High-intensity ultrasound processing of kiwifruit juice: Effects on the ascorbic acid, total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity

High-intensity ultrasound treatment of Atlantic cod: Impact on nutrients, structure, sensory quality, bioactivity, and in-vitro digestibility

This study evaluates the impact of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) on the physicochemical properties and in-vitro digestibility of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Various ultrasound durations (0-60 min) were applied to assess changes in color attributes, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), total protein content, and in-vitro protein digestibility (IVPD). Results indicated HIU maximumly increased TAC, TFC, TPC, and peptide content before digestion by 7.28 % (US60), 3.00 % (US30), 32.43 % (US10), and 18.93 % (US60), respectively. While HIU reduced total protein content, it enhanced IVPD by up to 12.24 % (US30). Color attributes electron microscopy reflected structural changes in the cod samples, suggesting the effectiveness of HIU in altering protein structures. These findings highlight HIU's potential as a non-thermal technique for improving the sensory and nutritional quality of Atlantic cod, offering valuable insights for the seafood processing industry and consumers.

Characterization of Bioactive Metabolites and Antioxidant Activities in Solid and Liquid Fractions of Fresh Duckweed (Wolffia globosa) Subjected to Different Cell Wall Rupture Methods

Fresh Wolffia globosa, the smallest flowering plant well-known for its favorable nutrient composition and rich content of bioactive compounds, was subjected to boiling, freeze-thawing, and mechanical crushing to reduce its excessive (95-96%) moisture level and consequent drying time. The resultant three wolffia matrixes were filtered through a plankton net to fractionate into the residue and the filtrate. The proximate composition, bioactive metabolites, antioxidant activity, and characterization of bioactive metabolites by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were made from oven-dried residues and filtrates. Among residues, crude protein (29.84%), crude lipid (5.77%), total carotenoids (TCC; 722.8 μg/g), and vitamin C (70.02 mg/100 g) were the highest (p < 0.05) for freeze-thawing against higher ash (7.99%), total phenolic content (TPC; 191.47 mg GAE g-1 dry weight), total flavonoid content (TFC; 91.54 mg QE g-1 dry weight), DPPH activity (47.46%), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (570.19 μmol FeSO4 equiv/mg) for the crushed counterpart and Chl-b in residues from boiling. No significant variation was evident in the total tannin content (TTC). Among filtrates, higher total phenolic content (773.29 mg GAE g-1 dry weight), TFC (392.77 mg QE g-1 dry weight), TTC (22.51 mg TAE g-1), and antioxidant activity as DPPH activity (66.46%) and FRAP (891.62 μmol FeSO4 equiv/mg) were evident for boiling, while that from crushing exhibited the highest TCC (1997.38 μg/g DM). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis identified 72 phenolic compounds with the maximum in residue (33) and filtrate (33) from freeze-thawing, followed by crushing (18 and 19) and boiling (14 and 13) in order, respectively. The results indicated that the predrying cell rupturing method significantly impacted quantitative, as well as qualitative compositions of residues and filtrates from fresh wolffia.

Application of Ultrasound Treatments in the Processing and Production of High-Quality and Safe-to-Drink Kiwi Juice

This study explores the potential of thermosonication as an alternative to traditional heat treatments, such as pasteurization, in the processing of fruit juices. Conventional methods often lead to undesirable quality changes in fruit juices, whereas thermosonication offers promising results regarding microbial inactivation and quality preservation. This work focused on the inactivation kinetics of Listeria innocua 2030c, a surrogate for pathogenic L. monocytogenes, in kiwifruit juice using thermosonication at 45 °C, 50 °C, and 55 °C. These treatments were compared with equivalent heat treatments. Quality attributes of the juice were also evaluated to assess process efficiency. Survival data of L. innocua were fitted with the Weibull model, estimating first decimal reduction times (δ) and shape parameters (n). The results reveal temperature and process dependencies on δ, while n remains mostly temperature and treatment independent. Thermosonication outperforms heat treatment, achieving higher L. innocua reductions while retaining quality attributes like pH, soluble solid content, and total phenolics and chlorophylls. Thermosonication at 55 °C stands out, providing a 6.2-log-cycle reduction in just 3 min with superior quality retention. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of temperature and ultrasound, making mild heat processes feasible while enhancing product quality. Thermosonication, particularly at 55 °C, emerges as an effective alternative to traditional thermal treatments for fruit juices, offering improved microbial safety without compromising product quality.

Ultrasound assisted phytochemical extraction of persimmon fruit peel: Integrating ANN modeling and genetic algorithm optimization

In the present study, ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of phytochemicals from persimmon fruit peel (PFP) was modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN) and optimized by integrating with genetic algorithm (GA). The range of process parameters selected for conducting the experiments was ultrasonication power (XU) 150---350 W, extraction temperatures (XT) 30---70 °C, solid to solvent ratio (XS) 1:15---1:35 g/ml, and ethanol concentration (XC) 40---80 %. The range of responses total phenolic content (YP), antioxidant activity (YA), total beta carotenoid (YB) and total flavonoid content (YF) at various independent variables combinations were found to be 7.72---24.62 mg GAE/g d.w., 51.44---85.58 %DPPH inhibition, 24.78---56.56 µg/g d.w. and 0.29---1.97 mg QE/g d.w. respectively. The modelling utilised an ANN architecture with a configuration of 4-12-4. The training process employed the Levenberg-Marquardt method, whereas the activation function chosen for the layers was the log sigmoid. The optimum condition predicted by the hybrid ANN-GA model for the independent variables, XU, XT, XS and XC was found to be 230.18 W, 50.66 °C, 28.27 g/ml, and 62.75 % respectively. The extraction process was carried out for 25 min, with 5-minute intervals, at various temperatures between 30 and 60 °C, to investigate the kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the process, under the optimal conditions of XU, XS and XC. The UAE of phytochemicals from persimmon peel followed pseudo second order kinetic model and the extraction process was endothermic in nature.

