1
|
Ordoñez-Araque R, Ramos-Guerrero L, Vargas-Jentzsch P, Romero-Bastidas M, Rodríguez-Herrera N, Vallejo-Holguín R, Fuentes-Gualotuña C, Ruales J. Fatty Acids and Starch Identification within Minute Archaeological Fragments: Qualitative Investigation for Assessing Feasibility. Foods 2024; 13:1090. [PMID: 38611394 PMCID: PMC11011963 DOI: 10.3390/foods13071090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the realm of archaeology, the analysis of biomolecules assumes significant importance in elucidating historical dietary patterns and their implications for contemporary contexts. To achieve this, knowledge and tools of both chemistry and archaeology are essential to yield objective outcomes and conduct analyses of archaeological materials for the detection of biomolecules. Usually, only minuscule remnants of ceramic fragments are retrieved from excavations, which limits the feasibility of comprehensive laboratory analysis. This study aimed to establish a protocol for analyzing fatty acids and starch from archaeological food utensils with minimal sample quantities. Various experiments were conducted to replicate preparations that might have occurred in archaeological vessels, aiming to establish the optimal protocol. The analyses were performed using clay griddles, subjecting vegetable oil to varying temperatures for fatty acid assessment. For starch analysis, a series of experiments encompassed diverse forms of potato preparations (pulp, chuño, tortilla, carbonization, and freeze-drying) and maize (flour, tortilla, and carbonization). The verification of the experiments was confirmed by conducting identical analyses, as developed in the current study, on authentic archaeological fragments. The principal outcomes of this investigation include the successful extraction of both types of biomolecules using only 0.25 g of the sample, obtained through direct scraping from the vessel. Soxhlet extraction was identified as the most efficient strategy to recover fatty acids. Additionally, a comprehensive protocol for the identification of starch extraction was developed. This study has, for the first time, elucidated two detailed methodologies for the extraction of fatty acids and starch in scenarios in which researchers can obtain limited quantities of archaeological food utensil fragments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ordoñez-Araque
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, Departamento de Ciencia de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Agroindustria, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador; (R.O.-A.); (P.V.-J.)
- Facultad de Salud y Bienestar, Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Universidad Iberoamericana del Ecuador (UNIB.E), Quito 170143, Ecuador
- Escuela de Gastronomía, Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito 170513, Ecuador;
- Programa de Maestría en Desarrollo e Innovación en Alimentos, Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito 170125, Ecuador
| | - Luis Ramos-Guerrero
- Grupo de Investigación Bio-Quimioinformática, Carrera de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito 170125, Ecuador
| | - Paul Vargas-Jentzsch
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, Departamento de Ciencia de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Agroindustria, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador; (R.O.-A.); (P.V.-J.)
- Departamento de Ciencias Nucleares, Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Agroindustria, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador
| | - Martha Romero-Bastidas
- Unidad de Laboratorio y Análisis, Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural (INPC), Quito 170143, Ecuador;
| | | | - Rubén Vallejo-Holguín
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Carrera de Química de Alimentos, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador; (R.V.-H.); (C.F.-G.)
| | - Camila Fuentes-Gualotuña
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Carrera de Química de Alimentos, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador; (R.V.-H.); (C.F.-G.)
