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Bee pollen's nutritional and beneficial health properties depend on the botanical origin and storage conditions. Palynological analysis determines the botanical composition of the multiflora and colour fractions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tuscan bee pollen stored at freezing temperature for 2 years to verify the preservation of nutraceutical properties of the multiflora and colour fractions. Polyphenols, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds profiles were measured. Non-terpene derivatives (acids and aldehydes) represented the main class of volatile compounds in most analysed samples. Among the colour fractions, coral showed significant differences in the antioxidant compounds. In the multiflora were also determined the soluble sugar content (128.33 mg/g of fresh weight) and mineral content, with the prevalence of K, organic N and Ca. The results suggest that the freezing storage of bee pollen for a long period can be still used as food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the circular economy framework, hydrosols, by-products of the essential oil industry, are gaining attention for their potential in waste reduction and resource reuse. This study analyzed hydrosols from six edible flowers, investigating their chemical composition (VOC-Hyd) and antibacterial properties alongside volatile organic compounds of fresh flowers (VOC-Fs) and essential oils (EOs). Antirrhinum majus exhibited ketones as major VOC-Fs (62.6%) and VOC-Hyd (41.4%), while apocarotenoids dominated its EOs (68.0%). Begonia cucullata showed alkanes (33.7%) and aldehydes (25.7%) as primary VOC-Fs, while alkanes were prevalent in both extracts (65.6% and 91.7% in VOC-Hyd and in EOs, respectively). Calandula officinalis had monoterpenoids in VOC-Fs and VOC-Hyd (89.3% and 49.7%, respectively), while its EOs were rich in sesquiterpenoids (59.7%). Dahlia hortensis displayed monoterpenoid richness in both VOC-Fs and extracts. Monocots species' VOC-Fs (Polianthes tuberosa, Tulbaghia cominsii) were esters-rich, replaced by monoterpenoids in VOC-Hyd. P. tuberosa EO maintained ester richness, while T. cominsii EOs contained a significant percentage of sulfur compounds (38.1%). Antibacterial assays indicated comparable minimum inhibitory concentration profiles across VOC-Hyd: B. calcullata and P. tuberosa against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica ser. typhimurium, T. cominsii against Escherichia coli and S. enterica, A. majus and C. officinalis against S. aureus, and D. hortensis against S. enterica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in functional foods is driven by the exploration of new foods with positive health effects. Pleasant sensory features are essential for consumer acceptance. In this work, we investigated the composition of the bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and aroma profiles of four edible flowers: Cucurbita moschata Duchesne, Dianthus chinensis L., Fuchsia regia (Vand. ex Vell.) Munz., and Viola cornuta L. For the first time, we quantified the water-soluble group of B vitamins. Significant variations in the content of soluble sugars, vitamins, and secondary metabolites were observed. V. cornuta showed the highest concentration of vitamin C and carotenoids, while C. moschata had the highest content of vitamin B and flavonoids. F. regia stood out for its exceptionally high content of total phenolics, while D. chinensis surpassed the other flowers in soluble sugar content. The aroma profile analysis revealed a diverse array of volatile organic compounds, with each species having its own unique composition. C. moschata was characterized by p-dimethoxybenzene and D. chinensis by non-terpene compounds; F. regia displayed high amounts of decanal and nonanal, while V. cornuta was rich in myrcene and α-farnesene. These findings provide valuable insights into the secondary metabolites and aroma profiles of these flowers, enhancing our understanding of their bioactive compounds and potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) is an economically important aromatic herb; in Italy, approximately 1000 ha of "Genovese-type" basil are grown annually in greenhouses and open fields and are subjected to Downy Mildew (DM) disease, caused by Peronospora belbahrii, leading to huge crop losses. Mutation of the Susceptibility (S) gene DMR6 (Downy Mildew Resistant 6) has been proven to confer a broad-spectrum resistance to DM. In this work, an effective Genome Editing (GE) approach mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 in O. basilicum 'Italiko', the élite cultivar used to produce "Pesto Genovese D.O.P", was developed. A highly efficient genetic transformation method mediated by A. tumefaciens has been optimized from cotyledonary nodes, obtaining 82.2% of regenerated shoots, 84.6% of which resulted in Cas9+ plants. Eleven T0 lines presented different type of mutations in ObDMR6; 60% were indel frameshift mutations with knock-out of ObDMR6 of 'FT Italiko'. Analysis of six T1 transgene-free seedlings revealed that the mutations of T0 plants were inherited and segregated. Based on infection trials conducted on T0 plants, clone 22B showed a very low percentage of disease incidence after 14 days post infection. The aromatic profile of all in vitro edited plants was also reported; all of them showed oxygenated monoterpenes as the major fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are considered the main reason for crop yield loss in the world. Weed control and management include various treatments such as cultural, physical, chemical, and biological methods. Chemical control of weeds is the most common method; however, the application of commercial synthetic herbicides caused several dangerous hazards in the environment including the appearance of resistant weed biotypes. Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr. (Family: Fabaceae), is a common weed plant in the Middle East, where it is hard to eliminate due to its deep and overlapped roots. On the other side, it has many traditional uses around the world. Herein, the essential oil (EO) of P. farcta above-ground parts was extracted via hydrodistillation techniques and then analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). From the GC-MS analysis, 47 compounds were identified with a relative concentration of 98.02%, including terpenes as the main components (95.08%). From overall identified compounds, cubenol (19.07%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (17.69%), torreyol (8.28%), davana ether (3.50%), camphor (3.35%), and farnesyl acetone (3.13%) represented the abundant constituents. Furthermore, the phytotoxic activity of the P. farcta EO was assessed against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. The EO of P. farcta, at a concentration of 100 µL L−1, significantly inhibited the germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth by 64.1, 64.0, and 73.4%, respectively. The results exhibited that the seedling root growth is the most affected followed by the seed germination and seedling shoot growth with respective IC50 at 64.5, 80.5, and 92.9 µL L−1. It can be concluded that weeds are not absolutely harmful, but they may have beneficial uses, such as, for example as a source of phytochemicals with application in weed control practices (bioherbicides). It is advised to conduct additional research to characterize the allelopathic action of the major chemicals in their pure form, either alone or in combination, against a variety of weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy‐induced neuropathy represents the main dose‐limiting toxicity of several anticancer drugs, such as oxaliplatin, leading to chronic pain and an impairment of the quality of life. Echinacea purpurea n‐hexane extract (EP4–RE; rich in alkamides) and butanolic extract (EP4–RBU; rich in polyphenols) have been characterized and tested in an in vivo model of oxaliplatin‐induced neuropathic pain, addressing the endocannabinoid system with alkamides and counteracting the redox imbalance with polyphenols. Thermal hypersensitivity was evaluated by the Cold Plate test. EP4–RE showed a dose‐dependent anti‐hyperalgesic profile. The extract was more effective than its main constituent, dodeca‐2 E,4 E,8Z,10 E/Z‐tetraenoic acid isobutylamide (18 mg kg−1, twofold to equimolar EP4–RE 30 mg kg−1), suggesting a synergy with other extract constituents. Administration of cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor‐selective antagonist completely blocked the anti‐allodynic effect of EP4–RE, differently from the antagonism of CB1 receptors. EP4–RBU (30 mg kg−1) exhibited anti‐neuropathic properties too. The effect was mainly exerted by chicoric acid, which administered alone (123 μg kg−1, equimolar to EP4–RBU 30 mg kg−1) completely reverted oxaliplatin‐induced allodynia. A synergy between different polyphenols in the extract had not been highlighted. Echinacea extracts have therapeutic potential in the treatment of neuropathic pain, through both alkamides CB2‐selective activity and polyphenols protective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Otitis externa of dogs is the inflammation of the external ear canal and may be acute or chronic, persistent or recurrent. Several bacterial species are involved in otitis externa and often Malassezia yeasts are simultaneously present. Otitis externa is often a severe problem in veterinary medicine because of the resistance of the involved pathogens to conventional drugs. Essential oils (EOs) could be promising products with which to treat these inflammations. EOs from Origanum vulgare, Satureja montana, and Thymus vulgaris seem to be active to the main bacterial species and M. pachydermatis cultured from the ears of dogs with otitis; moreover, a mixture of these three components seems to improve the antibacterial property. Otitis externa is a frequent inflammation among dogs, mainly caused by bacteria and yeasts that are often resistant to conventional drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of commercial essential oils (EOs) from Origanum vulgare, Satureja montana, and Thymus vulgaris, as well as a mixture of these three components, against 47 clinical bacterial strains (Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens) and 5 Malassezia pachydermatis strains, previously cultured from the ears of dogs affected by otitis externa. The tested Gram-positive bacteria were sensible to the analysed EOs with MICs ranging from 1.25% (v/v) to <0.0195% (v/v); Gram-negative isolates, mainly P. aeruginosa, were less sensitive with MICs from >10% (v/v) to 0.039% (v/v). M. pachydermatis isolates were sensitive to all EOs with MICs from 4.25% (v/v) to 2% (v/v). However, the mixture was active against all bacterial (except one P. aeruginosa strain) and fungal tested isolates. The three EOs and their mixture seem to be an interesting alternative for treating canine otitis externa when conventional antimicrobials are not active. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers' appreciation of wines is mainly driven by their aroma, which is the most important organoleptic characteristic and key attribute. The volatile bouquet derives from the grape berries and from the processing phases of vinification. In the present study, the volatile emission of six grapevine cultivars has been analysed through four phases of vinification: the headspaces of crushed grapes, fermented must, new wine (2 months old), and wine (7 months old) have been sampled and analysed. This showed the evolution of the volatile compounds based on the chemical and mechanical processes involved in the specific vinification phase. Chemometric tools (hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses) have revealed that samples gather in statistical groups based on the vinification phase they belong to, though they maintain an aroma composition that is typical of the grape berry of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nemo's Garden® project is an alternative production system for areas with scarce cultivable land but significant presence of water; thus, it is an interesting intervention to address the climate crisis. This work aimed to evaluate the micromorphological, biochemical, and phytochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni grown underwater compared to the terrestrial specimens. The micromorphological analyses, performed on the leaves using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, evidenced a general uniformity of the trichome morphotype and distribution pattern. The histochemical investigation indicated the simultaneous presence of terpenes and polyphenols in the trichome secreted material from the underwater samples and a prevailing polyphenolic content in the terrestrial specimens; this was also confirmed by biochemical analyses (26.6 mg GAE/g DW). The characterization of non-volatile components, performed using HPLC–MS, showed similar chemical profiles in all the samples, which were characterized by phenolic compounds and steviol glycosides. The volatile compounds, evaluated using HS-SPME coupled with GC–MS, showed sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the main class in all the analyzed samples (80.1–93.9%). However, the control plants were characterized by a higher content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (12.1%). The underwater biosphere environment did not alter S. rebaudiana micro-morphological characters, although slight qualitative changes were evidenced for the compounds produced as a response to the growth conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the application of sustainable and eco-friendly fertilizers plays an important role in improving the essential oil (EO) quantity and quality of medicinal and aromatic plants. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the effects of green manures, organic manures and biofertilizers on the nutrient content, dry matter yield, EO productivity and quality of peppermint. The treatments included green manures [barley monoculture (Bm), hairy vetch monoculture (HVm) and replacement intercropping of 75%HV + 25%B, 50%HV + 50%B and 25%HV + 75%B], arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vermicompost (VC). A 50%HV + 50%B green manure appears to be the most effective treatment, since it provides the greatest amount of nutrients (N and K, 18.8 g kg−1, and 18.1 g kg−1, respectively), the tallest plants (61.5 cm), the most nodes per plant (17.5), the lateral branches (24.4), the highest leaf greenness index (45.5) and dry yield (266.7 g m−2) in peppermint. Moreover, this treatment evidenced the larger EO content (1.8%) and EO yield (4.84 g m−2). Regardless of the treatments, the chemical composition of peppermint EO was characterized by menthol (32.35–37.73%), menthone (16.96–20.64%) and 1,8-cineole (6.18–7.78%). The maximum content of menthol and 1,8-cineole was obtained by the application of 50%HV + 50%B. Additionally, the highest content of menthone was observed in AMF treatment. These results indicate that the application of 50%HV + 50%B green manures could be suggested as an environmentally friendly strategy for improving EO quantity and quality of peppermint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative chemical analyses among peel and pulp essential oils (EOs) and methanolic extracts of four Citrus australasica varieties (Red, Collette, Pink Ice, and Yellow Sunshine), and the hybrid Faustrime, were performed using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD-HR-Orbitrap/ESI-MS. Peel and pulp extracts were also analysed for their in vitro antioxidant activity on a Balb/3T3 clone A31 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line. The results of peel and pulp EOs were mainly characterised by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, respectively. All peels displayed a higher total phenol content (TPC) than pulps, and consequently a greater antioxidant activity. Collette peels and Pink Ice pulps showed the highest amount of identified flavonoids (e.g., luteolin, isosakuranetin, and poncirin