Origin, Maturity Group and Seed Coat Color Influence Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Concentrations in Soybean Seeds

A comparison of the quality of UHT milk and its plant-based analogs

The aim of this study was to compare selected physical (density) and physicochemical (color, pH, titratable acidity) properties and the fatty acid profile of dairy UHT milk and its plant-based analogs, i.e., almond, soy, rice, oat, and coconut beverages. Ten products of each type were analyzed in each group. UHT milk was characterized by higher values of color lightness (L*) and titratable acidity than all plant-based milk alternatives, higher yellowness (b*) than rice drink, higher density than almond drink, and higher pH than rice and coconut drinks. In comparison with UHT milk, all plant-based beverages were characterized by higher redness (a*), soy drink was characterized by higher values of b* and chroma (C*), and almond and soy drinks had higher pH values. In the group of non-dairy beverages, the values of b* and C* were highest in soy drink, and the value of a* was highest in almond drink. Almond drink had the highest pH value, and soy and coconut drinks had the highest titratable acidity. Rice drink had higher density than oat, soy and almond drinks. The indicators characterizing the nutritional value of fat were considerably lower in coconut drink and dairy milk than in the remaining products. The values of UFA/SFA, MUFA/SFA, and DFA/OFA ratios and the indicator of nutritional value were highest in rice drink. The PUFA/SFA ratio and the total content of EFAs were highest in soy drink, and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was highest in almond drink.

Potential Role of Dietary Phenolic Compounds in the Prevention and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Reports

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex illness with both hereditary and environmental components. Globally, in 2019, 18 million people had RA. RA is characterized by persistent inflammation of the synovial membrane that lines the joints, cartilage loss, and bone erosion. Phenolic molecules are the most prevalent secondary metabolites in plants, with a diverse spectrum of biological actions that benefit functional meals and nutraceuticals. These compounds have received a lot of attention recently because they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-rheumatoid activity by modulating tumor necrosis factor, mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases, as well as other preventative properties. This article discusses dietary polyphenols, their pharmacological properties, and innovative delivery technologies for the treatment of RA, with a focus on their possible biological activities. Nonetheless, commercialization of polyphenols may be achievable only after confirming their safety profile and completing successful clinical trials.

Colour descriptors for plant-based milk alternatives discrimination

Colour characteristics of plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs: almond, coconut, cashew, oat, soy) were monitored during long-term storage to select suitable descriptors for PBMAs differentiation. All colour descriptors evaluated varied depending on the raw material used in the plant-based milk alternative production. Long-term storage of plant-based beverages resulted in slightly noticeable (0.5-1.5) and noticeable (1.5-3.0) colour changes. Based on all colour descriptors, an absolute differentiation of PBMAs according to the type of raw material and storage time was achieved using canonical discriminant analysis. The results also indicate the possibility of using colour descriptors to detect the addition of honey to these products. Statistical analysis identified yellowness, browning index and lightness as the most discriminating parameters.

A Comprehensive Quality Analysis of Different Colors of Medicinal and Edible Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle (the dried flower bud or opening flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a medicinal and edible substance, has is greatly popular among consumers for its remarkable health effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to the influences of processing methods, storage conditions, and other factors, honeysuckles show different colors which can directly reflect the quality and the price on the market. In order to comprehensively compare the quality of different colors, 55 batches of honeysuckle samples were collected and analyzed. Their color parameters, chlorophyll content (chl), total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (AA), main active compounds, and metabolites were measured. As a result, the initial green-white (GW) samples, a kind of highest-quality honeysuckle, had the smallest a* value, largest h*, chl, TPC, TFC, and AA values, and highest content of chlorogenic acid and cynaroside. There was a significant difference between GW samples and a series of discolored samples. As the color darkened or lightened, the quality gradually decreased. The yellow-brown (YB) samples were of the worst quality and were no longer available for clinical and health purposes. A series of differential metabolites, such as quercetin-7-O-glucoside and secologanoside, could be used as important references to evaluate the quality of differently colored samples. The metabolic profile of honeysuckle provided new insights into the process of color change and laid a foundation for further honeysuckle quality control. The correlation results showed that the a* and h* values significantly affect the abovementioned quality indicators and the 10 main active compounds. In other words, the color difference could directly reflect the quality and clinical efficacy. Multiple regression analysis was carried out using combined L*, a*, and b* values to predict the quality of honeysuckle. This is the first time the quality of different color honeysuckle samples on the post-harvest link has been systematically compared and a demonstration of medicinal and edible substances with different colors has been provided.

Revealing seed color variation and their possible association with yield and quality traits in a diversity panel of flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Seed color is a vital quality determinant of flax, significant for consumers' acceptability, and determines the commercial values of seeds. Also, seed color as a phenotypic marker may be a convenient way to select the plants with desired traits. This study assessed a diversity panel representing 144 flax genotypes from diverse geographical origins for the existence of genetic variability for luminosity (L*) and chromaticity (a* and b*) seed color parameters, seed yield, and quality traits over two years. The genetic variance was significant for seed color parameters, demonstrating the presence of significant genetic variability, which provides a resource to objectively evaluate and select flax genotypes based on seed color according to the market demand. High heritability combined with the high genotypic coefficient of variation observed for seed yield, oil, and protein content suggested a better genetic gain upon selecting these traits. Seed yield, seed quality traits, and phenological traits showed significant negative correlation with L* and b* parameters and positive correlation with a* suggesting that the seeds' dark background and brown color can serve as marker characters to prescreen early-flowering, high-yielding and oil and protein-rich genotypes. Interestingly 48 brown-seeded genotypes were identified as early-flowering with short height, large seeds, high thousand seed weight, and capsule diameter. In addition, 34 genotypes were characterized by light-colored yellow seeds, large seeds, late-flowering with shorter height, and high branch numbers. Our results highlighted that North America and Australia-belonged genotypes were lighter yellow-seeded than the ones from other continents. Flax genotypes from South America and Asia were high-yielding, while genotypes from North America were low-yielding genotypes. Moreover, darker brown-seeded genotypes have prevailed in the South American continent.