0000000000190259

AUTHOR

Antonello Santini

0000-0001-5505-3327

Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerols Profiles from Sicilian (Cold Pressed vs. Soxhlet) Grape Seed Oils

Among the Sicilian economic productive sectors, that of wine production has today a considerable economic value. However, with the growth of this sector, notable was the increase in the production of waste, which to date is not only an economic damage for companies, but also a threat to the environment. It is known that waste from wine production has properties (e.g., antioxidants) which have potential reuse at cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutritional levels to obtain economically sustainable applications. A new goal is given by the recovery of added value compounds from agri-food wastes and by-products. Grape seed oil is a promising vegetable fat and cold pressing does not involve the use …

research product

Advantages of Hyaluronic Acid and Its Combination with Other Bioactive Ingredients in Cosmeceuticals

This study proposes a review on hyaluronic acid (HA) known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate and its derivates and their application in cosmetic formulations. HA is a glycosaminoglycan constituted from two disaccharides (N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucuronic acid), isolated initially from the vitreous humour of the eye, and subsequently discovered in different tissues or fluids (especially in the articular cartilage and the synovial fluid). It is ubiquitous in vertebrates, including humans, and it is involved in diverse biological processes, such as cell differentiation, embryological development, inflammation, wound healing, etc. HA has many qualities that recommend it over other substances used…

research product

Influence of different coffee drinks preparations on ochratoxin A content and evaluation of the antioxidant activity and caffeine variations.

Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in North America and Europe. It is well known that coffee contains caffeine and that coffee beans can be contaminated by Ochratoxin A (OTA). The operating conditions however affect OTA and caffeine extraction from the roasted coffee. OTA content found in the beverages can be greater than that found in the roasted coffee used to prepare it, representing a potential OTA related risk factor for the human health. Moreover the coffee beans and coffee based beverages have an anti oxidant activity. This study investigates the OTA content, the amount of caffeine, and the antioxidant activity in five different preparations: American coffee, Mok…

research product

Application of hydrolases and probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici BaltBio01 strain for cereal by-products conversion to bioproduct for food/feed

The aim of this study was to apply the enzymatic treatment and fermentation by Pediococcus acidilactici BaltBio01 strain for industrial cereal by-products conversion to food/feed bioproducts with high amount of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB propagated in potato media and spray-dried remained viable during 12months (7.0 log10 cfu/g) of storage and was used as a starter for cereal by-products fermentation. The changes of microbial profile, biogenic amines (BAs), mycotoxins, lactic acid (Lþ/D), lignans and alkylresorcinols (ARs) contents in fermented cereal by-product were analysed. Cereal by-products enzymatic hydrolysis before fermentation allows to obtain a higher count of LAB d…

research product

The impact of lactic acid bacteria with antimicrobial properties on biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biogenic amines in cold smoked pork sausages

The influence of surface treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), previously cultivated in an alternative substrate, on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biogenic amines (BAs) in cold smoked pork meat sausages was investigated. Moreover, sausages treatment with LAB after the smoking on PAHs content changes was evaluated. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of LAB metabolites on food spoilage bacteria was determined using the agar well diffusion assay method. The metabolites of Pediococcus acidilactici KTU05-7, Pediococcus pentosaceus KTU05-9 and Lactobacillus sakei KTU05-6 strains showed good inhibitory properties against tested pathogenic and food spoilage bac…

research product

Bioactive Phytochemicals from Grape Seed Oil-Processing By-Products

Winemaking leads to by-products with high added value, which can be used for new productions in different fields. The reuse of grape seed is addressed in the production of oil and related oil-processing by-products. The main residue from seed oil processing is represented by grape seed flour. A focus on grapeseed oil and health by literature quantitative research analysis is presented. Chemical composition, bioactive compounds, and biological and functional properties ofgrape seed oil and oil-processing by-products are described, and databases containing data and information on grape seed by-products are highlighted. Due to their contents of nutrients and bioactive molecules, grape seed oil…

research product

Fast analysis of polyphenols and alkaloids in cocoa-based products by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS).

The cocoa varieties Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario, which have different organoleptic properties, quite often are mixed together in cocoa-based products. The objective of this work was to develop a rapid method for the simultaneous determination of polyphenols (n = 35) and alkaloids (n = 2) in cocoa-based products by using the high throughput advantages provided by the Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer (FIRMS). The proposed procedure was optimized and validated in terms of selectivity and specificity (mass accuracy 0.990), accuracy (recovery range from 89.1 to 112.4%) and precision (relative standard deviation < 10%). The method was applied to 80 cocoa-based samples…

research product

Lactobacillus plantarum LUHS135 and paracasei LUHS244 as functional starter cultures for the food fermentation industry: Characterisation, mycotoxin-reducing properties, optimisation of biomass growth and sustainable encapsulation by using dairy by-products

Abstract Lactobacillus plantarum LUHS135 and Lactobacillus paracasei LUHS244 from fermented cereals were isolated and their properties (carbohydrate metabolism, gas production, ability to survive at a low pH values, growth performance at different temperatures, antimicrobial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Corynebacter spp, Klebsiella pneomoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis, Clostridium spp., Streptococcus spp., resistance to antibiotics, and reducing properties for aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, zearalenone) were evaluated. Also, the possibilities to use dairy by-produ…

research product

Recent aflatoxin survey data in milk and milk products: A review

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) occurrence in human and animal milk, infant formula, powdered milk, cheese and yoghurt represents a risk for health. The last four years (2010–2014) of data, as well as the most frequently and updated analytical methods applied for AFM1 quantification, are evaluated. Aflatoxin B1, considered the most potent toxic aflatoxin, is metabolised to form the monohydroxy derivative AFM1. This metabolized, expressed in the milk, is relatively stable, and it is not eliminated by heat treatments or pasteurisation, and thus represents a serious health concern.

research product

Fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins: occurrence in food – a review

The present review summarises data on the prevalence and concentration of fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins in small grains, maize and processed grain-based foods. These fungal secondary metabolites possess interesting biological activities and are presently often referred to as 'emerging mycotoxins'. They have been considered as less important since they are likely not of acute toxicity. However, their high prevalence in foodstuffs, occasionally in higher mg/kg concentrations, warrants an assessment of their true importance for food (and feed) safety. Thorough surveys that determine the contamination of raw and processed foods with fusaproliferin, beauvericin and enniatins are sti…

research product

Comparison and improvement of the existing methods for the determination of aflatoxins in human serum by LC-MS/MS

Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites of some Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius strains that occur in many foods and feeds. Aflatoxin B1 is the most abundant and toxic member of the family, and it is also the most potent hepatocarcinogen known. In order to estimate the potential human health risk of aflatoxin B1, it is useful to measure its blood concentration. In this work a rapid liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and its metabolites, aflatoxins M1 and M2 in human serum, is proposed. Small serum volumes have been used and the extracts have been obtained without any clean-up proce…

research product