Comprehensive molecular level characterization of protein- and polyphenol-rich tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) seed germ flour suggests novel hypothesis about possible accidental hazards.

Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa, Leguminosae) seed germ (TSG), a by-product of tara gum (E417) extraction, has been used as a protein- and polyphenol-rich food ingredient for human and animal nutrition. Nevertheless, TSG is the alleged culprit for a recent foodborne outbreak of even severe acute illnesses that have affected hundreds of individuals in the USA, perhaps triggered by nonprotein amino acids such as baikiain. Herein, the composition of TSG has been characterized at molecular level, with a focus on proteins, phenolics, lipids, and mineral composition. TSG contains 43.4 % (w/w) proteins, tentatively identified for the first time by proteomics, and 14 % lipids, consisting of 83.6 % unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Ash is surprising high (6.5 %) because of an elevated concentration of P, K, Ca, and Mg. The detection of a rare earth element such as gadolinium (Gd, 1.6 mg kg-1), likely sourced from anthropogenic pollution, suggests alternative hypotheses for the origin of TSG hazards.

Insights into the Structure-Capacity of Food Antioxidant Compounds Assessed Using Coulometry.

CDAC (coulometrically determined antioxidant capacity) involves the determination of the antioxidant capacity of individual compounds or their mixtures using constant-current coulometry, with electrogenerated Br2 as the titrant, and biamperometric detection of the endpoint via Br2 excess. CDAC is an accurate, sensitive, rapid, and cheap measurement of the mol electrons (mol e-) transferred in a redox process. In this study, the CDAC of 48 individual antioxidants commonly found in foods has been determined. The molar ratio CDAC (CDACχ, mol e- mol-1) of representative antioxidants is ranked as follows: tannic acid > malvidin-3-O-glucoside ≃ curcumin > quercetin > catechin ≃ ellagic acid > gallic acid > tyrosol > BHT ≃ hydroxytyrosol > chlorogenic acid ≃ ascorbic acid ≃ Trolox®. In many cases, the CDACχ ranking of the flavonoids did not comply with the structural motifs that promote electron or hydrogen atom transfers, known as the Bors criteria. As an accurate esteem of the stoichiometric coefficients for reactions of antioxidants with Br2, the CDACχ provides insights into the structure-activity relationships underlying (electro)chemical reactions. The electrochemical ratio (ER), defined as the antioxidant capacity of individual compounds relative to ascorbic acid, represents a dimensionless nutritional index that can be used to estimate the antioxidant power of any foods on an additive basis.

Pasta fortified with C-glycosides-rich carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed germ flour: Inhibitory activity against carbohydrate digesting enzymes.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed germ flour (SGF) is a by-product resulting from the extractionextraction of locust bean gum (E410), which is a texturing and thickening ingredient used for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. SGF is a protein-rich edible matrix and contains relatively high amounts of apigenin 6,8-C-di- and poly-glycosylated derivatives. In this work, we prepared durum wheat pasta containing 5 and 10 % (w/w) of SGF and carried out inhibition assays against type-2 diabetes relevant carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes, namely porcine pancreatic α-amylase and α-glycosidases from jejunal brush border membranes. Nearly 70-80% of the SGF flavonoids were retained in the pasta after cooking in boiling water. Extracts from cooked pasta fortified with 5 or 10% SGF inhibited either α-amylase by 53% and 74% or α-glycosidases by 62 and 69%, respectively. The release of reducing sugars from starch was delayed in SGF-containing pasta compared to the full-wheat counterpart, as assessed by simulated oral-gastric-duodenal digestion. By effect of starch degradation, the SGF flavonoids were discharged in the water phase of the chyme, supporting a possible inhibitory activity against both duodenal α-amylase and small intestinal α-glycosidases in vivo. SGF is a promising functional ingredient obtained from an industrial by-product for producing cereal-based foods with reduced glycaemic index.

Evaluation of Novel Rapid Analytical Methods to Categorize Extra Virgin Olive Oil Based on the Coulometrically Determined Antioxidant Capacity and on the Spectrophotometric Assessment of Phenolic Compounds.

