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HPTLC silica gel, amino and C18 plates in combination with different developing solvents were explored for the first HPTLC chemical profiles of flavonoids and sugars in crude extracts from leaves and fruits of caigua (Cyclanthera pedata Scrabs) harvested in Slovenia and Italy. New HPTLC and HPTLC-MS methods for analyses of flavonoids are based on HPTLC silica gel (preconditioned with water) or C18 plates in combination with developing solvents ethyl acetate–water–formic acid (17:3:2, v/v) or 5% formic acid in methanol-water (7:3, v/v), respectively. Detection was performed before (for flavonoids) and/or after post-chromatographic derivatization with Natural product (NP) reagent for flavonoids and diphenylamine-aniline-phosphoric acid (DAP) reagent for sugars. HPTLC–MS/(MSn) analyses on silica gel and C18 stationary phases enabled tentative identification of several compounds in crude extracts from leaves and fruits. HPTLC-DPPH• assay combined with image analyses and HPTLC–MS/(MSn) analyses, applied for direct screening of antioxidant activity of separated chromatographic zones (compounds) on HPTLC silica gel plates, confirmed activity in several zones of all crude extracts, in which some active compounds were tentatively identified. Apigenin 6-C-glucoside (isovitexin) and luteolin 8-C-glucoside (orientin) were found in all crude extracts, but the last was the most active free radical scavenger. Both compounds were also identified in dietary supplement product produced from caigua fruits. Crude extracts from leaves showed much higher antioxidant activity than those from fruits. The highest antioxidant activity was determined for crude extract from leaves harvested in Slovenia, while among crude extract from fruits the highest activity was determined for the extract from fruits harvested in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of four industrial hemp cultivars (Felina 32, Chamaeleon, Uso31, and Finola) was investigated for oil production in the north-east of Italy along two years. The oils of all cultivars resulted in rich amount of linoleic acid (ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (ω-3). Felina 32 and Chamaeleon oils exhibited the highest amount of linoleic acid (59%) and α-linolenic acid (18%). Finola and Uso31 oils resulted in the richest of γ-linolenic acid (5-6%). All hempseed oils presented high oxidation stability and an acceptable initial quality. It is suggested that these oils can be used to produce EFA dietary supplements high in ω-6 and ω-3 of vegetal origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an inverse association between consumption of fruits and vegetables and morbidity and mortality from degenerative diseases. The antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables may contribute to the protection they offer from disease. Because plant foods contain many different classes and types of antioxidants, knowledge of their total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which is the cumulative capacity of food components to scavenge free radicals, would be useful for epidemiologic purposes. To accomplish this, a variety of foods commonly consumed in Italy, including 34 vegetables, 30 fruits, 34 beverages and 6 vegetable oils, were analyzed using three different assays, i.e., Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP). These assays, based on different chemical mechanisms, were selected to take into account the wide variety and range of action of antioxidant compounds present in actual foods. Among vegetables, spinach had the highest antioxidant capacity in the TEAC and FRAP assays followed by peppers, whereas asparagus had the greatest antioxidant capacity in the TRAP assay. Among fruits, the highest antioxidant activities were found in berries (i.e., blackberry, redcurrant and raspberry) regardless of the assay used. Among beverages, coffee had the greatest TAC, regardless of the method of preparation or analysis, followed by citrus juices, which exhibited the highest value among soft beverages. Finally, of the oils, soybean oil had the highest antioxidant capacity, followed by extra virgin olive oil, whereas peanut oil was less effective. Such data, coupled with an appropriate questionnaire to estimate antioxidant intake, will allow the investigation of the relation between dietary antioxidants and oxidative stress-induced diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A beneficial effect of fresh fruit consumption on lung function has been observed in several studies. The epidemiological evidence of the effect on respiratory symptoms and asthma is limited. The consumption of fruit rich in vitamin C was examined in relation to wheezing and other respiratory symptoms in cross sectional and follow up studies of Italian children.Methods: Standardised respiratory questionnaires were filled in by parents of 18 737 children aged 6-7 years living in eight areas of Northern and Central Italy. The winter intake of citrus fruit and kiwi fruit by the children was categorised as less than once per week, 1-2 per week, 3-4 per week, and 5-7 per week. A subset of 4104 children from two areas was reinvestigated after one year using a second parental questionnaire to record the occurrence of wheezing symptoms over the intervening period.Results: In the cross sectional analysis, after controlling for several confounders (sex, study area, paternal education, household density, maternal smoking, paternal smoking, dampness or mould in the child's bedroom, parental asthma), intake of citrus fruit or kiwi fruit was a highly significant protective factor for wheeze in the last 12 months (odds ratio (OR) = 0.66, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.55 to 0.78, for those eating fruit 5-7 times per week compared with less than once per week), shortness of breath with wheeze (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.84), severe wheeze (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.85), nocturnal cough (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.83), chronic cough (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.88), and non-coryzal rhinitis (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.83). In the follow up study fruit intake recorded at baseline was a strong and independent predictor of all symptoms investigated except non-coryzal rhinitis. In most cases the protective effect was evident even among children whose intake of fruit was only 1-2 times per week and no clear dose-response relationship was found. The effect was stronger (although not significantly so (p = 0.13)) in subjects with a history of asthma; those eating fresh fruit at least once a week experienced a lower one year occurrence of wheeze (29. 