derivatives). Collette and Red peels were rich in anthocyanins (delphinidin and petunidin glycosides), exhibiting the maximum protective activity against induced oxidative damage. In conclusion, finger lime fruits are good sources of health-promoting phytocomplexes, with the Red, Collette, and Pink Ice varieties being the most promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nineteen essential oils (EOs) obtained from different plants have been evaluated for their potential in vitro anti-H1N1 influenza virus efficacy. Both multivariate analyses and bivariate correlation were performed to better understand how the composition influences the activity. The results evidenced that for the laboratory distilled EOs both rosemary hybrids (S. x lavandulaceus and S. x mendizabalii) showed a good antiviral activity with low cytotoxic effect. Concerning the commercial ones: Eucalyptus globulus and Juniperus communis EOs exhibited virtuous effects on influenza virus. These results were confirmed by the multivariate analyses and only eucalyptol showed a positive correlation with cell viability. On the contrary, o-cymene and terpinolene correlated to the inhibitory effect. Rosemary hybrids, E. globulus and J. communis could be considered as promising candidate to develop new alternative anti-H1N1 natural agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing attention on the impact of food on human and environmental health has led to a greater awareness about nutrition, food processing, and food waste. In this perspective, the present work deals with the investigation of the chemical non-volatile and volatile profiles of two Citrus-based products, produced through a conscious process, using Citrus peels as natural gelling agents. Moreover, the total polyphenol content (TPC) and the antioxidant properties were evaluated, as well as their sensorial properties. Chemical and antioxidant results were compared with those of Citrus fresh fruits (C. reticulata, C. sinensis, and C. limon). Concerning the non-volatile fingerprint, the two samples showed a very similar composition, characterized by flavanones (naringenin, hesperetin, and eriodyctiol O-glycosides), flavones (diosmetin and apigenin C-glucosides), and limonoids (limonin, nomilinic acid, and its glucoside). The amount of both flavonoids and limonoids was higher in the Lemon product than in the Mixed Citrus one, as well as the TPC and the antioxidant activity. The aroma composition of the two samples was characterized by monoterpene hydrocarbons as the main chemical class, mainly represented by limonene. The sensorial analysis, finally, evidenced a good quality of both the products. These results showed that the most representative components of Citrus fruits persist even after the transformation process, and the aroma and sensorial properties endow an added value to Citrus preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., known as one of the best essential oil-bearing plants, is an aromatic plant that is well cultivated in many Mediterranean regions due to its adaptability to variations in climatic and edaphic conditions. Therefore, its essential oil (EO) composition and its antimicrobial activity change as a consequence of abiotic and biotic factors. The chemical composition of L. angustifolia EO collected during four consecutive years of growth was one of the aims of this work. The volatile profile evidenced the prevalence of linalool and linalool acetate even though they switched their positions according to age. Plants in their first year were characterized by a high amount of sesquiterpene compounds (22.1% of the identified fraction). This percentage decreased during plant growth, not representing more than 5.3% in the fourth year. It is interesting to note that both the third- and fourth-year plants showed a content of monoterpenes that exceeded 90% of the total identified constituents. The EO extracted from the oldest plants evidenced higher activity on the studied strains, with more sensitivity on the Gram-positive ones. Tuscan lavender EO, especially that obtained from the four-year-old plants, is of great interest for its potential industrial applications and constitutes an example for the valorization of marginal Tuscan land and good-quality production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study, the first to test clinical equine isolates, was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of commercial essential oils (EOs) obtained from Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cymbopogon citratus, Aloysia triphylla and Syzygium aromaticum against Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Candida albicans and Rhodotorula spp. previously isolated from uteri of mares with reproductive disorders. T. vulgaris showed the best antibacterial activity against all the selected agents, with MICs ranging from 0.07 mg/mL for S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus to 0.29 mg/mL versus Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus spp. isolates and versus C. albicans and Rhodotorula spp., with MICs of 0.46 mg/mL and 1.86 mg/mL, respectively. O. vulgare, S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum EOs showed good antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 0.07 mg/mL to 0.29 mg/mL, 0.16 mg/mL to 0.32 mg/mL, 0.07 mg/mL to 0.63 mg/mL, respectively; A. triphylla was the most active EO against Rhodotorula spp. (0.43 mg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophyte plants are potential resources to deal with the increasing soil salinity determined by climatic change. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the germplasm conservation of Artemisia caerulescens collected in the San Rossore Estate (Pisa, Italy) through in vitro culture, biochemical properties, and the phytochemical composition of the volatile fraction of both in vitro shoots and different organs of wild plants (leaves, young and ripe inflorescences). The best medium tested for the shoot proliferation was MS, with the addition of 1 μM BA. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were noticeable in both the inflorescences, while leaves and in vitro shoots showed lower amounts. Concerning the phytochemical investigation, the headspaces (HSs) and the essential oils (EOs) were characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes as the main chemical class of compounds in all samples, and with α- and β-thujone as the major constituents. However, the EOs were characterized by noticeable percentages of phenylpropanoids (23.6–28.8%), with brevifolin as the unique compound, which was not detected in the spontaneous volatile emissions of the same parts of the wild plant. Good amounts of EOs were obtained from different organs of the wild plant, comprising between 0.17% and 0.41% of the young and ripe inflorescences, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus trees are a very important crops that are cultivated worldwide, but not much knowledge is known about the ecophysiological responses to climatic changes in trees under natural conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate their adaptive capacity in response to seasonal phenological and environmental changes. The trial included Citrus trees (sweet orange, bitter orange, lemon, mandarin) growing under non-regular cropping conditions in a Monumental Charterhouse in Tuscany, in a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot summer conditions. During a 1-year field trial, we determined the variations in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and leaf biochemical traits (content of chlorophylls and carotenoids, total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total non-structural carbohydrates). In all Citrus spp., interspecific mean values of photochemical efficiency peaked during the summer, while a marked photoinhibition occurred in the winter in concomitance with higher interspecific mean values of leaf TPC, TAC, and non-structural carbohydrates. The trees showed the pivotal role played by photosynthetic acclimation as a survival strategy to tolerate abiotic stress in the climate change hotspot of Mediterranean environment. This study is included in a wider project aimed at a new valorization of Citrus trees as genetic resource and its by-products with added-value applications for innovative functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrodistilled essential oils from eighteen samples of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. collected in six localities of Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy) during three different seasonal periods were analyzed by GC-MS for the first time. Fifty-five components were identified, representing 96.8–99.6% of the total chemical composition. All the tested essential oils were characterized by a high content of monoterpenes (oxygenated 49.2–80.3%; hydrocarbons 18.7–48.3%). Among them, 1,8-cineole (26.4–49.1%), α-pinene (4.5–34.8%), camphor (1.1–18.8%) and borneol (1.7–16.2%) were the main constituents. The high amount of 1,8-cineole/α-pinene/camphor/borneol may suggest the presence of an intermediate rosemary chemotype. Statistical analysis was also performed on the essential oil (EO) composition evidenced an expected difference depending on the collection seasons, to the geographical areas and soil composition. A comparison with the essential oil composition from S. rosmarinus collected in all the other islands of Tuscan Archipelago (Italy) was also reported, together with a Multivariate Statistical Analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The leaves of some plants are reported for their culinary uses, while in edible flowers, they are one of the discarded products in the supply chain. We investigated the volatile profile (VP) and the essential oil (EO) compositions of leaves from 12 Lamiaceae species, of which nine belong to the Mentheae tribe and three to the Ocimeae tribe. (2) Methods: Phytochemical analyses were performed using a GC-MS instrument. (3) Results: More than 53% of the Ocimeae tribe VP was represented by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SH), followed by phenylpropanoids, except for O. × citriodorum, where oxygenated monoterpenes (OM) were the second main class. OM prevailed in six species of the Mentheae tribe except for Agastache 'Arcado Pink', Salvia discolor, and S. microphylla, where SH dominated. The EO composition of Ocimeae tribe showed a similar behavior to that of VP concerning the predominant classes. O. basilicum 'Blue Spice' (Ob-BS) was an exception, since it showed oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS: 29.6%) as a second principal class. Sesquiterpene compounds were also present in a high amount in two species of the Salviinae subtribe (S. microphylla and S. discolor) and two of the Nepetinae subtribe (Nepeta × faasenii and A. 'Arcado Pink'). The remaining species of the Mentheae tribe were characterized by OM. (4) Conclusions: Many of the main compounds found were reported for their importance in human health and thus are important as ingredients in several new industrial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatiloma of four Helichrysum species (H. anomalum, H reflexum, H. retortum and H. rugulosum) was analysed here for the first time by GC-MS for a chemotaxonomic contribution to this genus. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SHs) prevailed in the aroma profile (VOCs) of H. reflexum, H. rugulosum and H. anomalum (74.7%, 93.6% and 41.6%, respectively), even though the main compounds were different (β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and α-copaene, respectively). The VOCs of H. retortum showed a high percentage of aliphatic hydrocarbons (NTs, 77.7%) mainly represented by octyl ether. The essential oil composition of each of H. rugulosum and H. retortum followed the same trend as VOCs related to the main class (SHs and NTs, respectively). In H. reflexum EO, the SHs were replaced by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS, 49.0%) with caryophyllene oxide as the main compound, while in H. anomalum the SHs were swapped in NTs (37.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae), known as cassava, is a widely cultivated plant, considered one of the main sources of food in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cassava shoot aqueous extract (CSAE) on liver injury induced by paracetamol and investigation of its effect on hyperhomocysteinemia. CSAE was administered to male albino rats classified into seven groups: control, treated, and prophylactic groups. A significant reduction in liver enzymes, malondialdehyde, and homocysteine were observed when compared to the paracetamol group, together with an increase in paraoxonase-1. Histopathological and histochemical results indicated that CSAE effectively ameliorate these parameters. Two main flavonol glycosides, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, in addition to a minor myricetin 3-O-rutinoside, were identified in CSAE. CSAE showed a therapeutic potential against paracetamol-induced liver injury probably through antioxidant activity of its flavonol glycosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As it mimics olfactory perception, headspace analysis is frequently used for examination of products like chocolate, in which aroma is a key feature. Chemical analysis by itself, however, only provides half the picture, as final consumer's perception cannot be compared to that of a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) port, but rather to a panel test assessment. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of combined chemical (by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-MS) and panel test data (by means of a sensory evaluation operated by 6 untrained panelists) obtained for 24 dark chocolate bars to assess whether these can discriminate between bars from different brands belonging to different commercial segments (hard discount, HD; supermarket, SM; organic bars, BIO). In all samples, with the only exception of one supermarket bar (in which esters exhibited the highest relative abundance), pyrazines were detected as the most abundant chemical class (HD: 56.3–74.2%; BIO: 52.0–76.4%; SM: 31.2–88.9%). Non-terpene alcohols, aldehydes, and esters followed as quantitatively relevant groups of compounds. The obtained data was then subjected to hierarchical cluster (HCA) and principal component (PCA) analysis. The statistical distribution of samples obtained for the chemical data did not match that obtained with panelists' sensorial data. Moreover, although an overall ability of grouping samples of the same commercial origin was evidenced for hard discount and supermarket bars, no sharp grouping was possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is an evaluation of the chemical composition of the aroma and the sensorial characters of a beer flavored with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers. Moreover, the total polyphenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents and the antioxidant activity of the plant materials and beers were assessed. A comparison with a liqueur flavored with the same hibiscus flowers was also performed. Non-terpene derivatives constituted the main class of components of the aroma of both samples, representing 96.4% of the whole volatilome in the control beer and 99.0% in the hibiscus one. Among this class, esters were the most abundant compounds, being significantly higher in the treated sample (77.6%) than in the control (68.4%), followed by the alcohols (20.9% in control beer and 18.8% in hibiscus beer). From a sensorial point of view, the control beer was characterized by malty and hoppy notes, attributable to the noticeable content in myrcene and α-humulene in its headspace, while in the hibiscus beer, floral and fruity notes, typical of esters and alcohols, prevailed. The polyphenol content was significantly higher in the treated beer (143.96 mg/g) than in the control, as well as the total flavonoids and the total anthocyanins, and, consequently, the antioxidant activity (DPPH-assay). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]