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Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2022) | Viewed by 25698

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Prof. Dr. Luigi Menghini

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Department of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: botanical and phytochemical characterization of medicinal plants and herbal extracts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Angela Bisio

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Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
Interests: phytochemistry; plant biology; ethnobotany

Dr. Maria Pia Argentieri

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Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: phytochemical characterization of medicinal plants; bioactivity of extracts and metabolites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The S.I.F.—Italian Society of Phytochemistry and Sciences of Medicinal, Food and Perfume Plants celebrate in 2021 forty years of scientific activity with a Special Issue dedicated to an interdisciplinary vision of phytochemistry as the link between knowledge of plants and their applications. The Special Issue is focused on traditional and innovative approaches involving phytochemistry as tools for deep investigations of botanical, agronomic, ecological, phytochemical, biochemical, pharmacognostic, pharmacological, toxicological, food, cosmetic, and technological-pharmaceutical aspects.

The Special Issue aims to highlight the multidisciplinary use and application of phytochemical methods in the study of plant metabolites, exploring both classical and innovative methods.

Studies on chemodiversity are welcome, including investigations on plant composition and qualitative and quantitative plant metabolite variability in wild and cultivated plants as playing key roles for the relative applicative aspects, as well as investigations on the effects of extraction and the manipulation process.

Experimental approaches to the valorization of the plants as resources, including plants from wild flora, with emphasis on endemic or unexplored species, and the traditional knowledge and uses of plant and extracts, such as medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, and dye extracts, including their rational use validation and the exploration of new applications, are also encouraged.

The Special Issue will also focus on extraction, manipulation, and technological formulation of extracts and isolated metabolites and studies of the eco-toxicological, biocompatibility, biological activities, pharmacological, and toxicological effects.

Conventional and innovative approaches applied to the qualitative and quantitative chemical characterization of plants and extracts is encouraged, including isolation and characterization of selected metabolites, phytochemical fingerprinting and chemometry. Investigations on biosynthesis and accumulation of natural products in in vitro cell cultures and alternative systems for secondary metabolites production as strategies for conservation and sustainability purposes are also invited.

Special emphasis for applicative effects on the valorization of waste products as well as to valorize local resources and productive chains for a sustainable and ethical use of plants is given.

Prof. Dr. Luigi Menghini
Prof. Dr. Angela Bisio
Dr. Maria Pia Argentieri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

phytochemistry, botanical, agronomic, ecological and phytochemical aspects
biochemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and toxicology of plants
food, cosmetic, and technological-pharmaceutical aspects of plants

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploitation of Marginal Hilly Land in Tuscany through the Cultivation of Lavandula angustifolia Mill.: Characterization of Its Essential Oil and Antibacterial Activity

by Basma Najar, Luisa Pistelli and Filippo Fratini

Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3216; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27103216 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1350

Abstract

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., known as one of the best essential oil-bearing plants, is an aromatic plant that is well cultivated in many Mediterranean regions due to its adaptability to variations in climatic and edaphic conditions. Therefore, its essential oil (EO) composition and its antimicrobial activity change as a consequence of abiotic and biotic factors. The chemical composition of L. angustifolia EO collected during four consecutive years of growth was one of the aims of this work. The volatile profile evidenced the prevalence of linalool and linalool acetate even though they switched their positions according to age. Plants in their first year were characterized by a high amount of sesquiterpene compounds (22.1% of the identified fraction). This percentage decreased during plant growth, not representing more than 5.3% in the fourth year. It is interesting to note that both the third- and fourth-year plants showed a content of monoterpenes that exceeded 90% of the total identified constituents. The EO extracted from the oldest plants evidenced higher activity on the studied strains, with more sensitivity on the Gram-positive ones. Tuscan lavender EO, especially that obtained from the four-year-old plants, is of great interest for its potential industrial applications and constitutes an example for the valorization of marginal Tuscan land and good-quality production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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15 pages, 3135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring of Spirulina Flakes and Powders from Italian Companies

by Vanessa Dalla Costa, Raffaella Filippini, Morena Zusso, Rosy Caniato and Anna Piovan

Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3155; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27103155 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2342

