The production of heavily hopped beers, such as Indian Pale Ale (IPA) styles, has been gaining momentum in recent years in the Central European markets. To this end, the dry hopping process is becoming increasingly popular, mostly in microbreweries, but also with larger manufacturers. In our research, we investigated the dissolution rate of the main volatile component of hops, β-myrcene with a modified dry hopping method. Following the primary fermentation, we applied the dry hopping process, where the weighed hops were chopped and blended into a container with 0.5 L of beer and later added to the young beer. During the dry hopping process, we determined various important parameters of the beer, and we repeated the same measurements for the bottled beer. In the first 96 h of the dry hopping process, we monitored the concentration of β-myrcene so that we managed to determine the dissolution rate constant (k = 0.1946 h⁻¹). The β-myrcene concentration stabilizes after 44 h in the fermenter. At the same time, measurements were conducted for bitterness, pH, CO₂ and alcohol content, extract and density during the process. Our experiment demonstrates that a new method of dry hopping provides a much higher concentration of β-myrcene (215 μg/L) than other methods indicated in former studies in the field. A health and safety assessment of β-myrcene was also made and we determined what the safe amount of β-myrcene ingested with IPA beer is. Our modified process was successful, we were able to determine the dissolution rate of β-myrcene, and the recommended daily intake of IPA beer with particular reference to β-myrcene.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is spreading, and the effectiveness of the most widely used antibiotics is decreasing. These issues are global health and food safety concerns that require immediate attention. One potential solution is the use of various gemmotherapy extracts (GTEs). However, there is a paucity of studies investigating the presumptive antimicrobial activity of GTEs. Methods: In this comparative study, we are assessing the antimicrobial properties of eight selected GTEs, as well as their polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, against a panel of microorganisms (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds). We are using the agar diffusion method (ADM) and the broth microdilution method (BMD) to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Results: Among the analyzed extracts, dog rose, lingonberry, sea buckthorn, blackthorn, and common grape GTEs showed the highest total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and the most relevant antimicrobial activity including certain differences with respect to the microbiostatic and/or microbicidal properties. These results demonstrate the relative strength of the antimicrobial effects of specific GTEs against certain microbial species, which could facilitate the use of these GTEs in personalized and/or specific antimicrobial therapies.

Background: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), the superfood of the present era, is widely recognized for its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, dietary products and by-products derived from different parts of the fruit differ markedly in their biochemical composition, which may influence their nutritional and biological effects. Drosophila melanogaster represents a well-established in vivo model for studying the impact of dietary components on nutritional status, development, and viability under defined nutritional conditions. Methods: Four sea buckthorn-derived matrices—seed flour, seed oil, pulp, and fruit pomace powder—were analyzed for fatty acid, amino acid, polyphenol, and antioxidant contents. Their effects were evaluated in D. melanogaster under zero-nutrient, normal-nutrient, and high-sugar diets, assessing viability and developmental dynamics across various product types and concentrations. Results: Substantial compositional differences were observed between the samples. Seed flour and fruit pomace powder were rich in proteins, essential amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, whereas seed oil predominantly contained fatty acids with limited antioxidant capacity. Consistent with these compositional profiles, diet- and product-specific biological effects were observed. Under zero-nutrient conditions, high concentrations of fruit pomace powder (100 g/L) supported larval and adult viability and resulted in developmental patterns comparable to those observed under a normal-nutrient diet. Under normal-nutrient and high-sugar diets, the matrices modulated development and viability without apparent toxicity, with fruit pomace powder consistently showing the most favorable effects. Conclusions: The biological responses of D. melanogaster are closely linked to the biochemical composition of the matrices and the dietary context. Fruit pomace powder emerged as the most effective product, highlighting its potential as a functional dietary ingredient and a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds.