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Dario Donno graduated in Chemistry, holds a PhD in Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, and is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the University of Turin. His research mainly focuses on qualitative analysis and analytical strategies (e.g., chromatographic and spectrophotometric analysis coupled with multivariate statistical analysis) for the identification and quantification of bioactive compounds in different plant materials (buds, leaves, fruits, and bark) and agri-food industry derived-products for their quality and traceability evaluation. As the author of more than 150 scientific and technical publications on national and international journals and books, including about 70 in the Web of Science and Scopus peer-review journals, he has actively participated in national and EU research projects.
Although modern medicine is available in many developing countries, such as the Comoros Islands, the primary health-care needs of the local population are based on traditional foods and beverages derived from natural resources and medicinal plants for cultural and historical reasons. Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Benn. (‘Mfandrabo’), Cinnamomum verum J.Presl (‘Mani yamdrara’), Ocimum gratissimum L. (‘Roulé’), Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (‘Ynadombwe’), Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (‘Sandze monach’) and Ocimum americanum L. (‘Kandza’) are six wild plants that are largely utilised to treat many diseases. The leaves of these plants are used in the traditional Comorian tea (aqueous infusion). This study aimed to identify and quantify the main health-promoting compounds in the traditional formulation of Comorian tea by HPLC profiling together with a preliminary assessment of antioxidant capacity to confirm the traditional use of these plants by the local population. The single plants were also studied. The Comoros tea presented a total polyphenolic content (TPC) of 4511.50 ± 74.41 mgGAE/100 g DW, a value higher than the TPCs of the different plants included in the Comorian tea. Moreover, the Comorian tea showed an antioxidant capacity (AOC) of 578.65 ± 6.48 mmol Fe2+/Kg DW, a value higher if compared to all the AOC values obtained in the single plants. The polyphenolic fraction (771.37 ± 35.76 mg/100 g DW) and organic acids (981.40 ± 38.38 mg/100 g DW) were the most important phytochemical classes in the Comorian tea (40.68% and 51.75% of the total phytocomplex, respectively), followed by the monoterpenes (5.88%) and vitamin C (1.67%), while carotenoids were detected in trace (0.02%). The Comorian tea could be important in meeting the high demand in the Comoros Islands and other developing countries for cost-effective and natural health-promoting foods and/or beverages to be produced by agri-food industries and used by the local population. This study may promote traditional foods in rural communities in the Comoros Islands and contribute to sustainable rural development and a commercial valorisation of these plants for health-promoting and food applications.
Dario Donno; Saandia Hassani; Toilibou Sofoini; Maria Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Giovanni Gamba; Gabriele Beccaro. Traditional Foods and Sustainable Rural Development: Exploiting the Case of the Comoros Tea as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5815 .
AMA StyleDario Donno, Saandia Hassani, Toilibou Sofoini, Maria Mellano, Isidoro Riondato, Giovanni Gamba, Gabriele Beccaro. Traditional Foods and Sustainable Rural Development: Exploiting the Case of the Comoros Tea as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):5815.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno; Saandia Hassani; Toilibou Sofoini; Maria Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Giovanni Gamba; Gabriele Beccaro. 2021. "Traditional Foods and Sustainable Rural Development: Exploiting the Case of the Comoros Tea as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 5815.
The increasing interest in healthy and natural foods has raised the attention towards uncommon or unexplored ingredients, such as edible flowers. These products are proven to be a rich source of bioactive compounds, for example, vitamins or polyphenols that play an important role in health promotion and disease prevention. However, plant species with edible flowers are numerous and most of them still need to be studied with this aim. The high species richness of North-Western Italy provides interesting perspectives in the use of wild edible flowers, which are currently underutilized, but can be a valuable food source or food supplement for healthy diets. In this framework, the phytochemical composition of 22 wild edible flowers was analysed and compared with that of four cultivated species (Borago officinalis L., Calendula officinalis L., Tagetes patula L. and Tropaeolum majus L.) to evaluate their potentiality as sources of bioactive compounds. The total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the fresh flowers were assessed, together with their phenolic profiles and vitamin C content, through spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses. The evaluated parameters varied widely among species, with Paeonia officinalis L. and Rosa pendulina L. showing the highest values of polyphenols (1,930 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) · 100 g−1 and 1,774 mg GAE · 100 g−1, respectively), followed by Rosa canina L. (1,397 mg GAE · 100 g−1) and Geranium sylvaticum L. (1,268 mg GAE · 100 g−1). The same species also showed the highest antioxidant activity, measured with three different assays [ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)]. The phenolic profile differed among the studied species, with Dianthus pavonius Tausch and R. pendulina having the highest sum of detected polyphenols (2,522 mg · 100 g−1 and 2,366 mg · 100 g−1, respectively). Vitamin C was identified in all but two flowers (Allium ursinum L. and B. officinalis) and Primula veris L. had the highest amount (45 mg · 100 g−1). The study showed that wild edible flowers outperformed the cultivated species, except for T. majus, providing new insights for the use of wild edible flowers as sources of bioactive compounds.
Sonia Demasi; Matteo Caser; Dario Donno; Simone Ravetto Enri; Michele Lonati; Valentina Scariot. Exploring wild edible flowers as a source of bioactive compounds: New perspectives in horticulture. Folia Horticulturae 2021, -1, 1 .
AMA StyleSonia Demasi, Matteo Caser, Dario Donno, Simone Ravetto Enri, Michele Lonati, Valentina Scariot. Exploring wild edible flowers as a source of bioactive compounds: New perspectives in horticulture. Folia Horticulturae. 2021; -1 (ahead-of-p):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSonia Demasi; Matteo Caser; Dario Donno; Simone Ravetto Enri; Michele Lonati; Valentina Scariot. 2021. "Exploring wild edible flowers as a source of bioactive compounds: New perspectives in horticulture." Folia Horticulturae -1, no. ahead-of-p: 1.
Foods confer many health-promoting benefits to humans for the treatment/prevention of different diseases
Dario Donno. Screening, Identification, and Quantification of Nutritional Components and Phytochemicals in Foodstuffs. Foods 2021, 10, 125 .
AMA StyleDario Donno. Screening, Identification, and Quantification of Nutritional Components and Phytochemicals in Foodstuffs. Foods. 2021; 10 (1):125.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno. 2021. "Screening, Identification, and Quantification of Nutritional Components and Phytochemicals in Foodstuffs." Foods 10, no. 1: 125.
The FINNOVER project provides a technical and economic path for the creation of new supply chains, or their development, for the sustainable extraction and utilization of natural biologically active molecules. In this research, a green extraction method and re-use strategy of botanical by-products are developed and used to obtain value-added products as an ecological alternative to waste composting or incineration. It was applied to the production of Castanea spp. bud-derivatives (a specific category of food supplements derived from plant material) and their by-products. This study aimed to compare the phytochemical composition of Castanea spp. bud-preparations (herbal preparations from buds and sprouts) with the extracts derived from the bud-waste management process. Bioactive compounds were extracted by maceration in hydroglyceroalcoholic solution (traditional method) and by a green extraction technique (Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction—PUAE) and identified and quantified by HPLC methods obtaining a specific chromatographic profile. PUAE extracted a total content of 160.42 mg/100 g FW, a good amount if compared to the relative commercial product (1276.17 mg/100 g FW). About 13% of the chemical content of Castanea spp. bud-preparations was maintained in the by-product extracts. This research showed that PUAE may be considered as a sustainable alternative to waste management based on incineration or composting. This study could be considered by the industries for the development of new products for the market derived from the bud-derivative processing waste.
Dario Donno; Federica Turrini; Raffaella Boggia; Maddalena Guido; Giovanni Gamba; Maria Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Gabriele Beccaro. Sustainable Extraction and Use of Natural Bioactive Compounds from the Waste Management Process of Castanea spp. Bud-Derivatives: The FINNOVER Project. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10640 .
AMA StyleDario Donno, Federica Turrini, Raffaella Boggia, Maddalena Guido, Giovanni Gamba, Maria Mellano, Isidoro Riondato, Gabriele Beccaro. Sustainable Extraction and Use of Natural Bioactive Compounds from the Waste Management Process of Castanea spp. Bud-Derivatives: The FINNOVER Project. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (24):10640.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno; Federica Turrini; Raffaella Boggia; Maddalena Guido; Giovanni Gamba; Maria Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Gabriele Beccaro. 2020. "Sustainable Extraction and Use of Natural Bioactive Compounds from the Waste Management Process of Castanea spp. Bud-Derivatives: The FINNOVER Project." Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10640.
New technology development and globalisation have led to extreme changes in the agri-food sector in recent years that need an important food supply chain characterisation from plant materials to commercial productions. Many analytical strategies are commonly utilised in the agri-food industry, often using complementary technologies with different purposes. Chromatography on-line coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most selective and sensitive analytical methodologies. The purpose of this overview is to present the most recent MS-based techniques applied to food analysis. An entire section is dedicated to the recent applications of high-resolution MS. Covered topics include liquid (LC)– and gas chromatography (GC)–MS analysis of natural bioactive substances, including carbohydrates, flavonoids and related compounds, lipids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and other different molecules in foodstuffs from the perspectives of food composition, food authenticity and food adulteration. The results represent an important contribution to the utilisation of GC–MS and LC–MS in the field of natural bioactive compound identification and quantification.
Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Giovanni Gamba; Isidoro Riondato; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Analytical Strategies for Fingerprinting of Antioxidants, Nutritional Substances, and Bioactive Compounds in Foodstuffs Based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: An Overview. Foods 2020, 9, 1734 .
AMA StyleDario Donno, Maria Gabriella Mellano, Giovanni Gamba, Isidoro Riondato, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Analytical Strategies for Fingerprinting of Antioxidants, Nutritional Substances, and Bioactive Compounds in Foodstuffs Based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: An Overview. Foods. 2020; 9 (12):1734.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Giovanni Gamba; Isidoro Riondato; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2020. "Analytical Strategies for Fingerprinting of Antioxidants, Nutritional Substances, and Bioactive Compounds in Foodstuffs Based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: An Overview." Foods 9, no. 12: 1734.
Anxiety disorders are common and complex psychiatric syndromes affecting a broad spectrum of patients. On top of that, we know that aging produces an increase in anxiety vulnerability and sedative consumption. Moreover, stress disorders frequently show a clear gender susceptibility. Currently, the approved pharmacological strategies have severe side effects such as hallucinations, addiction, suicide, insomnia, and loss of motor coordination. Dietary integration with supplements represents an intriguing strategy for improving the efficacy and the safety of synthetic anxiolytics. Accordingly, a recent article demonstrated that glyceric bud extracts from Tilia tomentosa Moench (TTBEs) exert effects that are consistent with anxiolytic activity. However, the effects of these compounds in vivo are unknown. To examine this question, we conducted behavioral analysis in mice. A total of 21 days of oral supplements (vehicle and TTBEs) were assessed by Light Dark and Hole Board tests in male and female mice (young, 3 months; old, 24 months). Interestingly, the principal component analysis revealed gender and age-specific behavioral modulations. Moreover, the diet integration with the botanicals did not modify the body weight gain and the daily intake of water. Our results support the use of TTBEs as dietary supplements for anxiolytic purposes and unveil age and gender-dependent responses.
Federica Turrini; Giulia Vallarino; Francesca Cisani; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Raffaella Boggia; Anna Pittaluga; Massimo Grilli. Use of an Animal Model to Evaluate Anxiolytic Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Tilia tomentosa Moench Bud Extracts. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3328 .
AMA StyleFederica Turrini, Giulia Vallarino, Francesca Cisani, Dario Donno, Gabriele Loris Beccaro, Paola Zunin, Raffaella Boggia, Anna Pittaluga, Massimo Grilli. Use of an Animal Model to Evaluate Anxiolytic Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Tilia tomentosa Moench Bud Extracts. Nutrients. 2020; 12 (11):3328.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederica Turrini; Giulia Vallarino; Francesca Cisani; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Raffaella Boggia; Anna Pittaluga; Massimo Grilli. 2020. "Use of an Animal Model to Evaluate Anxiolytic Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Tilia tomentosa Moench Bud Extracts." Nutrients 12, no. 11: 3328.
Changes in lifestyle and demographics, rising consumer incomes, and shifting preferences due to advanced knowledge about the relationships between food and health contribute to generate new needs in the food supply. Today, the role of food is not only intended as hunger satisfaction and nutrient supply but also as an opportunity to prevent nutrition-related diseases and improve physical and mental well-being. For this reason, there is a growing interest in the novel or less well-known plant foods that offer an opportunity for health maintenance. Recently, interest in plant foods and underutilized fruits is continuously growing, and agrobiodiversity exploitation offers effective and extraordinary potentialities. Plant foods could be an important source of health-promoting compounds and functional food ingredients with beneficial properties: the description of the quality and physicochemical traits, the identification and quantification of bioactive compounds, and the evaluation of their biological activities are important to assess plant food efficacy as functional foods or source of food supplement ingredients.
Dario Donno; Federica Turrini. Plant Foods and Underutilized Fruits as Source of Functional Food Ingredients: Chemical Composition, Quality Traits, and Biological Properties. Foods 2020, 9, 1474 .
AMA StyleDario Donno, Federica Turrini. Plant Foods and Underutilized Fruits as Source of Functional Food Ingredients: Chemical Composition, Quality Traits, and Biological Properties. Foods. 2020; 9 (10):1474.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno; Federica Turrini. 2020. "Plant Foods and Underutilized Fruits as Source of Functional Food Ingredients: Chemical Composition, Quality Traits, and Biological Properties." Foods 9, no. 10: 1474.
Saffron is a well-known spice, produced for a long time, mainly in the Mediterranean area. In the last few years, saffron has been seen as an alternative crop for the diversification of agricultural production and a new source of income, due to its high price, including in Alpine areas. Apart from the spice, constituted by the stigmas, saffron production provides a high amount of fresh tepals, which have so far been considered agricultural waste. Recently, studies on the composition of saffron tepals have been revealing their potential as a rich source of bioactive compounds. In this study, we evaluated the productive traits and the quality of the spice of saffron cultivated in open fields in the north western Italian Alps, for 2 years. In addition, in order to valorize the crop residues, we evaluated the bioactive compound content in tepals by using maceration and ultrasound assisted extraction with different rates of water and methanol as solvents. Higher yields in spice were obtained in the second year of cultivation. However, in both years, the spice had a high quality (ISO 3632), and a very high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Thirteen bioactive compounds were identified, including flavonols, cinnamic acids, benzoic acids, catechins, and vitamin C, with few differences between sites and year of cultivation. In tepals, the extraction method and the solvent used influenced the evaluated parameters, i.e., total phenolics and total anthocyanins content, antioxidant activity, and the amount of the four phenolic compounds found (hyperoside, rutin, ellagic acid, and epicatechin). Overall, this study revealed that both saffron spice and its by-product, the fresh tepals, produced in the north western Italian Alps can be considered a source of bioactive compounds with nutraceutical properties, having an antioxidant capacity that is often similar or higher than those of some vegetables and fruits.
Matteo Caser; Sonia Demasi; Stefania Stelluti; Dario Donno; Valentina Scariot. Crocus sativus L. Cultivation in Alpine Environments: Stigmas and Tepals as Source of Bioactive Compounds. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1473 .
AMA StyleMatteo Caser, Sonia Demasi, Stefania Stelluti, Dario Donno, Valentina Scariot. Crocus sativus L. Cultivation in Alpine Environments: Stigmas and Tepals as Source of Bioactive Compounds. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (10):1473.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMatteo Caser; Sonia Demasi; Stefania Stelluti; Dario Donno; Valentina Scariot. 2020. "Crocus sativus L. Cultivation in Alpine Environments: Stigmas and Tepals as Source of Bioactive Compounds." Agronomy 10, no. 10: 1473.
