Elisabeta-Irina Geana

Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis can cause persistent alterations in gut microbial composition and fermentative metabolism, yet the long-term role of mushroom β-glucan-based prebiotics in supporting post-antibiotic microbiota modulation remains poorly defined. To address this gap, the present study evaluated the modulatory effects of ColonX, a mushroom β-glucan-based formulation, during a 60-day in vitro simulation of post-antibiotic gut microbiota modulation. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to monitor key bacterial groups, while UHPLC-DAD analysis was applied to characterize fermentation-derived organic acids. ColonX administration produced a selective, time-dependent increase in Bifidobacterium spp., with limited effects on Lactobacillus spp. and no stimulation of opportunistic bacteria such as Escherichia coli. This response became more evident after prolonged administration, suggesting progressive adaptation of the dysbiotic microbiota. Metabolomic analysis showed increased production of short-chain fatty acids and other fermentation-derived organic acids, indicating enhanced saccharolytic activity and functional metabolic remodeling. The accumulation of succinic acid further suggested ongoing microbial metabolic restructuring during recovery, while comparison with individual excipients indicated that resistant dextrin contributed to the fermentative response. Overall, this study addresses an important gap by linking prolonged mushroom β-glucan administration with both taxonomic modulation and functional metabolic recovery markers in a post-antibiotic dysbiosis model. These findings support ColonX as a promising nutraceutical strategy to promote gut microbiota restoration following antibiotic exposure.

Groundwater is a vital resource for drinking water supply, agriculture, and industrial activities. However, contamination by organic pollutants may pose significant threats to both ecosystem integrity and human health. This study assessed the environmental and human health risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater collected from 27 localities in the central–northeastern Romanian Plain. The concentrations of naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno [1,2,3-cd]pyrene were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. Benzo[a]pyrene concentrations ranged from −9 to 2.2 × 10⁻⁸ for infants, 2.7 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ for children, and 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ to 6.1 × 10⁻⁹ for adults.

The extensive use of broad-spectrum systemic herbicides for crop protection, particularly highly polar pesticides, has led to increasing inputs of pesticide residues into aquatic environments worldwide. Over recent decades, pesticide development has shifted toward compounds that are generally more polar, less persistent, and considered to have reduced environmental impacts. However, this class of pesticides remains a major analytical challenge in environmental matrices due to their physicochemical properties, including high polarity and water solubility, strong chelating behavior, and the absence of chromophoric or fluorophoric functional groups. This study presents an optimized and validated method for the simultaneous determination of glufosinate (Glu), glyphosate (Gly), its primary metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), amitrole, and ethephon at µg/L levels in water samples. Analysis was performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) following sample pretreatment with OnGuard™ II RP cartridges to remove hydrophobic interferences. Chromatographic and mass spectrometric acquisition parameters were systematically optimized to ensure adequate separation and sensitivity. The method showed satisfactory linearity over the concentration range of 1–10 µg/L. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification were 0.003 and 0.01 µg/L for Gly and AMPA, 0.009 and 0.03 µg/L for Glu, and 0.006 and 0.02 µg/L for amitrole and ethephon. Mean recoveries from spiked water samples ranged between 88% and 126%, demonstrating acceptable accuracy for environmental analysis. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of polar pesticides in surface water samples collected from agricultural areas, confirming its suitability for routine environmental monitoring of trace-level contamination.

Purple carrot peels are an abundant agro-industrial by-product rich in phytochemicals and have potential applications such as natural colorants and antioxidants. In the context of increasing interest in the valorization of vegetable processing residues, the recovery of bioactive compounds from such materials has become an important scientific and industrial objective. This study aimed to optimize the parameters of a solvent extraction process to maximize total anthocyanin content (TAC), total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (AA) from purple carrot peels. A Central Composite Design, combined with response surface methodology, was used to evaluate the effects of temperature, extraction time, ethanol concentration, and pH across 30 experimental runs. The optimal extraction conditions were identified as pH 4, an ethanol concentration of 50%, a temperature of 80 °C, and an extraction time of 35.88 min. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the experimental values obtained for TAC, TPC, and AA were 2.10 mg C3G/g D.W., 20.60 mg GAE/g D.W, and 19.02 mMol Trolox/g D.W, respectively, which were in close agreement with the predicted values of 2.10 mg C3G/g D.W., 20.30 mg GAE/g D.W, and 19.05 mMol Trolox/g D.W. The good agreement between predicted and experimental values confirmed the adequacy and predictive capability of the developed response surface models. A total of 32 phenolic compounds were characterized by UHPLC–MS/MS, with shikimic acid identified as the dominant compound, highlighting the chemical diversity and abundance of bioactive phenolics in purple carrot peels. The results demonstrate that optimization of extraction parameters significantly enhances the efficiency of conventional solid–liquid extraction, enabling the effective recovery of antioxidant compounds. The proposed approach supports the sustainable valorization of purple carrot by-products as cost-effective sources of natural pigments for food industry applications.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a significant class of environmental hazards in the atmosphere, posing substantial risks to human health and to various components of forest ecosystems. This research focused on assessing contamination levels and sources of 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and on potential toxicity associated with seven low-molecular-weight (Σ7 LMW) and eight high-molecular-weight (Σ8 HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Here, leaves of several tree species (the native Quercus robur L., Fagus sylvatica L., Pinus sylvestris L., and Taxus baccata L.; the introduced Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray bis) Parl.), litter and soil samples (10‒15 and 30‒40-cm depths) were analyzed in the formerly mining center of Baia Sprie, NW Romania. The content of Ʃ7 LMW PAHs decreased from litter to deeper soils (287, 9.07 ng g ⁻¹ ), also for Ʃ8 HMW PAHs (447.53, 13.11 ng g ⁻¹ ), and had an opposite pattern for Ʃ14 PCBs (61.76, 92.67 ng g ⁻¹ ). In C. lawsoniana and Q. robur, the Ʃ15 PAHs and Ʃ14 PCBs contents were the highest, demonstrating their ability to accumulate organic pollutants. Based on the source diagnostic ratio analysis and statistical analyses, the origins of PAHs are attributed to a combination of petrogenic and pyrogenic combustion in mining and residential activities. The toxic equivalency factor shows that Ʃ8 HMW induces a moderate to high risk (10.45 ng g ⁻¹ ) in Q. robur leaves, primarily due to the significant contribution of carcinogenic BaA, BbF, and BaP, whereas the risk is even higher in litter with levels of 71.55 ng g ⁻¹ . Q. robur leaves are recommended as suitable bioindicators in the assessment of ecosystem health. We underscore the necessity for future monitoring and engagement to implement more stringent regulatory measures of POPs, strategies for air pollution reduction, and sustainable practices aimed at risk mitigation.

Honey’s medicinal properties are largely attributed to its antioxidant activity, mainly derived from flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. Fruit berries, such as goji berries, sea buckthorn, and black currant, are particularly rich in vitamins, phenolic compounds, and minerals, providing high nutritional and pharmacological value. Enrichment of rapeseed honey with dried fruits significantly increased total phenolic content, with the highest value observed in honey containing goji berries (111.221 ± 20.551 mg GAE/100 g), followed by black currant (96.477 ± 31.053 mg GAE/100 g) and sea buckthorn (90.724 ± 19.72 mg GAE/100 g), compared to control honey (49.681 ± 14.44 mg GAE/100 g). Antioxidant activity, assessed by multiple assays, was markedly enhanced in functional foods based on rape honey and dried fruits, particularly those with black currant, followed by goji berries and sea buckthorn. Romanian rapeseed honey contained phenolic acids such as gallic, chlorogenic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, and flavonoids including quercetin and naringin. Functional food based on rape honey and goji berries (GBH) showed the highest levels of chlorogenic and gallic acids, epicatechin, and rutin, while functional food based on rape honey and sea buckthorn (SBH) was rich in naringin and resveratrol. Functional food based on rape honey and black currant (BCH) exhibited elevated gallic acid and rutin. Potassium and magnesium were the predominant minerals in all samples. Overall, berry enrichment enhances the nutritional and antioxidant profile of honey, supporting immune function and general health.

Beer aroma is a critical quality attribute shaped by volatile compounds from malt, hops, and yeast metabolism; however, the appearance of off-flavours can compromise it. This review identifies and describes the main aroma-active compounds that define the beer’s sensory profile, emphasising both key odorants and undesirable notes, such as diacetyl, dimethyl sulphide, acetaldehyde, and light-struck thiols. Based on recent literature, a troubleshooting guide was developed to link specific odours with their particular chemical compounds, origin, and corrective actions. The findings highlight how the composition of raw materials, processing and storage conditions, treatments, fermentation management, and even packaging play an important role in flavour stability. By identifying the sources of common defects and offering practical solutions, this work provides brewers with strategies to enhance aroma control and improve overall beer quality.

Unrefined vegetable oils are an important source of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on health. Therefore, confirming the biological identity of oils is important for ethical and economic reasons. In this study, a method was developed for discriminating vegetable oils based on the phenolic compounds profile obtained by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). It was found that extra virgin olive oil has a cinnamic acid content of 2.2 mg/kg (mean value), a much higher value compared to other oils (not detected—0.4 mg/kg), thus being a representative phenolic marker for this oil. From the phenolic compounds profile of different vegetable oils, it can be stated that extra virgin olive oil has a specific phenolic content. However, walnut, sunflower, and corn oils have some similarities regarding the phenolic compounds content (for instance, ellagic acid) and, therefore, these oils can be used as adulterants of extra virgin olive oil. Data analysis, including principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and partial least-squares discriminant analysis, demonstrated the discrimination of olive oils from other vegetable oils. Data analysis also allowed the discrimination and classification of olive oil samples adulterated with corn oil when the percentage of adulterant was 1%, with an accuracy of more than 90%.