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Leaves of three different sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars (Italico a foglia larga, Cammeo, and Italiano classico) packed in macro-perforated polyethylene bags were stored at chilling (4°C) or non-chilling temperature (12°C) for 9days. During storage, visual quality, physiological (respiration rate, ethylene production, ammonium content) and chemical (antioxidant activity, total polyphenols and polyphenol profile) parameters were measured. Detached leaves stored at chilling temperature showed visual symptoms related to chilling injury, while ethylene production and ammonium content resulted associated to cultivar sensibility to damage at low temperature. Storage at 4°C caused a depletion in polyphenols content and antioxidant capability, which was preserved at 12°C. Regarding the polyphenols profile, stressful storage conditions did not enhance the phenolic metabolism. However, leaves stored at 12°C did not loss a significant amount of metabolites respect to fresh leaves, suggesting the possibility to extend the storability after the expiration date, for a possible recovery of bioactive compounds.

The effects of two gamma-ray doses (1.5 kGy and 2.0 kGy) on some biochemical aspects and on the microbiological profile of black truffles was monitored, immediately after treatment and after 30 days of storage at 4 °C. Electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses of proteins and peptides, just like monitoring of polyphenol content, peroxides formation and microbial profile, allowed for the first time a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for biochemical alterations and bacterial pattern in black truffles during their storage. Treatment at 1.5 kGy appeared to better preserve the characteristics of the fresh product. In 2.0 kGy-samples, the protein profile was characterised by a 20 kDa-polypeptide, which could be considered as an useful marker of the irradiation treatment and of the storage time of the product. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis did not permit a correct identification from tryptic peptides in databases, although the nano-ES/MS/MS analyses performed on the 10 kDa tryptic digest peptides showed an amino acidic sequence entirely contained in a protein of filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa.

The analysis of polyphenols of leaves and different parts (outer, intermediate and inner bracts, and receptacle) of heads in five globe artichoke cultivars of Campania region (Italy) and one accession of cultivated cardoon was performed. Data obtained suggest that the edible parts (receptacles with inner and intermediate bracts) of these cultivars of artichoke could represent a good source of health-promoting polyphenols and therefore encourage a nutriceutical use of this species, as an alternative to the more traditional phytopharmaceutical applications of leaf extracts. Moreover, it was demonstrated that single polyphenols accumulate preferentially in specific parts of the heads and in specific genotypes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.