Search results for "Fruit"
showing 10 items of 859 documents
Cytoprotective effects of carotenoids-rich extract from Lycium barbarum L. on the beauvericin-induced cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells.
2019
Abstract In this work, the cytotoxicity of Beauvericin (BEA), lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEAX) and goji berries extract (GBE) rich in carotenoids, was investigated, as well as cytoprotective effects of these carotenoids against BEA induced-cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. Cytotoxicity was carried out using MTT and protein content (PC) assays during 24 and 48 h of exposure. Only BEA showed cytotoxic effect obtaining a reduction in cell proliferation range from 6.5 to 92.8%. Simultaneous combination of LUT and ZEAX with BEA slightly increased cell proliferation compared to BEA tested alone. LUT, ZEAX and GBE showed cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by BEA on Caco-2 cells. Pre-tr…
Nutritional evaluation of fresh and dried goji berries cultivated in Italy
2017
The nutritional profile of fresh and dried goji berries cultivated in Italy was investigated. The obtained data confirm goji berries as a source of nutritional and healthy components, such as vitamin E, minerals and fibre. Taking into account the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for minerals and vitamins established by the Commission of the European Communities, Goji berries provide significant amounts of dietary fibre and zeaxanthin and can be declared on the label as a potential source of vitamins E and C. Moreover, dried goji berries can be declared as a source of K, P, Cu, Fe Mn, Zn.
Antioxidant activity and phenolic composition in Pomegranate (Punica granatum, L.) genotypes from south Italy by UHPLC/Orbitrap-MS approach
2018
Background: Pomegranate fruits are a rich source of polyphenols with numerous health-promoting effects. Pomegranate juices of five genotypes (‘Mollar’, ‘Kingdom’, ‘Dente di Cavallo’, and two old populations ‘Francofonte’ and ‘Santa Tecla’) were evaluated regarding anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic contents using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)–Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS). Moreover, total antioxidant activity (TAA) was evaluated using a 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assay. Results: Twenty-three phenolic compounds were identified. Cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside and pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside were the most representa…
A Novel System for Measuring Damaging Impacts on Table Olives
2015
The consumer today demands high quality products; fruit with defects or in poor condition generate dissatisfaction and a consequent reduction in consumption. In recent years, interesting systems have been used (i. e. "artificial fruit") in order to identify the cause of damage during mechanical harvesting and/or post-harvest operations. In this paper, the authors present a new system designed to measure the impacts received by table olives in the processing stages from harvesting to packaging. The device is an instrumented sphere designed and implemented by the Agricultural Mechanics Section of the Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy. It contains a t…
Structural basis for light control of cell development revealed by crystal structures of a myxobacterial phytochrome
2018
Phytochromes are red-light photoreceptors that were first characterized in plants, with homologs in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria known as bacteriophytochromes (BphPs). Upon absorption of light, BphPs interconvert between two states denoted Pr and Pfr with distinct absorption spectra in the red and far-red. They have recently been engineered as enzymatic photoswitches for fluorescent-marker applications in non-invasive tissue imaging of mammals. This article presents cryo- and room-temperature crystal structures of the unusual phytochrome from the non-photosynthetic myxobacterium Stigmatella aurantiaca (SaBphP1) and reveals its role in the fruiting-body formation of this ph…
Imprints of latitude, host taxon, and decay stage on fungus-associated arthropod communities
2022
Interactions among fungi and insects involve hundreds of thousands of species. While insect communities on plants have formed some of the classic model systems in ecology, fungus-based communities and the forces structuring them remain poorly studied by comparison. We characterize the arthropod communities associated with fruiting bodies of eight mycorrhizal basidiomycete fungus species from three different orders along a 1200-km latitudinal gradient in northern Europe. We hypothesized that, matching the pattern seen for most insect taxa on plants, we would observe a general decrease in fungal-associated species with latitude. Against this backdrop, we expected local communities to be struc…
Steroidal saponins from the fruits of Solanum torvum
2013
Abstract Seven steroidal glycosides have been isolated from the fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz. Their structures were established by 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques ( 1 H, 1 H-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) and mass spectrometry as (25 S )-26-(β- d -glucopyranosyloxy)-3-oxo-5α-furost-20(22)-en-6α-yl- O -β- d -xylopyranoside ( 1 ), (25 S )-26-(β- d -glucopyranosyloxy)-3-oxo-22α-methoxy-5α-furostan-6α-yl -O -β- d -xylopyranoside ( 2 ), (25 S )-26-(β- d -glucopyranosyloxy)-3β-hydroxy-22α-methoxy-5α-furostan-6α-yl- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β- d -glucopyranoside ( 3 ), (25 S )-3β-hydroxy-5α-spirostan-6α-yl- O -β- d -xylopyranoside ( 4 ), (25 S )-3-oxo-5α-spirostan-6α-yl- O -β- d -x…
Food neophobia and its association with intake of fish and other selected foods in a Norwegian sample of toddlers: A cross-sectional study
2016
Reluctance to try novel foods (food neophobia) prevents toddlers from accepting healthy foods such as fish and vegetables, which are important for child development and health. Eating habits established between ages 2 and 3 years normally track into adulthood and are therefore highly influential; even so, there are few studies addressing food neophobia in this age group. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between the level of food neophobia and the frequency of toddlers' intake of fish, meat, berries, fruit, vegetables, and sweet and salty snacks. Parents of 505 toddlers completed a questionnaire assessing the degree of food neophobia in their toddlers (mean age 28 mon…
Sensory-based food education in early childhood education and care, willingness to choose and eat fruit and vegetables, and the moderating role of ma…
2018
AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association between sensory-based food education implemented in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres and children’s willingness to choose and eat vegetables, berries and fruit, and whether the mother’s education level and children’s food neophobia moderate the linkage.DesignThe cross-sectional study involved six ECEC centres that provide sensory-based food education and three reference centres. A snack buffet containing eleven different vegetables, berries and fruit was used to assess children’s willingness to choose and eat the food items. The children’s parents completed the Food Neophobia Scale questionnaire to assess their children’s food…
A healthy Nordic diet and physical performance in old age : findings from the longitudinal Helsinki Birth Cohort Study
2016
AbstractEpidemiological studies have shown that a number of nutrients are associated with better physical performance. However, little is still known about the role of the whole diet, particularly a healthy Nordic diet, in relation to physical performance. Therefore, we examined whether a healthy Nordic diet was associated with measures of physical performance 10 years later. We studied 1072 participants from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Participants’ diet was assessed using a validated 128-item FFQ at the mean age of 61 years, and a priori-defined Nordic diet score (NDS) was calculated. The score included Nordic fruits and berries, vegetables, cereals, PUFA:SFA and trans-fatty acids ra…