Frusciante Luisa, Geminiani Michela, Shabab Behnaz, Olmastroni Tommaso, Scavello Giorgia, Rossi Martina, Mastroeni Pierfrancesco, Nyong'a Collins Nyaberi, Salvini Laura, Lamponi Stefania, Parisi Maria Laura, Sinicropi Adalgisa, Costa Lorenzo, Spiga Ottavia, Trezza Alfonso, Santucci Annalisa
Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Chimica e Farmacia, Università di Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy.
SienabioACTIVE, Università di Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 Sep 4;13(9):1082. doi: 10.3390/antiox13091082.
Repurposing saffron () waste presents a sustainable strategy for generating high-value products within the bioeconomy framework. Typically, flower components are discarded after stigma harvest, resulting in significant waste-350 kg of tepals per kilogram of stigmas. This research employed a comprehensive approach, integrating bioactivity studies (in vitro and in silico) with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluations, to extract and assess bioactive compounds from tepals sourced in Tuscany, Italy. Phytochemical characterization using UPLC-MS/MS revealed a high abundance and variety of flavonoids in the hydro-ethanolic extract (CST). The antioxidant capacity was validated through various assays, and the ability to mitigate HO-induced oxidative stress and enhance fermentation was demonstrated in . This study reports that tepals extract reduces oxidative stress and boosts ethanol fermentation in yeast, paving the way for applications in the food and biofuels sectors. Further validation in RAW 264.7 macrophages confirmed CST's significant anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its potential for pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical applications. In silico studies identified potential targets involved in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes, shedding light on possible interaction mechanisms with Kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside (KOS-3), the predominant compound in the extract. The integration of LCA studies highlighted the environmental benefits of this approach. Overall, this research underscores the value of using waste-derived extracts through "green" methodologies, offering a model that may provide significant advantages for further evaluations compared to traditional methodologies and supporting the circular bioeconomy.
将藏红花废弃物重新利用是在生物经济框架内生产高价值产品的可持续策略。通常，在采摘柱头后花朵的其他部分会被丢弃，从而产生大量废弃物——每千克柱头会产生350千克花被片。本研究采用了一种综合方法，将生物活性研究（体外和计算机模拟）与生命周期评估（LCA）相结合，从意大利托斯卡纳地区获取的花被片中提取并评估生物活性化合物。使用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLC-MS/MS）进行的植物化学表征显示，水乙醇提取物（CST）中黄酮类化合物含量高且种类多样。通过各种试验验证了其抗氧化能力，并在[具体实验体系]中证明了其减轻羟基自由基（HO）诱导的氧化应激和增强发酵的能力。本研究报告称，藏红花花被片提取物可减轻酵母中的氧化应激并促进乙醇发酵，为在食品和生物燃料领域的应用铺平了道路。在RAW 264.7巨噬细胞中的进一步验证证实了CST具有显著的抗炎作用，表明其在制药、药妆和营养保健品领域的应用潜力。计算机模拟研究确定了参与抗氧化和抗炎过程的潜在靶点，揭示了与提取物中主要化合物山奈酚3-O-槐糖苷（KOS-3）可能的相互作用机制。LCA研究的整合突出了这种方法的环境效益。总体而言，本研究强调了通过“绿色”方法使用废弃物提取物的价值，提供了一个与传统方法相比可能具有显著优势的模型，可用于进一步评估，并支持循环生物经济。
