Oxidative Stress Response of Probiotic Strain subsp. GT15.

is a predominant and important genus in the bacterial population of the human gut microbiota. Despite the increasing number of studies on the beneficial functionality of bifidobacteria for human health, knowledge about their antioxidant potential is still insufficient. Several in vivo and in vitro studies of strains and their cellular components have shown good antioxidant capacity that provided a certain protection of their own and the host's cells.

On the Molecular Selection of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Indigenous Fermented Plant-Based Foods and Further Fine Chemical Characterization.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by lactic acid bacteria present a particular interest for the food industry since they can be incorporated in foods via in situ production by selected starter cultures or applied as natural additives to improve the quality of various food products. In the present study, 43 strains were isolated from different plant-based fermented foods and identified by molecular methods. The species found were distinctively specific according to the food source.

Antimicrobial activity of dietary supplements based on bacterial lysate of DV.

Introduction: According to WHO, antibiotic resistance is increasing to hazardous levels worldwide. Candidiasis often occurs after taking antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotic resistance is a global problem and searching for antibacterial agents is necessary.

Physical, chemical, sorption and microbiological characteristics of fennel fruits.

Fennel ( Mill. var. Mill) is an annual aromatic plant of the Lamiaceae family.

Experimental and theoretical study of the cytosine tautomerism through excited states.

Context: The irradiation of water solution of cytosine with UV light (λ = 254 nm) shows oxo-hydroxy tautomerism with a rate constant of 6.297 × 10 min. The order of the reaction implies a tautomeric conversion.

Drug-Delivery Silver Nanoparticles: A New Perspective for Phenindione as an Anticoagulant.

Anticoagulants prevent the blood from developing the coagulation process, which is the primary cause of death in thromboembolic illnesses. Phenindione (PID) is a well-known anticoagulant that is rarely employed because it totally prevents coagulation, which can be a life-threatening complication. The goal of the current study is to synthesize drug-loaded Ag NPs to slow down the coagulation process.

Consumption Behaviour towards Branded Functional Beverages among Gen Z in Post-COVID-19 Times: Exploring Antecedents and Mediators.

This study investigates the predictors and mediators of branded functional beverage consumption behaviour (CB) within the Gen Z demographic group in Bulgaria. An integrated model based on two widely known psychosocial theories was developed to examine the relationships between the consumers' personal values within the value-belief-norm theory and the components of the protection motivation theory (PMT). The conceptual framework included two more influencing factors whose impact had not been researched in depth in previous studies concerning CB-namely, the role of media (RM) and branded functional beverage health benefits (HB).

Antiviral Potential of Specially Selected Bulgarian Propolis Extracts: In Vitro Activity against Structurally Different Viruses.

Propolis is a natural mixture of resins, wax, and pollen from plant buds and flowers, enriched with enzymes and bee saliva. It also contains various essential oils, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, hormones, and ferments. It has been found that propolis possesses antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Scientists without borders: lessons from Ukraine.

Conflicts and natural disasters affect entire populations of the countries involved and, in addition to the thousands of lives destroyed, have a substantial negative impact on the scientific advances these countries provide. The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are just a few examples. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, their futures uncertain.

Structure-Activity Relationship Prediction-Based Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation against the HEp-2 Laryngeal Carcinoma Cell of Isoflavone-Cytisine Mannich Bases.

QSAR analysis of previously synthesized and nature-inspired virtual isoflavone-cytisine hybrids against the HEp-2 laryngeal carcinoma cell lines was performed using the OCHEM web platform. The validation of the models using an external test set proved that the models can be used to predict the activity of newly designed compounds such as 8-cytisinylmethyl derivatives of 5,7- and 6,7-dihydroxyisoflavones. The synthetic procedure for selective aminomethylation of 5,7-dihydroxyisoflavones with cytisine was developed.

Enzymatic Pretreatment of Plant Cells for Oil Extraction.

Oil from oilseeds can be extracted by mechanical extraction (pressing), aqueous extraction, or by extraction with organic solvents. Although solvent extraction is the most efficient method, organic solvents are a potential hazard to the life and health for workers as well as to the environment, when solvent vapours are released and act as air pollutant with a high ozone-forming potential. Pressing is safer, environmentally friendly, and it preserves valuable natural components in the resulting oils.

Green Assessment of Phenolic Acid Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Advanced Potato Mutant Lines through UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS Quantification.

Potatoes are one of the most consumed crops worldwide. They contain a high amount of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and vitamins with important antioxidant activities, which makes this crop of high biological value for human health. The goal of this research was to biochemically evaluate polyphenol levels and antioxidant capacities in parent and control genotypes compared to advanced mutant potato lines in the MV generation.

Biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles by lactic acid bacteria and areas of their possible applications.

Lactic acid bacteria, being generally recognized as safe, are the preferred choice among other microbial producers of selenium nanoparticles. For successful production of SeNPs, it is necessary to take into account the physiological properties of the bacterium used as a biotransformer of inorganic forms of selenium in Se. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of SeNPs allows to use them in the form of pure nanoparticles or biomass of lactic acid bacteria enriched with selenium in preparation of food, in agriculture, aquaculture, medicine, veterinary, and manufacturing of packing materials for food products.

Recent advances in electrochemical determination of anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil.

Reliable, rapid, highly selective and sensitive analytical methods for the determination of antineoplastic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human body fluids (blood serum/plasma and urine) are required to improve the chemotherapy regimen to reduce its toxicity and improve efficacy. Nowadays, electrochemical techniques provide a powerful analytical tool for 5-FU detection systems. This comprehensive review covers the advances in the development of electrochemical sensors for the quantitative determination of 5-FU, mainly focused on original studies reported from 2015 to date.

Co-Gelation of Pumpkin-Seed Protein with Egg-White Protein.

The aim of this study was to investigate the gelation process of binary mixes of pumpkin-seed and egg-white proteins. The substitution of pumpkin-seed proteins with egg-white proteins improved the rheological properties of the obtained gels, i.e.

Identification of Bulgarian Sourdough Microbiota by Metagenomic Approach Using Three Commercially Available DNA Extraction Protocols.

Research Background: Sourdough is a spontaneously formed, complex microbial ecosystem of various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast which, by producing specific metabolites, determines the quality of the baked products. In order to design and control the sourdough with preferred nutritional characteristics, it is crucial that the LAB diversity of the product of interest be elucidated.

Experimental Approach: Using the opportunities of next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the V1-V3 hypervariable gene region of 16S rRNA, we studied the microbial ecosystem of a whole grain sourdough made of , originating from Southwestern Bulgaria.

Phytochemical Characterization of Purple Coneflower Roots ( (L.) Moench.) and Their Extracts.

is a perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It has a wide range of applications mainly in the treatment and prevention of inflammations in the respiratory system. The current study aimed to perform a phytochemical characterization of purple coneflower () roots and their extracts (water, 40%, 50%, 60% ethanol, and 60% glycerol).

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Grossh. and L. Cultivated in Bulgaria and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity.

The genus , belonging to the family Lamiaceae, includes about 300 species, most of which are used in folk medicine due to their pronounced biological properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the agrobiological characteristics of () Grossh. and () L.

Antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of water extracts from L. under different conditions.

Introduction: In folk medicine, dried white flowers of Sambucus nigra L. are used to make infusions, decoctions, and juices.

Aim: The present article aims to study and compare the antioxidant activity of aqueous solutions of leaves and flowers of Sambucus nigra L obtained at different exposure times and assess the antibacterial activity of these solutions against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella NCTC 6017, Listeria monocytogenes NCTC 11994, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25093.

The influence of curcumin additives on the viability of probiotic bacteria, antibacterial activity against pathogenic microorganisms, and quality indicators of low-fat yogurt.

Curcumin is a nutraceutical with unique anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and antimicrobial properties. In this study, we aimed to examine the advantages of the use of water dispersible and highly bioavailable form of standardized turmeric extract ( L)-NOMICU® L-100 (N) in the formulation of probiotic yogurt in comparison with the standard turmeric extract (TE). The antimicrobial activity of both supplements was studied and compared in the context of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and fungi.

Chlorophylls as Natural Bioactive Compounds Existing in Food By-Products: A Critical Review.

Chlorophylls are a group of naturally occurring pigments that are responsible for the green color in plants. This pigment group could have numerous health benefits due to its high antioxidant activity, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity properties. Many food by-products contain a high level of chlorophyll content.

Study of Water Freezing in Low-Fat Milky Ice Cream with Oat β-Glucan and Its Influence on Quality Indicators.

The work is devoted to the study of the functional and technological properties of oat β-glucan in low-fat milky ice cream (2% fat) in comparison with the stabilization system Cremodan SI 320. β-glucan (0.5%) has a greater effect on the cryoscopic temperature of ice cream mixes than Cremodan SI 320 in the same amount (decrease by 0.

Blending Approach Preparation of PVA--PMA Films with Embedded "Green" Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles for Acetone Optical Detection.

The blending approach (also known as the ex-situ approach) was used for the deposition of thin composite films comprising poly(vinyl alcohol--methyl acrylate) (PVA--PMA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Firstly, the copolymer aqueous dispersion was synthesized through the redox polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) using ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate as the initiator. Then, AgNPs were synthesized through a "green" method using the water extract of lavender based on by-products of the essential oil industry, and then they were blended with the polymer.

16S-rRNA-Based Metagenomic Profiling of the Bacterial Communities in Traditional Bulgarian Sourdoughs.

Sourdoughs (SDs) are spontaneously formed microbial ecosystems composed of various species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acid-tolerant yeasts in food matrices of cereal flours mixed with water. To date, more than 90 LAB species have been isolated, significantly impacting the organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and health properties of bakery products. To learn more about the unique bacterial communities involved in creating regional Bulgarian sourdoughs, we examined the metacommunities of five sourdoughs produced by spontaneous fermentation and maintained by backslopping in bakeries from three geographic locations.

Stability study of extemporaneously compounded nitrofurantoin oral suspensions for pediatric patients.

To evaluate the stability of nitrofurantoin suspended in different extemporaneously compounded vehicles after storage at 4°C and at 25°C. To formulate an effective, readily available vehicle that can guarantee extended stability and precise dosing.