Abstract

Microalgae and microalgae-derived compounds have great potential as supplements in the human diet and as a source of bioactive products with health benefits. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont, or Spirulina platensis) belongs to the class of cyanobacteria and has been studied for its numerous health benefits, which include anti-inflammatory properties, among others. This work was aimed at comparing some spirulina products available on the Italian market. The commercial products here analyzed consisted of spirulina cultivated and processed with different approaches. Single-component spirulina products in powder and flake form, free of any type of excipient produced from four different companies operating in the sector, have been analyzed. The macro- and micromorphological examination, and the content of pigments, phycobiliproteins, phenols, and proteins have shown differences regarding the morphology and chemical composition, especially for those classes of particularly unstable compounds such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, suggesting a great influence of both culture conditions and processing methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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15 pages, 2030 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorization of a Waste Product of Edible Flowers: Volatile Characterization of Leaves

by Basma Najar, Laura Pistelli, Ilaria Marchioni and Luisa Pistelli

Molecules 2022, 27(7), 2172; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27072172 - 27 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1859

Abstract

(1) Background: The leaves of some plants are reported for their culinary uses, while in edible flowers, they are one of the discarded products in the supply chain. We investigated the volatile profile (VP) and the essential oil (EO) compositions of leaves from 12 Lamiaceae species, of which nine belong to the Mentheae tribe and three to the Ocimeae tribe. (2) Methods: Phytochemical analyses were performed using a GC-MS instrument. (3) Results: More than 53% of the Ocimeae tribe VP was represented by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SH), followed by phenylpropanoids, except for O. × citriodorum, where oxygenated monoterpenes (OM) were the second main class. OM prevailed in six species of the Mentheae tribe except for Agastache ‘Arcado Pink’, Salvia discolor, and S. microphylla, where SH dominated. The EO composition of Ocimeae tribe showed a similar behavior to that of VP concerning the predominant classes. O. basilicum ‘Blue Spice’ (Ob-BS) was an exception, since it showed oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS: 29.6%) as a second principal class. Sesquiterpene compounds were also present in a high amount in two species of the Salviinae subtribe (S. microphylla and S. discolor) and two of the Nepetinae subtribe (Nepeta × faasenii and A. ‘Arcado Pink’). The remaining species of the Mentheae tribe were characterized by OM. (4) Conclusions: Many of the main compounds found were reported for their importance in human health and thus are important as ingredients in several new industrial products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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15 pages, 514 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization and Valorization of the Agricultural Waste Obtained from Lavandula Steam Distillation for Its Reuse in the Food and Pharmaceutical Fields

by Eleonora Truzzi, Mohamed Aymen Chaouch, Gaia Rossi, Lorenzo Tagliazucchi, Davide Bertelli and Stefania Benvenuti

Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1613; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27051613 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2730

Abstract

The main focus of the current research was the characterization of the by-products from the steam distillation of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (LA) and Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel (LI) aerial parts, as they are important sources of bioactive compounds suitable for several applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The oil-exhausted biomasses were extracted and the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were, respectively, 19.22 ± 4.16 and 1.56 ± 0.21 mg/g for LA extract and 17.06 ± 3.31 and 1.41 ± 0.10 mg/g for LI extract. The qualitative analysis by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) revealed that both the extracts were rich in phenolic acids and glycosylated flavonoids. The extracts exhibited radical scavenging, chelating, reducing activities, and inhibitory capacities on acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase. The IC50 values against acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase were, respectively, 5.35 ± 0.47 and 5.26 ± 0.02 mg/mL for LA, and 6.67 ± 0.12 and 6.56 ± 0.16 mg/mL for LI extracts. In conclusion, the oil-exhausted biomasses demonstrated to represent important sources of bioactive compounds, suitable for several applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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17 pages, 4985 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Can Enhance Oral Absorption of Khellin, a Natural Pleiotropic Molecule

by Giulia Vanti, Lucrezia Muti, Mario D’Ambrosio, Lucia Grifoni, Maria Camilla Bergonzi, Cristina Luceri and Anna Rita Bilia

Molecules 2021, 26(24), 7657; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26247657 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2308

