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Research Centre for Olive Growing and Olive Oil Industry

facilityCittà Sant'Angelo, Italy

Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Research Centre for Olive Growing and Olive Oil Industry (Italy). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.

Total works
365
Citations
16.8K
h-index
57
i10-index
456
Also known as
Research Centre for Olive Growing and Olive Oil Industry

Top-cited papers from Research Centre for Olive Growing and Olive Oil Industry

Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: An Overview on Their Occurrence in the Aquatic Environment and Human Exposure
Concetta Pironti, Maria Ricciardi, Antonio Proto, Pietro Massimiliano Bianco +2 more
2021· Water246doi:10.3390/w13101347

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as emerging contaminants have accumulated in the aquatic environment at concentration levels that have been determined to be significant to humans and animals. Several compounds belong to this family, from natural substances (hormones such as estrone, 17-estradiol, and estriol) to synthetic chemicals, especially pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds (phthalates, bisphenol A). In this review, we discuss recent works regarding EDC occurrence in the aquatic compartment, strengths and limitations of current analytical methods used for their detection, treatment technologies for their removal from water, and the health issues that they can trigger in humans. Nowadays, many EDCs have been identified in significant amounts in different water matrices including drinking water, thus increasing the possibility of entering the food chain. Several studies correlate human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with serious effects such as infertility, thyroid dysfunction, early puberty, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Although our intention is not to explain all disorders related to EDCs exposure, this review aims to guide future research towards a deeper knowledge of EDCs’ contamination and accumulation in water, highlighting their toxicity and exposure risks to humans.

Genetic Structure of Wild and Cultivated Olives in the Central Mediterranean Basin
Luciana Baldoni, N. Tosti, Claudia Ricciolini, Angjelina Belaj +4 more
2006· Annals of Botany210doi:10.1093/aob/mcl178

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Olive cultivars and their wild relatives (oleasters) represent two botanical varieties of Olea europaea subsp. europaea (respectively europaea and sylvestris). Olive cultivars have undergone human selection and their area of diffusion overlaps that of oleasters. Populations of genuine wild olives seem restricted to isolated areas of Mediterranean forests, while most other wild-looking forms of olive may include feral forms that escaped cultivation. METHODS: The genetic structure of wild and cultivated olive tree populations was evaluated by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers at a microscale level in one continental and two insular Italian regions. KEY RESULTS: The observed patterns of genetic variation were able to distinguish wild from cultivated populations and continental from insular regions. Island oleasters were highly similar to each other and were clearly distinguishable from those of continental regions. Ancient cultivated material from one island clustered with the wild plants, while the old plants from the continental region clustered with the cultivated group. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we can assume that olive trees have undergone a different selection/domestication process in the insular and mainland regions. The degree of differentiation between oleasters and cultivated trees on the islands suggests that all cultivars have been introduced into these regions from the outside, while the Umbrian cultivars have originated either by selection from local oleasters or by direct introduction from other regions.

Olive phenolic compounds: metabolic and transcriptional profiling during fruit development
Fiammetta Alagna, Roberto Mariotti, Francesco Panara, Silvia Caporali +4 more
2012· BMC Plant Biology189doi:10.1186/1471-2229-12-162

BACKGROUND: Olive (Olea europaea L.) fruits contain numerous secondary metabolites, primarily phenolics, terpenes and sterols, some of which are particularly interesting for their nutraceutical properties. This study will attempt to provide further insight into the profile of olive phenolic compounds during fruit development and to identify the major genetic determinants of phenolic metabolism. RESULTS: The concentration of the major phenolic compounds, such as oleuropein, demethyloleuropein, 3-4 DHPEA-EDA, ligstroside, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside and lignans, were measured in the developing fruits of 12 olive cultivars. The content of these compounds varied significantly among the cultivars and decreased during fruit development and maturation, with some compounds showing specificity for certain cultivars. Thirty-five olive transcripts homologous to genes involved in the pathways of the main secondary metabolites were identified from the massive sequencing data of the olive fruit transcriptome or from cDNA-AFLP analysis. Their mRNA levels were determined using RT-qPCR analysis on fruits of high- and low-phenolic varieties (Coratina and Dolce d'Andria, respectively) during three different fruit developmental stages. A strong correlation was observed between phenolic compound concentrations and transcripts putatively involved in their biosynthesis, suggesting a transcriptional regulation of the corresponding pathways. OeDXS, OeGES, OeGE10H and OeADH, encoding putative 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-P synthase, geraniol synthase, geraniol 10-hydroxylase and arogenate dehydrogenase, respectively, were almost exclusively present at 45 days after flowering (DAF), suggesting that these compounds might play a key role in regulating secoiridoid accumulation during fruit development. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic and transcriptional profiling led to the identification of some major players putatively involved in biosynthesis of secondary compounds in the olive tree. Our data represent the first step towards the functional characterisation of important genes for the determination of olive fruit quality.

