Article
Plant Sciences
Federico Sanna, Giovanna Piluzza, Giuseppe Campesi, Maria Giovanna Molinu, Giovanni Antonio Re, Leonardo Sulas
Summary: Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) is a multipurpose perennial species used in herbal medicine and palatable to animals. This study evaluated the effects of environmental conditions and seasons on the accumulation of bioactive compounds in its aerial organs. The results showed significant influences of location and season on the phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity of the leaves.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jelena Zivkovi, Katarina Savikin, Nada Cujic-Nikolic, Teodora Jankovic
Summary: This study determined optimal parameters for ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from ribwort plantain aerial part using response surface methodology. The developed conditions will aid researchers and industrialists in developing functional food products with a high range of phytochemical potential.
JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christchellyn Klegin, Eduardo Miranda Ethur, Barbara Buhl, Ana Caroline Giacomin, Jucara Bordin, Neusa Fernandes de Moura, Matheus Henrique Oliveira de Sousa
Summary: The present study aimed to examine the phenolic content and evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from the moss species Phyllogonium viride Brid. The results showed that P. viride extract displayed potent antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi. However, its antioxidant activity was considered weak. Analysis of the phenolic content revealed a wide range of compounds, with Kaempferol as the major compound. This study suggests that P. viride extract has promising potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
J. M. Roussel, V Bardot, L. Berthomier, C. Cotte, M. Dubourdeaux, S. Holowacz, P. Bernard-Savary
Summary: A study was conducted to assess the performance of a HPTLC method for quality control of industrial dry extracts of ribwort plantain, using DPPH reaction for antioxidant activity of acteoside. Calibration and accuracy evaluation were performed, and measurement uncertainty was estimated for selecting the calibration function fit for purpose. Further checks were made on measurement uncertainty for spiked and unspiked extract samples to ensure consistency in results and prepare a replication strategy for routine method use.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eleni Kakouri, Dimitra Daferera, Panayiotis Trigas, Despina Charalambous, Maria Pantelidou, Petros A. Tarantilis, Charalabos D. Kanakis
Summary: Hypericum perforatum, an herb with a long history of use, has over-the-counter treatment options for depression. The genus has around 500 species, with antimicrobial resistance becoming a concern as available treatment options become less effective. In this study, nine Hypericum species were examined for their antimicrobial activity and phenolic and flavonoid content.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Costanza Ceccanti, Marco Landi, Lucia Guidi, Alberto Pardossi, Luca Incrocci
Summary: The interest in wild edible plants as functional food is growing in Mediterranean countries due to their antioxidants content. This study found that the seasonality and cooking methods of wild edible plants affect their crop yield, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nurhan Uslu
Summary: This study compared the effects of brewing method, time, and origin of coffee beans on antioxidant activity and chemical compounds in coffee. The results showed that the decoction method had higher levels of phenolic compounds, while the infusion method resulted in higher amounts of catechins and other compounds.
EUROPEAN FOOD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucia Camelia Pirvu, Sultana Nita, Nicoleta Rusu, Cristina Bazdoaca, Georgeta Neagu, Corina Bubueanu, Mircea Udrea, Radu Udrea, Alin Enache
Summary: This study explored the use of monochrome laser radiation in extractive biotechnology to enhance antioxidant activity. The results showed that different wavelengths of laser radiation had different effects on the extraction efficacy, antioxidant capacity, and cell viability.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Fardin Kouhi, Hamid Mirzaei, Yousef Nami, Jalil Khandaghi, Afshin Javadi
Summary: Some Enterococcus strains isolated from Iranian Motal cheese show probiotic properties and safety, making them potential candidates for use in functional food formulations.
