Publications by authors named "A Santucci"
In an era of escalating environmental challenges, converting organic residues into high-value bioactive compounds provides a sustainable way to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency. This study explores the potential of the circular bioeconomy through the valorization of agricultural byproducts, with a focus on the antioxidant properties of specific chestnut burr cultivars. Currently, over one-third of food production is wasted, contributing to both humanitarian and environmental crises.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe circular bioeconomy is currently a promising model for repurposing natural sources; these sources include plants due to their abundance of bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of a extract. is an invasive macroalga from the Orbetello Lagoon (Tuscany, Italy), which grows in nutrient-rich environments and has been forming extended mats since 2005.
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- Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a hereditary metabolic disorder that primarily affects cartilage, leading to early osteoarthritis due to a process called ochronosis.
- Researchers faced challenges in studying AKU using human chondrocytes but overcame this by creating an in vitro model using immortalized C20/A4 cells treated with homogentisic acid (HGA), mimicking AKU conditions.
- This model revealed important insights, including oxidative stress and inflammatory responses linked to AKU, as well as potential amyloid fibril formation, highlighting its usefulness for understanding the disease and aiding in drug development.
Article Synopsis
- Repurposing saffron waste offers a sustainable way to create valuable products, as discarding flower components results in a large amount of waste—350 kg of tepals for every kg of stigmas.
- This research utilized bioactivity studies and Life Cycle Assessments to analyze the beneficial compounds found in saffron tepals from Tuscany, discovering various flavonoids and their ability to reduce oxidative stress and enhance fermentation processes in yeast.
- The findings also indicated significant anti-inflammatory properties and potential applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, while highlighting the environmental benefits of such a "green" approach in supporting the circular bioeconomy.
Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) gene, leading to the accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA), causing severe inflammatory conditions. Recently, the presence of serum amyloid A (SAA) has been reported in AKU tissues, classifying AKU as novel secondary amyloidosis; AA amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular tissue deposition of fibrils composed of fragments of SAA. AA amyloidosis may complicate several chronic inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic infections, neoplasms, etc.
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