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Nowadays there is an increasing interest in the search for bioactive compounds obtained from aromatic and medicinal plants. Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is known worldwide as an essential raw material for the beer industry, however, recent studies have revealed health benefits. In the beer production process, only the cones of hop are used, while the vegetative part of the plant is discarded and not valorized albeit its richness in interesting compounds. In this work, we have studied the phytochemical profile of polar extracts of hop and of the essential oil of T. zygis subsp. zygis, and further evaluated their antibacterial and antifungal capacities. Moreover, gel formulations incorporating distinct levels of hop extracts (1.25%, 2.5% and 5%) from cones and vegetative parts of the varieties Nugget and Polaris of hop and spontaneous hop, combined with essential oil of Thymus zygis subsp. zygis, were developed and the stability of the new cosmetic products was evaluated. UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS2 analysis was used for phytochemical study of hydroalcoholic hop extracts. The antimicrobial properties of these extracts and of the essential oil of T. zygis subsp. zygis were determined by microdilution broth method and the diffusion in agar test. Additionally, the stability of the gel formulations was evaluated through a series of physical-chemical tests such as the pH, density, texture evaluation, mechanical vibration, centrifugation, relative humidity, light test, consecutive extreme temperature variation and evaluation of organoleptic characteristics. The stability tests did not reveal phase separation or liquefaction of the prepared gel samples. There were no changes recorded in vibration test, in the organoleptic characteristics of the formulations, the relative humidity test, as well as in the extreme temperature variation test. The formulations showed an acid pH, between 5.93±0.047 and 6.16±0.047. The apparent density of the formulations were between 1.08±0.00 Kg/m-3 and 1.12±0.00 Kg/m-3. Although hop extracts had no antimicrobial effect, the essential oil of T. zygis subsp. zygis showed antibacterial and antifungal activities against all strains of bacteria and fungi tested, with higher potency against S. aureus (MIC = 0.031%) than for P. aeruginosa (MIC = 1.25%). The study of the phenolic profile of cones and vegetative parts of the polar extracts of hop, allowed the identification of thirty compounds, of which alpha and beta acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids. In conclusion, the study explored the vegetative part of hop that remain poorly studied allowing propose them as ingredient in cosmetic area. Thanks to FCT (Portugal) and the ERDF under the PT2020 Program for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and LAQVREQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020). SMC acknowledges the research contract under the project AgroForWealth (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000001). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The use of natural cosmetics is nowadays becoming increasingly frequent given to the notice of consumers to the consequences of using chemically synthesized compounds, which may even be carcinogenic. This work aimed to develop a cream formulation for daily moisturizing of the skin, with natural ingredients, like bee products, plants of the region of Trás-Os-Montes and vegetable oils. Among bee products, beeswax was chosen for its properties, like skin repairing power and antimicrobial power. In more detail, two sage plants (Salvia officinalis and Salvia elegans) and the thyme species Thymus zygis subsp. zygis were used as sources of antioxidants. The phenolic profile of the hydroalcoholic extracts of sage were elucidated by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS2 analysis, while the composition of the essential oil of T. zygis subsp. zygis was determined by GC/ GC-MS. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated by microdilution broth method and by diffusion agar test. The obtained formulations were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological stability tests. The major phenolic components of S. officinalis extract were rosmarinic acid, apigenin-Oglucuronide, scutellarein-O-glucuronide and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide while S. elegans was mostly composed by rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid K, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide and caffeic acid. The GC/ GC-MS analysis of essential oil of T. zygis subsp. zygis was mainly composed of carvacrol, cymene and trans-sabinene hydrate. The formulations had pH values slightly acid, similar to the skin pH. No phase separation or alteration of the organoleptic criteria of the formulations were observed. The stability of the products was also verified by spectrophotometer within the UV visible region between 210 and 