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Pattarin Supanivatin, Aluck Thipayarat, Suwit Siriwattanayotin, Paweena Ekkaphan, Anat Deepatana, Jakrapop Wongwiwat
Summary: This study investigated the extraction of antioxidants and antibacterial substances from Robusta-roasted coffee using different extraction techniques. The results showed that HCFC-22 extraction had the highest yield, while HFC-134a extraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential. Room-temperature batch extraction yielded slightly higher amounts of extracts with higher antioxidant potential compared to other methods. The extracts obtained using SCCO2 extraction had similar yield and antioxidant potential to those obtained using HFC-134a and HCFC-22 extractions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hasan Akgul, Ali Aslan, Ilgaz Akata, Selami Gunal, Celal Bal, Hayri Baba
Summary: Trametes hirsuta has both antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, with the presence of various phenolic compounds.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Malgorzata Kozyra, Anna Biernasiuk, Magdalena Wiktor, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Anna Malm
Summary: A comparative analysis was conducted on the flavonoids and phenolic acids composition in six species of Monarda from the Lamiaceae family. The results showed that these plants exhibited potential antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, making them potential sources of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dursun Kisa, Rizvan Imamoglu, Nusret Genc, Parham Taslimi, Zafer Kaya, Tugba Taskin-Tok
Summary: The aim of this study was to quantify and identify the phenolic composition of Centaurea kilae plant and investigate its anti-alzheimer, anti-urease, anti-lipase, antidiabetic, anti-melanogenesis, and antibacterial properties. The IC50 values for various enzymes were obtained and it was found that this plant exhibited strong inhibitory effects on HMG_CoA R and urease enzymes. Molecular docking calculations were performed to determine the structural necessity of phenolic compounds in the activity of this plant. Furthermore, the chemical compounds of methanolic extracts and the antibacterial and antifungal effects of Centaurea kilae were investigated in this study.
Article
Biology
Amira K. G. N. Atteya, Aishah N. M. Albalawi, Hala M. H. Bayomy, El Moataz Bellah A. El-Naggar, Mahmoud Ghozlan, Esmail A. E. Genaidy
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different planting density and soaking seeds in melatonin solution on the yield, secondary products content, and antimicrobial activity of lovage plant. It was found that using a planting space of 15 cm and soaking seeds in a solution with a concentration of 75 μM melatonin produced the best results. The research also identified the primary compounds in lovage essential oil and demonstrated its high antibacterial and antifungal properties.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
M. Sevindik
Summary: The study confirmed the high antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the wild edible mushroom Melanoleuca melaleuca, which also serves as a natural source of phenolic content.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND PLANT SCIENCES-JAPS
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Letizia Capasso, Sergio Maddaluno, Clara Coppola, Pasquale Dolce, Giuseppe Schiano di Cola, Enrico Sierchio, Angela Carla Borrrelli, Maria Bagattini, Eliana Pia Esposito, Raffaele Zarrilli, Eleni Antonaki, Maria Rosaria Catania, Francesco Raimondi
Summary: This study investigated the correspondence between pathogens isolated from rectal and nose/pharyngeal surveillance swabs and blood culture results in very low birth weight infants with late-onset sepsis. The findings suggest a fair association between colonizing bacteria in the nasopharynx and/or rectum and pathogens later isolated from blood cultures, with the association depending on the swabbing site, number of sites, and pathogen species. However, these results are not sufficient for making clinical decisions independently.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elisabetta Buommino, Adriana Vollaro, Francesca P. Nocera, Francesca Lembo, Marina DellaGreca, Luisa De Martino, Maria R. Catania
Summary: Resin acid, specifically abietic acid, has been shown to exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against MRSP, increasing the susceptibility of MRSP strains to oxacillin. Additionally, it demonstrates a moderate antagonistic effect on the vitality of treated MSSP and MRSP biofilms, as well as reducing the expression of mecA, mecR1, and mec1 genes. These findings suggest the potential of abietic acid as a therapeutic agent in combinatorial antibiotic therapy against MRSP.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marco Masi, Emanuela Roscetto, Alessio Cimmino, Maria Rosaria Catania, Giuseppe Surico, Antonio Evidente
Summary: Chiliadenus lopadusanus Brullo is a plant species endemic to Lampedusa island in Italy, with its organic extract showing antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. Three main farnesane-type sesquiterpenoids from the extract were identified, showing antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and A. baumannii. This plant could potentially serve as a source for new antibiotics.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Antonino De Natale, Antonino Pollio, Anna De Marco, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: So far, just over a hundred phenanthrenoid dimers have been isolated, with forty-two of them being completely phenanthrenic. These dimers are derived from fourteen different plant genera belonging to five families, with Orchidaceae being the most abundant source. In addition, nine completely acetylated and five methylated dimers have been defined, which helped determine the position of hydroxyl groups in the corresponding natural products. Some substituents in these dimers can serve as useful chemotaxonomic markers. Phenanthrenes or their derivatives possess various biological activities.
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alessio Cimmino, Emanuela Roscetto, Marco Masi, Angela Tuzi, Imene Radjai, Chakali Gahdab, Rossella Paolillo, Amedeo Guarino, Maria Rosaria Catania, Antonio Evidente
Summary: Cotula cinerea, a plant widespread in the Southern hemisphere, is used in folk medicine in North African countries for its antibiotic and antibiofilm properties. Extracts from its aerial parts have shown activity against Enterococcus faecalis, and specific compounds derived from the plant have demonstrated potential as new antibiotics and antibiofilm agents against drug-resistant pathogens.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emanuela Roscetto, Chiara Varriale, Umberto Galdiero, Camilla Esposito, Maria Rosaria Catania
Summary: Animal-assisted interventions have positive effects on humans, but there is a risk of transmitting multidrug-resistant pathogens from companion dogs during these activities. It is important to address the antibiotic resistance issue in a One Health context and extend infection control measures to the human-animal interface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Roberta Teta, Germana Esposito, Karishma Kundu, Mariano Stornaiuolo, Silvia Scarpato, Antonino Pollio, Valeria Costantino
Summary: This study demonstrates the ability of Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444 to produce a wide range of siderophores, making it a promising model organism for the bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems and drug discovery.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmen Cerchia, Emanuela Roscetto, Rosarita Nasso, Maria Rosaria Catania, Emmanuele De Vendittis, Antonio Lavecchia, Mariorosario Masullo, Rosario Rullo
Summary: In this study, a virtual screening method was used to discover a novel inhibitor of the microaerophile Streptococcus mutans' superoxide dismutase (SmSOD), which is responsible for dental plaque formation. The compound ALS-31 was found to inhibit SmSOD and other SODs, affecting their catalytic activity. In addition, ALS-31 was shown to inhibit planktonic growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans cultures. A derivative of ALS-31, ALS-31-9, exhibited improved inhibition power. This research provides insights for future drug design studies to combat dental caries.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Veronica Folliero, Federica Dell'Annunziata, Emanuela Roscetto, Marcella Cammarota, Anna De Filippis, Chiara Schiraldi, Maria Rosaria Catania, Vincenzo Casolaro, Alessandro Perrella, Massimiliano Galdiero, Gianluigi Franci
Summary: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of the anthelmintic drug niclosamide against multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum, showing bactericidal action and biofilm biomass degradation. These findings suggest the potential repurposing of niclosamide as a therapeutic agent for C. striatum infections.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesus Garcia Zorrilla, Trifone D'Addabbo, Emanuela Roscetto, Chiara Varriale, Maria Rosaria Catania, Maria Chiara Zonno, Claudio Altomare, Giuseppe Surico, Pier Luigi Nimis, Antonio Evidente
Summary: The extracts from two coastal lichen species showed strong antibiotic and nematocidal activities. Certain compounds isolated from these lichen species demonstrated potential applications in agriculture as biopesticides.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosa Bellavita, Falanga Annarita, Francesco Merlino, Gabriella D'Auria, Nicola Molfetta, Anella Saviano, Francesco Maione, Umberto Galdiero, Maria Rosaria Catania, Galdiero Stefania, Paolo Grieco, Emanuela Roscetto, Lucia Falcigno, Buommino Elisabetta
