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Waste from the agri-food chain represents a valuable reservoir of organic compounds with health-promoting properties. Momast Plus 30 Bio (MP30B) is a derivative obtained from olive-oil wastewater. Its enrichment in hydroxytyrosol (HT) via a patented technique has paved the way for its potential application as a dietary supplement in preventing cardiovascular diseases. MP30B demonstrates no significant alteration in cardiac and vascular parameters in “ex vivo” studies. However, it exhibits a strong ability to remove reactive oxygen species and exerts anti-inflammatory effects, notably reducing the concentration of iNOS and mitigating heart infections in “in vitro” experiments. Furthermore, MP30B slightly decreases the stiffness of the “ex vivo” thoracic aorta, potentially resulting in lowered arterial pressure and enhanced energy transfer to a normal ventricle. Based on these findings, we posit MP30B as a promising extract for cardiovascular disease prevention, and its specific antibacterial properties suggest its utility in preventing cardiac infections.

Abstract Background Med-Index is a one-health front-of-pack (FOP) label, based on Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) principles, developed to summarize information about the nutritional properties and related-health benefits of any food as well as its sustainable production processes, and the associated food company’s social responsibility parameters in a new “Planeterranean” perspective. Thus, Med-Index can be adopted in and by any European region and authority as well as worldwide; this is achieved by consumption and cooking of locally available and sourced foods that respect MedDiet principles, both in terms of healthy nutrition and sustainable production. The huge body of scientific evidence about the health benefits of the MedDiet model and principles requires a comprehensive framework to encompass the scientific reliability and robustness of this tool. A systematic review was carried out to examine the association between human health and adherence to MedDiet patterns upon which the “Med-Index” tool was subsequently developed. Methods MEDLINE and PubMed databases were searched for eligible publications from 1990 to April 2023. Systematic literature reviews, with or without meta-analysis, of clinical trials and observational studies were screened by two independent investigators for eligibility, data extraction, and quality assessment. English language and the time interval 1990–2023 were applied. A registry code CRD42023464807 was generated on PROSPERO and approved for this search protocol. The corrected covered area (CCA), calculated to quantify the degree of overlap between reviews, gave a slight overlap (CCA = 4%). Results A total of 84 systematic reviews out of 6681 screened records were selected. Eligible reviews included studies with predominantly observational designs (61/84, 72.6%%), of which 26/61 referenced studies of mixed observational and RCT designs, while 23/84 (27.4%) were RCT-only systematic reviews. Seventy-nine different entries were identified for health outcomes, clustered into 10 macro-categories, each reporting a statistically significant association with exposure to the MedDiet. Adherence to MedDiet was found to strongly benefit age-related chronic diseases (21.5%), neurological disorders (19%), and obesity-related metabolic features (12.65), followed by CVDs (11.4%), cancer (10.1%), diabetes (7.5%), liver health (6.3%), inflammation (5%), mortality (5%), and renal health (1.2%). The quality of the studies was moderate to high. Conclusion In the context of a “Planeterranean” framework and perspective that can be adopted in any European region and worldwide, MedDiet represents a healthy and sustainable lifestyle model, able to prevent several diseases and reduce premature mortality. In addition, the availability of a FOP, such as Med-Index, might foster more conscious food choices among consumers, paying attention both to human and planetary health.

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found in plants, foods, and drinks, occurring in small quantities and showcasing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. The primary polyphenols consist of flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans. However, there is currently no comprehensive quantitative analysis of epidemiological data on overall death rates. This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to identify the exposure–response relationship between dietary polyphenol intake and all-cause mortality. The literature was reviewed from its earliest study to May 2024, utilizing six distinct electronic databases. No specific criteria were used to choose participants based on the recruiting environment, their general health condition, country, or ethnicity. The inclusion criteria for studies were as follows: a longitudinal design, exposure to dietary polyphenols, all-cause mortality as the outcome, and hazard risk (HR) as the impact measure. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the methodological rigor of the study. The hazard risks (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by pooling data using common effects models. A protocol has been registered on PROSPERO with the identification number CRD42024545524. The meta-analysis comprised seven cohort studies that involved 178,657 adult people aged 18 years and older. These studies examined the relationship between total dietary polyphenol consumption and the risk of all-cause death. The recruitment settings exclusively used community-based approaches, with a preference for Europe (71%) in terms of geographic distribution. The study’s quality was assessed to be moderate to high. The meta-analysis showed consistent evidence that increased dietary exposure to polyphenols reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 7% (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91–0.95, I2: 48%). Pooled data from the available evidence consistently show that individuals exposed to an antioxidant diet rich in polyphenol sources may be at lower risk of all-cause mortality.

