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Phytotherapy is the branch of alternative medicine that studies the treatment of various diseases with the help of plants and herbal preparations. One of the plants commonly used in phytotherapeutic treatments is blackcurrant. All its component parts are rich in active principles that are responsible for its phytotherapeutic properties. Numerous studies have approached the phytotherapeutic properties of blackcurrant. In this material we focused on researching data from the literature that include studies related to antioxidant action of blackcurrant.

Blackcurrant juice (Ribes nigrum L.) was subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCD) at 10, 30 and 60 MPa for 10 min at 45°C as well as thermally treated at 45°C and 85°C for 10 min to determine the stability, antioxidant capacity (AC) and bioaccessibility (BAc) of vitamin C, total anthocyanins and their individual monomers. An in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model completed with dialysis was used to assess BAc. The use of SCCD at each of the pressures applied improved the stability of vitamin C, total anthocyanins, and AC before in vitro digestion. As a result of digestion, L-ascorbic acid was oxidized to L-dehydroascorbic acid, and finally, the total content of vitamin C, anthocyanins, and AC decreased. SCCD did not significantly improve the BAc of vitamin C and total anthocyanins. The highest BAc of vitamin C was noted in fresh juice (FJ) (40%) and after mild heat treatment at 45°C (T45) (46%). The highest BAc of total anthocyanins was also noted in the FJ (4.4%). The positive effect of the application of SCCD on the BAc of the delphinidin-3-O-glycosides was observed compared to T45 and thermal pasteurization at 85°C (T85). Moreover, cyanidins were generally more bioaccessible than delphinidins in all samples. AC after digestion was higher in SCCD samples compared to thermally treated measured using ABTS+• and DPPH• assays, whereas in dialysate similar trends were observed only for AC measured using the ABTS+• assay. This phenomenon was justified by the formation of individual metabolites detected by UPLC-PDA-MS / MS in the model experiment with delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside. The protocatechuic acid which is well known as a strong antioxidant was detected in the model experiment after digestion. Further research is needed to better understand the metabolic pathway of anthocyanins and the possible uses of SCCD to improve the health properties of fruit products.

Fruit pomace is a valuable by-product in terms of its chemical composition, which potential might be used through transformation of the pomace into food ingredients. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of partial (5% and 10%) substitution of powdered non-extruded or extruded blackcurrant pomace for semolina in pasta formula on nutritional and technological properties of the final product. The pasta was assessed for chemical composition, DPPH antiradical activity, color, cooking and textural properties. Presence of the by-products in the pasta resulted in increased total dietary fiber content (from 1.89 ± 0.06 up to 10.03 ± 0.15 g/100 g, dwb), fat content (from 1.29 ± 0.01 up to 2.70 ± 0.05 g/100 g, dwb) and DPPH antiradical activity (from 253 ± 15 up to 1037 ± 7 µmol TE/g, dwb), as well as in significantly different color (p < 0.05) as compared to the semolina-only pasta. The optimal cooking time was shortened by 1.0–1.5 min and by 2.0 min in the case of the lower and higher, respectively, level of pasta supplementation. The water absorption decreased by up to 32% in the enriched pasta. In general, the cooking loss remained unchanged. The uncooked product containing the extruded fruit pomace was characterized by significantly higher breaking strength (p < 0.05) as compared to the standard pasta. Presence of the pomace also affected texture of the cooked pasta, increasing its firmness and hardness and, when using the non-extruded pomace, the tensile strength. In our research, we have shown that durum wheat pasta enriched with 5 or 10% of powdered blackcurrant pomace or their extrudates constitute a food product of improved nutritional value and of appropriate textural characteristics, while maintaining culinary properties that meet pasta industry requirements.

Oxidation is one of the most prevalent factors responsible for meat product deterioration. Due to their potential health risks, commonly used synthetic antioxidants are beginning to be frowned upon by customers. The industry is searching for a natural replacement. In our study, we incorporated blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Kamchatka honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) extracts into raw-cooked meat products (frankfurters) as natural antioxidants. We observed that both extracts at concentrations of 3 mL·kg−1 were able to significantly (α = 0.05) postpone lipid oxidation in our samples, with results comparable to vitamin C (0.5 mg·kg−1) addition. Moreover, we did not observe negative effects of the extracts on the product’s color, pH, or textural properties. Negative results were reported in the sensory evaluation of honeysuckle addition samples. This could have been caused by the natural strong and bitter taste of honeysuckle, which was transferred to the extracts and, subsequently, into the meat product.

