Development of alginate film filled with halloysite-carbon dots for active food packaging.

The development of functional bionanocomposites for active food packaging is of current interest to replace non-biodegradable plastic coatings. In the present work, we report the synthesis of an alginate-based nanocomposite filled with modified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to develop coatings with improved barrier properties for food packaging. Firstly, HNTs were chemically modified by the introduction of carbon dots units (CDs) onto their external surface (HNTs-CDs) obtaining a nanomaterial where CDs are uniformly present onto the tubes as verified by morphological investigations, with good UV absorption and antioxidant properties.

HIV-1 Integrase Inhibition Activity by Spiroketals Derived from , an Endemic Plant of Sardinia (Italy) and Corsica (France).

In this work we investigated, for the first time, the effect of (L.) Alavi & Heywood, a Sardinian-Corsican endemic plant, on HIV-1 integrase (IN) activity. The phytochemical analysis of the leaves chloroform extract led us to isolate and characterize three compounds (SPK1, SPK2, and SPK3) belonging to the spiroketals, a group of naturally occurring metabolites of phytochemical relevance with interesting biological properties.

Phytochemical Investigation of : Structural Characterization of New -Coumaroyl Alkylphloroglucinols and Antimicrobial Evaluation against .

Species of Juss., the ninth largest family of flowering plants, are a valuable source of bioactive specialized metabolites. A leading position belongs to phloroglucinol derivatives, thanks to their unusual structural features and biological and pharmacological properties.

Gallomyrtucommulones G and H, New Phloroglucinol Glycosides, from Bioactive Fractions of against Species.

Myrtaceae family is a continuous source of antimicrobial agents. In the search for novel antimicrobial agents against species, bioactive fractions of L., growing in the Sardinia island (Italy) have been investigated.

Chemical Characterization and Anti-HIV-1 Activity Assessment of Iridoids and Flavonols from .

Plants are the everlasting source of a wide spectrum of specialized metabolites, characterized by wide variability in term of chemical structures and different biological properties such antiviral activity. In the search for novel antiviral agents against Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) from plants, the phytochemical investigation of L. led us to isolate and characterize four flavonols glycosides along with nine iridoid glycosides, two of them, and , described for the first time.

Biological Insights and NMR Metabolic Profiling of Different Extracts of Spermacoce verticillata (L.) G. Mey.

Spermacoce verticillata (L.) G. Mey.

Phytochemical Characterization of L. Cultivars of Cilento National Park (South Italy) through NMR-Based Metabolomics.

germplasm is constituted by a huge number of cultivars, each one characterized by specific features. In this context, endemic cultivars evolved for a very long period in a precise local area, developing very specific traits. These characteristics include the production and accumulation of phytochemicals, many of which are also responsible for the nutraceutical value of the drupes and of the oils therefrom.

NMR Profiling of Identifies Cytotoxic Compounds against Cetuximab-Resistant Colon Cancer Cell Lines.

In the search of new natural products to be explored as possible anticancer drugs, two plant species, namely and , were screened against colorectal cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of the crude extracts was tested on a panel of colon cancer cell models including cetuximab-sensitive (Caco-2, GEO, SW48), intrinsic (HT-29 and HCT-116), and acquired (GEO-CR, SW48-CR) cetuximab-resistant cell lines. showed remarkable cytotoxic activity, especially on the cetuximab-resistant cell lines.

Chemical Fractionation Joint to In-Mixture NMR Analysis for Avoiding the Hepatotoxicity of L. subsp. .

Dietary supplements based on L. subsp. aerial parts were banned, due to the hepatotoxicity of furan-containing -clerodane constituents.

Plant Derived Natural Products against and : Antibiofilm Activity and Molecular Mechanisms.

Bacteria are social organisms able to build complex structures, such as biofilms, that are highly organized surface-associated communities of microorganisms, encased within a self- produced extracellular matrix. Biofilm is commonly associated with many health problems since its formation increases resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents, as in the case of and , two human pathogens causing major concern. is responsible for severe nosocomial infections, the most frequent of which is ventilator-associated pneumonia, while causes several problems, like skin infections, septic arthritis, and endocarditis, to name just a few.

NMR-Based Plant Metabolomics in Nutraceutical Research: An Overview.

Few topics are able to channel the interest of researchers, the public, and industries, like nutraceuticals. The ever-increasing demand of new compounds or new sources of known active compounds, along with the need of a better knowledge about their effectiveness, mode of action, safety, etc., led to a significant effort towards the development of analytical approaches able to answer the many questions related to this topic.

Lymphocytes exposed to vegetables grown in waters contaminated by anticancer drugs: metabolome alterations and genotoxic risks for human health.

Wastewater irrigation of crops may be effective to avoid depletion (about 70%) of freshwater resources. However, the use of reclaimed waters containing persistent microcontaminants such as antineoplastic drugs is of high environmental concern. These active compounds may affect human health with potentially severe adverse effects.

NMR-based metabolomics and bioassays to study phytotoxic extracts and putative phytotoxins from Mediterranean plant species.

Introduction: Mediterranean plants are characterised by a high content of bioactive secondary metabolites that play important roles in plant-plant interactions as plant growth regulators and could be useful for the development of new eco-friendly herbicides.

Objective: An NMR-based metabolomics approach was reported to seek selective phytotoxic plant extracts and putative plant-derived active molecules.

Methods: Plant extracts derived from five Mediterranean donor species (Pistacia lentiscus, Bellis sylvestris, Phleum subulatum, Petrohrhagia saxifraga and Melilotus neapolitana) were used to treat the hydroponic cultures of three receiving plants (Triticum durum, Triticum ovatum and Avena fatua).

Spectroscopic Characterization and Cytotoxicity Assessment towards Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines of Acylated Cycloartane Glycosides from L.

