Paula Araújo

Antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins.

The study of the antioxidant properties of six deoxyanthocyanidins (deoxypeonidin, deoxymalvidin, luteolinidin, apigeninidin, guaiacylcatechinpyrylium and syringylcatechinpyrylium) and an anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-glucoside) was carried out. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between the structure and the antioxidant properties of individual deoxyanthocyanidins, compared to a common anthocyanin derivative, cyanidin-3-glucoside. The ability of these compounds to inhibit lipid peroxidation in a liposome membrane system was examined by monitoring oxygen consumption and the antiradical and reducing capacities were determined using the DPPH and FRAP assay, respectively. The results showed that all the compounds tested presented antioxidant properties. Cyanidin-3-glucoside presented higher antiradical and reducing activities in the DPPH and FRAP assay, although in the liposome model, the guaiacylcatechinpyrylium was more effective inhibiting lipid peroxyl radicals. Additionally, the anti-proliferative effects of deoxyanthocyanidins, have been evaluated against two cancer cell lines from stomach (AGS, MKN-28) and one colon cancer cell (Caco-2), and compared with the effect of the respective anthocyanins. Considering the antiproliferative activity, all compounds were active against Caco-2 cell line, being the ones with glucose moiety and oaklin Scp the most active. Deoxyanthocyanidins, and in particular, guaiacylcatechinpyrylium may be regarded as potential food colorants.

The effects of glutaraldehyde on the control of single and dual biofilms of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens

Glutaraldehyde (GLUT) was evaluated for control of single and dual species biofilms of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens on stainless steel surfaces using a chemostat system. The biofilms were characterized in terms of mass, cell density, total and matrix proteins and polysaccharides. The control action of GLUT was assessed in terms of inactivation and removal of biofilm. Post-biocide action was characterized 3, 7, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. Tests with planktonic cells were also performed for comparison. The results demonstrated that in dual species biofilms the metabolic activity, cell density and the content of matrix proteins were higher than those of either single species. Planktonic B. cereus was more susceptible to GLUT than P. fluorescens. The biocide susceptibility of dual species planktonic cultures was an average of each single species. Planktonic cells were more susceptible to GLUT than their biofilm counterparts. Biofilm inactivation was similar for both of the single biofilms while dual biofilms were more resistant than single species biofilms. GLUT at 200 mg l−1 caused low biofilm removal (<10%). Analysis of the post-biocide treatment data revealed the ability of biofilms to recover their activity over time. However, 12 h after biocide application, sloughing events were detected for both single and dual species biofilms, but were more marked for those formed by P. fluorescens (removal >40% of the total biofilm). The overall results suggest that GLUT exerts significant antimicrobial activity against planktonic bacteria and a partial and reversible activity against B. cereus and P. fluorescens single and dual species biofilms. The biocide had low antifouling effects when analysed immediately after treatment. However, GLUT had significant long-term effects on biofilm removal, inducing significant sloughing events (recovery in terms of mass 72 h after treatment for single biofilms and 42 h later for dual biofilms). In general, dual species biofilms demonstrated higher resistance and resilience to GLUT exposure than either of the single species biofilms. P. fluorescens biofilms were more susceptible to the biocide than B. cereus biofilms.

The Influence of Interfering Substances on the Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

Standard cleaning processes may not remove all the soiling typically found in food industry, such as carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. Contaminants have a high impact in disinfection as their presence may reduce the activity of disinfectants. The influence of alginic acid, bovine serum albumin, yeast extract, and humic acids was assessed on the antimicrobial activities of benzalkonium chloride and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide against Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The bacteria (single and consortium) were exposed to surfactants (single and combined) in the absence and presence of potential disinfection interfering substances. The antimicrobial effects of the surfactants were assessed based on the bacterial respiratory activity measured by oxygen uptake rate due to glucose oxidation. The tested surfactants were efficient against both bacteria (single and consortium) with minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 3 to 35 mg·L−1. The strongest effect was caused by humic acids that severely quenched antimicrobial action, increasing the minimum bactericidal concentration of the surfactants on P. fluorescens and the consortium. The inclusion of the other interfering substances resulted in mild interferences in the antibacterial activity. This study clearly demonstrates that humic acids should be considered as an antimicrobial interfering substance in the development of disinfection strategies.

The ability of an antimicrobial agent to penetrate a biofilm is not correlated with its killing or removal efficiency

The penetration ability of 12 antimicrobial agents, including antibiotics and biocides, was determined against biofilms of B. cereus and P. fluorescens using a colony biofilm assay. The surfactants benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and streptomycin were of interest due to their distinct activities. Erythromycin and CTAB were retarded by the presence of biofilms, whereas ciprofloxacin and BAC were not. The removal and killing efficacies of these four agents was additionally evaluated against biofilms formed in microtiter plates. The most efficient biocide was CTAB for both bacterial biofilms. Ciprofloxacin was the best antibiotic although none of the selected antimicrobial agents led to total biofilm removal and/or killing. Comparative analysis of the results obtained with colony biofilms and microtiter plate biofilms show that although extracellular polymeric substances and the biofilm structure are considered a determining factor in biofilm resistance, the ability of an antimicrobial agent to penetrate a biofilm is not correlated with its killing or removal efficiency. Also, the results reinforce the role of an appropriate antimicrobial selection as a key step in the design of disinfection processes for biofilm control.

Influence of Flow Velocity on the Characteristics of Pseudomonas fluorescens Biofilms

AbstractThe characteristics of Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms formed under three different linear flow velocities (u=0.1, 0.4, and 0.8  m/s; Reynolds numbers of 1,000, 4,000, and 8,000, respectively) were studied providing an extension to the studies of earlier researchers. A flow cell reactor system was used to form biofilms, and they were characterized in terms of thickness, morphological structure, mass, cell density, outer membrane protein expression, and matrix and total protein and polysaccharide content. The external mass transfer coefficients were also assessed. The biofilms developed at u=0.4 and 0.8  m/s had similar characteristics but were significantly different from those developed at 0.1  m/s. High flow velocities formed thinner biofilms with higher cell densities and contents of matrix/extracellular proteins and polysaccharides. The increase of flow velocity from 0.4 to 0.8  m/s caused a higher production of matrix proteins and polysaccharides. The external mass transfer coefficients sugg...

Synthesis, characterisation and antioxidant features of procyanidin B4 and malvidin-3-glucoside stearic acid derivatives.

The acylation of procyanidin B4 with a saturated fatty acid chloride containing 18 carbon atoms was studied in order to obtain procyanidin B4 3-O-di-stearic acid conjugate. This compound was structurally characterised by mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Derivatization of malvidin-3-glucoside using stearoyl chloride in acetonitrile was also performed yielding mono-, di- and tri-stearic ester derivatives. The novel derivatives obtained revealed significant antioxidant activity, although lower than the respective precursors. However, the chemical modification of anthocyanins and procyanidins (water soluble pigments) to more lipophilic compounds has the advantage of increased bioavailability in biological matrices, and to potentiate their application in food matrices and cosmetic products.

Evidence for copigmentation interactions between deoxyanthocyanidin derivatives (oaklins) and common copigments in wine model solutions.

The aim of this study was to investigate interactions possibly taking place in red wine between oaklins, which are deoxyanthocyanidin derivatives (guaiacylcatechin-pyrylium and syringylcatechin-pyrylium), and several copigments: catechin (CP1), epicatechin (CP2), chlorogenic acid (CP3), epigallocatechin (CP4), and procyanidin B3 (CP5). The results show that oaklins, like common anthocyanins, also present copigmentation interactions that further stabilize the flavylium cation in hydroalcoholic solutions. Molecular dynamics simulations were also performed to interpret the binding data, to specify the relative arrangement of the pigment and copigment molecules within the complexes, and to interpret their absorption properties in the visible range.

Color stability and spectroscopic properties of deoxyvitisins in aqueous solution

The color properties and stability of three types of 3-deoxyvitisins derived from peonidin (deoxyvitisin A, B and methyldeoxyvitisin) were studied using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Similarly to pyranoanthocyanins, the conjugated double bonds among pyranic rings C and D provide a higher electronic delocalization that prevents the nucleophilic attack of water at position 2 and the subsequent formation of the hemiketal and chalcone species. Consequently, besides the flavylium cation (AH+), neutral (A) and ionized bases (An−) have been identified by increasing pH, and the respective acidity constants were determined. The acidity constant values for the formation of the neutral quinoidal base (pKa2(deoxyvit A) = 4.8, pKa1(deoxyvit B) = 4.7 and pKa1(methyldeoxyvitisin) = 5.2) are slightly higher than the ones reported in the literature for their corresponding 3-glucosyl derivatives (vitisins). Given their higher stability, these pigments may be regarded as potential food colorants.

Thermodynamics, kinetics, and photochromism of oaklins: a recent family of deoxyanthocyanidins.

Two oaklins guaiacylcatechinpyrylium (GCP) and syringylcatechinpyrylium (SCP) and a model compound deoxypeonidin (DOP) were synthesized, and the rate and equilibrium constants of the respective pH dependent network of chemical reactions were calculated. In contrast to anthocyanins, the three compounds possess a small cis-trans isomerization barrier and hence the rate of the trans-chalcone formation follows a bell-shaped curve as a function of pH. The three compounds exhibit photochromism obtained by irradiation of the trans-chalcone, which, depending on pH, leads to the colored species flavylium cation and quinoidal base. The flash photolysis together with pH jumps followed by UV-vis absorption and stopped flow is a very useful tool to achieve the rate and equilibrium constants of the network of chemical reactions followed by these molecules. Oaklin compounds which are formed in wine aged in oak barrels present physical-chemical properties more similar to simpler deoxyanthocyanidins rather than anthocyanins and may play a significant role in color changes observed in wine aging. Given their higher stability, they may be regarded as potential food colorants.

Malvidin 3-Glucoside–Fatty Acid Conjugates: From Hydrophilic toward Novel Lipophilic Derivatives

This work describes the lipophilization reactions of malvidin 3-glucoside with different saturated fatty acid chain lengths using an enzymatic synthesis and the study of their physical-chemical and antioxidant properties. The lipophilic anthocyanins were obtained with satisfactory yields (22-40%) after column chromatography purifications, and they revealed the same appealing chromatic features of the parent anthocyanin. All of the compounds were characterized by mass spectrometry, confirming the regioselective acylation on the glucose moiety. The octanol-water partition coefficients and the hydrophobicity index of the different derivatives were determined, confirming a lipophilicity increase concomitant with the fatty acid chain length. The antioxidant profile was also evaluated by using two in vitro methods (β-carotene-lineolate method and oxygen consumption assay). Overall, a maximum of antioxidant activity was achieved when malvidin 3-glucoside was conjugated with caprylic acid (C8). Altogether, the results obtained provide a good perspective for the technological application of these functionalized anthocyanins in the cosmetics and food industries.