Circular Economy as a New Model for the Exploitation of the Agroindustrial Biomass

This paper focuses on a new concept of waste and by-products within the agricultural system, based upon the perspective of circular economy, which directs the agrifood chain and the life style towards a "zero waste" model. This new approach can be achieved through efficient small and industrial scale of bioenergy plants, biorefineries and environmentally friendly process for the production of biomolecules to be employed as active principles in agronomy, cosmetics, foods, feeds and pharmaceutical applications. In particular, the case study of this paper concerns the exploitation of Olea, Cynara and Chestnut tissues and byproducts as new source for energy and bioactive antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds (polyphenols) (PCT/IT/2009/09425529 Olea europaea L.; PCT/IT/2008/000135 Cynara scolymus L., MI2014A000177 Chestnut), which will also be assessed in different Italian district. The regional level has been chosen for this analysis because the local approach allows to avoid and/or reduce the economic and environmental cost of the waste transport. The polyphenols market is projected to reach 1 billion dollars by 2020 and 4,790 potential source plants are present in Europe. The recovery of chemicals and the production of energy, should be a continuous process of interaction between high technology and environmental and economic sustainability, making this kind of multifunctional platform highly innovative and consistent with the principles of the circular econom

Quality control and analytical test method for Taxus baccata tincture preparation.

The homeopathic tincture of Taxus baccata L. is monographed in the current German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB 2009). However, the described identification test is a common comparative TLC procedure that might be updated. The purpose of the current work was the quali-quantitative analysis by HPLC/DAD/MS of Taxus tincture. In this study we characterized polyphenolic compounds, in particular four hydroxycinnamic derivatives (0.85 mg/mL) and four flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol 3- O-rutinoside and xylosyl glucosides); the total polyphenol content was 1.265 mg/mL of tincture. Starting from the official German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia method of preparation, the aim of this work was to optimize a rapid and reproducible method for the analysis of herbal drugs and tincture, directly prepared in store or the herbalist's shop, to ensure safety and efficacy of the preparation. The procedure has to ensure validation, robustness of the results, and provide a quick response about the composition of compounds in the herbal drug preparation

Oleuropein, the Main Polyphenol of Olea europaea Leaf Extract, Has an Anti-Cancer Effect on Human BRAF Melanoma Cells and Potentiates the Cytotoxicity of Current Chemotherapies

Oleuropein (Ole), a secoiridoid glucoside present in Olea europaea leaves, gained scientific interest thanks to its several biological properties, including the anticancer one. We verified whether Ole might potentiate the cytotoxicity of conventional drugs used to treat melanoma, disclosing a potentially new therapeutic strategy. We tested the cytotoxic action of Ole alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics on A375 human melanoma cells. We found that Ole was able, at a dose of 500 µM, to stimulate apoptosis, while at a non-toxic dose of 250 µM, it affected cell proliferation and induced the downregulation of the pAKT/pS6 pathway. A dose of 250 µM Ole did not potentiate the effect of Vemurafenib (PLX4032), but it succeeded in increasing the cytotoxic effect of Dacarbazine (DTIC). The major effect was found in the association between Ole and Everolimus (RAD001), also on PLX4032-resistant BRAF melanoma cells, which possibly cooperate in the inhibition of the pAKT/pS6 pathway. Of interest, an olive leaf extract enriched in equimolar Ole was more effective and able to further improve DTIC and RAD001 efficacy on BRAF melanoma cells with respect to Ole alone. Therefore, Ole represents a natural product able to potentiate a wide array of chemotherapeutics against BRAF melanoma cells affecting the pAKT/pS6 pathway

Designing a circular economy model from the olive mill waste

A sustainable system is characterized, inter alia, by a much reduced use of inputs and by the reuse and recycling of material outputs (waste is considered a resource and resources have to be maximised within the system). Hence, a circular economy model that moves towards the closing loop also suggests a drastic reduction or elimination of waste and dissipative loss. The present paper focuses on an useful concept of waste and by-products within the agro industrial system, based on the perspective of circular economy. This approach can be achieved through efficient small and industrial scale bioenergy plants, biorefineries and environmentally friendly processes for the production of biomolecules to be employed as active principles in many sectors. In particular, the case study of this paper concerns the exploitation of an olive-oil by-product (wet-pomace) as a new source of energy and polyphenol compounds on an industrial scale. The paper aims to design a technical and economic model of a platform which produces bioactive compounds from the Olea by products, in particular from wet pomace, an olive-oil mill waste, which usually represent a disposal problem. By the application of the MFA methodology (Material Flow Analysis) to the production process, the authors provide a case study about the implementation of this kind of multifunctional platform in a region in southern Italy, where the cultivation of Olea europaea L. and the production of virgin olive oil are widespread. The regional level has been chosen, because the local approach allows for avoiding and/or reducing the economic and environmental cost of the waste transport. The recovery of chemicals and the production of energy should be a continuous process of interaction between high technology and environmental and economic sustainability, making this kind of platform highly innovative and consistent with the principles of the circular economy, as well as with the development of a new business. The results have highlighted that this platform can produce up to 6000 kg of enriched polyphenol fractions, generating an approximate income of over 155,000 Euros; moreover, each residue of the process (water, olive stones, destoned pulp) comes into a new use in the same and/or external processes according to the circular economy. The conclusion underlines the main positive features of this sustainable model, in particular the eco-innovation of the process and the economic and environmental advantages consisting in reducing waste, water and energy consumption

Designing a circular economy model from the olive mill waste

A sustainable system is characterized, inter alia, by a much reduced use of inputs and by the reuse and recycling of material outputs (waste is considered a resource and resources have to be maximised within the system). Hence, a circular economy model that moves towards the closing loop also suggests a drastic reduction or elimination of waste and dissipative loss. The present paper focuses on an useful concept of waste and by-products within the agro industrial system, based on the perspective of circular economy. This approach can be achieved through efficient small and industrial scale bioenergy plants, biorefineries and environmentally friendly processes for the production of biomolecules to be employed as active principles in many sectors. In particular, the case study of this paper concerns the exploitation of an olive-oil by-product (wet-pomace) as a new source of energy and polyphenol compounds on an industrial scale. The paper aims to design a technical and economic model of a platform which produces bioactive compounds from the Olea by products, in particular from wet pomace, an olive-oil mill waste, which usually represent a disposal problem. By the application of the MFA methodology (Material Flow Analysis) to the production process, the authors provide a case study about the implementation of this kind of multifunctional platform in a region in southern Italy, where the cultivation of Olea europaea L. and the production of virgin olive oil are widespread. The regional level has been chosen, because the local approach allows for avoiding and/or reducing the economic and environmental cost of the waste transport. The recovery of chemicals and the production of energy should be a continuous process of interaction between high technology and environmental and economic sustainability, making this kind of platform highly innovative and consistent with the principles of the circular economy, as well as with the development of a new business. The results have highlighted that this platform can produce up to 6000 kg of enriched polyphenol fractions, generating an approximate income of over 155,000 Euros; moreover, each residue of the process (water, olive stones, destoned pulp) comes into a new use in the same and/or external processes according to the circular economy. The conclusion underlines the main positive features of this sustainable model, in particular the eco-innovation of the process and the economic and environmental advantages consisting in reducing waste, water and energy consumption