Colostrum has many beneficial effects on newborns due to its main compounds (proteins, fats, lactose, essential fatty acids, amino acids) as well as protective antibodies that confer to the body. The buffaloes are the second important species for milk production in the world after cows. The importance of the species is also conferred by a longer longevity, high dry content of milk and a strong organic resistance when compared with cows. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of buffalo colostrum compounds such as fatty acids, cholesterol and physicochemical parameters during the first seven days postpartum and under the impact of the season, summer on pasture and winter on dry diet (hay based).

Tartrazine (Yellow 5 or E102) is a synthetic food dye able to modify perception and behavior, causing agitation, confusion, rhinitis and can produce hyperactivity syndrome in children when is combined with benzoates. Additionally, it can trigger oxidative stress which consequently generates metabolic disorders. Therefore, the study was designed to evaluate the harmful effects of the food additive tartrazine and to observe beneficial properties of blackthorn fruits (Prunus spinosa) on the blood and organs of albino Wistar rats. This study was carried out on 20 mature Wistar rats, randomly divided into four groups of five animals. Over the course of the experiment, the control group received only food and drinking water, group I received 75 mg of tartrazine dissolved in (250 ml) water group II was given 75 mg of tartrazine and 200 mg of dried blackthorn fruit powder 200 mg dissolved simultaneously in (250 ml) of tartrazine-water mixture (aiming to reduce the tartrazine toxicity) and group III received a higher dose of tartrazine (100 mg) in (250 ml) of water. At the end of the experiment, values regarding kidney and liver weight were significantly increased, while the weight of the spleen was slightly decreased compared with the weight of the control group. Biochemical and hematological assays, of the blood samples show that the addition of tartrazine in the diet of rats caused significant changes in all biochemical and hematological parameters of the blood. In the group II, which received (P. spinosa) powder combined with tartrazine, the biochemical and hematological parameters had average values similar to the control group. Histopathological assay showed that the application of tartrazine in the group I, II and III produced lesions of the kidneys, spleen and the liver for all rodents. Tartrazine was able to generate histopathological changes, which caused significantly tissue lesions of the liver and significant changes in blood parameters. Blackthorn powder showed a promising protective role for the blood parameters but demonstrated no significant benefits for the organs.

The comparison of the antioxidant activity of the studied forest fruits emphasized a hierarchy of the antioxidant capacity in rosehip, blackthorn, lingonberry and cornelian cherry. The purpose of the study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of rosehip, blackthorn, lingonberry and cornelian cherry. In the current study, the FT-IR spectroscopy technique was applied to detect molecular components in forest fruits samples. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated with photochemical assay as well as humidity, protein, fibre, lipid and carbohydrate content. The FT-IR results revealed the presence of different bio-active compounds in berries such as flavonoids, tannins, sugars, acids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, citric metabolites and others. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in rosehip 105.67±1.38 and blackthorn 49.89±1.92 (μg/mg equivalent ascorbic acid). Regarding nutritional parameters, rosehip showed the most increased content of protein displaying average values of 1.60, carbohydrates 38.20 and fibre 24.10 (g/100 g/sample). These results can provide useful information providing a research interest for the identification of new molecular compounds from Romanian flora samples. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

The biological activity and the pharmaceutical properties of plants are strongly dependent on their structure.The FT-IR spectra of saffron (commercial) have been obtained. The vibrational fundamentals from the IR spectrum, were analyzed and assigned acoording to the available literature. In the present research work the genus saffron is selected because it is famous in wold as foods and also as medicine.

The Romanian Buffalo Breed (RBB), established in 1987, originated from local river buffalo populations highly adapted to the low-input breeding condition. Cross-breeding with Asian breeds was recently used for genetic improvement in milk production. In the last 25 years the species has dramatically decreased. Over 90% of livestock has been sold and never replaced. The population is now mainly maintained in subsistence farms. This study aims to assess the genetic diversity within the remaining population and to verify links with improved breeds supposedly introgressed in RBB. To assess the genetic diversity of RBB and ascertain possible phylogenetic relations with other buffalo breeds, we sequenced the entire cytochrome B gene (MTCYB) in a sample population. Blood samples were collected from randomly selected 52 unrelated individuals from various locations in Transylvania. A DNA fragment containing the entire MTCYB gene (1140bp) was amplified by PCR directly from whole blood (1μl). The amplicons were sequenced using two pairs of primers. The sequences were subsequently used for genetic diversity assessments. Analysis of the sequences led to the identification of five novel MTCYB haplotypes, uploaded in GenBank with the following accession numbers: JQ241279; JQ241280; JQ241281; JQ241282; JQ241283. In the sample population, the most frequently identified haplotypes were haplotype 2 (EF409940.1) and haplotype 3 (EF409941.1), previously reported in other buffalo populations, mainly from Asia, confirming the Asiatic origins of RBB. Sequence comparisons have revealed that RBB is mainly related with Indian breeds. Despite the numerical decline of RBB, through correct breeding schemes the breed maintained a good level of genetic diversity. Our analysis confirms RBB’s Asiatic origins. Presence of new haplotypes may also reflect that this population is isolated from a geographical and reproductive point of view.