Nitrogen Headspace Improves the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Shelf-Life, Preserving Its Functional Properties.

The functional foods field has recently evolved due to new research being carried out in the food area and greater regulations; these factors have contributed to the creation of health claims, and to the increasing attention that consumers give to health-promoting food products. The aim of this research was to improve the shelf-life of a typical functional food of the Mediterranean diet, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). We focused our attention on the standardization and validation of a production process, starting from the cultivation and harvesting of the olives, which would guarantee a product of quality in terms of bioactive compound content.

Protective effects of ITF 296 in the isolated rabbit heart subjected to global ischemia.

The anti-ischemic action of ITF 296 was evaluated in isovolumic, electrically driven rabbit heart preparations subjected to temporary ischemia and reperfusion. Reduction of perfusion rate from 20 to 0.2 ml/min produced a sharp decrease of peak systolic pressure, left ventricular (LV)-developed pressure, and LV dP/dt, which culminated in complete ventricular arrest within 3-4 min.

Protective effect of the nitrate ester ITF 296 against methacholine-induced myocardial ischemia in the anesthetized rat.

The activity of ITF 296 against methacholine-induced myocardial ischemia was investigated in anesthetized rats in comparison with the organic nitrates nitroglycerin (NTG) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), the K(+)-channel openers nicorandil and cromakalim, the Ca(2+)-channel blocker amlodipine, and the vasodilator dipyridamole. Given as i.v.

Different sensitivity of basilar and saphenous arteries to thromboxane A2-induced contractions. Effect of imidazole 2-hydroxybenzoate (ITF 182).

Superfused rings of rabbit basilar arteries are more sensitive than those of saphenous arteries to the contractions induced by a prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue (U-46 619) and by a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) generating system. 5-Hydroxytryptamine aggravates the latter. Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) on the other hand, relaxes only the basilar rings without affecting the saphenous.

Penetration of imidazole 2-hydroxybenzoate (ITF 182) into experimentally inflamed pleural and knee joint exudates.

The penetration of the two components of imidazole 2-hydroxybenzoate (ITF 182), imidazole and salicylate, into inflamed sites induced by intrapleural injection of carrageenin in the rat and by a urate-cotton pellet implantation in the knee joint of the rabbit is studied. The results obtained show that the two components of the salt penetrate rapidly the inflamed sites and display different kinetic profiles: imidazole diffuses throughout inflamed and non-inflamed fluids without any specific localization, salicylate shows preferential localization in inflamed fluids and remains longer than imidazole.

Reversible inhibition of thromboxane A2 production by imidazole 2-hydroxybenzoate (ITF 182) in the arachidonic acid injected rat. A comparison with acetylsalicylic acid and indometacin.

The behavior of imidazole 2-hydroxybenzoate (ITF 182), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and indometacin (INN; in some pharmacopoeias called indomethacin) in inhibiting thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin (PGs) production in the blood of the rat intravenously injected with arachidonic acid was studied. ITF 182 caused a selective inhibition of TXA2 production with a time-dependent reversible action. An irreversible inhibition of PGs production was shown by ASA whereas a reversible inhibition could be observed with indometacin.

Pharmacological and toxicological studies on an iron succinyl-protein complex (ITF282) for oral treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

ITF282, a soluble iron succinyl-protein complex, orally administered to the rat elevates the concentration of iron in the serum to a greater extent than ferritin. The serum iron increase induced by ITF282 is delayed when compared with ferrous sulphate. The ITF282 absorption process, like that of ferritin, proceeds along the physiological pathways without bypassing the transfer system of the intestinal mucosal cells since no further increase of serum metal is observed when giving high doses of ITF282 to the rat pretreated with a saturating dose of ferrous sulphate.

[Derivatives of 1,3-bis-(methlendioxyphenoxy)propane with antispastic activity].

A number of amines derived from 1,3-bis(3,4-methylen-dioxyphenoxy)propane have been prepared from 1,3-bis-(3,4-methylendioxy-phenoxy)propan-2-one. The acute toxicity and the activity of these compounds on isolated guinea pig ileum have been studied. The majority of the compounds showed clear antagonist activity towards BaCl2, histamine and acetylcholine contracting responses, generally grater than that of papaverine; on the contrary, their antagonist activity towards 5-HT responses was slightly lower.

[Action on the isolated guinea-pig ileum and toxicity of some derivatives of 1,5-bis-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)-n. pentane].

The acute toxicity and the activity on isolated guinea pig ileum of some derivatives of 1,5-bis-(3,4-methylendioxyphenyl)-n.pentane are reported. The majority of such compounds showed clear antagonist activity towards BaCl2, acetylcholine, histamine and 5-HT contracting responses, generally greater than that of papaverine.