Chemical Characterization of Narcissus poeticus from Sirente -Velino (Apennines - Italy): Galantamine Accumulation and Distribution of Allergenic Compounds in the Flower.

Species of Narcissus (family Amaryllidaceae) are a potential source for large-scale extraction of alkaloids and fragrances. The bulbs typically accumulate a large number of alkaloids, including galantamine, a benzazepine alkaloid proven to be a cholinesterase inhibitor and which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The presence of galantamine in N. poeticus L. collected in Abruzzo (Italy) was assessed and several levels of alkaloid were found in all parts of the plant (flower, stem, bulb and root) and not only in the bulb. The amount of galantamine obtained was tested by using two different extraction solvents. Extraction of N. poeticus absolute from the flowers was also performed, as this product is an important floral note in perfumery, and the distribution of allergenic compounds in the coronas and in the tepals was assessed. Moreover, the in vitro propagation of N. poeticus was tested as it may be a valuable resource from which to produce biomolecules, as an alternative to chemical synthetic processes

Low temperature stress in a cultured fish (Piaractus mesopotamicus) fed with Pyropia columbina red seaweed-supplemented diet

This study aimed to analyze the cold stress effects (in terms of hematology, energy reserves, and oxidative stress) in Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacú) and their mitigation by a Pyropia columbina red seaweed-supplemented diet. For this purpose, juvenile fish were fed with a control (CD) or a red seaweed-supplemented diet (RD) for 60 days, and then, the animals were exposed to a low temperature (14 °C) and a control temperature (24 °C) for 24 h. The cold shock generated an increase of hemoglobin levels in fish fed with both diets. In CD-fed fish, plasmatic triglycerides, cholesterol, and hepatic glycogen decreased after the thermal shock; meanwhile, the animals fed with RD showed decreased hepatic proteins, but increased cholesterol and hepatic glycogen. Regarding oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes augmented their activity in the liver, intestine, and gills; meanwhile, lipid oxidative damage was observed in the liver and intestine of fish exposed to 14 °C and fed with both diets. Pacú was sensitive to cold shock, but no mitigation effects were observed in fish fed with the supplemented diet. Further research should target higher concentrations of P. columbina in supplemented diets to take advantage of this valuable resource.Fil: Ale, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Bacchetta, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Rossi, Andrea Silvana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Scarabotti, Pablo Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Cazenave, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; Argentin

Multiple biomarkers responses in Prochilodus lineatus allowed assessing changes in the water quality of Salado River basin (Santa Fe, Argentina)

This field study assessed water quality of Salado River basin by using a set of 2 biomarkers in the fish Prochilodus lineatus. Multiple biomarkers were measured, 3 including morphological indexes (condition factor, liver somatic index), hematological 4 (red and white blood cells) and biochemical (glucose, total protein and cholinesterase 5 activity) parameters. Besides, detoxication and oxidative stress markers (antioxidant 6 enzymes, lipid peroxidation) were measured in liver, gills and kidney. Despite water 7 quality assessment did not show marked differences among sites, biomarkers responses 8 indicate that fish are living under stressful environmental conditions. According to 9 multivariate analysis glucose, glutathione S-transferase activity, lipid peroxidation 10 levels and the count of white blood cells are key biomarkers to contribute to 11 discrimination of sites. So, we suggest use those biomarkers in future monitoring of 12 freshwater aquatic systems. 1 This field study assessed water quality of Salado River basin by using a set of 2 biomarkers in the fish Prochilodus lineatus. Multiple biomarkers were measured, 3 including morphological indexes (condition factor, liver somatic index), hematological 4 (red and white blood cells) and biochemical (glucose, total protein and cholinesterase 5 activity) parameters. Besides, detoxication and oxidative stress markers (antioxidant 6 enzymes, lipid peroxidation) were measured in liver, gills and kidney. Despite water 7 quality assessment did not show marked differences among sites, biomarkers responses 8 indicate that fish are living under stressful environmental conditions. According to 9 multivariate analysis glucose, glutathione S-transferase activity, lipid peroxidation 10 levels and the count of white blood cells are key biomarkers to contribute to 11 discrimination of sites. So, we suggest use those biomarkers in future monitoring of 12 freshwater aquatic systems.Fil: Cazenave, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Bacchetta, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Parma, Maria Julieta E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Scarabotti, Pablo Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentin

Germination and early seedling development of Helichrysum microphyllum Cambess. subsp. tyrrhenicum Bacch., Brullo & Giusso in the presence of arsenates and arsenites

Arsenate, As(V), and arsenite, As(III), are the most available arsenicals present in the soil solutions, in particular in mine polluted substrates, and cause several symptoms of toxicity in plants (like inhibition of seed germination and reduction of seedling development). For these reasons, seeds germination studies are essential for the design of phytoremediation activities of mine sites. Seed germination and seedling development of Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum, were evaluated at 15 °C using various concentrations of As(V) and As(III) (0-500 mg/L and 0-200 mg/L, respectively). Seeds were harvested (I) into a mine dump contaminated in As, (II) nearby this site, and (III) faraway the As contaminated area and without mine activities. Seed germination, cotyledons emergence, and seedling mortality were evaluated for 90 days. As(V) and As(III) acted differently, showing a much higher toxicity when arsenite was added than arsenate. The taxon was able to germinate, develop cotyledons, and survive under all arsenate concentrations, whereas arsenite acted on these steps already at 2.5 mg/L. Moreover, a linear decrease in cotyledons emergence was assessed with the increase of both arsenicals' concentrations, as well as a linear decrease of seedling survival under arsenite. The taxon showed great adaptability to As pollution, giving an important contribution in phytoremediation of mining sites

First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th-2nd centuries BC)

Abstract During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods. Keywords Archaeobotany · Image analysis · Morphometric features · Prunus · Sardini

Responses of multiple biomarkers in the fish Hoplosternum littorale after exposure to chromium and lead

We studied the effect of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) and their combination using the freshwater fish Hoplosternum littorale. After 15 days, we analyzed the responses of multiple biomarkers, such as morphometric and hematological parameters, hepatic and renal enzymes activities (aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase) and oxidative stress markers (antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxidation). Cr caused a decrease in glucose levels and tissue damage in liver and kidney. Pb caused changes in hematological parameters, tissue damage in liver and kidney and induced liver lipid peroxidation. The metal combination modified hematological parameters and increased the hepatic injury biomarkers. According to multivariate statistical analysis, fish exposed to the mixture showed a differential physiologic profile to those exposed to individual metals. Thus, H. littorale has demonstrated to be sensitive for biomarkers response and suitable as potential test species. Our results suggest deleterious effects of sublethal concentrations of heavy metals and support the usefulness of a multi-biomarker approach for the characterization of toxicological mechanisms induced by the exposure to a combination of Cr and Pb.Fil: Ale, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Bacchetta, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Cazenave, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; Argentin

In situ evaluation of the toxicological impact of a wastewater effluent on the fish Prochilodus lineatus: biochemical and histological assessment

Sewage effluents are the most important source of emergent pollutants in the aquatic environment. In thepresent study the toxicological impact of an untreated sewage effluent on the Prochilodus lineatus fish was assessedunder field conditions using a caging experiment. The biomarkers which were measured here involvedoxidative stress markers, hepatic function parameters, neurotoxicity indicators, energy reserves, histologicalalterations and brain cell proliferation. In addition, water quality parameters including the occurrence of somehuman pharmaceuticals were measured. Juveniles of P. lineatus were caged for 15 days at three sites: the effluentsite, and 2 km upstream and downstream from the effluent discharge. Caffeine, atenolol, carbamazepine, enalapriland sildenafil were detected in water river samples. The increased activation of caspase-3 and the decreasedcell proliferation in the diencephalon showed that the brain of fish caged at the effluent was affected.These fish also displayed a rise in hepatic transaminase activity, and oxidative stress in liver and gills which wasevidenced by an increased lipid peroxidation and activation of antioxidant enzymes. At tissue level, increasedglycogen and decreased lipid contents in liver as well as the highest indexes of hepatic lesions were also observedin the fish caged at the effluent. Both biochemical and histopathological findings demonstrated that effects weremore severe on the liver of such fish than on their gills. The in situ exposure method carried out in our studymakes it possible to observe the real effects of the sewage effluent on fish. Furthermore, our results also provide abetter understanding of the harmful effects of wastewater effluents on the aquatic wildlife.Fil: Pérez, María Rita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Rossi, Andrea Silvana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Bacchetta, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Elorriaga, Yanina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Carriquiriborde, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Cazenave, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; Argentin