Abstract

A novel formulation based on nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was developed to increase solubility and intestinal absorption of khellin. K-NLCs were prepared with stearic acid, hempseed oil, Brij S20, and Labrafil M 1944 CS, using the emulsification-ultrasonication method. Developed nanoparticles were chemically and physically characterized by liquid chromatography, light scattering techniques, and electron microscopy. The size, about 200 nm, was optimal for oral delivery, and the polydispersity index (around 0.26), indicated high sample homogeneity. Additionally, K-NLCs showed a spherical morphology without aggregation by microscopic analysis. The encapsulation efficiency of khellin was about 55%. In vitro release studies were carried out in media with different pH to mimic physiological conditions. K-NLCs were found to be physically stable in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, and they preserved about 70% of khellin after 6 h incubation. K-NLCs were also successfully lyophilized testing different lyoprotectants, and obtained freeze-dried K-NLCs demonstrated good shelf life over a month. Lastly, permeability studies on Caco-2 cells were performed to predict khellin passive diffusion across the intestinal epithelium, demonstrating that nanoparticles increased khellin permeability by more than two orders of magnitude. Accordingly, developed NLCs loaded with khellin represent a versatile formulation with good biopharmaceutical properties for oral administration, possibly enhancing khellin’s bioavailability and therapeutic effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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25 pages, 2329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ca’ Granda, Hortus simplicium: Restoring an Ancient Medicinal Garden of XV–XIX Century in Milan (Italy)

by Martina Bottoni, Fabrizia Milani, Paolo M. Galimberti, Lucia Vignati, Patrizia Luise Romanini, Luca Lavezzo, Livia Martinetti, Claudia Giuliani and Gelsomina Fico

Molecules 2021, 26(22), 6933; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26226933 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2922

Abstract

This work is based on the study of 150 majolica vases dated back to the mid XVII century that once preserved medicinal remedies prepared in the ancient Pharmacy annexed to the Ospedale Maggiore Ca’ Granda in Milan (Lombardy, Italy). The Hortus simplicium was created in 1641 as a source of plant-based ingredients for those remedies. The main objective of the present work is to lay the knowledge base for the restoration of the ancient Garden for educational and informative purposes. Therefore, the following complementary phases were carried out: (i) the analysis of the inscriptions on the jars, along with the survey on historical medical texts, allowing for the positive identification of the plant ingredients of the remedies and their ancient use as medicines; (ii) the bibliographic research in modern pharmacological literature in order to validate or refute the historical uses; (iii) the realization of the checklist of plants potentially present in cultivation at the ancient Garden, concurrently with the comparison with the results of a previous in situ archaeobotanical study concerning pollen grains. For the species selection, considerations were made also regarding drug amounts in the remedies and pedoclimatic conditions of the study area. Out of the 150 vases, 108 contained plant-based remedies, corresponding to 148 taxa. The remedies mainly treated gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. At least one of the medicinal uses was validated in scientific literature for 112 out of the 148 examined species. Finally, a checklist of 40 taxa, presumably hosted in the Hortus simplicium, was assembled. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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21 pages, 1409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Labdane Diterpenoids from Salvia tingitana Etl. Synergize with Clindamycin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

by Valeria Iobbi, Paola Brun, Giulia Bernabé, Roméo Arago Dougué Kentsop, Giuliana Donadio, Barbara Ruffoni, Paola Fossa, Angela Bisio and Nunziatina De Tommasi

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6681; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26216681 - 04 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2507

Abstract

Quorum-sensing (QS) is a regulatory mechanism in bacterial communication, important for pathogenesis control. The search for small molecules active as quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSI) that can synergize with antibiotics is considered a good strategy to counteract the problem of antibiotic resistance. Here the antimicrobial labdane diterpenoids sclareol (1) and manool (2) extracted from Salvia tingitana were considered as potential QSI against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Only sclareol showed synergistic activity with clindamycin. The quantification of these compounds by LC–MS analysis in the organs and in the calli of S. tingitana showed that sclareol is most abundant in the flower spikes and is produced by calli, while manool is the major labdane of the roots, and is abundant also in the leaves. Other metabolites of the roots were abietane diterpenoids, common in Salvia species, and pentacyclic triterpenoids, bearing a γ-lactone moiety, previously undescribed in Salvia. Docking simulations suggested that 1 and 2 bind to key residues, involved in direct interactions with DNA. They may prevent accessory gene regulator A (AgrA) binding to DNA or AgrA activation upon phosphorylation, to suppress virulence factor expression. The antimicrobial activity of these two compounds probably achieves preventing upregulation of the accessory gene regulator (agr)-regulated genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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15 pages, 649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Biostimulants on the Chemical Composition of Essential Oil and Hydrosol of Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) Cultivated in Tuscan-Emilian Apennines

by Eleonora Truzzi, Stefania Benvenuti, Davide Bertelli, Enrico Francia and Domenico Ronga

Molecules 2021, 26(20), 6157; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26206157 - 12 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2209

Abstract

In recent years, it has been shown that biostimulants can efficiently enhance plant metabolic processes, leading to an increased production of essential oil (EO) in aromatic plants. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different commercial biostimulants composed of amino acids and seaweed extract, normally used for food organic crops, on the production and composition of EO and hydrosol of Lavandula x intermedia, cultivar “Grosso”. The products were applied during 2020 growing season on lavender crops in three different locations of the Northern Italian (Emilia-Romagna Region) Apennines. Plants were harvested and EOs extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography. Both biostimulants affected the yield of EO per plant (+11% to +49% depending on the treatment/farm combination) without significantly changing the chemical composition of EOs and hydrosols. Conversely, the composition of EOs and hydrosols are related to the location, and the main compounds of “Grosso” cultivar, limonene, 1,8-cineole, cis-ocimene, linalool, camphor, borneol, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, show different ratios at the experimental test sites. The differences might be due to the sunlight exposure and various maintenance of the crops over the years. In conclusion, these results suggest that the employment of biostimulants on lavandin crops do not endanger the quality of the EO while increasing biomass production and promoting the sustainability of the crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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13 pages, 1575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

¹H-NMR Metabolic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Saffron (Crocus sativus) Cultivated in Lebanon

by Hala Samaha, Nathalie Chahine, Anatoly Petrovich Sobolev, Luigi Menghini and Hassane Makhlouf

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 4906; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26164906 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2187

Abstract

Despite the beneficial health properties shown by Lebanese saffron, its qualitative and quantitative composition has never been investigated before. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy, together with antioxidant activity assays, were applied to evaluate the chemical composition of saffron samples of different geographical origins (Lebanon, Italy, Iran, and India) and to categorize the Lebanese saffron for the first time. The distinction between Lebanese saffron and that produced in other countries was attributed to its higher linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, glucose and picrocrocin contents. Moreover, spices produced in three different regions of the Lebanese territory have been clearly differentiated. Saffron cultivated in the Qaa region displayed a high glucose, fatty acids and polyphenols content, whereas Hermel saffron exhibited the largest rate of picrocrocin and glycosylated carotenoids. Finally, samples from Baalbeck showed lower rates for the majority of metabolites. Moreover, Lebanese saffron showed a high antioxidant activity in ABTS and DPPH assays. A low dose of saffron extract (10 µg/mL) inhibited the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma cells, probably due to the high polyphenolic content. This study highlights the quality and peculiarity of Lebanese saffron cultivated in Northern Beqaa district and allows for a good discrimination between spices produced in relatively close territory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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15 pages, 1974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yield, Characterization, and Possible Exploitation of Cannabis Sativa L. Roots Grown under Aeroponics Cultivation

by Fabio Ferrini, Daniele Fraternale, Sabrina Donati Zeppa, Giancarlo Verardo, Andrea Gorassini, Vittoria Carrabs, Maria Cristina Albertini and Piero Sestili

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 4889; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26164889 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

Cannabis sativa L. has been used for a long time to obtain food, fiber, and as a medicinal and psychoactive plant. Today, the nutraceutical potential of C.sativa is being increasingly reappraised; however, C. sativa roots remain poorly studied, despite citations in the scientific literature. In this direction, we identified and quantified the presence of valuable bioactives (namely, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, friedelin, and epi-friedelanol) in the root extracts of C. sativa, a finding which might pave the way to the exploitation of the therapeutic potential of all parts of the C. sativa plant. To facilitate root harvesting and processing, aeroponic (AP) and aeroponic-elicited cultures (AEP) were established and compared to soil-cultivated plants (SP). Interestingly, considerably increased plant growth—particularly of the roots—and a significant increase (up to 20-fold in the case of β-sitosterol) in the total content of the aforementioned roots’ bioactive molecules were observed in AP and AEP. In conclusion, aeroponics, an easy, standardized, contaminant-free cultivation technique, facilitates the harvesting/processing of roots along with a greater production of their secondary bioactive metabolites, which could be utilized in the formulation of health-promoting and health-care products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forty Years after the Foundation of SIF: The Impressive Growing Networking Role of Phytochemistry)

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