600 nm, especially the sample containing olive oil and 5% of S. elegans hydroalcoholic extract. A non- Newtonien behavior, criterion sought in cosmetic creams, was also observed during the analysis by the texturometer. Additionally, the thyme volatile oil, used as a preservative in the cream, showed an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC and MBC < 0.031%), Pseudomonas sp (MIC and MBC = 1.25%), Escherichia coli (MIC and MBC = 0.31%) and Candida albicans. Above a degree of 0.31%, thyme oil showed in C. albicans, inhibition zones varying from 2 to 9.5 mm against C. albicans, in the agar diffusion test. The promising results of these work allows propose beeswax, S. officinalis, S. elegans and T. zygis subsp. zygis as active ingredients for natural cosmetic formulations. Thanks to FCT (Portugal) and the ERDF under the PT2020 Program for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and LAQVREQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020). SMC acknowledges the research contract under the project AgroForWealth (CENTRO-01-0145- FEDER-000001). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is known worldwide as an essential flavor in the beer industry. Its major compounds have been demonstrated to be associated to health benefits, due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities [1]. This study intended to develop and to evaluate the stability of an anti-aging cosmetic gel by incorporation of different percentages of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from cones (flowers) and vegetative parts (leaves) of hop spontaneous and of the Cascade and Polaris cultivars and essential oil of Thymus zygis. In addition, the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activities determination of hop extracts and of essential oil of thymus were performed. A methylcellulose gel formulation was used as base to develop the hop cosmetic product. Subsequently, several parameters were evaluated to address its physical-chemical stability. In addition to that, the phenolic profile of hop extracts was determined by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS2 [2] while the composition of thyme essential oil was done by GC and GC-MS. The ability to inhibit the microbial growth was performed by microdilution broth method and the diffusion in agar test. Contrary to hop extracts, thyme oil has shown to exert antibacterial and antifungal activities and thus, it was added to the formulation as preservative. Carvacrol, terpinen-4-ol and p-cimene, determined as major compounds in this oil, could be important contributors for these activities. The extracts obtained from hop cones were rich in phenolic compounds such as cohumulone, humulone and xanthohumol, which have been claimed as possessing anti-wrinkle effect [3]. Concerning stability of the formulations, no phase separation was observed in the centrifugation, mechanical vibration tests or the color tests. However, changes were observed in the UV-Visible spectra between 300nm to 350nm wavelengths, probably by presence of the phenolic compounds such as example xanthohumol, cohumulona, humulona and lupulona [3]. In texture by back extrusion, only the formulation with the extracts of the Polaris variety has high consistency and low viscosity. In the light test there was phase separation in the samples due to the occurrence of dehydration, to minimize this effect, it must be properly in a non-transparent packaging to protect from light. Overall, the incorporation of hydroalcoholic extracts of hop and essential oil of thyme in methylcellulose gel formulations, especially with Polaris variety with 2.5% hydroalcoholic extract of hop cones, allow to obtained a stable cosmetic with potential as anti-aging take into account the chemical composition. Thanks to FCT (Portugal) and the ERDF under the PT2020 Program for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020). SMC acknowledges the research contract (project AgroForWealth, CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000001). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

O género Salvia inclui diversas espécies de plantas ricas em compostos fenólicos e propriedades biológicas (Kintzios, 2000). A Salvia elegans é conhecida por salva ananás devido ao seu cheiro característico, sendo usada na medicina tradicional para tratar afeções do sistema nervoso central (Jiménez-Ferrer, 2010). A Salvia officinalis é cultivada em todo o mundo pelas propriedades benéficas da planta e/ou dos óleos essenciais ou extratos polares (Kintzios, 2000). Apesar disso, pouco se sabe em relação às propriedades antibacterianas de extratos polares destas duas espécies. Objetivo: Neste trabalho pretende-se clarificar a capacidade antimicrobiana das espécies S. elegans e S. officinalis, determinando as concentrações a que estas espécies conseguem inibir o crescimento de bactérias Gram-negativas e Gram-positivas, bem como determinar a concentração letal de cada extrato perante o painel de bactérias em estudo. Foi também objetivo