The use of herbal food supplements, as a concentrate form of vegetable extracts, increased so much over the past years to count them among the relevant sources of dietetic polyphenols. Bud-derivatives are a category of botanicals perceived as a “new entry” in this sector since they are still poorly studied. Due to the lack of a manufacturing process specification, very different products can be found on the market in terms of their polyphenolic profile depending on the experimental conditions of manufacturing. In this research two different manufacturing processes, using two different protocols, and eight species (Carpinus betulus L., Cornus mas L., Ficus carica L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Larix decidua Mill., Pinus montana Mill., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Tilia tomentosa Moench), commonly used to produce bud-derivatives, have been considered as a case study. An untargeted spectroscopic fingerprint of the extracts, coupled to chemometrics, provide to be a useful tool to identify these botanicals. The targeted phytochemical fingerprint by HPLC provided a screening of the main bud-derivatives polyphenolic classes highlighting a high variability depending on both method and protocol used. Nevertheless, ultrasonic extraction proved to be less sensitive to the different extraction protocols than conventional maceration regarding the extract polyphenolic profile.
Federica Turrini; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Anna Pittaluga; Massimo Grilli; Paola Zunin; Raffaella Boggia. Bud-Derivatives, a Novel Source of Polyphenols and How Different Extraction Processes Affect Their Composition. Foods 2020, 9, 1343 .
AMA StyleFederica Turrini, Dario Donno, Gabriele Loris Beccaro, Anna Pittaluga, Massimo Grilli, Paola Zunin, Raffaella Boggia. Bud-Derivatives, a Novel Source of Polyphenols and How Different Extraction Processes Affect Their Composition. Foods. 2020; 9 (10):1343.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederica Turrini; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Anna Pittaluga; Massimo Grilli; Paola Zunin; Raffaella Boggia. 2020. "Bud-Derivatives, a Novel Source of Polyphenols and How Different Extraction Processes Affect Their Composition." Foods 9, no. 10: 1343.
Lygodium lanceolatum Desv. (Schizaeaceae) is a native fern of Madagascar and Comoros. This species is widely used by the Malagasy population for the treatment of several diseases including different categories of pain. This work aims to determine the antioxidant capacity, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of this plant and to report its phytochemical composition related to therapeutic properties. The methanol extract (MELL) and aqueous decoction (DLL) were prepared from the L. lanceolatum aerial parts. The isolation of compound 1 was carried out using exclusion chromatography. The total polyphenolic content (TPC) was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Different HPLC methods were performed to quantify bioactive compounds in the L. lanceolatum aerial parts. The antioxidant capacity was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging method and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. In vivo carrageenan-induced mice paw oedema was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, while the evaluation of the antalgic activity was carried out by the in vivo acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Acute toxicity was performed in mice to evaluate the toxicity of methanol extract and decoction of L. lanceolatum. The aerial parts of L. lanceolatum showed a high level of total polyphenolic content with a mean value of 10168.47 ± 1117.09 mgGAE/100 g of dry weight (DW). The HPLC total bioactive compound content (TBCC) showed a value of 4181.59 ± 1485.2 mg/100 g DW. Organic acids represent 79.12% of TBCC: malic acid (45.45%), succinic acid (12.02%), and quinic acid (11.47%) are the main quantified compounds. The isolated compound 1 was quercitrin which represents 1.12% of TBCC. Isolated quercitrin and MELL potently inhibited the free radical DPPH more than DLL. MELL antioxidant capacity was confirmed by the FRAP results. MELL, as well as DLL, inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and the acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Quercitrin was 20 times more effective than DLL to decrease the number of writhes. MELL and DLL did not demonstrate toxicity during the acute toxicity test. These results indicate that L. lanceolatum possesses strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antalgic properties thanks to phenolic compounds and organic acids, in particular quercitrin (the isolated compound) confirming the wide use of this species in the popular Malagasy medicine.
Floréane Razafin-Drabazo; Dario Donno; Nantenaina Tombozara; Zoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto; Jean François Rajaonarison; Charles Andrianjara; David Ramanitrahasimbola; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Phyto-compounds and pharmacological activities of Lygodium lanceolatum Desv. (Schizaeaceae). South African Journal of Botany 2020, 135, 225 -232.
AMA StyleFloréane Razafin-Drabazo, Dario Donno, Nantenaina Tombozara, Zoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto, Jean François Rajaonarison, Charles Andrianjara, David Ramanitrahasimbola, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Phyto-compounds and pharmacological activities of Lygodium lanceolatum Desv. (Schizaeaceae). South African Journal of Botany. 2020; 135 ():225-232.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFloréane Razafin-Drabazo; Dario Donno; Nantenaina Tombozara; Zoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto; Jean François Rajaonarison; Charles Andrianjara; David Ramanitrahasimbola; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2020. "Phyto-compounds and pharmacological activities of Lygodium lanceolatum Desv. (Schizaeaceae)." South African Journal of Botany 135, no. : 225-232.
A large species diversity characterises the wide distribution of chestnuts in Asia, North America, and Europe, hence reflecting not only the adaptation of the genus Castanea to diverse environmental conditions, but also to different management strategies encompassing orchards. The characterisation and description of chestnut populations and cultivars are crucial to develop effective conservation strategies of one of the most important Italian and European fruit and wood species. Chestnut cultivars grown in the same pedoclimatic conditions and on the same clonal rootstock were characterised with sensory, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analysis to determine the phytochemical composition and nutraceutical properties. A multivariate approach, including principal component analysis and conditional inference tree models, was also performed. The ease of peeling, seed colour, and intensity of sweetness were the sensory descriptors that allowed us to differentiate C. sativa cultivars. Antioxidant capacity ranged from 9.30 ± 0.39 mmol Fe+2 kg−1 DW (‘Bouche de Bètizac’) to 19.96 ± 1.89 mmol Fe+2 kg−1 DW (‘Garrone Rosso’). Monoterpenes represented the main component, reaching 88% for hybrids, followed by polyphenols (10–25% for hybrids and chestnuts, respectively). A multivariate approach showed that phenolic acids and tannins were the bioactive classes with the highest discriminating power among different genotypes, and that genotype is a significant variable (p < 0.05). In addition, most of the analysed chestnut cultivars showed a content of bioactive compounds similar to or higher than the main hazelnut, walnut, and almond varieties. Chestnut agrobiodiversity could be intended as strictly associated to the genotype effect and underlines the large variability within the genus Castanea, and therefore, the importance of in farm and ex situ conservation of local germplasm is part of a global strategy aimed at increasing the levels of agrobiodiversity.