3%) than those eating fruit less than once per week (47.1%) (OR = 0. 46, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.81).Conclusions: Although the effect of other dietary components cannot be excluded, it is concluded that the consumption of fruit rich in vitamin C, even at a low level of intake, may reduce wheezing symptoms in childhood, especially among already susceptible individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian "Nocciola di Giffoni", also known as "Tonda di Giffoni", a labelled Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product, represents an important economic resource for the Italian market. The methanol (MeOH) extract of "Tonda di Giffoni" shells has been investigated for the phenolic content, assayed by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and for the antioxidant activity by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays. In order to achieve deeper insight into the chemical composition of the shells of hazelnut "Nocciola di Giffoni" and to highlight the occurrence of biologically active compounds, a phytochemical investigation was carried out. An initial Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) profile of the methanol (MeOH) extract of the shells of C. avellana, cultivar "Tonda di Giffoni" led to the identification of sixteen compounds, of which the structures were elucidated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These were identified as a new diarylheptanoid, giffonin V (13), along with fifteen known phenolic compounds belonging to diarylheptanoid, neolignan, phenilpropanoid and flavonoid classes. In order to perform the quantitative determination of the main compounds of MeOH extract of C. avellana L. shells, an analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization source (ESI) and triple quadrupole mass analyzer (QqQ), using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode, was developed and validated. The quantitative results highlight that main compounds occurred in the extract in concentration ranging from 6.4 to 83.3 (mg/100g). The antioxidant activity of all the isolated compounds evaluated by TEAC assay showed as the flavonoid derivatives exhibited a higher free-radical-scavenging activity. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of each compound was tested against the cancer cell lines A549 and Hela and against the human skin fibroblasts HaCat. None of tested compounds, in a range of concentrations between 12.5 and 100μM, cause a significant reduction of the cell number., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Inula crithmoides L. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and 22 components were identified, the major ones being p-cymene (30.1%), 1-methylethyl-trimethylbenzene (18.7%), scopoletin (15.3%) and alpha-pinene (13.1%). The antioxidant activity of the oil was evaluated by the DPPH test and 5-lipoxygenase assay. The essential oil exerted a good antioxidant activity in the protection of lipid peroxidation when compared with known antioxidants.

Epidemiological data indicate a beneficial effect of Mediterranean diets on human health, especially on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. These observations are supported by recent intervention studies. However, very little is known about the current role of local Mediterranean food products, which are consumed on a less regular basis and their contribution to a healthy diet. The European consortium "Local Food-Nutraceuticals" collected 127 locally consumed wild or semi-wild plants in three Mediterranean countries, i.e. Greece, Italy, and Spain, in order to assess their ethnobotanical features as well as their biological activities. The project also includes a second line of research, the study of local conceptions about these food resources. All pharmacological assays were conducted with ethanolic extracts prepared from the dried plant material. The biological activities of the extracts were assessed with the following 12 different assays covering a broad range of mechanisms considered crucial in the pathology of chronic, aging-related diseases. Four antioxidant tests: DPPH scavenging, prevention of oxyhaemoglobin bleaching, prevention of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde formation), and protection from DNA damage (Comet assay); three enzyme inhibition tests: inhibition of xanthine oxidase, inhibition of myeloperoxidase-catalysed guaiacol oxidation as well as the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase; one test investigating the inhibition of cytokine-induced cell activation (including the extracts' potential cytotoxicity); one assay measuring the anti-proliferation potential; one test assessing the anti-diabetic activity (PPARgamma) as well as one assay investigating the extracts' effect on mood disorder-related biochemical parameters (hSERT). Furthermore, the polyphenol content of all extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteaus method. The assays revealed diverse biological effects for the tested extracts ranging from no activity to almost complete inhibition/activation. Moreover, the experimental matrix led to the identification of a sub-set of extracts, i.e. Berberis vulgaris, Reichardia picroides, Scandix australis, Satureja montana, Thymus piperella, Lythrum salicaria and Vitis vinifera, showing high activity in a broad range of assays. In summary, the in vitro observed modulations and effects exerted by extracts derived from local food plants suggest that these plants may contribute to the observed better aging of rural Mediterranean populations.

Highly reactive radicals, ROO(*), were generated from 2, 2'-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] and linoleic acid. The ROO(*) scavenging capacity of some Italian red wines was evaluated following the changes in oxygen consumption. Under the experimental conditions the time course of oxygen consumption shows two typical behaviors: trolox-like (class I) and gallic acid-like (class II). Usually the time course of wine was similar to that of gallic acid. The rate of oxygen consumption was found to decrease exponentially with the amount of wine or gallic acid added to the test solution. On this basis the capacity of red wines to scavenge peroxy radicals was expressed as content of gallic acid (S(GA)). The S(GA) values were found to be correlated to the amount of total proanthocyanidins and total polyphenols of some Italian red wines (p < 0.01). The proanthocyanidins extracted from seeds were shown to make a major contribution to the peroxy radical scavenging capacity of red wines, whereas, interestingly, the chemical class of the low molecular weight tannins reactive to vanillin did not correlate with the S(GA) values.