The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of lesser duckweed ( Lemna minor L.) obtained from the natural environment and cultured under laboratory conditions. In the fi rst variant, lesser duckweed was collected from a natural pond (LDN). Subsequently, the plants were cleaned...

The aim of our study was to develop a gas chromatographic method coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the determination of underivatised neutral (CBDs-N) and acidic (CBDs-A) cannabinoids (CBDs) and cholesterol (Chol). Emphasis was also placed on comparing our original GC-MS method with the currently developed C18-high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode detection (C18-HPLC-DAD). A combination of a long GC column, shallow temperature column programme, and mass-spectrometry was employed to avoid issues arising from the overlap between CBDs and Chol and background fluctuations. The pre-column procedure for CBDs and Chol in egg yolks consisted of hexane extractions, whereas the pre-column procedure for CBDs in non-animal samples involved methanol and hexane extractions. CBDs-A underwent decarboxylation to CBDs during GC-MS analyses, and pre-column extraction of the processed sample with NaOH solution allowed for CBD-A removal. No losses of CBDs-N were observed in the samples extracted with NaOH solution. GC-MS analyses of the samples before and after extraction with NaOH solution enabled the quantification of CBDs-A and CBDs-N. CBDs-A did not undergo decarboxylation to CBDs-N during C18-HPLC-DAD runs. The use of the C18-HPLC-DAD method allowed simultaneous determination of CBDs-N and CBDs-A. In comparison to the C18-HPLC-DAD method, our GC-MS technique offered improved sensitivity, precision, specificity, and satisfactory separation of underivatised CBDs and Chol from biological materials of endogenous species, especially in hemp and hen egg yolk. The scientific novelty of the present study is the application of the GC-MS method for quantifying underivatised CBDs-A, CBDs-N, and Chol in the samples of interest.

Background/Objectives: The rising global demand for sustainable and nutritionally valuable food sources highlights the importance of exploring alternatives to conventional livestock. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) have gained attention as an environmentally efficient species, offering high-quality eggs and meat with favorable nutritional profiles. This study aimed to characterize the fatty acid (FA) composition of quail eggs (QEs) and meat (QM), investigating breast (B) and thigh (T) muscles produced in Poland under small-scale farming conditions, with a focus on assessing their functional foods’ potential. Methods: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was applied to determine FA profiles in fresh and stored samples. Statistical evaluation included two-way ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis. Results: Results demonstrated that QE contained the highest total FA levels, dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids, with notable contributions from long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and conjugated linoleic acid isomers. In contrast, QM were characterized by higher proportions of PUFA, with significant differences between breast and thigh samples. Storage influenced the levels of selected FA, particularly n-3 PUFA and the n-3/n-6 ratio. PCA and cluster analysis confirmed clear separation between eggs and muscles, regardless of storage status. Overall, both QE and QM exhibited a favorable PUFA/SFA ratio, exceeding dietary recommendations. Conclusions: These findings underscore the nutritional and functional value of quail-derived foods, supporting their consideration as sustainable alternatives to chicken products and potential candidates for the ‘superfood’ category.

Background/Objectives: Although physical activity and balanced diet may increase peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration, little is known about whether these factors modify BDNF content in physically active individuals and whether the serum fatty acid (FA) profile is related. This study aimed to evaluate quality of diet, identify specific dietary patterns and assess their influence on BDNF and FA levels in serum. It is hypothesized that there is a correlation between diet quality and the concentrations of BDNF and FA in the serum of physically active male individuals. Methods: Physically active young adult male students at Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw (Poland) were enrolled. Dietary patterns were identified with cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on responses to a validated food frequency questionnaire, KomPAN^® version 1.1. Results: Consumption of beverages, vegetables, milk, wholemeal bread/rolls, fruit and vegetable juices, butter, tinned vegetables and fruits were significant in the LDA model, in which three clusters were distinguished. Cluster 1 was characterized by more frequent consumption of wholemeal bread/rolls, milk, fruits, vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices and sweetened hot beverages and by significantly greater values for the pro-healthy diet index (p < 0.0001) and diet quality index (p < 0.0001) compared to Clusters 2 and 3. The diet of Cluster 2 was of the worst quality, as indicated by the higher values of the not-healthy diet index. Cluster 1 had the tendency for the highest BDNF levels (of the best quality of diet), and a tendency for decreased BDNF concentration with an increased physical activity level was observed. Conclusions: Physical activity, diet quality and BDNF level depend, correlate and interact with each other to provide both optimal physical and mental health.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of 0.35 mg Se/kg basal diet (BD) (Se as sodium selenate (Se⁶) and yeast rich in seleno-methionine (Se^Ye)) and 0.1% carnosic acid (CA) supplementation to the diet containing 1% fish oil (F-O) and 2% rapeseed oil (R-O) on the contents of fatty acids (FA), malondialdehyde (MDA), tocopherols (Ts), and total cholesterol (TCh) in lambs’ spleens. A total of 24 male lambs (4 groups per 6 animals) have been fed: the control diet—the basal diet (BD) enriched in F-O and R-O; the CA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, and CA; the Se^YeCA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, CA, and Se^Ye; the Se⁶CA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, CA, and Se⁶. Dietary modifications affected the profiles of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids in spleens. The Se^YeCA and Se⁶CA diets increased the docosapentaenoic acid preference in Δ4-desaturase; hence, a higher content of docosahexaenoic acid was found in the spleens of Se^Ye- or Se⁶-treated lambs than in spleens of animals receiving the CA and control diets. The Se^YeCA and Se⁶CA diets increased the concentration ratio of n-3long-chain PUFA (n-3LPUFA) to FA (n-3LPUFA/FA) in spleens compared to the control and CA diets. The content of n-3PUFA was higher in the spleens of Se⁶ treated lambs than in spleens of animals receiving the Se^YeCA, CA, and control diets. The Se⁶CA diet increased the content of c9t11CLA in the spleen compared to the control, CA, and Se^YeCA diets. Experimental diets reduced the level of atherogenic FA, the content ratios of n-6PUFA/n-3PUFA and n-6LPUFA/n-3LPUFA, and improved the content ratio of MUFA/FA and the value of the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic FA ratio in the spleen in comparison with the control diet. The experimental diets supplemented with Se^Ye or Se⁶ increased levels of TCh and Ts in spleens in comparison with the CA and control CA diets. The present studies documented that Se⁶, Se^Ye, and CA influenced the metabolism of FA, Ts, and cholesterol in spleens.