Wild-Growing and Conventionally or Organically Cultivated Sambucus nigra Germplasm: Fruit Phytochemical Profile, Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Leaf Elements.

European elder or elderberry (Sambucus nigra L., Viburnaceae) is a plant species with known high pharmaceutical and nutritional value. However, the Greek native germplasm of S. nigra has not been adequately utilized to date as in other regions. This study evaluates the fruit antioxidant potential (total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity) of wild-growing and cultivated germplasm of Greek S. nigra. In addition, nine cultivated Greek S. nigra genotypes were evaluated regarding the effects of fertilization (conventional and organic) on fruit phytochemical and physicochemical potential (total flavonoids, ascorbic acid content, pH, total soluble solids, and total acidity), as well as on the antioxidant potential (total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity) of fruits and leaves. Additionally, an analysis of macro- and micro-elements in the leaves of the cultivated germplasm was performed. The results demonstrated comparatively higher total phenolic contents of fruits of cultivated germplasm. The genotype was the decisive factor in the fruits' phytochemical potential and leaves' total phenolic content of cultivated S. nigra germplasm. Similarly, fertilization regime effects were found to be genotype-dependent, affecting fruit phytochemical and physicochemical attributes. The trace element analysis results were similar, with genotypes varying significantly in their concentrations of macro- and micro-elements. The current work builds on previous domestication attempts for Greek S. nigra, providing new data on the phytochemical potential of this important nutraceutical species.

Chemometric Approach to the Composition of Flavonoid Compounds and Phenolic Acids and Antioxidant Potential of Artemisia Species from Different Habitats.

Four Artemisia species from Serbia were selected for the study: A. annua L., A. absinthium L., A. vulgaris L. and A. scoparia Waldst. et Kit. because of the proven excellent action in treating certain medical conditions and diseases. A. absinthium L., A. vulgaris L., A. annua L. and A. scoparia Waldst. et Kit. collected from different habitats across Serbia (48 samples in total) were studied from the statistical aspect considering the phenolic and flavonoid contents, compositions, and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts in correlation with the soil type. The components were identified using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), while antioxidant activities were determined by seven assays (TP (Total phenolic content), TF (Total flavonoid content), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-based, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical cation-based, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), TRP (Total Reducing Power), and CUPRAC (Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity). The results were processed using five statistical methods (PCA (Principal Component Analysis), ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), MANOVA (Multivariate analysis of variance), DA (Discriminant analysis), and AHC (Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering)). Principal component analysis enabled very well separation of the analyzed Artemisia species based on the content of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and the values obtained from antioxidant tests, but not on the individual compounds identified and quantified by HPLC. The MANOVA analyses showed that for A. scoparia and A. annua there was a significant effect of soil type on the total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant tests. In contrast, for A. vulgaris and A. absinthium, that effect was not significant. Additional MANOVA analyses showed a significant effect of soil type on phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the case of A. vulgaris, A. annua, and A. absinthium. The overall correct classification rate of all samples of four investigated Artemisia species by the discriminant analysis was 81.25 % using the training sample and 72.92 % the cross-validation results based on TP, TF, and antioxidant tests, but a much lower based on selected compounds identified and quantified by HPLC. MANOVA analyses based on particular Artemisia species show that soil is a significant factor affecting the measurable variables.

Phenolic profiles and metal ions analyses of pulp and peel of fruits and seeds of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.).

Six hydroxycinnamic acids were identified and determined quantitatively in methanol and acetone extracts from quince peel and pulp, namely 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), 4-p-coumaroylquinic acid (HC1), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQA), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), derivative of p-coumaroylquinic acid (HC2) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA). The most abundant hydroxycinnamic acid was 5-CQA (neochlorogenic acid) with 259.12-481.4mg/kgf.w. in peel and 97.33-217.36mg/kg in quince pulp. Six flavonols were determined in the extracts from quince, quercetin-3-galactoside (Q-Ga), quercetin-3-rutinoside (Q-Ru), quercetin-3-glucoside (Q-Glu), kaempferol-3-rutinoside (K-Ru), kaempferol-3-glucoside (K-Glu) and derivative of quercetin produced in the reaction between quercetin-glucoside and p-coumaric acid (Q-Glu-p-CouA). Elemental analysis of quince seeds has not been performed previously. Also, using principal component and cluster analyses, we determined a strong negative relationship between total phenols and flavonoids, and Ni and Pb, specifically higher concentrations of these compounds were associated with lower concentrations of these metals.

Heavy metal content in different types of smoked meat in Serbia.

Concentrations of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mn, Zn and Cd in pork, beef, turkey and chicken samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean concentration ranges in milligrams per 100 g of the studied metals in all samples were 0.6924-1.2154 for Fe, 0.6492-0.9831 for Cu, 0.0012-0.0027 for Pb, 0.041-0.0510 for Ni, 0.1186-0.1481 for Mn, 0.7257-5.2726 for Zn and 0.0042-0.0050 for Cd. The levels of analysed elements were in accordance with European standards for all metals except for manganese in all samples and for nickel in a certain number of samples. Zn level in beef was significantly higher compared to other samples, and Pb and Cd were found in concentrations well below the recommended daily intake.

Antioxidant capacities and phenolic levels of different varieties of Serbian white wines.

The biologically active compounds in wine, especially phenolics, are responsible for reduced risk of developing chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.), due to their antioxidant activities. We determined the contents of total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) in selected Serbian white wines by colorimetric methods. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) of the white wines was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity assay. Medas beli had the highest content of TP, TF and TAA. The radical scavenging capacity (RSC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of white wines were 15.30% and 1.055 mM Trolox equivalent, respectively. Total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents in white wines ranged from 238.3 to 420.6 mg gallic acid equivalent per L of wines and 42.64 to 81.32 mg catechin equivalent per L of wines, respectively. A high and significant correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was determined in wines (R2 = 0.968, p < 0.01). For the individual polyphenols determination we used a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection (DAD) technique. The majority of white wine polyphenols was represent by four hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs).