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Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Ferula glauca L. (F. communis L. subsp. glauca) growing in Marche (central Italy)

The essential oil obtained from different parts of Ferula glauca L. (formerly considered as a subspecies of F. communis) growing in Marche (central Italy), was analyzed for the first time by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major volatiles were (E)-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide in leaves, alpha-pinene, myrcene and germacrene D in flowers, alpha- and beta-pinene in fruits, (E)-beta-farnesene, myristicin and elemicin in roots, respectively. The differences in composition detected with respect to F. communis, made the volatile fraction a reliable marker to distinguish between them, and confirm the botanical data at the base of their discrimination. Furthermore, the oil was assayed for its antimicrobial activity by the broth microdilution method. B. subtilis was found to be the most sensitive microorganism, with the lowest MIC values.

Efficacy of antimicrobial filter treatments on microbial colonization of air panel filters

Aims: To assess the activity of biostatic agents on the microbial colonization of panel filters.

Pilot-scale production and viability analysis of freeze-dried probiotic bacteria using different protective agents.

The functional food industry requires an improvement of probiotic strain stability during storage, especially when they are stored at room temperature. In this study, the viability of freeze-dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501(®) and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502(®) using different protective agents (i.e., glycerine, mannitol, sorbitol, inulin, dextrin, Crystalean(®)) was determined and compared with semi skimmed milk (SSM) control. No significant differences were observed between the tested protectants and the control (SSM) during storage at refrigerated conditions. During storage at room temperature, only glycerine was found to stabilize viability better than other tested substances.

Composition and biological activity of essential oil of Achillea ligustica All. (Asteraceae) naturalized in central Italy: Ideal candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations

Essential oil from flowers (FL) and vegetative parts (VP) of Achillea ligustica (Asteraceae), naturalized after cultivation in central Italy, was investigated by GC-FID and GC-MS. The most abundant components were linalool, viridiflorol, beta-pinene, 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol. The antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and beta-carotene bleaching test) demonstrated a moderate activity of essential oils. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth micro-dilution method on 6 microbial strains and showed to be quite strong against the cariogenic Gram-positive Streptococcus mutans, suggesting that this essential oil could be a valid candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations. Moderate cytotoxic activity was observed in assays on four tumour cell lines by MTT assay.

Effects of Lyophilization and Use of Probiotics on Donkey's Milk Nutritional Characteristics

Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) is an abnormal IgE-mediated reaction to cow milk proteins. Donkey’s milk could be considered suitable for feeding young children affected by severe IgE-mediated CMPA because its nutritional properties and composition are very close to human milk. Since donkey’s milk is available during a limited range of months during the year, it may be useful to find better storage conditions for this product. This study investigated the effects of the lyophilization treatment on donkey’s milk nutritional characteristics, and the results were compared with those obtained on fresh and frozen milk. Nutritional properties of lyophilized donkey’s milk remained basically unchanged compared with fresh milk. Two different probiotic strains were added to lyophilized donkey’s milk, and their viability was evaluated after milk reconstitution. The results obtained confirmed the possibility of producing a probiotic infant formula with beneficial properties using donkey’s milk as raw material.

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501®, Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502® and SYNBIO® against pathogens

Probiotic lactobacilli have a great potential to produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit and control the microbial pathogen growth. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502®, and their 1 : 1 combination, named SYNBIO®, were studied using four different methods.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from several Hypericum taxa (Guttiferae) growing in central Italy (Appennino Umbro-Marchigiano).

The chemical composition of the essential oils of nine taxa from seven sections of Hypericum L. (Guttiferae; H. perforatum subsp. perforatum, H. perforatum subsp. veronense, H. calycinum, H. montanum, H. richeri subsp. richeri, H. hyssopifolium, H. hirsutum, H. hircinum subsp. majus, and H. tetrapterum) occurring in central Italy (Appennino Umbro‐Marchigiano) was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. A total of 186 compounds were identified in the different species and subspecies, accounting for 86.9–92.8% of the total oils. The major fraction of the oil was always represented by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (30.3–77.2%), while quantitative differences occurred between the other classes of volatiles depending on the taxa considered. Chemical composition of the nine Hypericum entities with respect to the taxonomical classification was discussed. Essential oils obtained from six taxa, i.e., H. perforatum subsp. perforatum, H. perforatum subsp. veronense, H. calycinum, H. richeri subsp. richeri, H. hirsutum and H. tetrapterum, were also tested for their antimicrobial properties against five different microbial strains by the broth‐microdilution method, and they were found to have significant activity (expressed as MIC) on B. subtilis, moderate activity on C. albicans and S. aureus, and weak activity on E. coli and E. faecalis, the most active being those from H. hirsutum, H. richeri subsp. richeri, and H. tetrapterum.

Evaluation of antipathogenic activity and adherence properties of human Lactobacillus strains for vaginal formulations

To test different Lactobacillus strains for their antipathogenic activity towards Candida strains and their adhesion properties for the preparation of vaginal ovules and douches to be used in vaginal candidiasis prevention.

Biogenic amines as freshness index of meat wrapped in a new active packaging system formulated with essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis

Abstract Biogenic amines (BAs) are considered as an important indicator of freshness and quality of food. In this work, a new active packaging (AP) system for meat that, incorporating essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis at 4% (w/w), inhibits the increase of BAs and the bacteria involved into their production was developed. BAs were analyzed by a SPE-HPLC-DAD method during the storage time of meat (0–7 d, 4 °C). Results showed that, in each monitored day, Biogenic Amine Index (BAI) expressed in mg kg−1 is lower in meat wrapped in AP with respect to that packed in polycoupled packaging (PP) (from 19% to 62%). A strong correlation was found between the inhibition of increase of putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and their bacteria producers such as Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Brocothrix thermospacta. By exploiting antimicrobial and antioxidant action of essential oil of R. officinalis, the new APs contribute to increase the shelf life of fresh meat and to preserve its important nutrients.

Modulation of cortisol levels, endocannabinoid receptor 1A, proopiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone receptor alpha mRNA expressions by probiotics during sole (Solea solea) larval development.

In the present study, we investigated whether the use of Enterococcus faecium IMC 511 as a probiotic can modulate neuroendocrine system responses during the larval rearing of Solea solea; to this end, the gene expression patterns of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), endocannabinoid receptor 1A (CB1A), and thyroid receptor alpha (TRα) were quantified, and whole-body cortisol levels were measured. Probiotic treatment up-regulated transcription of all selected genes and cortisol concentrations on day 10 post hatch (ph), while on day 30 ph experimental groups showed significantly lower levels of both POMC and CB1A compared to those of the control group. These changes were no longer evident on day 60 ph, when POMC, CB1A, TRα gene expression and cortisol titers were found to be similar in all experimental groups. Our results suggest that metabolic responses to probiotic treatment can be modulated through the activation of genes selected for functional interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and the melanocortin and the endocannabinoid systems. Furthermore, the observed (30 ph) down-regulation of both POMC and CB1A gene expression coupled with up-regulation of TRα mRΝΑ levels suggest the activation of a compensatory mechanism that promotes growth and development and perhaps modulates food intake.