Red raspberry and its anthocyanins: Bioactivity beyond antioxidant capacity

Foodomics uncovers functional and volatile metabolite dynamics in red raspberry chewable tablet optimized processing

Raspberries are known to contain valuable metabolites and possess a robust antioxidant capacity. However, the impact of different tablet processing stages on the nutritional content and flavor profile of raspberries remains unclear. The dynamic profile of functional and volatile metabolites was investigated through foodomics combined with UPLC-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics and HS-SPME-GC-MS, and antioxidant capacities were assessed during tablet processing. 1336 functional metabolites and 645 volatile metabolites were identified. Results indicated tablets retained 34% ∼ 61% of the total volatile contents. In addition, the conversion intensity of functional metabolites was consistent with the order of "Tableting > Freeze-drying > Crushing". Compared to raspberry, tablets showed higher antioxidant activity, which was positively correlated with vitamin contents. This study elucidated that tablet formation demonstrated advantages in antioxidation and aroma retention, which may provide insights for enhancing quality during the tableting process.

Therapeutic Effects of Plant Anthocyanin against Alzheimer's Disease and Modulate Gut Health, Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and neurogenerative disease (NDD), and it is also one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The number of AD patients is over 55 million according to 2020 Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), and the number is increasing drastically without any effective cure. In this review, we discuss and analyze the potential role of anthocyanins (ACNs) against AD while understanding the molecular mechanisms. ACNs have been reported as having neuroprotective effects by mitigating cognitive impairments, apoptotic markers, neuroinflammation, aberrant amyloidogenesis, and tauopathy. Taken together, ACNs could be an important therapeutic agent for combating or delaying the onset of AD.

Exogenous melatonin prolongs raspberry postharvest life quality by increasing some antioxidant and enzyme activity and phytochemical contents

There is a growing trend towards enhancing the post-harvest shelf life and maintaining the nutritional quality of horticultural products using eco-friendly methods. Raspberries are valued for their diverse array of phenolic compounds, which are key contributors to their health-promoting properties. However, raspberries are prone to a relatively short post-harvest lifespan. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin (MEL; 0, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) on decay control and shelf-life extension. The results demonstrated that MEL treatment significantly reduced the fruit decay rate (P ≤ 0.01). Based on the findings, MEL treatment significantly increased titratable acidity (TA), total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC). Furthermore, the MEL-treated samples showed increased levels of rutin and quercetin content, as well as antioxidant activity as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reduction activity potential (FRAP). Additionally, the samples exhibited higher levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and catalase (CAT) enzymes compared to the control samples. Moreover, the levels of pH, total soluble solids (TSS), and IC50 were decreased in the MEL-treated samples (P ≤ 0.01). The highest amount of TA (0.619 g/100 ml juice), rutin (16.722 µg/ml juice) and quercetin (1.467 µg/ml juice), and PAL activity (225.696 nm/g FW/min) was observed at 0.001 mM treatment, while, the highest amount of TAC (227.235 mg Cy-g/100 ml juice) at a concentration of 0.01 mM and CAT (0.696 u/g FW) and TAL activities (9.553 nm/100 g FW) at a concentration of 0.1 mM were obtained. Considering the lack of significant differences in the effects of melatonin concentrations and the low dose of 0.001 mM, this concentration is recommended for further research. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) divided the treatments into three groups based on their characteristics. Based on the Pearson correlation between TPC, TFC, TAC, and TAA, a positive correlation was observed with antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and enzyme (PAL and CAT) activities. The results of this study have identified melatonin as an eco-friendly compound that enhances the shelf life of raspberry fruits by improving phenolic compounds, as well as antioxidant and enzyme activities.

Design, Optimization, and Modeling Study of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Purple-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes

This study focuses on optimizing the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from purple-fleshed sweet potatoes (PFSP) for potential use as natural colorants. Factors such as time, temperature, and solid-to-liquid ratio were varied using a Box-Behnken Design. The optimal conditions were determined as 75 min, 70 °C, and a 1:15 m/v solid-to-liquid ratio, resulting in 18.372 mg/100 g total anthocyanin (TA) and 151.160 mg GAE/100 g total phenolic content (TPC). The validation yielded 18.822 mg/100 g for total anthocyanin and 162.174 mg GAE/100 g for total phenolic content, showing a 7% difference from predictions. UAE significantly increased TA extraction by 81% and TPC by 93% compared with the conventional method, with a notable reduction in process time from 24 h to 75 min. Additionally, three kinetic models were tested to compare extraction mechanisms, confirming the efficiency of UAE for PFSP bioactive compound recovery. This study proposes the UAE technique as a highly effective means of extracting bioactive compounds from PFSP, offering promising applications across multiple industries.

Overview of the distinctive characteristics of strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry in berries, berry wines, and berry spirits

Red berries have gained popularity as functional and nutritious food due to their health benefits, leading to increased consumer demand and higher production, totaling over 11,000 ktons for strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries combined in 2021. Nutritionally, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries present high levels of vitamin C (9.7-58.8 mg/100 g dry weight [dw]), folates (6-24 µg/100 g dw), and minerals (96-228 mg/100 g dw). Due to their perishable nature, producers have utilized alcoholic fermentation to extend their shelf life, not only increasing the lifespan of red berries but also attracting consumers through the production of novel beverages. Strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry wines possess low alcohol (5.5-11.1% v/v), high acidity (3.2-17.6 g/L), and interesting bioactive molecules such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, polysaccharides, and melatonin. Distillation holds tremendous potential for reducing food waste by creating red berry spirits of exceptional quality. Although research on red berry spirits is still in the early stages, future studies should focus on their production and characterization. By incorporating these factors, the production chain would become more sustainable, profitable, and efficient by reducing food waste, capitalizing on consumer acceptance, and leveraging the natural health-promoting characteristics of these products. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of strawberry, blueberry, and red raspberry in berries, wines, and spirits, with a focus on their chemical composition and production methods.

