Antioxidant capacity, polyphenol content and contribution to dietary intake of 52 fruits sold in Spain

Inhibitory effects of extracts from Eucalyptus gunnii on α-synuclein amyloid fibrils

Amyloid fibril formation is associated with various amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite the numerous studies on the inhibition of amyloid formation, the prevention and treatment of a majority of amyloid-related disorders are still challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of various plant extracts on amyloid formation of α-synuclein. We found that the extracts from Eucalyptus gunnii are able to inhibit amyloid formation, and to disaggregate preformed fibrils, in vitro. The extract itself did not lead to cell damage. In the extract, miquelianin, which is a glycosylated form of quercetin and has been detected in the plasma and the brain, was identified and assessed to have a moderate inhibitory activity, compared to the effects of ellagic acid and quercetin, which are strong inhibitors for amyloid formation. The properties of miquelianin provide insights into the mechanisms controlling the assembly of α-synuclein in the brain.

Impact of dehulling, germination and fermentation on the bioactive and functional properties of grey pea flour

Introduction

Grey pea is a largely overlooked legume in the Nordic countries, and its potential uses in various food products remain unexplored. It is a nutrient-rich crop with low environmental impact, making it an attractive option for sustainable and nutritious plant-based alternatives.

Objectives

To investigate the impact of dehulling, germination, and fermentation on the bioactive (polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity) and functional characteristics (water absorption index, water solubility index, water and oil binding capacity, emulsifying properties and gelation concentration) of grey pea flour. Additionally, protein content and pasting properties (temperature, peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, and setback) were measured.

Methods

Dehulling was performed using a runner disk sheller. Germination was carried out for 24 and 48 h at ambient temperature, and fermentation was conducted for 8 h at 43°C using a starter culture.

Results

The results indicate that dehulling did not significantly affect functional properties and gelling capacity (p = 0.297 for oil absorption capacity, p = 0.5 for emulsion activity, and p = 0.607 for emulsion stability), but it resulted in a notable decrease in total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (TAC). Conversely, 48 h of germination increased TAC measured by two methods: FRAP (19%) and DPPH (30%). This process increased through viscosity by 1.2-fold, while it did not significantly affect the water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), or the emulsifying properties of grey pea flour. Fermentation significantly improved TPC (p < 0.001 for whole grey peas and p = 0.004 for dehulled grey peas), with a TPC increase of up to 67% in fermented dehulled pea flour. TAC measured by both methods, showed significant increases, ranging from 35 to 104%. However, fermentation reduced emulsifying and pasting properties, as indicated by the peak, through and final viscosity, which may be desirable only for certain food products. Further, germination and fermentation showed significant increases in protein content, by 4 and 8%, respectively.

Conclusion

Fermented grey pea flour exhibited enhanced bioactive characteristics, while 48-h germination positively impacted pasting properties. Overall, these processes led to changes in both the bioactive and functional properties of grey pea flour, creating opportunities for the use of these flours in a wide array of food products.

Nutritional and Functional Properties of Terminalia ferdinandiana Fruits Wild Harvested from Western Australia

This study assessed the metabolite content and bioactivities of Kakadu plum (KP) from Western Australia (WA). LC-MS/MS and UHPLC-PDA analyzed sugar, vitamin C, and ellagic acid (EA). Functional properties were evaluated by spectroscopic technique, agar well diffusion, and microplate dilution methods. WA KP exhibited higher total sugar (16.3 ± 1.0 g/100 g DW) and free ellagic acid (EA) (23.2 ± 1.7 mg/g DW), along with abundant vitamin C (25.20 ± 0.16 to 131.50 ± 0.20 mg/g DW) compared to Northern Territory KP fruits. The fruit showed strong antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibition, and effectiveness against bacteria, with positive correlations to total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin C, and EA. These findings highlight WA KP's potential for functional foods and pharmaceuticals, emphasizing the importance of TPC, vitamin C, and EA in selecting high-quality fruit.

