Suchergebnisse

Valvestino (Brescia) is a valley of Italian Central Southern Alps, recognized by European Union as "Site of Community Interest"; this site is characterized by the presence of numerous endemisms, some of them included in the IUCN Red List. An ethnobotanical investigation in this valley has pointed out that some species belonging to Primula genus are commonly used for their medicinal properties. In this work we report the flavonoid composition of the endemism Primula spectabilis Tratt. and its antioxidant potential. Samples of this species were collected during the summer of 2007 and determined according to "Flora d'Italia" by Pignatti. The dried powdered leaves were exhaustively extracted with increasing polarity solvents: n-hexane, dichloromethane, dichlorometane:methanol (9:1) and methanol. The methanol extract was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20, using MeOH as eluent, to obtain fractions that showed NTS-PEG positive spots on TLC. Finally some of these fractions have been submitted to RP-HPLC to obtain phenols, and the structural identification was determined on the basis of extensive NMR spectral studies, as well as by HPLC-MS analysis. Three compounds (C-glucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin), never isolated before in the Primula genus, were identified. The methanol extract, the richest in polyphenols, was also submitted, after the determination of polyphenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, to DPPH, total antioxidant capacity based upon the reduction of Cu++ to Cu+ and FRAP assays. The obtained results showed a considerable antioxidant activity from P. spectabilis.

The Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA GMO Panel) has evaluated the overall safety of genetically modified (GM) carnation SHD-27531-4 cut flowers to be imported into the European Union (EU) for ornamental use. The genetic modification results in the flowers having purple petals. The stability of the new colour trait was observed over multiple vegetative generations. The purple colour of the petals comes from the altered expression levels of anthocyanins, common pigments found in edible fruits and vegetables. Considering the intended use of the GM carnation and the possible routes of exposure, the EFSA GMO Panel did not find indications that the genetic modification will increase the risk of allergy among those coming into contact with carnations. Overall there are no reasons for safety concerns of carnation SHD-27351-4 for humans. The EFSA GMO Panel also considered whether viable seed or pollen from GM carnation cut flowers could be dispersed into the environment and whether GM carnation can be propagated by rooting. Owing to the limited environmental exposure and the biology of the plant, the EFSA GMO Panel did not identify any environmental safety concerns and agrees with the scope of the postmarket environmental monitoring plan. The EFSA GMO Panel concludes that the import, distribution and retailing of the GM carnation will not cause adverse effects on human health or the environment.

This document provides guidance for the risk assessment under Regulation (EC) No1829/2003 of the unintended, adventitious or technically unavoidable presence in food and feed of low level of genetically modified plant material intended for markets other than in the European Union. In this context, the presence at low level is defined to be maximum 0.9% of genetically modified plant material per ingredient. This guidance is intended to assist applicants by indicating which scientific requirements of AnnexII of Regulation (EU) No503/2013 are considered necessary for the risk assessment of the presence at low levels of genetically modified plant material in food and feed. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.