determinar o perfil fenólico dos extratos aquosos das espécies S. elegans e S. officinalis. Metodologia: As decocções das plantas S. officinalis e S. elegans foram obtidas com uma proporção 16,0 e 17,0 mg/mL respetivamente, e avaliadas quanto à sua capacidade antibacteriana pelo método de microdiluição em meio líquido, contra um painel de bactérias Gram-negativas (Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa) e bactérias Gram-positivas (Staphylococcus aureus e Staphylococcus epidermidis). Foram ainda determinadas as Concentrações Mínimas Inibitórias (CMI) e as Concentrações Mínimas Bactericidas (CMB) dos extratos perante cada uma das bactérias. A identificação dos compostos fenólicos dos extratos aquosos das duas espécies foi efetuada por UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn. Resultados: De forma geral, os extratos apresentaram melhor capacidade antibacteriana contra bactérias Gram-positivas (CMI no intervalo de 0,5 a 4 mg/mL) do que bactérias Gram-negativas (CMI= 8,5 e 8,0 mg/mL, respetivamente), conforme tem sido observado noutras espécies de Salvia (Bahadori et al, 2017; Alimpić et al, 2015). Para além da capacidade inibitória, os extratos possuíam também capacidade bactericida perante as cinco espécies bacterianas em estudo (CMB no intervalo 1,0 a 8,5 mg/mL), à exceção da S. elegans, cuja concentração (8,5 mg/mL) não inativou a S. typhimurium. O perfil fenólico do extrato aquoso da S. elegans incluiu maioritariamente compostos fenólicos derivados do ácido cafeico, enquanto o de S. officinalis era principalmente rico em flavonas. Conclusões: Neste estudo foi avaliada pela primeira vez a atividade antimicrobiana (inibitória e bactericida) de extratos aquosos de S. elegans e de S. officinalis. Genericamente as decocções destas duas espécies apresentaram boa capacidade antibacteriana pela inibição e inativação de bactérias, o que poderá estar relacionado com o seu perfil fenólico. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

A incidência de leucemia é parcialmente explicada por exposição ambiental, (Ferreira, Couto, Couto, Alves, Oliveira, & Koifman, 2012), mas a mortalidade reflete a qualidade e o acesso à terapêutica (Bertuccio et al., 2013 ). Comparar ocorrência de leucemia entre áreas geográficas permite levantar hipóteses sobre fatores que explicam heterogeneidade entre regiões. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Salvia species are used worldwide for medicine purposes. In general, these medicinal plants have high amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids that are generally accepted to be closely related to their health properties [1,2]. Albeit that, the phenolic composition of many Salvia species remains unclear. In this work, S. africana, S. elegans and S. officinalis 'Icterina' aqueous extracts were prepared by decoction and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn), in order to identify their main phenolic constituents. The extracts from the three Salvia species were mainly rich in rosmarinic acid (UVmax 290, 328 nm) and in the flavone luteolin-O-glucuronide (MW 462; UVmax 250, 267, 345 nm). In addition to these two, danshensu, a caffeic acid derivative ([M-H]− at m/z 197→179, UVmax 280 nm), was detected in S. africana and S. officinalis 'Icterina', while lithospermic acid B ([M-H]− at m/z 717→ 519, 475, 537, UVmax 290, 337 nm) was found in S. elegans. In turn, the yunnaneic acid D ([M-H]− at m/z 539→297, 359, 179, UVmax 270 nm), 3′-O-(8″-Z-caffeoyl) rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid K (MW 556) were exclusively detected in S. africana, S. elegans and S. officinalis 'Icterina' extracts, respectively. Overall, this study contributed for the deepening of phytochemical knowledge of these three Salvia species. Thanks are due to University of Aveiro, FCT/MEC for the financial support to the QOPNA research Unit (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2013) and CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Salvia species are used worldwide for medicine purposes. In general, these medicinal plants have high amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids that are generally accepted to be closely related to their health properties [1,2]. Albeit that, the phenolic composition of many Salvia species remains unclear. In this work, S. africana, S. elegans and S. officinalis 'Icterina' aqueous extracts were prepared by decoction and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn), in order to identify their main phenolic constituents. The extracts from the three Salvia species were mainly rich in rosmarinic acid (UVmax 290, 328 nm) and in the flavone luteolin-O-glucuronide (MW 462; UVmax 250, 267, 345 nm). In addition to these two, danshensu, a caffeic acid derivative ([M-H]− at m/z 197→179, UVmax 280 nm), was detected in S. africana and S. officinalis 'Icterina', while lithospermic acid B ([M-H]− at m/z 717→ 519, 475, 537, UVmax 290, 337 nm) was found in S. elegans. In turn, the yunnaneic acid D ([M-H]− at m/z 539→297, 359, 179, UVmax 270 nm), 3′-O-(8″-Z-caffeoyl) rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid K (MW 556) were exclusively detected in S. africana, S. elegans and S. officinalis 'Icterina' extracts, respectively. Overall, this study contributed for the deepening of phytochemical knowledge of these three Salvia species. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The genus Thymus, belonging to Lamiaceae family, is rich in medicinal and aromatic species and well-known by several health promoting activities [1,2]. Despite this genus has been extensively studied, some species remain unexploited. In this study, Thymus herba-barona, Thymus pseudolanuginosus and Thymus caespititius decoctions were screened for their phenolic constituents by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and an electrospray mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) operating in negative mode. The three aqueous extracts were rich in caffeic acid derivatives, mainly rosmarinic acid (MW 359) and its structural isomers, that accounted for 55.8 ± 2.8 mg/g in T. herba-barona and 40.2 ± 0.9 and 43.2 ± 3.2 mg/g in T. pseudolanuginosus and T. caespititius, respectively. In turn, other depsides were differently distributed in the three Thyme extracts: while dihydro-salvianolic acid B (MW 716 Da) and caffeoyl rosmarinic acid were particularly representative in T. herba-barona, salvianolic acids K ([M-H]− at m/z 555 493 359) and B ( [M-H]− at m/z 717 519 475) were found in moderate amounts in T. caespititius extract. On the other hand, T. pseudolanuginosus was clearly distinguished by its richness in the flavone luteolin-O-glucuronide ([M − H]− at m/z 461→285). Overall, this work is an important contribution for the phytochemical characterization of these three Thymus species, which are poorly explored. Thanks are due to University of Aveiro, FCT/MEC for the financial support to the QOPNA research Unit (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2013) and CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Salvia, Thymus and Lavandula are important genera belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Several species of these genera are widely used in culinary or in traditional medicine due to their claimed health-benefit properties. Notably, phenolic compounds are believed to be central constituents contributing for plant health properties and hence, they have been the focus of many investigations for the last decades. This chapter reviews the major and minor phenolic constituents found in Salvia, Thymus and Lavandula genera. Typically, plants of these genera are particular enriched in hydroxycinnamic acids, namely in distinct derivatives of caffeic. Moreover, they contain considerable amounts of flavones, which are mainly glycosidic forms of the flavonoids luteolin and apigenin. In turn, flavonols and flavanones are less abundant and/or widespread amongst Salvia, Thymus and Lavandula plants, although eriodictyol O-glycosidic derivatives can be frequently found in Thymus. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Thymus plants comprise distinct species with claimed health properties [1], commonly associated to their essential oils and phenolic compounds. Albeit that, the phenolic composition and the biological activities of many Thymus species remain unclear. This work aimed to elucidate the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from Thymus herba barona, Thymus caespetitus and Thymus fragrantissimus. The aqueous extracts of the three Thymus species were evaluated for their total phenolic compounds by an adaptation of the Folin-Ciocalteu method [2], and individual phenolic compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography associated with electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) in the negative mode. The antioxidant activity of each extract was carried out by DPPH● scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays [3]. Total phenolic compounds in the three extracts ranged from 236±27 (T. caespetitus) to 273±17 μg GAE/mg (T. fragrantissimus). Similarly to other Thymus species [1,4], these extracts were rich in caffeic acid derivatives (characteristic UV spectra maxima at 290 and 328 nm) and mainly composed of rosmarinic acid (MW 360). Other caffeic acid derivatives included salvianolic acid K (MW 556) and 3′-O-(8″-Z-caffeoyl)rosmarinic acid (MW 538). High amounts of the flavone luteolin-O-glucuronide ([M-H]− at m/z 461→285) were found in T. caespetitus while the others species contained moderate amounts of this compound. T. herba barona, T. caespetitus and T. fragrantissimus extracts showed high DPPH radical scavenge ability (EC50 values 11.6±0.9, 13.8±0.6 and 10.9±1.2 μg/mL respectively), as well as high reducing power (EC50 values of 35.1±4.5, 39.3±2.7 and 32.4±4.3 μg/mL, respectively), that were comparable to those of reference compounds. This work is an important contribution for the phytochemical characterization and the antioxidant capacity of these three Thymus species.

