Effect of allyl isothiocyanate against Anisakis larvae during the anchovy marinating process.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), is a natural compound found in plants belonging to the family Cruciferae and has strong antimicrobial activity and a biocidal activity against plants parasites. Anisakidosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of larval nematodes in raw, almost raw, and marinated and/or salted seafood dishes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of AITC against Anisakis larvae and to study its potential use during the marinating process. The effects of AITC against Anisakis larvae were tested in three experiment: in vitro with three liquid media, in semisolid media with a homogenate of anchovy muscle, and in a simulation of two kinds of anchovy fillets marinating processes. For all tests, the concentrations of AITC were 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1%. Significant activity of AITC against Anisakis larvae was observed in liquid media, whereas in the semisolid media, AITC was effective only at higher concentrations. In anchovy fillets, prior treatment in phosphate buffer solution (1.5% NaCl, pH 6.8) with 0.1% AITC and then marination under standard conditions resulted in a high level of larval inactivation. AITC is a good candidate for further investigation as a biocidal agent against Anisakis larvae during the industrial marinating process

Determination and quantification of carotenoids in sea sponges Raspaciona aculeata and Dictyonella marsilii present in the Ganzirri Lake (Messina), Italy

Considering the crucial role of carotenoids exploitable both as nutraceuticals and also as dyes in food industry, there are many efforts in seeking for new sources of these pigments, especially in the marine world. In this study, for the first time, we extracted carotenoids from sea sponges Raspaciona aculeata and Dictyonella marsilii taken from Ganzirri Lake Messina (Italy). The determination and quantification of carotenoids was made by UPLC-PDA-MS. Remarkable results concern renieratene content in R. aculeate found to be over 2570 ppm

Carotenoids composition of Cionosicyos macranthus fruit

A complete determination of the carotenoid composition of the edible aril and mesocarp of Cionosicyos macranthus fruit is reported for the first time. The carotenoids present in the fruit were identified and quantified using high-purity carotenoid standards. The fruit contained several rare carotenoids like zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and cryptocapsin epoxides. Various keto-κ end-ring carotenoids, derivatives of their corresponding epoxides, ie cryptocapsin, capsanthin, capsanthin 5,6-epoxide, and capsoneoxanthin, were also identified. The total carotenoid contents for the aril and mesocarp were 226.0 μg/g and 83.4 µg/g, respectively. β-Cryptoxanthin was the most abundant carotenoid in both edible parts (58.3 μg/g in the aril and 29.5 μg/g in the mesocarp). Cryptocapsin was the primary keto-κ end-ring carotenoid both in the aril (41.6 μg/g) and in the mesocarp (13.2 μg/g). The fruit provitamin A activity was also determined. Considering the high β-cryptoxanthin and cryptocapsin contents, C. macranthus can be considered a good source of provitamin A carotenoids

Structure and biosynthesis of carotenoids produced by a novel Planococcus sp. isolated from South Africa

The genus Planococcus is comprised of halophilic bacteria generally reported for the production of carotenoid pigments and biosurfactants. In previous work, we showed that the culturing of the orange-pigmented Planococcus sp. CP5-4 isolate increased the evaporation rate of industrial wastewater brine effluent, which we attributed to the orange pigment. This demonstrated the potential application of this bacterium for industrial brine effluent management in evaporation ponds for inland desalination plants. Here we identified a C30- carotenoid biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for pigment biosynthesis in Planococcus sp. CP5-4 through isolation of mutants and genome sequencing. We further compare the core genes of the carotenoid biosynthetic gene clusters identified from different Planococcus species’ genomes which grouped into gene cluster families containing BGCs linked to different carotenoid product chemotypes. Lastly, LC–MS analysis of saponified and unsaponified pigment extracts obtained from cultures of Planococcus sp. CP5-4, revealed the structure of the main (predominant) glucosylated C30- carotenoid fatty acid ester produced by Planococcus sp. CP5-4

Analysis of native carotenoid composition of sweet bell peppers by serially coupled C30 columns.

Serial coupled columns reversed-phase separations in high-performance liquid chromatography can be a useful tool for the analysis of complex real samples. The great difficulties found when analyzing complex carotenoid samples, due to the high natural variability of these compounds, as well as to the presence of carotenoid esters, are well documented. In the present contribution, the applicability of connecting two C30 columns to increase significantly the separation power, resolution and peak capacity for the analysis of carotenoids in a complex carotenoid sample, like sweet bell peppers, has been shown for the first time. By using LC coupled to PDA/APCI-MS detectors, 56 different carotenoids have been detected in red sweet bell peppers. By using two serial coupled C30 columns a peak capacity of 95.4 was obtained, compared with 73 achieved using a single column. Moreover, resolution greatly improved between different critical peaks when using two serial coupled C30 columns, compared with a single column. Interestingly, free carotenoids, mono-esters and diesters were quantitatively equally represented (around 33% for each different class) in red sweet bell pepper, showing, therefore, a value for the ratio of mono-esters/di-esters of around 1, which could be considered a parameter of typicality. Free β-carotene (12.6%), capsanthin-C14:0 (8.4%), and capsanthin-C12:0-C14:0 (8.9%) were the most abundant carotenoids in the three different classes of red sweet bell pepper. No carotenoid esters were detected in either yellow or green sweet bell peppers. The application of such methodology in the analysis of other complex carotenoid matrices could be a future objective of research

Tailoring haemophilia A prophylaxis with BAY 81-8973: A case series

BAY 81-8973 is an unmodified, full-length third generation recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) which offers a more favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, compared to its predecessor sucrose-formulated rFVIII (rFVIII-FS). We here report on a retrospective case series of nine patients affected by hemophilia A (HA), with variable disease severity, bleeding phenotype and comorbidities, to underline our clinical practice on prophylaxis with a recently introduced standard hall-life recombinant Factor VIII. The current case series highlights how the current clinical management of hemophilia is able to personalize treatment in several specific conditions like concomitant illnesses with thrombotic risk and allergic reactions

