Physicochemical characterisation of four cherry species (Prunus spp.) grown in China

Insight into flavor difference of cherry (Prunus avium L.) grown in facility environment and outdoors through metabolomics and correlation analysis

The flavor profiles of cherries cultivated in greenhouse and those grown in open fields show significant variations, however, the underlying flavor-contributing factors remain unidentified. Hence, a joint investigation with widely targeted metabolomics analysis, volatile fingerprint analysis, and descriptive sensory analysis for the Russia 8 and Tieton cherry cultivars was conducted using UPLC-MS/MS and GC × GC-TOFMS to clarify the flavor differences of open-air and greenhouse-grown cherries. The study found that open-air cultivation could lead to the accumulation of non-volatile flavor substances and prompted appearance of higher acidity, astringency, plum-like flavor, and fresh herb notes; most of differential metabolites were significantly positively correlated with astringency, plum-like flavor and bitterness. Through correlation analysis and path analysis, potential flavor components and key important pathways contributing to flavor disparities were provided, and light intensity, soil moisture content, temperature and humidity were inferred as the main factors affecting the flavor profiles of open-air and greenhouse-grown cherries.

Combined metabolomics and bioactivity assays kernelby-productsof two native Chinese cherry species: The sources of bioactive nutraceutical compounds

Cherry kernels are a by-product of cherries that are usually discarded, leading to waste and pollution. In this study, the chemical composition of 21 batches of cherry kernels from two different cherry species was analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. The in vitro antioxidant activity, cellular antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative activity of these kernel extracts were also determined, and a correlation analysis was conducted between differential compounds and biological activity. A total of 49 differential compounds were screened. The kernels of Prunus tomentosa were found to have significantly higher total phenol, total flavonoid content, and biological activity than those of Prunus pseudocerasus (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that flavonoids had the greatest contribution to biological activity. The study suggests that both species of cherry kernel, particularly Prunus tomentosa, could be a potential source of bioactive compounds that could be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Identifying potential anthocyanin biosynthesis regulator in Chinese cherry by comprehensive genome-wide characterization of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene family

BACKGROUND

Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don] (syn. Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.) is an economically important fruiting cherry species with a diverse range of attractive colors, spanning from the lightest yellow to the darkest black purple. However, the MYB transcription factors involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis underlying fruit color variation in Chinese cherry remain unknown.

RESULTS

In this study, we characterized the R2R3-MYB gene family of Chinese cherry by genome-wide identification and compared it with those of 10 Rosaceae relatives and Arabidopsis thaliana. A total of 1490 R2R3-MYBs were classified into 43 subfamilies, which included 29 subfamilies containing both Rosaceae MYBs and AtMYBs. One subfamily (S45) contained only Rosaceae MYBs, while three subfamilies (S12, S75, and S77) contained only AtMYBs. The variation in gene numbers within identical subfamilies among different species and the absence of certain subfamilies in some species indicated the species-specific expansion within MYB gene family in Chinese cherry and its relatives. Segmental and tandem duplication events primarily contributed to the expansion of Chinese cherry R2R3-CpMYBs. The duplicated gene pairs underwent purifying selection during evolution after duplication events. Phylogenetic relationships and transcript profiling revealed that CpMYB10 and CpMYB4 are involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chinese cherry fruits. Expression patterns, transient overexpression and VIGS results confirmed that CpMYB10 promotes anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit skin, while CpMYB4 acts as a repressor, inhibiting anthocyanin biosynthesis of Chinese cherry.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of R2R3-MYB gene family in Chinese cherry and Rosaceae relatives, and identifies two regulators, CpMYB10 and CpMYB4, involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chinese cherry. These results help to develop and utilize the potential functions of anthocyanins in Chinese cherry.

Comparative metabolomics profiling highlights unique color variation and bitter taste formation of Chinese cherry fruits

Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don], native to China, is an economically important fruit crop with attractive colors and delicious flavors. However, the specific metabolites present in cherry fruits have remained unknown. Here, we firstly characterized 1439 metabolite components of Chinese cherry fruits, predominantly including amino acids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Moreover, we screened ten biomarkers of Chinese cherry accessions by ROC curve analysis. Among 250 flavonoids, 26 structurally unique anthocyanins collectively determined fruit color, with cyanidins playing a dominant role. Differences in accumulated metabolites between anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin pathways were likely responsible for the variation in fruit color, ranging from yellow to black purple. Meanwhile, we found limocitrin-7-O-glucoside, along with eight other compounds, as underlying contributors to bitter off-taste experienced in fruits. This study provides insights into the regulatory network of metabolites involved in color variation and bitterness formation and genetic improvement of Chinese cherry fruits.

Variability in the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Phenolic Compounds and the In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Leaves

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is a deciduous tree belonging to the Rosaceae Juss. family. Cherry leaves are an underutilized source of biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of the phenolic compounds, as well as the total antioxidant activity, in leaf samples of P. cerasus cultivars and to elucidate the cultivars with particular phytochemical compositions. The phytochemical profiles of P. cerasus leaves vary significantly in a cultivar-dependent manner. The total content of identified phenolic compounds varied from 8.254 to 16.199 mg/g in the cherry leaves. Chlorogenic acid ranged between 1413.3 µg/g ('North Star') and 8028.0 µg/g ('Note'). The total content of flavonols varied from 4172.5 µg/g ('Vytenu zvaigzde') to 9030.7 µg/g ('Tikhonovskaya'). The total content of identified proanthocyanidins varied from 122.3 µg/g ('Note') to 684.8 µg/g ('Kelleris'). The highest levels of phloridzin (38.1 ± 0.9 µg/g) were found in samples of 'Molodezhnaya', while the lowest level of this compound was determined in the leaf samples of 'Turgenevka' (6.7 ± 0.2). The strongest antiradical (138.0 ± 4.0 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) and reducing (364.9 ± 10.5 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) activity in vitro was exhibited by the cultivar 'Vytenu zvaigzde' cherry leaf sample extracts. 'Kelleris', 'Note', and 'Tikhonovskaya' distinguish themselves with peculiar phytochemical compositions.

