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La laguna di Lesina raccoglie le acque ricche di inquinanti di origine agricola provenienti dal bacino idrografico. Infatti, nel bacino imbrifero è praticata un'agricoltura intensiva spesso al limite della sostenibilità con uso massivo di prodotti chimici. Questi prodotti spesso contengono metalli pesanti che possono essere veicolati in laguna per dilavamento dei terreni. Le lagune hanno un' elevata capacità biogenica e la produzione ittica rappresenta la principale fonte di reddito. In laguna sono presenti specie ittiche che occupano diversi livelli trofici, e a diverso velocità di accrescimento. La mazzancolla (Melicertus kerathurus) è una specie che svolge in laguna un breve periodo del suo ciclo vitale, da post-larva a 3-10 g raggiunti a fine estate, poi migra verso il mare. Nel presente lavoro sono stati analizzati, mediante spettrofotometria ad assorbimento atomico, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn e Cu in crostacei, sedimenti e acqua prelevati in siti della laguna di Lesina a diverso impatto antropico, al fine di verificare l'accumulo e la biomagnificazione nei diversi comparti. I sedimenti sono il comparto con concentrazioni di metalli più elevati rispetto alle specie ittiche esaminate, che a loro volta hanno mostrato per alcuni elementi concentrazioni differenti rispetto ai siti di campionamento. I risultati preliminari ci permettono di affermare che è possibile utilizzare Melicertus kerathurus come indicatore di inquinamento da metalli negli ambienti lagunari.

There is a growing interest in the use of anticariogenic and antimicrobial agents to prevent demineralization and promote remineralization of dental enamel for the prevention of oral diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel chewing-system containing as Casein-Phosphopeptides-Amorphous-Calcium-Phosphate (CPP-ACP) as Quercetin (Qt) and evaluate their release using in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro and in vivo experimental protocols were designed to test the percentages of Ca from CPP-ACP and Qt released with time and their delivery rate from a chewing gum. The in vitro experiments were performed using a specifically designed chewing apparatus to test the release of Ca and Qt in artificial saliva in function of chewed time, while the in vivo experiments required a chew-out method with volunteers and the residual CPP-ACP and Qt present in the chewed gums was analyzed. This study demonstrated that both CPP-ACP'Ca and Qt were released during chewing although CPP-ACP'Ca was released from the chewing gum in a slower and more controlled manner than Qt. They were also both effectively retained in the oral cavity for all the investigated chewing time and according to their monitored release concentrations they were able to serve as a novel antiplaque agent. This research concludes that both drugs were efficiently released during the mastication process to fully exploit their anti-carious activity.

Strawberries represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds including vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and phenolic compounds, but they are fruits with an extremely short postharvest life. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of an active coating consisting in antifungal microparticles obtained by spray drying of peony extracts (Paeonia rockii (PPR)) dispersed in chitosan (Ch) and subsequent addition to polysaccharide gels to slow the fungal attack of small highly perishable fruits, such as strawberries. The results of the antimicrobial assays indicate that the peony extracts in chitosan are able to counteract effectively the growth of different fungal isolates from deteriorated strawberries. In conclusion, through the treatment with this antifungal coating, it is possible to prolong the shelf life of delicate fruits, such as strawberries, to about 16 days, slowing down the weight loss, affecting the safeguard of important vitamins and antioxidant capacity during storage, without causing any significant alteration of the nutritional and sensorial properties of the product.

Chewing gums may be particularly effective means for delivering and maintaining bioactive molecules, included in the gum formulation, able to have an anti-cariogenic effect. The purposes of this study were: to develop novel chewing gums containing quercetin (Qt); to evaluate their release using in vivo trial; finally, to test their in vivo antibacterial effect against oral Streptococcus mutans strains. A preliminary study was performed to produce new gums, enriched with the polyphenol quercetin. Then, a first in vivo experimental study was assessed to test the percentages of Qt released in the saliva of young volunteers. Moreover, a second clinical trial was performed to analyze the antibacterial capability of these enriched chewing gums against S. mutans strains after 14 days of daily consumption. The release analysis showed that a more effective release of Qt occurs in the first minutes of chewing, and it does not change saliva pH values. Moreover, Qt included in gums demonstrates an effective antibacterial activity, showing a reduction of the concentration of S. mutans strains in saliva samples, especially after 7 days. Qt included in experimental chewing gums could be efficiently released into the oral cavity and could promote an effective anti-caries concentration in volunteer’s saliva, without changing salivary pH values.