Comparative study of the physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant properties of some commercial refined and non-centrifugal sugars

A novel non-centrifugal sugar prepared from tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) meal: Preparation methods and comparison with sugarcane

The lack of research on the rich sucrose in tiger nut meal has been a major obstruction to the comprehensive utilization of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.). In this study, for the first time, tiger nut meal was used to producing non-centrifugal sugar (NCS). Three samples - NCS-W1 (NCS prepared by water extraction and concentrated at 115 °C), NCS-W2 (NCS prepared by water extraction and concentrated at 135 °C), and NCS-E (NCS prepared by 70 % ethanol-water extraction and concentrated at 115 °C) were obtained, with yields of 14.25-14.59 %. These samples and sugarcane NCS products (NCS-C1, NCS-C2, NCS-L) were compared and analyzed in terms of color, pH, turbidity, soluble solid content, and proximate composition. Their Fourier-transformed infrared spectra, crystal patterns, and thermal stabilities were also analyzed. The NCS-W1, -W2, and -E showed excellent performance, and they were better than sugarcane NCS products in terms of free radical scavenging ability and cytoprotective effects. Differences in phenolic acid composition, flavonoid composition, amino acid, mineral content, and vitamins C and E content were also analyzed. This work demonstrates that tiger nut meal might be a new source of NCS. As such it would contribute to the full utilization of tiger nut.

Effect of frequent exposures of various indigenous sugars on cariogenicity of a biofilm caries model

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the cariogenicity of indigenous sugars (palm sugar, jaggery, and brown sugar) and refined sugar at different frequencies of exposure through a biofilm caries model.

METHODOLOGY

This in vitro study was conducted on 60 extracted human premolar teeth which were randomly divided into four groups (refined sugar, jaggery, palm sugar, and brown sugar) with each group being exposed to their respective sugars at one, three, and five frequencies for 5 min at defined time periods with five sample teeth for each exposure (4 × 3 × 5 = 60). The acidogenicity of biofilm was found by a 5-day pH cycling model. After 5 days, enamel demineralization, protein content, and polysaccharide formation of the biofilm following exposure to various sugars at various frequencies were assessed and compared. Statistical analyses were done using a one-way analysis of variance for intergroup comparisons between various sugars at various levels of frequencies.

RESULTS

The enamel demineralization was found to be least in palm sugar with mean percentage surface hardness loss of 8%, 17%, and 25% at one, three, and five frequencies of exposures and this was found to be statistically significant compared to other sugars (P < 0.001). The acidogenicity of biofilm increased with an increase in the frequency of exposures, but none of the indigenous sugars had a drop below 5.5 (critical pH) at a single frequency of exposure indicating less acid production at minimal exposure. The protein content of the biofilm exposed to palm sugar was less on comparison with other sugars and it was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). The polysaccharide formation of all sugars was similar at each frequency of exposure and was statistically nonsignificant.

CONCLUSION

From the results obtained, it was concluded that though cariogenicity increased in all sugars with an increase in frequency of exposure, the level of cariogenicity was least in palm sugar compared to other sugars used in the study. Hence, it is recommended to use palm sugar as an alternative to refined sugar.

New Insights on Primary and Secondary Metabolite Contents of Seven Italian Wild Food Plants with Medicinal Applications: A Comparative Study

Wild food plants are widely consumed all over the world and many have both nutritional and therapeutic value due to the presence of biologically active compounds. The present research, for the first time, aims to compare primary and secondary metabolite levels among different plant organs (flower, leaf, stem, root, bark) of seven species (Borago officinalis L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Hypericum perforatum L., Malva sylvestris L., Sambucus nigra L., Urtica dioica L.) collected in three different Italian regions (Liguria, Tuscany, Apulia). Plant organ samples were extracted with water or 95% (v/v) methanol and liquid fractions were analyzed using spectrophotometric assays. The best results were obtained for Hypericum perforatum L. samples, followed by Sambucus nigra L. and Borago officinalis L. As also confirmed via PCA analysis on normalized data, flower and leaf extracts of all species exhibited higher levels of polyphenols (up to 105.7 mg GA eq/gDW), reducing sugars (up to 389.2 mg GLUC eq/gDW), proteins (up to 675.7 mg BSA eq/gDW) and of antioxidant capacity (up to 263.5 mg AA eq/gDW). No differences among the regions of gathering were detected after spectrophotometric assays, which was confirmed via PCA analysis. These data contribute to further validate the traditionally reported healing effects of these species on human health.

