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The production and consumption of nuts are increasing in the world due to strong economic returns and the nutritional value of their products. With the increasing role and importance given to nuts (i.e., walnuts, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, almond) in a balanced and healthy diet and their benefits to human health, breeding of the nuts species has also been stepped up. Most recent fruit breeding programs have focused on scion genetic improvement. However, the use of locally adapted grafted rootstocks also enhanced the productivity and quality of tree fruit crops. Grafting is an ancient horticultural practice used in nut crops to manipulate scion phenotype and productivity and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. There are complex rootstock breeding objectives and physiological and molecular aspects of rootstock–scion interactions in nut crops. In this review, we provide an overview of these, considering the mechanisms involved in nutrient and water uptake, regulation of phytohormones, and rootstock influences on the scion molecular processes, including long-distance gene silencing and trans-grafting. Understanding the mechanisms resulting from rootstock × scion × environmental interactions will contribute to developing new rootstocks with resilience in the face of climate change, but also of the multitude of diseases and pests. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The production and consumption of nuts are increasing in the world due to strong economic returns and the nutritional value of their products. With the increasing role and importance given to nuts (i.e., walnuts, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, almond) in a balanced and healthy diet and in the prevention of various diseases, breeding of the nuts species has also been stepped up. Most recent fruit breeding programs have focused on scion genetic improvement. However, the use of locally adapted grafted rootstocks also enhanced the productivity and quality of tree fruit crops. Grafting is an ancient horticultural practice use in nut crops to manipulate scion phenotype and productivity and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. There are complex rootstock breeding objectives and physiological and molecular aspects of rootstock–scion interactions in nut crops. In this review, we provide an overview of these, considering the mechanisms involved in nutrient and water uptake, regulation of phytohormones, and rootstock influences on the scion molecular processes, including long-distance gene silencing and trans-grafting. Understanding the mechanisms resulting from rootstock × scion × environmental interactions will contribute to developing new rootstocks with resilience in the face of climate change, but also of the multitude of diseases and pests and of the possible increase of their aggressiveness. They will also have to offer the premises of economic production, respectively yield and the quality, according to multiple destinations of nuts in the current consumption and food industry, but also the increasing exigencies of the consumer market and the profile industry.

Although modern medicine is available in many developing countries, such as the Comoros Islands, the primary health-care needs of the local population are based on traditional foods and beverages derived from natural resources and medicinal plants for cultural and historical reasons. Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Benn. (‘Mfandrabo’), Cinnamomum verum J.Presl (‘Mani yamdrara’), Ocimum gratissimum L. (‘Roulé’), Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (‘Ynadombwe’), Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (‘Sandze monach’) and Ocimum americanum L. (‘Kandza’) are six wild plants that are largely utilised to treat many diseases. The leaves of these plants are used in the traditional Comorian tea (aqueous infusion). This study aimed to identify and quantify the main health-promoting compounds in the traditional formulation of Comorian tea by HPLC profiling together with a preliminary assessment of antioxidant capacity to confirm the traditional use of these plants by the local population. The single plants were also studied. The Comoros tea presented a total polyphenolic content (TPC) of 4511.50 ± 74.41 mgGAE/100 g DW, a value higher than the TPCs of the different plants included in the Comorian tea. Moreover, the Comorian tea showed an antioxidant capacity (AOC) of 578.65 ± 6.48 mmol Fe2+/Kg DW, a value higher if compared to all the AOC values obtained in the single plants. The polyphenolic fraction (771.37 ± 35.76 mg/100 g DW) and organic acids (981.40 ± 38.38 mg/100 g DW) were the most important phytochemical classes in the Comorian tea (40.68% and 51.75% of the total phytocomplex, respectively), followed by the monoterpenes (5.88%) and vitamin C (1.67%), while carotenoids were detected in trace (0.02%). The Comorian tea could be important in meeting the high demand in the Comoros Islands and other developing countries for cost-effective and natural health-promoting foods and/or beverages to be produced by agri-food industries and used by the local population. This study may promote traditional foods in rural communities in the Comoros Islands and contribute to sustainable rural development and a commercial valorisation of these plants for health-promoting and food applications.

Foods confer many health-promoting benefits to humans for the treatment/prevention of different diseases [...]

Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) has been cultivated in several Asian and European countries for medical/food use for many years. As scarce information is available outside Southwest Asia, this study aimed to increase the knowledge of this local and underutilised fruit in Italy as a source of bioactive compounds. Total polyphenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods, while the main phytochemical compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC fingerprint. Even if many compounds are variable and decrease during ripening, this research reported the presence of considerable amounts of bioactive compounds in ripe medlar fruits, which resulted particularly rich in monoterpenes (total: 1380.26 ± 48.06 mg/100 gFW; in particular γ-terpinene 922.77 ± 31.61 mg/100 g of fresh weight or FW) and organic acids (total: 963.05 ± 33.21 mg/100 gFW; in particular, malic and citric acid: 406.50 ± 5.25 and 380.99 ± 13.11 mg/100 gFW, respectively), with high values of TPC (138.58 ± 10.03 mg/100 gFW) and AOC (6.59 ± 2.35 mmol Fe2+/kgFW), revealing the benefits of this fruit as a source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Bioactive compound content of M. germanica extracts exhibited high variability in different geographic areas, that may depend on several biotic and abiotic factors, and many compounds showed a decreasing trend losing properties during the ripening, but the presence of health-promoting agents was confirmed by the high levels of bioactive compounds observed in the analysed fruit and highlighted the necessity of enhancing the propagation of the medlar in the Italian peninsula as fresh fruit and high-quality nutritional and health-promoting ingredient.

The use of herbal food supplements, as a concentrate form of vegetable extracts, increased so much over the past years to count them among the relevant sources of dietetic polyphenols. Bud-derivatives are a category of botanicals perceived as a &ldquo, new entry&rdquo, in this sector since they are still poorly studied. Due to the lack of a manufacturing process specification, very different products can be found on the market in terms of their polyphenolic profile depending on the experimental conditions of manufacturing. In this research two different manufacturing processes, using two different protocols, and eight species (Carpinus betulus L., Cornus mas L., Ficus carica L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Larix decidua Mill., Pinus montana Mill., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Tilia tomentosa Moench), commonly used to produce bud-derivatives, have been considered as a case study. An untargeted spectroscopic fingerprint of the extracts, coupled to chemometrics, provide to be a useful tool to identify these botanicals. The targeted phytochemical fingerprint by HPLC provided a screening of the main bud-derivatives polyphenolic classes highlighting a high variability depending on both method and protocol used. Nevertheless, ultrasonic extraction proved to be less sensitive to the different extraction protocols than conventional maceration regarding the extract polyphenolic profile.

