Ricerc@Sapienza

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report our experience in the management of hematospermia observed in 16 patients suffering from xanthogranulomatous prostatitis. Methods: Recurrent episodes of hematospermia were the onset symptom in all patients, and in 25% of patients it was combined with fever. All patients reported PSA value elevation and the digital rectal examination (DRE) revealed an increase of the gland size and of its consistency in all cases.

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.

Four pyrrolizidine alkaloids, namely 7-O-angeloyllycopsamine N-oxide 1, echimidine N-oxide 2, echimidine 3 and 7-O-angeloylretronecine 4, were isolated for the first time from the whole plant ethanolic extract of Echium confusum Coincy, through bioassay-guided approach. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means. All the isolates compounds showed moderate activities in inhibiting AChE, with IC50 0.276–0.769.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of an association of diallyl thiosulfinate with nuciferine and diosgenin in the treatment of a group of patients suffering from premature ejaculation (PE), primary or secondary to erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and methods: From July 2015 to October 2016, 143 patients (mean age 25.3; range 18-39) affected by PE completed the study and were finally analyzed in this phase I study.

Pomegranate peel is a natural source of phenolics, claimed to possess healing properties, among which are antioxidant and antidiabetic. In the present study, an ethyl acetate extract, obtained by Soxhlet from the peel of Dente di Cavallo DC2 pomegranate (PGE) and characterized to contain 4% w/w of ellagic acid, has been evaluated for its hypoglycemic, antiglycation, and antioxidative cytoprotective properties, in order to provide possible evidence for future nutraceutical applications.

Candida albicans biofilm is associated with high rates of morbidity and resistance to antifungals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-Candida albicans biofilm activity of some indigenous Algerian medicinal plant extracts: Clematis flammula and Fraxinus angustifolia and their influence on the virulence factors of C. albicans. The anti-biofilm activity was determined using crystal violet assay while the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) was estimated in a water-hydrocarbon two-phase assay. Moreover, germ tube formation and hyphae elongation were assessed microscopically. F.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit, is considered the main pathogen of yellow-, green- and red-fleshed kiwifruit. All major kiwifruit producing countries in the world have been affected by this bacterial pathogen, leading to substantial economic losses. The control of bacterial canker of kiwifruit is based only on preventive methods or on the use of copper compounds that can cause phytotoxicity problems. In this study, the in vitro antibacterial activity of seven different plant extracts against eight Psa strains has been evaluated.

In this chapter, informations on the recent advances regarding antifungal activity of natural products obtained from plants collected directly from their natural habitat or from plant cell and organ, cultures have been reported. The biotechnological approaches could increase uniformity and predictability of the extracts and overcome problems associated with geographical, seasonal, and environmental variations. Human fungal pathogens are the cause of severe diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality.