Screening of Bioactive Properties in Brown Algae from the Northwest Iberian Peninsula.

Algae are an underexploited source of natural bioactive compounds in Western countries, so an increasing interest in the valorization of these marine organisms has emerged in recent years. In this work, the effect of extracting solvent on the extraction yield, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of nine brown macroalgae species (Ascophyllum nodosum, Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Pelvetia canaliculata, Saccharina latissima, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Laminaria ochroleuca, Sargassum muticum, and Fucus spiralis) was assessed. Total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant properties of extracts by different assays: radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were performed. The antimicrobial activity of extracts was studied against six different foodborne microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest extraction yield was achieved in ethanolic extracts. However, the highest TPC and FRAP values were obtained on the ethyl acetate extracts, especially from A. nodosum. Concerning algal species, the highest TPC and FRAP values were found in A. nodosum, while the highest DPPH-RSA values were achieved in the hexane extracts of B. bifurcata. The antimicrobial activity of algal extracts varied according to the solvent and alga selected, suggesting the species- and solvent-dependent behavior of this property, with B. bifurcata extracts showing the highest results for a wide range of bacteria. Our results provide insight on the characterization of widespread brown algae in the coasts of the North-Western region of the Iberian Peninsula, reflecting multiple health-enhancing properties which may lead to their exploitation in food, pharmacological, and cosmetic industries.

Macroalgae as a Source of Valuable Antimicrobial Compounds: Extraction and Applications.

In the last few decades, attention on new natural antimicrobial compounds has arisen due to a change in consumer preferences and the increase in the number of resistant microorganisms. Macroalgae play a special role in the pursuit of new active molecules as they have been traditionally consumed and are known for their chemical and nutritional composition and their biological properties, including antimicrobial activity. Among the bioactive molecules of algae, proteins and peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids and pigments can be highlighted. However, for the complete obtaining and incorporation of these molecules, it is essential to achieve easy, profitable and sustainable recovery of these compounds. For this purpose, novel liquid-liquid and solid-liquid extraction techniques have been studied, such as supercritical, ultrasound, microwave, enzymatic, high pressure, accelerated solvent and intensity pulsed electric fields extraction techniques. Moreover, different applications have been proposed for these compounds, such as preservatives in the food or cosmetic industries, as antibiotics in the pharmaceutical industry, as antibiofilm, antifouling, coating in active packaging, prebiotics or in nanoparticles. This review presents the main antimicrobial potential of macroalgae, their specific bioactive compounds and novel green extraction technologies to efficiently extract them, with emphasis on the antibacterial and antifungal data and their applications.

Antibacterial Use of Macroalgae Compounds against Foodborne Pathogens.

The search for food resources is a constant in human history. Nowadays, the search for natural and safe food supplies is of foremost importance. Accordingly, there is a renewed interest in eco-friendly and natural products for substitution of synthetic additives. In addition, microbial contamination of food products during their obtaining and distribution processes is still a sanitary issue, and an important target for the food industry is to avoid food contamination and its related foodborne illnesses. These diseases are fundamentally caused by certain microorganisms listed in this review and classified according to their Gram negative or positive character. Algae have proven to possess high nutritional value and a wide variety of biological properties due to their content in active compounds. Among these capabilities, macroalgae are recognized for having antimicrobial properties. Thus, the present paper revises the actual knowledge of microbial contaminants in the food industry and proposes antimicrobial algal compounds against those pathogenic bacteria responsible for food contamination as valuable molecules for its growth inhibition. The capacity of algae extracts to inhibit some major food pathogen growth was assessed. Moreover, the main applications of these compounds in the food industry were discussed while considering their favorable effects in terms of food safety and quality control.

Balancing motherhood and drug addiction: the transition to parenthood of addicted mothers.

This is a study about balancing motherhood and drug addiction, during the transition to parenthood. Few studies have dealt with the parental experience of drug-addicted mothers. The participants included 24 drug-addicted mothers, on methadone, with ages 25-42 and with children 1-32 months of age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed according to Grounded Theory. The mothers' main concern was the ambivalence they felt towards pregnancy/motherhood and drug addiction, which was associated with strong feelings of guilt. Confronted with this ambivalence their maternal role becomes merely functional. They focus on providing the basic care to the child, but show little willingness to talk or play. Social support, especially from the partner seems to have a positive role.

Toxicodependência e maternidade: uma revisão de literatura / Drug addiction and maternity: a literature review / Drogodependencia y maternidad: una revisión de literatura

Pretende fazer-se uma revisão da literatura acerca da parentalidade de mães toxicodependentes, abordando as 1) consequências da toxicodependência na maternidade e 2) as condições ambientais e contextuais dos pais toxicodependentes, e suas famílias de origem. A literatura atual aponta para um comportamento parental perturbado das mães toxicodependentes, embora saliente a importância da gravidez e maternidade como fator predisponente ao início de um tratamento e recuperação. São referidos efeitos disruptivos na saúde, nascimento e desenvolvimento pós-natal das crianças, na qualidade do vínculo e da interação mãe-filho, bem como repercussões que se refletem na inadequação de cuidados maternais e risco aumentado de negligência e abuso. A investigação focaliza a atenção em algumas áreas específicas do comportamento parental, verificando-se lacunas e resultados nem sempre consistentes, falta de estudos contemplando a relação direta entre abuso de substâncias e disfunções familiares e da parentalidade, bem como a experiência e dificuldades inerentes à parentalidade nesta situação de risco. É feita uma análise da investigação atual e fornecidas algumas diretrizes para futuras investigações.

This article is a literature review on parenting of drug addicted mothers, addressing 1) the consequences of drug abuse in maternity and 2) the environmental conditions of drug addicted parents, and their families of origin. The current literature points to a disturbed parental behaviour of drug addicted mothers, although it stresses the importance of pregnancy and maternity as a predisposing factor to the beginning of a recovery treatment. Authors refer disruptive effects on health, birth and post-natal children development, on attachment quality and on mother-child interaction, as well as inadequate maternal care and high risk of abuse and negligence. The research focuses attention on specific areas of parental behavior, in which we can find gaps and incoeherences, characterized by the lack of studies covering the direct link between substance abuse and family dysfunction and parenting, as well as the experience and difficulties of parenting in the situation of risk that is drug addiction. We make an analysis of the current investigation and suggest some guidelines for future research.

El objetivo de la investigación es elaborar una revisión de la literatura sobre la parentalidad de las madres drogodependientes abordando las 1) consecuencias de la drogodependencia en la maternidad y 2) las condiciones ambientales y contextuales de los padres drogodependientes, y sus familias de origen. La literatura actual se orienta hacia un comportamiento parental perturbado de las madres drogodependientes, aunque realce la importancia del embarazo y maternidad como factor predisponente al inicio de un tratamiento y recuperación. Se refieren efectos disruptivos en la salud, nacimiento y desarrollo de los recién nacidos en el puerperio, en la calidad del vínculo e interacción madre-hijo, así como repercusiones que se reflejan en la inadecuación de los cuidados maternales y riesgo incrementado de negligencia y abuso. La investigación se focaliza en algunas áreas específicas del comportamiento parental, verificándose fallos y resultados que no son siempre consistentes, falta de estudios que reflejen la relación directa entre el abuso de substancias y disfunciones familiares y de la parentalidad, así como la experiencia y dificultades inherentes a la parentalidad en esta situación de riesgo. Se hace un análisis de la investigación actual y se facilitan algunas directrices para futuras investigaciones.