18 research outputs found
Effect of Fibrillated Cellulose on Lime Pastes and Mortars
The use of nanocellulose in traditional lime-based mortars is a promising solution for green buildings in the frame of limiting the CO2 emissions resulting from Portland Cement production. The influence of the fibrillated cellulose (FC) on lime pastes and lime-based mortars was studied incorporating FC at dosages of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3 wt% by weight of binder. The lime pastes were subjected to thermal and nitrogen gas sorption analyses to understand if FC affects the formation of hydraulic compounds and the mesoporosities volume and distribution. The setting and early hydration of the mortars were studied with isothermal calorimetry. The mechanical performances were investigated with compressive and three-point-bending tests. Furthermore, fragments resulting from the mechanical tests were microscopically studied to understand the reinforcement mechanism of the fibres. It was found that 0.3 wt% of FC enhances the flexural and compressive strengths respectively by 57% and 44% while the crack propagation after the material failure is not affected.ISSN:1996-194
Green Route for the Isolation and Purification of Hyrdoxytyrosol, Tyrosol, Oleacein and Oleocanthal from Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) phenols represent a significant part of the intake of antioxidants and bioactive compounds in the Mediterranean diet. In particular, hydroxytyrosol (HTyr), tyrosol (Tyr), and the secoiridoids oleacein and oleocanthal play central roles as anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective and anti-cancer agents. These compounds cannot be easily obtained via chemical synthesis, and their isolation and purification from EVOO is cumbersome. Indeed, both processes involve the use of large volumes of organic solvents, hazardous reagents and several chromatographic steps. In this work we propose a novel optimized procedure for the green extraction, isolation and purification of HTyr, Tyr, oleacein and oleocanthal directly from EVOO, by using a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NaDES) as an extracting phase, coupled with preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. This purification method allows the total recovery of the four components as single pure compounds directly from EVOO, in a rapid, economic and ecologically sustainable way, which utilizes biocompatible reagents and strongly limits the use or generation of hazardous substances
Fluorometric Optimized Determination of Total Glutathione in Erythrocytes
Glutathione is a tripeptide natural product characterized by a non-canonical peptide
bond with an amide moiety linking the nitrogen of cysteine to the Îł-carboxyl of glutamate, and is
found ubiquitously in nature, in animals, plants and microorganisms. One of the most abundant
biological matrices is represented by erythrocytes, being glutathione the only sulfur-containing
mechanism for the red blood cell oxidative protection. Several analytical methods for glutathione
determination from different samples are described in the literature and most of these methods are
based on the use of high-performance liquid chromatography. HPLC equipment is not available in
all the biochemical laboratories, and, moreover, displays lot of economic and ecological limitations,
including organic solvent consumption and time-consuming analysis. Here, an organic-free highthroughput
fluorometric methodology for the analysis of total glutathione in erythrocytes is reported,
avoiding the use of time-consuming and not-sustainable techniques
Association between HCV infection and cutaneous-mucosal lichen planus: an update
[no abstract avaliable
Anti-inflammatory effects of blueberry extract in microglial cells
Background: Microglia (MG), the immunocompetent cells of the CNS, respond to brain injury activating and modifying their morphology. Microglia can exist broadly between two different activation states, namely the classical (M1) and the alternative activated (M2) phenotype. The first one is characterized by the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in contrast, the latter is characterized by the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (Kettenmann et al., Neuron. 2013; 77:10–18). Blueberry is involved in the control of the redox state of the cell, cooperating with antioxidant mechanisms, whereas its anti-inflammatory activity is still poorly understood (Businaro et al., Curr. Alzheimer Res. 2018; 15: 363- 380). The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of blueberry extract in resting form or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 murine MG cells. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract obtained from fresh blueberries was analyzed by UHPLC/MS. The cellular viability was evaluated by MTT test and Trypan blue assay. Cellular migration was determined by Boyden chamber and Scratch assay. Cytokines mRNA levels were determined by qPCR. Actin cytoskeletal organization and M1/M2 marker expression were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Results: Isomers of the chlorogenic acid, a powerful antioxidant, were detected in the blueberry extract, which, added to the cultures, had no cytotoxic effect, but induced increased cell viability and reduced LPS-driven migration. mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and that of iNOS (M1 marker) was decreased, whereas Arg-1 expression (M2 marker) was increased. Conclusion: Our results suggest that blueberry may promote MG polarization towards the M2 phenotype, and therefore may be used as a nutraceutical in the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases
Blueberry Counteracts BV-2 Microglia Morphological and Functional Switch after LPS Challenge
Microglia, the innate immune cells of the CNS, respond to brain injury by activating and modifying their morphology. Our study arises from the great interest that has been focused on blueberry (BB) for the antioxidant and pharmacological properties displayed by its components. We analyzed the influence of hydroalcoholic BB extract in resting or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia BV-2 cells. BB exerted a protective effect against LPS-induced cytotoxicity, as indicated by cell viability. BB was also able to influence the actin cytoskeleton organization, to recover the control phenotype after LPS insult, and also to reduce LPS-driven migration. We evaluated the activity of Rho and Rac1 GTPases, which regulate both actin cytoskeletal organization and migratory capacity. LPS caused an increase in Rac1 activity, which was counteracted by BB extract. Furthermore, we demonstrated that, in the presence of BB, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased, as did the immunofluorescence signal of iNOS, whereas that of Arg-1 was increased. Taken together, our results show that, during the inflammatory response, BB extract shifts the M1 polarization towards the M2 phenotype through an actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Based on that, we might consider BB as a nutraceutical with anti-inflammatory activities
Insights into the Phytochemistry of the Cuban Endemic Medicinal Plant Phyllanthus orbicularis: Fideloside, a Novel Bioactive 8-C-glycosyl 2,3-Dihydroflavonol
Phyllanthus orbicularis (Phyllanthaceae) is an endemic evergreen tropical plant of Cuba that grows in the western part of the island and is used in traditional medicine as an infusion. The aqueous extract of this plant presents a wide range of pharmacological activitiessuch as antimutagenic, antioxidant and antiviral effects. Given the many beneficial effects and the great interest in the development of new pharmacological products from natural sources, the aim of this work was to investigate the phytochemistry of this species and to elucidate the structure of the main bioactive principles. Besides the presence of several known polyphenols, the major constituent was hitherto not described. The chemical structure of this compound, here named Fideloside, was elucidated by means of HR-ESIMS/MSn, 1D/2D NMR, FT-IR, and ECD as (2R,3R)-(−)-3’,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol-8-C-β-D-glucopyranoside. The compound, as well as the plant aqueous preparations, showed promising bioactive properties, i.e., anti-inflammatory capacity in human explanted monocytes, corroborating future pharmacological use for this new natural C-glycosyl flavanonol
Neuroprotective Effect of Brassica oleracea Sprouts Crude Juice in a Cellular Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) aberrant production and aggregation
are major factors implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease
(AD), causing neuronal death via oxidative stress. Several studies have highlighted
the importance of polyphenolic antioxidant compounds in the treatment of AD,
but complex food matrices, characterized by a different relative content of these
phytochemicals, have been neglected. In the present study, we analyzed the
protective effect on SH-SY5Y cells treated with the fragment Aβ25–35 by
two crude juices of broccoli sprouts containing different amounts of phenolic
compounds as a result of different growth conditions. Both juices protected against
Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death as evidenced by cell viability,
nuclear chromatin condensation, and apoptotic body formation measurements.
These effects were mediated by the modulation of the mitochondrial function and of the HSP70
gene transcription and expression. Furthermore, the juices upregulated the intracellular glutathione content
and mRNA levels or activity of antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin, thioredoxin
reductase, and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 via activation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).
Although the effects of the two juices were similar,
the juice enriched in phenolic compounds showed a greater efficacy in inducing the activation of the Nrf2
signalling pathway
Neuroprotective effects of PARP inhibitors in Drosophila models of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible age-related neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by severe memory impairment, language deficits and cognitive decline. The major
neuropathological hallmarks of AD include extracellular deposits of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides and
cytoplasmic neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The accumulation of
plaques and tangles in the brain triggers a cascade of molecular events that culminate in neuronal
damage and cell death. Despite extensive research, our understanding of the molecular basis of AD
pathogenesis remains incomplete and a cure for this devastating disease is still not available. A growing body of evidence in different experimental models suggests that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1
(PARP-1) overactivation might be a crucial component of the molecular network of interactions
responsible for AD pathogenesis. In this work, we combined genetic, molecular and biochemical
approaches to investigate the effects of two different PARP-1 inhibitors (olaparib and MC2050) in
Drosophila models of Alzheimer’s disease by exploring their neuroprotective and therapeutic potential in vivo. We found that both pharmacological inhibition and genetic inactivation of PARP-1
significantly extend lifespan and improve the climbing ability of transgenic AD flies. Consistently,
PARP-1 inhibitors lead to a significant decrease of Aβ42 aggregates and partially rescue the epigenetic
alterations associated with AD in the brain. Interestingly, olaparib and MC2050 also suppress the
AD-associated aberrant activation of transposable elements in neuronal tissues of AD flie