Ultra performance liquid chromatography analysis to study the changes in the carotenoid profile of commercial monovarietal fruit juices

Temperature regulation of carotenoid accumulation in the petals of sweet osmanthus via modulating expression of carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation genes

Background

Temperature is involved in the regulation of carotenoid accumulation in many plants. The floral color of sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans Lour.) which is mainly contributed by carotenoid content, is affected by temperature in autumn. However, the mechanism remains unknown. Here, to reveal how temperature regulates the floral color of sweet osmanthus, potted sweet osmanthus ‘Jinqiu Gui’ were treated by different temperatures (15 °C, 19 °C or 32 °C). The floral color, carotenoid content, and the expression level of carotenoid-related genes in petals of sweet osmanthus ‘Jinqiu Gui’ under different temperature treatments were investigated.

Results

Compared to the control (19 °C), high temperature (32 °C) changed the floral color from yellow to yellowish-white with higher lightness (L*) value and lower redness (a*) value, while low temperature (15 °C) turned the floral color from yellow to pale orange with decreased L* value and increased a* value. Total carotenoid content and the content of individual carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin) were inhibited by high temperature, but were enhanced by low temperature. Lower carotenoid accumulation under high temperature was probably attributed to transcriptional down-regulation of the biosynthesis gene OfPSY1, OfZ-ISO1 and OfLCYB1, and up-regulation of degradation genes OfNCED3, OfCCD1-1, OfCCD1-2, and OfCCD4-1. Up-regulation of OfLCYB1, and down-regulation of OfNCED3 and OfCCD4-1 were predicted to be involved in low-temperature-regulated carotenoid accumulation. Luciferase assays showed that the promoter activity of OfLCYB1 was activated by low temperature, and repressed by high temperature. However, the promoter activity of OfCCD4-1 was repressed by low temperature, and activated by high temperature.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that high temperature suppressed the floral coloration by repressing the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes, and activating the expression of carotenoid degradation genes. However, the relative low temperature had opposite effects on floral coloration and carotenoid biosynthesis in sweet osmanthus. These results will help reveal the regulatory mechanism of temperature on carotenoid accumulation in the petals of sweet osmanthus.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08643-0.

Effect of the Soil and Ripening Stage in Capsicum chinense var. Jaguar on the Content of Carotenoids and Vitamins

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of the ripening stage and type of soil on the concentration of carotenoids and vitamins in Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.). Pepper plants were grown in two soils named according to the Mayan classification as: K’ankab lu’um (red soil) and Box lu’um (black soil). The results of two harvests at 320 and 334 PTD (post-transplant day) showed that the ripening stage exhibited a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the concentration of carotenoids and vitamins, while the effect of the soil type was negligible. The concentration of carotenoids decreases as the ripening process of the fruit takes place, with the highest concentration of lutein (49.47 ± 0.34 mg/100 g of dry mass), β-carotene (99.92 ± 0.69 mg/100 g of dry mass) and β-cryptoxanthin (20.93 ± 0.04 mg/100 g of dry mass) in the unripe peppers. The concentration of vitamins increases as the ripening process develops, with the highest concentration of Vitamin E (9.69 ± 0.02 mg/100 g of dry mass) and Vitamin C (119.44 ± 4.72 mg/100 g of dry mass) in the ripe peppers. This knowledge could be used to select the best ripening stage to harvest Habanero peppers according to the use of the pepper and to the needs of producers/company.

Growth and Carotenoid Contents of Intercropped Vegetables in Building-Integrated Urban Agriculture

Sustainable food security due to climate and social change is more important than ever. This study was conducted to increase plant growth and bioactive contents using intercropping technology in urban agriculture. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) were intercropped in different ratios in outdoor rooftop, and lettuce (Lactuca savita L.) was grown with chicory (Cichorium intybus. L.) in the indoor LED plant growth chambers. Carotenoids in plant foods were analyzed using an ultraperformance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Chlorophyll contents were determined by the soil analysis development chlorophyll meter. Tomatoes planted with sunflowers (3 : 1) had a significantly larger stem diameter ( $p<0.05$ ), a large number of leaves ( $p<0.05$ ), and significantly higher lycopene at d88 ( $p<0.05$ ), d102 ( $p<0.001$ ), and d115 ( $p<0.01$ ), and β-carotene contents at d102 ( $p<0.05$ ) as compared to those of monocultured tomatoes. Lettuce planted in a ratio of 1 : 3 with lettuce and chicory had significantly higher contents of chlorophyll ( $p<0.05$ ), β-carotene ( $p<0.05$ ), and lutein ( $p<0.01$ ), than lettuce planted alone. On the other hand, intercropping of chicory and lettuce did not have a beneficial effect on the growth and carotenoid content of chicory. The current study indicates that plant growth and carotenoid content can be substantially modified by cocultivation, and the effects may vary depending on the type of plant and the crop ratio.

Oat (Avena sativa) Extract against Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Human Keratinocytes

Oat (Avena sativa) is well known for its various health benefits. The protective effect of oat extract against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human keratinocytes HaCaT was determined. First, extracts of two varieties of oat, Daeyang and Choyang, were analyzed for fat-soluble antioxidants such as α-tocotrienol, γ-oryzanols, lutein and zeaxanthin using an UPLC system and for antioxidant activity using a DPPH assay. Specifically, an 80% ethanol extract of Daeyang oat (Avena sativa cv. Daeyang), which had high amounts of antioxidants and potent radical scavenging activity, was further evaluated for protective effect against oxidative stress-induced cell death, intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, the phosphorylation of DNA damage mediating genes such as H2AX, checkpoint kinase 1 and 2, and p53 and the activation of apoptotic genes such as cleaved caspase-3 and 7 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in HaCaT cells. The Daeyang and Choyang oat 80% ethanol extracts had 26.9 and 24.1 mg/100 g γ-oryzanols, 7.69 and 8.38 mg/100 g α-tocotrienol, 1.25 and 0.34 mg/100 g of lutein and 1.20 and 0.17 mg/100 g of zeaxanthin, respectively. The oat 80% ethanol extract treatment (Avena sativa cv. Daeyang) had a protective effect on oxidative stress-induced cell death in HaCaT cells. In addition, the oat 80% ethanol extracts led to a significant decrease in the intracellular ROS level at a concentration of 50-200 μg/mL, the attenuation of DNA damage mediating genes and the inhibition of apoptotic caspase activities in a dose dependent manner (50-200 μg/mL). Thus, the current study indicates that an oat (Avena sativa cv. Daeyang) extract rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols, avenanthramides, γ-oryzanols, tocotrienols and carotenoids, has a protective role against oxidative stress-induced keratinocyte injuries and that oat may a useful source for oxidative stress-associated skin damage.

Analytical Methods for Extraction and Identification of Primary and Secondary Metabolites of Apple (Malus domestica) Fruits: A Review

Apples represent a greater proportion of the worldwide fruit supply, due to their availability on the market and to the high number of existing cultivar varieties and apple-based products (fresh fruit, fruit juice, cider and crushed apples). Several studies on apple fruit metabolites are available, with most of them focusing on their healthy properties’ evaluation. In general, the metabolic profile of apple fruits strongly correlates with most of their peculiar characteristics, such as taste, flavor and color. At the same time, many bioactive molecules could be identified as markers of a specific apple variety. Therefore, a complete description of the analytical protocols commonly used for apple metabolites’ characterization and quantification could be useful for researchers involved in the identification of new phytochemical compounds from different apple varieties. This review describes the analytical methods published in the last ten years, in order to analyze the most important primary and secondary metabolites of Malus domestica fruits. In detail, this review gives an account of the spectrophotometric, chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. A discussion on the quantitative and qualitative analytical shortcomings for the identification of sugars, fatty acids, polyphenols, organic acids, carotenoids and terpenes found in apple fruits is reported.

