Protective Effects of Arbutus unedo L. Honey in the Alleviation of Irinotecan-Induced Cytogenetic Damage in Human Lymphocytes-An In Vitro Study.

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey (STH) has been used since ancient times as a folk medicine remedy, especially in certain Mediterranean countries. This honey, rich in phenolic content, is well recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, and is used for the treatment of skin lesions as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. This study investigated whether STH alleviates genome damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes produced by the cytotoxic drug irinotecan. The phenolic profile of STH was previously estimated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a linear ion trap-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer. The effects of STH were evaluated at three concentrations (1×, 5×, and 10×), based on the daily consumption of the honey by an adult person. After 2 h of in vitro exposure, standard lymphocyte cultures for the analysis of chromosome aberrations and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay were established. Our results demonstrate that STH offered remarkable geno- and cytoprotection when administered with irinotecan. These findings are relevant for drawing preliminary conclusions regarding the in vitro safety of the tested honey. However, further studies are needed with the application of more complex experimental models.

Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant Potential of the Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) Fruits from Alpine-Dinaric Region of Croatia§.

Research background: The rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) is a small tree in the Rosaceae family with characteristic orange-red fruits. The raw fruits can be used for making jams, juices and puree, while the dried fruits are used for teas. In folk medicine, they have been used to prevent scurvy and bleeding or as a diuretic and laxative. The aim of this study is to characterize the proximate chemical composition, antioxidant potential and macro- and trace elements of the rowan fruits for their potential use as a functional food. Experimental approach: The fruits were collected from 12 populations in the Alpine-Dinaric region of Croatia. After collection, the samples were transported to the laboratory, cut into small pieces, placed in plastic containers and stored at -20 °C until analysis. Proximate chemical composition, including ash, water, cellulose, crude fat and crude protein, was determined according to standard methods and total carbohydrates as non-structural carbohydrates. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured. For multielement analysis, fruits were cleaned from the dust, lyophilised, homogenised and acid-digested in a microwave system. Concentrations of elements were determined using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results and conclusions: The basic constituents in the analysed fruits were (in %): water 76.53, total carbohydrates 17.45, crude proteins 2.98, crude fats 1.49, cellulose 1.07 and ash 1.29. On average, the TPC was 932 mg/100 g and the TAC was (60.1±14.5) % and (4.1±1.2) mmol/100 g, determined by DPPH and FRAP assay, respectively. Mass fractions of elements decreased as follows (in mg/kg): K 2485>Ca 459>P 206, Mg 193>Na 6.29>Fe 3.68>Mn 3.58>Zn 1.11>Cu 0.731>Mo 0.098>Co 0.003>Se 0.001. Compared to the literature, the phenolic and element content of the rowan fruits is similar to that of blueberry and raspberry. The obtained results suggest that rowan fruits have valuable nutritional properties and could be useful for fortification in the food industry. Novelty and scientific contribution: The importance of the obtained results is reflected in filling in the gaps in the literature on the composition of elements, especially on the content of essential macro- and trace elements as well as the antioxidant potential of rowan fruits.

Quality and Sensory Study of Fresh Sour Cherry Juices Upon Cultivar, Growing Area and Weather Conditions.

Freshly squeezed sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) juices of Maraska Brac (BR), Maraska MA (MA), Oblacinska 18 (18), Oblacinska Osjecka (OS), Rexelle (REX), Heimann conserved (HEI), and Kelleris 16 (KEL) grown in different climate regions (Mediterranean and continental) in two consecutive harvest years were analyzed for quality and sensory properties. Obtained results showed that investigated sources of variation (cultivar, growing area, harvest year) significantly influenced physical, chemical, and sensory properties of tested juices. All juices had high soluble solids (SS) (17.26% to 25.89%), especially BR (24.19%), MA (25.89%), 18 (24.66%), and OS (23.61%). Juices also had considerable total phenols (TP) content (2.19 to 5.87 mg GAE ml-1 ) and antioxidant capacity (AC) (0.020 to 0.045 mmol TE mL-1 ) with BR, MA, REX, and HEI containing the highest amounts of bioactive compounds (BR = 5.87 mg GAE mL-1 , MA = 5.68 mg GAE mL-1 , REX = 4.42 mg GAE mL-1 , HEI = 4.27 mg GAE mL-1 ). Sensory evaluation showed that all juices had satisfying sensory profiles with BR, MA, 18, OS, and KEL juices scoring particularly high (5.3 to 8.9 of 10) in desirable sensory properties (color intensity [CI], sour cherry taste [SCT], harmonious taste [HT], taste fullness [TF], sour cherry odor [SCO], and viscosity [V]) of fresh sour cherry cloudy juice. Juices from Mediterranean area achieved higher values for SS, pH, SS/TA ratio, TP, AC, SCT, HT, TF, SCO, and V compared to continental zone juices. Harvest year with higher temperatures and less rainfall also resulted in higher SS, pH, TP, and AC as well as stronger expression of desirable sensory properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this study provide an insight into sour cherry potential for use in functional food products, including today's popular smoothies, since it is fruit rich with health contributing compounds and possesses desirable sensory characteristics (color intensity, sour cherry taste, harmonious taste, taste fullness, sour cherry odor, and viscosity) at the same time, which can differ due to cultivar, climate diversity as well as weather conditions.

Clenbuterol residues in pig muscle after repeat administration in a growth-promoting dose.

The aim of this study was to determine the level of clenbuterol residues in muscle tissue of pigs after repeat administration in a growth-promoting dose. An anabolic dose of clenbuterol (20 µg/kg body mass per day) was administered orally to experimental group (n=12) for 28 days, whereas control animals (n=3) were left untreated. Clenbuterol treated pigs were randomly sacrificed (n=3) on days 0, 3, 7 and 14 of treatment discontinuation and clenbuterol residues determined in muscle tissue. Determination of residual clenbuterol was by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening method and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as a confirmation method. The highest clenbuterol content in the muscle of treated animals was recorded on day 0 of treatment cessation (4.40±0.37 ng/g) and significantly (p<0.05) exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 ng/g. On day 3 of withdrawal, it was 0.49±0.22 ng/g and on day 7 0.10±0.02 ng/g (at MRL); on day 14 of treatment discontinuation, clenbuterol content was below the limit of detection (<0.1 ng/g) in all samples. Administration of clenbuterol as a growth promoter in pig production could lead to residues in meat for human consumption up to 7 days after treatment discontinuation.