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Although it is clearly established that the abuse of alcohol is seriously harmful to health, much epidemiological and clinical evidence seem to underline the protective role of moderate quantities of alcohol and in particular of wine on health. This narrative review aims to re-evaluate the relationship between the type and dose of alcoholic drink and reduced or increased risk of various diseases, in the light of the most current scientific evidence. In particular, in vitro studies on the modulation of biochemical pathways and gene expression of wine bioactive components were evaluated. Twenty-four studies were selected after PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar searches for the evaluation of moderate alcohol/wine consumption and health effects: eight studies concerned cardiovascular diseases, three concerned type 2 diabetes, four concerned neurodegenerative diseases, five concerned cancer and four were related to longevity. A brief discussion on viticultural and enological practices potentially affecting the content of bioactive components in wine is included. The analysis clearly indicates that wine differs from other alcoholic beverages and its moderate consumption not only does not increase the risk of chronic degenerative diseases but is also associated with health benefits particularly when included in a Mediterranean diet model. Obviously, every effort must be made to promote behavioral education to prevent abuse, especially among young people.

The multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a reason for the lack of effective drugs as well as a basis for the development of "multi-target-directed ligands" (MTDLs). As cases increase in developing countries, there is a need of new drugs that are not only effective but also accessible. With this motivation, we report the first sustainable MTDLs, derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), an inexpensive food waste with anti-inflammatory properties. We applied a framework combination of functionalized CNSL components and well-established acetylcholinesterase (AChE)/butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) tacrine templates. MTDLs were selected based on hepatic, neuronal, and microglial cell toxicity. Enzymatic studies disclosed potent and selective AChE/BChE inhibitors (5, 6, and 12), with subnanomolar activities. The X-ray crystal structure of 5 complexed with BChE allowed rationalizing the observed activity (0.0352 nM). Investigation in BV-2 microglial cells revealed antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities for 5 and 6 (already at 0.01 mu M), confirming the design rationale.

The aim of this study is to advance means for microalgae dewatering with the simultaneous reuse of water as new cultivation medium, specifically through ceramic membrane filtration. Three algae, namely, Spirulina platensis, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Chlorella sorokiniana were tested by filtering suspensions with four ceramic membranes having nominal pore sizes of 0.8 μm, 0.14 μm, 300 kDa, 15 kDa. The observed flux values and organic matter removal rates were related to the membrane pore size and cake layer properties, with some differences in productivity between algae types, likely due to cell size and shape. Interestingly, similar near steady-state fluxes (70-120 L m

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a complex process involving crosstalk between immune cells and myogenic precursor cells, i.e., satellite cells. In this scenario, macrophage recruitment in damaged muscles is a mandatory step for tissue repair since pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages promote the activation of satellite cells, stimulating their proliferation and then, after switching into anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, they prompt satellite cells’ differentiation into myotubes and resolve inflammation. Here, we show that acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, is activated after skeletal muscle injury induced in vivo by the injection of cardiotoxin. ASMase ablation shortens the early phases of skeletal muscle regeneration without affecting satellite cell behavior. Of interest, ASMase regulates the balance between M1 and M2 macrophages in the injured muscles so that the absence of the enzyme reduces inflammation. The analysis of macrophage populations indicates that these events depend on the altered polarization of M1 macrophages towards an M2 phenotype. Our results unravel a novel role of ASMase in regulating immune response during muscle regeneration/repair and suggest ASMase as a supplemental therapeutic target in conditions of redundant inflammation that impairs muscle recovery.

