115 research outputs found
Bioactive compounds in lentils and nutraceutical effects
No full textLentils are an endemic crop of central Italy in particular of Umbro-Marchean Apennines and some of these are recognized by the European Union with the acronym PGI, Protected Geographical Indication. Among pulses, lentils have high nutritional value and they are an important sources of bioactive compounds: besides nutrients such as PUFA (regulation of cognitive function, cardiovascular diseases prevention) there are important nutraceutical compounds such as soyasaponins (hypocholesterolemic, antiepatotoxic and anticarcinogenic activity) and isoflavones (osteoporosis prevention, ameloriation postmenopausal symptoms, tumor initiation prevention). In our labs, several methods to determine the above compounds have been validated and applied to lentils and other legumes using HPLC-MS, UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-FID systems. Furthermore, some in vivo and in vitro biological studies have been performed, such as anti-hypercholesterolemic effect on a rat model with diet induced hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, toxic effect of soyasaponins and lentil extracts have been studied in vitro on caco-2 cells.
Results showed that soyasaponins I and βg are present in lentils in concentrations ranging from 541 to 1457 mg kg−1. The isoflavone content in lentils ranged from 0.41 to 58.61 μg kg-1. Unsaturated fatty acids are predominant in lentils with respect to saturated fatty acids. Soyasaponin I and lentil extracts no cytotoxic effect produced in Caco-2 cells at the tested concentrations. Lentils are an important source of bioactive compounds and lentils extracts may have a nutraceutical effect.
References
1Vila-Donat, P.; Caprioli, G.; Conti, P.; Maggi, F.; Ricciutelli, M.; Torregiani E.; Vittori, S.; Sagratini, G., Food Anal. Meth., 2013, DOI 10.1007/s12161-013-9708-3. 2Vila-Donat, P., Caprioli, G., Maggi, F., Ricciutelli, M., Torregiani, E., Vittori, S., Sagratini, G., Food Chem., submitted. 3Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane Stanley, G. H. (1956). J. Biol. Chem., 1956, 226, 497-509
Isoflavones in espresso coffee: a new SPE-HPLC-MS/MS method for their determination.
No full textIsoflavones are a group of phenolic compounds that are structurally and functionally similar to 17-estradiol having a weak estrogen-like effects. Epidemiological data suggest that their consumption is associated with the prevention of several hormone-dependent cancers, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and hot flushes of menopause [1]. Coffee is a extraordinary combination of numerous bioactive compounds with biological and physiological actions on human health, including isoflavones. Several authors reported the determination of some isoflavones, i.e. daidzein, genistein, formononetin, and biochanin A in coffee matrix, and the found concentrations are quite different by comparing the results. Alves et al. proposed an acidic hydrolysis for extracting isoflavones from espresso coffee and used HPLC-DAD for quantifying genistein (180 g/l), daidzein (523 g/l), formononetin (2833 g/l) [2]. Mazur et al. published an article in which reported the analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of three isoflavones in six samples of espresso and instant coffee, by finding daidzein (0.1-0.66 mg/kg), genistein (0.15-0.29 mg/kg) and formononetin (0.72-0.78 mg/kg) [3]. Enzymatic hydrolysis, solid phase extraction (SPE) and GC-MS were combined in the work of Thompson et al. for quantifying formononetin (2 g/l), daidzein (1 g/l) and genistein (1 g/l) in prepared coffee [4]. Kuhnle et al. used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for analyzing daidzein, genistein and biochanin A in coffees by finding total isoflavones content of 9130 g/kg (instant coffee powder), 50 g/kg (instant coffee decaffeinated powder), <10 g/kg (infusion and decaffeinated coffee powder) [5]. Sapozhnikova et al. published an article that uses LC-MS/MS method for analyzing genistein (0.9-1.4 mg/kg), daidzein (3.2-5.2 mg/kg) and formononetin (3-6 g/kg) in ground coffee [6]. Basing on different values of isoflavones content in coffe reported in literature, the aim of this work was to develop a new HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of five isoflavones, i.e. daidzein, genistein, genistin, formononetin and biochanin A in espresso coffee. The certified samples of coffee were purchased by Illy Caffè industry. All samples were 100% Arabica. The espresso coffees were prepared by using an automatic machine Iperespresso X7.1 (Illy, Trieste).
1 ml of liquid coffee was extracted with 20 ml of methanol, stored in refrigerator at -20°C for 24 h, then purified by using SPE C18 cartridges (500mg/6ml) and finally injected in HPLC-MS/MS (triple quadrupole as mass analyzer). Separation of the analytes was performed on a Kinetex C18 (50 x 2.10 mm i.d, particle size 2.6 μm, pore diameter 100 Å) by using acetonitrile and formic acid 0.1%/ammonium formiate 5 mM as mobile phase at flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Calibration curves of six isoflavones in a concentration range 0.001-1 mg/l showed R2 from 0.993 to 0.999. Recovery % calculated at 0.1 mg/l fortification level were in the range 48-106% for all analyzed isoflavones. The validated methodology was applied to the analysis of six samples of certified coffees 100% Arabica. Formononetin was found in a concentration range of 0.40-0.41 g/l, while biochanin A in a range of 0.58-3.26 g/l. Total content of isoflavones was in range of 0.58-3.66 g/l. A HPLC-MS/MS chromatogram of an espresso coffee sample is reported in Fig.1. Samples of coffee 100% Robusta were analyzed to check the content of isoflavones in comparison to 100% Arabica samples
Cerium(III) chloride-promoted chemoselective esterification of phenolic alcohols
No full textA mild and operationally simple method for the chemoselective esterification of phenolic alcohols is described. The reaction overcomes the tyranny of protection, and capitalizes on the activation of acyl halides with cerium(III) chloride to selectively esterify alcohol hydroxyls in the presence of phenolic ones. The generality of the reaction was demonstrated with a series of phenolic alcohols of dietary relevance (vanillol, hydroxytyrosol, epicatechin), providing an expeditious entry into a series of compounds of relevance for biomedical research, some of which previously available only by enzymatic methods
Ce(III) Chloride-Promoted Chemoselective Esterification of Phenolic Alcohols. Tetrahedron Lett. 2005, 46, 2193-2196
No full textA mild,efficient and selective method for desilylation of more common trialkyl ethers by Cerium ( III ) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide in acetonitrile
No full textA mild, efficient, and selective method for the desilylation of more common trialkylsilyl ethers by cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide in acetonitrile
No full textLocally produced food for restaurants: a theoretical approach for the supply chain network design
No full textPurpose This paper evaluates the feasibility and benefits of a local food distribution system, which connects farmers and restaurant owners from a logistics perspective. This paper considers a platform to improve operations and investigates various schemes for delivering locally produced food to restaurants using a food hub. Design/methodology/approach To compare distribution scenarios and derive managerial implications, a simulation model has been developed and executed in Matlab 2019a (c). The model evaluates various settings of business connections between farmers and restaurateurs. Findings Results of computational experiments highlight great potentials of such a system, particularly to reduce travel distances. To obtain these positive externalities, the local system requires specific attention during the design of logistical aspects and needs to be planned following a specific structure. Practical implications The developed simulation model can be used to improve understanding of related short food supply chains by analyzing specific cases where the main actors involved differ in terms of type, number, and location. Originality/value The paper analyzes the feasibility and the effects of a new distribution system that can connect supply chain actors directly. The analyses focus on logistics aspects, a topic that is often neglected in sustainable consumption research. Furthermore, the paper does not focus of a single case study but develops a customizable model to be used in various settings
The Chemistry and Occurrence of Taxane Derivatives. XXVI. A Reactivity Study on 11(15→1)Abeotaxanes
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