Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia associated with amyloid-beta peptide deposition and loss of mitochondrial function and regulation. Currently, there is no cure for AD, thus, there is a need to continuously develop therapeutic strategies that could address the complex multifactorial causes of AD development. Due to this necessity, this study has investigated the role of vitamin B2 as a disease modifying drug for AD by employingamyloid-beta and mitochondrial based AD therapeutic strategies. Using a transgenic C. elegans AD worm model expressing amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42) in muscle cells at temperature upshift to 25°C, we screened for protective effect of dose-dependent concentrations of active forms of vitamin B2, FMN (flavin mononucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide), against amyloid-beta mediated paralysis. Protective concentrations were then assayed for improvement of mitochondrial metabolic functions by performing ATP, oxygen consumption and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assays. Consequently, we investigated for drug protective mechanisms of FMN and FAD using RNAi genetic screening technique. FMN and FAD significantly delayed amyloid-beta mediated paralysis and improved mitochondrial metabolic functions at final concentrations of 0.74mM and 0.74µM respectively. More so, both compounds induced activation of stress response FOXO transcription factor, daf-16. Specifically, FMN treatment induced mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) pathway through ubiquitin-like protein (ubl-5) activation as well as other stress response pathway signature such as Activating Transcription Factor Associated with Stress (atfs-1). This study will be useful in understanding the importance of micronutrients such as vitamin B2 in normal cellular function as related to neurodegenerativediseases and aging. Therefore, vitamin B2 supplementation could be an important source of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutic strategy.

As bactérias probióticas, além de diversos possíveis efeitos benéficos à saúde do consumidor, podem apresentar um potencial para bioenriquecer alimentos através da produção de compostos de interesse nutricional e para a saúde durante a etapa de fermentação. Nesse sentido, a produção de vitaminas naturais por bactérias láticas, incluindo as probióticas, emerge como alternativa promissora ao uso de vitaminas sintéticas para a fortificação de alimentos. O uso de substratos vegetais para estimular a produção de vitaminas do grupo B por probióticos compreende uma solução sustentável para o reaproveitamento desse material oriundo, principalmente, do processamento de frutas. Os subprodutos de frutas são compostos por diversas substâncias bioativas e a incorporação desses ingredientes para o desenvolvimento de alimentos com alto valor agregado representa uma solução sustentável para o seu reaproveitamento. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da adição de subproduto de fruta no bioenriquecimento de um produto de soja fermentado tipo frozen yogurt probiótico com riboflavina (vitamina B2). Para este fim, a capacidade de diferentes cepas de Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus spp. e Bifidobacterium spp. em produzir riboflavina foi avaliada, utilizando-se um meio de cultura desprovido desta vitamina (Riboflavin Assay médium, RAM). Paralelamente, foi avaliada a capacidade dessas cepas em fermentar os subprodutos de uva (Vitis spp.) e de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.). De acordo com os resultados de produção de riboflavina em RAM e de fermentação dos subprodutos de fruta, foram selecionadas as cepas para o desenvolvimento do produto fermentado de soja tipo frozen yogurt (FY). Dentre as cepas testadas, os Streptococcus thermophilus (ST-M6, TA-40 e TH-04) e o probiótico Lactobacillus fermentum PCC apresentaram potencial para produzir riboflavina em meio RAM. As cepas PCC e ST-M6 mostraram-se capazes de fermentar os subprodutos de caju e de uva (atingindo 8,25 e 8,40 log UFC/mL, respectivamente, para PCC e ST-M6 com subproduto de uva e 4,82 e 8,38 log UFC/mL, respectivamente, para PCC e ST-M6 com subproduto de caju em 24h). Por outro lado, as cepas TH-4 e TA-40 fermentaram apenas o subproduto de uva (atingindo 6,87 e 7,24 log UFC/mL, respectivamente, em 24h). Sendo assim, foram selecionadas as cepas de St. Thermophilus ST-M6, TH-4 e TA-40 e a de Lactobacillus fermentum PCC para a aplicação nos produtos visando o seu bioenriquecimento. O FY suplementado com 1% de subproduto de uva foi preparado, utilizando-se as cepas em co-cultura totalizando 3 combinações, ou seja, entre Lb. Fermentum PCC e as 3 cepas de St. Thermophilus. As formulações de FY foram capazes de atingir uma concentração de riboflavina