In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) accorded a health claim to olive oil polyphenols in that they protected LDL particles from oxidative damage. However, limited scientific evidence has so far failed to confer any claim of function on the maintenance of normal lipid metabolism. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of human RCTs, evaluating the effect of olive oil polyphenol administration on lipid profiles. Previous literature was acquired from six electronic databases until June 2023. A total of 75 articles were retrieved and screened for inclusion criteria, which resulted in the selection of 10 RCTs that evaluated the effect of daily exposure to olive oil polyphenols on serum lipids in adults. Meta-analyses were built by tertiles of outcomes, as follows: low (0–68 mg/kg), medium (68–320 mg/kg), and high (320–600 mg/kg) polyphenols for HDL and LDL cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively), and low (0–59.3 mg/kg), medium (59.3–268 mg/kg), and high (268–600 mg/kg) polyphenols for total cholesterol (TC). The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42023403383). The study design was predominantly cross-over (n = 8 of 10) but also included parallel (n = 2 of 10). The study population was predominantly European and healthy. Daily consumption of olive oil polyphenols did not affect TC levels and only slightly significantly reduced LDL-C, with WMD statistically significant only for high daily consumption of olive oil polyphenols (WMD −4.28, 95%CI −5.78 to −2.77). Instead, our data found a statistically significant HDL-C enhancing effect (WMD pooled effect model: 1.13, 95%CI 0.45; 1.80, heterogeneity 38%, p = 0.04) with WMD by daily exposure level showing a statistically significant improvement effect for low (WMD 0.66, 95%CI 0.10–1.23), medium (WMD 1.36, 95%CI 0.76–1.95), and high (WMD 1.13, 95%CI 0.45–1.80) olive oil polyphenol consumptions. Olive oil polyphenols contribute toward maintaining lipid metabolism. Thus, food labeling regulations should stress this health feature of olive oil, whereby a declaration of the olive oil polyphenol content should be added to products on the market. Consumers need to be aware of the quality and possible health effects of any products they consume, and enforcement of nutrition labels offers the best way of providing this information.

Background: Viticulture bioclimatic indexes like the Heliothermal Index (HI), Cool Night Index (CI), and Dryness Index (DI), can be used to assess the influence of climate on grapes’ quality. Methods: HI, CI, and DI + total seasonal irrigation were utilized to assess the effect of climate on the flavonoids content and composition of two Vitis vinifera seedless varieties, ‘Summer Royal’ and ‘Crimson Seedless’, both grown in Apulia (Southern Italy). Results: The flavonoids content was significantly affected by variety and climate conditions on the base of HI, CI, and DI + total seasonal irrigation. Factor analysis applied to climate indexes and flavonoids showed that anthocyanins and flavonols were negatively and positively correlated to CI in both varieties, respectively. Additionally, warmer night temperatures determined higher fla-van-3-ols. HI increase promoted anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols content in Crimson Seedless, whilst it induced an opposite trend in Summer Royal. Finally, DI + total seasonal irrigation showed to be positively linked to flavonols content and negatively linked to anthocyanins content just in the case of Crimson Seedless. Significant regression models were also determined between climate indexes and productive parameters (i.e., yield, TSS, TA, pH, bunch, and berry weight). Conclusions: Climate indexes HI, CI, and DI + total seasonal irrigation showed an effect on quality grape parameters like flavonoids and contributed to building predictive models when new climatic zones are going to be evaluated for the production of table grapes.

Wound-healing delay is one of the major problems of type 2 diabetes, representing also a clinical emergency in non-healing chronic wounds. Natural antioxidants show interesting wound-healing properties, including those extracted from waste derived from olive oil production. Olive mill wastewater is one of the main by-products of the olive oil-making process, and it is rich in high-value secondary metabolites, mainly hydroxytyrosol. We proposed an eco-friendly extraction method, employing both ultrasound-assisted and Soxhlet techniques and ethanol as a solvent, to recover valuable molecules from Roggianella cv (Olea europea L.) olive mill wastewater, which was further entrapped in a pectin polymer via an enzymatic reaction using porcine pancreatic lipase. Pectin, in combination with other substances, promoted and accelerated wound healing and demonstrated good potential to produce a biomedical conjugate for wound treatment. The antioxidant activity of the extracts and conjugate were evaluated against lipophilic (IC50 equal to 0.152 mg mL−1) and hydrophilic (IC50 equal to 0.0371 mg mL−1) radical species as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity via NRU, h-CLAT, and a wound-healing scratch assay and assessment. The pectin conjugate did not exert hemolytic effects on the peripheral blood, demonstrating interesting wound-healing properties due to its ability to stimulate cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

By 2024, the European Commission will examine a new sustainable labeling framework. Here we describe the development of a new food product labeling system, named Mediterranean Index (Med Index), aimed at promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet (healthy and sustainable nutritional pattern) by stimulating citizens to practice physical activity consistent with the energy intake of meals and encouraging producers to make healthier and more sustainable food products. It is characterized by the possibility of integrating 27 criteria addressing the issue of sustainable food production processes in the frame of three pillars: nutritional, environmental, and social sustainability. It is conceived as a holistic front-of-pack (FOP) label, complete and applicable by food producers as it is based on measurable criteria, widely shared by stakeholders, but usually adopted on an individual basis.

Obesity represents an important public health challenge of the twenty first century reaching epidemic proportions worldwide; this is especially true for the pediatric population. In this context, bioactive compounds from foods are crucial to counteract chronic inflammation as a typical feature of obesity. In particular, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the most important functional foods exerting, among others, an anti-inflammatory activity not only due to its major (monounsaturated fatty acids) but also to its minor (phenolics) components, as reported in the last years. However, only a limited number of studies were performed on pediatric population, and even fewer are those focusing on EVOO phenolics that investigate the correlation of the chemical characterization with the biological function. Thus, starting from our in vitro data identifying an EVOO chemical profile characterized by a high content of secoiridoids correlating with an anti-inflammatory effect, we studied the ability of an EVOO extract with the same chemical profile to retain this function ex vivo. Specifically, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from obese children were treated with EVOO and olive oil extracts, characterized by a low polyphenol content, to study the ability of secoiridoids to dampen the inflammatory response. A reduction of pro-inflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocytes was detected by cytofluorimetric analysis when PBMCs were treated with EVOO as compared to olive oil extracts. According to this, a down modulation of CCL2 and CCL4 chemokines involved in the recruitment of inflammatory cells, was reported in the supernatants of EVOO relative to olive oil extracts treated PBMCs. Moreover, a high-throughput gene expression analysis revealed that PBMCs molecular profile from obese children is greatly modulated after the treatment with EVOO extract in terms of metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Importantly, some of the significantly modulated genes were involved in the pathways promoting the development of severe obesity. Overall, our ex vivo data demonstrated the ability of EVOO to reduce the inflammatory milieu of PBMCs from obese children both at protein and molecular levels. Of note, a good correlation between the EVOO chemical profile and the biological modulations in terms of anti-inflammatory activity was reported.

