NEW INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REGULATION: NECESSITY OR REQUIRED BY CRISIS

The global economic and financial crisis showed the limits faced by the international financial system. International financial regulations in general, and especially the banking sector regulations, should be refined and adapted to build a stronger and stable international financial system. We analyze the main trends in international regulations: the proposed amendments on capital requirements, the introduction of a global standard for liquidity and indebtedness, the winding-up directive, as well as their impact on the Romanian financial system.international regulations, global standard, winding-up directive

Antimicrobial activity of thyme and rosemary extracts

Introduction. Over the past few decades, antibiotics have found extensive appli-cation in treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals, and they have been used as growth promoters in agriculture. However, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial species across various environments poses a significant challenge to the targeted treatment of bacterial infections. The primary driver behind this surge in bacterial resistance in some regions is the over-use of antibiotics. Plant extracts and their active compounds have long been recognized for their antibacterial properties and are frequently employed in traditional medicine to combat pathogenic bacteria. In recent years, due to the emergence of drug resistance and the side effects associated with chemical antimicro-bial drugs, the focus of scientific research has shifted towards exploring bioactive substances derived from plants. In essence, plants represent a vast reservoir of potentially beneficial chemicals, with only a fraction of them having been harnessed thus far. The aim of this work was to determine the antimicrobial activity of a thyme and rosemary extract. Material and methods. Thyme and rosemary extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Geobacillus stearothermophilus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii), and yeast (Candida albicans). To ensure the quality of antimicrobial testing for these biological compounds, the standardized well method, as recommended by the CLSI standard (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute), was employed. This method serves as a reliable means of assessing microbial activity. Results.Upon evaluating the results obtained after performing the antimicrobial screening, it was found that both ethanolic extracts had an effect both on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as on fungi of the genus Candida. The largest inhibition area for rosemary extract was recorded in G. stearothermophilus (27.0 mm) and S. aureus (21.3 mm). The thyme extract was more active on the bacteria S. aureus (with a diameter of the inhibition zone 26.3 mm) and B. cereus (with a diameter of the inhibition zone 25.3 mm). The antifungal activity was more pronounced for the thyme extract (29.3 mm) compared to the rosemary extract (19.0 mm). Both extracts demonstrated higher activity on Gram-positive microorganisms compared to Gram-negative ones. Our data confirmed that rosemary and thyme extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activity. Conclusions. Extracts of thyme and rosemary have the potential to inhibit and inactivate microorganisms at varying concentrations. Natural antimicrobial extracts from plants can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, to prevent the growth of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms and to enhance the shelf life and stability. Given their antimicrobial properties, these plant-based products offer a compelling alternative to traditional preservation methods and the use of chemical preservatives and additives. Extensive research has demonstrated their efficacy in curtailing the growth of both bacteria and yeasts

NEW INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REGULATION: NECESSITY OR REQUIRED BY CRISIS

The global economic and financial crisis showed the limits faced by the international financial system. International financial regulations in general, and especially the banking sector regulations, should be refined and adapted to build a stronger and stable international financial system. We analyze the main trends in international regulations: the proposed amendments on capital requirements, the introduction of a global standard for liquidity and indebtedness, the winding-up directive, as well as their impact on the Romanian financial system

ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SEA BUCKTHORN GROWN IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

This study deals with the antibacterial activity of Sea buckthorn (SB) (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) grown in the Republic of Moldova. Eight sea buckthorn species were investigated: R1, R2, R4, R5, C6, AGG, AGA, Pomona, 2020 harvest, from Dubasari district, Pohrebea village of the Republic of Moldova. The sea buckthorn fruit was harvested during the complete sweeping phase. The antibacterial efficacy of Sea buckthorn on different microbial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans) causing infections/diseases was investigated by agar disc diffusion method. The inhibition zones ranged from 12 to 30 mm: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (21-30 mm); Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 (19-29 mm); Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 (13-18 mm); Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (12-18 mm). In the case of Candida albicans ATCC 10231, this fungal pathogen was resistant to SB. It was found that antimicrobial efficacy of SB depends on the species, concentration, and form of use (fruit puree, extracts with different solvents and powder). Results suggested that SB might be a valuable ingredient for the development of safe products for consumption

Chemometric Optimization of Biologically Active Compounds Extraction from Grape Marc: Composition and Antimicrobial Activity

The article focuses on the optimization of the extraction process of biologically active compounds (BAC) from grape marc—a by-product of the wine industry. The influence of temperature, specifically 30 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C, and ethanol concentration in solutions, specifically 0–96% (v/v) on the extraction yield of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins, were investigated. The composition of individual polyphenols, anthocyanins and organic acids, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and CIELab chromatic characteristics of the grape marc extracts (GME), were characterized. The microbiostatic and microbicidal effects in direct contact of GME with pathogenic microorganisms, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. The influence of extraction parameters on the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), tannin content (TC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and their interdependencies were studied using information analysis. A mathematical model was developed on cubic spline functions. The analysis of individual compounds showed the presence of a wide range of flavonoids (procyanidin B2, procyanidin B1, hyperoside and quercetin), flavones (catechin), hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic acids, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid), hydroxycinic acid derivatives and ferulic acid methyl ester. The malvidol-3-glucoside was the main anthocyanin identified in the extract. A high amount of tartaric acid was also found. GME showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and lower activity against Gram-negative bacteria

The Effect of Aromatic Plant Extracts Encapsulated in Alginate on the Bioactivity, Textural Characteristics and Shelf Life of Yogurt

The article investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of extracts from two aromatic plants—Satureja hortensis L. (SE) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RE), encapsulated in alginate, on—yogurt properties. The encapsulation efficiency was controlled by FTIR and SEM analysis. In both extracts, the individual polyphenol content was determined by HPLC–DAD–ESI-MS. The total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity were spectrophotometrically quantified. The antimicrobial properties of SE and RE against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Salmonella abony) and yeasts (Candida albicans) were analyzed in vitro. The encapsulated extracts were used to prepare the functional concentrated yogurt. It was established that the addition of 0.30–0.45% microencapsulated plant extracts caused the inhibition of the post-fermentation process, the improvement of the textural parameters of the yogurt during storage, thus the shelf life of the yogurt increased by seven days, compared to the yogurt simple. Mutual information analysis was applied to establish the correlation between the concentration of the encapsulated extracts on the sensory, physical-chemical, and textural characteristics of the yogurt