Characterization of a new blackberry cultivar BRS Xingu: Chemical composition, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity in vitro and in vivo

The delayed senescence in harvested blueberry by hydrogen-based irrigation is functionally linked to metabolic reprogramming and antioxidant machinery

Molecular hydrogen is beneficial for fruits quality improvement. However, the mechanism involved, especially cellular metabolic responses, has not been well established. Here, the integrated widely targeted metabolomics analysis (UPLC-MS/MS) and biochemical evidence revealed that hydrogen-based irrigation could orchestrate, either directly or indirectly, an array of physiological responses in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) during harvesting stage, especially for the delayed senescence in harvested stage (4 °C for 12 d). The hubs to these changes are wide-ranging metabolic reprogramming and antioxidant machinery. A total of 1208 distinct annotated metabolites were identified, and the characterization of differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) revealed that the reprogramming, particularly, involves phenolic acids and flavonoids accumulation. These changes were positively matched with the transcriptional profiles of representative genes for their synthesis during the growth stage. Together, our findings open a new window for development of hydrogen-based agriculture that increases the shelf-life of fruits in a smart and sustainable manner.

Poly(lactic acid)/polycaprolactone nanofibrous packaging containing different functional agents for blackberry postharvest preservation

Electrospun nanofibrous films containing different active agents were prepared and compared to improve the storage quality of blackberries. We added different essential oils, phenolic acids, microbial antagonists and plant growth regulators to poly(lactic acid)/polycaprolactone (PP) nanofilms and compared their antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi. Based on the results, oregano essential oil/PP (OPP), chlorogenic acid/PP (CPP), natamycin/PP (NPP) and methyl jasmonate/PP (MPP) were selected. The addition of active agents decreased the tensile strength and increased the elastic modulus and elongation at break. These active agents did not affect the thermal stability, water contact angle (except for NPP) or water permeability (except for NPP and MPP) of the nanofilms. Nanofilms also controlled the release of active agents and showed antioxidant activity and biosafety. Different nanofilms were applied to blackberry postharvest storage, and OPP contributed the lowest to deterioration in appearance, 'red small drupelets' phenomenon, decay rate, weight loss and softening. Among these nanofilms, the OPP nanofilm exhibited the best shelf-life extension of blackberry.

A Comparison Analysis of Quality and Metabolic Compounds in Lilies with Different Drying Treatments

The present study aimed to investigate the variations in the nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, and metabolite profile of lilies subjected to different drying treatments, including vacuum freeze drying (VFD), hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VD), and infrared drying (ID). The results show that VFD provided better preservation of the original coloration and displayed the highest levels of total amino acid content, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and polysaccharide and alkaloid content. Our results reveal that VFD treatment can be employed to obtain high-quality lilies with desirable appearance characteristics and nutrient compositions. Metabolomics analysis identified a total of 464 metabolites from various dried lilies. Differential metabolite screening found 150 differential metabolites across all pairwise comparisons. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) indicated that lilies subjected to VFD treatment exhibited a higher abundance of steroids, saponin, flavonoids, and phenolic glycoside, whereas those subjected to HAD, VD, or ID treatments showed relatively elevated levels of specific amino acids or derivatives. This study elucidates the significant impact of various drying treatments on the quality and metabolic profile of lilies, thereby providing valuable insights for enhancing the nutritional quality of processed lilies.

Optimization and component identification of ultrasound-assisted extraction of functional compounds from waste blackberry (Rubus fruticosus Pollich) seeds

BACKGROUND

Blackberry seeds, as a by-product of processing, have potential bioactive substances and activities. A response surface method was used to determine the optimal conditions of blackberry seed extracts (BSEs) with high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The composition and antioxidant capacity of BSEs were further analyzed.

RESULTS

The optimal conditions were material-to-liquid ratio of 0.07 g mL-1, ethanol concentration of 56%, extraction temperature of 39 °C and ultrasonic power of 260 W. Using these conditions, the extraction yield and total polysaccharide, phenolic and anthocyanin contents in BSEs were 0.062 g g-1 and 633.91, 36.21 and 3.07 mg g-1, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of BSEs exhibited characteristic peaks associated with polysaccharide absorption. The antioxidant capacity, DPPH and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power of BSEs were 1533.19, 1021.93 and 1093.38 mmol Trolox equivalent g-1, respectively. The delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, paeoniflorin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside contents in BSEs were 3.05,12.76 and 1895.90 ± 3.45 μg g-1. Five polyphenols including gallic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, catechin and caffeic acid were identified and quantified in BSEs with its contents at 8850.43, 5053.26, 4984.65, 1846.91 and 192.40 μg g-1.

CONCLUSION

These results provide a method for preparing BSE containing functional components such as polysaccharides, phenols and anthocyanins through UAE, and BSEs have potential application in food industries. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Solvent-free sonication of blackberries for the anthocyanin enrichment of juices obtained by pressing

An ultrasound pretreatment was used to increase anthocyanins content in blackberry juice. Whole fruits were inserted into a glass vessel without contact with any solvent, sonicated in an ultrasonic bath, and then pressed with a manual juicer. The experimental design showed that 7 min at 65% of ultrasound amplitude increased the anthocyanin content in juices from 31 to 56% for BRS Xingu, Guarani, and Xavante cultivars. Two major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were found in higher concentrations for sonicated fruits. Therefore, ultrasonic pretreatment of whole fruits increased the anthocyanins in blackberry juices using a simple, fast, and green approach.

Optimization of the Green Chemistry-like Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Grape (Vitis labrusca L.) and Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Seeds with Concomitant Biological and Antioxidant Activity Assessments

The objective of this work was to determine the phenolic composition, chemical and cellular antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity in human cells, and peroxidative inhibition of the defatted fraction of grape (Vitis labrusca) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) seeds. Soxhlet extraction (Sox) was used to extract the fat and obtain the degreased material. A statistical optimization study was developed to maximize the extraction of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity from defatted grape and blackberry seeds. Simultaneous optimization was applied with a combination of 35.9 min of extraction and a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 g of defatted grape seed to 61.28 mL of an extracting solvent (60% ethanol) and 62.1 min of extraction and a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 g of defatted blackberry seed to 64.1 mL of an extracting solvent (60% ethanol). In the cell viability assay, HepG2 cancer cells seemed more sensitive to grape and blackberry extracts, while Ea.hy926 hybrid cells showed more resistance to their effects. In general, the extracts presented low/no cytotoxicity, exhibited a protective effect against H₂O₂-induced ROS production, and demonstrated antioxidant activity and a protective effect on the erythrocytes when subjected to hypotonic and isotonic conditions not presenting hemolytic behavior (5.0 to 10.0 μg GAE/mL). Thus, the results provided a broad assessment of the bioactivity of the extracts obtained using a simple and low-cost process developed by employing non-toxic solvents and with the potential to be used in technological applications.

Enhancement on antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic and antibacterial activities of blackberry anthocyanins by processes optimization involving extraction and purification

This research aimed to recover anthocyanin-rich extracts from blackberry (Rubus spp. Hull cultivar) by optimizing the processing conditions, and to characterize anthocyanin individuals and determine influences of optimization on enhancement of antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities of anthocyanins as natural supplements. The ethanol concentration of 69.87%, HCl dosage of 0.53%, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:19.06 at 47.68°C for 17.04 h were optimal to obtain the highest extraction yield of anthocyanins at 0.72 mg/g. By using AB-8 macroporous resins, the anthocyanin concentration of 3.0 mg/mL, ethanol concentration of 90%, and elution rate of 2.0 mL/min were selected to boost the anthocyanin purity up to be 60.11%. Moreover, the purified anthocyanin extracts from blackberry contained nine main pigments which could be divided into three aglycone-based forms, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was the most abundant among them. Due to the successive processes of extraction and purification, the blackberry purified anthocyanin extracts (BA-PAE) showed much higher bioactive capacities than the blackberry crude anthocyanin extracts (BA-CAE) and blackberry fruit slurry extracts (BA-FSE), e.g., DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities (EC₅₀ = 0.08 and 0.04, 0.32 and 0.24, and 1.31 and 0.41 mg/mL), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (1.60, 0.59, and 0.15 mmol TEAC/g), cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress in PC12 cells (1.69-, 1.58-, and 1.50-fold cell viability compared to oxidative group), α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ = 0.10 and 0.06, 0.56 and 0.32, and 3.98 and 2.16 mg/mL), and antibacterial activity (93.23, 40.85, and 80.42% reduced biofilm).