Salvia species are used worldwide for medicine purposes. In general, these medicinal plants have high amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids, that are thought to be closely related to their health properties [1,2]. In this work, the aerial parts of Salvia farinacea, Salvia mexico, Salvia greggii and Salvia officinalis were extracted with hot water [3]. Extracts were evaluated for their total phenolic content by an adaptation of the Folin-Ciocalteu method and further analysed by high performance liquid chromatography associated with electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) in the negative ion mode [4], in order to identify their individual phenolic constituents. The aqueous extracts of S. farinacea, S. mexico, S. officinalis and S. greggii contained, respectively, 106±13, 159±38, 175±46 and 136±1 μg GAE/mg of total phenolics. These four species were characterized by a clear prevalence of caffeic acid derivatives, in particular of rosmarinic acid (MW 360), that is generally the most abundant phenolic compound in Salvia species [2,3]. In addition, S. mexico and S. officinalis contained moderate amounts of salvianolic acid B (MW 718). Among these two, S. mexico was richer in O-caffeoylquinic acid (MW 354), while the latter presented high amounts of salvianolic acid K (MW 556) and moderate amounts of its structural isomer. All the extracts were enriched in flavones: S. farinacea and S. officinalis contained high amounts of luteolin-O-glucuronide while S. mexico contained luteolin-C-glucoside with respective characteristic mass spectrometry fragmentation pattern m/z at 461→285 and m/z at 447→357, 327. Similarly, S. greggii extract presented high content of luteolin-7-O-glucoside ([M-H]− at m/z 447→ 285) and luteolin-C-glucoside and moderate quantities of apigenin-C-hexoside ([M-H]− at m/z 431→341, 311). Further studies are being undertaken in order to understand the contribution of these phenolic constituents in the biological activities of Salvia plants.

Plants of the genus Salvia, also known as sage, are distributed worldwide and are commonly used for distinct purposes in culinary, cosmetic and fragrance industry, as well as in traditional medicine. Scientific data supporting the health-beneficial properties of sage have been obtained in chemical and biological (in vitro and in vivo) models, mostly using phenolicenriched extracts and essential oils and/or their purified constituents. Phenolic compounds in sage mainly comprise caffeic acid derivatives depsides together with glycosidic derivatives of the flavones luteolin and apigenin. In turn, essential oils are enriched in monoterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives (e.g a-/B-pinene, 1,8-cineole, a-/B-thujone and linalool). This chapter reviews the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, neuroprotective and cardioprotective potential benefits of Salvia plants, as well as the correlation to its bioactive components. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

A piscina é utilizada para fins recreativos, formativos, terapêuticos ou desportivos e de forma a impedir que a sua água seja um veiculo de infeções é importante a sua desinfeção. Por conseguinte, os utilizadores de piscinas e os vários grupos profissionais que aí desempenham atividades podem estar sujeitos a diversos perigos, nomeadamente biológicos e químicos. A contaminação biológica relaciona-se com o desenvolvimento de diferentes microrganismos onde se pode distinguir os de origem fecal e origem não-fecal. Quanto aos perigos químicos, estes estão relacionados principalmente com a exposição a substâncias químicas tóxicas presentes na água.

Although Salvia elegans and Salvia greggii are commonly used in traditional medicine in North America their main bioactive components remain unknown. The present study aims to identify the main phenolic components of these two plants. Aqueous extracts of both species were prepared according to the procedure described by Ferreira et al and the total phenolic content of the extracts was evaluated through an adaptation of the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Identification of the phenolic compounds was accomplished by reversed-phase HPLC with DAD and ESI-MSn analysis in negative mode. The aqueous extracts of S. elegans and S. greggii contained 201±46 and 136±1 μg GAE/mg of extract, respectively. The two extracts were mainly composed of rosmarinic acid, which is typically found in Salvia plants. S. elegans also contained significant amounts of other caffeic acid derivatives, in particular lithospermic acid and luteolin derivatives. S. greggii extract, contain also luteolin and apigenin derivatives. The main phenolic constituents of S. elegans and S. greggii are here described for the first time. This knowledge may help further understanding of the claimed health-benefits for these two plants.