Kaempferol 3-O-Rutinoside, a Flavone Derived from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, Reduces Body Temperature through Accelerating the Elimination of IL-6 and TNF-α in a Mouse Fever Model

Fever is a serious condition that can lead to various consequences ranging from prolonged illness to death. Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (T. hemsleyanum) has been used for centuries to treat fever, but the specific chemicals responsible for its antipyretic effects are not well understood. This study aimed to isolate and identify the chemicals with antipyretic bioactivity in T. hemsleyanum extracts and to provide an explanation for the use of T. hemsleyanum as a Chinese herbal medicine for fever treatment. Our results demonstrate that kaempferol 3-rutinoside (K3OR) could be successfully isolated and purified from the roots of T. hemsleyanum. Furthermore, K3OR exhibited a significant reduction in rectal temperature in a mouse model of fever. Notably, a 4 μM concentration of K3OR showed more effective antipyretic effects than ibuprofen and acetaminophen. To explore the underlying mechanism, we conducted an RNA sequencing analysis, which revealed that PXN may act as a key regulator in the fever process induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the mouse model of fever, K3OR significantly promoted the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α during the early stage in the LPS-treated group. However, during the middle to late stages, K3OR facilitated the elimination of IL-6 and TNF-α in the LPS-treated group. Overall, our study successfully identified the chemicals responsible for the antipyretic bioactivity in T. hemsleyanum extracts, and it answered the question as to why T. hemsleyanum is used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating fever. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of T. hemsleyanum in managing fever, and they provide a basis for further research and development in this field.

Soluble sugar and organic acid composition and flavor evaluation of Chinese cherry fruits

Chinese cherry is an economically important fruit crop native to China. Flavor quality is greatly influenced by compositions of soluble sugars and organic acids. To better understand the flavor quality of Chinese cherry, we determined sugar and acid components in thirty-eight landrace and cultivar collections, and two wild resources using the HPLC method. Glucose and fructose were the main components, accounting for 85.91% of soluble sugars. Malic acid was the predominant organic acid, with an average proportion of 65.73% of total acids. Correlation and PCA analysis revealed seven key indicators for evaluating fruit flavor. Compared with wild Chinese cherry, the cultivated collections exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars, especially fructose, and lower levels of organic acid, particularly malic acid in fruits. Finally, we have established grading criteria for seven flavor indicators in Chinese cherry. Our study provides valuable references for identifying flavor compounds and improving flavor quality of Chinese cherry.

Comparative antioxidant activity and untargeted metabolomic analyses of cherry extracts of two Chinese cherry species based on UPLC-QTOF/MS and machine learning algorithms

P. pseudocerasus and P. tomentosa are the two native Chinese cherry species of high economic and ornamental worths. Little is known about the metabolic information of P. pseudocerasus and P. tomentosa. Effective means are lacking for distinguishing these two similar species. In this study, the differences in total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and in vitro antioxidant activities in 21 batches of two species of cherries were compared. A comparative UPLC-QTOF/MS-based metabolomics coupled with three machine learning algorithms was established for differentiating the cherry species. The results demonstrated that P. tomentosa had higher TPC and TFC with average content differences of 12.07 times and 39.30 times, respectively, and depicted better antioxidant activity. Total of 104 differential compounds were identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS metabolomics. The major differential compounds were flavonoids, organooxygen compounds, and cinnamic acids and derivatives. Correlation analysis revealed differences in flavonoids content such as procyanidin B1 or isomer and (Epi)catechin. They could be responsible for differences in antioxidant activities between the two species. Among three machine learning algorithms, the prediction accuracy of support vector machine (SVM) was 85.7%, and those of random forest (RF) and back propagation neural network (BPNN) were 100%. BPNN exhibited better classification performance and higher prediction rate for all testing set samples than those of RF. The study herein found that P. tomentosa had higher nutritional value and biological functions, and thus considered for usage in health products. Machine models based on untargeted metabolomics can be effective tools for distinguishing these two species.

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provide Insights into the Coloring Mechanism of Dark-red and Yellow Fruits in Chinese Cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G. Don]

Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G. Don] is an important fruit tree from China that has excellent ornamental, economic, and nutritional values with various colors. The dark-red or red coloration of fruit, an attractive trait for consumers, is determined by anthocyanin pigmentation. In this study, the coloring patterns during fruit development in dark-red and yellow Chinese cherry fruits were firstly illustrated by integrated transcriptome and widely-targeted metabolome analyses. Anthocyanin accumulation in dark-red fruits was significantly higher compared with yellow fruits from the color conversion period, being positively correlated to the color ratio. Based on transcriptome analysis, eight structural genes (CpCHS, CpCHI, CpF3H, CpF3'H, CpDFR, CpANS, CpUFGT, and CpGST) were significantly upregulated in dark-red fruits from the color conversion period, especially CpANS, CpUFGT, and CpGST. On contrary, the expression level of CpLAR were considerably higher in yellow fruits than in dark-red fruits, especially at the early stage. Eight regulatory genes (CpMYB4, CpMYB10, CpMYB20, CpMYB306, bHLH1, CpNAC10, CpERF106, and CpbZIP4) were also identified as determinants of fruit color in Chinese cherry. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 33 and 3 differential expressed metabolites related to anthocyanins and procyanidins between mature dark-red and yellow fruits. Cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside was the predominant anthocyanin compound in both fruits, while it was 6.23-fold higher in dark-red than in yellow fruits. More accumulated flavanol and procyanidin contents resulted in less anthocyanin content in flavonoid pathway in yellow fruits due to the higher expression level of CpLAR. These findings can help understand the coloring mechanism of dark-red and yellow fruits in Chinese cherry, and provide genetic basis for breeding new cultivars.

