Antibacterial activity of <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> L. and <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> L. essential oils and their combination against food-borne pathogens and spoilage bacteria in ready-to-eat vegetables

<p>The antibacterial activity of <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> L. and <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> L. essential oils (EOs), and their combination against food-borne and spoilage bacteria (<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>, <i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp.) was determined. The EOs inhibitory effect was evaluated both <i>in vitro</i> by using the disk diffusion assay and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and <i>on food</i> by using an artificially contaminated ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables. The results showed that the lowest MIC values were obtained with <i>R. officinalis</i> and <i>T. vulgaris</i> EOs against <i>E. coli</i> (4 and 8 μL/mL, respectively). The incorporation of the EOs alone or their combination in RTE vegetables reduced the viable counts of all the tested strains. Lastly, in the <i>on food</i> study we simulated the worst hygienic conditions, obtaining results that can be considered a warranty of safety.</p

Mediterranean diet in a Sicilian student population. Second part: breakfast and its nutritional profile

<p>Breakfast habits affect the nutritional status and health of people, in particular children and adolescents. This is the second part a previous study about the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a Sicilian (Italy) student population. The investigation analysed both normal weight and overweight subjects in order to understand how eating habits, number of meals and daily calorie intakes could affect their body mass indexes (BMI). The aim of this second part was to analyse the breakfast nutritional profiles of this student population. The results highlighted that breakfast was regularly consumed by a percentage ranging from a maximum of 84% (in normal subjects) to a minimum value of 57.4% (in overweight/obese students). Milk, yoghurt, sugar, bread/rusk and tea contributed as main foods to the breakfast composition. The results highlighted that subjects who consumed breakfast showed lower BMI values with significant differences between normal and overweight/obese students.</p

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a Sicilian student population

<p>Since the last decades, socio-economic changes have a key role on eating habits affecting the nutritional status and health of people, in particular children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to compare the diet of student population both normal weight and overweight and obese in order to understand their eating habits by comparing the different diets of the student referring to the Mediterranean diet. The study comprised 337 Sicilian students aged 9 to 13 years, 96 in primary schools and 241 in secondary schools, respectively, in three Sicilian cities namely, Messina, San Piero Patti and Ragusa. The variables studied were height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and adherence to the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) diet quality indicator. Interestingly, the results highlighted 2.67 MAI mean value for normal weight students while 1.27 MAI mean value indicating a decreased adherence to the Mediterranean diet in overweight students.</p

<i>In vivo</i> effects of PCB-126 and genistein on vitellogenin expression in zebrafish

<p>In this study, the vitellogenin (Vtg) modulation by genistein and polychlorinated biphenyl-126 (PCB-126) exposure in zebrafishes has been investigated. Both PCB-126 and genistein have been identified as aquatic pollutants and can further increase estrogenicity of waterways. Vtg is egg yolk precursor protein release by the hepatocytes during vitellogenesis. This process occurs normally in the hepatocytes in response to the activation with the estrogens such as 17-β-estradiol. Our immunohistochemical findings showed a Vtg expression that increases at 12 h and at 72 h in the liver of treated fishes with both PCB-126 and genistein, individually and in combination. Furthermore, for the first time, also hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in the liver parenchyma were strongly positive for vitellogenin.</p

<i>Lavandula x intermedia</i> and <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> essential oils: phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens

<p>Four cultivars (cv) of <i>Lavandula x intermedia</i> (‘Abrialis’, ‘Alba’, ‘Rinaldi Ceroni’ (R.C.) and ‘Sumiens’) were cultivated in Italy and their essential oils (EOs) were distilled from Alfalfa Mosaic Virus-free plants. These EOs and one from <i>L. angustifolia</i> Miller were chemically characterised by GC-MS and GC-FID. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (24 strains) and <i>Salmonella enterica</i> (10 food strains). Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ≥ 10.0 μL/mL inhibited <i>Salmonella</i> (cv ‘R.C.’ was the most active); MIC of 0.3 μL/mL for cv ‘Abrialis’ and ‘R.C.’ inhibited <i>L. monocytogenes</i>, revealing noticeable activity, especially on clinical strains. This activity appears related to EOs composition. Particularly cv ‘Abrialis’ and ‘R.C.’ showing the highest antimicrobial activity, were rich in the specific constituents: linalool (38.17 and 61.98%), camphor (8.97 and 10.30%), 1,8-cineole (6.89 and 8.11%, respectively). These EOs could find potential applications in food biopreservation and in surface decontamination, even in hospitals, and deserve deeper investigations.</p