FARM-INN Farm-level interventions supporting dairy industry innovation

The project FARM-INN aims to provide farm-level interventions supporting dairy industry enhancing safety and quality of milk and cheese and providing the necessary scientific evidence and new insight regarding their functional properties. The proposed actions will be carried out assessing and improving animal welfare and the environmental sustainability. In particular, two aspects will be tackled and studied in the proposed project: i) the development and use of new feed supplements adsorbing mycotoxins and reducing pathogenic and spoilage clostridia in milk ii) the characterization of cheese making and functional properties of A1 and A2 variants of beta-casein in milk. The evaluation of environmental sustainability of the adsorbent supplementations to the cow rations and the potential effect of cheese making using A1 and A2 beta-casein types in milk analyses through a Life Cycle Assessment approach will be performed.

The project will offer opportunities to the dairy farmers to strengthen their competitiveness, in the context of a better control of safety and quality issues, and will help dairy industry in placing on the market high-quality products adapted to the new expectations of consumers.

sPATIALS3 - Improvement of agrifood productions and innovative technologies for a safer and more secure and sustainable nutrition

sPATIALS3 is a technological and research hub involving 12 CNR Institutes belonging to 4 different Departments and 4 companies. Main objectives will be: obtainment of innovative food products improved for their nutritional and functional properties; provision and implementation of precision technologies to guarantee products quality, safety and traceability; development of innovative and eco-sustainable smart– and active-packaging to minimize and reuse wastes, where possible, and to increase food preservability; provision to consumers and producers of tools for results exploitation.

Study of drug metabolism enzymes

In the cellular fractions (cytosol and microsomes) of the human lung, the carboxyesterase enzymes 1 and 2 (CES1 and CES2) were studied using p-nitrophenylacetate (substrate for CES1> CES2), 4-methylumbelliferylacetate (substrate with prevalence for CES2) ) and fluorescein diacetate (substrate for CES2). In addition to catalytic activity, gene expression has been studied. Furthermore, arylacetamide deethylase was studied in terms of transcript, protein and enzymatic activity evaluated as hydrolysis activity of phenacetin. All the enzymes studied show a variability between individuals. The results obtained by us add important information on lung enzymes and it could be interesting to study their modulation by substances of plant. The study will continue on other drug metabolism enzymes and their modulation.

Ticino Park Producers

USEFUL - Development of techniques and supply chain processes (farms and dairies) to optimize environmental, territorial and managerial factors aimed at obtaining greater production efficiency and qualitative excellence in the production of DOP and typical cheeses

The USEFUL project aims to solve some critical issues in the production of Lombardy PDO cheeses (Grana Padano and Taleggio) in order to guarantee the competitiveness of the agro-industry companies. To this end, supply chain strategies and operational tools will be developed that allow to improve the microbiological and cheese-making quality of the milk and to improve all the cheese-making processes. These objectives will be achieved through the integration of the 3 sub-projects: Coordination, Innovation and Technological Transfer.

The expected results are: 1) to identify new procedures to improve animal health, food safety and the microbiological quality and cheese-making properties of milk; 2) to identify innovative procedures and operational tools to be used in the dairy industry to monitor the cheese-making and maturing phases of the cheese; 3) to define guidelines, technical manuals and fact sheets on the various procedures and techniques.

MEATIC - Faecal microbiome as determinant of the effect of diet on colorectal-cancer risk: comparison of meat based versus pesco-vegetarian diets

KEPT: Knowledge Platform on food, diet, intestinal microbiomes and human health

Studies suggest that the intestinal microbiome modulates the risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, allergy, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary factors are related to chronic disease risk, and they have been suggested to modulate the composition and function of the gut microbiome. However, detailed knowledge on the relationship of diet, the microbiome, and chronic disease risk is still limited. The overarching aim of the knowledge platform is to foster studies on the microbiome, nutrition and health by assembling available information in the field of microbiome research in food, nutrition and health in a comprehensive way, which also includes other disciplines (e.g. food science, metabolomics) that are relevant in the context of microbiome research. The goal is to make this information findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) to the scientific community and to link and provide in-depth information to various stakeholders. Through these efforts a network of transnational and multidisciplinary collaboration will emerge, that will further develop and increase the impact of microbiome research in human health. Urgent areas of research in this KP were identified to be the roles of microbiome in early infancy, during ageing and in subclinical and clinically manifest disease.

FHfFC - Future Home for Future Communities

TBP Analysis

FEEDCODE

A new platform for the genetic identification and quantification of the single plant  species, declared or not, present in animal feed, particularly livestock, had been developed and validated at European level.

CFPR 2019 - Contract with Consorzio Del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano

SAFE&SMART

Enza Zaden

The project aimed to analyze the content of glucosinolates, polyphenols, flovonoids, fibers and antioxidant capacity in new hybrid varieties of turnip greens (Brassica rapa subsp. Sylvestris) obtained after crossing at the Enza Zaden company, Tarquinia, VT, Italy. In particular, the considered bioactive compounds were analyzed by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric analyzes on extracts from different parts of the adult plants (leaves, stems and inflorescences). The analyzes were also carried out on the packaged product, ready for consumption, at different storage times in order to evaluate the possible better performance of the new varieties in terms of shelf life.

SAGEA - Genetic typing of hazelnut varieties (Corylus avellana L.) with the TBP (Tubulin-Based-Polymorphism) method

ALLERGOLINE - Foods and functional cosmetics: characterization of bioactive compounds and their effect on the genome and metabolism

The importance of the bioactive compounds and above all of the antioxidants contained in the food is to be associated both with the ability to preserve the shelf-life of the food, delaying the oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, and to have beneficial effects against the chronic-degenerative diseases induced by the oxidative stress and aging. The bioactive molecules present in both food and plant extracts can also have a very important role in cosmetics. Antioxidant mixes are frequently used in anti-aging creams and also in after sun creams in order to increase the skin’s ability to defend itself. The project has as its objective the identification and characterization of food extracts and/or plants and their biological evaluation. The products will be analyzed for their total antioxidant power through the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) method, and for the quantification of some compounds (vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids and flavonols). In addition, the protective effect in the prevention of metabolic diseases on a mouse model with dysmetabolism (hepatic steatosis, hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia) induced by administering a diet with a high lipid content will be evaluated for the products that will show the best results.

BIO VAL BIDENTE - Evaluation of the total antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of some wheat extracts

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the profile of phenolic compounds, the antioxidant capacity, the antimicrobial activity and the effect on growth of Lactobacillus brevis of 8 whole flours obtained from ancient and modern varieties of wheat, belonging to different species of Triticum (Triticum monococcum L ssp. monococcum, Triticum turgidum L. ssp dicoccum, Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum, Triticum aestivum L.). The phenolic profile was studied through HPLC-DAD-UV/Vis-FD. The antioxidant capacity was measured by the DPPH and ORAC assay. The antioxidant activity and the effect on growth of L. brevis were measured with the micro-dilution method. Five polyphenols were identified and quantified (resorcinol, tyrosol, caffeic acid, syringic acid and ferulic acid) and all the samples showed an important antioxidant capacity and moderate antimicrobial activity. All specimens revealed a stimulating effect on the growth of L. brevis. The analysis of the main components (PCA) has shown a greater positive correlation between ancient grains and the total content of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity, compared to modern grains. These results confirmed that whole grains can be considered foods with beneficial health effects.

AGRENO

BILATERALE EGITTO - Preparation and utilization of Nano-Propolis Active Compounds, their Biological function and application

The project is part of a bilateral CNR/ASRT agreement and aims to discover the bioactive components of Egyptian propolis, extract them, study their chemical properties and transfer them into microcapsules that could be integrated into some functional foods to improve their quality and shelf life. During the project, a characterization of the main bioactive molecules will be carried out and the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the samples of Egyptian propolis as such, of the extracts obtained by different extraction techniques (water, solvents and CO₂ at different temperatures) and of the microcapsules produced at starting from the extracts. The project offers the opportunity to produce new functional materials using food plant by-products. The microencapsulation of bioactive nano compounds, which can be introduced into food, leads to the potential future development of new functional foods.

Evaluation of bioactive molecules and antioxidant capacity before and after cooking of 5 types of pasta

The project aims to analyze, on pasta samples obtained with different formulations, the concentration of bioactive molecules such as polyphenols and flavonoids, and the in vitro antioxidant power by ORAC and DPPH tests. In vitro assays are performed on 5 different pasta formulations designed and produced by the Antico Pastificio Morelli and the analyzes are repeated after cooking to evaluate the residual antioxidant power.

Analysis of biological samples obtained from patients with Behcet's syndrome

The aim of this project was to evaluate parameters related to oxidation and lipid metabolism in patients with Behcet’s syndrome, in order to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress with dietary intervention. Due to a delay in recruitment related to the request for the study authorization to the Ethics Committee, the analyzes are still being processed.

Evaluation of the antioxidant power on some compositions of supplements

The aim of the project was to evaluate the main bioactive components in four quercetin-based supplements and to determine their antioxidant activity in vitro and ex vivo, on human erythrocytes. The analyzed supplements, Nevrase Plus, Endotel, Lucyvet and Quercetene Forte, were evaluated both for measuring the bioactive content and for testing their activity on an ex vivo cell system of human erythrocytes exposed to oxidative stress. For all the supplements, the results obtained so far have shown a dose-dependent activity and a significant ability to counteract the oxidative damage induced by a radical generator. Furthermore, the erythrocytes pre-treated with Endotel showed, at low doses, values of cellular antioxidant activity significantly higher than the other supplements.

Nutraceutical evaluations of Kavolì subjected to a freeze-drying process

The aim of the project was to evaluate the nutraceutical properties of a new brassicacea, called Kavolì, produced by the Freschissimi consortium through in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo The freeze-dried Kavolì showed a good content of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in vitro and ex vivo. Indeed, appreciable amounts of glucosinolates and an excellent phenolic content, characterized by high levels of chlorogenic acid, were found in the aqueous extract; a good antioxidant and antihemolytic activity was observed on human erythrocytes exposed to oxidative insult.

Furthermore, the protective action against hepatic steatosis was evident in rats fed a hyperlipidic diet associated with a streptozotocin injection. The rats treated with the aqueous Kavolì extract showed a lower hepatic lipid content than the control, the group of hyperlipidemic rats.

Measurement of total antioxidant power on sauces and cured meats

The aim of the project is to evaluate the total antioxidant power, through the ORAC ( Oxygen  Radical Absorbance capacity) method, and the polyphenol content  on some samples of sauces and cured meat.  Some samples had been prepared with the addiction of Goji puree. The results show an increase in antioxidants with the presence of Goji puree. Considering that the antioxidants contained in the diet can improve our state of health, through the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation, it can be concluded that the addition of Goji puree leads to foods products with a higher nutraceutical and health value.

Evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and bioactive molecules on food products

The analysis of total antioxidants, polyphenols and total flavonoids was carried out, in the first phase of the project, on buckwheat germ samples before and after fermentation. The values found in the fermented product have significantly increased by approximately 50% for the total antioxidant values, by 44% for the polyphenols and by approximately 60% for the total flavonoids. The fermentation process used, without adding chemicals, aims to enhance the nutritional components of the cereal, enhancing the nutraceutical part. In addition, the fermentation and lysing process leads to an increase in bioavailability and accessibility of the bioactive compounds.

Execution of a study program to evaluate the characteristics of commercial fresh-cut varieties

The project includes analysis of the content of compounds with bioactive properties such as glucosinolates, phenols, flavonols, flavonoids and measurement of the total antioxidant capacity measured through the ORAC and DPPH assays, on different tissues (flowers, stems and leaves) of turnip greens packed in IV range. A comparison was made between two cultivars, called control and hybrid. Regardless of the cultivar, the leaves showed a greater content of antioxidant compounds and a greater total antioxidant capacity, followed by flower and stem. Significant differences concern the glucosinolate content, higher only in the leaves in the control cultivar.

Quality of Piedmontese beef

The purpose of this project was to compare, through various experimental methods, the quality of Piedmontese Granda beef coming from animals whose diet is free of natural and artificial supplements. In addition, all products used in food are of lower chemical impact. The results were compared with those of the same meat but from a common Piedmontese farm. Granda meat, both fresh and preserved under vacuum, was found to have greater oxidative stability and a lower concentration of contaminants. The oxidative stability is due to the fact that an excellent antioxidant system is found in meat both in terms of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant molecules such as glutathione. A meat that oxidizes less preserves its nutritional properties better and is more functional in terms of health.

Nutratoscafrica

NUTR-AGE: Nutrition, Diet and Active Aging

The aim of the project is to evaluate the impact of new functional foods and bioactive compounds on human health, with particular interest in the prevention of the main neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases linked to population aging. Thanks to the integrated approach of different scientific skills it was possible:

1. to select the bioactive compounds present in the different food matrices (including the by-products of the agri-food industry);

2. to identify the richer fractions in the greatest interest products to obtain bio-fortified, functional and pre-pro-post-biotic foods;

3. to study their protective effects through in vitro studies and on animal models;

4. to preserve the biological activities during the processing phases and cooking;

5. to verify their bioavailability and regulation role on the intestinal microbiota.

Identification and characterization of paraoxonases in ten human lung samples and analysis of the modulation of enzymes involved in drug metabolism in A549 cells exposed to inflammatory insults

The human paraoxonase family includes three enzymes (PON1, PON2, and PON3) Ca²⁺ -dependent with lactonase activity capable of hydrolyzing and inactivating the quorum-sensing microbial factors (N-acyl-homoserine-lactones) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All three enzymes modulate and are differently regulated under oxidative stress and inflammation conditions. Furthermore, paraoxonases are modulated by diet and lifestyle.

This project aims to characterize the expression levels, enzymatic activity, and modulation of paraoxonases (PON1, PON2, and PON3) in human lung tissues and the A549 cell line. A better understanding of lung metabolic activity is useful for studying toxicity induced by xenobiotics, allergens, and/or inhaled or dietary food compounds. At the same time, the expression and modulation (induction and inhibition) of genes involved in drug metabolism in A549 cells, both at the basal condition and after exposure to inflammatory insult, underlying many chronic lung diseases, will be evaluated.

AGROBIO

The project is part of a collaboration with the company Blumen within the project ValProfag (funded by POR-FESR Piemonte) whose goal is to facilitate the cultivation of beans and improve their nutritional qualities. In particular, the objective is to obtain bean varieties with higher Fe content, intended both as absolute and bioavailable quantity. IBBA-CNR collaborates in the genetic improvement activities for the phenotyping aspects of the characters of interest (reduction of phytic acid and iron content).

LEGUPLUS - Evaluation of alternative legumes for sustainable and functional pig nutrition

The general objective of the project, coordinated by the University of Milan, is the evaluation of the potential use of new bean lines, with low content of antinutritional factors, and accessions of white lupin and blue lupin of particular interest as innovative protein sources in piglet feeding, both in terms of nutritional efficiency and environmental impact. An in vivo trial in piglets at weaning will allow to evaluate the nutritional efficiency of the new feeds, to identify variations of the intestinal microbiota associated to the different diets that will be tested and, finally, to evaluate the effective bioavailability of macro- and micronutrients and the reduction of environmental impact, both in terms of reduced excretion of phosphorus and minerals, and from the microbiological point of view. IBBA-CNR will be responsible for assessing and providing the bean genetic materials and for the activities related to microbiota analysis.

MAMMAL: Minimally-modified AMino Microbiota heALth

The MAMMAL project aims to improve infant formula by determining the impact of food processing on the generation of specific proteins included in the product which in turn promote a healthy gut microbiome.

MAMMAL will involve development of a platform using Machine Learning algorithms to process data from this research. This will enable us to connect food processing with the generation of different specific modified proteins and determine the effects these have on infants’ gut microbiota.  Companies which product infant formula will be able to use this platform to determine the most beneficial proteins to include, helping them to develop formula which promotes a healthy gut microbiome. The platform will also provide guidance on food processing and develop new targeted protein formulations which could be used within infant formula.