Mineral Composition Analysis of Red Horse-Chestnut () Seeds and Hydroalcoholic Crude Extract Using ICP OES.

This study presents findings on the metal and metalloid composition of red horse-chestnut ( × , ) seeds, determined by the ICP OES technique. Samples were collected from five AXC plants located in Modena (Italy) over four consecutive years (2016-2019). The seeds underwent proximate analysis, which included measurements of moisture content, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, ash, and elemental composition.

A thin section micromorphology photomicrographs dataset of the infilling of the Sennacherib Assyrian canal system (Kurdistan Region of Iraq).

Here we present a compendium of 212 photographs of archaeological soils and sediments thin sections (micrographs) from the backfill of the Sennacherib Assyrian canal system of Northern Mesopotamia. The micrographs were produced using an optical petrographic microscope (Olympus BX41) mounting a digital camera (Olympus E420) for image acquisition. The dataset is composed of two folders containing (1) every micrograph in full resolution JPEG, and (2) a PDF file with scale bars and brief captions for each one.

Geomorphological assessment of the preservation of archaeological tell sites.

Tells are multi-layered, archaeological mounds representing anthropogenic landforms common in arid regions. In such contexts, the preservation of the archaeological record is mined by ongoing climate changes, shift in land use, and intense human overgrazing. Such natural and human-driven factors tune the response of archaeological soils and sediments to erosion.

Neolithic hydroclimatic change and water resources exploitation in the Fertile Crescent.

In the first millennia of the Holocene, human communities in the Fertile Crescent experienced drastic cultural and technological transformations that modified social and human-environments interactions, ultimately leading to the rise of complex societies. The potential influence of climate on this "Neolithic Revolution" has long been debated. Here we present a speleothem record from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, covering from Early Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic periods (~ 11 to 7.

Upgrading of Biobased Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate as a Tool to Reduce the CO Emissions of the Biodiesel Fuel Life Cycle.

With regards to oil-based diesel fuel, the adoption of bio-derived diesel fuel was estimated to reduce CO emissions by approximately 75%, considering the whole life cycle. In this paper, we present a novel continuous-flow process able to transfer an equimolar amount of CO (through urea) to glycerol, producing glycerol carbonate. This represents a convenient tool, able to both improve the efficiency of the biodiesel production through the conversion of waste streams into added-value chemicals and to beneficially contribute to the whole carbon cycle.

Is There a Role for Sound in Plants?

Plants have long been considered passive, static, and unchanging organisms, but this view is finally changing. More and more knowledge is showing that plants are aware of their surroundings, and they respond to a surprising variety of stimuli by modifying their growth and development. Plants extensively communicate with the world around them, above and below ground.

Novel Natural Compounds and Their Anatomical Distribution in the Stinging Fireworm (Annelida).

Increasing evidence in the field of bioprospection fosters the necessity of studying poorly investigated poisonous marine invertebrates to expand knowledge on animal venom biology. Among marine annelids, amphinomid fireworms are notorious for their bearded trunk equipped with a powerful stinging capacity. Here, a methodological workflow based on analytical chemistry techniques (compound isolation followed by mass spectrometry and spectroscopy analyses) was applied to gain new insights, leading to the identification and structural elucidation of an array of natural products from Mediterranean specimens of .

Stratigraphic reassessment of Grotta Romanelli sheds light on Middle-Late Pleistocene palaeoenvironments and human settling in the Mediterranean.

During the last century, Grotta Romanelli (Southern Italy) has been a reference site for the European Late Pleistocene stratigraphy, due to its geomorphological setting and archaeological and palaeontological content. The beginning of the sedimentation inside the cave was attributed to the Last Interglacial (MISs 5e) and the oldest unearthed evidence of human occupation, including remains of hearths, was therefore referred to the Middle Palaeolithic. Recent surveys and excavations produced new U/Th dates, palaeoenvironmental interpretation and a litho-, morpho- and chrono-stratigraphical reassessment, placing the oldest human frequentation of the cave between MIS 9 and MIS 7, therefore embracing Glacial and Interglacial cycles.

A tuning point in plant acoustics investigation.

In a very recent book called , published by renowned publisher Springer Nature, the authors stated that the scientific literature gathered so far regarding knowledge around the field of Plant Acoustics allows us to divert the focus from the question "whether plants perceive sound" toward the questions "how and why they are doing it" Some phenomena are well known: roots perceive the sound of flowing water and display a sound-mediated growth toward the water source, while the buzz pollination process allows plants to minimize the pollen lost and maximize which is collected by true pollinators. But plants are far more perceptive and responsive to their environment than we generally consider them to be, and they are communicating far more information than we realize if we only took all their signals (VOCs, sound, exudates, etc.) into a greater picture.

Biological Effect of Different Spinach Extracts in Comparison with the Individual Components of the Phytocomplex.

The Mediterranean-style diet is rich in fruit and vegetables and has a great impact on the prevention of major chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this work we investigated the ability of spinach extracts obtained by different extraction methods and of the single main components of the phytocomplex, alone or mixed, to modulate proliferation, antioxidant defense, and genotoxicity of HT29 human colorectal cells. Spinach extracts show dose-dependent activity, increasing the level of intracellular endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) when tested at higher doses.

Sound perception and its effects in plants and algae.

Life evolved in an acoustic world. Sound is perceived in different ways by the species that inhabit the Planet. Among organisms, also some algal species seem to respond to sound stimuli with increased cell growth and productivity.

Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of CDDO and CDDO-Me, Two Derivatives of Natural Triterpenoids.

