Phenolic Profiles and Bioactivities of Ten Original Lineage Beans in Thailand

Probiotic-Enriched Ice Cream with Fermented White Kidney Bean Homogenate: Survival, Antioxidant Activity, and Potential for Future Health Benefits

This study investigated a novel probiotic-enriched ice cream containing fermented white kidney bean homogenate to explore its potential health benefits in the future. We assessed the viability of various probiotic strains during ice cream production and storage, focusing on their potential to reach the gut, and evaluated overall antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total polyphenol content (TPC) assays. The incorporation of fermented white bean homogenate significantly increased antioxidant capacity compared to the control group. Notably, strains such as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v demonstrated the most pronounced effects on antioxidant activity, suggesting potential synergistic benefits between probiotics and bioactive compounds in fermented white beans. Although all probiotic strains experienced decreased viability during storage, certain strains, particularly L. plantarum 299v and Lacticaseibacillus casei DN-114001, showed promising survival rates even after 6 months. These results suggest the potential for developing probiotic ice cream containing viable bacteria capable of reaching the gut and contributing to a healthy gut microbiota. Overall, this study highlights the potential of probiotic-enriched ice cream with fermented white kidney bean homogenate to combine the established benefits of probiotics for gut health with the enjoyment of consuming ice cream.

Optimized Conditions for the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Aeginetia indica L. and Its Potential Biological Applications

Aeginetia indica L., a parasitic root in the Orobanchaceae family, is used as a food colorant in traditional Thai desserts. However, scant information is available on its food applications as well as medicinal properties, while overharvesting by the local people has severely depleted wild plant populations. This research, thus, aimed to extract optimized total phenolic content (TPC) in varying extraction conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) and the Box-Behnken design (BBD). Results indicated that an extraction temperature of 90 °C, 80% (v/v) aqueous ethanol, and 0.5% (w/v) solid-to-liquid ratio yielded the highest TPC at 129.39 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight (DW). Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) identified the predominant phenolics as apigenin (109.06 mg/100 g extract) and luteolin (35.32 mg/100 g extract) with trace amounts of naringenin and rutin. Under the optimal extraction condition, the plant extract exhibited antioxidant activities of 5620.58 and 641.52 µmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/g DW determined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, while the scavenging capacity of total radicals at 50% (SC50) was determined to be 135.50 µg/mL using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The plant extract also exhibited inhibitory activities against the key enzymes relevant to type II diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the potential for medicinal applications.

Phenolic profiles and in vitro biochemical properties of Thai herb ingredients for chronic diseases prevention

Traditional remedies using natural ingredients have been handed down over generations, providing collective information for the development of modern therapeutics. These natural products have a long history of safe consumption with curative effects but lack of scientific-based evidence hinders the mass production of new remedies containing active ingredients with particular medicinal properties. This research investigated the phenolic profiles and biochemical properties of 29 herbal ingredients identified in two traditional Thai remedies, Prasachandaeng (PSCD) and Chantaharuethai (CHRT), and their effectiveness in combating chronic diseases. These two traditional remedies are used to reduce fever but some ingredients have been previously reported to possess other health-related properties. Statistical analysis by TOPSIS indicated that Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod. extract exhibited the highest overall closeness coefficient (C) score analyzed from all variables including total phenolic contents, antioxidant potentials, and enzyme inhibitions. Bouea macrophylla Griff. extract showed potential as an effective agent against diabetes through inhibition of two carbohydrate degrading enzymes, α-glucosidase and α-amylase, while Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. showed strong properties as an anti-angiotensin-converting enzyme, leading to the control of hypertension. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen effectively controlled the progression of Alzheimer's disease through the inhibition of cholinergic and β-amyloid formation enzymes. These results can be used as preliminary data for the development of new remedies to prevent or treat particular chronic diseases.

Green Extraction of Hodgsonia heteroclita Oilseed Cake Powder to Obtain Optimal Antioxidants and Health Benefits

Most biowaste produced by domestic food preparation and food processing has no value, is difficult to manage, and is detrimental to the environment. Oil extraction from Hodgsonia heteroclita seeds produces large amounts of oilseed cake powder (OCP) as biowaste. The extraction of residual phytochemicals using simple and eco-friendly methods can increase the economic utility of OCP. This study optimized the extraction process for Hodgsonia heteroclita OCP using a Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. The optimized extraction condition was 30 °C for 5 h in 50% (v/v) ethanol, giving a total phenolic content (TPC) of 414.23 mg of gallic acid equivalent/100 g dry weight (DW). Phytochemical profiles of OCP using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ECI-MS/MS) identified 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and ferulic acid as the major compounds. Antioxidant activities and enzyme inhibitory activities toward the major enzymes involved in obesity (lipase), diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV)), Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase-1 (BACE-1)), hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE), and genotoxicity were also investigated. Results showed that H. heteroclita OCP possessed antioxidant activity and potential inhibitory activities against BACE-1 and ACE, while also being genome-safe. A simple extraction method for H. heteroclita OCP was developed, demonstrating the enhanced value of its phytochemical and health-promoting qualities.

Functional characterization of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase gene family in chickpea

Chickpea is an important leguminous crop plant with two cultivated types, desi and kabuli. It is nutritionally enriched in flavonoid content in addition to minerals and vitamins imparting huge health benefits to human beings. Our study elucidates the functionality of 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) gene family members i.e., flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonol synthase (FLS) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) in chickpea using heterologous bacterial system and in-planta studies in Arabidopsis. This provides information about the biosynthesis of two very significant sub-classes of flavonoids- flavonols and anthocyanins. Here, we show that all the three homologs of F3H in chickpea can utilize not just naringenin but also eriodictyol as their substrate. Moreover, we show that FLS in chickpea exhibits bifunctionality having both FLS and F3H activity. Also, our study indicates the richness of desi chickpea over kabuli type through gene expression and metabolite content analyses. Overall, our study establishes the functionality of 2-ODD gene family involved in the early and late steps of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in chickpea. It paves way for better genetic manipulation of the pathway for direct or indirect synthesis of three major subclasses of flavonoids (flavonol, anthocyanin and proanthocyanin) to develop nutritious, environmentally stable and healthy chickpea (Cicer arietinum) crop.

Seasonal Effects on Phenolic Contents and In Vitro Health-Promoting Bioactivities of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a commercial product in Asian countries. Almost all parts of the lotus plant are consumed as food or used as traditional medicine due to their high contents of secondary metabolites such as phenolics and alkaloids. However, agricultural management of the sacred lotus occurs during the rainy season, and the plant enters a resting stage during the dry season. Thus, seasonal variation (beginning, middle and end of the rainy season) was investigated for total phenolic contents (TPCs), antioxidant capacities and inhibitions of the key enzymes relevant to chronic diseases including Alzheimer's disease (β-secretase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase), hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme), obesity (lipase) and diabetes (α-glucosidase) of different sacred lotus parts (seed embryo, petal, stamen, old leaf, leaf stalk and flower stalk). Results indicated that an aqueous extract of stamen in all harvesting seasons exhibited potentially high TPCs, which led to high antioxidant activities and most enzyme inhibitions (up to 53.7-fold higher) than the others collected in the same harvesting period. The phenolic content and biochemical activities in stamen harvested at the beginning of the rainy season were up to 4-fold higher than during other harvesting periods. This information benefits the agricultural management of sacred lotus and supports consumption of different sacred lotus parts for health promotion. Results can be used as an initial database for future product development from different sacred lotus parts.

Nutrients, Phytochemicals and In Vitro Disease Prevention of Nephelium hypoleucum Kurz Fruit

Nephelium hypoleucum Kurz is an evergreen tree in the Sapindaceae family, mostly found in the forests of some Southeast Asia countries, especially Thailand. The lack of biological information regarding this tree has led to inappropriate agricultural management, conservation and utilization. Thus, this study aims to examine the nutritional composition, organic acid and phenolic profiles and in vitro health properties through several key enzyme inhibitions against some civilization diseases including Alzheimer's disease (β-secretase (BACE-1), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)), obesity (lipase), hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)) and diabetes (dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), α-amylase and α-glucosidase) on the aril (flesh) part of N. hypoleucum Kurz fruit. The remaining fruit parts including the pericarp (peel) and seed were also assessed as sources of potential phenolics as well as key enzyme inhibitors. As results, carbohydrate (17.18 g) was found to be a major source of energy (74.80 kcal) in the aril (100 g fresh weight), with trace amounts of protein (0.78 g) and fat (0.32 g). The fruit aril also contained high insoluble dietary fiber (5.02 g) and vitamin C (11.56 mg), while potassium (215.82 mg) was detected as the major mineral. Organic acid profile indicated that the aril was rich in citric acid, while the phenolic profile suggested predominant quercetin and kaempferol. Interestingly, high gallic acid contents were detected in both pericarp and seed, with the latter 3.2-fold higher than the former. The seed also possessed the highest total phenolic content (TPC, 149.45 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight), while total anthocyanin content (TAC, 0.21 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalent/g dry weight) was only detected in pericarp. High TPC also led to high enzyme inhibitory activities in seed including BACE-1, AChE, BChE, ACE, DPP-IV and α-glucosidase. Interestingly, aril with the highest α-amylase inhibition suggested strong inhibitory distribution, predominantly from quercetin and kaempferol. Lipase inhibitory activities were only detected in the aril and pericarp, suggesting the biological function of these two phenolics and possibly anthocyanins.