Gabriele L. Beccaro; Dario Donno; Guglielmo Gianni Lione; Marta De Biaggi; Giovanni Gamba; Sabrina Rapalino; Isidoro Riondato; Paolo Gonthier; Maria Gabriella Mellano. Castanea spp. Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Genotype Influence on Chemical and Sensorial Traits of Cultivars Grown on the Same Clonal Rootstock. Foods 2020, 9, 1062 .
AMA StyleGabriele L. Beccaro, Dario Donno, Guglielmo Gianni Lione, Marta De Biaggi, Giovanni Gamba, Sabrina Rapalino, Isidoro Riondato, Paolo Gonthier, Maria Gabriella Mellano. Castanea spp. Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Genotype Influence on Chemical and Sensorial Traits of Cultivars Grown on the Same Clonal Rootstock. Foods. 2020; 9 (8):1062.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriele L. Beccaro; Dario Donno; Guglielmo Gianni Lione; Marta De Biaggi; Giovanni Gamba; Sabrina Rapalino; Isidoro Riondato; Paolo Gonthier; Maria Gabriella Mellano. 2020. "Castanea spp. Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Genotype Influence on Chemical and Sensorial Traits of Cultivars Grown on the Same Clonal Rootstock." Foods 9, no. 8: 1062.
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) is a deciduous shrub tree widely distributed in Asia and Southern Europe and grown as ornamental species. It is locally used for human consumption, as relevant medical value is attributed to the berries. Information about its composition, especially concerning the characterization of bioactive and health-promoting compounds, is limited. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the main bioactive compounds and nutraceutical proprieties of autumn olive fruits, via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint and spectrophotometric analysis, in order to strengthen the knowledge about this underrated species and promote potential applications as a food supplement. Concerning nutraceutical traits, total polyphenolic content (325.366 ± 13.019 mg of gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE)/100 of fresh weight (g FW)) and total anthocyanin content (194.992 ± 0.817 mg of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (mg C3G)/100 g FW) recorded considerable values. The phytochemical fingerprint revealed the presence 23 bioactive compounds. Polyphenols (65.56%) were the largest class, followed by monoterpenes (27.40%) and vitamin C (7.04%). Anthocyanins were the most represented compounds among polyphenols (71.9%). The antioxidant capacity (20.031 ± 1.214 mmol Fe2+/kg) was similar to that recorded for other small fruits with proven health-promoting properties. The present work underlined the potential of E. umbellata as a source of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Further studies should deepen the knowledge of nutraceutical aspects, which turned out to be interesting.
Giovanni Gamba; Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Marta De Biaggi; Denis Randriamampionona; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) Pseudodrupes as Potential Sources of Health-Promoting Compounds. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 4354 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Gamba, Dario Donno, Maria Gabriella Mellano, Isidoro Riondato, Marta De Biaggi, Denis Randriamampionona, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) Pseudodrupes as Potential Sources of Health-Promoting Compounds. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (12):4354.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Gamba; Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Marta De Biaggi; Denis Randriamampionona; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2020. "Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) Pseudodrupes as Potential Sources of Health-Promoting Compounds." Applied Sciences 10, no. 12: 4354.
Uapaca bojeri is an endemic Malagasy plant used by the local population. This work aimed to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities of the methanol extracts of U. bojeri leaves and stems and to report their total phenolic content and the bioactive compound content by HPLC methods. Antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. An in vivo carrageenan-induced paw oedema and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice were used for anti-inflammatory activity evaluation. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in mice to evaluate antidiabetic activity. The total bioactive compound content of leaves was higher than that of stems. Stem methanol extract inhibited the free radical DPPH more than the leaf methanol extract. Leaf methanol extract inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the carrageenan-induced paw oedema more than the stem extract, but their inhibition of the pain symptoms caused an acetic acid-induced decrease similar to the number of writhes in the dose-dependent case. The leaf and stem methanol extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels after 30 min of glucose loading in mice compared to the control group blood glucose reduction. The presence of several bioactive compounds in U. bojeri contributed to the different biological activities, but isolation and identification of these bioactive molecules are necessary to confirm these pharmacological properties.
Zoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto; Dario Donno; Nantenaina Tombozara; Harilala Andriamaniraka; Charles Andrianjara; David Ramanitrahasimbola; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antidiabetic Activities of Leaves and Stems of Uapaca bojeri Bail. (EUPHORBIACEAE), an Endemic Plant of Madagascar. Pharmaceuticals 2020, 13, 71 .
AMA StyleZoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto, Dario Donno, Nantenaina Tombozara, Harilala Andriamaniraka, Charles Andrianjara, David Ramanitrahasimbola, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antidiabetic Activities of Leaves and Stems of Uapaca bojeri Bail. (EUPHORBIACEAE), an Endemic Plant of Madagascar. Pharmaceuticals. 2020; 13 (4):71.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZoarilala Rinah Razafindrakoto; Dario Donno; Nantenaina Tombozara; Harilala Andriamaniraka; Charles Andrianjara; David Ramanitrahasimbola; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2020. "Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antidiabetic Activities of Leaves and Stems of Uapaca bojeri Bail. (EUPHORBIACEAE), an Endemic Plant of Madagascar." Pharmaceuticals 13, no. 4: 71.
Vaccinium secundiflorum Hook. (Ericaceae family) is an endemic shrub of the Tapia forests of Madagascar widely used by local Malagasy population to treat diabetes mellitus. This study aims to preliminarily determine the antioxidant activity and anti-diabetic properties of this plant. Plant leaf and stem powders were macerated in methanol 95%. The methanol extract (MVS) was used for (i) phytochemical fingerprint by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), (ii) total phenolic content (TPC) evaluation by the Folin–Ciocalteu colourimetric method, (iii) 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenger spectrophotometric assay, (iv) antioxidant capacity by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay, and (v) antidiabetic activity evaluation by oral glucose tolerance test and acute toxicity in mice. Leaves and stems of V. secundiflorum presented a high rate of TPC (4151.02 ± 745.21mgGAE/100 g of dry weight). The HPLC fingerprint analysis showed the presence of several secondary metabolite classes including organic acids (55.31%), phenolic compounds (29.66%), carotenoids (10.90%), vitamin C (3.96%), and monoterpenes (0.10%). The DPPH free radical scavenger spectrometric assay showed a MVS high potential scavenging activity (IC50 = 76.06 ± 1.08 µg/mL). This potential antioxidant capacity was confirmed by the FRAP assay results (69.31 ± 3.31 mmol Fe2+/Kg of dry weight). The oral glucose tolerance test in mice showed a highly significant blood glucose-lowering effect. The acute toxicity in mice revealed that the MVS did not show toxicity at the dose of 2000 mg/kg. Leaves and stems of V. secundiflorum showed significant antioxidant and antidiabetic properties supporting the plant traditional use, even if further studies on bioactive compounds and their action mechanisms should be carried out to confirm these preliminary results.
Nantenaina Tombozara; D. Donno; Z.R. Razafindrakoto; D. Randriamampionona; D. Ramanitrahasimbola; C. Andrianjara; R.D. Ramilison-Razafimahefa; D.A. Rakotondramanana; G.L. Beccaro. The first assessment on antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of leaves and stems of Vaccinium secundiflorum Hook. (Ericaceae), an endemic plant of Madagascar. South African Journal of Botany 2020, 130, 422 -429.
AMA StyleNantenaina Tombozara, D. Donno, Z.R. Razafindrakoto, D. Randriamampionona, D. Ramanitrahasimbola, C. Andrianjara, R.D. Ramilison-Razafimahefa, D.A. Rakotondramanana, G.L. Beccaro. The first assessment on antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of leaves and stems of Vaccinium secundiflorum Hook. (Ericaceae), an endemic plant of Madagascar. South African Journal of Botany. 2020; 130 ():422-429.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNantenaina Tombozara; D. Donno; Z.R. Razafindrakoto; D. Randriamampionona; D. Ramanitrahasimbola; C. Andrianjara; R.D. Ramilison-Razafimahefa; D.A. Rakotondramanana; G.L. Beccaro. 2020. "The first assessment on antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of leaves and stems of Vaccinium secundiflorum Hook. (Ericaceae), an endemic plant of Madagascar." South African Journal of Botany 130, no. : 422-429.
Hovenia dulcis Thunberg is widely distributed in East Asia, where it is well known as a food, but it is rarely consumed in Western countries. Information about its composition is scarce and focused on southern hemisphere genotypes. In the present research, the main bioactive compounds of H. dulcis pseudofruits were characterised using phytochemical analysis (HPLC fingerprint) to improve knowledge about this plant and support development of potential food applications. These preliminary results showed high levels of catechins (157.18 ± 34.34 mg/100 gFW) and other phenolic compounds responsible for antioxidant properties. Concentrations of ferulic acid were particularly high (9.66 ± 1.76 mg/100 gFW) and further studies would advance exploitation of this plant-food.
Marta De Biaggi; Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Giovanni Gamba; Isidoro Riondato; Ernest N. Rakotoniaina; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Emerging species with nutraceutical properties: Bioactive compounds from Hovenia dulcis pseudofruits. Food Chemistry 2019, 310, 125816 .
AMA StyleMarta De Biaggi, Dario Donno, Maria Gabriella Mellano, Giovanni Gamba, Isidoro Riondato, Ernest N. Rakotoniaina, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Emerging species with nutraceutical properties: Bioactive compounds from Hovenia dulcis pseudofruits. Food Chemistry. 2019; 310 ():125816.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarta De Biaggi; Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Giovanni Gamba; Isidoro Riondato; Ernest N. Rakotoniaina; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2019. "Emerging species with nutraceutical properties: Bioactive compounds from Hovenia dulcis pseudofruits." Food Chemistry 310, no. : 125816.
