About the Authors

Teresa Tropea

Affiliation Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

Ernestina Marianna De Francesco

Affiliation Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

Damiano Rigiracciolo

Affiliation Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

Marcello Maggiolini

Affiliation Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

Mark Wareing

Affiliation Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

George Osol

Affiliation Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America

Maurizio Mandalà

m.mandala@unical.it

Affiliation Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: M. Mandalà. Performed the experiments: TT ED DR. Analyzed the data: M. Mandalà M. Maggiolini. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: M. Mandalà M. Maggiolini. Wrote the paper: TT M. Mandalà. Critical revision for important intellectual content: GO MW.