1,721,023 research outputs found
Pharmacognostic approach to evaluate the micromorphological, phytochemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds
No full textThis study evaluated the micro-morphology as well as the chemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds. The cream-colored pyriform seed showed a woody coat covered by a thick layer of mucilage and an embryo with two large cotyledons rich in oil bodies. Hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides and flavonoids are the most abundant compounds in methanol and ethyl acetate extracts (ME and EAE), respectively. Conversely, fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol represent the main bioactive compounds in the hexane extract (HE). ME showed the most promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities already in cell-free assays. These results were confirmed by experiments carried out on human primary cells. Indeed, ME showed the best inhibitory activity against heatinduced haemolysis and ROS formation in erythrocytes. Moreover, the same order of potency (ME > EAE > HE) was observed also on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in which the seed extracts were able to decrease TNF-alpha and IL-6 release after LPS-induced infl
Il problema dell'errata identificazione tra piante selvatiche commestibili e velenose: reports dall'area mediterranea
No full textMicropropagation of Endemic Endangered Taxa of the Italian Flora: <i>Adenostyles alpina</i> subsp. <i>macrocephala</i> (Asteraceae), as a Case Study
Full text linkThe conservation of endangered, rare, and endemic plant species is based on in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. When in situ conservation alone is not sufficient to guarantee the survival of the species, ex situ techniques are adopted in support. This study aimed to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for Adenostyles by evaluating the effect of different plant growth regulators on leaf explants. Adenostyles alpina subsp. macrocephala (Asterace) is a perennial herbaceous plant endemic to Calabria (Southern Italy). The genus Adenostyles includes three species confined to the mountains of the Mediterranean and southern Europe. For callus induction, media supplemented with different concentrations of Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg L−1), Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) (1 mg L−1), and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) (1 mg L−1) were tested. Shoot regeneration and proliferation were obtained in media supplemented with BAP (1, 2, and 3 mg L−1) and NAA (1 mg L−1). Root induction was obtained in media supplemented with IBA (0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1) and NAA (0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1). Statistically significant differences in callus induction and shoot regeneration were observed between the various media tested. The medium containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 3 mg L−1 of BAP and 1 mg L−1 of NAA showed the highest percentage of callus induction and increased shoot regeneration. The regenerated shoots showed more effective root induction in the hormone-free MS medium and in the presence of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1. These results can be used as a basis for the preparation of a micropropagation protocol for different taxa of Adenostyles, as well as other species of Asteraceae specialized to the Mediterranean mountain habitat
Beyond the Scent: New Evidence about Micromorphological, Phytochemical and Biological Features of Plumeria rubra ‘Tonda Palermitana’ (Apocynaceae)
Full text linkPlumeria rubra L. is an ornamental Caribbean plant widely known for its ethnobotanical
uses and pharmacological activities. The ‘Tonda Palermitana’ cultivar, on which no data are to
date available, is commonly cultivated in Sicily. The aim of our study was to characterize the
micro-morphological features of leaves and flowers of this cultivar by light and Scanning Electron
Microscopy and to investigate the phytochemical profile and the biological properties of their foodgrade
extracts (LE and FE, respectively) by LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis and different in vitro assays.
Numerous branched laticifers were observed, and their secretion contained alkaloids and lipophilic
compounds as confirmed by histological analyses. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of
alkaloids (9%), terpenoids (13%) and fatty acids (6%), together with a very abundant presence of
iridoids (28%) and polyphenols (39%). The most notable biological activity of both extracts appears
to be the antioxidant one, showing half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) about 5 times lower than
those detected in anti-inflammatory assays (383.74 ± 5.65 and 232.05 ± 2.87 vs. 1981.23 ± 12.82 and
1215.13 ± 10.15, for FE and LE, respectively), with LE showing the best, and statistically significant
(p < 0.001), biological activity. These results allow us to speculate promising nutraceutical and
cosmeceutical applications for this old Sicilian cultivar
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
The Influence of Pedo-Climatic Conditions on the Micromorphological, Phytochemical Features, and Biological Properties of Leaves of Saponaria sicula Raf
Full text linkSaponaria sicula Raf. grows in Sicily, Sardinia, and Algeria on limestone cliffs and volcanic sands 1300-2500 m above sea level. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the pedo-climatic conditions influence the micromorphological, phytochemical, and biological properties of Sicilian S. sicula leaves collected in the Madonie Mountains (SsM) and on Etna Mt (SsE). Micromorphological investigations revealed that leaves from SsM had a higher amount of calcium oxalate druses in the mesophyll and a more intense blue-green staining with Toluidine blue O, indicating a higher content of polyphenols. These data were confirmed by phytochemical analyses carried out on hydroalcoholic extracts, which showed a higher content of total phenols (8.56 & PLUSMN; 0.57 g GAE/100 g DE) and flavonoids (6.09 & PLUSMN; 0.17 g RE/100 g DE) in SsM. Sixty-four compounds were identified by LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis with propelargonidin dimer as the most abundant compound (10.49% and 10.19% in SsM and SsE, respectively). The higher polyphenol content of SsM leaves matches also with their biological activity, identifying SsM extract as the strongest plant complex (IC50 2.75-477.30 & mu;g/mL). In conclusion, the present study experimentally demonstrates that not only climatic differences but also soil characteristics affect the micromorphological, phytochemical, and biological features of this plant species
Pharmacognostic Study of the Leaves of <i>Ptilostemon greuteri</i> Raimondo & Domina, a Rare Sicilian Paleoendemic Species
No full textPtilostemon greuteri Raimondo & Domina is a rare Sicilian paleoendemic species. The aim of study was to investigate the micro-morphological features of leaves by light and scanning electron microscopy, to elucidate the phytochemical profile of essential oil (EO), n-hexane (HE) and hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) by gas and liquid chromatographic methods, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by in vitro assays. Leaves had a large lanceolate blade, dark green on the upper side and greyish on the lower one with a dense tomentum. Epidermis showed many protruding stomata. By lipid-specific dyes, lipophilic droplets within cells surrounding the secretory ducts and within palisade cells were detected, whereas the presence of polyphenols in the mesophyll was highlighted by toluide blue O. These observations have driven the subsequent phytochemical analyses. EO showed germacrene D (29.94%), carvacrol (14.3%) and eugenol (12.93%) as the most abundant compounds. In the HE, docosane, oleic and palmit acid, and lupeol were the predominant compounds, whereas caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin derivatives were the most common polyphenols in HAE. Considering the detected mean half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50), HAE showed predominant antioxidant activity (IC50 30.54 µg/mL), while EO showed predominant anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 397.59 µg/mL). Finally, HE, rich in medium-to-long fatty acids, showed the best protease inhibitory activit
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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