Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Ferula glauca L. (F. communis L. subsp. glauca) growing in Marche (central Italy)

The essential oil obtained from different parts of Ferula glauca L. (formerly considered as a subspecies of F. communis) growing in Marche (central Italy), was analyzed for the first time by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major volatiles were (E)-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide in leaves, alpha-pinene, myrcene and germacrene D in flowers, alpha- and beta-pinene in fruits, (E)-beta-farnesene, myristicin and elemicin in roots, respectively. The differences in composition detected with respect to F. communis, made the volatile fraction a reliable marker to distinguish between them, and confirm the botanical data at the base of their discrimination. Furthermore, the oil was assayed for its antimicrobial activity by the broth microdilution method. B. subtilis was found to be the most sensitive microorganism, with the lowest MIC values.     

Geomorphic features of a badland (biancane) area (Central Italy): characterisation, distribution and quantitative spatial analysis

The biancana landscapes, rather common in several Italian areas, have a very complex morphology. Different geomorphic features often occur along the same hillslope. From a morphological survey of an experimental site in southern Tuscany, the forms were classified, and their distribution analysed. Spatial analysis of the biancane provided insights into the range of forces responsible for their formation and evolution. The results confirm an evolutionary trend from an original gently sloping surface to a complex biancana landform, emphasising a trend from the taller bean forms to the terminal soufflé-like and cone forms. The presence of scarp and sliding forms in the most sloping areas and along the residual surfaces supports the hypothesis of a process influenced by base level, acting initially by small mass movements. Spatial analysis did not reveal any systematic trend in the variability of the erosional features along the slopes. Variographic analysis showed that selected morphological attributes are spatially auto-correlated over a short range, suggesting that the erosive processes responsible for morphogenic evolution of biancane act mostly on a local scale. The strong geometric anisotropy detected in directions parallel to the main jointing systems also indicated a broader scale tectonic control of biancane evolution, probably in an early stage of their formation.     

Determination of famoxadone, fenamidone, fenhexamid and iprodione residues in greenhouse tomatoes

BACKGROUND: Greenhouse tomato production is intended exclusively for fresh consumption. Typical greenhouse conditions provide a conducive environment for the development of different fungi, principally late blight and grey mould, that can destroy plants and fruits. For this reason, different fungicides with different sites of action are used in integrated pest management strategies. Famoxadone, fenamidone, fenhexamid and iprodione (fig. 1 ) are fungicides of difference classes with different actions that could be used to control tomato pests. RESULTS: The QuEChERS method showed good recoveries, and the analytical method allowed good separation of the fungicides selected. Good results were obtained in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision, with a coefficient of variation of < 9.8%. The limits of determination and quantification of the method were far below the maximum residual levels (MRLs) set by the EU for these fungicides in tomatoes. The analysis of fungicide residues showed that cv. Shiren accounted for higher residue levels than cv. Caramba. The dissipation curves were similar in the two cultivars, indicating that the decrease in pesticides was not related to the tomato type. CONCLUSIONS: Care should be taken when using pesticides in greenhouse conditions, because degradation mainly affects fruit growth. The size of the tomato, in particular its surface/weight ratio, is very important for defining pesticide residues. All fungicides used showed residue levels below the MRLs at the preharvest interval. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Adenocarcinoma of the parotid salivary gland in a cow

A 6‐year‐old Girolando dairy cow was presented for evaluation of a large subcutaneous facial mass. Fine‐needle aspirates of the mass contained many neoplastic cells with high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratios arranged in sheets and loosely cohesive clusters with streaming erythrocytes and neutrophils in the background. Neoplastic cells were 13–25 μm in diameter and were round to cuboidal with variably distinct borders. Based on the signalment, anatomic location, and cytologic findings, differential diagnoses included salivary adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The cow was euthanized and a necropsy was performed. The primary neoplasm arose from the left parotid salivary gland and meastatic tumor was found in the regional lymph nodes and lung. Histologically, the tumor was composed of anastomosing and irregular solid islets surrounded by scant stroma. Cells were negative for periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS), PAS‐diastase, and Alcian blue pH 2.5 stains, used to detect mucin. On immunohistochemical analysis, neoplastic luminal salivary gland cells expressed cytokeratin, but not S100, α‐smooth muscle actin, or vimentin. Peripheral cells of neoplastic islets were immunoreactive for p63. The final diagnosis was nonsecretory adenocarcinoma of the parotid salivary gland.     

Widespread expression of SAA and Hp RNA in bovine tissues after evaluation of suitable reference genes

The serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) are the most prominent acute phase proteins (APPs) in cow. Liver mainly produces APPs, but extra hepatic expression has also been demonstrated in some tissues. The major aim of the present study was to assess the constitutive SAA and Hp mRNA expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a wide panel of 33 bovine tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, urogenital system, mammary gland, hematopoietic system, central nervous system, eye, thyroid and heart. Normalization of gene expression in different samples requires reference genes, which are stably expressed. Therefore, seven reference genes were investigated (ACTB, GAPDH, HMBS, SDHA, YWHAZ, SF3A1, EEF1A2) and three genes, namely SF3A1, HMBS and ACTB, were selected after assessing their stability with geNorm? and NormFinder^© softwares.The qPCR analysis confirmed liver as the principal source of SAA and Hp, but also identified both APPs’ mRNA in almost all tissues.The highest expression rate of SAA was found in thyroid, followed by pancreas and submandibulary gland. Hp mRNA expression was detected at high concentration in pancreas and submandibulary gland.The present data indicated a widespread expression of SAA and Hp also in non pathological conditions, thus envisaging a possible role as immunomodulatory and protective molecules. To understand where SAA and Hp come from is the prerequisite to their utilization as Acute Phase Reaction biomarkers.     

Residues and persistence of neem formulations on strawberry after field treatment

Azadirachtoids were determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in five methanolic seed extracts of the neem tree and in a commercial formulation. On average, seed extracts contain azadirachtin A (10.9%), azadirachtin B (3.5%), nimbin (10.4%), and large quantities of salannin (19.0%). The composition of the commercial formulations may present different azadirachtoids contents depending on the natural extracts used in the preparation. Because these compounds may also show insecticide activity, the efficacy on field of these formulations may be very different. Photodegradation of pure azadirachtoids was also studied. Azadirachtins and related compounds are very sensitive to sunlight, degrading rapidly, with half-lives of the order of 11.3 h for azadirachtin A and 5.5 h for azadirachtin B and few minutes for the other limonoids compounds studied. The residues of azadirachtins and the main constituents, e.g., salannin, nimbin, deacetylnimbin, and deacetylsalannin, of the neem seed extract were determined on strawberries after field treatment using two different formulations. This residue study on strawberry was carried out to assess not only the azadirachtin content but also the main azadirachtoids contents. Three days after field application at five times the dose recommended by the manufacturer, residues of azadirachtin A and B were 0.03 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively, while residues of salannin (LOQ 0.01 mg/kg) and nimbin (LOQ 0.5 mg/kg) were not detectable.