Papers by Giorgio Pintore
Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2006
The compounds of the oil from tubular and ligulate florets and from the receptacle of Chamomilla ... more The compounds of the oil from tubular and ligulate florets and from the receptacle of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major compounds were (E)-β-farnesene (14.4–17.1%), spathulenol (4.4–12.6%), α-bisabolone oxide A (9.2–11.2%), chamazulene (8.4–13.7%), α-bisabolol oxide A (4.9–11.6%) and cis-en-yn-bicycloether (2.7–13.4%).
Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 2016
Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Dec 3, 2015
The origin and taxonomy of Citrus monstruosa (Rutaceae) are currently unknown and thus a nontarge... more The origin and taxonomy of Citrus monstruosa (Rutaceae) are currently unknown and thus a nontargeted metabolomic analysis on the flavedo volatiles was performed. Headspace solid-phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography analysis was applied to eight Citrus spp. including Citrus monstruosa, and the chemical composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOC) was analyzed to give a chemical comparison between different Citrus species. Forty-four metabolites were detected across the species: several monoterpenes were found in all Citrus spp. and among them limonene comes first in all Citrus spp. ranging from 96.7 to 66.7%. Conversely, some molecules were found to be specific for only a few of the samples. The classical univariate evaluation of the VOC data is unlikely to give objective data for the cultivar classification; a multivariate approach, principal component analysis, is an easy to use, powerful tool. Therefore, a chemometric comparison between chromatographic data of all Citrus spp. was performed with the aim of understanding the role of VOC in the discrimination of the eight studied cultivars. Practical Application A chemometrics' method was applied on the volatiles of eight Citrus spp. including Citrus monstruosa. Results were used to discriminate and classify C. monstruosa from several other Citrus spp. This method may also be used to discriminate other Citrus spp. as well as being applied to the volatiles-based classification of other botanicals.
Starch-starke, Sep 5, 2014
ABSTRACT Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL), α-amylase and α-glucosidase are appealing pharma... more ABSTRACT Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL), α-amylase and α-glucosidase are appealing pharmacological targets for the management of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and obesity-diabetes. Presently, in vitro screening for considerable inhibition of these digestive hydrolases by endemic Sardinian Pistacia lentiscus L. and P. terebinthus L. leaves and fruits aqueous extracts (AEs) (Anacardiaceae) was undertaken. The AEs PL- IC50 (μg/mL) in an ascending order were: P. lentiscus leaves; 6.1 ± 0.2 &lt; P. terebinthus leaves; 9.0 ± 0.4 &lt; P. terebinthus fruits; 125.2 ± 12.1 &lt; P. lentiscus fruits; 230.7 ± 38.4. Comparable to acarbose, all different parts of Sardinian Pistacia spp. AEs were identified as in vitro potent and efficacious dual inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase with respective IC50: P. lentiscus leaves; 65.3 ± 7.4 μg/mL &lt; P. terebinthus leaves; 76.5 ± 4.5 μg/mL &lt; P. terebinthus fruits; 237.7 ± 33.5 μg/mL &lt; P. lentiscus fruits; 1.4 ± 0.2 mg/mL. Taken together, Sardinian Pistacia spp. as functional foods and nutraceuticals modulating gastrointestinal carbohydrate and lipid digestion and absorption, maybe be advocated as potential candidate for obesity-diabetes prevention and phytotherapy.
Natural Product Research, 2013
Artemisia caerulescens L. ssp. densiflora (Viv.) is a wild shrub that grows in the archipelago of... more Artemisia caerulescens L. ssp. densiflora (Viv.) is a wild shrub that grows in the archipelago of La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy. The antifungal activity of the volatile oil of this sub-species has not been evaluated earlier. This study aimed to identify the main components of the essential oil of A. caerulescens L. ssp. densiflora and to investigate its antifungal activity. Identification of the different components of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from A. caerulescens L. ssp. densiflora was done by both techniques: GC-MS and NMR analyses ((1)H, (13)C, HSQC-NMR). Antifungal activity was evaluated by agar disc diffusion technique against environmental isolates of fungal strains: two yeasts (Rhodotorula spp., Candida spp.), three moulds (Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp.) and a mixture of moulds. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil yielded 42 compounds, out of which, 26 compounds were identified. The main compound was identified as terpinen-4-ol (22%) followed by p-cymene (7.6%) and α-terpineol (3.02%). The significant inhibition spectrum of the essential oil of A. caerulescens L. ssp. densiflora can be considered as an alternative to common disinfectants.
