Aromatic plants are one of the most important sources of biologically active secondary metabolites, which possess various antimicrobial characteristics. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of antifungal activities of mint and caraway essential oils against the selected fungi. Eight species of molds were selected for antifungal testing: Alternaria alternata, Aspegillus flavus, A. niger, A. versicolor, Eurotium herbariorum, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, P. chrysogenum and P. expansum. Testing of essential oils antifungal activity against the selected species was conducted using the disc diffusion method by adding mint and caraway essential oils (0.5, 1, 5, and 10 µl per disc). Antifungal activity of essential oils was expressed by the diameter of inhibition zone (mm). The most powerful effect of mint essential oil was recorded against E. herbariorum, as its growth was completely inhibited by the quantity of 5 µl. The weakest inhibitory effect was observed against P. chrysogenum (inhibition zone 13.67 mm) by the quantity of 10 µl. The most powerful antifungal activity of caraway was observed against E. herbariorum as growth was completely inhibited by the quantity of 10 µl. The weakest inhibitory effect was observed against A. niger (inhibition zone 28 mm) by the quantity of 10 µl.

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According to the nutritive characteristics, whole grain flour is a high quality product, due to its high vitamin, mineral, and dietary fiber content. However, the cereal grains are susceptible to the series of contamination during the ripening, harvesting, processing and storage. The aim of this work was to determine mold presence in grains and flour of wheat, corn and buckwheat. The determination of total number and identification of isolated genera and species of molds were the subject of this research. All samples were contaminated with the molds. The total number of molds per 100 cereal grains was between 60 cfu (wheat) and 120 cfu (buckwheat). The total number of molds in the samples of flour ranged from 6.0x10 1 cfu/g in white wheat flour to 5.0 x10 2 cfu/g in buckwheat whole grain flour (DG18 medium). Eight fungal genera (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Chrysonilia, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Scopulariopsis) and fifteen species were isolated. The largest number of species of molds was isolated from the genus Aspergillus. About 66.7% of isolated fungi belonged to potentially toxigenic species. The results pointed out the necessity of grain surface treatment, preceding the milling of grains in wheat, corn and whole grain buckwheat flour production.

Article Highlights • GC-MS and correlation analysis have been used • GC-MS showed that the lipid composition of different varieties of amaranth are very similar • GC-MS showed that the sugar composition of different varieties of amaranth are less similar Abstract Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for performing a qualitative analysis of liposoluble and hydrosoluble flour extracts of three genotypes of Amaranthus sp. All three samples were first defatted with hexane. Hexane extracts were used for the analysis of fatty acids of lipid components. TMSH (trimethylsulfonium hydroxide, 0.2 M in methanol) was used as the transesterification reagent. With transesterification reaction, fatty acids were esterified from acilglycerol to methyl-esters. Defatted flour samples were dried in the air and then extracted with ethanol. Ethanol extracts were used for the analysis of soluble carbohydrates. TMSI (trimethylsilylimidazole) was used as a reagent for the derivatisation of carbohydrates into trimethylsilylethers. The results show that the dominant methyl-esters of fatty acids are very similar in all the three samples. Such a similarity was not detected in the analysis of soluble sugars. The following test cluster analysis was used for the comparison of liposoluble and hydrosoluble flour extracts of three genotypes of Amaranthus sp.

Fatty acid composition of Ricotta cheese filled bakery product was examined using a GC-MS method immediately after production and packaging in the case of a control sample, and after production, packaging under air atmosphere in a seven-layer packaging material consisting of PE/Ad/PA/Ad/PE/Ad/PET, and storing during a four weeks period at room temperature, in the case of the experimental samples. The statistical significance of the fatty acid profile change was examined using ANOVA method. The results of this research showed that there are no significant changes of fatty acids composition and content after defined storing period, with the exception of diunsaturated cis,cis-9,12-octadecadienoic (linoleic) acid, whose average content was reduced by 83.705%. However, a small amount of linoleic acid was converted to cis,trans-9,11-octadecadienoic (conjugated linoleic) acid. Therefore, it could be considered as appropriate to pack and storage Ricotta-filled pastry for the period of four weeks, considering the insignificant changes of fatty acid composition and content.