Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Umesh MADAR, Rajendra PUJAR, Devarajan THANGADURAI, Jeyabalan SANGEETHA, Pavitra CHIPPALAKATTI, Smita SHINDE

Calamus nagbettai R.R.Fernald and Dey are spiny climbing palms belonging to the family Arecaceae which are mainly used for making furniture products and handcrafts. DNA markers have been employed to estimate the level of genetic diversity and distinguish the distribution patterns of genetic deviation within the populations. Studies on the genetic dissimilarity in twenty-six populations of Calamus nagbettai have been assisted by the development of molecular markers. Seven Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were utilised to evaluate genetic diversity and genetic relationships between twenty-six accessions of Calamus nagbettai. The primers OPA-03 produced the maximum number of amplicons (260 amplicons), whereas OPA- 06 produced the least number of loci (75 amplicons). Genetic similarity coefficients among 26 wild populations of C. nagbettai ranged from 0.9 to 1.00 which was calculated using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. The dendrogram was constructed for RAPD data for all the 26 accessions of Calamus nagbettai which formed 2 major clusters A and B. The study concludes that RAPD is a potential molecular marker to evaluate the genetic diversity of C. nagbettai species.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Adina NICHITA, Luigi DAIDONE, Ilenia DOTTORI, Gianluca VENEZIANI, Gabriela BUTNARIU, Mona Elena POPA

The paper presents the characterization of four olive oil samples, originating from olives from the Mediterranean area, to which a set of analyses were applied. The identification of the merceological parameters and their reporting to the specialized literature, leads to the classification of the quality of the olive oil samples. Determination of parameters regarding the quality and/or phenolic composition of the samples leads to the subsequent analysis of by-products from the mechanical extraction process such as olive pomace and the production of phenolic powder obtained from mill waste water. Multiphase decantation for industrial olive oil extraction generates large quantities of a new by-product called olive paste, which consists of wet pomace pulp, which can be utilized.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Elisabeta Elena POPA, Mihaela GEICU-CRISTEA, Amalia-Carmen MITELUŢ, Mihaela DRAGHICI, Paul Alexandru POPESCU, Ion NIŢU, Roxana Elena ALECU, Mona Elena POPA

Recently, the consumer demand has increased in respect to minimally processed food, with health-promoting values and desirable sensory attributes. Fruit and vegetables are characterised by a multitude of health benefits, including their low calorie content, high dietary fibre content, and abundance of nutritional components, such as vitamins and minerals. They are considered essential components of a human diet. Vacuum impregnation (VI) combined with drying could be an interesting alternative to obtain a wide range of natural functional products. Vacuum impregnation is a technique that uses pressure gradients to incorporate functional active components into the structural matrix of porous fruits and vegetables without substantially modifying the organoleptic properties. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present the mechanism of action and recent application of vacuum impregnation in fruits and vegetables. The results show great functional properties of minimally processed fruits and vegetables following the application of vacuum impregnation technology.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Alexandru SOARE, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING

Managing vegetable waste and by-products is a worldwide challenge for the agricultural sector. As a widely consumed vegetable crop, Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) accounts for a higher volume of waste in the supply chain process, with cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale accounting for a significant share. Therefore, the sustainable and resource-efficient use of waste is essential. This review examines the potential applications of B. oleracea waste and by-products, with particular attention to cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale in food, pharmaceutical, and other sectors. The importance of their use in value-added applications is addressed, with emphasis on key biomolecules, technologies involved in the valorisation process, and future aspects of practical applications. Cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower produce waste and by-products that are not processed, including leaves, stems, stalks, and roots. Most of these contain high-value biomolecules, including bioactive plant proteins and phytochemicals, glucosinolates, flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and tocopherols. Interestingly, isothiocyanates derived from glucosinolates have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties by different interactions with cellular molecules and modulation of key cellular signalling pathways. Therefore, these B. oleracea residues can be efficiently valued using different innovative extraction and biotransformation techniques and the use of different biorefining approaches. This not only minimizes the environmental impact but also helps to develop products with high-added value for food, pharmaceutical, and other related industries.