Industrial Crops and Products, 2016
Foods, Jul 27, 2019
A comparison between High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis and Liquid Chrom... more A comparison between High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis and Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS), coupled with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out by performing a combined metabolomics study to discriminate Arbutus unedo (A. unedo) plants. For a rapid digital record of A. unedo extracts (leaves, yellow fruit, and red fruit collected in La Maddalena and Sassari, Sardinia), HPTLC was used. Data were then analysed by PCA with the results of the ability of this technique to discriminate samples. Similarly, extracts were acquired by non-targeted LC-HRMS followed by unsupervised PCA, and then by LC-HRMS (MS) to identify secondary metabolites involved in the differentiation of the samples. As a result, we demonstrated that HPTLC may be applied as a simple and reliable untargeted approach to rapidly discriminate extracts based on tissues and/or geographical origins, while LC-HRMS could be used to identify which metabolites are able to discriminate samples.
Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft & Technologie, Jun 1, 2016
This is the first time that composition, antimicrobial potential and antioxidant ability of essen... more This is the first time that composition, antimicrobial potential and antioxidant ability of essential oil from the leaves of Baccharis oreophila are reported. Essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Antimicrobial potential was evaluated by diffusion disk and broth microdilution methods. ABTS * + , DPPH * and FRAP methods were employed for antioxidant activity evaluation. Essential oil yield was 0.47 %. Sixty-five compounds were identified, representing 88.53 % of the total essential oil, which showed to be rich in oxygenated (37.88 %) and hydrocarbons sesquiterpenes (34.84 %). The main constituents were khusimone (16.37 %) and spathulenol (16.12 %). Antimicrobial activity was verified against S. aureus (10.33 � 0.5 mm, MIC: 1250 μg mL À 1) and C. albicans (8.66 � 0.5 mm, MIC: > 2500 μg mL *1). Antioxidant ability was evidenced by FRAP (4.09 μmol FeSO 4 E mL À 1), ABTS * + (1.45 μmol TE mL À 1) and DPPH * (1.04 μmol TE mL À 1) scavenging capacity. Results showed that this essential oil has interesting biological potential, encouraging further investigations especially in relation to action mechanisms of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
Natural Product Research, Sep 10, 2014
Chokeberry juice was subjected to in vitro gastric digestion in the presence of food matrix in or... more Chokeberry juice was subjected to in vitro gastric digestion in the presence of food matrix in order to determine the changes in polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. Addition of food matrix immediately decreased the total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, DPPH scavenging activity as well as total reducing power by 36%, 90%, 45% and 44%, respectively. After in vitro digestion, total phenolic content, anthocyanin content and reducing power are slightly elevated, but they are still lower than in initial non-digested juice. The effect of digested juice on Caco-2 cells proliferation was also studied, and the reduction of proliferative rate by approximately 25% was determined. Our results suggested that although a large proportion of chokeberry phenolics undergo transformation during digestion they are still potent as antioxidant and antiproliferative agents.