Behind the Scenes of Anthocyanins-From the Health Benefits to Potential Applications in Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Fields

Anthocyanins are widespread and biologically active water-soluble phenolic pigments responsible for a wide range of vivid colours, from red (acidic conditions) to purplish blue (basic conditions), present in fruits, vegetables, and coloured grains. The pigments' stability and colours are influenced mainly by pH but also by structure, temperature, and light. The colour-stabilizing mechanisms of plants are determined by inter- and intramolecular co-pigmentation and metal complexation, driven by van der Waals, π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and metal-ligand interactions. This group of flavonoids is well-known to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which explains the biological effects associated with them. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the role of anthocyanins as natural colorants, showing they are less harmful than conventional colorants, with several technological potential applications in different industrial fields, namely in the textile and food industries, as well as in the development of photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells, as new photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy, pharmaceuticals, and in the cosmetic industry, mainly on the formulation of skin care formulations, sunscreen filters, nail colorants, skin & hair cleansing products, amongst others. In addition, we will unveil some of the latest studies about the health benefits of anthocyanins, mainly focusing on the protection against the most prevalent human diseases mediated by oxidative stress, namely cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. The contribution of anthocyanins to visual health is also very relevant and will be briefly explored.

Screening of Plant-Derived Natural Extracts to Identify a Candidate Extract Capable of Enhancing Lipid Synthesis in Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND

Reduced lipid content in the stratum corneum is a major cause of skin-barrier dysfunction in various pathological conditions. Promoting lipid production is a potential strategy to improve skin-barrier function. Recent evidence supports the beneficial effects of adiponectin on lipid metabolism and senescence in keratinocytes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate whether plant extracts can enhance skin-barrier function.

METHODS

We screened fruit and herb extracts that enhance the lipid synthesis of keratinocytes via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and SIRT1 signaling in the adiponectin pathway. The levels of major lipid synthesis enzymes and transcription factors as well as epidermal barrier lipids involved in adiponectin-associated epidermal barrier formation were evaluated in the herbal extracts- or adiponectin-treated human epidermal keratinocyte and equivalent models. The mRNA expression of major lipid synthesis enzymes increased following treatment with Lycii Fructus , Prunus tomentosa , and Melia toosendan extracts.

RESULTS

The expression of transcription factors SIRT1, liver X receptor α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) were upregulated. Levels of free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides were elevated. The expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers increased. In particular, among fruit extracts with a detectable effect, Melia toosendan induced the highest expression of lipid synthase.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that Melia toosendan is a promising candidate for improving skin-barrier function.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses of Anthocyanin Accumulation Mechanisms Reveal Metabolite Variations and Key Candidate Genes Involved in the Pigmentation of Prunus tomentosa Thunb. Cherry Fruit

Prunus tomentosa Thunb. has excellent nutritional, economic, and ornamental values with different fruit color. The red coloration of fruit is determined by anthocyanin pigmentation, which is an attractive trait for consumers. However, the mechanisms underlying fruit color formation in the P. tomentosa cherry are not well understood. In this research, the pigmentation patterns in red-color P. tomentosa (RP) fruit and white-color P. tomentosa (WP) were evaluated. Anthocyanin content in matured RP fruit was significantly abundant compared with WP fruit. Metabolomic profiling revealed that pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, and pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside were the predominant anthocyanin compounds in the RP fruit, while, WP fruit had less anthocyanin compositions and lower level. Then, integrative analyses of transcriptome and metabolome identified 285 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) closely related to anthocyanin differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Among them, nine genes were involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, transport and degradation pathway, including four biosynthesis genes (PtPAL1, PtDFR, PtANS, and PtUFGT), two transport genes (PtGST11, PtABC10), and three degradation genes (PtPOD1, PtPOD16, PtPOD73). Transcriptome data and real-time PCR showed that the transcript levels of biosynthesis and transport genes were significantly higher in RP than in WP, especially PtANS, PtUFGT, and PtGST11, suggesting they may play key roles in red-colored fruit formation. Meanwhile, the degradation-related genes PtPOD1/16/73 took on exactly opposite trend, suggesting their potential effects on anthocyanin degradation. These results provide novel insights into color patterns formation mechanisms of cherries fruit, and the candidate key genes identified in anthocyanin biosynthesis, transport and degradation may provide a valuable resource for cherry breeding research in future.

Effects of Different Treatments on Physicochemical Characteristics of ‘Kyoho’ Grapes during Storage at Low Temperature

Low temperature storage is widely used to maintain the postharvest quality of table grape. However, grape clusters easily undergo deterioration without treatment during the storage time. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of postharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), calcium chloride (1%) and ethanol (16%), and the combination of 1-MCP with calcium chloride and ethanol treatments on maintenance of quality of table grapes ‘Kyoho’ (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) under 5 °C and 0 °C storage. Changes in decay incidence, weight loss, rachis browning and quality indexes of grape clusters were investigated. The results were as follows: all treatments significantly reduced the decay incidence, weight loss, rachis browning at both low temperatures storage; 1-MCP had positive effect for reducing the decay incidence in early stage, but no effect in late stage; there are no significant variations of taste and color quality indexes under two low temperatures storage, regardless of the treatments. Overall findings suggested that the combination of 1-MCP with calcium chloride and ethanol treatment is suitable for short-term 0 °C storage, while for long-term 0 °C storage, calcium chloride (1%) and ethanol (16%) treatment should be selected.

Lab Scale Extracted Conditions of Polyphenols from Thinned Peach Fruit Have Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, and Hypolipidemic Properties

Thinned peach polyphenols (TPPs) were extracted by ultrasonic disruption and purified using macroporous resin. Optimized extraction conditions resulted in a TPPs yield of 1.59 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g FW, and optimized purification conditions resulted in a purity of 43.86% with NKA-9 resin. TPPs composition was analyzed by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS; chlorogenic acid, catechin, and neochlorogenic acid were the most abundant compounds in thinned peaches. Purified TPPs exhibited scavenging activity on DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, and FRAP. TPPs inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase by competitive and noncompetitive reversible inhibition, respectively. TPPs also exhibited a higher binding capacity for bile acids than cholestyramine. In summary, TPPs from thinned peaches are potentially valuable because of their high antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic capacities, and present a new incentive for the comprehensive utilization of thinned peach fruit.