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EVOLUTION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND PHENOLIC CONTENT DURING THE RIPENING OF FETEASCĂ NEAGRĂ VAR. GRAPES IN THE TERASELE DUNĂRII VITICULTURAL AREA

Written by Bogdan BOCĂNEALĂ, Oana Emilia CONSTANTIN, Nicoleta STĂNCIUC, Iuliana APRODU, Gabriela RÂPEANU
Pages 7 to 17

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THE EFFECT OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND MYCORRHIZAL HELPER BACTERIA DOSES ON IN VITRO POTATO PLANTLET PROPAGATION

Written by Anne NURBAITY, Adellya SAFITRI, Rossita FAUZIAH, Erni SUMINAR, Noor ISTIFADAH
Pages 18 to 24

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POPULATION GENETIC STUDIES ON CALAMUS NAGBETTAI R.R. FERNALD & DEY. IN WESTERN GHATS REGION OF KARNATAKA

Written by Umesh MADAR, Rajendra PUJAR, Devarajan THANGADURAI, Jeyabalan SANGEETHA, Pavitra CHIPPALAKATTI, Smita SHINDE
Pages 25 to 32

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QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF OLIVE OIL AND BY-PRODUCTS FROM OIL MECHANICAL EXTRACTION PROCESS

Written by Adina NICHITA, Luigi DAIDONE, Ilenia DOTTORI, Gianluca VENEZIANI, Gabriela BUTNARIU, Mona Elena POPA
Pages 33 to 40

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HIGHLIGHTING THE INFLUENCE OF BROCCOLI MICROPLANTS (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. ITALICA) ADDITION TO VEGAN YOGHURT ON THE FINAL CONSUMER PURCHASING PREFERENCES

Written by Oana LIVADARIU, Alexandra ADAM
Pages 41 to 48

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RESEARCH ON THE VALORIZATION OF BY-PRODUCTS AND/OR WASTES FROM BRASSICA OLERACEA - A REVIEW

Written by Alexandru SOARE, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING
Pages 49 to 56

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DETERMINATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN SELECTED CUCURBITACEAE FRUITS

Written by Mihaela MULȚESCU, Iulia-Elena SUSMAN
Pages 57 to 63

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NANOSYSTEMS AS VESICLES FOR DELIVERY OF SENOTHERAPEUTICS FROM NATURAL SOURCES - ADVANTAGES, LIMITATIONS, SCALABILITY, AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Written by Fawzia SHA’AT, Anton-Liviu PETRICA, Ramona-Daniela PAVALOIU
Pages 64 to 71

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VALORIZATION OF THE VITICULTURE WASTE IN THE NUTRACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Written by Teodora-Otilia ALEXIU, Laura-Dorina DINU
Pages 72 to 78

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SOLVENT EFFECTS ON MULTI-ELEMENT (ICP-MS) AND PHENOLIC (HPLC-DAD) PROFILES OF MEDLAR (MESPILUS GERMANICA L.) FRUIT EXTRACTS

Written by Elena ANDRONE, Nicoleta RUSU, Cătălina VOAIDEŞ, Narcisa Elena BĂBEANU
Pages 79 to 86

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BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TRACEABILITY AND FRAUD DETECTION OF FOOD - AN OVERVIEW

Written by Corina NEAGU, Mihaela GEICU-CRISTEA
Pages 87 to 93

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EVALUATION OF THE CYTOTOXICITY OF SOME BIOMATERIALS DERIVED FROM ALGAL POLYSACCHARIDES USING MATH MODELS

Written by Marian TOADER, Nicoleta RADU, Narcisa Elena BĂBEANU, Radu-CristianTOMA, Viviana ROMAN
Pages 94 to 102

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SCREENING FOR LIGNIN DEGRADING MICROORGANISMS

Written by Alexandra BURLACU (GRIGORAȘ), Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Aglaia POPA, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING
Pages 103 to 112

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INNOVATIVE SOAP FORMULATION ENRICHED WITH GREEN AND RED SORREL (RUMEX SPP.) EXTRACTS: PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL

Written by Lavinia-Diana-Nicoleta BURUGĂ-BARBU, Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Diana GROPOȘILĂ-CONSTANTINESCU, Narcisa Elena BĂBEANU
Pages 113 to 126

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EXPLORING THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN ENHANCING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Written by Mihaela GEICU-CRISTEA, Elisabeta-Elena POPA, Paul-Alexandru POPESCU, Mihaela-Cristina DRĂGHICI, Ion NIȚU, Adriana-Georgiana STERIAN, Amalia-Carmen MITELUȚ, Mona Elena POPA
Pages 127 to 140

