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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]

Capsicum annumcultivars Yellow cayenne, Portafortuna, Idealino, Sole, Duemila, Pellegrino, Fantasia, Loco, and Effix were investigated for their antioxidant properties and foodborne pathogens inhibitory activity. The total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, capsaicinoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and vitamin E content were also determined. Duemila and Portafortuna cultivars showed the highest total phenol content with values of 924.3 and 935.0 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalents/100 g dried weight, respectively. Idealino pepper presented the highest capsaicin content (2932.1 μg/g dried weight). The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid test, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test, and ferric reducing ability power assay. Both Pellegrino and Idealino samples exhibited a promising radical scavenging ability against 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical with IC50values of 45.2 and 45.7 μg/mL, respectively. All the extracts were able to inhibit the growth ofStaphylococcus aureusand Listeria monocytogenes investigated strains. The most active are Effix and Fantasia peppers with minimal inhibitory concentration between 12.5 and 25.0 mg/mL, respectively. Overall, these results support the use of these pepper species as dried extract in food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially dried powder of nutmeg mace ( Myristica fragrans) and pimento ( Pimenta dioica) spices was investigated for their high performance liquid chromatography phenolic profile and their antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests. Generally, mace showed the most promising activity. An interesting protection of lipid peroxidation with an IC50 value of 7.7 μg mL−1 was found. A significant result was also obtained in ferric reducing ability power assay if compared to the positive control butylated hydroxytoluene ( IC50 value of 68.7 μg mL−1 vs. 63.2 μg mL−1, respectively). Mace also exhibited the highest carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzyme inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 62.1 and 75.7 μg mL−1 against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Overall, these results support the use of these spices not only as flavouring agent but also as food preservative and functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferulago nodosa (L.) Boiss. (Apiaceae) is a species occurring in the Balkan-Tyrrhenian area. The object of the present study is Sicilian F. nodosa subsp. geniculata (Guss.) Troia & Raimondo, classified as an endemic F. nodosa subspecies. Aerial parts of this plant species were subjected to hydrodistillation to obtain an essential oil. A total of 93 compounds were identified with 2,3,6-trimethyl benzaldehyde (19.0%), spathulenol (9.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (5.4%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.4%) as the main components. The biological activities of F. nodosa essential oil were also investigated. This oil showed an interesting antioxidant potential in a 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) test (IC50 of 14.05 μg/mL). Additionally, hypoglycemic and antilipidemic effects were evaluated. Lipase enzyme was inhibited with an IC50 value of 41.99 μg/mL. Obtained data demonstrated that F. nodosa could be considered a promising source of bioactive compounds useful for the treatment and management of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancratium maritimum stems, flowers, bulbs, and fruits extracts were investigated for their antiproliferative and antioxidant properties. Total phenols and total flavonoids were also determined. The in vitro antiproliferative activity was tested against seven cancer cell lines such as C32, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, PC3, A549, MCF-7, and LNCaP by using SRB assay. Interesting results were obtained with stems ethanol extract (ET1) against C32 cells (IC50 of 27.1 μg/mL) and fruits aqueous extract (AQ) against MCF-7 cell line (IC50 of 36.5 μg/mL). To define the antioxidant activity, four tests such as DPPH, ABTS FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching tests were used. The most promising ABTS scavenging capacity was observed with fruits ethanol extract (ET1) that showed an IC50 value of 6.9 μg/mL. According to the correlation results, the phenols and flavonoids content could provide a fundamental contribution to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of P. maritimum extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]