Composition of Minerals and Volatile Organic Components of Non-Centrifugal Cane Sugars from Japan and ASEAN Countries

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is an unrefined dehydrated form of sugar syrup produced worldwide. To date, there is a lack of differentiation in the key nutrients and flavor qualities of NCS products among countries, which makes it difficult for interested parties to select NCSs suitable for their needs. This study aimed to evaluate the minerals and volatile organic components (VOCs) in NCS products from Japan and ASEAN countries. Mineral components were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). VOCs and their aroma profiles were examined using gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) and MS-e-nose analyses, respectively. The total minerals content in Japanese NCSs ranged from 228.58 to 1347.53 mg/100 g, comprising K, Ca, Mg, P, and Na (69.1, 16.6, 7.9, 4.5, and 3.2%, respectively); their average total amounts were as high as those of Malaysia and Indonesia origins (962.87, 984.67, and 928.47 mg/100 g, respectively). Forty-four VOCs were identified, of which concentrations of pyrazines, furans, and pyranones varied significantly among the NCSs. Additionally, the MS-e-nose analysis provided a multivariate differentiation profile of the NCS products based on differences in the intensities of the VOC ion masses. Nine statistical clusters were presented, wherein certain NCS products of ASEAN origin had volatile profiles comparable to those of the Japanese products. These outcomes suggest that the origin of production greatly influences the mineral and VOC compositions of NCS, affecting their quality traits.

Correlation between the microbiome and pack burst spoilage of Allium sativum supplemented fermented hot pepper paste

Gochujang (fermented hot pepper paste) products are well known for their distinct, spicy flavor. However, frequent pack burst spoilage of gochujang products occurs during transportation and storage because of microbial aerogenesis, resulting in considerable economic losses. The present study aimed to prevent pack burst spoilage of gochujang products by supplementing them with garlic ethanol extract. A simulated pack burst experiment revealed that 42.86 % of normal gochujang products were spoiled. Garlic ethanol extract significantly inhibited the growth of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii in gochujang products, with low minimum inhibitory concentration values (12.5-25 mg/mL). Gochujang products supplemented with various concentrations (1 % and 2.5 %) of garlic ethanol extract exhibited marked inhibition of microbial growth, particularly Z. rouxii, and pack burst spoilage. Microbiome analysis revealed that the pack burst samples harbored a high abundance of Z. rouxii. Supplementation of gochujang with 1 % garlic ethanol extract drastically reduced Z. rouxii abundance and prevented pack burst. Moreover, gochujang products supplemented with 1 % garlic ethanol extract exhibited a high hedonic score in the sensory analysis. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that supplementation of gochujang products with 1 % garlic ethanol extract before packaging could be effective in preventing pack burst spoilage of gochujang.

Analysis and Comparison of Aroma Compounds of Brown Sugar in Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan Using GC-O-MS

Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan are the three provinces in China that yield the most brown sugar, a brown-red colored solid or powdered sugar product made from sugar cane. In the present study, the differences between odor compounds of brown sugar from Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China were compared and analyzed by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS). A total of 80 odor compounds, including 5 alcohols, 9 aldehydes, 8 phenols, 21 acids, 14 ketones, 5 esters, 12 pyrazines, and 6 other compounds, were detected. The fingerprint analysis of the brown sugar odor compounds showed 90% similarity, indicating a close relationship among the odor properties of brown sugar in each province. Moreover, the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was performed to identify the compounds contributing to the volatile classification of the brown sugar from three provinces, which confirmed that OPLS-DA could be a potential tool to distinguish the brown sugar of three origins.

