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Spirulina platensis contains several compounds showing nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Recently, a series of peptides able to reduce the blood pressure level and to enhance the endothelial vasorelaxation was isolated from the hydrolyzed highly water-soluble Spirulina extract (HSE). However, HSE shows critical organoleptic characteristics also having poor intestinal permeability, limiting absorption when orally delivered. This research aims to overcome the critical issues through the encapsulation of HSE in Chitosan/Mannitol&mdash, (CM)-based microparticles by spray drying. The produced powders (CM-HSE) showed good process yield (&asymp, 70%) and encapsulation efficiency (&asymp, 100%) also having good derived flow properties as well as stability up to six months storage. The microparticles constituting the spray-dried powder resulted in an amorphous micrometric state (d50 &asymp, 14 &micro, m) able to retain dark colour and unpleasant smell of raw HSE. Moreover, the in vitro permeation study by Franz cell indicated that the engineered microparticles are able to enhance the permeation of HSE through an intestinal biomimetic barrier (551.13 &mu, g/cm2 CM-HSE vs. 315.46 &mu, g/cm2 HSE at 270 min).

Considered as a superfood of the future, Spirulina platensis matrix has been extensively used because of its beneficial effect on the management of cardiovascular diseases. However, its nutraceutical properties, bioactive compounds, and molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that S platensis matrix processed in vitro by simulated gastrointestinal digestion induces direct endothelial nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasorelaxation of resistance vessels in mice. To gain insight into the bioactive compounds responsible for this effect, we used a complex multistep peptidomic approach to fractionate the crude digest: of the 5 peptide fractions identified (A–E), only fraction E evoked vasorelaxation. High-resolution mass spectrometry–based screening revealed in E the presence of 4 main peptides (SP3–SP6 [spirulina peptides]), of which only SP6 (GIVAGDVTPI) exerted direct endothelium-dependent vasodilation of ex vivo vessels, an effect occurring via a PI3K (phosphoinositide-3-kinase)/AKT (serine/threonine kinase Akt) pathway converging on NO release. In vivo, administration of SP6 evoked a significant hemodynamic effect, reducing blood pressure, an action absent in eNOS (endothelial NO synthase)-deficient mice. Of note, although lower doses of SP6 had no hemodynamic effects, it still enhanced endothelial NO vasorelaxation. Finally, in an experimental model of arterial hypertension, SP6 exerted an antihypertensive effect, improving endothelial vasorelaxation associated with enhanced serum nitrite levels. Based on our results, this novel decameric peptide may extend the possible fields of application for spirulina-derived peptides and could be developed into a promising nonpharmacological approach for the containment of pathologies associated with vascular NO misregulation.

Arthrospira platensis, better known as Spirulina, is one of the most important microalgae species. This cyanobacterium possesses a rich metabolite pattern, including high amounts of natural pigments. In this study, we applied a combined strategy based on Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) for the qualitative/quantitative characterization of Spirulina pigments in three different commercial dietary supplements. FT-ICR was employed to elucidate the qualitative profile of Spirulina pigments, in both direct infusion mode (DIMS) and coupled to UHPLC. DIMS showed to be a very fast (4 min) and accurate (mass accuracy ≤ 0.01 ppm) tool. 51 pigments were tentatively identified. The profile revealed different classes, such as carotenes, xanthophylls and chlorophylls. Moreover, the antioxidant evaluation of the major compounds was assessed by pre-column reaction with the DPPH radical followed by fast UHPLC-PDA separation, highlighting the contribution of single analytes to the antioxidant potential of the entire pigment fraction. β-carotene, diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin showed the highest scavenging activity. The method took 40 min per sample, comprising reaction. This strategy could represent a valid tool for the fast and comprehensive characterization of Spirulina pigments in dietary supplements, as well as in other microalgae-based products.

“Scotta” is a liquid waste deriving from Ricotta cheese production, which is wrongly considered only a dairy by-product. In this work, with the aim to elucidate the presence of valuable bioactive compounds in Buffalo’s Scotta, a peptide fraction under 3000 Da was isolated by ultra-filtration, purified by solid-phase extraction, and, subsequently, characterized in detail by liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Analytical results revealed a complex profile, leading to the identification of 226 peptides, belonging to alpha, beta, and kappa caseins. A database-driven search approach was used to assess the biological effects of some of the identified peptides. A wide range of healthy properties was ascribed to the encrypted peptides, comprising antihypertensive, antimicrobial, immunomodulating, opioid, antioxidant, and antithrombotic. The peptidomic profile of Scotta was highlighted in depth for the first time, and the results revealed that this matrix should not be considered only a mere by-product, but a source of potential health-promoting peptides, which can be recovered and employed in nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Grape is a rich source of bioactive compounds; among them anthocyanins are associated to many healthy properties, possessing a good antioxidant activity. In this work, we developed a fast and simple screening of antioxidant anthocyanins in six Sicilian Nero d'Avola autochthonous grape clones. The method was based on the pre-column reaction with 2,2?-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical followed by the rapid separation by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet and tandem mass spectrometry detection. Peak areas of antioxidant anthocyanins significantly reduced or even disappeared. The entire method took only 45 min per sample, showing good retention time and peak area repeatability with maximum CV% values