This study, for the first time, evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new natural-based topical gel containing a spirulina extract. This photoconverter gel generates fluorescent light energy (FLE) via a red LED light device, which is proven to be effective for age control of facial skin. This was a one-centre, observational, uncontrolled pilot trial. Eight healthy female subjects aged 35 to 65 years old, with Fitzpatrick skin types II–V were recruited. The duration of the study was five treatment sessions of one treatment every seven days, with a final follow-up at one month after the last treatment session. The images and the related data were acquired with the SONY® Mod. DSCRX10M3, the Canfield VISIA Facial Imaging System®, and QUANTIFICARE 3D® analysis. Patient compliance was excellent (100%) and the treatment was described as warm and pleasant by the patients. After 30 days, VISIA parameters such as wrinkles, texture, red areas, and Trueskin Age® had improved. The safety and efficacy of the FLE treatment assessed in this trial were achieved for overall rejuvenation of facial skin, focusing on wrinkles evaluated via the specific VISIA algorithms.

Well-known experimental research demonstrates that oxidative stress is the leading cause of the onset and progression of major human health disorders such as cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, and cancer diseases. A high concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species leads to damage of proteins, lipids, and DNA associated with susceptibility to chronic human degenerative disorders. Biological and pharmaceutical investigations have recently focused on exploring both oxidative stress and its defense mechanisms to manage health disorders. Therefore, in recent years there has been considerable interest in bioactive food plant compounds as naturally occurring antioxidant sources able to prevent, reverse, and/or reduce susceptibility to chronic disease. To contribute to this research aim, herein, we reviewed the beneficial effects of carotenoids on human health. Carotenoids are bioactive compounds widely existing in natural fruits and vegetables. Increasing research has confirmed that carotenoids have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory activities. This paper presents an overview of the latest research progress on the biochemistry and preventative and therapeutic benefits of carotenoids, particularly lycopene, in promoting human health. This review could be a starting point for improving the research and investigation of carotenoids as possible ingredients of functional health foods and nutraceuticals in the fields of healthy products, cosmetics, medicine, and the chemical industry.

An ultrasound-assisted extraction method, employing ethanol and water as solvents at low temperature (30 °C) and reduced time (15 min), was proposed to extract bioactive molecules from different cultivars (Magliocco Canino, Magliocco Rosato, Gaglioppo, and Nocera Rosso) of wine lees. All the extract yields were evaluated and their contents of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and total polyphenols were determined by means of colorimetric assays and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Radical scavenging assays were performed and the Magliocco Canino extracted with a hydroalcoholic mixture returned the best results both against ABTS (0.451 mg mL−1) and DPPH (0.395 mg mL−1) radicals. The chemometric algorithms principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square regression (PLS) were used to process the data obtained from all qualitative–quantitative sample determinations with the aim of highlighting data patterns and finding possible correlations between composition and antioxidant features of the different wine lees cultivars and the extraction procedures. Wine lees from Magliocco Canino and Magliocco Rosato were found to be the best vegetable matrices in terms of metabolite content and antioxidant properties. The components extracted with alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solvents, specifically (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, chlorogenic acid, and trans-caftaric acid, were found to be correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Multivariate data processing was able to identify the compounds related to the antioxidant features. Two PLS models were optimized by using their concentration levels to predict the IC50 values of the extracts in terms of DPPH and ABTS with high values of correlation coefficient R2, 0.932 and 0.824, respectively, and a prediction error lower than 0.07. Finally, cellular (SH-SY5Y cells) antioxidant assays were performed on the best extract (the hydroalcoholic extract of Magliocco Canino cv) to confirm its biological performance against radical species. All these recorded data strongly outline the aptness of valorizing wine lees as a valuable source of antioxidants.

Anthocyanins are acknowledged for their great heterogeneity of colors, from orange to blue hues in the visible spectrum [...]

Nowadays, there has been considerable attention paid toward the recovery of waste plant matrices as possible sources of functional compounds with healthy properties. In this regard, we focus our attention on Salicornia, a halophyte plant that grows abundantly on the coasts of the Mediterranean area. Salicornia is used not only as a seasoned vegetable but also in traditional medicine for its beneficial effects in protecting against diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. In numerous research studies, Salicornia consumption has been highly suggested due to its high level of bioactive molecules, among which, polyphenols are prevalent. The antioxidant and antiradical activity of polyphenols makes Salicornia a functional food candidate with potential beneficial activities for human health. Therefore, this review provides specific and compiled information for optimizing and developing new extraction processes for the recovery of bioactive compounds from Salicornia; focusing particular attention on polyphenols and their health benefits.

This work is focused on the preparation of an innovative gluten-free (GF) bread with remarkable softness and antioxidant features over time. To overcome the technological inconveniences related to the removal of gluten from bread, the kefir beverage fortified with antioxidant vegetable extracts is employed as a functional ingredient in the bread-making process. In this context, carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) leaves represent an outstanding source of active molecules and are proposed to enrich milk-based beverages. Different extraction strategies were evaluated, and the process was improved to select a solvent (water, ethanol, or hydroalcoholic solution) and methodology (Soxhlet or ultrasound-assisted extraction) able to guarantee the best performances in terms of yield and antioxidant capacity. For kefir addition, two varieties of carob leaves (Selvatica and Amele) are employed. Functional GF bread, obtained by partially replacing the water with the enriched kefir, is prepared, and the final product is characterized in terms of its antioxidant and rheological properties. The final product shows improved compositional and technological parameters over time.

Much research has been conducted to reveal the functional properties of extra virgin olive oil polyphenols on human health once EVOO is consumed regularly as part of a balanced diet, as in the Mediterranean lifestyle. Despite the huge variety of research conducted, only one effect of EVOO polyphenols has been formally approved by EFSA as a health claim. This is probably because EFSA’s scientific opinion is entrusted to scientific expertise about food and medical sciences, which adopt very different investigative methods and experimental languages, generating a gap in the scientific communication that is essential for the enhancement of the potentially useful effects of EVOO polyphenols on health. Through the model of the Tower of Babel, we propose a challenge for science communication, capable of disrupting the barriers between different scientific areas and building bridges through transparent data analysis from the different investigative methodologies at each stage of health benefits assessment. The goal of this work is the strategic, distinctive, and cost-effective integration of interdisciplinary experiences and technologies into a highly harmonious workflow, organized to build a factual understanding that translates, because of trade, into health benefits for buyers, promoting EVOOs as having certified health benefits, not just as condiments.

Currently, there is an increasing demand of transparency in food labelling in line with the consumers concern about food origin and composition. In the recent years, several food indexes have been developed to promote healthy diet as an affordable way to prevent chronic diseases. The Mediterranean diet is recognized as one of the healthiest dietary regimen related to a low incidence of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases; anyway, a complete index quantifying the Mediteraneaness of foods is still evanescent. Identifying a uniform labelling system, valid in all EU countries and able to promote healthy lifestyle, is the current European challenge. This article deals with the development of the Mediterranean Index (MI), which may definitely estimate the Mediterraneaness degree of food. In particular MI, which simultaneously accounts nutritional and sustainability features of foods, may constitute an objective reference for using the “Mediterraneaness” label on food products; moreover, it can ultimately define the link to the Mediterranean diet encouraging producers to make healthier and more sustainable food products. Growing consumer willingness of eating healthy foods promoting well-being represents a conscious choice which could favor the diffusion of the precision nutrition principles.

Currently, there is a general trend in food science to link food and health in line with consumers’ concern about what is in their food and how what they eat can promote well-being [...]

Olive mill wastewater, a high polyphenols agro-food by-product, was successfully exploited in an eco-friendly radical process to synthesize an antioxidant macromolecule, usefully engaged as a functional ingredient to prepare functional puddings. The chemical composition of lyophilized olive mill wastewaters (LOMW) was investigated by HPLC-MS/MS and 1H-NMR analyses, while antioxidant profile was in vitro evaluated by colorimetric assays. Oleuropein aglycone (5.8 μg mL−1) appeared as the main compound, although relevant amounts of an isomer of the 3-hydroxytyrosol glucoside (4.3 μg mL−1) and quinic acid (4.1 μg mL−1) were also detected. LOMW was able to greatly inhibit ABTS radical (IC50 equal to 0.019 mg mL−1), displaying, in the aqueous medium, an increase in its scavenger properties by almost one order of magnitude compared to the organic one. LOMW reactive species and tara gum chains were involved in an eco-friendly grafting reaction to synthesize a polymeric conjugate that was characterized by spectroscopic, calorimetric and toxicity studies. In vitro acute oral toxicity was tested against 3T3 fibroblasts and Caco-2 cells, confirming that the polymers do not have any effect on cell viability at the dietary use concentrations. Antioxidant properties of the polymeric conjugate were also evaluated, suggesting its employment as a thickening agent, in the preparation of pear puree-based pudding. High performance of consistency and relevant antioxidants features over time (28 days) were detected in the milk-based foodstuff, in comparison with its non-functional counterparts, confirming LOWM as an attractive source to achieve high performing functional foods.

Carob pulp has recently received great attention due to its considerable content of polyphenols having a wide range of health promoting effects. In this work, ultrasound assisted extraction was optimized sequentially using a screening Plackett–Burman design and non-standard central composite design coupled to response surface methodology and desirability function statistical tools, to find the best conditions for the extraction of nine polyphenols from carob pods. The gathered mathematical models showed that the highest significant factors influencing the extraction of all compounds were solid–solvent ratio, solvent concentration, and particle size, with the optimal results obtained at values of 0.2 g/mL, 40% ethanol, and 0.3 mm, respectively. Extraction temperature, time, sonication power, and frequency were set at 35 °C, 15 min, 100 W, and 37 kHz, respectively. These parameters help to reduce energy costs and to obtain the best possible extraction of polyphenols.

Olive tree (Olea europea L.) leaves represent around 10% of the total weight of olives arriving at any given mill, which are generally discarded, causing economic and environmental issues. However, these are rich sources of natural bioactive compounds (i.e., polyphenols), which have health-promoting potential. Thus, the valorization of olive leaves by recovering and reusing their components should be a must for food sustainability and circular economy. This review provides an insight into the principal polyphenols present in olive leaves, together with agronomic variables influencing their content. It also summarizes the recent advances in the application of novel extraction technologies that have shown promising extraction efficacy, reducing the volume of extraction solvent and saving time and cost. Moreover, potential industrial uses and international patents filed in the pharmaceutic, food, and cosmetic sectors are discussed.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) represents one of the most important health-promoting foods whose antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities are mainly associated to its polyphenols content. To date, studies exploring the effect of EVOO polyphenols on dendritic cells (DCs), acting as a crosstalk between the innate and the adaptive immune response, are scanty. Therefore, we studied the ability of three EVOO extracts (cv. Coratina, Cima di Mola/Coratina, and Casaliva), characterized by different polyphenols amount, to regulate DCs maturation in resting conditions or after an inflammatory stimulus. Cima di Mola/Coratina and Casaliva extracts were demonstrated to be the most effective in modulating DCs toward an anti-inflammatory profile by reduction of TNF and IL-6 secretion and CD86 expression, along with a down-modulation of Il-1β and iNOS expression. From factorial analysis results, 9 polyphenols were tentatively established to play a synergistic role in modulating DCs inflammatory ability, thus reducing the risk of chronic inflammation.