Effects of slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping on the structure, functional properties and antioxidant activity of Lycium barbarum proteins and in situ real-time monitoring process

To improve the protein dissolution rate and the quality of fresh Lycium barbarum pulp (LBP), we optimized the slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping process, explored the dissolution kinetics of Lycium barbarum protein (LBPr), and established a near-infrared spectroscopy in situ real-time monitoring model for LBPr dissolution through spectral information analysis and chemometric methods. The results showed that under optimal conditions (dual-frequency 28-33 kHz, 300 W, 31 min, 40 °C, interval ratio 5:2 s/s), ultrasonic treatment not only significantly increased LBPr dissolution rate (increased by 71.48 %, p < 0.05), improved other nutrient contents and color, but also reduced the protein particle size, changed the amino acid composition ratio and protein structure, and increased the surface hydrophobicity, zeta potential, and free sulfhydryl content of protein, as well as the antioxidant activity of LBPr. In addition, ultrasonication significantly improved the functional properties of the protein, including thermal stability, foaming, emulsification and oil absorption capacity. Furthermore, the real-time monitoring model of the dissolution process was able to quantitatively predict the dissolution rate of LBPr with good calibration and prediction performance (Rc = 0.9835, RMSECV = 2.174, Rp = 0.9841, RMSEP = 1.206). These findings indicated that dual-frequency ultrasound has great potential to improve the quality of LBP and may provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of an intelligent control system in the industrialized production of LBP and the functional development of LBPr.

Ultrasonic pre-treatment to enhance drying of potentially probiotic guava (Psidium guajava): Impact on drying kinetics, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG viability, and functional quality

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ultrasound (US) on the drying acceleration of potentially probiotic guava, including its impact on drying kinetics, probiotic (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG) viability, and functional quality of the product during drying. To perform US pre-treatments, one group of samples were first pre-treated by US (38 W/L, 25 kHz) for 15 and 30 min and then immersed in the probiotic solution for 15 or 30 min, and another group of samples were submerged in the probiotic solution simultaneously applying US (US-assisted) for 15 and 30 min. After pre-treatments, the samples were convectively dried at 60 °C. Based on the results, all US pre-treatments improved the drying rate (up to 59%) and reduced the drying time (up to 31%) to reach 25% moisture compared to non-sonicated samples. The reduction in drying time (from ∼6 h to ∼4 h for US pre-treated samples) was crucial for maintaining the probiotic viability in the dehydrated guavas. These samples showed counts of 6.15 to 7.00 CFU∙g-1 after 4 h, while the control samples reached counts of 4.17 to 4.45 CFU∙g-1 after 6 h. US pre-treatment did not affect the color parameters of the samples before drying (p > 0.05). The functional compounds were reduced during drying (p < 0.05), however, all US pre-treated samples had lower reductions in vitamin C content (up to 20%), phenolic compounds (up to 41%) and antioxidant capacity (up to 47%) compared to control samples (up to 52%, 81% and 61%, respectively). Therefore, US pre-treatment (highlighting the US-assisted probiotic incorporation for 30 min) reduced the drying time for guava slices and minimized the thermal impact on probiotic viability and functional compounds, being a strategy to produce potentially probiotic dehydrated guava.

Effect of dielectric barrier discharge nonthermal plasma treatment on physicochemical, nutritional, and phytochemical quality attributes of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.)] juice

Forward feed multilayered perception and central composite rotatable design were used to model the nonthermal plasma (NTP) experimental data in artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology, respectively. The ANN was found to be more accurate in modeling the experimental dataset. The NTP process parameters (voltage and time) were optimized for pineapple juice within the range of 25-45 kV and 120-900 s using an ANN coupled with the genetic algorithm (ANN-GA). After 176 generations of GA, the ANN-GA approach produced the optimal condition, 38 kV and 631 s, and caused the inactivation of peroxidase (POD) and bromelain by 87.24% and 51.04%, respectively. However, 100.32% of the overall antioxidant capacity and 89.96% of the ascorbic acid were maintained in the optimized sample with a total color change (ΔE) of less than 1.97 at all plasma treatment conditions. Based on optimal conditions, NTP provides a sufficient level of POD inactivation combined with excellent phenolic component extractability and high antioxidant retention. Furthermore, plasma treatment had an insignificant effect (p > 0.05) on the physicochemical attributes (pH, total soluble solid, and titratable acidity) of juice samples. From the intensity peak of the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, it was found that the sugar components and phenolic compounds of plasma-treated juice were effectively preserved compared to the thermal-treated juice.

