Dan Cristian Vodnar

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca | USAMV Cluj · Department of Food Science

Apple pomace, a by-product of apple juice production, is typically discarded as waste. Recent approaches have focused on utilizing apple pomace by extracting beneficial bioactive compounds, such as antioxidant phenolic compounds (PCs). Before these PC-rich extracts can be used in food products, they must undergo food preservation and processing met...

COVID-19 significantly impacted global socioeconomic conditions and food security [...]

This study proposes a procedure for preparing some natural dietary supplements based on CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) from lyophilised chicken hearts, respectively, oil press cakes of sunflower, rapeseed, walnut, and pumpkin. It consists of homogenising the powders obtained from these matrices with 2-propanol, succeeded by sonication, overnight maceration,...

Polyphenols are ubiquitous by-products in many plant foods. Their intake has been linked to health benefits like the reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. These bioactive compounds can be successfully extracted from Boletus edulis mushrooms with acidic water. However, such extract could influence the sensory or textural...

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a liposoluble compound naturally occurring in plant and animal cells, with some benefits for health, mainly due to its antioxidant properties. The food industry gives large quantities of by-products and waste; these could be used to recover the natural form of CoQ10, which has a higher bioavailability than synthetic. The Fol...

In a quest to meet the rising demand for nutrient-rich products, this study delves into the realm of innovative bars enriched with Aronia melanocarpa by-product powder. By repurposing waste material from fruit pressing, the research unveils a sustainable approach to enhancing the health profile of food products. Two variants of bars were used: one...

Citation: Aurori, M.; Niculae, M.; Hanganu, D.; Pall, E.; Cenariu, M.; Vodnar, D.C.; Fiţ, N.; Andrei, S. The Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Cell-Protective Properties of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from Rowanberry (Sorbus aucuparia L.) Fruits In Vitro. Plants 2024, 13, 538. Abstract: Considering that Sorbus aucuparia fruits have been underutilize...

Enterococci, known for their resilience, are commonly found in food, the environment, and the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. In recent research, six strains of enterococcus were isolated from bat guano. These include Enterococcus mundtii SRBG1, Enterococcus gallinarum SRBG3, Enterococcus faecium SRBG2, Enterococcus casseliflavus EC1...

Succinic acid (SA) production is continuously rising, as its applications in diverse end-product generation are getting broader and more expansive. SA is an eco-friendly bulk product that acts as a valuable intermediate in different processes and might substitute other petrochemical-based products due to the inner capacity of microbes to biosynthes...

This investigation aimed to assess the chemical composition and biological activities of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) leaves. Hydroethanolic extracts were obtained using four extraction techniques: one conventional (CE) and three alternative methods; ultrasound (UAE), microwave (MAE) and high-pressure (HPE) extractions. Spectrophotometric...

Citation: Dah-Nouvlessounon, D.; Chokki, M.; Hoteyi, I.M.S.; Fassinou, F.; Ranga, F.; Fetea, F.; Diaconeasa, Z.; Vodnar, D.; Furdui, B.; Baba-Moussa, F.; et al. Pharmacological Property and Cytotoxic Effect Showing Antiproliferative Potency in Human Melanoma Cell Lines (A375) of Combretum racemosum P. Beauv. Leaf and Root Extracts Used in Benin. Ab...

The interplay between probiotics and mineral absorption is a topic of growing interest due to its great potential for human well-being. Minerals are vital in various physiological processes, and deficiencies can lead to significant health problems. Probiotics, beneficial microorganisms residing in the gut, have recently gained attention for their a...

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a liposoluble compound naturally occurring in plant and animal cells, with some benefits for health, mainly due to its antioxidant properties. The food industry gives large quantities of by-products and waste; these could be used to recover the natural form of CoQ10, which has a higher bioavailability than synthetic. The Fol...

There was an error in the original publication [...]

Interest in functional foods is continuously increasing, having the potential to be an ally in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors. This study focuses on developing and evaluating oat- and millet-based snack bars enriched with freeze-dried elderberry powder (FDEBP), aiming to combine great taste with enhanced nutritional value, antioxidant proper...

Cardiometabolic diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and obesity have been associated with changes in the gut microbiota structure, or dysbiosis. The beneficial effect of polyphenols on reducing the incidence of this chronic disease has been confirmed by numerous studies. Polyphenols are primarily known for their a...

In recent years, more scientific data have pointed out the close connection between intestinal microbial community, nutritional habits, lifestyle, and the appearance of various affections located at certain anatomical systems. Gut dysbiosis enhances the formation and accumulation of specific metabolites with toxic potential that induce the appearan...

Olive leaf was characterized by a high content of phenols and flavonoids (oleuropein, luteolin, and their derivatives), presenting functional and health-related properties. The chemical instability of phenolics through technological processes and their degradation in the digestive system may negatively impact them, leading to lower absorption. This...

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like compound found naturally in plant- and animal-derived materials. This study aimed to determine the level of CoQ10 in some food by-products (oil press cakes) and waste (fish meat and chicken hearts) to recover this compound for further use as a dietary supplement. The analytical method involved ultrasonic extra...

Fourteen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from the intestinal tract and feces of piglets. Among these isolates, only twelve were biochemically (API 50 CHL and ABIS online for bacterial identification) and genetically (16S rRNA sequencing) confirmed as Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactiplantibacillus...

The cardiometabolic health of the population is a crucial indicator of public health, considering the significant impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes on global mortality. Determining the population's knowledge and the predictors of these pathologies is essential in developing effective educational and clinical strategies for the pre...

One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research and industry are actively involved to meet the increasing requirement for plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). The production tendency of PBDAs is growing with a predictable rate of over 18.5% in 2023 from 7.4% at the moment. A multitude of sources ca...

There was an error in the original publication [...]

Background One-third of the world's population has anemia, contributing to higher morbidity and death and impaired neurological development. Conventional anemia treatment raises concerns about iron bioavailability and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects. This research aims to establish how iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) interact with probiotic...

Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, elderberry (EB) Sambucus nigra L., is beneficial for both therapeutic and dietary purposes. This study determined the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols from freeze-dried EB powder (FDEBP), along with...

Cornus mas L. is characterized by an increased quantity of bioactive compounds, namely polyphenols, monoterpenes, organic acids, vitamin C and lipophilic compounds such as carotenoids, being anciently used in the treatment of various diseases. This paper’s objectives were to characterize the phytochemical profile of Cornus mas L. fruits and to eval...

Food analysts have developed three primary techniques for coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) production: isolation from animal or plant matrices, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation; this literature review is focused on the first method. Choosing the appropriate analytical method for determining CoQ10 in a particular food product is essential, as this...

The Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) genus consists of a globally widespread and diverse genus of around 4250 species, of which the most valuable is the Vaccinioidae subfamily. The current review focuses on the distribution, history, bioactive compounds, and health-related effects of three species: cranberry, blueberry, and huckleberry. Several studies hig...

The area of functional beverages made from plant-based or non-dairy milk is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris is a source of functional ingredients, with a large spectrum of healthy compounds, such as canthaxanthins, astaxanthins, peptides, and oleic acid. The study aimed to investigate the suitabili...

In modern society, the growing use of plastic packaging has innumerable and unquestionable consequences [...]

The necessity to develop cost-efficient and sustainable technologies that should allow us to replace fossil-based resources with means based on renewable biomass has lately increased the interest in the biological production of platform biobased chemicals. The fruits and vegetables rejected by the market along with the residual fractions derived fr...

Genetic diversity in crop plants is the conditio sine qua non for sustainable agriculture and long-term food security. Our research carried out the morphological, agronomic, and physico-chemical characterization and resistance to late blight of 35 tomato landraces from seven countries. These landraces have been approved and appear in the Official C...

The genus Dysphania belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is known for its many health benefits. Therefore, it is commonly available worldwide and includes more than 47 species, five species have been mainly reported, and D. ambrosioides has been one of the most widely used plants for thousands of years as a remedy for a wide range of ailments. I...

Novel and natural molecules for pharmaceutical applications are a contemporary preoccupation in science which prompts research in underexplored environments. Astragalus exscapus ssp. transsilvanicus (Schur) Nyár. (ASTRA) is a plant species endemic to Transylvania, having a very similar root system with that of A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, known...

Nowadays, edible and eco-friendly packaging applications have been studied as an alternative to conventional/synthetic packaging due to the great interest of consumers in healthy, safe, and natural food, and of researchers in meeting the needs of consumers and producers. Various biopolymers are being extensively explored as potential materials for...

Contemporary society faces numerous food-related challenges: on the one hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that people have access to fresh, nutritious, and safe food products around the world, while on the other hand, consumers from ‘low income’ countries are starving, while food products are sometimes discarded because it is di...

Fermented chili powders were obtained through the freeze-drying of fermented chili pastes and used as a condiment, acidifier, antioxidant, colorant, and microbial starter carrier in fermented salami production. Fermented chili powders were examined regarding carbohydrates, organic acids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and aroma profile...

Polyphenols of plant origin are a broad family of secondary metabolites that range from basic phenolic acids to more complex compounds such as stilbenes, flavonoids, and tannins, all of which have several phenol units in their structure. Considerable health benefits, such as having prebiotic potential and cardio-protective and weight control effect...

Nowadays it is generally accepted that medicinal plants play a crucial role in traditional healthcare operations, providing hints to new research fields, and biodiversity protection is now well recognized. However, there is a lack of information on the medicinal uses of plants in many of the Himalayan interior regions. In light of this, the current...

Current research focuses on improving the bioaccessibility of functional components bound to cereal bran cell walls. The main bioactive components in cereal bran that have major biological activities include phenolic acids, biopeptides, dietary fiber, and novel carbohydrates. Because of the bound form in which these bioactive compounds exist in the...

Frozen dough storage, along with its thawing process, negatively affects the quality of the final product. Thus, fermentation with selected cultures and the enrichment of wheat-based dough using a specific soy powder could optimize the viscoelastic quality of frozen dough and increase its nutritional characteristics. Based on these aspects, the pre...

A novel exopolysaccharide was isolated from Bacillus velezensis RSDM1, purified and characterized. The optimization was carried out by Box-Behnken design and the highest yield of EPS-RSDM1 was 1969.53 mg/L. The EPS was composed by glucose with a molecular weight of 1.78 × 104 Da and connected by α-1,6 and α-1,3. The EPS was thermally stable and sho...

Organic acids like succinic and citric acids are of great interest as platform organic products that play important roles as precursors for a wide range of bio-based materials. Succinic and citric acids can be successfully produced biotechnologically from renewable resources of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature through efficient microbiologic...

Even though the literature shows limited data regarding the epidemiological studies on dietary fibres in malignancies reduction, these nutritional components proved their efficacy in modulating general health status, reducing abdominal disease-associated symptoms, diminishing the inflammation connected with cancerous pathologies, and in health reco...

While of lesser prevalence than boron (B) deficient soils, B-rich soils are important to study as they can cause B toxicity in the field and subsequently decrease crop yields in different regions of the world. We have conducted the present study to examine the role of the individual or combined application of silicon (Si) and NPK fertilizer in B-st...

The present study was conducted to examine the potential role of Plantago ovata Forsk leaf extract (POLE) which was applied at various concentration levels (control, hydropriming, 10, 20, 30, and 40% POLE) to the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Drought stressed was applied at 60% osmotic potential (OM) to the T. aestivum seedlings to study...

Coffee is a high value agricultural commodity grown in about 80 countries. Sustainable coffee cultivation is hampered by multiple biotic and abiotic stress conditions predominantly driven by climate change. The NAC proteins are plants specific transcription factors associated with various physiological functions in plants which include cell divisio...

In the current research, Enterococcus mundtii SRBG1 newly isolated from Bat guano was encapsulated using spray drying technique to create a probiotic powder using six combinations of inulin, maltodextrin and sodium alginate. The encapsulation yield, moisture content, physical characteristics, and shape were investigated. Microcapsules yields ranged...

The production of active and biodegradable packaging materials is an emerging and efficient alternative to plastic packaging materials. By combining poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), pectin, and itaconic acid (IA), biodegradable and water-soluble packaging materials can be obtained that can also increase the shelf-life and quality of foodstuff. In the pre...

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals [such as lead (Pb)] is becoming a serious global problem due to the rapid development of the social economy. However, accumulation of Pb in plant parts is very toxic for plant growth and decreases crop yield and productivity. In the present study, we have investigated the different concentrations of Pb in...

Nowadays, edible materials such as polysaccharides have gained attention due to their valuable attributes, especially gelling property. Polysaccharide-based edible gels (PEGs) can be classified as (i) hydrogels, (ii) oleogels and bigels, (iii) and aerogels, cryogels and xerogels, respectively. PEGs have different characteristics and benefits depend...

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal that contaminates soil and water resources after its discharge from different industries. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of single and/or combined application of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (250 μM) and sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) (1 mM) on growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange...

Nowadays, in the European Union more than 100 million tons of food are wasted, meanwhile, millions of people are starving. Food waste represents a serious and ever-growing issue which has gained researchers’ attention due to its economic, environmental, social, and ethical implications. The Sustainable Development Goal has as its main objective the...

Development of an efficient and eco-friendly technique to break tuber dormancy in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is highly demanded due to the production of two or more crops annually. Several physiological and hormonal changes have been found to be related to the breaking of tuber dormancy; however, their consistency with genotypes and different pr...

To improve food production via fermentation with co-cultures of microorganisms (e.g., multiple lactic acid bacteria-LAB strains), one must fully understand their metabolism and interaction patterns in various conditions. For example, LAB can bring added quality to bread by releasing several bioactive compounds when adding soy flour to wheat flour,...