Production of liposomes by microfluidics: The impact of post-manufacturing dilution on drug encapsulation and lipid loss.

Microfluidic mixing is recognized as a convenient method to produce liposomes for its scalability and reproducibility. Numerous studies have described the effect of process parameters such as flow rate ratios and total flow rate on size and size distribution of vesicles. In this work, we focused our attention on the effect of flow rate ratios on the encapsulation efficiency of liposomes, as we hypothesized that different amount of residual organic solvent could affect the retention of lipophilic drug molecules within the bilayer.

Protective Effect of Arzanol against HO-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in Differentiated and Undifferentiated SH-SY5Y Cells.

Oxidative stress can damage neuronal cells, greatly contributing to neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In this study, the protective activity of arzanol, a natural prenylated α-pyrone-phloroglucinol heterodimer, was evaluated against the HO-induced oxidative damage in trans-retinoic acid-differentiated (neuron-like) human SH-SY5Y cells, widely used as a neuronal cell model of neurological disorders. The pre-incubation (for 2 and 24 h) with arzanol (5, 10, and 25 μM) significantly preserved differentiated SH-SY5Y cells from cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and morphological changes induced by 0.

Are periodontitis and psoriasis associated? A pre-clinical murine model.

Aim: To investigate the bidirectional influence between periodontitis and psoriasis, using the respective experimental models of ligature- and imiquimod-induced diseases on murine models.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two C57/BL6J mice were randomly allocated to four experimental groups: control (P- Pso-), ligature-induced periodontitis (P+ Pso-), imiquimod-induced psoriasis (P- Pso+) and periodontitis and psoriasis (P+ Pso+). Samples (maxilla, dorsal skin and blood) were harvested immediately after death.

Comparative Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Natural Methoxylated Flavones Xanthomicrol and Eupatilin in A375 Skin Melanoma Cells.

Melanoma is a skin cancer caused by the malignant transformation of melanocytes and cutaneous melanoma represents the most aggressive and deadliest type of skin cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide. The main purpose of the present research was to evaluate the anticancer effects of the natural bioactive compounds xanthomicrol (XAN) and eupatilin (EUP) in human A375 malignant skin melanoma cells, a cell line widely used as an in vitro model of cutaneous melanoma. XAN and EUP are lipophilic methoxylated flavones with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties.

Arzanol, a natural phloroglucinol α-pyrone, protects HaCaT keratinocytes against HO-induced oxidative stress, counteracting cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial depolarization.

Skin oxidative stress results in structural damage, leading to premature senescence, and pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer. The plant-derived prenylated pyrone-phloroglucinol heterodimer arzanol, isolated from Helichrysum italicum ssp. microphyllum (Willd.

Promising inhibition of diabetes-related enzymes and antioxidant properties of leaves extract.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive metabolic disorder of glucose metabolism. One of the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of T2D is reducing postprandial hyperglycaemia through inhibition of the digestive enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase. In this context, aimed at identifying natural products endowed with anti-T2D potential, we focused on (L.

Sex Differences in the Bitterness Perception of an Aromatic Myrtle Bitter Liqueur and Bitter Compounds.

We evaluated sex differences in the perception of bitter compounds and an aromatic bitter herbal liqueur (Mirtamaro) obtained by the infusion of myrtle leaves/berries together with a mixture of Mediterranean herbs/plants as flavoring/bittering ingredients. In a healthy population ( = 231 participants), using bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses, significant sex differences emerged in quinine bitterness perception, with women showing a higher bitter taste intensity rating than men. Among all participants, 40 subjects (subpopulation) were randomly selected for the evaluation of sex differences in Mirtamaro gustatory and olfactory perception using a hedonic Likert-type scale.

Waste Leaves as Source of Essential Oil Rich in Limonene and Citral: Chemical Characterization, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties, and Effects on Cancer Cell Viability.

This study investigated chemical composition, cytotoxicity in normal and cancer cells, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil (EO) isolated by hydrodistillation from the discarded leaves of lemon () plants cultivated in Sardinia (Italy). The volatile chemical composition of lemon leaf EO (LLEO) was analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with flame ionization detection (GC/MS and GC/FID). The most abundant component of LLEO was limonene (260.

Non-Volatile Terpenoids and Lipophilic Flavonoids from Subsp. (Wulfen) I. Richardson.

Musk yarrow ( subsp. (Wulfen) I. Richardson) is endemic to the Central Alps, and is used to flavour alcoholic beverages.

Xanthomicrol Activity in Cancer HeLa Cells: Comparison with Other Natural Methoxylated Flavones.

The methoxylated flavone xanthomicrol represents an uncommon active phenolic compound identified in herbs/plants with a long application in traditional medicine. It was isolated from a sample of subsp. (musk yar-row) flowering tops.

Role of Aromatic Herbs and Spices in Salty Perception of Patients with Hyposmia.

Herbs and spices represent a possibility for the improvement of anosmia and ageusia. In this work we evaluated the role of Mediterranean aromatic herbs and spices in the salty taste perception of patients with hyposmia compared to healthy controls. To this goal, the salty taste perception in response to pure salt and different types of commercial flavored sea salt was assessed in patients with hyposmia, with or without a post-acute coronavirus syndrome, and healthy controls.

Impact of solid lipid nanoparticles on 3T3 fibroblasts viability and lipid profile: The effect of curcumin and resveratrol loading.

