Content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in fruits of apricot genotypes

Structural analyses of apricot pectin polysaccharides

Apricot pectin polysaccharides' fine structure was performed using HPSEC, HPAEC-PAD, GC-MS, NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. Purified pectin fraction (F1AP) was composed of D-galacturonic acid, L-rhamnose, D-arabinose and D-galactose, Mw ∼ 1588 kDa. F1AP was eluted by water and with 0.2 M NaCl from DEAE Sepharose fraction resulting in two distinct fractions, F1AP1 and F1AP6, with different structures, molecular weights, and conformations, providing insights into their structural diversity. F1AP1 neutral properties were related to its association with protein. F1AP1 had a backbone of (1 → 4)-linked-D-galacturonic acid and (1 → 2)-linked-L-rhamnopyranosyl residues branched with arabinogalactan including multiple glycosidic linkages of T-α-Araf, 3-α-Araf, 5-α-Araf, T-α-Arap, 2-α-Arap, t-Galp, 2-Galp, 3-Galp, 4-Galp, 6-Galp, 2,4-Galp, 3,4-Galp, 3,6-Galp and 4,6-Galp side chains, having methyl and acetylated groups, and a high molecular weight (1945 kDa). The Mark-Houwink exponent was 0.276, indicating a compact spherical conformation. While the other F1AP6 fraction consists predominately of less methylated HG regions of pectin polysaccharides. The molar mass of this fraction was 117.5 kDa, which adopted a stiffer and random coil conformation. This knowledge allows us to evaluate how the balance of chemical structure and physical properties of the two pectin domains may manifest itself in the isolated structure of apricot pectin and its applications.

Analgesic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Wound-Treating Actions of Bitter Apricot Kernel Extract

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels have been widely employed in phytomedicine for treating different ailments. This study aims to unveil the phytochemical composition by HPLC-ESI-MS, in vitro antioxidant activity, and examine certain pharmacological effects of the hydro-ethanolic extract from bitter apricot kernels (BAK). Obtained results indicated that the BAK extract presents a content of 4.58 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g extract of TPA and 1.68 ± 0.09 mg QUE/g extract of TFA, respectively. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis discovered the presence of 17 phenolic compounds including phenolic acids and flavonoids like 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, (+)-catechin, epicatechin, and others, with associated antioxidant power. Regarding the studied potential pharmacological effects, notable analgesic activity at a dosage of 100 mg/kg BW was recorded with 63.46% protection. In the anti-inflammatory test, significant inhibition was observed after 6 hours of treatment (77.4%) compared to untreated animals. Moreover, the daily application of ointment formulated with 10% BAK extract resulted in a remarkable healing of wounds and burns in rats. These findings underscore the increasing evidence supporting the potential use of apricot kernel extracts in treating various diseases.

Bioassay-Guided Fractionation of Pittosporum angustifolium and Terminalia ferdinandiana with Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy Exploratory Study

Bioprospecting native Australian plants offers the potential discovery of latent and novel bioactive compounds. The promising cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of Pittosporum angustifolium and Terminalia ferdinandiana led to further fractionation and isolation using our laboratory's bioassay-guided fractionation protocol. Hence, the aim of this study was to further evaluate the bioactivity of the fractions and subfractions and characterize bioactive compounds using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography MS (GC-MS). Compounds tentatively identified in P. angustifolium Fraction 1 using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS were chlorogenic acid and/or neochlorogenic acid, bergapten, berberine, 8'-epitanegool and rosmarinic acid. GC-MS analysis data showed the presence of around 100 compounds, mainly comprising carboxylic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids and monoalkylglycerols. Furthermore, the fractions obtained from T. ferdinandiana flesh extracts showed no cytotoxicity, except against HT29 cell lines, and only Fraction 2 exhibited some antibacterial activity. The reduced bioactivity observed in the T. ferdinandiana fractions could be attributed to the potential loss of synergy as compounds become separated within the fractions. As a result, the further fractionation and separation of compounds in these samples was not pursued. However, additional dose-dependent studies are warranted to validate the bioactivity of T. ferdinandiana flesh fractions, particularly since this is an understudied species. Moreover, LC-MS/GC-MS studies confirm the presence of bioactive compounds in P. angustifolium Fraction 1/subfractions, which helps to explain the significant acute anticancer activity of this plant. The screening process designed in this study has the potential to pave the way for developing scientifically validated phytochemical/bioactivity information on ethnomedicinal plants, thereby facilitating further bioprospecting efforts and supporting the discovery of novel drugs in modern medicine.