Triterpenoids are natural compounds synthesized by plants through cyclization of squalene, known for their weak anti-inflammatory activity. 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), and its C28 modified derivative, methyl-ester (CDDO-Me, also known as bardoxolone methyl), are two synthetic derivatives of oleanolic acid, synthesized more than 20 years ago, in an attempt to enhance the anti-inflammatory behavior of the natural compound. These molecules have been extensively investigated for their strong ability to exert antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic activities, and to induce apoptosis and differentiation in cancer cells.

Oxygen Availability during Growth Modulates the Phytochemical Profile and the Chemo-Protective Properties of Spinach Juice.

Fruits and vegetables are a good source of potentially biologically active compounds. Their regular consumption in the human diet can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Plants produce additional chemical substances when subject to abiotic stress or infected by microorganisms.

Antimicrobial activity of spices essential oils and its effectiveness on mature biofilms of human pathogens.

The antibacterial activity of L., , , and L. essential oils (EOs) against some common pathogenic microorganisms ( ATCC 6538, ATCC 14990, ATCC 29212, ATCC 1915, ATCC 8739, ATCC 27853, ATCC 7966, ATCC 10005, ATCC 13883, and ATCC 10231) and their biofilms was studied.

Combined effects of LED lights and chicken manure on Neochloris oleoabundans growth.

In this study a photobioreactor prototype is presented for the culture growth of microalgae model organism Neochloris oleoabundans by using chicken manure waste as feedstock along with the optimum combination of led light wavelengths and light intensity. Particularly interesting results are observed on the strains fed by chicken manure medium under the proper combination of red and blue LED light illumination, the microalgal growth resulted comparable with the strains fed by the costly commercial microalgal growth medium (BG 11 medium). Cell concentration, optical density, growth rate, cell size, total lipid and photosynthetic pigment content have been monitored during a time-course experiment.

The investigation of resveratrol and analogs as potential inducers of fetal hemoglobin.

Βeta-thalassemia, is a hemoglobinopathy characterized by reduced beta-globin chain synthesis, leading to imbalanced globin chain production, ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia. Increasing gamma-globin gene expression is a promising therapeutic approach as it reduces this imbalance by combining with the excess alpha globin chains and producing fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Furthermore, increased iron absorption and repeated blood transfusions lead to iron overload and tissue damage secondary to reactive oxygen species.

Non-Conventional Yeasts Whole Cells as Efficient Biocatalysts for the Production of Flavors and Fragrances.

The rising consumer requests for natural flavors and fragrances have generated great interest in the aroma industry to seek new methods to obtain fragrance and flavor compounds naturally. An alternative and attractive route for these compounds is based on bio-transformations. In this review, the application of biocatalysis by Non Conventional Yeasts (NCYs) whole cells for the production of flavor and fragrances is illustrated by a discussion of the production of different class of compounds, namely Aldehydes, Ketones and related compounds, Alcohols, Lactones, Terpenes and Terpenoids, Alkenes, and Phenols.

Assessment of antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of spinach plants grown under low oxygen availability.

Background: In the human diet, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is important in maintaining good health and in preventing chronic diseases. It is known that plant-derived food is a powerful source of chemopreventive molecules, i.e.

Production of flavours and fragrances via bioreduction of (4R)-(-)-carvone and (1R)-(-)-myrtenal by non-conventional yeast whole-cells.

As part of a program aiming at the selection of yeast strains which might be of interest as sources of natural flavours and fragrances, the bioreduction of (4R)-(-)-carvone and (1R)-(-)-myrtenal by whole-cells of non-conventional yeasts (NCYs) belonging to the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Hanseniaspora, Kazachstania, Kluyveromyces, Lindnera, Nakaseomyces, Vanderwaltozyma and Wickerhamomyces was studied. Volatiles produced were sampled by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and the compounds were analysed and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Yields (expressed as % of biotransformation) varied in dependence of the strain.

Response surface methodology as optimization strategy for asymmetric bioreduction of (4S)-(+)-carvone by Cryptococcus gastricus.

Response surface methodology was applied in optimizing the asymmetric bioreduction of (4S)-(+)-carvone to dihydrocarvone (with low incidence of unsought side reactions) by using whole-cells of Cryptococcus gastricus. A factorial design (2(5)) including five independent variables was performed: X(1)=incubation time; X(2)=pH; X(3)=amount of whole-cells; X(4)=concentration of (4S)-(+)-carvone; X(5)=concentration of cofactor-recycling system. The utilization of glucose and glycerol as cofactor-recycling systems was checked.

The resveratrol analog 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene suppresses transformation in normal mouse fibroblasts and inhibits proliferation and invasion of human breast cancer cells.

4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene (DHS) is a synthetic analog of resveratrol, a phytoalexin known for its biological activities. We previously demonstrated that DHS exerts an antiproliferative effect on normal human fibroblasts that is higher than that of the natural parent molecule. No evidence regarding its role in human cancer cell lines has been found thus far.

Structure-activity relationship of resveratrol and its analogue, 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene, toward the endothelin axis in human endothelial cells.

Resveratrol inhibits endothelin-1, a vascular tension regulator. We synthesized the resveratrol analogue 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene with 2 hydroxyl groups in the 4 and 4' position to obtain a molecule more active than resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene). The results demonstrate that 4,4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene led to a significant decrease in total endothelin-1 secretion and in endothelin-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in human endothelial cells.

A defective ABC transporter of the MRP family, responsible for the bean lpa1 mutation, affects the regulation of the phytic acid pathway, reduces seed myo-inositol and alters ABA sensitivity.

• We previously identified the lpa1 (low phytic acid) 280-10 line that carries a mutation conferring a 90% reduction in phytic acid (InsP(6) ) content. In contrast to other lpa mutants, lpa1(280-10) does not display negative pleiotropic effects. In the present paper, we have identified the mutated gene and analysed its impact on the phytic acid pathway.