Croatian Agriculture Towards World Market Liberalization

Due to the limited domestic market and a loss of traditional markets, Croatian economic development today is based on export orientation with an important role of agriculture. Since 1990’s Croatian economy began transformation from communistic economy towards a liberal market economy. At the same time, Croatia intensified association processes to world and European trade organizations (WTO in 2000, free trade agreements with some European countries, signing Stabilization and Association Agreement - SAA in 2001 as well as beginning of EU accession negotiation process in 2005). Croatian agriculture experienced numerous transitional problems (mentioned loss of traditional markets, failures in privatizing state-owned land, poorly organized markets, technological and educational limitations, producer insolvency, an export-import deficit etc). The aim of this paper is to explore limitations of Croatian agriculture as well as possibilities that come along with associations to world and European organizations and associations

Unlocking Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. honey characterization through melissopalynological analysis, color determination and volatiles chemical profiling

Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. honey (14 samples) collected in Poland was characterized by melissopalynological analysis, color determination (CIE L*a*b*Cab*hab° coordinates) and volatiles (VOCs) composition. VOCs were isolated by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME, two fibers) and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (USE, two solvents) and analyzed by GCâ\u80\u93MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical-tree clustering (HTC) were applied to show trends and form groups and to indicate the most representative unifloral samples. Six samples were pointed out with average pollen 74.9% and color parameters (L = 85.1; a* = â\u88\u92 0.8; b* = 27.9; Cab* = 27.9; hab* = 91.9) that were significantly correlated. High abundance of trans-linalool oxide (27.3â\u80\u9345.9%) that was significantly correlated with the pollen percentages, hexan-1-ol (4.4â\u80\u935.7%) and lavender lactone (0.8% - 1.5%) were characteristic for their headspace. C13-norisoprenoids, mainly (E)-/(Z)-3-oxo-retro-α-ionol (4.7â\u80\u935.4%; 6.9â\u80\u939.4%) and vomifoliol (9.0â\u80\u9313.0%) dominated in their USE extracts

Headspace Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction Versus Hydrodistillation of Volatile Compounds from Leaves of Cultivated Mentha Taxa: Markers of Safe Chemotypes

Various mint taxa are widely cultivated and are used not only for medicinal purposes but also in cosmetic and industrial applications. The development of new varieties or cultivars of mint generates difficulties in their correct identification and safe use. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the leaves of seven different taxa of the genus Mentha obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was also performed. Comparative GC-MS analysis of the obtained extracts showed similarity in the major compounds. PCA data allowed the separation of two groups of chemotypes among the analyzed mints, characterized by the abundance of piperitenone oxide and carvone. Two out of seven analyzed taxa were not previously examined for VOC profile, one was examined only for patent application purposes, and six out of seven were investigated for the first time using the HS-SPME technique. The presented analysis provides new data on the abundance and qualitative characterization of VOCs in the studied mint plants and on the safety of their use, related to the possibility of the presence of potentially toxic components. HS-SPME is a valuable method to extend the characterization of the VOC profile obtained by hydrodistillation

Recidivant desmoide fibromatosis of anterior abdominal wall et desmoide fibromatosis of retroperitoneum: Case report

Desmoide or aggressive fibromatosis belong to the group of benign tumor characterized by a locally infiltrative growth and tendency to recur and which do not metastasize. Here is shown 46 years old woman who is coming for examination because of recurrent tumors of the anterior abdominal wall, PH earlier verified as desmoide fibromatosis. With a tumor of the anterior abdominal wall measuring 14.7 x 7.0 x 12.5 cm, CT diagnostics discovered a tumor size of 5.8 x 8.8 cm 6,2x in the lodge earlier removed right kidney, which is in close communication with v. cava inferior (VCI) and A. Illiaca comunis dex. (AIC dex.). Compression of VCI and AIC has resulted in swelling of the right leg as a whole who retired after excision of the tumor. The postoperative course was uneventful

Characterization of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) honey by physico-chemical parameters and chromatographic/spectroscopic techniques (GC-FID/MS, HPLC-DAD, UV/VIS and FTIR-ATR

Satureja hortensis L. unifloral honey was characterized by pollen analysis, electrical conductivity, pH and extensively by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. UV / VIS spectro-scopy measurements revealed total phenol content of 682.1 mg GAE / kg by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, antiox-idant capacity by DPPH assay of 1.7 mmol TEAC / kg and by FRAP assay of 4.3 mmol Fe2+ / kg as well as CIE L*a*b*Cab*h°ab chromaticity coordinates. GC-MS after headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) revealed hotrienol (22.8 %) along with other linalool derivatives, benzaldehyde (6.1 %), phenylacetaldehyde (4.9 %) and few norisoprenoids (safranal (7.6 %) as the major). Ultrasonic solvent ex-traction (USE) followed by GC-MS allowed identification of methyl syringate (54.7 %) as predominant compound along with other benzene derivatives. HPLC-DAD analysis determined tyrosine (382.0 mg kg−1), phenylalanine (140.4 mg kg−1) and methyl syringate (39.32 mg kg−1). Methyl syringate and hotrienol can be considered non-specific chemical markers of S. hortensis honey. FTIR-ATR spectral characteristics of S. hortensis honey in fingerprinting region were not significantly different from other honey types, but the integrated intensity of the region was smaller than in other unifloral honeys

Traceability of Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) Honey through Nectar/Honey-Sac/Honey Pathways of the Headspace, Volatiles, and Semi-Volatiles: Chemical Markers

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE), followed by GC-MS/FID, were applied for monitoring the nectar (NE)/honey-sac (HoS)/honey (HO) pathways of the headspace, volatiles, and semi-volatiles. The major NE (4 varieties of Citrus unshiu) headspace compounds were linalool, α-terpineol, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, and phenylacetonitrile. Corresponding extracts contained, among others, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and caffeine. The major HoS headspace compounds were linalool, α-terpineol, 1,8-cineole, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, and cis-jasmone. Characteristic compounds from HoS extract were caffeine, 1H-indole, 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one, methyl anthranilate, and phenylacetonitrile. However, HO headspace composition was significantly different in comparison to NE and HoS with respect to phenylacetaldehyde and linalool derivatives abundance that appeared as the consequence of the hive conditions and the bee enzyme activity. C. unshiu honey traceability is determined by chemical markers: phenylacetaldehyde, phenylacetonitrile, linalool and its derivatives, as well as 1H-indole, 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one, and caffeine