Campeanu Gheorghe’s research while affiliated with University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest and other places

Oxidative stress, that generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, is caused by an imbalance occurred at the cellular level and causes the appearance of several disease, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. We investigated by two methods: DPPH and total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenger potential of three hydroalcoholic extracts from: Humulus lupulus (cones) and Vaccinium myrtillus (leaves) and a combined extract obtained as a mixture of the two species, compared with the reference substances chlorogenic acid and rutin, highlighting the chemical composition of the extracts in total polyphenolic compounds. Reference substances have a similar behavior in both test methods, meanwhile the studied samples have opposite behaviors. In DPPH assay Vaccinium myrtillus extract has a higher scavenger capacity than Humulus lupus extract at the most concentrations and test times leading to a direct dependence between the inhibition potential of DPPH and composition in total polyphenolic compounds. In phosphomolybdenum assay Humulus lupulus extract has total antioxidant capacity higher than the Vaccinium myrtillus extract, at all tested concentrations, which may be due to the different reactivity of the extracts compounds with phosphomolybdic reagent, taking into account both time and reaction temperature, as well as the chemical complexity of the extracts. Antioxidant activity of combined extract tends to achieve a balance compared with the results for individual extracts, in the determinations made by the two methods, including in the case of quantitative chemical composition.

Glycaemia represents the glucose level in the blood. Pathologically increase of the level of glycaemia occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin which may lead to diabetes and obesity. Long-term hyperglycaemia also leads to vascular and neurological complications. In developed countries, interest in the use of herbal products has increased recently due to the fact that the scientific evidence regarding their effectiveness has become widely available. The aim of this paper is to study the hypoglycaemic and cholesterol lowering properties of an combined extract obtained from a Vaccinium myrtillus leaves and Humulus lupulus cones 1:1 (mass) mixture. To the best of our knowledge, this combination has not been tested experimentally in this regard. Our results show that the administration of 1 ml (5 g extract - 100ml) day/100g body weight/day to rats with diabetes induced by 60mg/Kg body of STZ, for 4 weeks, leads to a decrease in preprandial glucose by 21% and in total serum cholesterol by 7%.

Antioxidant effect of Lamium album and Lamium purpureum butanol extracts was estimated using two methods: DPPH and chemiluminescence. Quantitative determination of phenolic compounds (Folin- Ciocalteu) was made in order to establish a correlation between the chemical composition of the extracts and antioxidant potential. The results showed strong antioxidant activity of the two extracts for both methods that were experimented. The n-BuOH extracts of the species possessed dose dependent scavenger activity evaluated after 30 min. of incubation with extracts, in all dose levels tested, whereas, the L. purpureum extract (1% concentration) exhibited the highest scavenging activity compared with Lamium album extract and reference substances. Five seconds after initiating the chemiluminiscence reaction measurements performed showed highest total antioxidant activity for Lamium album extract (1% concentration) compared with Lamium purpureum extract and reference substances. Differences in results between the two experienced methods may be due of reaction mechanisms, different reactivity - time-dependent reaction occurring - of compounds contained in these extracts.

Apple seeds treated with variable intensity doses of irradiation produce alterations of apple heredity, which are generally characterized by the reduction of tree vigour, change of fructification type, crop capacity, fruit shape, colour and biochemical fruit content. Morphological and productive features of trees derived through mutagenesis and fruit quality were studied on twelve apple genotypes, using ‘Jonathan’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivars as control. The analysis of apple genotypes growing potential obtained through mutagenesis showed that there were significant differences in the tree height, trunk diameter, crown diameter and fructification type among the apple trees. Several genotypes (‘G-1/7’, ‘G-1/8’, ‘G-3/123’, ‘G-4/131’, ‘G-9/11’) were registered with a high content of total nitrogen and protein in the fruits and ‘G-9/11’ genotype had the highest content of phosphorus (0.408%). Genotypes ‘G-4/101’ and ‘G-4/131’ accumulated a high quantity of nitrates, over the maximum admitted levels of 60 ppm NO3- for fresh fruits. Cu and Zn contents were low, under the maximum admitted limits.

In vitro microtuberization represents the transitory phase of in vitro multiplication of a healthy material and on field multiplication. Microtubers production is an efficient method for obtains a healthy material, through which the process of potato production is reduced with 3-4 years. Microtubers of Romanian varieties were obtained from potato micro-cuttings cultured on Murashige-Skoog (1962) medium enriched with Cumarin and Kinetin. Sucrose was found to be the most important stimulus for inducing the microtubers. The cultures were maintained in darkness, at 18-200°C for 8-10 weeks for inducing and growing microtubers. The microtubers are important because, they can be produced at any time of the year, they are easy to be transported and deposited.

The strains Lactobacillus paracasei IL2 and Lactobacillus plantarum IL3 were identified, through the usage of MicroLog system. It was established that glucose is the glucide through which the maximum quantity of exopolysaccharides is obtained, namely 201 mg/L, by using MRS. The other glucides tested were lactose and sucrose. The quantity of glucose at which the maximum quantity of exopolysaccharides is obtained was 10%, resulting 240 mg/L, at 48 hours of fermentation. The capacity of biosynthesis was also tested at different values of pH and temperature, resulting that the maximum activity is obtained at 37°C and pH 7.

To obtain a better quality of fruits and to adapt to the requirements of consumers needs, the researchers regard the content of fruits attentively, especially the content of sugar, vitamins and mineral substances. The aims of the research were to test ten apple cultivars from the point of view of sugars, water content, proteins, acidity, vitamin C and also mineral elements: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe. Results obtain for sugars show a higher content of sugar between 9.53 and 12.34%. The higher sugar content was registered for H3/73 hybrid (12.34%). Total acidity (%) falls between 0.127 and 0.345%, a small content registered at all cultivars determining a good quality of fruits and a good taste. The highest value was obtained for ‘Jonathan’ apple variety. Vitamin C varied between 25.75 and 77 mg/100g. ‘Mutzu’ and ‘Jonathan’ cultivars registered the highest value for vitamin C. Mineral elements, respectively macro elements N, P and K varied within the apple varieties. Total nitrogen form varied between 0.67 and 0.111 %, phosphorous between 0.15 and 0.235 % and potassium between 0.40 and 0.75 %. The values for Ca varied between 2.5 and 7.8 mg/100g and Fe between 0.2 and 0.28 mg/100g. The atmosphere and soil in the studied zone of apple culture were unpolluted, so there was no risk of food contamination. The chemical values of fruits showed a higher content of mineral elements and also a good quality for the products obtained from the apple industry, so the apple production could be used in obtaining juice and pulp without any risk of illness.