assay (9). The absorbance was recorded through the
use a Tecan Sunrise® plate reader spectrophotometer.
Total ascorbic acid (AA+DHAA) was extracted and
quantified by HPLC system according to the method
of Margolis et al. (10), with some modifications (11).
Chromatographic separation was carried on a 250 x
4.6 mm Capcell Pak NH2 column (Shiseido, Tokyo,
Japan), using ESA series HPLC, equipped an eight-
channel coulometric electrode array detector and an
ESA coularray operating software that control the
equipment and perform data processing (ESA,
Chemsford, MA, USA). Phenolics were hydrolyzed to
obtain total free forms, and extracted as described by
Hertoget all. (12). Quantitative analysis was per-
formed using an ESA series (MODEL 580) of HPLC
solvent delivery module, an ESA 5600 eight-channel
coulometric electrode array detector and an ESA
coularray operating software that control the equip-
ment and perform data processing (ESA, Chemsford,
MA, USA).
Carotenoids were determined as described by Sharp-
less et all. (13). The extracts were analysed by a
Perkin-Elmer ISS 200 series HPLC system. The elu-
ents were methanol/acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran
(50:45:5). The peaks were detected with a variable
spectrophotometric detector (Perkin-Elmer LC-95,
Norwalk, CO, USA) connected to a personal computer
Pe Nelson mod 1020 (Perkin-Elmer). The detection
wavelengths was 450 nm for carotenoids (14).MTT test to evaluate cytotoxicity of phenolic chicory
extracts on Caco-2 cells was used. The MTT colori-
metric assay determines the ability of viable cells to
convert a soluble tetrazolium salt (MTT) into an insol-
uble formazan precipitate. The ability of cells to reduce
MTT provides an indication of mitochondrial integrity
and activity which, in turn, may be interpreted as a
measure of viability and/or cell number. The assay has
therefore been adapted for use with cultures of expo-
nentially growing cells such as the human epithelial
colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Determination of
their ability to reduce MTT to the formazan product
after exposure to test compounds, enables the rela-
tive toxicity of test chemicals to be assessed.Statistics
Data are given as the mean and standard deviation
(SD). Statistical analysis was performed using stu-
dent's t-test.Results and discussion
Our study has been focused on quantification of
bioactive molecules (vitamins, polyphenols,
carotenoids) and on evaluation of antioxidant power
of local selected foodstuffs (Table 1). It is important
not only levels of phytochemicals in foodstuffs, but
the contribution of foodstuffs to dietary intake (7).
Detailed consumption data for fruit and vegetables
in Italy are in Table 2.245Table 2. The contribution of selected foodstuffs to dietary intake.
TotalNorthwestNortheast Centre South and islands
Food Average SD % cons.a Average SD % cons.a Average SD % cons. Average SD % cons.a Average SD % cons.a
Raw carrots 9.24 16.45 53.08 12.36 19.17 50.09 12.50 18.64 66.11 6.62 14.72 49.37 6.26 12.12 50.85
Potatoes 38.59 38.58 78.01 34.51 35.74 73.48 35.21 35.67 75.63 41.18 41.42 78.84 42.51 40.21 82.84
Vegetables 19.91 32.63 47.62 19.05 30.80 46.10 15.69 29.84 45.38 24.05 34.52 54.91 20.47 34.14 45.75
Apples 52.88 73.82 60.67 62.59 82.33 62.74 58.04 82.82 66.39 45.27 59.47 60.71 46.05 66.95 55.64
Pears 16.87 34.13 30.69 18.09 35.86 29.81 12.28 29.46 25.77 16.19 31.94 30.73 18.75 35.96 34.1 6
Cherries 3.88 16.08 8.95 1.71 10.40 5.37 1.73 9.91 4.20 5.12 19.03 11.08 6.25 20.11 13.45
Strawberries 3.51 14.00 10.72 3.93 16.55 10.92 3.71 16.28 8.96 3.66 11.84 12.59 2.94 11.05 10.36
Berries 0.61 6.28 1.77 0.26 2.28 1.91 0.31 3.16 1.12 0.14 1.79 0.76 1.39 10.37 2.63
a% of people who consumed food in study week.
Data from A. Turrini, A. Saba, D. Perrone, E. Cialfa and A. D’Amicis, Food consumption patterns in Italy: the INN-CA Study 1994-1996.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55:571-588 ( 2001 ), adapted by Aida Turrini.