Anamaria Pop

Characterisation of Hop Varieties Grown in Romania Based on their Contents of Bitter Acids by HPLC in Combination with Chemometrics Approach

Salanţă L.C., Tofană M., Socaci S., Mudura E., Fărcas A., Pop C., Pop A., Odagiu A. (2015): Characterisation of hop varieties grown in Romania based on their contents of bitter acids by HPLC in combination with chemometrics approach. Czech J. Food Sci., 33: 148–155. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography technique was used for studying the evolution of bitter acids from three varieties of hop growing in Romania during the development of hop cones and the pelletisation process in order to provide the information on the bitter acids profile of each cultivar. Chemometrics methods were applied for highlighting the statistical correlations existing between the genotype (variety), chemotype (composition), and phenotype (phenophase of cone development) with respect to the classes of biologically active compounds investigated (bitter acids). The bitter acid content of each hop cultivar was not only significantly dependent on the phenophases of the cones, but was also influenced by the harvest year. The variations in the α/β ratio as well as cohumulone and colupulone contents were low in both experimental years and the cohumulone/∑α did fraction not exceed 30% in any of the three varieties.

Determination of Volatiles in Hops from Romania by Solid Phase Fiber Microextraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to evaluate the variability of the essential oils of hops harvested in two consecutive years using in-tube extraction with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The second objective was to assess the possibility of using the volatile profile to characterize and discriminate hop cultivars based on a chemometric approach. Three hop varieties from Transylvania, Romania were studied. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to differentiate hop varieties and to identify discriminant varietal markers. Forty-nine volatiles were separated from hop cultivars, with forty-seven identified. The main components of hop essential oils included monoterpenes (β-myrcene) and sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene and α-humulene). The results indicated that even though the composition of hop essential oil may be influenced by environmental factors, volatile profiles may be employed to identify cultivars.

Risk Factors Associated with Alcohol Consumption Among Romanian University Students- Preliminary Research

Young people’s consumption of alcohol is an ongoing problem. Many young adults binge-drink alcohol excessively, with serious negative consequences thereafter. This preliminary research assessed risk factors associated with alcohol consumption, drinking problems and related consequences among university students. The study was carried out on a total of 1056 students from UASVM Cluj-Napoca, Romania. University students claimed altered states of health after drinking episodes: vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness (43.1%), forgetfulness after drinking (3.1%). Furthermore, students who drank over the limit reported physical and violence-related problems (2.7%) and were more likely to develop risky behaviors, like driving under the influence of alcohol (13.9%) or car accidents (0.2%). The participants in the study were not heavy social drinkers, 50.9% of the respondents reported no consequences after drinking alcohol.