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Galium verum is a well-known medicinal plant which is used in various pathologies. G. verum extracts are characterized here using chromatography, where among the rich pool of phenolic acids of flavonoids two known anti-stress modulators, chlorogenic acid and rutin are identified in high quantities. Additionally, the extracts are characterized using a series of in vitro assays (EPR, DPPH, TPC and TEAC). Considering the chemical findings, the potential beneficial effects of the G. verum extract are explored here in a living organism exposed to stress induced oxidative damages. Thus, the biochemical-modulatory and antioxidant roles of two doses of G. verum extract are examined in animals exposed to acute restraint and dark stress (S). The animals were divided in groups [control, S, SG1 (exposed to 25 mg G. verum extract), SG2 (50 mg extract)]. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS from 4.43 to 8.06 nmol/mL), corticosterone from 0.43 to 1.96 μg/dL and epinephrine from 44.43 to 126.7 μg/mL, as well as decreased antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD/CAT) were observed in the S group. The G. verum extract afforded a near-normal equilibrium within the biochemical parameters of animals exposed to RS, by reducing oxidative damage (TBARS at a 3.73 nmol/mL; CS at 0.90 μg/dL; EP at 63.72 μg/mL) and by restoring the antioxidant balance.

Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica is known to contain a wide variety of antioxidants and due to the protection against various diseases its consumption has been increasing over the years. Thus, knowledge of the changes that occur during the digestion process is of great interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of broccoli on antioxidant activity and on the chlorophyll, carotenoid and phenolic content. First, the ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds was optimized and the kinetic model was evaluated. Then, the broccoli was subjected to a static simulated digestion. The antioxidant activity was monitored by ABTS [2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)] assay and the contents of target compounds were investigated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and thin-layer chromatography. The optimum conditions were: solvent—ethanol; time—20 min and temperature—30 °C, and a second order kinetic model was found to describe the mechanism of extraction. The antioxidant activity and carotenoid, chlorophyll and total phenolic content was significantly decreased after simulated gastric and intestinal digestion. The gastric digestion considerably decreased carotenoid and chlorophyll content, meanwhile the intestinal digestion significantly decreased the total phenolic content (TPC). The antioxidant activity was equally affected by both gastric and intestinal digestion.

Hydrophilic vitamins play an important role in human health. The analysis of these compounds is indispensable for monitoring their content in pharmaceuticals and food in order to prevent some human diseases. The separation and identification of eight hydrophilic vitamins, i.e., B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 5 , B 6 , B 9 , B 12 , and C, was achieved by thin layer chromatography and Raman spectrometry. After chromatographic experiments, the best results were obtained using programmed multiple development. The unambiguous identification of superimposed spots can be done without using standards of vitamins.

The benefits of moderate consumption of wines consist in the protective effects against cardiovascular diseases and anticarcinogenic is associated with their antioxidants content. There are plenty of analytical methods for assessing the antioxidant content of wines but unfortunately, there is not a standardized method. The antioxidant content of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, ‘Merlot’ and ‘Pinot Noir’ wines obtained from cultivated grapes varieties from Recas and Minis Romanian vineyard from different harvesting years were investigated. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, using the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine-N-oxyl (Tempol) free stable radical, was used to determine the antioxidant content of wines. Measurements were done in order to analyze the effects of the grape varieties, the harvesting year and the vineyard on the antioxidant content of wines. The obtained results revealed that the antioxidant content of studied red wines depends on the harvesting year of grape, the grape variety and on the vineyard. Using the observed values of the antioxidant content, a relationship was identified between the antioxidant content of wines and the harvesting year of grapes. Furthermore, the designed generalized nonlinear model revealed that the antioxidant content of wine depends on the combined effect of the grape variety and the vineyard, besides the year, the grape variety and the vineyard.