Drought-Induced miRNA Expression Correlated with Heavy Metal, Phenolic Acid, and Protein and Nitrogen Levels in Five Chickpea Genotypes

Drought is a prime stress, drastically affecting plant growth, development, and yield. Plants have evolved various physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms to cope with drought. Investigating specific biochemical pathways related to drought tolerance mechanisms of plants through biotechnology approaches is one of the quickest and most effective strategies for enhancing crop production. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are the principal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in plants during plant growth under biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, five different chickpea genotypes (İnci, Hasan bey, Arda, Seçkin, and Diyar 95) were grown under normal and drought stress. We recorded the expression levels of microRNAs in these genotypes and found differential expression (miRNA396, miR408, miRNA414, miRNA528, and miRNA1533) under contrasting conditions. Results revealed that miRNA414 and miRNA528 considerably increased in all genotypes under drought stress, and expression levels of miRNA418, miRNA1533, and miRNA396 (except for the Seçkin genotype) were found to be higher under the watered conditions. These genotypes were also investigated for heavy metal, phenolic acid, protein, and nitrogen concentrations under normal and drought stress conditions. The Arda genotype showed a significant increase in nitrogen (5.46%) and protein contents (28.3%), while protein contents were decreased in the Hasan bey and Seçkin genotypes subjected to drought stress. In the case of metals, iron was the most abundant element in all genotypes (İnci = 15.4 ppm, Hasan bey = 29.6 ppm, Seçkin = 37.8 ppm, Arda = 26.3 ppm, and Diyar 95 = 40.8 ppm) under normal conditions. Interestingly, these results were related to miRNA expression in the chickpea genotypes and hint at the regulation of multiple pathways under drought conditions. Overall, the present study will help us to understand the miRNA-mediated regulation of various pathways in chickpea genotypes.

Synergistic effect of microwave heating and thermosonication on the physicochemical and nutritional quality of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend

Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are highly popular due to its delicate and delightful flavor in the worldwide. However, the flavor of the melon juice was easily affected by thermal treatments and unpleasant cooking smell during production process. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) juice is a proven nutritious beverage with high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other beneficial nutrients. Due to its low sugar content, combined with sugarcane, muskmelon-sugarcane blend juice gives an appealing and exotic drink. The research was planned to evaluate the effect of thermo-sonication (20 kHz, 70% amplitude, 5, 10 and 15 min) and microwave (90 °C, 400 W, 120 sec) on physicochemical parameters including pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant capacity of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend, during storage of 90 days at refrigeration (4±1 °C). The statistical results showed that synergism of sonication and microwave treatments had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on pH, TSS, titratable acidity, TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity. T₃ (15 min of sonication and 120 s of microwave) showed the maximum TSS (12.00±0.40 °B), pH (5.07±0.02), TPC (484.33±10.41 mg GAE/100 mL), TFC (261.73±11.32 mg CE/100 mL), and antioxidant activity (381.62±17.72 µg AAE/100 mL), as compared to untreated samples. Thermosonication for 15 min caused maximum retention of TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity of blend juice during 90 days of storage, whereas in untreated samples these parameters were found highly decreased during storage. Thus, sonication and microwave can be recommended as an alternative to both conventional pasteurization processes and chemical preservatives.

Processing of verjuice by ultrasound-assisted microwave heating: An assessment on the enzyme activity retention, technological parameters, and bioactive properties

The present study evaluated the effect of ultrasonication prior to microwave heating applied at 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C on the quality characteristics of verjuice. The sole microwave heating and conventional heating were also performed at the same temperature levels, and effectiveness of three different treatments were evaluated. The required treatment times were decided based on obtaining <10% pectin methylesterase (PME) activity, and ultrasound pretreatment provided the least heating durations. Turbidity, browning index, and viscosity values increased by 3.4 to 14.8-fold, 0.24 to 1.26-fold, and 9.2% to 48.0%, respectively, after all thermal treatments, while Brix values decreased by 1.4% to 15.7%. Ultrasound pretreatment revealed relatively lower browning index in all temperature levels, and almost the highest viscosity values were obtained in sonication pretreated microwave heating as compared with sole microwave and conventional heating. The minimum turbidity value (0.035) was determined in ultrasound-assisted microwave heating at 60 °C. The highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS) values were achieved by ultrasound-assisted microwave heating (up to 4.96 and 28.4 mmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/kg, respectively) followed by microwave heating (up to 4.30 and 27.0 mmol TE/kg) and conventional heating (up to 3.72 and 26.8 mmol TE/kg). Furthermore, ultrasonication resulted in better retentions of PME residual activity during 60 days of refrigerated storage (4 °C). Ultrasound pretreatment prior to microwave heating could be a convenient approach for juice processing by reducing the required treatment time and by conserving the quality parameters.

Effects of Different Drying Methods on the Drying Characteristics and Quality of Codonopsis pilosulae Slices

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of rotary microwave vacuum drying (RMVD), radio frequency vacuum drying (RFVD), vacuum far infrared drying (VFID), vacuum drying (VD), hot air drying (HD) and natural drying (ND) on the drying characteristics, active ingredients and microstructure of Codonopsis pilosulae slices. Compared with the fitting results of the four models, the Weibull model is the most suitable drying model for Codonopsis. The RFVD and HD color difference values were smaller compared to ND. The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) under different drying methods was between 0.06 × 10−8 m2/s and 3.95 × 10−8 m2/s. RMVD-dried products had the shortest drying time and retained more active ingredients. The microstructure analysis revealed that the porous structure of RMVD is more favorable for water migration. RMVD is a promising dehydration method for obtaining high-value-added dried Codonopsis products.

Characterization of the flavor, sensory quality and in vitro bioaccessibility in cloudy pomegranate juice treated by high pressure and thermal processing

BACKGROUND

Recently, cloudy pomegranate juice (PJ) has become popular due to its rich phenolic and health-promoting effects. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the application of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP), pasteurization (PT) and high-temperature short-time sterilization (HTST) on physicochemical properties (color, flow behavior, turbidity, sugars, organic acids, aroma and sensory evaluation) and in vitro bioaccessibility of total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and phenolics of cloudy PJ.

RESULTS

Compared to HPP, thermal sterilization significantly increased the brightness (L*), redness (a*), total color difference (ΔE) and turbidity, and decreased the TPC and TFC. HPP maintained the volatile profile of cloudy PJ better, while thermal sterilization significantly changed the profile by decreasing alcohols 23.8-32.7% and increasing acids by 33.6%-182.8%. The bioaccessibility of flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins in the control cloudy PJ after in vitro oral-gastric-intestinal digestion were 1.5%, 4.9%, and 9.0%, respectively, which were not significantly changed by different treatments.

CONCLUSION

These results contributed to promoting the color quality and health benefits of cloudy PJ rich in phenolics by optimizing the processing conditions in the food industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ultrasonic treatment maintains the flavor of the melon juice

Thermal treatment usually leads to the flavor deterioration of melon juice. This study was initiated to evaluate the retention effect of ultrasonic (US) and ultra-high pressure (UHP) on volatile components of melon juice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The electronic nose, electronic tongue, and GC-IMS analysis showed that US was much better way to contain the flavor of melon juice than UHP was does. The correlation coefficient between the US and the control was as high as 0.99. The concentration of characteristic aroma components in melon juice after ultrasonic treatment was 2.77 times and 3.02 times higher than that in the control and UHP, respectively. Moreover, the US treatment gave no significant difference in the total soluble solids, pH, and color of the juice. And it dramatically enhanced the flavor profile of melon juice.

Vacuum Concentration Improves the Quality and Antioxidant Capacity of Pear Paste

A vacuum concentration method was established to produce pear paste using fresh pear juice in this study. The optimal condition was determined by comparing the quality indexes, contents of total phenol and flavonoid, and antioxidant properties of the pear paste produced by traditional heating concentration and vacuum concentration. Electronic nose and electronic tongue were introduced in this study to provide digital smell and taste indicators. The results showed that the best vacuum concentration temperature was 65°C, which led to the best sensory evaluation score and pear paste quality. The browning degree and soluble quinones were the lowest in all tested temperatures, and the content were 60.12% and 72.88% compared with the heating method, respectively. While the values were 148.29%, 209.44%, 310.86%, 120.37%, 106.24%, and 181.26% of total phenol, total flavonoid, vitamin C, 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH) and hydroxyl (·OH) radical scavenging rates, and total reducing power, respectively. The electronic nose could effectively distinguish the vacuum-concentrated pear paste from the traditional heating-concentration pear paste and could provide quality guidance on their flavor differences through characteristic sensors. The electronic tongue tests showed that the vacuum-concentrated pear paste had larger freshness and richness kurtosis. The pear paste made by the optimized vacuum concentration method had higher retention of nutritional and functional components and higher antioxidant capacity, which could be clearly differentiated from the traditional process, thus this method had an applicable potential.

Effects of variety, maturity and storage conditions on the allergic potential of kiwifruit and its relationship with antioxidant activity

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Allergenicity of kiwifruit strongly associated with its physiological attributes.

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10-day storage of kiwifruit at 20 °C increased the Act d 2 content by 50 %.

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Act d 2 content in the seeds was 4-fold higher than that of peel.

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Act d 2 content showed a negative relationship with antioxidant activity.

This work aimed to study the influences of physiological characteristics (variety, maturity, and fruit components) and storage conditions on the allergenic potential of kiwifruit. The results found kiwifruit allergen (Act d 2) is only measured in the green kiwifruit rather than golden kiwifruit. The Act d 2 content of seed is 2-fold and 4-fold higher than that of pulp and peel, respectively. The highest Act d 2 allergen content was determined in ripe kiwifruit, followed by overripe fruit and unripe fruit. A 50 % of enhancement in Act d 2 content was observed after 10-day storage at 20 °C. Further, the Act d 2 content showed a negative relationship with the ascorbic acid content and total antioxidant activity at various conditions. Thus, antioxidants as important factors may involve the regulation of Act d 2 in kiwifruit. These findings could provide a deep understanding in the distribution of Act d 2.

How to comprehensively improve juice quality: a review of the impacts of sterilization technology on the overall quality of fruit and vegetable juices in 2010-2021, an updated overview and current issues

Fruit and vegetable juices (FVJ) are rich in nutrients, so they easily breed bacteria, which cause microbial pollution and rapid deterioration of their quality and safety. Sterilization is an important operation in FVJ processing. However, regardless of whether thermal sterilization or non-thermal sterilization is used, the effect and its impact on the overall quality of FVJ are strongly dependent on the processing parameters, microbial species, and FVJ matrix. Therefore, for different types of FVJ, an understanding of the impacts that different sterilization technologies have on the overall quality of the juice is important in designing and optimizing technical parameters to produce value-added products. This article provides an overview of the application of thermal and non-thermal technique in the field of FVJ processing over the past 10 years. The operating principle and effects of various technologies on the inactivation of microorganisms and enzymes, nutritional and functional characteristics, physicochemical properties, and sensory quality of a wide range of FVJ are comprehensively discussed. The application of different combinations of hurdle technology in the field of FVJ sterilization processing are also discussed in detail. Additionally, the advantages, limitations, and current application prospects of different sterilization technologies are summarized.