The effects of raspberry consumption on lipid profile and blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Research into the effects of raspberry on blood pressure and lipid profiles is inconclusive. This meta-analysis was aimed to determine whether raspberry has beneficial effects in clinical practice and to what extent these effects are associated with blood pressure and lipid profiles. A systematic literature search up to September 2023 was completed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify eligible RCTs. Heterogeneity tests of the selected trials were performed using the I 2 statistic. Random effects models were evaluated based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as weighted mean differences with a 95% confidence interval. Eleven randomized controlled trials (with 13 arms) were eligible for this meta-analysis. Our findings revealed that Raspberry consumption had no significant effects on the blood pressure and lipid profile markers, including systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD, -0.37 mm Hg; 95%CI: -2.19 to 1.44; p = .68), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD, -2.14 mm Hg; 95%CI: -4.27 to 0.00; p = .05), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD, -6.83 mg/dL; 95%CI: -15.11 to 1.44; p = .10), triglycerides (TG) (WMD, -5.19 mg/dL: 95%CI: -11.76 to 1.37; p = .12), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD, -5.19 mg/dL; 95%CI: -11.58 to 1.18; p = .11), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD, 0.82 mg/dL; 95%CI: -1.67 to 3.32; p = .51), compared to control groups. Subgroup analysis showed that raspberry consumption significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in people with elevated TC levels, metabolic syndrome, and andropause symptoms, as well as those older than 35, while the consumption of raspberries led to a significant increase in HDL-C levels in females, obese, under 35, and healthy individuals. Raspberry can improve lipid profile and blood pressure, but it is important to keep in mind that further research is necessary to fully understand the exact mechanism of action and a definite conclusion in this regard.

Enhanced stability of anthocyanins by cyclodextrin-metal organic frameworks: Encapsulation mechanism and application as protecting agent for grape preservation

Anthocyanins are promising naturally occurring food preservatives for enhancing the quality of food products due to their excellent antioxidant properties. However, their low stability hinders their food packaging application. Here, we propose a facile strategy to achieve the improved stability of anthocyanins encapsulated in γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) with an in-depth exploration of their structure-property relationships. The adsorbed anthocyanins in CD-MOFs are stabilized by multiple cooperative non-covalent interactions including hydrogen bonding and van der Waals (vdW) interactions as demonstrated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectroscopy analysis. Particularly, by ion-exchange of acetate ions into the pores of CD-MOFs, the resulting CD-MOFs (CD-MOF_OAc) shows a higher anthocyanins adsorption rate with a maximum loading capacity of 83.7 % at 1 min. Besides, CD-MOF_OAc possesses the more effective protecting effect on anthocyanins with at least two-fold enhancement of stability in comparison of free anthocyanins under heating and light irradiation. The anthocyanins encapsulated CD-MOFs films for fruit freshness was validated by the Kyoho experiment. This novel encapsulation system provides a new possibility for the potential use of CD-MOFs as the encapsulating material for anthocyanins in fruit preservation.

Selective and Controlled Release Responsive Nanoparticles with Adsorption-Pairing Synergy for Anthocyanin Extraction

Anthocyanins with different structures have different anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Precise structural use can improve the chemopreventive effects of anthocyanins and enhance treatment outcomes because the anthocyanin structure influences its functional sites and activities. However, owing to the available variety of anthocyanins and their complex structures, the low matching of intermolecular forces between existing adsorbents and anthocyanins limits the targeted separation of anthocyanin monomers. Short-range and efficient selective binding, which is difficult to achieve, is the current focus in the extraction field. We here developed self-assembled Fe3O4-based nano adsorbers with different surface modifications based on adsorption-pairing synergy. The electrostatic force, coordination bond, hydrogen bond, and π-π* bond together induced selective adsorption between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and anthocyanin molecules. An acid-release solution disrupted the polarity balance in the aforementioned association system, thereby promoting the controlled release of anthocyanins. Among the candidates, the effects of morphology, particle size, surface charge, and functional group on adsorption performance were analyzed. The polyacrylamide-modified magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were found to be favorable for selectively extracting anthocyanin, with an adsorption capacity of 19.74 ± 0.07 mg g-1. The release percentage of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside reached up to 98.6% ± 1.4%. This study offers a scientific basis for developing feasible nanotechniques to extract anthocyanins and plant active substances.

Advances and prospects of natural dietary polyphenols as G-quadruplex stabilizers in biomedical applications

G-quadruplexes (G4s) have arrested continuous interest in cancer research, and targeting G4s with small molecules has become an ideal approach for drug development. Plant-based dietary polyphenols have attracted much attention for their remarkable anti-cancer effects. Studies have suggested that polyphenols exhibit interesting scaffolds to bind G4s, which can effectively downregulate the proto-oncogenes by stabilizing those G4 structures. Therefore, this review not only summarizes studies on natural dietary polyphenols (including analogs) as G4 stabilizers, but also reveals their anti-cancer activities. Furthermore, the structural and antioxidant insights of polyphenols with G4s are discussed, and future development is proposed. These insights may pave the way for the development of the next generation of anti-cancer drugs targeting nucleic acids.

Trends in maintaining postharvest freshness and quality of Rubus berries

Blackberries and raspberries, commonly known as Rubus berries, are commercially grown worldwide across different climates. Rubus berries contain wide array of phytochemicals, vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. Nevertheless, these berries have short storage life which is the major constraint in their supply chains leading to higher postharvest losses. Inappropriate harvest handling, physical bruising, insect pests, and postharvest diseases lower the acceptability of fruit among consumers and other supply chain stakeholders. Additionally, the susceptibility to microbial decay, fruit softening, higher ethylene production, respiratory activity, and increased oxidation of anthocyanins, phenolics, and flavonoids considerably affects the marketability of Rubus berries at domestic and international markets. To date, several postharvest strategies such as cold storage, precooling, modified and controlled atmospheres, anti-ripening chemicals, edible coatings, biological agents, and nonchemical alternatives (heat treatment, ultrasound, irradiations, ozone) have been reported to prolong storage life, ensure food safety, and maintain the nutritional quality of Rubus berries. This review briefly encompasses multiple aspects including harvest maturity indices, regulation of fruit ripening, pre and postharvest factors affecting fruit quality, and an update on postharvest quality preservation by employing postharvest technologies to extend the storage life and maintaining the bioactive compounds in Rubus berries which are lacking in the literature. Accordingly, this review provides valuable information to the industry stakeholders and scientists offering relevant solutions, limitations in the application of certain technologies at commercial scale, highlighting research gaps, and paving the way forward for future investigations.

Advances in the Preparation, Stability, Metabolism, and Physiological Roles of Anthocyanins: A Review

Anthocyanins are natural flavonoid polyphenolic compounds widely found in fruits and vegetables. They exhibit antioxidant properties and prophylactic effects in the immune and cardiovascular systems, confer protection against cancer, and contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, their incorporation into functional foods, pharmaceuticals, supplements, and cosmetic formulations aims at promoting human well-being. This review comprehensively outlined the structural attributes of anthocyanins, expanding upon diverse methodologies employed for their extraction and production. Additionally, the stability, metabolic pathways, and manifold physiological functions of anthocyanins were discussed. However, their constrained fat solubility, susceptibility to instability, and restricted bioavailability collectively curtail their applicability and therapeutic efficacy. Consequently, a multidimensional approach was imperative, necessitating the exploration of innovative pathways to surmount these limitations, thereby amplifying the utilitarian significance of anthocyanins and furnishing pivotal support for their continual advancement and broader application.

Stability of Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters in Colored-Flesh Potato Chips

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) chips are the most consumed snacks worldwide today. Colored potato chips prepared from potato cultivars with red and purple flesh are a novel alternative to traditional potato chips because of their higher phenolic compound content, such as anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCADs), which might make these chips healthier compared with traditional chips. There is little information on the stability of these compounds. In this study, the nutritional value of these chips was evaluated by determining phenolic profiles, antioxidant activity and color parameters with liquid chromatography diode array and mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) and spectrophotometric methods during storage for four months. Five anthocyanins and three HCADs were detected, with the latter compounds being the most abundant, with concentrations on average between the first (97.82 mg kg-1) and the last (31.44 mg kg-1) week of storage. Similar trends were observed in antioxidant activity and stability, with the CUPRAC method showing the highest response among all the methods employed. The color indices were stable throughout the storage time. Based on these results, colored-flesh potato chips are an optimal alternative for consumption because of their high retention of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during storage, providing potential benefits to human health.

The phenolic components extracted from mulberry fruits as bioactive compounds against cancer: A review

In Asia, mulberry has long been used to treat various infectious and internal ailments as a traditional medication. The compounds found in it have the potential to improve human health. Because there is no approved and defined evaluation procedure, it has not been formally or scientifically recognized. As a result of these investigations, a new frontier in traditional Chinese medicine has opened up, with the possibility of modernization, for the interaction between active components of mulberry and their biological activities. These studies have used current biotechnological technologies. For ages, mulberry has been used as an herbal remedy in Asia to cure various diseases and internal disorders. It has a high concentration of bioactive chemicals that benefit human health. The most abundant phenolic components extracted from white mulberry leaves are flavonoids (Kuwanons, Moracinflavans, Moragrols, and Morkotins), phenolic acids, alkaloids, and so forth. Flavonoids, benzofurans, chalcones, and alkaloids have been discovered to have cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines. There is growing evidence that mulberry fruits can potentially prevent cancer and other aging-related disorders due to their high concentration of bioactive polyphenolic-rich compounds and macro and micronutrients. Anthocyanins are rapidly absorbed after eating, arriving in the plasmalemma within 15-50 min and entirely removed after 6-8 hr. Due to a lack of an approved and consistent technique for its examination, it has yet to be formally or scientifically recognized. The mulberry plant is commercially grown for silkworm rearing, and less attention is paid to its bioactive molecules, which have a lot of applications in human health. This review paper discusses the phenolic compounds of white mulberry and black mulberry in detail concerning their role in cancer prevention.