Neurodegenerative disease is an umbrella term for different conditions which primarily affect the neurons in the human brain. In the last century, significant research has been focused on mechanisms and risk factors relevant to the multifaceted etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, neurodegenerative diseases are incurable, and the treatments available only control the symptoms or delay the progression of the disease. This review is aimed at characterizing the complex network of molecular mechanisms underpinning acute and chronic neurodegeneration, focusing on the disturbance in redox homeostasis, as a common mechanism behind five pivotal risk factors: aging, oxidative stress, inflammation, glycation, and vascular injury. Considering the complex multifactorial nature of neurodegenerative diseases, a preventive strategy able to simultaneously target multiple risk factors and disease mechanisms at an early stage is most likely to be effective to slow/halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

The important functions of the endothelium and the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial dysfunction suggest the primary role of this tissue as a target for dietary strategies aimed at the prevention from related diseases. Cereals are key component of a healthy and balanced diet, and the presence of non-specific lipid-transfer protein 2 (nsLTP2) in wheat represents an added value to contribute to maintain the functionality of the vascular endothelium and consequently of the cardiovascular system. Indeed, nsLTP2 downregulates the expression of the main cell adhesion molecules induced by a pro-inflammatory cytokine and, meanwhile, upregulates heme oxigenase-1, exerting a cytoprotective/anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, nsLTP2 might represent a food-derived tool to protect the vascular system against several pathological conditions.

Numerous laboratory and epidemiological studies show that the risk of developing several types of cancer can be reduced with the employment of natural substances that act with multiple mechanisms. In this context, an important role is played by the isothiocyanates. Recently, 6-(methylsulfonyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MITC), present in the root of Wasabia Japonica, has stimulated the interest of researchers as a chemopreventive agent. In this particular study we have focused on evaluating 6-MITC’s in vitro cytotoxic, cytostatic and cytodifferentiating activities, as well as its pro-apoptotic potential. These effects were investigated by way of flow cytometric analysis of Jurkat and HL-60 cells as well as of healthy lymphocytes extracted from the blood of AVIS donors, in order to verify a potential selectivity of action. The results demonstrate that 6-MITC exerts a stronger cytotoxic effect on tumour cells than on healthy cells. The apoptosis induction exerted by 6-MITC on transformed cells is triggered by an extrinsic pathway, as demonstrated by the statistically significant increase in the percentage of cells with activated caspase-8. It was also observed that 6-MITC is able to limit tumour growth by slowing down and blocking the cell cycle of Jurkat and HL-60 cells respectively, in a dose- and time-related manner, while exerting no activity of any kind on the replication of healthy cells. Finally, by measuring the expression levels of CD-14 and CD-15, 6-MITC showed the ability to induce cytodifferentiation of HL-60 cells into macrophage and granulocytic phenotypes.

Microglia plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases and increasing evidence suggested that the control of microglia activation may have protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases [1]. Microglial cells are indeed the major resident immune cells in the CNS, with a resting phenotype under normal conditions. However, upon infection (e.g LPS) or neuronal injury, microglial cells become active and in an inflammatory state [2]. Therefore, the purpose of this study is the evaluation of the potential anti-inflammatory effect exerted by different chestnut tree extracts in BV-2 cells. Leaves, spiny cupules and pericarps, collected from different chestnut trees, are the subject of a multidisciplinary study aimed at validating the most relevant metabolites with cytoprotective and antinflammatory effects in chestnut by-products, in order to reduce the environmental impact linked to their management. The potential cytoprotective effect of different extracts from chestnut leave, spiny cupules and pericarps has been evaluated by the MTT reduction assay in a microglia cellular model (BV-2), following inflammatory stimulation with LPS. Moreover, IL-1β expression induced by LPS in the presence or absence of extracts from leaves, spiny cupules and pericarps has been evaluated by PCR. LPS has indeed the ability to induce the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g. IL1-β) [3] and some of the tested extracts counteract this effect. Preliminary results suggest a low toxicity and a promising anti-inflammatory activity of some of the tested extracts. [1] Wolf SA, et al., Annu Rev Physiol. 2017;79:619-643. [2] Qin S, et al., Pharmacol Res. 2018;133:218-235. [3] Messeha SS, et al., J Neuroimmunol. 2017;313:129-137. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z) and by Accademia Nazionale di Agricoltura.

