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Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on the middle infrared region (ATR-FTIR-MIR) proved to be a convenient and reliable technique to evaluate foods’ quality and authenticity. Plants’ essential oils are bioactive mixtures used as such or in different oily or microencapsulated formulations, beneficial to human health. Six essential oils (thyme, oregano, juniperus, tea tree, clove, and cinnamon) were introduced in three oily formulations (Biomicin, Biomicin Forte, and Biomicin urinary) and these formulations were microencapsulated on fructose and maltodextrin matrices. To study their stability, the microencapsulated powders were kept under light irradiation for 14 days at 25 °C or introduced in biopolymer capsules. All variants were analysed by ATR-FTIR-MIR, recording wavenumbers and peak intensities (3600–650 cm−1). The data were processed by Unscrambler and Metaboanalyst software, with specific algorithms (PCA, PLSDA, heatmaps, and random forest analysis). The results demonstrated that ATR-FTIR-MIR can be successfully applied for fingerprinting and finding essential oil biomarkers as well as to recognize this pattern in final microencapsulated food supplements. This study offers an improved ATR-FTIR-MIR procedure coupled with an adequate chemometric analysis and accurate data interpretation, to be applied for the evaluation of authenticity, quality, traceability, and stability during storage of essential oils incorporated in different matrices.
Ramona Maria Popa; Florinela Fetea; Carmen Socaciu. ATR-FTIR-MIR Spectrometry and Pattern Recognition of Bioactive Volatiles in Oily versus Microencapsulated Food Supplements: Authenticity, Quality, and Stability. Molecules 2021, 26, 4837 .
AMA StyleRamona Maria Popa, Florinela Fetea, Carmen Socaciu. ATR-FTIR-MIR Spectrometry and Pattern Recognition of Bioactive Volatiles in Oily versus Microencapsulated Food Supplements: Authenticity, Quality, and Stability. Molecules. 2021; 26 (16):4837.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRamona Maria Popa; Florinela Fetea; Carmen Socaciu. 2021. "ATR-FTIR-MIR Spectrometry and Pattern Recognition of Bioactive Volatiles in Oily versus Microencapsulated Food Supplements: Authenticity, Quality, and Stability." Molecules 26, no. 16: 4837.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric illness with an increasing incidence and a shortfall of efficient diagnostic tools. Interview-based diagnostic tools and clinical examination often lead to misdiagnosis and inefficient systematic treatment selection. Diagnostic and treatment monitoring biomarkers are warranted for MDD. Thus, the emerging field of metabolomics is a promising tool capable of portraying the metabolic repertoire of biomolecules from biological samples in a minimally invasive fashion. Herein, we report an untargeted metabolomic profiling performed in plasma samples of 11 MDD patients, at baseline (MDD1) and at 12 weeks following antidepressant therapy with escitalopram (MDD2), and in 11 healthy controls (C), using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-(ESI+)-MS). We found two putative metabolites ((phosphatidylserine PS (16:0/16:1) and phosphatidic acid PA (18:1/18:0)) as having statistically significant increased levels in plasma samples of MDD1 patients compared to healthy subjects. ROC analysis revealed an AUC value of 0.876 for PS (16:0/16:1), suggesting a potential diagnostic biomarker role. In addition, PS (18:3/20:4) was significantly decreased in MDD2 group compared to MDD1, with AUC value of 0.785.
Claudia Homorogan; Diana Nitusca; Virgil Enatescu; Philip Schubart; Corina Moraru; Carmen Socaciu; Catalin Marian. Untargeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry. Metabolites 2021, 11, 466 .
AMA StyleClaudia Homorogan, Diana Nitusca, Virgil Enatescu, Philip Schubart, Corina Moraru, Carmen Socaciu, Catalin Marian. Untargeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry. Metabolites. 2021; 11 (7):466.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClaudia Homorogan; Diana Nitusca; Virgil Enatescu; Philip Schubart; Corina Moraru; Carmen Socaciu; Catalin Marian. 2021. "Untargeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry." Metabolites 11, no. 7: 466.
Recent trends in the food industry combined with novel methods in agriculture could transform rowan into a valuable raw material with potential technological applications. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the content of bioactive compounds in its fruits and to assess the color and antioxidant stability of the extracts prepared from such fruits during various thermal treatments and at different pH and ionic strength values. Various spectrophotometric methods, HPLC, and capillary electrophoresis were used to quantify the concentrations of bioactive compounds—polyphenols, carotenoids, organic acids, and to assess antioxidant activity and color. The results show that rowan berries contain circa 1.34–1.47 g/100 g of polyphenols among which include catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid methyl ester, procyanidin B1, etc.; ca 21.65 mg/100 g of carotenoids including zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-β-carotene, and various organic acids such as malic, citric, and succinic, which result in a high antioxidant activity of 5.8 mmol TE/100 g. Results also showed that antioxidant activity exhibited high stability when the extract was subjected to various thermal treatments, pHs, and ionic strengths, while color was mainly impacted negatively when a temperature of 100 °C was employed. This data confirms the technological potential of this traditional, yet often overlooked species.
Elena Cristea; Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu; Antoanela Patras; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea; Cristina Tudor; Rodica Sturza. The Influence of Temperature, Storage Conditions, pH, and Ionic Strength on the Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Rowan Berry Extracts. Molecules 2021, 26, 3786 .
AMA StyleElena Cristea, Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu, Antoanela Patras, Carmen Socaciu, Adela Pintea, Cristina Tudor, Rodica Sturza. The Influence of Temperature, Storage Conditions, pH, and Ionic Strength on the Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Rowan Berry Extracts. Molecules. 2021; 26 (13):3786.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Cristea; Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu; Antoanela Patras; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea; Cristina Tudor; Rodica Sturza. 2021. "The Influence of Temperature, Storage Conditions, pH, and Ionic Strength on the Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Rowan Berry Extracts." Molecules 26, no. 13: 3786.
Metabolomics coupled with bioinformatics may identify relevant biomolecules such as putative biomarkers of specific metabolic pathways related to colorectal diagnosis, classification and prognosis. This study performed an integrated metabolomic profiling of blood serum from 25 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases previously classified (Stage I to IV) compared with 16 controls (disease-free, non-CRC patients), using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-ESI+ MS). More than 400 metabolites were separated and identified, then all data were processed by the advanced Metaboanalyst 5.0 online software, using multi- and univariate analysis, including specificity/sensitivity relationships (area under the curve (AUC) values), enrichment and pathway analysis, identifying the specific pathways affected by cancer progression in the different stages. Several sub-classes of lipids including phosphatidylglycerols (phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and PAs), fatty acids and sterol esters as well as ceramides confirmed the “lipogenic phenotype” specific to CRC development, namely the upregulated lipogenesis associated with tumor progression. Both multivariate and univariate bioinformatics confirmed the relevance of some putative lipid biomarkers to be responsible for the altered metabolic pathways in colorectal cancer.
Claudiu Răchieriu; Dan Eniu; Emil Moiş; Florin Graur; Carmen Socaciu; Mihai Socaciu; Nadim Hajjar. Lipidomic Signatures for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Progression Using UPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS. Biomolecules 2021, 11, 417 .
AMA StyleClaudiu Răchieriu, Dan Eniu, Emil Moiş, Florin Graur, Carmen Socaciu, Mihai Socaciu, Nadim Hajjar. Lipidomic Signatures for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Progression Using UPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS. Biomolecules. 2021; 11 (3):417.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClaudiu Răchieriu; Dan Eniu; Emil Moiş; Florin Graur; Carmen Socaciu; Mihai Socaciu; Nadim Hajjar. 2021. "Lipidomic Signatures for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Progression Using UPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS." Biomolecules 11, no. 3: 417.
One of the biggest challenges in managing the food sector during a pandemic crisis is sustaining a robust food security system and adopting the right strategies in correlating the consumers’ needs and requirements with those of food safety, the producers, the distribution chain, the economic environment, and waste management. The restrictions on people’s global movement, commodities, and services and the measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted food environments around the world and forced us to collectively redesign and optimize our systems using existing resources from a more sustainable perspective. This paper offers an overview of the implications of COVID-19 for the food supply chain and discusses several potential strategies for tackling short- and long-term adverse effects resulting from the pandemic.
Anca Farcas; Charis Galanakis; Carmen Socaciu; Oana Pop; Dorin Tibulca; Adriana Paucean; Mirela Jimborean; Melinda Fogarasi; Liana Salanta; Maria Tofana; Sonia Socaci. Food Security during the Pandemic and the Importance of the Bioeconomy in the New Era. Sustainability 2020, 13, 150 .
AMA StyleAnca Farcas, Charis Galanakis, Carmen Socaciu, Oana Pop, Dorin Tibulca, Adriana Paucean, Mirela Jimborean, Melinda Fogarasi, Liana Salanta, Maria Tofana, Sonia Socaci. Food Security during the Pandemic and the Importance of the Bioeconomy in the New Era. Sustainability. 2020; 13 (1):150.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnca Farcas; Charis Galanakis; Carmen Socaciu; Oana Pop; Dorin Tibulca; Adriana Paucean; Mirela Jimborean; Melinda Fogarasi; Liana Salanta; Maria Tofana; Sonia Socaci. 2020. "Food Security during the Pandemic and the Importance of the Bioeconomy in the New Era." Sustainability 13, no. 1: 150.
Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared ppectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) proved to be a reliable, rapid, and easy-to-use technique to evaluate vegetable oils quality and authenticity. The spectral range of the middle infrared region (MIR) of FTIR spectra, from 4000 to 600 cm−1, has been commonly used to fingerprint specific functional groups of lipids and their modified forms induced by oxidation of thermal treatment. The applicability of FTIR-MIR spectroscopy in assessing oil fingerprinting and quality parameters is crucially dependent on the chemometric methods, including calibrations with authentic samples. We report here the evaluation of seven types of cold-pressed functional oils (sunflower, pumpkin, hempseed, soybean, walnut, linseed, sea buckthorn) produced in Romania, provided directly from small enterprises (as genuine, process-controlled authentic samples) comparative to commercialized samples. Concomitantly, olive oils of similar claimed quality were investigated. The ATR-FTIR-MIR data were complemented by UV–Vis spectral fingerprints and multivariate analysis using Unscrambler X.10.4 and Metaboanalyst 4.0 software (e.g., PCA, PLSDA, cluster analysis, heatmap, Random forest analysis) and ANOVA post-hoc analysis using Fischer’s least significant difference. The integration of spectral and chemometric analysis proved to offer valuable criteria for their botanical group recognition, individual authenticity, and quality, easy to be applied for large cohorts of commercialized oils.
