Evaluation of Effects of Spray Drying Conditions on Physicochemical Properties of Pomegranate Juice Powder Enriched with Pomegranate Peel Phenolic Compounds: Modeling and Optimization by RSM

Impact of Thermosonication Treatment on Parsley Juice: Particle Swarm Algorithm (PSO), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Thermosonication (TS), also known as ultrasonic-assisted heat treatment, is gaining attention in liquid product processing due to its ability to improve quality parameters and can serve as an alternative to thermal treatments. The parsley juice (TS-PJ) was subjected to thermosonication treatment (frequency: 26 kHz; power: 200 W; amplitude 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100%; temperature: 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 °C; time: 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 min) and was compared with untreated control parsley juice (C-PJ) and pasteurized treated (P-PJ) (85 °C/2 min) parsley juice samples. The objectives of the research work were to determine the effect of thermosonication on the quality attributes such as total chlorophyll and ascorbic acid of parsley juice using particle swarm algorithm (PSO), multiple linear regression (MLR), and response surface methodology (RSM). Thermosonication enhanced the bioactive compounds of parsley juice. The results showed that 15 phenolic compounds were detected in the samples. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in gallic acid contents in ultrasound-treated TS-PJ. There was no significant difference in total chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content between C-PJ and TS-PJ samples. Na and K from macro minerals and Fe and Zn from micro minerals were high in PJ samples. While K contents were increased, P contents were lower in the TS-PJ sample. RSM modeling provided superior prediction compared to MLR. PSO, on the other hand, made good predictions intuitively. Thermosonication enriched parsley juice's bioactive components and had positive health effects.

Development of Ultrasound-Processed Poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) Sherbet Enriched with Bee Bread Using Response Surface Methodology: Changes in Shelf Life

This research aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound treatment on the quality characteristics of optimized functional bee bread-enriched poppy sherbet. Antioxidant activity capacity, antimicrobial activity, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, organic acid and sugar composition, and sensory properties were performed under storage conditions. The present research was the first to express the effect of ultrasound on the bioactive components in a functional poppy sherbet enriched with bread, using the response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. The maximum optimization, radical scavenging activity (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and general acceptability values were determined. When comparing the 0th- and 21st-day samples of bee bread-fortified functional poppy sherbets, it was observed that the TPC was decreased (p < 0.05). It was also noted that there was no significant decrease in the total flavonoids on day 21. In storage, a decrease in anthocyanin content was observed. Among phenolic compounds, gallic acid had the highest content. While citric acid was found in the highest amount of organic acid, sucrose (6.25 g/L) was found in the highest amount of sugar components 0th day, while MIC values against Micrococcus luteus were lower. The data from this study will be important input for future work.

Microencapsulation of hop bioactive compounds by spray drying: Role of inlet temperature and wall material

This study explores the effect of spray-drying (SD) inlet temperatures (Tinlet 120 and 150 °C) and wall material on the chemical and physico-chemical properties of microencapsulated hop extracts (MHE). Hop extract was formulated with maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA) used in single or in combination with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). MHE were evaluated for physical properties, bitter acids (BA), total polyphenol content (TPC) and encapsulation efficiency (TPC EE), and antioxidant capacity (AOC). Powders produced at Tinlet 150 °C exhibited the highest flowability and generally higher TPC yield. Besides Tinlet, MD enabled the obtaining of MHE with the highest encapsulation efficiency. Other physico-chemical and antioxidant properties differently varied depending on the Tinlet. Overall, the βCD addition positively affected α-acids, and β-acids of MHE obtained at Tinlet 120 °C. ATR-FTIR analysis showed hydrogen bond formation between hop compounds and βCD. Multifactorial ANOVA highlighted that Tinlet, W, and their interaction influenced almost all the chemical and physico-chemical properties of MHE.

Multifunctional Pomegranate Peel Microparticles with Health-Promoting Effects for the Sustainable Development of Novel Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

Recovering the bioactive components from pomegranate peel (PP) in the fruit-processing industry has attracted great attention in terms of minimizing the waste burden, as well as providing a new source of a multitude of functional compounds. The present study aimed to develop a feasible microencapsulation process of PP extract by using pectin and a pectin/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) blend as coating materials. Microsized powders obtained by a spray drying technique were examined in terms of technological characteristics, exhibiting high powder yield and desirable moisture content, flowability, and cohesive properties. Assuming that the interactions with the used biopolymers occur on the surface hydrophobic domain, their presence significantly improved the thermal stability of the microencapsulated powders up to 200 °C. The health-promoting effects of PP have been associated with its high content in ellagitannins, particularly punicalagin. The obtained PP powders exhibited strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential, while an antimicrobial assay revealed their potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, an in vitro release study suggested that the used biopolymers can modify the release of target bioactive compounds, thus establishing a basis for developing an oral-controlled release system. Altogether, biowaste valorization from PP by the production of effective multifunctional microsized powders represents a sustainable way to obtain novel nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals.