Cristina Mihali

Due to their diverse phytochemical composition, medicinal plants belonging to the families Amaryllidaceae, Lamiaceae, and Myrtaceae possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this study, six ethanolic extracts of Allium ursinum, Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Salvia rosmarinus, Ocimum basilicum, and Syzygium aromaticum were analyzed by HS-SPME GC-MS and HPLC. Their chemical composition was evaluated and compared by chemometrics and their biological activity determined by an antimicrobial assay. A total of 72 compounds was detected (terpenoids, phenolic derivatives, fatty acids, and phytosterols). In Allium species, phytosterols were mainly abundant, whereas O. basilicum extracts were characterized by high contents of linalool and S. rosmarinus by 2-hydroxychalcone and 4-hydroxybutanoic acid lactone. Principal component analysis distinguished chemically species-specific chemical profiles, whilst the HPLC evaluation resulted in the highest quercetin content in S. rosmarinus extracts, which also displayed the best antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Despite the observed correlation between the quercetin content and antibacterial activity, no definitive relation could be established without biological replicates, MIC evaluation, and tests with isolated compounds.

Developing the nutritional profile of food through the fermentation produced by lactic acid bacteria is part of sustainable development, but it also helps to improve public health. Thus, the objective of the study was to obtain synbiotic juices of fruit origin, which can successfully substitute well-known probiotic dairy products and also be introduced into the diet of vegetarians or people with certain intolerances to animal products. In this regard, two fermented blueberry juices were obtained: NC, using kefir cultures, and NP with Lactobacillus plantarum inoculation. Two more simple blueberry juices were used as controls: NCM, thermostatted at 24 °C and NPM, at 37 °C. The four types of juices were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses. The results show that NP juice is the best substitute from a physicochemical point of view, presenting the highest polyphenol content and the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity even after refrigeration for 5 days. Additionally, the microbiological results of the analyzed juices can recommend these products for industrial production.

The main purpose of the study was to obtain symbiotic juices of fruit origin, which can successfully substitute the well-known symbiotic dairy products and thus be introduced into the diet of vegetarians or people with certain intolerances to animal products. In this regard, 2 fermented blueberries juices were obtained: NC, using kefir cultures and NP with L. plantarum inoculation. In the analysis of these functional products, 2 more simple blueberries juices were used as control products: NCM, thermostated at 24°C and NPM, at 37°C. The 4 types of juices were physicochemical and microbiological evaluated. Thus, it can be concluded that NP juice corresponds the most from the physicochemical point of view, presenting the highest polyphenols content and the highest antioxidant activity after the refrigeration storage of 5 days. Also, the microbiological results of the analyzed juices can recommend these products for industrial production.

The present study introduces a monitoring initiative focused on the quality of groundwater in the Piatra locality, situated in the North-West region of Romania. This paper employs an evaluation of 21 physico-chemical parameters, encompassing factors such as electrical conductivity, pH, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, total hardness, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, PO₄³⁻, Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Al, Fe, Mn, Sn, and Ti. Additionally, it examines five heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and arsenic in water sourced from six distinct private wells. Each well, with its characteristics, serves as a unique drinking water source. The assessment encompassed the evaluation of pollution levels, quality status, and risk factors for all drinking water sources, utilizing pollution, quality, and risk indices. The aim of this study was to establish the level of toxicity in water, assess its impact on human health, and disseminate information to the public about the appropriate utilization of individual water sources. The results indicated a general contamination with chloride, ammonium, manganese, chromium, and iron. Human health risk assessment indices revealed that the consumption of studied waters presented non-carcinogenic risks associated with Cr for adults and with Cr, As, Pb, and Cu for children for some of the groundwater sources. The water quality index (WQI) categorizes the samples as possessing excellent and good quality. This research represents one of the initial endeavors to assess the groundwater source quality in connection with the potential human health risks posed by the metals studied within the protected area of the Tisa River Basin.