Replacement of refined sugar by natural sweeteners: focus on potential health benefits

Refined sugar is a processed product containing 99% sucrose, which is obtained from sugarcane (70%) or sugar beet (30%). In modern societies, sugar continues to play a significant role in the diet, recognised not only for its flavour and special sweetening properties but also for its role in food preservation. On the other hand, a high consumption of refined sugar is associated with non-communicable diseases and many health issues such as a high risk of dental caries, overweight and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Alternatives like unrefined sugars have generated a lot of interest as a healthy substitute due to their nutraceutical properties. This paper is aimed to review the beneficial effects of sugar derived from natural sources and highlight health problems that could be caused by refined processed sugar. Refined sugar is frequently used in variety of items including processed foods, soft drinks or ice creams although it is considered unhealthy due to its high salt and sugar content as well as added fats and artificial coloring. Natural sugars are preferred because they have a high nutritional value and a high concentration of healthy compounds, which offset the negative effects of refined sugar. Therefore, removing refined sugar or at least reducing its consumption should be promoted as a healthier option in food choices.

Impact of Different Sugar Types and Their Concentrations on Salted Duck Egg White Based Meringues

Meringues were prepared with salted duck egg white and different sugars (granulated white, cane, palm, and coconut) at various concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%). The prepared meringues were subjected to analyses of functional and physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities. The results showed that the type and concentration of sugar influenced the meringue quality. Foam properties such as the whipping index, the index of foam durability, and specific density gradually increased with sugar concentration. On the other hand, the overrun and air phase values were stable without significant differences. The color attributes whiteness and the chroma hue of meringues decreased with the sugar concentration regardless of the sugar type. Moisture, water activity, and pH decreased, while weight loss during baking, meringue volume, and hardness gradually increased with sugar concentration. The addition of sugar increased the meringue’s weight, while its height and diameter did not change much. Protein content in the meringue decreased with increased sugar levels, while carbohydrate and ash levels increased. Antioxidant activities increased with the sugar concentration, and unrefined sugars influenced the radical scavenging activities differently from refined sugars. In general, meringue made with coconut sugar at 75% showed preferable qualities over the other sugar types or concentrations.

Natural sweeteners: Sources, extraction and current uses in foods and food industries

Food producers have leaned towards alternative natural and synthetic sweeteners in food formulations to satisfy market demands. Even so, several synthetic sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, saccharin, sucralose) are becoming less popular due to health-related concerns, lower nutritional values, and controversies around their safety. Conversely, natural sweeteners confer favourable customer perceptions due to their association to a healthier lifestyle and higher nutritional values. This article discusses the evidence of natural sweeteners in the available commercial products. A comprehensive review of natural sweeteners is presented, which includes their resources, properties and extraction methods, as well as a discussion on several emerging technologies that offer improvements to the traditional extraction methods. Finally, the progress of natural sweeteners in the food industry is assessed, and the commercial food products containing these natural sweeteners are mentioned.

Kurtosis-based projection pursuit analysis to evaluate South American rapadura

Rapadura is an artisanal candy obtained from concentrated sugarcane juice. In this study, a differentiation between South American rapadura producers has been tried using a Kurtosis-based projection pursuit analysis (kPPA) concerning essential minerals, acrylamide, moisture contents, pH, and color. These parameters revealed significant inter- and intra-country differences. Based on the employed measurements, a multivariate exploration with kPPA extracted information from rapadura even though it is a very artisanal product and was effective in separating classes, especially Brazilian and Ecuadorian rapadura, where principal component analysis failed. Moreover, ellipse confidence regions showed significant differences between non-organic and organic rapadura from Colombia and Peru in granulated form. From a chemometric point of view, the application of kPPA can be used in cases when other metrics (as based on the variance) fail and can be useful in the exploratory analysis of complex multivariate chemical data.

Physicochemical, Microbial, and Volatile Compound Characteristics of Gochujang, Fermented Red Pepper Paste, Produced by Traditional Cottage Industries

Gochujang, fermented red pepper paste, is a grain-based Korean traditional food. The quality of gochujang produced by cottage industries is not well-documented. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the quality of gochujang from 35 traditional cottage industries for physicochemical and microbial characteristics, along with volatile compound contents. In addition to microbial characteristics, salinity, pH, free amino nitrogen, and alcohol content were evaluated. Ethanol was detected as the predominant alcohol and 57% of tested gochujang products harbored >1% of total alcohol content, which was above the recommended level for halal products. Gochujang products contained hexadecanoic and linoleic acids predominantly and several volatile compounds belonging to the classes of alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, nitrogen-containing compounds, and terpenes. A wide range of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (2.79–8.73 log CFU/g) and yeast counts (1.56–7.15 log CFU/g) was observed. Five distinct yeast species were identified, including Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Eight gochujang products were found to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus (>4 log CFU/g). This study suggests that there is a need to limit B. cereus contamination in cottage industry products and reduce alcohol content to comply with halal food guidelines.

