The Management of Dissolved Oxygen by a Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactor Affects Wine Aging.

BACKGROUND: Numerous oenological practices can cause an excess of dissolved oxygen in wine, thus determining sensory and chromatic defects in the short- to long-term. Hence, it is necessary to manage the excess of oxygen before bottling. METHODS: In this study, the management of the dissolved oxygen content by a polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactor apparatus was performed in two wines from different grape varieties (Aglianico and Falanghina). The wines were analyzed after an 11-month aging. Anthocyanins and acetaldehyde content were evaluated by HPLC. In addition, other phenolic compounds and chromatic characteristics were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods. NMR and HR ESIMS analyses were conducted to evaluate the amount of pyranoanthocyanins and polymeric pigments. RESULTS: After 11 months of aging, in both wines a decrease of free and total SO2 with respect to initial values was detected. In the wines with the highest dissolved oxygen levels, a more remarkable loss was observed. No significant differences in terms of color parameters were detected. In red wine with the highest oxygen content, a massive formation of polymeric pigments and BSA reactive tannins was observed, as opposed to wines with lower oxygen levels. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the membrane contactor can prove a successful tool to manage dissolved oxygen in wines as to prevent their oxidative spoilage.

A Bio-Guided Fractionation to Assess the Inhibitory Activity of Calendula officinalis L. on the NF-κB Driven Transcription in Human Gastric Epithelial Cells.

Calendula officinalis L. has been largely known for its topical anti-inflammatory properties; however, there are no experimental evidences about its antiphlogistic effect at the gastric level. To investigate whether marigold might exert an activity against gastric inflammation, a CH2Cl2 extract obtained from C. officinalis flowers was evaluated in vitro on the NF-κB pathway. The lipophilic extract demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on the NF-κB driven transcription. The identification of active compounds was conducted by a bio-guided fractionation of the extract that afforded 16 fractions. Fraction J exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory activity on the NF-κB driven transcription and significantly contributed to the antiphlogistic effect showed by CH2Cl2 extract. The main components of fraction J were loliolide and the fucoside acetates of ß-eudesmol and viridiflorol. HPLC analysis of fractions D and E led to the identification and isolation of triterpene esters that showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of the NF-κB driven transcription, with faradiol-3-myristate and the corresponding aglycone being the most active compounds. The present study provides some experimental evidences that Calendula officinalis L. may exert an anti-inflammatory activity on the gastric district by the inhibition of the NF-κB system, identifying the compounds responsible, at least in part, for the observed effect.

Structure and cytotoxic activity of sesquiterpene glycoside esters from Calendula officinalis L.: Studies on the conformation of viridiflorol.

Topic applications of Calendula officinalis L. lipophilic extracts are used in phytotherapy to relieve skin inflammatory conditions whereas infusions are used as a remedy for gastric complaints. Such a different usage might be explained by some cytotoxicity of lipophilic extracts at gastric level but little is known about this. Therefore, we screened the CH2Cl2 extract from the flowers of C. officinalis by MTT and LDH assays in human epithelial gastric cells AGS. This bioassay-oriented approach led to the isolation of several sesquiterpene glycosides which were structurally characterized by spectroscopic measurements, chemical reactions and MM calculations. The conformational preferences of viridiflorol fucoside were established and a previously assigned stereochemistry was revised. The compounds 1a, 2a and 3f showed comparably high cytotoxicity in the MTT assays, whereas the effect on LDH release was lower. Our study provides new insights on the composition of C. officinalis extracts of medium polarity and identifies the main compounds that could be responsible for cytotoxic effects at gastric level.

Tirucallane triterpenes from the leaf extract of Entandrophragma angolense.

From the leaves of Entandrophragma angolense, three triterpenoidal compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated by mass and NMR spectroscopy. They belong to the tirucallane group but two of them possess the rare seco-ring-A feature. The phytochemical data are discussed from a chemotaxonomic and biogenetic points of view.

Improved anti-inflammatory activity of three new terpenoids derived, by systematic chemical modifications, from the abundant triterpenes of the flowery plant Calendula officinalis.

Rings A, D and E of faradiol (1), and ring E of both arnidiol (10) and calenduladiol (4) have been subjected to various selective chemical manipulations to modify polarity, water affinity, H-bonding, sterics, and number of aromatic groups of these anti-inflammatory natural compounds. A total of 15 new and four known pentacyclic triterpenoids have been obtained in this way. Some 13 terpenoids were evaluated for their topical anti-inflammatory activities with respect to inhibition of croton oil induced ear oedema in mouse. Three derivatives of 1, the C(16) benzyl ether 15, the C(30) aldehyde 24, and the C(30) primary alcohol 25 showed significantly improved anti-inflammatory potencies, which is relevant for (future) structure-activity-relationship (SAR) studies.

Simultaneous quantitative determination of eight triterpenoid monoesters from flowers of 10 varieties of Calendula officinalis L. and characterisation of a new triterpenoid monoester.

Dichloromethane extracts of dried flowers of Calendula officinalis contain eight known bioactive triterpendiol monoesters, namely, faradiol-3-O-palmitate, faradiol-3-O-myristate, faradiol-3-O-laurate, arnidiol-3-O-palmitate, arnidiol-3-O-myristate, arnidiol-3-O-laurate, calenduladiol-3-O-palmitate and calenduladiol-3-O-myristate. These pentacyclic terpenoids have been quantified simultaneously using reversed-phase HPLC with isocratic elution and internal standardisation. Of the 10 varieties of C. officinalis investigated, Calypso Orange Florensis produced the highest amounts of the bioactive monoesters, followed by Fiesta Gitana Gelb and May Orange Florensis. The lipophilic extract from the flowers of Calypso Orange Florensis variety also contained low levels of the newly characterised calenduladiol-3-O-laurate.

Isolation and structure of a new macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin G, and a related biosynthetic intermediate from a culture of Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

The new naturally occurring erythromycin G (4), formally derived from erythromycin B by hydroxylation of the C-16 methyl group, and 3-O-mycarosylerythronolide B (5), an erythromycin biosynthetic intermediate previously obtained only from microorganisms blocked in erythromycin biosynthesis, were isolated from a concentrate of mother liquors derived from a culture of Saccharopolyspora erythraea. The structure of erythromycin G was defined by spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Theoretical calculation of 4 has been performed at MM2 level, and the low-energy conformations have been compared with X-ray data: both theoretical and experimental approaches give similar three-dimensional shapes. Antibacterial activity of 4 against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms has been evaluated. A simple method for the isolation of large amounts of erythromycins B (2) and D is provided as well.

Parthenolide and its photochemically synthesized 1(10)Z isomer: chemical reactivity and structure-activity relationship studies in human leucocyte chemotaxis.

The present study has achieved the photochemical conversion of a germacrolide into a melampolide. The investigation on their chemical properties allowed us to evaluate the minimum interatomic distance needed for transannular bridging of C(10) ring in germacrolides and to explain the regiochemical selectivity of electrophilic cyclizations. The antiinflammatory activity of parthenolide and its semisynthetic derivatives was evaluated by in vitro chemotaxis assay with human neutrophiles. These structure-activity relationship studies have led to hypothesize a new pharmacophore and have provided useful information for computationally designed drugs.

Degraded limonoids from Melia azedarach and biogenetic implications.

The roots of Melia azedarach yielded three new degraded limonoids: teracrylmelazolide A, melazolide A and teracrylmelazolide B, possessing a previously undescribed skeleton. The known pyroangolensolide, fraxinellone and its three derivatives, 30-hydroxyfraxinellone, 9 alpha- and 9 beta-hydroxyfraxinellone, were also isolated. Their stereochemisty was elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions.