Development and Optimization Method for Determination of the Strawberries' Aroma Profile.

The strawberry (genus Fragaria) is a plant from the rose family (Rosaceae). As the fruits are likely to be picked mechanically, they are grown close to consumption centers. The aim of this work was to develop a suitable method for detecting as many molecules as possible in order to be able to distinguish between different strawberry cultivars and geographical origins in the future. Whole strawberries of the "Albion" cultivar, grown in the Jagodica Purgerica region of Zagreb, were used. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in SCAN mode was used to analyze the aroma profile and to determine the proportion of individual components. The samples were prepared and analyzed using the solid-phase microextraction method (SPME). The impact of SPME fiber selection and GC column type was investigated, as well as sample weight, ionic strength, agitation temperature, and sampling time. A higher ionic strength was achieved by adding a 20% NaCl solution to the sample. The aroma profile of the studied strawberry cultivar consisted of furanone, esters, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids. Optimal results were achieved by adjusting the ionic strength during 15 min of extraction and incubation. The individual compounds were identified using NIST, Wiley libraries, and the "area normalization" method.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Cannabidiol in Croatia among Students, Physicians, and Pharmacists.

Due to cannabidiol's health benefits and absence of serious side effects, its use is constantly growing. This is a survey-based cross-sectional study that was conducted to determine Croatian pharmacists', physicians', and students' knowledge and attitudes about cannabidiol (CBD). Two questionnaires were created, one for students and the other for physicians and pharmacists. Our participants (in total 874: 473 students and 401 physicians and pharmacists) generally had positive attitudes towards CBD therapy as approximately 60% of them believe that CBD treatment is generally efficacious. Participants had positive attitudes toward the therapeutic value of CBD, especially pharmacists and pharmacy students (63.8% and 72.2%, respectively). Pharmacists were significantly more convinced that CBD could reduce the use of opioids prescribed for chronic pain (p < 0.05). Only 17.5% of students had read scientific papers about CBD, compared to a significantly higher percentage of physicians and pharmacists (43.0% and 47.8%, respectively) (p < 0.05). This study revealed a gap in knowledge regarding CBD, since 89.3% of pharmacists and physicians, as well as 84.8% of students, believe they need more education about CBD. We conclude that it is important to improve the educational curricula so that medical professionals can recommend CBD use to their patients when needed.