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Aromatic halophytes represent an exceptional source of natural bioactive compounds for the food industry. Crithmum maritimum L., also known as sea fennel, is a halophyte plant colonizing cliffs and coastal dunes along Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. It is well known to produce essential oils and polyphenols endowed with antioxidant and biological effects. The present work reports the phytochemical profile, as well as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties of C. maritimum leaf hydro-alcoholic extract. From LC-ESI-MS analysis, eighteen phenolic compounds were depicted in sea fennel extract and the amount of total phenolic content exceeds 3% DW. Accordingly, C. maritimum extract showed strong antioxidant activities, as evidenced by in vitro (DPPH, ORAC, FRAP) and ex vivo (CAA-RBC and hemolysis) assays. An important antimicrobial activity against pathogenic strains was found as well as a strong capacity to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 35556) biofilm formation. Sea fennel extracts showed a significant decrease of mutagenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and menadione (ME) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 strain. In conclusion, our results show that C. maritimum is an exceptional source of bioactive components and exert beneficial effects against oxidative or mutagenic mechanisms, and pathogenic bacteria, making it a potential functional food.

Donkey milk is considered as a functional food for sensitive consumers, such as children who are allergic to cow milk. No information is available regarding the effect of farming systems on the quality of donkey milk. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the farming system and lactation stage on donkey milk with respect to gross composition, as well as fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids (FA).; Results: Individual milk samples were collected from lactating jennies (n = 53) on the six of the largest farms located in North West Italy. The performance of lactating jennies, herd characteristics and feeding strategies were recorded at each milk sampling. The gross composition of the milk, along with the fat-soluble vitamin content, differed in accordance with the farming system. The lactation stage had limited effects on milk quality. A higher milk fat content corresponded to a higher amount of fresh herbage proportion in the diet, with the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), C18:1c9, C18:3n-3, n-3 FA, retinol and α-tocopherol content and the lowest concentrations of the FA that are less favorable for human health in the milk of animals fed on only forage diets.; Conclusion: Extensive farming of dairy donkeys increased the fat content and fat-soluble vitamin concentration of milk and also altered the FA composition to a more favorable profile for human nutrition. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

A number of studies have shown the importance of halophyte species as sources of natural antioxidants. Crithmum maritimum is considered an edible and medicinal plant, though in vivo studies of this plant still are necessary to elucidate its potential benefits in alleviating toxicity. The present work was undertaken to investigate the major components and the antioxidant profile of C. maritimum leaf hydro-methanolic extract (CME) and the protective effects of C. maritimum (CM) against CCl4-induced toxicity in rats. Using LC–ESI–MS analysis, 17 phenolic compounds were identified in plant extract, with chlorogenic acid being the major component. The levels of total phenolic acids, total flavonoids and flavonols were ca. 26 mg GAE/g DW, 15.6 mg CE/g DW and 12 mg QE/g DW, respectively. Accordingly, CME showed important in vitro antioxidant activities (DPPH and ORAC). Moreover, CM supplementation to CCl4-intoxicated rats partially restored the impaired hepatic markers (ALT and AST activities and creatinine level), and reduced the CCl4-induced oxidative stress as shown by lipid peroxidation, GSH and protein carbonyl levels. The drug metabolizing system was also evaluated in liver by the measurement of some cytochrome P450-dependent activities such as ECOD, EROD and pNPH and the antioxidant DT-diaphorase, CAT and heme oxygenase activities. Thus, CM treatment reduced the enzymatic perturbations induced by CCl4 and hepatic damages observed from histopathological examination. The obtained results highlight the potential interest of C. maritimum as a source of bioactive compounds with relevant hepatoprotective effects.

Preterm and low birth weight infants require specific nutrition to overcome the accumulated growth deficit, and to prevent morbidities related to postnatal growth failure. In order to guarantee an adequate nutrient-intake, mother&rsquo, s own milk, when available, or donor human milk, are usually fortified with additional nutrients, in particular proteins. Fortification with processed ingredients may result in additional intake in oxidative compounds, deriving from extensive heat treatments, that are applied during processing. The aim of the present work was to compare the in vitro antioxidant activity and oxidative compound content conveyed by different preterm infant foods and fortifiers, namely raw and pasteurized human milk, two different preterm infant formulas, three bovine milk-based fortifiers and two experimental donkey milk-based fortifiers. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the different products. The use of human milk minimizes the intake of dietary oxidative compound in comparison to infant formulas, irrespective of pasteurization or fortification, especially as far as malondialdehyde content is concerned. The addition of fortifiers to human milk increases its antioxidant capacity, and the choice of the protein source (hydrolysed vs. whole proteins) differently impacted the resulting total antioxidant capacity of the diet.

Lisosan® Reduction is a plant mixture produced from powder of fermented Triticum aestivum (Lisosan® G), Desmodium adscendens, Malus domestica, Picrorhiza kurroa and Hordeum vulgare. The aim of this study was to characterise the phenolic profile of Lisosan® Reduction and to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract on mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). Syringic acid, trans sinapic acid and neochlorogenic acid were identified by HPLC-DAD to be the dominant polyphenols of Lisosan® Reduction, followed by vitexin, trans p-coumeric acid and trans ferulic acid. Mice treated with aqueous extract of Lisosan® Reduction (60 mg/kg b.w.) showed a significant decrease of serum cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides level and a significant increase of CYP7A1 gene expression, compared to HFD group.

BACKGROUND The effects of white wheat bread and white wheat bread added with a bioactive compound mixture (Cyclanthera pedata, Glycine max, Monascus-fermented red mold rice, Cynara scolymus and Medicago sativa) were examined on hypercholesterolemic and steatotic mice, divided into four groups: control diet (CTR), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat diet with white wheat bread added with 1.5 g kg−1 of mixture (HFD+AB) and high-fat diet with white wheat bread (HFD+B). RESULTS Total serum cholesterol in the HFD+AB and HFD+B groups and hepatic triglycerides in the HFD+AB group decreased compared with the HFD group. Liver histology confirmed lower lipid drop accumulation in the HFD+AB group than in the HFD and HFD+B groups. HFD+AB caused a 7.0-fold increase and a 3.5-fold reduction in CYP7A1 and SREBP-1c gene expression respectively compared with the HFD group. Moreover, the HFD+B group showed a 2.2-, 8.4- and 1.5-fold increase in HMG CoA reductase, CYP7A1 and LDLr gene expression respectively compared with the HFD group. CONCLUSION Both the white wheat bread and the added white wheat bread induced cholesterol reduction by increasing CYP7A1. Moreover, the added white wheat bread improved steatosis by decreasing SREBP-1c gene expression. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Herein we have characterized CYPs and antioxidant enzymes in a new steatotic rat model induced with a high fat diet (HFD) combined with a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ). This model was recently put forward in order to better replicate the NAFLD human pathology. HFD/STZ rats developed hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and overt steatosis. The treatment also caused liver damage, but not lipid peroxidation, suggesting this damage was due to hepatic fat deposition and excess formation of toxic free fatty acids, rather than to oxidative stress. In the HFD/STZ group, a significant rise in total CYP content was found, in conjunction with increased activity and protein levels of CYP2E1 and CYP4A, the latter also up-regulated at the transcriptional level. A significant decrease of CYP2C11 was observed at the transcriptional and protein level, whereas CYP3A2 did not change in response to HFD/STZ treatment. In our experimental conditions, the activity of the HO-1 and NQO1 enzymes, whose genes are regulated by Nrf2, were not affected, and nor were the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT, confirming the lack of oxidative stress. Our HFD/STZ treatment, which established overt steatosis and changes in CYPs expression, but not oxidative stress, likely reflects an early stage of NAFLD.

Polyphenol-rich foods could have a pivotal function in the prevention of oxidative stress-based pathologies and antibacterial action. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity, as well as the in vitro and In Vivo antioxidant capacities of wild Prunus spinosa L. fruit (PSF) from the southeast regions of Italy. The total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified, and the single polyphenols were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, showing high rutin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid levels, followed by gallic and trans-sinapic acids. PSF extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against some potentially pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Besides, we investigated the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and the hemolysis inhibition of PSF extract on human erythrocytes, evidencing both a good antioxidant power and a marked hemolysis inhibition. Furthermore, an In Vivo experiment with oxidative stress-induced rats treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) demonstrated that PSF has a dose-dependent antioxidant capacity both in liver and in brain. In conclusion, the wild Italian Prunus spinosa L. fruit could be considered a potentially useful material for both nutraceutical and food industries because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

The European Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC indicates that the maximum tolerable level of ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feeds is 0.1 mg OTA/kg. Thirty-six 1-day-old male broiler chicks were divided into two groups, a control (basal diet) and an OTA (basal diet + 0.1 mg OTA/kg) group. The OTA concentration was quantified in serum, liver, kidney, breast and thigh samples. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content were evaluated in the liver, kidney, breast and thigh samples. The glutathione (GSH) content, and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in the liver and kidney samples. Histopathological traits were evaluated for the spleen, bursa of Fabricius and liver samples. Moreover, the chemical composition of the meat was analysed in breast and thigh samples. In the OTA diet-fed animals, a serum OTA concentration of 1.15 ± 0.35 ng/ml was found, and OTA was also detected in kidney and liver at 3.58 ± 0.85 ng OTA/g f.w. and 1.92 ± 0.21 ng OTA/g f.w., respectively. The TBARS content was higher in the kidney of the ochratoxin A group (1.53 ± 0.18 nmol/mg protein vs. 0.91 ± 0.25 nmol/mg protein). Feeding OTA at 0.1 mg OTA/kg also resulted in degenerative lesions in the spleen, bursa of Fabricius and liver. The maximum tolerable level of 0.1 mg OTA/kg, established for poultry feeds by the EU, represents a safe limit for the final consumer, because no OTA residues were found in breast and thigh meat. Even though no clinical signs were noticed in the birds fed the OTA-contaminated diet, moderate histological lesions were observed in the liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of supplementation with sodium salt of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG-Na) on apparent digestibility (AD) in broiler chickens fed low- and high-fat diets. Twenty-eight 1-d-old broiler chickens were fed one of the dietary treatments: a low-fat diet (LF) or a high-fat diet (HF) supplemented with or without 1,000 mg/kg of DMG-Na. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at 14 and 35 d of age. Average daily growth, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The AD of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, total fat (TF), and α-tocopheryl-acetate were assessed by 2 digestibility trials (at 18-21 and 32-35 d, respectively). Serum protein and plasma α-tocopherol concentrations were assessed at 35 d of age. Final BW, feed intake, carcass, breast, and spleen weight were higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P = 0.048, P = 0.002, P = 0.039, P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). Liver weight was increased in DMG-Na-unsupplemented groups (P = 0.011) for both fat levels. During the first digestibility trial (18-21 d), the AD of DM (P = 0.023), OM (P = 0.033), CP (P = 0.030), and α-tocopheryl-acetate (P = 0.036) was higher in the DMG-Na-supplemented group than control. Digestibility of total fat was increased by DMG-Na supplementation in the LF groups (P = 0.038). A trend for improvement of digestibility was observed during the second digestibility trial (32-35 d) for DM (P = 0.089), OM (P = 0.051), and CP (P = 0.063) in DMG-Na groups. Total serum proteins (and relative fractions) were positively influenced by DMG-Na supplementation both in LF and HF diets (P = 0.029). Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P < 0.001).

The aim of this work is to characterize fresh bee-pollen in order to define the main nutritional properties of this apiary product for future legislation. Organic bee-pollen (n = 5) harvested from Lucca (Tuscany, Italy) was studied for palynological analysis, nutritional content (dry matter, crude protein, lipid, ash and carbohydrate contents), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and fatty acids (FA) profile. The chemical composition analyses showed an average of 849 g/kg for dry matter, 253 g/kg for proteins, 12.9 g/kg for lipids, 24.7 g/kg for ash, and 561 g/kg for carbohydrates. The average value of TBARS content was 0.96 mg malondialdehyde/kg. Concerning FA composition, results showed differences among organic Tuscanian bee-pollen species. All the investigated pollen species had linoleic acid with a mean value of 55.4 g/kg of total FAs and, ?-linolenic acid, with a mean value of 147 g/kg of total FAs. An average n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6/n-3 PUFA) ratio of 1.70 was found. Considering that the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio and linoleic acid/?-linolenic acid ratio are considered important for the prevention of human diseases, the Tuscanian organic bee-pollen may be of nutraceutical relevance.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate lipid, cholesterol and glucose metabolism in a novel rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Main methods: Rats (Wistar) were fed high fat/cholesterol diet (HFD) and a single low dose (35 mg/kg) of streptozotocin (STZ). Collagen and glycogen content, oxidative stress and glucokinase activity were measured using biochemical assays. Other metabolic pathways were assessed by qRT-PCR. Key findings: HFD/STZ treated rats, compared to control ones, showed an increase in expression of biomarkers of inflammation (TNFα, IL6), fibrosis (TGFβ), mitochondrial stress (UCP2) and oxidative stress (GSH and carbonylated proteins) but not of ER stress (CHOP, XBP1). Additionally, HFD/STZ treatment caused a reduction in glycogen content, glucokinase activity (a limiting step in glycolysis) and expression of ChREBP gene (a de novo lipogenesis regulator), suggesting a modified glycolytic pathway. The cholesterol biosynthesis in HFD/STZ treated rats was inhibited (reduced expression of SREBP-2-regulated HMGCoA red and LDLr), instead the cholesterol catabolism was increased, as shown by the mRNA induction of the CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 (key genes for BA acid). A reduced gene expression of FXR-dependent SHP (a key gene for feedback inhibition of CYP7A1 and CYP8B1) and of bile acids (NTCP, OATP1A1, BSEP) and cholesterol (ABCA1) transporters was found. Significance: These results widely extend the characterization of HFD/STZ rat model, which might mimic the NAFLD/NASH in diabetic humans.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are currently used for the therapeutic management of cholestatic diseases, but their use and molecular mechanism remain controversial. The aims of this study were 1) to assess the therapeutic effect of a 2-week treatment with the GC dexamethasone on hepatic damage in bile duct-ligated rats; 2) to investigate its effect on the activation of the nuclear receptors (NRs) pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and GC receptor (GR), and NF-kB, as well as on oxidative stress and bile acid (BA) hepatic composition. Cholestasis was induced by ligation of bile duct (BDL animals) in 16 male Wistar-Kyoto rats, and eight of them were daily treated by oral gavage with 0.125 mg/ml/kg DEX for 14 days. Eight Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Severity of cholestasis was assessed histologically and on plasma biochemical parameters. The nuclear expression of NF-kB (p65), GR, PXR and CAR was measured in hepatic tissue by Western Blot. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde, carbonylated proteins, GHS and ROS content in rat livers. LC-MS was used to measure the plasma and liver concentration of 7 BAs. Histological findings and a significant drop in several markers of inflammation (p65 nuclear translocation, mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) showed that DEX treatment reversed cholestasis-induced inflammation, and similar results have been obtained with oxidative stress markers. The nuclear expression of p65 and CAR were inversely correlated, with the latter increasing significantly after DEX treatment (p

