Ricerc@Sapienza

Phyllanthus orbicularis (Phyllanthaceae) is an endemic evergreen tropical plant of Cuba that grows in the western part of the island and is used in traditional medicine as an infusion. The aqueous extract of this plant presents a wide range of pharmacological activitiessuch as antimutagenic, antioxidant and antiviral effects.

Torpedino di Fondi (TF) is a hybrid tomato landrace developed in Sicily and recently introduced in the south Lazio area along with the classical San Marzano (SM) cultivar. The present study aimed at characterizing TF tomatoes at both pink and red ripening stages, and at comparing them with traditional SM tomatoes. A multidisciplinary approach consisting of morphological, chemical (FT‐ICR MS, NMR, HPLC, and spectrophotometric methods), and biological (antioxidant and antifungal in vitro activity) analyses was applied.

A comprehensive study on essential oils (EOs) extracted from different Calamintha nepeta
(L.) Savi subsp. glandulosa (Req.) Ball (CG) samples from Tarquinia (Italy) is reported. In this study,
the 24-hour steam distillation procedure for EO preparation, in terms of different harvesting and
extraction times, was applied. The GC/MS analysis showed that CG essential oils from Tarquinia
(TEOCG) belong to pulegone-rich chemotype. The analysis of 44 samples revealed that along

In this study ten organic apple varieties grown in Italy: Renetta Osiris, Gold Rush, Braeburn, Celato Cola, Limoncella, Cerina, Rosada, Topaz, Jonagored, Florina were analysed in order to evaluate some quality parameters. Individual phenolics compounds, total phenolics, glucose, fructose and antioxidant activity was determined in pulp and peel extracts. Results show that the chlorogenic acid was a predominant component in pulp and peel extracts, with highest value in Limoncella and Jonagored respectively.

The recent years witnessed a change in the perception of nutrition. Diet does not only provide nutrients to meet the metabolic requirements of the body, but it also constitutes an active way for the consumption of compounds beneficial for human health. Fruit and vegetables are an excellent source of such compounds, thus the growing interest in characterizing phytochemical sources, structures and activities.

Travertine is a sedimentary carbonate rock widely used in Roman arts and frequently subjected to biodeterioration. In this preliminary multi-analytical study, three essential oils (EOs) from T. vulgaris, O. vulgare, C. nepeta and their respective phenolic major components (thymol, carvacrol, pulegone) were selected to evaluate their biocidal potential against a multi-species biofilm grown on a travertine test wall located inside Sapienza University Campus in Rome. A preliminary characterization of the biofilm occurred through the employment of genomic methodologies.

Apium plants belong to the Apiaceae family and are included among plants that have been in use in traditional medicine for thousands of years worldwide, including in the Mediterranean, as well as the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Some highlighted medical benefits include prevention of coronary and vascular diseases. Their phytochemical constituents consist of bergapten, flavonoids, glycosides, furanocoumarins, furocoumarin, limonene, psoralen, xanthotoxin, and selinene.