Zbigniew Marzec

Application of Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Methods towards the Quality Assessment of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizomes from Ecological Plantations

The usefulness of ginger in the food industry and pharmacotherapy is strictly related to its content of various components. The study elucidates the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale rhizomes cultivated on ecological plantations on Shikoku Island (Japan). GC-MS analysis of terpene content, LC-MS determination of phenolic content, and the determination of 12 elements using AAS spectrometry were performed to give more detailed insight into the samples. Ninety-five percent of terpene composition was elucidated, with zingiberene as the most abundant sesquiterpene (37.9%); the quantification of gingerols and shogaols was performed, showing the highest contribution of 6-gingerol (268.3 mg/kg); a significant K (43,963 mg/kg of dry mass) and Mn (758.4 mg/kg of dry mass) content was determined in the elemental analysis of the rhizomes and low concentration of toxic elements (Cd, Ni and Pb) remaining below the safe level values recommended by European Commission Directives. The main phenolic compound was (6)-gingerol, which is characteristic of fresh rhizomes and is responsible for their taste and aroma. Surprisingly, high amounts of (6)-shogaol were determined, even though this phenolic compound usually occurs in old or processed material and not in fresh rhizomes. Sesquiterpenes were the major fraction of volatiles. The highest concentrations were determined for α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, geranial, and ar-curcumene. The volatiles composition of ginger cultivated on Shikoku Island is specific and strongly differs from plants cultivated in China, Nigeria, or Australia. The elemental composition of ginger rhizomes grown in ecological plantations is more beneficial for human health compared to products grown in normal cultivars, as the products contain high amounts of potassium and manganese and are characterized by low sodium content and lower levels of toxic heavy metals.

Dietary intake of metals by the young adult population of Eastern Poland: Results from a market basket study

Dietary intake of macro-, trace and toxic elements was determined among the young adult population of Eastern Poland. The study was performed in 2011-2013 and involved 583 participants living in Lublin and its province. Dietary intakes of metals were determined using a 24h dietary recall technique and a market basket method. The analytical quantification of As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn was performed using ICP-MS technique, whereas the content of mercury was determined using the Mercury Analyzer. Performed investigations revealed that daily dietary intakes of the majority of the study elements (macro- and trace) and toxic elements such as As, Pb or Hg are within the range of reference values. However, high consumption of Na and improper Na/K ratio combined with low intake of Mg may be harmful to the health of the population. Moreover, obtained data suggest that the risk of developing diseases among population in Eastern Poland related to high exposure to Ni and Cd absorbed from foodstuffs was high.

Dietary exposure to cadmium, lead and nickel among students from south-east Poland

The dietary intake of cadmium, lead and nickel was determined among students from three universities in the city of Lublin in south-east Poland to assess the levels of exposure to these contaminants, compared to PTWI and TDI values. The study was performed in 2006–2010 and involved 850 daily food rations of students. The technique of 24-hour dietary recall and diet duplicates was used. Cadmium, lead and nickel complexes with ammonium-pyrrolidindithiocarbamate were formed and extracted to the organic phase with 4-methylpentan-2-one–MIBK, in which their content was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest intake of the elements studied was observed in 2008. The data show that in none of the cases, the level of intake reached 70% of PTWI/TDI values, and thus the risk of developing diseases related to high exposure to these toxic metals absorbed from foodstuffs was low. The parameters of methods were checked during determinations by adding standard solutions to the samples before mineralization and by using two reference materials: Total diet ARC/CL HDP and Bovine muscle RM NIST 8414. The dietary exposure to lead and cadmium has significantly decreased in recent years, whereas the exposures to nickel remains on a stable level.

Dietary intake of specific phenolic compounds and their effect on the antioxidant activity of daily food rations

Abstract The determination of phenolic acids’ and flavonoids’ content in daily food rations (DFRs) of a selected group of male and female students and the development of chromatographic conditions is the primary goal of the study. The presence of 7 phenolic components were confirmed in the prepared extracts from all diets reconstructed within a period of 3 years. The highest concentrations were determined for hesperidin (124 and 55.6 mg for women and men, respectively), naringin (47.6 mg in female and 37 mg in male diets) and chlorogenic acid (19.7 and 19.8 mg for women and men). The antioxidant potential of the daily food rations, measured with a DPPH test, was higher for women (range 47.1‒78.8%) than for men (range 34.5‒78.0%) and was found to strongly correlate with the total phenolics content of the samples (Folin-Ciocalteu test) (correlation coefficient 0.90). Graphical Abstract

Green Tea Quality Evaluation Based on Its Catechins and Metals Composition in Combination with Chemometric Analysis

Green tea infusions are one of the most popular beverages consumed across the world, especially is Asian countries. Green tea quality is primarily based on catechin content, however, the concentration of elements could also significantly influence its biological properties and thus quality and safety. The main purpose of the present study was the evaluation of catechin, antioxidant activity and metal content (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni) in different green tea types cultivated in Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India, China and Japan. The chemical analysis of samples was performed using LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS for organic constituents and atomic absorption spectrometry (flame and electrothermal) method for inorganic ones. The obtained results were subjected to chemometric elaboration. EGC (213 mg/100 mL of the tea infusion in South Korean Jeoncha) and EGCG (124 mg/100 mL in Japanese Sencha) were the dominant catechins in all green tea samples. Chinese and Indian green tea samples contained the highest concentration of toxic heavy metals, however these values were far below appropriate limitations for green teas. PCA revealed significant similarities between Japanese samples and Korean Jeoncha. In general the latter one was evaluated to have the best quality based on the investigated parameters.

