Application of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Peel in Probiotic Ice Cream: Functionality and Viability during Storage

Frozen Fermented Dairy Snacks with Probiotics and Blueberry Bagasse: Stability, Bioactivity, and Digestive Viability

The demand for healthier snack options has driven innovation in frozen dairy products. This study developed and characterized novel frozen dairy snacks fermented with probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and Streptococcus thermophilus BIOTEC003) and containing 2% blueberry bagasse. Four formulations (LA5, LGG, LA5-BERRY, and LGG-BERRY) were analyzed for their nutritional, physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties. High protein content (>17% d.w.) and increased dietary fiber (5.77-5.88% d.w.) were observed in bagasse-containing formulations. Stable technological characteristics were maintained, with melting rates increasing slightly during storage. Probiotic viability remained high (>8.5 log CFU/mL) after freezing and storage at -20 °C for 30 days. Post-simulated digestion, probiotics retained >7.5 log CFU/mL, while blueberry bagasse formulations exhibited significantly higher phenolic content (7.62-8.74 mg/g d.w.) and antioxidant capacity, though anthocyanin content decreased (66-68%). Sensory evaluation by 100 panelists revealed high acceptance scores (>63%), with LGG-BERRY achieving the highest score (78%). These formulations demonstrate significant potential for incorporating probiotics and functional ingredients, providing an innovative solution for probiotic delivery and the sustainable utilization of fruit by-products in the food industry.

Physicochemical, Antioxidant Characteristics and Sensory Evaluation of Functional Pro-Biogenic Ice Cream

Pro-biogenic is a recent terminology widely used for products that combine biogenic materials and probiotics which has made progressive improvement in a new era of research on functional foods. This study aimed to develop functional ice cream with Bacillus coagulans and propolis extract (PE) as a biogenic part to develop ice cream's physiochemical and antioxidant characteristics. Five probiotic ice cream samples were prepared using different levels of PE powder (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% w/w), and the physicochemical, total phenol content (TPC), antioxidant and sensory properties, and probiotic survival of the samples were examined. The study found that PE levels did not significantly impact fat, protein, carbohydrate, and ash content, overrun, melting rate, and adhesiveness of probiotic ice cream, but increased dry matter, apparent viscosity, and hardness. Adding PE to freeze-storage samples significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pH and improved TPC and antioxidant activity. The prepared ice cream containing probiotic bacteria and PE extracts, despite their darker and yellower color, were acceptable based on sensory evaluation. Furthermore, the survival of probiotic bacteria in the ice cream, with different levels of PE appeared to be in acceptable limits (107 CFU/g). The findings of the research indicated that the pro-biogenic ice cream has good functionality and incorporating a PE aside probiotic could improve physiochemical and antioxidant characteristics which can be used as a value-added ingredient in the formulation of functional pro-biogenic ice creams.

Optimizing the microwave-assisted hydrothermal extraction of pectin from tangerine by-product and its physicochemical, structural, and functional properties

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal extraction (MAHE) was optimized using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) of the response surface methodology (RSM) for optimal recovery of pectin from tangerine peel (TPP). The effects of three factors (pH, irradiation time and temperature) on extraction yield (EY), galacturonic acid content (GAC) and degree of esterification (DE) of pectin were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: pH 1.7, irradiation time 12 min and temperature 109 °C. Under these conditions, the EY, GAC and DE were 30.4, 72.3 and 45.2%, respectively. The low methoxyl content of MHAE (45.2%) compared to CE is confirmed by the 1H NMR and FTIR spectra, and the emulsifying activity is 57.65% and 50.56% for CE and MHAE, respectively. The total phenolic content (TPC) of pectin produced using MAHE is 41.2 mg GAE/g, thus indicating higher antioxidant properties compared to pectin produced with CE, which had a TPC of 38.4 mg GAE/g. In addition, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface morphological analysis (SEM) results showed that TPP had a rough surface and crystalline structure. Overall, our findings show that TTP from MAHE can be used as a natural antioxidant ingredient in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Reutilization of Fruit Waste as Potential Prebiotic for Probiotic or Food-grade Microorganisms in Food Applications: A Review

Food waste has been a global issue with 2.5 billion tons generated globally in 2021. Approximately 46% of the food waste is contributed by fruit and vegetable waste. Due to improper waste handling, these fruit by-products have a negative impact on the environment through soil and water pollution, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and eutrophication. However, research has shown the potential to reuse fruit waste in various applications for sustainability owing to their high source of valuable components and potential health benefits. In recent years, researchers have also explored the potential of reutilizing fruit waste as a prebiotic. Hence, literatures from the past 10 years has been critically analyzed and presented in this review. This review focused on the potential of fruit waste as a prebiotic for probiotic and gastrointestinal microorganisms and its food applications. The nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of the fruit wastes had been introduced to reflect their potential as prebiotics. Moreover, the increase in bioactive compounds and bioactivities in probiotics with the presence of fruit wastes has been reviewed. The impact of fruit by-products on the growth of the probiotic and its survivability in food matrices as compared to established prebiotic and the absence of prebiotics have also been extensively discussed in this review. This review also highlighted some of the factors that might contribute to the negative effect of fruit waste on probiotics. The safety concerns and future prospects of reutilizing fruit wastes for food applications have been emphasized. The review article is beneficial for researchers exploring fruit wastes as prebiotics and industrialists who are interested in incorporating fruit wastes as an added-value ingredient for food applications.

Improved analysis of grape seed extract by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) reveals that proanthocyanidin-protein interaction mechanisms in cream depend on degree of polymerization

This study aimed to comprehensively characterize chemical profiles of proanthocyanidins (PACs) from grape seed extract (GSE), examine their interactions with proteins in a cream system, and define the mechanisms mediating PAC-protein interactions. GSE PACs were fractionated and characterized by thiolysis followed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis. New PACs with a degree of polymerization (DP) up to 16 were identified by improved HRMS data processing methods. In the model cream system, high-DP PACs exhibited greater precipitation capacity and protein binding than low-DP PACs. Low-DP PACs primarily engaged in hydrogen bonding, while high-DP PACs predominantly utilized multiple hydrophobic interaction sites to form cream protein aggregates. Furthermore, particle size and viscosity measurement of cream revealed a progressively DP-dependent increase in aggregated fat globules and cream viscosity. These findings enhanced our understanding of PACs' structural intricacies and highlighted their functional role as PAC-rich natural ingredients in creating structured cream systems.

The Potential Health Benefits of Gallic Acid: Therapeutic and Food Applications

Gallic acid (GA), a phenolic acid found in fruits and vegetables, has been consumed by humans for centuries. Its extensive health benefits, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, have been well-documented. GA's potent antioxidant capabilities enable it to neutralize free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and protect cells from damage. Additionally, GA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, making it a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases. It also demonstrates anticancer properties by inhibiting cancer cell growth and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, GA offers cardiovascular benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, decreasing cholesterol, and enhancing endothelial function, which may aid in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. This review covers the chemical structure, sources, identification and quantification methods, and biological and therapeutic properties of GA, along with its applications in food. As research progresses, the future for GA appears promising, with potential uses in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals aimed at improving overall health and preventing disease. However, ongoing research and innovation are necessary to fully understand its functional benefits, address current challenges, and establish GA as a mainstay in therapeutic and nutritional interventions.

Value addition to dietetic frozen yoghurt through use of fruit peel solids

The study pertains to preparing value added frozen yoghurt through use of orange peel powder (OPP). The quality aspects of medium-fat (6.0% fat) frozen yoghurt prepared using OPP at three levels (1.5, 2.5, 3.5% as T1, T2 and T3 respectively) was studied. Frozen yoghurt was prepared by freezing blend of fermented yoghurt base with ice cream mix (25:75 w/w); other ingredients were sugar, stabilizer-emulsifier and orange crush. Inclusion of OPP in frozen yoghurt impacted the orange flavour favorably and enriched product with β-carotene and dietary fiber. The control product (TC) was prepared in similar manner, avoiding OPP. As the level of OPP was raised in formulation, there was a marked increase in the protein, carbohydrate, ash and total solids when compared with TC. Presence of OPP markedly affected the acidity, viscosity, overrun and melting resistance of the product; maximum overrun was associated with TC. Product T3 had the maximum acidity and viscosity; T2 had maximum total sensory score. It is recommended to prepare medium-fat frozen yoghurt utilizing 2.5% OPP along with orange crush as flavouring. Such inclusion of peel solids enriched the product with β-carotene and dietary fiber, contributed to stabilization of product and enhanced the products sensory acceptance.

The effects of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and jujube fruit (Ziziphus jujube) on physicochemical, functional, and sensorial properties, and probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilusDSM 20079) viability of probiotic ice cream

The effects of blueberry (BB) and jujube fruit (JF) on the quality parameters, functional, probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079) viability, and sensorial properties of probiotic ice cream were investigated. No statistical differences were discovered regarding titratable acidity and L. acidophilus DSM 20079 counts between all samples. However, the ice creams preserved the survivability of probiotic bacteria during the storage period. The probiotic ice creams had counts of viable L. acidophilus DSM 20079 ranging from 8.42 to 8.80 log CFU/g which met the minimum required to achieve probiotic effects after 60 days of storage. Probiotic ice cream with BB or JF had significantly lower L* values than the control, and the BB addition caused the greatest decrease. The addition of both fruits clearly enhanced the total phenolic content and antioxidative activity in ice cream. The incorporation of BB or JF into the ice creams did not statistically affect the overrun value, while the addition of both fruits dramatically affected the first dripping time and increased hardness. Overall, sensory attributes were not significantly altered by the fortification of either fruit relative to the control, so these fruits can be added at higher concentrations to ice cream formulations for further studies.

Emerging plant proteins as nanocarriers of bioactive compounds

The high prevalence of chronic illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases has become a growing concern for modern society. Recently, various bioactive compounds (bioactives) are shown to have a diversity of health-beneficial impacts on a wide range of disorders. But the application of these bioactives in food and pharmaceutical formulations is limited due to their poor water solubility and low bioaccessibility/bioavailability. Plant proteins are green alternatives for designing biopolymeric nanoparticles as appropriate nanocarriers thanks to their amphiphilic nature compatible with many bioactives and unique functional properties. Recently, emerging plant proteins (EPPs) are employed as nanocarriers for protection and targeted delivery of bioactives and also improving their stability and shelf-life. EPPs could enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of bioactives by different types of delivery systems. In addition, the use of EPPs in combination with other biopolymers like polysaccharides was found to make a favorable wall material for food bioactives. This review article covers the various sources and importance of EPPs along with different encapsulation techniques of bioactives. Characterization of EPPs for encapsulation is also investigated. Furthermore, the focus is on the application of EPPs as nanocarriers for food bioactives.

Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) Powder as a Functional Ingredient for the Formulation of Bread Loaves: Physical Properties, Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition, and Sensory Attributes

In the current study, Cornelian cherry powder (CCP, Cornus mas) was investigated as a functional ingredient for bread production. Experimental bread loaves were prepared using five levels of CCP (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10% w/w) to replace wheat flour in bread formulation. The final products were analyzed regarding their proximate composition, content of selected biologically active substances, antioxidant activity (AA), volume, and sensory attributes. Increasing the incorporation of CCP led to significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of carbohydrate, ash, energetic value, total polyphenols, phenolic acids and AA, and reduced fat and protein contents (p < 0.05). Moreover, up to 5% addition of CCP positively affected the volume (642.63 ± 7.24 mL) and specific volume (2.83 ± 0.02 cm³/g) of bread loaves, which were significantly (p < 0.05) higher compared to the control (no addition of CCP; 576.99 ± 2.97 mL; 2.55 ± 0.002 cm³/g). The sensory attributes chewiness, crumb springiness, bitterness, and sourness had lower scores (p < 0.05) in bread formulated with 10% CCP compared to the control. Overall, results show that the bread loaves produced with up to 5% CCP addition were considered the preferred formulation among the experimental samples tested, taking into consideration their composition, bioactive content, sensory, and physical properties.

Spectrophotometric Methods for Measurement of Antioxidant Activity in Food and Pharmaceuticals

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of antioxidants in food and pharmaceuticals due to their association with beneficial health effects against numerous oxidative-related human diseases. The antioxidant potential can be measured by various assays with specific mechanisms of action, including hydrogen atom transfer, single electron transfer, and targeted scavenging activities. Understanding the chemistry of mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of the methods is critical for the proper selection of techniques for the valid assessment of antioxidant activity in specific samples or conditions. There are various analytical techniques available for determining the antioxidant activity of biological samples, including food and plant extracts. The different methods are categorized into three main groups, such as spectrometry, chromatography, and electrochemistry techniques. Among these assays, spectrophotometric methods are considered the most common analytical technique for the determination of the antioxidant potential due to their sensitivity, rapidness, low cost, and reproducibility. This review covers the mechanism of actions and color changes that occur in each method. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of spectrophotometric methods are described and discussed in this review.

Phenolics from Defatted Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella sativa L.): Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Optimization, Comparison, and Antioxidant Activity

An ultrasound-assisted method was used for the extraction of phenolics from defatted black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.), and the effects of several extraction factors on the total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were investigated. To improve the extraction efficiency of phenolics from black cumin seed by ultrasonic-assisted extraction, the optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: ethanol concentration of 59.1%, extraction temperature of 44.6 °C and extraction time of 32.5 min. Under these conditions, the total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity increased by about 70% and 38%, respectively, compared with conventional extraction. Furthermore, a complementary quantitative analysis of individual phenolic compounds was carried out using the HPLC-UV technique. The phenolic composition revealed high amounts of epicatechin (1.88–2.37 mg/g) and rutin (0.96–1.21 mg/g) in the black cumin seed extracts. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction can be a useful extraction method for the recovery of polyphenols from defatted black cumin seeds.

Table Olive Wastewater as a Potential Source of Biophenols for Valorization: A Mini Review

The table olive industry generates high amounts of wastewater annually during the alkaline treatment, fermentation, and washing steps of olives. High conductivity and salt content, as well as the high organic and biophenol contents of these waters, is a worldwide problem, especially in the Mediterranean region, which is the major table olive producing area. There is a wide variety of bioactives found in wastewater derived from table olive processing. The main compounds of table olive wastewater, such as those derived from phenolic, hydrocarbon, and sugar fractions, can be recovered and reused. In this review, the table olive manufacturing processes and the volumes and composition of wastewater generated from the different methods of table olive processing are discussed. In addition, biophenols of table olive water and their biological activities are also introduced. The high concentrations of valuable biophenols, such as tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, show promising potential for valorizing table olive wastewater; however, more research is needed in this area.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Activities of Cardoon Blades at Different Growth Stages

Simple Summary

The rapid increase of the world population has promoted a more sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. To achieve complete and proper upcycling of plant crops, it is important to know their potential for industrial exploitation. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a species native to the Mediterranean basin widely used in different sectors, including food and pharmaceuticals. Despite their multiple industrial applications, not all plant tissues have been incorporated into the value chain. Therefore, this work aimed to characterize the phenolic composition and bioactive properties of cardoon blades throughout the phenological growth cycle. In addition to the structural variety of phytochemicals detected in the blade extracts, their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial properties were also highlighted. While immature material showed higher levels of phenolic compounds and greater potential to inhibit lipid peroxidation, samples at higher development stages had greater anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential. These results demonstrate that the growth cycle influences the bioactive potential of cardoon blades and will be useful to establish suitable industrial applications, such as the development of ingredients for functional foods and nutraceuticals, among other products.

Abstract

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) blades were collected at sixteen sampling dates (B1–B16) to study the influence of the phenological growth stage on the phenolic composition and biological properties. Twenty phenolic compounds were identified, among which trans 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and luteolin-O-hexoside (39.6, 42.6, and 101.0 mg/g extract, respectively) were the main compounds. Immature blades (B3) had a higher content of phenolic compounds (178 mg/g extract) and a greater ability to inhibit the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (IC₅₀ of 1.61 µg/mL). Samples at more advanced growth stages revealed a greater capacity to inhibit oxidative hemolysis (B8, IC₅₀ of 25 and 47.4 µg/mL for Δt of 60 and 120 min, respectively) and higher cytotoxic (B8–B13, GI₅₀ between 7.1 and 17 µg/mL), anti-inflammatory (B13, IC₅₀ of 10 µg/mL), and antibacterial activities. In turn, the antifungal activity varied depending on the tested fungi. All these results suggest that maturity influences the phenolic composition and bioactive properties of cardoon blades, which reveal great potential for the development of bioactive ingredients for food and pharmaceutical applications, among others.

Bioactive Peptide Fractions from Collagen Hydrolysate of Common Carp Fish Byproduct: Antioxidant and Functional Properties

Collagen isolated from byproducts of common carp was hydrolyzed with alcalase enzyme to obtain peptide fractions. The resulting >30 kDa (PF1), 10−30 kDa (PF2), 3−10 kDa (PF3) and <1 kDa (PF4) fractions were studied for their antioxidant and functional properties. All peptide fractions illustrated antioxidant activity at different concentrations (1, 5, and 10 mg/mL). Although PF4 indicated the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (87%) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, the highest reducing power (0.34) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (95.4%) were also observed in PF4 at a concentration of 10 mg/mL. The solubility of the peptide fractions was influenced by pH. The lowest solubility of the peptide fractions was observed at pH 4. The highest emulsifying activity index (EAI) was observed for PF4 (121.1 m2/g), followed by PF3 (99.6 m2/g), PF2 (89.5 m2/g) and PF1 (78.2 m2/g). In contrast to what has been found in the case of EAI, the emulsion stability of the peptide fractions decreased at lower molecular weight, which ranged from 24.4 to 31.6 min. Furthermore, it was revealed that PF1 had the highest foam capacity (87.4%) and foam stability (28.4 min), followed by PF2 and PF3. Overall, the findings suggest that peptide fractions isolated from byproducts of common carp are a promising source of natural antioxidants for application in functional food and pharmaceutical products.