Gabriela Rapeanu

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Verified

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• PhD
• Professor (Full) at "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati

This study aims to investigate two types of solvents, ethanol and natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES), using the ultrasound-assisted extraction techniques, in order to analyze their efficiency and ability to extract polyphenolic compounds from red grape pomace. The optimization and validation of the most feasible extraction conditions leading to...

Apple snacks were obtained by using convective air (CD) and infrared drying (IR). The apple slices were immersed in Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract for 30 min, followed by drying at temperatures varying between 50°C and 70°C. The kinetics of drying data were analyzed based on higher values of R² and lower SSR values and fitted to the Page model...

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris), a root vegetable known for its vivid natural color and nutritional profile, is a source of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including betalains, phenolics, vitamins, and antioxidants. These bioactive compounds are associated with many health-promoting properties, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammato...

With the increasing global demand for sustainable and eco-friendly food items, it is imperative to investigate alternate sources of natural pigments. The red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is a traditional food in many countries and a rich bioactive compound known for its beneficial properties. Beetroot peel, a by-product of beetroot food processing,...

This research paper investigates the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, antidiabetic potential, and antibacterial activity of Myrtus communis berries. Two extraction methods were employed to obtain the extracts: solid–liquid ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The extracts were characterized usin...

This research paper investigates the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, antidiabetic potential, and antibacterial activity of Myrtus communis berries. Two extraction methods were employed to obtain the extracts: solid-liquid ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical CO2 extraction (SCCO2). The extracts were characterized usin...

This study focuses on technological interventions in order to reduce the sulfites addition in white wine production by using carbonic ice and nitrogen. The proposed winemaking technology include temperature-controlled fermentation of grapes must and further temperature-controlled storage of white wine, compared to classic techniques without tempera...

Scientists and food producers are studying the potential of utilizing different by-products as highly nutritious food components to meet consumers’ growing demand for healthier and natural goods. Beetroot belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is highly rich in antioxidants, specifically phenolics and betalains with excellent health properties. Th...

Pumpkin, a nutritious and economical product with health benefits, is harvested worldwide. This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating fiber-, carotenoid-, and mineral-rich pumpkin pomace powder (PPP), a by-product of pumpkin processing, into whey cheese to enhance its nutritional profile without affecting consumer acceptability. The c...

Research background. Fish by-products are discarded as waste, which has a significant impact on the environment. They have no economic value, but there are many opportunities to turn them into high value products. Due to significant quantities generated internationally and the continuous expansion of the market for ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids as nutrac...

Research background Fish by-products are discarded as waste, which has a significant impact on the environment. They have no economic value, but there are many opportunities to turn them into high value products. Due to significant quantities generated internationally and the continuous expansion of the market for ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids as nutrace...

A versatile and popular Cucurbitaceous vegetable, pumpkin has recently gained much attention because of its variety of phytochemicals and health advantages. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash, traditionally with large, spherical, orange fruits and a highly nutrient food. Pumpkin by-products comprise various parts, such as seeds, peels, and pulp r...

It has been discovered that the peel of a pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), regarded as a waste product of pumpkin processing, has significant amounts of carotenoids and other antioxidants. This study aims to identify the most effective extraction parameters for an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method to extract the total carotenoids (TCs) and assess th...

Carrots (Daucus carota L.) are very nutritious root vegetables that include a variety of bioactive substances such as antioxidants, carotenoids, vitamins, and dietary fibers. Carrot pomace (CP) is rich in β-carotene and is a useful by-product that may be used to improve food products like cakes, biscuits, and bread at reasonable costs. This study a...

Significant waste streams produced during winemaking include winery by-products such as pomace, skins, leaves, stems, lees, and seeds. These waste by-products were frequently disposed of in the past, causing resource waste and environmental issues. However, interest has risen in valorizing vineyard by-products to tap into their latent potential and...

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a vegetable widely cultivated and consumed due to its rich content in bioactive compounds. Red onion peel (ROP) powder, which is a by-product derived from the onion industry, has been attracting significant interest as a potential functional ingredient for improving the overall quality of foods. The present study explores...

In this study, a comprehensive approach to advance the inhibitory effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract on apple polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was performed. PPO was extracted, purified, and characterized for optimal activity, whereas response surface methodology generated a quadratic polynomial model to fit the experimental results for hibiscus extract...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of combined germination and spontaneous fermentation on the phytochemical, mineral, and microbial profile of red sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) flours. The analysis of the studied flours were performed by molecular spectrophotometry and flame...

Different technological approaches were used in this study for the valorization of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) fruits in marmalade, jam, jelly, and nutraceuticals. Marmalade showed the highest concentrations of polyphenols (7.61 ± 0.05 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW)) and flavonoids (4.93 ± 0.22 mg catechin equivalents/g DW), wherea...

Two drying methods (convective (CD) and infrared (IR)) on grape pomace with probiotics were analysed, based on kinetic models and survival rate. The moisture ratio decreases linearly with drying time. The IR drying time reduced up to 14.3% at 50 °C. The Page model allowed to calculate the drying constant (0.188–0.404 s−1), whereas the effective moi...

The use of pectolytic enzymes to clarify the white grape juice is a simple and economical solution for positively influencing the subsequent technological steps. The positive effects refer to improving the filterability of the final wine, the behavior of the wine during the stabilization treatments, and, most important, wine quality. The experiment...

Nowadays, there is an increase in consumer demands for healthy products, whereas the low-calorie products are gaining increasing popularity. Apples are the most consumed fruits worldwide, especially due to the compositional diversity of health-promoting bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, organic acids, dietary fiber, vitamin C and B, minerals,...

This Special Issue of the Invention journal includes papers from different research fields, reflecting the sectional talks presented at the 9th edition of the Scientific Conference of the Doctoral Schools from the “Dun˘area de Jos” University of Gala¸ti, which took place in June 2021. The objective of the 2021 Conference was to bring together persp...

The rosehip fruits from Romanian spontaneous flora were valorized in three different customized variants, including jellified products, juices, and a nutraceutical. Prior to the technological design, the rosehip samples were characterized for individual polyphenolic content. The samples (non)-enzymatically treated showed epicatechin as the major co...

Currently, microencapsulation has become a viable method of nutrient delivery for the food industry. This work microencapsulated the bioactive compounds extracted from two neglected species (Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana) by freeze-drying. A combination of wall materials (whey protein and pectin; soy protein and maltodextrin) was cho...

In this study, the Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions for anthocyanins from purple corn flour (PCF), whereas the optimized extract was characterized in terms of phytochemicals content, inhibitory activity against metabolic associated enzymes and the potential to stimulate the metabolic activity of yeasts. Th...

Emerging customized designs to upgrade the functional potential of freeze-dried apple pomace was used in this study, in order to transform the industrial by-products into ingredients containing probiotics, for a better and healthier food composition. The freeze-dried apple pomace was analyzed for free and bounded phenolic contents, highlighting a s...

This study aimed to extract bioactives from red onion skins for use as edible colorants that are both natural and functional. The extraction of bioactive chemicals from red onion skins using a conventional solvent extraction was optimized using a Central Composite Design (CCD). The influence of extraction parameters, such as ethanol and citric acid...

Nowadays, large quantities of berries are still being dumped or used for composting and animal feeding. The objective of this study was to customize a technological design for appropriate valorization of blueberry pomace into a shelf‐life–stable, dark purple multifunctional ingredient, containing lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei), by freez...

Pomegranate fruit is an ancient fruit that is used not only because of its deep-red color and tasty arils but also due to the health benefits of its extracts. Pomegranate is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, including colorful anthocyanins and other polyphenols. The main objective of the present study was to gain comprehensive knowledge of...

Industrial processing of kiwifruits generates a large quantity of byproducts, estimated to be one million tons per year. The resulting byproducts are rich sources of bioactive components that may be used as additives, hence minimizing economic and environmental issues. In this study, kiwifruit byproducts were used to develop added-value food-grade...