Polyphenols in health and food processing: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant insights

Polyphenols, as subordinate metabolites of plants, have demonstrated significant antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant action in scientific learn. These compounds exert their effects through various mechanisms, containing interference with microbial cell structures, rule of host immune responses, and neutralization of free radicals. This multifaceted activity positions polyphenols as promising candidates for maintaining human health and treating related diseases. Notably, in the context of escalating antibiotic resistance, the antibacterial properties of polyphenols offer innovative avenues for the development of new therapeutic agents. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects hold substantial potential for treating inflammatory diseases and mitigating the aging process. This review aims to summarize the latest findings on the biological activities of polyphenols, highlighting their mechanisms of action and potential applications in health and disease management. Furthermore, optimizing polyphenol extraction methods aligns with the goals of sustainable and green processing, reducing environmental impact while enhancing food safety and extending shelf life. Employing advanced analytical techniques, such as spectroscopy and chromatography, can ensure the accurate evaluation of polyphenol content and efficacy. These efforts collectively contribute to the ongoing improvement of food processing practices and product quality, promoting a healthier and more sustainable future in the food industry.

Exploring the potential of phenolic and antioxidant compounds in new Rosaceae fruits

BACKGROUND

Rosaceae fruits have been used in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, these fruits have not extensively been studied regarding their phenolic composition. Thus, this research focuses on the determination of phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, flavan-3-ols by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, and the antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the fruits of five species of genera Crataegus and Sorbus (Rosaceae).

RESULTS

We found a total of 71 phenolic compounds from which 30 were identified in these berries for the first time. Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laciniata revealed higher total phenolic and flavan-3-ol contents than the other species and the highest antioxidant activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, the fruits evaluated have demonstrated to be important sources of bioactive compounds with huge potential for being used in nutraceutical or food scopes. Additional studies could be needed to evaluate the influence of the different production areas on the phenolic content. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Cumulative risk assessment of dietary exposure of the adult population in Serbia to pesticides that have chronic effects on the thyroid gland through fresh fruits and vegetables

In contrast to the traditional approach to risk assessment, which focuses on a single chemical, cumulative exposure and risk assessment considers the consequences of exposure to multiple chemical combinations. A cumulative risk assessment of dietary exposure of adult females and adult males to pesticides with chronic effects on the thyroid was conducted by estimation of the Total Margin of Exposure (MOET). Exposure to each active substance was estimated using a second-order Monte Carlo simulation. Input values for the simulation were based on over 2300 conventionally produced fruit and vegetable samples analysed from 2021 to 2023 and consumption data collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 24h recall method. MOET values, for both populations assessed, did not exceed thresholds for regulatory consideration established by risk managers. Considering that MOETs values from consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables were relatively close to the threshold value, total exposure to the pesticides could likely reach risk-associated MOET levels, through the consumption of other food products that may be contaminated.

New Functional Foods with Cactus Components: Sustainable Perspectives and Future Trends

The growing interest in a healthy lifestyle has contributed to disseminating perspectives on more sustainable natural resource management. This review describes promising aspects of using cacti in the food industry, addressing sustainable, nutritional, and functional aspects of the plant's production. Our study provides an overview of the potential of cacti for the food industry to encourage the sustainable cultivation of underutilized cactus species and their commercial exploitation. The commercial production of cacti has advantages over other agricultural practices by mitigating damage to ecosystems and encouraging migration to sustainable agriculture. The application of cactus ingredients in food development has been broad, whether in producing breads, jellies, gums, dyes, probiotics, and postbiotic and paraprobiotic foods. However, in the field of probiotic foods, future research should focus on technologies applied in processing and researching interactions between probiotics and raw materials to determine the functionality and bioactivity of products.