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are associated with neuroinflammation which initiates the degeneration of neurons by over-activating microglia in the brain. It is now widely accepted that clustered populations of reactive microglia are hallmarks of AD, and these brain cells are likely to contribute to the mechanisms of neuronal damage and cognitive loss. Therefore, the prevention and/or modulation of key pro-inflammatory molecules from microglia is a promising strategy for the prevention and possible treatment of AD. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity of eight novel synthetized compounds obtained derivatizing tacrine with lipids extracted from cashew nut shell liquid was assessed in BV-2 microglial cells. Cells were treated with different concentrations of the compounds for 24 h, then exposed to LPS and cell viability evaluated by MTT assay. Only 5 of the tested compounds were able to significantly counteract the reduction of cell viability induced by LPS. To verify if this protection could be ascribed to an anti-inflammatory mechanism, real time PCR analysis were carried out to assess the expression of interleukin 1 and TNF-. All of the 5 compounds were able to significantly reduce interleukin 1 expression, while only 4 compounds reduced TNF- expression. These results suggest a therapeutic potential of these compounds as novel anti-inflammatory drugs in neurodegenerative diseases, mediating favorable modulation of pro-inflammatory functions of microglia. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z).

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), are characterized by a multifactorial etiology and one of the most impacting factors is represented by oxidative stress, a biochemical process that is given by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidant defenses. Cherries, and in particular sweet cherries, are a nutritionally dense food rich in anthocyanins, quercetin, hydroxycinnamates, potassium, fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and melatonin. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of different Sweet Unibo cherries (Prunus avium L.), obtained through a natural breeding program at the University of Bologna, in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells differentiated with Retinoic Acid (RA). Five different cherry extracts were characterized by HPLC-DAD/FL analysis. Cells were treated with the different cherry extracts for 24 h before H2O2 exposure. All the extracts, except one, were able to significantly increase cell viability, measured by MTT assay, in respect to cells exposed to H2O2. Moreover, the same four extracts reduced ROS production as measured by the dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay meanwhile only three of five extracts significantly increased GSH levels in respect to H2O2 exposed cells as measured by monochloro bimane assay. The same extracts that significantly reduced ROS production were also able to up-regulate phase II antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase and NQO1 as measured by RT-PCR. Our findings support the idea that cherries can have a beneficial health effect in counteracting oxidative stress in neurons and these effects seem to be related to the specific phenolic pattern of the different cherry extracts. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z).

Neurodegenerative diseases represent an increasingly public health problem, especially in the aging population, still in search of an effective therapy. The consumption of extra-virgin olive oil represents the main source of phenols from Mediterranean diet. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated preventive and protective properties of extra-virgin olive oil against neurodegeneration. In particular, the specific phenolic pattern of different extra virgin olive oils could influence their biological activity such as neuroprotection. To deepen this hypothesis, we investigated the potential differences in neuroprotective effects of four extra virgin olive oil extracts against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells by determining their effect in modulating antioxidant enzymes and pro-survival pathways. The different olive oil extracts were characterized for their content in tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleacein and oleocanthal by HPLC. SH-SY5Y were treated with different concentrations (1-500 µg/mL) of the four extracts (corniolo, collina, pianura and spes) in the presence and absence of H2O2. Interestingly, collina is the most effective in counteracting oxidative damage as evaluated by MTT and LDH assays. Collina, pianura and spes reduced the H2O2-induced release of reactive oxygen species level as measured by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay. Moreover, collina, pianura and spes increased GSH level measured by monochlorobimane assay. The extracts were also able to modulate phase II antioxidant enzymes and BDNF mRNA levels as measured by RT-PCR. Our findings confirm that extra-virgin olive oil possesses beneficial effects in counteracting neurodegeneration and these effects are strongly related to the specific pattern of olive oil phenols presents in the different olive oils. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z)

