Search results for "botanica"

Chemical composition and microencapsulation suitability of sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) fruit extract

2021

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.), a spice obtained by grinding whole sumac berries, is a complex natural product with a plethora of biological activities that can be favorably explored in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields. Sicilian sumac is herein chemically investigated by means of a combined NMR/HR MS-based profiling. A hydroalcoholic extract was prepared and its complexity unraveled following fractionation in an alcoholic and an aqueous fraction. The 1H-NMR spectrum of this latter fraction was dominated by the signals of gallic acid and its derivatives, whereas HR MS and HR MS/MS analyses highlighted the diversity in malic acid derivatives. Gallotannins and galloyl flavonol glycosides with…

Biofiltration of airborne VOCs with green wall systems : microbial and chemical dynamics

2018

Botanical air filtration is a promising technology for reducing indoor air contaminants, but the underlying mechanisms need better understanding. Here, we made a set of chamber fumigation experiments of up to 16 weeks of duration, to study the filtration efficiencies for seven volatile organic compounds (VOCs; decane, toluene, 2‐ethylhexanol, α‐pinene, octane, benzene, and xylene) and to monitor microbial dynamics in simulated green wall systems. Biofiltration functioned on sub‐ppm VOC levels without concentration‐dependence. Airflow through the growth medium was needed for efficient removal of chemically diverse VOCs, and the use of optimized commercial growth medium further improved the e…

Bedrock and soil geochemistry influence the content of chemical elements in wild edible mushrooms (Morchella group) from South Italy (Sicily)

2019

Chemical elements in the samples of wild edible mushrooms of the <em>Morchella</em> group collected from different unpolluted Sicilian sites was analyzed by the ICP-MS (method) to detect the content of their minerals and determine whether soil geology and geochemistry can influence the chemical composition in fungi. Results showed that the mushroom samples mainly contained a high concentration of K and P and a wide variety of minor and trace elements (V, Mo, Pb, Ce, Cs, Zr), including heavy metals. Statistical analysis showed that the mushrooms differed in their content of minor and trace elements based on the geological/geographic site of origin. Comparison with other studies s…

Monitoring Biological Damage on Paper-based Documents in the Historical Archive of the Palermo Astronomical Observatory

2017

Libraries and archives house a wide variety of documents made of materials of vegetal and animal origin: unbound papers and books, manuscripts and printed books, photographs (negative and positive), prints, maps, available to the public for reading needs, study and information. These materials are often subject to fluctuations in environmental and micro-environmental parameters. For this reason, it is essential to implement constant monitoring and control of environmental conditions and potential deteriogens in order to slow down deterioration processes. The monitoring of the microbial degradation of paper documents in the Historical Archives of Palermo Astronomical Observatory has revealed…

Taxonomy and conservation ofPancratium maritimum(Amaryllidaceae) and relatives in the Central Mediterranean

2015

Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) is a geophyte occurring in the Mediterranean region, from the Black Sea to part of the Atlantic coast. This plant is receiving much attention from the international scientific community due to its value as a bioindicator, the potential industrial value of its chemical compounds, and its use as a commercial ornamental plant. Plant morphometry and sequences of three plastid DNA regions (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA) were used to assess the phenotypic and genetic variability of this taxon and its closest congeneric species (in particular Pancratium linosae, from the volcanic island of Linosa) in the Central Mediterranean (Sicily, Tunisia and surrounding island…

Citizen and scientsts work together to monitor marine alien species in Sicilian waters (central Mediterranean)

2017

We report on the experience of two citizen science projects: the Project “Caulerpa cylindracea – Egadi Islands” and the Project “Invasive Algae”, included within the “Seawatchers” platform. The first one, sponsored by the STEBICEF Department of the University of Palermo and by the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), aims at creating a database on the spread dynamics of C. cylindracea within the Egadi Islands MPA. The second one, coordinated by the Institute of Marine Sciences of Barcelona (CSIC, Spain), collects data on 10 marine invasive alien species. The results of these projects highlighted the important role that citizen science campaigns can have as early-warning systems. We al…

Nuove tipologie di monumenti arborei in Sicilia

2009

Con riferimento ai monumenti arborei, gli autori propongono nuove tipologie che, oltre alla singola pianta, identificano gruppi, popolamenti e formazioni. Vengono riportati alcuni esempi di espressioni forestali monumentali, riconducibili alle sopraindicate tipologie riscontrate in Sicilia.

Meccanismi antitumorali degli oli essenziali estratti da piante succulente in un modello di leucemia mielocitica acuta multifarmacoresistente

Mycoforestry in Sicily: a proposal to enhance the multifunctionality of forests

2017

Mycoforestry is forestry that aims to build on traditional rules to encourage forest ecosystem resilience while creating optimal conditions for fungal communities. Main goals of mycoforestry are: preservation of native forests, recovery and recycling of woodland debris, enhancement of replanted trees, strengthening sustainability of ecosystems, economic diversity. There is a large variety of fungi living in forests, each of which has a specific and complementary relationship to the diversity of native species, the ages of trees, the presence of dead trees or rich forest litter, etc. Fungi are the main responsible of wood decomposition and thus carbon and nutrient cycling, and they also form…

Cultivated mushrooms: importance of a multipurpose crop, with special focus on Italian fungiculture

2020

Fungi, organisms of high nutritional value with significant bioactive compound content, are considered to be nutraceuticals, mycotherapeutics, cosmeceuticals and useful for the production of functional foods. Their cultivation allows the sustainable management of agro-industrial wastes and generates good income with low inputs, constituting a good opportunity for the development of economically depressed rural areas. There are also many possible uses for the spent substrate in various sectors. provide an overview of the nutritional value of mushrooms and the cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms cultivation and uses in Italy.