Factors influencing the neurodevelopment of children with family history of allergy in North-Eastern Bulgaria

Introduction Allergic diseases in first degree family members—parents and siblings, increase the risk of allergy in the child, which recently has been associated with a higher incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. A relationship has been established between the nervous and immune systems, but their association in the early stages of life when they are still developing has not been studied in details yet.AimThe aim of this article is to explore the sociodemographic, nutritional and health factors influencing neurodevelopment of children with family history of allergy.Materials and MethodsA cohort study was conducted in Varna, Bulgaria in the period 2017–2020.  A total of 120 term children from atopic families were recruited (n=120). They were with a normal birth weight over 2500 g and followed until 13 to 31 months (24.0 ± 3.9 months). A direct individual questionnaire was applied for the sociodemographic characteristics in the family. Neurodevelopment was assessed by Dеvelopmental Profile-3 methodology, past medical history survey was applied, and anthropometrics were measuredResultsComparing the neurodevelopment at the age of 24–30 months, using the DP-3 methodology of the children in the sample with values, measured during the validation of the questionnaire, a statistically significant difference was found in all areas. Other significant factors influencing the neurodevelopment were: the age of parents, the number and duration of the infections of the digestive tract, the number of severe infections of the respiratory system, and the child’s weight at 1 year. ConclusionAttention must be paid to the factors influencing neurodevelopment of children with family history of allergy because of the increased risk of delay in this vulnerable group

Phytochemical analysis of leaves and stems of Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae)

Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae) is encountered in different regions of Bulgaria as a wild growing or ornamental plant. The objective of this work was to characterize the phytochemical composition (macro and micro components) of the leaves and stems of two local phenotypes (PA-SB and PA-NB), with the view of revealing their use potential. The dry leaves contained (DW) protein (16.25 and 19.27%), cellulose (25.16 and 25.31%), and ash (18.28 and 16.16%) and the stems contained protein (6.83 and 7.35%), cellulose (39.34 and 38.25%), and ash (15.01 and 7.48%) for PA-SB and PA-NB, respectively. The dominant amino acids (by HPLC) in the leaves of both phenotypes were arginine (21.3-22.3 mg/g) and aspartic acid (8.8-18.4 mg/g), and those in the stems were proline and aspartic acid for PA-SB (8.8, 7.7 mg/g); isoleucine and tyrosine for PA-NB (12.8, 6.6 mg/g). Mineral elements, determined by AAS (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cr), also varied between phenotypes and plant parts. The leaves alone were further processed by extraction with n-hexane, for the identification of leaf volatiles (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The analysis identified 28 components (97.99%) in the leaf extract of PA-SB and 32 components (97.50%) in that of PA-NB. The volatile profile of PA-SB leaves was dominated by diterpenes (49.96%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (35.61%), while that of PA-NB was dominated by oxygenated aliphatics (40.01%) and diterpenes (35.19%). To the best of our knowledge, the study provides the first data about the phytochemical composition of the leaves and stems of P. alkekengi from Bulgaria, in a direct comparison of phenotypes from two distinct wild populations, which could be of further scientific interest.AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; [2021-29]The authors deeply acknowledge the Researchers Supporting Program (TUMA Project-2021-29), AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for supporting steps of this work

Influence of vegetation on the composition of essential oil from (Melissa officinalis L.)

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae, which is used in folk medicine and the food industry, as well as being processed to obtain essential oil. The aim of the special work is to monitor the influence of vegetation on the composition of the essential oil. The chemical composition of essential oils, obtained by steam distillation from lemon balm cultivated in North-eastern Bulgaria, has been determined. The plants were harvested in two periods of vegetation - the first at the end of June and second - at the end of August 2020. The main components in the oil from the first cut are geranial (26.41%), neral (19.55%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (17.46%), germacrene D (7.86%) and β-citronellal (3.24%). In the oil from the second cut, the main components are geranial (37.26%), neral (28.46%), (E)-β- caryophyllene (6.65%), geraniol (4.72%), and β-citronellal (3.04%). The oil from the second harvest has a high content of the main components of geranial, neral and geraniol and a lower content of (E)-β- caryophyllene and germacrene D. Variations in the amounts are also present in other compounds

LAVENDER EXTRACT WITH TETRAFLOUROETHANE - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND APPLICATION IN COSMETICS

The chemical composition of extract from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) by extraction with tetrafluoroethane was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The main compounds (concentration higher than 3%) of extract were: linalool (32.48%), linalyl acetate (22.98%), borneol (5.12%), cis-linaloloxide (4.49%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.10%), lavandulol (4.22%) and β-caryophyllene (3.34%). The extract is used in model cosmetic emulsions O/W type. The studied extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.The chemical composition of extract from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) by extraction with tetrafluoroethane was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The main compounds (concentration higher than 3%) of extract were: linalool (32.48%), linalyl acetate (22.98%), borneol (5.12%), cis-linaloloxide (4.49%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.10%), lavandulol (4.22%) and β-caryophyllene (3.34%). The extract is used in model cosmetic emulsions O/W type. The studied extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Physicochemical parameters of food emulsion products with summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) essential oil

Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is a plant source of essential oil belonging to the Lamiaceae family, widely used in the food industry. The present work aims to determine the physicochemical parameters of food emulsions containing the essential oil. The summer savory essential oil with main components carvacrol (63.71%), γ-terpinene (20.47%), and p-cymene (5.08%) was used in this study. Several model variants of emulsions have been developed with varying amounts of emulsifier (2 and 3% soy protein isolate), oil phase (20 and 40% sunflower oil), and essential oil (0.2 and 0.4%). The following physicochemical parameters of the emulsion were determined: Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy. This parameter was used to determine the thermal effect of the system. The process was determined as exothermic with the negative enthalpy. Emulsions prepared with 2% soybean protein isolate, 40% oil phase, and 0.4% essential oil were characterized by some good results with high equilibrium constants and high Gibbs energies. Model variants of salad diet dressings had also been developed, with 0.2 and 0.3% essential oil, which were qualified by sensory analysis. The overall evaluation of salad dressings showed that the evaluators perceived with best sensory properties in those with 0.2% essential oil

Carotenoid-related volatile compounds of tobacco (N. tabacum L.) essential oils

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) aroma is an important quality attribute of tobacco and consists of a variety of minor components, among which carotenoid degradation products. The transformation of tobacco carotenoids (mainly lutein and β-carotene) occurs both in fresh green leaves and during curing, thus producing nearly 100 different short-chained metabolites. The three major tobacco types traditionally produced in Bulgaria and used as blends in the manufacture of cigarettes, include oriental (OR), flue-cured Virginia (FCV), and Burley (BU). High-quality Bulgarian oriental tobacco is also processed to obtain concrete and absolute, which are used in fine perfumery. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the content of the most important fragrance-shaping carotenoid degradation products in the essential oils (EOs) of the three types of Bulgarian tobacco, and to compare them with other aroma products from tobacco.                The content of total carotenoids and β-carotene was highest in the air-cured BU tobacco (22.23 and 20.34 mg/100 g, respectively), followed by the sun-cured OR (13.60 and 12.09 mg/100 g in variety “Plovdiv 7” (Pd7); 6.27 and 5.45 mg/100 g in “Krumovgrad” (Kr), and FCV (5.93 and 3.73 mg/100 g). Tobacco EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation in an acidified medium, and the yields were: FCV - 0.23%; BU - 0.26%, OR - 0.44% (Kr) and 0.30% (Pd 7). All EOs were light yellow and had a sharp odor: FCV – very intense, balsamic, woody with earthy undertones; BU – mild woody with balsamic and floral-like undertones, and OR – very green with slightly smoky and mossy-like and honey-like undertones. The main aroma-impact compounds from carotenoid degradation identified in the EOs (by GC-MS) were as follows: FCV - a-ionone (1.4%), dihydro-β-ionone (2.2%); β-damascenone (2.9%); BU - a-ionone (1.9%), dihydro-β-ionone (3.1%); β-damascenone (3.5%); OR(Kr) - a-ionone (0.9%), β-ionone (2.8%), dihydro-β-ionone (5.9%); β-damascenone (1.6%); OR (Pd7) - a-ionone (4.3%), dihydro-β-ionone (5.2%); β-damascenone (3.7%). Compared to published data for other tobacco EOs, these results reveal some differences in damascone derivatives, explainable by plant material origin and processing conditions. Ionone and its derivatives were not identified in the aroma extraction products concrete and resinoid from the same tobaccos, neither in the absolute from the Bulgarian tobaccos. The results agree with previous findings about the effect of thermal degradation, pH of the medium and other factors on carotenoid transformations in plant materials. The study provides an insight into the composition of EOs from the tobaccos produced in Bulgaria, and may be of interest to the fragrance industry

Chemical composition assessment of structural parts (seeds, peel, pulp) of physalis alkekengi l. fruits

In recent years there has been an extensive search for nature-based products with functional potential. All structural parts of Physalis alkekengi (bladder cherry), including fruits, pulp, and less-explored parts, such as seeds and peel, can be considered sources of functional macro- and micronutrients, bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietetic fiber. The chemical composition of all fruit structural parts (seeds, peel, and pulp) of two phenotypes of P. alkekengi were studied. The seeds were found to be a rich source of oil, yielding 14-17%, with abundant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (over 88%) and tocopherols, or vitamin E (up to 5378 mg/kg dw; dry weight). The predominant fatty acid in the seed oils was linoleic acid, followed by oleic acid. The seeds contained most of the fruit's protein (16-19% dw) and fiber (6-8% dw). The peel oil differed significantly from the seed oil in fatty acid and tocopherol composition. Seed cakes, the waste after oil extraction, contained arginine and aspartic acid as the main amino acids; valine, phenylalanine, threonine, and isoleucine were present in slightly higher amounts than the other essential amino acids. They were also rich in key minerals, such as K, Mg, Fe, and Zn. From the peel and pulp fractions were extracted fruit concretes, aromatic products with specific fragrance profiles, of which volatile compositions (GC-MS) were identified. The major volatiles in peel and pulp concretes were beta-linalool, alpha-pinene, and gamma-terpinene. The results from the investigation substantiated the potential of all the studied fruit structures as new sources of bioactive compounds that could be used as prospective sources in human and animal nutrition, while the aroma-active compounds in the concretes supported the plant's potential in perfumery and cosmetics.IGA FT 2022/004Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Technology [IGA FT 2022/004

Oil yield and composition of Juniperus oxycedrus L. from Bulgaria and Serbia

Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Cupressaceae) is widely distributed in countries with a Mediterranean climate. The species is known for its large morphological and chemical variation and its debatable taxonomic status. The objective was to compare the essential oil content and composition of J. oxycedrus plants from Bulgaria and Serbia, and secondly, to quantify morphological variations of leaves. Тhe essential oil content in dried juniper leaves varied from 0.059% (Кopaonik, Serbia) to 0.240% (Markovo, Bulgaria). Around 40 EO constituents were identified, belonging to the groups of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and phenylpropanoids. The monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes were the predominant groups of compounds representing 36.8-66.2% of the total oil, with α-pinene, limonene, sabinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene being the major constituents of this group. Overall, α-pinene was the major oil constituent in plants from all locations. The second largest group was the one of sesquiterpenes (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes), ranging from 19.3 tо 33.6%. There was no significant difference between the mean leaf width of the six combinations of location and tree sex, and the overall mean width was 1.24 mm. However, there was a significant difference between the mean leaf lengths. This study contradicts recent reports that the European populations of J. oxycedrus east of Italy belong to a newly identified species J. deltoides. The same reports claimed that ”the leaf oil of J. deltoides was lower in α-pinene and higher in limonene compared to J. oxycedrus”. In this study, none of the studied populations had a higher concentration of limonene than that of α-pinene. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the flora of the two countries includes indeed J. oxycedrus

THE SOCIAL ORIENTATION OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE LABOUR WORKING COOPERATIVES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria's membership in the European Union defines the orientation of our country in line with the key strategic priorities of Europe 2020, which aims to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The role of the cooperative system becomes especially important at this time when the EU itself is constructed as a union of equal socially oriented states. In the paper is depicted the role of the labour working producer cooperatives for disabled people as one of the main actors of the social economy in the EU which contribute to solving many economic and social problems of a substantial part of the Bulgarian population and to implement the priorities of the strategy "Europe 2020". In line with this aim, are given suggestion for the trends in improving their activity. So that they could provide better labour rehabilitation, strengthen the social integration of their members, promotion of production, improvement of working conditions, proposals for changes in legislation

National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Bulgaria

Bulgaria is still in the early stages of implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Because of the unstable political situation since 2020 the European Commission approved the Plan only at the end of May 2022. Furthermore, more than 22 laws and 60 strategies are necessary for implementation, and the current uncertainty very few steps are being taken. According to the RRP, the main tasks facing Bulgaria are education and qualifications, research and innovation, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, developing a decarbonised economy, sustainable agriculture paying attention to biodiversity, digitalisation, sustainable transport, development of local self-government, the environment, social inclusion, and health care. They are analysed in detail in this chapter in accordance with the activities of national institutions