Teodora Petrova Popova

Water-rich planetary environments provide a relevant framework for investigating how localized mineral–water reactions and reducing aqueous conditions may influence biological processes. In the present study, an LHS 1140 b-inspired terrestrial aqueous framework was developed to examine Mg⁰-mediated molecularhydrogen generation and microbial responses under defined mineral–water conditions. The reaction of zero-valent magnesium with water produced an H₂-containing reducing aqueous phase and hydrated/hydroxylated Mg–O/Mg–OH-containing solid products, as characterized by direct physicochemical measurements and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The aerobic facultative methylotrophic bacterium Brevibacterium methylicum B-5652 was employed as a terrestrial microbial test system for methanol-dependent RuMP C₁ assimilation. In the H₂-associated M9 condition, wet biomass reached 217.3 ± 4.1 g·L⁻¹ compared with 201.4 ± 2.9 g·L⁻¹ in the reference medium, corresponding to a 7.9% increase, whereas the bicarbonate–mineral aqueous condition yielded 190.5 ± 3.9 g·L⁻¹ (94.6% of the reference biomass). Lag-phase and generation-time differences were comparatively smaller. L-Phenylalanine formation followed the general pattern of biomass accumulation, demonstrating preservation of methanol-dependent biosynthetic activity across the investigated aqueous conditions. Complementary short-term assays with four Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains showed no obvious reduction in subsequent growth after 30 min exposure to H₂-containing water. Previous studies of hot mineral-water systems have independently demonstrated biologically relevant responses at approximately 1–2 ppm H₂ and hydrogen-associated amino-acid microstructural organization. The present findings therefore establish an experimentally accessible framework linking mineral–water H₂ generation, mineral-surface transformation, microbial biomass formation, and C₁-dependent biosynthetic activity, without assuming that the laboratory system reproduces the complete atmospheric or oceanic environment of LHS 1140 b.

This study examined the polyphenol composition, antioxidant properties, and biological activity of bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit juice from Bulgaria. Antioxidant potential was analyzed using ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods. Total polyphenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents were measured using colorimetric methods. Specific anthocyanin content was measured by UPLC-MS/MS. Cytoprotective and superoxide anion radical-scavenging activities were analyzed in in vitro Saccharomyces cerevisiae experiments. UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed a total anthocyanin content of 338.5 mg/100 g fresh fruits, and the dominant compounds were malvidins (38.1%), delphinidins (33.2%), petunidins (18.6%), and cyanidins (10.1%). Total polyphenol content was 8.40 ± 0.29 mg GAE/100 mL, and total flavonoid content was 7.26 ± 0.11 mg QE/100 mL. Antioxidant potential was as follows: ABTS (3.6 ± 0.08 mM UAE), DPPH (89 ± 2.1%), and FRAP (2.4 ± 0.09 mM Fe(II)/L). Cell-based assays demonstrated significant cytoprotective activity and reduced methyl methanesulfonate-induced superoxide anions. These results demonstrate the value of Bulgarian bilberry juice as a source of bioactive compounds and as a potential raw material for the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries.

Aim: To demonstrates the effects of Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on hydration by examining hematocrit, blood viscosity, and urine osmolality Material and methods: Hydrogen Evodrop rich water (HEW), produced from a patented device with hydrogen concentration therein 900-1200 ppb or 0.9-1.2 ppm, ORP (-450~ -580) mV, and pH=7.1-7.3. Blood viscosity, hematocrit and urine osmolality had been determined in 10 volunteers (five women and five men) during the 21-day period of intake of HEW and following a recommended diet. Results: No agglutination or abnormalities in erythrocyte morphology were detected in the participants. Urine osmolality in both men and women decreased after HRW consumption, likely due to improved hydration. However, osmolality before the consumption was higher in men compared to women. Both men and women exhibited statistically significant changes in hematocrit and blood viscosity parameters after consuming HEW which decreased. This suggests improved hydration and a reduction in blood viscosity. Conclusions: The results confirm that hydration effects in the human body can be achieved with hydrogen-rich water with a hydrogen concentration of 0.9-1.2 ppm, pH=7.2, and ORP (-450) mV. The findings of present research support the benefit of the use of HRW in promoting body hydration. The analysis suggest that hematocrit is more closely associated with other factors, such as hydration status and plasma volume following HEW consumption. HEW consumption consistently affected urine osmolality, which may reflect in overall hydration status. The results indicate a consistent effect of HEW on crucial blood parameters, reflecting its influence on blood consumption and fluid dynamics.

