Metabolomic analysis and bioactivities of Arbutus unedo leaves harvested across the seasons in different natural habitats of Sardinia (Italy)

Background Arbutus unedo L. is a wild tree of Mediterranean regions used as food and in traditional medicine and important for afforestation programs. There is no detailed information available on the variation of A. unedo leaves metabolome across the seasons. The leaves were analyzed by Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1) H NMR)-based metabolomics, comparing samples harvested across the seasons and in ten different natural habitats of Sardinia (Italy).Results Multivariate analysis showed the impact of seasonal variation on the metabolome: glucose and quinic acid increased in summer, while in spring sucrose was accumulated. beta-Arbutin, the main known active principle of A. unedo, generally reached the highest concentration in autumn. In winter, O-beta-methylglucose, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), flavonols (quercetin-3-O-alpha-rhamnoside, myricetin-3-O-alpha-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-alpha-rhamnoside), catechin, and gallocatechin increased. Characteristic metabolomic features were found also for samples collected in different locations. For instance, trees growing at the highest altitude and exposed to lower temperatures produced less flavonols and catechins. The only sample collected on trees growing on limestones, dolomites, and dolomitic limestones type of soil showed generally the highest content of arbutin. The highest phenolics content was found during spring, while samples collected on flowering branches in winter were the ones with the highest flavonoid content. The antioxidant activity was also variated, ranging from 1.3 to 10.1 mg of Trolox equivalents (TE)/mL of extract, and it was positively correlated to both total phenolics and flavonoid content. Winter samples showed the lowest antibacterial activity, while summer and autumn ones exhibited the highest activity (IC50 values ranging from 17.3 to 42.3 mu g/mL against Staphylococcal species).Conclusion This work provides H-1 -NMR fingerprinting of A. unedo leaves, elucidating the main metabolites and their variations during seasons. On the basis of arbutin content, autumn could be considered the balsamic period of this taxon. Samples collected in this season were also the most active ones as antibacterial. Moreover, an interesting metabolomic profile enriched in catechins and flavonols was observed in leaves collected in winter on flowering branches which were endowed with high antioxidant potential

Screening of ninety herbal products of commercial interest as potential ingredients for phytocosmetics

Elastase and tyrosinase are important targets both for cosmetics and for dermatological disorders. In this work, ninety herbal products were tested as inhibitors of these two enzymes. Eleven extracts resulted strongly active. Four out of them (Camellia sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Vitis vinifera) inhibited both enzymes, five (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ribes nigrum, Rheum officinale, Salvia officinalis, Tilia platyphyllos) were active against tyrosinase only, and two (Ceterach officinarum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum) proved selectively active against elastase. The IC50 ranged from 3.1 to 104.9 \u3bcg/mL and 19.3 to 164.3 \u3bcg/mL, against elastase and tyrosinase, respectively. The most active extracts resulted enriched in flavonoids (from 1.47 to 56.47 mg RE/g of extract) and phenolics (from 37.43 to 123.56 mg GAE/g of extract), indicating also an antioxidant potential. Finally, a positive correlation between enzymatic bioactivities and phenolic content was also established

Leaves and spiny burs of castanea sativa from an experimental chestnut grove: Metabolomic analysis and anti-neuroinflammatory activity

Castanea sativa cultivation has been present in Mediterranean regions since ancient times. In order to promote a circular economy, it is of great importance to valorize chestnut groves’ by-products. In this study, leaves and spiny burs from twenty-four Castanea trees were analyzed by1 H NMR metabolomics to provide an overview of their phytochemical profile. The Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) performed on these data allowed us to distinguish ‘Marrone’ from ‘Castagna’, since the latter were generally more enriched with secondary metabolites, in particular, flavonoids (astragalin, isorhamnetin glucoside, and myricitrin) were dominant. Knowing that microglia are involved in mediating the oxidative and inflammatory response of the central nervous system, the potential anti-inflammatory effects of extracts derived from leaves and spiny burs were evaluated in a neuroinflammatory cell model: BV-2 microglia cells. The tested extracts showed cytoprotective activity (at 0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL) after inflammation induction by 5 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the transcriptional levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-kB expression induced by LPS were significantly decreased by cell incubation with spiny burs and leaves extracts. Taken together, the obtained results are promising and represent an important step to encourage recycling and valorization of chestnut byproducts, usually considered “waste”