In several European countries, especially in Sweden, the seeds of the species L. were widely used as coffee substitutes during the 19th century. Nonetheless, data regarding the phytochemistry and the pharmacological properties of this species are currently extremely limited.

Urtica dioica L. inhibits proliferation and enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum-stress mediated apoptosis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and the ineffectiveness of the current therapies seriously limits the survival rate of NSCLC patients. In the search for new antitumor agents, nature has played a pivotal role providing a variety of molecules, which are likely to exert selective anti-tumour properties. Herein, we investigated the antiproliferative potential of Urtica dioica L.

Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of novel synthetic lignan-like compounds.

Antibiotic resistance and biofilm tolerance are among the principal factors involved in the persistence of chronic infections. The need for new antimicrobials is an ever-increasing challenge in clinical environments and in the control of global health. Arylfurans form a set of structures that have been identified in many natural products, e.

Exploring the halophyte Cistanche phelypaea (L.) Cout as a source of health promoting products: In vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties, metabolomic profile and computational studies.

In this study, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water extracts from flowers, stems and roots of Cistanche phelypaea (L.) Cout were appraised for radical scavenging activity (RSA) towards 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and superoxide free radicals, and for metal chelating activities on iron and copper ions. The water extracts had the highest antioxidant activity, especially those from roots and flowers, and were further appraised for in vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated on the onset of human ailments, namely acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) for Alzheimer's disease, α-glucosidase and α-amylase for diabetes, and tyrosinase for skin hyperpigmentation disorders.

Metabolomic approach for a rapid identification of natural products with cytotoxic activity against human colorectal cancer cells.

The discovery of bioactive compounds from natural sources entails an extremely lengthy process due to the timescale and complexity of traditional methodologies. In our study, we used a rapid NMR based metabolomic approach as tool to identify secondary metabolites with anti-proliferative activity against a panel of human colorectal cancer cell lines with different mutation profiles. For this purpose, fourteen Fabaceae species of Mediterranean vegetation were investigated using a double screening method: H NMR profiling enabled the identification of the main compounds present in the mixtures, whilst parallel biological assays allowed the selection of two plant extracts based on their strong anti-proliferative properties.

Physiological characterization and quantitative proteomic analyses of metabolically engineered E. coli K4 strains with improved pathways for capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis.

Among capsulated bacteria, some produce polysaccharides with unique properties that have been shown to possess relevant industrial applications and commercial value. The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) produced by Escherichia coli K4 is similar to chondroitin sulphate, and recent efforts focused on the development of genetic and fermentation strategies to increase its production titers up to technologically attractive levels. However, the control of the metabolic pathways leading to CPS synthesis together with the effect of varying the concentration of pathway intermediates on CPS final titers, is still quite unexplored, and not fully understood.

Evaluation of the antioxidant properties of carexanes in AGS cells transfected with the Helicobacter pylori's protein HspB.

Naturally derived compounds represent a potential source of pharmacologically active drugs able to contrast different diseases, including gastric cancer, a multifactorial disease, in which the important role played by H. pylori infection has been demonstrated. Carexanes, stilbene derivatives, isolated from plants of the Carex distachya Desf.

2D-NMR investigation and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant, antigenotoxic and estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities of strawberry grape.

Strawberry grape is considered beneficial due to its extensive phytochemical properties. To expand the knowledge about the chemical constituents and the biological activities of the whole plant, 2D-NMR investigation has been carried out on pulp, peel, seeds, stalks and leaves. Catechin and epicatechin were identified as the main constituents of the seed extract, quercetin and ferulic acid were detected in the leaves and malvidin and cyanidin glucopyranoside in the peels.

Highlighting the effects of coumarin on adult plants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. by an integrated -omic approach.

In this study, the effects of the allelochemical coumarin through a metabolomic, proteomic and morpho-physiological approach in Arabidopsis adult plants (25days old) were investigated. Metabolomic analysis evidenced an increment of amino acids and a high accumulation of soluble sugars, after 6days of coumarin treatment. This effect was accompanied by a strong decrease on plant fresh and dry weights, as well as on total protein content.

Evaluation of different training systems on Annurca apple fruits revealed by agronomical, qualitative and NMR-based metabolomic approaches.

Nine different training systems for "Annurca Rossa del Sud" apple fruits, including oblique palmette, free palmette, V-shaped, Tatura trellis, Bibaum®, modified Bibaum®, triple leader, slender spindle and Solaxe, were evaluated based on agronomic, qualitative and metabolomic traits. Fruits were analysed at harvest and after the reddening process. The slender spindle training system showed the highest cumulative efficiency yield compared to the others.

Phytochemical study of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don: Spectroscopic elucidation of unusual amino-phlorogucinols and antimicrobial assessment of secondary metabolites from medium-polar extract.

Three unusual amino-phloroglucinols, named helichrytalicines A-C, along with seventeen known compounds including acetophenones, tremetrone derivatives, low-molecular weight phenols, flavonol glucosides, have been isolated from the medium-polar extract of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don, a medicinal plant typical of the Mediterranean vegetation. The structures of the compounds have been elucidated based on extensive 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses, including COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, CIGAR-HMBC, H2BC and HSQC-TOCSY, along with Q-TOF HRMS analysis.

Chemical constituents and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Cistanche violacea Desf. (Orobanchaceae) extract.

A new iridoid (1) and a new phenylethanoid glycoside (4), together with five known compounds (2, 3, 5, 6 and 7), were isolated for the first time from the ethyl acetate soluble part of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Cistanche violacea Desf. (Orobanchaceae), an endemic species of the North of the Sahara. The structures of these compounds have been elucidated on the basis of extensive 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, including COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, CIGAR-HMBC, H2BC and HSQC-TOCSY.