Antioxidant Baccharis trimera Leaf Extract Suppresses Lipid Accumulation in C. elegans Dependent on Transcription Factor NHR-49

Obesity is a global public health problem that is associated with oxidative stress. One of the strategies for the treatment of obesity is the use of drugs; however, these are expensive and have numerous side effects. Therefore, the search for new alternatives is necessary. Baccharis trimera is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of obesity. Here, B. trimera leaf extract (BT) showed antioxidant activity in seven in vitro tests, and it was not toxic to 3T3 murine fibroblasts or Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, BT reduces the intracellular amount of reactive oxygen species and increases C. elegans survival. Moreover, these effects were not dependent on transcription factors. The inhibition of fat accumulation by BT in the C. elegans model was also investigated. BT reduced lipid accumulation in animals fed diets without or with high amount of glucose. Furthermore, it was observed using RNA interference (iRNA) that BT depends on the transcription factor NHR-49 to exert its effect. Phytochemical analysis of BT revealed rutin, hyperoside, and 5-caffeoylquinic acid as the main BT components. Thus, these data demonstrate that BT has antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. However, further studies should be conducted to understand the mechanisms involved in its action.

Identification of polyphenols from Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace and evaluation of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity

Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace (RRTP) has increasingly attracted attention due to its various nutritional ingredients and health benefits. In this study, the free phenolic fraction (RRTP-FPF) and bound phenolic fraction (RRTP-BPF) were extracted from RRTP by solvent extraction method and alkaline hydrolysis method, respectively. The composition of polyphenols in RRTP-FPF and RRTP-BPF were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography equipped with an electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). In vitro antioxidant assays indicated that RRTP-FPF and RRTP-BPF could scavenge radicals in a dose-dependent manner, and RRTP-BPF exhibited better scavenging activity than RRTP-FPF. In addition, RRTP-FPF and RRTP-BPF (20 ∼ 100 μg/mL) treatment for 24 h could significantly increase the survival rate and decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of paraquat-exposed nematodes through improving the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These results suggest that RRTP could be as a good and cheap source of natural antioxidants.

Comparison of Extraction Techniques for the Recovery of Sugars, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Compounds from Agro-Industrial Wastes

Agro-industrial wastes can be used to obtain high-value compounds rich in antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to compare different extraction techniques for the recovery of sugars, antioxidants, and antimicrobial compounds from brewer’s spent grain (BSG), blue agave bagasse (BAB), spoiled blackberries (BB), and raspberries (RB). Aqueous (AQ), enzymatic (E), chemical-enzymatic (CE), and hydroalcoholic (EOH) extractions were assessed, and sugars, phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanin contents were quantified. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using the ABTS and DPPH assays, and antimicrobial activity was tested against three yeasts and six bacteria. The CE process gave the highest total and reducing sugars content for the four residues tested, and the highest antioxidant activity, phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin content for BAB and BSG. Regarding BB and RB, the best treatment to obtain total and reducing sugars and antioxidant activity with ABTS was CE; the highest content of anthocyanins, phenolic, flavonoids and antioxidant activity with DPPH was obtained with EOH treatment. CE extracts of BSG and RB showed the highest inhibition against the strains studied. Results show that BSG, BB, and RB can be a source of antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Depending on the desired application and component of interest, one of the extraction techniques evaluated here could be used.

Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model for food bioactives: A review

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is being widely explored as an in vivo model to study the effects of food bioactives. These nematodes are largely advantageous over other in vivo models as they are relatively inexpensive, have a short generation time, and have a completely sequenced genome, among other advantages. C. elegans is a commonly used model to study diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease; however, researchers are finding they can also give insight into the health promoting effect of food-derived bioactive compounds. As consumers become more aware of the health benefits of the foods that they consume, the study of bioactive properties of foods and food constituents is becoming an important source of information. This review focuses on the advantages of using C. elegans as a model such as their short lifespans, high level of gene conservation relative to humans, and large number of progenies per reproductive cycle. They are also easily manipulated in order to perform controlled experiments on synchronous populations. Through review of recent literature, it is clear that C. elegans can be used to study a range of food derived compounds such as bioactive peptides, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, and lipids. This review also provides information on potential challenges associated with working with this nematode. These challenges include the need for a sterile environment, potential inaccuracy when determining if the nematodes are dead, and the simplicity of the organism making it not suitable for all studies.

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Caenorhabditis elegans is an advantageous in vivo model over other organisms.

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Bioactivity of food compounds can be determined using Caenorhabditis elegans.

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Food bioactive compounds can decrease the risk of human disease.