| | - Jenny Ruales
- Departamento de Ciencia de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Agroindustria, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Quito 170143, Ecuador;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Birarda G, Badetti E, Cagnato C, Sorrentino G, Pantyukhina I, Stani C, Dal Zilio S, Khlopachev G, Covalenco S, Obada T, Skakun N, Sinitsyn A, Terekhina V, Marcomini A, Lubritto C, Cefarin N, Vaccari L, Longo L. Morpho-chemical characterization of individual ancient starches retrieved on ground stone tools from Palaeolithic sites in the Pontic steppe. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21713. [PMID: 38065952 PMCID: PMC10709628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46970-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological contexts, there are still significant concerns regarding their genuine origin and durability. Here, we propose a multi-analytical strategy to identify the authenticity of ancient starches retrieved from macrolithic tools excavated at Upper Paleolithic sites in the Pontic steppe. This strategy integrates the morphological discrimination of starches through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with single starch chemo-profiling using Fourier transform infrared imaging and microscopy. We obtained evidence of aging and biomineralization in the use-related starches from Palaeolithic sites, providing a methodology to establish their ancient origin, assess their preservation status, and attempt their identification. The pivotal application of this multidisciplinar approach demonstrates that the macrolithic tools, from which starches were dislodged, were used for food-processing across the Pontic Steppe around 40,000 years ago during the earliest colonization of Eurasia by Homo sapiens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Birarda
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
| | - E Badetti
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Mestre, VE, Italy
| | - C Cagnato
- UMR 8096 Archéologie des Amériques, CNRS, Université Paris 1 - Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France
- UMR7268 Anthropologie Bio-Culturelle, Droit, Ethique et Santé (ADES), Marseille, France
| | - G Sorrentino
- Department of Physics, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - I Pantyukhina
- Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology, Far-Eastern Branch, IHAE-FEB RAS, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - C Stani
- CERIC-ERIC, S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - S Dal Zilio
- CNR IOM, S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - G Khlopachev
- Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - S Covalenco
- Institute of Cultural Heritage, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chişinău, Moldova
| | - T Obada
- Institute of Zoology, National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History of Moldova, Chişinău, Moldova
| | - N Skakun
- Institute for the History of Material Culture, IHC-RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A Sinitsyn
- Institute for the History of Material Culture, IHC-RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - V Terekhina
- Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Institute for the History of Material Culture, IHC-RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Mestre, VE, Italy
| | - C Lubritto
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Caserta "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - N Cefarin
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Vaccari
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Longo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Mestre, VE, Italy.
- ADM School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fontani F, Boano R, Cinti A, Demarchi B, Sandron S, Rampelli S, Candela M, Traversari M, Latorre A, Iacovera R, Abondio P, Sarno S, Mackie M, Collins M, Radini A, Milani C, Petrella E, Giampalma E, Minelli A, Larocca F, Cilli E, Luiselli D. Bioarchaeological and paleogenomic profiling of the unusual Neolithic burial from Grotta di Pietra Sant'Angelo (Calabria, Italy). Sci Rep 2023; 13:11978. [PMID: 37488251 PMCID: PMC10366206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39250-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Neolithic burial of Grotta di Pietra Sant'Angelo (CS) represents a unique archaeological finding for the prehistory of Southern Italy. The unusual placement of the inhumation at a rather high altitude and far from inhabited areas, the lack of funerary equipment and the prone deposition of the body find limited similarities in coeval Italian sites. These elements have prompted wider questions on mortuary customs during the prehistory of Southern Italy. This atypical case requires an interdisciplinary approach aimed to build an integrated bioarchaeological profile of the individual. The paleopathological investigation of the skeletal remains revealed the presence of numerous markers that could be associated with craft activities, suggesting possible interpretations of the individual's lifestyle. CT analyses, carried out on the maxillary bones, showed the presence of a peculiar type of dental wear, but also a good density of the bone matrix. Biomolecular and micromorphological analyses of dental calculus highlight the presence of a rich Neolithic-like oral microbiome, the composition of which is consistent with the presence pathologies. Finally, paleogenomic data obtained from the individual were compared with ancient and modern Mediterranean populations, including unpublished high-resolution genome-wide data for 20 modern inhabitants of the nearby village of San Lorenzo Bellizzi, which provided interesting insights into the biodemographic landscape of the Neolithic in Southern Italy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Fontani
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Rosa Boano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cinti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Beatrice Demarchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Sarah Sandron
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Simone Rampelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Candela
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirko Traversari
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Adriana Latorre
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Rocco Iacovera
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Abondio
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Meaghan Mackie
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, København, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, København, Denmark
- School of Archeology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Matthew Collins
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, København, Denmark
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3ER, UK
| | - Anita Radini
- School of Archeology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Chantal Milani
- SIOF - Italian Society of Forensic Odontology, Strada Degli Schiocchi 12, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Enrico Petrella
- Radiology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Via Carlo Forlanini 34, 47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Emanuela Giampalma
- Radiology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Via Carlo Forlanini 34, 47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Antonella Minelli
- Department of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Molise, Via Francesco De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Felice Larocca
- Speleo-Archaeological Research Group, University of Bari, Piazza Umberto I 1, 70121, Bari, Italy
- Speleo-Archaeological Research Centre "Enzo dei Medici", Via Lucania 3, 87070, Roseto Capo Spulico (CS), Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cilli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Delaney S, Alexander M, Radini A. More than what we eat: Investigating an alternative pathway for intact starch granules in dental calculus using Experimental Archaeology. QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR QUATERNARY RESEARCH 2023; 653-654:19-32. [PMID: 37089909 PMCID: PMC10109111 DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Starch granules and other plant tissues are commonly found as part of the microdebris assemblage analysed within dental calculus. These are often interpreted as evidence of past diets. However, many of the starch granules extracted from dental calculus are intact, and do not show evidence of alterations as a result of being processed for consumption. This research examines if plant material can accidently enter the mouth while being processed for a meal, with a focus on starch granules. Grinding experiments were performed on three types of cereal grains (wheat, oat and millet). We compare the presence of intact and altered starch granules in mouthwash samples (in place of dental calculus samples) from individuals involved in grinding and also from samples in the environment surrounding the grinding activity. This experiment is a proof of concept aimed to expand experimental research in the field of dental calculus analysis and to encourage the exploration of pathways beyond direct and deliberate consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Delaney
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, The University of York, Wentworth Way, York, UK
- Corresponding author.
| | - Michelle Alexander
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, The University of York, Wentworth Way, York, UK
| | - Anita Radini
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, The University of York, Wentworth Way, York, UK
- York JEOL Nanocentre, The University of York, Science Park, York, UK
- Corresponding author. BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, The University of York, Wentworth Way, York, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reconstructing Neanderthal diet: The case for carbohydrates. J Hum Evol 2021; 162:103105. [PMID: 34923240 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for plants rarely survives on Paleolithic sites, while animal bones and biomolecular analyses suggest animal produce was important to hominin populations, leading to the perspective that Neanderthals had a very-high-protein diet. But although individual and short-term survival is possible on a relatively low-carbohydrate diet, populations are unlikely to have thrived and reproduced without plants and the carbohydrates they provide. Today, nutritional guidelines recommend that around half the diet should be carbohydrate, while low intake is considered to compromise physical performance and successful reproduction. This is likely to have been the same for Paleolithic populations, highlighting an anomaly in that the basic physiological recommendations do not match the extensive archaeological evidence. Neanderthals had large, energy-expensive brains and led physically active lifestyles, suggesting that for optimal health they would have required high amounts of carbohydrates. To address this anomaly, we begin by outlining the essential role of carbohydrates in the human reproduction cycle and the brain and the effects on physical performance. We then evaluate the evidence for resource availability and the archaeological evidence for Neanderthal diet and investigate three ways that the anomaly between the archaeological evidence and the hypothetical dietary requirements might be explained. First, Neanderthals may have had an as yet unidentified genetic adaptation to an alternative physiological method to spare blood glucose and glycogen reserves for essential purposes. Second, they may have existed on a less-than-optimum diet and survived rather than thrived. Third, the methods used in dietary reconstruction could mask a complex combination of dietary plant and animal proportions. We end by proposing that analyses of Paleolithic diet and subsistence strategies need to be grounded in the minimum recommendations throughout the life course and that this provides a context for interpretation of the archaeological evidence from the behavioral and environmental perspectives.
Collapse
|
6
|
Bürgy L, Eicke S, Kopp C, Jenny C, Lu KJ, Escrig S, Meibom A, Zeeman SC. Coalescence and directed anisotropic growth of starch granule initials in subdomains of Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6944. [PMID: 34836943 PMCID: PMC8626487 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27151-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Living cells orchestrate enzyme activities to produce myriads of biopolymers but cell-biological understanding of such processes is scarce. Starch, a plant biopolymer forming discrete, semi-crystalline granules within plastids, plays a central role in glucose storage, which is fundamental to life. Combining complementary imaging techniques and Arabidopsis genetics we reveal that, in chloroplasts, multiple starch granules initiate in stromal pockets between thylakoid membranes. These initials coalesce, then grow anisotropically to form lenticular granules. The major starch polymer, amylopectin, is synthesized at the granule surface, while the minor amylose component is deposited internally. The non-enzymatic domain of STARCH SYNTHASE 4, which controls the protein's localization, is required for anisotropic growth. These results present us with a conceptual framework for understanding the biosynthesis of this key nutrient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léo Bürgy
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simona Eicke
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Kopp
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Camilla Jenny
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kuan Jen Lu
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephane Escrig
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anders Meibom
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Centre for Advanced Surface Analysis, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samuel C Zeeman
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
de la O V, Zazpe I, Goni L, Santiago S, Martín-Calvo N, Bes-Rastrollo M, Martínez JA, Martínez-González MÁ, Ruiz-Canela M. A score appraising Paleolithic diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease in a Mediterranean prospective cohort. Eur J Nutr 2021; 61:957-971. [PMID: 34671828 PMCID: PMC8854325 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02696-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To assess the association between a score appraising adherence to the PaleoDiet and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods We included 18,210 participants from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort study. The PaleoDiet score comprised six food groups promoted within this diet (fruit, nuts, vegetables, eggs, meat and fish) and five food groups whose consumption is discouraged (cereals and grains, dairy products, legumes, culinary ingredients, and processed/ultra-processed foods). CVD was defined as acute myocardial infarction with or without ST elevation, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular death. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders were fitted to assess the association between the PaleoDiet score and CVD risk, and the PaleoDiet and MedDiet indices to explore differences between both diets. Results During 12.2 years of follow-up, 165 incident CVD cases were confirmed. A significant inverse association was found between the PaleoDiet score and CVD (HR Q5 vs. Q1: 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.76, P for trend = 0.007). A weaker association that became non-significant was observed when the item for low consumption of ultra-processed foods was removed from the score. Joint analysis of PaleoDiet and MedDiet Trichopoulou scores suggested that the inverse association between PaleoDiet and CVD was mainly present when adherence to the MedDiet was also high (HR for high adherence vs low adherence to both diet scores: 0.22, 95% CI 0.08–0.64). Conclusions Our findings suggest that the PaleoDiet may have cardiovascular benefits in participants from a Mediterranean country. Avoidance of ultra-processed foods seems to play a key role in this inverse association. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02696-9.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor de la O
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Itziar Zazpe
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leticia Goni
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Susana Santiago
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Martín-Calvo
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maira Bes-Rastrollo
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - J Alfredo Martínez
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Precision Nutrition Program, IMDEA Food, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Á Martínez-González
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Miguel Ruiz-Canela
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
D’Agostino A, Canini A, Di Marco G, Nigro L, Spagnoli F, Gismondi A. Investigating Plant Micro-Remains Embedded in Dental Calculus of the Phoenician Inhabitants of Motya (Sicily, Italy). PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9101395. [PMID: 33092237 PMCID: PMC7590007 DOI: 10.3390/plants9101395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Plant records reveal remarkable evidence about past environments and human cultures. Exploiting dental calculus analysis and using a combined approach of microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, our research outlines dietary ecology and phytomedicinal practices of the ancient community of Motya (Sicily, eight to sixth century BC), one of the most important Phoenician settlements in the Mediterranean basin. Micro-remains suggest use or consumption of Triticeae cereals, and animal-derived sources (e.g., milk and aquatic birds). Markers of grape (or wine), herbs, and rhizomes, endemic of Mediterranean latitudes and the East, provide insight into the subsistence of this colony, in terms of foodstuffs and phytotherapeutic products. The application of resins and wood of Gymnosperms for social and cultural purposes is hypothesized through the identification of Pinaceae secondary metabolites and pollen grains. The information hidden in dental calculus discloses the strong human-plant interaction in Motya’s Phoenician community, in terms of cultural traditions and land use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia D’Agostino
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.D.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Antonella Canini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.D.); (G.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.G.); Tel.: +39-06-7259-4330 (A.C.); +39-06-7259-4344 (A.G.); Fax: +39-06-2023-500 (A.C. & A.G.)
| | - Gabriele Di Marco
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.D.); (G.D.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Nigro
- Department Italian Institute of Oriental Studies—ISO, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.N.); (F.S.)
| | - Federica Spagnoli
- Department Italian Institute of Oriental Studies—ISO, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.N.); (F.S.)
| | - Angelo Gismondi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.D.); (G.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.G.); Tel.: +39-06-7259-4330 (A.C.); +39-06-7259-4344 (A.G.); Fax: +39-06-2023-500 (A.C. & A.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Smith AM, Zeeman SC. Starch: A Flexible, Adaptable Carbon Store Coupled to Plant Growth. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 71:217-245. [PMID: 32075407 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-050718-100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Research in the past decade has uncovered new and surprising information about the pathways of starch synthesis and degradation. This includes the discovery of previously unsuspected protein families required both for processes and for the long-sought mechanism of initiation of starch granules. There is also growing recognition of the central role of leaf starch turnover in making carbon available for growth across the day-night cycle. Sophisticated systems-level control mechanisms involving the circadian clock set rates of nighttime starch mobilization that maintain a steady supply of carbon until dawn and modulate partitioning of photosynthate into starch in the light, optimizing the fraction of assimilated carbon that can be used for growth. These discoveries also uncover complexities: Results from experiments with Arabidopsis leaves in conventional controlled environments are not necessarily applicable to other organs or species or to growth in natural, fluctuating environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel C Zeeman
- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gismondi A, Baldoni M, Gnes M, Scorrano G, D’Agostino A, Di Marco G, Calabria G, Petrucci M, Müldner G, Von Tersch M, Nardi A, Enei F, Canini A, Rickards O, Alexander M, Martínez-Labarga C. A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227433. [PMID: 31990948 PMCID: PMC6986732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C3-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C4 plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C3 cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Gismondi
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marica Baldoni
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Micaela Gnes
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Scorrano
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia D’Agostino
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Di Marco
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulietta Calabria
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Petrucci
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gundula Müldner
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, England, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Von Tersch
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, England, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Nardi
- Department of Mathematics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Enei
- Museo Civico di Santa Marinella “Museo del Mare e della Navigazione Antica”, Castello di Santa Severa (Roma–Italia)
| | - Antonella Canini
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Olga Rickards
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Michelle Alexander
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, England, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA Antico, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
D’Agostino A, Gismondi A, Di Marco G, Lo Castro M, Olevano R, Cinti T, Leonardi D, Canini A. Lifestyle of a Roman Imperial community: ethnobotanical evidence from dental calculus of the Ager Curensis inhabitants. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2019; 15:62. [PMID: 31801550 PMCID: PMC6894264 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-019-0334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The analysis of ancient calcified dental plaque is a powerful archaeobotanical method to elucidate the key role of the plants in human history. METHODS In this research, by applying both optic microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry on this matrix, a detailed qualitative investigation for reconstructing the lifestyle of a Roman imperial community of the Ager Curensis (Sabina Tiberina, Central Italy) was performed. RESULTS The detection of animal micro-remains and molecules (e.g., hairs, feather barbules, markers of dairy products), starch granules of several cereals and legumes, pollen (e.g., Juglans regia L., Hedera sp. L.) and other plant micro-debris (e.g., trichome of Olea sp., hemp fibers), and phytochemicals (e.g., Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae herbs, Ferula sp., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., wine, and Humulus lupulus L.) in the dental calculus sample demonstrated that plant-derived foods were regularly consumed together with animal resources. CONCLUSIONS This nutritional plan, consistent with the information reported in ancient written texts, suggested that the studied population based its own subsistence on both agriculture and husbandry, probably also including beekeeping and hunting activities. All together, these results represent proofs for the comprehension of food habits, phytotherapeutic practices, and cultural traditions of one of the first Roman settlements in the Sabina Tiberina area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia D’Agostino