Noemi Controls Production of Flavonoid Pigments and Fruit Acidity and Illustrates the Domestication Routes of Modern Citrus Varieties
Eugenio Butelli, Concetta Licciardello, Chandrika Ramadugu, Marie Durand-Hulak +4 more
2018· Current Biology140doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.040

In citrus, the production of anthocyanin pigments requires the activity of the transcriptional activator Ruby. Consequently, loss-of-function mutations in Ruby result in an anthocyaninless phenotype [1Butelli E. Garcia-Lor A. Licciardello C. Las Casas G. Hill L. Recupero G.R. Keremane M.L. Ramadugu C. Krueger R. Xu Q. et al.Changes in anthocyanin production during domestication of Citrus.Plant Physiol. 2017; 173: 2225-2242Crossref PubMed Scopus (64) Google Scholar]. Several citrus accessions, however, have lost the ability to produce these pigments despite the presence of wild-type Ruby alleles. These specific mutants have captivated the interest of botanists and breeders for centuries because the lack of anthocyanins in young leaves and flowers is also associated with a lack of proanthocyanidins in seeds and, most notably, with an extreme reduction in fruit acidity (involving about a three-unit change in pH). These mutants have been defined collectively as “acidless” [2Ferrari G.B. Hesperides sive de malorum aureorum cultura et usu. Volume Libri Quatuor. Sumptibus Hermanni Scheus, Romae1646Crossref Google Scholar, 3Chapot H. Un curieux Cédrat marocain (Citrus medica Linné).J. Agric. Tradit. Bot. Appl. 1950; 335-336: 506-514Google Scholar, 4Hodgson R. History, world distribution, botany and varieties.in: Reuther W. Webber H. Batchelor L. The Citrus Industry. University of California Press, 1967: 431-591Google Scholar]. We have identified Noemi, which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor and which controls these apparently unrelated processes. In accessions of Citron, limetta, sweet lime, lemon, and sweet orange, acidless phenotypes are associated with large deletions or insertions of retrotransposons in the Noemi gene. In two accessions of limetta, a change in the core promoter region of Noemi is associated with reduced expression and increased pH of juice, indicating that Noemi is a major determinant of fruit acidity. The characterization of the Noemi locus in a number of varieties of Citron indicates that one specific mutation is ancient. The presence of this allele in Chinese fingered Citrons and in those used in the Sukkot Jewish ritual [5Karp D. Hu X. The Citron (Citrus medica L.) in China.Horticultural Reviews. Volume 45. Wiley, 2018: 143-196Crossref Scopus (4) Google Scholar] illuminates the path of domestication of Citron, the first citrus species to be cultivated in the Mediterranean. This allele has been inherited in Citron-derived hybrids with long histories of cultivation.

Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: Occurrence, Persistence, Analysis, and Human Exposure
Maria Ricciardi, Concetta Pironti, Oriana Motta, Ylenia Miele +2 more
2021· Water107doi:10.3390/w13070973

Microplastics (MP) have recently been considered as emerging contaminants in the water environment. In the last number of years, the number of studies on MP has grown quickly due to the increasing consciousness of the potential risks for human health related to MP exposure. The present review article discusses scientific literature regarding MP occurrence and accumulation on the aquatic compartment (river, lake, wastewater, seafood), the analytical methods used to assess their concentration, their fate and transport to humans, and delineates the urgent areas for future research. To better analogize literature data regarding MP occurrence in the aquatic compartment we subdivided papers based on sampling, analytical methods, and concentration units with the aim to help the reader identify the similarities and differences of the considered research papers, thus making the comparison of literature data easier and the individuation of the most relevant articles for the reader’s interests faster. Furthermore, we argued about several ways for MP transport to humans, highlighting some gaps in analytical methods based on the reviewed publications. We suggest improving studies on developing standardized protocols to collect, process, and analyze samples.