The lack of a practical "fit for the purpose" analytical protocol is the main limitation that has hampered the exploitation of the EFSA analytical health claim on the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) biophenols, more than ten years since its introduction. In this work, two analytical methods recently developed in our laboratories for categorizing EVOO have been evaluated on a set of 16 samples from Cilento (Campania Region, southern Italy) and compared to other commonly used quality indexes. The Coulometrically Determined Antioxidant Capacity (CDAC) is associated with the component responsible for the health-promoting properties and oxidative stability of EVOO. The Fast Blue BB (FBBB) assay consists of the spectrophotometric (420 nm) determination of biophenols-FBBB diazonium coupling products generated in unfractionated EVOO. The FBBB assay and HPLC-UV reference method provide values highly correlated to each other. Fourteen of sixteen EVOO samples with CDAC > 10 mmol kg-1 and FBBB absorbance > 0.5 had HPLC-determined biophenols > 250 mg kg-1, and therefore eligible for the EFSA health claim. Consistently, two EVOO samples with HPLC-determined biophenols < 250 mg kg-1 had CDAC values and FBBB absorbance below the respective thresholds. CDAC and FBBB assays are proposed individually or in combination as methods to categorize EVOO samples in alternative to HPLC-UV.

Fluorescence Detecting of Paraquat and Diquat Using Host-Guest Chemistry with a Fluorophore-Pendant Calix[6]arene.

Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ), some of the most widely used herbicides in the world, both present a high mortality index after intentional exposure. In this paper, a fluorescence sensing method for PQ and DQ, based on host-guest molecular recognition, is proposed. Calix[6]arene derivatives containing anthracene or naphthalene as pendant fluorophore at their lower rim recognize DQ and PQ in hydroalcoholic solution with a broad linear response range at the µg L-1 level concentration. The linear response ranges were found from 1.0 to 18 µg L-1 with the detection limit of 31 ng L-1 for paraquat, and from 1.0 to 44 µg L-1 with the detection limit of 0.16 µg L-1 for diquat. The recognition process is detected by following the decrease in the fluorescence emission consequent to complexation. The proposed quenching method has been applied to the determination of paraquat in drinking water samples.

Monitoring antioxidants by coulometry: Quantitative assessment of the strikingly high antioxidant capacity of bergamot (Citrus bergamia R.) by-products.

A recently optimized rapid, cheap, and accurate coulometric method has been exploited to determine the antioxidant capacity of bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) by-products, including first (FPJ) and second press juices (SPJ), in comparison to analogous products from several citrus species. Extracts from the entire edible part (i.e., juice and pulp) and de-oiled peel of bergamot were also assayed. The Coulometrically Determined Antioxidant Capacity (CDAC) data, expressed as moles of electrons per mass of sample, were evaluated with other parameters such as total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition. The CDAC of bergamot FPJ (39 mmol e- kg-1) was comparable with other citrus juices (20-65 mmol e- kg-1 range), whereas the CDAC of bergamot SPJ (816 mmol e- kg-1) was strikingly higher than the counterparts from other citrus fruits. This value approached that of bergamot peel extracts (822 mmol e- kg-1). Bergamot peel and SPJ also exhibited the highest DPPH inhibition. The CDAC values were associated with the HPLC-determined content of flavonoids, namely neoeriocitrin, naringin, and neohesperidin, which were 4-10-fold more concentrated in bergamot SPJ and peel than in SPJ from other citrus species. These findings contribute to point at bergamot by-products as rich sources of antioxidant compounds on a quantitative basis, highlighting their enormous potential for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food applications.

Proteomics and Integrated Techniques to Characterize Organic Residues in Funerary Findings from Italic Populations of the First Millennium BC.

Multiple analytical techniques were combined to achieve a detailed characterization of organic residues in different typologies of funerary pottery, which were found at two separate archeological sites in the Campania Region (Italy) and both dated back to the first millennium BC. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of lipids provided inconclusive results. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra of encrustation on two glazed bowls of the 3rd to 4th century BC were comparable to those of fresh bone, revealing the presence of hydroxyapatite and proteins, which were identified as bovine collagen chains by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics. This finding confirmed that Italic populations used to inhume the dead along with votive meat offerings. Proteomics was decisive for identifying bovine milk in an unusually shaped amphora unearthed from a grave that belonged to a woman at the necropolis of the Greek colony in Cuma (7th century BC). Peptidomic analysis demonstrated that the genetic variant A1 of ß-casein was already present in the southern Mediterranean area at least 2500 years ago. Overall, these results depict an agropastoral system of Italic populations at the age of Magna Graecia based on a significant role of domesticated cattle.

Accurate determination of total biophenols in unfractionated extra-virgin olive oil with the fast blue BB assay.

The phenolic compounds of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) are key contributors of nutritional and sensory quality as well as chemical stability. The reference method for their determination is the HPLC-UV, which is cost-/time-expensive. In this work, total phenolic compounds were evaluated in unfractionated EVOO adapting the Fast Blue BB (FBBB) assay, which involves the spectrophotometric (absorbance at 420 nm) determination of azo derivatives resulting from the coupling of phenolic compounds with FBBB diazonium salt in alkali pH. When tested on 26 EVOO samples, the FBBB assay and HPLC-determinations were strikingly correlated (R2 = 0.9653), differently from FBBB and Folin-Ciocalteu assays, which showed poor correlation. The assay is simple, repeatable, robust, rapid and cheap, and results might be evaluated on a printed colorimetric scale. This protocol of the FBBB assay could be routinely used to categorize EVOO according to the health claim allowed by EFSA concerning the content of phenolic compounds.

Air quality evaluation during COVID-19 in Southern Italy: the case study of Avellino city.

The present study relies on the air quality evaluation during COVID-19 pandemic in Avellino, described in the last years and for several consecutive years, among the worst Italian cities in this context. The main purpose of this manuscript was to investigate the effects of quarantine and lockdown measures on air pollution. The concentrations of the main atmospheric pollutants (Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Fine Particulate (PM2.5 and PM10), Benzene (C6H6) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were recorded during the period January-December 2020 using two stationary monitoring stations (AV1 and AV2) of the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAC). During the lockdown period (March 9-May 18, 2020), results indicated significant reductions only in the levels of CO, benzene and NO2, while for PM10 the limit of 50 µg m-3 was passed 8 times for AV1 and 13 times for AV2. The results showed the not predominant role of traffic on air quality in Avellino regards to PM levels and make it necessary a serious reflection about important and not extendable decisions to improve the air quality.

Coulometrically determined antioxidant capacity (CDAC) as a possible parameter to categorize extra virgin olive oil.

Antioxidant capacity of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is associated with the overall content of health-promoting compounds, including biophenols. In this work, antioxidant capacity of polar extracts from 42 EVOO and 3 edible seed oil samples was evaluated by constant-current coulometry, using Br2 electrogenerated at a Pt anode as the titrant and bioamperometric detection of the end-point through Br2 excess. The Coulometrically Determined Antioxidant Capacity (CDAC) of EVOO extracts covered the 8-25 mmol electrons (e-) kg-1 range, while it was lower for seeds oils (≤5 mmol e- kg-1). Average CDAC of EVOO with biophenols ≥ 250 mg kg-1 (15 ± 4 mmol e- kg-1) was significantly higher than EVOO with biophenols < 250 mg kg-1 (10 ± 2 mmol e- kg-1). CDAC is a robust, cheap, and rapid test that could be exploited to classify EVOO relying on antioxidant capacity rather than on HPLC-determined content of biophenols.

Potentiometric determination of the total acidity of humic acids by constant-current coulometry.

