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National R&D

NUTRIBRAIN

Coastal flora for mental well-being promotion: Development of food supplements based on dune plant compounds with impact on BDNF-TrkB signalling

Principal Investigator
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Researcher

Graciliana Lopes obtained the European Doctoral Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Specialty of Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy in 2014 (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal/Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany). During her career, she has specialized in the areas of Natural Sciences and Phytochemistry, with focus in Marine Biotechnology. Her work has been devoted to the chemical characterization of marine bioactive extracts, through different chromatographic techniques, and to the evaluation of their biological activities in different cell and cell-free systems, with a special emphasis in the fields of inflammation and oxidative stress.
She has participated in several national and international research projects, devoted to the valorization of marine resources in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields, including the joint collaboration project ALCHEMY (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-027578), between the Biotechnology School of the Portuguese Catholic University (ESB-UCP) and the North American Amyris, devoted to the economic valorization of Amyris industrial fermentation coproducts/residues for the development of innovative products for cosmetic applications. She had the opportunity to join international consortiums and work with researchers and companies from Spain, France, England and Ireland, and to supervise PhD and Master Students.
Presently, she is an Assistant Researcher at CIIMAR (CEECIND), and her field of research focus the exploitation of marine bioactive compounds in molecular targets and mediators underlying the inflammatory process, and also their application in cosmetic industry.

RESEARCH GROUPS:

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In Western societies, the prevalence of mental disorders remains high, largely due to insufficient prevention strategies. Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects around 280 million people worldwide and is projected by the WHO to become the leading cause of disease burden by 2030. Depressive disorders currently rank 13th in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) across all ages but rise to 4th in individuals aged 10–24 and 6th in those aged 25–49. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects one-third of MDD patients and is associated with reduced quality of life and impaired productivity. Inadequate treatment contributes to approximately 800,000 suicides each year.
Nutritional psychiatry offers a promising avenue for prevention and mental health promotion. This field examines how diet influences mood and cognition, showing that specific nutrients and dietary patterns can modulate mental well-being. Although supplements are often used to overcome dietary limitations, evidence for their effectiveness in treating mental illness remains limited, except for omega‑3 formulations enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Nonetheless, incorporating beneficial nutrients and bioactive compounds through food supplements shows potential for preventing mental illness and enhancing stress resilience.
Plant extracts contain diverse phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Polyphenols—particularly flavonoids—have demonstrated the ability to promote neurogenesis and enhance neuroplasticity by modulating pathways such as PI3K/Akt, PLC/IP3/CaMKII, and MAPK/ERK, all activated downstream of TrkB upon BDNF binding. Despite this potential, the pharmacological properties and chemical composition of coastal dune plants remain poorly explored, although several flavonoids and phenolic acids have been identified in some species.
NUTRIBRAIN aims to apply nutritional psychiatry principles to develop and characterize neuroplastic food supplements derived from phenolic compounds extracted through eco‑friendly processes from underutilized dune plants. The project is structured around four objectives:
• SO1: Extraction and characterization of bioactive phenolic compounds from coastal dune plant species using green extraction methods.
• SO2: In silico studies for identification of natural compounds binding to TrkB.
• SO3: Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds’ Influence on Neuroplasticity Targets related to BDNF, TrkB and downstream pathways activation.
• SO4: Formulation and Characterization of Neuroplastic Food Supplement.
NUTRIBRAIN represents a significant step forward in mental health innovation, offering evidence‑based solutions rooted in nutritional psychiatry. By fostering neuroplasticity and promoting mental well‑being through bioactive supplements, the project aims to strengthen resilience in individuals aged 20–50 and reduce the risk of severe mental illness. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the 2030 Agenda, focused on ensuring good health and well‑being for all.

Leader Institution
REQUIMTE/LAQV
Program
Programa Inovação e Transição Digital (COMPETE 2030), Portugal 2030 + Orçamento próprio (15%)
Funding
Other projects