Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXII
Written by Andreea LUPITU, Daniel TOMESCU, Claudia Anca MOT, Cristian MOISA, Dana Maria COPOLOVICI, Lucian COPOLOVICI

Primula veris L. (Cowslip primrose) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. Usually, flowers and leaves from cowslip primrose are used for making sedative tea. The cowslip roots are also used in the treatment of respiratory tract problems, as an expectorant. In the present study we compared flowers, leaves and roots from Primula veris harvested in two different locations in the Western part of Romania (Julita and Nadas). In order to evaluate the phenolic content, antioxidant activity and the chemical composition, the ethanolic extracts have been obtained by maceration for 7 days. The results obtained indicated that ethanolic extracts of Primula veris presented high phenolic content that ranged between 131 to 168 mg GAE/L for roots, 136 to 159 mg GAE/L for leaves and 133 to 219 mg GAE/L for flowers. Remarkable percent of inhibition of DPPH has been obtained for all plants parts (as roots 16.4-23.2%, leaves 16.0-17% and flowers 14.9-24.7 %.) The following compounds have been quantified in all different plant parts: gallic acid, quercetin and kaempferol using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC).

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XX
Written by Mariana POPESCU, Florin OANCEA, Mălina DEȘLIU-AVRAM

The paper presented a possibility for the eco-efficient valorisation of vegetable oils, a precious renewable natural resource from Romanian wild and cultivated flora, cheap and abundant raw materials for conversion into value added bioproducts for plant protection in organic agriculture systems and great importance for bioeconomy. An original technical solution was proposed for the stored grains protection against pests and diseases transferred from agricultural field to warehouses after the harvest time. Based on the validated properties of insecticidal diatomaceous earth and antimicrobial essential oils extracted from aromatic plants, an eco-friendly bioproduct was conceived and produced using a clean technology of green chemistry inspired by cold saponification process of natural fats followed by the microencapsulation of the essential oil in the soft potassium soap. One variant of the plant protection bioproduct was obtained by conversion of cold pressed rapeseed oil and essential thyme oil into a core-shell formulation obtained by granulation of the concentrated oil emulsion with fine powdered diatomaceous earth thus improving the controlled release of bioactive principles from the organomineral structure. The significant repellence potential against Sitophilus granaries insect adults and strong fungicidal action of thyme essential oil coupled with insecticidal effects and mycotoxin absorbent capacity of diatomite recommended the new product with a wide spectrum of action for a long preventive protection against biological contamination of warehouses.

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Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Huub LELIEVELD

Regrettably after decades of negotiations between countries and supranational organizations, there are still too many differences that hamper movement of safe food across borders and hamper innovations and it does not look like the differences will disappear soon. Therefore, where possible, serious scientists should continue to work together to provide scientifically correct evidence that may be used as tools by stakeholders to try influence negotiations and to try convince local authorities that harmonization is in the interest of everybody. To make it work in practice requires that those who need to know and that means most people, at all levels, understand the scientific evidence. Not only large companies are affected by unjustified differences in regulations, but also small companies and street vendors and ultimately all consumers, who in many countries have a democratic vote and thus are influential. In turn this makes it necessary that the science is translated in a language that those who need to know understand. The Global Harmonization Initiative therefore not only tries to find consensus on scientific issues, but also seeks means to make the findings understood by everybody, requiring simplification, but without losing the true scientific facts, and translation into local languages. Then having the results published in scientific journals, popular scientific magazines, newspapers and magazines aimed at the general public. Another crucial aspect is that those who do the negotiations understand what they are talking about, because expressions used in regulations and during negotiations tend to have – often vastly - different meanings in different countries or regions.

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