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Gismondi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Di Marco
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Lo Castro
- Società Cooperativa “Il Bètilo” - Servizi per i Beni Culturali a r. l., Via Remigio De Paolis 15, 00030 San Vito Romano (RM), Italy
| | - Rosaria Olevano
- Società Cooperativa “Il Bètilo” - Servizi per i Beni Culturali a r. l., Via Remigio De Paolis 15, 00030 San Vito Romano (RM), Italy
| | - Tiziano Cinti
- Società Cooperativa “Il Bètilo” - Servizi per i Beni Culturali a r. l., Via Remigio De Paolis 15, 00030 San Vito Romano (RM), Italy
| | - Donatella Leonardi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Canini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Goren A, Ashlock D, Tetlow IJ. Starch formation inside plastids of higher plants. PROTOPLASMA 2018; 255:1855-1876. [PMID: 29774409 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-018-1259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Starch is a water-insoluble polyglucan synthesized inside the plastid stroma within plant cells, serving a crucial role in the carbon budget of the whole plant by acting as a short-term and long-term store of energy. The highly complex, hierarchical structure of the starch granule arises from the actions of a large suite of enzyme activities, in addition to physicochemical self-assembly mechanisms. This review outlines current knowledge of the starch biosynthetic pathway operating in plant cells in relation to the micro- and macro-structures of the starch granule. We highlight the gaps in our knowledge, in particular, the relationship between enzyme function and operation at the molecular level and the formation of the final, macroscopic architecture of the granule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asena Goren
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Daniel Ashlock
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ian J Tetlow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pleistocene dental calculus: Recovering information on Paleolithic food items, medicines, paleoenvironment and microbes. Evol Anthropol 2018; 27:234-246. [DOI: 10.1002/evan.21718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
14
|
Mercader J, Akeju T, Brown M, Bundala M, Collins MJ, Copeland L, Crowther A, Dunfield P, Henry A, Inwood J, Itambu M, Kim JJ, Larter S, Longo L, Oldenburg T, Patalano R, Sammynaiken R, Soto M, Tyler R, Xhauflair H. Exaggerated expectations in ancient starch research and the need for new taphonomic and authenticity criteria. Facets (Ott) 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2017-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient starch research illuminates aspects of human ecology and economic botany that drove human evolution and cultural complexity over time, with a special emphasis on past technology, diet, health, and adaptation to changing environments and socio-economic systems. However, lapses in prevailing starch research demonstrate the exaggerated expectations for the field that have been generated over the last few decades. This includes an absence of explanation for the millennial-scale survivability of a biochemically degradable polymer, and difficulties in establishing authenticity and taxonomic identification. This paper outlines new taphonomic and authenticity criteria to guide future work toward designing research programs that fully exploit the potential of ancient starch while considering growing demands from readers, editors, and reviewers that look for objective compositional identification of putatively ancient starch granules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio Mercader
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Tolutope Akeju
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Melisa Brown
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Mariam Bundala
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35051, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Matthew J. Collins
- Statens Naturhistoriske Museum, Københavns Universitet, 1350 København K, Denmark
| | - Les Copeland
- The University of Sydney, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Alison Crowther
- School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Peter Dunfield
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Amanda Henry
- Department of Archaeological Sciences, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jamie Inwood
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Makarius Itambu
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35051, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Joong-Jae Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Steve Larter
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Laura Longo
- School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore
| | - Thomas Oldenburg
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert Patalano
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ramaswami Sammynaiken
- Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - María Soto
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert Tyler
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Hermine Xhauflair
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, England
| |
Collapse
|