A large species diversity characterises the wide distribution of chestnuts in Asia, North America, and Europe, hence reflecting not only the adaptation of the genus Castanea to diverse environmental conditions, but also to different management strategies encompassing orchards. The characterisation and description of chestnut populations and cultivars are crucial to develop effective conservation strategies of one of the most important Italian and European fruit and wood species. Chestnut cultivars grown in the same pedoclimatic conditions and on the same clonal rootstock were characterised with sensory, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analysis to determine the phytochemical composition and nutraceutical properties. A multivariate approach, including principal component analysis and conditional inference tree models, was also performed. The ease of peeling, seed colour, and intensity of sweetness were the sensory descriptors that allowed us to differentiate C. sativa cultivars. Antioxidant capacity ranged from 9.30 &plusmn, 0.39 mmol Fe+2 kg&minus, 1 DW (&lsquo, Bouche de B&egrave, tizac&rsquo, ) to 19.96 &plusmn, 1.89 mmol Fe+2 kg&minus, Garrone Rosso&rsquo, ). Monoterpenes represented the main component, reaching 88% for hybrids, followed by polyphenols (10&ndash, 25% for hybrids and chestnuts, respectively). A multivariate approach showed that phenolic acids and tannins were the bioactive classes with the highest discriminating power among different genotypes, and that genotype is a significant variable (p &lt, 0.05). In addition, most of the analysed chestnut cultivars showed a content of bioactive compounds similar to or higher than the main hazelnut, walnut, and almond varieties. Chestnut agrobiodiversity could be intended as strictly associated to the genotype effect and underlines the large variability within the genus Castanea, and therefore, the importance of in farm and ex situ conservation of local germplasm is part of a global strategy aimed at increasing the levels of agrobiodiversity.

Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) is a deciduous shrub tree widely distributed in Asia and Southern Europe and grown as ornamental species. It is locally used for human consumption, as relevant medical value is attributed to the berries. Information about its composition, especially concerning the characterization of bioactive and health-promoting compounds, is limited. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the main bioactive compounds and nutraceutical proprieties of autumn olive fruits, via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint and spectrophotometric analysis, in order to strengthen the knowledge about this underrated species and promote potential applications as a food supplement. Concerning nutraceutical traits, total polyphenolic content (325.366 &plusmn, 13.019 mg of gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE)/100 of fresh weight (g FW)) and total anthocyanin content (194.992 &plusmn, 0.817 mg of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (mg C3G)/100 g FW) recorded considerable values. The phytochemical fingerprint revealed the presence 23 bioactive compounds. Polyphenols (65.56%) were the largest class, followed by monoterpenes (27.40%) and vitamin C (7.04%). Anthocyanins were the most represented compounds among polyphenols (71.9%). The antioxidant capacity (20.031 &plusmn, 1.214 mmol Fe2+/kg) was similar to that recorded for other small fruits with proven health-promoting properties. The present work underlined the potential of E. umbellata as a source of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Further studies should deepen the knowledge of nutraceutical aspects, which turned out to be interesting.

Uapaca bojeri is an endemic Malagasy plant used by the local population. This work aimed to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities of the methanol extracts of U. bojeri leaves and stems and to report their total phenolic content and the bioactive compound content by HPLC methods. Antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. An in vivo carrageenan-induced paw oedema and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice were used for anti-inflammatory activity evaluation. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in mice to evaluate antidiabetic activity. The total bioactive compound content of leaves was higher than that of stems. Stem methanol extract inhibited the free radical DPPH more than the leaf methanol extract. Leaf methanol extract inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the carrageenan-induced paw oedema more than the stem extract, but their inhibition of the pain symptoms caused an acetic acid-induced decrease similar to the number of writhes in the dose-dependent case. The leaf and stem methanol extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels after 30 min of glucose loading in mice compared to the control group blood glucose reduction. The presence of several bioactive compounds in U. bojeri contributed to the different biological activities, but isolation and identification of these bioactive molecules are necessary to confirm these pharmacological properties.

Hovenia dulcis Thunberg is widely distributed in East Asia, where it is well known as a food, but it is rarely consumed in Western countries. Information about its composition is scarce and focused on southern hemisphere genotypes. In the present research, the main bioactive compounds of H. dulcis pseudofruits were characterised using phytochemical analysis (HPLC fingerprint) to improve knowledge about this plant and support development of potential food applications. These preliminary results showed high levels of catechins (157.18 ± 34.34 mg/100 gFW) and other phenolic compounds responsible for antioxidant properties. Concentrations of ferulic acid were particularly high (9.66 ± 1.76 mg/100 gFW) and further studies would advance exploitation of this plant-food.

Vaccinium secundiflorum Hook. (Ericaceae family) is an endemic shrub of the Tapia forests of Madagascar widely used by local Malagasy population to treat diabetes mellitus. This study aims to preliminarily determine the antioxidant activity and anti-diabetic properties of this plant. Plant leaf and stem powders were macerated in methanol 95%. The methanol extract (MVS) was used for (i) phytochemical fingerprint by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), (ii) total phenolic content (TPC) evaluation by the Folin–Ciocalteu colourimetric method, (iii) 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenger spectrophotometric assay, (iv) antioxidant capacity by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay, and (v) antidiabetic activity evaluation by oral glucose tolerance test and acute toxicity in mice. Leaves and stems of V. secundiflorum presented a high rate of TPC (4151.02 ± 745.21mgGAE/100 g of dry weight). The HPLC fingerprint analysis showed the presence of several secondary metabolite classes including organic acids (55.31%), phenolic compounds (29.66%), carotenoids (10.90%), vitamin C (3.96%), and monoterpenes (0.10%). The DPPH free radical scavenger spectrometric assay showed a MVS high potential scavenging activity (IC50 = 76.06 ± 1.08 µg/mL). This potential antioxidant capacity was confirmed by the FRAP assay results (69.31 ± 3.31 mmol Fe2+/Kg of dry weight). The oral glucose tolerance test in mice showed a highly significant blood glucose-lowering effect. The acute toxicity in mice revealed that the MVS did not show toxicity at the dose of 2000 mg/kg. Leaves and stems of V. secundiflorum showed significant antioxidant and antidiabetic properties supporting the plant traditional use, even if further studies on bioactive compounds and their action mechanisms should be carried out to confirm these preliminary results.

