National Research Center for Plant Pigments (NRC-CCPV) at U.S.A.M.V. Cluj-Napoca, Romania

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DCB) at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) has a long lasting tradition and experience in many areas of research and education connected to Natural Products (Plant Phytochemicals).

            Since 1952 (more than 50 Years now) three generations of professors and researchers developed a high-level educational studies on chemistry and biochemistry of plants, animals and food. Concomitantly the research activity was directed more and more to the evaluation of agri-food product quality and safety, development of new technologies to obtain functional ingredients and additives for food, based on plant extracts.

            In 2001, the NRC-CCPV group was authorised as National Research Center for the Chemistry and Biochemistry of Natural products (Plant pigments, agrifood products) by the National Council of Scientific Research in High Education (CNCSIS) – Ministry of Education and Research, Romania.

            This Research Center includes, beside the members of from our university, as well other groups from  Research Center of Biology Cluj-Napoca, Department of Phyto-Botanics (University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca), Department of Physics (University “Babes-Bolyai” Cluj-Napoca), Horticulture Institute.

Activities

§         fundamental and applicative research on phytochemicals, mainly carotenoid and phenolic derivatives, but also phytosterols and phytoestrogens

§         chemical and biochemical analysis to evaluate the quality and safety of agri-food products, by-product valorization and bioproducts (phyto-pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food supplements) by its own laboratory specialized in analysis.

§         educational training and research activity for advanced students (diploma, master, PhD)

§         center of consultancy for companies of Food Industry, Biotechnology, Cosmetics and Food Supplements