AcorN: a forgotten resource to be rediscOVered and valorizEd in the production of good and heaLThY foods. (NOVELTY)
Traditionally, Quercus spp. fruits (acorns) were used in animal feeding (pigs, cows, and so on), but their nutritional value, as well as the interesting/high amount of fiber, fat and phytochemical compounds have raised the interest in integrating acorns into the human diet. The enrichment of foods with acorn flour contributes to increase their content in dietary fiber and phenolic compounds, with potential health benefits, including antitumor and cardioprotective properties, and counteraction of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis. Thus, the aim of the project is to bring to light a forgotten food resource, represented by the oak acorns and originate new designed acorn containing foods. The in vivo model of Drosophila melanogaster will be used to verify the potential health effects of dietary inclusion of acorn based food products both during the ageing process (wild type strain) or during the development of a neurodegenerative disease (engineered model of flies developing Alzheimer Disease).
Keywords - ENGLISH
Acorn, Valorization, Drosophila melanogaster, Bread, Pasta, Snack.
Active participants in the research line (PI last author or *)
Daniela Beghelli; Elena Giovanna Vittadini; Antonella Laterza; Giovanni Caprioli.
External Collaborations
UniversitĂ degli Studi di Parma; UniversitĂ degli Studi di Milano.
Pillar
Human Health
Macroareas in Human Health
Biology of health and disease
Relevant research grants (national/international) funding specifically this Research Line
PRIN– Bando 2022 PNRR Prot. P2022N57PN : "AcorN: a forgotten resource to be rediscOVered and valorizEd in the production of good and heaLThY foods. (NOVELTY)"
Email Address
daniela.beghelli@unicam.it
Link to Relevant Publications