Giuseppe Ruberto

Antioxidant activity of selected essential oil components in two lipid model systems

Abstract About 100 pure components of essential oils have been tested for their antioxidant effectiveness. The main classes of compounds, namely monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, benzene derivatives, and non isoprenoid components comprising alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, which are the most common constituents of essential oils, have been analysed. Two model systems for the antioxidant efficacy have been used; the first exploiting the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) method using egg yolk as oxydable substrate, the second measuring the formation of hydroperoxydienes from linoleic acid in a micellar system, using in both cases 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP) as a radical initiator, and α-tocopherol as a reference compound. From a general point of view phenols were confirmed to possess the highest antioxidant activity. In particular some monoterpene hydrocarbons, namely, terpinolene, α- and γ-terpinene showed a significant protective action, whereas among the oxygenated components, beside the aforesaid phenols, allylic alcohols manifested an appreciable activity. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and non isoprenoid components subjected to this study showed a low, if any, antioxidant effect. The role of the different model systems and the relationship between structure and antioxidant effectiveness are discussed.

Antioxidant activity of extracts of the marine algal genus Cystoseira in a micellar model system

The antioxidant activity of the lipid extracts of eight marine algae belongingto the Cystoseira genus has been evaluated in a micellar model system.The activity has been ascribed to the presence in the extracts oftetraprenyltoluquinols, which are tocopherol-like compounds characteristicof these algae. Results have been expressed as relative antioxidant efficiency(RAE), defined as the ratio of the antioxidant efficiency (AE) of the testedextract to that of α-tocopherol. From the results a composition-activityrelationship has been deduced.

Nutrition rehabilitation of undernourished children utilizing Spiruline and Misola

BackgroundMalnutrition constitutes a public health problem throughout the world and particularly in developing countries.AimsThe objective of the study is to assess the impact of an elementary integrator composed of Spiruline (Spirulina platensis) and Misola (millet, soja, peanut) produced at the Centre Medical St Camille (CMSC) of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished children.Materials and methods550 undernourished children of less than 5 years old were enrolled in this study, 455 showed severe marasma, 57 marasma of medium severity and 38 kwashiorkor plus marasma. We divided the children randomly into four groups: 170 were given Misola (731 ± 7 kcal/day), 170 were given Spiruline plus traditional meals (748 ± 6 kcal/day), 170 were given Spiruline plus Misola (767 ± 5 kcal/day). Forty children received only traditional meals (722 ± 8 kcal/day) and functioned as the control group. The duration of this study was eight weeks.Results and DiscussionAnthropometrics and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological evolution of these children. The rehabilitation with Spiruline plus Misola (this association gave an energy intake of 767 ± 5 kcal/day with a protein assumption of 33.3 ± 1.2 g a day), both greater than Misola or Spiruline alone, seems to correct weight loss more quickly.ConclusionOur results indicate that Misola, Spiruline plus traditional meals or Spiruline plus Misola are all a good food supplement for undernourished children, but the rehabilitation by Spiruline plus Misola seems synergically favour the nutrition rehabilitation better than the simple addition of protein and energy intake.

Compositional analysis and in vivo anti-diabetic activity of wild Algerian Marrubium vulgare L. infusion.

Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes in Algeria. Compositional analysis of the aqueous infusion revealed the presence of fifteen metabolites, all belonging to the class of polyphenols. Particularly, seven flavonoids have been detected, together with 5-caffeoylquinic (chlorogenic) acid in small amounts; the extract is dominated by the presence of a series of complex molecules, characterized as verbascoside (acteoside) derivatives. Concerning the anti-diabetic effectiveness a series of in vivo experiments were carried out on albinos Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in the animals by intra-peritoneal injection of alloxane; they were treated twice a day with aqueous extract from aerial part infusion (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (5mg/kg body weight) for 15 days. Oral administration of 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract the Marrubium vulgare induced an significant effect antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic (dose-dependent effect). A decrease in blood glucose by 50% for the dose 100 mg/kg and more than 60% for doses 200 and 300 mg/kg, as well as a significant lowering of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in treated animals, compared with diabetic controls group (p<0.001), have been observed. Glibenclamide was used as reference and showed similar effects.