Chrysophyllum boivinianum (Pierre) Baehni is an endemic plant of Madagascar and Comoros. In Madagascar, it is known by the local name “famelona”. The wood of C. boivinianum is exploited for carpentry as material for building houses and ships. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat fever, muscle pain and scorpion bites as well as to heal wounds. In Madagascar, it is widely used by the local population to treat many diseases. Thus, a deeper assessment of its valorisation strategy is becoming ever more crucial. The objective of this study was to determine the phenolic and organic compounds in the leaves and stems of C. boivinianum in relation to their biological activities and local uses. Solvents composed of methanol, water and chloridric acid were used for leaf and stem extractions. The two extracts were then compared with leaf infusions and stem decoctions by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis in order to determine phytochemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that the leaf extracts contained the highest amount of total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) (805.16 ± 1.08 mgGAE/100 gDW), followed by leaf infusions at 477.87 ± 38.49 mgGAE/100 gDW. The stem extracts and stem decoctions had lower TPC than did the leaf extracts, with 249.12 ± 7.11 mgGAE/100 gDW and 191.66 ± 14.88 mgGAE/100 gDW, respectively. The leaf infusions showed much higher antioxidant activity (49.67 ± 0.45 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW) than did leaf extracts (27.60 ± 0.32 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW). This activity was influenced by high amounts of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, at 217.08 ± 2.89 mgGAE/100 gDW and 13.02 ± 0.15 mgGAE/100 gDW, respectively. The leaf infusions were also rich in gallic acid (15.19 ± 1.63 mgGAE/100 gDW). The stem extracts and stem decoctions also had lower antioxidant activity, at 19.86 ± 7.35 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW and 12.53 ± 0.15 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW, respectively. The leaves of C. boivinianum showed a higher content of bioactive compounds than the stems, and the infusions represented the best method for extracting biomolecules with high amounts of healthy properties and antioxidant activity. Regarding antimicrobial activities, leaf extracts had higher antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhii, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans than did stem extracts. This activity was influenced by the high rates of polyphenols in the leaves.

Jostaberry (Ribes x nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer & A. Bauer., family Grossulariaceae) is a berryfruit with demonstrated health-promoting properties. This work aimed to evaluate the potential of a jostaberry variety (Ribes x nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer & A. Bauer, cv Josta) as a source of natural bioactive compounds by characterizing its physicochemical characteristics, nutraceutical properties, and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the characterization and quantification of several phytochemicals was performed, using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. The most important detected class was monoterpenes (31.05 ± 0.75%), followed by organic acids (28.34 ± 1.21%), polyphenols (24.75 ± 2.08%), and vitamins (15.86 ± 0.34%). Results showed that jostaberry fruits are sources of phenolic constituents, as catechins (95.05 ± 21.99 mg/100 g FW) and anthocyanins (31.55 ± 9.73 mg/100 g FW). This study provided a detailed assessment of the quality and phytochemical characteristics of jostaberry: this research describes Ribes x nidigrolaria as an important fruit species that could be a source of bioactive compounds contributing to the prevention of diseases resulting from oxidative stress.

The present study aimed to evaluate the health-promoting potential of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg, Moraceae family), a traditional Comorian food, considering the sample variability according to geographic localisation. Moreover, the main aims of this research were also to promote its consumption in the Comoros Islands as potential health-promoting food and evaluate it as a source of bioactive molecules for the food industry thanks to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Investigations on biologically active substances were carried out on the extracts obtained from breadfruit flours from five regions of Grande Comore (Ngazidja), the main island in Comoros. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins and polyphenols, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, steroids, and triterpenes. The considered secondary metabolites were phenolic compounds, vitamin C, monoterpenes, and organic acids. The contents of total phenolic compounds (mgGAE/100 g of dry weight—DW) in the extracts ranged from 29.69 ± 1.40 (breadfruit from Mbadjini—ExMBA) to 96.14 ± 2.07 (breadfruit from Itsandra—ExITS). These compounds included flavanols, flavonols, cinnamic acid and benzoic acid derivatives, and tannins which were detected at different levels in the different extracts. Chlorogenic acid presented the highest levels between 26.57 ± 0.31 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) and 43.80 ± 5.43 mg/100 g DW (ExMBA). Quercetin was by far the most quantitatively important flavonol with levels ranging from 14.68 ± 0.19 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) to 29.60 ± 0.28 mg/100 g DW (ExITS). The extracts were also rich in organic acids and monoterpenes. Quinic acid with contents ranging from 77.25 ± 6.04 mg/100 g DW (ExMBA) to 658.56 ± 0.25 mg/100 g DW of ExHAM was the most important organic acid in all the breadfruit extracts, while limonene was quantitatively the main monoterpene with contents between 85.86 ± 0.23 mg/100 g DW (ExMIT) and 565.45 ± 0.24 mg/100 g DW (ExITS). The antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated on twelve pathogens including six Gram (+) bacteria and six Gram (−) bacteria. By the solid medium disc method, except for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, all the bacteria were sensitive to one or more extracts. Inhibitory Halo Diameters (IHDs) ranged from 8 mm to 16 mm. Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens, and Vibrio fischeri were the most sensitive with IHD > 14 mm for ExITS. By the liquid microdilution method, MICs ranged from 3.12 mg/mL to 50 mg/mL and varied depending on the extract. Bacillus megaterium was the most sensitive with MICs ≤ 12.5 mg/mL. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, and Vibrio fischeri were the least sensitive with all MICs ≥ 12.5 mg/mL. ExHAM was most effective with a MIC of 3.12 mg/mL on Staphylococcus aureus and 6.25 mg/mL on Salmonella enterica. The antioxidant power of the extracts was evaluated by the FRAP method. The activity ranged from 5.44 ± 0.35 (ExMBA) to 14.83 ± 0.11 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (ExHAM). Breadfruit from different regions of Comoros contained different classes of secondary metabolites well known for their important pharmacological properties. The results of this study on phenolics, monoterpenes, and organic acids have provided new data on these fruits. The obtained results showed that breadfruit from the biggest island of the Union of Comoros also presented antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, even if some differences in effectiveness existed between fruits from different regions.

Castanea species show high levels of diversity (morphological and ecological traits, vegetative and reproductive habits, wood characteristics, adaptability and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, etc.), reflecting the adaptation of the genus to different environmental conditions. Tree shape and form are variable. C. dentata and C. sativa are upright, tall, and slender trees, whilst other species are smaller, with round foliage and branches that start from the base. Other species are dwarf shrubs. Plants can live and be regularly productive for centuries. Some species grow rapidly and re-sprout quickly when cut. Nut size, peeling, and pulp characteristics vary greatly among species and cultivars, and represent important features in the food market. Chestnut is a good source of nutrients, and it has a steady consumption in the main producing countries. Due to its mineral elements and bioactive compounds, chestnut can be considered a health-promoting food.

Dried fruits are important, healthy and popular snacks, despite the limited information on their nutritional profiles and phytochemical composition. The present work was aimed to study the chemical composition of freeze-dried fruits from four fruit species: two common commercial snacks (apple and goji) and two innovative products (kaki and kiwi). Sugar and organic acid levels, total phenolics (TPC), and main health-promoting phytochemicals were studied by HPLC fingerprinting analysis. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant capacity (AOC) was preliminarily observed in these products. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out as a multivariate approach as well. The TPC ranged from 210.9 mg GAE/100g DW (kiwi) to 872.6 mg GAE/100g DW (kaki), while dried fruit antioxidant capacity ranged from 23.09 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (goji) to 137.5 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (kaki). The most important phytochemical class in apple (two cultivars), kiwi, and kaki dried fruits was phenolics (from 74.6% to 93.3%), while monoterpenes were the first class in goji (67.5%). No anthocyanins have been identified in dried fruits because these compounds are most likely converted to phenolic acids during the drying process. This research intended to stimulate large-scale exploitation of commercial dried fruits as functional foods as well.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is cultivated worldwide. Its stigmas represent the highest-priced spice and contain bioactive compounds beneficial for human health. Saffron cultivation commonly occurs in open field, and spice yield can vary greatly, from 0.15 to 1.5 g m-2, based on several agronomic and climatic factors. In this study, we evaluated saffron cultivation in soilless systems, where plants can benefit from a wealth of nutrients without competition with pathogens or stresses related to nutrient-soil interaction. In addition, as plant nutrient and water uptake can be enhanced by the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we also tested two inocula: a single species (Rhizophagus intraradices) or a mixture of R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae. After one cultivation cycle, we evaluated the spice yield, quality (ISO category), antioxidant activity, and bioactive compound contents of saffron produced in soilless systems and the effect of the applied AMF inocula. Spice yield in soilless systems (0.55 g m&minus, 2) was on average with that produced in open field, while presented a superior content of several health-promoting compounds, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, and elevated antioxidant activity. The AMF symbiosis with saffron roots was verified by light and transmission electron microscopy. Inoculated corms showed larger replacement corms (+50% ca.). Corms inoculated with R. intraradices performed better than those inoculated with the mix in terms of spice quality (+90% ca.) and antioxidant activity (+88% ca.). Conversely, the mixture of R. intraradices and F. mosseae increased the polyphenol content (+343% ca.). Thus, soilless systems appeared as an effective alternative cultivation strategy for the production of high quality saffron. Further benefits can be obtained by the application of targeted AMF-based biostimulants.

In this research, for the first time, an alternative method to produce Ribes nigrum bud derivatives is presented. Pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE), using a food-grade solvent according to green chemistry principles, has been employed and compared to the conventional extraction method. Traditionally, bud derivatives, a category of botanicals marketed as plant food supplements in the European Community, are produced by macerating meristematic tissues of trees and plants mainly spontaneously collected. Buds are a challenging raw material for the UAE, since meristematic tissues are much softer and fragile than their corresponding adult phenological stage. It is therefore important to assess whether the polyphenolic fraction, very susceptible to degradation, is conserved after UAE. Untargeted polyphenolic fingerprints (UV-Visible and fluorescence) coupled with chemometrics are employed to quickly screen the best extraction conditions, evaluated by the design of experiment (DoE) method. The polyphenolic fraction of the optimized PUAE extract was quantified by targeted HPLC fingerprint and its antiradical activity was determined. PUAE on a lab pilot reactor was proven to be the most practical approach for a rapid (20 min vs. 21 days maceration) and efficient extraction of bioactive polyphenolics from Ribes nigrum buds, encouraging the scale up to an industrial plan.

We propose a multivariate statistical approach based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as an useful instrument to improve the Rules of Refinement and Reduction in in vivo animal experimentation. We analysed with PCA the preliminary data from a study on the effects of the oral administration of Tilia tomentosa bud extracts (TTBEs) on the behavioural skills of adult and aged male and female mice. PCA allows to rationalize the data set information and to dissect the results, showing connections among variables under study (behavioural parameters) and different trends in the experimental groups (control and TTBEs-administered animals). Our results show that PCA can give some important information that can be useful for the refinement of the experimental protocol, in order to reduce the number of the animals used in the experiments and/or the behavioural tests to get reliable information.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Characterized by one of the highest rates of endemism and biodiversity in the world, Madagascar provides a wide variety of medicinal plants, that could represent a potential source of new drugs. The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential medicinal properties of the plant species used by indigenous people in Maromizaha forest and to provide the first ethnobotanical inventory of the area. Materials and methods Data were collected through open semi-structured interviews with local informants, the reported plants were collected and identified to create a specimen herbarium. Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated for each ailment category mentioned in the use-reports. A selection of seven medicinal plants was submitted to phytochemical and antimicrobial analysis. The results were discussed and compared with those described in ethnobotanical and pharmacological literature. Results One hundred and three villagers were interviewed and a total of 509 use-reports were recorded. Information on 117 plant species belonging to 57 botanical families were provided. 12 categories of indigenous uses were recognized, among them the higher ICF values were recorded for cardiovascular complaints (0.75), general and unspecific diseases (0.74), digestive disorders (0.69), and diseases of the skin (0.55). The traditional medicinal uses of 18 species (15 endemic) were described for the first time. In total, 22 different bioactive compounds were identified; polyphenols, monoterpenes, organic acids, and vitamin C were observed in the chemical composition of all the analyzed samples. Macaranga perrieri showed the highest values of both total polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial activity was observed in leaf and bark extracts of Dilobeia thouarsii. Conclusion These results confirmed the importance of investigating the traditional use of plant species, suggesting the crucial role of ethnobotanical studies for rural development, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable use of plant resources in the studied area.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish mutualistic symbiotic associations with plant roots and act as biofertilizers by enhancing plant nutrient and water uptake. Moreover, AMF colonization may influence the biosynthesis of plant bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. There is limited information on AMF associations with Crocus sativus L. (saffron) roots and their effect on crop performances and spice quality. In the present work we verified the efficiency of root mycorrhization in potted conditions, then we evaluated the yield and quality of the saffron produced in two Alpine sites during two cultivation cycles with the application of AMF. Two inocula were applied, either a single-species (Rhizophagus intraradices) or a multi-species mixture (R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae). The trial conducted in potted conditions confirmed that both AMF commercial inocula established symbiotic relationships with saffron roots. The multi-species inoculation yielded the highest content of arbuscules in colonized portions of the root (100%), while the single-species was slightly less (82.9%) and no AMF were recorded in untreated control corms. In open-field conditions, AMF colonization of the root systems, flower production, and saffron yields were monitored, and bioactive compounds contents and antioxidant activity in the dried spice were analysed using spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Overall, the saffron produced was high quality (ISO category) and had high contents of bioactive compounds, with very high total polyphenol content and elevated antioxidant activity. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts as biostimulants positively affected saffron cultivation, improving the crop performances and the content of important nutraceutical compounds. In particular, the inoculum composed by R. intraradices and F. mosseae increased flower production and the saffron yield. R. intraradices alone enhanced the spice antioxidant activity and the content of bioactive compounds such as picrocrocin, crocin II, and quercitrin. Since saffron is the world’s highest priced spice, the increases in yield and quality obtained using AMF suggests that farms in marginal areas such as alpine sites can increase profitability by inoculating saffron fields with arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Highlights • Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Med. is an alternative tree species with health benefits. • An analytical study of serviceberry fresh fruits was performed. • Fingerprinting used the concentration of phytochemicals for bioactivity evaluation. • Canadensis fruits could be useful for the health–food industry., Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medik., commonly called serviceberry, is a potential functional food that is also used for its medicinal purposes. This work evaluated the potential of a cultivated serviceberry species as a functional food by characterising its physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, vitamin C, phenolics and other phytochemicals selected as health-promoting biomarkers, using high-performance liquid chromatography. The most important compound class identified was polyphenols (62.10%), followed by organic acids (22.63%), monoterpenes (7.95%), and vitamins (7.32%). Results showed that serviceberry fruits could be good sources of phenolic constituents, as catechins (343.46 ± 29.46 mg/100 gFW), anthocyanins (220.66 ± 17.43 mg/100 gFW), and tannins (209.29 ± 7.81 mg/100 gFW) (FW = fresh weight). These results highlight the potential role of A. canadensis fruits as a functional food. Further studies are needed to identify several genotypes for breeding to get suitable cultivars for fresh consumption and processing.

The aim of this study was to investigate how growing conditions and media enhance blueberry proliferation. The effects of combinations of five Vaccinium spp. genotypes, two growing conditions and four proliferation media on plant growth were investigated. For shoot length and number of shoots, the factor responsible for the majority of the variance was the medium (13% and 22%, respectively). For callus size, the factor that caused the majority of the variation was genotype (22%). The medium that induced the longest shoot was ½MS0.3Z, while the medium that produced the highest number of nodes and the highest number of shoots was ½MS2Z. Genotypes ‘Blue Bayou’ and ‘Centra Blue’ produced an increased amount of callus over time, whereas the ‘unreleased selection’ genotype produced the least amount of callus. The genotype with the highest total plant fresh weight after 90 days was ‘Blue Bayou’ on WPM2Z medium in high light conditions.

Lycium spp. fruit (goji or wolfberry) has become more popular due to its public acceptance as a functional food or “super food/fruit”. The aim of this study was to describe the influence of two different drying systems (air-thermal and freeze drying) on fresh and dried goji fruit nutraceutical traits and report on the level of potentially bioactive compounds and their effects on total fruit phytocomplex and antioxidant activity. Spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods coupled to multivariate analysis were performed on all the goji samples. In this research, goji fresh and dried fruits were identified as a source of compounds with potential health-promoting properties. The results of this study showed that freeze drying allowed to preserve most of the phytochemical characteristics of the fresh fruits, as phenolic acids (ferulic and ellagic acids) and vitamin C content. Moreover, polyphenols could be selected as biomarkers in order to distinguish different Lycium species or the same Lycium genotype from different geographical areas. This research emphasizes that an adequate evaluation of nutraceutical traits is necessary in order to select the higher-quality raw materials (cultivated varieties): as a cost-effective and efficient way to trace food, this study showed that HPLC fingerprint can be used to identify and track different raw materials (fresh fruits) and derived food products (dried fruits).

In the Comoros Islands, as in other developing countries, malnutrition and food insecurity affect a very large percentage of the population. Developing fruit-based products in order to make profit, reduce poverty and improve indigenous people diet could be very important for local population of countries as Comoros Islands. The aim of the present work was to study the chemical composition of jams and jellies produced from seven fruit species harvested in Grand Comore Island. The following parameters were studied sugars and organic acids, total phenolics, total anthocyanins and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of the main phytochemicals. Antioxidant activity was also measured. A multivariate approach (Principal Component Analysis) was performed in order to better characterize the products and to set a potential analytical tool for jam characterisation. Results showed that the analysed products are a good source of polyphenolic constituents, as caffeic and gallic acids, catechin and quercetin and volatile compounds, as limonene and &gamma, terpinene: these molecules may be considered as suitable markers for these fruit-derived products as characterizing the chromatographic patterns. The characterisation of these products and their nutritional and nutraceutical traits is important as valorisation of local food production for poverty reduction and rural development. Further benefits of this approach include the maintenance of local agro-biodiversity as raw material for fruit-based products and the strengthening of food security practices.

Comoros Union presents a considerable biodiversity of food resources that are neglected or still not valorised, as breadfruit. This study aimed to evaluating nutritional and nutraceutical traits of Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg by characterizing its main bioactive compounds, nutritional traits, and antioxidant properties in order to contribute to the development of traditional and innovative uses of this species as functional food (e.g., infant flour). Bioactive compound composition, antioxidant properties, protein and sugar content, lipids, fibre, and macro- and microelements were observed in these fruits after a specific drying process. Breadfruit showed positive nutritional traits. The main identified phenolic groups were cinnamic acids (with a maximum of 51.88 ± 2.63 mg/100 gDW for chlorogenic acid) and tannins. The highest value of antioxidant activity was 6.40 ± 1.02 mmol·Fe2+/kgDW. This preliminary phytochemical investigation may provide a contribution to the identification and quantification of lead compounds responsible for traditional nutritional and therapeutic claims.