Activity of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae type 1

Abstract Objective To evaluate in vitro effects of Tagetes minuta L. essential oil (TEO) on L3 Anisakis larvae type 1. Methods In order to evaluate the potential use of Tagetes minuta essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae three different media were tested: 1) a saline solution (SS); 2) an industrial marinating solution (MS); 3) sunflower seeds oil (SO). For each media and concentrations of TEO (0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 5.0% v/v), 20 parasites were introduced into plastic Petri dishes (diameter 90 mm) and maintained at room temperature. As controls, larvae were maintained without TEO under identical experimental conditions in SS, MS and SO. A total of 900 larvae were tested. The normalized mean viability, LT100, LT50 and the percentage of inactivation at 24 h were calculated. Results In vitro tests revealed a complete inactivation of parasites in saline solution after 2 h with 5% and 1% of TEO. In marinating solution, a complete inactivation of parasites was observed after 4 h at all concentrations used. A slower activity for all TEO concentration was reported in SO. Conclusions The results obtained, showing a strong activity against Anisakis larvae, confirm TEO as a larvicidal agent in the treatment of human anisakidosis and in the industrial marinating process

Effect of seasonal variation on the chemical composition and antioxidant and antifungal activities of Convolvulus althaeoides L. leaf extracts

The composition of polyphenols, chlorophylls and carotenoids of eight extracts of Convolvulus althaeoides L. leaves, harvested in two different seasons, winter and spring, and extracted by hot extraction method using four solvents (dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol) with increasing polarity, were evaluated along with their antioxidant and antifungal activities. Qualitative and quantitative variations were observed in the composition based on two different high performance liquid chromatography systems, liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection coupled to either atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry or to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, permitting the identification of 22 polyphenols, 11 chlorophyll derivatives and 10 carotenoid compounds. Polyphenolic compounds were predominant in extracts from leaves collected in winter, whereas pigments were predominant in the spring collections. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by DPPH radical scavenging method, revealing a half inhibition concentration (IC50) ranging from 0.1369 ± 0.0272 mg g−1 to 0.432 ± 0.0018 mg g−1, with no correlation to seasonal fluctuation. Concerning antifungal assays, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts have been shown to be the most active against dermatophytes (T. rubrum, T. menthagrophytes, M. canis), with inhibiting percentages reaching 100% with 50 mg mL−1. Moreover, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed a maximum inhibition potential with minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 6.25 mg mL−1 on Candida spp. cultures. The winter collect of these extracts showed an inhibitory effect of 90% on Candida albicans germ tubes formation, at a concentration of 3.1 mg mL−1. In conclusion, seasonality seems to influence the quality and the quantity of natural substances from leaves of C. althaeoides L., which have major importance on the antioxidant and the antifungal effectiveness

Properties of a new food supplement containing actinia equina extract

Marine species represent a great source of biologically active substances; Actinia equina (AE), an Anthozoa Cnidaria belonging to the Actinidiae family, have been proposed as original food and have already been included in several cooking recipes in local Mediterranean shores, and endowed with excellent nutraceutical potential. The aim of this study was to investigate some unexplored features of AE, through analytical screening and an in-vitro and in-vivo model. An in-vitro study, made on RAW 264.7 stimulated with H2O2, showed that the pre-treatment with AE exerted an antioxidant action, reducing lipid peroxidation and up-regulating antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, the in-vivo study over murine model demonstrated that the administration of AE extracts is able to reduce the carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema. Furthermore, the histological damage due to the neutrophil infiltration is prevented, and this highlights precious anti-inflammatory features of the interesting food-stu. Moreover, it was assessed that AE extract modulated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) pathways. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that thanks to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, AE extract could be used as a new food supplement for inflammatory pathology prevention

Green Extraction Approaches for Carotenoids and Esters: Characterization of Native Composition from Orange Peel

Abstract: Orange peel is a by-product produced in large amounts that acts as a source of natural pigments such as carotenoids. Xanthophylls, the main carotenoid class found in citrus fruit, can be present in its free form or esterified with fatty acids, forming esters. This esterification modifies the compound’s chemical properties, affecting their bioavailability in the human body, and making it important to characterize the native carotenoid composition of food matrices. We aimed to evaluate the non-saponified carotenoid extracts of orange peel (cv. Pera) obtained using alternative green approaches: extraction with ionic liquid (IL), analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and mass spectrometry HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), followed by supercritical fluid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (SFC-APCI/QqQ/MS) in an online system. Both alternative green methods were successfully applied, allowing the total identification of five free carotenoids, one apocarotenoid, seven monoesters, and 11 diesters in the extract obtained with IL and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS, and nine free carotenoids, six carotenoids esters, 19 apocarotenoids, and eight apo-esters with the SFE-SFC-APCI/QqQ/MS approach, including several free apocarotenoids and apocarotenoid esters identified for the first time in oranges, and particularly in the Pera variety, which could be used as a fruit authenticity parameter.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Bioscience Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Silva Jardin 136, 11015-020 Santos, BrazilDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Mathematical and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, ItalyFederal Institute of São Paulo, Av. Clara Gianotti de Souza 5180, 11900-000 Registro, BrazilChemistry Department, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luíz, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, BrazilChromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyBeSep s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyUnit of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, ItalyBioscience Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Silva Jardin 136, 11015-020 Santos, BrazilFAPESP: 2015/26789-5FAPESP: 2016/18910-1FAPESP: 2017/20861-1FAPESP: 2019/25303-