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Papers by ELISABETTA MIRALDI

Journal of Chemotherapy, Dec 6, 2013

Planta Medica, Dec 1, 2019

Influenza viruses are causative agents of common respiratory infections, often underestimated and... more Influenza viruses are causative agents of common respiratory infections, often underestimated and badly managed. Monomolecular anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic drugs are extensively used in infection related symptoms, but they do not trigger virus replication. Also herbal drugs are traditionally used [1], although specific anti influenza activities are rarely recorded and little investigated. By means of validated in vitro tests, in this study we investigated the effect of ten herbal extracts and poplar propolis commonly used for respiratory infections. We tested their effectiveness against an influenza A H1N1 strain in pre- and post cell infection and neuraminidase activity inhibition. Camellia sinensis Kuntze leaves dried extract 60% catechins (CSE), Pelargonium sidoides DC. roots standardized d.e. (PS) and Cistus creticus L. subsp. eriocephalus (Viv.) Greuter & Burdet (formerly Cistus incanus L.) aerial parts commercial d.e. 20% polyphenols (CIS) showed a strong anti-neuraminidase effect (IC50<25 μg/ml). Only these extracts were efficacious in in vitro inhibiting influenza virus entry and (in a weaker manner) virus replication in MDCK cells; toxic/effective concentration ratio was >4 only for CIS. Chemical analyses showed that galloil derivatives and flavan-3-ols oligomers mainly occur in CIS and, similarly to PS and CSE, these constituents are likely to contribute more to the antiviral efficacy [2], [3]. Our findings suggest that C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus is worth to be better investigated for its anti-influenza efficacy and ongoing researches are aiming to investigate molecular mechanisms of CIS constituents on viral targets such as the influenza virus glycoproteins, emoagglutinin and neuraminidase

Frontiers in Microbiology, Mar 8, 2022

Journal of the Siena Academy of Sciences, Sep 5, 2019

L'attività antiossidante non è stata del tutto chiarita per molti vini e solo pochi studi han... more L'attività antiossidante non è stata del tutto chiarita per molti vini e solo pochi studi hanno tentato di individuare la relazione tra la composizione chimica del vino e la sua attività biologica. Inoltre vini differenti hanno poche somiglianze chimiche e un differente contenuto in polifenoli, quindi questo può essere associato con la discrepanza di risultati delle precedenti analisi. In questo studio abbiamo indagato l'attività antiossidante e antiradicalica di alcuni vini rossi italiani e dei componenti isolati per comprendere il meccanismo di azione dei complessi polifenolici del vino rosso. Abbiamo eseguito delle analisi chimiche dei vini per determinare il contenuto totale di polifenoli, antocianine, resveratrolo e catechine totali. I risultati mostrano che, nei vini rossi testati, il range dei polifenoli totali varia da 1117 mg/L a 2821 mg/L, le antocianine da 46 mg/L a 178 mg/L, il resveratrolo da tracce a 12 mg/L e le catechine totali da 1400 mg/L. Per studiare l'attività antiradicalica e antiossidante abbiamo utilizzato metodi in vitro come il DPPH* e l'elettrochimica. Il test del DPPH* mostra che i vini con il più alto contenuto in polifenoli totali e antocianine sono i più attivi e l'acido gallico, la quercitina, l'(-)-epicatechina e la malvidina hanno IC50 più basso di 10 mg/mL. La voltammetria ciclica è un metodo utile per confermare che le antocianine hanno un potenziale di ossidazione molto basso. I vini rossi mostrano un'ossidazione irreversibile a 420-460 mV.Abbiamo eseguito anche un test in vivo per valutare la protezione di cellule HeLa incubate con perossido di idrogeno.In conclusione i polifenoli del vino rosso giocano un ruolo importante come antiossidanti e i composti maggiormente distinguibili, come le antocianine e il resveratrolo, sono fondamentali nell'esercitare effetti biologici. Buoni risultati sono stati ottenuti anche a concentrazioni molto basse di tutti i campioni e dei composti isolati, escludendo l'effetto negativo dell'etanolo e sorpassando il problema rappresentato dalla scarsa biodisponibilità dei polifenoli

