Erzsébet Varga

The authors compared Cydonia oblonga fruits from two regions of Transylvania with regard to their polyphenol content, total acidity, and vitamin C levels. The polyphenol content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, which is based on a redox reaction involving electron transfer from phenolic compounds to the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The results ranged from 365.96 ± 1.7 to 422.93 ± 2.3 mg GAE/100 g dry weight in aqueous extracts and from 397.50 ± 1.9 to 998.78 ± 4.5 mg GAE/100 g dry weight in methanolic extracts. These values are in agreement with those previously reported in the literature. No significant differences in polyphenol content were observed either between the harvested samples or between the solvents used. However, the analytical method and storage duration of the fruits may influence the measured polyphenol content. The flavonoid content of the fruits was determined using the method described in the 10th edition of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia. The results ranged from 30.9 ± 1.02 to 34.0 ± 1.05 mg QE/100 g dry weight for aqueous extracts and from 19.2 ± 0.98 to 20.7 ± 0.87 mg QE/100 g dry weight for methanolic extracts. The total acidity of the fruit extracts was measured by acid–base titration with potentiometric endpoint detection. The samples showed slight differences depending on the harvesting location and the extraction solvent (methanol or water). The vitamin C content was determined by bromatometric titration using p -ethoxychrysoidine as the endpoint indicator. The ascorbic acid content was found to depend on both the geographical origin of the samples and the nature of the extraction solvent.

Increasing antimicrobial resistance and restrictions on antibiotic use in poultry have drawn attention to phytogenic products as a complementary approach for controlling enteric bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a phytogenic product (Herba Top Salmonella, HTS) on selected cultivable intestinal bacterial populations, intestinal histomorphology and tissue distribution of Salmonella Typhimurium in experimentally infected broiler chickens. A total of sixty one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (10 birds/group; two pens/group, five birds/pen, with the pen considered the experimental unit. Birds in three groups were experimentally challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and HTS was administered in drinking water for 14 consecutive days at two nominal concentrations (3 mL/L and 6 mL/L). Intestinal microbiological parameters, histomorphometric characteristics, and the presence of Salmonella Typhimurium in tissues by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. The effects of infection status, HTS concentration, and their interaction were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. HTS administration was associated with reduced counts of total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae counts. In experimentally infected broilers, HTS treatment was also associated with reduced Salmonella Typhimurium in intestinal tissue and significant changes in intestinal histomorphometric parameters, including increased crypt depth and mitotic activity. The observed responses were influenced by both infection status and the HTS nominal concentration. Because of the limited number of independent experimental units and the absence of individual HTS intake measurements, these findings should be considered exploratory preliminary findings, and further studies with larger animal groups under commercial production conditions are required.

Backyard chicken farming is a longstanding practice in Romania, with over 13 million birds raised in such systems to provide households with essential sources of eggs and meat. Despite advantages such as low production costs and the potential for organic husbandry, backyard poultry remains highly vulnerable to parasitic infections due to limited biosecurity measures and minimal regulatory oversight. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a plant-based anthelmintic product in naturally infected backyard flocks. Among the 35 backyard farms examined, 24 (68.6%) tested positive for helminth infections, with prevalence rates of 51.4% for Ascaridia galli/Heterakis gallinarum, 57.1% for Capillaria spp., and 40% for Strongyloides avium. Positive households were assigned to three groups: untreated control, fenbendazole-treated, and herbal product-treated. The plant-based formulation consisted of alcoholic extracts from seven locally sourced plants, Thymus serpyllum, Calendula officinalis, Inula helenium, Tanacetum vulgare, Origanum vulgare, Artemisia annua, and Artemisia absinthium, and was administered via drinking water at a dose of 5 mL/L for seven consecutive days. Anthelmintic efficacy was assessed using the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Fecal samples were collected before treatment and on days 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment, and examined using flotation and the McMaster technique. Both the plant-based and fenbendazole-treated groups exhibited significant reductions in egg counts for A. galli/H. gallinarum (p ≤ 0.00001), although neither treatment reached the 90% efficacy threshold required for reliable parasitic control in poultry. The herbal formulation achieved a 91.33% reduction in fecal egg counts overall and a complete (100%) efficacy against Strongyloides avium at 7 and 21 days post-treatment, respectively. At 14 days post-treatment, the mean FECRT values across all parasite species ranged from 13.64% in the untreated control group to 71.86% in the fenbendazole-treated group and 67.11% in the herbal-treated group. The highest reduction was observed in the fenbendazole group against Ascaridia galli/Heterakis gallinarum (85.22 ± 11.86), while the lowest was recorded in the control group against S. avium (–31.63 ± 96.64). Overall, our findings indicate that plant-based anthelmintics are a promising, environmentally friendly option for organic backyard poultry systems, offering a viable alternative to conventional chemical treatments.

