Due to the simplicity of tea preparation (pouring hot water onto different dried herbs) and its high popularity as a beverage, monitoring and developing a screening methodology for detecting the ...metal content is very important. The concentrations of Cd, Ca, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg and Mn in 11 different samples of sage
L.), linden
L.) and chamomile
L.) purchased at local herbal pharmacy were determined using electrothermal atomizer atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) and flame atomizer atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The concentrations determined were: Cd (0.012 – 0.470 mg kg
), Ca (5209 – 16340 mg kg
), Cu (22.01 – 33.05 mg kg
), Fe (114.2 – 440.3 mg kg
), Pb (0.545 – 2.538 mg kg
), Mg (2649 – 4325 mg kg
) and Mn (34.00 – 189.6 mg kg
). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify factors (soil and climate) influencing the content of the measured elements in herbal samples. The proposed methodology developed in this work was successfully applied to the detection of metals in herbal samples. The analysis showed that the content of toxic metals in herbal teas was below the maximum dose recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
One of the limiting factors in organic farming is the scarcity of allowed fertilizers and chemicals for plant protection. Plant and compost extracts are a promising solution for fertilization because ...of their positive effect on plant growth and soil microbial activity. Nettle extract was already successfully applied to some vegetables. Not-aerated nettle extract, obtained from dry nettle leaves, was applied in experiments with green beans in a quantity of 1 L per pot at two-day intervals was studied. A three-factorial experimental design was applied with two soil types (brown-Calcic Gleysol and red-Eutric Cambisol), soil disinfection with dazomet or not, and irrigated with nettle extract or water. Nettle extract application increased all above-ground traits; plant height, leaf area, flower buds, shoot dry weight at flowering, pod length, pod diameter, and shoot dry weight at harvest by 49%, 66%, 43%, 36%, 11%, 9%, and 37%, respectively, the root length at harvest by 59%, total yield by 48%, soil respiration by 91% and 74% in two soil types, and alkaline phosphatase by 30%. Dehydrogenase activity was enhanced by nettle extract application on red soil, while nettle extract application had no effect on root nodulation. The nettle extract application benefits in green bean organic production were attributed to the nutrients and other components present in the extract and not to nitrogen fixation. The optimization of the dose of the extract and experiments in real conditions of green bean production would be the next step toward the implementation of nettle extract as an organic fertilizer.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aimed to investigate the presence of eight biogenic amines (BAs): tryptamine (TRP), phenylethylamine (PHE), putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD), histamine (HIS), tyramine (TYR), spermidine ...(SPD) and spermine (SPM) in cheese, fish & fishery products and meat & meat products obtained from the Croatian retail market. A selective and robust method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) was applied for the determination of BAs in a total of 91 samples in accordance with the performance criteria outlined in the European legislation. A high inter- and intra-food group variability of the amounts of BAs was observed. In the analysed samples, the most represented amines were TYR, HIS, CAD and PUT. Based on the highest content of the most toxic BAs (HIS and TYR) and consequential food safety concerns, the studied food groups can be ranked in the following order: cheese (HIS up to 106.4 mg/kg; TYR up to 206.6 mg/kg), fish &fishery products (HIS up to 98.8 mg/kg; TYR up to 47.9 mg/kg), and meat & meat products (HIS up to 20.0 mg/kg; TYR up to 117.5 mg/kg). The total BA content was significantly higher (p < .05) in fermented in comparison with other food. The study aimed to contribute to the knowledge on BA toxicity and food quality, as well as to support the indispensable future studies of consumption data and exposure assessment, to the end of defining allowable BA concentrations in food.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Mediterranean Sea is particularly endangered by microplastics (MPs), polymers, and additives. These contaminants can be ingested by fishes and, hence, translocate into tissues. We aimed to ...quantify MPs, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), bisphenol A (BPA), and p-phthalic acid (PTA) in the edible muscles of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Mediterranean Sea. The MPs were extracted from muscles and characterized by stereomicroscopy and Raman microspectroscopy, while the polymers (PET and PC) and additives (BPA and PTA) were identified by LC-MS/MS. The number of MPs ranged from 140 to 270 no. kg−1 in swordfish and from 160 to 270 no. kg−1 in tuna. The most frequent MP polymer was polypropylene in swordfish (33%) and in tuna (34.7%), while the most abundant pigments were PB115, PB116, PBr101/102. A similar level of plastic contamination was revealed in these two fish species with differences in shapes, colors, pigments and polymers of MPs.
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•Microplastics were detected and characterized in the muscle of swordfish and tuna.•PET, PC, bisphenol A and p-phthalic acid were quantified by LC-MS/MS in fish muscle.•Plastic pigments were identified by RAMAN microspectroscopy.•Swordfish and tuna showed similar contamination by MPs, polymers and additives.•Different MP shapes, colors, pigments and polymers were observed in fishes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In order to investigate the potential of various olive cultivars and leaf sampling times for phytochemical farming practice in Croatia, phenolic and mineral composition was determined in olive leaves ...of four Croatian cultivars and Italian cultivar Leccino collected at three occasions, in October 2017, January 2018, and March 2018. Istarska bjelica turned out to have the largest phytochemical potential among the investigated cultivars due to steady high oleuropein concentrations found in its leaves. The concentration of main phenolic components in Istarska bjelica leaves changed only slightly during the sampling period, suggesting the possibility of its higher capability for low air temperatures stress resistance and different metabolic response compared to the other studied cultivars. Low air temperatures increased the oleuropein level and antioxidant activity in leaves of Leccino, Oblica, Levantinka, and Drobnica cultivars, which may be of crucial phytochemical farming interest. Each of the investigated olive cultivars was characterized by a specific leaf mineral nutrient composition, which could have had a specific role in their interplay with phenols.
The interactive effects of cultivar, collecting period, and geographical location on the content and composition of biophenols and macro and micronutrients in olive (
L.) leaf were investigated. ...Leaves of six cultivars were collected at three periods in two locations in Croatia. The leaves of Istarska bjelica cultivar had the greatest biophenol (oleuropein) potential, especially those sampled in January and in March at the location of Pag. All the cultivars yielded leaves with the highest concentration of biophenols in March, which coincided with the pruning period. Except for high oleuropein concentration in Istarska bjelica, flavonoids were found to be most useful for differentiating olive leaves according to cultivar. Verbascoside turned out to be the most potent differentiator of collecting periods, while phosphorus and zinc turned out to be most useful for differentiating locations. Despite different agroecological conditions at the two locations, cultivar exhibited a significant effect on olive leaf nutrient composition, which was certainly causally related to that of the biophenols. The results obtained showed that it is possible to plan more well-timed and efficient exploitation of biophenols from olive leaf based on the knowledge about the interactive effects of the three studied factors.
The present study was conducted with aim to test the effect of red photo-selective nets (Agritech S.r.l., Eboly, Italy) on 'Granny Smith' apple postharvest quality. The fruits have been harvested on ...optimal harvest date from orchard near city of Zadar where red photo-selective nets were used. Afterwards fruits were stored in regular air storage at 0°C for 4 months and then kept for 7 days at room temperature (shelf life). After harvest, cold storage and shelf life fruits grown under red net had significantly lower total soluble solid (SSC) content. After cold storage, superficial scald index and share of fruits with strong and very strong superficial scald severity were significantly higher in fruits grown under red net while for share of fruits with low superficial scald severity situation was opposite. After shelf life, fruits grown under red net had significantly higher titratable acidity (TA), but lower weight loss and SSC/TA ratio. It can be concluded that, due to greater susceptibility to superficial scald, prevention measures (optimal harvest time, 1-MCP and CA storage) should be applied when red photo-selective net is used on superficial scald-susceptible apple varieties.
We describe a new method using flow-injection analysis with spectro-photometric detection, suitable for the determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). The proposed method is appropriate for the ...determination of NAC in reaction with Pd(2+) ions in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) to 6.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1). The detection limit NAC was 5.84 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) and the recorded relative standard deviation of the method is in the range from 1.67 to 4.11%. NAC and Pd(2+) form complexes of Pd(2+):NAC molar ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, depending on the ratio of their analytical concentrations. The cumulative conditional stability constant for the Pd(NAC)(2)(2+) complex is β(12)' = 2.69 × 10(9) L(2) mol(-2). The proposed method was compared with the classic spectrophotometric determination of NAC, using the same reagent, PdCl(2), and had shown certain advantages: a) shorter analysis time; b) the use of smaller volumes of sample and reagents, which make the proposed method cheaper and faster for NAC determination in real samples without sample pretreatment.
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•1-year old olive plantlets were sprayed with boron (B+) against untreated control.•After 90 days B+ old leaves had higher oleuropein and total phenol concentration.•Young leaves had notably higher ...secoiridoid concentrations after B+ treatment.•B+ leaves infusion had higher concentration of certain terpenes and norisoprenoids.•These results may give a new perspective in biochemical farming practice.
The present study investigated the effect of boron (B) foliar application on the dynamic changes in the concentration of phenols, especially oleuropein, and volatile compounds of olive leaves during a 90-day period. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse on one year old olive plantlets, sprayed with B at 41.62 mM against a water treated control. It was revealed that total phenols and oleuropein concentration in old and in young olive leaves increased in B treated leaves 90 days after application. Furthermore, B enhanced the concentration of particular terpene and norisoprenoid volatiles in olive leaf infusion. The obtained results may give a new perspective in biochemical farming practice, with a possibility to increase the amounts of phenols and terpenes in olive leaves intended for medical uses, and to enhance olive plant resistance to pathogens and insects.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The potential effect of pre-inoculation of processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on yield and fruit properties was investigated in conventional ...production. Tomato seeds were sown in seedling trays filled with a substrate non-inoculated (AMF-) or inoculated (AMF+) by selected mycorrhizal strains. Seedlings were transplanted in Terra rossa soil and grown in conditions with mineral fertilization and irrigation. Tomato fruits were sampled at harvest. Tomato plants under both treatments had high levels of mycorrhizal colonization, due to applied inoculum (AMF+) or indigenous (AMF-) inoculum present in the soil. Applied AMF+ treatment increased P and decreased K content in tomato fruits. Content of trace elements such as As and V significantly increased, while Pb content significantly decreased in the fruits of AMF+ when compared to the AMF- treatment. No significant effect of AMF+ treatment was observed on yield, fruit quality (soluble solids, pH, total acidity, fruit firmness), lycopene and antioxidant activity of tomato fruits. The overall results suggest that processing tomato is highly susceptible to the indigenous AMF, while seedlings inoculation with selected AMF improves only total phenolic and P fruit content. This means that AMF have a potential application in commercial processing tomato production, however a targeted adaptation of management decissions is required for more extensive results.
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