Ksenija Karlović

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND PHENOLIC CONTENT OF BERBERIS VULGARIS L. AND BERBERIS CROATICA HORVAT

Antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extracts of roots, twigs and leaves of common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) and Croatian barberry (Berberis croatica Horvat) were studied. All the extracts were found to possess some radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities, as determined by scavenging effect on the DPPH free radical, reducing power and beta-carotene-linoleic acid model system. With the exception of the beta-carotene-linoleic acid test, antioxidant activity correlated well with the content of main plant antioxidants, phenols and flavonols, which suggests an important role of these compounds in overall antioxidant activity of investigated plant organs. The antioxidant activity varied mostly in relation to the organ, while no significant statistically differences were found between B. vulgaris and B. croatica.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Moltkia petraea (Tratt.) Griseb. flower, leaf and stem infusions

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the quantity of phenolic substances (total phenol, flavonoid and phenolic acid contents) were determined in aqueous extracts of leaves, stems and flowers of Moltkia petraea (Tratt.) Griseb. from two mountainous localities (Sveti Jure and Snijeznica) in Croatia. In addition, the profile of phenolic acids was analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. Antioxidant activities of all extracts in different test systems, namely the DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power assay and chelating activity, increased with extract concentration. Activity of the extracts from Snijeznica in beta-carotene-linoleic acid assay did not differ from the activity of standard, BHA. The leaf extracts from Snijeznica demonstrated superior antioxidant activity in most of the assays, while the stem extract from the same locality was the most effective Fe(2+) ion chelator. In general, the extracts from Snijeznica were more effective antioxidants than the corresponding extracts from Sveti Jure. The aqueous extracts of M. petraea did not show antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi tested in the diffusion and dilution assays.

Morphological, genetic and phytochemical variation of the endemic Teucrium arduini L. (Lamiaceae)

Analysis of the morphological traits of leaves, genetic variability (analyzed by AFLP) and chemical composition of essential oils (analyzed by GC-MS) was conducted on eleven populations of the endemic Illyric-Balcanic species Teucrium arduini L. in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Average blade length and width ranged from 20.00 to 31.47mm and from 11.58 to 15.66mm, respectively. Multivariate analysis (PCA, UPGMA) of morphological traits distinguished two continental Bosnian populations from the remaining populations. AFLP analysis separated the investigated populations into two groups based primarily on geographical distance. Essential oil analysis showed a total of 52 compounds, with two chemotypes distinguished based on the essential oil profile. The first was a sesquiterpene chemotype, with β-caryophyllene, germacrene D or caryophyllene oxide as the major compounds, while the second was an oxygenated monoterpene chemotype, with pulegone and piperitone oxide as the main components. The Mantel test showed a stronger correlation between the morphological traits and AFLP than between the essential oil profile and AFLP. The test also showed a stronger association between the essential oil profile and geographical position than between the morphological traits and geographical position.

Intra- and interpopulation variability and taxonomic status of Berberis croatica Horvat

Abstract Morphological and anatomical traits of Berberis croatica Horvat that would facilitate its separation from the two related taxa, B. aetnensis C. Presl and B. vulgaris L., and their ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA) relationships were analyzed. Results show that B. croatica differs from the two related taxa in the following characteristics: plant height, blade width, petiole length, internode length, number of stomata on adaxial and abaxial leaf side, total number of stomata per leaf as well as length of the guard cells and of the stomatal pore on the abaxial epidermis. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) show that 24% of the total variance of investigated morpho-anatomical traits was attributable to variability among species. Phenotypic differentiation of species and populations was evident in all of the investigated taxa. Southern populations of B. croatica grouped with the populations of B. aetnensis with whom they proved to be highly similar. ITS sequence analysis did not separate B. aetnensis, B. croatica and B. vulgaris. The nature of distinctive morpho-anatomical traits combined with the lack of ITS differences suggests an intraspecies taxonomic rank for B. croatica.

Assessment of Drying Characteristics and Texture in Relation with Micromorphological Traits of Carob Pods and Seeds (Ceratonia silliqua L.)

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a perennial leguminous evergreen tree native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean basin and is considered to be an important component of vegetation for economic and environmental reasons. Two constituents of the pod, pulp and seeds, can be used as feed or in food production. In this study, drying characteristics, texture and microstructure of carob pods were studied. Three different carob samples were prepared: whole carob pod, carob pod parts and carob seed. The drying experiments and the modelling showed that carob seeds had the highest drying rate, followed by pod parts and the whole, intact carob fruit. Texture studies showed that the maximum compression force depended on the area of the carob fruit on which compression tests were performed. The seeds showed the highest compression force, followed by the stem zone, the tip and the centre of the fruit. Differences in drying behaviour and texture of carob pods can successfully be interpreted by the micromorphology of the carob pods and seeds. Determining the drying rate, maximum compressive force and micromorphological traits is of great importance for further carob processing (e.g. milling, sieving, carob bean gum production or usage in food or feed products).

New localities of the subendemic species Berberis croatica, Teucrium arduini and Micromeria croatica in the Dinaric Alps

New localities of the subendemic species Berberis croatica, Teucrium arduini and Micromeria croatica in the Dinaric Alps New localities of three subendemic species (Berberis croatica, Teucrium arduini and Micromeria croatica) have been found in the Dinaric Alps. Berberis croatica was found at ten new locations, nine of them in Croatia and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Teucrium arduini was found on Mt Učka, Mt Velebit, Mt Biokovo and Mt Sniježnica, at nine new locations while Micromeria croatica was found at four new locations, only on Mt Velebit.

Assessment of Drying Characteristics and Texture in Relation with Micromorphological Traits of Carob (Ceratonia silliqua L.) Pods and Seeds.

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a perennial leguminous evergreen tree native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean basin and is considered to be an important component of vegetation for economic and environmental reasons. Two constituents of the pod, pulp and seeds, can be used as feed or in food production. In this study, drying characteristics, texture and microstructure of carob pods were studied. Three different carob samples were prepared: whole carob pod, carob pod parts and carob seed. The drying experiments and the modelling showed that carob seeds had the highest drying rate, followed by pod parts and the whole, intact carob fruit. Texture studies showed that the maximum compression force depended on the area of the carob fruit on which compression tests were performed. The seeds showed the highest compression force, followed by the stem zone, the tip and the centre of the fruit. Differences in drying behaviour and texture of carob pods can successfully be interpreted by the micromorphology of the carob pods and seeds. Determining the drying rate, maximum compressive force and micromorphological traits is of great importance for further carob processing (e.g. milling, sieving, carob bean gum production or usage in food or feed products).

Analiza utjecaja mikromorfoloških obilježja plodova i sjemenki na karakteristike sušenja i teksturu rogača (Ceratonia siliqua L.)

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a perennial leguminous evergreen tree native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean basin and is considered to be an important component of vegetation for economic and environmental reasons. Two constituents of the pod, pulp and seeds, can be used as feed or in food production. In this study, drying characteristics, texture and microstructure of carob pods were studied. Three different carob samples were prepared: whole carob pod, carob pod parts and carob seed. The drying experiments and the modelling showed that carob seeds had the highest drying rate, followed by pod parts and the whole, intact carob fruit. Texture studies showed that the maximum compression force depended on the area of the carob fruit on which compression tests were performed. The seeds showed the highest compression force, followed by the stem zone, the tip and the centre of the fruit. Differences in drying behaviour and texture of carob pods can successfully be interpreted by the micromorphology of the carob pods and seeds. Determining the drying rate, maximum compressive force and micromorphological traits is of great importance for further carob processing (e.g. milling, sieving, carob bean gum production or usage in food or feed products).

Fruit and seed traits of Berberis croatica Horvat and Berberis vulgaris L.

Fruit and seed traits of Berberis croatica Horvat and Berberis vulgaris L. The three year variability of fruits and seeds was investigated in Berberis croatica (Vošac, Mt Biokovo, Rakov Potok near Zagreb) and in B. vulgaris (Fran Kušan Pharmaceutical Botanical Garden in Zagreb). Berberis croatica had the following dimensions of fruits (seeds): length 7.28-7.88 (4.57-5.03) mm; width 3.85-3.99 (width 1: 2.06-2.20; width 2: 1.44-1.63) mm; weight 0.065-0.078 (0.0116-0.0134) g. Dimensions of B. vulgaris fruits (seeds) were: length 10.20-11.29 (5.71-6.24) mm; width 5.29-5.83 (width 1: 2.40-2.71; width 2: 1.60-1.98) mm; weight 0.1602-0.2199 (0.0146-0.0235) g. The fruit shape of both species was similar and the length/width ratio was 1.91-2.04 in B. croatica and 1.77-2.07 in B. vulgaris. The number of seeds per fruit was 1.23-1.58 in B. croatica and 1.36-1.54 in B. vulgaris. Generally, fruits and seeds of B. vulgaris were significantly longer, wider and heavier than fruits and seeds of B. croatica. ANOVA showed significant statistical differences between populations for all analyzed fruit and seed traits while the species significantly differed in all traits, except in the fruit shape and number of seeds in fruit.