Antioxidative Properties and Phenolic Profile of the Core, Pulp and Peel of Commercialized Kiwifruit by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS

The kiwifruit is cultivated globally due to its diversity of phytochemicals, especially phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer medical effects. However, only the pulp of the kiwifruit is consumed, while the peels and cores—which are also rich in phytochemicals—are usually wasted. Meanwhile, detailed information on the comparison among the three parts is still limited. In this study, the antioxidant potentials in the core, pulp, and peel of the three most commercialized kiwifruit cultivars (Australian-grown Hayward kiwifruit, New Zealand-grown Zesy002 kiwifruit, and New Zealand-grown organic Hayward kiwifruit) were selected. Their antioxidant capacities were tested, and their phenolic profiles were identified and characterized by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The antioxidant results showed that the peel of New Zealand-grown organic Hayward kiwifruit contained the highest total phenolic content (9.65 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) mg/g) and total antioxidant capacity (4.43 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE) mg/g), respectively. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the peel is generally higher than that of the pulp and cores in all species, especially ABTS (2,2-Azino-bis-3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging ability), ranging from 13.25 mg AAE/g to 18.31 mg AAE/g. The LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS tentatively identified the phenolic compounds present in the three kiwifruit species, including 118 unique compounds in kiwifruit peel, 12 unique compounds in the kiwifruit cores, and three unique compounds in kiwifruit pulp. The comprehensive characterization of the phenolics in the kiwifruits’ parts indicates the importance of their waste part as a promising source of phenolics with antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study can guide the industry with meaningful information on kiwifruit waste, and can provide it with the utilization of food and pharmacological aspects.

The impact of ultrasound-assisted thawing on the bioactive components in juices obtained from blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.)

Ultrasound (US) assisted thawing of blue honeysuckle berry was utilized in order to reduce the losses of bioactive components (ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, iridoids, proanthocyanins) and increase the extraction efficiency during juice processing. It was analysed whether it was more beneficial to apply US (alone or with enzymatic treatment) to the frozen state, until reaching the cryoscopic temperature or thawed state. Both the US and enzymatic treatment significantly increased the extraction efficiency, extract content, acidity and the content of iridoids and chlorogenic acid in juices, especially if the US was applied to 50 °C. It was probably due to a higher extractivity by the greater damage of the tissue and detexturation. Enzymatic treatment due to long heating contributed to a higher degradation of anthocyanins, ascorbic acid and proanthocyanidins, which are more heat-sensitive. The results of the study mainly indicated the possibility of including ultrasound-assisted thawing in the fruit processing before pressing the juices. This may replace costly enzymatic treatment.

Prospects of ultrasonically extracted food bioactives in the field of non-invasive biomedical applications - A review

Foods incorporated with bioactive compounds, called nutraceuticals, can fight or prevent or alleviate diseases. The contribution of nutraceuticals or phytochemicals to non-invasive biomedical applications is increasing. Although there are many traditional methods for extracting bioactive compounds or secondary metabolites, these processes come with many disadvantages like lower yield, longer process time, high energy consumption, more usage of solvent, yielding low active principles with low efficacy against diseases, poor quality, poor mass transfer, higher extraction temperature, etc. However, nullifying all these disadvantages of a non-thermal technology, ultrasound has played a significant role in delivering them with higher yield and improved bio-efficacy. The physical and chemical effects of acoustic cavitation are the crux of the output. This review paper primarily discusses the ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) of bioactives in providing non-invasive prevention and cure to diseases and bodily dysfunctions in human and animal models. The outputs of non-invasive bioactive components in terms of yield and the clinical efficacy in either in vitro or in vitro conditions are discussed in detail. The non-invasive biomedical applications of USAE bioactives providing anticancer, antioxidant, cardiovascular health, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial benefits are analyzed in-depth and appraised. This review additionally highlights the improved performance of USAE compounds against conventionally extracted compounds. In addition, an exhaustive analysis is performed on the role and application of the food bioactives in vivo and in vitro systems, mainly for promoting these efficient USAE bioactives in non-invasive biomedical applications. Also, the review explores the recovery of bioactives from the less explored food sources like cactus pear fruit, ash gourd, sweet granadilla, basil, kokum, baobab, and the food processing industrial wastes like peel, pomace, propolis, wine residues, bran, etc., which is rare in literature.

High-Intensity Ultrasound Processing Enhances the Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity and Microbiological Quality of Melon (Cucumis melo) Juice

The bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity and microbiological quality of melon juice processed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) were studied. Melon juice was processed at two ultrasound intensities (27 and 52 W/cm2) for two different processing times (10 and 30 min) using two duty cycles (30 and 75%). Unprocessed juice was taken as a control. Total carotenoids and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were the bioactive compounds analyzed while the antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The microbiological quality was tested by counting the aerobic and coliforms count as well as molds and yeasts. Total carotenoids increased by up to 42% while TPC decreased by 33% as a consequence of HIUS processing regarding control juice (carotenoids: 23 μg/g, TPC: 1.1 mg GAE/g), gallic acid and syringic acid being the only phenolic compounds identified. The antioxidant capacity of melon juice was enhanced by HIUS, achieving values of 45% and 20% of DPPH and ABTS inhibition, respectively, while >120 mg TE/100 g was determined by FRAP assay. Further, the microbial load of melon juice was significantly reduced by HIUS processing, coliforms and molds being the most sensitive. Thus, the HIUS could be an excellent alternative supportive the deep-processing of melon products.