The Compounds Responsible for the Sensory Profile in Monovarietal Virgin Olive Oils
Cristina Campestre, Guido Angelini, Carla Gasbarri, Franca Angerosa
2017· Molecules102doi:10.3390/molecules22111833

Monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOOs) are very effective to study relationships among sensory attributes, the compounds responsible for flavour, and factors affecting them. The stimulation of the human sensory receptors by volatile and non-volatile compounds present in monovarietal virgin olive oils gives rise to the sensory attributes that describe their peculiar delicate and fragrant flavours. The formation of these compounds is briefly illustrated and the influence of the agronomic and technological factors that affect their concentrations in the oil is examined. The relationships between compounds responsible for the olive oil flavour and sensory attributes are discussed. Several approaches for the varietal differentiation of monovarietal virgin olive oils are also overviewed.

Multifunctional Role of Chitosan Edible Coatings on Antioxidant Systems in Fruit Crops: A Review
Giuseppina Adiletta, Marisa Di Matteo, Milena Petriccione
2021· International Journal of Molecular Sciences97doi:10.3390/ijms22052633

Chitosan-based edible coatings represent an eco-friendly and biologically safe preservative tool to reduce qualitative decay of fresh and ready-to-eat fruits during post-harvest life due to their lack of toxicity, biodegradability, film-forming properties, and antimicrobial actions. Chitosan-based coatings modulate or control oxidative stress maintaining in different manner the appropriate balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fruit cells, by the interplay of pathways and enzymes involved in ROS production and the scavenging mechanisms which essentially constitute the basic ROS cycle. This review is carried out with the aim to provide comprehensive and updated over-view of the state of the art related to the effects of chitosan-based edible coatings on anti-oxidant systems, enzymatic and non-enzymatic, evaluating the induced oxidative damages during storage in whole and ready-to-eat fruits. All these aspects are broadly reviewed in this review, with particular emphasis on the literature published during the last five years.

Genetic Biodiversity of Italian Olives (<i>Olea europaea</i>) Germplasm Analyzed by SSR Markers
Innocenzo Muzzalupo, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Adriana Chiappetta
2014· The Scientific World JOURNAL90doi:10.1155/2014/296590

The olive is an important fruit species cultivated for oil and table olives in Italy and the Mediterranean basin. The conservation of cultivated plants in ex situ collections is essential for the optimal management and use of their genetic resources. The largest ex situ olive germplasm collection consists of approximately 500 Italian olive varieties and corresponding to 85% of the total Italian olive germplasm is maintained at the Consiglio per la Ricerca e sperimentazione per l'Agricoltura, Centro di Ricerca per l'Olivicoltura e l'Industria Olearia (CRA-OLI), in Italy. In this work, eleven preselected nuclear microsatellite markers were used to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flows with the aim of assembling a core collection. The dendrogram obtained utilizing the unweighted pair group method highlights the presence of homonymy and synonymy in olive tree datasets analyzed in this study. 439 different unique genotype profiles were obtained with this combination of 11 loci nSSR, representing 89.8% of the varieties analyzed. The remaining 10.2% comprises different variety pairs in which both accessions are genetically indistinguishable. Clustering analysis performed using BAPS software detected seven groups in Italian olive germplasm and gene flows were determined among identified clusters. We proposed an Italian core collection of 23 olive varieties capturing all detected alleles at microsatellites. The information collected in this study regarding the CRA-OLI ex situ collection can be used for breeding programs, for germplasm conservation, and for optimizing a strategy for the management of olive gene pools.

Candidate Enzymes for Saffron Crocin Biosynthesis Are Localized in Multiple Cellular Compartments
Olivia Costantina Demurtas, Sarah Frusciante, Paola Ferrante, Gianfranco Diretto +4 more
2018· PLANT PHYSIOLOGY90doi:10.1104/pp.17.01815

leaves revealed that CsCCD2, CsALDH3I, and CsUGT74AD1 were localized to the plastids, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the cytoplasm, respectively, in association with cytoskeleton-like structures. Based on these findings and current literature, we propose that the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm function as transit centers for metabolites whose biosynthesis starts in the plastid and are accumulated in the vacuole.

