Search results for "tea"

Could beta-catenin regulate the expression of proteolitic enzymes during angiogenesis?

2009

During angiogenesis several modifications occurs at endothelial cell plasma membrane level as: MT-MMPs and serine integral membrane proteases (SIMPs) over-expression. Moreover, when endothelial cells during angiogenesis acquired a mesenchymal phenotype the cell-cell interactions mediate by cadherins are lost and β-catenin, a stabilizer of interaction occurring between cadherins and cytoscheleton, can translocate to the nucleus where acts as transcription factor in association to TCF/LEF. Our experiments were focalized to the expression/activation of proteolytic enzymes when cell-cell contacts are perturbed, by mechanical or site specific perturbations. We have analyzed the mRNA, proteins an…

Characteristics of the early flight phase in the Olympic ski jumping competition.

2004

Early flight phase (approximately 40 m) of the athletes participating in the final round of the individual large hill ski jumping competition in Salt Lake City Olympics was filmed with two high-speed pan & tilt video cameras. The results showed that jumpers' steady flight position was almost completed within 0.5s. The most significant correlation with the length of the jump was found in the angle between the skis and body (r=.714, p.001 at 1.1s after the take-off). This particular phase seemed to be important because the ski angle of attack was also related to the jumping distance at the same phase. Although the more upright ski position relative to flight path resulted in longer jumping di…

Metabolites from Mediterranean plants: characterization and transformation. Chemotaxonomic assessment and biological activity.

Questo progetto di ricerca ha lo scopo di ampliare le conoscenze di alcune piante appartenenti alla flora Mediterranea. Le piante da studiare sono state scelte in seguito ad un’attenta analisi bibliografica tra specie poco sudiate. La scelta è quindi ricaduta su nove specie appartenenti al genere Anthemis, due specie appartenenti al genere Pulicaria e sulle specie di Tetraclinis articulata, Salvia argentea, Ajuga tenorei, Ballota hispanica, Moluccella Spinosa e Thapsia garganica. Di esse sono stati preparati ed identificati i componenti degli oli essenziali e successivamente effettuati su di essi i saggi antibatterici. Dagli estratti delle specie di Tetraclinis articulata e Ajuga tenorei so…

Antiretroviral genotypic resistance in plasma RNA and whole blood DNA in HIV-1 infected patients failing HAART

2008

The extent to which HIV-1 proviral DNA mutations cause clinically relevant antiretroviral resistance is still controversial. Paired plasma HIV-1 RNA and whole blood DNA were compared in patients failing HAART to investigate if the additional knowledge of archived mutations could improve the selection of potentially active drugs. Seventy-three HIV-1-infected patients with first/second HAART failure were studied before starting a new regimen based on RNA genotyping. Follow-up data after a 12-week therapy were available. DNA genotyping was retrospectively performed on stored whole blood samples and mutational profiles were compared to those from RNA. The mean number of IAS pol mutations was si…

Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules: A Pharmacological Expedient to Counteract Inflammation

2008

Carbon monoxide (CO) mediates many of the biological effects that are attributed to heme oxygenase (HO), the enzyme responsible for CO production in mammals. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of HO-1, the inducible isoform of heme oxygenase, have been demonstrated in a variety of disease models and a therapeutic exploitation of this pathway is currently under scrutiny. In this context, the liberation of CO from CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) is extremely attractive as these compounds may form the basis of a new class of pharmaceuticals. Recent investigations indicate that HO-1 and CO modulate important processes in chronic inflammation; these include the control of immune respon…

GNPS-guided discovery of xylacremolide C and D, evaluation of their putative biosynthetic origin and bioactivity studies of xylacremolide A and B

2021

Targeted HRMS2-GNPS-based metabolomic analysis of Pseudoxylaria sp. X187, a fungal antagonist of the fungus-growing termite symbiosis, resulted in the identification of two lipopeptidic congeners of xylacremolides, named xylacremolide C and D, which are built from d-phenylalanine, l-proline and an acetyl-CoA starter unit elongated by four malonyl-CoA derived ketide units. The putative xya gene cluster was identified from a draft genome generated by Illumina and PacBio sequencing and RNAseq studies. Biological activities of xylacremolide A and B were evaluated and revealed weak histone deacetylase inhibitory (HDACi) and antifungal activities, as well as moderate protease inhibition activity …

Proteasome-inhibited dendritic cells demonstrate improved presentation of exogenous synthetic and natural HLA-class I peptide epitopes.

2004

The design and successful clinical implementation of cancer vaccines targeting the induction of T-cell mediated immunity is a rapidly evolving field that is hampered by an empirical selection of antigen and adjuvant. In particular, vaccines using defined tumor-associated peptide epitopes elicit only a restricted T-cell repertoire in a minority of patients. In this regard, vaccines comprising the whole spectrum of antigens presented by individual autologous tumors would be advantageous. In an in vitro model, we evaluated the capacity of naturally processed Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid-cell line (LCL)-derived peptides to activate virus-specific CD8+ T cells of seropositive …

Antiviral activity of alginate-oleic acid based coatings incorporating green tea extract on strawberries and raspberries

2018

Foodborne illnesses caused by the consumption of berries contaminated with human enteric viruses, namely human noroviruses (NoVs) and the hepatitis A virus (HAV), remain a significant food safety concern. The objective of this research was to investigate a food-grade edible coating composed of alginate/oleic and containing green tea extract (GTE) as an antiviral agent for the preservation of fresh strawberries and raspberries. Berries were stored at ambient (25 °C) temperature and refrigerated (10 °C) conditions. Initially, the effect of the pH of the film-forming dispersions (FFD) on their antioxidant and antiviral activity was analysed. Then, the physicochemical properties of edible algin…

Quality parameters, bioactive compounds and their correlation with antioxidant capacity of commercial fruit-based baby foods

2013

Comprehensive research is required to achieve the optimization of the antioxidant protection through baby foods, in particular, the commercially available fruit-based baby foods. This study investigated the physicochemical properties, ascorbic acid (AA), total carotenoids (TC), total phenolic content (TPC), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of 23 different commercially available fruit-based baby foods. The main contribution to the total antioxidant capacity (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity) was provided by ascorbic acid, followed by phenolic compounds, in accordance with a mathematical e…

Evaluation of the antioxidant/antimicrobial performance of Posidonia oceanica in comparison with three commercial natural extracts and as a treatment…

2017

Abstract This research aimed at extending the choice of natural antimicrobials/antioxidants for food applications. Four plant extracts, Posidonia oceanica (PO), Green Tea (GT), Grape seeds (GS) and Grape skin (GK), were analyzed to determine their total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and in vitro antimicrobial performance. PO extract showed the highest total phenolic content (711 mg gallic acid/g extract) and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum . The highest antioxidant (3.81 mg/L EC 50 ) and antibacterial activities (bactericidal against Gram positives and bacteriostatic against Gram negatives) were found for GT extract. The best performing ext…