Article
Plant Sciences
Branislava Teofilovic, Nevena Grujic-Letic, Milica Karadzic, Strahinja Kovacevic, Sanja Podunavac-Kuzmanovic, Emilia Gligoric, Slobodan Gadzuri
Summary: This study investigated the chemical composition of basil extracts and the influence of extraction conditions and methods on their content of phenolic compounds, which are the main functional ingredients with antioxidant activity. Using HPLC analysis, it was found that different extraction methods affect the concentration of phenolic acids and flavonoids, with some methods leading to higher levels of rosmarinic acid and quercetin. Chemometric analysis identified the most effective experimental procedure and provided insights into the grouping of extracted ingredients.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
A. O. Abidoye, F. O. Ojedokun, B. M. Fasogbon, O. P. Bamidele
Summary: Consumers are seeking greater functionality from food and beverage products, with polyphenols from roselle calyces and sweet basil leaves potentially providing therapeutic or preventive effects against chronic and infectious diseases. Analysis of roselle-basil drink samples showed that adding sweet basil leaves slightly decreased vitamin C and lycopene content but increased total carotenoid and antioxidant activities. Samples stored at higher temperature exhibited higher antioxidant activities, indicating that roselle-basil drink with added sweet basil leaves may serve as a health drink.
Article
Fisheries
Mohsen Abdel-Tawwab, Ahmed M. El-Ashram, Al-Azab Tahoun, Nashwa Abdel-Razek, Somayah M. M. Awad
Summary: Dietary supplementation of Indian shrimp with basil oil at levels of 2.5-5.0 g/kg diet has beneficial effects on growth performance, antioxidant systems, and innate immunity, enhancing resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection.
AQUACULTURE NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Branislava Teofilovic, Nevena Grujic-Letic, Emilia Gligoric, Aleksandar Raskovic, Ruzica Igic, Gyongyi Vastag, Slobodan Gadzuric
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the relationship between antioxidant activity and total phenolic/flavonoid content in different basil extracts to optimize their industrial application. Experimental data involving various factors showed a good correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid content and inhibition of the DPPH radical.
PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Pragati Rajendra More, Carla Zannella, Veronica Folliero, Francesco Foglia, Romualdo Troisi, Alessandro Vergara, Gianluigi Franci, Anna De Filippis, Massimiliano Galdiero
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a significant concern for public health, and researchers are exploring new antibacterial strategies using nanotechnology. In this study, silver and platinum nanoparticles were synthesized using Ocimum basilicum leaf extract, which showed low cytotoxicity and strong antibacterial activity. These nanoparticles have the potential to be a natural, ecofriendly, and cost-effective alternative for combating bacterial infections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
El-Sayed Khater, Adel Bahnasawy, Wael Abass, Osama Morsy, Hossam El-Ghobashy, Yousry Shaban, Mohsen Egela
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the growth of basil under three soilless systems and developed a model to predict nutrient consumption. Results showed variations in plant growth, nutrient uptake, and oil content among the different systems. The model predictions were in agreement with experimental findings.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Aicha Bensaid, Frederic Boudard, Adrien Servent, Sylvie Morel, Karine Portet, Caroline Guzman, Manon Vitou, Florence Bichon, Patrick Poucheret
Summary: This study found that the leaf and stem of Ocimum basilicum have different biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and smooth muscle relaxation effects. Stem extracts, in addition to leaves, may have potential nutritional and therapeutic benefits.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Raffaele Romano, Lucia De Luca, Alessandra Aiello, Raffaele Pagano, Prospero Di Pierro, Fabiana Pizzolongo, Paolo Masi
Summary: In this study, bioactive compounds were extracted from basil leaves using supercritical CO2, with the most efficient method being extraction with 10% ethanol as a cosolvent. The extracts showed higher antioxidant activity and content of certain compounds compared to the control. The Genovese cultivar had higher polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, while the Italiano Classico cultivar had higher linalool content.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Tasnim Travadi, Sonal Sharma, Ramesh Pandit, Mital Nakrani, Chaitanya Joshi, Madhvi Joshi