This study focused on the impact in 3T3 fibroblasts of several types of empty and curcumin- and resveratrol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on cell viability and lipid metabolism in relation to their lipid content and encapsulated drug. SLN, prepared by hot homogenization/ultrasonication, were characterized with respect to size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Compritol® 888 ATO at different concentrations (4%, 5%, and 6% wt/wt) was chosen as lipid matrix while Poloxamer 188 (from 2.

Flavoring of sea salt with Mediterranean aromatic plants affects salty taste perception.

Background: Salt (sodium chloride) is an essential component of daily food, crucial for many physiological processes. Due to health risks related to salt over consumption, considerable interest is devoted to strategies to reduce dietary salt intake. In this work we evaluated the sensory dimensions of sea salts flavored with Mediterranean aromatic plants with the aim to confirm the role of herbs/spices in the enhancement of salty perception and to validate the use of flavored salts as a strategy to reduce salt intake.

Effect of the natural polymethoxylated flavone artemetin on lipid oxidation and its impact on cancer cell viability and lipids.

The biochemical class of the polymethoxylated flavonoids represents uncommon phenolic compounds in plants presenting a more marked lipophilic behavior due to the alkylation of its hydroxylic groups. As a polymethoxylated flavone, which concerns a different bioavailability, artemetin (ART) has been examined in vitro against lipid oxidation and its impact on cancer cells has been explored. Despite this flavone only exerted a slight protection against in vitro fatty acid and cholesterol oxidative degradation, ART significantly reduced viability and modulated lipid profile in cancer Hela cells at the dose range 10-50 μM after 72 h of incubation.

Effects of quercetin and artemetin prenylation on bioavailability and bioactivity.

Flavonoids are a huge class of polyphenolic compounds ubiquitous in higher plants, in most food and beverages of natural origin. They could be considered as dietary phenols, which exert many health-promoting effects on human and animal physiology with a wide range of biomedical and nutritional functions such as activation or inhibition of enzymes like lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, the detoxification of carcinogens and chemoprevention. From a chemical point of view, these aromatic compounds can be divided in six subgroups depending on the position of aromatic B ring on C ring, the degree of unsaturation and oxidation, the position of hydroxyl groups and their functionalization.

Proniosomal Formulation Encapsulating Pomegranate Peel Extract for Nutraceutical Applications.

In this study, pomegranate peel as a traditional natural remedy was extracted and encapsulated in proniosomal systems in order to improve its stability against harsh environmental conditions. Pomegranate peel was extracted by using sonication as a green extraction technology and the antioxidant activity of the obtained extract was evaluated to be 85.37% by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.

Influence of Autochthonous Putative Probiotic Cultures on Microbiota, Lipid Components and Metabolome of Caciotta Cheese.

The present study was undertaken to produce probiotic Caciotta cheeses from pasteurized ewes' milk by using different combinations of autochthonous microbial cultures, containing putative probiotic strains, and evaluate their influence on gross composition, lipid components, sensory properties and microbiological and metabolite profiles of the cheeses throughout ripening process. A control cheese was produced using commercial starter cultures. The hydrophilic molecular pools (mainly composed by amino acids, organic acids, and carbohydrates) were characterized by means of H NMR spectroscopy, while the cholesterol, α-tocopherol and fatty acid composition by HPLC-DAD/ELSD techniques.

The Role of Lipid Composition in the Sensory Attributes and Acceptability of the Salted and Dried Mullet Roes (Bottarga): A Study in Human and Animal Models.

A taste component is implicated in the oro-sensory detection of dietary lipids and free fatty acids seem to be involved in fatty food recognition. Bottarga, the salted and semi-dried ovary product of mullet ( spp.), is a rich-fat food.

Fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition of seed and pericarp oils of the medicinal crop (L.) Dunal cultivated in Sardinia (Italy).

We studied the chemical composition and the nutritional properties of fixed oils extracted from seeds and pericarps of the medicinal plant . wild germplasm was collected in Sardinia (Italy) and cultivated in Campidano subregion (Southern Sardinia). The main fatty acids of seed oil were 18:2 n-6 (53%, 73.

Transcutol P Containing SLNs for Improving 8-Methoxypsoralen Skin Delivery.

Topical psoralens plus ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) therapy consists in the topical application of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) followed by the skin irradiation with ultraviolet A radiation. The employment of classical 8-MOP vehicles in topical PUVA therapy is associated with poor skin deposition and weak skin permeability of psoralens, thus requiring frequent drug administration. The aim of the present work was to formulate solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) able to increase the skin permeation of 8-MOP.

Waste salt from the manufacturing process of mullet bottarga as source of oil with nutritional and nutraceutical properties.

Background: The Sardinian food delicacy 'bottarga' is the final product of a number of treatments (salting and drying) on the ovaries of mullet (Mugil spp) and represents an important natural source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) with nutraceutical properties. During the salting process of mullet roes to obtain bottarga, huge amounts of waste salt are generated, rich in residual ovary material.

Results: We evaluated the lipid composition (main lipid components and fatty acids) and bioactivity of oil obtained from the ovary material separated from waste salt (waste salt oil).

Coumarins from as inhibitors of the tumour-associated carbonic anhydrases IX and XII: isolation, biological studies and in silico evaluation.

In an screening for human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibiting agents from higher plants, the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of seeds selectively inhibited hCA IX and hCA XII isoforms. The phytochemical investigation of the extracts led to the isolation of ten linear furocoumarins (-), four simple coumarins (-) and a new angular dihydrofurocoumarin (). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1 D and 2 D NMR, MS, and ECD data analysis.

Phytochemical composition and the cholinesterase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory properties of seed extracts from the palm fruit.

The chemical composition and biological properties of palm (Lindl.) H. Wendl.