Industrial Crops and Products, Feb 1, 2016
Helichrysum italicum (Asteraceae) is a small shrub of the Mediterranean area which colonizes a wi... more Helichrysum italicum (Asteraceae) is a small shrub of the Mediterranean area which colonizes a wide range of habitats. In Sardinia, Italy, the species is widely dispersed in different environments ranging from sandy beaches to holm hoak forests 1250 m above sea level (a. s. l.). Recently, the species has been attributed an increasing economical value mainly for its pharmacological, aromatic proprieties and ornamental uses. In this study, the chemical profiles of 146 H. italicum ssp. microphyllum genotypes from two contrasting habitats (seaside and mountains) in Sardinia were explored. Significant differences in volatile fractions between the two groups were found, displaying a correlation between secondary metabolite production and habitat type. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes (oxygenated/not oxygenated), alcohols, ester were quantitatively differentially produced in the plants growing under different environmental conditions (P < 0.0001). However, discriminant analysis also showed that compositional separation among samples is not simply the question if the habitat is from the coast or the mountains: plants from four seaside sites separate most remarkably from the rest, and in the latter plants from three mountain sites become distinct. It means that there is a fairly homogeneous and large group of plants in which habitat type is not a distinguishing feature regarding volatile oil composition. Considering the importance of climatic conditions in plant development and growth, the relationship between meteorological variables and chemical compounds of the volatile fraction was explored by principal component analysis. Nerolidol is mostly positively correlated to mean winter temperature, while italicene, bergamotene, nerol and curcumene are positively influenced by spring and summer precipitation. Finally, Mantel test revealed a significant correlation (Spearman, P = 0.002) between chemical and meteorological matrices of Euclidean distances, suggesting that the most diverse chemical profiles belonged to plants from the farther climatic locations.
Natural Product Communications, Feb 1, 2014
Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL), α-amylase and α-glucosidase are interesting pharmacologic... more Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL), α-amylase and α-glucosidase are interesting pharmacological targets for the management of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and obesity-diabetes. Limonium spp (Plumbaginaceae) are endemic to Sardinia, Italy. Comparable with acarbose, aqueous extracts (AE) of L. contortirameum and L. virgatum, and their phytoconstituent gallic acid concentration gradients (mg/mL) were identified as in vitro potent (p<0.001, n=3) and efficacious dual inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase with respective IC 50 (mg/mL) values of 0.6 ± 0.1, 1.2 ± 0.1 and 0.15 ± 0.02. Equivalent to orlistat (PL IC 50 of 0.114 ± 0.004 µg/mL), L. contortirameum, L. virgatum AE and their phytoprinciple gallic acid inhibited PL substantially (p<0.001, n=3) in a dose-dependent manner in vitro with PL-IC 50 (µg/mL) of 920.4 ± 105.2, 593.1 ± 56.8 and 8.4 ± 0.9, respectively. LC-MS analysis of extracts revealed the presence of several phenolic compounds in their aglycon and glycoside forms. These are catechins, flavones, epigallocatechins and flavonols. Flavonoid-and polyphenol-rich L contortirameum and L. virgatum, modulating gastrointestinal carbohydrate and lipid digestion and absorption, may be advocated as candidates for obesity-diabetes prevention and phytotherapy.
Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2003
ABSTRACT The essential oils from nine wild populations of the Sardinian Thymus herba-barona Loise... more ABSTRACT The essential oils from nine wild populations of the Sardinian Thymus herba-barona Loisel (Labiatae) were chemically characterized to identify the different chemotypes. GC and GC–MS analysis showed that in Sardinia only two chemotypes (thymol and carvacrol) are present. The carvacrol chemotype is predominant and this compound was found in high concentration (50.7–79.4%) in seven of the nine populations studied. The thymol chemotype was found in only two populations (34.2–56.2%). Analyses also showed that the other main components of the oils of T. herba-barona, were 3-heptanone (1.4–5.6%), 3-octanone (1.4–5.5%) and borneol (2.5–8.3%). p-Cymene is present at 1.2–5.6% but is not present in plants from the Tonara medium station, where O-cymene (1.9%) is present instead. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.
Natural Product Research, Mar 17, 2017
Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (garland) is an herbaceous plant rich in bioactive compounds. The che... more Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (garland) is an herbaceous plant rich in bioactive compounds. The chemical composition, bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of a Mediterranean garland population were investigated in different organs at two phenological stages. Antioxidant capacity varied from 7.9 (vegetative) to 14.4 (flowering) mmol Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity 100 g-1 dry weight (DW). A significant correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenolics and total flavonoids was found at flowering stage. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid reached a maximum of 4.7 µg g-1 DW in leaves; flowers were high in luteolin (2.37 µg g-1 DW), whereas leaves showed a remarkable content of rutin (1.78 µg g-1 DW). Results highlight differences in bioactive compound levels and antioxidant capacity related to plant stages and organs. This research provides new insights into antioxidant activities and chemistry of garland, in view of its exploitation in areas of fodder resources, functional foods and natural antioxidants.