Cherry Polyphenol Extract Ameliorated Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and nonspecific inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum, and its etiology remains obscure. Cherry polyphenols showed potential health-promoting effects. However, both the protective effect and mechanism of cherry polyphenols on UC are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of the free polyphenol extract of cherry in alleviating UC and its possible mechanism of action. Our study revealed that the free polyphenol extract of cherry management significantly alleviated UC symptoms, such as weight loss, colon shortening, the thickening of colonic mucous layer, etc. The free polyphenol extract of cherry treatment also introduced a significant reduction in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO), while causing a significant elevation in levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This indicated that such positive effects were performed through reducing oxidative damage or in a cytokine-specific manner. The immunofluorescence analysis of ZO-1 and occludin proteins declared that the free polyphenol extract of cherry had the potential to prompt intestinal barrier function. The reduced expression levels of β-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1 and GSK-3β suggested that the cherry extract performed its positive effect on UC by suppressing the Wnt/β-ctenin pathway. This finding may pave the way into further understanding the mechanism of cherry polyphenols ameliorating ulcerative colitis.

Determination and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Australia-Grown Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.) and Their Potential Antioxidant Properties

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are popular fruits around the world with a high nutritional value and abundant phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds of cherries contribute to positive health benefits. This study aimed at determining the phenolic content and antioxidant activities in four Australian-grown sweet cherry cultivars, including Bing, Ron's, Merchant, and Lapins, as well as the identification of individual phenolic compounds with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quantum time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS²). Lapins exhibits the highest total phenolic content (TPC) value (1.73 ± 0.90 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g) while Ron's exhibits the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) value (0.51 ± 0.02 mg QE/g). In 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), reducing power assay (RPA), and total antioxidant content (TAC) assays, Merchant exhibited the highest values (0.51 ± 0.07, 1.74 ± 0.04, and 2.79 ± 0.09 mg AAE/g, respectively) and almost showed the highest antioxidant activity. Ron's presented the highest value (1.21 ± 0.09 mg EDTA/g) in ferrous ion-chelating activity (FICA) assay and exhibits the strongest metal chelating ability. The correlation between phenolic contents and antioxidant assays was observed. In the LC-ESI-QTOF-MS² analysis, a total of 43 phenolic compounds has been detected in four sweet cherry cultivars, including 11 phenolic acids, 25 flavonoids, 5 other phenolic compounds, 1 lignan, and 1 stilbene. Venn graph showed that Lapins has the greatest number of unique compounds. Our study shows the presence of phenolic acids and provides information to be utilized as an ingredient in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.

Omnifarious fruit polyphenols: an omnipotent strategy to prevent and intervene diabetes and related complication?

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic syndrome which cannot be cured. Recently, considerable interest has been focused on food ingredients to prevent and intervene in complications of diabetes. Polyphenolic compounds are one of the bioactive phytochemical constituents with various biological activities, which have drawn increasing interest in human health. Fruits are part of the polyphenol sources in daily food consumption. Fruit-derived polyphenols possess the anti-diabetic activity that has already been proved either from in vitro studies or in vivo studies. The mechanisms of fruit polyphenols in treating diabetes and related complications are under discussion. This is a comprehensive review on polyphenols from the edible parts of fruits, including those from citrus, berries, apples, cherries, mangoes, mangosteens, pomegranates, and other fruits regarding their potential benefits in preventing and treating diabetes mellitus. The signal pathways of characteristic polyphenols derived from fruits in reducing high blood glucose and intervening hyperglycemia-induced diabetic complications were summarized.

Integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome reveals metabolomic variations and candidate genes involved in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit quality during development and ripening

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), one of the most appreciated and most important commercial temperate fruits, has high sensory quality and nutritional value. Investigating its metabolic variations provides valuable information on the formation of fruit quality. In this study, widely targeted LC-MS/MS based metabolomics was used to identify and quantify metabolic changes during 'Black Pearl' sweet cherry development and ripening. A total of 263 significant differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were detected during the four fruit-development stages. Significant differences were observed in the composition and content of compounds in the four stages of cherry development, especially sugars, organic acids, and flavonoids. Moreover, transcriptome analysis provided a molecular basis for metabolic variations during fruit development. A total of 6724 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Further correlation analysis of major DEMs and DEGs showed that 19 key DEGs were involved in sugar metabolism, 23 key DEGs in organic acid metabolism, and 13 key DEGs in flavonoid metabolism. The upregulated genes involved in the flavonoid pathway probably play an important role in regulating the rapid increase of anthocyanin content during fruit development. These comprehensive analysis data provide a better understanding to improve fruit quality traits based on molecular and metabolic levels.

Dietary Effects of Anthocyanins in Human Health: A Comprehensive Review

In recent years, the consumption of natural-based foods, including beans, fruits, legumes, nuts, oils, vegetables, spices, and whole grains, has been encouraged. This fact is essentially due to their content in bioactive phytochemicals, with the phenolic compounds standing out. Among them, anthocyanins have been a target of many studies due to the presence of catechol, pyrogallol, and methoxy groups in their chemical structure, which confer notable scavenging, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, being already recommended as supplementation to mitigate or even attenuate certain disorders, such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurological pathologies. The most well-known anthocyanins are cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside. They are widespread in nature, being present in considerable amounts in red fruits and red vegetables. Overall, the present review intends to discuss the most recent findings on the potential health benefits from the daily intake of anthocyanin-rich foods, as well as their possible pharmacological mechanisms of action. However, before that, some emphasis regarding their chemical structure, dietary sources, and bioavailability was done.

Molecular and Hormonal Mechanisms Regulating Fleshy Fruit Ripening

This article focuses on the molecular and hormonal mechanisms underlying the control of fleshy fruit ripening and quality. Recent research on tomato shows that ethylene, acting through transcription factors, is responsible for the initiation of tomato ripening. Several other hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA) and brassinosteroids (BR), promote ripening by upregulating ethylene biosynthesis genes in different fruits. Changes to histone marks and DNA methylation are associated with the activation of ripening genes and are necessary for ripening initiation. Light, detected by different photoreceptors and operating through ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5(HY5), also modulates ripening. Re-evaluation of the roles of 'master regulators' indicates that MADS-RIN, NAC-NOR, Nor-like1 and other MADS and NAC genes, together with ethylene, promote the full expression of genes required for further ethylene synthesis and change in colour, flavour, texture and progression of ripening. Several different types of non-coding RNAs are involved in regulating expression of ripening genes, but further clarification of their diverse mechanisms of action is required. We discuss a model that integrates the main hormonal and genetic regulatory interactions governing the ripening of tomato fruit and consider variations in ripening regulatory circuits that operate in other fruits.

Traditional Applications of Tannin Rich Extracts Supported by Scientific Data: Chemical Composition, Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility

Tannins are polyphenolic compounds historically utilized in textile and adhesive industries, but also in traditional human and animal medicines or foodstuffs. Since 20th-century, advances in analytical chemistry have allowed disclosure of the chemical nature of these molecules. The chemical profile of extracts obtained from previously selected species was investigated to try to establish a bridge between traditional background and scientific data. The study of the chemical composition of these extracts has permitted us to correlate the presence of tannins and other related molecules with the effectiveness of their apparent uses. The revision of traditional knowledge paired with scientific evidence may provide a supporting background on their use and the basis for developing innovative pharmacology and food applications based on formulations using natural sources of tannins. This traditional-scientific approach can result useful due to the raising consumers' demand for natural products in markets, to which tannin-rich extracts may pose an attractive alternative. Therefore, it is of interest to back traditional applications with accurate data while meeting consumer's acceptance. In this review, several species known to contain high amounts of tannins have been selected as a starting point to establish a correlation between their alleged traditional use, tannins content and composition and potential bioaccessibility.

Effect of temperature fluctuation on colour change and softening of postharvest sweet cherry

The inevitable temperature fluctuation during cold chain transport accelerates the colour change and softening of postharvest sweet cherry, leading to further deterioration of quality and decline of the marketable value of cherries. The influences of temperature fluctuation on the contents of total anthocyanin, phenolic, malondialdehyde, and sodium carbonate-soluble pectin (SSP), as well as the activities of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in sweet cherry, were assessed. In addition, the effects of temperature fluctuation on the activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methyl esterase (PME), and beta-galactosidase (β-Gal) activities, and the paPG, paPME, and paPME genes expression were studied. The evolution of SSP nano-morphology was measured by atomic force microscopy. The results showed that the temperature fluctuation promoted anthocyanin synthesis, phenolic metabolism, and malondialdehyde accumulation, which immediately affected the brightness (6.2% lower than that of the cherry stored at 5 °C) of sweet cherry. Temperature fluctuation also led to a significant increase in POD and PPO activities during subsequent isothermal storage, accelerating the colour change (24.8% more than that of the cherry stored at 5 °C), which almost reached the level observed during constant 10 °C storage. In addition, temperature fluctuation not only affected the firmness (13.7% lower than that of the cherry stored at a constant temperature of 5 °C) of fruit immediately, but also, during subsequent isothermal storage, accelerated the deterioration of firmness (19.6% lower than that of the cherry stored at a constant temperature of 5 °C). This could be explained by temperature fluctuation inducing the upregulation of paPG1-3, paPME3, and paPME4 expression, which led to a 3.5 and 1.5-fold increase in PG and PME activity, respectively. This led to degradation of the aggregated SSP to its nanostructural basic units. Furthermore, temperature fluctuation resulted in upregulated expression of paβ-Gal1 and paβ-Gal3 and enhanced β-Gal activity during subsequent isothermal storage. The results provide theoretical guidance for the transportation, storage, and preservation of postharvest sweet cherry.

The inevitable temperature fluctuation induced anthocyanin synthesis, phenolic metabolism, and alkali-soluble pectin degradation, which lead to sweet cherry enzymatic browning and softening.

Chemical Composition of 21 Cultivars of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) Fruit Cultivated in Poland

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is a very important fruit crop for producers as well as consumers. To obtain information on sour cherry fruit, we determined the sugar and organic acid composition and phenolic compound contents of twenty-one cultivars and genotypes of Prunus cerasus L. by HPLC quantification. Antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power (FRAP) and determination of substances reacting with Folin–Ciocalteu reagent (FCRS). The main organic acids in sour cherries were malic and malonic acids, and the main sugars were glucose and fructose. The highest sugar content was found in the “Lucyna” cultivar and the highest organic acids in “Paraszt Meggy” and “Suda Hardy”. The richest in phenolic compounds were “Wieluń 17”, “Sokówka Nowotomyska”, “Grosenkirch” “Sokówka Nowotomyska” “Grosenkirch” (anthocyanins, flavanols and total phenolics), and “Meteor” (phenolic acids). Flavan 3-ols were not quantified in every cultivar. “Dradem, “Turgieniewka”, “Wróble”, and “Nana” contained the smallest amounts of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant capacity was highly correlated with phenolic compound composition. According to principal component analysis (PCA), it was concluded that cultivars whose harvest maturity was medium to late contained more flavonols and anthocyanins and were characterized by higher antioxidant capacity than those whose harvest maturity was classified as early or early to medium.

Anthocyanins, Vibrant Color Pigments, and Their Role in Skin Cancer Prevention

Until today, numerous studies evaluated the topic of anthocyanins and various types of cancer, regarding the anthocyanins' preventative and inhibitory effects, underlying molecular mechanisms, and such. However, there is no targeted review available regarding the anticarcinogenic effects of dietary anthocyanins on skin cancers. If diagnosed at the early stages, the survival rate of skin cancer is quite high. Nevertheless, the metastatic form has a short prognosis. In fact, the incidence of melanoma skin cancer, the type with high mortality, has increased exponentially over the last 30 years, causing the majority of skin cancer deaths. Malignant melanoma is considered a highly destructive type of skin cancer due to its particular capacity to grow and spread faster than any other type of cancers. Plants, in general, have been used in disease treatment for a long time, and medicinal plants are commonly a part of anticancer drugs on the market. Accordingly, this work primarily aims to emphasize the most recent improvements on the anticarcinogenic effects of anthocyanins from different plant sources, with an in-depth emphasis on melanoma skin cancer. We also briefly summarized the anthocyanin chemistry, their rich dietary sources in flowers, fruits, and vegetables, as well as their associated potential health benefits. Additionally, the importance of anthocyanins in topical applications such as their use in cosmetics is also given.

The Dynamic of Polyphenols Concentrations in Organic and Conventional Sour Cherry Fruits: Results of a 4-Year Field Study

Sour cherry fruits are a perfect source of polyphenols, including flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins. According to the literature, organic fruits contain more bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols, compared to conventional fruits. Given that only one two-year experiment on the status of polyphenols in sour cherry fruits in an organic farm was previously conducted and found in the existing scientific literature, the aim of this study was to analyse and compare the concentration of bioactive compounds in organic and conventional sour cherries and to determine the effects of cultivation year and the proper cultivar. Four sour cherry cultivars (“Oblacińska”, “Kelleris 16”, “Pandy 103” and “Dobroceni Bötermo”) harvested in organic and conventional experimental orchards were assessed in this study. The dry matter and polyphenol contents in the fruits were determined. We observed a significantly higher concentration of dry matter in organic samples only in 2015 and 2017. In the case of total polyphenols, including phenolic acid (2015 and 2017–2018), and total flavonoids, including quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, the higher concentration was found in 2016 and 2018. Two individual anthocyanins were identified in sour cherry fruits. Cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside is the predominant form in the pool of total anthocyanins.

Cherry intake as a dietary strategy in sport and diseases: a review of clinical applicability and mechanisms of action

Cherries are fruits rich in phytochemical compounds, particularly anthocyanins. Thus, consumption of cherries has gained attention in both clinical and sport-related fields for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Mechanistically, anthocyanins from the intake of cherries may help to attenuate pain and decrease blood concentrations of biomarkers linked to skeletal muscle degradation, which in turn may provide ergogenic effects. In addition, the ability of anthocyanins to balance the redox state represents a conceivable target for rheumatic disorders (e.g. gout and arthritis). Moreover, cherry anthocyanins are emerging as a potential non-pharmacological remedy for cardiometabolic diseases (hypertension and dyslipidemia). Herein, we summarize the effects of cherry intake in sport and diseases, and discuss their purported mechanisms of action to provide insights into practical application.

Comparison of Phytochemical Differences of the Pulp of Different Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Cultivars with Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity Variations in China Using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

In order to fully understand the variation of the fruit alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity-related phytochemical basis in the Chinese peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch], mature fruit from 33 cultivars was used for the investigation of fruit phenolic phytochemical attributes, including total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and procyanidins, as well as the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity varied significantly among tested peach cultivars and was strongly correlated with total phenolics, total procyanidins, and total flavonoids. Untargeted UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics were used to comprehensively discriminate between peaches with different inhibitory activity on alpha-glucosidase. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) were used for this process. Twenty-three differential compounds were identified between peach cultivars with high and low alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and nine, including procyanidin C1, procyanidin trimer isomer 1, procyanidin trimer isomer 2, procyanidin B1, procyanidin dimer, epicatechin-epicatechin-epicatechin, phloridzin, kaempferol 3-(2'',6''-di-(E)-p-coumarylglucoside), and luteolin 3'-methyl ether 7-malonylglucoside, were identified as marker compounds responsible for the discrimination. Overall, variations in metabolites in peach pulp reflect the diversity in peach germplasm, and these nine compounds are good candidate markers for future genetic breeding of peach fruit with high alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Phenolic Composition Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Sour Cherry Liqueurs

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes of phenolic and anthocyanin contents, antioxidant activity, aroma compounds and color of sour cherry liqueurs with and without sugar during 6 months of storage at temperatures of 15 °C and 30 °C. Contents of phenolic compounds (HPLC, UPLC-MS) and antiradical activity (ABTS) changes were measured. Color changes were measured by an objective method (ColorQuest XE). During storage fluctuations of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity content were observed. The content of substances which react with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was comparable before and after 24 weeks. During the 24 weeks of storage, the highest average antioxidant activity against ABTS radicals was shown by sour cherry liqueurs without sugar, stored at 15 °C. Quicker degradation of anthocyanins was observed in liqueurs without sugar, stored at 30 °C (t_1/2—5.9 weeks in liqueurs with sugar and 6.6 weeks in liqueurs without sugar). Better stability of red color was observed in liqueurs with sugar, stored at 15 °C. The content of the dominant aroma compound, benzaldehyde, increased during storage. Long-term storage and sugar addition decreases color attributes but increases organoleptic value without of great influence on antioxidant activity. Studies on a half-year period of liqueur storage showed that their characteristic features are almost unchanged if stored at 15 °C and without sugar added, but organoleptic properties were better in samples stored at 30 °C.

Impact of tart cherries polyphenols on the human gut microbiota and phenolic metabolites in vitro and in vivo

Tart cherries have been reported to exert potential health benefits attributed to their specific and abundant polyphenol content. However, there is a need to study the impact and fate of tart cherries polyphenols in the gut microbiota. Here, tart cherries, pure polyphenols (and apricots) were submitted to in vitro bacterial fermentation assays and assessed through 16S rRNA gene sequence sequencing and metabolomics. A short-term (5 days, 8 oz. daily) human dietary intervention study was also conducted for microbiota analyses. Tart cherry concentrate juices were found to contain expected abundances of anthocyanins (cyanidin-glycosylrutinoside) and flavonoids (quercetin-rutinoside) and high amounts of chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids. Targeted metabolomics confirmed that gut microbes were able to degrade those polyphenols mainly to 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acids and to lower amounts of epicatechin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. Tart cherries were found to induce a large increase of Bacteroides in vitro, likely due to the input of polysaccharides, but prebiotic effect was also suggested by Bifidobacterium increase from chlorogenic acid. In the human study, two distinct and inverse responses to tart cherry consumption were associated with initial levels of Bacteroides. High-Bacteroides individuals responded with a decrease in Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, and an increase of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Collinsella. Low-Bacteroides individuals responded with an increase in Bacteroides or Prevotella and Bifidobacterium, and a decrease of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Collinsella. These data confirm that gut microbiota metabolism, in particular the potential existence of different metabotypes, needs to be considered in studies attempting to link tart cherries consumption and health.

Bioactive and functional properties of sour cherry juice (Prunus cerasus)

Sour cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) is consumed as a nutritional supplement claiming health effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the different properties of sour cherry juice in terms of antioxidant activity and inhibition of target enzymes in the central nervous system and diabetes. The content of polyphenols and anthocyanins was quantified. Different experiments were carried out to determine the radical scavenging properties of the juice. The activity of sour cherry juice was also tested in physiological relevant enzymes of the central nervous system (acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase A, tyrosinase) and others involved in type 2 diabetes (α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4). Sour cherry juice showed significant antioxidant effects but the activity of the lyophilized juice was not superior to compounds such as ascorbic, gallic or chlorogenic acid. Furthermore, sour cherry juice and one of its main polyphenols known as chlorogenic acid were also able to inhibit monoamine oxidase A and tyrosinase as well as enzymes involved in diabetes. This is the first time that sour cherry juice is reported to inhibit monoamine oxidase A, α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 in a dose dependent manner, which may be of interest for human health and the prevention of certain diseases.

The protective effect of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) against oxidative damage in human dermal fibroblasts through the improvement of antioxidant enzyme activity and mitochondrial functionality

Acerola fruits (Malpighia emarginata DC.) from the central region of Cuba were analyzed to determine their chemical composition and protective capacity against oxidative damage using an in vitro human dermal fibroblast (HDFa) model. The chemical composition analyses showed a high content of vitamin C, total polyphenols, β-carotene and folates in the acerola fruit. From the HPLC-DAD/ESI-MSⁿ analyses, two anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside and pelargonidin 3-O-rhamnoside), three hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives (caffeoyl hexoside, dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid and coumaroyl hexoside) and fifteen flavonols (mostly glycosylated forms of quercetin and kaempferol) were detected. HDFa were pre-incubated with an acerola crude extract (ACExt) and subsequently subjected to oxidative stress induced by AAPH. Apoptosis, intracellular ROS and the biomarkers of lipid and protein oxidation significantly increased after inducing stress, while the activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase and superoxide dismutase and mitochondrial functionality were markedly affected. However, ACExt was able to protect against oxidative damage through decreasing apoptosis, intracellular ROS levels and lipid and protein damage, besides improving antioxidant enzyme activities and mitochondrial functionality. The obtained results support acerola fruits as relevant sources of functional compounds with promising effects on human health.

Determination of hydroxycinnamic acids present in Rhododendron species

Hydroxycinnamates including free hydroxycinnamic acids and their chlorogenic acid derivatives and glycosides have been profiled in leaf extracts of 98 Rhododendron species using LC-MS techniques. In total, 69 hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were identified in the leaves of 98 Rhododendron species. Some derivatives serve as unique phytochemical marker for a single species, whereas other compounds are limited to certain subgenera. The distribution of compounds among six different subgenera of Rhododendron was studied using PCA and PLS-DA. This contribution presents data that provide unique metabolomic insight in the distribution of a class of secondary metabolites within a large selection of species from the botanically diverse plant genus Rhododendron.

Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm Wild Berries and Radical Scavenging Activity

Blueberries have a well-deserved reputation as a potential functional food, supported by studies which have identified and quantified various nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals with known benefits for human diet and health. Wild blueberries have attracted particular attention due to the levels and concentrations of those phytonutrients. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition of Madeira Island's endemic Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berry. Results show that this fruit contains high values of total soluble phenolic content (around 4 g GAE kg^-1 FW), as well as significant values of total monomeric anthocyanin content (around 3 g eq. cyanidin kg^-1 FW) and DPPH scavenging activity (around 86.72%). Additionally, results reveal that this fruit has water content of about 88% as well as low sugar content (17.98 and 29.73 g kg^-1 for glucose and fructose, respectively). Results also confirm that this wild blueberry is a good source of dietary fiber, fat and minerals. The high level of terpenoid compounds stands out in the aroma profile analysis.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This study is in line with the efforts of the scientific community to identify new sources of phytonutrients that are beneficial to human health, characterizing the wild Madeira blueberry in terms of phytonutrients that suggest there may be health benefits associated with its consumption. The findings of this research are very important for both the commercial and agricultural sectors that produce this fruit, and for consumers who seek phytonutrient-rich foods.

In vitro polyphenol effects on apoptosis: An update of literature data

Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites which have been studied extensively for their health-promoting properties, and which could also exert pharmacological activities ranging from anti-inflammatory effects, to cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. The main mechanism for programmed cell death is represented by apoptosis, and its dysregulation is involved in the etiopathology of cancer. As such, substances able to induce apoptosis in cancer cells could be used as new anticancer agents. The aim of this paper is to review literature data on the apoptotic effects of polyphenols and the molecular mechanisms through which they induce these effects in cancer cells. In addition, a brief summary of the new delivery forms used to increase the bioavailability, and clinical impact of polyphenols is provided. The studies reported show that many polyphenol rich plant extracts, originating from food and herbal medicine, as well as isolated polyphenols administered individually or in combination, can regulate cell apoptosis primarily through intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of action in in vitro conditions. Due to these promising results, the use of polyphenols in the treatment of cancer should therefore be deeply investigated. In particular, because of the low number of clinical trials, further studies are required to evaluate the anticancer activity of polyphenols in in vivo conditions.

Comparison of old cherry cultivars grown in Czech Republic by chemical composition and bioactive compounds

Sweet cherry fruits are readily consumed by humans, and they contain significant quantities of bioactive compounds. Fifteen sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) old cultivars grown in the Czech Republic were examined. In fresh fruits the contents of sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity were determined. The analyses showed that the fruits of sweet cherry are characterized by high contents of bioactive compounds. Four organic acids - malic, quinic, shikimic, and fumaric acid - were determined in examined fruits. The cultivar 'Lyonská Raná' was characterized by the highest total polyphenol content (202.28mg GAE/100g FW) and high antioxidant activity (ABTS - 2765.3µmol TE/100g FW, FRAP - 1663.67µmol TE/100g FW), with the lowest content of organic acids. The 'Šakvická' cultivar was characterized by the highest content sum of sugars (16.36g/100g FW) and sweetness (19.08g/100g FW), with low contents of polyphenols and antioxidant activity.

Bioactive components of Prunus avium L. black gold (red cherry) and Prunus avium L. stark gold (white cherry) juices, wines and vinegars

Cherries are one of the most popular fruits, characterized by attractive colour, firmness, appearance and delicious tastes. Cherries are consumed fresh as well as in jams, wine, dried, candy and other processed products. Cherries vary in antioxidant properties and phenolic substances. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of ethanol and acetic acid fermentation on total antioxidant activities and phenolic substances of cherry juice. Total investigation of solids, pH, soluble solids, phenolic substances, ORAC and TEAC of Prunus avium L. cherry juices, macerated cherries wine, and vinegars were analyzed. All samples had 300.1-854.79 mg GAE/L of total phenolic contents, and 6.62-17.97 µmol/mL of ORAC values, and 1.5-5.5 mmol/mL of TEAC. Chlorogenic acid was present in the highest amount P. avium L. black gold vinegar.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Grape Berry in Response to Root Restriction during Developmental Stages

Root restriction improved berry quality by being involved in diverse aspects of grapevine life. However, the molecular mechanism driving this process is not understood very well. In this study, the ‘Summer Black’ grape berry (Vitis vinifera × V. labrusca) under root restriction was investigated, which showed an increase of total soluble solids (TSS), color index of red grapes (CIRG) value, anthocyanins accumulation, total phenolics and total procyanidins contents during berry development compared with those in control berries. The transcriptomic changes induced by root restriction in ‘Summer Black’ grape over the course of berry development were analyzed by RNA-Seq method. A total of 29,971 genes were generated in ‘Summer Black’ grape berry during development, among which, 1606 genes were significantly responded to root restriction. Furthermore, 1264, 313, 141, 246 and 19 sequences were significantly changed at S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 sample points, respectively. The gene (VIT_04s0023g02290) predicted as a salicylate O-methyltransferase was differentially expressed in all developmental stages. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment showed that response to organic nitrogen, response to endogenous stimulus, flavonoid metabolic process, phenylpropanoid biosynthetic process and cell wall macromolecule metabolic process were the main significant differential categories. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment revealed plant–pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis and glucosinolate biosynthesis were the main significant differential pathways. The results of the present study provided a genetic base for the understanding of grape berry fruit quality improvement under root restriction.

Chemical profile of major taste- and health-related compounds of Oblačinska sour cherry

BACKGROUND

Oblačinska sour cherry, an autochthonous cultivar, is the most planted cultivar in Serbian commercial orchards. Owing to its long cultivation under different agro-ecological conditions, it is a mixture of different clones. To obtain comprehensive information on Oblačinska sour cherry fruit, the total carbohydrate composition, total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity and polyphenolic profiles of 39 clones were investigated.

RESULTS

Fructose was found to be the dominant sugar, followed by glucose, sorbitol and sucrose. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant polyphenols. Some clones contained pinobanksin, hesperetin and galangin, which, to best knowledge, is the first time these compounds have been reported in sour cherry fruit.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained showed huge variation within the germplasm studied, confirming the fact that Oblačinska sour cherry is not a cultivar but a population.

Evidences for Chlorogenic Acid--A Major Endogenous Polyphenol Involved in Regulation of Ripening and Senescence of Apple Fruit

To learn how the endogenous polyphenols may play a role in fruit ripening and senescence, apple pulp discs were used as a model to study the influences of chlorogenic acid (CHA, a major polyphenol in apple pulp) on fruit ripening and senescence. Apple ('Golden Delicious') pulp discs prepared from pre-climacteric fruit were treated with 50 mg L(-1) CHA and incubated in flasks with 10 mM MES buffer (pH 6.0, 11% sorbitol). Compared to the control samples, treatment with CHA significantly reduced ethylene production and respiration rate, and enhanced levels of firmness and soluble solids content of the pulp discs during incubation at 25°C. These results suggested that CHA could retard senescence of the apple pulp discs. Proteomics analysis with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) revealed that the expressions of several key proteins correlated to fruit ripening and senescence were affected by the treatment with CHA. Further study showed that treating the pulp discs with CHA remarkably reduced levels of lipoxygenase, β-galactosidase, NADP-malic enzyme, and enzymatic activities of lipoxygenase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, all of which are known as promoters of fruit ripening and senescence. These results could provide new insights into the functions of endogenous phenolic compounds in fruit ripening and senescence.

Anthocyanin and other phenolic compounds in Ceylon gooseberry (Dovyalis hebecarpa) fruits

Ceylon gooseberry is a deep-purple exotic berry that is being produced in Brazil with great market potential. This work aimed to determine major phenolic compounds in this specie by HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS. Samples were collected in two different seasons. Pulp and skin were analyzed separately. Non-acylated rutinoside derivatives of delphinidin (∼60-63%) and cyanidin (∼17-21%) were major anthocyanins tentatively identified. All anthocyanins had higher concentration in skin than in pulp (64-82 and 646-534mg of cyaniding-3-glucoside equivalents/100g skin and pulp, respectively). Moreover, anthocyanin profile changed between sampling dates (p<0.05). Mainly for delphinidin-3-rutinoside which could be a result of season variation. In this specie, non-anthocyanin polyphenols represent less than 35% of total extracted polyphenols. The tentative identification proposed a flavonol and three ellagitannins as major compounds of the non-anthocyanin phenolics fraction. Finally, anthocyanin is the major phenolic class in this fruit and its composition and content are significantly affected by season.