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Cucu AA, Pașca C, Cucu AB, Moise AR, Bobiş O, Dezsi Ș, Blaga Petrean A, Dezmirean DS. Evaluation of the Main Macro-, Micro- and Trace Elements Found in Fallopia japonica Plants and Their Traceability in Its Honey: A Case Study from the Northwestern and Western Part of Romania. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:428. [PMID: 38337961 PMCID: PMC10857060 DOI: 10.3390/plants13030428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed, Reynoutria japonica or Polygonum cuspidatum) is considered an extremely invasive plant worldwide and a bioindicator of heavy metals. Yet, its potential as a crop for honeybees is still underevaluated. This study employs atomic absorption spectrometry to quantitatively analyze the concentration of macro-elements, namely, calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg); micro-elements, such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se); and trace elements, i.e., cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) in different anatomic parts of Fallopia japonica (FJ) plants (roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves) and their traceability into honey. This research encompasses a thorough examination of samples collected from the northwestern and western part of Romania, providing insights into their elemental composition. The results showed that the level of trace elements decreases in terms of traceability in honey samples (Pb was not detected in any of the analyzed samples, while Cd had a minimum content 0.001 mg/kg), ensuring its quality and health safety for consumption. Moreover, the data generated can function as a valuable resource to explore the plant's positive eco-friendly impacts, particularly in relation to its honey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Claudia Pașca
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Alexandru-Bogdan Cucu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry (INCDS) “Marin Drăcea”, 400202 Braşov, Romania;
| | - Adela Ramona Moise
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Otilia Bobiş
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Ștefan Dezsi
- Faculty of Geography, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Anamaria Blaga Petrean
- Department of Animal Production and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (A.R.M.)
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Lujerdean C, Baci GM, Cucu AA, Dezmirean DS. The Contribution of Silk Fibroin in Biomedical Engineering. Insects 2022; 13:286. [PMID: 35323584 PMCID: PMC8950689 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein (biopolymer) extracted from the cocoons of Bombyx mori L. (silkworm). It has many properties of interest in the field of biotechnology, the most important being biodegradability, biocompatibility and robust mechanical strength with high tensile strength. SF is usually dissolved in water-based solvents and can be easily reconstructed into a variety of material formats, including films, mats, hydrogels, and sponges, by various fabrication techniques (spin coating, electrospinning, freeze-drying, and physical or chemical crosslinking). Furthermore, SF is a feasible material used in many biomedical applications, including tissue engineering (3D scaffolds, wounds dressing), cancer therapy (mimicking the tumor microenvironment), controlled drug delivery (SF-based complexes), and bone, eye and skin regeneration. In this review, we describe the structure, composition, general properties, and structure-properties relationship of SF. In addition, the main methods used for ecological extraction and processing of SF that make it a green material are discussed. Lastly, technological advances in the use of SF-based materials are addressed, especially in healthcare applications such as tissue engineering and cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Lujerdean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (D.S.D.)
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Baci GM, Cucu AA, Giurgiu AI, Muscă AS, Bagameri L, Moise AR, Bobiș O, Rațiu AC, Dezmirean DS. Advances in Editing Silkworms ( Bombyx mori) Genome by Using the CRISPR-Cas System. Insects 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35055871 PMCID: PMC8777690 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) represents a powerful genome editing technology that revolutionized in a short period of time numerous natural sciences branches. Therefore, extraordinary progress was made in various fields, such as entomology or biotechnology. Bombyx mori is one of the most important insects, not only for the sericulture industry, but for numerous scientific areas. The silkworms play a key role as a model organism, but also as a bioreactor for the recombinant protein production. Nowadays, the CRISPR-Cas genome editing system is frequently used in order to perform gene analyses, to increase the resistance against certain pathogens or as an imaging tool in B. mori. Here, we provide an overview of various studies that made use of CRISPR-Cas for B. mori genome editing, with a focus on emphasizing the high applicability of this system in entomology and biological sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandru-Ioan Giurgiu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adriana-Sebastiana Muscă
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Lilla Bagameri
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adela Ramona Moise
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Otilia Bobiș
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | | | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
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Cucu AA, Baci GM, Dezsi Ş, Nap ME, Beteg FI, Bonta V, Bobiş O, Caprio E, Dezmirean DS. New Approaches on Japanese Knotweed ( Fallopia japonica) Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential of Pharmacological and Beekeeping Activities: Challenges and Future Directions. Plants (Basel) 2021; 10:2621. [PMID: 34961091 PMCID: PMC8705504 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Known especially for its negative ecological impact, Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) is now considered one of the most invasive species. Nevertheless, its chemical composition has shown, beyond doubt, some high biological active compounds that can be a source of valuable pharmacological potential for the enhancement of human health. In this direction, resveratrol, emodin or polydatin, to name a few, have been extensively studied to demonstrate the beneficial effects on animals and humans. Thus, by taking into consideration the recent advances in the study of Japanese knotweed and its phytochemical constituents, the aim of this article is to provide an overview on the high therapeutic potential, underlining its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, among the most important ones. Moreover, we describe some future directions for reducing the negative impact of Fallopia japonica by using the plant for its beekeeping properties in providing a distinct honey type that incorporates most of its bioactive compounds, with the same health-promoting properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Ştefan Dezsi
- Faculty of Geography, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mircea-Emil Nap
- Faculty of Geodesy, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania;
- Faculty of Horticulture, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florin Ioan Beteg
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Victoriţa Bonta
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Otilia Bobiş
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Emilio Caprio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Università, Portici, 100-80055 Naples, Italy;
| | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
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