Uncovering the phenolic diversity of Guabiju fruit: LC-MS/MS-based targeted metabolomics approach

The comprehensive composition of phenolic compounds (PC) from seven genotypes of guabiju were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector and mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS), and a targeted metabolomic approach was utilized to explore the PC-related similarities among the genotypes. Sixty-seven phenolic compounds were annotated and twenty-four were quantified in all genotypes of guabiju. The phenolic acids and anthocyanins were the major PC, representing more than 63% (w/w) of the total PC. Di-O-galloylquinic and tri-O-galloylquinic acids and ellagitannins were reported for the first time in guabiju. The results of hierarchical clustering and principal components analysis (PCA) suggested seven groups as suitable clusters to be formed according to phenolic composition. Eleven PC were selected as relevant for sample clustering, and six of them were highlighted as the most informative (in decreasing order of importance): epicatechin, catechin, (epi)gallocatechin gallate II, di-O-galloylquinic acid I, tri-O-galloylquinic acid and delphinidin 3-O-glucoside. To the best of our knowledge, this study contributes to the literature with the most complete phenolic profile of guabiju genotypes up to date. Moreover, guabiju susceptibility to fungal infestation related to PC composition was briefly discussed based on a parallel study using the same genotypes.

Phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activity in flowers of nine endemic Verbascum species from Iran

BACKGROUND

In this study, flowers of nine mullein species (Verbascum erianthum, V. songaricum, V. speciosum, V. szovitsianum, V. stachydiforme, V. sinuatum, V. haussknechtianum, V. cheirantifolium, and V. saccatum) were collected from Iran. The total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, total carotenoid (TCC), β-carotene content and the amount of phenolic compounds were determined in all of the collected mullein species. Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD).

RESULTS

Verbascum saccatum and V. songaricum, in particular, were found to be rich in total flavonoids and exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that V. erianthum possessed the highest amount of caffeic acid (0.022 g kg^-1 DW), chlorogenic acid (2.649 g kg^-1 DW), p-coumaric acid (0.253 g kg^-1 DW), and apigenin (0.066 g kg^-1 DW). The highest gallic acid (0.134 g kg^-1 DW), rutin (5.254 g kg^-1 DW), quercetin (1.303 g kg^-1 DW), and cinnamic acid (1.031 g kg^-1 DW) content were observed in V. saccatum. Our results demonstrate the considerable variations in the TFC, antioxidant activity, TCC, and β-carotene content among the mullein species.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide useful information for breeding strategies, and for choosing the best species with high phenolic compound content to produce natural antioxidants for medical and pharmaceutical use. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Immune-antioxidant trait, Aeromonas veronii resistance, growth, intestinal architecture, and splenic cytokines expression of Cyprinus carpio fed Prunus armeniaca kernel-enriched diets

Currently, the intervention of plant by-products in the fish diet has gained tremendous attention owing to the economic and high nutritious value. The current study is a pioneer attempt to incorporate the apricot, Prunus armeniaca kernel powder (PAKP) into the Common carp, Cyprinus carpio diets, and assess its efficacy on growth, digestion, intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and splenic cytokines expression, besides the antibacterial role against Aeromonas veronii infection. Apparently healthy fish (N = 120) with an initial body weight of 24.76 ± 0.03g were allotted in 12 glass aquaria (60 L) and randomly distributed into four groups (triplicates, 10 fish/aquarium). The control group (PAKP0) was fed a basal diet without additives. The second, third, and fourth groups were provided PAKP diets with various concentrations (2.5 (PAKP2.5), 5 (PAKP5), and 10 g kg^-1 (PAKP10)) respectively. After 60 days (feeding trial), sub-samples of the fish (12 fish/group) were intraperitoneally injected with 1 × 10⁷ CFU mL^-1 of A. veronii. Results revealed that body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rates were significantly augmented in the PAKP10 group in comparison to the other groups. The dietary inclusion of PAKP at all concentrations boosted the digestive capacity and maintained the intestinal morphology (average villus length, villus width, and goblet cells count) with a marked improvement in PAKP10. Moreover, fish fed on PAKP10 followed by PAKP5 then PAKP2.5 diets had noticeably elevated values of immunological biomarkers (IgM, antiprotease, and lysozyme activity) and antioxidant capabilities (the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione) as well as significant up-regulation of immune and antioxidant-related genes (TGF-β2, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-10, SOD, GPx, and GSS). Fourteen days post-infection with A. veronii, the highest relative percentage survival of fish was observed in PAKP10 (83.33%), followed by PAKP5 (66.67%), and PAKP2.5 (50%). Our results indicated that a dietary intervention with PAKP could promise growth, digestion, immunity, and protect C. carpio against A. veronii infection in a dose-dependent manner. This offers a framework for future application of such seeds as a growth promotor, immune-stimulant, and antioxidant, besides an alternative cheap therapeutic antibacterial agent for sustaining the aquaculture industry.

Monitoring Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Ripening Progression through Candidate Gene Expression Analysis

This study aimed at the monitoring of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) ripening progression through the expression analysis of 25 genes related to fruit quality traits in nine cultivars with great differences in fruit color and ripening date. The level of pigment compounds, such as anthocyanins and carotenoids, is a key factor in food taste, and is responsible for the reddish blush color or orange skin and flesh color in apricot fruit, which are desirable quality traits in apricot breeding programs. The construction of multiple linear regression models to predict anthocyanins and carotenoids content from gene expression allows us to evaluate which genes have the strongest influence over fruit color, as these candidate genes are key during biosynthetic pathways or gene expression regulation, and are responsible for the final fruit phenotype. We propose the gene CHS as the main predictor for anthocyanins content, CCD4 and ZDS for carotenoids content, and LOX2 and MADS-box for the beginning and end of the ripening process in apricot fruit. All these genes could be applied as RNA markers to monitoring the ripening stage and estimate the anthocyanins and carotenoids content in apricot fruit during the ripening process.

Assessment of Morphological Traits, Nutritional and Nutraceutical Composition in Fruits of 18 Apricot cv. Sekerpare Clones

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is one of the most important members of Prunus and its trees bears delicious and nutritious fruits during summer months in the temperate zones in the world. Apricot cultivars are propagated asexually which consists of clones. Information on inter-clonal variations in apricot cultivars can assist us in the selection of better clones from commercial cultivars. We aimed to determine morphological traits (fruit weight, seed weight, kernel weight, flesh/seed ratio, shape index, fruit firmness, color index), nutritional (sugars and organic acids) and nutraceutical (total phenolic, total flavonoids, total carotenoid and antioxidant activity) composition of 18 clones of Sekerpare apricot cultivar grown together in Kagizman district in eastern Turkey. Results showed significant differences among clones concerning most of the morphological traits, nutritional and nutraceutical compositions. Fruit weight, flesh/seed ratio and fruit firmness of clones were in range of 23.14–27.11 g, 11.21–13.14 and 3.88–5.11 kg/cm2, respectively. Fruit shape index was slightly similar among all clones which was between 0.95 and 1.03. Citric acid and sucrose were found to be the predominant organic acid and sugar among clones which varied from 728 to 915 mg/100 g and 7.11 to 9.94 g/100 g, respectively. The clone ‘KS2’ exhibited the highest level of total phenol (67.1 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g) and antioxidant activity (2.16 μmol trolox equivalent per g). The study confirmed the diversity among Sekerpare clones and effectiveness of combining morphological, nutritional and nutraceutical analyses in assessment of Şekerpare clones and its use for future pre-breeding programs.

Nutritional and Phytochemical Traits of Apricots (Prunus Armeniaca L.) for Application in Nutraceutical and Health Industry

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a nutritious fruit, rich in bioactive compounds, known for their health benefits. The present study attempts to evaluate nutritional (sugars, organic acids, minerals) and nutraceutical traits (total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidant activity) of six commercial apricot genotypes grown in India. Antioxidant activity was determined using three in-vitro assays, namely CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). Significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in the genotypes concerning nutritional and nutraceutical traits. Sucrose accounted for more than 60% of total sugars in most genotypes, followed by glucose and fructose. Citric acid accounted for more than 50% of the total organic acids present, followed by malic and succinic acids. Apricot is a good source of potassium (1430.07 to 2202.69 mg/100 g dwb) and iron (2.69 to 6.97 mg/100 g dwb) owing to its mineral composition. Total carotenoids content ranged from 0.44 to 3.55 mg/100 g, with β-carotene accounting for 33–84% of the total content. The results strongly suggest that genotypes ‘CITH-A-1’ and ‘CITH-A-2’, which have high dry matter and carotenoids content, are well suited for drying. ‘Roxana’ and ‘CITH-A-3’ are great for fresh consumption, while ‘Shakarpara’ and ‘Gold Cot’ are excellent for juice processing.

Process and product characteristics of refractance window dried Curcuma longa

This work addresses the optimality of hot water bath based refractance window drying (RWD) characteristics of 1 mm Curcuma longa (turmeric) slices. Mylar film thickness (125 to 350 µm) and water bath temperature (65 to 95 °C) have been considered as independent variables to evaluate drying kinetics and nutritional characteristics of the process product combination. Equilibrium drying time, moisture diffusivity, fitness of thin layer models, moisture content, total phenolic content, total flavonoids content, curcumin content, and antioxidant activity have been considered to evaluate the optimality of the RWD process parameters. It has been analyzed that while both parameters critically influence equilibrium drying time, only temperature had profound influence on nutritional characteristics. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: There is a need for a fast-drying method without significant loss in bioactive compounds. Refractance window drying (RWD) method is such a process. The study of RWD of turmeric slices will help in understanding the relations between different drying temperatures and mylar film thickness and its relation to nutritional characteristics of the product.

Molecular Bases of Fruit Quality in Prunus Species: An Integrated Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Metabolic Review with a Breeding Perspective

In plants, fruit ripening is a coordinated developmental process that requires the change in expression of hundreds to thousands of genes to modify many biochemical and physiological signal cascades such as carbohydrate and organic acid metabolism, cell wall restructuring, ethylene production, stress response, and organoleptic compound formation. In Prunus species (including peaches, apricots, plums, and cherries), fruit ripening leads to the breakdown of complex carbohydrates into sugars, fruit firmness reductions (softening by cell wall degradation and cuticle properties alteration), color changes (loss of green color by chlorophylls degradation and increase in non-photosynthetic pigments like anthocyanins and carotenoids), acidity decreases, and aroma increases (the production and release of organic volatile compounds). Actually, the level of information of molecular events at the transcriptional, biochemical, hormonal, and metabolite levels underlying ripening in Prunus fruits has increased considerably. However, we still poorly understand the molecular switch that occurs during the transition from unripe to ripe fruits. The objective of this review was to analyze of the molecular bases of fruit quality in Prunus species through an integrated metabolic, genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic approach to better understand the molecular switch involved in the ripening process with important consequences from a breeding point of view.

In vitro anti-leishmanial activity of Prunus armeniaca fractions on Leishmania tropica and molecular docking studies

Prunus armeniaca (L.) is a member of the Rosaceae, subfamily Prunoideae, shows anticancer, antitubercular, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cardioprotective activities. Here we fractionated the leaves extract of this highly medicinally important plant for antileishmanial activity. In the current study, the leaves extract was fractionated and characterized using column and thin layer chromatography by n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvents. Twelve fractions were isolated and subjected for evaluation of their cytotoxicity and in vitro antileishmanial activity against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania tropica. Among all fractions used, the fraction (F7) exhibited the strongest antileishmanial activity. The bioactive fraction was further characterized by spectroscopy (FTIR, UV-Vis), and GC-MS analysis. The in silico docking was carried out to find the active site of PTR1. All derived fractions exhibited toxicity in the safety range IC₅₀ > 100 μg/ml. The fraction (F7) showed significantly the highest antipromastigotes activity with IC₅₀11.48 ± 0.82 μg/ml and antiamastigotes activity with IC₅₀ 21.03 ± 0.98 μg/ml compared with control i.e. 11.60 ± 0.70 and 22.03 ± 1.02 μg/ml respectively. The UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of six absorption peaks and the FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of alkane, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, thiols, alkynes, and carbonyls compounds The GC-MS chromatogram exhibited the presence of nine compounds: (a) benzeneethanol, alpha, beta dimethyl, (b)carbazic acid, 3-(1 propylbutylidene)-, ethyl ester, (c)1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester, (d)benzeneethanamine a-methyl, (e)2aminononadecane, (f)2-heptanamine-5-methyl, (g)cyclobutanol, (h)cyclopropyl carbine, and (i)nitric acid, nonyl ester. Among all compounds, the 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester bound well to the PTR1 receptor. Fraction (F7) showed acceptable results with no cytotoxicity. However, in vivo studies are required in the future.

Parametric optimality of tray dried Musa balbisiana Colla blossom

Musa balbisiana Colla blossom has enriched applications as a key constituent of dried vegetable formulations. With restricted prior art, the article addresses the optimality of tray drying characteristics of the blossom from both statistical design and drying kinetics perspective. The process variables in due course of optimization refer to moisture content, antioxidant activity and vitamin C for variation in drying time and temperature. Model fitness, analysis of variance based analysis and numerical optimization were considered during the statistical design of experiments. Drying kinetics involved fitness studies of alternate models, moisture diffusivity and process variable characteristics. Thereby, the sensitivity of both approaches to obtain optimal parameters associated with tray dried product have been targeted for a comparative assessment.

Correlation between Antibacterial Activity and Free-Radical Scavenging: In-Vitro Evaluation of Polar/Non-Polar Extracts from 25 Plants

Objectives: The current study aimed to measure the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of 25 wild Palestinian edible plants, which were subjected to extraction by polar and non-polar solvents. Correlations between free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity of the extracts were assessed for both polar and non-polar fractions. Materials: Twenty-five wild edible plant species that are frequently consumed by people in Palestine (mainly in a rural area) were examined. Among them, 10 plant species were among those with the highest mean cultural importance values, according to an ethnobotanical survey that was conducted in the West Bank, Palestine, a few years ago. Method: The protocol of the DPPH assay for testing free-radical scavenging was utilized for determining EC50 values, while microdilution tests were conducted to determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the extracts for the microorganism Staphylococcus mutans. Results and Discussion: Eight extracts (non-polar fractions) were found to possess an antibacterial IC50 of less than 20 ppm, such as Foeniculum vulgare, Salvia palaestinafruticose, Micromeria fruticose, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Cichorium pumilum jacq, Salvia hierosolymitana boiss, Ruta chalepensis, and Chrysanthemum coronarium. The polar fractions possess higher antioxidant activity, while non-polar fraction possess higher antibacterial activity. Looking at all the results together can deceive and lead to the conclusion that there is no correlation between antibacterial activity against S. mutans and free radical scavenging (R2 equals 0.0538). However, in-depth analysis revealed that non-polar plant extracts with an EC50 of free radical scavenging ≤100 ppm have a four-fold order of enrichment toward more activity against S. mutans. These findings are of high importance for screening projects. A four-fold order of enrichment could save plenty of time and many in screening projects. The antibacterial active extracts marked by low-medium free radical scavenging might act through a mechanism of action other than that of highly active, free radical scavenging extracts. Conclusion: The screening of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity performed on 25 selected wild plant extracts revealed a satisfactory free radical scavenging and antimicrobial potential that could be of value in the management of oxidative stress. Further studies are recommended to explore novel and highly active natural antibacterial products.

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and HepG2 cancer cells' antiproliferation potential in the kernels of apricot cultivars

Phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells were studied in the kernels of apricot cultivars grown in the northern areas of Pakistan. Relatively, the kernel of Habbi cultivar/AP-12 depicted significant potential to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals as well as oxygen radical absorbance capacity along with highest contents of total flavonoids, phenolics, chlorogenic and syringic acids on dry weight basis. The average concentration of quercetin ranged 0.072-1.343 mg/100 g, and of EGCG from 0.713 to 6.521 mg/100 g with maximum concentration in Hulappa/AP-3 and Kho Chali-Khatta 3/AP-17, respectively. Amygdalin content was highest (1145 mg/100 g) in the kernel of Balaani/AP-14. Highest inhibition of HepG2 cells was found in the kernel of Waflu Chuli/AP-9 (EC50 = 15.70 ± 3.77 mg/mL). The PCA showed significant contributions of polyphenols and flavonoids towards biochemical assays, while CA revealed similarities and associations among various cultivars. Our study revealed that Habbi, Waflu Chuli, Thukdeena and Balaani kernels are rich sources of bioactive compounds and possess significant antioxidant and anticancer activity and can contribute considerably in the prevention and treatment of chronic health disorders.

Analysis of Metabolites and Gene Expression Changes Relative to Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Fruit Quality During Development and Ripening

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a valuable worldwide agronomical crop, with a delicious fruit highlighted as a functional food with both nutritional and bioactive properties, remarkably beneficial to human health. Apricot fruit ripening is a coordinated developmental process which requires change in the expression of hundreds to thousands of genes to modify many biochemical and physiological processes arising from quality characteristics in ripe fruit. In addition, enhancing fruit and nutraceutical quality is one of the central objectives to be improved in the new varieties developed by breeding programs. In this study we analyzed the contents of main metabolites linked to the nutraceutical value of apricot fruits, together with the most important pomological characteristics and biochemical contents of fruit during the ripening process in two contrasted apricot genotypes. Additionally, the gene expression changes were analyzed using RNA-Seq and real time qPCR. Results showed that genes with differential expression in the biosynthetic pathways, such as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, starch and sucrose and carotenoid metabolism, could be possible candidates as molecular markers of fruit quality characteristics for fruit color and soluble solid content. The gene involves in carotenoid metabolism carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4, and the gene sucrose synthase in starch and sucrose metabolism were identified as candidate genes in the ripening process for white skin ground color and flesh color and high soluble sugar content. The application of these candidate genes on marker-assisted selection in apricot breeding programs may contribute to the early selection of high-quality fruit genotypes with suitable nutraceutical values.

Effect of oven and intermittent airflow assisted tray drying methods on nutritional parameters of few leafy and non-leafy vegetables of North-East India

Given a sizable proportion of bio-resource production in the North-east (NE) India and the need to enhance the shelf life of perishable horticultural regional produce, this work addresses the optimality of inexpensive oven and intermittent airflow assisted tray drying processes for Kolmou (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.), Pui (Basella alba), Jatialao sak (Lagenaria siceraria leaves), Kolphul (Musa balbisiana Colla blossom), Kaskal (Musa splendida), green Komora (Benincasa hispida) and Posola (Musa balbisiana Colla pseudostem) vegetables of NE India. Characterization parameters for process parametric optimality include proximate analysis based evaluation of moisture content, yield, carbohydrate, crude protein, soluble protein, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, ash, crude fibre and fat content. For most vegetables, tray drying process performance is superior in terms of better moisture removal, higher yield and higher anti-oxidant activity. Among all considered samples, tray dried Kolmou possessed highest antioxidant activity. Vitamin C content was seen to be highest in tray dried Komora.

Capillary Blood GSH Level Monitoring, Using an Electrochemical Method Adapted for Micro Volumes

Glutathione (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine; also known as GSH) is an endogenous antioxidant that plays a crucial role in cell defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. It is thus not surprising that this molecule can serve as a biomarker for oxidative stress monitoring. As capillary blood is a highly accessible target for biomarking, it is a valuable bodily fluid for diagnosing human GSH levels. This study focused on the optimization of GSH measurements from micro volumes of capillary blood prior to using electrochemical detection. The optimization of experimental parameters, including the sample volume and its stability, was performed and evaluated. Moreover, we tested the optimized method as part of a short-term study. The study consisted of examining 10 subjects within 96 h of their consumption of high amounts of antioxidants, attained from a daily dose of 2 g/150 mL of green tea. The subjects' capillary blood (5 μL) was taken at 0 h, 48 h, and 96 h for subsequent analysis. The short-term supplementation of diet with green tea showed an increase of GSH pool by approximately 38% (between 0 and 48 h) within all subjects.

Assesment of the antioxidant activity and content of polyphenolic compounds in grapevine seeds

Our work was focused on the study of the antioxidant properties of grapevine seeds. We monitored the grapevine seeds of 6 cultivars of Vitis vinifera, L. (Nativa, Kofranka, Blaufränkish, Marlen, Cabernet Moravia and Italian Riesling). Antioxidant activity was determined by three principally different methods (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), the content of the total polyphenolic compounds was determined by the Folin ciocalteu method, and the content of the total flavanols was determined by DMACA reagent (p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde). Results are presented as an equivalent of gallic acid in g.L-1, respectively were expressed as g.L-1 of catechin equivalents (DMACA method). The highest values of antioxidant activity were measured in the cultivar Nativa (DPPH - 7.75 g.L-1, ABTS - 4.888 g.L-1, FRAP - 4.25 g.L-1). Conversely, the lowest values of antioxidant activity were detected in the cultivar Kofranka (DPPH - 7.08 g.L-1, ABTS - 4.17 g.L-1, FRAP - 4.55 g.L-1). Cultivar Nativa also reached the highest content of flavonols (3.77 g.L-1). The highest measured values of the content of total polyphenolic compounds were identified in the cultivar Cabernet Moravia (15.2 g.L-1 of GAE). Conversely, the lowest values of the content of total polyphenolic compounds were detected in the cultivar Nativa (8.04 g.L-1). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for the existing values between antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), contents of flavonols, and contents of total polyphenols. The highest correlation coefficient was found between the DPPH and ABTS methods; specifically, it was 0.857.

Extraction Techniques for Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity Determination of Chilean Papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens) Fruit

The aim of this work was to assess and compare different extraction methods by using high hydrostatic pressure (HHPE), ultrasound (UE), agitation (AE), and their combinations for the extraction of bioactive compounds of Chilean papaya. Extract antioxidant capacity was evaluated by three methods (i.e., DPPH, FRAP, and Voltammetry) and phenolic compounds and vitamin C were determined by HPLC. Papaya sample extraction was performed by HHPE at 500 MPa for 10 min and UE and AE for 30 min, respectively. The combined-extractions: HHPE-UE and HHPE-AE, were carried out for 5 min and 15 min, respectively. The highest values found were total phenolic 129.1 mg GAE/100 g FW, antioxidant capacity by DPPH 20.6 mM TE/100 g FW, and voltammetry 141.0 mM TE/100 g FW for HHPE-UE method in free compound extraction. Regarding vitamin C content, its highest value was found by HHPE-UE (74 mg/100 g FW) a combined extraction method. The phenolic compounds rutin andp-coumaric acid were found in all the extracts, both in free and bound forms, respectively. Besides, the combined techniques improved the extraction of bioactive compounds.

Phenolic compounds in Rosaceae fruit and nut crops

The demand for new fruit cultivars with high levels of phytochemicals, in particular phenolic compounds, has received increasing attention from biochemists, pharmaceutical companies, plant breeders, and the general public due to their health benefits. This review focuses on the economically important Rosaceae, which contains varying proportions and concentrations of these compounds. The paper discusses the common phenolics in the Rosaceae including phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanols, anthocyanins, and dihydrochalcones. The nonextractable phenolics are also presented but not discussed in detail. The metabolism and bioavailability of phenolics, as well as human and environmental factors that affect their concentration and composition, are highlighted. Furthermore, the paper presents different approaches for biofortification and posits that breeding may be the most viable and sustainable option as it improves other fruit quality traits simultaneously and increases confidence in adoption of new cultivars with enhanced consumer appeal.

Phenolic compounds and vitamins in wild and cultivated apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruits grown in irrigated and dry farming conditions

Background

Turkey is the main apricot producer in the world and apricots have been produced under both dry and irrigated conditions in the country. In this study, phenolic compounds and vitamins in fruits of one wild (Zerdali) and three main apricot cultivars (‘Cataloglu’, ‘Hacihaliloglu’ and ‘Kabaasi’) grown in both dry and irrigated conditions in Malatya provinces in Turkey were investigated.

Results

The findings indicated that higher content of phenolic compounds and vitamins was found in apricot fruits grown in irrigated conditions. Among the cultivars, ‘Cataloglu’ had the highest rutin contents both in irrigated and dry farming conditions as 2855 μg in irrigated and 6952 μg per 100 g dried weight base in dry conditions and the highest chlorogenic acid content in irrigated and dry farming conditions were measured in fruits of ‘Hacıhaliloglu’ cultivar as 7542 μg and 15251 μg per 100 g dried weight base. Vitamin C contents in homogenates of fruit flesh and skin was found to be higher than β-caroten, retinol, vitamin E and lycopen contents in apricot fruits both in irrigated and dry farming conditions.

Conclusion

The results suggested that apricot fruits grown in both dry and irrigated conditions had high health benefits phytochemicals and phytochemical content varied among cultivars and irrigation conditions as well. However, more detailed biological and pharmacological studies are needed for the demonstration and clarification of health benefits of apricot fruits.

