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Teodora Ivanova
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

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Short Biography

Dr. Teodora Angelova Ivanova, Ph.D., is currently an assistant professor at the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER). She graduated in 2005 from Sofia University (Bulgaria), majoring in Biotechnology (M.Sc.). She furthered her studies in botany at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, focusing on plant conservation of medicinal and endangered plants (Ph.D. in Botany awarded in 2013 at IBER). In the last 10 years, her work interests have involved interdisciplinary studies on traditional and innovative use of medicinal and food plants and spices, application of various methods in sustainable use, and protection of biodiversity including ethnobiological approaches. Teodora Ivanova is a member of the Bulgarian Botanical Society.

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Journal article
Published: 23 April 2021 in Nutrients
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The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been sponsored worldwide as a healthy and sustainable diet. Our aim was to update and compare MD adherence and food choices across several Southern European countries: Spain (SP), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Greece (GR), and Cyprus (CY) (MED, Mediterranean), and Bulgaria (BG) and the Republic of North Macedonia (NMK) (non-MED, non-Mediterranean). Participants (N = 3145, ≥18 y) completed a survey (MeDiWeB) with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and food questions (14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, 14-MEDAS). The MED and non-MED populations showed moderate (7.08 ± 1.96) and weak (5.58 ± 1.82) MD adherence, respectively, with significant yet small differences across countries (SP > PT > GR > IT > CY > BG > NMK, p-value < 0.001). The MED participants scored higher than the non-MED ones for most of the Mediterranean-typical foods, with the greatest differences found for olive oil (OO) and white meat preference. In most countries, ≥70% of the participants reported quantities of red meat, butter, sweet drinks, and desserts below the recommended cutoff points, whereas <50% achieved the targets for plant-based foods, OO, fish, and wine. Being a woman and increasing age were associated with superior adherence (p-value < 0.001), but differences were rather small. Our results suggest that the campaigns carried out to support and reinforce the MD and to promote plant-based foods have limited success across Southern Europe, and that more hard-hitting strategies are needed.

ACS Style

Stefano Quarta; Marika Massaro; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Rui Jorge; Vanda Andrade; Elena Philippou; Constantinos Zisimou; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Deligiannidou; Christos Kontogiorgis; Julio Sánchez-Meca; Paula Pinto; María-Teresa García-Conesa. Persistent Moderate-to-Weak Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Low Scoring for Plant-Based Foods across Several Southern European Countries: Are We Overlooking the Mediterranean Diet Recommendations? Nutrients 2021, 13, 1432 .

AMA Style

Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro, Mihail Chervenkov, Teodora Ivanova, Dessislava Dimitrova, Rui Jorge, Vanda Andrade, Elena Philippou, Constantinos Zisimou, Viktorija Maksimova, Katarina Smilkov, Darinka Ackova, Lence Miloseva, Tatjana Ruskovska, Georgia Deligiannidou, Christos Kontogiorgis, Julio Sánchez-Meca, Paula Pinto, María-Teresa García-Conesa. Persistent Moderate-to-Weak Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Low Scoring for Plant-Based Foods across Several Southern European Countries: Are We Overlooking the Mediterranean Diet Recommendations? Nutrients. 2021; 13 (5):1432.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefano Quarta; Marika Massaro; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Rui Jorge; Vanda Andrade; Elena Philippou; Constantinos Zisimou; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Deligiannidou; Christos Kontogiorgis; Julio Sánchez-Meca; Paula Pinto; María-Teresa García-Conesa. 2021. "Persistent Moderate-to-Weak Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Low Scoring for Plant-Based Foods across Several Southern European Countries: Are We Overlooking the Mediterranean Diet Recommendations?" Nutrients 13, no. 5: 1432.

Journal article
Published: 14 February 2021 in Botanical Sciences
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Background: Bulgarian poetic folklore reflects an agrarian culture deeply connected with land and nature. However, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) transmitted through Bulgarian folklore is scarcely assessed. Questions: What are the dimensions of the TEK related to plant diversity (native and introduced) that appear in Bulgarian folk songs and what is their potential as transmitters of ТЕК? Data description: The lyrics of 10,113 Bulgarian folk songs were excerpted from major academic collections and a set of unpublished songs. Study site and dates: Current study covers songs that have been documented since mid-19th century onwards in the present and former Bulgarian territories and in areas that have been inhabited by ethnic Bulgarians abroad. Methods: Common plant names and descriptions of plants and landscapes were used to detect botanical affiliations of the denoted plants. We focused on frequencies of plant representations and their functions associated with cultural, agricultural and food-processing practices. Results: A total of 146 plant taxa from 109 genera were mentioned in 47.3 % of the studied songs. Over 60 % of the most frequently mentioned taxa were archaeophytes while neophytes were represented by seven taxa, denoting everyday and spiritual importance of nature. Conclusions: Bulgarian folk songs presented wide range of nature-related information typically reported for ethnic groups outside Europe. Quantification of TEK preserved in documented poetic folklore and further assessment of performance of nature-rich folklore would allow development additional tools for evaluation of cultural significance of species, landscapes and ecosystems as well as for development of educational and inspirational materials.

ACS Style

Teodora Ivanova; Valentina Ganeva-Raicheva; Yulia Bosseva; Dessislava Dimitrova. Singing the nature - еthnobotanical knowledge in Bulgarian folk songs. Botanical Sciences 2021, 99, 321 -341.

AMA Style

Teodora Ivanova, Valentina Ganeva-Raicheva, Yulia Bosseva, Dessislava Dimitrova. Singing the nature - еthnobotanical knowledge in Bulgarian folk songs. Botanical Sciences. 2021; 99 (2):321-341.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Teodora Ivanova; Valentina Ganeva-Raicheva; Yulia Bosseva; Dessislava Dimitrova. 2021. "Singing the nature - еthnobotanical knowledge in Bulgarian folk songs." Botanical Sciences 99, no. 2: 321-341.

Journal article
Published: 16 December 2020 in Nutrients
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The Mediterranean diet (MD) and other lifestyle characteristics have been associated with well-being, a broad multiparameter concept that includes individual’s subjective assessment of their own well-being (SWB). Some studies have suggested that diet influences SWB, thus, this work aimed to add novel information on the association of MD and SWB in a sample of Portuguese adults. Data on sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, diet, and SWB were collected through a self-filled online questionnaire. MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score ]. Results showed a moderate adherence to the MD in 490 Portuguese adults (mean MEDAS of 7.4 ± 2.1). A higher MD adherence was found to be significantly positively associated with women, employed individuals, a higher number of meals per day, and those with frequent contact with nature (p-value < 0.0025, using Bonferroni adjustment). As a novelty, this study divided the participants into low SWB, medium SWB, and medium to high SWB profiles (3.9 ± 1.0; 6.2 ± 1.0; 8.2 ± 1.3, respectively; p-value < 0.05), which reported significantly increasing MEDAS scores (6.5 ± 2.1; 7.3 ± 2.1; 7.8 ± 1.9; respectively, p-value < 0.05).

ACS Style

Vanda Andrade; Rui Jorge; María-Teresa García-Conesa; Elena Philippou; Marika Massaro; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou; Christos A. Kontogiorgis; Paula Pinto. Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Subjective Well-Being in a Sample of Portuguese Adults. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3837 .

AMA Style

Vanda Andrade, Rui Jorge, María-Teresa García-Conesa, Elena Philippou, Marika Massaro, Mihail Chervenkov, Teodora Ivanova, Viktorija Maksimova, Katarina Smilkov, Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova, Lence Miloseva, Tatjana Ruskovska, Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou, Christos A. Kontogiorgis, Paula Pinto. Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Subjective Well-Being in a Sample of Portuguese Adults. Nutrients. 2020; 12 (12):3837.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vanda Andrade; Rui Jorge; María-Teresa García-Conesa; Elena Philippou; Marika Massaro; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou; Christos A. Kontogiorgis; Paula Pinto. 2020. "Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Subjective Well-Being in a Sample of Portuguese Adults." Nutrients 12, no. 12: 3837.

Journal article
Published: 27 September 2020 in Nutrients
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This study provides comprehensive validation of the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (14-MEDAS) in an adult population from Greece (GR), Portugal (PT), Italy (IT), Spain (SP), Cyprus (CY), Republic of North Macedonia (NMK), and Bulgaria (BG). A moderate association between the 14-MEDAS and the reference food diary was estimated for the entire population (Pearson r = 0.573, p-value < 0.001; Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.692, p-value < 0.001) with the strongest correlation found in GR, followed by PT, IT, SP, and CY. These results were supported by kappa statistics in GR, PT, IT, and SP with ≥50% of food items exhibiting a fair or better agreement. Bland–Altman analyses showed an overestimation of the 14-MEDAS score in the whole population (0.79 ± 1.81, 95%Confidence Interval (CI) 0.61, 0.96), but this value was variable across countries, with GR, NMK, and BG exhibiting the lowest bias. Taking all analyses together, the validation achieved slightly better results in the Mediterranean countries but a definitive validation ranking order was not evident. Considering growing evidence of the shift from Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and of the importance of culture in making food choices it is crucial that we further improve validation protocols with specific applications to compare MD adherence across countries.

ACS Style

María-Teresa García-Conesa; Elena Philippou; Christos Pafilas; Marika Massaro; Stefano Quarta; Vanda Andrade; Rui Jorge; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou; Christos A. Kontogiorgis; Paula Pinto. Exploring the Validity of the 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS): A Cross-National Study in Seven European Countries around the Mediterranean Region. Nutrients 2020, 12, 2960 .

AMA Style

María-Teresa García-Conesa, Elena Philippou, Christos Pafilas, Marika Massaro, Stefano Quarta, Vanda Andrade, Rui Jorge, Mihail Chervenkov, Teodora Ivanova, Dessislava Dimitrova, Viktorija Maksimova, Katarina Smilkov, Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova, Lence Miloseva, Tatjana Ruskovska, Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou, Christos A. Kontogiorgis, Paula Pinto. Exploring the Validity of the 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS): A Cross-National Study in Seven European Countries around the Mediterranean Region. Nutrients. 2020; 12 (10):2960.

Chicago/Turabian Style

María-Teresa García-Conesa; Elena Philippou; Christos Pafilas; Marika Massaro; Stefano Quarta; Vanda Andrade; Rui Jorge; Mihail Chervenkov; Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Viktorija Maksimova; Katarina Smilkov; Darinka Gjorgieva Ackova; Lence Miloseva; Tatjana Ruskovska; Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou; Christos A. Kontogiorgis; Paula Pinto. 2020. "Exploring the Validity of the 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS): A Cross-National Study in Seven European Countries around the Mediterranean Region." Nutrients 12, no. 10: 2960.

Research article
Published: 08 March 2018 in Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution
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Allium siculum Ucria is a perennial bulbous plant that occurs in Bulgaria as A. siculum subsp. dioscoridis (Sm.) K. Richt. The plant is locally known as “samardala”. Its herbage is used traditionally by local communities in Bulgaria as edible green and for preparation of salty spice mixtures. The study was focused on the documentation of traditional knowledge about samardala, covering local collection and cultivation practices, processing methods and consumption preferences. The respondents (aged 30–86 years, 50% over 65) were local producers and small-scale salesmen of the herbage and samardala-containing spices. To assess the health features of samardala spices the total phenol and flavonoid content was measured in home-consumed or marketed flavoured salts. Overall appreciation of the plant and related food products was found to be very high; presenting a considerable engagement of the locals in plant cultivation and gathering, laborious processing and consumption. Traditional ecological knowledge about the biology, phenology and ecology of the samardala plant and methods for its processing is still preserved by elderly people who rely mostly on their own cultivated plants. Although the introduction of modern appliances has altered the method of production, its main stages and the recipes are preserved. Modernization of the processing method has not affected the quality of the products and faster processing could be a contributing factor for the higher content of biologically active substances. Phenolic content was about twice as low as the flavonoid content, following the same pattern for all tested flavoured salts. Measures for better management of natural populations and promotion of cultivation practices of A. siculum subsp. dioscoridis would ensure the sustainable quality of traditional products as well as conservation of the natural plant resources.