This work aimed to improve the functionality of beer by increasing the level of antioxidant activity through the addition, up to acceptable sensory amounts, of red grape skin extract. A commercial hefeweizen beer was supplemented with different concentrations (1, 5, and 10 mg/mL) of grape skin extract (GSE). The phytochemical characterization of GS...

Sorghum and pearl millet are grain crops that can grow in semi-arid climates, with nutritional and bioactive properties superior to those of major cereals such as rice, wheat, and maize. However, these properties vary a lot, depending on the genetic factors, growing conditions, and place of cultivation. Four sorghum and two pearl millet grains cult...

In this study, red onion skin extract was used to obtain food ingredients. Complex biopolymeric matrices were dissolved in the anthocyanin-rich aqueous extract, followed by gelation and freeze-drying. Powders were characterized regarding encapsulation efficiency (EE), phytochemical content, color, antioxidant activity, and microstructure. Storage a...

The objective of this study was to encapsulate anthocyanins from red onion skins into different biopolymeric matrices as a way to develop powders with multifunctional activities. Two different variants of powders were obtained using a combination of gelation and freeze-drying techniques and characterized by encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant act...

The macromolecules originating from yeast play an essential function in the colloidal equilibrium of wines. For several years now, mannoproteins from alcoholic fermentation and yeast autolysis have been studied to improve tartaric balance and stabilize red wine color and phenolic compounds. Thus, a commercial yeast derivatives product was applied (...

This work aimed to assess the oxidative stability of cottonseed oil enriched with natural antioxidants from Cameroonian plant leaves extracts. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity via DPPH radical scavenging assay were assessed in ethanolic extracts. These extracts were added to cottonseed oil at concentrations of 200, 500, 1250,...

This Editorial is dedicated to the 9th edition of the Scientific Conference organized by the Doctoral Schools of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (SCDS-UDJG), which was organized in June 2021 in Galati (Romania). This Special Issue consists of papers from different research fields, reflecting the sectional talks presented at the SCDS-UDJG. Thi...

This study aimed at the extraction and encapsulation of the carotenoids from sea buckthorn fruits and obtaining value-added mayonnaise. First, the carotenoids from sea buckthorn fruits were extracted using ultrasound-assisted extraction. Then, they were microencapsulated through complex coacervation and freeze-drying techniques using different wall...

Beetroot peel is a by-product obtained during the processing of beetroots and is an essential source of bioactive substances beneficial to health. This study used antioxidant-rich beetroot peels powder (BPP) in different concentrations (1.5, 3, 5, and 7%) to obtain value-added mayonnaise. The impact of BPP on the phytochemical composition, sensory...

The present study focuses on heat-induced structural changes and the degradation kinetics of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of red grape skin extract. The thermal degradation of anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity followed a first-order kinetic model, increasing with temperature due to the intensification of the...

The essential treatment of the coeliac disease is a strict lifelong gluten‐free diet based on the avoidance of gluten, thus requiring new perspectives for identifying technological and functional alternatives for gluten‐free products, with similar functionality and efficiency. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the potential of p...

This study aimed to investigate the thermal stability and biological activities of the phytochemicals from the red onion skins extract, which are a rich source of anthocyanins. Eight anthocyanins were identified in the extract by high-performance liquid chromatography, the most abundant ones being cyanidin 3-O-laminaribioside and cyanidin 3-O-(6″-m...

The objective of this study is to encapsulate flavonoids from yellow onion skins in whey protein isolates (WPI) and xylose (X), by Maillard-based conjugates, as an approach to improve the ability to entrap flavonoids and to develop powders with enhanced antioxidant activity. WPI (0.6%, w/v) was conjugated to X (0.3%, w/v) through the Maillard react...

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) represents a valuable source of biologically active compounds such as carotenoids and polyphenols. High amounts of these substances are found in its fruits, bark, and leaves. However, their bioavailability is limited and must be increased in order to benefit from the properties they exert. Therefore, the purp...

Significant quantities of onion are cultivated annually, such that industrial processing leads to an appreciable amount of by-products, estimated at around 500,000 tons. Onion skins are considered an important source of naturally occurring antioxidant compounds, particularly flavonoid compounds. Our study follows the development of a sustainable so...

A study on Cameroonian edible and medicinal plants was undertaken to assess their potential as food preservatives and natural food colorants. The ultrasound-assisted technique was used for the extraction of bioactive compounds. A total of 16 extracts prepared from 7 plants (Aframomum melegueta S., Ageratum conyzoides L., Cympobogon citratus Stapf,...

(1) Background: This study is designed to extract the bioactive compounds from beetroot peel for future use in the food industry. (2) Methods: Spectrophotometry techniques analyzed the effect of conventional solvent extraction on betalains and polyphenolic compounds from beetroot peels. Several treatments by varying for factors (ethanol and citric...

In this study, eggplant peel extract was used to obtain hydrogels. Two experimental variants were realized by varying the wall materials. Whey proteins isolate (WPI), citrus pectin (P), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMCNa) were used as wall materials. The microcapsules were obtained by the gelation technique, followed by freeze-drying in order...

The impact of different extraction methods on bioactive compounds (total phenols and flavonoids) recovery from onion wastes recovered from the market was investigated. The results revealed a total polyphenol content from 25.19 ± 3.56 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) to 212.56 ± 1.18 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for...

The impact of different extraction methods on bioactive compounds (total phenols and flavonoids) recovery from onion wastes recovered from the market was investigated. The results revealed a total polyphenol content from 25.19 ± 3.56 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) to 212.56 ± 1.18 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for...

This study aimed to use eggplant peels as a potential source of anthocyanins with biological activities. Two different extraction methods were tested in order to obtain extracts with a high anthocyanin content. The selected methods were the solid–liquid extraction (SLE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods. For each method, two concentr...

Tomato peels are used as a valuable material to extract lycopene-rich oleoresins by supercritical CO2 extraction. The extraction involves continuous circling of CO2 to the extractor after removing the solute in the separators, S40 and S45, where the solvent power of the CO2 is reduced by reducing pressure down to 20 MPa in S40 and 5 MPa in S45, res...

The phenolic composition of the skin of the Băbească neagră grapes grown in south-eastern Romania was studied by two extraction techniques, i. e., ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). This study aimed to analyze the grape skin bioactive compounds and the antioxidant potential using ethanol of three different co...

Tomato peels are used as a valuable material to extract lycopene-rich oleoresins by supercritical CO2 extraction. The extraction involves continuous circling of CO2 to the extractor after removing the solute in the separators, S40 and S45, where the solvent power of the CO2 is reduced by reducing pressure down to 20 MPa in S40 and 5 MPa in S45, res...

lactoglobulin and its thermolysin-derived hydrolysates were compared regarding the potential for microencapsulating of the flavonoids from yellow onion skins. Antioxidant activity of powders was of 500.28 ± 2.89 mMol Trolox/g dry weight (DW) for hydrolysates (P1) and 480.11 ± 4.45 mMol Trolox/g DW for whole protein (P2). Both powders showed antidia...

In this study two extraction methods, such as conventional solvent extraction (CSE) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE) were used for bioactive compounds extraction from red onion skins. The effects of several extraction parameters on the phytochemical content were investigated to discover which combination of parameters led to the highest conc...

Our study describes in detail the binding mechanism between the main flavonoids that were extracted from onion skins by supercritical CO2 and peptides from whey proteins, from the perspective of obtaining multifunctional ingredients, with health‐promoting benefits. The supercritical CO2 extract had 202.31 ± 11.56 mg quercetin equivalents/g DW as th...

In this study, flavonoids extracted from yellow onion skins and Lactobacillus casei were encapsulated in a combination of whey protein isolate, inulin and maltodextrin with an encapsulation efficiency of 84.82 ± 0.72% for flavonoids and 72.49 ± 0.11% for lactic acid bacteria. The obtained powder showed a flavonoid content of 89.49 ± 4.12 mg quercet...

The thermal degradation of the anthocyanins and antioxidant activity in purple maize extracts was determined between 80 and 180 °C. The anthocyanins were found to be thermostable in the temperature range of 80 to 120 °C, whereas at higher temperatures the thermal degradation of both anthocyanins and antioxidant activity followed a first-order kinet...

BACKGROUND Anthocyanins were extracted from grape skins by a combination of ethanolic‐ultrasonic assisted methods and were then encapsulated by freeze‐drying in soy phosphatidylcholine vesicles with the addition of different polymers, such as pectin, acacia gum, and whey protein isolate. The goal of this research was to microencapsulate anthocyanin...

Lavender flowers were used in this study as a source of phytochemicals as naturally occurring antioxidants. Two different extraction techniques were applied, such as ultrasound-assisted (UAE) and supercritical fluids (SCE) methods. The comparative evaluation of the phytochemicals profile evidenced a higher content of chlorophyll a and b of 5.22 ± 0...

In this study, the interaction of native and transglutaminase (Tgase) cross-linked β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) with caffeic acid (CA) was examined, aiming to obtain functional composites. Knowledge on the binding affinity and interaction mechanism was provided by performing fluorescence spectroscopy measurements, after heating the native and cross-linke...

The impact of thermal treatment on the ability of lactoferrin (FL) to bind folic acid (FA) was investigated by employing fluorescence spectroscopy, molecular dynamics and docking tests. The structural and conformational particularities of LF upon heating at 80 °C and 100 °C were first estimated based on the intrinsic fluorescence changes in respect...

Black beans aqueous extract and Lactobacillus casei were coencapsulated by freeze-drying in a unique combination of biopolymers, such as inulin, chitosan, and whey protein isolate, with an encapsulation efficiency of 99.33 ± 0.13% for anthocyanins and 77.42 ± 1.34% for lactic bacteria, respectively. The structural and morphological particularities...

Lycopene microparticles were prepared by complex coacervation and freeze-drying using a wall system consisting of whey protein isolate and acacia gum. Tomato peels were used as raw material for ultrasound-assisted extraction, yielding an extract with 72% lycopene. The encapsulation efficiency for lycopene was 83.6 ± 0.20%. A possible double microen...

In this study, antioxidant-rich eggplant peel extract was used to obtain a value-added pastry cream. In order to reduce the susceptibility to degradation, microencapsulation of the biologically active compounds from the eggplant peel was first performed. The microencapsulated bioactive compounds powder (MBC) obtained through freeze-drying retained...

The aim of this work is to obtain new food products enriched with bioactive compounds from concentrated grape juice microencapsulated by freeze drying using a whey protein isolate- chitosan system. The obtained powder showed an encapsulation efficiency of (86.1±4.0) %, with an anthocyanin mass fraction (expressed as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalen...

Manufacturing beer with a high biological value requires identifying new methods for increasing the health-enhancing compounds level. The aim of this study was to increase the biological value of beer by adding antioxidant-rich eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) peel extract (EPE). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and t...

This work was aimed to obtain lactoferrin peptides, with anthocyanins-binding capabilities, by using eggplant peels extract as a source of anthocyanins. The chromatographic analysis of the extract evidenced the presence of five individual anthocyanins, with delfinidin-3-rutinoside being identified as the predominant. 20 small peptides were identifi...

Our study describes in detail the binding mechanism between the main flavonoids that were extracted from onion skins by supercritical CO 2 and peptides from whey proteins, from the perspective of obtaining multifunctional ingredients, with health-promoting benefits. The supercritical CO 2 extract had 202.31 ± 11.56 mg quercetin equiva-lents/g DW as...

Lavender flowers were used in this study as a source of phytochemicals as naturally occurring antioxidants. Two different extraction techniques were applied, such as ultrasound-assisted (UAE) and supercritical fluids (SCE) methods. The comparative evaluation of the phytochemicals profile evidenced a higher content of chlorophyll a and b of 5.22 mg/...