence rate of predisposing factors, the incidence rate of DFU is still rising. Although DFUs are complex in nature, foot ulceration usually precedes diabetic foot amputations. These impaired c...

With the increase in the world population, the overexploitation of the planet’s natural resources is becoming a worldwide concern. Changes in the way humankind thinks about production and consumption must be undertaken to protect our planet and our way of living. For this change to occur, sustainable development together with a circular economic ap...

Exposure to chemical pollutants, such as metals, can cause adverse health effects on human health. Firefighters are occupationally exposed to metals during firefighting activities as well as at fire stations. The aim of this study is to characterize the levels of metals in the saliva of firefighters during regular activities performed at fire stati...

Recently, it was described that occupational exposure as a firefighter can causes bladder cancer. Although the creatinine is a renal biomarker commonly used in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI), the characterization of urinary creatinine changes in firefighters due to their active participation in fire events remains poorly characterized....

Simple Summary Cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements (ETEs) important in cellular chemical reactions and antioxidant defense. Ingestion of ETEs during pregnancy is crucial but their role in specific pregnancy outcomes is largely unknown. This study aimed to quantify urinary levels of t...