Analysis of food supplement with unusual raspberry ketone content

In recent years food supplement market increased constantly, including slimming products and against obesity. The case of rasberry ketone (RK) is here reported. HPTLC and HPLC-DAD analyses on a marketed product containing raspberry juice evidenced an abnormal quantity of RK, not in accordance with the juice natural content. The reported data confirm the need of adequate controls on marketed food supplements and the necessity of a complete adherence between labelling and real constitution of the product. Practical Applications: Determining the natural origin and assuring the consumers' safety for raspberry-based food supplement

Blue honeysuckle fruit (Lonicera caerulea L.) from eastern Russia: phenolic composition, nutritional value and biological activities of its polar extracts

In the present work we conducted a comprehensive chemical analysis of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea) spontaneously growing in eastern Russia. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis showed cyanidin-3-glucoside as the major constituent among phenolics, while nutritional analysis revealed fibre, protein, calcium and magnesium as the most important macro- and micronutrients, respectively. Fatty acid composition was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid being the most abundant. Furthermore, we evaluated several in vitro biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, wound healing and immunomodulatory effects of blue honeysuckle aqueous and ethanolic extracts that are often incorporated in food and nutraceutical preparations. While the fruit extracts were revealed to be potent radical scavengers with significant inhibition of ABTS radical, thus confirming the literature data, their inhibitory effects against microbial pathogens and tumor cell lines were negligible. The fruit aqueous extract did not show toxicity to human fibroblasts, but 24 h treatment with 150–200 μg per mL of extract slightly enhanced the cell migration when tested by scratched wound assay. Worth mentioning was the inhibitory effect displayed by the blue honeysuckle fruit aqueous extract on human lymphocytes

Comparative toxicity of Helosciadium nodiflorum essential oils and blends of their major constituents against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera)

tThe chemical composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Helosciadium nodiflorum Apiaceae),obtained from two different localities in Italy, were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS). Sample 1 (collected from Sulmona) was dominated by phenylpropanoids (49.1%) with myristicin(49.1%), (Z)--ocimene (19.0%), limonene (7.8%) and terpinolene (7.1%) as major constituents. Sample 2(collected from Colfiorito) was mainly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons (58.7%) and the maincompounds of the oil were limonene (40.6%), myristicin (24.3%), dillapiol (9.4%) and -pinene (5.5%). Inorder to determine relationships between the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the oils,comparative and synergistic interactions of the main constituents of H. nodiflorum essential oils wereinvestigated in third-instar larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, via a contact toxicity bioassay.In the case of sample 1, myristicin was identified as a major active principle while in sample 2, limonene,myristicin and dillapiol were main insecticidal constituents. Several combinations of these compoundswere synergistic when topically applied, especially myristicin and (Z)--ocimene, or limonene

Chemical analysis of the essential oils from Schizogyne sericea growing in different areas of Tenerife (Spain)

Schizogyne sericea, also known as ‘salado’, is a halophytic species widespread throughout all the Canary Islands (Spain), being more common in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The plant has been traditionally used as analgesic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and vulnerary. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemical variability in the volatile profiles obtained from the flowering aerial parts of S. sericea harvested in different localities (Palm Mar, Los Roques and La Barranquera) of Tenerife characterized by different microclimates. For the purpose, the essential oils were hydrodistilled from the dried aerial parts by a Clevenger-type apparatus and analysed by GC-MS. A similar chemical composition for the oil samples from the different geographic areas was obtained. The aromatic monoterpene hydrocarbon p-cymene (43.0-57.0%) was by far the main component of the oils, with minor amounts of isobornyl acetate (4.5-11.0%), limonene (4.7-5.6%), β-pinene (0.7-5.3%), α-phellandrene (2.2-4.8%) and camphene (1.8-4.5%). Interesting to note was the occurrence of thymol derivatives that may be considered important chemotaxonomic markers of the genus Schizogyne, and, more in general, of the tribe Inulae. The volatile chemical profile obtained for S. sericea was similar to that of S. glaberrima previously studied

Valorizing overlooked local crops in the era of globalization: the case of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L.) from Castignano (central Italy)

In the era of globalization, some local crops are at risk of extinction due to low competitiveness against products coming from foreign markets. This is the case of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) from Castignano (Marche, central Italy), which was extensively cultivated in central Italy in the XIX century then abandoned after the global market favored products manufactured in Middle East countries. In order to support scientifically the recovery of this local crop, we performed a phytochemical investigation on the essential oil and polar compounds of aniseed cultivated in different fields of Castignano in the years 2013–2015 with the aim to demonstrate its high-quality value. For the purpose, the ‘Castignano ecotype’ samples were compared for essential oil yield, (E)-anethole levels and phenolic content with commercial samples of the Mediterranean area. Furthermore, several phenolic compounds were characterized by HPLC–MS⁠n. Results showed that aniseed cultivated in Castignano contains higher content of essential oil and phenolic compounds than commercial samples, and provided the scientific rationale for its complete recovery and valorization