Chitosan Coating: A Postharvest Treatment to Delay Oxidative Stress in Loquat Fruits during Cold Storage
Giuseppina Adiletta, Maria Silvia Pasquariello, Luigi Zampella, Francesco Mastrobuoni +2 more
2018· Agronomy76doi:10.3390/agronomy8040054

Loquat is a non-climacteric fruit consumed fresh for its essential nutrients and phytochemical compounds. In this study, the effects of chitosan coating (1% w/v) on changes in the enzymatic antioxidant and membrane damage in three loquat selections (CREAFRC-S18; CREAFRC-S35 and CREAFRC-S36) and three loquat cultivars (Golden Nugget, Algerie and Nespolone rosso di Trabia) stored at 7 °C over 21 days were evaluated. Chitosan treatment enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. Moreover, this treatment inhibited polyphenol oxidase and guaiacol peroxidase activities, extending the storage life of loquat. Chitosan also preserved membrane integrity by inhibiting lipoxygenase activity and malondialdehyde accumulation. Principal component analysis provided a global view of the responses of both loquat selections and cultivars to the postharvest chitosan coating and storage temperature. These findings suggest that chitosan treatment could be a valid tool for improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes, preserving the enzymatic browning of loquat fruits.

Transfer of bioactive compounds from pasture to meat in organic free-range chickens
Alessandro Dal Bosco, Cecilia Mugnai, Simona Mattioli, Adolfo Rosati +3 more
2016· Poultry Science74doi:10.3382/ps/pev383

The aim of this study was to analyze the transfer of bioactive compounds from the pasture to the body and meat of organic free-range chickens and to verify the effect of these compounds on the oxidative processes of the meat. Starting at 21 d of age, 100 male naked-neck birds were divided into two homogeneous groups: an indoor group (0.12 m(2)/bird) and an outdoor group (0.12 m(2)/bird indoor and 10 m(2)/bird of forage paddock). At slaughter (81 d of age), blood samples were collected, and the carcasses were stored for 24 h at 4°C (20 birds/group). The grass samples had higher values of carotenoids, tocopherols, and flavonoids respect to standard feed (based on dry matter comparison). The polyunsaturated fatty acid ( PUFA: ) content was also greater in grass, especially the n-3 series (so named because its first double bond occurs after the third carbon atom counting from the methyl at the end of the molecule). The antioxidant profile of the grass improved the antioxidant status of the crop and gizzard contents in the outdoor chickens. The higher antioxidant intake resulted in a higher plasma concentration of antioxidants in outdoor birds; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances ( TBARS: ) and the antioxidant capacity of the plasma were also better in the outdoor than the indoor group. The meat of the outdoor birds had higher levels of antioxidants, mainly due to the higher amount of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Despite the higher antioxidant protection in the drumstick of the outdoor group, the TBARs value was greater, probably due to the kinetic activity of birds, the higher percentage of PUFAs, and the peroxidability index. In conclusion, grazing improved the nutritional value of the meat (PUFA n-3 and the ratio between n-6 and n-3 PUFA) with a minor negative effect on the oxidative stability. Suitable strategies to reduce such negative effects (e.g., reduction of kinetic activity in the last days of rearing) should be studied.

An Updated Review of the Genus Humulus: A Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds for Health and Disease Prevention
Katya Carbone, F. Gervasi
2022· Plants71doi:10.3390/plants11243434

The medicinal potential of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is widely cited in ancient literature and is also allowed in several official pharmacopoeias for the treatment of a variety of ailments, mainly related to anxiety states. This is due to the plethora of phytoconstituents (e.g., bitter acids, polyphenols, prenyl flavonoids) present in the female inflorescences, commonly known as cones or strobili, endowed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and phytoestrogen activities. Hop has recently attracted the interest of the scientific community due to the presence of xanthohumol, whose strong anti-cancer activity against various types of cancer cells has been well documented, and for the presence of 8-prenyl naringenin, the most potent known phytoestrogen. Studies in the literature have also shown that hop compounds can hinder numerous signalling pathways, including ERK1/2 phosphorylation, regulation of AP-1 activity, PI3K-Akt, and nuclear factor NF-κB, which are the main targets of the antiproliferative action of bitter acids and prenylflavonoids. In light of these considerations, the aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date overview of the main biologically active compounds found in hops, as well as their in vitro and in vivo applications for human health and disease prevention. To this end, a quantitative literature analysis approach was used, using VOSviewer software to extract and process Scopus bibliometric data. In addition, data on the pharmacokinetics of bioactive hop compounds and clinical studies in the literature were analysed. To make the information more complete, studies on the beneficial properties of the other two species belonging to the genus Humulus, H. japonicus and H. yunnanensis, were also reviewed for the first time.