Summary: This study investigated the antifungal properties of acylated Temporin L derivatives against Candida albicans, including multidrug-resistant strains. The acylated peptides showed good antifungal activity against both reference and clinical strains, with no cytotoxicity on human keratinocytes. Furthermore, they exhibited a synergistic or additive effect with voriconazole on voriconazole-resistant Candida strains. The mechanism of action was found to involve an initial electrostatic interaction with the fungal membrane, followed by aggregation and insertion into the lipid bilayer, causing membrane perturbation.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Letizia Cattaneo, Antonio Riccardo Buonomo, Carmine Iacovazzo, Agnese Giaccone, Riccardo Scotto, Giulio Viceconte, Simona Mercinelli, Maria Vargas, Emanuela Roscetto, Francesco Cacciatore, Paola Salvatore, Maria Rosaria Catania, Riccardo Villari, Antonio Cittadini, Ivan Gentile
Summary: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are severe and under-estimated complications of COVID-19. A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital in Naples found cases of IFIs caused by Candida spp., Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and Trichosporon asahii. Most cases were not associated with underlying predisposing conditions and were linked to high-dose steroid therapy and lymphopenia with CD4+ < 200/μL due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. IFIs significantly increased hospitalization duration and mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Article
Microbiology
Veronica Folliero, Federica Dell'Annunziata, Biagio Santella, Emanuela Roscetto, Carla Zannella, Nicoletta Capuano, Alessandro Perrella, Anna De Filippis, Giovanni Boccia, Maria Rosaria Catania, Massimiliano Galdiero, Gianluigi Franci
Summary: The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains requires the urgent discovery of new antibacterial drugs. In this study, the anthelmintic avermectins were screened for antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Selamectin, a subset of avermectins, showed potent antibacterial activity against gram-positive strains, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Further studies demonstrated its ability to inhibit bacterial growth, alter cell surface, and reduce biofilm biomass. Synergistic effects were also observed with other antibiotics. These findings suggest that selamectin may be a promising candidate for the treatment of S. aureus infections.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Benedetta Turchetti, Annamaria Bevivino, Patrizia Casella, Claudia Coleine, Giovanna E. Felis, Carolina Elena Girometta, Antonio Molino, Iolanda Perugini, Antonino Pollio, Valeria Prigione, Laura Selbmann, Giovanna Cristina Varese, Pietro Buzzini
Summary: The concept of fastidious microorganisms mainly focuses on the challenges of isolating, culturing, and preserving bacteria. However, the study of fastidious eukaryotes, which are an essential part of the microbial world, is relatively limited. This review examines the state of the art in isolating, identifying, culturing, and preserving fastidious eukaryotes in culture collections, highlighting the need to improve practices in these areas. Several case studies are presented, including the isolation and preservation of slow-growing fungi, culturing of Haematococcus lacustris, isolation of unialgal strains of Cyanidiophytina (Rhodophyta), identification of Metschnikowia pulcherrima clade yeasts, isolation and preservation of Pyricularia species, and preservation of Halophytophtora spp.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vincenzo Di Pilato, Giulia Errico, Monica Monaco, Tommaso Giani, Maria Del Grosso, Alberto Antonelli, Sophia David, Erika Lindh, Romina Camilli, David M. Aanensen, Gian Maria Rossolini, Annalisa Pantosti
Summary: A nationwide survey in Italy in 2016 revealed that while CG258 remained the most common CR-KP lineage, new high-risk lineages CG307, ST101, and ST395 have emerged. KPC remained the most common carbapenemase among the isolates. This study indicates a polyclonal population of CR-KP in Italy.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)