Mobil and total forms of some transitional metal cations in food chain of black currants cultivation and processing

Romania has large natural possibilities through Western Plain, diligence and skill of residents in cultivation and processing of specific and quality horticultural products. In the world there are few areas where the climate, soil and diversity of spontaneous and cultivated flora can provide quality natural food products, with high nutritional value. The experimental results obtained for the heavy metal concentrations in the black currants cultivated on soils close to the C.E.T. Timisoara ash storage reveal higher concentrations for these elements. Higher concentrations for the toxic heavy metals (Cd, Pb) and for the potential toxic heavy metals (Zn, Cu) were identified in some vegetables, especially for leaf vegetables and for the root vegetables. Although some heavy metals were identified in higher concentrations, close to the toxic limits or higher, the mean values for these concentrations in the vegetables were in the range of normal limits. This fact demonstrate that the pollution of this areal is incipient and forward cannot be affirm that the heavy metal pollution process is evident, but this phenomenon could be amplified in the case of a prolonged anthropic impact, and without the specific agro-pedo-ameliorative measures. The classification of the non-polluted and polluted regions is achieved by multivariate analysis (PCA-principal component analysis) of the data using especially the Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentration values for the first and second principal components, and Zn and Fe concentration values for the third principal component

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

Dried figs as sources of essential microelements

The paper aims to determine the concentration of some microelements essential in cardiovascular sistem health from dried figs and evaluate their mineral intake. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were determined from samples of dried figs from the local trade, imported from different countries in the Mediterranean areas. The results obtained, by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) method, show that these fruits contain important quantities of essential microelements, depending on fig providers: 22.1 - 32.5 mg/kg Fe, 4.14 - 12.73 mg/kg Mn, 4.53 - 10.20 mg/kg Zn and 3.95 - 9.16 mg/kg Cu. The analytical results obtained allowed the evaluation of the mineral intake of these fruits for men and women aged between 19 - 50 years. Thus, a consumption of 40 g of dried figs covers a large part of the need for microelements, as follows: 13.99% Fe, 13.39% Mn, 2.83% Zn and 28.07% Cu - for men and 6.22% Fe, 17.11% Mn, 3.89% Zn and 28.07% Cu - for men. These results show that the dried figs analyzed could be considered as sources with some essential microelements, especially in terms of Cu, Mn and Fe

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

Medicinal plants - important source of essential microelements

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the concentration of some essential microelements (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) from the leaves of two plants: stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and sage (Salvia officinalis), species of plants with multiple uses in the food and medical field due to their high content of compounds with beneficial action for organisms. Samples were obtained by washing, drying and calcination of fresh leaves. The results obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry regarding Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu concentration in sage and nettle leaves shows that the samples contains important amounts of essential microelements, Cu (1.72-1.87 mg/g), Fe (25.43-65.67 mg/g), Mn (7.86 – 9.30 mg/g), Zn (54.61 – 73.12 mg/g). The appreciable contents of essential microelements recommend the use of these plants as a supplementary source of essential elements

Chemical composition of some flour mixtures with high nutritional value

The objectives of this study were to optimize high nutritional blends obtained by partial substitution of white wheat flour 550 (WWF) with rye flour (RF), oat flour (OF), quinoa flour (CF) and maize flour, respectively, and assessing the impact of using these mixtures on the sensory qualities of multigrain bread. WWF has been substituted by 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% RF, OF, QF and MF, respectively. As for flours and flours mixtures, the following determinations were carried out: moisture, protein content, ash content, fat content, fiber content, and total carbohydrate content. The resulting mixtures had high protein content (11.23% at M6 and 11.91% at M3), fiber (2.71% at M6 and 3.68% at M1), ash (1.28% at M6 and 1.70% at M3) fat (2.61% at M6 and 3.42% at M1) and low carbohydrates (65.74% at M1 and 68.02% at M6) and moisture ranged between 13.77% at M1 and 14.15% at M6. Based on the obtained results regarding the physic-chemical composition of the M1 ÷ M6 mixtures, it can be appreciated that all these mixtures are suitable for being used in obtaining bakery products (multigrain bread) according to the established substitution amounts, because all the results obtained for the nutritional and quality parameters had the values closest to the daily nutritional needs of the human body for good development and function

Studies regarding obtainment and the characterization of different types of homemade chocolate with fruit addition

It is known that homemade chocolate is the most important and popular sweet product used in the diet of children and adults, due to its attractive taste and caloric value. The special nutritional qualities of chocolate are conferred by compounds with biological activity in its composition. The representative compounds from chocolate are antioxidants, macro- and micronutrients, sugar, and stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. In our study we show how fruits addition can influence the physico-chemical properties of homemade chocolate. The used fruits were been frozen fruit. Experimental part is based on some physico-chemical determination (content of water, dry content, total mineral content et al.) in order to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of the product

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

Titanocene / cyclodextrin supramolecular systems: a theoretical approach

Abstract Background Recently, various metallocenes were synthesized and analyzed by biological activity point of view (such as antiproliferative properties): ruthenocenes, cobaltoceniums, titanocenes, zirconocenes, vanadocenes, niobocenes, molibdocenes etc. Two main disadvantages of metallocenes are the poor hydrosolubility and the hydrolytic instability. These problems could be resolved in two ways: synthetically modifying the structure or finding new formulations with enhanced properties. The aqueous solubility of metallocenes with cytostatic activities could be enhanced by molecular encapsulation in cyclodextrins, as well as the hydrolytic instability of these compounds could be reduced. Results This study presents a theoretical approach on the nanoencapsulation of a series of titanocenes with cytotoxic activity in α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrin. The HyperChem 5.11 package was used for building and molecular modelling of titanocene and cyclodextrin structures, as well as for titanocene/cyclodextrin complex optimization. For titanocene/cyclodextrin complex optimization experiments, the titanocene and cyclodextrin structures in minimal energy conformations were set up at various distances and positions between molecules (molecular mechanics functionality, MM+). The best interaction between titanocene structures and cyclodextrins was obtained in the case of β- and γ-cyclodextrin, having the hydrophobic moieties oriented to the secondary face of cyclodextrin. The hydrophobicity of titanocenes (logP) correlate with the titanocene-cyclodextrin interaction parameters, especially with the titanocene-cyclodextrin interaction energy; the compatible geometry and the interaction energy denote that the titanocene/β- and γ-cyclodextrin complex can be achieved. Valuable quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were also obtained in the titanocene class by using the same logP as the main parameter for the in vitro cytotoxic activity against HeLa, K562, and Fem-x cell lines. Conclusions According to our theoretical study, the titanocene/cyclodextrin inclusion compounds can be obtained (high interaction energy; the encapsulation is energetically favourable). Further, the most hydrophobic compounds are better encapsulated in β- and γ-cyclodextrin molecules and are more stable (from energetically point of view) in comparison with α-cyclodextrin case. This study suggests that the titanocene / β- and γ-cyclodextrin complexes (or synthetically modified cyclodextrins with higher water solubility) could be experimentally synthesized and could have enhanced cytotoxic activity and even lower toxicity.</p