Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of five taxa of Sideritis from Greece

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of five taxa of Sideritis were analyzed using various GC-MS techniques. A total of 99 different compounds was identified, and significant differences (qualitative and quantitative) were observed between the samples. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against six bacteria and three fungi is also reported.     

Exploration of Betalains and Determination of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Profile of Orange and Purple Opuntia spp. Cultivars in Greece

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Replacing synthetic dyes with natural pigments has gained great attention over the past years in the food industry, due to the increased alertness of consumers for...     

Diet Supplementation with Fish-Derived Extracts Suppresses Diabetes and Modulates Intestinal Microbiome in a Murine Model of Diet-Induced Obesity

Metabolic syndrome-related diseases affect millions of people worldwide. It is well established that changes in nutritional habits and lifestyle can improve or prevent metabolic-related pathologies such as type-2 diabetes and obesity. Previous reports have shown that nutritional supplements have the capacity to limit glucose intolerance and suppress diabetes development. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with fish-derived extracts on obesity and type 2 diabetes and their impact on gut microbial composition. We showed that nutritional supplements containing Fish Complex (FC), Fish Complex combined with Cod Powder (FC + CP), or Cod Powder combined with Collagen (CP + C) improved glucose intolerance, independent of abdominal fat accumulation, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, collagen-containing supplements distinctly modulate the gut microbiome in high-fat induced obesity in mice. Our results suggest that fish-derived supplements suppress diet-induced type 2 diabetes, which may be partly mediated through changes in the gut microbiome. Thus, fish-derived supplements and particularly the ones containing fish collagen have potential beneficial properties as dietary supplements in managing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome via modulation of the gut microbiome.     

Assessing the impact of the Nitrate Directive on farming systems using a bio-economic modelling chain

Bio-economic models can be used to assess the impact of policy and environmental measures through economic and environmental indicators. Focusing on agricultural systems, farmers’ decisions in terms of cropping systems and the associated crop management at field scale are essential in such studies. The objective of this paper is to present a study using a bio-economic model to assess the impact of the Nitrate Directive in the Midi-Pyrenees region (France) by analyzing, at the farm scale, farm income and three environmental indicators: nitrate leaching, erosion and water consumption. Two scenarios, the 2003 CAP reform (baseline scenario) and the Nitrate Directive (policy scenario), with a 2013 time horizon, were developed and compared for three representative arable farm types in the Midi-Pyrenees region. Different types of data characterizing the biophysical context in the region (soil, climate), the current cropping systems (rotation, crop management) and farm resources (irrigated land, labor) were collected to calibrate and run the models. Results showed that the implementation of the Nitrate Directive may not affect farm income. However, significant modifications to cropping systems and crop allocation to soil types were simulated. Contrary to expectations, nitrogen leaching at the farm scale did not change. Overall water consumption increased and soil erosion decreased due mainly to a modification in cropping patterns and management by soil type. This study provides an example of unanticipated effects of policy and trade-offs between environmental issues.     

Chemistry and bioactivity of royal jelly from Greece

Twenty-five compounds were identified from the dichloromethane and methanol extracts of royal jelly from Greece. Among them, 16 compounds are reported for the first time as royal jelly constituents, whereas 7 of them are isolated for the first time as natural products. The 7 new compounds were fatty acid derivatives: 10-acetoxydecanoic acid (1), trans-10-acetoxydec-2-enoic acid (2), 11-oxododecanoic acid (3), (11S)-hydroxydodecanoic acid (4), (10R,11R)-dihydroxydodecanoic acid (5), 3,11-dihydroxydodecanoic acid (6), and (11S),12-dihydroxydodecanoic acid (7). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly by the concerted application of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (HMQC, HMBC) and mass spectrometry. The studied sample and the isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi and exhibited interesting activities.     

Chia (Salvia hispanica) Fodder Yield and Quality as Affected by Sowing Rates and Organic Fertilization

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sowing rates and organic fertilization on growth and yield biomass quality of chia crop. The agronomic performance and nutritive value of chia were analyzed in order to define alternatives to local forages for dry-season feeding of ruminants in the Mediterranean region. Two sowing rates were arranged in the main plots and three levels of organic fertilization in the subplot with three replicates in split-plot design. Chia growth was not affected by sowing rates and fertilization. Concerning the dry weight and leaf area index (LAI), there were no significant differences among fertilization treatments while sowing rates influenced both dry and LAI, which were significantly increased as sowing rates increased. Forage quality traits were not significantly influenced by sowing rates. With regard to crude protein content, fertilization treatments had a positive effect. The greatest values were observed under manure treatment. Moreover, significant increases were revealed in the crude protein yield as sowing rates increased. In addition, acid detergent fiber (ADF) as well as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not affected by sowing rates but there were significant differences between fertilization treatments. Data suggest that chia could be successfully used as an alternative forage crop.     

Effect of propagation material on some quality attributes of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa, var. Selva)

In the Mediterranean region, cold-stored plants (summer planting system) are used as the main strawberry planting material (plant establishing period July–August). However, recently fresh plants (winter planting system) have also started being used for strawberry production (plant establishing period October–November). As the plantations originated from cold-stored or fresh plants differ in plant growth and yield, some differences in fruit quality have also been expected; therefore, the objective of the current study was to compare fruit quality of plants originated from different propagation material. Cold-stored plants were well developed before the beginning of the spring harvest, while fresh plants continued growth concomitantly with fruiting. The harvesting period of cold-stored plants lasted 4–6 weeks (second week of April–second half of May). Fresh plants produced fewer and larger fruits than cold-stored plants, but for a longer harvest period, which lasted throughout all summer. Differences in soluble solids and dry matter content between the fruits from cold-stored and fresh plants were observed in the first three sampling dates in both years of the experiment. In some sampling dates, significant differences in anthocyanin, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content, were observed between fruits of plants originated from different propagation material.     

Copper Binding by Activated Biochar Fibres Derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis>

The adsorption of copper (Cu(II)) from aqueous solutions by activated Luffa cylindrica biochar fibres has been investigated by means of batch equilibrium experiments and FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of various physicochemical parameters, such as pH, initial metal concentration, ionic strength, mass of the adsorbent, contact time and temperature, has been evaluated by means of batch type adsorption experiments. FTIR spectroscopy, as well as acid-base titrations, was used for the characterization of the material and the surface species formed. According to the experimental results even at pH 3, the relative sorption is above 85% and the adsorption capacity of the activated biochar fibres for Cu(II) is q _max = 248 g kg^?1. Moreover, the interaction between the surface carboxylic moieties and Cu(II) results in the formation of very stable inner-sphere complexes (?G ^o = ?11.2 kJ mol^?1 at pH 3 and ?22.4 kJ mol^?1 at pH 5.5).