Achievement of a Fortifying Product based on Apples, Quinces and Sea Buckthorn

The aim of the research was to achieve a fortifying product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar rich in antioxidants (vitamin C, β-carotene) and dietary fibers (cellulose, pectic substances) from fruit. In the experiments were used fruit (apples, quinces and sea buckthorn) with a high content of these nutrients. The antioxidants are chemical substances that inhibit, decompose or prevent forming of free radicals or other substances that induce cancerogenesis. Also, dietary fibers are another group of natural compounds with an important role in the prevention of the digestive diseases. In the experiments were used biochemical methods for analysis of fruit and processed products (determination of soluble dry substance, glucides, proteins, lipids, mineral elements, total acidity, vitamin C, β-carotene, cellulose, pectic substances etc.). Also were performed microbiological analysis and sensorial analysis for processed products. In order to obtain the product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar, four variants of experiments were carried out at the laboratory level. Following the sensorial and biochemical analyses, the optimum variant of the product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar was selected, namely the variant V3 in which the ratio apple puree and quince puree was 1:1 and the percentage of added sea buckthorn juice was 3%

The relationships between exogenous and endogenous antioxidants with the lipid profile and oxidative damage in hemodialysis patients

Background: We sought to investigate the relationships among the plasma levels of carotenoids, tocopherols, endogenous antioxidants, oxidative damage and lipid profiles and their possible effects on the cardiovascular risk associated with hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The study groups were divided into HD and healthy subjects. Plasma carotenoid, tocopherol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), were measured by HPLC. Blood antioxidant enzymes, kidney function biomarkers and the lipid profiles were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Plasma lycopene levels and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly decreased in HD patients compared with healthy subjects. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), creatinine, urea, MDA, GSH, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased in HD (p < 0.05). Lycopene levels were correlated with MDA (r = -0.50; p < 0.01), LDL-c (r = -0.38; p = 0.01) levels, the LDL-c/HDL-c index (r = -0.33; p = 0.03) and GPx activity (r = 0.30; p = 0.03). Regression models showed that lycopene levels were correlated with LDL-c (β estimated = -31.59; p = 0.04), while gender was correlated with the TC/HDL-c index and triglycerides. Age did not present a correlation with the parameters evaluated. GPx activity was negatively correlated with MDA levels and with the LDL-c/HDL-c and CT/HDL-c indexes. Conclusions: Lycopene may represent an additional factor that contributes to reduced lipid peroxidation and atherogenesis in hemodialysis patients

THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIRD MILLENNIUM

This paper presents the current state of preservation, processing and marketing) of the horticultural products sector in Romania, and measures of recovery and development policy both for scientific research and production