Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Hydrodistillation Wastewaters from Five Lamiaceae Species

Distillation is the most widely used method to obtain an essential oil from plant material. The biomass used in the process is returned as a solid residue together with variable amounts of water rich in water-soluble compounds, which currently are not addressed to any further application. The scope of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical composition of wastewaters coming from hydrodistillation (DWWs) of five aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, and to assess their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The phenolic profiles of the DWWs were determined by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI/MS. Free radical scavenging ability, oxygen radical antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase mimetic activity of the samples under study were measured. Moreover, to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the DWWs, an in vitro experimental model of intestinal inflammation was used. The DWW samples' phytochemical analysis allowed the identification of 37 phenolic compounds, all exhibiting good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Our study contributes to the knowledge on the polyphenolic composition of the DWWs of five aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family. The results highlight the presence of compounds with proven biological activity, and therefore of great interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields

The role of teicoplanin in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective study in critically ill COVID-19 patients (Tei-COVID Study)

Teicoplanin has a potential antiviral activity expressed against SARS-CoV-2 and was suggested as a complementary option to treat COVID-19 patients. In this multicentric, retrospective, observational research the aim was to evaluate the impact of teicoplanin on the course of COVID-19 in critically ill patients

Cellular immune profiling of lung and blood compartments in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background: SARS-CoV-2 related immunopathology may be the driving cause underlying severe COVID-19. Through an immunophenotyping analysis on paired bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood samples collected from mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS), this study aimed to evaluate the cellular immune responses in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19. Methods: A total of 36 paired clinical samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mononuclear cells (BALF-MC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 18 SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University Hospital in Rome (Italy) for severe interstitial pneumonia. The frequencies of monocytes (total, classical, intermediate and non-classical) and Natural Killer (NK) cell subsets (total, CD56bright and CD56dim), as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets [naïve, central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM)], and those expressing CD38 and/or HLADR were evaluated by multiparametric flow cytometry. Results: Survivors with CARDS exhibited higher frequencies of classical monocytes in blood compared to non-survivors (p < 0.05), while no differences in the frequencies of the other monocytes, NK cell and T cell subsets were recorded between these two groups of patients (p > 0.05). The only exception was for peripheral naïve CD4+ T cells levels that were reduced in non-survivors (p = 0.04). An increase in the levels of CD56bright (p = 0.012) and a decrease in CD56dim (p = 0.002) NK cell frequencies was also observed in BALF-MC samples compared to PBMC in deceased COVID-19 patients. Total CD4+ and CD8+ T cell levels in the lung compartment were lower compared to blood (p = 0.002 and p < 0.01, respectively) among non-survivors. Moreover, CD38 and HLA-DR were differentially expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in BALF-MC and in PBMC among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients who died from COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results show that the immune cellular profile in blood and pulmonary compartments was similar in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19. T lymphocyte levels were reduced, but resulted highly immune-activated in the lung compartment of patients who faced a fatal outcome

Arterial and venous thrombosis in coronavirus 2019 disease (Covid-19):relationship with mortality

BACKGROUND: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may experience venous thrombosis while data regarding arterial thrombosis are sparse. METHODS: Prospective multicenter study in 5 hospitals including 373 patients with Covid-19-related pneumonia. Demographic data, laboratory findings including coagulation tests and comorbidities were reported. During the follow-up any arterial or venous thrombotic events and death were registered. RESULTS: Among 373 patients, 75 (20%) had a thrombotic event and 75 (20%) died. Thrombotic events included 41 venous thromboembolism and 34 arterial thrombosis. Age, cardiovascular disease, intensive care unit treatment, white blood cells, D-dimer, albumin and troponin blood levels were associated with thrombotic events. In a multivariable regression logistic model, intensive care unit treatment (Odds Ratio [OR]: 6.0; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.8–12.6; p < 0.001); coronary artery disease (OR: 2.4; 95% CI 1.4–5.0; p = 0.022); and albumin levels (OR: 0.49; 95% CI 0.28–0.87; p = 0.014) were associated with ischemic events. Age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure, coronary heart disease, intensive care unit treatment, in-hospital thrombotic events, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, troponin, and albumin levels were associated with mortality. A multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that in-hospital thrombotic events (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.72; 95% CI 1.59–4.65; p < 0.001), age (HR: 1.035; 95% CI 1.014–1.057; p = 0.001), and albumin (HR: 0.447; 95% CI 0.277–0.723; p = 0.001) predicted morality. CONCLUSIONS: Covid-19 patients experience an equipollent rate of venous and arterial thrombotic events, that are associated with poor survival. Early identification and appropriate treatment of Covid-19 patients at risk of thrombosis may improve prognosis

Variabilità dell'olio essenziale di finocchio (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) per effetto di trattamenti agronomici

Il Finocchio da seme (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), è una specie erbacea annuale o biennale della famiglia delle Apiaceae (ex Ombrellifere), spontanea e largamente diffusa all’interno del bacino del mediterraneo, di cui si utilizzano i frutti (comunemente detti “semi”) come aromatizzanti in numerosi preparati tradizionali e come base per la preparazione di diversi composti di interesse farmaceutico ed alimentare. Il presente lavoro illustra i risultati ottenuti a seguito di un’indagine sulla composizione dell’olio essenziale di finocchio, eseguita utilizzando materiale proveniente da un triennio (2004-2006) di prove agronomiche di controllo delle infestanti svolte in ambiente mediterraneo (Cammarata – AG). L’analisi statistica dei risultati della GC-MS ha permesso di osservare come l’adozione di metodi diversi per il controllo delle infestanti, e le conseguenti variazioni nel grado di infestazione delle parcelle, non abbiano sostanzialmente influenzato il profilo analitico dell’olio essenziale; variazioni significative a carico di alcuni specifici componenti sono state invece riscontrate tra un anno e l’altro, a conferma dell’estrema suscettibilità delle specie da essenza alla modifica del decorso stagionale

Variabilità dell’olio essenziale di finocchio (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) per effetto di trattamenti agronomici

Il Finocchio da seme (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), è una specie erbacea annuale o biennale della famiglia delle Apiaceae (ex Ombrellifere), spontanea e largamente diffusa all’interno del bacino del mediterraneo, di cui si utilizzano i frutti (comunemente detti “semi”) come aromatizzanti in numerosi preparati tradizionali e come base per la preparazione di diversi composti di interesse farmaceutico ed alimentare. Il presente lavoro illustra i risultati ottenuti a seguito di un’indagine sulla composizione dell’olio essenziale di finocchio, eseguita utilizzando materiale proveniente da un triennio (2004-2006) di prove agronomiche di controllo delle infestanti svolte in ambiente mediterraneo (Cammarata – AG). L’analisi statistica dei risultati della GC-MS ha permesso di osservare come l’adozione di metodi diversi per il controllo delle infestanti, e le conseguenti variazioni nel grado di infestazione delle parcelle, non abbiano sostanzialmente influenzato il profilo analitico dell’olio essenziale; variazioni significative a carico di alcuni specifici componenti sono state invece riscontrate tra un anno e l’altro, a conferma dell’estrema suscettibilità delle specie da essenza alla modifica del decorso stagionale