• The "EURO-PLANT-ACT" project, entitled "Cooperation for the implementation of innovative methods of evaluation of medicinal plants with central roles in pharmacy, agriculture and nutrition", was a transnational strategic partnership co-financed by European funds, carried out between September 2022 and August 2024.
This project, with as manager on Dr. Eng. Daniela Voica, ROMPAN vice president, was coordinated by "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timișoara, Romania, and involved prestigious partners in Europe, including "King Mihai I" University of Life Sciences in Timișoara, Romania, Osip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, Croatia, University of Calabria, Italy, and The Romanian Employers' Association of the Milling, Bakery and Flour Products Industry (ROMPAN).
The main objective of the project was to develop a collaboration at European level for the transfer of knowledge and best practices in the field of medicinal plants with applications in agriculture, pharmacy and nutrition. Among the notable achievements of the project is the development of an innovative curriculum for the course "Management of medicinal plants - from cultivation to consumer safety", intended for the continuous training of specialists and the training of new experts, targeting a number of 10 experts and 60 young master's and doctoral students. Also, informing the population through dissemination activities played an important role.
The project also highlighted the essential role of medicinal plants in improving food industry products, highlighting their benefits in bakery and pastry products. ROMPAN had an active role in the development of content related to the activity of medicinal plants against pathogenic bacteria prevalent in the food industry and the use of these plants as value-added ingredients in functional bakery and pastry products, including organizing a workshop dedicated to dietary food technologies and medicinal plants , thereby contributing to increasing the level of innovation in the industry.
"Dietary Food Technology and Medicinal Plants"
The workshop was organized on March 28, 2024 by BREAKING (Romanian Employers' Association of the Milling, Baking and Flour Industry Industry), with the theme "Dietary Food Technology and Medicinal Plants". 43 specialists from the food industry participated in this workshop, where the curricula and course support were presented.
Medicinal plants can be integrated in the form of whole plants, extracts or essential oils, having multiple benefits, such as improving sensory properties, increasing antioxidant capacity and providing antimicrobial properties.
Thus, herbs such as dill, parsley, sage, basil and thyme are used to season products and improve their sensory characteristics. For example, the addition of cumin can improve the quality parameters of bread, regarding volume and porosity.
Plant extracts, such as those of Camellia sinensis (green tea), Asparagus racemosus and Curcuma longa, are effective in increasing the antioxidant capacity of bakery products without adversely affecting sensory properties.
Essential oils from medicinal plants, especially from the families Lamiaceae and Umbelliferae, have been recognized for their antimicrobial activity. These oils can extend the shelf life of the products. Studies have shown that essential oils extracted from mustard seeds and black cumin have shown fungicidal activity against various species of fungi.
The project highlights the significant benefits of integrating medicinal plants into bakery and pastry products, contributing to the diversification and improvement of their nutritional and functional aspects. Successful use of these ingredients requires careful formulation and strict quality assurance to maximize the benefits provided.
Article source: Press release
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
Read on White Art and: ROMPAN 2024 General Assembly