Carmen Socaciu; Florinela Fetea; Floricuta Ranga; Andrea Bunea; Francisc Dulf; Sonia Socaci; Adela Pintea. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) Coupled with Chemometrics, to Control the Botanical Authenticity and Quality of Cold-Pressed Functional Oils Commercialized in Romania. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 8695 .
AMA StyleCarmen Socaciu, Florinela Fetea, Floricuta Ranga, Andrea Bunea, Francisc Dulf, Sonia Socaci, Adela Pintea. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) Coupled with Chemometrics, to Control the Botanical Authenticity and Quality of Cold-Pressed Functional Oils Commercialized in Romania. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (23):8695.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarmen Socaciu; Florinela Fetea; Floricuta Ranga; Andrea Bunea; Francisc Dulf; Sonia Socaci; Adela Pintea. 2020. "Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) Coupled with Chemometrics, to Control the Botanical Authenticity and Quality of Cold-Pressed Functional Oils Commercialized in Romania." Applied Sciences 10, no. 23: 8695.
Cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil is a valuable source of bioactive molecules, including phenolic compounds. Oleogels are designed for trans and saturated fats substitution in foods, but also demonstrate protection and delivery of bioactive compounds. Consequently, the present work aimed to assess individual phenolic compounds dynamics and infrared fingerprints during the ambient storage of pumpkin seed oil and thereof oleogel. For oleogels production, a 5% ternary mixture of waxes, composed by 3% beewax, 1% sunflower wax and 1% rice bran wax, was used. Phenolic compounds were extracted by traditional liquid–liquid extraction, followed by HPLC-MS quantification. FTIR (400–4000 cm−1) was used for characterizing and monitoring the oxidative stability of all samples and for the evaluation of intermolecular forces between oleogelator mixtures and oil. Specific wavenumbers indicated oxidative processes in stored sample sets; storage time and sample clustering patterns were revealed by chemometrics. Isolariciresinol, vanillin, caffeic and syringic acids were quantified. The main changes were determined for isolariciresinol, which decreased in liquid pumpkin seed oil samples from 0.77 (T1) to 0.13 mg/100 g (T4), while for oleogel samples it decreased from 0.64 (T1) to 0.12 mg/100 g (T4). However, during the storage at room temperature, it was concluded that oleogelation technique might show potential protection of specific phenolic compounds such as syringic acid and vanillin after 8 months of storage. For isolariciresinol, higher amounts are registered in the oleogel (0.411 mg/100 g oil) than in the oil (0.37 mg/100 g oil) after 5 months of ambient temperature storage (T3). Oxidation processes occurred after 5 months storage for both oil and oleogel samples.
Andreea Pușcaș; Andruța Mureșan; Floricuța Ranga; Florinela Fetea; Sevastița Muste; Carmen Socaciu; Vlad Mureșan. Phenolics Dynamics and Infrared Fingerprints during the Storage of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Thereof Oleogel. Processes 2020, 8, 1412 .
AMA StyleAndreea Pușcaș, Andruța Mureșan, Floricuța Ranga, Florinela Fetea, Sevastița Muste, Carmen Socaciu, Vlad Mureșan. Phenolics Dynamics and Infrared Fingerprints during the Storage of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Thereof Oleogel. Processes. 2020; 8 (11):1412.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreea Pușcaș; Andruța Mureșan; Floricuța Ranga; Florinela Fetea; Sevastița Muste; Carmen Socaciu; Vlad Mureșan. 2020. "Phenolics Dynamics and Infrared Fingerprints during the Storage of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Thereof Oleogel." Processes 8, no. 11: 1412.
Anthocyanins occur naturally in many blue-, purple- and red-colored fruits and vegetables, and are commonly found in the human diet as natural colorants with proven health benefits. This work aimed to find the most efficient solvents for the anthocyanins extraction from natural matrices (chokeberries and black carrots), able to preserve their antioxidant activity. Four different acidified solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water) were tested and the extracts were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry. The anthocyanins profile of each extract has been identified. Five monoglycosylated anthocyanins were found in chokeberries and ten anthocyanins (four acylated and four diglycosylated) in black carrots. The antioxidant activities of all extracts (using ABTS, CUPRAC and FRAP assays) were determined concomitantly and ranked. The most efficient extraction was obtained using ethanol and methanol, such extracts showing the highest antioxidant activity for both matrices (black carrots and chokeberry).
Madalina Nistor; Zorita Diaconeasa; Alexandra D. Frond; Ioana Stirbu; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea; Dumitrita Rugina. Comparative efficiency of different solvents for the anthocyanins extraction from chokeberries and black carrots, to preserve their antioxidant activity. Chemical Papers 2020, 75, 813 -822.
AMA StyleMadalina Nistor, Zorita Diaconeasa, Alexandra D. Frond, Ioana Stirbu, Carmen Socaciu, Adela Pintea, Dumitrita Rugina. Comparative efficiency of different solvents for the anthocyanins extraction from chokeberries and black carrots, to preserve their antioxidant activity. Chemical Papers. 2020; 75 (2):813-822.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMadalina Nistor; Zorita Diaconeasa; Alexandra D. Frond; Ioana Stirbu; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea; Dumitrita Rugina. 2020. "Comparative efficiency of different solvents for the anthocyanins extraction from chokeberries and black carrots, to preserve their antioxidant activity." Chemical Papers 75, no. 2: 813-822.