Effects of Fruit Storage Temperature and Time on Cloud Stability of Not from Concentrated Apple Juice

Apple juice that is designated ‘Not from concentrated’ (NFC) is now increasingly popular with consumers due to its unique taste and rich nutritional value. However, layered precipitation and instability have emerged as serious technical problems that restrict the viability of the NFC apple juice industry. This study researched the influence of water-cored ‘Fuji’ apple fruit storage under different temperatures (0, 20 °C) and times (0, 9, 18, 30, 60 days) on the turbidity stability of NFC apple juice. Changes in the physicochemical properties (juice yield, pH, total soluble solids and titratable acid), turbidity stability (turbidity and particle size) and precipitation sensitive substances (insoluble starch, total phenolics, soluble protein and pectin) of NFC apple juice were determined, combined with the respiratory rates and ethylene release of apples, in order to study post-harvest regulation and control of processed fruit. Results indicated that fruit storage temperature and time significantly guided the turbidity stability of NFC apple juice. As a typical respiratory climacteric fruit, apple fruit stored 45 days at 0 °C and 15 days at 20 °C gained the best juice stability, respectively. This is basically consistent with the respiratory peak of fruit when processing raw materials. During the post-ripening process, the insoluble starch in apple gradually hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose, while total phenolics diminished and water-soluble pectin content increased. On the other hand, the amounts of pectin, soluble protein and phenolics in fruit juice declined as the fruit aged in the late storage period (stored 75 days at 0 °C and 40 days at 20 °C). Meanwhile particle size became larger and the turbidity stability of cloudy juices also decreased. This study’s results will provide a sound theoretical basis for improving the turbidity stability of NFC apple juice by regulating the physiological state of processed raw materials.

Development of Functional Kiwifruit Jelly with chenpi (FKJ) by 3D Food Printing Technology and Its Anti-Obesity and Antioxidant Potentials

With the growing popularity of the concept of healthy diet, modern obesity treatment is gradually shifting from surgical or pharmacological treatment to nutritional intervention. As a safe and effective measure, natural product interventions are a potential strategy of obesity management. The present study aimed to develop a kind of functional food rich in bioactive compounds (chenpi, kiwifruit, and pectin as raw materials) and investigate their bioactive effects on a mouse model. For development of functional kiwifruit jelly with chenpi (FKJ), the results of single-factor and response surface experiments showed that the optimized formulation was composed of a 30.26% addition of chenpi, 35% addition of kiwifruit juice, and 2.88% addition of pectin. The FKJ obtained with the optimal formulation could be used as a 3D printing raw material to print the desired food shapes successfully. For bioactivity evaluation of FKJ, the results with a mouse model showed that the food intake, liver weight, and adipose tissue weight were significantly decreased after administration of FKJ with dose-dependent effect compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the serum levels of several inflammatory factors (TG, IL-6, and TNF-α) were decreased and the activities of several antioxidant-related enzymes (SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT) were increased. In short, a functional kiwifruit jelly with chenpi was developed in this study. It is a functional snack food rich in active phenolic compounds, low in calories, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and prevents fat accumulation. FKJ could well meet the needs of modern people for nutrition and health and also promote the processing and utilization of natural products, and has good development prospects in the functional food industry.

Effects of Non-Thermal Treatment on Gilaburu Vinegar (Viburnum opulus L.): Polyphenols, Amino Acid, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Properties

Simple Summary

In this study, traditionally produced vinegar made from gilaburu (C-GV) and thermally pasteurized gilaburu vinegar (P-GV), and (ultrasound-treated gilaburu vinegar (UT-GV) were evaluated. At the same time, ultrasound treatment enriched 11 phenolic compounds (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, ferulic acid, o-coumaric acid, neohesperidin, quercetin, trans-cinnamic). Ultrasound showed different effects on free amino acids and volatile profiles. In general, ultrasound showed more positive results than thermal pasteurization. Six important minerals (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn) were detected in gilaburu vinegar, and ultrasound treatment increased the Fe content. Gilaburu vinegar, prepared by different methods, had potential antibacterial and anti-cancer activity.

Abstract

Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus L.) is an important fruit that has been studied in recent years due to its phytochemicals and health benefits. In this study, traditionally produced vinegar made from gilaburu fruit (C-GV) was evaluated. Vinegar with higher levels of bioactive components optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) was also produced using ultrasound (UT-GV). The maximum optimization result for the bioactive components was achieved at 14 min and 61.2 amplitude. The effectiveness of thermal pasteurization (P-GV) on gilaburu vinegar was evaluated. An increase was detected for every organic acid with ultrasound treatment. In the UT-GV and C-GV samples, arabinose was present, which is useful for stimulating the immune system. Gilaburu vinegar samples contained 29–31 volatile compounds. The smallest amount of volatile compounds was found in P-GV (1280.9 µg/kg), and the largest amounts of volatile compounds were found in C-GV (1566.9 µg/kg) and UT-GV (1244.10 µg/kg). In the UT-GV sample, Fe was increased, but Ca, K, Mg, and Mn were decreased. A total of 15 polyphenols were detected in C-GV, P-GV, and UT-GV samples, and gallic acid was the most common. A total of 17 free amino acids were detected in gilaburu vinegar samples. Ultrasound provided enrichment in total phenolic compounds and total free amino acids. All three vinegar samples had good antimicrobial activity against pathogens. The efficacy of C-GV, P-GV, and UT-GV samples against colon and stomach cancer was determined, but there were no significant differences between them. As a result, ultrasound treatment is notable due to its antimicrobial and anticancer activity, especially for the enrichment of phenolic compounds and amino acids in gilaburu vinegar.

