Publicatii USAMV Cluj-Napoca (University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine / Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară din Cluj-Napoca)
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Medical Applications of Algae: A Review
Get PDFAlgae are known as powerful agents since ancient times. In recent years, more and more studies suggest algae’s potential in the medical field. This review aims to show the most important advances in the uses of algae in the medical field. Due to their bioactive compounds (such as polyphenols, polysaccharides and more) algae (both micro-and macro-algae) have a variety of uses. They were proven to have antioxidant activity, were used as anti-viral agents or for anti-cancer treatment. Also due to their polysaccharides, they were also shown to possess anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hypertensive effects. Species of micro-algae were used with success in urinary tract infections treatment. Some algae found uses in dentistry. They were included in toothpaste in order to reduce the chance of cavities (they possess anti-microbial activity which can help protect against cavities). Bioactive compounds from algae were also found to have neuroprotective potential
Alfalfa Seeds and Sprouts – Review of the Health Benefits and Their Influence on Bakery Products
Get PDFThe Potential of Psilocybe Genus Fungi to Treat Depression and Some Addictions
Get PDFThe therapeutic use of the substance psilocin produced by the fungi from the genus named Psilocybe has been an interesting but also controversial topic of discussion among researchers since the 1950s until now. These fungi can synthesize several alkaloids such as psilocybin, which has hallucinogenic properties, but also muscarine, which is a toxic substance that stimulates that part of the nervous system called parasympathetic. The use of psilocybin in therapy has been spreading for several decades from America, spreading all over the western world. For the first time, the substance was isolated from a species called Psilocybe mexicana mushroom, but then more than 30 such species were discovered. Psilocybin mushrooms were used by the Aztec shamans in healing, religious and divinatory rituals, but also by the Mesoamerican populations. This natural organic compound is derived from the substance dimethyltryptamine phosphate which is known to be a brain stimulant, and which is found in more than 200 species of mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus. The liver breaks down psilocybin through the phosphorylation process resulting in psilocin, the substance that causes the psychoactive effect. Because the substance is used for relaxing the nervous system, its introduction into medicine and psychotherapy has brought great controversies until now
Comparative Study of Polyphenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Four Agastache Species (Lamiaceae)
Get PDFAgastache species (Lamiaceae) are aromatic plants that are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and bacterial infections. Their phytochemical profile is characterized by the presence of essential oil, phenolic derivatives and terpenoid compounds. In the present study, the polyphenolic composition and antioxidant potential of four Agastache species (A. foeniculum, A. mexicana, A. scrophulariifolia, A. rugosa) and one cultivar (A. rugosa ‘After Eight’) were investigated. The total polyphenols content (TPC), caffeic acid derivatives content (TCADC) and flavonoids content (TFC) were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Also, the antioxidant capacity of Agastache extracts was measured using 2,2–diphenyl-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. This study showed a TPC ranging from 1.92 to 3.64 mg GAE/g, TCADC ranging from 1.35 to 3.58 mg CAE/g, and TFC between 0.58 and 0.72 mg RE/g. The phenolic determinations are in accordance with the antioxidant activity. Thus, a higher TPC (3.64 mg GAE/g dried plant material) for A. mexicana methanolic extract is related to a higher DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 109.08 µg/mL) and a higher ferric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (2346.88 µM TE/100 mL extract). The results open new directions in the pharmacognostic analysis of Agastache species and provide important preliminary information for further pharmacological research
Results Regarding the Valorisation of Pine Buds (Pinus sylvestris) in a Honey Based Food Supliment
Get PDFPopulation lifestyles and socio-economic trends indicate the need for foods with enhanced health benefits. From this point of view, the demand for functional foods and dietary supplements in the global market has grown rapidly. This research aims to create a food supplement based on pine buds and honey, without thermal treatment, having no impact effect buds biologically active compounds. To obtain the food supplement, were used 2 types of honey and pine buds in 3 stages of development. The method used for sensorial analysis was nine hedonic tests. Food supplements obtained from polyflora honey and pine buds in the three stages of development were more appreciated by consumers compared to the food supplement obtained from acacia honey and pine buds in the three stages of development
Cricket Flour, Chemical Compositions And Applications In Food Processing
