The essential oil of juniper berries (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) is traditionally used for medicinal and flavoring purposes. As elucidated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS methods), the juniper berry oil from Bulgaria is largely comprised of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene (51.4%), myrcene (8.3%), sabinene (5.8%), limonene (5.1%) and β-pinene (5.0%). The antioxidant capacity of the essential oil was evaluated in vitro by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging, hydroxyl radical (ОН•) scavenging and chelating capacity, superoxide radical (•O2−) scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects, hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The antioxidant activity of the oil attributable to electron transfer made juniper berry essential oil a strong antioxidant, whereas the antioxidant activity attributable to hydrogen atom transfer was lower. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by the essential oil in both stages, i.e., hydroperoxide formation and malondialdehyde formation, was less efficient than the inhibition by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In vivo studies confirmed these effects of the oil which created the possibility of blocking the oxidation processes in yeast cells by increasing activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

SUMMARY Members of the bacterial genus Bacillus are known as producers of a broad spectrum of antibiotic compounds of proteinaceous nature that possess inhibitory activity against different saprophytic and pathogenic microorganisms. In the current research, a peptide synthesized by Bacillus methylotrophicus strain BM47, previously isolated from a natural thermal spring in Bulgaria, was identified and characterized as a bacteriocin. In vitro antimicrobial screening of the crude bacteriocin substance of B. methylotrophicus BM47 showed activity against the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium moniliforme , Aspergillus awamori , Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger and Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The antimicrobial activity of the crude bacteriocin substance was partially inhibited by the enzymes trypsin, Alcalase®, Savinase®, proteinase K, papain and Esperase®, while catalase was not effective. The crude bacteriocin substance was relatively pH resistant, but sensitive to the action of heat and most organic solvents and detergents tested. To obtain the active protein fractions, crude bacteriocin substance was purified by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) using a strong anion exchange column. Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated that the purified bacteriocin had molecular mass of 19 578 Da. The amino acid analysis performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the isolated bacteriocin consisted of 17 types of amino acids, with the highest mol fraction expressed as percent of serine (29.3), valine (10.3), alanine (9.8) and tyrosine (7.1).

Objective The objective of this study was to characterize flours and syrups, obtained from pods of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos). Method Flours and syrups, produced by carob and honey locust were analyzed for moisture, ash, protein content, dietary fibers, minerals composition, total phenolic content, as well as antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Results and discussion Carob flour contained high amounts of protein (22.56%) and dietary fibres (28.17%), respectively. Dietary fibers in honey locust flour (33.12%) were higher than that of carob flour (28.17%). The total phenolic content of carob flour (4.53±0.08) was lower than this of honey locust (25.31±0.06) (mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g dry weight). Gleditsia triacanthos flour showed higher antioxidant potential – from 127.52±2.43 to 540.28±2.47 μM TE/g dw. Carob syrup in an amount of 0.15 cm3 demonstrated pronounced antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Conclusion The current study demonstrated that flour and syrup, obtained from carob (C. siliqua L.) and honey locust (G. triacanthos) pods presented products rich of protein and dietary fiber (both above 20%), good sources of antioxidants, especially poliphenolic compounds and minerals (Mg, Fe and Zn).

Cacao and rose waste, generated yearly by chocolate and rose-oil industry, respectively, pose to the manufacturers' difficulties for disposal. These by-products are underused and represent also sources of valuable substances: polyphenols, polysaccharides, aroma substances, etc. The aim of the present work was to characterize cacao waste and evaluate possibility for preparation of liqueurs with substituted cacao and aromatized with rose waste. The cacao waste was investigated for total dietary fibres (63.58±0.22% DW), proteins (15.80±0.11% DW), and hexane-soluble substances (13.39±0.08% DW). The most abundant essential amino acids were lysine, phenylalanine and threonine: 1.35±0.13, 1.00±0.08 and 0.73±0.11 g.100g -1 waste, respectively. Water, 50% and 95% ethanol extracts were obtained and the highest amount of polyphenols were extracted with 50% ethanol: 5.86±0.39 mg GAE.g -1 dry weight (DW) for cacao waste and 3.33±0.39 mg QE.g -1 DW for rose waste. The antioxidant activity of 50% ethanol extracts, evaluated by DPPH and FRAP (82.82±1.72 and 31.13±0.70 mM TE.g -1 DW cacao waste, respectively; and 14.53±0.35 and 13.42±0.64 mM TE.g -1 DW rose waste, respectively) suggested that cacao and rose wastes had a potential as antioxidant supplements. The most prevalent aroma substances in cacao ethanol (50%) extract was hexanal (10.33±0.12% of TIC) and for rose extract: β-phenylethyl alcohol (17.14±0.18% of TIC). A novel possibility for valorization of cacao and rose wastes was explored and liqueurs with substituted cacao powder with cacao waste and added rose waste extracts were obtained. Sensory evaluation revealed that cacao pod husks were a promising constituent for preparation of low-alcoholic beverages.