Different Seasonal Collections of Ficus carica L. Leaves Diversely Modulate Lipid Metabolism and Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Due to the high prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, adipogenesis dysfunction and metabolic disorders are common features in the elderly population. Thus, the identification of novel compounds with anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects is highly desirable to reduce diabetes complications. Plants represent an important source of bioactive compounds. To date, the antidiabetic potential of several traditional plants has been reported, among which Ficus carica L. is one of the most promising. Considering that plant metabolome changes in response to a number of factors including seasonality, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether Ficus carica leaves extracts collected in autumn (FCa) and spring (FCs) differently modulate lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The H-1-NMR profile of the extracts showed that FCs have a higher content of caffeic acid derivatives, glucose, and sucrose than FCa. In contrast, FCa showed a higher concentration of malic acid and furanocoumarins, identified as psoralen and bergapten. In vitro testing showed that only FCa treatments were able to significantly decrease the lipid content (Ctrl vs. FCa 25 mu g/mL, 50 mu g/mL and 80 mu g/mL; p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, FCa treatments were able to downregulate the transcriptional pathway of adipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In more detail, FCa 80 mu g/mL significantly decreased the gene expression of PPAR gamma (p < 0.05), C/EBP alpha (p < 0.05), Leptin (p < 0.0001), adiponectin (p < 0.05) and GLUT4 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, this study further supports an in-depth investigation of F. carica leaves extracts as a promising source of active compounds useful for targeting obesity and diabetes

By-Product Extracts from Castanea sativa Counteract Hallmarks of Neuroinflammation in a Microglial Model

Castanea sativa is very common in Italy, and the large amount of waste material generated during chestnut processing has a high environmental impact. Several studies demonstrated that chestnut by-products are a good source of bioactive compounds, mainly endowed with antioxidant properties. This study further investigates the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of chestnut leaf and spiny bur extracts, together with the deepest phytochemical characterisation (by NMR and MS) of active biomolecules contained in leaf extracts, which resulted in being more effective than spiny bur ones. BV-2 microglial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used as a model of neuroinflammation. In BV-2 cells pre-treated with chestnut extracts, LPS signalling is partially blocked via the reduced expression of TLR4 and CD14 as well as the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory markers. Leaf extract fractions revealed the presence of specific flavonoids, such as isorhamnetin glucoside, astragalin, myricitrin, kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl (1-6)(2″-trans-p-coumaroyl)hexoside, tiliroside and unsaturated fatty acids, all of which could be responsible for the observed anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Interestingly, the kaempferol derivative has been identified in chestnut for the first time. In conclusion, the exploitation of chestnut by-products is suitable for the achievement of two goals: satisfaction of consumers’ demand for new, natural bio-active compounds and valorisation of by-products

Design and Characterization of an Ethosomal Gel Encapsulating Rosehip Extract

: Rising environmental awareness drives green consumers to purchase sustainable cosmetics based on natural bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to deliver Rosa canina L. extract as a botanical ingredient in an anti-aging gel using an eco-friendly approach. Rosehip extract was first characterized in terms of its antioxidant activity through a DPPH assay and ROS reduction test and then encapsulated in ethosomal vesicles with different percentages of ethanol. All formulations were characterized in terms of size, polydispersity, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. Release and skin penetration/permeation data were obtained through in vitro studies, and cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay on WS1 fibroblasts. Finally, ethosomes were incorporated in hyaluronic gels (1% or 2% w/v) to facilitate skin application, and rheological properties were studied. Rosehip extract (1 mg/mL) revealed a high antioxidant activity and was successfully encapsulated in ethosomes containing 30% ethanol, having small sizes (225.4 ± 7.0 nm), low polydispersity (0.26 ± 0.02), and good entrapment efficiency (93.41 ± 5.30%). This formulation incorporated in a hyaluronic gel 1% w/v showed an optimal pH for skin application (5.6 ± 0.2), good spreadability, and stability over 60 days at 4 °C. Considering sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly manufacturing technology, the ethosomal gel of rosehip extract could be an innovative and green anti-aging skincare product

Identification and commitment in project teams

Organizations today are increasingly using projects in their daily activities. Projects and project-management principles frame goal attainment in academia and many business sectors, and they even serve as theoretical footing for organizational-change endeavors. However, the ubiquity of project management does not mean that project work, project teams, and the ways organizations use projects are well understood. Moreover, while project-management theory and practice aim at providing structure and control to enable successful project completion, an alarmingly high percentage of projects struggle or fail. As the authors of The Psychology and Management of Project Teams explain, this is in part because projects are still mostly managed as technical systems rather than behavioral systems. Even though project-management researchers have become increasingly interested in factors that may have an impact on project-management effectiveness, their efforts fall short of addressing the'human factor.'And, unfortunately, many project-management scholars are largely unaware of the I/O psychology literature--relying, for example, on outdated models of motivation and team development. On the other side, I/O psychologists who research groups and teams often ignore the contextual influences--such as business sector, project type, placement in the organizational hierarchy, and project phase and maturity--that have a crucial impact on how a project will unfold. In this volume, a cross-disciplinary set of editors will bring together perspectives from leading I/O psychology and project-management scholars. The volume will include comprehensive coverage of team selection, development, learning, motivation, and communication; conflict management and well-being; leadership; diversity; performance from a multi-level perspective; and career development. In the concluding chapter, a research agenda will provide a roadmap for an integrated approach to the study of project teams