Get PDFBeing practiced by 2 billion human beings on earth, entomophagy (insects’ human consumption) allows us to go beyond our comfort zone by exploring our own barriers. Westerners are not yet used to eating edible insects (unlike Asians and Africans), but they hear about them more and more often. Indeed, many people are seduced by the environmental and nutritional qualities of edible insects, but have a psychological difficulty in taking the step to eating them. However, their taste is similar to foods already appreciated such as walnuts, almonds and shrimps. Eating insects provides nutritional, economic and ecological advantages all around the world but arouses many obstacles in western countries. The objective of this article is to explore the notion of edibility of insects
The Importance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas in Medicinal Plants
Get PDFMedicinal plants represent a highly valuable resource, which is part of human life since ancient times. Most of these species are collected from wildlife, where their survival is assured by the capacity of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizas. The aim of this study was to analyse the number of articles published between 2002-2021, based on arbuscular mycorrhiza and medicinal plants topic. The number of articles in the analysed period was only 102, with an increase in the last 5 years. The main direction of the researches were toward the understanding and defining mycorrhizal status of medicinal plants, collected from spontaneous flora and from botanical collections. This direction was completed by studies regarding inoculation potential with arbuscular mycorrhizas, which aimed to increase the content in active compounds or to assure the sustainability of cropping systems. The analysis of the main categories to which the articles belong relieved that plant sciences and agronomy have more than 60% in share, completed by the 10% associated to environmental sciences. This topic is important for Romanian research, due to the high diversity of natural ecosystems and the high number of medicinal plant species. The better understanding of colonization status and the use of arbuscular mycorrhiza as inoculum are wo important directions which need more attention in the future in order to increase the sustainability of medicinal plant field
Evaluation Of Bioactive Compounds From Natural Extracts And Reusable Food Waste With The Possibility Of Incorporation Into Functional Products
Get PDFSkin diseases have come to occupy an important place in the incidence of pathologies that are increasingly affecting a large part of the population. The role of plants in the improvement and treatment of skin diseases has been known since ancient times, and today, scientific research attests even more to their importance and effectiveness. This paper aims to evaluate the bioactive potential of extracts of interest by capitalizing on by-products, with the possibility of incorporating them into functional products. This study evaluates plants such as nettle, chamomile, marc and coffee grounds, which through their bioactive compounds can have therapeutic effects on some skin conditions. The results obtained are preliminary evaluations and subsequent investigations will demonstrate the effectiveness of some bioactive compounds of interest in order to obtain a food supplement with beneficial properties in preventing and possibly treating skin conditions caused by stress. Total polyphenols, antioxidant activity and flavonoid compounds from nettle extracts (dried and fresh), dried chamomile flowers, coffee grounds and marc were determined
Studies On The Morphology Of Damson-Hop Aphid, Phorodon humuli Schrank, 1801
Get PDFPhorodon humuli Schrank, 1801 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the damson-hop aphid is the most important pest of superterrestrial organs of hop (Humulus lupulus Linné, 1753). The damages produced by this aphid, could be considerable sometimes compromising the yields. The studies on the morphology of this key-pest carried out until present, has contributed to clearing up of some classical aspects of these problems. The research concerning the morphology of damson-hop aphid were carried out between 1998-2019 in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). The various forms of aphid's life cycle were captured, prepared, photographed and measured, with the corresponding description
Evaluation Of Analytical Methodologies Used In The Extraction Of Bioactive Compounds From Almond Seed And Brazil Nuts
Get PDFThis pathology was first described in 1934 by the Norwegian doctor Asbjorn Fölling, at the Institute of Physiology of the University of Oslo. PKU belongs to the group of hyperphenylalaninemias (HPA), a group that includes the causes that increase the concentration of plasma phenylalanine. The most common cause of HPA is phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency which causes excessive accumulation of phenylalanine in the bloodstream, affecting the central nervous system. Prevention of complications caused by PKU is the main goal at the time of diagnosis. The therapeutic intervention is sustained throughoutlife, this being made up of a diet aimed at limiting the intake of phenylalanine (Cruz et. al., 2002). Several studies have shown a decrease in antioxidant capacity in patients with PKU. Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are an important source of vitamin E (α-tocopherol), a fat-soluble vitamin with an antioxidant role. Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) are among the richest sources of selenium. The literature describes low selenium levels in patients with PKU. The extraction of α tocopherol and selenium from almond seeds and brazil nuts could contribute to the development of a dietary supplement with antioxidant potential, so that the nutritional status of patients with PKU