Nutrition Rehabilitation of HIV-Infected and HIV-Negative Undernourished Children Utilizing Spirulina

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an alimentary integrator composed of spirulina (Spirulina platensis; SP), produced at the Centre Médical St Camille of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished HIV-infected and HIV-negative children. We compared two groups of children: 84 were HIV-infected and 86 were HIV-negative. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Anthropometric and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological effect of SP supplement to traditional meals. Rehabilitation with SP shows on average a weight gain of 15 and 25 g/day in HIV-infected and HIV-negative children, respectively. The level of anaemia decreased during the study in all children, but recuperation was less efficient among HIV-infected children. In fact 81.8% of HIV-negative undernourished children recuperated as opposed to 63.6% of HIV-infected children (Z: 1.70 (95% CI –0.366, –0.002, p = 0.088)). Our results confirm that SP is a good food supplement for undernourished children. In particular, rehabilitation with SP also seems to correct anaemia and weight loss in HIV-infected children, and even more quickly in HIV-negative undernourished children.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous Infusions from Capparis spinosa L. and Crithmum maritimum L. before and after Submission to a Two-Step in Vitro Digestion Model

This study investigated the phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of aqueous infusions from wild-grown caper (Capparis spinosa L.) and sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) from the Dalmatia region (Croatia) before and after their submission to an in vitro digestion process. HPLC/UV-vis-DAD/ESI-MS analysis of the caper infusion identified rutin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside as dominant flavonoids in the matrix together with a series of cinnamoylquinic acid derivatives, whereas in the sea fennel aqueous infusion chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid), its isomers, and higher derivatives were identified as almost the sole class of phenolics. Both infusions exhibited good and dose-dependent antioxidant activity before in vitro digestion by the DPPH method, the β-carotene bleaching method, and copper-induced oxidation of human LDL. The amount of total phenolics (Folin-Ciocalteu assay) strongly decreased in digested samples (from 3.0 and 2.2% in caper and sea fennel infusions, respectively, to <1.0%), as did their antioxidant activity as measured by the three aforesaid methods. The results showed that the majority of phenolic compounds detected in both infusions are not stable under applied simulated gastrointestinal conditions and that the stability of these secondary metabolites strongly depends on the nature of the corresponding matrix.

Phytocomplexes from liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) leaves--chemical characterization and evaluation of their antioxidant, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Three extracts of different polarities of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. leaves were characterized and evaluated for their antioxidant, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity. In total, thirty components have been identified and quantified through the use of liquid chromatography (LC) with ultraviolet-visible diode-array-detector (UV-vis-DAD) and mass spectrometry (MS). The main components belong to the polyphenols family, being flavonoid and dihydrostilbene derivatives. The extracts have been investigated for their antioxidant, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities, which are fundamental requirements of efficacious chemo-preventive agents. The ethyl acetate extract proved to be the most valuable, evidently for the conspicuous presence of several polyphenols, namely flavonoids and dihydrostilbenes.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PHENOLIC MERODITERPENOIDS FROM MARINE ALGAE

Abstract The overall 1 O 2 quenching rate constants k Q for three meroditerpenoids from Mediterranean marine algae of the genus Cystoseira were measured using 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 1,4-endoperoxide as a thermal source of 1 O 2 ( 1 Δ g ). The most active of the compounds tested had a k Q value which is comparable with that of α-tocopherol. These metabolites also act as inhibitors of methyl linoleate peroxidation, while their O .− 2 quenching activity is rather low, similar to α-tocopherol.

Biomolecular Characterization of Wild Sicilian Oregano: Phytochemical Screening of Essential Oils and Extracts, and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activities

An extensive survey of wild Sicilian oregano was made. A total of 57 samples were collected from various sites, followed by taxonomic characterization from an agronomic perspective. Based on morphological and production characteristics obtained from the 57 samples, cluster analysis was used to divide the samples into homogeneous groups, to identify the best biotypes. All samples were analyzed for their phytochemical content, applying a cascade‐extraction protocol and hydrodistillation, to obtain the non volatile components and the essential oils, respectively. The extracts contained thirteen polyphenol derivatives, i.e., four flavanones, seven flavones, and two organic acids. Their qualitative and quantitative characterization was carried out by LC/MS analyses. The essential oils were characterized using a combination of GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses; a total of 81 components were identified. The major components of the oils were thymol, p‐cymene, and γ‐terpinene. Cluster analysis was carried out on both phytochemical profiles and resulted in the division of the oregano samples into different chemical groups. The antioxidant activity of the essential oils and extracts was investigated by the FolinCiocalteau (FC) colorimetric assay, by UV radiation‐induced peroxidation in liposomal membranes (UV‐IP test), and by determining the O

The anticarcinogenic potential of essential oil and aqueous infusion from caper (Capparis spinosa L.).

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