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of VemoZyme® Alternase+, a muramidase-containing enzyme preparation, against Gram-negative bacteria relevant to animal health. The specific enzyme was tested using agar diffusion, viability reduction assays, and suspension assays against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Salmonella enterica ATCC 1304. Agar diffusion assays showed no inhibition, likely due to limited enzyme diffusion. In suspension assays at 0.05 g/mL enzyme concentration and pH 6.5, bacterial viability decreased to 25% for E. coli and 60% for S. enterica after 90 minutes. These results indicate a measurable reduction in Gramnegative bacterial viability under in vitro conditions, suggesting VemoZyme® Alternase+ may have potential for further investigation to modulate gut microbial populations.

The applications of electromagnetic (EM) field treatment on water in agriculture have garnered increasing attention as a sustainable method to enhance plant growth, water-use efficiency, and metabolic performance. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to EM fields can affect water molecules, possibly by influencing hydrogen bonding dynamics, the structuring of water clusters, and electrokinetic properties of the water molecules. These alterations are thought to correlate with plant physiological performance. The methodology of the study was divided into two parts. The first part focused on the preparation of electromagnetically treated water. The second part involved applying this treated water to spinach plants. The present study investigates the physiological responses of Spinacia oleracea L. to irrigation with electromagnetically treated water (EMTW), focusing on elucidating the potential mechanisms that may underlie the observed effects. EMTW was generated using a solenoid-based system operating in dual-frequency ranges (100–1000 Hz and 10–100 kHz), which has been previously shown to influence both the microbiological and electrokinetic properties of aqueous systems. To evaluate the structural and functional implications of EMTW, a combined methodological approach was employed, integrating proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) modeling of water hydrogen bonds and clusters, and comprehensive plant physiological assessments. Plants were cultivated under both controlled and field conditions to assess consistency across environmental settings. Physiological measurements demonstrated that EMTW irrigation increased photosynthetic rate by ~80%, transpiration by 49–67%, stomatal conductance by 78–129%, intercellular CO₂ concentration by 42–80%, and chlorophyll content by 9.3–9.5% compared to control samples. Additionally, phenoloc and flavonoid contents were elevated by 7.4% and 7.6%, respectively, in field-grown plants. These enhancements were statistically significant (p < 0.001 or p < 0.01) under both laboratory and field conditions, confirming the robustness of the observed effects.

Studies have been conducted on the potential development of Hydrogenobacter thermophilus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an anaerobic environment, both in the presence and absence of molecular hydrogen (H₂). H. thermophilus developed better at 70 °C and pH 7.0 in the presence of molecular hydrogen. It also multiplied in its absence, but to a lesser extent. Dissolved hydrogen in an amount of 1 ppm is biologically active for this thermophilic chemolithotrophic species. The tested strains of P. aeruginosa also showed growth under anaerobic conditions in the presence of H₂ concentrations of 1 ppm and 2 ppm, which was ensured by adding Mg. The results indicate that not only the oldest microorganisms on our planet, archaebacteria, but also current species such as H. thermophilus and P. aeruginosa are capable of development under conditions characteristic of the ancient hydrosphere. DFT analyses showed that hydrogen water forms stable water clusters, whose hydrogen bond network retains and stabilizes reducing agents such as molecular hydrogen and magnesium (Mg⁰). This creates a microenvironment in which key redox processes associated with autotrophic growth and chemical evolution can occur. This is a realistic model of the Earth’s primordial hydrosphere’s conditions.

