Publications by authors named "Loizzo Monica Rosa"

The present work compares the physical-chemical, organoleptic and antioxidant characteristics of breadsticks (Bs) prepared in the traditional way (BCs) with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and with mace (BMs), ginger (BGs) and turmeric (BTs) flavoured olive oil (FOO). Breadsticks' water activity (a), pH, moisture content (U.R.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This work aimed to propose the reuse of processing waste from the Sicilian almond ( Batsch.) cultivar Tuono for the formulation of a new functional baked product (muffin) that is gluten- and lactose-free. Muffins were prepared using orange juice, rice flour, extra virgin olive oil, and enriched almond skin (3% and 6% /).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The rising demand for healthier alternatives to traditional sugary products has driven the exploration of natural substitutes for sucrose. This study aimed to investigate carob pulp flour (CPF) as a viable alternative to sucrose in the production of high-value jellies with enhanced health benefits. Carob pulp flour was spectroscopically characterized, revealing the presence of bioactive molecules, such as natural antidiabetic polyols and polyphenols.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of enrichment processing on the quality parameters, bioactivity and sensorial aspects of (mace)-flavored olive oil storage for one year. The mace powder was added to extra virgin olive oil through two different processes: immediately after crushing the olives by mixing mace (1% weight/weight (/)) with the olive paste (MAVOO-M) and by adding mace to extra virgin olive oil (C) (2% /) (MAVOO-I). A multi-analytical approach was applied to measure the main qualitative indexes, such as the free acidity, peroxide value and ultraviolet parameters.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study aimed to investigate the impact on nutritional and functional properties of dried kiwifruit ( cv. Sungold) slices during conservation for 120 days in sealed containers in the dark at 25 °C. For this purpose, kiwifruits slices were dried at two different temperatures, 40 and 55 °C, for 30 and 25 h, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical profile and bioactivity of subsp. (Brassicaceae), a species from central-southern Sicily (Italy), where it is consumed as a salad. For this purpose, LC-ESI/HRMS analysis of the ethanolic extract was performed, highlighting the occurrence, along with flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, and oxylipins, of sulfated secondary metabolites, including glucosinolates and various sulfooxy derivatives (e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Raspberry ( L.) is a fruit of great interest due to its aroma, nutritional properties, and the presence of many bioactive compounds. However, differences among cultivation systems can affect its composition and, consequently, its potential bioactivity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

During the last decades, the consumption of bamboo sprouts () has increased because they are considered a "superfood". However, this product is characterized by a short shelf life due to the deterioration in quality parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of two modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems (MAP1: 2% O, 5% CO, 93% N and MAP2: 3% O, 7% CO, 90% N) to fresh-shelled ready-to-eat bamboo sprouts and compare these packaging systems with vacuum packaging during storage for 28 days at 4 °C using heat-sealable polyamide and polyethylene (PA/PE) trays.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of two enrichment processes on the quality parameters and bioactivity of Ottobratica extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with ginger during storage. The first procedure was conducted by including ginger powder with olive fruits in the malaxer, and the second by infusion into the EVOO. The obtained oils were stored at room temperature for one year in the dark and periodically analysed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: Berry fruits are recognized as a "superfood" due to their high content of bioactive compounds and health benefits. : Herein, extracts of and fresh and dried fruits obtained by different extraction procedures (ethanolic and hydroalcoholic maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and Soxhlet apparatus) were analysed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS) and compared to identify the main healthy compounds and their impact on the inhibition of key enzymes (pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase) associated with metabolic disorders. The antioxidant activity and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and NF-κB pathway were also investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In spite of the progress in treatment strategies, cancer remains a major cause of death worldwide. Therefore, the main challenge should be the early diagnosis of cancer and the design of an optimal therapeutic strategy to increase the patient's life expectancy as well as the continuation of the search for increasingly active and selective molecules for the treatment of different forms of cancer. In the recent decades, research in the field of natural compounds has increasingly shifted towards advanced and molecular level understandings, thus leading to the development of potent anti-cancer agents.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bamboo ( J. Houz) has become an emerging forest resource of economic and ecological significance with health benefits. Since the beneficial effects of the non-edible parts of bamboo have not been thoroughly explored, we characterized in this study bamboo leaf (BL) and sheath (BS) extracts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

is an important genus in the Rutaceae family, with high medicinal and economic value, and includes important crops such as lemons, orange, grapefruits, limes, etc. The species is rich sources of carbohydrates, vitamins, dietary fibre, and phytochemicals, mainly including limonoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and carotenoids. essential oils (EOs) consist of several biologically active compounds mainly belonging to the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes classes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A new accession of myrobalan ( L.) from Sicily (Italy) was studied for the first time for its chemical and nutraceutical properties. A description of the main morphological and pomological traits was created as a tool for characterization for consumers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This work investigated the phytochemical content and bioactivity of collected in Calabria and evaluated, for the first time, the possibility of enriching traditional ciabatta bread with goji fresh flesh puree. For this purpose, goji flesh puree, bread, and bread enriched with 20% and 40% goji flesh puree (G20 and G40 samples, respectively) were subjected to several analyses. Selected compounds were quantified by UHPLC analysis in both goji fresh flesh puree and after simulation of the cooking process.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

subsp. (Caruel) Raimondo & Mazzola, belonging to the complex, is a wild edible plant endemic to western Sicily and a relative of modern cultivated crops. In this study, the antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activities, enzymatic inhibition, and cytotoxicity in cancer cells of subsp.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cancer is one of the largest causes of mortality in the world, and due to its incidence, the discovery of novel anticancer drugs is of great importance. Many successful anticancer drugs used in clinical practices are derived from natural products. The genus is a group of species distributed in the Mediterranean area and used in traditional medicine for their biological properties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Haloarchaeal carotenoids have attracted attention lately due to their potential antioxidant activity. This work studies the effect of different concentrations of carbon sources on cell growth and carotenoid production. Carotenoid extract composition was characterized by HPLC-MS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Seeds from mustard (genera spp. and spp.), are known as a rich source of glucosinolates and omega-3 fatty acids.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The growing interest in foods that can be beneficial to human health is bringing into focus some products that have been used locally for centuries but have recently gained worldwide attention. One of these foods is pumpkin seed oil, which has been used in culinary and traditional medicine, but recent data also show its use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In addition, some sources refer to it as a potential functional food, mainly because it is obtained from pumpkin seeds, which contain many functional components.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of the present study is to investigate the chemical profile, antioxidant activity, carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzyme inhibition, and hypolipidemic effect of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Sicilian Citrus maxima (pomelo) flavedo. Using gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) we analysed the Eos of five cultivars of C. maxima, namely, 'Chadock', 'Maxima', 'Pyriformis', 'Terracciani', and 'Todarii', and their blends.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Food is processed to make it safe, to make its shelf-life more stable, and to make it more desirable [...

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Biocompatible Pickering emulsions (PE) stabilized by tailor-made antioxidant-loaded particles have been known for some time now, but antioxidant-rich natural plant particle-based emulsions are much less well known. This study aimed to investigate the physico-chemical properties of commercial Zingiber officinale powders obtained from biological and conventional agricultural practice and ginger powder-based PE.

Results: The physico-chemical and biological properties of Zingiber officinale powders (GDPs) obtained from conventional (GDPC1 and GDPC2) and biological agricultural (GDPBIO) practices, and the properties of derived PE (PE_GDPs) were examined.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this work, we conducted a comparative phytochemical, chemotaxonomic, and biological study of essential oils (EOs) and extracts (ethyl acetate and methanol) obtained from the leaves of and . The dominant compounds of EO, analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are α-pinene, sabinene, manoyl oxide, and germacrene D, whereas α-pinene, limonene, (,)-farnesol, β-pinene, and γ-cadinene are the most representative volatiles of EOs. A multivariate analysis of EOs, included a selection of literature data comparing our samples to samples of // from the Mediterranean area, was performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF