Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus: The Nutraceutical Potential of an Unexploited Marine Resource

Abstract

Presently, there is a high demand for nutritionally enhanced foods, so it is a current challenge to look at new raw food sources that can supplement beneficially the human diet. The nutritional profile and key secondary metabolites of red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) are gaining interest because of this challenge. In this context, the possible use of the red seaweed Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus (Gigartinales) as a novel nutraceutical source was investigated. As a result, we highlight the high mineral content of this seaweed, representing 29.35 g 100 g−1 of its dry weight (DW). Despite the low levels of calcium and phosphorus (0.26 and 0.20 g 100 g−1 DW, respectively), this seaweed is an interesting source of nitrogen and potassium (2.13 and 2.29 g−1 DW, accordingly). Furthermore, the high content of carbohydrates (56.03 g 100 g−1 DW), which acts as dietary fibers, confers a low caloric content of this raw food source. Thus, this study demonstrates that C. teedei var. lusitanicus is in fact an unexploited potential resource with the capability to provide key minerals to the human diet with promising nutraceutical properties.

Structural Characterization of Stone Flooring “Calçada Marble”, in Lisbon, Portugal

“…Therefore, in the 19th century, a traditional flooring style that is part of Portugal's cultural heritage, called "calçada portuguesa", was introduced to most of the pavements in Portugal regions. It consists of small, flat stones arranged irregularly to form patterns or images, creating a mosaic-like appearance [2][3][4][5]. These stones come from various quarries, with some found in Portuguese regions such as Estremoz, Borba, and Vila Viçosa, while others are found in different countries, such as Italy, Greece and Spain [2].…”