Sunflower Honey-Evaluation of Quality and Stability during Storage.

Honey's unique qualities should last for several years when properly stored. Therefore, it is up to manufacturers to choose the right shelf life for their product while also considering the product's nature. Physicochemical parameters (water content, electrical conductivity, free acidity, pH, ash, water-insoluble matter, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), sugar content and composition, and diastase activity) were analyzed in 24 samples of sunflower honey collected from several localities in Vojvodina, Serbia. Crystallization indices were also calculated. Furthermore, the impact of eighteen months of room temperature storage (22 ± 2 °C) in a dark place on selected physicochemical parameters (water, HMF, diastase activity, pH value, and free acidity) was investigated. The results of the initial test indicated that the tested samples of sunflower honey from Vojvodina is of good quality because the parameters under examination revealed results that were within the legal bounds of both national and European legislations. Eighteen months of storage at room temperature reduced diastase activity by 2 times, increased HMF content by about 17 times, and decreased the pH value of honey from a mean value of 3.66 to 3.56. The water content was relatively stable at 17.01% before storage and 16.29% after storage. The storage of sunflower honey did not have an impact on the free acidity.

Donkey Milk: An Overview of its Chemical Composition and Main Nutritional Properties or Human Health Benefit Properties.

The donkey milk has a remarkable similarity to human milk, in addition to its valuable nutritional composition and content of numerous immune factors. The donkey milk is the subject of research worldwide, and data from the literature suggest significant differences with respect to the contents of individual components. However, some basic characteristics of donkey milk have been established: low contents of fat and cholesterol, total proteins and casein and high contents of lactose, whey proteins, calcium, selenium, and Vitamin D3. The donkey milk is rich in various protective proteins (α-lactalbumin, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and immunoglobulins), and shows strong antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, hypoglycemic, antiparasitic, and antitumor activity. Donkey milk can be considered functional food, having in mind that its fatty-acid profile and content of essential fatty acids are beneficial for cardiac health. The total fat content in donkey milk is low compared to human milk, and for this reason it is necessary to enrich donkey milk with other fat in order to provide enough calories in a diet for children. Commercialization of donkey milk and dairy products is still limited due to low production levels, that is lack of products on the market, and lack of product information. Considering the research data from the literature, there is a need for human clinical trials in order to obtain a stronger evidence of the therapeutic properties of donkey milk.

UV-induction of photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of fumonisins in water: reaction kinetics and toxicity.

Although fumonisins are toxic and carcinogenic mold products that contaminate feed, food, and water, their photodegradation has not yet been reported. In this work, the efficiency of photolysis (UV, UV/H2O2, and UV/[Formula: see text]) and photocatalysis (TiO2 (Degussa P25/Wackherr) and ZnO) for the degradation of fumonisins in an aqueous medium were investigated. In the case of fumonisin B1 (FB1) optimal conditions in terms of pH, the initial concentrations of H2O2/[Formula: see text] for UV, UV/H2O2, and UV/[Formula: see text] treatments were investigated. The photocatalytic degradation using TiO2 Wackherr as catalyst at natural pH (about 8) proved to be the most efficient treatment for removal of FB1 and FB3. Namely, during the first 30 min of irradiation, 99% of FB1 (1.39 µM) was degraded, while FB3 (0.425 µM) was completely removed during the first 20 min of irradiation. In the case of FB2 (0.687 µM), UV/[Formula: see text] was the most efficient treatment, and complete removal occurred in the first 90 min of irradiation. All applied treatments for fumonisins removal have followed pseudo-first-order kinetics under the relevant experimental conditions. Toxicity of fumonisins and their mixtures formed during photodegradation were investigated using mammalian cell lines (BHK, H-4-II-E, Neuro-2a, and MRC-5). The BHK cell line was the most sensitive to fumonisins, especially FB2 and FB3, and its photodegradation mixtures.

Fish Product-Borne Histamine Intoxication Outbreak and Survey of Imported Fish and Fish Products in Serbia.

Histamine levels in fish and fish products are regarded as a primary criterion for food safety, considering the effects of histamine on human health. The aim of this research was to describe a case of massive histamine intoxication in Serbian children and to provide relevant information regarding the presence of histamine in imported marine fish and fish products available in the Serbian market. In January 2014, an incident of foodborne illness occurred in 28 children (aged 2 to 5 years) who consumed canned sardines in a kindergarten in Vojvodina province, northern Serbia. The diagnosis was established based on anamnestic data, epidemiological data, and clinical symptoms and confirmed by positive histamine finding in the incriminated sardines. Substantially high histamine levels (>300 mg/kg) were detected in seven of the nine examined units of these canned sardines. In addition, during an official veterinary border control from January 2013 to January 2015, 273 lots in total, including 2,457 fish and fishery product units, were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Even though only nine (3.29%) of all examined lots were declared as unsafe for human consumption, the presented case of histamine intoxication strongly suggests the importance of border inspection and comprehensive control of each imported lot.

OPTIMIZATION AND VALIDATION OF HPLC METHOD FOR TETRAMETHRIN DETERMINATION IN HUMAN SHAMPOO FORMULATION.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with diode array detection (DAD) were optimized and validated for separation and determination of tetramethrin in an antiparasitic human shampoo. In order to optimize separation conditions, two different columns, different column oven temperatures, as well as mobile phase composition and ratio, were tested. Best separation was achieved on the Supelcosil TM LC-18- DB column (4.6 x 250 mm), particle size 5 jim, with mobile phase methanol : water (78 : 22, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and at temperature of 30°C. The detection wavelength of the detector was set at 220 nm. Under the optimum chromatographic conditions, standard calibration curve was measured with good linearity [r2 = 0.9997]. Accuracy of the method defined as a mean recovery of tetramethrin from shampoo matrix was 100.09%. The advantages of this method are that it can easily be used for the routine analysis of drug tetramethrin in pharmaceutical formulas and in all pharmaceutical researches involving tetramethrin.

Levels of some microelements and essential heavy metals in herbal teas in Serbia.

Levels of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Co, Ni, Se, Sn and Al were determined in 14 medicinal plants from Serbia, which are widely used in phytopharmacy as herbal teas. The following plants were investigated: yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), basil (Ocimum hasilicum L.), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.), field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.), maize silk (Zea mays L. - Maydis stigma), hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), rosehip/dog rose (Rosa canina L.), winter savory (Satureja montana L.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). A total of 16 samples of different parts of medicinal plants (root, leaf, flower, herba) were examined, whereby 13 samples were delivered in original package and three samples were loose leaf herbs. Samples were prepared using the microwave digestion technique, and measurements were performed applying the atomic absorption spectrometry and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Contents of microelements in the examined samples were in the range: Mn (23.86 - 453.71 mg/kg); Fe (61.87 - 673.0 mg/kg); Cu (6.68 - 24.46 mg/kg); Zn (16.11 - 113.81 mg/kg); Mo (0.576 - 4.265 mg/kg); Co (0.039 - 0.532 mg/kg); Se (0.036 - 0.146 mg/kg); Ni (0.738 - 6.034 mg/kg); Al (154.0 - 3015.0 mg/kg) and Sn (2.68 - 10.22 mg/kg). According to determined amounts of microelements, the investigated samples of herbal teas are considered safe for human consumption.

Co-occurrence of fumonisins and deoxynivalenol in wheat and maize harvested in Serbia.

A survey was undertaken to determine total fumonisins (FUMs) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat and maize. Out of 75 wheat samples, 50.7% contained FUMs in the span from 27 to 614 ng/g, while 65.3% contained DON in the span from 64 to 1,604 ng/g. Out of 24 maize samples, contents of FUMs in one and of DON in three samples were above the maximal limit. This is the one of rare reports of the natural co-occurrence of FUMs and DON in wheat and maize, and the first report of their correlation in different wheat cultivars.