Abstract Kancolla is a pseudocereal of Andean origin. It is a native sweet cultivar of quinoa (Ch... more Abstract Kancolla is a pseudocereal of Andean origin. It is a native sweet cultivar of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd., Amaranthaceae) obtained by Massal selection from traditional landraces' groups, characterized by its tolerance of adverse climate and soil conditions and an average yield of 1200 kg/ha. The nutritional value of its grains is due to high-quality protein, carbohydrate, fat, mineral, and vitamin content. It differs from other quinoa varieties, mainly in fiber and mineral contents. Kancolla seeds are also considered a good source of polyphenols, betaines, triterpenoids, and ecdysteroids important to exert positive effects on different body systems, helping to promote human health and to reduce chronic disease risk factors. Kancolla seeds are gluten-free, so it can be consumed by people who have celiac disease, as well as by those who are allergic to wheat.
The quality of Kancolla seeds, a sweet variety of quinoa, an underexploited food plant, was deter... more The quality of Kancolla seeds, a sweet variety of quinoa, an underexploited food plant, was determined by measuring proximate composition (carbohydrate, lipid, protein, fibre, essential amino acids and minerals), antinutritional factors (anions) and phytoecdysteroids. The results show that the kancolla seeds are nutritionally interesting and differ from other quinoa varieties, mainly in fibre and mineral contents. Results suggest a major
Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the most widely-grown fruit crops in the world. Approximately ... more Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the most widely-grown fruit crops in the world. Approximately 75% of the whole grape production is utilized into winemaking, while 25% of the original grape weight is grape pomace (skin, seeds and stalks), which is a by-product. The oil-soluble fraction of grape pomace is rich in phenolic compounds including flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and stilbenes, high unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins (E, A and C) and phytosterols with economic importance to cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cosmetic efficacy on skin balance, normalization, hydration and elasticity and on wrinkles prevention of dermocosmetic formulations containing grape seed oil extract on young and mature skin using in vitro and in vivo techniques.In vitro studies showed anti-aging effect through enhancement of cell detoxification, hydration, protection of cellular proteins, stabilization of connective tissues fro...
Endogenous and exogenous factors can alter the skin layer and appearance, determining skin aging.... more Endogenous and exogenous factors can alter the skin layer and appearance, determining skin aging. The extracts and isolated molecules from food matrixes can be used to formulate “healthy” antiaging cosmetics. Two different cosmetic approaches can be used to achieve the antiaging effect. It is possible to use topical products based on food extract (cosmeceutical approach) or take a food supplement and apply a topical cosmetic product based on food extract on the surface to be treated (nutricosmetic approach). This work evaluated in vivo the antiaging potential of a nutricosmetic formulation (cream + food supplement) and a cosmeceutical cream based on Curcuma. The choice of the commercial Curcuma extract to be used for experimental purposes was based on the curcuminoid content determined by an HPLC test. Curcuminoids are the bioactive compounds responsible for Curcuma's antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Their levels in Curcuma extracts vary according to the storage cond...
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, is the most toxic and carcinogen... more Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, is the most toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin among the classes of aflatoxins. Previous research showed that AFB1 affects vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. In the present study, integrated computational and experimental studies were carried out to investigate how AFB1 can interfere with Vitamin D signalling. A competitive antagonism of AFB1 toward RXRα and VDR was hypothesized by comparing the docked complex of AFB1/RXRα and AFB1/VDR ligand-binding domain (LBD) with the X-ray structures of RXRα and VDR bound to known ligands. Accordingly, we demonstrated that AFB1 can affect vitamin D-mediated transcriptional activation of VDR by impairing the formation of protein complexes containing both VDR-RXRα and RXRα/RAR and affecting the subcellular localization of VDR and RXRα. As a whole, our data indicate that AFB1 can interfere with different molecular pathways triggered by vitamin D with an antagonistic mechanism of action.
Fermentable sugar dosage helps oenologists to establish a harvest’s moment and control the fermen... more Fermentable sugar dosage helps oenologists to establish a harvest’s moment and control the fermentation process of the musts. The official analyses recommended for their determination are long, laborious, and must be carried out by specialized personnel. On the contrary, instrumental analysis automation limits human errors, increases precision, and reduces the time and cost of the analyses. In the food production sector, to use methods other than those recommended by supranational bodies in official reports, it is necessary to validate the analytical processes to establish the conformity of the results between the new methods and the reference ones. This work validated an automated enzymatic apparatus to determine the sum of glucose and fructose levels in wine samples. The validation was carried out on wine samples (dry red wine, dry white wine, moderately sweet wine, and sweet wine) containing different sugar concentrations by comparing data obtained using the OIV-MA-AS311-02 metho...
Being overweight or obese can predispose people to chronic diseases and metabolic disorders such ... more Being overweight or obese can predispose people to chronic diseases and metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, which are costly public health problems and leading causes of mortality worldwide. Many people hope to solve this problem by using food supplements, as they can be self-prescribed, contain molecules of natural origin considered to be incapable of causing damage to health, and the only sacrifice they require is economic. The market offers supplements containing food plant-derived molecules (e.g., primary and secondary metabolites, vitamins, and fibers), microbes (probiotics), and microbial-derived fractions (postbiotics). They can control lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, reduce appetite (interacting with the central nervous system) and adipogenesis, influence intestinal microbiota activity, and increase energy expenditure. Unfortunately, the copious choice of products and different legislation on food supplements wo...
The EU food safety policy aims to ensure a high level of safety at all stages of the production a... more The EU food safety policy aims to ensure a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution of food products marketed in the ‘EU, whether produced within the Union or imported from third countries. Sodium chloride, nitric acid, and calcium chloride are the only additives allowed in the production of canned tomatoes. NaCl is a dehydrating agent. Its level must not exceed 3% in canned tomatoes. In official analyses, the Volhard test is employed to measure its levels. Unfortunately, this method is very laborious and does not allow the daily analysis of many samples. In this work, to meet the needs of commodity laboratories, which have to analyze many samples daily, an automated colorimetric test that can determine sodium chloride in canned tomatoes was validated in terms of linearity, the limit of detection and quantification, measured range, accuracy, precision, and recovery. The automatized colorimetric method showed precision, accuracy, and recovery (≥ 95%) stat...
Abstract Since ancient times, herbs and spices have been used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, ... more Abstract Since ancient times, herbs and spices have been used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, and spiritual purposes. Many traditional foods around the world are cooked with spices and herbs to enhance their flavor, color, and to improve conservation. Spices are derived from any part of a plant that is not a leaf, such as the root, stem, bulb, bark or seeds; instead, herbs come from the green, leafy part of the plant. In some cases, herbs and spices may come from the same plant. The American Spice Trade Association uses the term spice as an all-inclusive term that encompasses three categories: spices, herbs, and aromatic seeds. Both spices and herbs are rich sources of phytochemicals, many of which are biologically active with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects; moreover, they may contain essential oils, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that are important for overall wellness. As a result, some herbs and spices may be classed as a functional food, with a range of health benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as reduction of the risks of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. In this chapter, we discuss how spices and herbs may be used for the prevention of deficiencies and against diseases.
Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety, 2016
Traditional passive packaging is restricted in protecting food products because of the way that f... more Traditional passive packaging is restricted in protecting food products because of the way that food is distributed and stored. Furthermore, the extended shelf-life of manufactured foods and the consumer demand for minimal addition of preservatives in food products have led to the innovation of active packaging systems intended to protect food products from microbial contamination. The chapter presents new natural antimicrobial active packaging projected to extend shelf-life and to the enhancement of safety and quality of main food categories such as meat, fish, dairy products, cereal-based food, and minimally processed fruit and vegetables.
Seaweeds or algae are marine autotrophic organisms. They produce nutrients (e.g., proteins, carbo... more Seaweeds or algae are marine autotrophic organisms. They produce nutrients (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) essential for the survival of living organisms as they participate in biochemical processes and non-nutritive molecules (such as dietary fibers and secondary metabolites), which can improve their physiological functions. Seaweed polysaccharides, fatty acids, peptides, terpenoids, pigments, and polyphenols have biological properties that can be used to develop food supplements and nutricosmetic products as they can act as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compounds. This review examines the (primary and secondary) metabolites produced by algae, the most recent evidence of their effect on human health conditions, with particular attention to what concerns the skin and hair’s well-being. It also evaluates the industrial potential of recovering these metabolites from biomass produced by algae used to clean wastewater. The results demonstrate that al...
In recent years, numerous reports have described bioactive peptides (biopeptides)/hydrolysates pr... more In recent years, numerous reports have described bioactive peptides (biopeptides)/hydrolysates produced from various food sources. Biopeptides are considered interesting for industrial application since they show numerous functional properties (e.g., anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties) and technological properties (e.g., solubility, emulsifying, and foaming). Moreover, they have fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. Nevertheless, some challenges must be overcome before their administration via the oral route. The gastric, pancreatic, and small intestinal enzymes and acidic stomach conditions can affect their bioavailability and the levels that can reach the site of action. Some delivery systems have been studied to avoid these problems (e.g., microemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid particles). This paper summarizes the results of studies conducted on biopeptides isolated from plants, marine organisms, animals, and biowaste by-products, discuss...
Abstract Kancolla is a pseudocereal of Andean origin. It is a native sweet cultivar of quinoa (Ch... more Abstract Kancolla is a pseudocereal of Andean origin. It is a native sweet cultivar of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd., Amaranthaceae) obtained by Massal selection from traditional landraces' groups, characterized by its tolerance of adverse climate and soil conditions and an average yield of 1200 kg/ha. The nutritional value of its grains is due to high-quality protein, carbohydrate, fat, mineral, and vitamin content. It differs from other quinoa varieties, mainly in fiber and mineral contents. Kancolla seeds are also considered a good source of polyphenols, betaines, triterpenoids, and ecdysteroids important to exert positive effects on different body systems, helping to promote human health and to reduce chronic disease risk factors. Kancolla seeds are gluten-free, so it can be consumed by people who have celiac disease, as well as by those who are allergic to wheat.
The quality of Kancolla seeds, a sweet variety of quinoa, an underexploited food plant, was deter... more The quality of Kancolla seeds, a sweet variety of quinoa, an underexploited food plant, was determined by measuring proximate composition (carbohydrate, lipid, protein, fibre, essential amino acids and minerals), antinutritional factors (anions) and phytoecdysteroids. The results show that the kancolla seeds are nutritionally interesting and differ from other quinoa varieties, mainly in fibre and mineral contents. Results suggest a major
Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the most widely-grown fruit crops in the world. Approximately ... more Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the most widely-grown fruit crops in the world. Approximately 75% of the whole grape production is utilized into winemaking, while 25% of the original grape weight is grape pomace (skin, seeds and stalks), which is a by-product. The oil-soluble fraction of grape pomace is rich in phenolic compounds including flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and stilbenes, high unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins (E, A and C) and phytosterols with economic importance to cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cosmetic efficacy on skin balance, normalization, hydration and elasticity and on wrinkles prevention of dermocosmetic formulations containing grape seed oil extract on young and mature skin using in vitro and in vivo techniques.In vitro studies showed anti-aging effect through enhancement of cell detoxification, hydration, protection of cellular proteins, stabilization of connective tissues fro...
Endogenous and exogenous factors can alter the skin layer and appearance, determining skin aging.... more Endogenous and exogenous factors can alter the skin layer and appearance, determining skin aging. The extracts and isolated molecules from food matrixes can be used to formulate “healthy” antiaging cosmetics. Two different cosmetic approaches can be used to achieve the antiaging effect. It is possible to use topical products based on food extract (cosmeceutical approach) or take a food supplement and apply a topical cosmetic product based on food extract on the surface to be treated (nutricosmetic approach). This work evaluated in vivo the antiaging potential of a nutricosmetic formulation (cream + food supplement) and a cosmeceutical cream based on Curcuma. The choice of the commercial Curcuma extract to be used for experimental purposes was based on the curcuminoid content determined by an HPLC test. Curcuminoids are the bioactive compounds responsible for Curcuma's antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Their levels in Curcuma extracts vary according to the storage cond...
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, is the most toxic and carcinogen... more Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, is the most toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin among the classes of aflatoxins. Previous research showed that AFB1 affects vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. In the present study, integrated computational and experimental studies were carried out to investigate how AFB1 can interfere with Vitamin D signalling. A competitive antagonism of AFB1 toward RXRα and VDR was hypothesized by comparing the docked complex of AFB1/RXRα and AFB1/VDR ligand-binding domain (LBD) with the X-ray structures of RXRα and VDR bound to known ligands. Accordingly, we demonstrated that AFB1 can affect vitamin D-mediated transcriptional activation of VDR by impairing the formation of protein complexes containing both VDR-RXRα and RXRα/RAR and affecting the subcellular localization of VDR and RXRα. As a whole, our data indicate that AFB1 can interfere with different molecular pathways triggered by vitamin D with an antagonistic mechanism of action.
Fermentable sugar dosage helps oenologists to establish a harvest’s moment and control the fermen... more Fermentable sugar dosage helps oenologists to establish a harvest’s moment and control the fermentation process of the musts. The official analyses recommended for their determination are long, laborious, and must be carried out by specialized personnel. On the contrary, instrumental analysis automation limits human errors, increases precision, and reduces the time and cost of the analyses. In the food production sector, to use methods other than those recommended by supranational bodies in official reports, it is necessary to validate the analytical processes to establish the conformity of the results between the new methods and the reference ones. This work validated an automated enzymatic apparatus to determine the sum of glucose and fructose levels in wine samples. The validation was carried out on wine samples (dry red wine, dry white wine, moderately sweet wine, and sweet wine) containing different sugar concentrations by comparing data obtained using the OIV-MA-AS311-02 metho...
