Berries Present in the Spontaneous and Cultivated Flora from Cluj County
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Available online at http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/promediu ProEnvironment ProEnvironment 13 (2020) 44-48 A Review Berries Present in the Spontaneous and Cultivated Flora from Cluj County BURDUHOS Maria Daniela, Antonia ODAGIU*, Ioan OROIAN, Cristian IEDERAN, Daniela BORDEA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, 3-5 Mănăștur Str., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Received 10 April 2020; received and revised form 4 May 2020; accepted 11 June 2020 Available online 30 June 2020 Abstract Berries are used in food both fresh and as dried fruit. Berries are also used in the preparation of jams, syrups, jellies and other preparations, but can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of medicines. The main berries often encountered in the area of Cluj County are: raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and black currant. Their use in human nutrition brings lots of positive contribution, mainly concerning health. These effects are the result berries’ content in antioxidants, and water. Besides antioxidant compounds, berries nutritional value and benefic effects on human health are due to their content in fiber, and folic acid. Keywords: blackberry, black currant, blueberry, raspberry 1. Introduction number of valuable compounds, due to their antioxidant properties. In addition to the antioxidants The berries are small, round, brightly colored, that berries contain, they are juicy fruits with a high sweet or sour, with seeds and edible. Among the most water content. Juicy fruits are ideal for maintaining a common berries are: raspberries, blueberries, hydrated body, but also for optimal weight because blackberries, currants, cranberries, etc. [1] they give the feeling of satiety shortly after Berries are used in food both fresh and as dried consumption. Berries also contain folic acid and fruit. Berries are also used in the preparation of jams, fiber. Folic acid provides protection against syrups, jellies and other preparations, but can also be cardiovascular disease and memory loss. Also, folic used in the pharmaceutical industry for the acid contributes to the production of serotonin, so the preparation of medicines. Due to their nutritional consumption of berries also helps to improve mood value and aroma, berries can be eaten regardless of [1]. the season, either cold, fresh or dried, and the most well-known species of berries are listed below [1]. 2. The berries Protected from pollution in cities, grown in nature, usually in mountainous areas, berries are Black currant is a fruit shrub native to Tibet, considered true natural medicines. They contain a with small fruits that have a pleasant aroma. It belongs to the Kingdom of Plantae, the Division of Magnoliophyta, the Class Magnoliopsida, the Order * Corresponding author. Tel: +40-264-596384 Saxifragales, the Family Grossulariaceae, the Genus Fax: +40-264-593792 Ribes, the Species Ribes nigrum, known by the e-mail: [email protected] binomial humus Ribes nigrum L. With a sweet-sour 44 BURDUHOS Maria Daniela et al./ProEnvironment 13(2020) 44 - 48 taste, currants are among the berries rich in vitamins stress, cataracts and eye pain, aggravated by long- and with countless therapeutic properties. term computer use. Blackcurrants have a high content of essential Other possible benefits of blackcurrants are: oils, which gives it a fragrance and aroma that is hard reduces the effects of arthritis and rheumatism; gout to confuse. They are rich in vitamins C, B1, B2 and control; fighting urinary tract infections, etc. sugars (13%). Redcurrants contain more iron than Blueberry is a bush. It belongs to the blackcurrants, but less vitamin C and sugars than Kingdom of Plantae, Division of Magnoliophyta, these. White currants are rich in iodine and vitamins Class Magnoliopsida, Order Ericales, Family A and E. Currants have countless benefits if you Ericaceae, Genus Vaccinium, Species Vaccinium suffer from avitaminosis (lack of vitamins), physical myrtillus, known by the binomial humus Vaccinium and mental exhaustion or impotence. The small myrtillus L. It has a green stem, about 30–60 cm long, sweet-sour berries are helpful in treating colds with angular branches. The leaves are short-petiolate, (especially blackcurrants), because they strengthen small, oval, dentate (notched on the edge), green on immunity. They also reduce blood pressure, improve both sides. The flowers are reddish green, white or heart function and memory, increase appetite and pink with the petals joined in the shape of a bell, stabilize liver function. arranged 1-2 at the axil (thin) of the leaves. It blooms It is considered the elixir of youth, because it in May-June. The fruit is called blueberry and contains a high concentration of potassium, represents a dark blue or blue-brumaria berry, round magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B, C and in shape, 0.5 - 0.6 cm in diameter, juicy, with purple minerals, organic acids, antioxidants, essential fatty juice, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste. acids, polyphenols and phytonutrients. Blackcurrants Blueberries grow in alpine regions up to an altitude have twice as much potassium as bananas, four times of 2000–2500 m, especially on shady and wet slopes, as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as many through coniferous forests, mountain meadows, antioxidants as blueberries. rocks and siliceous soils. Blueberries are fruits The use of blackcurrant as a medicine began in specific to the great heights, but offered especially, as the Middle Ages, when it was widely used in natural it were, to supplement the rather poor food of the treatments. Today there is more and more scientific mountain people. A portion of blueberries is worth 3- evidence that can help prevent disease and aging. In 4 boxes of vitamins, with the specification that addition, blackcurrant is a diuretic, antisclerotic, vitamins A, E, F, PP and B (B1 and B2) contained in sweaty, antidiarrheal, anticolytic and antirheumatic. blueberries are much easier to assimilate, because The unique composition of blackcurrant they are in the natural formula. In terms of includes a rare but essential combination of Omega- therapeutic actions, their list impresses both in size 3 and Omega ALA-6 GLA fatty acids that improve and in the unusual effect of these food-drugs or, immune and cardiovascular functions and prevent rather, drugs-food, which are blueberries. premenstrual and menopausal symptoms, skin Fresh blueberry fruit, but also dried helps to diseases and ensure brain health. regenerate blood vessels, normalize blood sugar and Studies show that regular consumption of regenerate retinal purpura, increases the sensitivity of blackcurrant improves the health of the intestines by photoreceptors in the eye, neutralizes intestinal increasing the number of good bacteria, reduces the infections, slightly dilates coronary vessels. It number of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium protects the body against radioactivity. Blueberry, a spp. and Bacteroides spp. And significantly reduces substance contained in fruits and leaves, penetrates the activity of beta-glucuronidase. This fruit acts as a the bacterium's cell and weakens its vitality, and powerful prebiotic. administered internally, lowers blood sugar. The Another recent study found that subjects who fruits have a very good taste and are aromatic, at the received a daily mixture of berries (including same time being berries rich in vitamins A, E, B1 and blackcurrants) had a reduction in blood pressure and B2. Blueberry, a substance found in leaves has many an increase in good cholesterol (HDL), two factors healing effects, being also called "plant insulin". that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. , Therapeutic effects. Also called fruit- such as heart attack and stroke. medicine, blueberries are known over time because Blackcurrant contains powerful compounds of the benefits of sight. It also treats iron deficiency called proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins that act and gastrointestinal diseases. Fresh blueberries are against tumor cells and could help protect against also indicated in reducing the symptoms of gout, Alzheimer's disease. rheumatism and inflammatory diseases. The Consumption of blackcurrants also has decoction of blueberry leaves (1 teaspoon of leaves significant beneficial effects on visual functions, in a cup of hot water) reduces sweating of the hands including night vision. Anthocyanins from and feet, soothes inflammation in the throat blackcurrants work wonders in treating and reducing andmouth and lowers blood sugar, so it is 45 BURDUHOS Maria Daniela et al./ProEnvironment 13(2020) 44 - 48 recommended with confidence for people suffering The fruits, blackberries, are very tasty and are from diabetes. consumed as such when ripe (black and slightly soft). Blueberries have the highest antioxidant From them you can also prepare various jams, jellies, capacity of all fruits, especially due to the presence compotes, syrups and alcoholic beverages. Freshly of anthocyanin, the pigment responsible for the blue eaten fruits have a mild laxative effect. Recent color of blueberries, which stimulates the immune findings show that these fruits can prevent certain system and prevents infections. From the multitude forms of cancer. They contain vitamins A, B, C, E, K of antioxidants that blueberries have, we note the B- and sugars, being among the fruits with the highest complex vitamins, vitamins C, A and E, copper (a amount of antioxidants. The fruits contain salicylic, strong antibacterial