A hybrid process for increasing the shelf life of elderberry juice

The Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Microflora of Wild Elderberry in Asturias (Northern Spain): An Untapped Resource of Great Interest

The objective of this study is the characterization of the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) from a collection of 79 wild specimens in northern Spain to assess variations in the species at the local level and evaluate its interest as a source of biocompounds. Also, a first study was carried out on the microflora present in this fruit, providing information relevant to its commercial exploitation. Moreover, the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity and microbial composition in overripe fruits were determined, seeking a better use for this currently wasted resource. A wide variability in levels of phenolics was detected. Elderberries showed high antioxidant activity related to a high cyanidin derivative content, making them of interest to industry. Microflorae were present in very variable concentration ranges, so their levels should be monitored in those applications that require strict control. Overripe fruits are of interest as a source of anthocyanidins, since their concentration and antioxidant capacity remain after the optimal ripening period, promoting sustainability and a better use of natural resources. The database generated is of particular interest for further breeding trials based on the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of the samples.

Non-conventional Stabilization for Fruit and Vegetable Juices: Overview, Technological Constraints, and Energy Cost Comparison

This study will provide an overview and a description of the most promising alternatives to conventional thermal treatments for juice stabilization, as well as a review of the literature data on fruit and vegetable juice processing in terms of three key parameters in juice production, which are microbial reduction, enzyme inactivation, and nutrient-compound retention. The alternatives taken into consideration in this work can be divided, according to the action mechanism upon which these are based, in non-conventional thermal treatments, among which microwave heating (MWH) and ohmic heating (OH), and non-thermal treatments, among which electrical treatments, i.e., pulsed electric fields (PEF), high-pressure processing (HPP), radiation treatments such as ultraviolet light (UVL) and high-intensity pulsed light (PL), and sonication (HIUS) treatment, and inert-gas treatments, i.e., the pressure change technology (PCT) and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) treatments. For each technology, a list of the main critical process parameters (CPP), advantages (PROS), and disadvantages (CONS) will be provided. In addition, for the non-thermal technologies, a summary of the most relevant published result of their application on fruit and vegetable juices will be presented. On top of that, a comparison of typical specific working energy costs for the main effective and considered technologies will be reported in terms of KJ per kilograms of processed product.

Black Elder and Its Constituents: Molecular Mechanisms of Action Associated with Female Reproduction

The present review summarizes the current knowledge concerning provenance, properties, physiological and therapeutic actions of elderberry and the bioactive molecules present in the plant, with emphasis on their action on female reproduction. Elderberry or black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) attracts attention due to its easy cultivation and high availability of bioactive compounds. Most of the available data concerning black elder’s therapeutic action are focused on its effects such as activation of immune processes and anti-inflammatory processes (cytokine production, etc.) and regulation of hormones and their receptors in cancer cells. The effects of elderberry on reproduction have been poorly investigated so far. Nevertheless, conducted studies so far demonstrate the stimulatory influence of black elder extract and its constituents, such as rutin, anthocyanins and agglutinins, on the viability and steroidogenesis of healthy ovarian cells as well as their ability to promote apoptosis and reduce the viability and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the action of black elder extract and its constituent biomolecules, such as anthocyanins and lectins, on embryogenesis and the embryonal estradiol-estradiol receptor system have also been reported. The available information, despite limitations, suggest the applicability of black elder constituents for improvement of reproductive processes in animal biotechnology, animal production and assisted reproduction, as well as for prevention and treatment of reproductive disorders (including cancer) in veterinary and human medicine.

Injectable porcine bone demineralized and digested extracellular matrix-PEGDA hydrogel blend for bone regeneration

Extracellular matrix (ECM) has a major role in the structural support and cellular processes of organs and tissues. Proteins extracted from the ECM have been used to fabricate different scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. The aims of the present study were to extract, characterize and fabricate a new class of hydrogel with proteins isolated from pig bone ECM and combine them with a synthetic polymer so it could be used to promote bone regeneration. Porcine bone demineralized and digested extracellular matrix (pddECM) containing collagen type I was produced, optimized and sterilized with high pressurized CO₂ method. The pddECM was further blended with 20% w/v polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) to create an injectable semi interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) scaffold with enhanced physicochemical properties. The blend tackled the shortfall of natural polymers, such as lack of structural stability and fast degradation, preserving its structure in more than 90% after 30 days of incubation; thus, increasing the material endurance in a simulated physiological environment. The manufactured injectable hydrogel showed high cytocompatibility with hOb and SaOs-2 cells, promoting osteogenic proliferation within 21 days of culture. The hydrogel had a high compression modulus of 520 kPa, low swelling (5.3 mg/mg) and millimetric volume expansion (19.5%), all of which are favorable characteristics for bone regeneration applications.

Beta-Glucan as Wall Material in Encapsulation of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Extract

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of using β-glucan as wall material to microencapsulate the elderberry extract. Firstly, the extract was obtained by the water-acetone extraction method to extract mainly anthocyanins from ground dried fruits. The extract was mixed with wall materials: maltodextrin-β-glucan mixture and the control sample as a widely used combination of maltodextrin and arabic gum (92.5:7.5). In the examined samples the content of β-glucan was 0.5, 1, 2 and 3%. Properties of encapsulated extracts of final powders were measured using particle size and morphology, encapsulation efficiency, color measurement, total anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content (TAC and TAAC) methods. Our results indicated that the β-glucan wall material samples had higher process quality compared to control samples. Addition of β-glucan insignificantly decreases encapsulation efficiency. Among powders with β-glucan content, the powder with 1% β-glucan content was characterized by the smallest (24 μm) particle size. The sample with 2% β-glucan content had the highest water solubility and polydispersity index. Due to the encapsulation efficiency, moisture content, and water solubility index, the optimum condition of microencapsulation process for elderberry extract was for samples with 0.5% β-glucan as wall material content. To conclude, due to high molecular weight of β-glucan the higher than 0.5% ratio of β-glucan is not recommended for spray-drying method. However, small quantity of health-beneficial β-glucan could act as potential encapsulation agent in clean label products to replace Arabic gum.