GBS-derived SNP catalogue unveiled wide genetic variability and geographical relationships of Italian olive cultivars
Nunzio D’Agostino, Francesca Taranto, Salvatore Camposeo, Giacomo Mangini +4 more
2018· Scientific Reports70doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34207-y

Information on the distribution of genetic variation is essential to preserve olive germplasm from erosion and to recover alleles lost through selective breeding. In addition, knowledge on population structure and genotype-phenotype associations is crucial to support modern olive breeding programs that must respond to new environmental conditions imposed by climate change and novel biotic/abiotic stressors. To further our understanding of genetic variation in the olive, we performed genotype-by-sequencing on a panel of 94 Italian olive cultivars. A reference-based and a reference-independent SNP calling pipeline generated 22,088 and 8,088 high-quality SNPs, respectively. Both datasets were used to model population structure via parametric and non parametric clustering. Although the two pipelines yielded a 3-fold difference in the number of SNPs, both described wide genetic variability among our study panel and allowed individuals to be grouped based on fruit weight and the geographical area of cultivation. Multidimensional scaling analysis on identity-by-state allele-sharing values as well as inference of population mixtures from genome-wide allele frequency data corroborated the clustering pattern we observed. These findings allowed us to formulate hypotheses about geographical relationships of Italian olive cultivars and to confirm known and uncover novel cases of synonymy.

Cold Plasma-Assisted Extraction of Phytochemicals: A Review
Mahshid Heydari, Katya Carbone, F. Gervasi, Ehsan Parandi +4 more
2023· Foods70doi:10.3390/foods12173181

In recent years, there has been growing interest in bioactive plant compounds for their beneficial effects on health and for their potential in reducing the risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The extraction techniques conventionally used to obtain these phytocompounds, however, due to the use of toxic solvents and high temperatures, tend to be supplanted by innovative and unconventional techniques, in line with the demand for environmental and economic sustainability of new chemical processes. Among non-thermal technologies, cold plasma (CP), which has been successfully used for some years in the food industry as a treatment to improve food shelf life, seems to be one of the most promising solutions in green extraction processes. CP is characterized by its low environmental impact, low cost, and better extraction yield of phytochemicals, saving time, energy, and solvents compared with other classical extraction processes. In light of these considerations, this review aims to provide an overview of the potential and critical issues related to the use of CP in the extraction of phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols and essential oils. To review the current knowledge status and future insights of CP in this sector, a bibliometric study, providing quantitative information on the research activity based on the available published scientific literature, was carried out by the VOSviewer software (v. 1.6.18). Scientometric analysis has seen an increase in scientific studies over the past two years, underlining the growing interest of the scientific community in this natural substance extraction technique. The literature studies analyzed have shown that, in general, the use of CP was able to increase the yield of essential oil and polyphenols. Furthermore, the composition of the phytoextract obtained with CP would appear to be influenced by process parameters such as intensity (power and voltage), treatment time, and the working gas used. In general, the studies analyzed showed that the best yields in terms of total polyphenols and the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the phytoextracts were obtained using mild process conditions and nitrogen as the working gas. The use of CP as a non-conventional extraction technique is very recent, and further studies are needed to better understand the optimal process conditions to be adopted, and above all, in-depth studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of plasma-plant matrix interaction to verify the possibility of any side reactions that could generate, in a highly oxidative environment, potentially hazardous substances, which would limit the exploitation of this technique at the industrial level.