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RECENT INSIGHTS IN VACUUM IMPREGNATION APPLICATION ON MINIMAL PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Written by Elisabeta Elena POPA, Mihaela GEICU-CRISTEA, Amalia-Carmen MITELUŢ, Mihaela DRAGHICI, Paul Alexandru POPESCU, Ion NIŢU, Roxana Elena ALECU, Mona Elena POPA
Pages 141 to 146

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IN VIVO EFFECTS OF SOME MICROBIAL INOCULANTS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF SWEET POTATO

Written by Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Daniel-Nicolae COJANU, Gheorghe COTEȚ, Alina-Nicoleta PARASCHIV
Pages 147 to 152

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PHENOLICS IN HONEY AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Written by Daniel Florin PÎRVAN, Aglaia POPA, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING
Pages 153 to 160

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Alexandra BURLACU (GRIGORAȘ), Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Aglaia POPA, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING

Kraft lignin, a prominent by-product of the paper pulping process, presents notable environmental challenges because of its complex and resistant structure. Microbial degradation of kraft lignin through ligninolytic enzymes (such as lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, or laccases) offers an environmentally friendly biotechnological solution for its utilisation. This study outlines a comprehensive plate screening method aimed at identifying microorganisms capable of degrading kraft lignin. The screening process resulted in the discovery of several microbial strains that showed prominent oxidative discoloration zones, indicating ligninolytic enzyme activity. The microbial strain with the highest ligninolytic activity was determined to be Hericium erinaceus. Cultivating this mushroom on liquid medium with kraft lignin as a substrate provided an insight on the activities of the main oxidative enzymes produced, such as: lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase. These findings highlight that this screening method is an effective step in identifying microorganisms suitable for kraft lignin valorisation in biotechnological applications.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Elena ANDRONE, Nicoleta RUSU, Cătălina VOAIDEŞ, Narcisa Elena BĂBEANU

Mespilus germanica L. (medlar) is a fruit-bearing species with notable phytochemical and nutritional value, traditionally used in various therapeutic applications. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different solvents (ethanol, acetone, and water) on the phenolic and elemental composition of medlar fruit extracts. Phenolic compound profiling was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), while the mineral and trace metal content was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed that the acetonic extract exhibited the most diverse phenolic profile, with high concentrations of chlorogenic and caffeic acids, whereas the aqueous extract showed higher levels of essential minerals such as Mg, K, Ca, and Fe. The powder obtained from the dried acetonic extract presented the highest per-mass elemental concentrations, reflecting the concentrating effect of solvent removal. Low levels of Cd and Pb were detected across all samples, highlighting the importance of routine monitoring to ensure consumer safety. Overall, the findings indicate that both the choice of solvent and the physical state of the extract significantly influence the composition of plant-derived preparations, offering promising perspectives for their controlled application in nutraceutical, food, and phytopharmaceutical formulations.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Anne NURBAITY, Adellya SAFITRI, Rossita FAUZIAH, Erni SUMINAR, Noor ISTIFADAH

The procurement and distribution of certified seed potatoes, which have not met the demand, is one of the challenges in potato production. In vitro culture propagation is one of the methods that can produce high-quality potato seeds. Potato seedling propagation can be optimized through maintenance using biological fertilizers Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Mycorrhizal Helper Bacteria (MHB). The study aims to see the growth response of several doses of FMA and MHB in the propagation of potato seedlings in vitro. The experiment used a factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with 9 treatments repeated three times. AMF application consisted of doses without AMF, 2.5 g AMF, and 5 g AMF. MHB application consisted of doses without MHB, MHB 1 × 10⁹ cfu ml^-1, and MHB 1 × 10¹¹ cfu ml^-1. The result showed no interaction between AMF and MHB on plant height, number of leaves, and number of shoot buds. The doses of AMF and MHB given in the study were not effective because they could not increase plant growth.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Teodora-Otilia ALEXIU, Laura-Dorina DINU

The valorization of viticulture by-products (e.g., grapevine pomace and canes) in the nutraceutical industry represents a paradigm shift in sustainable resource management and innovation. Thus, recognizing the untapped potential within these residues, the nutraceutical industry has embraced them as valuable but less exploited raw materials. These wastes are characterized by a high polyphenolic composition with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects, especially resveratrol, gallic acid, and proanthocyanidins. Therefore, this mini-review aims to update the potential of viticulture wastes for the production of polyphenol-rich nutraceuticals and nanoparticles used as bioactive molecule carriers. Additionally, the modulator effect of grape pomace on human and animal microbiota was highlighted. The viticulture waste valorization aligns with the principles of the circular economy while creating new revenue streams for wineries.

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