de 8,40 e de 5,18 µg/mL (combinando TA-40 e PCC) em 60 dias, respectivamente, sem e com o subproduto de uva. Já a associação de STM6 e PCC, sem o subproduto, resultou na menor concentração obtida (2,30 µg/mL), atingindo 5,62 µg/mL na presença do subproduto. Dessa maneira aplicação do subproduto de uva para estimular a produção de riboflavina só foi efetiva para a formulação que combinou St. Thermophilus ST-M6 e Lb. Fermentum PCC. / Probiotic bacteria, in addition to several possible beneficial effects on the consumers health, may present a potential to bioenrich food through the production of compounds of nutritional and health interest during fermentation. In this sense, the production of natural vitamins by lactic acid bacteria, including probiotics, emerges as a promising alternative to the use of synthetic vitamins for food fortification. The use of vegetable substrates to stimulate the production of B-group vitamins by probiotics comprises a sustainable solution for the reuse of this material coming mainly from fruit processing. Fruit by-products are composed of various bioactive substances and the incorporation of these ingredients into the development of high value-added foods represents a sustainable solution for their reuse. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the influence of the addition of fruit by-product on the bio-enrichment of a probiotic frozen yogurt-like fermented soy product with riboflavin (vitamin B2). For this purpose, the ability of different strains of Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in producing riboflavin was evaluated using a culture medium devoid of this vitamin (Riboflavin Assay Medium, RAM). In addition, we evaluated the ability of these strains to ferment the grape (Vitis spp.) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) by-products. According to the results of riboflavin production in RAM and fermentation of fruit by-products, strains were selected for the development of a fermented frozen yogurt-like (FY) soybean product. Among the strains tested, Streptococcus thermophiles (ST-M6, TA-40, and TH-04) and the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum PCC had the potential to produce riboflavin in RAM medium. The strains PCC and ST-M6 were able to ferment the cashew and the grape byproducts (reaching 8.25 and 8.40 log CFU/mL, respectively, for PCC and ST-M6 with the grape by-product, and 4.82 and 8. 38 log CFU/mL, respectively, for PCC and STM6 with cashew by-product in 24h). On the other hand, TH-4 and TA-40 fermented only the grape by-product (reaching 6.87 and 7.24 log CFU/mL, respectively, in 24h). Therefore, the strains St. thermophiles ST-M6, TH-4, and TA-40 and the strain Lactobacillus fermentum PCC were selected for application in the products for bioenrichment. The FY supplemented with 1% of grape by-product was prepared using the co-culture strains comprising three combinations between Lb. fermentum PCC and the three strains of St. thermophiles. The FY formulations were capable of producing 8.40 and 5.18 µg/mL (combination of TA-40 and PCC) in 60 days, respectively, without and with the grape by-product. However, the association of ST-M6 and CCP, without the by-product, resulted in the lowest concentration obtained (2.30 µg/mL), achieving 5.62 µg/mL in the presence of the by-product. Thus, the application of the grape byproduct in order to stimulate the production of riboflavin was only effective for the formulation that combined St. thermophiles ST-M6 and Lb. fermentum PCC.

By flavin's unique structure, nature predestined riboflavin and its derivatives to the participation in redox processes within the bodies of all the living organisms. These biomolecules draw attention with intriguing optical properties and photosensitising abilities. Nature-inspired flavin derivatives share these qualities, and there is also a possibility of fine-tuning for the particular application from the chemical point of view. The thesis deals with two main aims. The first aim handles the synthesis of the trimer heteroaromatic precursor and 1,2-diketone. These key intermediates are essential for the future synthesis of the central aromatic core of the novel NH-free non-fused flavin derivative. The thesis introduces and verifies three approaches, including oxidation of diarylalkynes, nucleophilic addition of a corresponding organolithium compound to a Weinreb amide and benzoin condensation. The second aim covers the properties customization of NH-free fused systems by implementation of linear and bulky alkyl side-chains on the nitrogen atoms N1 and N3 of the alloxazine dilactam. N,N-alkylation introduced an increase in solubility in common organic solvents dichloromethane and chloroform. For the derivatives with 2-(adamantan-1-yl)ethyl substituents, high thermal stability was observed via TGA.