Being overweight or obese can predispose people to chronic diseases and metabolic disorders such ... more Being overweight or obese can predispose people to chronic diseases and metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, which are costly public health problems and leading causes of mortality worldwide. Many people hope to solve this problem by using food supplements, as they can be self-prescribed, contain molecules of natural origin considered to be incapable of causing damage to health, and the only sacrifice they require is economic. The market offers supplements containing food plant-derived molecules (e.g., primary and secondary metabolites, vitamins, and fibers), microbes (probiotics), and microbial-derived fractions (postbiotics). They can control lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, reduce appetite (interacting with the central nervous system) and adipogenesis, influence intestinal microbiota activity, and increase energy expenditure. Unfortunately, the copious choice of products and different legislation on food supplements wo...
The EU food safety policy aims to ensure a high level of safety at all stages of the production a... more The EU food safety policy aims to ensure a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution of food products marketed in the ‘EU, whether produced within the Union or imported from third countries. Sodium chloride, nitric acid, and calcium chloride are the only additives allowed in the production of canned tomatoes. NaCl is a dehydrating agent. Its level must not exceed 3% in canned tomatoes. In official analyses, the Volhard test is employed to measure its levels. Unfortunately, this method is very laborious and does not allow the daily analysis of many samples. In this work, to meet the needs of commodity laboratories, which have to analyze many samples daily, an automated colorimetric test that can determine sodium chloride in canned tomatoes was validated in terms of linearity, the limit of detection and quantification, measured range, accuracy, precision, and recovery. The automatized colorimetric method showed precision, accuracy, and recovery (≥ 95%) stat...
Abstract Since ancient times, herbs and spices have been used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, ... more Abstract Since ancient times, herbs and spices have been used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, and spiritual purposes. Many traditional foods around the world are cooked with spices and herbs to enhance their flavor, color, and to improve conservation. Spices are derived from any part of a plant that is not a leaf, such as the root, stem, bulb, bark or seeds; instead, herbs come from the green, leafy part of the plant. In some cases, herbs and spices may come from the same plant. The American Spice Trade Association uses the term spice as an all-inclusive term that encompasses three categories: spices, herbs, and aromatic seeds. Both spices and herbs are rich sources of phytochemicals, many of which are biologically active with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects; moreover, they may contain essential oils, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that are important for overall wellness. As a result, some herbs and spices may be classed as a functional food, with a range of health benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as reduction of the risks of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. In this chapter, we discuss how spices and herbs may be used for the prevention of deficiencies and against diseases.
Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety, 2016
Traditional passive packaging is restricted in protecting food products because of the way that f... more Traditional passive packaging is restricted in protecting food products because of the way that food is distributed and stored. Furthermore, the extended shelf-life of manufactured foods and the consumer demand for minimal addition of preservatives in food products have led to the innovation of active packaging systems intended to protect food products from microbial contamination. The chapter presents new natural antimicrobial active packaging projected to extend shelf-life and to the enhancement of safety and quality of main food categories such as meat, fish, dairy products, cereal-based food, and minimally processed fruit and vegetables.
Seaweeds or algae are marine autotrophic organisms. They produce nutrients (e.g., proteins, carbo... more Seaweeds or algae are marine autotrophic organisms. They produce nutrients (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) essential for the survival of living organisms as they participate in biochemical processes and non-nutritive molecules (such as dietary fibers and secondary metabolites), which can improve their physiological functions. Seaweed polysaccharides, fatty acids, peptides, terpenoids, pigments, and polyphenols have biological properties that can be used to develop food supplements and nutricosmetic products as they can act as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compounds. This review examines the (primary and secondary) metabolites produced by algae, the most recent evidence of their effect on human health conditions, with particular attention to what concerns the skin and hair’s well-being. It also evaluates the industrial potential of recovering these metabolites from biomass produced by algae used to clean wastewater. The results demonstrate that al...
In recent years, numerous reports have described bioactive peptides (biopeptides)/hydrolysates pr... more In recent years, numerous reports have described bioactive peptides (biopeptides)/hydrolysates produced from various food sources. Biopeptides are considered interesting for industrial application since they show numerous functional properties (e.g., anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties) and technological properties (e.g., solubility, emulsifying, and foaming). Moreover, they have fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. Nevertheless, some challenges must be overcome before their administration via the oral route. The gastric, pancreatic, and small intestinal enzymes and acidic stomach conditions can affect their bioavailability and the levels that can reach the site of action. Some delivery systems have been studied to avoid these problems (e.g., microemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid particles). This paper summarizes the results of studies conducted on biopeptides isolated from plants, marine organisms, animals, and biowaste by-products, discuss...
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