Comparative flavonoid profile of orange (Citrus sinensis) flavedo and albedo extracted by conventional and emerging techniques using UPLC-IMS-MS, chemometrics and antioxidant effects

Introduction

Citrus fruits are one of the most frequently counterfeited processed products in the world. In the juice production alone, the peels, divided into flavedo and albedo, are the main waste product. The extracts of this by-product are enriched with many bioactive substances. Newer extraction techniques generally have milder extraction conditions with simultaneous improvement of the extraction process.

Methods

This study presents a combinatorial approach utilizing data-independent acquisition-based ion mobility spectrometry coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Integrating orthogonal collision cross section (CCS) data matching simultaneously improves the confidence in metabolite identification in flavedo and albedo tissues from Citrus sinensis. Furthermore, four different extraction approaches [conventional, ultrasonic, High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) and Pulsed Electric Field (PEF)] with various optimized processing conditions were compared in terms of antioxidant effects and flavonoid profile particularly polymethoxy flavones (PMFs).

Results

A total number of 57 metabolites were identified, 15 of which were present in both flavedo and albedo, forming a good qualitative overlapping of distributed flavonoids. For flavedo samples, the antioxidant activity was higher for PEF and HHP treated samples compared to other extraction methods. However, ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest antioxidant effects in albedo samples attributed to different qualitative composition content rather than various quantities of same metabolites. The optimum processing conditions for albedo extraction using HHP and PEF were 200 MPa and 15 kJ/kg at 10 kV, respectively. While, HHP at medium pressure (400 MPa) and PEF at 15 kJ/kg/3 kV were the optimum conditions for flavedo extraction.

Conclusion

Chemometric analysis of the dataset indicated that orange flavedo can be a valid source of soluble phenolic compounds especially PMFs. In order to achieve cross-application of production, future study should concentrate on how citrus PMFs correlate with biological engineering techniques such as breeding, genetic engineering, and fermentation engineering.

Averrhoa carambola L., Cyphomandra betacea, Myrciaria dubia as a Source of Bioactive Compounds of Antioxidant Properties

Natural bioactive compounds play an important role in the prevention of various diseases. The exotic fruits Averrhoa carambola L. (star fruit), Cyphomandra betacea (tamarillo) and Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu) can be valuable sources of phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study has been to compare the antioxidant properties of these exotic fruits, the structure of polyphenolic compounds and the content of vitamin C and β-carotene. All the juices were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and the composition of phenolic compounds (TP and FBBB assays, total flavonoid content, total anthocyanins). In addition, HPLC assays were performed to analyse the content of phenolic acids, flavonoids, vitamin C and β-carotene. The results demonstrated that juice from the Myrciaria dubia fruit had the highest antioxidant capacity, which was 4.5-fold higher than that of juice from Averrhola carambola L., and nearly 7-fold higher than the antioxidant capacity of Cyphomandra betacea fruit juice. Additionally, juice from the camu-camu fruit had a 3- to 4-fold higher total polyphenol content (8290 ± 254 mg GAE L^-1) and a high level of vitamin C (8410.8 ± 16.9 mg AA kg^-1). In turn, tamarillo juice had a high content of total anthocyanins (5796 mg CGE L^-1) and phenolic acids (mostly chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid). Juice produced from carambola had a high content of total flavonoids (1345 mg CAE L^-1), and the composition of these compounds was dominated by flavanols (epicatechin). The research results justify the conclusion that fruits of Myrciaria dubia, Averrhoa carambola L., Cyphomandra betacea are rich sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, and in the near future may serve as healthful food ingredients.

