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Edible olive drupes (from Olea europaea L.) are a high-value food commodity with an increasing production trend over the past two decades. In an attempt to prevent fraud issues and ensure quality, the International Olive Council (IOC) issued guidelines for their sensory evaluation. However, certain varieties, geographical origins and processing parameters are omitted. The aim of the present study was the development of a method for the quality assessment of edible olives from the Konservolia, Kalamon and Chalkidikis cultivars from different areas of Greece processed with the Spanish or Greek method. A rapid NMR-based untargeted metabolic profiling method was developed along with multivariate analysis (MVA) and applied for the first time in edible olives’ analysis complemented by the aid of statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). Specific biomarkers, related to the classification of olives based on different treatments, cultivars and geographical origin, were identified. STOCSY proved to be a valuable aid towards the assignment of biomarkers, a bottleneck in untargeted metabolomic approaches.

The bioactive compounds present in the edible products of the olive tree have been extensively studied and their favorable effects on various disease risk factors have been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the anti-leishmanial effects of total phenolic fractions (TPFs) derived from extra virgin olive oil with different phenolic contents and diverse quantitative patterns. Moreover, the present study investigated their association with miltefosine, a standard anti-leishmanial drug, against both extracellular promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of a viscerotropic and a dermotropic Leishmania strain. The chemical compositions of TPFs were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Analysis of parasite growth kinetics, reactive oxygen species production and apoptotic events were determined by microscopy and flow cytometry. Our results revealed that the presence of oleacein (OLEA) and oleocanthal (OLEO) secoiridoids enhances the anti-leishmanial effect of TPF. The association between TPFs and miltefosine was suggested as being additive in Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major promastigotes, and as antagonistic in intracellular amastigotes, as was evaluated with the modified isobologram method. The obtained data verified that TPFs are bioactive dietary extracts with a strong anti-leishmanial activity and highlighted that fractions that are richer in OLEA and OLEO phenolic compounds possess stronger inhibitory effects against parasites. This study may contribute to improving the therapeutic approaches against leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a serious multifactorial parasitic disease with limited treatment options. Current chemotherapy is mainly consisted of drugs with serious drawbacks such as toxicity, variable efficacy and resistance. Alternative bioactive phytocompounds may provide a promising source for discovering new anti-leishmanial drugs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), a key-product in the Mediterranean diet, is rich in phenols which are associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-microbial effects. In this study, we investigate the anti-leishmanial effect of Total Phenolic Fraction (TPF) derived from EVOO in both in vitro and in vivo systems by investigating the contributing mechanism of action. We tested the ability of TPF to cause apoptotic-like programmed cell death in L. infantum and L. major exponential-phase promastigotes by evaluating several apoptotic indices, such as reduction of proliferation rate, sub-G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial transmembrane potential disruption and increased ROS production, by using flow cytometry and microscopy techniques. Moreover, we assessed the therapeutic effect of TPF in L. major-infected BALB/c mice by determining skin lesions, parasite burden in popliteal lymph nodes, Leishmania-specific antibodies and biomarkers of tissue site cellular immune response, five weeks post-treatment termination. Our results show that TPF triggers cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic-like changes in Leishmania spp. promastigotes. Moreover, TPF treatment induces significant reduction of parasite burden in draining lymph nodes together with an antibody profile indicative of the polarization of Th1/Th2 immune balance towards the protective Th1-type response, characterized by the presence of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T-cells and increased Tbx21/GATA-3 gene expression ratio in splenocytes. TPF exhibits chemotherapeutic anti-leishmanial activity by inducing programmed cell death on cell-free promastigotes and immunomodulatory properties that induce in vivo T cell-mediated responses towards the protective Th1 response in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. These findings enable deeper understanding of TPF's dual mode of action that encourages further studies.

Background Leishmaniasis is a serious multifactorial parasitic disease with limited treatment options. Current chemotherapy is mainly consisted of drugs with serious drawbacks such as toxicity, variable efficacy and resistance. Alternative bioactive phytocompounds may provide a promising source for discovering new anti-leishmanial drugs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), a key-product in the Mediterranean diet, is rich in phenols which are associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-microbial effects. In this study, we investigate the anti-leishmanial effect of Total Phenolic Fraction (TPF) derived from EVOO in both in vitro and in vivo systems by investigating the contributing mechanism of action. Methodology/Principal findings We tested the ability of TPF to cause apoptotic-like programmed cell death in L. infantum and L. major exponential-phase promastigotes by evaluating several apoptotic indices, such as reduction of proliferation rate, sub-G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial transmembrane potential disruption and increased ROS production, by using flow cytometry and microscopy techniques. Moreover, we assessed the therapeutic effect of TPF in L. major-infected BALB/c mice by determining skin lesions, parasite burden in popliteal lymph nodes, Leishmania-specific antibodies and biomarkers of tissue site cellular immune response, five weeks post-treatment termination. Our results show that TPF triggers cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic-like changes in Leishmania spp. promastigotes. Moreover, TPF treatment induces significant reduction of parasite burden in draining lymph nodes together with an antibody profile indicative of the polarization of Th1/Th2 immune balance towards the protective Th1-type response, characterized by the presence of IFN-[gamma]-producing CD4+ T-cells and increased Tbx21/GATA-3 gene expression ratio in splenocytes. Conclusions/Significance TPF exhibits chemotherapeutic anti-leishmanial activity by inducing programmed cell death on cell-free promastigotes and immunomodulatory properties that induce in vivo T cell-mediated responses towards the protective Th1 response in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. These findings enable deeper understanding of TPF's dual mode of action that encourages further studies.

This study investigates the intricate dynamics of siliceous plankton species within the open marine regions of the Greek Seas, focusing on their seasonal and spatial variability. For this purpose, vertical export fluxes of diatoms (DtF), silicoflagellates (SF), and radiolaria (RF) were analyzed in three sediment trap time series obtained from the North Aegean, Cretan, and Ionian Seas. Special attention was given to diatom assemblages, resulting in the estimation of the DtF community structure and diversity for each studied site. Diatom flux values reached 353.9 × 103 valves m−2 day−1, 77.7 × 103 valves m−2 day−1, and 42.4 × 103 valves m−2 day−1 in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. SF maxima were 1309.8 × 103 skeletons m−2 day−1 in the North Aegean Sea, 35.2 × 103 skeletons m−2 day−1 in the Ionian Sea, and 11.9 × 103 skeletons m−2 day−1 in the Cretan Sea (South Aegean Sea). RF values reached 13.9 × 103 radiolaria m−2 day−1, 11.9 × 103 radiolaria m−2 day−1, and 5.4 × 103 radiolaria m−2 day−1 in the North Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas, respectively. The North Aegean Sea exhibited significantly higher mean total fluxes, particularly for diatoms, driven by the north-to-south oligotrophy gradient, which was influenced by riverine inflows and the nutrient-rich Black Sea water. In the Cretan and Ionian Seas, convective mixing and atmospheric deposition, especially during increased rainfall (precipitation) events, were identified as primary drivers for the increased siliceous plankton fluxes recorded in the late winter–spring months. Diatom communities were dominated by Naviculales and Fragilariales; the prevalence of the former in the North Aegean Sea is likely linked to the higher nutrient levels in its upper photic zone, as Naviculales includes species with a high affiliation to nutrient enrichment.

This study investigates the composition, abundance, and vertical export of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across three deep basins of the northeastern Mediterranean Sea (NEMS) over one year. Sinking particles were collected using sediment traps, and PAH analysis was conducted via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PAH fluxes varied significantly, peaking in the north Aegean Sea due to mesotrophic conditions, nutrient-rich riverine and Black Sea water inflows, and maritime anthropogenic inputs. The fluxes were highest in winter and lowest in fall. In the Cretan Sea, petrogenic sources (~70%) dominated, driven by currents, with fluxes highest in spring and lowest in winter. The Ionian Sea exhibited lower fluxes, peaking in summer and decreasing in fall. Atmospheric deposition seems to be the main transport pathway of pyrolytic PAHs in this site, while its high-water column depth (4300 m) compared to the other sites presumably enables extended degradation of organic constituents during particle settling. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) and principal component analysis (PCA) results reveal complementary insights into PAH sources and transport mechanisms. PMF analysis identified combustion (61%) and petrogenic (22%) sources, while PCA highlighted biogenic fluxes (57.7%) and atmospheric deposition. Seasonal productivity, riverine inputs, and water circulation shaped PAH variability, linking combustion-related PAHs to atmospheric soot and petrogenic PAHs to organic-rich particles.

The Mediterranean Sea has been sampled irregularly by research vessels in the past, mostly by national expeditions in regional waters. To monitor the hydrographic, biogeochemical and circulation changes in the Mediterranean Sea, a systematic repeat oceanographic survey programme called Med-SHIP was recommended by the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) in 2011, as part of the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP). Med-SHIP consists of zonal and meridional surveys with different frequencies, where comprehensive physical and biogeochemical properties are measured with the highest international standards. The first zonal survey was done in 2011 and repeated in 2018. In addition, a network of meridional (and other key) hydrographic sections were designed: the first cycle of these sections was completed in 2016, with three cruises funded by the EU project EUROFLEETS2. This paper presents the physical and chemical data of the meridional and key transects in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea collected during those cruises.

The Mediterranean Sea has been sampled irregularly by research vessels in the past, mostly by national expeditions in regional waters. To monitor the hydrographic, biogeochemical and circulation changes in the Mediterranean Sea, a systematic repeat oceanographic survey programme called Med-SHIP was recommended by the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) in 2011, as part of the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP). Med-SHIP consists of zonal and meridional surveys with different frequencies, where comprehensive physical and biogeochemical properties are measured with the highest international standards. The first zonal survey was done in 2011 and repeated in 2018. In addition, a network of meridional (and other key) hydrographic sections were designed: the first cycle of these sections was completed in 2016, with three cruises funded by the EU project EUROFLEETS2. This paper presents the physical and chemical data of the meridional and key transects in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea collected during those cruises.