Water is an essential resource for life. It is a crucial factor for all living beings’ survival thus, it is necessary to promote means to obtain drinking water for human consumption.1 The water intended for human consumption, according to the World Health Organization (WHO),is quality water as soon as it does not cause a significant threat to human health during its consumption.2 The diseases related to the contamination of water for human consumption constitute a very high responsibility and importance to the Public Health. The nitrates have a high solubility and may reach the groundwater in the deep layers of the soil by processes as leaching, particularly in areas with intensive farming and livestock. High concentrations of nitrates can be very harmful to human health since they can be easily converted into nitrites which concentrations cannot exceed the parametric value of 50 mg/L in water for human consumption (Dec. Law n.º 306/2007). The greater effect of nitrite in human health is your involvement in the oxidation of hemoglobin (Hb) to methemoglobin (MetHb). High concentrations of nitrates cause severe methaemoglobinemia in infants and adults. The methemoglobinemia is a rare condition caused by excessive conversion of hemoglobin (Hb) in methemoglobin (MetHb), being unable to bind and transport oxygen.3The iron exists in low concentrations in natural waters and usually its presence results of processes such as leaching of soils or industrial pollution. The presence of iron in the water can consequently cause the corrosion of metal pipes or the use of iron salts as agents of coagulation/flocculation in water treatment and the parametric value of iron is 200μg/L (Dec. Law n.º 306/2007) in water for human consumption.The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of nitrate and iron in drinking water in the district of Bragança in order to identify the sampling point that keeps concentrations of these ions above the parametric values.The collection of drinking water samples in the district of Bragança occurred between the years of 2012 and 2013, with subsequent spectrophotometric determination of nitrate and iron concentration, in the Public Health Laboratory of Bragança (PHLB).Samples with concentrations above the parametric values were identified: above 200 μg/L to iron and above 50 mg/L to nitrates (Dec, Law n.º 306/2007). The collected data was statistically treated in program Microsoft Office - Excel and the analysis of the data was carried out using the normal distribution with levels of confidence of 95 %. In the year 2012 were collected 624 samples and 8.8% of these were outside the parametric values with 8.7% corresponding to samples with values of increased iron and 0.1% corresponding to increased nitrate’s values. In the year 2013 it was collected 1208 samples in which 8.9% were above the parametric values stipulated, from which 8.6% corresponded to samples with increased concentrations of iron and 0.3% corresponded to samples with nitrate levels above the parametric values. Two regions exhibited a greater number of samples with concentrations above the established limits for the parameters studied in this work. One of the regions had 15.9% of the samples above the established limits and the other had 12.6%.Individuals that consumed this water with high levels of iron and nitrates may be associated with several potential health threats

Safe water for human consumption is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as water that does not cause a significant hazard to human health during its consumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of trihalomethanes (THM) and aluminum in the drinking water of the District of Bragança, in order to understand the importance of periodicity these analyzes and the risks to the health of the populations that have been supplied by this water. The THM and aluminum in drinking waters, 233 and 230 samples respectively, were analyzed in Public Health Laboratory of Bragança, in northeast of Portugal between January 1996 and April 2005, according to the guidelines of European Directives of 1980 and 1998. The THM concentration was determined by gas-liquid chromatography and aluminum concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The THM were determined in 233 samples, of which only two showed a concentration greater than the Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV=150 µg/L), from reservoirs of the region of Moncorvo. This value represents a minority (0,9%), compared to the total number of analyzed samples. The determination of aluminum was performed in 230 samples, of which 11.3% exceeded the MAV=200 µg/L. The region of Mogadouro exhibited the major number of samples (n = 10) with concentrations above the MAV. Individuals that consumed this water with high levels of THM and aluminum in particular the individuals of the regions of Moncorvo and Mogadouro, may be associated with several potential health risks.

Microbiological contamination of food is a major public health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide. Most of the contamination is associated with bad practices in the handling and processing of food, due to poor hygiene of food worker´s hands or utensils and surfaces used in this manipulation. This study evaluates the hygienic condition of food handling in the district of Bragança, determining microbial contamination of utensils and worker´s hands, during the period 2009-2011. With respect to the worker´s hands, 39 % of cases showed contamination. In 57 % of these samples total coliforms were identified, in 26% of them fecal coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus in 10% and finally 7% with Escherichia coli. The utensils contamination was confirmed in 30% of samples with results "not satisfactory" and 4 % had results "bad". These contaminations stand out 60 % of the samples with the presence of total germs, 28 % with total coliforms, fecal coliforms with 9 % and even 3 % with Escherichia coli. It was also found that only 37 % of the samples developed positively. It was concluded that there is a better cleaning of utensils manipulation than the worker´s hands, however the trend to improve the hygienic condition is most pronounced in the hands of these workers. The implementation of a program of rules for good hygiene practices will reduce these contaminants to lower levels.

The catering industry has developed over time, increasing the concern about the health and nutritional quality of the food. Therefore producers and food establishments are under pressure to improve the quality of their products and services in order to assure that food is safe and suitable for consumption. The microbial contamination of food is a major public health problem since it affects millions of people worldwide. Poor hygiene practices within the food processing environment can cause the contamination of food with pathogenic particles, which is a risk for the consumers health and safety. In establishments where food is manufactured and served, several measures regarding the control of the microbiologic contamination are needed. The majors microorganisms associated to food contamination are the bacterias due to the fact that they have a high pathogenicity and diversity. For an assessment of the hygienic conditions related to food handling is essential to know the sanitary conditions of the establishments since they can reduce the risks of food contamination. These food contaminations can cause adverse human health problems. Assessment of microbial contamination of the materials and hands of food handlers in different restoration units in the district of Bragança. In this project we analyzed 694 samples, 356hands and 338 utensils (crockery). It was conducted a microbiological assessment of the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in the hands of food handlers and analysis of total germs, total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in handling utensils in different restoration units (day care centers, restaurants/snack bars, supermarkets/grocers; health center’s/hospitals, schools/kindergartens; butchers, fishmongers; delicatessens; dairies; hotels; governmental establishments). All the samples belong to the areas of Alfândega da Fé, Bragança, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Torre de Moncorvo, Vila Nova de Foz Côa,Vila Flôr, Vimioso and Vinhais,and were analyzed in the Public Health Laboratory of Bragança, in the period between January and December 2013. Excel - For the statistical analysis plan the program of Microsoft Office was used. Regarding the hands of manipulators, 53.67% of the cases showed contamination. The hands samples data analysis showed 28.74% of total coliform, 14.96% of fecal coliforms, 3.23% of Staphylococcus aureus and 6.74% of Escherichia coli. The contamination of crockery, cutlery and other kitchen utensils, was confirmed in 28.80% of the samples with “unsatisfactory” results and 10.87% with "bad” results. These contaminations stand out 91.67% of the samples with the presence of total germs, 53.47% with total coliforms, 27.78% with fecal coliforms and 15:28% with Escherichia coli . It was also found that 60.33% of the samples had “satisfactory" results. The classification of the cleanliness of glassware and/or cutlery is classified as satisfactory if the number of colonies is less than or equal to 100 CFU (Colony Forming Units) per piece and the detection of coliforms is negative, it is classified as “unsatisfactory” if the number of colonies is greater than 100 CFU per piece and/or if the presence of coliforms is positive, it may still be classified as “bad” when the search of fecal coliforms and/or the research of E. coli is positive. We concluded that food handler contamination is the main cause of poor hygiene in the food manipulation process. The level of hygiene registered in most samples of the crockery, cutlery and other kitchen utensils used in food manipulation process is satisfactory. And when compared with the samples from the food handlers these samples have better results, even though we still recorded some levels of contamination. In general, it is necessary to implement appropriate food hygiene measures in order to reduce these contaminants in the catering units.

O Thymus é um importante género da família das Lamiaceae, do qual muitas espécies são encontradas de forma espontânea na região mediterrânica. Várias espécies do género Thymus são igualmente cultivadas tendo em vista a sua utilização culinária, como ingrediente de saladas e sopas e ainda como especiaria em guisados e molhos. Por outro lado, as plantas do género Thymus têm sido alvo de vários estudos científicos, dando ênfase às suas propriedades biológicas. De entre as várias propriedades que lhe são atribuídas, os Thymus são destacados pela sua boa capacidade antioxidante, a qual está geralmente associada ao seu elevado conteúdo em compostos fenólicos [1, 2]. Apesar disso, a espécie T. pseudolanuginosus encontra-se ainda pouco estudada. Neste sentido, foram objetivos do presente estudo a caracterização dos compostos fenólicos de um extrato aquoso de T. pseudolanuginosus e a determinação do seu poder antioxidante. O extrato foi obtido a partir das partes aéreas da planta, com água quente, segundo o procedimento descrito por Ferreira et al [3]. O teor em compostos fenólicos totais foi determinado pela adaptação do método colorimétrico de Folin-Ciocalteu [4] e a identificação dos compostos fenólicos foi efetuada através de HPLC-DAD e LC-MS/MS tendo em conta o espectro UV e o padrão de fragmentação de cada um dos compostos. Adicionalmente, a capacidade antioxidante do extrato aquoso de T. pseudolanuginosus foi avaliada quanto à sua capacidade de captação de radicais livres DPPH• e de redução do ião ferro (III). De acordo com os dados obtido no teste de Folin-Ciocalteu, o extrato de T. pseudolanuginosus possui 293±31 μg EAG/mg de extrato. Os compostos fenólicos do extrato incluem derivados hexósidos da flavona luteolina (UVmax 337 nm) e ácidos fenólicos como o ácido rosmarínico e outros derivados poliméricos do ácido cafeico (UVmax 290 e 328 nm). O extrato aquoso de T. pseudolanuginosus possui elevada capacidade antioxidante uma vez que os valores de IC50 obtidos foram 10.9±0.7 e 32.2±8.2 μg/mL, no método de DPPH● e poder redutor, respetivamente. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo surgem como um enorme contributo para a caraterização fitoquímica do género Thymus e em especial da espécie T. pseudolanuginosus que, cuja composição fenólica não se encontra descrita até ao momento. Este estudo permite ainda comprovar que esta espécie de tomilho é uma potencial fonte de compostos antioxidantes.