Potential of phenolic compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) by-product with significant antioxidant and therapeutic effects: A narrative review

The wealth of epidemiological evidence in the scientific world underscores the possibility that a plant-based diet can reduce the prevalence of common diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and stroke. The therapeutic effects of plant sources are partly explained by phenolic secondary metabolites or polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, polyphenolic compounds, which are widely distributed in plants, are of great interest for the development of effective specific drugs with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, polyphenol compounds have no harmful effects due to their natural biocompatibility and safety. Numerous studies have highlighted the potential of some industrial food wastes from plant material processing, including apple peels and mashed potatoes, grape skins, tomato and carrot peels, pomegranate peels and seeds, and many others. These byproducts are considered low-cost sources of natural biological compounds, including antioxidants, which have beneficial effects on human health. The polyphenol complex of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.), which makes up half of the pomegranate fruit, has more pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than other parts. And the most important active components of pomegranate peel, which are found only in this plant, are punicalagin, followed by ellagic acid and gallic acid. It is known that these polyphenolic compounds of pomegranate peel have the most pronounced therapeutic effect. Several studies have shown the protective effect of ellagic acid, punicalagin, against oxidative stress damage caused by free radicals. The potential of pomegranate peel as an antioxidant and therapeutic component in various biological systems is high, according to scientific sources. However, despite extensive research in recent years, a review of sources has shown that there is insufficient evidence to support the therapeutic effects of polyphenolic compounds from pomegranate peels. The role of pomegranate peel polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids, as antioxidants in various biological systems also requires further research. Of particular importance are the mechanisms by which antioxidants influence the cellular response against oxidative stress. The purpose of this review was to report our current knowledge of plant polyphenolic compounds and their classification, and to evaluate the potential of phenolic compounds from pomegranate peels with significant antioxidant and therapeutic effects.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away": The potentials of apple bioactive constituents for chronic disease prevention

Apples are rich sources of selected micronutrients (e.g., iron, zinc, vitamins C and E) and polyphenols (e.g., procyanidins, phloridzin, 5′‐caffeoylquinic acid) that can help in mitigating micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) and chronic diseases. This review provides an up‐to‐date overview of the significant bioactive compounds in apples together with their reported pharmacological actions against chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. For consumers to fully gain these health benefits, it is important to ensure an all‐year‐round supply of highly nutritious and good‐quality apples. Therefore, after harvest, the physicochemical and nutritional quality attributes of apples are maintained by applying various postharvest treatments and hurdle techniques. The impact of these postharvest practices on the safety of apples during storage is also highlighted. This review emphasizes that advancements in postharvest management strategies that extend the storage life of apples should be optimized to better preserve the bioactive components crucial to daily dietary needs and this can help improve the overall health of consumers.

Cultivar Differences on Nutraceuticals of Grape Juices and Seeds

In this study, nutraceutical properties of fruit juice and seeds, which are important for human health, of green (Kabarcik, Cavus), red (red Globe) and black (Honusu, Yildiz, Yediveren and Helvani) skin colored grape cultivars grown in same ecological conditions were investigated. Harvest period, number of seeds, cluster form, cluster weight, berry weight, berry color and usage area were determined as morphological parameters. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used for total phenol content analysis. The total antioxidant status of juices and seeds of grape cultivars have been determined by 2,2–diphenyl−1–picryl-hydrazyl–hydrate (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. Seeds of all grape cultivars exhibited higher nutraceuticals than fruit juices. Total phenolic content of seed samples was found to be quite variable in range of 1.90 mg GAE/g (cv. Yildiz)–3.46 mg GAE/g (cv. Honusu) fresh weight base (FW), indicating 2 folds of differences between green and black grape cultivars. Green and black cultivars also showed the lowest and the highest total phenolic content in juices between 1.69 (cv. Yediveren) and 2.45 (cv. Honusu mg GAE/g FW). Seeds and fruit juices of all cultivars analyzed showed high antioxidant capacity and total phenol content. Of all different colored cultivars, black peel-colored cultivars had the highest values and combined better morphological and nutraceutical traits with an excellent berry qualitative profile for cv. Honusu and Helvani.

Natural Polyphenols for the Preservation of Meat and Dairy Products

Food spoilage makes foods undesirable and unacceptable for human use. The preservation of food is essential for human survival, and different techniques were initially used to limit the growth of spoiling microbes, e.g., drying, heating, salting, or fermentation. Water activity, temperature, redox potential, preservatives, and competitive microorganisms are the most important approaches used in the preservation of food products. Preservative agents are generally classified into antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-browning agents. On the other hand, artificial preservatives (sorbate, sulfite, or nitrite) may cause serious health hazards such as hypersensitivity, asthma, neurological damage, hyperactivity, and cancer. Thus, consumers prefer natural food preservatives to synthetic ones, as they are considered safer. Polyphenols have potential uses as biopreservatives in the food industry, because their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities can increase the storage life of food products. The antioxidant capacity of polyphenols is mainly due to the inhibition of free radical formation. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of plants and herbs is mainly attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. Thus, incorporation of botanical extracts rich in polyphenols in perishable foods can be considered since no pure polyphenolic compounds are authorized as food preservatives. However, individual polyphenols can be screened in this regard. In conclusion, this review highlights the use of phenolic compounds or botanical extracts rich in polyphenols as preservative agents with special reference to meat and dairy products.

Clean Label “Rocha” Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Snack Containing Juice By-Products and Euglena gracilis Microalgae

“Rocha do Oeste” pear is a Portuguese Protected Designation of Origin variety and one of the country's most relevant fruits for its nutritional value, production area, and exportation amounts. The recent integration of a pilot-scale juice production line brought to SUMOL+COMPAL company the need to characterize the new resulting fractions and value the new by-products. The objective of this work was to value the juice clarification by-products, producing a clean label and fiber-rich snack, in a circular economy rationale, where the secondary products are upcycled back into the food value chain, by creating another food product that includes those by-products. For the above to be possible, the laboratory conditions to produce pear fractions were optimized. After optimizing the puree centrifugation, using response surface methodology (RSM), and optimizing the turbid juice crossflow filtration, the different fractions were characterized in rheological, nutritional, and physical aspects. Comparison to the pulps revealed an increase in the viscosity of the pomace; an enriching effect on the fructose, glucose, and dietary fiber levels in the pomace, and maintenance of the vitamin C levels after centrifugation; and with no effect on the contents of total phenols during the filtration step. A thick pear snack was developed, incorporating retained fraction, inulin, and Euglena gracilis in the pomace, and optimized regarding its firmness and dietary fiber content. The snack characterization revealed an interesting total phenols content (which was maintained from the raw materials). Compared to the snack without microalgae and a commercial fruit snack, the pear snack with E. gracilis was well-accepted by the sensory panel, mainly in texture and appearance, and can be further improved in aroma and flavor. The snack without microalgae was the favorite among the three samples, in most sensory parameters, and never got the answer “I'm sure I wouldn't buy it.” Therefore, an innovative, clean label and plant-based snack was developed, in a circular economy rationale, which was relatively well-appreciated by the panel. This snack is rich in dietary fiber, having the possibility of presenting various nutritional claims, and the potential for easy sensory optimization.

Effect of Anti-Obesity and Antioxidant Activity through the Additional Consumption of Peel from ‘Fuji’ Pre-Washed Apple

There is limited information on the health effects of apple peel taken from ‘Fuji’ (Malus pumila Mill) apples washed with ozonated water. To clarify the health-promoting effects of peel, the triterpenoids (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid) were quantified with gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry. Anti-obesity effects of apple peel extract on the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell were compared with apple flesh, whole apple, and ursolic acid. The peel extract treatment with 3.30 ± 1.05 μM of ursolic acid significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) the lipid accumulation compared with the content in flesh, and a similar level was reached in the 5 μM ursolic acid positive control group. In the peel extract and ursolic acid treatment groups, the C16:0 concentration was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), implying the anti-obesity effect of ursolic acid on the 3T3-L1 cell. Moreover, apple peel contributed 41% of the total flavonoids content and 31% of the phenolic contents of the whole apple, but only accounted for less than 10% of the whole apple (weight basis). This study’s results offer basic data on pre-washed apple as a health functional food, offering information about the health benefits of apple peel, calculated based on the partial ratio in the whole apple.

Comparison the Structural, Physicochemical, and Prebiotic Properties of Litchi Pomace Dietary Fibers before and after Modification

Litchi pomace, a by-product of litchi processing, is rich in dietary fiber. Soluble and insoluble dietary fibers were extracted from litchi pomace, and insoluble dietary fiber was modified by ultrasonic enzymatic treatment to obtain modified soluble and insoluble dietary fibers. The structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of the dietary fiber samples were evaluated and compared. It was found that all dietary fiber samples displayed typical polysaccharide absorption spectra, with arabinose being the most abundant monosaccharide component. Soluble dietary fibers from litchi pomace were morphologically fragmented and relatively smooth, with relatively high swelling capacity, whereas the insoluble dietary fibers possessed wrinkles and porous structures on the surface, as well as higher water holding capacity. Additionally, soluble dietary fiber content of litchi pomace was successfully increased by 6.32 ± 0.14% after ultrasonic enzymatic modification, and its arabinose content and apparent viscosity were also significantly increased. Further, the soluble dietary fibers exhibited superior radical scavenging ability and significantly stimulated the growth of probiotic bacterial species. Taken together, this study suggested that dietary fiber from litchi pomace could be a promising ingredient for functional foods industry.

Plant-Derived Antioxidants: Significance in Skin Health and the Ageing Process

Natural substances have traditionally been used in skin care for centuries. There is now an ongoing search for new natural bioactives that not only promote skin health but also protect the skin against various harmful factors, including ultraviolet radiation and free radicals. Free radicals, by disrupting defence and restoration mechanisms, significantly contribute to skin damage and accelerate ageing. Natural compounds present in plants exhibit antioxidant properties and the ability to scavenge free radicals. The increased interest in plant chemistry is linked to the growing interest in plant materials as natural antioxidants. This review focuses on aromatic and medicinal plants as a source of antioxidant substances, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and macromolecules (including polysaccharides and peptides) as well as components of essential oils, and their role in skin health and the ageing process.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Peel, Pulp and Seed Extracts of Different Clones of the Turkish Grape Cultivar 'Karaerik'

The Erzincan plain is one of the richest regions in Turkey in terms of plant biodiversity. In this region, the famous grape cultivar 'Karaerik' has always dominated grape production due to its berry characteristics. The cultivar shows great morphological variation at clonal level. In this study, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of peel, pulp and seed extracts of nine 'Karaerik' clones sampled from same location were investigated. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content of peel, pulp and seed extracts of nine clones. To determine antioxidant activity, three well known assays such as DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) and TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) were used. In addition, the correlation between total phenol content and DPPH, FRAP and TEAC was determined. Results showed that among the tissues, seed samples in berries of all clones had the highest total phenol content and antioxidant activity determined by three assays. Seed samples were followed by peel and pulp for total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Among the nine 'Karaerik' clones, Clone 8 had the highest total phenolic content (149 mg GAE/100 g FW) while Clone 3 had the lowest (111 mg GAE/100 g FW). Peel, pulp and seed samples of nine 'Karaerik' clones showed strong antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP and TEAC assays. In particular, grape seeds were found rich for better in phenolic compounds including gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. Clones such as 7, 8 and 9 higher antioxidant activity may present great potential for grape breeders and the food industry as well as health-conscious consumers.

Nutraceutical and Functional Properties of Peel, Pulp, and Seed Extracts of Six ‘Köhnü’ Grape Clones

Grape production has a long history in the Elazig province and surrounding vicinity and produced grapes have been used for table consumption and also processed into traditional beverages, Şıra (special non-alcoholic grape juice) and wine. In the Elazig province, the main grape cultivars are ‘Ağın Beyazı’, ‘Öküzgözü’, ‘Boğazkere’, ‘Şilfoni’, ‘Tahannebi’, and ‘Köhnü’. Among them, ‘Köhnü’ cultivar is highly preferred by consumers due to its black color and perfect berry characteristics. The cultivar has grown for centuries in different parts of Elazig and shows a great variability for most of its morphological and biochemical characteristics. In the present study, we aimed to determine morphological and biochemical traits in six ‘Köhnü’ clones sampled from Elazığ. The cluster weight of six clones was found between 334–394 g. The highest total phenolic content was observed in seeds followed by peel and pulp samples. The seed extract of Clone 2 had the highest total phenolic content at 254 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight. The results also showed that peel, pulp, and seed samples of ‘Köhnü’ grape clones had considerable amounts of antioxidant components determined by DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TEAC assays and might be rich sources of natural antioxidants. Among the six ‘Köhnü’ clones, Clone 3, and Clone 6 differed from the others in respect to the highest cluster weight, the highest concentrations of total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The results also implied that all clones could be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and as a possible pharmaceutical supplement.

Antioxidant Properties of Fruit and Vegetable Whey Beverages and Fruit and Vegetable Mousses

The study assesses the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and lipophilic pigments (β-carotene, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b) content in homemade and marketed fruit and vegetable whey beverages and fruit and vegetable mousses. All of the tests were performed using spectrophotometric methods. The highest polyphenol content was found in the homemade green whey beverage W1G (541.95 mg/100 g) and the lowest in the market green whey beverage W2G (46.18 mg/100 g). In the fruit and vegetable mousses under study, the highest content of polyphenolic compounds was determined in the red mousse R3 (76.41 mg/100 g). The highest content of flavonoids was observed in the homemade orange whey beverage W1O (63.06 mg/100 g) and in the green mousse G2 (69.80 mg/100 g). The values of the antioxidant activity of whey beverages and mousses varied depending on the composition. The highest content of β-carotene was identified in homemade orange whey beverage (4.36 mg/100 g) and in orange mousses (in range 1.10–2.24 mg/100 g), while chlorophylls a and b—in homemade green whey beverage W1G (3.00 mg/100 g and 1.31 mg/100 g respectively) and in green mousses (chlorophyll a in range 0.54 to 1.42 mg/100 g and chlorophyll b in range 0.13 to 0.32 mg/100 g).

Going "Green" in the Prevention and Management of Atherothrombotic Diseases: The Role of Dietary Polyphenols

During the 20th century processed and ready-to-eat foods became routinely consumed resulting in a sharp rise of fat, salt, and sugar intake in people's diets. Currently, the global incidence of obesity, raised blood lipids, hypertension, and diabetes in an increasingly aged population contributes to the rise of atherothrombotic events and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality. Drug-based therapies are valuable strategies to tackle and help manage the socio-economic impact of atherothrombotic disorders though not without adverse side effects. The inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids to human diets, as recommended by WHO offers a valuable nutritional strategy, alternative to drug-based therapies, to be explored in the prevention and management of atherothrombotic diseases at early stages. Though polyphenols are mostly associated to color and taste in foods, food flavonoids are emerging as modulators of cholesterol biosynthesis, appetite and food intake, blood pressure, platelet function, clot formation, and anti-inflammatory signaling, supporting the health-promoting effects of polyphenol-rich diets in mitigating the impact of risk factors in atherothrombotic disorders and CVD events. Here we overview the current knowledge on the effect of polyphenols particularly of flavonoid intake on the atherothrombotic risk factors and discuss the caveats and challenges involved with current experimental cell-based designs.