New Plant Breeding Techniques in Citrus for the Improvement of Important Agronomic Traits. A Review
Fabrizio Salonia, Angelo Ciacciulli, L. Poles, H. Pappalardo +2 more
2020· Frontiers in Plant Science67doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.01234

New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) aim to overcome traditional breeding limits for fruit tree species, in order to obtain new varieties with improved organoleptic traits and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and to maintain fruit quality achieved over centuries by (clonal) selection. Knowledge on the gene(s) controlling a specific trait is essential for the use of NPBTs, such as genome editing and cisgenesis. In the framework of the international scientific community working on fruit tree species, including citrus, NPBTs have mainly been applied to address pathogen threats. Citrus could take advantage of NPBTs because of its complex species biology (seedlessness, apomixis, high heterozygosity, and long juvenility phase) and aptitude for in vitro manipulation. To our knowledge, genome editing in citrus has successfully induced resistance to Citrus bacterial canker in sweet orange and grapefruit using the resistance gene CsLOB1. In the future, NPBTs will also be used to improve fruit traits, making them healthier. The regeneration of plants following the application of NPBTs is a bottleneck, making it necessary to optimize the efficiency of current protocols. The strengths and weaknesses of using explants from young in vitro plantlets, and from mature plants, will be discussed. Other major issues addressed in this review are related to the requirement for marker-free systems and shortening the long juvenility phase. This review aims to summarize methods and approaches available in the literature that are suitable to citrus, focusing on the principles observed before the use of NPBTs.

Technological Properties and Consumer Acceptability of Bakery Products Enriched with Brewers’ Spent Grains
Tiziana Amoriello, Francesco Mellara, Vincenzo Galli, Monica Amoriello +1 more
2020· Foods66doi:10.3390/foods9101492

Nowadays, brewers' spent grains (BSG) is considered the most abundant and low-cost brewing by-products, presenting a great potential as a functional food ingredient. Since BSG is rich in dietary fiber and protein, it can be a raw material of interest in bakery products. However, blending wheat flour with BSG can affect dough rheology and the structural and sensorial properties of products. In this context, BSG flour at different levels (0%, 5%, and 10%) was used to enrich three commercial soft wheat flours, and to develop new formulations for bakery products (bread, breadsticks and pizza). As expected, the enrichment caused a significant increase of proteins, dietary fibers, lipids, and ash related to the BSG enrichment level. Significant changes in dough rheological properties (e.g., higher water absorption, lower development time and stability, dough strength, and tenacity) and in the color of the crust and crumbs of bakery products were also observed. At last, the consumer test pointed out that the 5% BSG enrichment showed the higher overall acceptability of proposed bakery products.

Olive Leaf Extracts Act as Modulators of the Human Immune Response
Thea Magrone, Anna Spagnoletta, Rosaria Salvatore, Manrico Magrone +4 more
2017· Endocrine Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets58doi:10.2174/1871530317666171116110537

BACKGROUND: Olive tree leaves have been used in the Mediterranean area as traditional medicine in virtue of their healthy effects. Olive leaf extracts (OLEs) contain higher amounts of polyphenols than those detected in the extra virgin olive oil and fruit. Several lines of evidence support the cardioprotective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities exerted by OLEs. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from twenty-five healthy donors were cultured in the presence of 3 µg of two OLE extracts, extract A (resuspended in water) and extract B (resuspended in 70% ethanol). After harvesting, cell pellets were used for cytofluorimetric phenotyping, while supernatants were assayed for cytokine release by means of ELISA. Furthermore, in the same supernatants nitric oxide (NO) content was determined. RESULTS: Both extracts, but especially extract A, increased absolute numbers of CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cells. In addition, an increased production of interferon (IFN)-γ by both extracts as an expression of T helper (h)1 activation was observed. Finally, both extracts enhanced NO release. CONCLUSION: OLEs, and mostly extract A, are able to in vitro modify healthy human immune response by increasing IFN-γ production which seems to be associated to the higher absolute numbers of CD8+ and NK cells and this may suggest a reinforcement of the anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, increased levels of NO may indicate the potential cardioprotective effects exerted by OLEs in virtue of their vasodilation dependent activity. Finally, OLEs are able to maintain the equilibrium between T regulatory cells and Th17 cells as evidenced by unmodified levels of interleukin (IL)-IL-10 and IL-17, respectively. In the light of these results, OLEs are potential therapeutic compounds for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease, also preventing cardiovascular event outcome.

