Quality Markers of Functional Tomato Juice with Added Apple Phenolic Antioxidants

Harnessing Natural Antioxidants for Enhancing Food Shelf Life: Exploring Sources and Applications in the Food Industry

Consumers are increasingly showing in maintaining a healthy dietary regimen, while food manufacturers are striving to develop products that possess an extended shelf-life to meet the demands of the market. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify natural sources that contribute to the preservation of perishable food derived from animals and plants, thereby prolonging its shelf life. Hence, the present study focuses on the identification of both natural sources of antioxidants and their applications in the development of novel food products, as well as their potential for enhancing product shelf-life. The origins of antioxidants in nature encompass a diverse range of products, including propolis, beebread, and extracts derived through various physical-chemical processes. Currently, there is a growing body of research being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of natural antioxidants in the processing and preservation of various food products, including meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, bakery products, and bee products. The prioritization of discovering novel sources of natural antioxidants is a crucial concern for the meat, milk, and other food industries. Additionally, the development of effective methods for applying these natural antioxidants is a significant objective in the food industry.

Phenolic, Headspace and Sensory Profile, and Antioxidant Capacity of Fruit Juice Enriched with Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus serpyllum L. Extract: A Potential for a Novel Herbal-Based Functional Beverages

Since certain constituents are not naturally present in pure fruit juices, incorporating herbal extracts can provide specific sensory properties to the beverages and improve their biopotential. In our previous research, it was found that sage (Salvia officinalis L.), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.), and combinations of their extracts had the highest total phenolic content and a unique composition of volatile compounds, which can contribute to the aromatic and antioxidant qualities of functional products. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the potential of sage and wild thyme extracts, as well as their mixture (wild thyme:sage at 3:1, v/v), to enrich fruit juices (apple, pineapple, and orange). Obtained beverages were evaluated for sensory properties as well as phenolic and headspace composition (UPLC-MS/MS and HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis) and antioxidant capacity (ORAC assay). The incorporation of wild thyme extract in pineapple juice provided the most harmonious flavor and the highest content of volatile compounds (on PDMS/DVB fiber). The orange juice formulations were the most enriched with phenolic and volatile compounds (on DVB/CAR/PDMS fibers). The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in the formulation with orange juice and sage extract (22,925.39 ± 358.43 µM TE). This study demonstrated that enriching fruit juices with sage and wild thyme extracts could create functional beverages with improved sensory and health-promoting properties, providing valuable insights for the food and beverage industry to meet the growing demand of health-conscious consumers for natural and functional products.

Healthy Drinks with Lovely Colors: Phenolic Compounds as Constituents of Functional Beverages

Consumers increasingly prefer and seek food and beverages, which, due to their natural characteristics, bring health benefits, both in the prevention of diseases and in their curative power. In this way, the production of nutraceutical foods and beverages gains more and more importance in the market. On the other hand, and because the eyes also eat, producing attractive foods due to their color, texture, appearance, and sensory characteristics is a permanent challenge in the food industry. Being able to gather healthy and attractive items in a single food is an even greater challenge. The long list of benefits associated with phenolic compounds, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging properties, among others, fully justifies their use in the enrichment of various food products. Thus, in this review, we propose to summarize the potential use of phenolic compounds used as ingredients of pleasant and functional beverages.

Antioxidants of Natural Plant Origins: From Sources to Food Industry Applications

In recent years, great interest has been focused on using natural antioxidants in food products, due to studies indicating possible adverse effects that may be related to the consumption of synthetic antioxidants. A variety of plant materials are known to be natural sources of antioxidants, such as herbs, spices, seeds, fruits and vegetables. The interest in these natural components is not only due to their biological value, but also to their economic impact, as most of them may be extracted from food by-products and under-exploited plant species. This article provides an overview of current knowledge on natural antioxidants: their sources, extraction methods and stabilization processes. In addition, recent studies on their applications in the food industry are also addressed; namely, as preservatives in different food products and in active films for packaging purposes and edible coatings.