Until today, numerous studies evaluated the topic of anthocyanins and various types of cancer, regarding the anthocyanins’ preventative and inhibitory effects, underlying molecular mechanisms, and such. However, there is no targeted review available regarding the anticarcinogenic effects of dietary anthocyanins on skin cancers. If diagnosed at the early stages, the survival rate of skin cancer is quite high. Nevertheless, the metastatic form has a short prognosis. In fact, the incidence of melanoma skin cancer, the type with high mortality, has increased exponentially over the last 30 years, causing the majority of skin cancer deaths. Malignant melanoma is considered a highly destructive type of skin cancer due to its particular capacity to grow and spread faster than any other type of cancers. Plants, in general, have been used in disease treatment for a long time, and medicinal plants are commonly a part of anticancer drugs on the market. Accordingly, this work primarily aims to emphasize the most recent improvements on the anticarcinogenic effects of anthocyanins from different plant sources, with an in-depth emphasis on melanoma skin cancer. We also briefly summarized the anthocyanin chemistry, their rich dietary sources in flowers, fruits, and vegetables, as well as their associated potential health benefits. Additionally, the importance of anthocyanins in topical applications such as their use in cosmetics is also given.
Zorița Diaconeasa; Ioana Știrbu; Jianbo Xiao; Nicolae Leopold; Zayde Ayvaz; Corina Danciu; Huseyin Ayvaz; Andreea Stǎnilǎ; Mǎdǎlina Nistor; Carmen Socaciu. Anthocyanins, Vibrant Color Pigments, and Their Role in Skin Cancer Prevention. Biomedicines 2020, 8, 336 .
AMA StyleZorița Diaconeasa, Ioana Știrbu, Jianbo Xiao, Nicolae Leopold, Zayde Ayvaz, Corina Danciu, Huseyin Ayvaz, Andreea Stǎnilǎ, Mǎdǎlina Nistor, Carmen Socaciu. Anthocyanins, Vibrant Color Pigments, and Their Role in Skin Cancer Prevention. Biomedicines. 2020; 8 (9):336.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZorița Diaconeasa; Ioana Știrbu; Jianbo Xiao; Nicolae Leopold; Zayde Ayvaz; Corina Danciu; Huseyin Ayvaz; Andreea Stǎnilǎ; Mǎdǎlina Nistor; Carmen Socaciu. 2020. "Anthocyanins, Vibrant Color Pigments, and Their Role in Skin Cancer Prevention." Biomedicines 8, no. 9: 336.
In this study, the antibacterial activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles on two Gram-negative and three Gram-positive foodborne pathogens was investigated. CeO2 nanoparticles (CeO2 nps) were synthesized by a Wet Chemical Synthesis route, using the precipitation method and the Simultaneous Addition of reactants (WCS–SimAdd). The as-obtained precursor powders were investigated by thermal analysis (TG–DTA), to study their decomposition process and to understand the CeO2 nps formation. The composition, structure, and morphology of the thermally treated sample were investigated by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, TEM, and DLS. The cubic structure and average particle size ranging between 5 and 15 nm were evidenced. Optical absorption measurements (UV–Vis) reveal that the band gap of CeO2 is 2.61 eV, which is smaller than the band gap of bulk ceria. The antioxidant effect of CeO2 nps was determined, and the antibacterial test was carried out both in liquid and on solid growth media against five pathogenic microorganisms, namely Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus. Cerium oxide nanoparticles showed growth inhibition toward all five pathogens tested with notable results. This paper highlights the perspectives for the synthesis of CeO2 nps with controlled structural and morphological characteristics and enhanced antibacterial properties, using a versatile and low-cost chemical solution method.
Oana L. Pop; Amalia Mesaros; Dan C. Vodnar; Ramona Suharoschi; Flaviu Tăbăran; Lidia Magerușan; István Sz. Tódor; Zoriţa Diaconeasa; Adriana Balint; Lelia Ciontea; Carmen Socaciu. Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Efficient Antibacterial Application In Vitro against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pathogens. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 1614 .
AMA StyleOana L. Pop, Amalia Mesaros, Dan C. Vodnar, Ramona Suharoschi, Flaviu Tăbăran, Lidia Magerușan, István Sz. Tódor, Zoriţa Diaconeasa, Adriana Balint, Lelia Ciontea, Carmen Socaciu. Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Efficient Antibacterial Application In Vitro against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pathogens. Nanomaterials. 2020; 10 (8):1614.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOana L. Pop; Amalia Mesaros; Dan C. Vodnar; Ramona Suharoschi; Flaviu Tăbăran; Lidia Magerușan; István Sz. Tódor; Zoriţa Diaconeasa; Adriana Balint; Lelia Ciontea; Carmen Socaciu. 2020. "Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Efficient Antibacterial Application In Vitro against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pathogens." Nanomaterials 10, no. 8: 1614.