Effects of a polyphenol present in olive oil, oleuropein aglycone, in a murine model of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury
Michela Campolo, Rosanna Di Paola, Daniela Impellizzeri, Rosalia Crupi +4 more
2012· Journal of Leukocyte Biology57doi:10.1189/jlb.0712317

Abstract Oleuropein aglycone reduces damage in SAO-shocked mice. Dietary olive oil supplementation and more recently, olive oil phenols have been recommended as important therapeutic interventions in preventive medicine. Ole has several pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiviral and for these reasons, is becoming an important subject of study in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ole aglycone on the modulation of the secondary events in mice subjected to intestinal IRI. This was induced in mice by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 30 min, followed by release of the clamp, allowing reperfusion for 1 h. After 60 min of reperfusion, animals were killed for histological examination of the ileum tissue and immunohistochemical localization of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and P-sel); moreover, by Western blot analysis, we investigated the activation of NF-κB and IκBα. In addition, we evaluated the apoptosis process, as shown by TUNEL staining and Bax/Bcl-2 expressions. The results obtained by the histological and molecular examinations showed in Ole aglycone-treated mice, a decrease of inflammation and apoptosis pathway versus SAO-shocked mice. In conclusion, we propose that the olive oil compounds, in particular, the Ole aglycone, could represent a possible treatment against secondary events of intestinal IRI.

Evaluation of Olives Cultivated in Southern Italy by Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
Innocenzo Muzzalupo, Francesca Maria Stefanizzi, Enzo Perri
2009· HortScience57doi:10.21273/hortsci.44.3.582

Olive ( Olea europaea L.) is a species of great economic importance in the Mediterranean basin. Italy is very important for the olive industry; in fact, olive's genetic patrimony is very rich and characterized by an abundance of cultivars. At present, the majority of ancient landraces are vegetatively propagated by farm. It is likely that the number of cultivars is underestimated because of inadequate information on minor local cultivars that are widespread in different olive-growing areas. The existence of many cultivars reinforces the need for a reliable identification method. It is important to improve the ex situ plant germplasm collection and fairly to characterize all cultivars for future breeding programs. In the present report, we used 11 loci microsatellites to characterize 211 olive cultivars of an olive collection cultivated in six regions of southern Italy. These regions represent the major area for olive cultivation in Italy and have a strategic geographical location in the Mediterranean basin. The dendrogram obtained, using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering algorithm, depicts the pattern of relationships between the studied cultivars. There is a clear structuring of the variability relative to the geographic origin of olive cultivars. This work, for the very high number of the Italian olive cultivars analyzed, highlights the degree and distribution of genetic diversity of this species for better exploitation of olive resources and for the design of plant breeding programs. Besides, the use of molecular markers, like simple sequence repeats, is imperative to build a database for cultivar analysis, for traceability of processed food, and for appropriate management of olive germplasm collections.

Assessment of Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Algerian Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Seed Oil
Hamza Harkat, Ratiba Bousba, Cinzia Benincasa, Kamel Atrouz +4 more
2022· Plants55doi:10.3390/plants11030381

L.) trees are largely cultivated across the Algerian oases; they are principal sources of remuneration and the economic basis for residents of these areas. Date palm fruits are rich sources of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, with many potential health benefits, yet there are few studies on the chemical composition and biological properties of date palm seed oil. In this study, we present an in-depth characterization of the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties of date palm seed oil (DPSO) produced in Algeria. DPSOs of eight Algerian cultivars, Arechti, Degla-Baida, Deglet-Nour, Ghars, Haloua, Itima, Mech-Degla, and Tentbouchet, were investigated to determine their biochemical compositions and antioxidant properties. The results highlight the potential of DPSO as an alternative food and a natural resource, thanks to several important compounds having high antioxidant capacity. In particular, fatty acids and triacylglycerol (TAGs) analyses showed that oleic (42.74-50.19%), lauric (18.40-22.2%), and myristic (8.83-10.17%) were the major fatty acids, while 1-myristoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-linolenoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-2-linolenoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, and 1-linolenoyl 2-myristoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol were the major TAGs. Biophenols and tocopherols analyses revealed the presence of important compounds, such as catechin (22.04-24.92 mg/kg), vanillin (10.67-23.98 mg/kg), and α-tocopherol (443.59 mg/kg), at high remarkable levels. Therefore, a comparison with the literature data concerning other seed oils, including olive oil, confirms that DPSO can be considered a high-quality oil, from a biochemical and biological point of view.