Nada El Darra

At BAU, I taught undergradute courses: Research Techniques, Food safety & Hygiene, Food Technology, Food service management, Food chemistry, Food additives, Food laws & regulations, Principles of food safety, Biochemistry. I taught as well postgradute courses: Food safety management system, Food laws and regulations, food chemistry and food manufacturing. My general teaching philosophy is based on the student-based learning theory that gets the student involved in all the different aspects of course delivery. My teaching style is hybrid and student-centered. It involves interactive lectures, group discussions,  case-studies, assignments, hand-on experiments and field visits. I incorporate several innovative learning methods in my lectures, such as the TBL (team based learning), as a structured form of small-group learning that emphasizes student preparation out of class and application of knowledge in class. I am incorporating the blended learning techniques in some of my courses.

Undergraduate Courses

Spring Courses

• Food Additives (2 Crs.)
• Food Laws and Regulations (2 Crs.)
• Principles of Food Safety (1 Crs.)
• Environmental Science and Biomedicine (2 Crs.)
• Food Technology (3 crs.)
• Biochemistry (3 crs.)

Fall Courses

• Food Service Management (3 Crs.)
• Research Techniques (2 Crs.)
• Biochemistry (3 crs.)
• Food Safety & Hygiene (3 Crs.)
• Food Chemistry (3 Crs.)
• Principles of Food Safety (1 Cr.)

Graduate Courses

Spring Courses

• Food Laws & regulations (2 Crs.)
• Food safety & quality management system (3 crs.)

Fall Courses

• Food chemistry (3 crs.)
• Food manufacturing (3 crs.)

I am interested in two main research axis: Food technology and Food Safety.

My main research projects in food technology consist of elucidating the role of different emerging techniques in extracting bioactive compounds mainly polyphenols from Food and Food wastes in order to valorize them. I investigated different extraction techniques (Ultrasound, microwave assisted extraction, pulsed electric field, thermal treatment and infrared) for their effects on recycling the polyphenols of fruit and fruit pomace. The assessment of the biological properties (antiradical, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic and cytotoxicity) of the polyphenols extracted was performed as well.

Whereas, my main research projects in Food safety concern developing sensitive detection methods to detect food adulteration.

Publications:

Ghenwa Saleh, Nada El Darra, Samer Kharroubi, Mohammad T.Farran (2020). Influence of storage conditions on quality and safety of eggs collected from Lebanese farms. Food Control.

Ian Watson, Prashant Kamble, Callum Shanks, Zakir Khan, Nada El Darra (2020). Decontamination of chilli flakes in a fluidized bed using combined technologies: Infrared, UV and ozone. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies,59, 102-248

Nada El Darra, Karim Raafat, and Iman El-Ghazzawi (2019). Screening of Nasal and Hands Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci Colonization among Lebanese Nutraceuticals Handlers, Pharmacognosy Journal, 11,6,1336-1341.

Nadia Smadi, Adla Jammoul, Nada El Darra (2019). Assessment of Antibiotic and Pesticides Residues in Breast Milk of Syrian Refugee Lactating Mothers, Toxics, 7, 39.

Lucia Gambacorta, Nada El Darra, Rajaa Fakhoury, Antonio F Logrieco, Michele Solfrizzo (2019). Incidence and levels of Alternaria mycotoxins in spices and herbs produced worldwide and commercialized in Lebanon.106, 106-273.

Karim Raafat, Nada El-Darra, Fatima A Saleh (2019). Gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Prunus cerasus phytochemicals and their possible mechanisms of action, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Karim Raafat, Nada El-Darra, Fatima A Saleh, Hiba N Rajha, Nicolas Louka (2019). Optimization of infrared-assisted extraction of bioactive lactones from Saussurea lappa L. and their effects against gestational diabetes. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 15, 208-2018

Adla Jammoul, Nada El Darra (2019).Evaluation of Antibiotic Residues in Chicken Meat Samples in Lebanon. Antibiotics, 8, 2.

Nada El Darra, Lucia Gambacorta, Michele Solfrizzo (2019). Multimycotoxins occurrence in spices and herbs commercialized in Lebanon. Food Control, 95, 63–70.

Dina Cheaib, Nada El Darra, Hiba Rajha, Iman El-Ghazzawi, Youssef Mouneimne, Adla Jammoul, Richard Maroun, Nicolas Louka (2018). Study of the selectivity and bioactivity of polyphenols using infrared assisted extraction from apricot pomace compared to conventional methods.Antioxidant, 7.

Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Espérance Debs, Fatima Saleh, Iman El-Ghazzawi, Nicolas Louka, and Richard G. Maroun (2018). Comparative Study between Ethanolic and 𝛽-Cyclodextrin Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Peach Pomace. International Journal of Food Science, 2018, 1-9.

Dina Cheaib, Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Iman El Ghazzawi, Richard G. Maroun, Nicolas Louka (2017). Biological activity of apricot byproducts polyphenols using solid–liquid and infrared-assisted technology. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2018, 12552.

Dina Cheaib, Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Iman El-Ghazzawi, Richard G. Maroun and Nicolas Louka (2018). Effect of the Extraction Process on the Biological Activity of Lyophilized Apricot Extracts Recovered from Apricot Pomace. Antioxidants, 2018, 7-11.

Dina Cheaib, Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Richard G. Maroun, and Nicolas Louka (2018). Systematic and Empirical Study of the Dependence of Polyphenol Recovery from Apricot Pomace on Temperature and Solvent Concentration Levels. The Scientific World Journal, 2018, 1-13.

Michel Afram, Joseph Touma, Nada El Darra (2018).Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 in ground meat commercialized in Lebanese Urban Cities. Journal of Health and Well being.

Nada EL DARRA, Celine HAJJAR, and Michel AFRAM (2018). Chemical and microbiological analysis of Wells and Rivers in Lebanese Urban Cities

Richard G. Maroun, Hiba N. Rajha, Nada El Darra, Sally El Kantar, Stéphanie Chacar, Espérance Debs, Eugène Vorobiev, Nicolas Louka (2018). Polyphenols: Properties, Recovery, and Applications: In book. Woodhead Publishing.

Fatima A. Saleh, Nada El-Darra, Karim Raafat, Iman El Ghazzawi (2018).  Phytochemical Analysis of Nigella sativa L. Utilizing GC-MS Exploring its Antimicrobial Effects against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Pharmacognosy Journal, 10, 99-105.

Karim Raafat, Nada El-Darra, Fatima A. Saleh, Hiba N. Rajha, Richard G. Maroun and Nicolas Louka (2017). Infrared-Assisted Extraction and HPLC-Analysis of Prunus armeniaca L. Pomace and Detoxified-Kernel and their Antidiabetic Effects. Phytochemical Analysis.

Hiba N. Rajha, Nada El Darra, Sally El Kantar, Zeina Hobaika, Nicolas Louka and Richard G. Maroun (2017). A Comparative Study of the Phenolic and Technological Maturities of Red Grapes Grown in Lebanon. Antioxidants, 2017, 6-8.

Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Fatima Saleh, Rami Al-Oweini, Richard G. Maroun, Nicolas Louka (2017). Food fraud detection in commercial pomegranate molasses syrups by UV-VIS spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and HPLC methods. Food control, 78, 132-137.

Fatima A. Saleh, Nada El Darra, Karim Raafat (2017). Hypoglycemic effects of Prunus cerasus L. pulp and seed extracts on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice with histopathological evaluation. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 88, 870–877.

Nada El Darra, Hiba N. Rajha, Marie-Agnès Ducasse, Mohammad F. Turk, Nabil Grimi, Richard G. Maroun, Nicolas Louka, Eugène Vorobiev (2016). Effect of pulsed electric field treatment during cold maceration and alcoholic fermentation on major red wine qualitative and quantitative parameters. Food Chemistry, 213, 352–360.

Nada El Darra, Mohammad F. Turk, Marie-Agnès Ducasse, Nabil Grimi, Richard G. Maroun ,Nicolas Louka, Eugène Vorobiev (2016). Changes in polyphenol profiles and color composition of freshly fermented model wine due to pulsed electric field, enzymes and thermovinification pretreatments. Food Chemistry, 194, 944–950

Hiba N Rajha, Nada El Darra, Zeina Hobaika, Nadia Boussetta, Eugene Vorobiev, Richard G Maroun, Nicolas Louka (2014). Extraction of Total Phenolic Compounds, Flavonoids, Anthocyanins and Tannins from Grape Byproducts by Response Surface Methodology. Influence of Solid-Liquid Ratio, Particle Size, Time, Temperature and Solvent Mixtures on the Optimization Process. Food and Nutrition Sciences; 5, 397-409.

Hiba N. Rajha, Nicolas Louka, Nada El Darra, Zeina Hobaika, Nadia Boussetta, Eugène Vorobiev, Richard G. Maroun (2014). Multiple Response Optimization of High Temperature, Low Time Aqueous Extraction Process of Phenolic Compounds from Grape Byproducts. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 5, 351-360.

Nada El Darra, Nabil Grimi, Eugène Vorobiev, Nicolas Louka, Richard Maroun (2013). Extraction of Polyphenols from Red Grape Pomace Assisted by Pulsed Ohmic Heating. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 6, 1281-1289.

Nada El Darra, Nabil Grimi, Richard G. Maroun, Nicolas Louka, Eugène Vorobiev (2013). Pulsed electric field, ultrasound, and thermal pretreatments for better phenolic extraction during red fermentation. European Food Research and Technology, 236, 47-56.

Hiba N. Rajha, Nada El Darra, Eugène Vorobiev, Nicolas Louka, Richard G. Maroun (2013). An Environment Friendly, Low-Cost Extraction Process of Phenolic Compounds from Grape Byproducts. Optimization by Multi-Response Surface Methodology. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 4, 650-659.

Nada El Darra, Nabil Grimi, Eugène Vorobiev, Richard G. Maroun, Nicolas Louka (2013). Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Cold Maceration of Cabernet franc and Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes. Am J Enol Vitic., 64, 476-484.

Nada El Darra, Joanna Tannous, Paulette Bou Mouncef , Eugène Vorobiev, Nicolas Louka, Richard G.Maroun (2012). A Comparative Study on Antiradical and Antimicrobial Properties of Red Grapes Extracts Obtained from Different Vitis vinifera Varieties. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3, 1420-1432

Hiba N. Rajha ; Nada El Darra ; Nicolas Louka ; Richard G. Maroun ; Walter Ziegler ; Herbert Böchzelt. Valorization of industrial waste using energy saving procedures. Phenolic compounds purification from grape by-products by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) " 2012 International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries (REDEC), Beirut, 2012.

Anthony Ojeil, Nada El Darra, Youssef El Hajj, Paulette Bou Mouncef 1 , Toufic J. Rizk2 et Richard G. Maroun (2010). IDENTIFICATION ET CARACTERISATION DE COMPOSES PHENOLIQUES EXTRAITS DU RAISIN CHATEAU KSARA. Lebanese Science Journal, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2010

Saleh, Fatima A, Nada El-Darra, and Karim Raafat. 2019. “Red Sour Cherry for the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.” In Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes, Elsevier, 509–14.

Maroun, R. G.; Rajha, H. N.; El Darra, N.; El Kantar, S.; Chacar, S.; Debs, E.; Vorobiev, E.; Louka, N. 8 - Emerging Technologies for the Extraction of Polyphenols from Natural Sources; Galanakis  Recovery, and Applications, C. M. B. T.-P. P., Ed.; Woodhead Publishing, 2018; pp 265–293.

Grants:

CNRS_CNR Grant entitled “Multimycotoxin occurrence in Lebanese and Italian spices and herbs” between Beirut Arab University (BAU) and The Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA – CNR). Duration: 15/3/2017-15/3/2019. Amount: 20,000, euros.

 Intramural grant entitled “Investigation of Alternative treatments for Spices Decontamination” with the University of Glasgow Amount: 10,000, Dollars

Member of faculty council committee 

Member of Advisory Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University
Member of CCPE Steering Committee
Member of the Health and safety Committee

March 2016: supervision of students participating in a competition entitled “"Using New Technologies in Food Fraud Detection" held by the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
2-4th February 2016: Organizer and Instructor of a workshop with QUALEB_MISNITRY OF ECONOMY AND TRADE entitled “Advanced ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System Practical implementation of GMP, GHP, HACCP, ISO 9001” (3 days)
13-14th January 2015: Organizer and Instructor of a workshop with QUALEB_MISNITRY OF ECONOMY AND TRADE entitled “ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System” at Beirut Arab University-Faculty of Health Sciences (2 days)
19-21th January 2015: Organizer and Instructor of a workshop with UNIDO entitled “HACCP training module” at Beirut Arab University-Faculty of Health Sciences (3 days)
13 March 2015: Organizer of a seminar with ECOLAB entitled “Cleaning and disinfection in foodservice establishments” at Beirut Arab University-Faculty of Health Sciences (3 hours_13 March 2015).
Attended «The Arab Forum for Food Safety and Quality» February 25-26, 2015, Beirut Lebanon.
Attended “Arab forum food security challenges and prospects” Amman_jordan November 2014
Certificate of attendance at Beirut Arab University in a workshop entitled “Authentic Teaching & Learning”
Certificate of participation at the Arab Forum For Environment and Development in the seventh annual conference entitled “Food Security In Arab Countries”.
Certificate of attendance at Beirut Arab University in a workshop entitled “The Enhancement of Staff-members Teaching skills”
Certificate of attendance at MEFOSA in a workshop entitled “HACCP for Poultry Sector”
Certificate of attendance at QUALEB in a workshop entitled “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System: Principles & Guidelines for its application”.


Conferences:
- Hiba N.Rajha, Nada El Darra, Nicolas Louka, Richard G.Maroun, Walter Ziegler, Herbert Böchzelt (2012). Valorization of industrial waste using energy saving procedures. Phenolic compounds purification from grape by-products by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE). In proceeding of: Renewable Energies for Developing Countries (REDEC), 2012 International Conference on, At Beirut.
-El Darra N, Ducasse MA, Turk MF, Grimi N, Maroun RG, Louka N, Guérin-Schneider R, Vorobiev E (2012). "Pulsed electric field, enzymatic and thermovinified pretreatments for enhancing the phenolic extraction during red fermentation".Macrowine, Macrovision of viticulture, wine-making and markets.
- Nada EL DARRA, Nabil GRIMI, Eugène VOROBIEV, Nicolas LOUKA, Richard MAROUN (2011), Intensification de l’extraction des composés phénoliques pendant la macération pré-fermentaire à froid des raisins rouges. Congrès Nationnal SFGP XIIIème, Lille, FRANCE.
- Nada EL DARRA, Nabil GRIMI, Eugène VOROBIEV, Nicolas LOUKA, Richard MAROUN (2011). Effect Of Pulsed Ohmic Heating On The Extraction Of Phenolic Compounds From Grape Pomace, 6e Congrès international du CIGR, Nanthes, FRANCE .
-Nada El Darra, Marie-Agnès Ducasse, Mohammad F.Turk, Nabil Grimi, Richard G.Maroun, Nicolas Louka, Rémi Guérin-Schneider, Eugène Vorobiev (2012). Pulsed electric field, enzymatic and thermovinified pretreatments for enhancing the phenolic extraction during red fermentation, Macrowine, Macrovision of viticulture, wine-making and markets, Bordeaux.
- Nada El Darra, Nabil Grimi, Richard G.Maroun, Nicolas Louka, Eugène Vorobiev (2012). Comparison of the ultrasound, pulsed electric field and thermal pretreatments prior to red fermentation, BFE, International Conference Bio & Food Electrotechnologies, Italy.
- Nada El Darra, Nabil Grimi, Nicolas Louka, Richard G.Maroun, Eugène Vorobiev. Effects of Pulsed Electric Field on prefermentative cold maceration of Cabernet Franc Grapes, BFE, International Conference Bio & Food Electrotechnologies, Italy.
- C.Delsart, N.Darra, N.Grimi, M;A Silva, R.Ghidossi, E.Vorobiev, P;L;Teissedre, and M,Mietton-Peuchot (2011), Effect of pulsed electric fields on the grape as an extraction process in red winemaking, Congrès “Fruit and Veg Processing” , Avignon, FRANCE.
- Anthony Ojeil, Nada El Darra, Youssef El Hajj, Paulette Bou Mouncef, Toufic J.Rizk et Richard G. Maroun (2010), Identification et caractérisation fonctionnelle de composés phénoliques extraits du raisin château KSARA, Lebanese Science Journal, vol. 11, N0.2.
Supervisor (thesis):
2015-2016 : Co- Supervising a master thesis entitled : “FUNCTIONALIZED POLYOXOMETALATES for water hardness treatment and antimicrobial effect”.