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Quality coffee consumption is increasing nowadays; however, quality can only be achieved through appropriate cultivation and processing techniques. The study is aimed at using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometric techniques for evaluating different coffee varieties grown in Ethiopia based on caffeine, antioxidant, and polyphenol content. Despite coming from various coffee-growing regions, all of the tested coffee varieties (heirloom, forest coffee, heirloom 2, bourbon, mixed heirloom, and catuai) underwent wet processing. The data revealed that the caffeine content ranged from 0.14 to 0.37 mg/g, total antioxidant content from 63.75 to 78.05 mg AAE/g, and total polyphenol content from 27.08 to 31.04 mg GAE/g in the selected varieties. The findings show that the amount of the identified compounds is significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced by the variety type, growing area, and processing (intensity of roasting). The different coffee varieties were also tested for sensory quality, and the findings suggest that the typical coffee drinker prefers fruity flavors in their coffee, along with medium acidity and roasting intensity levels. The cultivation and processing technologies used in coffee production have a significant impact on the quality and sensory enjoyment of coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the increasing use of herbal essential oils (EO) in pharmacology, medicine, and food processing, global EO production grows at a rapid rate, generating large amounts of plant residues worldwide. The use of herbal residues for co-composting with various wastes offers a novel option for eco-friendly and cost effective waste management. However, the biologically active compounds remaining in the herb residues may affect microbial activity in the composting biomass, thereby influencing final compost quality. In this review, we summarize and evaluate current literature on the occurrence and survival of pathogens in composts, the beneficial effects of using herbal residues as bulking agents, and the potential antipathogenic effects of six herb species belonging to the Lamiaceae family as follows: lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the yield and oil quality of eight different grape varieties. For the experiments, the grape seeds were obtained from the Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey in the northwestern region of Hungary. The aim of the studies was to determine the oil yield obtained by extraction and to examine the differences between the fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and total polyphenol content of the oils of different grape varieties. Based on the results, the oil content of the grape seeds varied between 99.91 g/kg and 126.74 g/kg. The grape seed oils analysed contained significant amounts of stearic acid (3.42–9.93%), palmitic acid (7.81–10.66%), oleic acid (14.29–19.92%), and linoleic acid (66.85–72.47%). Besides, the grape seed oils tested contained several other fatty acids in small amounts. There were significant differences in the total antioxidant and total polyphenol content of the oils. Total polyphenol content ranged from 0.24 to 1.13 mg GAE/g, while the total antioxidant content changed between 0.12 and 0.78 μg TEAC/g. The results show that the studied varieties are suitable for the production of table grape seed oil based on their oil yield, and the oils have favourable, health-protecting properties in terms of their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods enriched with plants have gradually become an area of increasing research interest because plant ingredients may offer several positive effects on human health and the body. The aim of our study was to develop biscuits fortified with three different types of edible flowers (marigold, lavender, and rose) and examine their physical and antioxidant characteristics, as well as consumer acceptability. The antioxidant properties and characterization of biscuits highlighted that edible flowers may cause increased total polyphenol and total flavonoid yields, as well as DPPH radical scavenging activities. Concerning biscuits fortified with rose petals, the total monomer anthocyanin content was also raised. In addition, the results showed that the antioxidant properties of biscuits increased with increasing concentration (from 2.5% to 5.0%) of edible flowers. Despite this, the consumer acceptability results clearly showed that the addition of marigold and lavender at a concentration of 5.0% caused significantly decreased overall acceptance. We found that the fortification step may increase the spread ratio, which is an important quality attribute of biscuits. We found slight variations in the diameter, thickness, and baking loss parameters of fortified biscuits compared to the control. All in all, the best results were obtained when the biscuits were fortified with rose petals at a concentration of 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the optimization and performance evaluation of a high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) method for the simultaneous determination of four sweeteners (acesulfame-potassium, saccharin, aspartame, and rebaudioside A), two preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate), and caffeine in sugar-free drinks are presented. The separation was carried out using a gradient elution of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (12.5 mM, pH = 3.3) on a reversed-phase column. Under the optimized conditions, the method allowed for the specific and selective simultaneous separation of all target analytes in less than 9 min. The developed HPLC–DAD method was validated and demonstrated excellent linearity (all analytical curves showed R2 ≥ 0.9995), satisfactory accuracy (recovery values ranging between 94.1 and 99.2% in real samples), and repeatability (intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were ≤ 2.49%). Overall, 69 products available in the Hungarian market were successfully tested with the applied method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the feasibility of the fortification of dark chocolate with a freeze-dried lemon balm extract rich in rosmarinic acid (RA). Given the food matrix used, it was necessary to develop an analytical and extraction method for RA determination in fortified chocolate. A simple and efficient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (RP-HPLC) has been developed for the estimation of RA in dark chocolate. The validity of the method was demonstrated by evaluating the system suitability, linearity, precision, accuracy, the limit of detection, and limit of quantification. The extraction of RA from chocolate was optimized using maceration with shaking (MAC S) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The experimental conditions, namely solvent type and extraction time, were optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time methodology. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good recovery within 95% and acceptable reproducibility with intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations of <2.3%. The method was linear from 5 to 800 μg/mL with a determination coefficient of 1.000. Moreover, the functional chocolate showed a homogeneous active ingredient distribution and retained its RA amount since no significant difference was observed during storage. Overall, the present method was successfully applied to determine RA content in fortified chocolate. [Display omitted] • Lyophilized lemon balm extract rich in rosmarinic acid was used as a functional ingredient in chocolate. • New analytical method for rosmarinic acid extraction and quantification in chocolate. • The analytical method can be successfully applied for measurement of rosmarinic acid. • Rosmarinic acid was stable during chocolate storage (116 days at 5 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fortification of foods with phenolic compounds is becoming increasingly popular due to their beneficial physiological effects. The biological activities reported include antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, or neuroprotective effects. However, the analysis of polyphenols in functional food matrices is a difficult task because of the complexity of the matrix. The main challenge is that polyphenols can interact with other food components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids. The chemical reactions that occur during the baking technologies in the bakery and biscuit industry may also affect the results of measurements. The analysis of polyphenols found in fortified foods can be done by several techniques, such as liquid chromatography (HPLC and UPLC), gas chromatography (GC), or spectrophotometry (TPC, DPPH, FRAP assay etc.). This paper aims to review the available information on analytical methods to fortified foodstuffs while as presenting the advantages and limitations of each technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ozone and Fenton-reaction as a pre-treatment before ultrafiltration of model dairy waste waters containing sodium caseinate. Filtration resistances and pollutant retentions were determined and compared. It was found, that both pre-treatment increased the retention, achieving almost 100% pollutant elimination efficiency after short term pre-oxidation. The effect of Fe-ion concentration on Fenton pretreatment efficiency also was examined, and it was found that higher concentration resulted in decreased filtration resistances, revealing that coagulation-flocculation effect of reactants has dominant role in the protein separation efficiency. The presence of lactose also affects the pollutant removal efficiency, it promotes fouling in presence of Fenton reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Cellulomonas flavigena and Streptomyces viridosporus, as a bacterial inoculant, on the compostability of post-extraction lavender waste. The major physicochemical, microbiological, and biological properties of the composting materials were monitored for 161 days. The technology developed was shown to improve the compostability of recalcitrant herbal residues. The use of lavender waste beneficially affected the composting process by extending the thermophilic phase, accelerating the degradation of organic matter, and elevating the viable counts of useful microorganisms; however, adverse effects were also observed, including an increased carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (19.05) and a decreased germination index (93.4%). Bacterial inoculation was found to preserve the nitrogen content (2.50%) and improve the efficiency of biodegradation. The Salmonella- and Escherichia coli-free final composting products were mature, stable, and ready for soil application. To the authors' knowledge, no previous research has investigated the compostability of lavender waste. Likewise, this is the first study that has used strains of C. flavigena and S. viridosporus in combination to facilitate a composting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Effects of linseed oil (LO) supplementation on the fat content and fatty acid profile of breast meat, and the expression of three genes in the liver, breast muscle and fat tissues of commercial 154-day-old hybrid male turkeys were investigated. Methods: The animals in the control group were fed a commercially available feed and received no LO supplementation (n = 70), whereas animals in the LO group (n = 70) were fed the same basic diet supplemented with LO (day 15 to 21, 0.5%; day 22 to 112, 1%). The effect of dietary LO supplementation on fatty acid composition of breast muscle was examined by gas chromatography, and the expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) genes was analysed by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The LO supplementation affected the fatty acid composition of breast muscle. Hepatic FADS2 levels were considerably lower (p<0.001), while adipose tissue expression was higher (p<0.05) in the control compared to the LO group. The PPARγ expression was lower (p<0.05), whereas IGF1 was higher (p<0.05) in the fat of control animals. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in FADS2, PPARγ, and IGF1 gene expressions of breast muscle; however, omega-6/omega-3 ratio of breast muscle substantially decreased (p<0.001) in the LO group compared to control. Conclusion: Fatty acid composition of breast meat was positively influenced by LO supplementation without deterioration of fattening parameters. Remarkably, increased FADS2 expression in the liver of LO supplemented animals was associated with a significantly decreased omega-6/omega-3 ratio, providing a potentially healthier meat product for human consumption. Increased PPARγ expression in fat tissue of the LO group was not associated with fat content of muscle, whereas a decreased IGF1 expression in fat tissue was associated with a trend of decreasing fat content in muscle of the experimental LO group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal production has many advantages over the use of terrestrial plants; therefore, increases in the use of microalgae for energy production can be expected. Algal biomass can be processed anaerobically to methane; however, the unfavorable C/N ratio of the substrate may have an inhibitory effect. The impact of the application of used cooking oil, maize silage, and mill residue on anaerobic co-digestion of the microalgal Chlorella vulgaris was studied in semi-continuous, laboratory-scale digestion. During the full period of the trial involving anaerobic digestion of algae in the case of mono-digestion and co-digestion with used cooking oil, maize silage, and mill residue, the volumetric methane yields were 0.38 ± 0.07, 1.56 ± 0.26, 1.19 ± 0.18, and 1.16 ± 0.13 L L, respectively. Trials were carried out to determine the long-term effect of the total solid (TS) content of substrates (co-digestion of C. vulgaris and used cooking oil at 3.8 and 7.2 % of TS, respectively). Both designs could be increased to 5.5 g VS L d, but a higher TS% resulted in increased methane production and a longer period of decline in the methane yield due to washout. The sharp decrease in methane content at the end of 90 days was accompanied by a reorganization of the methanogenic archaeal community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly developing agro-industry generates huge amounts of lignocellulosic crop residues and animal manure worldwide. Although co-composting represents a promising and cost-effective method to treat various agricultural wastes simultaneously, poor composting efficiency prolongs total completion time and deteriorates the quality of the final product. However, supplementation of the feedstock with beneficial microorganisms can mitigate these negative effects by facilitating the decomposition of recalcitrant materials, enhancing microbial enzyme activity, and promoting maturation and humus formation during the composting process. Nevertheless, the influence of microbial inoculation may vary greatly depending on certain factors, such as start-up parameters, structure of the feedstock, time of inoculation, and composition of the microbial cultures used. The purpose of this contribution is to review recent developments in co-composting procedures involving different lignocellulosic crop residues and farm animal manure combined with microbial inoculation strategies. To evaluate the effectiveness of microbial additives, the results reported in a large number of peer-reviewed articles were compared in terms of composting process parameters (i.e., temperature, microbial activity, total organic carbon and nitrogen contents, decomposition rate of lignocellulose fractions, etc.) and compost characteristics (humification, C/N ratio, macronutrient content, and germination index). Most studies confirmed that the use of microbial amendments in the co-composting process is an efficient way to facilitate biodegradation and improve the sustainable management of agricultural wastes. Overall, this review paper provides insights into various inoculation techniques, identifies the limitations and current challenges of co-composting, especially with microbial inoculation, and recommends areas for further research in this field. [Display omitted] • Crop residues rich in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose are difficult to biotransform. • Co-composting is an efficient method to treat crop residues and farm animal manure. • Microbial inoculants can promote co-composting and improve final compost quality. • Potential effects of inoculants and inoculation techniques are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly developing agro-industry generates huge amounts of lignocellulosic crop residues and animal manure worldwide. Although co-composting represents a promising and cost-effective method to treat various agricultural wastes simultaneously, poor composting efficiency prolongs total completion time and deteriorates the quality of the final product. However, supplementation of the feedstock with beneficial microorganisms can mitigate these negative effects by facilitating the decomposition of recalcitrant materials, enhancing microbial enzyme activity, and promoting maturation and humus formation during the composting process. Nevertheless, the influence of microbial inoculation may vary greatly depending on certain factors, such as start-up parameters, structure of the feedstock, time of inoculation, and composition of the microbial cultures used. The purpose of this contribution is to review recent developments in co-composting procedures involving different lignocellulosic crop residues and farm animal manure combined with microbial inoculation strategies. To evaluate the effectiveness of microbial additives, the results reported in a large number of peer-reviewed articles were compared in terms of composting process parameters (i.e., temperature, microbial activity, total organic carbon and nitrogen contents, decomposition rate of lignocellulose fractions, etc.) and compost characteristics (humification, C/N ratio, macronutrient content, and germination index). Most studies confirmed that the use of microbial amendments in the co-composting process is an efficient way to facilitate biodegradation and improve the sustainable management of agricultural wastes. Overall, this review paper provides insights into various inoculation techniques, identifies the limitations and current challenges of co-composting, especially with microbial inoculation, and recommends areas for further research in this field. [Display omitted] • Crop residues rich in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose are difficult to biotransform. • Co-composting is an efficient method to treat crop residues and farm animal manure. • Microbial inoculants can promote co-composting and improve final compost quality. • Potential effects of inoculants and inoculation techniques are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]