In the last years, consumers are paying much more attention to natural medicines and principles, mainly due to the general sense that natural compounds are safe. On the other hand, there is a growing demand by industry for plants used in traditional medicine that could be incorporated in foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, or even pharmaceuticals. Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. belongs to the Fabaceae family and has been recognized since ancient times for its ethnopharmacological values. This plant contains different phytocompounds, such as glycyrrhizin, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, glabrin A and B, and isoflavones, that have demonstrated various pharmacological activities. Pharmacological experiments have demonstrated that different extracts and pure compounds from this species exhibit a broad range of biological properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. A few toxicological studies have reported some concerns. This review addresses all those issues and focuses on the pharmacological activities reported for G. glabra. Therefore, an updated, critical, and extensive overview on the current knowledge of G. glabra composition and biological activities is provided here in order to explore its therapeutic potential and future challenges to be utilized for the formulation of new products that will contribute to human well-being.

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In this study, the antioxidant properties of chestnut (flowers, leaves, skins and fruits) extracts were evaluated through several biochemical assays: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, inhibition of b-carotene bleaching, inhibition of oxidative hemolysis in erythrocytes, induced by 2,2 0 -azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH), and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in pig brain tissue through the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). These assays have been extensively studied as models for the peroxidative damage in biomembranes. The EC 50 values were calculated for all the methods in order to evaluate the antioxidant efficiency of each chestnut extract. The phenol and flavonoid contents were also obtained. Chestnut skins revealed the best antioxidant properties, presenting much lower EC 50 values, particularly for lipid peroxidation inhibition in the TBARS assay. Furthermore, the highest antioxidant contents (polyphenols and flavonoids) were found for these extracts.

The phenolic compounds present in 29 samples of olive fruits were analysed by reversed-phase HPLC/DAD and/or HPLC-DAD/ ESI-MS/MS. All samples were collected during the normal picking period for olive oil production, in north and central Portugal, and were obtained from 18 different olive cultivars. Two different extraction methods were necessary for the complete quantification of phenolic compounds, a methanolic extraction and an extraction which included a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleaning step. The analyses showed that all samples presented a similar profile, which included at least six identified phenolic compounds: hydroxytyrosol, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, oleuropein, rutin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside and luteolin. Several samples also contained 5-Ocaffeoylquinic acid, verbascoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside. In all samples, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein were the major compounds identified while, in general, rutin and luteolin 7-Oglucoside were the two main flavonoids. The influences of maturation index, nature of the cultivar and geographical origin are discussed.

Six cultivars (Franquette, Marbot, Mayette, Mellanaise, Lara, and Parisienne) of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) were collected during the 2001 crop, from Braganç a, Portugal. Chemical composition, including moisture, total oil content, crude protein, ash, carbohydrates, and nutritional value, was evaluated. Fat was the predominant component, ranging from 62.3 to 66.5%. Total oil was extracted and analyzed for fatty acids, sterols, oxidative stability, and peroxide value. Fatty acids and sterols were determined by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector. Eighteen fatty acids were quantified. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, linoleic acid were predominant. -Sitosterol, ∆ 5 -avenasterol, and campesterol were the major sterols found. Differences were observed among the studied cultivars, especially in peroxide values and in the sterol profile.

Coleostephus myconis (L.) Rchb.f. (Asteraceae) is a species with ruderal growth and persistence in abandoned soils, being characterized for its plentiful yellow flowering between March and August. Despite its botanical relevance, C. myconis had never been studied neither for its antioxidant activity, nor individual phenolic compounds. Herein, the antioxidant activity of different botanical parts: stems and leaves (green parts), floral buds, flowers in anthesis and senescent flowers, was studied in selected extracts

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The chemical composition and nutritional value of five wild edible mushroom species (Agaricus arvensis, Lactarius deliciosus, Leucopaxillus giganteus, Sarcodon imbricatus, Tricholoma portentosum) commonly consumed in the Trás-os-Montes region of Northeast Portugal was determined. Chemical composition evaluation included moisture, total oil content, crude protein, ash, carbohydrates, and nutritional value determination. The macronutrient profile in general revealed that the wild mushrooms were rich sources of protein and carbohydrates, and had low amounts of fat. On the basis of the proximate analysis, it can be calculated that an edible portion of 100 g of these mushrooms provides, on average, 28 kcal (118 kJ). The analysis of fatty acid composition, performed by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector, allowed the quantification of fifteen fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, oleic and linoleic acids, were predominant. The composition in individual sugars was also determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a refraction index detector, mannitol and trehalose being the most abundant sugars.