European Database of Carotenoid Levels in Foods. Factors Affecting Carotenoid Content

Many studies indicate that diets including carotenoid-rich foods have positive effects on human health. Some of these compounds are precursors of the essential nutrient vitamin A. The present work is aimed at implementing a database of carotenoid contents of foods available in the European market. Factors affecting carotenoid content were also discussed. Analytical data available in peer-reviewed scientific literature from 1990 to 2018 and obtained by HPLC/UHPLC were considered. The database includes foods classified according to the FoodEx2 system and will benefit compilers, nutritionists and other professionals in areas related to food and human health. The results show the importance of food characterization to ensure its intercomparability, as large variations in carotenoid levels are observed between species and among varieties/cultivars/landraces. This highlights the significance of integrating nutritional criteria into agricultural choices and of promoting biodiversity. The uncertainty quantification associated with the measurements of the carotenoid content was very rarely evaluated in the literature consulted. According to the EuroFIR data quality evaluation system for food composition tables, the total data quality index mean was 24 in 35, reflecting efforts by researchers in the analytical methods, and less resources in the sampling plan documentation.

A fast and simple method for determination of β-carotene in commercial fruit juice by cloud point extraction-cold column trapping combined with UV-Vis spectrophotometry

Cloud point extraction with cold column trapping (CPE-CCT) was used for the rapid preconcentration and UV-Vis spectroscopy of beta-carotene in fruit juice samples. A central composite design was employed to optimize parameters such as pH, incubation time, cloud point temperature and surfactant concentration. A detection limit of 0.01 mg/L of beta-carotene (3S_B/m), a coefficient of determination of 0.998 and a linear range of 0.04-10 mg/L were obtained. The CPE-CCT method was confirmed in comparison with the corresponding direct HPLC standard method. A simple, portable and cost-effective device was also utilized. Owing to eliminating centrifugation, the conditions of CPE-CCT were more moderate and its sample handling easier compared to conventional CPE.

Investigation of genes associated with petal variations between diploid and autotetraploid in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) by RNA-seq and sRNA-seq

Polyploidy promotes morphological, physiological, and reproductive diversity in plants. The imminent effect of chromosome doubling in plants is the enlargement of organs such as flowers and fruits, which increases the commercial value of crops. Flowering plays a vital role in the growth and development of angiosperms. Here, we prepared an isolated microspore culture of 'FT', a doubled haploid (DH) line of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis), and obtained diploid and autotetraploid plants with the same genetic background. Compared with diploids, the autotetraploids were characterized by large floral organs, dark petals, delayed flowering, and reduced fertility. The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and jasmonic acid (JA) levels in autotetraploid petals were significantly higher and the abscisic acid (ABA) level was significantly lower than those in the diploid petals. The lutein level in autotetraploid petals was nearly two times higher than that in the diploid petals. A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed 14,412 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the diploids and autotetraploids, and they were enriched in 117 Gene Ontology terms and 110 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. We detected 231 DEGs related to phytohormone signal transduction and 29 DEGs involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. An miRNA-target mRNA analysis showed that 32 DEGs regulated by 16 DEMs were associated with flowering timing (BraA03000336, BraA09004319, and BraA09000515), petal development (BraA05002408, BraA01004006, BraA09004069, and BraA04000966), flower opening (BraA07000350), and pollen development (BraA01000720, BraA09005727, and BraA01000253). This study provides information to help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic variations induced by autopolyploidy in Chinese cabbage.

Effects of Exogenous Abscisic Acid (ABA) on Carotenoids and Petal Color in Osmanthus fragrans 'Yanhonggui'

Osmanthus fragrans is a well-known native plant in China, and carotenoids are the main group of pigments in the petals. Abscisic acid (ABA) is one of the products of the metabolic pathway of carotenoids. Application of ABA could affect pigmentation of flower petals by changing the carotenoid content. However, little is known about the effects of ABA treatment on carotenoid accumulation in O. fragrans. In this study, different concentrations of ABA (0, 150 and 200 mg/L) were spread on the petals of O. fragrans 'Yanhonggui'. The petal color of 'Yanhonggui' receiving every ABA treatment was deeper than that of the control. The content of total carotenoids in the petals significantly increased with 200 mg/L ABA treatment. In the petals, α-carotene and β-carotene were the predominant carotenoids. The expression of several genes involved in the metabolism of carotenoids increased with 200 mg/L ABA treatment, including PSY1, PDS1, Z-ISO1, ZDS1, CRTISO, NCED3 and CCD4. However, the transcription levels of the latter two carotenoid degradation-related genes were much lower than of the five former carotenoid biosynthesis-related genes; the finding would explain the significant increase in total carotenoids in 'Yanhonggui' petals receiving the 200 mg/L ABA treatment.

A New Sensory Approach Combined with a Text-Mining Tool to Create a Sensory Lexicon and Profile of Monovarietal Apple Juices

Single-cultivar juices may be a valuable way to introduce different versions of a product to the market and obtain price discrimination. To communicate a product’s value, complex characteristics incorporated by each cultivar must be identified. New sensory methods rely on the assessor’s ability to recall attributes; however, the use of objective vocabularies may improve the sensory profiling. This work aimed to profile monovarietal apple juices by using projective mapping (PM) combined with ultra-flash profiling (UFP) supported by a sensory wheel built with a text-mining tool. Samples were also analyzed for physicochemical parameters to provide more information to the assessment. The assessor coordinates from PM were used in multiple factor analysis with confidence ellipses to assess differences among samples. A goodness-of-fit test was applied to select the most meaningful descriptors generated through the UFP test by calculating the expected frequency of choosing a descriptor from the sensory wheel and comparing it with the observed values. The methodology provided a more accurate sensory profile compared to previous research on fresh apples and juices. Elstar, Jonagold, and Pinova were considered as sweet juices, and Gravensteiner was described as sour and astringent, with green-apple notes. Rubinette was described as having a strong taste and cloudy aspect.

Distribution of phytochemicals and antioxidative potency in fruit peel, flesh, and seeds of Saskatoon berry

The distributions of total soluble solids, pectins, the sum of polyphenolic and terpenoid compounds as well as the antioxidative potency of fruit and their parts, such as peel, flesh, and seeds of Saskatoon berry genotypes are presented in this work. The contents of individual bioactive compounds of in this fruit fraction of Saskatoon berry cultivars and cultivation clones significantly depended on berry genotype and compounds distribution within particular parts of the fruit. The fruit peel contained mainly anthocyanins, polymerized compounds, hydroxycinnamic acids, triterpenoids, and tetraterpenids, as well as exhibited antioxidant activity. The major compounds identified in the fruit flesh included soluble solids, ash, flavonols. In turn, polymeric procyanidins was determined in the seeds of fruit. Individual parts of Saskatoon berry fruit contained many health-promoting constituents and could be deemed attractive materials for the production of functional foods or dietary supplements.

Chemical Characterization and Biotechnological Applicability of Pigments Isolated from Antarctic Bacteria

Considering the global trend in the search for alternative natural compounds with antioxidant and sun protection factor (SPF) boosting properties, bacterial carotenoids represent an opportunity for exploring pigments of natural origin which possess high antioxidant activity, lower toxicity, no residues, and no environmental risk and are readily decomposable. In this work, three pigmented bacteria from the Antarctic continent, named Arthrobacter agilis 50cyt, Zobellia laminarie 465, and Arthrobacter psychrochitiniphilus 366, were able to withstand UV-B and UV-C radiation. The pigments were extracted and tested for UV absorption, antioxidant capacity, photostability, and phototoxicity profile in murine fibroblasts (3T3 NRU PT-OECD TG 432) to evaluate their further potential use as UV filters. Furthermore, the pigments were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector-mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-MS/MS). The results showed that all pigments presented a very high antioxidant activity and good stability under exposure to UV light. However, except for a fraction of the A. agilis 50cyt pigment, they were shown to be phototoxic. A total of 18 different carotenoids were identified from 23 that were separated on a C18 column. The C50 carotenes bacterioruberin and decaprenoxanthin (including its variations) were confirmed for A. agilis 50cyt and A. psychrochitiniphilus 366, respectively. All-trans-bacterioruberin was identified as the pigment that did not express phototoxic activity in the 3T3 NRU PT assay (MPE < 0.1). Zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, and phytoene were detected in Z. laminarie 465. In conclusion, carotenoids identified in this work from Antarctic bacteria open perspectives for their further biotechnological application towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of pigment exploitation.

