Volume 26, No. 4 (2025)
Articles
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICIENT HPLC-DAD METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF PRESERVATIVES IN DIFFERENT BEVERAGES IN ISFAHAN, IRAN
SEYED MOHAMAD R. NAZIFI, NARGES ESFANDIARPOUR, AZADEH MOTAMEDI, ELHAM JAHANMARD, NARJES RAHIMI, FATEMEH ANSARI, FATEMEH MASOUDI, SOHEILA SEPAHI(*)
Preservatives are added to beverage formulations to prevent spoilage. In our study, an efficient method for the quantification of sodium benzoate (BEN) and potassium sorbate (SOR) in beverages was applied using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD). Ninety-seven samples were collected in two categories (carbonated and non-carbonated drinks) from the Isfahan market, Iran. Under optimal conditions, the retention times for determining the preservatives were less than 5 minutes. Among all samples, 6.1 % and 5.1 % of non-carbonated drinks contained BEN and SOR, respectively, which are not allowed according to Iranian standards. Additionally, all concentrations of BEN and SOR were lower than the general standards of the Iran National Standards Organization (600 mg·L⁻¹).
HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN FROM MEAT BY-PRODUCT SOURCES: EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION
SEMAGHIUL BIRGHILA(1), MARIUS DANIEL RADU(2), ANCA DUMBRAVA(1,*)
Hydrolyzed collagen, a biomaterial with numerous health and wellness applications, can be extracted from different animal sources. The increasing necessity for hydrolyzed collagen in the food and medical industries, as well as in household consumption, is prompting consideration of diversifying its natural sources. The valorization of waste by obtaining useful materials is a desire of modern society and one of the circular economy objectives. In light of these factors, we employed a straightforward and affordable method to extract collagen from by-products of the meat processing industry, highlighting the impact of extraction duration on the extract’s properties and the structure of the collagen. The amount of hydroxyproline determined by a spectrometric method was used to estimate the collagen content. The protein content was quantified by the Kjeldahl method and the antioxidant capacity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The extracts were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, and some other properties, like pH, electrical conductivity, and phosphate content, were determined for a further characterization of extracts. FTIR spectroscopy was used to analyze the hydrolyzed collagen precipitated from extracts. The results demonstrated a relationship between extraction time and hydroxyproline concentration, as well as with collagen hydrolysis, also proving that waste and by-products from pork meat processing could be used as a sustainable source of hydrolyzed collagen in mild conditions in the absence of enzymes or other reagents.
STUDIES REGARDING THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME BIOPRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM CURCUMA LONGA AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE RHIZOMES
MAGDALINA URSU(1), NICOLETA RADU(1,2*), LUCIA CAMELIA PIRVU(3), NARCISA ELENA BABEANU(1), RALUCA MADALINA SENIN(2), MIHAELA BEGEA(4)
The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of extracts and essential oils obtained from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Curcuma longa (turmeric). Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the chemical composition, while chemiluminescence was employed to assess antioxidant properties. The results indicated that the ginger extract obtained from ginger rhizomes and chloroform had the highest polyphenol content (398 ± 7.56 mg GAE×L-1) and exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to all tested bioproducts, with IC50 = 0.000625 µL×mL-1 at t = 5 s and IC50 = 0.053 L×mL-1 at t = 60 s. Ginger essential oils demonstrated greater antioxidant properties than those obtained from turmeric rhizomes, due to their higher content of geraniol and nerol. In conclusion, the essential oils and crude extracts from ginger rhizomes in chloroform exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, attributed to polyphenolic compounds and bioactive molecules such as geraniol and nerol.
PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS, ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES, AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF LAWSONIA INERMIS LINN (HENNA) LEAF EXTRACT
ALI MOHAMED MASAAD(1), MUSTAFA JAIPALLAH ABDELMAGEED ABUALREISH(2*), NADA MYSARA AHMED HUSSEIN(3), ADEL NOUBIGH(4), AHMED ABDELMONEEM ABDALLAH(1)
The research aimed to evaluate the bioactive potential of henna ethanolic (HenEtOH) and henna hexane (HenH) crude extracts derived through maceration, and to compare their efficacy based on solvent polarity. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, and phenolic compounds and the absence of terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins in the ethanoic extract, while flavonoids and tannins were only detected in the hexane extract. Extraction yields were higher with ethanol, producing 41.43 g (20.70 ± 0.63 %) compared to 6.00 g (3.00 ± 0.12 %) with hexane. Antimicrobial activity analysis showed that HenEtOH exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal properties, with inhibition zones ranging from 14.00 ± 00 to 19.00 ± 00 mm. Conversely, HenH extract showed no inhibitory activity against any tested microorganisms. Antioxidant analysis revealed that HenEtOH exhibited superior antioxidant activity, with 94 ± 0.01 % inhibition. In contrast, HenH displayed lower antioxidant. The findings demonstrated that solvent polarity greatly influences extraction efficiency and bioactivity, with the ethanol extract (HenEtOH) showing higher yield and stronger biological effects than the hexane extract (HenH).
HYDROCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF A SHALLOW ALLUVIAL AQUIFER BETWEEN THE SIRET AND MOLDOVA RIVERS
PETRUT-LIVIU BOGDAN(1*), VALENTIN NEDEFF(1, 2*), MIRELA PANAINTE-LEHADUS(1), NARCIS BARSAN(1), FLORIN MARIAN NEDEFF(1), DIANA-CARMEN MIRILA(1)
The paper examines groundwater from the area between the Siret and Moldova rivers. Data from 2021 and 2022 were used, taken from twelve monitoring wells. The main ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, , Cl-, , ) were checked with basic statistics, boxplots and the Piper and Schoeller-Berkaloff diagrams. The ion values from the two years stay close. The higher ones appear only in a few wells, and those places have local factors that influence the water. The meq·L-1 values also fall in the same range in both years. Ca2+ and , remain dominant in all samples. The two diagrams place the water in the Ca–HCO3 field, with no major change from one year to the next. There is no sign of a larger chemical shift in the aquifer, and the small differences stay local. The data show a stable aquifer, and these values can help when the area is checked again in the future.
LES COLORANTS NATURELS : UN SAVOIR-FAIRE ANCIEN POUR UN AVENIR DURABLE NATURAL DYES: AN ANCIENT KNOW-HOW FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
VERONICA GRECU BALAN(1*), LUMINIȚA GROSU(2), IRINA-CLAUDIA ALEXA(2*)
Natural dyes were widely used from Antiquity until the late 19th century to color textiles, cosmetics, and food. This human ingenuity in harnessing natural resources for coloring highlights a true fusion of science and art, encouraging an interdisciplinary analysis of color practices and ancient dyeing techniques. Certainly, the Industrial Revolution and the discovery of synthetic dyes, characterized by greater stability and lower cost, marginalized natural dyes. Nevertheless, the recent awareness of environmental issues and the imperative search for sustainable substitutes for synthetic products have revived interest in the ancient natural dyes. Their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and renewable origin represent viable solutions to contemporary environmental challenges. From this perspective, the study of historical documents would allow for a better understanding of the chemical reactions involved in ancestral dyeing processes and would provide a solid starting point for reassessing the potential of these natural dyes nowadays. Indeed, both historical and chemical investigations are essential not only for rediscovering how colors were obtained by artisans of the past, but also for understanding the wide variety of chemical compounds responsible for the hues of these natural dyes.
VALORIZATION OF AGRI-FOOD WASTES IN YEAST BIOTECHNOLOGIES
OLEG CHISELIȚA(*), NATALIA CHISELIȚA, NADEJDA EFREMOVA, ELENA TOFAN, ANA ROZLOVAN, EVELINA ȚÎBÎRNAC, ANA MACARI
The article presents the research results the purpose of which was to evaluate the possibility of utilization of nutrient media obtained from carrot and celery agri-food wastes as a single source of nutrition for the cultivation of pigmented yeast strains of the genus Rhodotorula. It was established that nutrient media based on carrot and mixture of carrot and celery present an effective substrate for the cultivation of pigmented yeasts R. mucilaginosa CNMN-Ys-10 and R. gracilis CNMN-Ys-03, which allow stimulation of the biomass productivity of yeasts, significantly increase the concentration of carotenoids in biomass and increase the total antioxidant activity of the strain biomass. The medium based on celery wastes inhibits the growth and development of the strains, affects the yeast productivity, significantly modifies the biochemical composition of the biomass and significant increases its total antioxidant activity.
PHENOTYPIC EVALUATION OF MILK FAT AND PROTEIN TRAITS IN RELATION TO MATERNAL ANCESTRY IN TWO ROMANIAN CATTLE BREEDS
CLAUDIA PÂNZARU(1), MARIANA NISTOR (ANTON)(2), MĂDĂLINA ALEXANDRA DAVIDESCU(1), MARIUS GHEORGHE DOLIȘ(1), ALEXANDRU USTUROI(1*), VASILE MACIUC(1)
To assess the phenotypic performance of dairy cattle ancestry, data were analyzed for three direct maternal lines: mother (M.), paternal grandmother (PG.), and maternal grandmother (MG.), as fat and protein (percentage and kg) and combined fat and protein yield (kg). The study involved two Romanian breeds, from two different farms, Bălțată cu negru românească and Bălțată românească; for the first one, the fat and protein contents were as follows: 3.33 ± 0.05 % fat and 3.28 ± 0.02 % protein for M., 4.08 ± 0.11 % fat and 0.00 % protein for PM., and 3.16 ± 0.14% fat and 3.23 ± 0.05% protein for MG. In Bălțată românească’s case, the values were: 3.99 ± 0.07 % fat and 3.46 ± 0.07 % protein for M., 4.14 ± 0.06 % fat and 3.55 ± 0.07 % protein for PG., and 3.97 ± 0.17 % fat and 3.32 ± 0.05 % protein for MG. On average, BR, the mothers produced 208.9 kg of fat and 167.1 kg of protein per lactation, while BNR cows produced 199.4 kg of fat and 160.2 kg of protein. At the grandparental level, maternal grandmothers of BR cows produced on average 207.2 kg fat and 165.9 kg protein, while paternal grandmothers produced 210.3 kg fat and 168.4 kg protein; in the BNR population, maternal grandmothers produced 198.1 kg fat and 159.6 kg protein, while paternal grandmothers produced 200.8 kg fat and 161.3 kg protein. The ancestry in the farm that raises BR, originated from imported Fleckvieh genetics, contributing to superior performance.
IMPACT OF FUROATE AND SALICYLATE COORDINATION COMPLEXES ON THE LIPID FRACTIONAL COMPOSITION OF Actinomadura sp. 37
MAXIM BÎRSA(1*), SVETLANA BURȚEVA(1), TAMARA SÎRBU(1), VIORINA GORINCHOY(2), SILVIA MELNIC(2)
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of furoate and salicylate coordination complexes on Actinomadura sp. 37, a promising producer of secondary metabolites such as lipids. Biomass accumulation, total lipid content, and lipid fractional composition were analyzed following cultivation of the strain in Gause medium supplemented with various concentrations of furoate (F) and salicylate (S) complexes. The results regarding biomass accumulation and lipogenesis activity of the Actinomadura sp. 37 strain showed no positive impact on biomass accumulation. For both complexes, the decrease ranged between 2 and 48 %. However, in terms of lipogenesis, the strain exhibited stimulatory activity only in variant 4 (Gause + 10 % F), where the lipid content was 2.5 times higher compared to the control sample. Based on the fractional composition, the highest amount of mono- and diglycerides was obtained during cultivation on medium 6 (G + 5 % S), which was 52 % higher than in the control sample. Triglycerides and sterols reached the maximum amount in case 5 (G + 1 % S), more by 66 % and 95 %, respectively. The increase in the most important lipid fractions is attributed to the presence of a carboxyl group in the coordination complexes used. The enriched microbial biomass obtained can potentially be used in animal husbandry as a dietary supplement for farm animals in the future.