The genotoxicity of bloom head (BHE) and leaf (LE) extracts from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), and their ability to modulate the mutagenicity and recombinogenicity of two alkylating agents (ethyl methanesulfonate - EMS and mitomycin C - MMC) and the intercalating agent bleomycin (BLM), were examined using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. Neither ...

The artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus L.), the cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC.) and the wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris L.) are species widely distributed in the Mediterranean area. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of seeds from lines of artichoke and cultivated and wild cardoon in both aqueous-organic ex...

The current growing interest for natural antioxidants has led to a renewed scientific attention for artichoke, due not only to its nutritional value, but, overall, to its polyphenolic content, showing strong antioxidant properties. The major constituents of artichoke extracts are hydroxycinnamic acids such as chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acids caffeic acid and ferulic acid, and flavonoids...

Ras cheeses were manufactured using aqueous extract of globe artichoke or artichoke flowers (Cynara scolymus) proteinase as coagulant were compared to calf rennet. There were slight differences between chemical composition of cheese made using vegetable coagulants or calf rennet. Cheeses manufactured with artichoke extract as coagulant exhibited higher (p < 0.05) levels of water soluble nitroge...

Salmonella typhimurium colonization, pH, and density of ceca were measured in 3-, 5-, and 6-wk-old broilers fed either a control ration or rations with added fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or lactose derivatives (LD). The purpose was to compare dietary crude FOS from Jerusalem artichokes with refined FOS and two LD for ability to reduce Salmonella colonization as determined by semi-quantitative p...

Background Epidemiology of food allergy is currently the focus of considerable research interest. Particularly important appears the recognition of novel food allergens and the characterization of specific food allergy patterns, relevant to homogeneous geographic areas with distinct alimentary habits, such as the Mediterranean area. Here we report on recent findings on allergy to Mediterranean ...

piriformospora indica, a cultivable root colonizing endophytic fungus of sebacinales, promotes plant growth and confers resistance against biotic and abiotic stress. the fungus has also the ability to colonize the roots of many varieties of plant species. the goal of present study was to clarify the colonization ability of p.indica in artichoke roots and the respond of plant to water stress. re...