Anna Maria Giusti

Environmental and economic sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet

Abstract The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been proposed as a healthy dietary pattern for disease prevention. However, little information exists on the cost and on the environmental impact of such a dietary model. We compared the environmental impact and the costs of the current food consumption pattern of the Italian population and the Mediterranean model in order to investigate its overall sustainability. The environmental impact was calculated on the basis of three indexes, i.e. Carbon, Ecological and Water Footprint. The costs (Euro) per person of the MD and of the current Italian household food expenditure were considered on a weekly basis according to the 2013 data from the Observatory prices and tariffs of the Ministry of Economic Development and the service SMS consumers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The MD resulted to produce a lower environmental impact than the current food consumption of the Italian population. The monthly expenditure of the MD is slightly higher in the overall budget compared to the current expenditure allocated to food by the Italian population, but there is a substantial difference in the distribution of budget according to the different food groups.

Untargeted NMR-Based Methodology in the Study of Fruit Metabolites

In this review, fundamental aspects of the untargeted NMR-based methodology applied to fruit characterization are described. The strategy to perform the structure elucidation of fruit metabolites is discussed with some examples of spectral assignments by 2D experiments. Primary ubiquitous metabolites as well as secondary species-specific metabolites, identified in different fruits using an untargeted 1H-NMR approach, are summarized in a comprehensive way. Crucial aspects regarding the quantitative elaboration of spectral data are also discussed. The usefulness of the NMR-based metabolic profiling was highlighted using some results regarding quality, adulteration, varieties and geographical origin of fruits and fruit-derived products such as juices.

Protective effects of Brassica oleracea sprouts extract toward renal damage in high-salt-fed SHRSP: role of AMPK/PPARa/UCP2 axis

Objectives: Renal damage precedes occurrence of stroke in high-sodium/low-potassium-fed stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP). We previously reported a marked suppression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) upon high-salt Japanese-style diet in SHRSP kidneys. Vegetable compounds are known to exert protective effects in cardiovascular diseases. We aimed at evaluating the impact of Brassica oleracea sprouts juice toward renal damage in Japanese diet-fed SHRSP and exploring the role of 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-&ggr; coactivator-1&agr; (PGC1&agr;)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-&agr; (PPAR&agr;)/UCP2 axis. Methods: SHRSP received Japanese diet for 4 weeks. A group of SHRSP received Japanese diet and B. oleracea. A third group received Japanese diet, B. oleracea, and PPAR&agr; inhibitor (GW6471). A group of SHRSP fed with regular diet served as control. Results: Japanese diet induced marked increases of oxidative stress, inflammation, and proteinuria, along with glomerular and tubular damage, as compared with regular diet. A significant suppression of AMPK/UCP2 pathway was observed. Despite Japanese diet feeding, concomitant administration of B. oleracea prevented oxidative stress accumulation, inflammation, renal damage, and proteinuria. All components of the UCP2 regulatory pathway were significantly increased by B. oleracea. Superoxide dismutase 2 and phosphoendothelial nitric oxide synthase were also stimulated. Addition of PPAR&agr; inhibitor to B. oleracea and Japanese diet significantly reduced the B. oleracea beneficial effects. SBP levels were comparable among the different groups of rats. In vitro, UCP2 inhibition by genipin offset the antioxidant effect of B. oleracea in renal mesangial and proximal tubular cells. Conclusion: B. oleracea administration prevented renal damage in salt-loaded SHRSP, independently from SBP, with parallel stimulation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1&agr;/PPAR&agr;/UCP2 axis. Stimulation of the latter mechanism may provide relevant renal protective effect and play a therapeutic role in target organ damage progression in hypertension.

Improvement of the nutraceutical quality of broccoli sprouts by elicitation.

Epidemiological studies show an inverse association between Brassica consumption and chronic diseases. Phytochemicals are thought to be beneficial for human health and therefore responsible for this protective effect. Increasing their levels into Brassica food is considered an expedient nutritional strategy that can be achieved through the manipulation of growth conditions by elicitors. In this work we systematically evaluated the influence of treatment with different elicitors (sucrose, mannitol, NaCl, 1-aminocyclopropane-L-carboxylic acid, salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate) on the phytochemical composition of broccoli sprouts. The content of total and single glucosinolates, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, vitamin C and E and β-carotene was assessed. The exposure to different elicitors produced concentration- and elicitor-dependent specific changes in the content of all the phytochemicals considered. Sucrose, identified as the most effective elicitor by principal component analysis, induced a significant increase of total and specific glucosinolates, vitamin C, total anthocyanins and polyphenols. Sucrose is likely to represent an effective tool to increase the nutritional value of broccoli sprouts.

