Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Genetic resources of Olea europaea L. in the Bologna province (Italy): SSR analysis and identification of local germplasm

In Italy the number of olive cultivars is extremely high, and together with the best known and widespread ones, in the collections numerous minor local cultivars and ecotypes exist which have not been sufficiently characterized. In Emilia Romagna this aspect is less evident, but nevertheless a great numberof old olive trees and bushed is present on the northern slopes of the Apennins, to witness an olive cultivation which has always been present since the times of the Roman Empire. Many of these genotypes have been collected and characterized as not belonging to cultivars presently known, but which might have been cultivated in distant times. This kind of olive genetic diversity was studied using SSR technique, on plants growing in the Bologna area (IT). For genotype identification comparisons were made with a number of important cultivars of Central Italy. Screening was obtained by analysing patterns produced by 17 SSR primers. A dendrogram obtained from the analysis reveals the presence of an interesting amount of genetic diversity among the studied individuals

Authentication of Punica granatum L.: development of SCAR markers for the detection of 10 fruits potentially used in economically motivated adulteration

The large commercial success of pomegranate increase the likelihood of economically motivated adulteration (EMA), which has been gradually spotted with the undeclared addition of anthocyanin-rich plants or cheaper fruit juices used as bulking and diluting agents. A method based on Sequence-Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs) was developed to detect the presence of Aristotelia chilensis, Aronia melanocarpa, Dioscorea alata, Euterpe oleracea, Malus × domestica, Morus nigra, Sambucus nigra, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vitis vinifera as bulking agents in Punica granatum. The method enabled the unequivocal detection of up to 1% of each adulterant, allowing the preemptive rejection of suspect samples. The recourse to such method may reduce the number of samples to be subjected to further phytochemical analyses when multiple batches have to be evaluated in a short time. Vice versa, it allows the cross-check of suspect batches previously tested only for their anthocyanin profile. The dimension of the amplicons is suitable for the analysis of degraded DNA obtained from stored and processed commercial material. Proper SCAR markers may represent a fast, sensitive, reliable and low-cost screening method for the authentication of processed commercial pomegranate material

RAPD and SSR markers for characterization and identification of ancient cultivars of Olea europaea L. in the Emilia region

The Emilia region (Northern Italy) is characterised by the occurrence of microclimates that permit olive growing. The presence of the species, albeit sporadic, in these territories for several centuries as a fruit crop is well documented, by both archaeological and written testimony, and by a large number of plants well over a century old, located in particular sites, favourable for growth and development of the tree. Olive genetic diversity was studied using RAPD and SSR techniques, on plants growing in the Emilia territory (Reggio Emilia and Parma provinces). For genotype identification comparisons were made with 8 cultivars, some of which from Central Italy. Screening was obtained analysing patterns produced by 20 RAPD primers and 3 SSR primers, developed by other authors; the primers and we were able to discriminate olive cultivars with a sufficient degree of reliability. The dendrograms obtained from the analysis show the genetic relationship among accessions present in the Parma-Reggio Emilia district. Our results demonstrated the reliability of RAPDs and SSRs to identify all studied olive cultivars and to reveal the degree of their relatedness to each other. The analysis also reveals the presence of an interesting amount of genetic diversity among the studied individuals

CHARACTERIZATION OF ANCIENT OLIVE GENOTYPES IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA REGION: MOLECULAR GENOTYPING, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF MONOVARIETAL OLIVE OILS.

Abstract Ancient olive trees of Olea europaea L. present in the piedmont area of the Emilian Apennins (Italy) were assessed in the course of several years. In this research, seven old accessions from Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia Provinces were evaluated by SSR markers followed by chemical and sensory characterization of monovarietal olive oils. As to the genetic analysis, 14 SSR markers were used; they produced a total number of 72 alleles that permitted the discrimination of the seven studied genotypes and their comparison with genetic profiles of national and international cultivars. Genetic relationships were estimated by the unweighted pair-group method with arithmeric averaging (UPGMA). By microsatellite analysis five genotypes were identified, one of which corresponds to cv. “Frantoio”, while cv. “Carolea” appeared genetically distant from the others. The comparison reveals that only the known cultivar Frantoio can be found within the studied accessions. Monovarietal olive oils produced by a low-scale mill allowed to analyse their chemical and sensory properties according to EC Reg. 796/2002. Some of these oils were distinguished for their elevated contents in total phenols, other samples were also interesting by their high contents in oleic acid, above 79%. Sensory analysis emphasized the aromatic peculiarities of some monovarietal oils, characterized by a relevant intensity of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency. Moreover oils were singled out for their particular flavours (almond, apple, artichoke and green notes), ascribable to the different genetic matrices of the mother plants

Evaluation of intra-cultivar variability in Olea europaea L. cv. Leccino using morphological, biochemical and molecular markers

The phenotypic and genotypic variability of olive tree cv. Leccino (Olea europaea L.), an ancient cultivar from North-Central Italy, was investigated using 44 quantitative and qualitative agro-morphological traits, SDS-PAGE of seed proteins (storage proteins and tegument proteins) and molecular markers such as RAPDs (30 primers) and SSRs (8 primers). Fifteen accessions of Olea europaea catalogued as "Leccino" and one certified tree of "Leccino" (LESt) were examined. The plants were clonally propagated and the measuring of all morphological characteristics was conducted over a period of seven years. The ANOVA analysis showed that all accessions were homogenous for many traits while very few variations were recorded for length of one year old shoots, leaf width, leaf length/leaf width ratio, fruit length, fruit fresh weight, fruit length/fruit width ratio, pit length and pit fresh weight. The PCA analysis and similarity coefficients confirmed a low level of variability of Leccino cultivar. SDS-PAGE analysis of seed proteins showed monomorphic patterns of storage proteins. Protein subunits of teguments revealed a generally high level of similarity as evidenced by Nei-Li coefficient. SSRs and RAPDs markers showed molecular monomorphism among Leccino accessions. The results of agro-morphological, biochemical and molecular nature, taken as a whole, seem to indicate a weakly differentiated/homogeneity of the accessions tested belonging to the Leccino cultivar. The limited morphological and genetic variation could support the assumptions of a monophyletic origin of Leccino cultivar with a genetically restricted base