The last four decades, we assist to an increasing scientific interest on melatonin, a circadian hormone, a metabolic regulator which influences not only plants’ metabolism and their defense against pathogens but mostly the animals and humans’ metabolic pathways, their response to circadian disruption, stress and burnout syndrome. In humans, as a hormonal regulator, produced in the pineal grand as well in mitochondria, melatonin is involved in different, complex intracellular signaling pathways, with antioxidant and immune stimulating effects, proving to act as a circadian synchronizer, as a preventive and therapeutic agent in many degenerative diseases, and especially in hormone-dependent cancers. Preclinical or clinical studies showed recently the mechanisms involved in regulating the cellular activity, its role in aging and circadian disturbances and impact on degenerative diseases. Melatonin proved to have an anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic and powerful antioxidant effect by subtle mechanisms in mitochondrial metabolic pathways. This overview includes recent and relevant literature data related to the impact of endogenous and exogeneous melatonin on the prevention of cancer progression and treatment of various degenerative diseases. Metabolomics, an emerging new omics’ technology, based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is presented as an encouraging technique to fingerprint and realize a precise evaluation and monitoring of the turnover of melatonin and its metabolites in different pathological circumstances.
Andreea Iulia Socaciu; Răzvan Ionuţ; Mihai Adrian Socaciu; Andreea Petra Ungur; Maria Bârsan; Angelica Chiorean; Carmen Socaciu; Armand Gabriel Râjnoveanu. Melatonin, an ubiquitous metabolic regulator: functions, mechanisms and effects on circadian disruption and degenerative diseases. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 2020, 21, 465 -478.
AMA StyleAndreea Iulia Socaciu, Răzvan Ionuţ, Mihai Adrian Socaciu, Andreea Petra Ungur, Maria Bârsan, Angelica Chiorean, Carmen Socaciu, Armand Gabriel Râjnoveanu. Melatonin, an ubiquitous metabolic regulator: functions, mechanisms and effects on circadian disruption and degenerative diseases. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders. 2020; 21 (4):465-478.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreea Iulia Socaciu; Răzvan Ionuţ; Mihai Adrian Socaciu; Andreea Petra Ungur; Maria Bârsan; Angelica Chiorean; Carmen Socaciu; Armand Gabriel Râjnoveanu. 2020. "Melatonin, an ubiquitous metabolic regulator: functions, mechanisms and effects on circadian disruption and degenerative diseases." Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 21, no. 4: 465-478.
Solanum chacoense (wild potato) is intensively used in breeding, its biochemical profile and putative human health-related traits being transferred into potato cultivars aimed for consumption. The goal of this study was to evaluate the biochemical profile and the anti-tumor potential of methanolic extracts obtained from S. chacoense leaves and tubers against three breast cancer cell lines in comparison to healthy endothelial cells (HUVEC). The biochemical profile of the extracts was determined by HPLC-PDA/-ESI+-MS and ITEX/GC-MS, the selective cytotoxicity by MTT assay whereas RT-qPCR was used to evaluate the expression of proliferation- and apoptosis-related genes. Both extracts proved to be rich in phenolic acids and volatile compounds, the leaf extract also containing glycoalkaloids. Both extracts proved to be cytotoxic for breast cancer cell lines, with IC50 values varying between 132.9 and 390.7 µg/ml. Both extracts had selective cytotoxicity against MCF7 cell line in comparison to HUVECs (selectivity coefficients >2.3). The treatment with the extracts induced overexpression of the pro-apoptotic gene BAX¸ down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 and the pro-proliferation genes NFkB, CCND1, and STAT3. Thus S. chacoense extracts proved to be rich in compounds with anticancer proprieties and are capable of inducing selective cytotoxicity on MCF7 cell line.
Daniel Cruceriu; Zorita Diaconeasa; Sonia Socaci; Carmen Socaciu; Ovidiu Balacescu; Elena Rakosy-Tican. Extracts of the Wild Potato Species Solanum chacoense on Breast Cancer Cells: Biochemical Characterization, In Vitro Selective Cytotoxicity and Molecular Effects. Nutrition and Cancer 2020, 73, 630 -641.
AMA StyleDaniel Cruceriu, Zorita Diaconeasa, Sonia Socaci, Carmen Socaciu, Ovidiu Balacescu, Elena Rakosy-Tican. Extracts of the Wild Potato Species Solanum chacoense on Breast Cancer Cells: Biochemical Characterization, In Vitro Selective Cytotoxicity and Molecular Effects. Nutrition and Cancer. 2020; 73 (4):630-641.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Cruceriu; Zorita Diaconeasa; Sonia Socaci; Carmen Socaciu; Ovidiu Balacescu; Elena Rakosy-Tican. 2020. "Extracts of the Wild Potato Species Solanum chacoense on Breast Cancer Cells: Biochemical Characterization, In Vitro Selective Cytotoxicity and Molecular Effects." Nutrition and Cancer 73, no. 4: 630-641.
Legislative limitations of the use of trans and saturated fatty acids, the rising concerns among consumers about the negative effects of some fats on human health, and environmental and health considerations regarding the increased use of palm fat in food and biodiesel production drove to innovations in reformulating fat-containing food products. Oleogelation is one of the most in-trend methods for reducing or replacing the unhealthy and controversial fats in food products. Different edible oleogels are being formulated by various techniques and used in spreads, bakeries, confectioneries, and dairy and meat products. This review exclusively focuses on up-to-date applications of oleogels in food and mechanisms of gelation, and discusses the properties of new products. Research has produced acceptable reformulated food products with similar technological and rheological properties as the reference products or even products with improved techno-functionality; however, there is still a high need to improve oleogelation methods, as well as the technological process of oleogel-based foods products. Despite other strategies that aim to reduce or replace the occurrence of trans and saturated fats in food, oleogelation presents a great potential for industrial application in the future due to nutritional and environmental considerations.
Andreea Pușcaș; Vlad Mureșan; Carmen Socaciu; Sevastița Muste. Oleogels in Food: A Review of Current and Potential Applications. Foods 2020, 9, 70 .
AMA StyleAndreea Pușcaș, Vlad Mureșan, Carmen Socaciu, Sevastița Muste. Oleogels in Food: A Review of Current and Potential Applications. Foods. 2020; 9 (1):70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreea Pușcaș; Vlad Mureșan; Carmen Socaciu; Sevastița Muste. 2020. "Oleogels in Food: A Review of Current and Potential Applications." Foods 9, no. 1: 70.
Food contact materials have high societal importance due to their influence on food quality and safety. In the food chain production, food matrix may interfere with many types of materials, particularly with food packaging. During the last decades, the concerns related to food packaging (especially plastics) and the migration of chemicals from food contact materials increased significantly, being affected by the nature and complexity of the food, the contact time and temperature, the type of food packaging material and the molecular size of the migrators. Some of these migrators are toxic and/or have endocrine disrupting activity. This overview reveals recent data (since 2015) about food contact materials as a source of food chemical contamination, their compliance in Europe, the analytical characterization of chemicals migrating from food contact materials as well the human exposure to such chemicals. There are mentioned the most recent scientific articles and experimental data on these topics, available from official, public reports or web sources. The major point in defining shortcomings in the current food contact risk assessment mechanism and legislation is that safety of food contact materials is currently less guaranteed due to different risk assessment, authorization processes across the Europe and their problematic enforcement.
Diana Toma; Carmen Socaciu. Chemicals Migrating from Food Contact Materials: European Regulations, Characterization and Human Exposure (An Overview). Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology 2019, 76, 92 -98.
AMA StyleDiana Toma, Carmen Socaciu. Chemicals Migrating from Food Contact Materials: European Regulations, Characterization and Human Exposure (An Overview). Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology. 2019; 76 (2):92-98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Toma; Carmen Socaciu. 2019. "Chemicals Migrating from Food Contact Materials: European Regulations, Characterization and Human Exposure (An Overview)." Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology 76, no. 2: 92-98.
Being delicious and containing strong disease-fighting agents, berries represent an increasing proportion of fruits consumed nowadays in our diet. However, berries are highly perishable as fresh and, therefore, they are usually processed into various products to extend their shelf-life and availability throughout the year. Among the fruit-containing products, jam is one of the most common due to its nourishing properties, its low production costs, and its accessibility for a lengthy period. Rather than home preparation, consumers nowadays increasingly prefer to purchase commercial jams from markets due to its convenience. Although fresh berries have been extensively studied for their phenolic compounds, a limited number of studies investigating commercially manufactured jams have been conducted so far. Considering this, the objective of this study was to assess the total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin content and the antioxidant activity of five commonly consumed commercial berry jams (blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrun) mixture, blackcurrant (Ribes nigrun), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus)) collected from the market. Even though a possible loss of phenolics, anthocyanins, and a decrease of radical scavenging activity may occur during jam processing and subsequent storage, our data indicated that the selected commercial jams remained good sources of nutritive molecules with antioxidant properties based on the high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and elevated antioxidant activities determined in this study. Additionally, the samples were characterized by GC-MS for their volatile profiles, and terpenes were found to be the dominating class covering more than 74% of volatile compounds in the jams.
Zoriţa Diaconeasa; Cristian I. Iuhas; Huseyin Ayvaz; Dumitriţa Rugină; Andreea Stanilă; Francisc Dulf; Andrea Bunea; Sonia Ancuța Socaci; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea. Phytochemical Characterization of Commercial Processed Blueberry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Cranberry, and Raspberry and Their Antioxidant Activity. Antioxidants 2019, 8, 540 .
AMA StyleZoriţa Diaconeasa, Cristian I. Iuhas, Huseyin Ayvaz, Dumitriţa Rugină, Andreea Stanilă, Francisc Dulf, Andrea Bunea, Sonia Ancuța Socaci, Carmen Socaciu, Adela Pintea. Phytochemical Characterization of Commercial Processed Blueberry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Cranberry, and Raspberry and Their Antioxidant Activity. Antioxidants. 2019; 8 (11):540.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZoriţa Diaconeasa; Cristian I. Iuhas; Huseyin Ayvaz; Dumitriţa Rugină; Andreea Stanilă; Francisc Dulf; Andrea Bunea; Sonia Ancuța Socaci; Carmen Socaciu; Adela Pintea. 2019. "Phytochemical Characterization of Commercial Processed Blueberry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Cranberry, and Raspberry and Their Antioxidant Activity." Antioxidants 8, no. 11: 540.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by oligo-anovulation and androgen excess is considered a high-risk condition for metabolic disorders. Herein, untargeted metabolomics analysis was applied to women with PCOS, aiming to provide deeper insights into lipidomics biomarkers signature of PCOS, for better diagnosis and management. This was a cross-sectional study in which 15 Caucasian women with PCOS and 15 Caucasian healthy, age-matched women were enrolled. Lipidomics analysis was performed using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Quadrupole Time of Flight Electrospray Mass Spectrometry. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis retrieved the most important discriminative metabolites. Significantly increased levels of triacylglycerol (18:2/18:2/0-18:0) in addition to cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (18:0/0:0) and cholestane-5alpha (18:1/0:0) appeared as valuable variables to differentiate subjects with PCOS from controls. Acyl-carnitine 2-hydroxylauroylcarnitine was significantly elevated in PCOS in opposition to decreased phosphocholines metabolites (18:1/18:4, 18:3/18:2), to suggest a metabolic pattern linked to lipid peroxidation. A high fat intake or reduced fat energy consumption during nighttime due to diminished ability to switch to lipid oxidation during fasting time possibly contribute to hypertriglyceridemia found in PCOS. Furthermore, inflammatory mediators including metabolites of the prostaglandin (PG) E2 pathway and oxo-leukotrienes (LT) were increased in patients with PCOS. Potential lipidomics biomarkers were identified that could stratify between women with PCOS and healthy controls. The results show particular alterations in acylglycerols, PGs and LTs and phosphocholines and carnitine metabolites. The lipidomics profiles of PCOS indicate a higher risk of developing metabolic diseases.