In this research, for the first time, an alternative method to produce Ribes nigrum bud derivatives is presented. Pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE), using a food-grade solvent according to green chemistry principles, has been employed and compared to the conventional extraction method. Traditionally, bud derivatives, a category of botanicals marketed as plant food supplements in the European Community, are produced by macerating meristematic tissues of trees and plants mainly spontaneously collected. Buds are a challenging raw material for the UAE, since meristematic tissues are much softer and fragile than their corresponding adult phenological stage. It is therefore important to assess whether the polyphenolic fraction, very susceptible to degradation, is conserved after UAE. Untargeted polyphenolic fingerprints (UV-Visible and fluorescence) coupled with chemometrics are employed to quickly screen the best extraction conditions, evaluated by the design of experiment (DoE) method. The polyphenolic fraction of the optimized PUAE extract was quantified by targeted HPLC fingerprint and its antiradical activity was determined. PUAE on a lab pilot reactor was proven to be the most practical approach for a rapid (20 min vs. 21 days maceration) and efficient extraction of bioactive polyphenolics from Ribes nigrum buds, encouraging the scale up to an industrial plan.
Federica Turrini; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Anna Pittaluga; Raffaella Boggia. Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction as an Alternative Method to Conventional Maceration for the Extraction of the Polyphenolic Fraction of Ribes nigrum Buds: A New Category of Food Supplements Proposed by The FINNOVER Project. Foods 2019, 8, 466 .
AMA StyleFederica Turrini, Dario Donno, Gabriele Loris Beccaro, Paola Zunin, Anna Pittaluga, Raffaella Boggia. Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction as an Alternative Method to Conventional Maceration for the Extraction of the Polyphenolic Fraction of Ribes nigrum Buds: A New Category of Food Supplements Proposed by The FINNOVER Project. Foods. 2019; 8 (10):466.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederica Turrini; Dario Donno; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Anna Pittaluga; Raffaella Boggia. 2019. "Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction as an Alternative Method to Conventional Maceration for the Extraction of the Polyphenolic Fraction of Ribes nigrum Buds: A New Category of Food Supplements Proposed by The FINNOVER Project." Foods 8, no. 10: 466.
Dried fruits are important, healthy and popular snacks, despite the limited information on their nutritional profiles and phytochemical composition. The present work was aimed to study the chemical composition of freeze-dried fruits from four fruit species: two common commercial snacks (apple and goji) and two innovative products (kaki and kiwi). Sugar and organic acid levels, total phenolics (TPC), and main health-promoting phytochemicals were studied by HPLC fingerprinting analysis. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant capacity (AOC) was preliminarily observed in these products. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out as a multivariate approach as well. The TPC ranged from 210.9 mg GAE/100g DW (kiwi) to 872.6 mg GAE/100g DW (kaki), while dried fruit antioxidant capacity ranged from 23.09 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (goji) to 137.5 mmol Fe2+/kg DW (kaki). The most important phytochemical class in apple (two cultivars), kiwi, and kaki dried fruits was phenolics (from 74.6% to 93.3%), while monoterpenes were the first class in goji (67.5%). No anthocyanins have been identified in dried fruits because these compounds are most likely converted to phenolic acids during the drying process. This research intended to stimulate large-scale exploitation of commercial dried fruits as functional foods as well.
Dario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Marta De Biaggi; Harilala Andriamaniraka; Giovanni Gamba; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Traditional and Unconventional Dried Fruit Snacks as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds. Antioxidants 2019, 8, 396 .
AMA StyleDario Donno, Maria Gabriella Mellano, Isidoro Riondato, Marta De Biaggi, Harilala Andriamaniraka, Giovanni Gamba, Gabriele Loris Beccaro. Traditional and Unconventional Dried Fruit Snacks as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds. Antioxidants. 2019; 8 (9):396.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDario Donno; Maria Gabriella Mellano; Isidoro Riondato; Marta De Biaggi; Harilala Andriamaniraka; Giovanni Gamba; Gabriele Loris Beccaro. 2019. "Traditional and Unconventional Dried Fruit Snacks as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds." Antioxidants 8, no. 9: 396.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is cultivated worldwide. Its stigmas represent the highest-priced spice and contain bioactive compounds beneficial for human health. Saffron cultivation commonly occurs in open field, and spice yield can vary greatly, from 0.15 to 1.5 g m−2, based on several agronomic and climatic factors. In this study, we evaluated saffron cultivation in soilless systems, where plants can benefit from a wealth of nutrients without competition with pathogens or stresses related to nutrient-soil interaction. In addition, as plant nutrient and water uptake can be enhanced by the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we also tested two inocula: a single species (Rhizophagus intraradices) or a mixture of R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae. After one cultivation cycle, we evaluated the spice yield, quality (ISO category), antioxidant activity, and bioactive compound contents of saffron produced in soilless systems and the effect of the applied AMF inocula. Spice yield in soilless systems (0.55 g m−2) was on average with that produced in open field, while presented a superior content of several health-promoting compounds, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, and elevated antioxidant activity. The AMF symbiosis with saffron roots was verified by light and transmission electron microscopy. Inoculated corms showed larger replacement corms (+50% ca.). Corms inoculated with R. intraradices performed better than those inoculated with the mix in terms of spice quality (+90% ca.) and antioxidant activity (+88% ca.). Conversely, the mixture of R. intraradices and F. mosseae increased the polyphenol content (+343% ca.). Thus, soilless systems appeared as an effective alternative cultivation strategy for the production of high quality saffron. Further benefits can be obtained by the application of targeted AMF-based biostimulants.
Matteo Caser; Sonia Demasi; Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino; Dario Donno; Antonella Faccio; Erica Lumini; Valeria Bianciotto; Valentina Scariot. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Modulate the Crop Performance and Metabolic Profile of Saffron in Soilless Cultivation. Agronomy 2019, 9, 232 .
