Valeria Toscano
EMail+39 0956139939 Home Page Orcid Scholar Researchgate WOS Scopus |
Valeria
Toscano
Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean Researcher Nutrheff Thematic Agronomic technology, Biomolecular technologies (enzymatic, biochemical, molecular biology, Food processing technology
Research Interest and expertise in the field of nutraceuticals
and functional food
Keywords: carbohydrates; minerals; inorganic cations and anions; polyphenols; plant specialized metabolism; secondary metabolites; bioactive compounds; phenolic acids; flavonoids; anthocyanins; antioxidant activity; hydroponic cultivation; in vitro culture
Nutraceuticals and foods of interestProducts and by-products characterization of cultivated and wild species of the Mediterranean environment, in order to preserve and enhance biodiversity and identify molecules with high nutraceutical value. Biofortification of plants using biotechnological and agronomic approaches. Development of hydroponic cultivation systems and in vitro culture techniques for the multiplication of species with high nutraceutical value. Study of abiotic stress to increase the synthesis of antioxidant substances Nutraceuticals: minerals – polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carbohydrates. Foods of interest: alimurgical and cultivated plants (Punica granatum, Citrus sinensis, Olea europaea, Cynara scolymus, Opuntia ficus-indica, Cynara cardunculus var. altilis, Lens culinaris, Cicer arietinum, Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris, Silybum marianum, Opuntia dillenii, Salicornia europaea, Crithmum maritimum, Cakile maritima, Tragopogon porrifolius) Fields of application Morphological and chemical characterization of plants typical of the Mediterranean environment with high health value. Development of preservation techniques to improve the shelf-life of ready to eat food. Biofortification to improve the nutritional value of crop plants can be achieved through specific agronomic practices, which induce the accumulation of bioactive compounds in plant tissues. New techniques for the multiplication of species with high nutraceutical value (hydroponic system and in vitro culture). Novel nutraceutical food (i.e. sprouts) and natural compounds for food supplements. Facilities and equipments laminar flow hood climatic chamber Freeze-dryer Alpha 1-4 LSC plus Martin Christ Automatic solvent extractor Randall (VELP) Ultrasonic bath BioSpectrometer UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Eppendorf) Digital refractometer DBR 45 (Giorgio Bormac S.r.l.) Chroma Meter CR-400 (Konica Minolta) |
