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Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the main fat used in the Mediterranean diet. In this work, four monovarietal EVOOs from Calabria (South of Italy) namely Coratina, Ottobratica, Leccino, and Nocellara del Belice and Ottobratica from Calabria (Southern Italy) were investigated for their quality and CIELab parameters as well as antioxidant activity. Statistical significant differences were evidenced among investigated samples. Ottobratica EVOO showed the highest oxidative stability with a protective index (PI) of 29.52 h. This autochthonous cultivar was characterized by the highest total phenols content (452.44 mg of gallic acid/kg of oil) and α-tocopherol content (175.15 ppm) as well as the most promising antioxidant activity with a RACI value of − 0.18. Results evidenced that all the investigated Calabrian EVOOs are characterized by a good physico-chemical quality well within the limits indicated by the regulations issued by the European Union and by the International Olive Council for an EVOO and, also, by a promising healthy properties due their content in bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the chemical profile obtained by HPLC-ESI-MSn analysis, the inhibitory activity of enzymes linked to obesity (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase) and the antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching tests) of ethanol extracts of bulbs (BE) and aerial parts (APE) from Allium commutatum Guss. (known in Italy as "aglio delle isole"). The chemical profile revealed alliin as the main abundant compound with values of 31.5 and 38.8 mg/g extract for BE and APE, respectively. APE is rich also in quercetin (38.5 mg/g extract) and luteolin (31.8 mg/g extract). Bulbs extract exhibited the highest activity as inhibitor of enzymes linked to obesity. Except for DPPH test, APE showed the highest antioxidant potential with IC50 of 7.6 and 56.6 μg/mL in ABTS and β-carotene bleaching test after 60 min of incubation, respectively. In conclusion, the present investigation revealed A. commutatum bulbs and aerial parts as a promising source of inhibitors of enzyme linked to the obesity and of antioxidant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus × clementina juice obtained from fruits collected in three different areas (flood plain, hill and coastal plain) was investigated for the chemical composition, radical scavenging properties (DPPH and ABTS tests), and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Neohesperidin (72.96–116.50 mg/100 mL), hesperidin (55.24–69.52 mg/100 mL) and narirutin (7.21–12.13 mg/100 mL) are the main flavonoids identified by HPLC analyses. In carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes inhibitory activity tests, samples showed higher potency against α-glucosidase. Juice from hill was the most active with an IC50 value of 77.79 μg/mL. Data on the radical scavenging activity revealed the following trend of potency flood plain > coastal plain > hill. These results could help farmers to select fruits for different industrial purpose such as functional food and matrix to extract nutraceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]