A discriminant analysis of plasma metabolomics for the assessment of metabolic responsiveness to red raspberry consumption

Background

Many studies show that the intake of raspberries is beneficial to immune-metabolic health, but the responses of individuals are heterogeneous and not fully understood.

Methods

In a two-arm parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial, immune-metabolic outcomes and plasma metabolite levels were analyzed before and after an 8-week red raspberry consumption. Based on partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) on plasma xenobiotic levels, adherence to the intervention was first evaluated. A second PLS-DA followed by hierarchical clustering was used to classify individuals into response subgroups. Clinical immune and metabolic outcomes, including insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and sensitivity (Matsuda, QUICKI) indices, during the intervention were assessed and compared between response subgroups.

Results

Two subgroups of participants, type 1 responders (n = 17) and type 2 responders (n = 5), were identified based on plasma metabolite levels measured during the intervention. Type 1 responders showed neutral to negative effects on immune-metabolic clinical parameters after raspberry consumption, and type 2 responders showed positive effects on the same parameters. Changes in waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting plasma apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein and insulin levels as well as Matsuda, HOMA-IR and QUICKI were significantly different between the two response subgroups. A deleterious effect of two carotenoid metabolites was also observed in type 1 responders but these variables were significantly associated with beneficial changes in the QUICKI index and in fasting insulin levels in type 2 responders. Increased 3-ureidopropionate levels were associated with a decrease in the Matsuda index in type 2 responders, suggesting that this metabolite is associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity for those subjects, whereas the opposite was observed for type 1 responders.

Conclusion

The beneficial effects associated with red raspberry consumption are subject to inter-individual variability. Metabolomics-based clustering appears to be an effective way to assess adherence to a nutritional intervention and to classify individuals according to their immune-metabolic responsiveness to the intervention. This approach may be replicated in future studies to provide a better understanding of how interindividual variability impacts the effects of nutritional interventions on immune-metabolic health.

Comparison analysis of metabolite profiling in seeds and bark of Ulmus parvifolia, a Chinese medicine species

Ulmus parvifolia (U. parvifolia) is a Chinese medicine plant whose bark and leaves are used in the treatment of some diseases such as inflammation, diarrhea and fever. However, metabolic signatures of seeds have not been studied. The seeds and bark of U. parvifolia collected at the seed ripening stage were used for metabolite profiling analysis through the untargeted metabolomics approach. A total of 2,578 and 2,207 metabolites, while 503 and 132 unique metabolites were identified in seeds and bark, respectively. Additionally, 574 differential metabolites (DEMs) were detected in the two different organs of U. parvifolia, which were grouped into 52 classes. Most kinds of metabolites classed into prenol lipids class. The relative content of flavonoids class was the highest. DEMs contained some bioactive compounds (e.g., flavonoids, terpene glycosides, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids) with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Most kinds of flavonoids and sesquiterpenes were up-regulated in seeds. There were more varieties of terpene glycosides and triterpenoids showing up-regulated in bark. The pathway enrichment was performed, while flavonoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were worthy of attention. This study identified DEMs with pharmaceutical value between seeds and bark during seed maturation and offered a molecular basis for alternative or complementary use of seeds and bark of U. parvifolia as a Chinese medicinal material.

Comprehensive Evaluation of 24 Red Raspberry Varieties in Northeast China Based on Nutrition and Taste

Red raspberry is a kind of fruit with high nutritional values. To evaluate the comprehensive quality of 24 red raspberry varieties in Northeast China, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds and sensory characteristics were measured, followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). Altogether, eight important property indexes for processing attributes were selected out using PCA, including titratable acidity (TAC), sugar-acid ratio (SAR), pH, length, diameter, weight, sucrose and citric acid. Six individual sugars, including l-rhamnose monohydrate, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose and d-trehalose anhydrous, as well as eight organic acids, including oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid and succinic acid, were identified in red raspberry. The two main clusters according to individual sugar, organic acids and SAR indicated that varieties including ‘European red’, ‘DNS9’, ‘Bulgaskc’, ‘Canby’ and ‘Samodiva’ were suitable for fresh-eating or processing to juice or other products directly because they had suitable SAR; other varieties with relatively low SAR were unsuitable for fresh-eating and need to adjust their excessive sour taste during processing.

Plant flavonoids: Classification, distribution, biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity

Flavonoids are a group of natural polyphenol substances abundant in vegetables, fruits, grains, and tea. As plant secondary metabolites, flavonoids play essential roles in many biological processes and responses to environmental factors in plants. Flavonoids are common in human diets and have antioxidant effects as well as other bioactivities (e.g., antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties), which reduce the risk of disease. Flavonoid bioactivity depends on structural substitution patterns in their C6-C3-C6 rings. However, reviews of plant flavonoid distribution and biosynthesis, as well as the health benefits of its bioactivity, remain scarce. Therefore, in the present review, we systematically summarize recent progress in the research of plant flavonoids, focusing on their biosynthesis (pathway and transcription factors) and bioactive mechanisms based on epidemic evidence, in vitro and in vivo research, and bioavailability in the human body. We also discuss future opportunities in flavonoid research, including biotechnology, therapeutic phytoproducts, and dietary flavonoids.

The Potential Roles of Dietary Anthocyanins in Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Cell Senescence and Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasingly more evidence has shown that the senescence of vascular endothelial cells is the key to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Anthocyanin is a type of water-soluble polyphenol pigment and secondary metabolite of plant-based food widely existing in fruits and vegetables. The gut microbiome is involved in the metabolism of anthocyanins and mediates the biological activities of anthocyanins and their metabolites, while anthocyanins also regulate the growth of specific bacteria in the microbiota and promote the proliferation of healthy anaerobic flora. Accumulating studies have shown that anthocyanins have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects. Many animal and in vitro experiments have also proven that anthocyanins have protective effects on cardiovascular-disease-related dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin in eliminating aging endothelial cells and preventing cardiovascular diseases is very complex and is not fully understood. In this systematic review, we summarize the metabolism and activities of anthocyanins, as well as their effects on scavenging senescent cells and cardioprotection.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Activity of Phenolic Compound Family Extracted from Raspberries (Rubus idaeus): A General Review

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) possess a wide phenolic family profile; this serves the role of self-protection for the plant. Interest in these compounds have significantly increased, since they have been classified as nutraceuticals due to the positive health effects provided to consumers. Extensive chemical, in vitro and in vivo studies have been performed to prove and validate these benefits and their possible applications as an aid when treating several chronic degenerative diseases, characterized by oxidative stress and an inflammatory response. While many diseases could be co-adjuvanted by the intake of these phenolic compounds, this review will mainly discuss their effects on cancer. Anthocyanins and ellagitannins are known to provide a major antioxidant capacity in raspberries. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge concerning the phenolic compound family of raspberries, and topics discussed include their characterization, biosynthesis, bioavailability, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Enzymatic acylation of raspberry anthocyanin: Evaluations on its stability and oxidative stress prevention

Raspberry anthocyanins were isolated and purified by XAD-7HP macroporous resin and silica gel column chromatography. Anthocyanins were then acylated with methyl salicylate as catalyzed by lipase under reduced pressure, and the conversion rate was 84.26%. LC-MS and NMR were used to identify the structure, and the stability, antioxidant capacity and protective ability of the acylated anthocyanins against oxidative damage were determined. The results showed that cyanindin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) was the primary anthocyanin in raspberry, and the binding site of acylation was on the glucoside C-6, and the product was cyanidin-3-(6-salicyloyl) glucoside (C3-6(S) G). After acylation, its stability in light, heat and oxidation environments could be significantly improved, and acylated ACN showed insignificant changes in antioxidant capacities to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals, as well as oxygen free radical absorptive capacity (ORAC). And it could also effectively prevent the release of ROS caused by oxidative damage and alleviate oxidative stress damage.

Analysis of a Multi-Environment Trial for Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.) Quality Traits

U.S. black raspberry (BR) production is currently limited by narrowly adapted, elite germplasm. An improved understanding of genetic control and the stability of pomological traits will inform the development of improved BR germplasm and cultivars. To this end, the analysis of a multiple-environment trial of a BR mapping population derived from a cross that combines wild ancestors introgressed with commercial cultivars on both sides of its pedigree has provided insights into genetic variation, genotype-by-environment interactions, quantitative trait loci (QTL), and QTL-by-environment interactions (QEI) of fruit quality traits among diverse field environments. The genetic components and stability of four fruit size traits and six fruit biochemistry traits were characterized in this mapping population following their evaluation over three years at four distinct locations representative of current U.S. BR production. This revealed relatively stable genetic control of the four fruit size traits across the tested production environments and less stable genetic control of the fruit biochemistry traits. Of the fifteen total QTL, eleven exhibited significant QEI. Closely overlapping QTL revealed the linkage of several fruit size traits: fruit mass, drupelet count, and seed fraction. These and related findings are expected to guide further genetic characterization of BR fruit quality, management of breeding germplasm, and development of improved BR cultivars for U.S. production.

Black Truffle Extract Exerts Antidiabetic Effects through Inhibition of Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism Regulation

Black truffle, a culinary and medical fungus, is highly valued worldwide for its nutritional and therapeutic importance. To enhance the existing knowledge about the beneficial properties, this study investigates the antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects of black truffle extract in in vitro biochemical assays and animal study. Briefly, black truffle extract was administered orally to treat streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic Wistar rats for 45 days. At the end of the experimental duration, rats were sacrificed to perform biochemical and gene expression analyses related to lipid regulatory and inflammatory pathways. Our results indicated that total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and low-density lipoprotein in different tissues and circulation were significantly increased in diabetic rats. Furthermore, the β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA enzyme was also significantly increased; lipoprotein lipase and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase enzymes were significantly decreased in diabetic rats. However, the above conditions were reversed upon black truffle extract feeding. Furthermore, black truffle extract was also found to downregulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) and lipid regulatory genes (serum regulatory element-binding protein-1 and fatty acid synthase). The truffle extract-treated effects were comparable to glibenclamide and medication commonly used to treat diabetes mellitus. Overall, our results suggested that black truffle possesses strong antihyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects on diabetic rats. These findings will enhance the current knowledge about the therapeutic importance of black truffles. They might be exploited as a possible food supplement or even as a natural source of pharmaceutical agents for diabetes prevention and treatment.

Multivariate analysis on the relationship between radical scavenging activities and phenolic compounds of baijiu and its protective effect against LPS-induced inflammation in THP-1 cells

In previous studies, three phenolic compounds (vanillin, 4-methylguaiacol, and 4-ethylguaiacol) were identified in baijiu, and confirmed to possess antioxidant activity in vitro. However, the distribution of phenolic compounds in baijiu, and their associations with the functionality of this regimen have not been previously reported. In the present work, the antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effect of baijiu were evaluated by DPPH•, ABTS•+, ELISA, and real-time PCR assays. The concentrations of vanillin, 4-methylguaiacol, and 4-ethylguaiacol (bioactive phenolic compounds) in 103 baijiu samples were confirmed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Baijiu exhibited DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging activities, which positively correlated with the concentrations of vanillin, 4-methylguaiacol, and 4-ethylguaiacol. Moreover, ELISA and real-time PCR assays demonstrated that baijiu could relieve inflammation caused by LPS through the inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1 expressions, induction of Nrf2 expression, and repression of inflammatory cytokine secretion. These findings lay the foundation for further investigation on the health benefits of baijiu and its bioactive components by animal and human studies.

Impacto do retardo do resfriamento na manutenção da qualidade de morangos ‘San Andreas’

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do retardo de resfriamento de morangos ‘San Andreas’ sobre a manutenção da qualidade dos frutos, bem como sobre os compostos fenólicos totais (CFT) e a atividade antioxidante total (AAT), após o armazenamento refrigerado. Os tratamentos consistiram no resfriamento nos tempos de 0 (controle, resfriamento imediato), 3, 6, 9 e 12 horas (em temperatura ambiente), após a colheita. Após a aplicação dos tratamentos, os frutos foram armazenados sob refrigeração (4 ± 0,5 °C e 92 ± 2% de UR), durante 5, 6, 7 e 8 dias, seguidos por mais 2 dias de exposição, em condição ambiente (20 ± 2 °C e 65 ± 5% de UR). Os morangos com o maior retardo de resfriamento apresentaram maior perda de massa fresca, além de menor firmeza, a partir de 7 dias de armazenamento. De maneira geral, os menores valores de incidência e severidade de podridões foram observados nos frutos do tratamento com resfriamento imediato após a colheita, quando armazenados por 7 e 8 dias, seguidos por mais 2 dias em condições ambiente. O retardo do resfriamento por até 6 horas não causa aumento de podridões até 5 dias de armazenamento refrigerado, mais 2 dias em condições ambiente. Os valores de CFT e AAT apresentaram aumento com o retardo de até 6 horas do resfriamento dos frutos, aos 6 dias de armazenamento seguidos por mais 2 dias em condições ambiente, e a AAT aumentou com o aumento do atraso no resfriamento dos frutos em até 12 horas, após 8 dias de armazenamento mais 2 dias em condições ambiente. O atraso no resfriamento causa perdas na qualidade dos frutos de morango, de acordo com o tempo de armazenamento.

Effect of Issatchenkia terricola WJL-G4 on Deacidification Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities of Red Raspberry Wine Processing

Our previous study isolated a novel Issatchenkia terricola WJL-G4, which exhibited a potent capability of reducing citric acid. In the current study, I. terricola WJL-G4 was applied to decrease the content of citric acid in red raspberry juice, followed by the red raspberry wine preparation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation, aiming to investigate the influence of I. terricola WJL-G4 on the physicochemical properties, organic acids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities during red raspberry wine processing. The results showed that after being treated with I. terricola WJL-G4, the citric acid contents in red raspberry juice decreased from 19.14 ± 0.09 to 6.62 ± 0.14 g/L, which was further declined to 5.59 ± 0.22 g/L after S. cerevisiae fermentation. Parameters related to CIELab color space, including L*, a*, b*, h°, and ∆E* exhibited the highest levels in samples after I. terricola WJL-G4 fermentation. Compared to the red raspberry wine pretreated without deacidification (RJO-SC), wine pretreated by I. terricola WJL-G4 (RJIT-SC) exhibited significantly decreased contents of gallic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and arbutin, while significantly increased contents of caffeic acid, sinapic acid, raspberry ketone, quercitrin, quercetin, baicalein, and rutin. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities including DPPH· and ABTS+· radical scavenging were enhanced in RJIT-SC group as compared to RJO-SC. This work revealed that I. terricola WJL-G4 had a great potential in red raspberry wine fermentation.

Effect of dietary fiber addition on the content and in vitro bioaccessibility of antioxidants in red raspberry puree

The aim of the present study was to understand how the addition of pectin (2.5% and 5%) affected the content and bioaccessibility of phenolics in red raspberry puree. The results showed that the concentration of antioxidants in red raspberry puree was reduced with the addition of pectin. Similarly, addition of pectin to red raspberry puree significantly reduced the total phenolic content (15-20%), total antioxidant capacity (18-70%), and total monomeric anthocyanin (25-30%) after in vitro digestion. On the other hand, significant decreases in the bioaccessible amount of cyanidin (41%), cyanidin-3-glucoside (14%), cyanidin-3-rutinoside (17%), pelargonidin 3-glucoside (16%), and peonidin (28%) were observed after the addition of pectin (5% (w/w)) compared to the control (p < 0.05) as analyzed with the HPLC method. According to the LC-MS/MS analysis of red raspberry samples, five flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and phlorizin) and six phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid) were detected. The effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion varied depending on the type of the phenolic compounds. Sinapic acid and phlorizin were not detected at all in the intestinal phase, indicating that they were completely degraded during digestion. The percentage bioaccessibility of gallic acid (49-88%), rutin (6-16%), and quercetin (23-33%) was decreased proportionally with the increase in the pectin content in red raspberry purees (p < 0.05). On the other hand, only 5% pectin addition to red raspberry puree resulted with a significant decrease in the amount of bioaccessible caffeic acid (8% to 5%), kaempferol (24% to 13%), ferulic acid (26% to 10%), and myricetin (91% to 57%) (p < 0.05). Overall, the present study highlighted that incorporation of pectin to red raspberry puree reduced the amount of bioaccessible polyphenols.