Bioactive and Physicochemical Characteristics of Natural Food: Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabellifer Linn.) Syrup

Simple Summary

Syrup, a concentrated solution of sugar, is widely used as a sweetener for beverages, foods, and medicines. Palmyra palm syrup is a popular product in Asian countries. Palmyra palm syrup not only provides sweetness to products but also improves food color, aroma, and taste. Palm syrup processing is simple: heating to evaporate water until the total soluble solid reaches 70° Bx. Traditional palmyra palm syrup processing is quick, simple, and low cost and does not require a machine. The disadvantages of palmyra palm syrup are its sensory properties such as dark color, lack of transparency, and it garners less interest than other syrups. Improving the quality of palmyra palm syrup requires increasing the syrup concentration under vacuum condition or using a membrane filter, or both. Palmyra palm syrup prepared by a thermal process had smaller L*, b* values, and larger a* values than that prepared by an ultrafiltration process. Palmyra palm syrup contained 10 vitamins, the most abundant being vitamin E. Overall, 38 volatile compounds were found and classified into six groups in the order of alcohols > acids > ketones > sulfurs > pyrazines > phenols and aldehyde. Volatile compounds depended on concentration, temperature, and ultrafiltration process. Protein content decreased because of participation in the Maillard reaction and increased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and total phenolic content. The HMF content was very low (0.02–14.95 mg/100 g). This study established that ultrafiltration pretreatment of palmyra palm syrup generated a good appearance and reduced the HMF content, however, it negatively affected the volatile compounds and physicochemical characteristics.

Abstract

Palmyra palm syrup, produced from Borassus flabellifer flowers’ sap, is rich in nutrients and minerals and has unique flavors. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity, physicochemical characteristics, and Maillard reaction products of palmyra palm syrup prepared by thermal and ultrafiltration processes. Palmyra palm syrup prepared by a thermal process had smaller L*, b* values, and larger a* values than that prepared by an ultrafiltration process. Palmyra palm syrup contained 10 vitamins, the most abundant being vitamin E. Overall, 38 volatile compounds were found and classified into six groups in the order of alcohols > acids > ketones > sulfurs > pyrazines > phenols and aldehyde. Volatile compounds depended on concentration, temperature, and ultrafiltration process. Protein content decreased because of participation in the Maillard reaction and increased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and total phenolic content. The HMF content was very low (0.02–14.95 mg/100 g). The radical scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-1 picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) in palmyra palm syrup with thermal process was higher than with ultrafiltration. This study established that ultrafiltration pretreatment of palmyra palm syrup generated a good appearance and reduced the HMF content, however, it negatively affected the volatile compounds and physicochemical characteristics.

Enzymatically synthesised fructooligosaccharides from sugarcane syrup modulate the composition and short-chain fatty acid production of the human intestinal microbiota

Fructooligosaccharides can be produced by direct enzymatic conversion from sucrose-rich sugarcane syrup (SS) consisting of 58.93% sucrose yielding 21.28 g FOS/100 g sucrose. This study evaluated the prebiotic effect of unpurified/purified SS containing FOS for the modulation of the human intestinal microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid production. The unpurified and purified FOS substrates, which were a mixture of 1-kestose, nystose and 1^F-fructosylnystose, were supplemented into human faecal culture using a pH-controlled batch fermentation system and significantly increased the Bifidobacterium counts after 5 h fermentation, while Bacteroides/Prevotella counts were highest throughout 24 h fermentation. Meanwhile, Lactobacillus/Enterococcus exhibited a slight increase after 5 h fermentation before reaching a plateau afterwards. The steady Bacteroides/Prevotella growth and increased Bifidobacterium population promoted an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids acetate (58 ± 2.70 mM), propionate (9.19 ± 5.94 mM) and butyrate (7.15 ± 2.28 mM). These results provide evidence that representative gut microbiota could utilise the enzymatically synthesised FOS to generate short-chain fatty acids as metabolites in pH-controlled conditions, thus FOS from SS are a potential prebiotic ingredient for foods and health drinks.