ACS Style

Teodora Ivanova; Mihail Chervenkov; Tatyana Stoeva; Stoyan Chervenkov; Yulia Bosseva; Almira Georgieva; Elina Tsvetanova; Albena Alexandrova; Dessislava Dimitrova. Samardala: specificities and changes in the ethnobotanical knowledge about Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis (Sm.) K. Richt. in Bulgaria. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 2018, 65, 1349 -1357.

AMA Style

Teodora Ivanova, Mihail Chervenkov, Tatyana Stoeva, Stoyan Chervenkov, Yulia Bosseva, Almira Georgieva, Elina Tsvetanova, Albena Alexandrova, Dessislava Dimitrova. Samardala: specificities and changes in the ethnobotanical knowledge about Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis (Sm.) K. Richt. in Bulgaria. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2018; 65 (5):1349-1357.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Teodora Ivanova; Mihail Chervenkov; Tatyana Stoeva; Stoyan Chervenkov; Yulia Bosseva; Almira Georgieva; Elina Tsvetanova; Albena Alexandrova; Dessislava Dimitrova. 2018. "Samardala: specificities and changes in the ethnobotanical knowledge about Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis (Sm.) K. Richt. in Bulgaria." Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 65, no. 5: 1349-1357.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2014 in Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment
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Ruscus aculeatus L. is a perennial semi-shrub with distinctive leaf-like branches (cladodes). Rhizomes and roots contain steroidal saponins (ruscogenins) that are used in medicine and cosmetics for their anti-inflammatory, venotonic and antihaemorroidal activity. Problematic cultivation of the species causes in many countries unsustainable over-collection from the wild. Tissue culture propagation of R. aculeatus was carried out for conservation and propagation purposes. The impact of the clonal origin (genotype) on the ruscogenin biosynthesis, genome-size stability and propagation traits and morpho-physiological response to long-term cultivation in vitro was studied. Production of ruscogenins in fully developed regenerants was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Genome-size stability of the clones was assessed by flow cytometry. Slow growth and prolonged lag-phase were characteristic for the whole propagation cycle. Produced plantlets with well-defined organs were suitable for direct ex vitro planting. Genome DNA content of all clones was stable and comparable to native plants. Ruscogenin biosynthesis was clone-specific, presenting distinctive profiles of the cultures. Our results imply that clone origin and culture type might influence saponin biosynthesis in Ruscus. These traits should be considered in the ex situ conservation of the genetic diversity of this species and by production of planting material as well.

ACS Style

Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Chavdar Gussev; Yulia Bosseva; Tatyana Stoeva. Ex situconservation ofRuscus aculeatusL. – ruscogenin biosynthesis, genome-size stability and propagation traits of tissue-cultured clones. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment 2014, 29, 27 -32.

AMA Style

Teodora Ivanova, Dessislava Dimitrova, Chavdar Gussev, Yulia Bosseva, Tatyana Stoeva. Ex situconservation ofRuscus aculeatusL. – ruscogenin biosynthesis, genome-size stability and propagation traits of tissue-cultured clones. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment. 2014; 29 (1):27-32.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Teodora Ivanova; Dessislava Dimitrova; Chavdar Gussev; Yulia Bosseva; Tatyana Stoeva. 2014. "Ex situconservation ofRuscus aculeatusL. – ruscogenin biosynthesis, genome-size stability and propagation traits of tissue-cultured clones." Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment 29, no. 1: 27-32.