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, May 5, 2021

Objectives The exposure of neurons to an excessive excitatory stimulation induces the alteration ... more Objectives The exposure of neurons to an excessive excitatory stimulation induces the alteration of the normal neuronal function. Mood disorders are among the first signs of alterations in the central nervous system function. Magnolia officinalis bark extract has been extensively used in the traditional medicine systems of several countries, showing several pharmacological activities. Honokiol, the main constituent of M. officinalis, is a GABA modulator and a CB1 agonist, which is deeply investigated for its role in modulating mood disorders. Methods Thus, we evaluated the possible neuroprotective effect of a standardized M. officinalis bark extract (MOE), enriched in honokiol, and its effect on animal mood behavioural tests and in an in vitro model of excitotoxicity. Key findings MOE showed neuroprotective effect using SH-SY5Y cells, by normalizing brain-derived neurotrophic factor release. Then, we tested the effect of MOE in different behavioural tests evaluating anxiety and depression and we observed a selective anxiolytic-like effect. Finally, we confirmed the involvement of CB1 in the final effect of MOE by the co-administration of the CB1 antagonist, AM251. Conclusion These results suggest that MOE could be considered an effective and safe anxiolytic candidate with neuroprotective activity.

Pharmacology, 2008

Sedum telephium ssp. maximum is a medicinal plant that possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and... more Sedum telephium ssp. maximum is a medicinal plant that possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and keratolytic properties. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of its methanolic extract (STME) in rat peritoneal macrophages (MΦs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella enteritidis. After stimulation with 10 µg/ml of LPS, MΦs were coincubated with different doses of STME (8, 16 and 32 µg/ml) or RPMI medium alone using different times of incubation. STME reduced levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, both mRNA and its protein, and significantly decreased IL-1β and IL-6 production. Moreover, STME inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and blunted nitrite release and inhibited both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated MΦs. Data show that STME might be useful as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Dec 1, 2021

OBJECTIVE Lemna minor is a plant with a huge repertoire of secondary metabolites. The literature ... more OBJECTIVE Lemna minor is a plant with a huge repertoire of secondary metabolites. The literature indicates that extracts of Lemna minor have antioxidant, antiradical, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the present study was to find a suitable technique to extract active compounds from this plant and verify whether these extracts have immunomodulatory activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We grew L. minor on a standard medium with Gamborg B5 and vitamins. We extracted compounds from the plant by maceration and decoction. The phytochemical profile of the extracts was characterized by chromatography, spectrophotometry, and spectroscopy. The extracts were tested on cultures of mononuclear cells from four human subjects. These cells were pulsed with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester, grown in triplicate in standard culture medium without (control) and with increasing concentrations of Lemna extracts. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell death and proliferation of the total mononuclear cell population and of CD4+, CD8+, B cell and monocyte populations. RESULTS The Lemna extracts were not cytotoxic and did not cause cell necrosis or apoptosis in immune cells. At low concentrations, they induced very limited proliferation of CD4+ cells within 48 hours. At high concentrations, they induced proliferation of CD8+ cells and B lymphocytes within 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS Unfortunately, we failed to confirm any immunomodulatory activity of Lemna extracts. Growth and death rates of human immune cells were not significantly affected by adding Lemna extracts to the culture medium.

Natural Resources, 2014

It is widely known that the genus Amanita includes various taxa: edible and inedible, dangerous a... more It is widely known that the genus Amanita includes various taxa: edible and inedible, dangerous and sometimes even deadly species. Despite the number of studies carried out on this genus, the toxicity of some species, such as the group of white fungi, remains dubious. Hence Amanita ovoidea (Bull.) Link. is considered as edible and even tasty both popularly and in some scientific publications, and as poisonous in others, having caused various cases of poisoning. This study stems from a case of poisoning by A. ovoidea in Siena (Italy). Tests were performed with the aim of finding a scientific answer regarding the real edibility or inedibility of A. ovoidea. Analyses included phytochemical screening, toxicological tests on human ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and measurements of soil and mushroom pollution by heavy metals.