Effects of heat and shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) supplementation on nutritional quality and enzymatic browning of apple juice

Allium fistulosum L. Alleviates Apple Replant Disease by Suppressing Fusarium solani

Fusarium solani has often been isolated from replanted apple roots, suggesting that it is associated with apple replant disease. The mechanism underlying the ability of the mixed cropping of apple trees with Allium fistulosum L. to alleviate apple replant disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the pathogenicity of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 isolated from diseased roots and the effect of A. fistulosum L. and its root secretions on Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 and apple seedings. The field experiment showed that A. fistulosum L. not only significantly reduced the amount of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 in replanted soil but also increased the biomass of the grafted apple seedlings. The GC-MS analysis indicated that dimethyl disulphide and diallyl disulphide were active molecules in the root exudates of A. fistulosum L. They inhibited the growth of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 mycelium and decreased the number of spores germinated. In addition, these compounds reduced the amount of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 under replanted conditions and promoted the growth of grafted apple seedlings. Overall, mixed cropping with A. fistulosum L. might be an effective approach for cultivating apple trees and controlling apple replant disease.

Therapeutic Uses and Pharmacological Properties of Shallot (Allium ascalonicum): A Systematic Review

Background

Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) is a traditional plant species used throughout the world both for culinary purposes and as a folk remedy. To date (i.e., April 2022), there is no report on the main pharmacological activities exerted by shallot preparations and/or extracts.

Scope and Approach

The aim of this study was to comprehensively review the pharmacological activities exerted by shallot, with rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the scientific rigor of studies. Prisma guidelines were followed to perform the literature search.

Key Findings and Conclusions

The literature search yielded 2,410 articles of which 116 passed the required rigorous criteria for inclusion in this review. The extracts exert a potent antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo, as well as a strong inhibitory capacity on various pathogens with relevant implications for public health. Moreover, shallot can be used as adjuvant therapy in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer prevention, and other non-communicable diseases associated with inflammatory and oxidative pathways. Future studies investigating the chemical composition of this species, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the empirically observed pharmacological actions are required.

Suitability Assessment of PLA Bottles for High-Pressure Processing of Apple Juice

The aim of the present study is to assess the use of polylactic acid (PLA) bottles as an alternative to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ones for high-pressure processing (HPP) of apple juice. The treatment of PLA bottles at 600 MPa for 3 min did not cause alterations in the packaging shape and content, confirming the suitability of PLA bottles to withstand HPP conditions as well as PET bottles. Quantification of total mesophilic bacterial and fungal load suggested HPP treatment can be effectively applied as an alternative to pasteurization for apple juice packed in PLA bottles since it guarantees microbial stability during at least 28 days of refrigerated storage. The headspace gas level did not change significantly during 28 days of refrigerated storage, irrespective of the bottle material. Color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) of the HPP-treated juice were similar to those of the fresh juice. Irrespective of the packaging type, the total color variation significantly changed during storage, showing an exponential increase in the first 14 days, followed by a steady state until the end of observations. Overall, PLA bottles proved to offer comparable performances to PET both in terms of mechanical resistance and quality maintenance.

Influence of Cryoconcentration on Quality Attributes of Apple Juice (Malus Domestica cv. Red Fuji)

Apple juice was subjected to centrifugal block cryoconcentration (CBCC) for three cycles and their effect on the physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, volatile profile, and sensory analysis was investigated. In the final cycle, the solutes were approximately four-fold of the initial condition (≈14 °Brix) and the color (ΔE* ≈ 25.0) was darker than the fresh juice, with bioactive compound concentration values close to 819 mg GAE/100 g d.m., 248 and 345 mg CEQ/100 g d.m. for total polyphenol, flavonoid, and flavanol content, respectively, equivalent to a retention of over 60%. DPPH and FRAP assays presented high antioxidant activities, with values of approximately 1803 μmol TE/100 g d.m. and 2936 μmol TE/100 g d.m, respectively. The cryoconcentrate showed a similar aromatic profile to the fresh juice, with 29 and 28 volatile compounds identified, respectively. The centrifugal force allowed to obtain excellent process parameters, with 73%, 0.87 (kg/kg), and 85% for efficiency, solute yield, and percentage of concentrate, respectively. Sensory evaluation shows that the odor, aroma, and flavor of fresh sample were remained in the reconstituted cryoconcentrate sample, with good qualifications (four points in a five-score hedonic scale) by trained panelists. Therefore, CBCC can preserve important quality attributes from apple juice.