Phenolic Profiling of Five Different Australian Grown Apples

Apples (Malus domestica) are one of the most widely grown and consumed fruits in the world that contain abundant phenolic compounds that possess remarkable antioxidant potential. The current study characterised phenolic compounds from five different varieties of Australian grown apples (Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Fuji and Smitten) using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and quantified through HPLC-PDA. The phenolic content and antioxidant potential were determined using various assays. Red Delicious had the highest total phenolic (121.78 ± 3.45 mg/g fw) and total flavonoid content (101.23 ± 3.75 mg/g fw) among the five apple samples. In LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, a total of 97 different phenolic compounds were characterised in five apple samples, including Royal Gala (37), Pink Lady (54), Red Delicious (17), Fuji (67) and Smitten (46). In the HPLC quantification, phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid, 15.69 ± 0.09 mg/g fw) and flavonoid (quercetin, 18.96 ± 0.08 mg/g fw) were most abundant in Royal Gala. The obtained results highlight the importance of Australian apple varieties as a rich source of functional compounds with potential bioactivity.

Concept, mechanism, and applications of phenolic antioxidants in foods

In this review, the concept of phenolic antioxidants, mechanisms of action, and applications have been reviewed. Phenolic compounds (PCs) acts as an antioxidant by reacting with a variety of free radicals. The mechanism of antioxidant actions involved either by hydrogen atom transfer, transfer of a single electron, sequential proton loss electron transfer, and chelation of transition metals. In foods, the PCs act as antioxidants which are measured with several in vitro spectroscopic methods. The PCs have been found in milk and a wide range of dairy products with sole purposes of color, taste, storage stability, and quality enhancement. The role of PCs in three types of food additives, that is, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and flavoring agents have been critically reviewed. The literature revealed that PCs present in a variety of foods possess several health benefits such as antibacterial, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer, antioxidants, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Phenolic compounds are strong antioxidants and are safer than synthetic antioxidants. The wide occurrence in plant foods warranted continuous review applications. This review, therefore, presented an updated comprehensive overview of the concept, mechanism, and applications of phenolic antioxidants in foods.

New Advances in the Determination of Free and Bound Phenolic Compounds of Banana Passion Fruit Pulp (Passiflora tripartita, var. Mollissima (Kunth) L.H. Bailey) and Their In Vitro Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Capacities

Banana passion fruit (Passiflora tripartite L.H. Bailey) is a lesser known species of the genus Passiflora. This fruit typically grows in the Andean region of Ecuador and it is locally known as tumbo, taxo or curuba. The juice of this fruit is highly appreciated in South America. Extracts of banana passion fruit were characterized for their content levels of free and bound phenolic compounds by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry detector (HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS). A total of 82 polar compounds classified as phenolic acid derivatives, organic acids, benzophenones, flavan-3-ols, flavonols and flavones were detected in the extracts. The total phenolic content was 2356 mg 100 g^-1 dry matter, with the bound phenolic fraction representing 37.7% of total amounts. Flavan-3-ols, such as (epi)catechin, (epi)azfelechin and their derivatives, were the main phenolic compounds in the free phenolic fraction; however, phenolic acids represented the most abundant class of bound phenolic extracts. The antioxidant and hypoglycemic capacities reported for banana passion fruit were higher than for other fruits. To our knowledge, this is the first time that bound phenolic compounds have been described in banana passion fruit pulp.

Contact hybrid potentiometric method for on-site and in situ estimation of the antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables

A new version of the hybrid potentiometric method (HPM) for evaluating the antioxidant activity (AOA) of fruits and vegetables, which we called contact (CHPM), is proposed. A screen-printed electrode pair coated by a membrane impregnated with a mediator serves as a sensor system. The potential shift, which is observed when the sensor system is exposed to the sample slice is used as a source of information. CHPM provides reproducible and correct results: relative standard deviation does not exceed 8.4% and recovery of model antioxidant at close to 100%. The AOA values of fruits and vegetables found by CHPM are in the range of 1-21 μmol-eq/g. Correlation between the AOA of slices and suspensions is found. The proposed CHPM can be used in on-site and in situ formats.