Search results for "phytochemical"

Effect of mucilage edible coating on fresh-cut nectarine cultivar ‘Big Bang’

2022

The mucilage (OFI) obtained from cladodes of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is useful to produce natural edible coatings to improve the shelf life of fruits. Edible coatings could be used to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut for products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of (OFI) on quality of ‘Big Bang' nectarine slices. After cutting, nectarine slices were dipped in three different solutions: 1) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol (MC); 2) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol, Tween 20 (TW); 3) distilled water as control (CTR) and were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 days at 5°C and 90% RH, in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages under passive modified atmosphere condit…

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF SOME TAXA OF THE GENUS CLINOPODIUM (LAMIACEAE) FROM SICILY

2017

The genus Clinopodium L. (Lamiaceae) is known for its medical uses in folk medicine and as a spice in Italian food. Recently, several taxa previously assigned to Satureja L. and Calamintha Mill. have been transferred to this genus (1). Pharmacological studies reveal, for instance, that Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi [Clinopodium nepeta Kuntze subsp. nepeta], commonly known as “nepetella”, exhibits cholagogue, expectorant, sedative and antibiotic properties (2); furthermore, the essential oil of its aerial parts showed an antifungal activity (3). The apical flowering parts and leaves of Clinopodium vulgare L. are used in popular medicine for their carminative and emmenagogue properties (1); rec…

Fruit Juices: Technology, Chemistry, and Nutrition 2.0

2022

In recent years, the food industry has increased its interest in the development of functional foods, including fruit juices, due to the increased demand among consumers for foods and beverages that benefit and improve our health [...]

The diet phytochemical Indicaxanthin suppresses 7-ketocholesterol-induced THP-1 cell apoptosis via inhibition of redox unbalance, cytosolic Ca2+ incr…

2012

Orally administered indicaxanthin is able to modulate human motor cortical excitability and plasticity

Opuntia Ficus Indica contains Indicaxanthin (IX), an antinflammatory and antioxidant betalaine pigment. This phytochemical is also able to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) in rats and modulate neuronal activity. Considering these evidence, we aimed at investigating if orally administered IX could affect human brain tissue. 8 healthy and right-handed male subjects were recruited (20-45 years) with no history or clinical signs of neurological diseases, brain trauma or use of drugs acting on neuronal process, as assessed by a clinical neurologist. Non invasive Brain Stimulation and Neuromodulation (NIBS and NIN) instructions were applied in basal condition (T0) and 2 hours after having assu…

Cellular Senescence in Age-Related Diseases: Molecular Bases and Therapeutic Interventions

2022

Due to the increase in life expectancy, the aging population around the globe has been growing significantly and is estimated to triple by 2050 [...]

Flavonoids against the SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammatory storm

2021

The disease severity of COVID-19, especially in the elderly and patients with co-morbidities, is characterized by hypercytokinemia, an exaggerated immune response associated with an uncontrolled and excessive release of proinflammatory cytokine mediators (cytokine storm). Flavonoids, important secondary metabolites of plants, have long been studied as therapeutic interventions in inflammatory diseases due to their cytokine-modulatory effects. In this review, we discuss the potential role of flavonoids in the modulation of signaling pathways that are crucial for COVID-19 disease, particularly those related to inflammation and immunity. The immunomodulatory ability of flavonoids, carried out …

METHYLOMIC SIGNATURE AND MOLECULAR MODELLING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AUTOPHAGY INDUCED BY PHYTOCHEMICAL IN CACO-2 CELLS

2019

The binomial “autophagy-cancer” is intricate and methylomic studies can help to understand it by changing point of view from a gene level to an -omic one. Recently, autophagy-modulating properties of several phytochemicals have attracted attention in anticancer research. We evaluated whether Indicaxanthin (IND), the peculiar known beneficial phytochemical of prickly pear, seasonally available in the southern Italy, could induce autophagy in Caco2 cells, and whether it results from an epigenomic modification and/or a direct molecular interaction. IND increased autophagy in Caco-2 cells; the methylomic signature, obtained by Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (15 million of clusters)…

Metabolomics analysis and biological investigation of three Malvaceae plants

2019

Introduction: Metabolomics is a fast growing technology that has effectively contributed to many plant-related sciences and drug discovery. Objective: To use the non-targeted metabolomics approach to investigate the chemical profiles of three Malvaceae plants, namely Hibiscus mutabilis L. (Changing rose), H. schizopetalus (Dyer) Hook.f. (Coral Hibiscus), and Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. (Sleeping Hibiscus), along with evaluating their antioxidant and anti-infective potential. Methodology: Metabolic profiling was carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-HR-ESI-MS) for dereplication purposes. The chemical composition of th…

Phytoelectrochemical analysis ofZanthoxylum chiloperone

2016

Introduction An innovative application of the voltammetry of microparticles methodology to characterize the phytochemical composition of extracts of different parts of Zanthoxylum chiloperone var. angustifolium Engl. is described. Objective Characterize the phytochemical composition of extracts of different parts of plants by electrochemical methodologies. Methods The voltammetry of microparticles methodology was applied to alcoholic extracts from leaves, seeds, fruits, roots and stem bark of Zanthoxylum chiloperone. Results In contact with aqueous phosphate buffer, characteristic cathodic signals of its main natural products (canthin-6-one, 5-methoxycanthin-6-one and trans-avicennol) were …