This work was aimed at evaluating the cardioprotective effects of Castanea sativa Mill. (CSM) bark extract characterized in its phenolic composition by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. The study was performed using primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to investigate the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of CSM bark extract and isolated guinea pig left and right atria, left papillary muscle, and aorta to evaluate its direct effect on cholinergic and adrenergic response. In cultured cardiomyocytes the CSM bark extract reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and improved cell viability following oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the extract decreased the contraction induced by noradrenaline (1 μM) in guinea pig aortic strips and induced transient negative chronotropic and positive inotropic effects without involvement of cholinergic or adrenergic receptors in the guinea pig atria. Our results indicate that CSM bark extract exhibits antioxidant activity and might induce cardioprotective effect.

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Biofortification of food crops through fertilization and salt iodization are key strategies for the prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorder. However, considerable losses of iodine can occur during processing. In this study, the stability of iodine in biofortified potatoes, carrots and tomatoes was evaluated during different domestic cooking procedures, as this matter was poorly discussed in literature. The stability of iodized salt during baking and boiling of carrots and potatoes not fortified was also investigated. All the adopted cooking procedures have proven to be suitable to preserve the iodine content in biofortified vegetables. During boiling test with iodized salt, neither potatoes nor carrots were able to absorb iodine added with salt, probably owing to the losses occurred during cooking. On the contrary, baking test on potatoes has not caused a significant degradation of iodized salt, and no significant differences in iodine concentration were detected before and after cooking.

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