Variation of Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity in Some Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Populations from Romania

Fruits of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) are valued mainly for their nutraceutical properties, and are among the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity due to their high content of phenolic compounds. The aim of this research was to assess the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of fruits in six wild bilberry populations from two regions of Romania over three years. The total polyphenol content was determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu modified method, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay. The Padis and Raul Lung populations registered the highest values of polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, as such the fruits of these bilberry populations could be considered potential sources of antioxidants for direct consumption or for use as ingredients for food products or food supplements. Significant variation of total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity was observed both between populations from the same region and from different regions. The low level of broad sense heritability for total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity associated with the high effects of year, and population–year interaction indicates that the accumulation of polyphenols in bilberry fruits is influenced by changes in environmental conditions.

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF FLAVONOIDS DURING DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIDIABETIC EXTRACT

During development of antidiabetic extract in blueberry shoots (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), ginseng leaves (Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.) and water-alcohol extraction from this plant material the flavonoid content is studied because this group of biologically active substances has hypoglycemic effect. Qualitative reactions for different groups of flavonoids has confirmed their presence in blueberry shoots and ginseng leaves. In addition, qualitative analysis of water-alcohol extraction on their base using spectrophotometry has also showed presence of this group of biologically active substances. Along with that, quantitative content of flavonoids has been detected using differential spectrophotometry in blueberry shoots, ginseng leaves and water-alcohol extraction on their base.

Endophytic Community Composition and Genetic-Enzymatic Features of Cultivable Bacteria in Vaccinium myrtillus L. in Forests of the Baltic-Nordic Region

Regardless of their growth locations and species diversity, plants have endophytic bacterial communities. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is valuable for human health because of its antioxidant properties, and the plant has adapted to stressful growing conditions in forests. Here, we aimed to describe the composition of the community of endophytic microorganisms in bilberry leaves and to determine whether the diversity of endophytic bacteria varies depending on the geographical location of the plants. In this study, we evaluated the significance of endophytes in the host plant and the potential use of such bacteria. Twenty-five culturable bacterial isolates were identified in V. myrtillus leaves based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. For the first time, we report upon the diversity of endophytic communities coexisting in bilberry leaves in different geographical locations of the Nordic-Baltic region. Under harsh conditions, the bilberry plants had a greater diversity of bacteria. The bacterial families Bacillaceae, Paenibacillaceae and Micrococcaceae were the most common endophytes in leaves of bilberry. Strains of Staphylococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Pseudomonaceae, Corynebacteriaceae and Planococcaceae were identified in samples from Finland and Norway. Plant growth-promoting genes (acdS and AcPho) and/or enzymatic activity were identified in many isolates.

АНТИОКСИДАНТНА ДІЯ ЕКСТРАКТІВ ІЗ ЛІКАРСЬКИХ РОСЛИН РОДИНИ ERICACEAE НА СТАБІЛЬНІСТЬ ХАРЧОВИХ ОЛІЙ ТА ОЛІЙНИХ ЕМУЛЬСІЙ У ПРОЦЕСІ ЇХ ЗБЕРІГАННЯ

Метою роботи було виявлення антиоксидантного ефекту екстрактів із лікарських рослин родини Ericaceae: брусниці звичайної (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.), буяхів (Vaccіnіum ulіgіnosum L.), журавлини болотної (Oxycoccus Hill L.), чорниці звичайної (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), на окиснювальну стабільність харчових олій та олійних емульсій (основи майонезів). Об’єктом дослідження стала олія соняшникова та емульсія на основі цієї олії. Для їхньої стабілізації вико- ристовували олійні, водні та водно-спиртові екстракти із пагонів брусниці, буяхів, журавлини і чорниці. Для визначення антиоксидантного ефекту обраховували пероксидне число екстрактів і контрольного зразка. Такі дослідження є актуальними, оскільки антиоксидантна дія фітоекстрактів брусниці звичайної, буяхів, журавли- ни болотної, чорниці звичайної є маловивченою, порівняно з іншими представниками родини Вересових. Визначення ступенів інгібування процесу окиснення олії соняшникової за додавання олійних екстрактів пока- зало, що екстракти чорниці та журавлини мають сильний антиоксидантний ефект (ступені інгібування 57% і 51%, відповідно), екстракт брусниці володіє середнім антиоксидантним ефектом (35%), екстракт буяхів вияв- ляє слабкий антиоксидантний ефект (21%). Обрахувавши відсоток інгібування процесу окиснення емульсії на основі олії соняшникової за додавання водних фітоекстрактів, встановлено, що водні екстракти чорниці та журавлини виявляють середній антиоксидант- ний ефект (41% та 37%, відповідно), водні екстракти брусниці та буяхів мають слабкий антиоксидантний ефект (24% і 15%, відповідно). За використання водно-спиртових фітоекстрактів для приготування емульсії на основі олії соняшникової встановлено, що ступінь інгібування процесу окиснення в усіх випадках є дещо вищим, ніж за використання водних фітоекстрактів, а саме: водно-спиртовий екстракт чорниці виявляє сильний антиоксидантний ефект (53%), водно-спиртові екстракти журавлини та брусниці мають середній антиоксидантний ефект (46% і 32%, відповідно), водно-спиртовий екстракт буяхів чинить слабкий антиоксидантний ефект (19%).

Determination of Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content in Small Berries

The authors of this article applied the determination of phenolic and flavonoid content in small berries to create a didactic cycle based on student-centered active learning (SCAL) in which students actively participated in the topic while studying and profile-forming as future biology and chemistry teachers. The fundamental part of the proposed didactic cycle is that students solve the following task: Determine the phenolic and flavonoid content in berries (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., and Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in your region. The submitted interdisciplinary topic is relevant to everyday life, and it aroused interest and enthusiasm among students. The students had the opportunity to test their theoretical knowledge in practical experimental research, and they attempted to work as researchers.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Powder Has Anticarcinogenic Effects on Oral Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo

Previous studies indicate that bilberry with high amounts of phenolic compounds can inhibit carcinogenic processes of colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. However, no studies have focused on the effects of bilberry on oral cancer. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of bilberry powder on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The effects of 0, 1, 10, and 25 mg/mL of whole bilberry powder on the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC (HSC-3) cells were examined and compared with 0.01 mg/mL of cetuximab. Two oral keratinocyte cell lines served as controls. Tumor area was analyzed in zebrafish microinjected with HSC-3 cells and treated with 2.5, 10, or 25 µg/mL of bilberry powder. Metastases in the head or tail areas were counted. Bilberry powder inhibited the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of HSC-3 cells (p < 0.05), which was more pronounced with higher concentrations. Cetuximab had no effect on HSC-3 cell migration or invasion. Compared to controls, the tumor area in zebrafish treated with bilberry powder (10 and 25 µg/mL) was reduced significantly (p = 0.038 and p = 0.021, respectively), but the number of fish with metastases did not differ between groups. Based on our in vitro and in vivo experiments, we conclude that whole bilberry powder has anti-tumor effects on OSCC cells.