Camelia Larisa Vonica; Ioana Rada Ilie; Carmen Socaciu; Corina Moraru; Bogdan Georgescu; Anca Farcaş; Gabriela Roman; Andrada Alina Mureşan; Carmen Emanuela Georgescu. Lipidomics biomarkers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time of flight electrospray in a positive ionization mode mass spectrometry. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2019, 79, 437 -442.
AMA StyleCamelia Larisa Vonica, Ioana Rada Ilie, Carmen Socaciu, Corina Moraru, Bogdan Georgescu, Anca Farcaş, Gabriela Roman, Andrada Alina Mureşan, Carmen Emanuela Georgescu. Lipidomics biomarkers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time of flight electrospray in a positive ionization mode mass spectrometry. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. 2019; 79 (6):437-442.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCamelia Larisa Vonica; Ioana Rada Ilie; Carmen Socaciu; Corina Moraru; Bogdan Georgescu; Anca Farcaş; Gabriela Roman; Andrada Alina Mureşan; Carmen Emanuela Georgescu. 2019. "Lipidomics biomarkers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time of flight electrospray in a positive ionization mode mass spectrometry." Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 79, no. 6: 437-442.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are conditions that still pose significant problems. A third of the patients are either misdiagnosed or a proper diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) cannot be made. We need new biomarkers, so that we can offer patients the best treatment and keep the disease in an inactive state for as long as possible. Alterations in metabolic profiles have been incriminated in the pathophysiology of IBD. The aim of the present study was to identify molecules that could serve as biomarkers for a positive diagnosis of IBD as well as to discriminate UC from colonic CD. Twenty-two patients with active colonic IBD (UC = 17, CD = 5) and 24 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma lipid and metabolic profiles were quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate statistical tests were employed. Six lipid species and seven metabolites were significantly altered in IBD compared to healthy controls, with the majority belonging to glycerophospholipid, linoleic acid, and sphingolipid metabolisms. Five lipid species and only one metabolite were significantly increased in UC compared to CD. This preliminary study suggests that lipid and metabolic profiling of serum can become diagnostic tools for IBD. In addition, they can be used to differentiate between CD and UC.
Cristian Tefas; Lidia Ciobanu; Marcel Tanțău; Corina Moraru; Carmen Socaciu. The potential of metabolic and lipid profiling in inflammatory bowel diseases: a pilot study. Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences 2019, 20, 262 -270.
AMA StyleCristian Tefas, Lidia Ciobanu, Marcel Tanțău, Corina Moraru, Carmen Socaciu. The potential of metabolic and lipid profiling in inflammatory bowel diseases: a pilot study. Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. 2019; 20 (2):262-270.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristian Tefas; Lidia Ciobanu; Marcel Tanțău; Corina Moraru; Carmen Socaciu. 2019. "The potential of metabolic and lipid profiling in inflammatory bowel diseases: a pilot study." Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences 20, no. 2: 262-270.
Both enzymatic or oxidative carotenoids cleavages can often occur in nature and produce a wide range of bioactive apocarotenoids. Considering that no detailed information is available in the literature regarding the occurrence of apocarotenoids in microalgae species, the aim of this study was to study the extraction and characterization of apocarotenoids in four different microalgae strains: Chlamydomonas sp. CCMP 2294, Tetraselmis chuii SAG 8-6, Nannochloropsis gaditana CCMP 526, and Chlorella sorokiniana NIVA-CHL 176. This was done for the first time using an online method coupling supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 29 different apocarotenoids, including various apocarotenoid fatty acid esters, were detected: apo-12’-zeaxanthinal, β-apo-12’-carotenal, apo-12-luteinal, and apo-12’-violaxanthal. These were detected in all the investigated strains together with the two apocarotenoid esters, apo-10’-zeaxanthinal-C4:0 and apo-8’-zeaxanthinal-C8:0. The overall extraction and detection time for the apocarotenoids was less than 10 min, including apocarotenoids esters, with an overall analysis time of less than 20 min. Moreover, preliminary quantitative data showed that the β-apo-8’-carotenal content was around 0.8% and 2.4% of the parent carotenoid, in the C. sorokiniana and T. chuii strains, respectively. This methodology could be applied as a selective and efficient method for the apocarotenoids detection.
Mariosimone Zoccali; Daniele Giuffrida; Fabio Salafia; Carmen Socaciu; Kari Skjånes; Paola Dugo; Luigi Mondello. First Apocarotenoids Profiling of Four Microalgae Strains. Antioxidants 2019, 8, 209 .