Childhood obesity is associated with the development of severe comorbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis and fractures. The status of low-grade inflammation associated to obesity can be reversed through an enhanced physical activity and by consumption of food enrich of anti-inflammatory compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols. The aim of this study was to deepen the mechanisms of bone impairment in obese children and adolescents through the evaluation of the osteoclastogenic potential of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and the assessment of the serum levels of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of polyphenol cherry extracts on osteoclastogenesis, as possible dietary treatment to improve bone health in obese subjects. High RANKL levels were measured in obese with respect to controls (115.48 ± 35.20 pg/ml vs. 87.18 ± 17.82 pg/ml; p < 0.01), while OPG levels were significantly reduced in obese than controls (378.02 ± 61.15 pg/ml vs. 436.75 ± 95.53 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.01). Lower Ad-SoS- and BTT Z-scores were measured in obese compared to controls (p < 0.05). A significant elevated number of multinucleated TRAP+ osteoclasts (OCs) were observed in the un-stimulated cultures of obese subjects compared to the controls. Interestingly, obese subjects displayed a higher percentage of CD14+/CD16+ than controls. Furthermore, in the mRNA extracts of obese subjects we detected a 2.5- and 2-fold increase of TNFα and RANKL transcripts compared to controls, respectively. Each extract of sweet cherries determined a dose-dependent reduction in the formation of multinucleated TRAP+ OCs. Consistently, 24 h treatment of obese PBMCs with sweet cherry extracts from the three cultivars resulted in a significant reduction of the expression of TNFα. In conclusion, the bone impairment in obese children and adolescents is sustained by a spontaneous osteoclastogenesis that can be inhibited in vitro by the polyphenol content of sweet cherries. Thus, our study opens future perspectives for the use of sweet cherry extracts, appropriately formulated as nutraceutical food, as preventive in healthy children and therapeutic in obese ones.

The “Capocollo di Martina Franca” is a traditional dry-cured pig meat product made in Apulia. The dietary fat source is able to influence the lipid profile of muscle and subcutaneous fat in pork, thus affecting its nutritional and sensorial quality as well as its suitability for technological processing. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a diet containing extra virgin olive oil (EVOO, 3%, as-fed basis) extracted by ultrasound technology in comparison to refined olive oil (ROO, 3%, as-fed basis) on the quality of pig meat (longissimus lumborum muscle) and capocollo in relation to its storage time after seasoning (t1 = 0 vs. t2 = +6 months). The EVOO diet lowered the concentration of myristic, palmitic, stearic and total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and increased oleic, linoleic, total monounsaturated (MUFAs), polyunsaturated (PUFAs) and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in pig meat; moreover, the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices were lowered, with potential benefits for human health. The overall quality of capocollo was positively affected by the EVOO diet, although storage for 6 months after ripening levelled the protective effects of extra virgin olive oil in comparison with refined olive oil.

Mixed fermentation using Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae has gained attention in recent years due to their ability to modulate the qualitative parameters of enological interest, such as the color intensity and stability of wine. In this study, three of the most important red Apulian varieties were fermented through two pure inoculations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains or the sequential inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae after 48 h from Starmerella bacillaris. The evolution of anthocyanin profiles and chromatic characteristics were determined in the produced wines at draining off and after 18 months of bottle aging in order to assess the impact of the different fermentation protocols on the potential color stabilization and shelf-life. The chemical composition analysis showed titratable acidity and ethanol content exhibiting marked differences among wines after fermentation and aging. The 48 h inoculation delay produced wines with higher values of color intensity and color stability. This was ascribed to the increased presence of compounds, such as stable A-type vitisins and reddish/violet ethylidene-bridge flavonol-anthocyanin adducts, in the mixed fermentation. Our results proved that the sequential fermentation of Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae could enhance the chromatic profile as well as the stability of the red wines, thus improving their organoleptic quality.

This study aimed to assess the impact of two soil managements and training systems on yield and wine aroma compounds of Negroamaro variety grown in a warm climate region (southern Italy). Cover crop (CC) and soil tillage (ST) as soil management, whilst bilateral Guyot (BG) and monolateral Guyot (MG) as training systems were compared. Free and bound volatile fractions were evaluated by GC-MS. ST and CC as well as BG and MG significantly affected yield parameters. In particular, yield was higher in ST and BG than in CC and MG, respectively; moreover, it was found to be positively influenced by interaction between BG and ST. Regarding aroma compounds, significant interactions between soil management and training system factors were observed. In case of free volatiles, the most positive interaction was found between BG and ST, whereas, for bound volatiles, the best interaction was represented by MG with both soil tillage and cover crop. Vine leaf area and development over vine growth stages along with water stress levels played an important role in determining the aroma profile as well as yield parameters. In conclusion, the training system significantly interacted with soil management and affected most of important aroma compounds in Negroamaro wine.

Carotenoids are important secondary metabolites in wine grapes and play a key role as potential precursors of aroma compounds (i.e., C13-norisoprenoids), which have a high sensorial impact in wines. There is scarce information about the influence of pre-harvest inactivated yeast treatment on the norisoprenoid aroma potential of grapes. Thus, this work aimed to study the effect of the foliar application of yeast extracts (YE) to Negro Amaro and Primitivo grapevines on the carotenoid content during grape ripening and the difference between the resulting véraison and maturity (ΔC). The results showed that β-carotene and (allE)-lutein were the most abundant carotenoids in all samples, ranging from 60% to 70% of total compounds. Their levels, as well as those of violaxanthin, (9′Z)-neoxanthin, and 5,6-epoxylutein, decreased during ripening. This was especially observed in treated grapes, with ΔC values from 2.6 to 4.2-fold higher than in untreated grapes. Besides this, a principal components analysis (PCA) demonstrated that lutein, β-carotene, and violaxanthin and (9′Z)-neoxanthin derivatives principally characterized Negro Amaro and Primitivo, respectively. Thereby, the YE treatment has proved to be effective in improving the C13-norisoprenoid aroma potentiality of Negro Amaro and Primitivo, which are fundamental cultivars in the context of Italian wine production.

Microgreens are gaining more and more interest, but little information is available on the effects of the chemical composition of the nutrient solution on the microgreen yield. In this study, three Brassica genotypes (B. oleracea var. italica, B. oleracea var. botrytis, and Brassica rapa L. subsp. sylvestris L. Janch. var. esculenta Hort) were fertigated with three modified strength Hoagland nutrient solutions (1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 strength) or with three modified half-strength Hoagland nutrient solutions with three different NH4:NO3 molar ratios (5:95, 15:85, and 25:75). Microgreen yields and content of inorganic ions, dietary fiber, proteins, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene were evaluated. Micro cauliflower showed the highest yield, as well as a higher content of mineral elements and α-tocopherol (10.4 mg 100 g−1 fresh weight (FW)) than other genotypes. The use of nutrient solution at half strength gave both a high yield (0.23 g cm−2) and a desirable seedling height. By changing the NH4:NO3 molar ratio in the nutrient solution, no differences were found on yield and growing parameters, although the highest β-carotene content (6.3 mg 100 g−1 FW) was found by using a NH4:NO3 molar ratio of 25:75. The lowest nitrate content (on average 6.8 g 100 g−1 dry weight) was found in micro broccoli and micro broccoli raab by using a nutrient solution with NH4:NO3 molar ratios of 25:75 and 5:95, respectively. Micro cauliflower fertigated with a NH4:NO3 molar ratio of 25:75 showed the highest dry matter (9.8 g 100 g−1 FW) and protein content (4.2 g 100 g−1 FW).

Bamboo is a well-known medicinal plant in Southeast Asia that recently has attracted attention for its high polyphenol content and its medical and nutraceutical applications. In this work, polyphenols have been recovered for the first time by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) from an unusual Italian cultivar of Phyllostachys pubescens bamboo shoots. The effects of three independent variables, such as extraction time, temperature, and solid/liquid ratio, on polyphenol recovery yield were investigated and successfully optimized through the response surface methodology. We demonstrated that MAE is an excellent polyphenols extraction technique from bamboo shoots because the total phenolic content obtained under microwave irradiation optimal conditions (4 min at 105 °C with 6.25 mg/mL ratio) was about eight-fold higher than that obtained with the conventional extraction method. Furthermore, higher total flavonoid content was also obtained under MAE. Consistent with these results, MAE enhanced the extract antioxidant properties with significant improved DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP scavenging ability. Therefore, this innovative extraction process enhances the recovery of biologically active compounds from Phyllostachys pubescens bamboo shoots with a dramatic reduction of time and energy consumption, which paves the way for its industrial application in functional food production.