Influence of Pasteurization on Total Phenols Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Prunus persica L. Juices

Peach and nectarine (Prunus persica ) production has an important place in the world, being the most important fruit after apple crops in the European Union. Because the fruits are perishable, it is desirable to valorize them as juice. Seven peaches and three nectarines cultivars grown in the N-W part of Romania were investigated for quality parameters, volatile profile, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity. The volatile composition of peach and nectarine cultivars was determined via the ITEX/GC-MS technique, the main volatile compounds belonging to alcohols and aldehydes. Another objective was to obtain the pasteurised juices from these fruits and to investigate the best time of pasteurisation in order to identify the most valuable cultivar from the perspective of total phenols content and its antioxidant capacity. For a better interpretation of results and a proper discrimination between cultivars, according to the total phenols content and antioxidant capacity, the multivariate analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were applied. The peach cultivars showed the highest content in total phenols compared with nectarine. From peach cultivars, the highest concentration was recorded in ‘Southland’ (47.49 ± 0.14 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW) and from nectarine cultivars in ‘Romamer’ (16.28 ± 0.83 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW). The highest antioxidant capacities were recorded in ‘Southland’ peach in the case of both methods (DPPH and FRAP). The results showed that ‘Southland’ peach and ‘Romamer’ nectarine pasteurised juices are the best from the point of view of total phenolic compounds content with high antioxidant capacity

TRATAMENT WITH LOW TEMPERATURES APPLIED TO THE BULBS OF NARCISSUS POETICUS L FOR THE STIMULATION OF THE IN VITRO REGENERATION AND BULBIFICATION

The object of the study was the ex situ conservation of Narcissus poëticus L specie deriving from the protected area of “the Forest with Daffodils from Alparea (Oşorhei village)” from Bihor County, a vulnerable specie, conserved in vitro, with the purpose of multiplying and reconstructing the area where it originates. The advantage of the method consists in obtaining a large number of explants, identical with the mother plant, being a unique method of multiplying asexual plants. Ex situ multiplication in free collections has some deficiencies (the destruction of the specie by the attack of some diseases, by natural disasters, etc.), which raised interest for the in vitro conservation, the method becoming a certitude. At the tuber-bulbous plants, obtaining the vegetal material for the multiplication (the bulbs) requires a period of low temperatures (vernalization stage). Narcissus poëticus L was cultivated in vitro from scale detached from the bulb, with the disk area, after the bulb donor of the explant was treated with cold up to 4 months. The explant was cultivated on four basal mediums: MSM, MS, Heller and Gamborg, with different hormonal variants. After about 4 months from the in vitro inoculation, it was followed the evolution of the explant in relation to the period of cold, to the dose of phytohormones and lass to the nature of the medium. We point out the necessity of the treatment with cold for Narcissus poëticus L specie, involved in eliminating the profound repose of the bulbous plants. The rhythm of regeneration after a month of treatment with cold at 6 oC proved weak; after 2 months of treatment at 4 oC it is in slight increase with the formation of real leaflets; and after 3 - 4 months of cold at 2 – 3 oC applied to the bulb donor of explants the rhythm of regeneration reaches up to 30 – 50 %, with caulogenesis and the formation of 3 - 4 bulbils/explant. We recommend in vitro multiplication of Narcissus poëticus L specie, after normal periods of vernalization, or the replacement of this period with a treatment with cold for about 4 months at 2 – 4 oC, and even with high doses of cytokinins, for the natural extracts within the medium for obtaining in vitro bulbils at a low cost

ASPECTS RELATED TO THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF RESISTANCE TO COLD-INDUCED STRESS IN 4 APRICOT CULTIVARS IN THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF 2018 IN NW ROMANIA

The accumulation of chill portions started in October and in early January this stage was completed (58CP), the need for cold of the cultivations studied being satisfied. The maximum amount of peroxidase in all cultivars was recorded in February when the temperatures were the lowest (0.41 U / mg at the Siren and 0.15 U / mg at CR2 / 63). Phenolic compounds are more present in the ecodormal phase of late cultivars. High values of soluble proteins were recorded in the coldest months for the determined values varying according to the ripening age of the variety (1.23 mgABS / mg at Comandor and 0.45 mgABS / mg in Rareş)

CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOIDS PIGMENTS FROM MISTLETOE (Viscum album) LEAVES USING DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

Abstract. European mistletoe (Viscum album L., family Santalaceae) is native from Europe and is an evergreen, perennial, hemiparasitic shrub that lives on a wide range of woody plants species. In the first part of this study we present the area, length and width of the leaves of five varieties of Viscum album subsp. album that are growing on five different host trees (Acer campestre, Mallus domestica, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra and Robinia pseudoacacia), in order to observe if there are vegetative morphology changes within the same specie (V. album) due to host plant. In the second part, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total amounts of carotenoids in mistletoe extracts, that was harvesting on February were determined. The buffered aqueous 80% acetone, DMF and methanol were used as solvents. The contribution of these solvents to the extraction of assimilatory pigments and the time of extraction (24, 48 and 72 hours) was examined comparatively. We find, also, the difference between the mistletoe that are growing on different host trees. The highest level of total chlorophyll (a + b), after 48 hours of extraction, were observed in the case of VaM extract, in all the solvents used (21.92 mg/g fresh leaves, in the case of methanol; 20.45 mg/g fresh leaves, in the case of acetone and 16.00 mg/g fresh leaves in the case of DMF). The low concentration of pigments were recorded in the case of VaP extract (15.23 mg/g fresh leaves in methanol extract). It was observed that methanol is the best solvent for chlorophyll, while acetone is a better solvent for the carotenoids

The Effect of Pasteurization Time on Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Two Apple Cultivars Juices

The objective of this study was to characterize two varieties of apple (Florina and Liberty) grown in the North-West of Romania, with a focus on their volatile compounds, bioactive compounds and their antioxidant capacity. The content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity was also tracked during pasteurization at different times (15, 20 and 25 minutes). Among bioactive compounds, the total phenol content was determined, as well as the total flavonoid and vitamin C content. The antioxidant capacity of fruits and pasteurized juice was evaluated by three different methods (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS). Of the 2 apple cultivars, Florina showed a remarkably higher content of total phenolic compounds (657.97 mg GAE/kg fw), flavonoids (122.07 mg QE/kg fw) and vitamin C (94.62 mg/kg), compared to the Liberty cultivar. Following pasteurization, the vitamin C contents decreased significantly relative to pasteurization time. However, in the case of total phenols content, only insignificant decreases were registered, compared to unpasteurized juice. The content of total flavonoids increased significantly after 15 minutes of pasteurization in apple cultivars juices. The apple varieties investigated are rich in bioactive compounds, and pasteurization treatment does not lead to drastic decreases in these compounds and in the antioxidant capacity of apple juices

Antigenotoxic and Antimutagenic Potentials of Proline in <i>Allium cepa</i> Exposed to the Toxicity of Cadmium

This study was conducted to evaluate whether the application of proline as a potential osmoprotectant at different doses could improve the genotoxic and mutagenic effects caused by plant exposure to cadmium salts. For this purpose, the Comet assay was used, which allows the rapid detection of DNA damage shortly after its occurrence, before the DNA is repaired, as well as the discrimination of the DNA damage limited to specific cells in a heterogeneous population. After treatment of Allium cepa roots with 75µM CdSO4·H2O (Cd sample), a DNA percentage of 35.24% was recorded in the tail. In the samples treated first with proline and then with cadmium (pre-treatment group), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 24.8% compared with the Cd sample. Instead, in the post-treatment group (samples treated first with cadmium and then with proline), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 69.04% compared with the Cd sample. All cadmium treatments induced chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Compared with the CAs values obtained after Cd treatment, the reduction was 75.6% in the pre-treatment group and 55.39% in the post-treatment group. The results of this study highlighted that exogenous application of proline alleviated the genotoxic effect of cadmium

Molecular Characterization of <i>Prunus</i> Cultivars from Romania by Microsatellite Markers

In Romania, Prunus species have great economic and social importance. With the introduction of new cultivars arises the need to preserve and characterize the local Prunus germplasm. Thus, a set of 24 polymorphic SSRs were selected for the overall characterization, including 10 peach, 11 apricot and 5 nectarine cultivars. The average number of alleles per locus (Na = 1.958), in addition to overall observed (Ho = 0.299) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.286) were lower or comparable to those reported in similar studies, probably explained by the smaller number of analyzed cultivars restricted to a smaller geographic area. Among 26 genotypes a total of 101 alleles were identified, of which 46 alleles were in peach, 55 in apricot and 40 in nectarine, respectively. Six alleles from six loci (CPPCT-030, Pchgms-003, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-010, UDP97-401, UDP98-405) were common to all taxonomic groups. The most informative loci were BPPCT-025, Pchgms-021 and UDP96-001 in peach; BPPCT-025, BPPCT-001 and UDP96-001 in nectarine; and BPPCT-002, BPPCT-025, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-020 and Pchgms-021 in apricot. Clustering and genetic similarity analysis indicated that the degree of interspecific divergence in peach and nectarine cultivars was less than that in peach and apricot. These results will be useful to prevent confusion between cultivars, to improve breeding strategies and to benefit the management of Prunus cultivars bred in Romania

Molecular Characterization of Prunus Cultivars from Romania by Microsatellite Markers

In Romania, Prunus species have great economic and social importance. With the introduction of new cultivars arises the need to preserve and characterize the local Prunus germplasm. Thus, a set of 24 polymorphic SSRs were selected for the overall characterization, including 10 peach, 11 apricot and 5 nectarine cultivars. The average number of alleles per locus (Na = 1.958), in addition to overall observed (Ho = 0.299) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.286) were lower or comparable to those reported in similar studies, probably explained by the smaller number of analyzed cultivars restricted to a smaller geographic area. Among 26 genotypes a total of 101 alleles were identified, of which 46 alleles were in peach, 55 in apricot and 40 in nectarine, respectively. Six alleles from six loci (CPPCT-030, Pchgms-003, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-010, UDP97-401, UDP98-405) were common to all taxonomic groups. The most informative loci were BPPCT-025, Pchgms-021 and UDP96-001 in peach; BPPCT-025, BPPCT-001 and UDP96-001 in nectarine; and BPPCT-002, BPPCT-025, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-020 and Pchgms-021 in apricot. Clustering and genetic similarity analysis indicated that the degree of interspecific divergence in peach and nectarine cultivars was less than that in peach and apricot. These results will be useful to prevent confusion between cultivars, to improve breeding strategies and to benefit the management of Prunus cultivars bred in Romania

GREEN BIOSYNTHESIS SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING LEAF EXTRACT

Using plant extract to synthesize silver nanoparticles is particularly worth of attention due to the simple, quick, affordable and friendly protocol with the environment. In our experiment, we have proved both the ability of common species (Mentha aquatic, Coleus blumei and Tagetes erecta) of achieving the synthesis of nanoparticles with a diameter between 8 and 300 nm, and the anti-bacterian effects of the obtained nano-silver

An In Vitro Study of the Healing Potential of Black Mulberry (<i>Morus nigra</i> L.) Extract in a Liposomal Formulation

Natural compounds are used in modern dermal treatments to avoid side effects commonly associated with conventional treatments. The aim of our study was to develop a liposomal formulation including black mulberry extract and to highlight its potential on the healing of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) in vitro using the scratch test. Mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) were prepared using a thin-film hydration method based on cholesterol (C) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a 1:3 (w/w) ratio. The liposomal formulation was characterized by analyzing its size, electric surface potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro healing effects. Also, the black mulberry fruits (Morus nigra L.) were characterized from point of view of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity by Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. HPLC-DAD-MS (ESI+) (high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization)) analysis indicated the presence of phenolic compounds namely from hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols. Among flavonols, quercetin-glucoside represented 50.56%, and chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound among hydroxycinnamic acids (37.06%). In vitro fibroblast wound closure was more effective with mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) than extracts of mulberries. According to our study, mulberry-loaded liposomes have been shown to be effective in wound healing and can be used as a natural treatment