Ruta chalepensis L. (Rutaceae) leaf extract: chemical composition, antioxidant and hypoglicaemic activities.

Ruta chalepensis L. (Rutaceae) leaf extract was investigated for its chemical profile and antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. The antioxidant effects were investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ß-carotene bleaching, and metal chelating activity assays. The carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes inhibition assay was used to test the hypoglycaemic potential. R. chalepensis showed a high content of hesperidin and rutin with values of 591.9 and 266.7 mg/g dry extract, respectively. The extract exhibited a promising protection of lipid peroxidation (IC50 value of 16.9 µg/mL) and inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest activity was found against α-amylase (IC50 value of 69.0 µg/mL). The obtained results support the use of R. chalepensis leaves as healthy food ingredients.

The impact of cultivar on polyphenol and biogenic amine profiles in Calabrian red grapes during winemaking.

In this study, during winemaking, was evaluated the influence of cultivar on bioactive compounds (organic acids, d-(+)-glucose, d-(-)-fructose, biogenic amines (BAs), anthocyanins, polyphenols and flavonoids) and antioxidant activity of Calabrian (Southern Italy) autochthonous grapes (Arvino, Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Magliocco Canino, Magliocco Dolce and Nocera). Phenolic compounds increased from grapes to wine for all varieties. Arvino grapevine showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, while a promising inhibition of the lipid peroxidation was observed with Greco Nero grapes. BAs were mostly formed during alcoholic fermentation and Arvino always showed the lowest BAs amounts, while Magliocco Canino generally exhibited the highest. Collectively, the results demonstrated that Calabrian autochthonous grapevines were rich in sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds thus allowing the production of high quality wines.

Optimization of a Solid-Phase Microextraction method for the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) fruit volatiles.

A Solid-Phase Microextraction method for the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of blackberry (Rubus sp.) volatiles has been fully optimized by means of a Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized operating conditions (Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane fiber coating, 66°C, 20 min equilibrium time and 16 min extraction time) have been applied to the characterization for the first time of the volatile composition of Rubus ulmifolius Schott blackberries collected in Italy and Spain. A total of 74 volatiles of different functionality were identified; esters and aliphatic alcohols were the predominant classes in both sample types. Methylbutanal (2.02-25.70%), ethanol (9.84-68.21%), 2,3-butanedione (2.31-14.71%), trans-2-hexenal (0.49-17.49%), 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (0.08-7.39%), 1-hexanol (0.56-16.39%), 1-octanol (0.49-10.86%) and methylbutanoic acid (0.53-21.48%) were the major compounds in most blackberries analyzed. Stepwise multiple regression analysis of semiquantitative data showed that only two variables (ethyl decanoate and ethyl acetate) were necessary for a successful differentiation of blackberries according to their harvest location.

Statistical analysis for improving data precision in the SPME GC-MS analysis of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) volatiles.

Statistical analysis has been used for the first time to evaluate the dispersion of quantitative data in the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) volatiles with the aim of improving their precision. Experimental and randomly simulated data were compared using different statistical parameters (correlation coefficients, Principal Component Analysis loadings and eigenvalues). Non-random factors were shown to significantly contribute to total dispersion; groups of volatile compounds could be associated with these factors. A significant improvement of precision was achieved when considering percent concentration ratios, rather than percent values, among those blackberry volatiles with a similar dispersion behavior. As novelty over previous references, and to complement this main objective, the presence of non-random dispersion trends in data from simple blackberry model systems was evidenced. Although the influence of the type of matrix on data precision was proved, the possibility of a better understanding of the dispersion patterns in real samples was not possible from model systems. The approach here used was validated for the first time through the multicomponent characterization of Italian blackberries from different harvest years.