Studio delle proprietà antiossidanti in frutti di origine sarda

In recent years, a growing number of evidences suggest the role of free radicals as the major cause of aging and degenerative diseases associated with it, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This led to an increasing interest in natural substances with antioxidant properties. In Sardinia, the high biodiversity of vegetables and fruits, quite distinct from that of other regions, could be one of the causes of health effects associated with diet and longevity found in the local population. Vegetables represent the most important source of antioxidant, which can slow or halt the spread and propagation of radical reactions responsible for the aging of cells and dangerous to the body. In the present study carried out within the B.Al.AkeA project were analyzed: 6 varieties of autoctone plums, 1 international and 2 varieties found on the market; 5 varieties of autoctone apples and 2 varieties found on the market; 8 varieties of autoctone pears and 1 varieties found on the market. For this purpose, we have studied the main chemical classes with functional properties present in fruits and was determined the antioxidant capacity. Based on the data obtained, it was decided to test the extracts of all cultivars with biological assaysin vitroand valutere their effect on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells. Preliminary results show that the Prunus Domestica extracts do not have any toxical effect on the cell cultures and they seem to protect on HUVEC against oxidative stress.