The present study aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties and biological activity of an L-malic acid descaler. The treated water with L-malic acid descaler complies with EU Directive No. 2020/2184 for the quality of water intended for human consumption. The L-malic acid descaler contains L-malic acid as the active component, while polyethylene and activated charcoal function as structural and absorbent materials, respectively. The composition was analyzed in a licensed laboratory using Chemical Abstracts Service Number (CAS) and European List of Notified Chemical Substances (EINECS) standards. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the presence of hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (C=O), and carboxyl (–COOH) groups in L-malic acid descaler, which are connected with proton-donating ability, and redox activity. The biological activity was evaluated using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. The role of the YAP1 transcription factor, a key regulator of oxidative stress defense mechanisms, was also examined. The detrimental effects on a cellular level were induced by the well-known mutagen—methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Our data revealed that yeast cells treated with such water decrease the MMS-induced superoxide anions (3.5-fold), total glutathione lipid peroxidation (1.5-fold), and total glutathione (3-fold) and increase cell survival (2-fold). In conclusion, water treated with L-malic acid descaler possesses antioxidant effects in yeast-cell-based tests, independent of YAP1 transcription factor activity. This study provides preliminary evidence that L-malic acid, when dissolved in water, significantly reduced MMS-induced superoxide anions, one of the biomarkers contributing to the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of MMS.

This study explores the structural and chemical interactions between glacial water, ice I_h, and hydration clusters of divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺). Ice I_h, with its hexagonal lattice and tetrahedral bonding network, is incompatible with the hydration shells of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, which adopt octahedral geometries in aqueous solutions. During freezing, these hydration clusters become disordered, causing distortions in the ice structure. Slow freezing reduces these distortions, while rapid freezing traps ions in amorphous regions, preventing proper alignment of hydration clusters. Through advanced techniques such as chemical and isotopic analysis, computational modeling, and electrical impedance spectroscopy, this study examines ion exclusion mechanisms and water-clustering behaviors. The results show that both ions are largely excluded from the solid phase during freezing, with Mg²⁺ exhibiting stronger exclusion due to its smaller ionic radius and greater hydration energy. This study also highlights the role of sediments in modulating ion patterns in glacial ice. This work deepens our understanding of ion–ice interactions, offering insights for cryochemistry, hydrology, and environmental science. The integration of experimental and computational methods provides new perspectives on divalent cations’ role in modifying ice’s crystalline structure and explains isotopic variability in glacial waters.

The objective of this research was to investigate silver adsorption on biochars prepared by the carbonization of desiliconized rice husks and cotton fabric, and to elucidate the adsorption mechanism. The biochars were characterized using various instrumental techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The adsorption process was studied under multiple parameters affecting silver adsorption and was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models provided good correlations for the adsorption of silver ions onto the biochars. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption of Ag⁺ ions was spontaneous and exothermic. XPS confirmed the presence of metallic silver (Ag⁰) in the biochars RHB and ARHB, suggesting that a reduction process occurred during silver adsorption. Additionally, in vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of silver-loaded activated rice husk biochar against E. coli strains.

The present study investigated the ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) produced using the EVObooster device. The analyzed HRW has pH = 7.1 ± 0.11, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) of (−450 ± 11) mV, and a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 1.2 ppm. The control sample was tap water filtered by patented technology. A 600 NMR spectrometer was used to measure NMR spectra. Isotropic 1H nuclear magnetic shielding constants of the most stable clusters (H₂O)_n with n from 3 to 28 have been calculated by employing the gauge-including-atomic-orbital (GIAO) method at the MPW1PW91/6-311+G(2d,p) density function level of theory (DFT). The HRW chemical shift is downfield (higher chemical shifts) due to increased hydrogen bonding. More extensive formations were formed in HRW than in control filtered tap water. The exchange of protons between water molecules is rapid in HRW, and the ¹H NMR spectra are in fast exchange mode. Therefore, we averaged the calculated chemical shifts of the investigated water clusters. As the size of the clusters increases, the number of hydrogen bonds increases, which leads to an increase in the chemical shift. The dependence is an exponential saturation that occurs at about N = 10. The modeled clusters in HRW are structurally stabilized, suggesting well-ordered hydrogen bonds. In the article, different processes are described for the transport of water molecules and clusters. These processes are with aquaporins, fusion pores, gap-junction channels, and WAT FOUR model. The exponential trend of saturation shows the dynamics of water molecules in clusters. In our research, the chemical shift of 4.257 ppm indicates stable water clusters of 4–5 water molecules. The pentagonal rings in dodecahedron cage H₃O⁺(H₂O)₂₀ allow for an optimal arrangement of hydrogen bonds that minimizes the potential energy.