The influence of collection zone on glucosinolates, polyphenols and flavonoids contents and biological profiles of Capparis sicula ssp. sicula.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of collection zone on total phenol, flavonoid and glucosinolate contents and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of caper (Capparis sicula ssp. sicula). This species has been characterized through the detection, isolation and quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (polyphenols, flavonoids and glucosinolates). The chemical investigation showed a different composition between the two collection zones. While the total amounts of phenolics and flavonoids of the two samples were quite the same, their high-performance liquid chromatography profiles were very different. In both samples, the most abundant aglycone was quercetin which accounted for 60% of total flavonoids. Nuclear magnetic resonance data analysis allowed the identification of two compounds: 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids which represented 6.67% and 15.94%, respectively, of the total amount of flavonoids in sample 1. In sample 2, these two acids were still present, but their percentages were much less (2.20% and 1.71%, respectively). As far as we know, this is the first report about the presence of dicaffeoylquinic acids in Capparis. With regard to glucosinolate content, sample 1 showed a higher content of glucosinolates. In both samples, glucocapparin was the most abundant compound. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic C. sicula extracts using diphenyl picrylhydrazyl, ß-carotene bleaching test and oxygen radical absorbance capacity showed that the sample 2 was more active than 1. As regards the inhibition of NO production, the extracts from sample 2 were more active than those from sample 1.

Acute effects of lyophilised red wine on total antioxidant capacity in healthy volunteers.

This is an open, cross-over study to examine the acute effects of lyophilised red wine (LYOW) on total antioxidant capacity and some metabolic variables in 10 healthy subjects (age 27.7 +/- 3.9 yr) following a light meal. Each subject was studied on two occasions for a 360-min period, after consumption of a 1.22 MJ (291 kcal) meal; on one occasion without and on another occasion with intake of LYOW with high antioxidant activity [15.4 mM trolox equivalent (eq)]. Plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values decreased significantly after meal alone from 4.97 +/- 0.499 to 4.39 +/- 0.383 mM trolox eq. (mean +/- SD; p < 0.05) and remained lower until 360 min compared to basal values (p < 0.05). In contrast, ORAC values after meal with LYOW increased significantly from a baseline of 4.79 +/- 0.356 to the highest value of 6.39 +/- 0.570 mM trolox eq at 90 min; then, it decreased to a plateau of 4.99 +/- 0.316 mM trolox eq (p < 0.05), whose values were still higher than baseline ones until 360 min and also significantly different from the values obtained without LYOW from 90 to 360 min (p < 0.05). No correlations were observed between dietary antioxidant vitamin, fruit and vegetable intakes and plasma antioxidant capacity. No differences were found in plasma insulin and glucose values after meal between the two occasions. We conclude that moderate drinking of red wine (350 ml) with high antioxidant capacity increased and sustained for 360 min plasma antioxidant level of 10 healthy subjects after a meal.

Trace element intake and status of Italian subjects living in the Gubbio area.

Daily intakes of certain trace elements (Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Cr) were assessed using dietary history and weighed record methods and concurrent chemical analysis (CA) of duplicate portions, along with blood levels, in a group (21 M, 23 F) of inhabitants of the Gubbio area (Belvedere, Biscina, Scritto). The evaluation of only intake of trace elements was accomplished in 40 subjects (20 M, 20 F) 1 year later. In both surveys, trace element intakes were generally lower than the potential tolerable weekly intake. However, daily intakes of Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Cr were higher in men compared to women in both surveys (P<0.05). In fact, intakes at the 50th percentile were greater in men by approximately 75% for Pb, 91% for Cd, 20% for Ni, 45% for Hg, and 29% for Cr in the first survey. In the second survey, percentage differences for Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were about 12%, 28%, 26%, and 26%, respectively. Blood trace element levels were slightly higher in men in the first survey. Interestingly, no correlation was observed between the intake of trace elements and corresponding blood values. Food basket and total diet, which were computed from the weighed record method for 2 days, showed relevant disagreements with CA of duplicate portion. Moreover, the comparison in content of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr obtained by CA of cooked dishes or by calculation using values of raw foods showed significant differences (P<0.05). It was concluded that trace element intake should be assessed by CA of duplicate portion.

Diet during pregnancy and total antioxidant capacity in maternal and umbilical cord blood.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the longitudinal trend of total antioxidant capacity (ToAC) in a group of pregnant women and the relationship with their food habits and ToAC of their newborns. METHODS: ToAC of 12 pregnant women and of umbilical cord blood was determined by means of the oxygen radical absorbance capacity method; mothers' diet was assessed by the dietary history method. RESULTS: Mothers' oxygen radical absorbance capacity values decreased slightly from the first (5.41 +/- 0.28 mmol/l trolox eq.) to the third (5.23 +/- 0.26 mmol/l trolox eq.) trimester of pregnancy, but significantly at delivery (5.06 +/- 0.17 mmol/l trolox eq., p < 0.05 vs. the first, second and third trimesters). Oxygen radical absorbance capacity values of umbilical cord blood (4.87 +/- 0.24 mmol/l trolox eq.) correlated with mothers' values in the third trimester (r = 0.86; p = 0.004) of pregnancy and at delivery (r = 0.87; p = 0.0002). The mothers' diet was rather poor in fruit and vegetables and did not change throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The lowering values of ToAC observed during pregnancy may be a physiological trend or a transient imbalance between higher antioxidant requirements and intake which reflects on newborns' ToAC. Nevertheless, efforts should be made to improve dietary habits in pregnancy in order to optimize the ToAC of mothers and newborns.

Total antioxidant capacity of colostrum, and transitional and mature human milk.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin content of breast milk and diet of pregnant women has been reported. However, the assessment of a complete and reliable antioxidant index, such as the total antioxidant capacity, has never been performed in human milk. METHODS: In the present study, the total antioxidant capacity of colostrum, and transitional and mature milk was determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay in 29 lactating women and correlated with their food consumption assessed by dietary history during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity of 12 infant formulas commonly used in Italy was determined by the same method. RESULTS: Mean ORAC values of mature milk (1.01 +/- 0.37 mmol/l trolox eq.) were slightly lower than those of colostrum and transitional milk (1.17 +/- 0.50 and 1.18 +/- 0.38 mmol/l trolox eq., respectively). Correlations were observed between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin intakes during pregnancy (third trimester) and ORAC values of colostrum and transitional milk (both p < 0.05), but not with ORAC values of mature milk. Correlations were also found between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin intakes during lactation and transitional and mature milk ORAC values (both p < 0.05). Term infant formulas (n = 5) showed a total antioxidant capacity of 1.40 +/- 0.23 mmol/l trolox eq., whereas the antioxidant capacity of other formulas (n = 7) oscillated from 1.27 to 2.52 mmol/l trolox eq. CONCLUSIONS: The total antioxidant capacity of breast milk in lactating women was related to a diet in which the food content of antioxidant compounds was inadequate. Efforts should be made to improve women's dietary habits during pregnancy and lactation, in order to optimize the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk.

Vitamin intake and status in a group of subjects from the Gubbio area Italy.

beta-Carotene, retinol, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin intake and blood nutritional status beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol) were investigated in a group of 79 subjects (35 males and 44 females) of 30 years and over, living in three rural hamlets in the Gubbio area (Central Italy) to see if there were any differences in nutrient intake using different methods of dietary assessment and if there was a relationship between vitamin intake and status. Vitamin intakes were assessed by three different methods: dietary history, two-day weighed record and two-day duplicate-portion chemical analysis. Vitamin content of duplicate diets was assessed by semiautomated HPLC methods. Plasma vitamin status was assessed by semi-automated isocratic straight-phase HPLC methods. The three methods of dietary assessment were compared using the Student's paired t-test and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Between the two days weighed record and diet history, significant differences were observed for beta-carotene and thiamin. Between the two-day weighed record and chemical analysis, significantly differences were found for beta-carotene, riboflavin and thiamin. Between diet history and chemical analysis, significant differences were obtained for beta-carotene, riboflavin and thiamin. The t-test analysis showed different results according to sex and age. Plasma vitamin status using the current cut-off criteria showed some deficiencies for beta-carotene. As on other occasions no correlation was observed between data from diet history, weighed record and chemical analysis of duplicate portions and the corresponding blood vitamin levels for the whole group of subjects.

Determination of sorbic acid in margarine and butter by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A procedure is reported for the separation and determination of sorbic acid, as a derivative of 4-bromoethyl-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection using enanthic acid as an internal standard. Sorbic acid, separated from samples of commercial margarine and butter by steam distillation, was evaluated using the proposed procedure and by UV absorption and visible spectrophotometric methods (AOAC). The preparation of the calibration graph and the determination of sorbic acid with the visible spectrophotometric method was improved. The sorbic acid content determined using UV and visible spectrophotometric methods was higher than that obtained with the reversed-phase performance liquid chromatographic method owing to the presence of interfering substances in the samples. The range of recovery and the precision of the proposed method and the reference methods are also reported.

Theoretical study for use of Leksell's stereotactic frame in radiosurgery.

The authors examine all the problems connected with the use of Leksell's frame. These problems were studied specifically for the treatment of artero-venous malformation of the brain using small fields and movement therapy of a 10 MV linear accelerator. The technique allows the administration of high radiation doses (25-30) Gy into a very small target within a fraction. In this way the surrounding tissue receives a low dose. The treatment was initially simulated with a dummy. The dosimetry gives an accuracy of +/- 1.5%. This study has been able to resolve all the theoretical and practical problems demonstrating the feasibility of the project which has already been put into effect.

Fluorometric determination of nitrite.

A sensitive, simple and rapid fluorometric procedure for the determination of nitrite is described. It is based on the reaction of nitrite with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene in acidic solution to form 1-[H]-naphthotriazole, a highly fluorescent compound in alkaline medium. The detection limit is approximately 0.5 ng ml in the test sample (1% relative fluorescence intensity). Application of the method to analysis of a milk sample was tested with aliquots spiked with known amounts of nitrite.

Fluorometric determination of glycerol in wine--comparison with other known procedures.

The glycerol content of 6 wines was evaluated by using 3 different preliminary treatments and, subsequently, a variety of instrumental and chemical procedures (fluorometric, vapor phase chromatography of trimethylsilyl derivatives, volumetric, and colorimetric). The data showed that all these procedures are applicable; in particular, the fluorometric procedure, which has not been used until now, provides average recoveries of added glycerol ranging from 99.3 to 100.9%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 2.9 to 3.2%. Vapor phase chromatography provides average recoveries of added glycerol ranging from 99.8 to 100.1%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1.0 to 2.7%. Therefore, the fluorometric procedure appears especially useful for reliable routine analyses, because it is specific for glycerol and provides results that are unaffected by preliminary treatment. Thus it allows analysis of diluted wine, when the sugar content does not exceed 5 g/L; sweet wines must undergo an ion exchange pretreatment.

[Riboflavin content of commercial samples of alimentary pastes (author's transl)]. / Contenuto di riboglavina in una serie di campioni di paste alimentari del commercio

By fluorometric investigation on 42 commercial samples of alimentary pastes, it was established that unlawful custom of colouring these food products with riboflavin is no more performed; in fact, the riboflavin content of the sample examined by use was rather uniform and of the same order of that naturally occurring in these products.