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Papers by Raffaella Filippini

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2021

Tea tree oil is an essential oil used for medical and health purposes consisting of a complex mix... more Tea tree oil is an essential oil used for medical and health purposes consisting of a complex mixture of organic compounds present in high or trace amounts. Several factors (i.e. chemotype, environmental conditions, preparation procedures) can affect the composition and consequently the biological properties, therefore, quality assurance is a key requisite to guarantee reproducibility among batches. Compliance with ISO standards by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry techniques are universally accepted in check of tea tree oil formulations, while adulterations might be overlooked. In this study we set a TLC protocol for the easy and cheap evaluation of tea tree oil batches purchased from the marketplace and, coupled to the European Pharmacopoeia assay of fatty oils, for the detection of adulterations. This protocol aims to be a procedure for the quality evaluation of tea tree oil in small laboratories not equipped with expensive analytical instruments and by health professionals dealing with herbal medicines.

Pharmacological Research, 1993

Natural Product Communications, 2016

The antiproliferative effect of the naturally occurring polyphenol chlorogenic acid (CGA) was eva... more The antiproliferative effect of the naturally occurring polyphenol chlorogenic acid (CGA) was evaluated in combination with either cisplatin or oxaliplatin in human cervical carcinoma cell lines that were either sensitive (A431) or resistant to cisplatin (A431Pt), in order to provide evidence to overcome drug resistance. Cytotoxicity of platinating drugs (IC50 ~ 10−6 - 10−5 M) was enhanced by 1–2 orders of magnitude by increasing incubation times (1, 4, and 24 hours) in the two cell lines. CGA treatment presented low cytotoxicity per se (IC50 ~ 10−4 M at 24 h) if compared with platinum drugs and its activity was similar in A431Pt cells and in their sensitive A431 counterpart. The combination of the platinating drugs with CGA (10−6 - 10−4 M) indicated variable effects on cytotoxicity, ranging from potentiation to various degrees of antagonism (in A431 cells) and no effect (in A431Pt cells). In order to explain the different cytotoxic activity elicited by oxaliplatin and cisplatin in ...

Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, 1998

Molecules

Microalgae and microalgae-derived compounds have great potential as supplements in the human diet... more Microalgae and microalgae-derived compounds have great potential as supplements in the human diet and as a source of bioactive products with health benefits. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont, or Spirulina platensis) belongs to the class of cyanobacteria and has been studied for its numerous health benefits, which include anti-inflammatory properties, among others. This work was aimed at comparing some spirulina products available on the Italian market. The commercial products here analyzed consisted of spirulina cultivated and processed with different approaches. Single-component spirulina products in powder and flake form, free of any type of excipient produced from four different companies operating in the sector, have been analyzed. The macro- and micromorphological examination, and the content of pigments, phycobiliproteins, phenols, and proteins have shown differences regarding the morphology and chemical composition, especially for those classes of particula...

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

The blue-green alga Spirulina platensis is rich in phycocyanins, that exhibit a wide range of pha... more The blue-green alga Spirulina platensis is rich in phycocyanins, that exhibit a wide range of pharmacological actions. C-phycocyanin (C-PC), in particular, possesses hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Furthermore, several studies have reported both anti- and proinflammatory properties of this pigment. However, the precise mechanism(s) of action of C-PC in these processes remain largely unknown. Therefore, here we explored the C-PC effect in in vitro microglia activation. The effect of C-PC on the expression and release of IL-1β and TNF-α and the activation of NF-κB was examined in primary microglia by real-time PCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. Treatment with C-PC up-regulated the expression and release of IL-1β and TNF-α. C-PC also promoted the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB transcription factor. Then, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms for the immunoregulatory function of C-PC, we focused on investigating the role of Toll-like recepto...

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2003

A widespread occurrence of melatonin in plant kingdom has been reported. The circadian rhythm in ... more A widespread occurrence of melatonin in plant kingdom has been reported. The circadian rhythm in the level of melatonin observed in both unicellular algae and higher plants, suggests a role in regulation of photoperiodic and rhythmic phenomena, i.e. a similar function for melatonin in both plants and animals. Evidence has been obtained for a role of melatonin in plant morphogenesis, but more research is needed to ascertain other suggested physiological roles in higher plants (seed dormancy regulation, radical scavenger activity, interaction with calmodulin) as well the ecological significance of the high melatonin levels recorded in alpine plants. Setting-up more reliable analytical methods for melatonin detection and quantification is a basic requirement to get more insight into melatonin roles in plant physiology and ecology.

In this study, we compared leaf morphology and the phenolic and methylxanthine contents of differ... more In this study, we compared leaf morphology and the phenolic and methylxanthine contents of different teas (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze). Different tea types in loose leaf form available in the Italian market were investigated. The presence of numerous fine silvery-white hairs on the young leaves and buds, and the small-clavate glands on the leaf margins, light-colored and gelatinous in young leaves while dark and leathery in the old ones easily detached, showed to be diagnostic characters useful to distinguish the young leaf from the old one. White tea types were the richest of caffeine (mean value 4.42 g/100 g dry weight); in the other teas the mean caffeine levels were in the range from 2.56 to 3.38 g/100 g dry weight, and the differences were not statistically significant. Phenolics were comparable in white and green types (around 15 g/100 g dry weight) and significantly higher than oolong and black types (around 2.9 g/100 g dry weight). The principal component analysis allowed...

Nutrients

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and b... more Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and bowel disturbances. FGID therapy is primarily symptomatic, including treatment with herbal remedies. Flower extract of Tilia tomentosa Moench (TtM) is occasionally used as an anti-spasmodic in popular medicine. Since its effect on intestinal response is unknown, we evaluated the influence of TtM extract on small intestine contractility. Ileal preparations from C57BL/6J mice were mounted in organ baths to assess changes in muscle tension, following addition of TtM extract (0.5–36 μg/mL) or a vehicle (ethanol). Changes in contractile response to receptor- and non-receptor-mediated stimuli were assessed in ileal preparations pretreated with 12 μg/mL TtM. Alterations in the enteric nervous system neuroglial network were analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence. Increasing addition of TtM induced a marked relaxation in ileal specimens compared to the vehicle. Pretreatment with TtM affected chol...