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, are caused by the progressive death of neurons in different regions of the nervous system. Their etiology is multifactorial with oxidative stress as one of the most impacting factors. The brain, due to its high oxygen consumption and high lipid content, is highly vulnerable to the effects of reactive oxygen species. The increase in the generation of free radicals damages the cellular biomolecules and induces necrosis or apoptosis. Sweet cherry fruits are a nutritionally dense food rich in anthocyanins, quercetin, hydroxycinnamates, potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and carotenoids. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of different sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.), obtained through a natural breeding program at the University of Bologna, in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells differentiated with retinoic acid. The phytochemical pattern of five different cherry extracts has been characterized by HPLC-DAD/FL analysis. To study the protective effects of the extracts, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with different concentrations of the extracts for 24 h before H2O2 exposure. All the extracts, except one, were able to significantly increase cell viability and decrease ROS levels in respect to cells exposed to H2O2 as measured by MTT and DCFH-DA assays, respectively. Three of the five extracts significantly increased GSH levels in respect to H2O2 exposed cells as measured by monochlorobimane assay. The same extracts that significantly reduced ROS production were also able to up-regulate some important phase II antioxidant enzymes, such as GR and NQO1, as measured by RT-PCR. Our findings support the idea that these new sweet cherries can be considered a new functional food with a high antioxidant and neuroprotective effect and these effects seem to be related to the specific phenolic pattern of the different cherry extracts. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z).

Leaves and spiny cupules, collected from different chestnut trees, represents the subject of a multidisciplinary study aimed at characterizing the most relevant metabolites and at evaluating the potential cytoprotective effect exerted by the by-products of the chestnut grove. The potential cytoprotective effect of different extracts from chestnut leaves and spiny cupules has been evaluated by the MTT reduction assay in a microglia cellular model (BV-2), following inflammatory stimulation with LPS. Moreover, IL-1β expression induced by LPS in the presence or absence of extracts form leaves and spiny cupules has been evaluated by PCR. Preliminary results suggest a low toxicity and a promising anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts. The evaluation of the phytochemical profiles and of the nutraceutical potential of these samples represent an important step to encourage their recycling and valorization as sources of active principles, favoring the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact linked to the management of chestnut waste. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN 2015 (No. 20152HKF3Z) and by Accademia Nazionale di Agricoltura.

(1) Background: It is recommended that an athlete, in order to ensure correct nutrition and performance, should consume between 1.2 and 2.0 g/kg/day of protein, while the daily recommended protein intake for a non-athlete is 0.8and 0.9 mg/kg/day. It is unclear if athletes living in Mediterranean countries are able to meet protein requirements without supplementation, since Mediterranean diet de-emphasizes meat and meat products. (2) Methods: 166 athletes (125 males) enrolled between 2017 and 2019 were required to keep a dietary journal for three consecutive days (2 workdays and 1 weekend day). Athletes had to be &gt, 18 years old, train in a particular sport activity more than 3 h a week and compete at least at an amateur level. Journal data were collected and then translated into macro-nutrient content (grams of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids) by a nutritionist. (3) Results: The protein intake reported by this specific population vary slightly from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Dietitians of Canada (DC), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) joint statement recommendation level. Average protein levels without protein supplementation fell within the protein guidelines. Counterintuitively, the intake among those who supplemented their diet with protein was higher compared with those who did not, even when excluding the contribution of supplements. Although the majority of subjects participating in the study were able to meet protein intake recommended for athletes without protein supplementation, 27% of athletes were below the guideline range. (4) Conclusions: these data suggest that athletes&rsquo, nutrition should be more often evaluated by a nutritionist and that they will benefit from increasing their nutritional knowledge in order to make better food choices, resorting to protein supplementation only when effectively needed.

Castanea sativa cultivation has been present in Mediterranean regions since ancient times. In order to promote a circular economy, it is of great importance to valorize chestnut groves’ by-products. In this study, leaves and spiny burs from twenty-four Castanea trees were analyzed by 1H NMR metabolomics to provide an overview of their phytochemical profile. The Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) performed on these data allowed us to distinguish ‘Marrone’ from ‘Castagna’, since the latter were generally more enriched with secondary metabolites, in particular, flavonoids (astragalin, isorhamnetin glucoside, and myricitrin) were dominant. Knowing that microglia are involved in mediating the oxidative and inflammatory response of the central nervous system, the potential anti-inflammatory effects of extracts derived from leaves and spiny burs were evaluated in a neuroinflammatory cell model: BV-2 microglia cells. The tested extracts showed cytoprotective activity (at 0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL) after inflammation induction by 5 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the transcriptional levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-kB expression induced by LPS were significantly decreased by cell incubation with spiny burs and leaves extracts. Taken together, the obtained results are promising and represent an important step to encourage recycling and valorization of chestnut byproducts, usually considered “waste”.

