Hazelnut (Corylus avellana l.) shells extract: Phenolic composition, antioxidant effect and cytotoxic activity on human cancer cell lines

Hazelnut shells, a by-product of the kernel industry processing, are reported to contain high amount of polyphenols. However, studies on the chemical composition and potential effects on human health are lacking. A methanol hazelnut shells extract was prepared and dried. Our investigation allowed the isolation and characterization of different classes of phenolic compounds, including neolignans, and a diarylheptanoid, which contribute to a high total polyphenol content (193.8 ± 3.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of extract). Neolignans, lawsonicin and cedrusin, a cyclic diarylheptanoid, carpinontriol B, and two phenol derivatives, C-veratroylglycol, and β-hydroxypropiovanillone, were the main components of the extract (0.71%-2.93%, w/w). The biological assays suggested that the extract could be useful as a functional ingredient in food technology and pharmaceutical industry showing an in vitro scavenging activity against the radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) (EC50 = 31.7 µg/mL with respect to α-tocopherol EC50 = 10.1 µg/mL), and an inhibitory effect on the growth of human cancer cell lines A375, SK-Mel-28 and HeLa (IC50 = 584, 459, and 526 µg/mL, respectively). The expression of cleaved forms of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) suggested that the extract induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation in both human malignant melanoma (SK-Mel-28) and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. The cytotoxic activity relies on the presence of the neolignans (balanophonin), and phenol derivatives (gallic acid), showing a pro-apoptotic effect on the tested cell lines, and the neolignan, cedrusin, with a cytotoxic effect on A375 and HeLa cells

Flavonoid microparticles by spray-drying: Influence of enhancersof the dissolution rate on properties and stability

Naringenin (Nn) and Quercetin (Q) have numerous health benefits particularly due to their antioxidant properties. However, their low solubility, bioavailability and stability limit their use as components for functional foods, nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical agents. In this research, Nn- and Q-microparticles were produced by a spray-drying process using a combination of cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) as coating gastroresistant polymer and swelling or surfactant agents as enhancers of dissolution rate. Raw materials and microparticles produced were all characterized by particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and imaged by electron and fluorescence microscopy. During 12 months, storage stability was evaluated by analyzing drug content, HPLC and DSC profiles, as well as antioxidant activity (DPPH test). In vitro dissolution tests, using a pH-change method, were carried out to investigate the influence of formulative parameters on flavonoid release from the microparticles. Presence of a combination of CAP and surfactants or swelling agents in the formulations produced microparticles with good resistance at low pH of the gastric fluid and complete flavonoid release in the intestinal environment. The spray-drying technique and the process conditions selected have given satisfying encapsulation efficiency and product yield. The microencapsulation have improved the technological characteristics of the powders such as morphology and size, have given long-lasting storage stability and have preserved the antioxidant properties

Nanospray Drying as a Novel Technique for the Manufacturing of Inhalable NSAID Powders

The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of the nanospray drier as a novel apparatus for the manufacturing of a dry powder for inhalation containing ketoprofen lysinate, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug able to control the inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients. We produced several ketoprofen lysinate and leucine powder batches by means of nanospray dryer, studying the influence of process parameters on yield, particle properties (size distribution and morphology), and, mainly, aerodynamic properties of powders. Micronized particles were prepared from different hydroalcoholic solutions (alcohol content from 0 to 30% v/v) using ketoprofen in its lysine salt form and leucine as dispersibility enhancer in different ratios (from 5 to 15% w/w) with a total solid concentration ranging from 1 to 7% w/v. Results indicated that the spray head equipped with a 7 µm nozzle produced powders too big to be inhaled. The reduction of nozzle size from 7 to 4 µm led to smaller particles suitable for inhalation but, at the same time, caused a dramatic increase in process time. The selection of process variables, together with the nozzle pretreatment with a surfactant solution, allowed us to obtain a free flowing powder with satisfying aerosol performance, confirming the usefulness of the nanospray drier in the production of powder for inhalation

A new cineol derivative, polyphenols and norterpenoids from Saharan myrtle tea (Myrtus nivellei): Isolation, structure determination, quantitative determination and antioxidant activity

Abstract The phytochemical profile of decoction and infusion, obtained from the dried leaves of M. nivellei, consumed as tea in Saharan region, was characterized by UHPLC-PDA-HRMS. Fourteen compounds were characterized and, to confirm the proposed structures a preparative procedure followed by NMR spectroscopy was applied. Compound 3 (2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole disaccharide) was a never reported whereas a bycyclic monoterpenoid glucoside (2), two ionol glucosides (1 and 12), a tri-galloylquinic acid (4), two flavonol glycosides (5 and 9), and a tetra-galloylglucose (7), were reported in Myrtus spp. for the first time. Five flavonol O-glycosides (6, 8, 10–11, and 14) togheter a flavonol (13) were also identified. Quantitative determination of phenolic constituents from decoction and infusion has been performed by HPLC-UV-PDA. The phenolic content was found to be 150.5 and 102.6 mg/g in decoction and infusion corresponding to 73.8 and 23.6 mg/100 mL of a single tea cup, respectively. Myricetin 3-O-β-d-(6″-galloyl)glucopyranoside (5), isomyricitrin (6) and myricitrin (8) were the compounds present in the highest concentration. The free-radical scavenging activities of teas and isolated compounds was measured by the DPPH assay and compared with the values of other commonly used herbal teas (green and black teas). Decoction displayed higher potency in scavenging free-radicals than the infusion and green and black teas

Cosmetologia cinese: un viaggio tra tradizioni, arte e tecnologie ereditate dalle grandi dinastie. Parte I Introduzione sulla cosmetologia nella tradizione cinese. La visione olistica.

La cosmetologia cinese è una scienza prodotta dell’interazione di discipline differenti: chimica, botanica, scienze mediche che si occupano di dermopatologie ed estetica, ma anche psicologia. I principi su cui si fonda e agisce sono ritracciabili nell’olismo, per il quale l’uomo è concepito come un’entità complessa e unica, da curare nella psiche, nello spirito e nel corpo. Alla scoperta di un sistema antichissimo ma precursore della moderna cosmesi, se si considera che le donne cinesi sono state le prime a usare lo smalto per colorare e decorare le loro unghie

Cosmetologia cinese: un viaggio tra tradizioni, arte e tecnologie ereditate dalle grandi dinastie (parte 3)

Ultima tappa del percorso storico e scientifico alla scoperta della cosmesi tradizionale dell’antica Cina, con un’ampia panoramica sulle diverse modalità e procedure di preparazione delle sostanze vegetali, animali e minerali utilizzate per realizzare le innumerevoli formulazioni cosmetiche, basate sulle proprietà “energetiche” che le caratterizzano: la natura, i sapori e i movimenti

Cosmetologia cinese: un viaggio tra tradizioni, arte e tecnologie ereditate dalle grandi dinastie (parte 2)

Prosegue l’affascinante viaggio storico attraverso i secoli e le diverse dinastie che hanno governato l’antica Cina, alla scoperta dell’arte cosmetica di questo grande paese. Possiamo così osservare le diverse tecniche formulative e le materie prime vegetali, animali e minerali impiegate per realizzare ciprie, belletti e fard, rossetti, saponi e profumi, oltre a conoscere i metodi usati dalle donne cinesi per applicarli nella decorazione del viso, con uno sguardo anche alle diverse pratiche di igiene e di estetica

"Salus per lactem". Nuovi prodotti salutistici dal latte

Un progetto innovativo di sperimentazione congiunta tra aziende del settore e mondo accademico che riguarda il latte, un alimento consumato e apprezzato a ogni età, e la possibilità di ottenere nuovi prodotti arricchiti con sostanze funzionali, sicuri e di qualità, che svolgano un’azione benefica sull’organismo