AMA StyleMatteo Caser, Sonia Demasi, Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino, Dario Donno, Antonella Faccio, Erica Lumini, Valeria Bianciotto, Valentina Scariot. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Modulate the Crop Performance and Metabolic Profile of Saffron in Soilless Cultivation. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (5):232.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMatteo Caser; Sonia Demasi; Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino; Dario Donno; Antonella Faccio; Erica Lumini; Valeria Bianciotto; Valentina Scariot. 2019. "Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Modulate the Crop Performance and Metabolic Profile of Saffron in Soilless Cultivation." Agronomy 9, no. 5: 232.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish mutualistic symbiotic associations with plant roots and act as biofertilizers by enhancing plant nutrient and water uptake. Moreover, AMF colonization may influence the biosynthesis of plant bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. There is limited information on AMF associations with Crocus sativus L. (saffron) roots and their effect on crop performances and spice quality. In the present work we verified the efficiency of root mycorrhization in potted conditions, then we evaluated the yield and quality of the saffron produced in two Alpine sites during two cultivation cycles with the application of AMF. Two inocula were applied, either a single-species (Rhizophagus intraradices) or a multi-species mixture (R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae). The trial conducted in potted conditions confirmed that both AMF commercial inocula established symbiotic relationships with saffron roots. The multi-species inoculation yielded the highest content of arbuscules in colonized portions of the root (100%), while the single-species was slightly less (82.9%) and no AMF were recorded in untreated control corms. In open-field conditions, AMF colonization of the root systems, flower production, and saffron yields were monitored, and bioactive compounds contents and antioxidant activity in the dried spice were analysed using spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Overall, the saffron produced was high quality (ISO category) and had high contents of bioactive compounds, with very high total polyphenol content and elevated antioxidant activity. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts as biostimulants positively affected saffron cultivation, improving the crop performances and the content of important nutraceutical compounds. In particular, the inoculum composed by R. intraradices and F. mosseae increased flower production and the saffron yield. R. intraradices alone enhanced the spice antioxidant activity and the content of bioactive compounds such as picrocrocin, crocin II, and quercitrin. Since saffron is the world’s highest priced spice, the increases in yield and quality obtained using AMF suggests that farms in marginal areas such as alpine sites can increase profitability by inoculating saffron fields with arbuscular mycorrhiza.
Matteo Caser; Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino; Sonia Demasi; Andrea Berruti; Dario Donno; Erica Lumini; Valeria Bianciotto; Valentina Scariot. Saffron Cultivation in Marginal Alpine Environments: How AMF Inoculation Modulates Yield and Bioactive Compounds. Agronomy 2018, 9, 12 .
AMA StyleMatteo Caser, Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino, Sonia Demasi, Andrea Berruti, Dario Donno, Erica Lumini, Valeria Bianciotto, Valentina Scariot. Saffron Cultivation in Marginal Alpine Environments: How AMF Inoculation Modulates Yield and Bioactive Compounds. Agronomy. 2018; 9 (1):12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMatteo Caser; Íris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino; Sonia Demasi; Andrea Berruti; Dario Donno; Erica Lumini; Valeria Bianciotto; Valentina Scariot. 2018. "Saffron Cultivation in Marginal Alpine Environments: How AMF Inoculation Modulates Yield and Bioactive Compounds." Agronomy 9, no. 1: 12.
This research takes place in the context of an Alcotra Italy-France trans-frontier project called FINNOVER, which includes among its objectives the “green” innovation of agro-industrial chains. Bud-derivatives are a category of natural products produced macerating meristematic tissues of trees and plants. They are quite expensive compared to other botanicals, since the collection period of their raw materials is extremely limited over the time. Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction has been employed to extract further valuable material from the buds by-products remaining after the production of Castanea sativa Glyceric Macerates. UV–Visible spectra coupled with chemometrics were employed, as untargeted phytochemical fingerprints, to quickly screen the best experimental conditions of extraction: a duty cycle of 80%, an extraction time of 15 min and a solvent/ratio of 1/10. Targeted phytochemical fingerprints by HPLC have been used to identify and quantify the main bioactive compounds of the most promising marcs extract comparing it with the corresponding commercial Castanea. sativa Glyceric Macerate.An innovative extraction and re-use strategy to obtain value-added products from botanicals by-products was developed in alternative to incineration or composting. It was applied to Castanea. sativa buds production as case study, but it could be analogously applied for other herbal preparations.
Federica Turrini; Dario Donno; Raffaella Boggia; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Riccardo Leardi; Anna Maria Pittaluga. An innovative green extraction and re-use strategy to valorize food supplement by-products: Castanea sativa bud preparations as case study. Food Research International 2018, 115, 276 -282.
AMA StyleFederica Turrini, Dario Donno, Raffaella Boggia, Gabriele Loris Beccaro, Paola Zunin, Riccardo Leardi, Anna Maria Pittaluga. An innovative green extraction and re-use strategy to valorize food supplement by-products: Castanea sativa bud preparations as case study. Food Research International. 2018; 115 ():276-282.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederica Turrini; Dario Donno; Raffaella Boggia; Gabriele Loris Beccaro; Paola Zunin; Riccardo Leardi; Anna Maria Pittaluga. 2018. "An innovative green extraction and re-use strategy to valorize food supplement by-products: Castanea sativa bud preparations as case study." Food Research International 115, no. : 276-282.