Summary: This study developed a simple and cost effective PCR method, as well as a duplex PCR assay, for the identification of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum tenuiflorum. The methods were validated using molecular and chromatographic authentication methods on market samples, and the combination of both methods was found to achieve maximum fidelity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sadaf Nazir, Idrees Ahmed Wani
Summary: Basil seed was found to be rich in nutrients and phytochemicals, such as fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids. It exhibited good antioxidant activity and hydration properties, making it a promising ingredient for the food industry.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muktesh Chandra, Shiwani Kushwaha, Bhawana Mishra, Neelam Sangwan
Summary: The essential oil of Ocimum species has been widely used in traditional medicine in India for its pharmacological importance. Recent studies have focused on defining the major genes of phenylpropanoid and terpenoid pathways in Ocimum species. Structural studies revealed significant differences in enzymes of the MVA pathway in two major species of Ocimum, with implications for the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hidayat Ullah, Ilham Khan, Ghazala Mustafa, Junaid Shehzad, Murtaza Hasan, Umair Saeed, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari
Summary: This study investigated the role of SiO2-NPs in mitigating lead toxicity in Ocimum basilicum. The results showed that SiO2-NPs can effectively remove lead from plants by enhancing their antioxidant activity.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zoi Skaperda, Fotios Tekos, Sotiria Makri, Christos Angelakis, Eleni Vassi, Periklis Vardakas, Anastasia Patouna, Kallirroi Terizi, Despina Kyriazi, Demetrios Kouretas
Summary: The study suggests a comprehensive methodology to evaluate the antioxidant and chemoprotective activities of three novel dietary supplements, which exhibit high antioxidant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, and lipid protective properties. The supplements were found to induce oxidative damage on cancer cells by decreasing intracellular glutathione levels and increasing ROS and lipid peroxidation levels at non-cytotoxic concentrations. The proposed approach could be a valuable tool for characterizing dietary supplements based on their chemical and functional properties.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camila Soto, Henry Daniel Ponce-Rodriguez, Jorge Verdu-Andres, Pilar Campins-Falco, Rosa Herraez-Hernandez
Summary: With the growth of the dietary supplements industry, there is a demand for simplified and easy-to-use instruments. This study tested a hand-portable miniaturized liquid chromatograph for the determination of chlorogenic acids. The results showed that the portable LC instrument had comparable analytical performance and faster speed for quantification.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francesca Dalla Vecchia, Serenella Nardi, Veronica Santoro, Elizabeth Pilon-Smits, Michela Schiavon
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Brassica juncea and Stanleya pinnata in taking up and storing chromium and selenium. The results showed that the two plants have different affinities for the two elements and their joint application restricted the accumulation of both elements. Additionally, both chromium and selenium decreased sulfur accumulation in the plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Costanza Ceccanti, Giulia Lauria, Lucia Guidi, Beatrice Pezzarossa, Irene Rosellini, Roberto Cardelli, Michelangelo Becagli, Marco Landi, Ermes Lo Piccolo
Summary: Sewage sludge can improve soil fertility but may pose a risk to human health due to trace metal content. This study found that moderate levels of sewage sludge amendment increased leaf photosynthesis and biomass in lettuce and strawberry plants. The accumulation of trace metals in leaves and fruits was generally below safety thresholds.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Horticulture
Matteo Orlando, Alice Trivellini, Martina Puccinelli, Antonio Ferrante, Luca Incrocci, Anna Mensuali-Sodi
Summary: This study investigated the potential of saffron tepals as a source of natural bioactive compounds and increased the content of antioxidant compounds in the tepals through light spectrum manipulation. The floral by-products from plants grown under LED environments had higher amounts of antioxidant compounds and altered growth parameters.
HORTICULTURE ENVIRONMENT AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Martina Puccinelli, Giulia Carmassi, Alberto Pardossi, Luca Incrocci
Summary: There is increasing interest in cultivating wild edible plants (WEP) due to their quality attributes and salt tolerance, making them suitable for cascade cropping systems (CCS). This study evaluated two WEP species, Picris hieracioides (PH) and Plantago coronopus (PC), as potential crops for CCS. Both species were grown in hydroponics with saline effluent from tomato cultivation, and the results showed that leaf production decreased and leaf Na content increased under salt treatments. Leaf antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with total phenol content, indicating a potential positive effect of salt stress on the antioxidant properties of PC.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Martina Puccinelli, Irene Rosellini, Fernando Malorgio, Alberto Pardossi, Beatrice Pezzarossa
Summary: This study evaluated the suitability of Swiss chard and its wild ancestor sea beet for iodine fortification. Results showed that sea beet accumulated more iodine than Swiss chard, and both subspecies were capable of producing iodine-enriched baby leaves at optimal iodine levels.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Martina Puccinelli, Irene Rosellini, Fernando Malorgio, Alberto Pardossi, Beatrice Pezzarossa
Summary: The study investigated the potential of fortifying Swiss chard and sea beet with selenium, and found that adding 1 mg/L of selenium to the nutrient solution can increase leaf yield and chlorophyll concentration. Sea beet is more effective in selenium biofortification than Swiss chard due to its better ability to absorb minerals from the hydroponic nutrient solution.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Anton Shiriaev, Stefano Brizzolara, Carlo Sorce, Gaia Meoni, Chiara Vergata, Federico Martinelli, Elie Maza, Anis Djari, Julien Pirrello, Beatrice Pezzarossa, Fernando Malorgio, Pietro Tonutti
Summary: This study investigated the effects of selenium enrichment on tomato ripening and found that selenium had an impact on metabolic processes and the biochemical composition of ripe tomatoes. The changes in metabolites may be due to the influence of selenium treatment on gene expression.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Anton Shiriaev, Beatrice Pezzarossa, Irene Rosellini, Fernando Malorgio, Silvia Lampis, Antonio Ippolito, Pietro Tonutti
Summary: At appropriate concentrations, selenium is beneficial for humans and tomatoes are a good commodity for producing selenium-enriched fruit. Different enrichment protocols were assessed through four trials, and spraying sodium selenate or selenium nanoparticles proved effective in enriching tomatoes. Vacuum infiltration for postharvest selenium enrichment caused texture damage in the fruit.
Article
Horticulture
Martina Puccinelli, Fernando Malorgio, Lucia Pintimalli, Irene Rosellini, Beatrice Pezzarossa
Summary: Selenium biofortification of lettuce and basil using a technique that enriches seedlings for transplanting showed increased antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content. The biofortified plants still had higher selenium content at maturity and could provide a significant portion of the recommended daily intake of selenium.
Article
Horticulture
Martina Puccinelli, Juan Francisco Fierro-Sanudo, Carlo Bibbiani, Baldassare Fronte, Chingoileima Maibam, Theo Dubois, Alberto Pardossi, Luca Incrocci, Lorenzo Rossi
Summary: This paper uses a multi-criteria decision-making method to determine the most suitable plant species for saltwater aquaponics, considering various features and criteria. The results suggest several suitable plant species for different salinity levels. The sensitivity analysis confirms the relevance of the model structure used.
Article
Horticulture
Martina Puccinelli, Giulia Carmassi, Luca Botrini, Antonio Bindi, Lorenzo Rossi, Juan Francisco Fierro-Sanudo, Alberto Pardossi, Luca Incrocci
Summary: There is a growing interest in using seawater in horticulture. This study found that Swiss chard and sea beet are potential crop species for seawater hydroponics or aquaponics. Increasing salinity or reducing nitrogen levels in the nutrient solution resulted in lower crop yield and biomass in both species.
Article
Horticulture
Marco Santin, Maria Calogera Sciampagna, Alessia Mannucci, Martina Puccinelli, Luciana Gabriella Angelini, Silvia Tavarini, Mattia Accorsi, Luca Incrocci, Annamaria Ranieri, Antonella Castagna
Summary: This study revealed the effects of pre-harvest ultraviolet-B irradiation on the nutritional and nutraceutical quality of flaxseed sprouts and microgreens. The UV-B treatment enhanced total phenolics and flavonoids content, antioxidant capacity, and quality of microgreens. However, it also decreased biomass and stem length, and caused changes in some photosynthetic pigments.
Article
Horticulture
Martina Puccinelli, Rita Maggini, Luciana G. Angelini, Marco Santin, Marco Landi, Silvia Tavarini, Antonella Castagna, Luca Incrocci
Summary: This study investigated the effect of light with different spectra on the performance of flax microgreens and sprouts, and found that microgreens had higher nutrient content, antioxidant capacity, and health-promoting compounds compared to sprouts.