Biomedicines
Cancer is a complex disease including approximately 200 different entities that can potentially a... more Cancer is a complex disease including approximately 200 different entities that can potentially affect all body tissues. Among the conventional treatments, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are most often applied to different types of cancers. Despite substantial advances in the development of innovative antineoplastic drugs, cancer remains one of the most significant causes of death, worldwide. The principal pitfall of successful cancer treatment is the intrinsic or acquired resistance to therapeutic agents. The development of more effective or synergistic therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes and minimize toxicity has become an urgent issue. Inula viscosa is widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. Used as a medicinal plant in different countries, I. viscosa has been characterized for its complex chemical composition in order to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for its biological activities, including anticancer effects. Sesquiterpene lactones (...
Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 2016
The aim of this study is the extraction and the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOC... more The aim of this study is the extraction and the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and total phenolic compounds of three Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., species from Morocco, namely Dellahia, Aissa and Shoul. The VOCs were extracted with Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) associated to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The antioxidant compounds in extracts were determined by liquid- Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The study allowed the identification of forty-six compounds for the VOCs. The most abundant compounds in the three varieties (Dellahia, Aissa and Shoul) were 2-hexanal and n-hexanol with a percentage of 10.6%, 10.9% and 44.0% for the first compound and 10.3 %, 59.0%, 18.7% for the second, successively. The extraction of phenolic compounds permitted the identification and quantification of 15 fractions of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Caffeic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid with 16.0 and 10.8 mg/100g of plant materi...
Natural Product Research, 2020
Natural Product Communications, 2008
From the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of T. serrulatus collected in Ethiopia... more From the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of T. serrulatus collected in Ethiopia, fifty-three compounds were identified by GC/MS, accounting for more than 99% of the total volatile fraction. Thymol and carvacrol were the main compounds, ranging from 10.0 ± 0.9 to 43.8 ± 3.8% and 4.5 ± 0.4 to 39.1 ± 3.8%, respectively, of the total. o-Cymene, γ-terpinene, and linalool were the most representative compounds in all the EOs.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2018
ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThis study was performed to clarify the strategies of Penicillium digitatum dur... more ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThis study was performed to clarify the strategies of Penicillium digitatum during pathogenesis on citrus, assessing, on albedo plugs, the effects of treatment with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), at two different pH values (5 and 8.3), on cell‐wall‐degrading enzyme activity over a period of 72 h.RESULTSTreatment with NaHCO3, under alkaline pH, delayed the polygalacturonase activity for 72 h, or 48 h in the case of the pectin lyase, compared with the control or the same treatment at pH 5. In contrast, pectin methyl esterase activity rapidly increased after 24 h, in plugs dipped in the same solution. In this case, the activity remained higher than untreated or pH 5‐treated plugs up to 72 h.CONCLUSIONThe rapid increase in pectin methyl esterase activity under alkaline conditions is presumably the strategy of the pathogen to lower the pH, soon after the initiation of infection, in order to restore an optimal environment for the subsequent polygalacturonase and pectin lya...
Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents
A pivotal role in osteoporosis development is played by radical oxygen species (ROS), the increas... more A pivotal role in osteoporosis development is played by radical oxygen species (ROS), the increased production of which is related to inhibited osteoblastic activity and bone formation. A new field of research could involve medicinal plants with antioxidant and protective effects in osteoporosis. Furthermore, considering the multifactorial metabolic aspects of osteoporosis, the pharmacological association of multiple medicinal plants could improve patient response. The aim of the present study is to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the protective effects of a natural formula containing lactoferrin 12%, Equisetum arvensis ES 54%, soy isoflavones 34% and vitamin D3 0.002%, in PBMC and C2C12 cells and in the bone matrix of young (3-month-old) and aged (12-month-old) female Sprague-Dawley rats, following chronic (21 days) administration. In this context, we assayed the activities of several inflammation and bone homeostasis mediators, such as IL-6, TNFα, PGE2, osteoprotegerin, RANK, RANKL ...
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Papers by Giorgio Pintore