Bioactive and chemical compounds content in different parsley cultivars (Peteroselinum crispum Mill.)

Povrtne kulture su važne za ljudsko zdravlje, a prvenstveno jer su bogat izvor bioaktivnih spojeva, pa tako i peršin koji se među ostalim povrtnim vrstama ističe u sadržaju vitamina C. Sadrži i minerale (kalij, kalcij, magnezij, fosfor), eterična ulja (-pinen, -mircen, -felandren, -pinen), beta karoten te vitamin E. Uzgaja se zbog lisnih plojki i korijena. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi sadržaj bioaktivnih i kemijskih spojeva (sadržaj suhe tvari, topljive suhe tvari, ukupnih kiselina, pH, vitamina C, fenola, neflavonoida, flavonoida, ukupnih klorofila, klorofila a, klorofila b, ukupnih karotenoida te antioksidacijskog kapaciteta) u korijenu, peteljci i lisnoj plojki kod tri sorte peršina korjenaša, ('Halblange', 'Arat' i 'Eagle') i tri sorte peršina listaša (kovrčavih liski 'Mooskrause' i 'Petra' te glatkih liski 'Rialto'). Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju visok sadržaj vitamina C u lisnoj plojci sorte 'Rialto' (162,09 mg/100g vitamina C), visok sadržaj ukupnih fenola u lisnim plojkama svih istraživanih sorti (304,57 do 425,76 mg/L ukupnih fenola) te isticanje peteljki sorti peršina korjenaša ('Halblange', 'Arat', 'Eagle') prema sadržaju ukupnih fenola (151,22 do 165,12 mg/L ukupnih fenola). Od pigmentnih spojeva istraživan je sadržaj ukupnih klorofila i karotenoida, a lisne plojke svih sorti imale su nekoliko puta veći sadržaj ukupnih klorofila i ukupnih karotenoida u odnosu na peteljke. Sve sorte peršina pokazuju visoki antioksidacijski kapacitet zato što sadrže značajne količine bioaktivnih spojeva poput klorofila, karotenoida, fenola, flavonoida, neflavonoida i vitamina C.Vegetable crops are of immense importance for human health, foremost because they are a rich source of bioactive compounds. Parsley is notable among other vegetable species for its vitamin C content. It also contains minerals (potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus), essential oils (-pinene, -myrcene, -phellandrene, -pinene), beta carotene and vitamin E. Parsley is grown for its leaf lamina and root. The objective of this research was to determine the content of bioactive and chemical compounds (dry matter, soluble dry matter, total acidity, vitamin C, phenols, non-flavonoids, flavonoids, total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total carotenoids and antioxidative capacity) in root, petiole and leaf lamina among three root parsley cultivars ('Halblange', 'Arat' and 'Eagle') and three leaf parsley cultivars (curled-leaf parsleys 'Mooskrause' and 'Petra' and flat-leafed parsley 'Rialto'). Results of the research show high content of vitamin C in leaf lamina of 'Rialto' cultivar (162,09 mg/100g vitamin C), total phenols in leaf laminas of all tested cultivars (304,57 to 425,76 mg/L) and high lighting the parsley petiole of root parsleys cultivars ('Hablange', 'Arat', 'Eagle') in content of total phenols (151,22 to 165,12 mg/L). Regarding pigment compounds, the content of total chlorophylls and carotenoids was examined and the leaf lamina of all researched cultivars had several times higher content of total chlorophylls and carotenoids compared to the petiole. All parsley cultivars show high antioxidative capacity due to significant amounts of bioactive compounds such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids, non-flavonoids and vitamin C

Microgreens as a functional food

Među funkcionalnim namirnicama posljednjih godina često se ističu microgreens različitog povrća, aromatičnog bilja i žitarica kao izvor polifenola, vitamina i minerala, koji pokazuju pozitivan utjecaj na ljudsko zdravlje. Microgreens se konzumiraju u fazi kotiledona i nepotpuno razvijenih prvih pravih listova u svježem stanju pa ne dolazi do gubitka hranjivih tvari tijekom obrade. Nutricionisti preporučuju konzumaciju microgreensa zbog veće količine vitamina i minerala, odnosno, manje količine nitrata u odnosu na potpuno razvijene biljke. U radu je, na temelju pregleda literature, prikazan izbor vrsta, nutritivna vrijednost, tehnologija uzgoja i upotreba microgreensa.Among functional foods, microgreens of different vegetables, aromatic herbs and grains are highlighted as a source of polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. Their consummation has a positive effect on human health. Microgreens are consumed raw, in the cotyledon phase with not fully developed first real leaves, therefore there is no nutrient loss during thermal processing. Nutritionists recommend the microgreens due to a higher content of vitamins and minerals, i.e. lower content of nitrates, compared to mature plants. This paper provides an overview about the selection of species, nutritional value, production technology and use of microgreens according to the recent studies

A prospective, longitudinal study of platelet serotonin and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations in major depression: effects of vortioxetine treatment

BACKGROUND: Various antidepressants occupy brain serotonin transporter (SERT), decrease platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration, and normalize reduced plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations in depressed patients. Vortioxetine is a recently introduced antidepressant with a multimodal mechanism of action. In addition to SERT inhibition, vortioxetine acts via different 5-HT receptors. To further elucidate its mechanism of action, we have investigated the effects of vortioxetine on platelet 5-HT and plasma BDNF concentrations in patients with major depression. ----- METHODS: Platelet 5-HT and plasma BDNF concentrations were determined in 44 healthy subjects at baseline and in 44 depressed patients before and after 4 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine (5-15 mg daily). Platelet 5-HT concentration was determined using the ortho-phthalaldehyde-enhanced fluorometric method, and plasma BDNF concentration using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine ELISA, R&D Systems). ----- RESULTS: At baseline, platelet 5-HT concentrations did not differ between depressed and control subjects, but plasma BDNF values were lower (p = 0.011; ω = 0.80) in depressed patients than in healthy subjects. Vortioxetine treatment significantly (p < 0.0001; ω = 0.80) decreased platelet 5-HT concentration and significantly (p = 0.004; ω = 0.80) increased plasma BDNF concentration in depressed patients compared to their baseline values. Age, gender, and smoking were not significantly associated with platelet 5-HT and plasma BDNF concentrations. ----- CONCLUSION: Despite a novel mechanism of action, vortioxetine shares some common effects with other antidepressants. This study is the first to show that, in addition to clinical improvement, 4 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine (5-15 mg daily), decreased platelet 5-HT and increased plasma BDNF concentrations in depressed patients

Bioactive and chemical compounds content in different parsley cultivars (Peteroselinum crispum Mill.)

Povrtne kulture su važne za ljudsko zdravlje, a prvenstveno jer su bogat izvor bioaktivnih spojeva, pa tako i peršin koji se među ostalim povrtnim vrstama ističe u sadržaju vitamina C. Sadrži i minerale (kalij, kalcij, magnezij, fosfor), eterična ulja (-pinen, -mircen, -felandren, -pinen), beta karoten te vitamin E. Uzgaja se zbog lisnih plojki i korijena. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi sadržaj bioaktivnih i kemijskih spojeva (sadržaj suhe tvari, topljive suhe tvari, ukupnih kiselina, pH, vitamina C, fenola, neflavonoida, flavonoida, ukupnih klorofila, klorofila a, klorofila b, ukupnih karotenoida te antioksidacijskog kapaciteta) u korijenu, peteljci i lisnoj plojki kod tri sorte peršina korjenaša, ('Halblange', 'Arat' i 'Eagle') i tri sorte peršina listaša (kovrčavih liski 'Mooskrause' i 'Petra' te glatkih liski 'Rialto'). Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju visok sadržaj vitamina C u lisnoj plojci sorte 'Rialto' (162,09 mg/100g vitamina C), visok sadržaj ukupnih fenola u lisnim plojkama svih istraživanih sorti (304,57 do 425,76 mg/L ukupnih fenola) te isticanje peteljki sorti peršina korjenaša ('Halblange', 'Arat', 'Eagle') prema sadržaju ukupnih fenola (151,22 do 165,12 mg/L ukupnih fenola). Od pigmentnih spojeva istraživan je sadržaj ukupnih klorofila i karotenoida, a lisne plojke svih sorti imale su nekoliko puta veći sadržaj ukupnih klorofila i ukupnih karotenoida u odnosu na peteljke. Sve sorte peršina pokazuju visoki antioksidacijski kapacitet zato što sadrže značajne količine bioaktivnih spojeva poput klorofila, karotenoida, fenola, flavonoida, neflavonoida i vitamina C.Vegetable crops are of immense importance for human health, foremost because they are a rich source of bioactive compounds. Parsley is notable among other vegetable species for its vitamin C content. It also contains minerals (potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus), essential oils (-pinene, -myrcene, -phellandrene, -pinene), beta carotene and vitamin E. Parsley is grown for its leaf lamina and root. The objective of this research was to determine the content of bioactive and chemical compounds (dry matter, soluble dry matter, total acidity, vitamin C, phenols, non-flavonoids, flavonoids, total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total carotenoids and antioxidative capacity) in root, petiole and leaf lamina among three root parsley cultivars ('Halblange', 'Arat' and 'Eagle') and three leaf parsley cultivars (curled-leaf parsleys 'Mooskrause' and 'Petra' and flat-leafed parsley 'Rialto'). Results of the research show high content of vitamin C in leaf lamina of 'Rialto' cultivar (162,09 mg/100g vitamin C), total phenols in leaf laminas of all tested cultivars (304,57 to 425,76 mg/L) and high lighting the parsley petiole of root parsleys cultivars ('Hablange', 'Arat', 'Eagle') in content of total phenols (151,22 to 165,12 mg/L). Regarding pigment compounds, the content of total chlorophylls and carotenoids was examined and the leaf lamina of all researched cultivars had several times higher content of total chlorophylls and carotenoids compared to the petiole. All parsley cultivars show high antioxidative capacity due to significant amounts of bioactive compounds such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids, non-flavonoids and vitamin C

Distinct association of plasma BDNF concentration and cognitive function in depressed patients treated with vortioxetine or escitalopram

Rationale: Cognitive dysfunction is frequent in major depressive disorder (MDD), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved both in regulation of cognition and in therapeutic response in MDD. ----- Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if baseline plasma BDNF might predict change in cognitive function in MDD patients treated with vortioxetine or escitalopram, and whether the alterations in BDNF levels correlate with changes in cognitive performance during treatment. ----- Methods: Drug-naive or drug-free patients with MDD (N=121) were sampled and evaluated at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment initiation with vortioxetine or escitalopram. Cognitive function was evaluated using the F-A-S test, Digit Span test, and Digit Symbol Coding test. Plasma BDNF was determined using ELISA. ----- Results: The results of the study indicate that both vortioxetine (V) and escitalopram (E) improved cognitive functions evaluated with F-A-S test (V: p<0.001; r=-0.427, E: p<0.001; r=-0.370), Digit Symbol Coding test (V: p<0.001; r=-0.706, E: p<0.001; r=-0.435), and Digit Span test-backward span (V: p=0.001; r=-0.311, E: p=0.042; r=-0.185), while only vortioxetine (p<0.001; r=-0.325) improved cognition evaluated with the Digit Span test-forward span. A moderate positive correlation between pretreatment plasma BDNF levels and improvement in cognitive performance was only detected in patients treated with vortioxetine (delta F-A-S test: p=0.011; r=0.325, delta Digit Span test-forward span: p=0.010, r=0.326). ----- Conclusions: These results suggest that higher baseline plasma BDNF levels might be associated with improvements in verbal fluency and working memory in vortioxetine, but not escitalopram treated patients. Vortioxetine treatment was superior in simple attention efficiency

Effect of vortioxetine vs. escitalopram on plasma BDNF and platelet serotonin in depressed patients

Escitalopram and vortioxetine are efficacious antidepressants. They directly target serotonin (5-HT) system, but vortioxetine mechanism of action is distinct from the one of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Treatment with SSRIs decrease platelet 5-HT concentration and increase peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Since vortioxetine has a multimodal mechanism of action, it is expected to have a greater effect on circulatory BDNF concentration, compared to conventional antidepressants. This longitudinal study aimed to explore and compare the effects of 4-weeks of treatment with vortioxetine and escitalopram on plasma BDNF and platelet 5-HT concentration in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The results revealed that vortioxetine significantly increased plasma BDNF concentration (p = .018) and significantly decreased platelet 5-HT concentration (p < .001). Treatment with escitalopram significantly decreased platelet 5-HT concentration (p < .001), but it did not affect plasma BDNF concentration (p = .379). Response to vortioxetine was not predicted by baseline plasma BDNF or platelet 5-HT concentration, but response to escitalopram was predicted by baseline platelet 5-HT concentration. These effects might be due to vortioxetine unique mechanism of action, but the clinical implications are unclear. It remains to be determined whether this finding extends during long-term vortioxetine treatment, and which, if any, clinical effects emerge from BDNF increase