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This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic potential, antioxidant activity and prebiotic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of blueberry pomace (BP), an aqueous extract of chia seeds (CS) and a novel combination of BP-CS extracts (BCM) for further use as ingredient of functional food. Spectrometric and HPLC analyses were used to characterize the total phenolic and flavonoid content and composition of BP, while CS was analyzed for total carbohydrate content. Data showed that the BCM mixture exerted an inhibition of alpha-amylase activity, which was 1.36 times higher than that of BP and 1.25 higher than CS extract. The mixture also showed better scavenging activity of free DPPH radicals than individual extracts, and had an IC50 value of 603.12 mu g/mL. In vitro testing indicated that both serum- and colon-reaching products of simulated intestinal digestion of BCM presented the capacity to protect Caco-2 intestinal cells against oxidative stress by inhibition of reactive oxygen species production. In addition, the colon-reaching product of BCM digestion had the capacity to significantly (p < 0.05) stimulate the growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus, revealing a prebiotic potential. All these results indicated that improved biological activity of the novel combination of BP and CS extracts could be due to the synergistic action of constituents. The combination is recommended for further testing and the development of novel functional food for controlling type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the main volatiles and polyphenolic compounds in hydrosols extracted from three Romanian Lamiaceae plants, sage (Salvia officinalis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) by steam distillation. The antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition capacity of hydrosols were assessed for their further use as biopesticides. The results have shown that sage and rosemary hydrosols presented better antioxidant activity than lavender hydrosol in all free radical scavenging and metal chelating assays. A strong relationship between the antioxidant activity of hydrosols' and their total phenolic and flavonoid content was found based on Pearson correlation coefficients. Sage and rosemary hydrosols exerted higher acetylcholinesterase inhibition than lavender hydrosol, but this activity was moderate correlated to phenolic content and low correlated to flavonoid content. These results suggested that volatiles and other compounds present in hydrosols were also involved in this process. In conclusion, Lamiaceae plant hydrosols could be further tested, as such or mixed, as natural products for the control of pests in eco-agrosystems.

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This study aimed to investigate the free radicals scavenging, inhibition of acetylhydrolase and antimicrobial activity of five mixtures of hydrolates obtained by hydrodistillation of Lamiaceae plants, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia. Chemical composition of hydrolates was analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for volatiles and UV-VIS spectrophotometry for total phenolic and flavonoid content. The results of free radicals scavenging and acetylhydrolase inhibition activity have shown improved effect of selected hydrolates mixtures, compared to individual hydrolates. The effect was in accordance to their polyphenolic content, indicating synergistic action of the combined biologic active compounds from different extracts of rosemary, sage and lavender. In turn, the antimicrobial activity of hydrolates mixtures was similar to that of individual hydrolates in Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Rhizoctonia solani cultures, revealing no synergistic effect of volatiles, as mainly responsible compounds. In conclusion, selected mixtures of aromatic plant hydrolates can provide added value to these by-products through further development of natural pesticide and/or fungicide products useful for the ecological crop protection.

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Two chitosan extracts were prepared by chemical and enzymatic treatment of Ganoderma lucidum mushroom, as an alternative source to crustacean shells. The molecular weight of the enzymatic extract was lower than that of the chemical one and of shrimp chitosan, as determined by viscosity measurements. Characteristic signals were identified in the H-1-NMR spectra and high deacetylation degree indicated good physico-chemical properties for both mushroom chitosan extracts. The scavenging capacity of mushroom chitosan extracts was moderate against the synthetic radicals of 2,2 '-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), but higher values were observed for the enzymatic extract, compared to the chemical extract and shrimp chitosan. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines and the results of MTT assay showed good cytocompatibility in the tested range of concentrations. The growth of Gram-positive bacteria was inhibited more than Gram-negative bacteria in the presence of mushroom chitosan extracts, in particular by the chemical one, indicating their efficiency as antimicrobial agents. All these results strengthen the evidence of mushroom polysaccharide preparations availability for biomedical applications.

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