High-field (600 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to the direct analysis of virgin olive oil. Minor components were studied to assess oil quality and genuineness. Unsaturated and saturated aldehyde resonances, as well as those related to other volatile compounds, were identified in the low-field region of the spectrum by two-dimensional techniques. Unsaturated aldehydes can be related to the sensory quality of oils. Other unidentified peaks are due to volatile components, because they disappear after nitrogen fluxing. The statistical analysis performed on the intensity of these peaks in several oil samples, obtained from different olive varieties, allows clustering and identification of oils arising from the same olive variety. Diacylglycerols, linolenic acid, other volatile components, water, acetic acid, phenols, and sterols can be detected simultaneously, suggesting a useful application of high-field NMR in the authentication and quality assessment of virgin olive oil.

Due to renewed interest in the cultivation and production of Italian Cannabis sativa L., we proposed a multi-methodological approach to explore chemically and biologically both the essential oil and the aromatic water of this plant. We reported the chemical composition in terms of cannabinoid content, volatile component, phenolic and flavonoid pattern, and color characteristics. Then, we demonstrated the ethnopharmacological relevance of this plant cultivated in Italy as a source of antioxidant compounds toward a large panel of enzymes (pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and cholinesterases) and selected clinically relevant, multidrug-sensible, and multidrug-resistant microbial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Candida, and Malassezia spp.), evaluating the cytotoxic effects against normal and malignant cell lines. Preliminary in vivo cytotoxicity was also performed on Galleria mellonella larvae. The results corroborate the use of this natural product as a rich source of important biologically active molecules with particular emphasis on the role exerted by naringenin, one of the most important secondary metabolites.

1H high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to analyze 216 extra virgin olive oils collected in three years (1996, 1997, and 1998) in different Italian areas in order to evaluate the potential contribution of this technique to the geographical characterization of olive oils. A statistical procedure performed on the intensity of selected NMR peaks has been proposed. Tree clustering analysis of NMR data performed without any a priori hypothesis showed the existence of reliable parameters able to group the olive oils according to the location of olive oil production. Linear discriminant analysis applied to selected NMR parameters of olive oils of the same year of production allowed the grouping of samples according to their geographical origin with only very few errors. Moreover, a satisfactory grouping is reached by combining the NMR data of olive oils from two different years (1996 and 1997). Operating on appropriate sampling, a careful analysis of data yielded the conclusion that the place of olive production could be singled out as a discriminating factor regardless of the cultivars from which the olive oils are derived.

High-field (600-MHz) proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy was applied to the analysis of 55 extra virgin olive oil samples from four Italian regions (Campania, Lazio, Sicily, and Umbria) and obtained from diffrent olive varieties. The multivariate statistical analysis (PCA, hierarchical clustering) performed on the normalized intensities of 1H- NMR resonances due to minor components (β-sitosterol, n-alkenals, trans-2-alkenals, and other volatile compounds) allows a good classification of oil samples obtained from traditional varieties with respect to the region of origin (96% of oils correctly classified). Samples obtained from one new experimental cultivar (FS-17) were not correctly classified, indicating a strong contribution of olive variety on the chemical composition of virgin olive oils. The potential contribution and limits of NMR in the authentication of virgin olive oil geographical origin and variety are discussed. Keywords: Proton NMR spectroscopy; virgin olive oil; hierarchical clustering; geographical origin; olive variety; authentication

In liver cirrhosis (LC), impaired intestinal functions lead to dysbiosis and possible bacterial translocation (BT). Bacteria or their byproducts within the bloodstream can thus play a role in systemic inflammation and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We combined 16S sequencing, NMR metabolomics and network analysis to describe the interrelationships of members of the microbiota in LC biopsies, faeces, peripheral/portal blood and faecal metabolites with clinical parameters. LC faeces and biopsies showed marked dysbiosis with a heightened proportion of Enterobacteriaceae. Our approach showed impaired faecal bacterial metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and carbon/methane sources in LC, along with an enhanced stress-related response. Sixteen species, mainly belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum, were shared between LC peripheral and portal blood and were functionally linked to iron metabolism. Faecal Enterobacteriaceae and trimethylamine were positively correlated with blood proinflammatory cytokines, while Ruminococcaceae and SCFAs played a protective role. Within the peripheral blood and faeces, certain species (Stenotrophomonas pavanii, Methylobacterium extorquens) and metabolites (methanol, threonine) were positively related to HE. Cirrhotic patients thus harbour a ‘functional dysbiosis’ in the faeces and peripheral/portal blood, with specific keystone species and metabolites related to clinical markers of systemic inflammation and HE.