Modification in structural, physicochemical, functional, and in vitro digestive properties of kiwi starch by high-power ultrasound treatment

Kiwi starch (KS) is a fruit-derived starch; in order to improve its processing performance and increase its added value, it is necessary to modify KS to enhance the positive attributes and to enlarge its application. In this study, KS was modified by high-power ultrasound treatment (HUT) to reveal the relationship between the structure and function of KS with different treatment powers (0, 200, 400, and 600 W) and different treatment times (0, 10, 20, and 30 min). The results showed that HUT destroyed the granular morphology of KS, formed holes and cracks on the surface, and reduced the particle size and the short-range molecular order of KS. After different HUTs, the apparent amylose content (AAC), swelling power (SP), water solubility index (WSI), viscosity and setback value (SB) of KS were significantly increased, while the gelatinization temperature was significantly decreased. In addition, HUT significantly reduced the content of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS), while it significantly enhanced the content of resistant starch (RS) (64.08-72.73%). In a word, HUT as a novel physical modification method for KS, enlarged its application, and fulfilled different demands of a starch-based product, which introduces another possibility for kiwi fruit further processing.

Thermal treatment alternatives for enzymes inactivation in fruit juices: Recent breakthroughs and advancements

Fruit juices (FJs) are frequently taken owing to their nutritious benefits, appealing flavour, and vibrant colour. The colours of the FJs are critical indicators of the qualitative features that influence the consumer's attention. Although FJs' intrinsic acidity serves as a barrier to bacterial growth, their enzymatic stability remains an issue for their shelf life. Inactivation of enzymes is critical during FJ processing, and selective inactivation is the primary focus of enzyme inactivation. The merchants, on the other hand, want the FJs to stay stable. The most prevalent technique of processing FJ is by conventional heat treatment, which degrades its nutritive value and appearance. The FJ processing industry has undergone a dramatic transformation from thermal treatments to nonthermal treatments (NTTs) during the past two decades to meet the requirements for microbiological and enzymatic stability. The manufacturers want safe and stable FJs, while buyers want high-quality FJs. According to the past investigation, NTTs have the potential to manufacture microbiologically safe and enzymatically stable FJs with low loss of bioactive components. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that different NTTs combined with or without other NTTs or mild heating as a hurdle technology increase the synergistic effect for microbiological safety and stability of FJs. Concise information about the variables that affect NTTs' action mode has also been addressed. Primary inactivates enzymes by modifying the protein structure and active site conformation. NTTs may increase enzyme activity depending on the nature of the enzyme contained in FJs, the applied pressure, pH, temperature, and treatment period. This is due to the release of membrane-bound enzymes as well as changes in protein structure and active sites that allow substrate interaction. Additionally, the combination of several NTTs as a hurdle technology, as well as temperature and treatment periods, resulted in increased enzyme inactivation in FJs. Therefore, a combination of thermal and non-thermal technologies is suggested to increase the effectiveness of the process as well as preserve the juice quality.

The Impact of Sweetener Type on Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activity and Rheology of Guava Nectar during Storage Time

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties, and rheology between guava nectar with sucrose and guava nectar with neotame and stevia addition (0.01% and 0.05%). All parameters were investigated during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 15 days. The result showed that all sweetened guava juice samples led to the juice with the greatest presence of overall appearance and antioxidant property. The flow behavior of sweetened guava juice was shear-thinning which was not different from guava juice without sweetener. However, the major volatile flavor compounds identified in all guava juice samples were β-caryophyllene, α-caryophyllene, bisabolene, aromadendrene, α-humulene, and nerolidol, which is not different from guava juice without sweeteners during storage. It indicated that stevia and neotame are good alternative sweeteners to produce low caloric juice production.

Fermentation of kiwifruit juice from two cultivars by probiotic bacteria: Bioactive phenolics, antioxidant activities and flavor volatiles

Three commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB), namely Lactobacillus acidophilus 85 (La85), Lactobacillus helveticus 76 (Lh76) and Lactobacillus plantarum 90 (Lp90), were employed to investigate the effects on the phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities and flavor volatiles of kiwifruit juices prepared from two cultivars (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Xuxiang and Actinidia chinensis cv. Hongyang). Results showed that both kiwifruit juices were favorable matrices for LAB growth and the colony counts remained above 9.0 log CFU/mL after fermentation. Total phenolics and flavonoids in Xuxiang and Hongyang juices were increased dramatically by Lh76. Correspondingly, antioxidant capacities based on DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods were improved significantly and positively correlated with protocatechuic acid and catechin contents (p < 0.05), two newly formed phytochemicals in fermented kiwifruit juices. Furthermore, results of hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that flavor profiles were improved significantly by LAB, and there were noticeable differences between fermented Xuxiang and Hongyang juices.