A number of studies have shown that whole grain products have strong antioxidant effects. Lisosan G, a powder produced from the fermentation of Triticum aestivum, has shown hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of Lisosan G on the serum lipid profile and oxidative status of healthy rabbits. Forty rabbits were fed either a normal diet or a diet containing 10 g, 20 g or 30 g Lisosan G/kg of feed for 60 days. The supplementation of Lisosan G did not cause any alteration of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin or creatinine concentrations, but caused a reduction in triglycerides, in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The antioxidant activity of Lisosan G has been confirmed on the basis of the reduction in the blood reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) and in the level of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) together with increased vitamin A and E concentrations in the blood. Moreover, Lisosan G also caused the induction of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney of the treated rabbits. This study has shown the ability of Lisosan G to improve the lipid profile and antioxidant status of the blood in healthy rabbits.

Summary The European Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC, suggests that the maximum level of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feeds should be set at 0.1 mg OTA/kg. Thirty-six one-day-old male Hubburd broiler chickens were divided into two groups, a Control (basal diet) and an Ochratoxin A (basal diet + 0.1 mg OTA/kg) group. The growth and slaughter performance traits were recorded. The liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus weights were measured. The erythrocyte and leukocyte numbers were assayed in blood samples, and the heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L) ratio was determined. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), lysozyme, the total protein and the electrophoretic pattern were evaluated in serum samples. Liver enzymes (alanino aminotransferase, ALT and aspartate aminotransferase, AST) and kidney function parameters (uric acid and creatinine) were quantified. The results revealed that feeding a 0.1 mg OTA/kg contaminated diet to chicks caused a decrease in the absolute thymus weight (p

BACKGROUND: A survey was carried out on conventional (n = 11) and organic (n = 4) swine farms in northwest Italy in order to investigate the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in feed and serum samples collected from September 2006 to March 2009. Each farm was sampled twice and a total of 30 feed samples and 285 serum samples were collected. OTA levels were determined through extraction, immunoaffinity column purification and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis coupled with fluorimetric detection. RESULTS: All feed samples resulted to be contaminated with OTA at levels ranging from 0.22 to 38.4 µg kg−1. The OTA concentrations found in organic feed samples were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those found in conventional feed samples. All serum samples resulted to be contaminated with OTA at levels ranging from 0.03 to 6.24 ng mL−1. The OTA concentrations found in organic serum samples were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those found in conventional serum samples. CONCLUSION: None of the feed samples contained more than the maximum level (50 µg OTA kg−1, considering a feed moisture content of 120 g kg−1) recommended by the European Commission for OTA in complementary and complete swine feedstuffs. The OTA contamination of organic feed and serum samples was found to be significantly higher than that of conventional feed and serum samples. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

A survey has been conducted on conventional and organic poultry farms located in northern Italy in order to investigate the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in feeds and sera in 2006. Ten poultry farms were monitored by taking 20 samples of feed and 94 samples of blood. OTA was assessed through immunoaffinity column purification and HPLC analysis. For in-house validation, recovery experiments, carried out on the spiked samples in the range of 1.0-10.0 μg OTA kg-1 and 0.3-3.0 ng OTA ml-1 for the feed and serum samples, respectively, led to overall recovery averages of 80.6% (RDS=7.3%, n=9) and 83.3% (RDS=3.1%, n=9), respectively. All the feed samples were contaminated by OTA with values ranging from 0.04 to 6.50 μg kg-1. Fiftythree percent of the sera samples were positive, with values ranging from 0.003- 0.165 ng ml-1. None of the feed samples was above the limits set by the European Union on OTA contamination in poultry feeds. No statistically significant differences in OTA contamination of feed or sera were observed either between the organic vs conventional group or between the laying hens vs broiler group.