Evaluation of chromium, nickel, iron and manganese content in wheat, flour, bran and selected baked products

Abstract Considering the nutritional values, breadstuff plays a big part in covering human nourishment needs and constitutes a base of all day diet. Moreover, bread is an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals the abundance of which depends on the degree of grinding. Thus, it seems to be very important to know the composition and level of bio-elements. That is why the main target of this study was to evaluate the concentration of selected trace elements: chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in wheat grain, wheat bran, different wheat and rye flour types and variety of breadstuff also with addition of grains and seeds from different bakeries and mills. Another task was to analyze if the technological process has an influence on secondary despoil of bread goods with heavy metal elements. The analyzed trace elements were measured with a precise and accurate atomic absorption spectrophotometric method (AAS) and the results were expressed in mg/kg of selected sample. Obtained results show that bread and grain products are a good source of trace elements like chromium, nickel, iron and manganese. However, the higher levels of chromium and nickel in bread goods could rather be an effect of impurity caused by a technological process in mill and bakeries.

Nickel in the muscle tissues of freshwater fish from north eastern Poland should not cause human health concerns

Excessive intake of nickel (Ni) is known to produce adverse health effects in humans, including carcinogenicity and allergenicity. The main route of exposure for humans is diet, including fish. There is, however, little information concerning Ni content in freshwater fish in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Ni in meat tissues of three fish species from north eastern Poland and assess toxic potential to healthy and susceptible sub-groups of individuals. The settings for the study lakes span a range of anthropogenic influence from protected areas to a basin with a town and several villages and another one influenced by a pesticide tomb leakage. Fish were netted and kept frozen until analysis. After defrosting, the fish were filleted and minced. The ashed samples were dissolved in nitric acid and analyzed for Ni by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Roach meat contained 6.6–23 µg kg−1 Ni, bream 9.5–178 µg kg−1, and carp 16.5–139 µg kg−1. These concentrations are low, indicating that the fish were not excessively contaminated with the metal. Consuming a 250 g portion of fish would result in an average nickel intake of 4 µg for roach, <10 µg for bream, and <20 µg for carp. These values represent only 0.4–2% of the maximum level that is likely to pose a risk of adverse effects as established in the USA. Consumption of fish from the study region need not necessarily pose a health threat.

Lead and cadmium content in the meat tissues of fish from water ecosystems in the vicinity of a pesticide tomb

Lead and cadmium content in the meat tissues of fish from water ecosystems in the vicinity of a pesticide tomb Lead and cadmium levels were determined in the meat tissues of roach, bream, and carp netted in a lake and in fish ponds threatened by a pesticide tomb and in control basins in northeastern Poland. Concentrations in roach ranged from 20 to 124 μg kg-1 of Pb and from 1 to 19 μg kg-1 of Cd. In bream they were from 4 to 280 μg kg-1 of Pb and 2 to 28 μg kg-1 of Cd, while in carp they were from 9 to 82 μg kg-1 of Pb and 2 to 260 μg kg-1 of Cd. The metal concentrations were low; no result exceeded admissible residue levels set forth by Polish law, and no evident contamination of fish by leakage from the pesticide tomb was detected.

MAO-A Inhibitory Potential of Terpene Constituents from Ginger Rhizomes—A Bioactivity Guided Fractionation

Background: In the search for novel antidepressive drug candidates, bioguided fractionation of nonpolar constituents present in the oleoresin from ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) was performed. This particular direction of the research was chosen due to the existing reports on the antidepressive properties of ginger total extract. The search for individual metabolites acting as MAO-A inhibitors, which correspond to the apparent effect of the total extract, is the subject of this work. Methods: Hexane extracts from ginger rhizomes were fractionated by using column chromatography (including silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate) and semi-preparative high-performance chromatography. For the activity assessment, an in vitro monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibition luminescence assay was performed on 10 purified terpenes: 1,8-cineole, α-citronellal, geraniol, β-sesquiphellandrene, γ-terpinen, geranyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and α-zingiberene. Results: Geraniol and (−)-terpinen-4-ol were found to be the strongest enzyme inhibitors with inhibition of 44.1% and 42.5%, respectively, at a concentration of 125 µg/mL. No differences in the inhibition potential were observed for the different groups of terpenes: sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, or sesquiterpene alcohols; however, the two most active compounds contained a hydroxyl moiety. Conclusions: Terpene constituents from ginger’s extract were found to exhibit moderate inhibitory properties against the MAO-A enzyme in in vitro tests.