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on color, carotenoid content, enzyme activity, rheological properties, and microstructure of pumpkin juice during storage

Freshly squeezed pumpkin juice (Cucurbita moschata D.) was sonicated at various power levels at a constant frequency of 25 kHz and a treatment time of 10 min. Samples were stored in the dark for 0, 4, 8, and 12 days at 4 °C and were subsequently analyzed. The combined effects of power level and storage period on color parameters, carotenoid content, particle size distribution, cloud value, rheological characteristics, and microstructure were investigated. The results showed ultrasonic-treated samples had little effect on carotenoid content, cloud value, particle size distribution, and polydispersity during storage compared to those of the untreated samples. The L^⁎, a^⁎, b^⁎, and C* values decreased significantly during 8-12 days of storage, resulting in a significant increase in ΔE, especially 400 W/10 min-treated samples. Meanwhile, the enzyme activity and rheological properties increased significantly on storage days 8-12. However, the microstructure of all samples did not change significantly during storage. Based on these results, during the storage period, the physical and chemical properties of 400 W/10 min-ultrasonic treated pumpkin juice were retained more than those in the untreated pumpkin juice. Therefore, ultrasonic treatment has broad application prospects in preserving bioactive substances and physicochemical properties and improving the storage life of fresh pumpkin juice.

Comparison of the Effects of High Pressure Processing, Pasteurization and High Temperature Short Time on the Physicochemical Attributes, Nutritional Quality, Aroma Profile and Sensory Characteristics of Passion Fruit Purée

The study investigated the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) (600 MPa/5 min), pasteurization (PT) (85 °C/30 s), and high-temperature short time (HTST) (110 °C/8.6 s) on physicochemical parameters (sugar, acid, pH, TSS), sensory-related attributes (color, aroma compounds), antioxidants (phenolics, vitamin C, carotenoids, antioxidant capacity), and sensory attributes of yellow passion fruit purée (PFP). Compared to the PT and HTST, HPP obtained the PFP with better color, sugar, and organic acid profiles. Although PT was equally effective preservation of antioxidants and antioxidant capacity of PFP compared to HPP, high temperature inevitable resulted in the greater degradation of the aroma profile. The amounts of esters, alcohols, and hydrocarbon in PFP were significantly increased by 11.3%, 21.3%, and 30.0% after HPP, respectively. All samples were evaluated by a panel comprising 30 panelists according to standard QDA (quantitative descriptive analysis) procedure, and the result showed that HPP-treated PFP was rated the highest overall intensity score with 7.06 for its sensory attributes, followed by control (6.96), HTST (6.17), and PT (6.16). Thus, HPP is a suitable alternative technology for achieving the good sensory quality of PFP without compromising their nutritional properties.

Green alternative methods for pretreatment of whole jujube before the drying process

BACKGROUND

Jujube contains a waxy cuticle that acts as a barrier against fungal pathogens, prevents nutrition damage and leakage due to mechanical damage, and maintains water content. Chemical treatment before drying is the most commonly used method for whole jujube. Although chemical pretreatment can effectively enhance drying kinetics, it can lead to the loss of soluble nutrients and cause food safety issues due to chemical residues. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of various pretreatments (cold plasma, cold plasma activated water, ultrasonics, thermosonication, and blanching) on the drying process and quality properties of whole jujube so as to find effective green alternatives to chemical pretreatment.

RESULTS

The application of chemical, cold plasma, and thermosonication significantly altered the surface morphology of jujube by etching larger cracks and holes, which can facilitate the transfer of moisture, thereby improving the drying rate and the effective diffusivity. Chemical, cold plasma, and thermosonication pretreatment reduced drying time by 18%, 12%, and 7% respectively, thereby increasing the content of total phenolics by 13%, 12%, and 6% respectively, and enhancing antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing antioxidant power) by 13%, 11%, and 3% respectively. In addition, chemical and cold plasma pretreatment reduced the generation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by 25% and 15% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Cold plasma is a promising green alternative method to chemical pretreatment for drying processes of whole jujube. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dual-frequency multi-angle ultrasonic processing technology and its real-time monitoring on physicochemical properties of raw soymilk and soybean protein

To improve the soybean protein content (SPC), flavor and quality of soymilk, the effects of dual-frequency ultrasound at different angles (40 + 20 kHz 0°, 40 + 20 kHz 30°, 40 + 20 kHz 45°) on physicochemical properties and soybean protein (SP) structure of raw soymilk were mainly studied and compared with the conventional single-frequency (40 kHz, 20 kHz) ultrasound. Furthermore, the intensity of the ultrasonic field in real-time was monitored via the oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. The results showed that 40 + 20 kHz 45° treatment significantly increased SPC. The ultrasonic field intensity of 40 + 20 kHz 0° treatment was the largest (8.727 × 104 W/m2) and its distribution was the most uniform. The emulsifying stability of SP reached the peak value (233.80 min), and SP also had the largest particle size and excellent thermal stability. The protein solubility of 40 + 20 kHz 30° treatment attained peak value of 87.09%. 20 kHz treatment significantly affected the flavor of okara. The whiteness and brightness of raw soymilk treated with 40 kHz were the highest and the system was stable. Hence, the action mode of ultrasonic technology can be deeply explored and the feasibility for improving the quality of soymilk can be achieved.