It's a frightening time due to COVID-19, but the great elderly/centenarians, apparently with more frailty, seem to have a better response to the pandemic. “The South Italy” lifestyle seems an “effective strategy” promoting the well-being embedded in a holistic solution: healthy diet, less exposure to PM10 pollution, protected environment, and moderate physical activity. The European FP7 Project RISTOMED results, since 2010, have shown that dietary intervention improved a heathy status in the elderly people. Based on the RISTOMED results, in addition to sociocultural and environmental factors, the authors suggest an integrated approach for resilience to COVID-19. Such an approach during the next months could make the difference for the success of any government progress policy to fight COVID-19, finalizing long-term well-being and successful aging.

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are highly appreciated fruits for their taste, color, nutritional value, and beneficial health effects. In this work, seven new cultivars of sweet cherry were investigated for their main quality traits and nutraceutical value. The phytochemical profile of three classes of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the new cultivars were investigated through high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and spectrophotometric assays, respectively, and compared with those of commonly commercialized cultivars. Cyanidine-3-O-rutinoside was the main anthocyanin in all genotypes, and its levels in some new cultivars were about three-fold higher than in commercial ones. The ORAC-assayed antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with the total anthocyanin index. The nutraceutical value of the new cultivars was investigated in terms of antioxidant/neuroprotective capacity in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. Results demonstrated that the new cultivars were more effective in counteracting oxidative stress and were also able to upregulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a pro-survival neurotrophin, suggesting their potential pleiotropic role in counteracting neurodegenerations.

Iron is a fundamental element in human history, from the dawn of civilization to contemporary days. The ancients used the metal to shape tools, to forge weapons, and even as a dietary supplement. This last indication has been handed down until today, when martial therapy is considered fundamental to correct deficiency states of anemia. The improvement of the martial status is mainly targeted with dietary supplements that often couple diverse co-factors, but other methods are available, such as parenteral preparations, dietary interventions, or real-world approaches. The oral absorption of this metal occurs in the duodenum and is highly dependent upon its oxidation state, with many absorption influencers possibly interfering with the intestinal uptake. Bone marrow and spleen represent the initial and ultimate step of iron metabolism, respectively, and the most part of body iron circulates bound to specific proteins and mainly serves to synthesize hemoglobin for new red blood cells. Whatever the martial status is, today’s knowledge about iron biochemistry allows us to embrace exceedingly personalized interventions, which however owe their success to the mythical and historical events that always accompanied this metal.

Altered martial indices before orthopedic surgery are associated with higher rates of complications and greatly affect the patient&rsquo, s functional ability. Oral supplements can optimize the preoperative martial status, with clinical efficacy and the patient&rsquo, s tolerability being highly dependent on the pharmaceutical formula. Patients undergoing elective hip/knee arthroplasty were randomized to be supplemented with a 30-day oral therapy of sucrosomial ferric pyrophosphate plus L-ascorbic acid. The tolerability was 2.7% among treated patients. Adjustments for confounding factors, such as iron absorption influencers, showed a relevant response limited to older patients (&ge, 65 years old), whose uncharacterized Hb loss was averted upon treatment with iron formula. Older patients with no support lost &minus, 2.8 &plusmn, 5.1%, while the intervention group gained +0.7 &plusmn, 4.6% of circulating hemoglobin from baseline (p = 0.019). Gastrointestinal diseases, medications, and possible dietary factors could affect the efficacy of iron supplements. Future opportunities may consider to couple ferric pyrophosphate with other nutrients, to pay attention in avoiding absorption disruptors, or to implement interventions to obtain an earlier martial status optimization at the population level.

Background: There is a growing awareness that nutritional habits may influence risk of several inflammatory and immune-mediated disorders, including autoimmune diseases, through various mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate dietary habits and their relationship with redox homeostasis in the setting of thyroid autoimmunity. Materials and Methods: Two hundred subjects (173 females and 27 males; median age, 37 years) were enrolled. None were under any pharmacological treatment. Exclusion criteria were any infectious/inflammatory/autoimmune comorbidity, kidney failure, diabetes, and cancer. In each subject, serum thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine, antithyroid antibodies, and circulating oxidative stress markers were measured. A questionnaire on dietary habits, evaluating the intake frequencies of food groups and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, was submitted to each participant. Results: Among the 200 recruited subjects, 81 (71 females and 10 males) were diagnosed with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT); the remaining 119 (102 females and 17 males) served as controls. In questionnaires, HT subjects reported higher intake frequencies of animal foods (meat, p = 0.0001; fish, p = 0.0001; dairy products, p = 0.004) compared with controls, who reported higher intake frequencies of plant foods (legumes, p = 0.001; fruits and vegetables, p = 0.030; nuts, p = 0.0005). The number of subjects who preferentially consumed poultry instead of red/processed meat was lower in HT subjects than in controls (p = 0.0141). In logistic regression analysis, meat consumption was associated with increased odds ratio of developing thyroid autoimmunity, while the Mediterranean diet traits were protective. In HT subjects, serum advanced glycation end products (markers of oxidative stress) were significantly higher (p = 0.0001) than in controls, while the activity of glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, as well as total plasma antioxidant activity, were lower (p = 0.020, p = 0.023, and p = 0.002, respectively), indicating a condition of oxidative stress. Stepwise regression models demonstrated a significant dependence of oxidative stress parameters on consumption of animal foods, mainly meat. Conclusions: The present study suggests a protective effect of low intake of animal foods toward thyroid autoimmunity and a positive influence of such nutritional patterns on redox balance and potentially on oxidative stress-related disorders.

Numerous studies support the protective role of bioactive peptides against cardiovascular diseases. Cereals represent the primary source of carbohydrates, but they also contain substantial amounts of proteins, therefore representing a potential dietary source of bioactive peptides with nutraceutical activities. The analysis of wheat extracts purified by chromatographic techniques by means of HPLC‐UV/nanoLC‐nanoESI‐QTOF allowed the identification of a signal of about 7 kDa which, following data base searches, was ascribed to a nonspecific lipid‐transfer protein (nsLTP) type 2 from Triticum aestivum(sequence coverage of 92%). For the first time nsLTP2 biological activities have been investigated. In particular, in experiments with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), nsLTP2 displayed antioxidant and cytoprotective activities, being able to significantly decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and to reduce lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, generated following oxidative (hydrogen peroxide) and inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin‐1β, and lipopolysaccharide) stimulation. The obtained promising results suggest potential protective role of nsLTP2 in vascular diseases prevention. nsLTP 2 peptide is resistant to proteases throughout the gastrointestinal tract and exerts antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. These characteristics could be exploited in vascular diseases prevention.

Nel corso degli anni l’interesse rivolto al mondo degli integratori alimentari è andato sempre crescendo ed il loro consumo è sempre più diffuso. È fondamentale ricordare che una dieta varia e ben bilanciata è in grado di apportare al nostro organismo tutti i macro e micronutrienti di cui quest’ultimo necessita. Esistono, tuttavia, delle particolari condizioni per cui risulta indispensabile l’integrazione di una o più sostanze per consentire all’organismo di contrastare o di evitare una situazione di carenza di alcuni nutrienti. Numerosi studi hanno dimostrato che allenamenti frequenti ed intensi, come quelli a cui sono sottoposti soprattutto i soggetti che praticano sport di endurance, aumentano l’incidenza di alcune infezioni, come quelle che coinvolgono le alte vie respiratorie. Le infezioni del tratto respiratorio superiore (URTIs, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections) sono malattie che includono il comune raffreddore, la sinusite acuta, la faringite acuta, l’otite media acuta e le altre infezioni acute del tratto respiratorio superiore. Sono stati proposti diversi rimedi alternativi ed efficaci per il trattamento e la prevenzione degli URTIs ed, in particolar modo, l’assunzione di probiotici sta emergendo sempre più come valida opzione.

Quando l’esercizio fisico diventa particolarmente intenso si crea una condizione di “debito di ossigeno”, che si traduce nel passaggio da un metabolismo di tipo aerobico ad uno anaerobico, che rappresenta il sistema mediante il quale si ricava energia dai muscoli in assenza di ossigeno. Tra le varie sostanze con cui può essere opportuno integrare la dieta di uno sportivo, la beta-alanina sta riscuotendo sempre maggiore interesse nel mondo dello sport. Questo crescente interesse deriva dalla recente ricerca scientifica che ha identificato la beta-alanina come precursore della carnosina (beta-alanil-L-istidina) che, tra i tanti ruoli, è ritenuta un importante tampone fisiologico, in quanto in grado di accettare rapidamente protoni durante l’acidosi indotta da contrazione.

La popolazione sportiva, sia quella di livello amatoriale, che professionistico è da sempre particolarmente attenta all’alimentazione e, soprattutto, alle novità che il mercato degli integratori propone. Tale attenzione può essere ricondotta alla possibilità che un particolare regime alimentare possa migliorare la prestazione sportiva, migliorare il recupero o favorire il mantenimento di un buono stato di salute. Da alcuni anni ha preso piede con insistenza la pratica, supportata da alcune indicazioni scientifiche, di integrare la dieta con l’assunzione di acidi grassi della serie ω-3. Se, da un lato, l’importanza biologica di questi particolari acidi grassi è assolutamente fuori discussione, dall’altro, l’opportunità di una loro massiccia integrazione con l’obiettivo d’influire sulla prestazione sportiva rimane a oggi oggetto di discussione.

The effect of broccoli extract (BE)-enriched diet was studied in order to evaluate its ability to counteract liver cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) induced by acute strenuous exercise in rats. Thirty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control diet without exercise (C), BE-enriched diet without exercise (B), control diet with acute exhaustive exercise (S) and BE-enriched diet with acute exhaustive exercise (BS). The study lasted 45 days and on the last day, rats of S and BS groups were forced to run until exhaustion on a treadmill. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) were determined in liver. Exhaustive exercise was clearly responsible for tissue damage, as evidenced by the increase of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) plasma activity increase in the S group rats. Moreover, the exercise protocol reduced CAT activity in liver, while it did not affect GST, GR and GPx. The BE-enriched diet increased raised GST, GR and CAT activities in rats of BS group. The main COPs found were 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, cholestanetriol, 24-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol. The BE-enriched diet led to reduced cholesterol oxidation following exhaustive exercise; the highest level of COPs was found in the S group, whereas the BS rats showed the lowest valueamount. This study indicates that the BE-enriched diet increases antioxidant enzyme activities and exerts an antioxidant effect towards cholesterol oxidation in rat liver, suggesting the use of phytochemicals in the prevention of oxidative damage and in the modulation of the redox environment.

Neuroinflammation is one of the main contributors to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Microglial and astrocyte activation is a brain defense mechanism to counteract harmful pathogens and damaged tissues, while their prolonged activation induces neuroinflammation that can trigger or exacerbate neurodegeneration. Unfortunately, to date there are no pharmacological therapies able to slow down or stop the progression of neurodegeneration. For this reason, research is turning to the identification of natural compounds with protective action against these diseases. Considering the important role of neuroinflammation in the onset and development of neurodegenerative pathologies, natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activity could be good candidates for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Marine organisms represent a huge source of natural compounds, and among them, algae are appreciated sources of important bioactive components such as antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, minerals, soluble dietary fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, sterols, carotenoids, tocopherols, terpenes, phycobilins, phycocolloids, and phycocyanins. Recently, numerous anti-inflammatory compounds have been isolated from marine algae with potential protective efficacy against neuroinflammation. This review highlights the key inflammatory processes involved in neurodegeneration and the potential of specific compounds from marine algae to counteract neuroinflammation in the CNS.