Publications by authors named "Dall'Acqua S"

An efficient reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method, based on the design of the experiment approach, was developed for the simultaneous determination of capsiate isomers. Critical method parameters, i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

(Chaga) is a medicinal mushroom with several pharmacological properties that is used as a tea in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, Chaga water extract was digested in vitro to mimic the natural processing and absorption of its biocomponents when it is consumed as functional beverage, and its anticancer activities were evaluated in breast cancer (BC) cell lines, representing HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes. After chemical characterization by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HR-QTOF) analysis, the effect of Chaga biocomponents on cell viability and cell cycle progression was assessed by MTT assay, FACS analysis, and Western blot.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Shared biological factors may play a role in both the cognitive deficits and the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome observed in individuals with Schizophrenia (SCZ). These factors could entail disturbances in tryptophan (Trp) to both melatonin (MLT) and kynurenine (Kyn) metabolic pathways, as well as inflammation and alterations in the gut microbiome composition.

Methods: The present research project aims to investigate this hypothesis by recruiting 170 SCZ patients from two different recruitment sites, assessing their cognitive functions and screening for the presence of metabolic syndrome.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In the last decade, the kynurenine pathway (KP) has gained attention in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia being at the croassroad between neuroinflammation and glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission. However, clinical findings are scarse and conflicting, and the specific contributions of these two systems to the neurobiology of cognitive symptoms are far from being elucidated. Furthermore, little is known about the molecular underpinnings of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive improvement, including rehabilitation strategies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this work, homogenizer-assisted extraction (HAE) and maceration (MAE) were applied on leaves and bark of using water and methanol (MeOH) as solvents. HAE and MAE extracts were compared through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and evaluating the antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Considering the phytochemical contents and the bioassays results, the HAE extracts resulted favorably with larger content of phenolics and higher antioxidant activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Dietary strategies to improve arachidonic acid:eicosapentaenoic acid (AA:EPA) ratios are of interest due to potential reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress following exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a novel dietary intervention, that is, the ingestion of 30 g of dark chocolate, on blood lipid profiles and gut microbiota composition in elite male soccer players.

Methods: Professional male soccer players were randomly assigned to the experimental group (DC) provided with 30 g of dark chocolate or to the control group (WC), provided with 30 g of white chocolate, for 30 days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The essential oil (EO) obtained from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) biomass is rich of bioactive constituents and its oral administration can be valuable. In this paper two different hemp EOs were orally administered to CD1 mice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Rauvolfia serpentina roots are used in Southeast Asian herbal medicine for various ailments including snake bites, fever, hypertension, and dysentery.
  • The study evaluated the content of key active ingredients (reserpine, ajmaline, and ajmalicine) in the roots processed using different methods on plants cultivated in Japan.
  • Results showed that a 30-minute drum mixer washing method is efficient for root processing, and active ingredient content is consistent across different root sizes, indicating uniform quality of the crude drug.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Four new alkaloids Chaeronepaline-A (1), Chaeronepaline-B (2), Chaeronepaline-C (3), and Chaeronepaline-D (4) were isolated from Corydalis chaerophylla D.C. collected from Nepal and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data, 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Accumulating senescent cells contribute to aging and diseases, prompting research into botanical extracts for potential therapies that could target these issues.
  • A standardized extract of Salvia haenkei (HK) was found to extend both lifespan and healthspan in aged mice by reducing inflammation and markers of senescence while improving muscle strength and fur quality.
  • The study identified luteolin, a flavonoid in HK, as a compound that disrupts the interaction between the proteins p16 and CDK6, suggesting a mechanism through which HK promotes longevity by modulating cellular senescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study was performed to determine the chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of the aerial parts of Hausskn. and Bornm. (family Papaveraceae).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The genus is an important source of food in the Mediterranean diet with documented nutritional and medicinal properties. However, few studies have investigated the phytochemical composition and the biological activity of wild Sicilian taxa. Thus, we aimed to study the chemical profile and the antioxidant potential, in vitro and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tanacetum nitens (Boiss. & Noë) Grierson is an aromatic perennial herb used in Turkish traditional medicine to treat headache, fever, and skin diseases. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties of T.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lycium barbarum L. berries have a remarkable chemical composition and extensive biological activities, being a valuable component of health and nutraceutical practices. Nevertheless, a deep insight on the intestinal permeation of the pro-healthy bioactive compounds is urgently needed to predict the real effects on human body.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents of different extracts from aerial parts of A. absinthium and to evaluate their antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activity. Extracts were prepared by maceration, infusion or Soxhlet techniques.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Justicia adhatoda L. is used as traditional medicine in Nepal to treat cough, asthma, and inflammatory disorders, and is indicated as "Asuro". Leaves are used worldwide as herbal medicine due to cardiotonic, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, and bronchodilatory properties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) is a liver protein that inhibits lipoprotein lipase, and a drug called Vupanorsen, an antisense oligonucleotide, unexpectedly increased liver fat in humans.
  • The study explored how silencing ANGPTL3 in human liver cells (Huh7) led to an increase in lipid content, using various biochemical assays to track changes in lipid metabolism over 48 hours.
  • Results showed that silencing ANGPTL3 or applying recombinant ANGPTL3 increased lipid accumulation, peaking when both methods were combined, and also triggered the expression of genes involved in fat production, independent of another protein called PCSK9.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

(Schisandraceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Under the name Wu Wei Zi, it is used to treat many diseases, especially as a stimulant, adaptogen, and hepatoprotective. Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans are the main compounds responsible for the effect of .

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Medicinal plant safety is a rising challenge worldwide due to the continued overuse of pesticides to their maximum residue limits. Due to the high demand for medicinal plants, their production is being increased and sometimes protected by pesticide use. The analysis of these residues requires robust analytical methods to ensure the safety and quality of medicinal plants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A small chlorite vial, discovered among numerous artifacts looted and recovered in the Jiroft region of Kerman province, southeastern Iran, contains a deep red cosmetic preparation that is likely a lip-coloring paint or paste. Through analytical research involving XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy), and HPLC-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) analyses, the mineral components of the reddish substance were identified as hematite, darkened with manganite and braunite, and traces of galena and anglesite, mixed with vegetal waxes and other organic substances. The mixture, thus observed, bears a striking resemblance to the recipes of contemporary lipsticks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Reduced sperm motility and/or count are among the major causes of reduced fertility in men, and sperm membranes play an important role in the spermatogenesis and fertilization processes. However, the impact of sperm lipid composition on male fertility remains under-investigated. The aim of the present study was to perform a lipidomic analysis of human sperm membranes: we performed an untargeted analysis of membrane lipid composition in fertile (N = 33) and infertile subjects (N = 29).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Two cardinal elements in the complex and multifaceted pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) are neuroinflammation and dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, with the latter being especially involved in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Interestingly, the Kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) is at the crossroad between them, constituting a potential causal link and a therapeutic target. Although there is preclinical and clinical evidence indicating a dysregulation of KP associated with the clinical phenotype of SCZ, clinical studies investigating the possible relationship between changes in biomarkers of the KP and response to pharmacotherapy are still limited.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Parkia biglobosa stem bark extracts were prepared using methanol, methanol 80%, water and ethyl acetate to investigate their phytochemical contents, as well as antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties.

Results: Liquid chromatography (LC) quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) and LC-MS revealed the presence of flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and gallotannins. Particularly, the water extract contained rutin (480 μg per 100 mg) and 3-caffeoylquinic acid (1109 μg per 100 mg) in higher amounts, whereas the 80% methanol extract contains methoxyluteolin-7-O-rutinoside and catechin derivatives as major compounds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sildenafil citrate is an approved drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Despite a widespread application, sildenafil citrate shows numerous adverse cardiovascular effects in high-risk patients. Local transdermal drug delivery of this drug is therefore being explored as an interesting and noninvasive alternative administration method that avoids adverse effects arised from peak plasma drug concentrations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The genus Stachys L., one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceae family, is highly represented in Turkey. This study was conducted to determine the bio-pharmaceutical potential and phenolic contents of six different extracts from aerial parts of Stachys tundjeliensis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF