Characterization of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

The aim of this work was to achieve a screening on organoleptic and sensory characteristics, physical-chemical properties, microbial load and degree of contamination with heavy metals and arsenic of homemade vanilla ice cream. Dry substance ranged between 31.69% and 32.16%, all samples showing values below the 33% minimum eligibility. Regarding the acidity of the analyzed samples, they were within the legislative norms in force, showing values below 24°T. Also, analyzed  ice cream samples showed no microbial loads or contamination with heavy metals or arsenic

Comparative study of some honey types collected from unpolluted areas of Timis county

This research followed to achieve some physico-chemical properties for natural food based on honey and dried fruits. The honey samples were represented by three 3 different types of bee honey: multiforal and unifloral species - Acacia flower (lat. Robinia pseudoacacia), and Linden flower ( lat. Tilia cordata) – bought directly from the producers originally from unpolluted areas in Timis County. In honey samples we added dried fruits: apricots (lat. Prunus armeniaca) and figs (lat. Ficus carica). For these samples, refractive index, water content - based on nD values, total solid content, and acidity were determined. Based on nd values between 1.4811 – 1.49, the water content shows values from 18.61% and 22.54%, respectively from 81.39%, until 77.46% in case of total solid content, and acidity had values between 2.1 and 3.53 acidity degrees. The principal purpose of this study was to bring more data to the knowledge of some types of honey originating from unpolluted area of Timis county in terms of physical properties, and also how different additions can contribute to increasing the nutritional value of these products

Orange and lemon peel powders as a bioelement source

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the concentration of some bioelements from citrus peel powder. Peels powder was obtained by drying and grinding citrus peels as a by-product resulting after the preparation of some natural juices. The results obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, shows that the powders taken into the study contain important amounts of essential mineral elements, especially Ca and K (159-182 mg/100g, respectively 211-218 mg/100g) and also appreciable contents of Mg (15.3-23.4 mg/100g), Fe (18.1-34.1 mg/100g), Zn (9.34-11.8 mg/100g), Na (8.75-12.8 mg/100g), Cu (1.27-3.71 mg/100g) and Mn (1.32-2.03 mg/100g). The concentration of the analyzed mineral bioelements shows, in general, the following decreasing trend: K> Ca> Fe> Mg> Zn> Na> Cu> Mn

Green fresh smoothie - some physico-chemical and nutritional aspects

Increasing tendency for fresh food - fruits, vegetables, and herbs consumption worldwide and also in our country, shows the weight that they have held or hold them in the diet. In their case, not only good looks, nice color or taste and aromas are considered to be important, but especially their nutritional value, rich in sugars, vitamins and minerals needed in the diet of the human body. They also have the advantage that it can be consumed without any processing who could reduce the nutritional value. The purpose of the study was to obtain and reveal some physico-chemical and nutritional properties of some fresh foods: green apple (Golden delicious – Malus domestica.), baby spinach (Spinach oleracea), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and mint leaves (Mentha piperita) and the juice that we obtain from them, while achieving a characterization highlighting their dietary and healing properties. The study presents important application not only for food industry, but also for other areas, because it addresses to special categories of consumers such as vegetarians and people with lactose intolerance and fasting period

Main physical-chemical characteristics of pressed ham commercialized in Timis county

The paper proposes the study of some quality characteristics of pressed ham by standard methods of package, a widely spread product int the Western area of Romania (Timis county) as well. The samples were evaluated in terms of admissibility of sensory, physical, chemical and microbiological indicators, known by the consumer through various information methods. There have been identified and quantified, the following characteristics: water content, NaCl, NO2, fat and protein percentage, and among those with potential pathogenic microorganism interest: Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus coagulase-positive. The maximum limits for admissibility were recorded in water (75.5 to 78.4% (up to 80% max.)), NaCl (3.0-3.3% (3.5% max.)), a moderate protein (16 6% ( up to 13% max.)), and modest limits lipids (3.6 to 4.0% (up to 16% max.)) and for NO2 the values are below the admissibility limit. As for microbiological analyzes, the obtained values, they prove the product as being fit for consumption

Antioxidant Activity and Discrimination of Organic Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) Cultivated in the Western Region of Romania: A DPPH· Kinetics–PCA Approach

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most used fruit for beverages in Romania. The goal of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and discrimination of various parts of organic and non-organic apple varieties cultivated in the western region of Romania using the DPPH kinetics–PCA (principal component analysis) approach. Organic and non-organic apples were subjected to solid–liquid ethanol extraction. Core and shell extracts were mixed with DPPH· and spectrophotometrically monitored at 517 nm. Antioxidant activity and mean DPPH· reaction rate at various time ranges reveal significant differences between organic and non-organic samples, as well as apple parts. Organic core and shell extracts had higher antioxidant activities than the corresponding non-organic samples (74.5–96.9% and 61.9–97.2%, respectively, 23.5–94.3% and 59.5–95.5%). Significant differences were observed for the DPPH· reaction rate for the first ½ min, especially in the presence of organic core extracts (3.7–4.8 μM/s). The organic samples were well discriminated by DPPH· kinetics–PCA, the most important variables being the DPPH· reaction rate for the first time range. This is the first DPPH· kinetics–PCA approach applied for discriminating between organic and non-organic fruits and can be useful for evaluating the quality of such type of fruits

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Nepeta × faassenii Bergmans ex Stearn Essential Oil

This study was designed to evaluate, for the first time, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Nepeta × faassenii essential oil (NEO). Twenty-six compounds were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis, of which 4a alpha,7alpha,7a alpha-nepetalactone (34.12%), elemol (23.23%), spiro(5,6)dodecane (13.73%), and 3,4 alpha-dihydro-4a alpha, 7 alpha, 7a alpha-nepetalactone (7.93%) were the major compounds. The NEO exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial effects, and possesses potent antifungal activity on Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. NEO’s antioxidant activity was evaluated against cold-pressed sunflowers oil by peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching methods. The NEO showed strong scavenging (IC50: 0.032 ± 0.005 mg/mL) and relative antioxidative activity (RAA%: 92.31 ± 0.17%) in 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl radical and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays, respectively. Moreover, during 24 days of the incubation period, the oil inhibits the primary lipid oxidation significantly better (p < 0.05) than butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). In the case of secondary lipid oxidation, the oil performed significantly better (p < 0.001) than BHA from day 8 to day 12 of the incubation period. The biological activities recorded suggest that NEO may represent an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent with applications in medicine or the food industry