European bird cherry (Prunus padus L.) has been known since the Middle Ages for its medical/food use and high health-promoting value. This study aimed to assess the potential of these fruits as a source of bioactive compounds through the characterization of its physicochemical traits, nutraceutical properties, phytochemical composition via HPLC fingerprint, and antioxidant capacity. Fully ripened fruits of Prunus padus L. (Colorata cv) were collected in mid-July 2017 in Chieri, north-western Italy. The TPC (194.22 ± 32.83 mgGAE/100 gFW) and TAC (147.42 ± 0.58 mgC3G/100 gFW) values were obtained from the analyzed extracts. The most important phytochemical class was organic acids (48.62 ± 2.31%), followed by polyphenols (35.34 ± 1.80%), monoterpenes (9.36 ± 0.64%), and vitamin C (6.68 ± 0.22%). In this research the most important flavonols selected as marker were quercitrin (16.37 ± 3.51 mg/100 gFW) and quercetin (11.86 ± 2.36 mg/100 gFW). Data were reported based on fresh weight. Moreover, fresh fruits showed a mean antioxidant activity value of 17.78 ± 0.84 mmol Fe2+·kg−1. Even though the seeds and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, this study showed that these fruits could be a natural source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant properties, due to the contents of organic and phenolic acids, catechins, and a synergetic effect of vitamin C and flavonoids.

A diet containing high levels of fruit has been associated with a lowered risk of chronic diseases as, in addition to their vitamin and mineral content, they also contain various compounds with health-protective effects, in particular antioxidant and antiinflammatory compounds. Wild plant species are of interest to the food industry because of their ability to replace synthetic chemicals and nutraceuticals; however, the nutritional, economical, and sociocultural values of some neglected and underutilized natural resources have not yet been fully exploited. Some of these less well-known and underutilized fruits, which have the potential to provide novel sources of health-promoting agents, are presented in this chapter (i.e., Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal, Crataegus azarolus L., Lycium barbarum L., Morus nigra L., and Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medicus). Underutilized fruits could represent an opportunity for growers to gain access to these special markets where consumers place emphasis on high contents of nutrients that are capable of preventing degenerative diseases. The development of specific horticultural models for nutraceutical fruit production could be an interesting opportunity to obtain a highly standardized raw material for fresh or derived products.

BACKGROUND The raspberry, Rubus idaeus L., provides several plant parts (as buds) used for food supplements. The aim of this research was to establish a technique for chemical composition control of R. idaeus herbal preparations, using chromatographic methods. These methods allowed us to identify and quantify the main phytochemicals, obtaining a specific phytochemical fingerprint (phytocomplex). Combined with two different chemometric methods – clustering analysis and principal component analysis – the raspberry bud extracts of the different cultivars were efficiently characterized. RESULTS Rubus idaeus buds were identified as a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds: organic acids, vitamins and catechins were found to be the most discriminating variables by chemometric techniques to differentiate raspberry cultivars. In particular, catechins (13.25%) and flavonols (8.71%) were the most important polyphenolic classes, followed by cinnamic and benzoic acids. CONCLUSION This study developed a useful tool for R. idaeus extract phytochemical characterization that could be applied also for differentiation and composition control of other herbal preparations. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

Bud extracts, named also "gemmoderivatives", are a new category of natural products, obtained macerating meristematic fresh tissues of trees and plants. In the European Community these botanical remedies are classified as plant food supplements. Nowadays these products are still poorly studied, even if they are widely used and commercialized. Several analytical tools for the quality control of these very expensive supplements are urgently needed in order to avoid mislabelling and frauds. In fact, besides the usual quality controls common to the other botanical dietary supplements, these extracts should be checked in order to quickly detect if the cheaper adult parts of the plants are deceptively used in place of the corresponding buds whose harvest-period and production are extremely limited. This study aims to provide a screening analytical method based on UV-VIS-Fluorescence spectroscopy coupled to multivariate analysis for a rapid, inexpensive and non-destructive quality control of these products.

Background Salix caprea L. is an ornamental plant with prominent antioxidant activity. In the last decades Salix caprea bud extracts (SCBEs) have been used for the treatment of oxidative stress related disorders. Purpose A large part of cellular functions depends on the amount of intracellular Ca2+ concentration which in turn is mainly determined by Ca2+ ions movements across plasma membrane as well as by Ca2+ released from the stores. For better evaluating the mechanism of action of SCBEs, we focused on the effect of SCBEs on voltage gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) functioning and related catecholamines secretion in mouse chromaffin cells (MCCs). These latter are neuroendocrine cells that share a wide variety of functions with neurons. They are particularly interesting for studying the relationship between VGCCs activation and catecholamines secretion both in control and under stressful conditions. Study design and methods We focused on the effect of SCBEs on VGCCs being these latter considered one of the main pathway of Ca2+ influx across plasma membrane. Ca2+ currents and capacitance changes were measured in patch clamp experiments performed in voltage clamp configuration. Results We show that SCBEs inhibited VGCCs in a dose dependent manner. On average, the saturating concentration of SCBEs (SCBEsmax) is able to block 36% of the maximum Ca2+ current amplitude (ICa) without selectivity for L (ICa, L) or non-L type (ICa, non-L) Ca2+ channels. Furthermore, ICa inhibition is not followed by alteration of VGCCs gating kinetics, but is responsible for a marked decrease of Ca2+ dependent catecholamines secretion. Conclusion We conclude that the ability of SCBEs to inhibit VGCCs function, known to be potentiated during oxidative stress, could contribute to the already known antioxidant properties of Salix caprea L. We finally suggest that the inhibitory effect of SCBEs on catecholamines secretion may contribute to treat stress dependent cellular dysfunctions.

Cactus pear is the common name of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., the arid-resistant plant that is grown worldwide for its multifunctional proprieties. The paper gives an overview of local genetic resources of Opuntia spp. and describes the results of the recent introduction of some O. ficus-indica varieties, hybrids and other cactaceas on Fogo Island during a cooperation international project carried out by the Italian Universities of Torino and Sassari aimed to build a sustainable supply chain for the local growers, in order to fight their extreme poverty and malnutrition. The ten introduced genotypes were selected from a repository located Sardinia (Italy) held by the University of Sassari. They were selected for fruits and/or cladodes productivity, and potential use as livestock feed, and no invasive behaviour. The propagation test started in May 2007 and data on the emerging and the growth of new cladodes were recorded until March 2008: propagation was carried out by cloning via cutting. Once planted and identified, usual agrotechniques for Opuntia cultivation were applied and data on growth were periodically collected. To evaluate and compare the growth of the different genotypes, a productivity index was used. Cladodes of the Nopalea genotype were significantly smaller in size than all the other genotypes, in length (20.50 cm), width (11.25 cm), and thickness (0.98 cm). In the present study, the active preservation of biodiversity has become a tool to enhance sustainable agroforestry.