Black soybeans protect human keratinocytes from oxidative stress-induced cell death

Black soybeans are functional foods containing a variety of bioactives such as isoflavones, carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic acid as well as anthocyanins. Here, we examined whether Cheongja#3 black soybean extract has a protective effect on oxidative stress-induced cell death in human keratinocytes HaCaT. First, we identified fat-soluble bioactives in three varieties of soybean extracts (Saedanbaek, Daechan, and Cheongja#3). In particular, black soybean Cheongja#3 had high amounts of lutein than other varieties. We demonstrated that Cheongja#3 extract reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Cheongja#3 protected cells from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and triggered cell death determined by cell viabilities and apoptotic caspase activities. Next, we identified the underlying mechanism is due to increased Nrf2 antioxidant system by Cheongja#3, thus increasing the expression of heme oxygenases (HO)-1. These results indicated that Cheongja#3 soybean extract has protective role against oxidative stress by upregulating the Nrf-2 antioxidant system in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells.

Carotenoid Accumulation and Its Contribution to Flower Coloration of Osmanthus fragrans

Among naturally occurring pigments, carotenoids are importantly involved in the photosynthesis of plants and responsible for the coloration of petals and fruits. Osmanthus fragrans Lour., a famous ornamental plant, has many cultivars with different flower color. Petal coloration in O. fragrans mainly depends on the kinds of carotenoids and their contents. To investigate the mechanism of flower coloration in different cultivars, an analysis of phenotypic classification, phytochemistry, as well as the expression of carotenoid metabolism genes based on different groups was performed in the present study. Two main clusters including the orange-red cluster containing Aurantiacus cultivars and the yellowish-white cluster containing the other three cultivar groups were classified using the CIEL∗a∗b∗ system. No significant differences in flavonoid contents were observed between these two clusters. However, carotenoids, especially α-carotene and β-carotene, were found to have crucial roles in the diversity of floral coloration among the different cultivars. Carotenoid compositions in the petals of cultivars from both clusters consisted of α-carotene, β-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin, but carotenoid accumulation patterns during the flowering process were different. The petals of the yellowish-white cultivars exhibited high contents of β-carotene, lutein and α-carotene, whereas the petals of the orange-red cultivars mainly contained β-carotene and α-carotene. The profound diversity in the total carotenoid concentrations in the two clusters was determined by the transcript levels of OfCCD4. Furthermore, the accumulation of upstream products with orange color in orange-red cultivars was partially due to the low expression of OfCHYB, whereas the relatively higher OfCHYB expression in the petals of the yellowish-white cultivars led to higher proportions of lutein, which is yellow. We also found that downregulation of OfLCYE, which encodes 𝜀-ring cyclase, indicated that the carotenoid flux of most cultivars mainly resulted in more β, β-branched products. Additionally, carotenoid biosynthesis in green tissues and petals was compared, revealing the tissue specificity of carotenoid accumulation in O. fragrans. Therefore, the effects of multiple genes on carotenoid accumulation give rise to the colorful O. fragrans.

Bulk industrial fruit fibres. Characterization and prevalence of the original fruit metabolites

Here we analysed the content of primary and secondary metabolites in nine types of industrially processed fibres derived from the juice industry. Specifically, we examined fibre from: apple, peach, and pear, as non-citrus fruits; the peel and flesh of orange and tangerine, and lemon flesh, as citrus fruits; and carrot, as vegetable. Regarding primary metabolites, the sugar content ranged from 21.6 mg/g in lemon to 290 mg/g in orange peel and lower mass organic acid content ranged from 25.0 mg/g in pear to 250 mg/g in lemon. The content of fatty acids were constant during fibre processing, ranging from 0.5 to 1.46%. Furthermore, the fatty acid profile was not affect for the processing. Concerning secondary metabolites, industrial processing did not decrease the sterols content, which ranged from 0.51 to 1.66 μg/g. Regarding carotenoids, of note was the presence of epoxycarotenoids, which may reflect the quality of the industrial process, thus giving added value to the by-product.

A fast and reliable ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method to assess the fate of chlorophylls in teas and processed vegetable foodstuff

A total of 48 chlorophylls and derivatives were identified and successfully determined in tea and processed vegetable and fruit foodstuff by UHPLC with photodiode-array and mass spectrometry detection. The method allowed the proper separation of chlorophyll derivatives resulting from demetallation, dephytilation, decarbomethoxylation, epimerisation and copperisation. The method was performed in less than 12 min, using an optimised ternary gradient (MeOH, iPrOH, MeCN and H₂O with 10 mM of ammonium acetate) on an ACQUITY HSS T3 column. Mass spectrometry, applying both ESI and APCI ionization sources, was used for identification purposes. The method was applied to evaluate the degree of processing in teas of different origin and quality. It allowed differentiation between supermarket own-brand tea bags and teas sold by specialised shops. Pheophytins, pheophorbides and pyro derivatives were found mainly in processed green vegetable and fruit products thereof. However, chlorophyll-derived food colorants, such as Cu-chlorophyllins, Cu-pheophytins, Cu-pyropheophytins, Cu-pheophorbides and Cu-pyropheophorbides, were also detected in several products.

Enhanced Antioxidant Activity of Bioactives in Colored Grains by Nano-Carriers in Human Lens Epithelial Cells

The use of phytochemicals for preventing chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress such as cataracts is hindered by their low bioavailability. The effects of nano-carriers on the antioxidant activities of extracts of black rice with giant embryo (BRGEx) and soybeans (SBx) have been determined in human lens epithelial B3 cells. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that rGO (reduced graphene oxide) has a flat surface unlike GO (graphene oxide), which has a distinctive wrinkled structure with defects. UPLC analysis revealed 41.9 μg/100 g of γ-oryzanols in water extract of BRGE, and 111.8 μg /100 g of lutein, 757.7 μg/100 g of γ-tocotrienol, 4071.4 μg/100 g of γ-tocopherol in 40% ethanol extract of soybeans, respectively. Even though a low concentration of BRGEx alone did not show any antioxidant activity in B3 cells, co-treatment of BRGEx with rGO together substantially reduced hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal-induced DNA damage, as determined by phosphorylated γH2AX. In addition, SBx with rGO also attenuated DNA damage. Furthermore, intracellular reactive oxygen species were significantly decreased by combining extracts of these colored grains with rGO. These results suggest a potential application of nanocarriers for enhancing the bioavailability of phytochemicals.

Flavonols and Carotenoids in Yellow Petals of Rose Cultivar ( Rosa 'Sun City'): A Possible Rich Source of Bioactive Compounds

Rose flowers have received increasing interest as rich sources of bioactive compounds. The composition of flavonols and carotenoids in yellow petals of Rosa 'Sun City' was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array and mass spectrometric detectors (HPLC-PDA-MS). In total, 19 flavonols and 16 carotenoids were identified, some of which were first discovered in rose petals. Significant changes were observed in their profiles during seven blooming stages. Total flavonol contents showed the highest levels at stage 2 (S2; 1152.29 μg/g, FW). Kaempferol 7- O-glucoside and kaempferol 3- O-rhamnoside were the predominant individual flavonols. Total carotenoid concentration was highest at S4 (142.71 μg/g, FW). Violaxanthins with different geometrical configurations appeared as the major carotenoids across all blooming stages. These results indicated that 'Sun City' petals are rich sources of flavonols and carotenoids. Moreover, it is important to choose the appropriate harvest time on the basis of the targeted compounds.

Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Different Cultivars of Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon L)

Cranberries can be a component of a healthy diet, because they are a great source of health-promoting compounds and nutrients. The aims of this study were to evaluated phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in 6 cultivars of cranberry fruit grown in Poland. The content of polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and triterpenoids were determined with the use of UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, although antioxidant activity was examined with DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The cvs. "Franklin," "Howes," and "Stevens" were characterized by the highest concentration of total polyphenols (4219, 3995, and 3584 mg/100 g dm), triterpenoids (3582, 3671, and 3451 mg/kg dm), carotenoids (9.75, 8.52, and 7.94 mg/kg dm), and antioxidant activity (ABTS: 226, 264, 246; FRAP: 102, 139, 124; DPPH: 235, 320, 284 μmolTE/g dm), making these 3 cultivars especially recommendable for consumption. Furthermore, a positive correlation between content of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity was found.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The manuscript "Phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity in different cultivars of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L)" represents cultivars commonly grown in Poland that maybe beneficial offer the food industry, to develop attractive foods with a high content of biologically active substances.

Carotenoids as Potential Antioxidant Agents in Stroke Prevention: A Systematic Review

Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide. Prevention of modifiable risk factors is a cost-effective approach to decrease the risk of stroke. Oxidative stress is regarded as the major flexible operative agent in ischemic brain damage. This review presents recent scientific advances in understanding the role of carotenoids as antioxidants in lowering stroke risk based on observational studies. We searched Medline using the following terms: (Carotenoids [MeSH] OR Carotenes [tiab] OR Carotene [tiab] OR "lycopene [Supplementary Concept]" [MeSH] OR lycopene [tiab] OR beta-Carotene [tiab]) AND (stroke [MeSH] OR stroke [tiab] OR "Cerebrovascular Accident" [tiab] OR "Cerebrovascular Apoplexy" [tiab] OR "Brain Vascular Accident" [tiab] OR "Cerebrovascular Stroke" [tiab]) AND ("oxidative stress" [MeSH] OR "oxidative stress"[tiab]). This search considered papers that had been published between 2000 and 2017. Recent studies indicated that high dietary intake of six main carotenoids (i.e., lycopene, <- and®-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin) was associated with reduced risk of stroke and other cardiovascular outcomes. However, the main mechanism of the action of these nutrients was not identified, and multiple mechanisms except antioxidant activity were suggested to be involved in the observed beneficial effects. The dietary intake of six major carotenoids should be promoted as this may have a substantial positive effect on stroke prevention and stroke mortality reduction.

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Seven Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) Genotypes Grown in Poland

The basic chemical composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of fruits of three new Polish breeding clones (No. 5/6, type S, and type N) and four Canadian cultivars (cvs.) (“Martin”, “Smoky”, “Pembina”, and “Honeywood”) grown in Poland in 2016 were investigated. Fruits were analyzed for their contents of triterpenoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and polyphenolics with the ultra-performance liquid chromatography photodiode detector-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS) method, sugar with the high-performance liquid chromatography–evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) method, and antioxidant capacity with the ability to reduce free radical (ABTS) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) method. Thirty-eight bioactive compounds, including twenty-eight polyphenolic compounds (four anthocyanins, nine phenolic acids, nine flavonols, and seven flavan-3-ols), four carotenoids, two chlorophylls, and three triterpenoids were identified in the fruits. The fruits of the tested Saskatoon berry genotypes were found to be rich in phenolic compounds (3773.94–6390.36 mg/100 g·dm), triterpenoids (66.55–91.31 mg/kg·dm), and carotenoids (478.62–561.57 mg/kg·dm), with high ABTS and FRAP capacity (10.38–34.49 and 9.66–25.34 mmol·Trolox/100 g·dm, respectively). Additionally, the berries of these genotypes seemed to be a good source of sugar (9.02–19.69 g/100 g), pectins (0.67%–1.33%), and ash (0.59%–0.67%). Some genotypes of Saskatoon berry, especially the clones type S, type N, and cvs. “Honeywood” and “Smoky”, may be selected for their potential applications in commercial cultivation to produce fruits with valuable health-promoting nutritional effects on human health. Additionally, three new genotypes that may offer new functional materials can be recommended for fruit growers.

The composition of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) genotypes grown in central Poland

Bioactive compounds in fruits of four Saskatoon berry genotypes grown in a trial in central Poland are presented in this paper. Two Polish breeding clones (no. 5/6 and type S) and two Canadian cultivars - 'Martin' and 'Smoky' - were used in studies conducted in 2015-2016. Fourty-eight bioactive compounds were identified in Saskatoon berry genotypes, including twenty-nine polyphenolic compounds (4 anthocyanins, 9 phenolic acids, 9 flavonols, 7 flavan-3-ols), 3 triterpenoids, 7 carotenoids, 5 chlorophylls and 4 tocopherols. The results of the analysis showed that the fruits of clone no. 5/6 had significantly lower contents of pro-healthy compounds and antioxidant activity in comparison to the other three tested genotypes. These genotypes, which may offer new functional material, can be recommended for fruit growers to increase their income. Their fruits can be used for the food processing industry and for the production of health beneficial products.

Guide for Carotenoid Identification in Biological Samples

In recent years there has been considerable interest in carotenoids with respect to their biological roles in animals, microorganisms, and plants, in addition to their use in the chemical, cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical, poultry, and other industries. However, the structural diversity, the different range of concentration, and the presence of cis/trans-isomers complicate the identification of carotenoids. This review provides updated information on their physical and chemical properties as well as spectroscopic and chromatographic data for the unambiguous determination of carotenoids in biological samples.

Bottlenecks in carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation in rice endosperm are influenced by the precursor-product balance

The profile of secondary metabolites in plants reflects the balance of biosynthesis, degradation and storage, including the availability of precursors and products that affect the metabolic equilibrium. We investigated the impact of the precursor-product balance on the carotenoid pathway in the endosperm of intact rice plants because this tissue does not normally accumulate carotenoids, allowing us to control each component of the pathway. We generated transgenic plants expressing the maize phytoene synthase gene (ZmPSY1) and the bacterial phytoene desaturase gene (PaCRTI), which are sufficient to produce β-carotene in the presence of endogenous lycopene β-cyclase. We combined this mini-pathway with the Arabidopsis thaliana genes AtDXS (encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, which supplies metabolic precursors) or AtOR (the ORANGE gene, which promotes the formation of a metabolic sink). Analysis of the resulting transgenic plants suggested that the supply of isoprenoid precursors from the MEP pathway is one of the key factors limiting carotenoid accumulation in the endosperm and that the overexpression of AtOR increased the accumulation of carotenoids in part by up-regulating a series of endogenous carotenogenic genes. The identification of metabolic bottlenecks in the pathway will help to refine strategies for the creation of engineered plants with specific carotenoid profiles.

Advanced development in phytochemicals analysis of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (2011-2014)

In 2011, we wrote a review for summarizing the phytochemical analysis (2006-2010) of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (Zhao et al., J. Chromatogr. A 1218 (2011) 7453-7475). Since then, more than 750 articles related to their phytochemical analysis have been published. Therefore, an updated review for the advanced development (2011-2014) in this topic is necessary for well understanding the quality control and health beneficial phytochemicals in these materials, as well as their research trends.

Green extraction methods and environmental applications of carotenoids-a review

This review covers and discusses various aspects of carotenoids including their chemistry, classification, biosynthesis, extraction methods (conventional and non-conventional), analytical techniques and biological roles in living beings.

Characterization of conventional, biodynamic, and organic purple grape juices by chemical markers, antioxidant capacity, and instrumental taste profile

The objectives of this study were to characterize organic, biodynamic, and conventional purple grape juices (n = 31) produced in Europe based on instrumental taste profile, antioxidant activity, and some chemical markers and to propose a multivariate statistical model to analyze their quality and try to classify the samples from the 3 different crop systems. Results were subjected to ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA). No statistical significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed among juices from the 3 crop systems. Using PCA and HCA, no clear separation among crop systems was observed, corroborating the ANOVA data. However, PCA showed that the producing region highly affects the chemical composition, electronic tongue parameters, and bioactivity of grape juices. In this sense, when organic and biodynamic were grouped as "nonconventional" juices, SIMCA model was able to discriminate 12 out of 13 organic/biodynamic juices and 17 out of 18 conventional juices, presenting an efficiency of 93.5%, while 11 out of 13 non-conventional and 100% conventional grape juices were correctly classified using PLSDA. The use of electronic tongue and the determination of antioxidant properties and major phenolic compounds have shown to be a quick and accurate analytical approach to assess the quality of grape juices.