Theaflavin Chemistry and Its Health Benefits

Huge epidemiological and clinical studies have confirmed that black tea is a rich source of health-promoting ingredients, such as catechins and theaflavins (TFs). Furthermore, TF derivatives mainly include theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin-3-gallate (TF2A), theaflavin-3'-gallate (TF2B), and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (TF3). All of these TFs exhibit extensive usages in pharmaceutics, foods, and traditional medication systems. Various indepth studies reported that how TFs modulates health effects in cellular and molecular mechanisms. The available literature regarding the pharmacological activities of TFs has revealed that TF3 has remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, antiosteoporotic, and antimicrobial properties, thus posing significant effects on human health. The current manuscript summarizes both the chemistry and various pharmacological effects of TFs on human health, lifestyle or aging associated diseases, and populations of gut microbiota. Furthermore, the biological potential of TFs has also been focused to provide a deeper understanding of its mechanism of action.

Covalent and non-covalent interactions of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with milk proteins revealed modifications in protein conformational structures, digestibility, and allergenic characteristics

Currently, there is a need to explore the effects of different types of protein-anthocyanin complexations, as well as the possible changes in the nutrition and allergenicity of the formed complexes. Here, we systematically investigated the covalent and non-covalent interactions between cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and two major milk proteins, α-casein (α-CN) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). Fluorescence quenching data showed that, under non-covalent conditions, C3G quenched the fluorescence of the two proteins via a static process, with the interaction forces being revealed; for covalent products, decreased fluorescence intensities were observed with red shifts in the λ_max. Multiple spectroscopic analyses implied that C3G-addition induced protein structural unfolding through transitions between the random coil and ordered secondary components. With a two-stage simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion model, it was seen that covalent complexes, not their non-covalent counterparts, showed reduced protein digestibility, ascribed to structural changes resulting in the unavailability of enzyme cleaving sites. The GI digests displayed prominent 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation-scavenging abilities (3.8-11.1 mM Trolox equivalents per mL digest), in contrast to the markedly reduced 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging capacities. Additionally, covalent protein-C3G complexes, but not their non-covalent counterparts, showed lower IgE-binding levels in comparison to the native control. This study provides new understanding for the development of anthocyanin-milk protein systems as functional ingredients with health-beneficial properties.

Effect of raspberry extract on wound healing

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of raspberry extract on wound healing and compare it with that of ellagic acid. The elimination of excess free radicals was the key to preventing wound inflammation; cellular antioxidation activity was evaluated using an oxidative stress damage cell model. Cell proliferation ability was measured using the WST-1 assay, and the migration capacity was determined using the wound scratch assay. A mouse wound model was used to verify the effect of raspberry extract on wound healing. The cellular antioxidant activity of the extract ((50.31±3.17) μg/mL) was slightly lower than that of ellagic acid ((44.59±2.38) μg/mL). The results of a cell proliferation assay showed that both raspberry extract and ellagic acid at 5 μg/mL could significantly (P&lt;0.01) promote the proliferation of HaCaT cells. After culturing for 24 h and 48 h, the cell healing rates of the extract were (41.11±0.38) per cent and (68.88±2.51) per cent, respectively, whereas the corresponding rates of ellagic acid were (39.01±2.40) per cent and (70.33±0.89) per cent; hence, there were no significant differences between them (P&gt;0.05). The wound areas of mice fed low, medium, and high doses of raspberry extract for 14 days were 1.66, 1.41, and 1.24 mm2, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the blank control group, 2.18 mm2 (P&lt;0.05). These findings indicate that raspberry extract and ellagic acid exhibit similar antioxidant capacities and equivalent cell proliferation-promoting capabilities. In the mouse test, raspberry extract effectively promoted a reduction in wound area. This work demonstrates the potential of raspberry extract in wound healing, suggesting a promising application of raspberry resources in the fields of functional foods, cosmetics, and medicine.

Red Raspberry Extracts Inhibit A549 Lung Cancer Cell Migration, Invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Through the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 Signaling Pathway

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer ranks first among all malignant tumors in the world. Because it is relatively asymptomatic at early stages, most patients do not become aware of the disease until it has progressed to an advanced stage. Advanced lung cancer metastasis results in systemic cachexia and effective treatment becomes challenging, leading to poor response and outcome. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of lung cancer is paramount. In this study, A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of red raspberry extract and the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cells were evaluated. The results indicated that red raspberry extract reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of the cyclin D1, N-cadherin, vimentin, E-cadherin, EGFR, and STAT3 proteins. Treatment with red raspberry extract reduced the expression of cyclin D1, N-cadherin, vimentin, EGFR, and STAT3, whereas the expression of E-cadherin increased. Following transfection of an EGFR overexpression vector into A549 cells, we observed a reduced inhibitory effect of the red raspberry extract on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells. In addition, EGFR overexpression abrogated the increased expression of cyclin D1, N-cadherin, vimentin, EGFR, and STAT3 protein expression in A549 cells following extract treatment. In contrast, E-cadherin protein expression was decreased under these treatment conditions. Overall, this study suggests that red raspberry extract may reduce the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelialmesenchymal transition of A549 lung cancer cells by inhibiting the activation of the EGFR/STAT3 signaling pathway. These findings may lead to the development of new strategies to treat advanced lung cancer.