Formation of Volatile and Aroma Compounds during the Dehydration of Membrane-Clarified Sugarcane Juice to Non-Centrifugal Sugar

The development of volatile compounds and their precursors during the dehydration process of membrane-clarified sugarcane juice to non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) was investigated. Head-space solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC–MS) coupled with chemometrics was employed to assess the differences at the various stages of the dehydration process. A total of 111 volatile compounds were identified, among which 57 were endogenous compounds from sugarcane juice and displayed an attenuated abundance in the first 30 min. Typical oxygen and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, including furans and pyrazines, and aldehydes derived were found to be the main volatiles contributing to the formation of NCS characteristic aroma, with phenols, alcohols, esters, acids, and sulfur compounds as supplementary odor. Free amino acids and reducing sugars were identified as important precursors for the aroma development process. The low temperature (90–108 °C) and micro vacuum condition (−0.03 MPa) approach used in this study could be an alternative option for the manufacture of NCS.

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties of Non-Centrifugal Cane Sugar and Other Sugarcane Derivatives in an In Vitro Induced Parkinson's Model

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is a traditional sweetener in most sugarcane regions of the world. In Colombia, this product has a socio-economic importance due to the extensive cultivation area and the high consumption rate per capita. NCS traditional processing involves consecutive stages of thermal processing that begin with juice extraction, clarification, evaporation, and finish with syrup crystallization into a solid commercial product, identified as NCS. Sugarcane is known to have a natural content of polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and complex sugars, some of which are reported as antioxidant and antiproliferative agents thought to be responsible for the product's bioactive profile. There is evidence to suggest that traditional thermal processing to obtain NCS leads to a considerable decrease in the contents of these bioactive compounds, mainly due to uncontrolled process variables such as temperature. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the bioactivity of sugarcane (SC) derivatives produced under controlled thermal conditions versus the traditional method. To achieve this goal, we evaluated the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of varying concentrations of SC derivatives in an in vitro induced Parkinson's model. Results demonstrate non-cytotoxic activity on the cellular model by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and LDH assays, even at the highest tested concentration of 8 mg/mL, for all SC derivatives. The effect of SC derivatives on the induced oxidative stress model showed a biological reversion and recovering effect of the mitochondrial membrane potential and a halting of the progress into the early apoptosis phase. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the bioactive compounds present in SC derivatives obtained by a process under controlled temperature conditions are largely preserved, and even their biological activities are enhanced compared with SC derivatives obtained by the traditional thermal evaporation of SC-juice.

Risk and Benefit of Natural and Commercial Dark Brown Sugars as Evidenced by Phenolic and Maillard Reaction Product Contents

Products of dark brown sugar (DBS) from different production processes and raw materials may bring different risks and benefits to human health. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the quality of natural and commercial DBS products. Results showed that physicochemical properties, including pH value, turbidity, and browning degree have no significant difference between natural and commercial DBS products. Total flavonoid content of natural DBS was found to be significantly higher than that of commercial DBS (p < 0.05). Notably, the levels of harmful Maillard reaction products in natural DBS were significantly lower than that in commercial DBS as evidenced by analyses of methylglyoxal and fluorescent advanced glycation end products (p < 0.05). However, the amount of acrylamide in natural DBS was significantly higher than that in commercial DBS. In conclusion, this study provides useful information for risk-benefit assessment of DBS products, which is helpful for food safety management.

Impact of sugar replacement by non-centrifugal sugar on physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of strawberry and kiwifruit functional jams

Raw cane sugars have been claimed to be rich in natural phenolic compounds which, in contrast to refined sugar, may increase the nutritional value of foods and contribute to the development of healthier foods and diets. The use of non-refined cane sugars in food formulation seems an interesting option since they provide natural antioxidants with sucrose still being the major sugar present, minimizing the loss of technological properties. However, substitution of refined sugar could imply an undesired impact on physicochemical and sensory properties, conditioning consumer's acceptance. Functional jams (strawberry and kiwifruit) with a larger fruit to sugar ratio than conventional ones, in which white sugar was replaced by granulated jaggery (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 y 75 % w/w) were obtained. Impact of sugar replacement was assessed by evaluating physicochemical properties (moisture, water activity, pH, total soluble sugars, sugar profile (glucose, fructose, sucrose), and optical, rheological, mechanical and antioxidant properties). Sensory properties and microbiological stability were also determined. Jaggery improved the antioxidant properties of jams (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antiradical activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods), proportionally to the amount of cane sugar incorporated and more significantly in the case of kiwifruit. Other physicochemical properties were not significantly affected by jaggery, except for color. However, these differences were not crucial in the acceptability tests, since acceptance of jams containing jaggery was generally good, very good when intermediate replacement percentages were used. Conclusions of the present work suggest that granulated jaggery can be used to formulate sugar-rich food products such as jams in order to increase their nutritional value, with little impact on physicochemical properties and good consumer acceptance.

Effects of Radishes, Apples, and Pears on the Lactic Acid Bacteria and Nutritional and Functional Qualities of Flavored Soy Sauce

Producers of soy sauce are constantly making efforts to improve the sensory quality and nutritional value of their products. In this study, radishes, apples, and pears were used to prepare a distinctly flavored soy sauce, and the lactic acid bacteria, volatile compound content, and nutritional and functional qualities of the product were compared with two commercial flavored soy sauce products. Comparable physiochemical properties, antioxidant activities (in vitro and cellular), and higher prevalence of lactic acid bacteria (7.74 ± 0.55 log CFU mL⁻¹) were observed in the prepared flavored soy sauce than in commercial flavored soy sauce. The comprehensive enzyme activity profile of the isolated lactic acid bacteria, Tetragenococcus halophilus (NCBI GenBank Accession no. MN270899), revealed the absence of any harmful enzymes such as β-glucuronidase. Moreover, the cell-free extract of T. halophilus showed xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 0.79 mg mL⁻¹), suggesting that the product possessed functionality against xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, the prepared flavored soy sauce had higher amounts of total free amino acids (48.68 mg mL⁻¹) and organic acids (7.77 mg mL⁻¹). These results suggest that radishes, apples, and pears at a defined ratio are suitable for the large scale production of a flavored soy sauce with improved nutritional and functional qualities.

Antioxidant activity, nutritional and physicochemical characteristics, and toxicity of minimally refined brown sugar and other sugars

Minimally refined brown sugar (MRBS) is a brown sugar derived from sugarcane that has a low glycemic index. This study aimed to determine and compare the antioxidant contents and nutritional and physicochemical properties of MRBS, refined sugar (RS), and brown sugar (BS). In addition, the toxicity of these sugars was evaluated via in vitro cytotoxicity method and by using a zebrafish model. Results showed that MRBS was better than the two other sugars because it has a lower moisture content and higher ash content. The contents of potassium and manganese of MRBS were higher than those of the two other sugars. Surprisingly, MRBS also contained selenium, which was not detected in RS and BS. The major phenolics in MRBS are 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, trans-Ferulic acid, and apigenin. All sugar solutions and their antioxidant-containing extracts were not cytotoxic to 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Formation of Acrylamide and other Heat-Induced Compounds during Panela Production

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (panela) is an unrefined sugar obtained through intense dehydration of sugarcane juice. Browning, antioxidant capacity (measured by ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay and total phenolic content) and the formation of acrylamide and other heat-induced compounds such as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural, were evaluated at different stages during the production of block panela. Values ranged between below the limit of quantitation (LOQ)–890 µg/kg, < LOQ–2.37 mg/kg, < LOQ–4.5 mg/kg, 0.51–3.6 Abs 420 nm/g, 0.89–4.18 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 5.08–29.70 µmol TE/g, for acrylamide, HMF, furfural, browning, total phenolic content and ABTS (all data in fresh weight), respectively. Acrylamide significantly increased as soluble solid content increased throughout the process. The critical stages for the formation of acrylamide, HMF and furfural were the concentration of the clarified juice in the concentration stage to get the panela honey and the final stage. Similar trends were observed for the other parameters. This research concludes that acrylamide, HMF and furfural form at a high rate during panela processing at the stage of juice concentration by intense evaporation. Therefore, the juice concentration stage is revealed as the critical step in the process to settle mitigation strategies.

Sustainable Processes and Chemical Characterization of Natural Food Additives: Palmyra Palm (Borassus Flabellifer Linn.) Granulated Sugar

Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer Linn.) is an important sugar-producing plant that is widely distributed in tropical Asian countries. Its jaggery and sweet sap are prevalent in Cambodia as a substitute for table sugar. They contain essential minerals, vitamins, and biological compounds. We investigated the changes in the nutritional composition, antioxidant properties, and biological activity of palm granulated sugar prepared by using three different drying–solidification processes under vacuum conditions: the drying temperature was controlled at 80 °C, 90 °C, and 100 °C, and the drying time was 60, 75, and 90 min, respectively. Palm granulated sugar contains 10 kinds of vitamins (mainly vitamin E 52.15–55.12 mg/100 g), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (2.18 to 41.92 mg/100 g), and 38 volatile compounds that belong to the alcohol, ketones, pyrazines, acids, and phenols groups, and an aldehyde group. Moreover, palm granulated sugar exhibits a high total phenolic content (2.77–8.94 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (20.15%–37.88%), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value (322.68–378.23 μmol Fe2+/mL). Furthermore, palm granulated sugar-treated NIH3T3 cells showed a higher cell viability of 18.10% to 23.68%. This study confirmed that palm granulated sugar prepared at 90 °C for 75 min can have a better product quality with increased vitamin and mineral contents, antioxidant properties, and biological activity, while also being low in 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Potential of Bioactive Molecules Ursolic Acid and Thujone Isolated from Memecylon edule and Elaeagnus indica and Their Inhibitory Effect on Topoisomerase II by Molecular Docking Approach

The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of ursolic acid and thujone isolated from leaves of Elaeagnus indica and Memecylon edule and their inhibitory effect on topoisomerase II using molecular docking study. The isolated ursolic acid and thujone were examined for different types of free radicals scavenging activity, the antiproliferative potential on U-937 and HT-60 cell lines by adopting standard methods. Further, these compounds were docked with the active site of the ATPase region of topoisomerase II. The findings of the research revealed that ursolic acid harbor strong antioxidant and antiproliferative capacity with low IC50 values than the thujone in all tested methods. Moreover, ursolic acid shows significant inhibition effect on topoisomerase II with a considerable docking score (-8.0312) and GLIDE energy (-51.86 kca/mol). The present outcome concludes that ursolic acid possesses significant antioxidant and antiproliferative potential, which can be used in the development of novel antioxidant and antiproliferative agents in the future.

Analysis of aroma components from sugarcane to non-centrifugal cane sugar using GC-O-MS

A total of 84 volatile aroma components were determined in the 9 samples of sugarcane to non-centrifugal sugar (NCS), including 15 alcohols, 12 aldehydes, 10 ketones, 17 carboxylic acids, 11 pyrazines, 7 phenols, 3 esters, 3 hydrocarbons, and 2 sulfur compounds. Of these compounds, 10 were with high flavor dilution (FD) factors based on the aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). 4-Hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)furanone exhibited the highest FD factor of 2187, followed by (E)-2-nonenal, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopentene-1-one, and 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol with a FD factor of 729. The odor compounds showed no significant change and were similar to that of sugarcane during the first four steps in the production of non-centrifugal cane sugar. In the middle three stages, the heating slightly affected the aroma composition. Additionally, a prolonged period of high-temperature heating, lead to the production of the Maillard reaction products, such as pyrazines, pyrroles, and furans, differentiating the step to be unique from the previous seven stages. However, the content of the NCS odorants was significantly reduced due to the loss of odor compounds during the drying process.

84 volatile aroma components were determined in 9 samples of sugarcane to non-centrifugal sugar (NCS), including 15 alcohols, 12 aldehydes, 10 ketones, 17 carboxylic acids, 11 pyrazines, 7 phenols, 3 esters, 3 hydrocarbons, and 2 sulfur compounds.