AMA StyleMariosimone Zoccali, Daniele Giuffrida, Fabio Salafia, Carmen Socaciu, Kari Skjånes, Paola Dugo, Luigi Mondello. First Apocarotenoids Profiling of Four Microalgae Strains. Antioxidants. 2019; 8 (7):209.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariosimone Zoccali; Daniele Giuffrida; Fabio Salafia; Carmen Socaciu; Kari Skjånes; Paola Dugo; Luigi Mondello. 2019. "First Apocarotenoids Profiling of Four Microalgae Strains." Antioxidants 8, no. 7: 209.
Microalgae (green or blue-green ones) are among the most important organisms on the world, with a versatile and adaptive metabolism. They are able to synthesize bioactive molecules (mainly secondary metabolites such as unsaturated fatty acids, pigments, amino acids) with biomedical applications, enhancement of the nutritional value of food, animal feed/aquaculture, as well with impact on the environmental protection ( as raw materials for biofuels). Last decade, by a targeted selection of wild microalgae strains, their cultivation in farms developed in parallel with the bioreactors’products. There are nowadays cultivated at industrial scale especially Dunaliella salina p., Spirulina platensis, Hematococcus pluvialis or Chlorella vulgaris as valuable resources of polyunsaturated lipids and sterols, proteins, polysaccharides, carotenoid pigments, vitamins, minerals with antioxidant, antibacterial or antiviral effects. This review presents a systematic approach on the recent literature data collected the last years, underlying their morphologic and biochemical potential, the advanced technologies to use the bioactive components of different microalgae, new formulations which incorporate, stabilize and store their bioactivity and increase the bioavailability of their components in food and feed. Although their morphologic and biochemical potential is well described, there are presented new data on their bioactive components and formulations using emerging technologies for new application approaches which aims their use as ingredients in added value products for food, cosmetics and feed industry, to be exploited for commercial use. This review updated the last findings in these areas, underlined the reason for the scientific and technological advances, due to their huge potential, not only in environment, energy, but more and more as ingredients for food and feed/ aquaculture products, in the future.
Diana Patras; Corina V. Moraru; Carmen Socaciu. Bioactive Ingredients from Microalgae: Food and Feed Applications. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology 2019, 76, 1 -9.
AMA StyleDiana Patras, Corina V. Moraru, Carmen Socaciu. Bioactive Ingredients from Microalgae: Food and Feed Applications. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology. 2019; 76 (1):1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiana Patras; Corina V. Moraru; Carmen Socaciu. 2019. "Bioactive Ingredients from Microalgae: Food and Feed Applications." Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology 76, no. 1: 1-9.
Vegetables comprise a significant portion of our daily diet with their high content in nutrients including fiber, vitamins, minerals, as well as phenolic compounds. Vegetable consumption has been shown to be positively associated with the prevention of several degenerative diseases thanks to their bioactive compounds. Accordingly, five selected vegetables, namely, red chicory, red onion, eggplant, purple sweet potato, and black carrot were thoroughly assessed for their phenolic content in this study. For this purpose, the total phenolic and flavonoid content of these five vegetables and their antioxidant activities that are based on three common methods ABTS radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS), Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC), and DPPH scavenging activity assay were determined. Additionally, HPLC-PDA/Electrospray ionization coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/-ESI+-MS)-based identification and quantification of the members belonging to polyphenols present in each vegetable were determined. Statistical correlations between antioxidant activities and the specific type of phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids were further elucidated. Phenolic acids (chlorogenic and syringic acids) were found to be the most abundant compounds that are present in all samples. Among the anthocyanins, cyaniding derivatives were present in all vegetables. In terms of their antioxidant activities, the analyzed vegetables were ranked as red chicory > purple sweet potato > black carrot > eggplant > red onion, in descending order. Superior antioxidant activities exhibited by red chicory and purple sweet potato were attributed to the high content of phenolic compounds, especially flavonols (quercetin-3,4-O-diglucoside) in red chicory and anthocyanins (peonidin-3-caffeoyl p-hydroxybenzoylsophoroside-5-glucoside) in purple sweet potato.
Alexandra D. Frond; Cristian I. Iuhas; Ioana Stirbu; Loredana Leopold; Sonia Socaci; Stǎnilǎ Andreea; Huseyin Ayvaz; Socaciu Andreea; Socaciu Mihai; Zorița Diaconeasa; Socaciu Carmen. Phytochemical Characterization of Five Edible Purple-Reddish Vegetables: Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, and Phenolic Acid Derivatives. Molecules 2019, 24, 1536 .
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Frond, Cristian I. Iuhas, Ioana Stirbu, Loredana Leopold, Sonia Socaci, Stǎnilǎ Andreea, Huseyin Ayvaz, Socaciu Andreea, Socaciu Mihai, Zorița Diaconeasa, Socaciu Carmen. Phytochemical Characterization of Five Edible Purple-Reddish Vegetables: Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, and Phenolic Acid Derivatives. Molecules. 2019; 24 (8):1536.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Frond; Cristian I. Iuhas; Ioana Stirbu; Loredana Leopold; Sonia Socaci; Stǎnilǎ Andreea; Huseyin Ayvaz; Socaciu Andreea; Socaciu Mihai; Zorița Diaconeasa; Socaciu Carmen. 2019. "Phytochemical Characterization of Five Edible Purple-Reddish Vegetables: Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, and Phenolic Acid Derivatives." Molecules 24, no. 8: 1536.