Laura Scrano
Università della Basilicata, DICEM, Faculty Member
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Pesticide and Pesticides
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Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, may be prevalent in our rivers and tap water. These minuscule bacteria can grow swiftly and form blooms in warm, nutrient-rich water. Toxins produced by cyanobacteria can pollute rivers and streams and... more
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, may be prevalent in our rivers and tap water. These minuscule bacteria can grow swiftly and form blooms in warm, nutrient-rich water. Toxins produced by cyanobacteria can pollute rivers and streams and harm the liver and nervous system in humans. This review highlights the properties of 25 toxin types produced by 12 different cyanobacteria genera. The review also covered strategies for reducing and controlling cyanobacteria issues. These include using physical or chemical treatments, cutting back on fertilizer input, algal lawn scrubbers, and antagonistic microorganisms for biocontrol. Micro-, nano- and ultrafiltration techniques could be used for the removal of internal and extracellular cyanotoxins, in addition to powdered or granular activated carbon, ozonation, sedimentation, ultraviolet radiation, potassium permanganate, free chlorine, and pre-treatment oxidation techniques. The efficiency of treatment techniques for removing intracellular an...
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Cannabis sativa L. has health benefits, principally due to the levels and ratios of two important cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC:CBD ratio affects their pharmacological interaction for the treatment... more
Cannabis sativa L. has health benefits, principally due to the levels and ratios of two important cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC:CBD ratio affects their pharmacological interaction for the treatment of different diseases as well as its modulation allows for a custom-made product that utilizes the distinguishing effects of CBD, THC, or both, for a peculiar patient or clinical effect. This study aims to investigate the total content of THC, CBD, and their ratio in 34 dried inflorescence legally sold in physical and online stores, by using a validated liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method, after cannabinoids identification performed through MSn studies. Cannabinol (CBN) content was also monitored to evaluate hemp age or conservation status. CBN content always resulted lower than limit of quantification, thus confirming well-stored fresh hemp. All investigated samples showed a total THC amount below 0.59% w/w, thus responding to legal...
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To combat the ineffectiveness of currently available pharmaceutical medications, caused by the emergence of increasingly resistant bacterial and fungal strains, novel antibacterial and antifungal medications are urgently needed. Novel... more
To combat the ineffectiveness of currently available pharmaceutical medications, caused by the emergence of increasingly resistant bacterial and fungal strains, novel antibacterial and antifungal medications are urgently needed. Novel natural compounds with antimicrobial activities can be obtained by exploring underexplored habitats such as the world’s oceans. The oceans represent the largest ecosystem on earth, with a high diversity of organisms. Oceans have received some attention in the past few years, and promising compounds with antimicrobial activities were isolated from marine organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, sea cucumbers, sea sponges, etc. This review covers 56 antifungal and 40 antibacterial compounds from marine organisms. These compounds are categorized according to their chemical structure groups, including polyketides, alkaloids, ribosomal peptides, and terpenes, and their organismal origin. The review provides the minimum inhibitory concentration MIC values a...
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The investigation focused on the deterioration of the walls in the hypogeum of “San Pietro Barisano” rupestrian church, located in the Matera-Sassi (Southern Italy), one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The study evaluated the biocide... more
The investigation focused on the deterioration of the walls in the hypogeum of “San Pietro Barisano” rupestrian church, located in the Matera-Sassi (Southern Italy), one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The study evaluated the biocide activity of a mixture of natural glycoalkaloids (GAs) extracted from the unripe fruit of Solanum nigrum and applied to clean a hypogeum wall surface in the church affected by bio-patinas. The analyzed bio-patina, collected before treatment and, at pre-established times, after treatment, showed changes in chemical composition detected by XPS, accompanied by visible discoloration and biological activity variation. The biocidal action of the glycoalkaloids mixture, directly employed on the wall surface, was effective after about four weeks for most bio-patina colonizers but not for the fungal species that can migrate and survive in the porosities of the calcarenite. Consequently, the cleaning procedure requires the integration of fungicidal actions, co...
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This study aimed to assess the metagenomic changes of soil bacterial community after constructing a crude oil flowline in Basilicata region, Italy. Soils identified a total of 56 taxa at the phylum level and 485 at the family level, with... more
This study aimed to assess the metagenomic changes of soil bacterial community after constructing a crude oil flowline in Basilicata region, Italy. Soils identified a total of 56 taxa at the phylum level and 485 at the family level, with a different taxa distribution, especially in samples collected on 2014. Since microbiological diversity occurred in the soils collected after 2013 (the reference year), we performed a differential abundance analysis using DESeq2 by GAIA pipeline. In the forest area, 14 phyla and 126 families were differentially abundant (− 6.06 < logFC > 7.88) in 2014 compared to 2013. Nine families were differentially abundant in 2015, with logFC between − 3.16 and 4.66, while 20 families were significantly more abundant and 16 less abundant in 2016, with logFC between − 6.48 and 6.45. In the cultivated area, 33 phyla and 260 families showed differential abundance in 2014. In the next year (2015), 14 phyla were significantly more abundant and 19 less abundant...
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The predrug (prodrug) term involves chemically modified inert compound which upon an administration releases the active parent drug to elicit its pharmacological response within the body. For many years, the predrug strategy has been... more
The predrug (prodrug) term involves chemically modified inert compound which upon an administration releases the active parent drug to elicit its pharmacological response within the body. For many years, the predrug strategy has been extensively developed to solve many unwanted drug properties. This approach has several advantages over conventional drug administration and it has the potential to be quite effective method for the treatment of diseases in the future. In this mini-review we describe a number of antibacterial agents‘ predrugs, and the ways by which predrug strategy was exploited to overcome many pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic problems that the parent active antibacterial drugs suffer from such as, low bioavailability by increasing or decreasing lipophilicity, site selectivity for higher absorption and less toxicity, short duration of action to increase patient compliance, rapid metabolism to increase oral bioavailability and masking bitter sensation which is crucial...
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Lithic artworks as churches, historical buildings and every usage object are our precious cultural heritage, memory of our past history step needed to build present and future. These artistic heritages with morphological, chemical and... more
Lithic artworks as churches, historical buildings and every usage object are our precious cultural heritage, memory of our past history step needed to build present and future. These artistic heritages with morphological, chemical and physical properties totally dissimilar make they a “unicum”, characterized by a specific vulnerability. Their decay is unavoidable, but it is a challenge for the humankind to protect and preserve them. Thus far, solutions for the safeguard of cultural heritage are usually based on chemical procedures to remove biodeteriogen agents, but these substances can be hazardous to the environment, to public health and to stone materials itself because it is not known about the consequences of repeated applications. Then the restoration methods require innovative approaches, eco-friendly and not harmful to human beings and the environment. Aiming at this objective a deeply study on two rupestrian churches located in Matera (Italy) was carried out in order to pre...
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I licheni, organismi derivanti dalla simbiosi tra un fungo e un’alga, sono particolarmente indicati a registrare su se stessi le informazioni su ciò che accade ad un essere vivente se viene sottoposto per un lungo tempo alle sostanze... more
I licheni, organismi derivanti dalla simbiosi tra un fungo e un’alga, sono particolarmente indicati a registrare su se stessi le informazioni su ciò che accade ad un essere vivente se viene sottoposto per un lungo tempo alle sostanze inquinanti. L’inquinamento atmosferico provoca infatti un deterioramento degli esemplari presenti nella zona interessata, fino ad impedire la crescita delle specie meno adattabili agli inquinanti: nei casi più gravi si assiste alla totale scomparsa anche delle specie più resistenti (deserto lichenico). Il biomonitoraggio lichenico può essere un valido supporto, non sostitutivo dell’analisi chimica tradizionale, per valutare il grado di alterazione ambientale del territorio: studi a livello internazionale indicano la biodiversità lichenica quale parametro per classificare la qualità dell’aria nelle nostre città. Questo obiettivo può essere raggiunto con modalità di rilevo standardizzate ottenendo dati spaziali di tipo ambientale. Il presente lavoro ripor...
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Biological sciences and related bio-technology play a very important role in research projects concerning protection and preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. In this work secondary metabolites of Burkholderia gladioli... more
Biological sciences and related bio-technology play a very important role in research projects concerning protection and preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. In this work secondary metabolites of Burkholderia gladioli pv. agaricicola (Bga) ICMP 11096 strain and crude extract of glycoalkaloids from Solanaceae plants, were tested against a panel of microorganisms isolated from calcarenite stones of two historical bridges located in Potenza and in Campomaggiore (Southern Italy). The isolated bacteria belong to Bacillus cereus and Arthrobacter agilis species, while fungi belong to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Coprinellus, Fusarium, Rhizoctonio and Stemphylium genera. Bga broth (unfiltered) and glycoalkaloids extracts were able to inhibit the growth of all bacterial isolates. Bga culture was active against fungal colonies, while Solanaceae extract exerted bio-activity against Fusarium and Rhizoctonia genera.
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In our previous reports we showed that Solanaceae alkaloids have ovicidal effect, together with repellent activity against Spodoptera exigua moths, cause negative chemotaxy of Dugesia gonocephala flatworms and have cardioinhibitory effect... more
In our previous reports we showed that Solanaceae alkaloids have ovicidal effect, together with repellent activity against Spodoptera exigua moths, cause negative chemotaxy of Dugesia gonocephala flatworms and have cardioinhibitory effect on Zophobas atratus beetles. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most useful laboratory models to test acute and subacute reproductive toxicity for insects. We examined the effect of Solanaceae extracts on three strains of D. melanogaster: wild type, white strain (sex-linked mutation) and sephia strain (autosomal mutation). The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 20+/-2 °C and 60+/-5% relative humidity. Insects laid eggs on the agar substratum containing various concentrations of extracts. Then, larval development (number of individuals, ratio of development) was evaluated. Subsequent generation of imagoes was transmitted to the next control vials and the insects were allowed to copulate and lay eggs. The th...
Abstract: The reverse osmosis (RO) brine generated from the Al-Quds University wastewater treatment plant was treated using an epuvalisation system. The advanced integrated wastewater treatment plant included an activated sludge unit, two... more
Abstract: The reverse osmosis (RO) brine generated from the Al-Quds University wastewater treatment plant was treated using an epuvalisation system. The advanced integrated wastewater treatment plant included an activated sludge unit, two consecutive ultrafiltration (UF) membrane filters (20 kD and 100 kD cutoffs) followed by an activated carbon filter and a reverse osmosis membrane. The epuvalisation system consisted of salt tolerant plants grown in hydroponic channels under continuous water flowing in a closed loop system, and placed in a greenhouse at Al-Quds University. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants were selected, and underwent two consecutive hydroponic flowing stages using different brine-concentrations: an adaptation stage, in which a 1:1 mixture of brine andInt. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14 13809 fresh water was used; followed by a functioning stage, with 100 % brine. A control
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Plant-derived substances, because of high biological activity, arouse interest of many scientists. Thus, plant extracts and pure substances are intensively studied on various insects as potential insecticides. In such studies, D.... more
Plant-derived substances, because of high biological activity, arouse interest of many scientists. Thus, plant extracts and pure substances are intensively studied on various insects as potential insecticides. In such studies, D. melanogaster is one of the most important model organisms. In our studies, we analysed the contents of two plant extracts and tested the activity of their main components against fruit flies and compared observed effects to effects caused by crude extracts. Then, we assessed the development of the next, unexposed generation. The chemical analysis of extracts revealed the presence of numerous glycoalkaloids and glucosinolates in Solanum nigrum and Armoracia rusticana extracts. These extracts, as well as their main components, revealed lethal and sublethal effects, such as the altered developmental time of various life stages and malformations of imagoes. Interestingly, the results for the extracts and pure main compounds often varied. Some of the results wer...
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La natura è un serbatoio di sostanze bioattive che potrebbero sostituire in varie applicazioni composti organici di sintesi. Queste sostanze denominate "metaboliti secondari" sono prodotte in tipologia e quantità diverse nelle... more
La natura è un serbatoio di sostanze bioattive che potrebbero sostituire in varie applicazioni composti organici di sintesi. Queste sostanze denominate "metaboliti secondari" sono prodotte in tipologia e quantità diverse nelle varie specie, sono sintetizzate in un organo ben preciso ma si possono anche accumulare in strutture diverse da quelle ove avviene la loro sintesi. L'interesse per queste sostanze è aumentato, tra il XIX e il XXI secolo, per le loro proprietà aromatiche, terapeutiche, e come materiali per l'industria. Dalla letteratura è noto che metaboliti secondari come i cannabinoidi e i tannini mostrano attività antimicrobica e sono in grado di inibire la proliferazione di cellule tumorali (Ding et al., 2013). Noi abbiamo voluto testare la bio-attività su ceppi batterici (Gram + e Gram-) e fungini, ritenuti responsabili del deterioramento di beni culturali, di estratti ottenuti da due colture vegetali ricche in cannabinoidi e tannini: Cannabis sativa e Co...
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Abstract Different degradation methods have been applied to assess the suitability of advanced oxidation process (AOPs) to promote the mineralization of mepanipyrim (4-Methyl-N-phenyl-6-(1-propynyl)-2-pyrimidinamine), a fungicide... more
Abstract Different degradation methods have been applied to assess the suitability of advanced oxidation process (AOPs) to promote the mineralization of mepanipyrim (4-Methyl-N-phenyl-6-(1-propynyl)-2-pyrimidinamine), a fungicide belonging to the family of the anilino-pyrimidine, active against gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) on grapevine, strawberry and tomato. The persistence of this active substance has been demonstrated in soil, surface and ground waters, and in water destined to human uses. Degradation processes were carried out in aqueous solutions by means of UV light, Ozone (O3), UV/O3, and heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2 and Pilkington Active Blue glass. The experiments were performed through a solar simulator (Suntest CPS) furnished with a xenon lamp. The identification and quantification of mepanipyrim residues and its degradation products were achieved by using liquid chromatography/DAD coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/DAD-MS). The efficiencies of the different ox...
ODTMA-micelle-clay complex as an efficient adsorbent was prepared from a cationic surfactant, octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) and a negatively charged clay (montmorillonite). It is characterized with a positive charge and large... more
ODTMA-micelle-clay complex as an efficient adsorbent was prepared from a cationic surfactant, octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) and a negatively charged clay (montmorillonite). It is characterized with a positive charge and large hydrophobic sites. The micelle- clay complex was investigated towards removal of the ant-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Diclofenac and Naproxen and a heavy metal Cr (VI) as part of comprehensive evaluation study to utilize this adsorbent in advanced wastewater treatment technology. Stability studies demonstrated that while Diclofenac potassium was completely stable in fresh water and in sludge Naproxen underwent biodegradation in sludge to provide O-desmethyl naproxen (DMN) as its single metabolite. Al-Quds Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) which includes ultrafiltration (UF) (hollow fiber HF and spiral wound SW) membranes, activated carbon (AC) and reverse osmosis (RO) has demonstrated high removal efficiency toward these two NSAIDs and Naproxen metabolite ...
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Bioinformatics, Genetics, Biology, Life Sciences, Fungi, and 15 moreBiological Control, Medicine, Aspergillus, Biomedical Research, Fusarium, Botrytis, Volatile Organic Compounds, Molecular sciences, Penicillium, Antifungal Agents, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Ascomycota, Extracellular enzymes, Burkholderia gladioli, and Antibiosis
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The effects of fenitrothion, carbaryl, and mancozeb, present in polluted water and plant extracted glycoalkaloids, were examined on hatching success of Spodoptera exigua eggs. All chemicals produced a significant decrease in hatching... more
The effects of fenitrothion, carbaryl, and mancozeb, present in polluted water and plant extracted glycoalkaloids, were examined on hatching success of Spodoptera exigua eggs. All chemicals produced a significant decrease in hatching success, which was correlated with chemical concentration. One of the most interesting aspects of this study relates to the biological activity of glycoalkaloids.
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Glycoalkaloids, the biologically active secondary metabolites produced by Solanaceae plants, are natural defenses against animals, insects and fungi. In this paper, the effects of glycoalkaloids present in extracts of Solanaceae plants... more
Glycoalkaloids, the biologically active secondary metabolites produced by Solanaceae plants, are natural defenses against animals, insects and fungi. In this paper, the effects of glycoalkaloids present in extracts of Solanaceae plants (potato, tomato and black nightshade) or pure commercial glycoalkaloids on the coleopteran Zophobas atratus F. were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo bioassays using heart experimental models. Each tested extract induced a dose-dependent cardioinhibitory effect. The perfusion of Zophobas atratus semi-isolated heart using the highest potato and tomato extract concentration (1 mmol/L) caused irreversible cardiac arrests, while extract from black nightshade produced fast but reversible arrests. Pure commercial glycoalkaloids caused similar but less evident effects compared with extracts. Our results showed that the bioactivity of tested compounds depended on their structure and suggested the existence of synergistic interactions when combinations of the main glycoalkaloids of potato and black nightshade were used for trials. Surprisingly, injection of tomato and potato extracts in 1-day-old pupae of Zophobas atratus induced reversible positive chronotropic effects and decreased the duration of the both phases (anterograde and retrograde) of the heart contractile activity. Furthermore, these extracts affected the amplitude of the heart contractions.
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Crude oil can undergo biotic and abiotic transformation processes in the environment. This article deals with the fate of an Italian crude oil under simulated solar irradiation to understand (i) the modification induced on its composition... more
Crude oil can undergo biotic and abiotic transformation processes in the environment. This article deals with the fate of an Italian crude oil under simulated solar irradiation to understand (i) the modification induced on its composition by artificial ageing and (ii) the transformations arising from different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) applied as oil-polluted water remediation methods. The AOPs adopted were photocatalysis, sonolysis and, simultaneously, photocatalysis and sonolysis (sonophotocatalysis). Crude oil and its water-soluble fractions underwent analysis using GC-MS, liquid-state 1H-NMR, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), and fluorescence. The crude oil after light irradiation showed (i) significant modifications induced by the artificial ageing on its composition and (ii) the formation of potentially toxic substances. The treatment produced oil oxidation with a particular effect of double bonds oxygenation. Non-polar compound...
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The deterioration process of historical buildings is progressive and irreversible, and the timing and mode of impact are different depending on the characteristics of building materials used, local microclimate, air pollution, presence of... more
The deterioration process of historical buildings is progressive and irreversible, and the timing and mode of impact are different depending on the characteristics of building materials used, local microclimate, air pollution, presence of specific flora and fauna. The surface structural characterisation of building materials is mandatory in preventing and eventually recovering degradation effects. Ideally, the analysis of structural stones should be complete, efficient, rapid, and non destructive when dealing with a precious or unique construction. For this purpose a building sample (ca. 1m3) was constructed by using calcarenite stones (33x15cm), collected from a local quarry, and placed between the archaeological site of Lavello, a little town located in the Basilicata Region (Italy), and the industrial area surrounding this town. In this case study in progress on the degradation of stone materials, we set as an objective the characterization of the state of conservation of stone s...
The photochemical behavior of oxyfluorfen [2-chloro-1-(3-etoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzene] on two Greek soils was investigated. Soils were sampled from Nea Malgara and Preveza regions, characterized by a different organic... more
The photochemical behavior of oxyfluorfen [2-chloro-1-(3-etoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzene] on two Greek soils was investigated. Soils were sampled from Nea Malgara and Preveza regions, characterized by a different organic matter content. Soils were spiked with the diphenyl-ether herbicide and irradiation experiments were performed either in the laboratory with a solar simulator (xenon lamp) or outside, under natural sunlight irradiation; other soil samples were kept in the dark to control the retention reaction. Kinetic parameters of both retention and photochemical reactions were calculated using zero-, first- and second- (Langmuir-Hinshelwood) order equations, and best fit was checked through statistical analysis. The soil behaviors were qualitatively similar but quantitatively different, with the soil sampled from the Nea Malgara region much more sorbent as compared with Preveza soil. All studied reactions followed second-order kinetics and photochemical reaction...