BACKGROUND Many plant species may be used for the production of herbal preparations containing phytochemicals with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities and health benefits: Castanea spp. is among the most commonly used herbal medicines. The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of chestnut bud preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main bioactive compounds, and to obtain a specific chemical fingerprint to evaluate the single class contribution to the herbal preparation phytocomplex. The analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a diode array detector. RESULTS Castanea spp. was identified as a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds: the observed analytical fingerprint demonstrated that these bud preparations represent a rich source of bioactive compounds (104.77 ± 1.14 g kg−1 FW) in relation to different genotypes, specific sampling sites and several phenological stages. CONCLUSION This study showed that the observed analytical fingerprint can be considered an important tool for assessing the chemical composition and bioactivities of the chestnut-derived products, considering the Castanea genus as a new source of natural health-promoting compounds. This study allowed the development of an effective tool for quality control by fingerprinting the bud preparation in order to develop a new generation of standardised preparations. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Castanea sativa Miller displays a high variability of morphological and ecological traits, vegetative and reproductive habits, nut morphology, wood characteristics, adaptability, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The present range of distribution of the species has been strongly influenced by human migrations and it is thought that Romans played a crucial role in the spread of the cultivation in Europe, although in some areas there is also evidence of local domestication and spontaneous spread of the tree after the last glacial period. In Switzerland chestnut stands are found mostly in the South (Canton Ticino), a region where the debate about the origin of the local germplasm, whether derived from the survival or spontaneous migration of C. sativa on the territory or due to the introduction of the tree during the Roman colonisation, is still open. This study aims contributing to depict the chestnut genetic situation of the species in Canton Ticino as a contribution to the debate about the native character of the species. The study area is located in Switzerland, on the southern slopes of the Alps, where 3 C. sativa populations were sampled and analysed at 9 SSR loci. Populations showed a high degree of diversity, as it is observed in most natural population of tree species: all nine SSR loci were polymorphic (no fixed alleles were detected), and genetic diversity, measured by expected heterozygosity, was high ranging in the populations between 0.647 and 0.721, on average. Results suggest that three homogeneous gene pools contributed to the formation of the 3 populations sampled. The genetic germplasm structuring of the analysed chestnut stands is very mild as confirmed by the relatively low level of genetic differentiation and divergence observed among sites.

It is well known that plants are important sources for the preparation of natural remedies as they contain many biologically active compounds. In particular, polyphenols, terpenic compounds, organic acids, and vitamins are the most widely occurring groups of phytochemicals. Some endemic species may be used for the production of herbal preparations containing phytochemicals with significant bioactivity, as antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory capacities, and health benefits. Blackberry sprouts and blackcurrant buds are known to contain appreciable levels of bioactive compounds, including flavonols, phenolic acids, monoterpenes, vitamin C, and catechins, with several clinical effects. The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of blackcurrant and blackberry bud-preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main biomarkers, obtaining a specific phytochemical fingerprint to evaluate the single botanical class contribution to total phytocomplex and relative bioactivity, using a High Performance Liquid Chromatograph−Diode Array Detector; the same analyses were performed both on the University laboratory and commercial preparations. Different chromatographic methods were used to determine concentrations of biomolecules in the preparations, allowing for quantification of statistically significant differences in their bioactive compound content both in the case of Ribes nigrum and Rubus cultivated varieties at different harvest stages. In blackcurrant bud-extracts the most important class was organic acids (50.98%) followed by monoterpenes (14.05%), while in blackberry preparations the main bioactive classes were catechins (50.06%) and organic acids (27.34%). Chemical, pharmaceutical and agronomic-environmental knowledge could be important for obtaining label certifications for the valorization of specific genotypes, with high clinical and pharmaceutical value: this study allowed to develop an effective tool for the natural preparation quality control and bioactivity evaluation through the chemical fingerprinting of bud preparations.

With the diffusion of commercial apple varieties since the second half of the last century, hundreds of different local cultivars rapidly disappeared from orchards in Italy, and the particular quality attributes of these fruits are still at risk of being lost today. The aim of this research was to use sensory, nutritional and genetic techniques in order to define the overall quality of fruits from ancient apple cultivars grown in Northern Italy. Cluster analysis arranged the 10 genotypes into five groups; in most cases, the analyzed cultivars demonstrated higher sensory and nutritional qualities than the control (Golden Delicious cv). The cultivars showed higher values of total polyphenolic compounds and a stronger antioxidant activity. The vitamin C content also differed from the control. The sensory analysis, performed by the Fruit Tasters Italian Organization, was an effective characterization tool and genetic analysis further helped to characterize the identity of these interesting cultivars. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The characterization and valorization of old apple cultivars are essential to avoid loss of potentially useful germplasm. The reduction of biodiversity of cultivars found in agriculture could lead to problems such as higher susceptibility to widespread outbreaks of plant diseases and pests, and at the same time, the loss of precious source of nutrients. The conservation of apple biodiversity is valuable in order to maintain the gene pool of the species and to introduce superior quality traits into apple-breeding programs.

Centuries of co-evolution between Castanea spp. biodiversity and human populations has resulted in the spread of rich and varied chestnut genetic diversity throughout most of the world, especially in mountainous and forested regions. Its plasticity and adaptability to different pedoclimates and the wide genetic variability of the species determined the spread of many different ecotypes and varieties in the wild. Throughout the centuries, man has used, selected and preserved these different genotypes, vegetatively propagating them by grafting, for many applications: fresh consumption, production of flour, animal nutrition, timber production, thereby actively contributing to the maintenance of the natural biodiversity of the species, and providing an excellent example of conservation horticulture. Nonetheless, currently the genetic variability of the species is critically endangered and hundreds of ecotypes and varieties are at risk of being lost due to a number of phytosanitary problems (canker blight, Chryphonectria parasitica; ink disease, Phytophthora spp.; gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus), and because of the many years of decline and abandonment of chestnut cultivation, which resulted in the loss of the binomial male chestnut. Recently, several research and experimentation programmes have attempted to develop strategies for the conservation of chestnut biodiversity. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the status of biodiversity conservation of the species and to present the results of a 7 year project aimed at the individuation and study of genetic diversity and conservation of Castanea spp. germplasm.

