Percorrer por autor "Neng, Nuno"
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- NaCl elicitation enhances metabolite accumulation and stress resilience in Inula crithmoides L. shoot cultures : implications for its nutritional and medicinal valuePublication . Rodrigues, Maria João; Neng, Nuno; Custódio, LuísaThis study explored the impact of sodium chloride (NaCl) elicitation on the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites and the oxidative stress responses of Inula crithmoides L. (golden samphire) in vitro shoot cultures. Elicitation involved applying different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM) for 4 weeks. This was followed by assessing its impact on plant growth, physiological parameters (pigments, hydrogen peroxide content, total soluble sugars and proteins, and proline), and secondary metabolism (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, shikimic acid, phenolics, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids) in the shoots. The extracts were also analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The NaCl elicitation did not affect shoot growth but increased physiological functions such as photosynthesis and oxidative stress management under moderate salinity levels. In addition, NaCl treatments increased the synthesis of soluble sugars and proteins, particularly proline, as well as bioactive phenolics such as gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and naringenin-7-O-glucoside. The NaCl elicitation in golden samphire shoot cultures offers a significant method for enhancing the production of important nutritional and bioactive compounds. This underscores the species’ potential for cultivation in saline environments and provides valuable prospects for its utilization in the health and nutrition sectors.
- An overview on the properties of Ximenia oil used as cosmetic in AngolaPublication . Satoto, Gabriel; Fernandes, Ana Sofia; Saraiva, Nuno; Santos, Fernando; Neng, Nuno; Nogueira, José Manuel; Almeida, Tânia Santos de; Araujo, Maria EduardaXimenia (Ximenia americana L.) is a shrub, or small tree, native from Africa and spread across different continents. In Angola, the seeds oil is used by local populations, to prevent sunburn, to smooth and hydrate the skin, and to give it a pleasant color and elasticity, to prevent stretch marks, in pregnant woman, and also as hair conditioner. Herein, an oil sold in the region (LPO), and two others extracted in laboratory, from seeds collected in the same region, were investigated in terms of their composition, chemical properties, UV transmission. The three oils are similar although the LPO is more acidic, 0.48 mg KOH/g. GC-MS analysis indicated that the major components are the fatty acids, oleic (31.82%), nervonic (11.09%), ximenic (10.22%), and hexacosa-17,20,23-trienoic acids (14.59%). Long chain fatty acids, n ≥ 20, accounted for 51.1% of the total fatty acids. A thin film of the oil showed a reduction in transmittance from 200 to 300 nm. Viscosity studies of the LPO indicated that at normal temperature of skin, the oil can be spread over the skin as a thin film. At concentrations up to 10 µg/mL, the LPO is not toxic to human keratinocytes, suggesting the safety of this oil.
- Physiological and biochemical tolerance responses of the estuarine saltmarsh plant Limbarda crithmoides L. under acetaminophen exposure : insights into plant–pollutant interactionsPublication . Hoornaert, Hanne; Neng, Nuno; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria JoãoPharmaceutical contamination in estuarine and coastal environments is a growing concern due to continuous urban discharges and limited removal in conventional wastewater treatment. Acetaminophen, a frequently detected analgesic in surface and estuarine waters, was selected as a model compound to investigate its physiological effects on the native saltmarsh plant Limbarda crithmoides L. Rooted explants were exposed to acetaminophen (0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L) in liquid culture for 7, 14, and 21 days. Removal from solution was monitored by HPLC-DAD and GC–MS, while pigment levels, oxidative stress markers (MDA), osmoprotectants (proline, proteins, sugars), and secondary metabolites (phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, shikimic acid, PAL activity) were quantified in roots and shoots. L. crithmoides showed moderate tolerance to acetaminophen exposure, maintaining photosynthetic pigments and stable stress markers. Early responses involved osmoprotectant accumulation and controlled oxidative damage, followed by the activation of antioxidant and phenolic pathways at later stages, suggesting metabolic acclimation to sustained stress. Root tissues displayed lower oxidative damage and higher proline accumulation than aerial parts, indicating spatial differentiation of stress responses. Despite continuous exposure, plants preserved functional integrity and biochemical homeostasis. These results reveal key physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying the tolerance limits of a native estuarine species to pharmaceutical stress, providing insight into plant–pollutant interactions and the potential role of saltmarsh vegetation in the functioning of contaminated coastal ecosystems.