Flavonoid profile of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) and their health promoting effects

Flavonoids are a significant group of secondary metabolites in plants. Many of these compounds are potent antioxidants, being an important part in food products derived from the plants. The current status of research on flavonoid compounds in the fruit of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) and their health promoting effects, including recommended utilization, are reviewed. The major classes of flavonoids in the fruit are flavonols (quercetin and rutin), flavanes (proanthocyanidin compounds ranging from dimers through to heptamers and even higher polymers) and finally anthocyanins. The flavonoids represented the group of polyphenols that mostly contributed to the antioxidant activity of Saskatoon berries. High content of the flavoinoids antioxidants in the fruit is responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory, antidiadiabetic and chemo-protective effects.

Polyphenolic profile and biological activity of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida BUNGE) fruits

Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) fruits are rich in polyphenols (e.g., epicatechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B5, procyanidin C1, hyperoside, isoquercitrin and chlorogenic acid)—active compounds that exert beneficial effects. This review summarizes all information available on polyphenolic content and methods for their quantification in Chinese hawthorn berries and the relationships between individual polyphenolic compounds as well. The influence of species or cultivars, the locality of cultivation, the stage of maturity, and extract preparation conditions on the polyphenolic content were discussed as well. Currently, only fruits of C. pinnatifida and C. pinnatifida var. major are included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Recent trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Chinese hawthorn fruit in lowering blood cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The fruit has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities. This review deals mainly with the biological activity of the fruit related to its antioxidant properties.

From genotype to apricot fruit quality: the antioxidant properties contribution

Apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.) quality strictly relates to the eating quality of fresh produce. Since consumers are more and more interested in healthy food, and apricot germplasm shows a wide choice of new selections and cultivars, apricot nutraceutical properties are under evaluation in order to select outstanding genotypes, which may link breeding and marketing. In the present study, 18 apricot genotypes of the Italian and international germplasm were evaluated over three years according to pomological, total antioxidant and total phenols attributes using principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses. The antioxidant capacity ranged from 1.24 to 11.47 μmolTE gFW⁻¹ and total phenols from 0.22 to 1.58 mgGAE gFW⁻¹. Four outstanding genotypes stood out as healthy food for fresh consumption which may also be introduced in breeding programs to produce new cultivars with improved nutraceutical values in addition to fruit qualitative attributes.

Evaluation of polyphenolic profile and nutritional value of non-traditional fruit species in the Czech Republic--a comparative study

Dry matter, organic acids, ascorbic acid, minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium) and polyphenolic profile of a number of non-traditional fruit species and their genotypes, namely blue honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), black mulberry (Morus nigra), Tomentosa cherry (Prunus tomentosa Thunb.) and jostaberry (Ribes nigrum x Grossularia uva-crispa) were investigated. The results showed that Lonicera genotypes displayed high levels of ascorbic acid and they were rich in minerals, with the cultivar ‘Amfora’ achieving the leading position in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content among all lesser known fruit species. Amelanchier cultivars represented a valuable source of ascorbic acid and calcium, ‘Tišňovský’ and ‘Smoky’ together with Morus nigra ‘Jugoslavska’ accumulated the highest level of examined polyphenolic compounds. Regular consumption of studied less common fruit species can bring health benefits so they can represent a high potential value for fruit growers and in addition they can be utilised as functional foods.

Evolution of phenolic compounds from color and flavor problems to health benefits

Early studies focused on the negative effects on color and flavor of foods, followed by exploration of the antioxidant properties and the associated health benefits. The growing body of evidence suggests that plant-based polyphenols may help prevent or delay the onset of a multiplicity of diseases. Newer work suggests that a variety of polyphenols can alter the expression of genes in the inflammatory pathway. Data also show that the absorption of the polyphenols is very limited. Insulin resistance and endothelial and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome and aging and occur at the early stages of the disease. There is limited clinical evidence that certain polyphenolic metabolites by virtue of their anti-inflammatory activities can improve insulin sensitivity and endothelial and mitochondrial function, suggesting that polyphenols are good for disease prevention. The goal of this review is to summarize the evolution and emphasize the potential benefits of polyphenols.

Phenolic profile of edible honeysuckle berries (genus lonicera) and their biological effects

The current status of research on polyphenolic compounds in the berries of edible honeysuckle and their biological effects, including recommended utilization, are reviewed. The major classes of phenolic compounds in the blue berried honeysuckle are flavonols (quercetin, rutin, quercitrin) and flavanes (proanthocyanidins, catechins) and anthocyanins. Cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside are considered as major anthocyanidins in edible honeysuckle berries. Such a high level of antioxidant activity in the berries of different species of the genus Lonicera is especially due to the high level of polyphenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. These berries seem to be prospective sources of health-supporting phytochemicals that exhibit beneficial anti-adherence and chemo-protective activities, thus they may provide protection against a number of chronic conditions, e.g., cancer, diabetes mellitus, tumour growth or cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mathematical evaluation of the amino acid and polyphenol content and antioxidant activities of fruits from different apricot cultivars

Functional foods are of interest because of their significant effects on human health, which can be connected with the presence of some biologically important compounds. In this study, we carried out complex analysis of 239 apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivated in Lednice (climatic area T4), South Moravia, Czech Republic. Almost all previously published studies have focused only on analysis of certain parameters. However, we focused on detection both primary and secondary metabolites in a selection of apricot cultivars with respect to their biological activity. The contents of thirteen biogenic alpha-L-amino acids (arginine, asparagine, isoleucine, lysine, serine, threonine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, proline and alanine) were determined using ion exchange chromatography with UV-Vis spectrometry detection. Profile of polyphenols, measured as content of ten polyphenols with significant antioxidant properties (gallic acid, procatechinic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, ferrulic acid and quercetrin), was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with spectrometric/electrochemical detection. Moreover, content of total phenolics was determined spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was determined using five independent spectrophotometric methods: DPPH assay, DMPD method, ABTS method, FRAP and Free Radicals methods. Considering the complexity of the obtained data, they were processed and correlated using bioinformatics techniques (cluster analysis, principal component analysis). The studied apricot cultivars were clustered according to their common biochemical properties, which has not been done before. The observed similarities and differences were discussed.

Comparison of various easy-to-use procedures for extraction of phenols from apricot fruits

Phenols are broadly distributed in the plant kingdom and are the most abundant secondary metabolites of plants. Plant polyphenols have drawn increasing attention due to their potential antioxidant properties and their marked effects in the prevention of various oxidative stress associated diseases such as cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate a suitable method for determination of protocatechuic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, ferulic acid, quercetin, resveratrol and quercitrin from apricot samples. A high-performance liquid chromatograph with electrochemical and UV detectors was used. The method was optimized in respect to both the separation selectivity of individual phenolic compounds and the maximum sensitivity with the electrochemical detection. The lowest limits of detection (3 S/N) using UV detection were estimated for ferulic acid (3 µM), quercitrin (4 µM) and quercetin (4 µM). Using electrochemical detection values of 27 nM, 40 nM and 37 nM were achieved for ferulic acid, quercitrin and quercetin, respectively. It follows from the acquired results that the coulometric detection under a universal potential of 600 mV is more suitable and sensitive for polyphenols determination than UV detection at a universal wavelength of 260 nm. Subsequently, we tested the influence of solvent composition, vortexing and sonication on separation efficiency. Our results showed that a combination of water, acetone and methanol in 20:20:60 ratio was the most effective for p-aminobenzoic acid, chlorgenic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, resveratrol and quercetin, in comparison with other solvents. On the other hand, vortexing at 4 °C produced the highest yield. Moreover, we tested the contents of individual polyphenols in the apricot cultivars Mamaria, Mold and LE-1075. The major phenolic compounds were chlorgenic acid and rutin. Chlorgenic acid was found in amounts of 2,302 mg/100 g in cultivar LE-1075, 546 mg/100 g in cultivar Mamaria and 129 mg/100 g in cultivar Mold. Generally, the cultivar LE-1075 produced the highest polyphenol content values, contrary to Mold, which compared to cultivar LE-1075 was quite poor from the point of view of the phenolics content.

Effect of five different stages of ripening on chemical compounds in medlar (Mespilus germanica L.)

The study of changes of nutritional value of fruit during the ripening process can help estimate the optimal date for fruit harvesting to achieve the best quality for direct consumption and further utilization. The aim of this study was to monitor the changes of chemical composition of medlar fruit (Mespilus germanica L.) measured at five various ripening stages including 134, 144, 154, 164 and 174 days after full bloom (DAFB). Fruits were analyzed and ascorbic acid (AA) and total phenolic compound content with respect to the total antioxidant activity were determined. In addition, selected micronutrients and macronutrients were monitored. The results of our experiments demonstrate that ascorbic acid, total phenolic compound content and total antioxidant activity decreased significantly with increasing time of ripeness. The decreasing tendency in potassium, calcium and magnesium contents during the ripening stages was also determined. During the ripening period, the content of all micronutrients as well as phosphorus and sodium was balanced, with no statistically significant differences between the monitored ripening stages, which can be considered as a positive fact with respect to ideal consumption quality of fruit.

Fully automated spectrometric protocols for determination of antioxidant activity: advantages and disadvantages

The aim of this study was to describe behaviour, kinetics, time courses and limitations of the six different fully automated spectrometric methods - DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, DMPD, Free Radicals and Blue CrO₅. Absorption curves were measured and absorbance maxima were found. All methods were calibrated using the standard compounds Trolox^® and/or gallic acid. Calibration curves were determined (relative standard deviation was within the range from 1.5 to 2.5 %). The obtained characteristics were compared and discussed. Moreover, the data obtained were applied to optimize and to automate all mentioned protocols. Automatic analyzer allowed us to analyse simultaneously larger set of samples, to decrease the measurement time, to eliminate the errors and to provide data of higher quality in comparison to manual analysis. The total time of analysis for one sample was decreased to 10 min for all six methods. In contrary, the total time of manual spectrometric determination was approximately 120 min. The obtained data provided good correlations between studied methods (R = 0.97 – 0.99).