Optimization of the Recovery of Anthocyanins from Chokeberry Juice Pomace by Homogenization in Acidified Water

Enzymatic extraction of anthocyanins from the pomace of aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)

Efficient extraction of natural pigments is a key focus in enhancing the utilization of by-products for applications in the food industry. In this study, an enzymatic extraction method using Pectinex Ultra SP-L, Pectinex XXL, Novoshape, and Celluclast was used to investigate natural pigment production from the pomace of aronia, a commercially important plant. The method's performance was monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection by measuring total and individual anthocyanin levels. Pectinex XXL (0.5%) yielded the highest total anthocyanin extraction (2082.41 ± 85.69 mg/100 g) in the single enzyme treatment, followed by Pectinex Ultra SP-L (0.05%), Celluclast (0.01%), and Novoshape (0.1%). Combining Pectinex XXL (0.25%) with Celluclast (0.01%) increased the extraction ratio of total anthocyanins (2 323.04 ± 61.32 mg/100 g) by ∼50.7% compared with that obtained using the solvent extraction method. This study demonstrated an effective enzymatic extraction method for application in the food industry.

Effects of Anthocyanins on Components of Metabolic Syndrome-A Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant health problem. The co-occurrence of obesity, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidaemia is estimated to affect 20-30% of adults worldwide. Researchers are seeking solutions to prevent and treat the conditions related to MetS. Preventive medicine, which focuses on modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including diet, plays a special role. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has documented health benefits, mainly due to the polyphenolic compounds it contains. Anthocyanins represent a major group of polyphenols; they exhibit anti-atherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, as well as beneficial effects on endothelial function and oxidative stress. This review presents recent reports on the mechanisms involved in the protective effects of anthocyanins on the body, especially among people with MetS. It includes epidemiological data, in vivo and in vitro preclinical studies and clinical observational studies. Anthocyanins are effective, widely available compounds that can be used in both the prevention and treatment of MetS and its complications. Increased consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods may contribute to the maintenance of normal body weight and modulation of the lipid profile in adults. However, further investigation is needed to confirm the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on serum glucose levels, improvement in insulin sensitivity and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

The Efficiency of Selected Green Solvents and Parameters for Polyphenol Extraction from Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx)) Pomace

Chokeberry pomace is a potential source of natural colourants, antimicrobial agents, and anti-senescence compounds due to its high polyphenols content. Therefore, this study assessed the efficiency of green solvents (50% ethanol, 50% glycerol, and 100% distilled water, all acidified with 1% citric acid or 1% formic acid) for anthocyanin and total phenolic content (TPC) extraction from lyophilised chokeberry pomace. Extraction was performed in a water bath at 40, 50, and 60 °C for 60 and 120 min, followed by ultrasonic treatment for 15 and 30 min. Based on the results, 50% ethanol + 1% citric acid yielded significantly higher total anthocyanin content in the case of both spectrometric and HPLC measurements (1783 ± 153 mg CGE/100 g DW and 879.5 mg/100 g DW) at 50 °C for 60 min. Citric acids seem more effective compared to formic acid. The highest values of TPC were obtained with 50% glycerol + 1% formic acid at 50 °C for 60 min (12,309 ± 759 mg GAE/100 g DW). This study provides evidence that a substantial quantity of polyphenols, which can potentially be used as a natural food additive, can be efficiently extracted with 50% ethanol + 1% citric acid or 50% glycerol at 50 °C for 60 min from chokeberry pomace.

Innovation and Winemaking By-Product Valorization: An Ohmic Heating Approach

The by-products of the winemaking process can represent chances for the development of new products. This study focused on the “zero waste” strategy development for by-products generated within winemaking from white and red grape varieties cultivated in the north of Portugal. The phytochemical properties of by-products were identified and characterized. Ohmic heating (OH) as a green extraction method was also applied to grape pomace due to their unknown effects on centesimal and phytochemical compositions. Both protein and carbohydrates were shown to be higher in grape bagasse than in stems. Additionally, red bagasse is richer in bioactive compounds (BC) than white bagasse. The sugar content was 21.91 and 11.01 g/100 g of DW in red and white grape bagasse, respectively. The amount of protein was 12.46 g/100 g of DW for red grape bagasse and 13.18 g/100 g of DW for white. Regarding the extraction methods, two fractions were obtained, a liquid fraction and solid (the remainder after the methodology application). OH presented a higher antioxidant capacity than a conventional (CONV) method. In addition, both extracts presented similar contents of anthocyanins, e.g., delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside. The solid fraction presented higher amounts of protein and phenols bound to fiber than CONV, which allows its use as a functional ingredient. In conclusion, OH can be an alternative extraction method compared with CONV methods, avoiding non-food grade solvents, thus contributing to circular economy implementation.

Anthocyanins from Agro-Industrial Food Waste: Geographical Approach and Methods of Recovery-A Review

Drastic growth in the amount of global food waste produced is observed every year, not only due to incessant population growth but also economic growth, lifestyle, and diet changes. As a result of their increasing health awareness, people are focusing more on healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Thus, following worldwide fruit and vegetable consumption and their processing in various industries (juice, jams, wines, preserves), significant quantities of agro-industrial waste are produced (pomace, peels, seeds) that still contain high concentrations of bioactive compounds. Among bioactive compounds, anthocyanins have an important place, with their multiple beneficial effects on health; therefore, their extraction and recovery from food waste have become a topic of interest in recent years. Accordingly, this review aims to summarize the primary sources of anthocyanins from food waste and the novel eco-friendly extraction methods, such as pulsed electric field extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques will also be covered to encourage future studies and opportunities focusing on improving these extraction techniques.

A Case Study for the Extraction, Purification, and Co-Pigmentation of Anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa Juice Pomace

Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace is a by-product from the juice industry very rich in anthocyanins and other bioactive components. Recovery and purification of anthocyanins from the pomace is a viable valorization strategy that can be implemented to produce high-value natural food colorants with antioxidant properties. In this study, chokeberry pomace was subjected to enzyme-assisted extraction using commercial pectinases. The extracts were further purified by adsorption-desorption using an acrylic resin and stabilized by co-pigmentation with ferulic acid. The anthocyanin concentration and antioxidant activity of the extracts were unaffected by the enzymatic treatment at the conditions tested. The total phenolic content of the extracts suffered minor variations depending on the enzyme formulation used, whereas the dissolved solid content increased in all cases. The adsorption-desorption strategy allowed a 96% recovery of the anthocyanins initially present in the extract, whereas the co-pigmentation treatment magnified the intensity of the color in terms of absorbance, and improved the stability during storage up to one month.

Aronia Melanocarpa: Identification and Exploitation of Its Phenolic Components

The phenolic components of Aronia melanocarpa were quantitatively recovered by three successive extractions with methanol. They comprise anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin glycosides) phenolic acids (chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids) and flavonols (quercetin glycosides). Approximately 30% of the total phenolic compounds are located in the peel and the rest in the flesh and seeds. Peels contain the major part of anthocyanins (73%), while the flesh contains the major part of phenolic acids (78%). Aronia juice, rich in polyphenols, was obtained by mashing and centrifugation, while the pomace residue was dried and subjected to acidified water extraction in a fixed bed column for the recovery of residual phenolics. A yield of 22.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry pomace was obtained; however, drying caused anthocyanins losses. Thus, their recovery could be increased by applying extraction on the wet pomace. The extract was encapsulated in maltodextrin and gum arabic by spray drying, with a high (>88%) encapsulation yield and efficiency for both total phenols and anthocyanins. Overall, fresh aronia fruits are a good source for the production of polyphenol-rich juice, while the residual pomace can be exploited, through water extraction and spray drying encapsulation for the production of a powder containing anthocyanins that can be used as a food or cosmetics additive.

Fruit Juice Industry Wastes as a Source of Bioactives

Food processing sustainability, as well as waste minimization, are key concerns for the modern food industry. A significant amount of waste is generated by the fruit juice industry each year. In addition to the economic losses caused by the removal of these wastes, its impact on the environment is undeniable. Therefore, researchers have focused on recovering the bioactive components from fruit juice processing, in which a great number of phytochemicals still exist in the agro-industrial wastes, to help minimize the waste burden as well as provide new sources of bioactive compounds, which are believed to be protective agents against certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Although these wastes contain non-negligible amounts of bioactive compounds, information on the utilization of these byproducts in functional ingredient/food production and their impact on the sensory quality of food products is still scarce. In this regard, this review summarizes the most recent literature on bioactive compounds present in the wastes of apple, citrus fruits, berries, stoned fruits, melons, and tropical fruit juices, together with their extraction techniques and valorization approaches. Besides, on the one hand, examples of different current food applications with the use of these wastes are provided. On the other hand, the challenges with respect to economic, sensory, and safety issues are also discussed.

How Do the Different Types of Carrier and Drying Techniques Affect the Changes in Physico-Chemical Properties of Powders from Chokeberry Pomace Extracts?

Chokeberry fruit, one of the richest plant sources of bioactives, is processed into different foodstuffs, mainly juice, which generates a considerable amount of by-products. To follow the latest trends in the food industry considering waste management, the study aimed to produce chokeberry pomace extract powders and conduct experimental and chemometric assessment of the effect of different carriers and drying techniques on the physico-chemical properties of such products. The PCA analysis showed that the examined powders were classified into two groups: freeze-dried (variation in case of moisture content, water activity, colour, and browning index) and vacuum-dried (bulk density). No clear pattern was observed for the physical properties of carrier added products. The sum of polyphenolics (phenolic acids, anthocyanins and flavonols) ranged from 3.3-22.7 g/100 g dry matter. Drying techniques had a stronger effect on the polyphenols profile than the type of carrier. Hydroxymethyl-L-furfural formation was enhanced by inulin addition during high-temperature treatment. Overall, the addition of maltodextrin and trehalose mixture for freeze drying and vacuum drying at 90 °C caused the highest retention of polyphenolics and the lowest formation of hydroxymethyl-L-furfural; however, an individual and comprehensive approach is required when the obtainment of high-quality chokeberry powders is expected.

Novel extraction of polyphenols from sour cherry pomace using natural deep eutectic solvents - Ultrafast microwave-assisted NADES preparation and extraction

In this work, new approaches for the green extraction of polyphenols from sour cherry pomace were explored. Three Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) systems based on choline chloride (ChCl) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and malic acid, urea, and fructose (MalA, Ur, and Fru) as hydrogen bond donors (HBD) were used. NADES systems were prepared by heating and stirring (H&S), ultrasound (US), and microwave (MW) methods. It was found that MW-assisted preparation was the fastest requiring less than 30 s. Polyphenol extraction from cherry pomace was performed also by three mentioned methods, and compared with conventional methods. MW extraction was the most rapid with less than 5 min necessary for the extract preparation. All three NADES systems were highly efficient for anthocyanin extraction, but the most efficient was ChCl:MalA system. Extract based on ChCl:MalA system was for 62.33% more efficient for anthocyanin extraction comparing with the conventional solvent.

Nut Shells as Adsorbents of Pollutants: Research and Perspectives

Shells, kernels, and other wastes have been investigated by researchers as potential adsorbents for a number of pollutants like methylene blue (MB), Remazol Rot RB, acid blue 80, acid blue 324, or as raw materials for the production of activated carbons and biochars to serve the same objective. Activated carbons formed by such wastes have been found to remove different heavy metals like uranium, arsenic, and cadmium while their biochars removed others like lead and copper. Furthermore, the production of these adsorbents can be combined with additional ways of valorization of this type of waste like bio-oil or bio-gas generation or even added-value materials extraction. In this work, conducted research on the ability of pistachio, pecan, cashew nut, and castor seed shells to selectively adsorb and thus remove pollutants from synthetic wastewaters is being shown. This type of research needs to be expanded in order to incorporate competitive adsorption, adsorbents regeneration, and recovery of adsorbates and to evaluate their performance with real wastewaters, before they find their way to large scale applications for the removal of the respective compounds from natural waters and wastewaters. An appropriate life cycle assessment is also necessary for the evaluation of the environmental benefits arising from their use.

Properties of Biocomposites from Rapeseed Meal, Fruit Pomace and Microcrystalline Cellulose Made by Press Pressing: Mechanical and Physicochemical Characteristics

This paper presents the results of research on biocomposites made of the mixture of post-extraction rapeseed meal, microcrystalline cellulose and various fruit pomace (chokeberry, blackcurrant, apple and raspberry pomace). The biocomposites were made in the process of mechanical thickening by means of a heated mould (die and stamp) which is located between two heating elements installed on a hydraulic press. The presented research combines mechanical engineering and material engineering issues. The physical and mechanical tests of obtained biocomposites included mechanical strength measurements, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), colour change tests and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) tests of the internal structure after breaking the sample. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests were carried out. Generally, the bend tests and Young's modulus were significantly increased, for example, biocomposites with an addition of chokeberry pomace had the flexural strength higher by approximately 25% in relation to the primary sample. Furthermore, it is interesting to note the increase of water contact angle of these biocomposites by 40% in relation to the primary sample. The research indicates the potential for using fruit pomace for the needs of biocomposite production.

Analyzing COVID-19 virus based on enhanced fragmented biological Local Aligner using improved Ions Motion Optimization algorithm

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus is a havoc pandemic that infects millions of people over the world and thousands of infected cases dead. So, it is vital to propose new intelligent data analysis tools and enhance the existed ones to aid scientists in analyzing the COVID-19 virus. Fragmented Local Aligner Technique (FLAT) is a data analysis tool that is used for detecting the longest common consecutive subsequence (LCCS) between a pair of biological data sequences. FLAT is an aligner tool that can be used to find the LCCS between COVID-19 virus and other viruses to help in other biochemistry and biological operations. In this study, the enhancement of FLAT based on modified Ions Motion Optimization (IMO) is developed to produce acceptable LCCS with efficient performance in a reasonable time. The proposed method was tested to find the LCCS between Orflab poly-protein and surface glycoprotein of COVID-19 and other viruses. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model succeeded in producing the best LCCS against other algorithms using real LCCS measured by the SW algorithm as a reference.