In vitro digestion of the whole blackberry fruit: bioaccessibility, bioactive variation of active ingredients and impacts on human gut microbiota

In vitro digestion and fermentation of blackberry fruit was investigated, and results showed that the phenolics were mainly released in gastric phase while carbohydrates in small intestinal phase. The bioaccessibility for phenolics and carbohydrates were 42.80% and 69.30%, indicating most of phenolics still remain in colon and available for intestinal flora. The total phenolics released during the digestion account for the improvement of antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Especially, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with higher released amount and bioaccessibility index (63.21%), exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. After fermentation, the non-digestible fractions of blackberry affected the ecosystem of the intestinal tract by decreasing the colonic pH (△pH = 1.10), enhancing the production of SCFAs and modulating gut microbiota composition (the ratio of Firmicute/Bacteroidetes decreased from13.18 to 0.87). The results provided insights into the digestive properties and health benefits of blackberry fruit after consumption.

Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and phenolic compounds of pulp and bagasse of four Peruvian berries

Revaluing agri-food waste to offer consumers bioactive compounds for a healthy diet is an important issue. In the present work, the antioxidant capacity (AC), total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic compounds of pulp and bagasse of four Peruvian berries with UHPLC-DAD was determined. Elderberry (Sambucus peruviana Kunth) bagasse had a greater amount of TPC (4.87 ± 0.02 mg GAE/100 gfw) and AC (7.66 ± 0.04 and 7.51 ± 0.24 μmol TE/gfw in DPPH and ABTS, respectively) than the bagasse of the other berries, with a strong positive correlation between TPC and AC. Blueberry (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) bagasse contains the highest amount of gallic acid (103.26 ± 1.59 μg/gfw), chlorogenic acid (1276.55 ± 1.86 μg/gfw), caffeic acid (144.46 ± 1.78 μg/gfw), epicatechin (1113.88 ± 1.82 μg/gfw) and p-coumaric acid (77.82 ± 1.92 μg/gfw). Elderberry (Sambucus peruviana Kunth) bagasse contains the highest amount of catechin (153.32 ± 0.79 μg/gfw). No significant differences were found in the content of chlorogenic acid and epicatechin of blackberry (Rubus roseus Poir). It was shown that the wastes of the four Amazonian berries have higher values of bioactive properties than their pulp, being the elderberry bagasse the one with the best properties.

Ozone washing decreases strawberry susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea while maintaining antioxidant, optical and sensory quality

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of ozone washing (maximum concentration 3.5 mgL^-1- 5 and 15 min) on Botrytis cinerea decay, physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity, and sensory properties of strawberries cv. Albion throughout refrigerated storage at 5 ± 1 °C. A 5 min long ozonation delayed the onset of B. cinerea infection by 4 days, and significantly reduced its incidence as storage progressed (~17 % lesser than in control at day 8), without impairing physicochemical parameters or sensory quality. This treatment did not affect the antioxidant activity of strawberry extracts neither in in vitro (ORAC and ABTS assays) or in vivo assays using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. Higher ozone doses did not achieve greater reduction of B. cinerea decay throughout the storage period. This study demonstrated that exposing strawberries to a 5 min long aqueous ozone treatment could extend their storability at 5 °C.

Tart Cherry Increases Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans by Altering Metabolic Signaling Pathways

Aging and healthspan are determined by both environmental and genetic factors. The insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) pathway is a key mediator of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammals. Specifically, DAF-2 signaling, an ortholog of human IGF, controls DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor, a master regulator of metabolism and longevity. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are both linked to aging. We propose that daily supplementation of tart cherry extract (TCE), rich in anthocyanins with antioxidant properties may exert dual benefits for mitochondrial function and oxidative stress, resulting in beneficial effects on aging in C. elegans. We found that TCE supplementation at 6 μg or 12 μg/mL, increased (p < 0.05) the mean lifespan of wild type N2 worms, respectively, when compared to untreated control worms. Consistent with these findings, TCE upregulated (p < 0.05) expression of longevity-related genes such as daf-16 and aak-2 (but not daf-2 or akt-1 genes) and genes related to oxidative stress such as sod-2. Further, we showed that TCE supplementation increased spare respiration in N2 worms. However, TCE did not change the mean lifespan of daf-16 and aak-2 mutant worms. In conclusion, our findings indicate that TCE confers healthspan benefits in C. elegans through enhanced mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress, mainly via the DAF-16 pathway.