Optimization Ultrasound-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of Anthocyanins from Raspberry Using Response Surface Methodology Coupled with Genetic Algorithm

Raspberries have been reported to contain abundant anthocyanins and other active compounds. To extract anthocyanins from raspberries more efficiently, a novel procedure of ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UADESE) was proposed in this paper. The extraction process was optimized by response surface methodology coupled with a genetic algorithm. The optimum extraction parameters to achieve the highest yield of anthocyanins 1.378 ± 0.009 mg/g from raspberry powder via UADESE were obtained at a water content of 29%, ultrasonic power of 210 W, extraction temperature of 51 °C and extraction time of 32 min. The AB-8 macroporous resin combined with the high-speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC) method were further used to isolate and purify the anthocyanins extracts obtained under optimum extraction conditions, and the structure of purified anthocyanins components were identified by UV-Visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C-NMR spectra. The two anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside with a purity of 92.25% and cyanidin-3-rutinoside with a purity of 93.07%) identified were consistent with those present in raspberries. These findings provided an effective and feasible method for extraction, isolation and purification of anthocyanins from natural plant resources.

Malvidin induces hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and mitochondrial pathway

Blueberries have great beneficial effects due to high level of anthocyanins, especially malvidin. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can be activated and increase excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. Therefore, activated HSC's apoptosis can be induced to recover liver fibrosis. Malvidin's effects on apoptosis in rat activated hepatic stellate T6 cells (HSC-T6) in vitro were investigated here. High concentration of malvidin was found to significantly induce apoptosis, activate caspase-3, increase malondialdehyde, upregulate Bax, but downregulate Bcl-2. Moreover, malvidin upregulated the protein levels of some endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-typical markers, including caspase-12, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), suggesting that malvidin induced HSC apoptosis by the ERS apoptosis pathway as well as the mitochondrial-dependent pathway. These findings indicated that blueberry anthocyanins, especially malvidin, could induce activated hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and might act as one kind of functional food ingredient or a novel nutraceutical beneficial for liver health.

The Anti-Depression-Like Effects of Zhengtian Capsule via Induction of Neurogenesis and the Neurotrophic Signaling Pathway

Oxidative stress that causes neural damages in neurodegenerative disorders has been widely studied for the pathogenesis and diagnostic measures. Zhengtian capsule (ZTC), a type of traditional Chinese medicine for headaches, has been found to have extra effects in recent years, such as promoting the release of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, but its specific mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we focus on revealing whether ZTC can regulate key proteins of neurotrophic signaling pathway to alleviate depression-like behavior caused by oxidative stress. Experimental results show that ZTC (M 0.34 and H 0.7 g/kg) can elevate the proliferation of neural stem cells and GABAergic-type neurons in the hippocampus, promote the protein levels of BDNF, phosphorylated ERK1/2, and CREB, and inhibit the expression level of a key inflammation factor NFκB in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest ZTC acts on multiple pathways to resist excessive oxidative stress, proving it to be a potential neurotrophic drug.

Food-derived bioactive compounds with anti-aging potential for nutricosmetic and cosmeceutical products

Besides providing essential nutrients for humans, food contains bioactive compounds that exert diverse biological activities such as anti-microbial, anti-cancerogenic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The cosmetic industry is interested in natural bioactive compounds for their use in nutricosmetic and cosmeceutical products. These products aimed to reduce skin aging, inflammation or provide photoprotection against UV radiation. As a result, nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals are becoming innovative self-care products in the beauty market. These products contain phytochemicals as active compounds obtained from fruits, vegetables, legumes, medicinal herbs and plants with anti-aging potential. This review summarizes the information within the last 5 years related to bioactive compounds present in fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices commonly used for human consumption. Their antioxidant and biological potential for modulating molecular markers involved in the aging process, as well as their mechanism of action. Diverse natural foods and their byproducts could be used as a source of bioactive compounds for developing cosmeceutical and nutricosmetic products.

Insights into the major aroma-active compounds in clear red raspberry juice (Rubus idaeus L. cv. Heritage) by molecular sensory science approaches

The major aroma-active compounds in clear red raspberry juice were identified by molecular sensory science approaches. Thirty-one aroma-active compounds were identified using detection frequency analysis and aroma extract dilution analysis. Among them, 18 volatiles with aroma activity in red raspberry were identified for the first time, while 14 volatiles with odor activity values (OAVs) ≥ 1 were confirmed as the major aroma-active compounds. Three C6 aldehydes showed the highest detection frequencies of 8, and β-ionone exhibited the highest OAV of 9507 and flavor dilution factor of 512, which indicated that the floral and grassy note could be dominant in overall aroma. Quantitative descriptive analysis suggested that the grassy, floral, woody, and caramel-like notes can be simulated using aroma recombination model 1. Electronic nose analysis also demonstrated that model 1 had closer similarity to the original juice than others. The combination strategy used here would help improve the knowledge of red raspberry aroma.