A straightforward method for both the quantitative and the equilibrium analysis of humic acids in solution, based on the combination of potentiometry with coulometry, is presented. The method is based on potentiometric titrations of alkaline solutions containing, besides the humic acid sample, also NaClO(4) 1M; by means of constant current coulometry the analytical acidity in the solutions is increased with a high precision, until the formation of a solid phase occurs. Hence, the total acid content of the macromolecules may be determined from the e.m.f. data by using modified Gran plots or least-squares sum minimization programs as well. It is proposed to use the pK(w) value in the ionic medium as a check of the correctness of each experiment; this datum may be readily obtained as a side-result in each titration. Modelling acid-base equilibria of the HA samples analysed was also performed, on the basis of the buffer capacity variations occurring during each titration. The experimental data fit, having the least standard deviation, was obtained assuming a mixture of three monoprotic acids (HX, HY, HZ) having about the same analytical concentration, whose acid dissociation constants in NaClO(4) 1M at 25 degrees C were pK(HX)=3.9+/-0.2, pK(HY)=7.5+/-0.3, pK(HZ)=9.5+/-0.2, respectively. With the proposed method the handling of alkaline HA solutions, the titration with very dilute NaOH or HCl solutions and the need for the availability of very small volumes of titrant to be added by microburettes may be avoided.

Direct experimental observation of the effect of the base pairing on the oxidation potential of Guanine.

The effect of complementary base pairing on the oxidation potential of a guanosine derivative has been determined by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry in CHCl3. The formation of the Watson-Crick H-bonded complex lowers the oxidation potential of the free molecule by 0.34 V, which compares well with the value obtained by DFT/B3LYP/6-311++g** computations.

On the hydrolysis of the dioxouranium(VI) ion in oxalate solutions.

The complex formation between the dioxouranium (VI) and the oxalate ions has been investigated by measuring the potential of a glass electrode, at 25.00 degrees C, in 1 and 3 M NaClO4, at lower acidities than 10(-4.5) M, in order to favour the formation of (mixed) ternary species. The upper limits of concentration of all the analytical parameters have been imposed by the modest solubility of Na2C2O4 in the ionic media. The experimental measurements at different ionic strengths have been treated by means of the computerised least square programme LETAGROP - ETITR. Ternary complexes of general composition (p, q, r) are formed according to reaction (1), in addition to the already reported binary complexes. pUO2(2+) + qH2O + rC2O4(2-) <==> (UO2)p(OH)q(C2O4)r(2p-q-2r)(+) + qH+ (1). The stoichiometric compositions of the ternary species are (1, 1, 1), (2, 4, 2), (2, 2, 4). Their formation constants, expressed in molality, obtained in the two ionic media, are listed below. [table: see text]. For reasons discussed in the present work in the last column only the value of the constant in 1 M ionic medium is reported for the species (2, 4, 2). Additional evidence on the stoichiometric composition of the species formed is afforded by the mass-spectrometric measurements, collected in solutions of known composition.

Complex formation between phytic acid and divalent metal ions: a solution equilibria and solid state investigation.

An investigation on the complex formation equilibria between divalent metal ions Me (with Me=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb) and phytic acid (H(12)L) is presented. Experiments were performed through a potentiometric methodology by measuring, at 25 degrees C, the proton and, in some cases (Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Pb(2+)), also the metal ion activity at equilibrium in solutions containing, besides the metal and the ligand, 3 M NaClO(4) as the ionic medium. Unhydrolyzed solutions of the metal ion at millimolar concentration levels were titrated with solutions of about 10 mM sodium phytate, until the formation of a solid phase took place (always at pH approximately 2.5, except in the case of Cu(2+), which formed soluble complexes up to pH approximately 3.3). Coulometry was employed to produce very dilute solutions of either Cu(2+), Cd(2+), or Pb(2+) of accurately known composition. The emf data were explained by assuming, in the acidity interval explored, the formation of the complexes of general stoichiometry MeH(5)L(5-) and Me(2)H(3)L(5-). Coordination compounds in the solid state were also synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and ICP spectroscopy. The solids had a general stoichiometry Me(6)H (t)LCl (t). x H(2)O, with the following t and x values for each metal investigated: Me ( t; x) = Mn (4; 2); Co (4; 2); Ni (4; 2); Cu (2; 2.5); Zn (2; 1); Sn (6; 6).