Introduction AGuIX® nanoparticles are small platforms of polysiloxane recently developed for various applications of medical imaging. These nanoparticles contain on their surface several amine functions used for the fixation of DOTA ligands. Approximately 70 percents of these ligands are complexed with Gd3+ ions [1]. These paramagnetic platforms have a diameter less than 5 nm and a low transmetalation [2]. Different studies have been achieved in the biomedical domain, showing that they allow to combine multimodal and theranostic properties. A passive tumoral targeting has already been observed by EPR effect (Enhanced Permeation Effect). Otherwise, their small size allows a quick elimination by the kidney [3]. Previous phage display studies showed that TLVSSL peptide has a high affinity for phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid overexpressed on the membrane of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis is a natural process of cell death [4]. The targeting of apoptotic cells is interesting to follow the efficiency of an antitumoral therapy and for diagnosis of diseases related to this process. In this work, AGuIX nanoparticles have thus been grafted with this peptide and characterized. Methods The TLVSSL peptide has been grafted on nanoparticles AGuIX® by activation with EDC of carboxylic functions available on nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, previous addition of an optical dye allows their applications in optical imaging. Different techniques such as PCS, fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC and proton relaxometry were used to characterize this platform. Results Relaxometric studies by NMRD profiles confirm the increase of the rotational correlation time after linking of the peptide and allow to study the time stability of the platform. The biological efficiency of this novel bimodal agent to target apoptotic cells was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on lymphablastic human T cell line. In vitro cell apoptosis was chemically induced by incubation with campthothecin. Biological experiments has been checked by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry on incubated cells with labelled and grafted-AGuIX nanoparticles. RITC fluorescence intensity detection allowed to confirm the probe efficiency to target apoptosis. Conclusion These characterizations and biological tests confirm the binding of the peptide and the efficient targeting of apoptotic cells. Further in vivo tests will be achieved to confirm the efficiency of grafted-nanoparticles on apoptotic mouse model. References [1] F. Lux et Al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 1-6. [2] A. Mignot et Al., Chem. Eur. J., 2013, 19, 6122-6136. [3] G. Le Duc et Al., ACS Nano, 2011, 5, 9566-9574. [4] C. Laumonier, thesis, 2005, Universite de Mons-Hainaut, « Imagerie moleculaire : recherche de vecteurs peptidiques specifiques de l'apoptose par la methode du phage display ».

The use of buds for therapeutic purposes dates back many centuries. Ancient Indian medicine (Ayurveda) used, and still uses, plant buds for therapeutic purposes. In Western Europe, Galen (second century A.D.) prepared Acopon, one of the most renowned vulnerary balsams of that time, by soaking poplar buds in olive oil for three months. Nicolas De Myrepse, a medieval Greek physician, revived this idea and formulated the famous “Unguentum Populeum.”

The antioxidants in goji berry ( Lycium spp.) fruits might confer many health protective benefits by alleviating oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to describe quality traits and the level of potentially bioactive compounds (HPLC fingerprint) and their influence on fruit phytocomplex and antioxidant activity in goji in comparison with the most common fruits. Goji berry was identified as a rich source of antioxidant compounds, with health-promoting properties comparable with other common fruit species. The obtained fingerprint may be useful to better understand the nutraceutical traits of this species recently considered as functional food thanks to its antioxidant properties.

Human nutrition science has greatly developed in the past decades, turning from the consideration of foods as simply energy sources to the recognition of their role in maintaining health and in reducing disease risks: Foodomics is a new science that studies Food and Nutrition domains through the application and integration of advanced “omics” technologies to improve consumer's well-being, health, and knowledge. In recent years, wild food plants have become very attractive to the food industry, prompting their use as replacements for synthetic chemicals and nutraceuticals: in this sense, mulberry is a very important resource for its phytochemical composition, nutritional value, and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to describe mulberry fruit quality traits and report on the level of potentially bioactive compounds (HPLC fingerprint) and their influence on total fruit phytocomplex and antioxidant activity in comparison to the most common fruits. Mulberry was identified as a rich source of antioxidant compounds; the observed analytical fingerprint demonstrated that the species (and in particular the considered genotype) represents a rich source of phytochemicals, as organic acids, monoterpenes and polyphenolic compounds, especially flavonols and anthocyanins, which led to reasonably good overall fruit quality. This study developed an important tool to assess mulberry quality, chemical composition, and bioactivity, using different chromatographic methods for comprehensive authentication and quality control of its fruits: this research showed that analytical fingerprinting could be an important tool for studies of Foodomics, helping to find new sources of natural health-promoting compounds.

CONTEXT. Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae) is among the most commonly used herbal medicines and it is popularized for its alleged tonic effect and curative and restorative properties. The current practice of identifying herbal extracts is by measuring the concentration of the main botanicals. Their concentrations are used to characterize the herbal preparations and fingerprinting is recommended by the main Pharmacopeias as a potential and reliable strategy for the quality control of complex mixtures.The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of R. nigrum bud-preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main bioactive compounds, obtaining a specific chemical fingerprint to evaluate the single class contribution to herbal preparation phytocomplex.The same analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph-diode array detector both on University lab preparations and on commercial preparations from different Italian locations. Different chromatographic methods were used to analyse the macerated samples, two for polyphenols and one for terpenic compounds. RESULTS. Ribes nigrum was identified as a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. The observed analytical firgerprint demonstrated that these bud-preparations represent a rich source of terpenic and polyphenolic compounds, especially catechins and phenolic acids.Analytical fingerprinting could be an important tool to study the assessment of chemical composition and bioactivities of plant-derived products, helping to find new sources of natural health-promoting compounds: this study allowed the development of an effective tool for quality control through botanical fingerprinting of bud preparations.

The loss of genetic variability of fruit trees is a worldwide problem and the genetic erosion is recurrent. The identification, characterisation and valorisation of traditional genetic resources are essential tools to avoid the loss of precious Italian germplasm. The Citrus fruits grown in particular environments represent an important genetic resource with traits (e.g. frost and diseases resistance) useful in breeding programs or for direct exploitation. The aim of this research was to assess the nutritional properties and consumer acceptability of some local Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck accessions from Northern Italy (Lake Maggiore, Verbano area). Physical (weight, size, juice percentage, peel thickness) and chemical (pH, titratable acidity TA, total soluble solids TSS and vitamin C content) parameters were studied on 15 accessions (3 pigmented, 4 navel and 8 common orange trees). Samples of fruit from six of these accessions, chosen for their good morpho-biological characteristics, were analysed by a trained panel to evaluate their sensorial quality. The sensorial attributes studied were: odour during peeling, hardness, juiciness, flavour, aroma, astringency and overall judgment. Significant differences were found among the groups for TA, TSS/TA; vitamin C contents ranged from 36.89 to 67.67 mg/100 ml. Positive correlations were evidenced between TA and sourness; aroma intensity, sweetness and the overall judgment; astringency and bitterness. Oranges studied had good quality and good sensorial traits even if these accessions occupy the Northern distribution range of the Citrus genus in Italy. These results were important to define the traits of the local germplasm and support the development of economic activities (trade, rural tourism, nursery, and educational activities).