Pasta fortified with C-glycosides-rich carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed germ flour: Inhibitory activity against carbohydrate digesting enzymes

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed germ flour (SGF) is a by-product resulting from the extractionextraction of locust bean gum (E410), which is a texturing and thickening ingredient used for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. SGF is a protein-rich edible matrix and contains relatively high amounts of apigenin 6,8-C-di- and poly-glycosylated derivatives. In this work, we prepared durum wheat pasta containing 5 and 10 % (w/w) of SGF and carried out inhibition assays against type-2 diabetes relevant carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes, namely porcine pancreatic α-amylase and α-glycosidases from jejunal brush border membranes. Nearly 70–80% of the SGF flavonoids were retained in the pasta after cooking in boiling water. Extracts from cooked pasta fortified with 5 or 10% SGF inhibited either α-amylase by 53% and 74% or α-glycosidases by 62 and 69%, respectively. The release of reducing sugars from starch was delayed in SGF-containing pasta compared to the full-wheat counterpart, as assessed by simulated oral-gastric-duodenal digestion. By effect of starch degradation, the SGF flavonoids were discharged in the water phase of the chyme, supporting a possible inhibitory activity against both duodenal α-amylase and small intestinal α-glycosidases in vivo. SGF is a promising functional ingredient obtained from an industrial by-product for producing cereal-based foods with reduced glycaemic index.Fil: Siano, Francesco. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Mamone, Gianfranco. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Vasca, Ermanno. Universita di Salerno; ItaliaFil: Puppo, Maria Cecilia. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Picariello, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Itali

Electrogenerated acid as an efficient catalyst for the preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

A new method for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with high yields in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is presented. By using constant-current electrolysis more than 90% of sucrose or fructose was converted to HMF at room temperature in DMSO in the presence of traces of water. Keywords: 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, Electrochemical synthesis, Electrogenerated aci

Air quality evaluation during COVID-19 in Southern Italy: the case study of Avellino city

The present study relies on the air quality evaluation during COVID-19 pandemic in Avellino, described in the last years and for several consecutive years, among the worst Italian cities in this context. The main purpose of this manuscript was to investigate the effects of quarantine and lockdown measures on air pollution. The concentrations of the main atmospheric pollutants (Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O(3)), Fine Particulate (PM(2.5) and PM(10)), Benzene (C(6)H(6)) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) were recorded during the period January–December 2020 using two stationary monitoring stations (AV1 and AV2) of the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAC). During the lockdown period (March 9-May 18, 2020), results indicated significant reductions only in the levels of CO, benzene and NO(2), while for PM(10) the limit of 50 μg m(−3) was passed 8 times for AV1 and 13 times for AV2. The results showed the not predominant role of traffic on air quality in Avellino regards to PM levels and make it necessary a serious reflection about important and not extendable decisions to improve the air quality

Fluorescence Detecting of Paraquat and Diquat Using Host–Guest Chemistry with a Fluorophore-Pendant Calix[6]arene

Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ), some of the most widely used herbicides in the world, both present a high mortality index after intentional exposure. In this paper, a fluorescence sensing method for PQ and DQ, based on host–guest molecular recognition, is proposed. Calix[6]arene derivatives containing anthracene or naphthalene as pendant fluorophore at their lower rim recognize DQ and PQ in hydroalcoholic solution with a broad linear response range at the g L-1 level concentration. The linear response ranges were found from 1.0 to 18 g L-1 with the detection limit of 31 ng L-1 for paraquat, and from 1.0 to 44 g L-1 with the detection limit of 0.16 g L-1 for diquat. The recognition process is detected by following the decrease in the fluorescence emission consequent to complexation. The proposed quenching method has been applied to the determination of paraquat in drinking water samples

Potentiometric determination of the total acidity of Humic Acids by constant-current coulometry

A straightforward method for both the quantitative and the equilibrium analysis of humic acids in solution, based on the combination of potentiometry with coulometry, is presented. The method is based on potentiometric titrations of alkaline solutions containing, besides the humic acid sample, also NaClO4 1M; by means of constant current coulometry the analytical acidity in the solutions is increased with a high precision, until the formation of a solid phase occurs. Hence, the total acid content of the macromolecules may be determined from the e.m.f. data by using modified Gran plots or least-squares sum minimization programs as well. It is proposed to use the pKw value in the ionic medium as a check of the correctness of each experiment; this datum may be readily obtained as a side-result in each titration. Modelling acid–base equilibria of the HA samples analysed was also performed, on the basis of the buffer capacity variations occurring during each titration. The experimental data fit, having the least standard deviation, was obtained assuming a mixture of three monoprotic acids (HX, HY, HZ) having about the same analytical concentration, whose acid dissociation constants in NaClO4 1M at 25 ◦C were pKHX = 3.9±0.2, pKHY = 7.5±0.3, pKHZ = 9.5±0.2, respectively. With the proposed method the handling of alkaline HA solutions, the titration with very dilute NaOH or HCl solutions and the need for the availability of very small volumes of titrant to be added by microburettes may be avoided

Potentiometric determination of the total acidity of humic acids by constant-current coulometry

A straightforward method for both the quantitative and the equilibrium analysis of humic acids in solution, based on the combination of potentiometry with coulometry, is presented. The method is based on potentiometric titrations of alkaline solutions containing, besides the humic acid sample, also NaClO4 1 M; by means of constant current coulometry the analytical acidity in the solutions is increased with a high precision, until the formation of a solid phase occurs. Hence, the total acid content of the macromolecules may be determined from the e.m.f. data by using modified Gran plots or least-squares sum minimization programs as well. It is proposed to use the pKw value in the ionic medium as a check of the correctness of each experiment; this datum may be readily obtained as a side-result in each titration. Modelling acid–base equilibria of the HA samples analysed was also performed, on the basis of the buffer capacity variations occurring during each titration. The experimental data fit, having the least standard deviation, was obtained assuming a mixture of three monoprotic acids (HX, HY, HZ) having about the same analytical concentration, whose acid dissociation constants in NaClO4 1 M at 25 °C were pKHX = 3.9 ± 0.2, pKHY = 7.5 ± 0.3, pKHZ = 9.5 ± 0.2, respectively. With the proposed method the handling of alkaline HA solutions, the titration with very dilute NaOH or HCl solutions and the need for the availability of very small volumes of titrant to be added by microburettes may be avoided