A espécie Salvia elegans é um arbusto que pertence ao género Salvia, família das Lamiaceae. Várias espécies do mesmo género têm vindo a ser cultivadas para uso na culinária e em medicina tradicional [1]. Devido ao seu cheiro característico, a S. elegans é vulgarmente conhecida por salva ananás e utilizada como condimento ou aromatizante em alimentos. No México esta espécie é popularmente conhecida como “mirto” e tem sido usada na medicina tradicional para tratar afeções do sistema nervoso central [2, 3]. Apesar disso, as suas propriedades biológicas não estão ainda estudadas. Neste trabalho pretende-se clarificar a capacidade antioxidante da espécie S. elegans, bem como proceder à identificação dos seus principais constituintes fenólicos, uma vez que vulgarmente estes compostos se encontram associados a esta propriedade [4]. Para tal, as partes aéreas da planta S. elegans foram extraídas com água quente [5] e o teor de compostos fenólicos totais no extrato foi determinado por uma adaptação do método colorimétrico de Folin-Ciocalteu [6]. A identificação dos compostos fenólicos foi efetuada por análise de cromatografia líquida de alta resolução (HPLC-DAD), acoplada à técnica de espectrometria de massa com ionização por electrospray (ESI-MSn), em modo negativo. Ainda, a capacidade antioxidante do extrato aquoso de S. elegans foi testada através dos testes de captação de radicais livres DPPH•, e do teste do poder redutor. De acordo com o método de Folin-Ciocalteu, os compostos fenólicos no extrato aquoso de S. elegans totalizam 201±46 μg EAG/ mg de extrato. O extrato é particularmente rico em ácido rosmarínico (MW 360) e contém ainda quantidades moderadas de outros derivados do ácido cafeico e da flavona luteolina. Para além disto, o extrato de S. elegans possui uma boa capacidade antioxidante, apresentando valores de IC50 11,3±1,9 e 31,3±5,0 μg/mL no método de DPPH• e poder redutor, respetivamente. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo permitem sugerir que S. elegans possui grande potencial para ser aplicada como agente antioxidante. Futuramente, pretende-se esclarecer a contribuição individual dos principais constituintes fenólicos do extrato de S. elegans na atividade antioxidante do mesmo.

O ião Cloreto encontra-se normalmente associado aos catiões sódio, cálcio, magnésio e potássio. Uma concentração excessiva de cloreto na água acelera a corrosão dos metais das redes de distribuição, em função da alcalinidade da água. Validação do método de Mohr (SMEWW 21th Edition 2005), utilizado no Laboratório de Saúde Pública de Bragança para determinação do teor de Cloreto em águas de consumo humano, com base no documento normativo NP EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, com o objectivo final da Acreditação deste ensaio. Através do estudo de validação efectuado foi possível a Acreditação do método de Mohr (SMEWW, 21th Edition, 2005) para determinação do teor de Cloreto em águas de consumo humano. O reconhecimento da competência técnica para a execução do método referido foi conferido pelo Instituto Português de Acreditação (IPAC) mediante a emissão de um certificado de acreditação n.º L0432.

A presença de leucócitos nos concentrados de eritrócitos (CE) e nos concentrados de plaquetas (CP) está associada a uma maior incidência de reacções febris, com transmissão de citomegalovírus (CMV) e aloimunização a antigénios HLA em indivíduos transfundidos. A exigência de componentes sanguíneos pobres em leucócitos implica a existência de um controlo relativamente à persistência dos leucócitos residuais. As amostras foram adquiridas no citómetro de fluxo e analisadas mediante um programa informático. A citometria de fluxo permite quantificar os leucócitos residuais dos diferentes componentes sanguíneos, avaliando a conformidade ou não conformidade com as normas exigidas pelo conselho da Europa.