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This study aims to determine the total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity by DPPH spectrophotometrically in rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica) samples, cultivated in the Trenčín region, in the Púchov district, at the border of the White Carpathian and Javorníky mountains, Slovakia. For analysis were used three types of rutabaga, named after the collection sites (Mestečko, Lúky 1, Lúky 2). The total polyphenol content in rutabaga was ranging from 2.41 (Mestečko) to 2.82 mg GAE.g-1 dry weight (Lúky 2). It was established that that the studied rutabaga samples do not show a significant difference in the total content of polyphenols between the collection locations. In the antioxidant activity of rutabaga, differences were confirmed in AAs. A statistical difference was established between locations Lúky 2 and Mestečko. DPPH radical scavenging activity values were from 5,19 (Mestečko) to 7,49 µmol TE.g-1 DW (Lúky 2). Spearman's test showed a positive relationship between both methods used. These results confirm the promising potential of rutabaga use in functional food preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is a sensitive ecological factor. Biodegradable materials from the environment can also be used to deal with serious ecological problems. Soil affecting by remediation medium - garden compost - was analysed for toxic cadmium (Cd) in terms of environmental protection. The objective of this research was to analyse soil and compost at foothill locality of the Tribeč Mountains (Southwestern Slovakia) in the years 2015−2017 to determine Cd contents in soil and compost, pH and to assess Cd bioavailability. The analyses were carried out using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with seven-step Selective Sequential Extraction methods. The results obtained were evaluated statistically using the SAS 9.4 software method by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The results showed that Cd contents in soil had reached 2.96 mg kg−1 and soil with compost (the ratio 1:1) 2.71 mg kg−1 dry matter. Cd contents in the soil exceeded maximum allowed limit of 196%. And deceased by 25% after adding compost. The pH in soil with compost varied from 6.78 to 7.98. The pH prevented the mobility of Cd about 8.3% in average. Statistical dependence was high, which was demonstrated for relationship between Cd in soil, pH and compost. Available Cd forms in soil were 53.3% and soil with compost were 45% in average. The garden compost as a remediation medium reduced Cd bioavailability.

In the meat industry, there is a growing interest in the use of innovative processing methods, reformulated products, and the replacement of synthetic ingredients with natural bioactive compounds. Replacing synthetic antioxidants with natural antioxidants is a challenging process, but it can bring positive results. Our current research focuses on sensory and textural properties of raw-cooked meat product (frankfurters), which we observed on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of storage. We incorporated extract from tomato pomace into frankfurters as natural antioxidants. We used two concentrations of extract (3 mL.kg-1 and 5 mL.kg-1), the control with the addition of ascorbic acid and negative control. Sensory quality of meat product is one of the most important indicators that can influence the consumer. In the taste parameter, the best rated groups were Con-C and TCP-2. Furthermore, the addition of tomato pomace extract does not cause a significant change in the consistency of the meat products. After textural analysis, no statistically significant differences were observed between individual samples in any of the evaluated parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aronia melanocarpa is one of the many fruit types rich in polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, we used this fruit in our research as a possible natural antioxidant, which was added to pork sausages. Four groups were prepared: control group, a group with ascorbic acid, and groups with 3 and 5 mL·kg–1 of chokeberry extract. During storage, we monitored changes in pH, colour, texture and oxidative stability of pork sausages and sensory evaluation. We did not observe any negative effects of the extract on the quality of pork sausages during storage. Regarding oxidative stability, the lowest increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in the group with 5 mL·kg–1 of chokeberry extract, which was comparable to the group with ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Badania środowiska, przeprowadzone na Słowacji miały na celu ocenę jakości cebuli poprzez oznaczenie zawartości wybranych metali ciężkich (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb i Cd), jak również możliwych korelacji pomiędzy obecnością metali ciężkich w glebie i cebuli (Allium cepa L.).

Celem pracy jest wykazanie konieczności monitorowania i szacowania jakości profili glebowych na obszarze Republiki Słowacji. W przeszłości, gdy nie kładziono nacisku na ekologię w takim stopniu jak obecnie, do atmosfery dostarczane były niekontrolowane ilości zanieczyszczeń pochodzących z różnych obszarów działalności człowieka. Konsekwencje tych działań znajdują swoje odzwierciedlenie także obecnie, zatem potrzebne są natychmiastowe i kosztowne rozwiązania.

Zanieczyszczenie gleb metalami ciężkimi stanowi jeden z ważniejszych problemów na świecie. Obecnie, uwaga kierowana jest nie tylko na zawartość poszczególnych metali ciężkich w systemie gleba-roślina-żywność. W naszej pracy badaliśmy wpływ i pobór dwuwartościowych kationów ołowiu, kadmu i cynku przez bób (Faba vulgaris M.).

Coffee processing is a major contributor to the creation of food and product waste. Using coffee co-products can play an essential role in addressing environmental problems and issues with nutritionally unbalanced foods, population growth, and food-related diseases. This research aimed to determine the quality and sensory parameters (aw, pH, dry matter, TAC, TPC, fat, fatty acids profile, fiber, caffeine, chlorogenic acids, color, and sensory analysis) of different botanical origins of cascara (coffee husks) and silverskin (thin layer). The results of this study show that silverskin and cascara are a good source of TAC (1S 58.17 ± 1.28%, 2S 46.65 ± 1.20%, 1C 36.54 ± 1.84%, 2C 41.12 ± 2.11%). Cascara showed the presence of polyphenols (2C 49.135 g GAE·kg−1). Coffee co-products are good sources of fiber. Silverskin had higher values of caffeine than cascara. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic acids were the most represented acids in the samples. Given the obtained results, cascara can be considered "low-fat" (1C 4.240 g·kg−1 and 2C 5.4 g·kg−1). Based on the sensory evaluation, no sample reached the acceptable index value of 70%. Understanding the link between the character, identification properties, and composition of coffee co-products of different botanical origins can enable their application in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of the potential effects of the natural (geogenic) and anthropogenic agricultural environment on the crop quality, it must be remembered that it is necessary to maintain an uncontaminated environment with high soil production potential. The objective of this research was to analyse and evaluate soil under sugar beet, the compost produced and the soil affected by the addition of compost, in order to determine the Cd, NO3--N, NH4+-N contents in topsoil and soil with added compost (1:1 ratio), to evaluate the statistical significance of Cd in relation to the fertile forms of nitrogen, and to find out whether compost influences the monitored parameters. The analyses were carried out using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Colorimetric methods. The obtained results were evaluated statistically using the SAS 9.4 software method and Spearman's correlation coefficient. The results showed that NO3--N contents in soil reached 14.73 mg·kg-1, NH4+-N 9.50 mg·kg-1, Nin 23.05 mg·kg-1, Cd 2.96 mg·kg-1, soil + compost (1:1 ratio) NO3--N 23.93 mg·kg-1, NH4+-N 26.42 mg·kg-1, Nin 42.63 mg·kg-1, Cd 2.71 mg·kg-1 dry matter. Very high statistical dependence (P < 0.001) was observed for all inorganic fertile forms of nitrogen. High statistical dependence (P < 0.01) was observed for soil Cd to soil NO3--N, soil + compost Cd to soil NO3--N, soil + compost Cd to soil Nin. Compost had a statistically highly significant effect on Cd in relation to forms of nitrogen, reducing Cd concentration levels and increasing the proportion of inorganic fertile forms of nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional medicine usage at the preventive medicine level is comprehensive and plant-based remedies are being prescribed for the treatment of a large scale of diseases by indigenous medical practitioners around the world. The phytochemicals being observed in the fruits and vegetables as well as herbal plants are getting investigated intensively as their important role in the avoidance of diverse human diseases is undoubtful. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of selected medicinal herbs were evaluated in this study. Aerial parts of plants from Hypericaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Plantaginaceae, Rubiaceae growing wild in Slovakia (locality Zobor) were investigated to characterize their polyphenol content, flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Inspection of the metabolic profile combined with HPLC data showed that the ethanol extract contained mainly eight polyphenols with apigenin, daidzein, kaempferol, rutin, quercetin, vitexin, and cynaroside as the main chemicals. Among them, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, trans-p-caffeic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid, trans-p-sinapic acid, trans-p-ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid were identified. The antioxidant capacity of ethanol extracts was evaluated by employing DPPH radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum assays. All samples were also tested against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphyloccocus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Citrobacter koseri, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas proteolytica, Hafnia alvei, Salmonella enterica, Yersinia enterocolitica) bacterial species using the disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of different levels of sulphur fertilization on the quality of onions (cultivars Bingo, Boston, Red Matte, Karmen, White Solid and Diamant). The study was conducted as a field experiment. Sulphur was added at doses of 0, 30.00, 40.00 and 50.00 kg·ha-1, respectively. Contents of total sulphur, total polyphenols and quercetin together with their antioxidant activity were determined, as well as possible correlations between the qualitative parameters. Sulphur fertilization increased (P < 0.05) the sulphur, quercetin and total polyphenols contents and the value of antioxidant activity in onion. Statistically significant highest contents of polyphenols as well as quercetin were recorded in red cultivars at a sulphur dose of 40.00 kg·ha-1. The highest contents of polyphenols were recorded in yellow cultivars at a sulphur dose of 50.00 kg·ha-1. White cultivars contained the lowest content of polyphenols as well as of quercetin, but the highest values were recorded at the sulphur dose of 40.00 kg·ha-1. The highest values of antioxidant activity were achieved in all cultivars at the sulphur dose of 40.00 kg·ha-1, except for cultivars Boston and Diamant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]