Nutraceutical Improvement Increases the Protective Activity of Broccoli Sprout Juice in a Human Intestinal Cell Model of Gut Inflammation

Benefits to health from a high consumption of fruits and vegetables are well established and have been attributed to bioactive secondary metabolites present in edible plants. However, the effects of specific health-related phytochemicals within a complex food matrix are difficult to assess. In an attempt to address this problem, we have used elicitation to improve the nutraceutical content of seedlings of Brassica oleracea grown under controlled conditions. Analysis, by LC-MS, of the glucosinolate, isothiocyanate and phenolic compound content of juices obtained from sprouts indicated that elicitation induces an enrichment of several phenolics, particularly of the anthocyanin fraction. To test the biological activity of basal and enriched juices we took advantage of a recently developed in vitro model of inflamed human intestinal epithelium. Both sprouts’ juices protected intestinal barrier integrity in Caco-2 cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor α under marginal zinc deprivation, with the enriched juice showing higher protection. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the extent of rescue from stress-induced epithelial dysfunction correlated with the composition in bioactive molecules of the juices and, in particular, with a group of phenolic compounds, including several anthocyanins, quercetin-3-Glc, cryptochlorogenic, neochlorogenic and cinnamic acids.

Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Different Extracts from Thymus algeriensis Aerial Parts

This study was performed to evaluate the metabolite recovery from different extraction methods applied to Thymus algeriensis aerial parts. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using photodiode array detector with gradient elution has been developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of different phenolic compounds in the extracts and in their corresponding purified fractions. The experimental results show that microwave-assisted aqueous extraction for 15 min at 100 °C gave the most phenolics-enriched extract, reducing extraction time without degradation effects on bioactives. Sixteen compounds were identified in this extract, 11 phenolic compounds and five flavonoids, all known for their biological activities. Color analysis and determination of chlorophylls and carotenoids implemented the knowledge of the chemical profile of this plant.

Atriplex mollis Desf. Aerial Parts: Extraction Procedures, Secondary Metabolites and Color Analysis

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector was proposed for the rapid characterization of different phenolic constituents from the extracts of Atriplex mollis aerial parts. Atriplex species are known for their multiple biological activities, but no information is available in the literature about A. mollis. With the aim to firstly characterize the main secondary metabolites of this plant, so as to orient better the biological evaluation, we applied three different extraction procedures and compared the chromatographic results. Microwave-assisted extraction gave the best yield and recovery of important compounds such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, p-OH benzoic acid, rutin, sinapinic acid, t-ferulic acid, naringenin and benzoic acid. These constituents belong to three important chemical classes: phenolic acids, flavonoids and monoterpenes. Color evaluation and analysis of chlorophylls (a and b) and carotenoids complete the preliminary profile of this plant. From these analyses, Atriplex mollis is a source of bioactive compounds (especially rutin, t-ferulic acid and gallic acid) and could be recommended as a plant of phyto-pharmaceutical relevance, opening new perspectives on this salt-tolerant plant.

Dieta, infiammazione e malattie metaboliche

SommarioLa disponibilità di cibo e l’esposizione ad agenti patogeni hanno condizionato l’evoluzione della specie umana favorendo l’acquisizione di un’elevata efficienza nell’accumulare energia e lo sviluppo di un efficace apparato di difesa, rappresentato dal sistema immunitario. Il network che connette funzioni metaboliche e immunitarie si è strutturato in un contesto diverso da quello odierno, cosicché l’attuale l’overload metabolico induce uno stato infiammatorio cronico di basso grado.

Olive Fruit Blends Modulate Lipid-Sensing Nuclear Receptor PPARγ, Cell Survival, and Oxidative Stress Response in Human Osteoblast Cells

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate how different extravirgin olive oils (EVOOs), obtained by blending Olea europea cultivars, could influence the cell growth, the response to inflammatory stimuli, and oxidative stress in a culture of the osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2. Methods: Three different extravirgin olive oils were physicochemically characterized, determining the free acidity, the oxidation status, the polyphenols content, and the antioxidative activity. Moreover, the effects on Saos-2 cell culture were determined, studying the mRNA expression level by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and the antioxidative activity using fluorescent probes. Results: The cultivars used in the south of Italy, yield extravirgin oils with different amount of fatty acids and polyphenols, which counteract induction of proinflammatory cytokines and regulate free radical production in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated cells. In vitro analysis using the human osteoblast cell line Saos-2 showed that the addition of oils to cell culture simulated a hypoxic stress followed by a reoxygenation period, during which the antioxidant activity of extravirgin olive oils protected cells from oxidative damages. On the other hand, the mRNA expression levels of factors involved in inflammatory processes, cell growth recovery, and antioxidant response, as heme oxygenase-1, were differently stimulated by EVOOs. Moreover, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was differently modulated by EVOOs. Conclusion: These findings show that the blending of different extravirgin olive oil can impact an osteoblast cell line, in particular regarding cell growth recovery and oxidative stress.

Obesità, dieta mediterranea e nutraceutica

SommarioLa Dieta Mediterranea (DM) è ricca di alimenti con proprietà nutraceutiche. L’olio d’oliva è ricco di acidi grassi Ω9