Our phytochemical investigation defined the polyphenol, anthocyanin and flavonoid content from methanolic, ethanolic 50% and watery extracts from fresh pomegranate juice and seeds with a spectrophotometric method. The antioxidant capacity was defined with the ABTS and DPPH methods. We determined the polyphenols with the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the anthocyanins with the method in Hungarian Pharmacopoeia VIIIth edition at Myrtilli fructus monography and the flavonoids with a modified method of the Romanian Pharmacopeia Xth edition Cynarae folium monography. We expressed the concentration of polyphenols in gallic acids (GA). The values indicated the following: in fruit juice, 47.57 μg GA/ml, in methanol seed extract 7 μg GA/g, the ethanol 50% and in watery seed extracts 8 μg GA/g. The definition of flavonoids indicated the following values expressed in quercetin (QE): in fruit juice 706 μg QE/ml, in methanol seed extract 416 μg QE/g, in ethanol 50% seed extract 46 μg QE/g and in watery seed extract 57 μg QE/g. The anthocyans from juice 3.95 mg/100 ml and seed 6.47 mg/100 g expressed in cyanidin-3-0-glycoside. We determined the following values with the ABTS method: the antioxidant capacity of juice is 25.40 μg/ml, in methanol seed extract 2.87 μg/ml, in ethanol seed extract 2.52 μg/ml, in watery 9.15 μg/ml. With the DPPH method, we obtained the following values: from juice 54.2 μg/ml, from methanolic extract 14.7 μg/ml, from ethanolic extract 10.58 μg/ml and watery extract 18.22 μg/ml. The received data shows the importance of pomegranate, which can be a new phytotherapeutic potential resource.

The carotenoid composition of the flower of Telekia speciosa was investigated for the first time by HPLC-DAD-MS. In addition to the main carotenoid lutein and its geometrical isomers, 5,6-epoxy-carotenoids, namely violaxanthin, lutein 5,6-epoxide and antheraxanthin, were detected in larger amounts. In addition, β-carotene 5,6-epoxide and β-carotene 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxide were found, which occurs very rarely in plants. For unambigous identification, β-carotene 5,6-epoxide and β-carotene 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxide were prepared semisynthetically, and they were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and HPLC-CD methods.

Summary: In this article, we describe the functions of lectins, their biological properties and how they can help prevent disease. Lectins have received increasing attention in the food industry, and recently there has been some controversial information about them. Lectin is a protein found in many plants and animals. Plant lectins are proteins found in plants that are able to interact with many different molecules. The effect of these molecules may vary depending on the source, as they are able to bind to specific carbohydrates. This property allows them to inhibit the growth and spread of microorganisms. They perform a number of functions in the body, such as boosting immunity and supporting cell growth, including the proliferation of malignant cells. They help prevent infections and slow down the ageing process. In addition to the positive effects of lectins, there are negative aspects that should be taken into account by nutritionists.

The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemistry of two food and herb plants that are commonly consumed. They are the beetroot and the celery, which are commercially known and have been grown for a long time in our country and in Europe. The beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) belongs taxonomically to the order Magnoliopsida, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodiaceae, within which it is a member of the subgenus Beta. Celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) is a plant of the order Magnoliopsida, Apiales, and of the family Apiaceae. Beetroot is one of the vegetables that owes its antioxidant activity partly to its phenolic components. The active substances include various vitamins, minerals, phenolic components, anthocyanins, fibers, carotenoids, ascorbic acid. Celery stalks contain phenolic components, furanocoumarins, and essential oils. The widespread use of celery stalk is due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, antifungal and serum lipid-lowering properties. It is also used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Beetroot and celery stalk were used to prepare methanolic, ethanolic (50%) and aqueous extracts. For the determination of total polyphenols, ethanol (50%) proved to be the better solvent for both beetroot and celery. The total polyphenol content of beetroot was significantly lower than that of celery. In the determination of flavonoids in celery, the highest concentrations were obtained in the aqueous extracts. When anthocyanin concentrations were determined in cooked and raw beetroot, almost identical but surprisingly low concentrations were obtained. In case of the ABTS method used for antioxidant measurements, ethanolic extracts (50%) are the best free radical scavengers for beetroot, while methanolic extract of frozen stem part is the most effective in case of celery.

Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull belonging to Ericaceae family occurs mostly at sour habitats in subalpine regions in Europe. The species is cultivated in many countries, but it is known as medicinal plant because of polyphenols and aucubin as main compounds. In this work, the polyphenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content, as well as the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the aerial part, were evaluated. In phytochemical analyses, methanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content, followed by ethanol, methanol/water, and aqueous extracts. In antimicrobial tests, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water extracts inhibited the growth of S. aureus and MRSA, while butanol and water fractions were effective against E. coli, and water extract for E. coli ESBL and K. pneumoniae ESBL. Water extract showed the most inhibitory effect for the tested 2 g-positive and 3 g-negative strains including both bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity. Data analysed by Pearson coefficient correlation showed positive correlation between polyphenol and flavonoid content. The determined antioxidant capacity of the herb ranged from 0.145 to 0.296 mg/mL. The results highlight the significance of the plant as possible antioxidant source and as an antimicrobial agent for further studies.

To complete the wide range of studies on chemical composition and pharmacological potential of the fruit of Ribes nigrum and Ribes rubrum, this work aimed to perform a comparative morpho-anatomical characterization of the fruits of both species and complete previously records of black currant as frequently studied species. Microslides of fruits were made with rotation microtome, and then cross sections were stained with toluidine blue. Documentation and evaluation were carried out in microphotos. In R. rubrum, the epidermis cells are ovoid to round, while those of R. nigrum are rectangular to almost round. Under the epidermis, in both fruits, there are two layers of oval hypodermal cells. Underneath the hypodermal layers, parenchyma cells of different size with thin walls and scattered collateral closed bundles were detected. The seeds are embedded in a gelatinous sheath having large thin-walled cells. Endocarp separates the arillar tissue from parenchyma cells, in addition, a gap can be found among these layers, endocarp, arillar tissue, and seeds. The seed coat consists of sclerenchyma cells in both species. In conclusion, histological differences and similarities were described in the fruits of the selected Ribes species, highlighted the first morpho-anatomical description of the berry of Ribes rubrum.

Coccidiosis represents a serious threat to the poultry industry, affecting production and causing high morbidity, mortality and significant costs resulting from treatment and prophylaxis. In-feed anticoccidials have been used for decades for managing avian coccidiosis and were very effective until drug resistance emerged. The use of natural remedies has become a promising alternative in combating coccidiosis in chickens. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the efficiency of a commercial herbal formula (H), as oral liquid preparations, in experimental chicken coccidiosis. Two independent controlled battery experiments (BE1 and BE2) were designed and the product was tested in 3 different formulas (H1, H2 and H3): H1 contained a propylene glycol extract of Allium sativum and Thymus serpyllum; H2 contained Origanum vulgare, Satureja hortensis and Chelidonium majus; and H3 contained Allium sativum, Urtica dioica, Inula helenium, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rosmarinus officinalis, Chelidonium majus, Thymus serpyllum, Tanacetum vulgare and Coriandrum sativum. Chickens were divided into five groups for each BE as follows: (i) uninfected untreated control (UU1, UU2); (ii) infected untreated control (IU1, IU2); (iii) infected treated with amprolium (ITA1, ITA2); and (iv, v) two experimental groups infected treated with H1 (ITH1) and H2 (ITH2) formulas in the BE1 and with H3 (ITH3-5 and ITH3-10) formula in the BE2. The chickens from infected groups were challenged with 5000 (BE1) and 50,000 (BE2) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. (E. acervulina, E. tenella and E. maxima), respectively. The anticoccidial efficacy was assessed by recording the following: oocysts output (OPG), lesion score (LS), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and anticoccidial index (ACI). Additionally, polyphenolics and flavonoids (caffeic-chlorogenic acid, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercitin, quercitrin) from herb extracts found in H3 formula were determined by the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. H1 and H2 reduced the WG, and increased the FCR and OPG compared with controls. H1 reduced the duodenal lesions, whilst H2 reduced the caecal lesions, compared with control. H3 decreased the OPG of Eimeria spp., reduced the total lesion score and improved the zootechnical performance (weight gain and feed conversion ratio). According to ACI value, H1 and H2 had no efficacy on Eimeria spp. infection, but H3 had good to marked anticoccidial effect, the ACI being slightly greater in the group ITH3-5. According to the results of LC-MS/MS, the concentration of polyphenols in H3 formula was the highest, the sum of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid being 914.9 µg/ml. H3 formula is a promising natural anticoccidial and field trials are recommended in order to validate the obtained data.