The dominant anthocyanins in blackcurrant are delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside. Data on their absorption and distribution in the human body are limited. Therefore, we performed a human pilot study on five healthy male volunteers consuming a blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum L.) extract. The rutinosides and their degradation products gallic acid and protocatechuic acid were determined in plasma and urine. The rutinosides' concentrations peaked in both plasma and urine samples within 2 h of extract ingestion. The recoveries of delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside from urine samples were 0.040 ± 0.011% and 0.048 ± 0.016%, respectively, over a 48 h period. Protocatechuic acid concentration increased significantly after ingestion of the blackcurrant extract. Our results show that after ingestion of a blackcurrant extract containing delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, significant quantities of biologically active compounds circulated in the plasma and were excreted via urine. Furthermore, these results contribute to the understanding of anthocyanin metabolism in humans.

The objective of this work was to enhance the bioactive compounds extraction of blackcurrant using pulsed electric fields (PEF) technology. An experimental design was performed to find the best PEF conditions using the desirability approach and response surface methodology. The effect of the electric field strength and the treatment time over the total polyphenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity (AA) was analyzed. The optimum treating conditions were found to be 1318 V/cm and 315 pulses, and resulted in increments of 19%, 45%, and 6%, for TPC, AA, and total monomeric anthocyanins, respectively. Two initial temperatures were studied (10 and 22 °C) during electroporation. A significant effect of temperature over PEF treatment was observed. The PEF treatment was appropriate for increasing the extraction of bioactive compounds, leading to improved blackcurrant juices that could be used as ingredients for functional foods. Fil: Gagneten, Maite. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos; Argentina Fil: Leiva, Graciela Edith. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Salvatori, Daniela Marisol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina Fil: Schebor, Carolina Claudia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos; Argentina Fil: Olaiz, Nahuel Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física del Plasma. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física del Plasma; Argentina

Fruit and vegetable processing by-products, undervalued until recently, are rich sources of nutrients. This study investigated properties of extruded corn puffs with addition (5–20%) of blackcurrant or chokeberry pressings. We assessed expansion rate, water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) of the produced extru-dates, the concentration of polyphenols, and antioxidant activity measured by FRAP method and ABTS method. The puffs with addition of chokeberry pressings had higher WSI values, higher phenolic acids, flavonols, and anthocyanins content, and higher antioxidant activity than puffcorn with addition of blackcurrant pressings. The corn puffs with addition of fruit pressings contained much higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and were characterized by much higher antioxidant activity than pure puffcorn. This confirms the usefulness of addition of such fruit processing by-products in order to manufacture functional food.

Beneficial effects of blackcurrant supplementation on bone metabolism in mice has recently been demonstrated, but no studies are available in humans. The current study aimed to examine the dose-dependent effects of blackcurrant in preventing bone loss and the underlying mechanisms of action in adult women. Forty peri- and early postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups for 6 months: (1) a placebo (control group, n = 13); (2) 392 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (low blackcurrant, BC, group, n = 16); and (3) 784 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (high BC group, n = 11). The significance of differences in outcome variables was tested by repeated-measures ANOVA with treatment and time as between- and within-subject factors, respectively. Overall, blackcurrant supplementation decreased the loss of whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) compared to the control group (p < 0.05), though the improvement of whole-body BMD remained significant only in the high BC group (p < 0.05). Blackcurrant supplementation also led to a significant increase in serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), a marker of bone formation (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that daily consumption of 784 mg of blackcurrant powder for six months mitigates the risk of postmenopausal bone loss, potentially through enhancing bone formation. Further studies of larger samples with various skeletal conditions are warranted to confirm these findings.

Physical training for ultra-endurance running provides physiological adaptations for exercise-induced substrate oxidation. We examined the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on running-induced metabolic and physiological responses in a male amateur ultra-endurance runner (age: 40 years, body mass: 65.9 kg, BMI: 23.1 kg·m−2, body fat: 14.7%, V˙O2max: 55.3 mL·kg−1·min−1, resting heart rate: 45 beats·min−1, running history: 6 years, marathons: 20, ultra-marathons: 28, weekly training distance: ~80 km, weekly running time: ~9 h). Indirect calorimetry was used and heart rate recorded at 15 min intervals during 120 min of treadmill running (speed: 10.5 km·h−1, 58% V˙O2max) in an environmental chamber (temperature: ~26 °C, relative humidity: ~70%) at baseline and following 7 days intake of NZBC extract (210 mg of anthocyanins·day−1) with constant monitoring of core temperature. The male runner had unlimited access to water and consumed a 100-kcal energy gel at 40- and 80 min during the 120 min run. There were no differences (mean of 8, 15 min measurements) for minute ventilation, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production and core temperature. With NZBC extract, the respiratory exchange ratio was 0.02 units lower, carbohydrate oxidation was 11% lower and fat oxidation was 23% higher (control: 0.39 ± 0.08, NZBC extract: 0.48 ± 0.12 g·min−1, p < 0.01). Intake of the energy gel did not abolish the enhanced fat oxidation by NZBC extract. Seven days’ intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract altered exercise-induced substrate oxidation in a male amateur ultra-endurance runner covering a half-marathon distance in 2 h. More studies are required to address whether intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract provides a nutritional ergogenic effect for ultra-endurance athletes to enhance exercise performance.

Simple Summary Dasineura tetensi is a widespread blackcurrant pest. The susceptibility of blackcurrant genotypes to leaf midge colonization was assessed to select the genotypes least susceptible to be used as parents in the breeding. Experiments were conducted between 2012–2014 in Poland. Percentage shoot damage, and number of eggs and larvae were assessed for each genotype. Among tested blackcurrant genotypes, none were found to be completely resistant to this pest. However, some genotypes (Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, Ben Hope, Foxendown, Ben Nevis, Fariegh, Ojebyn, and Ben Tirran) were colonized by the pest below the threshold level (10%); proving tolerance to the pest. The fewest pest eggs were recorded on the genotypes Big Ben, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, and Ben Nevis, and out of these Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, and Foxendown had the least larvae recorded. Abstract Blackcurrant leaf midge (Dasineura tetensi) is a widespread pest of blackcurrant. Attacks by this pest can cause up to 60% reduction in the growth of shoots resulting in yield decreases. Our study, conducted (2012–2014) in Poland, aimed to assess the susceptibility of blackcurrant genotypes to D. tetensi, in order to select genotypes as parental lines for breeding new blackcurrant genotypes. Among tested blackcurrant genotypes, none were found to be completely resistant to this pest. The pest colonized genotypes Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, Ben Hope, Foxendown, Ben Nevis, Fariegh, Ojebyn, and Ben Tirran below the threshold level (10%). In contrast, genotypes Nr 7/15, Ben Lomond, Ben Finlay, Tisel, Polares, Polonus, Tiben, PC-110, Polben, Gofert, Ruben, and Ores suffered pest levels above the threshold. With regard to egg numbers, the fewest were recorded on genotypes Big Ben, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, and Ben Nevis, and the most on Gofert and Ores. Fewer larvae were recorded on genotypes Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, and Foxendown compared to Ben Lomond, PC-110, Gofert, Tiben, Polben, and Ores. Developing blackcurrant genotype resistance to leaf midge strongly supports the IPM strategy.

The most damaging pathogen in blackcurrant plantations is mite-transmitted blackcurrant reversion virus (BRV). Some Ribes species have an encoded genetic resistance to BRV. We performed RNA sequencing analysis of BRV-resistant blackcurrant cv. Aldoniai to evaluate the molecular mechanisms related to the BRV infection response. The RNA of virus-inoculated and mock-inoculated microshoots was sequenced, and the transcriptional changes at 2- and 4-days post inoculation (dpi) were analyzed. The accumulation and expression of BRV RNA1 were detected in infected plants. In total, 159,701 transcripts were obtained and 30.7% were unigenes, annotated in 7 databases. More than 25,000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) according to FPKM were upregulated or downregulated. We observed 221 and 850 DEGs at 2 and 4 dpi, respectively, in BRV-infected microshoots related to the stress response. The proportion of upregulated DEGs at 4 dpi was about 3.5 times higher than at 2 dpi. Pathways of the virus defense response were activated, and key candidate genes were identified. The phenylpropanoid and the cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis pathways were activated in infected plants. Our comparative de novo analysis of the R. nigrum transcriptome provides clues not only for understanding the molecular BRV resistance mechanisms but also for breeding BRV-tolerant genotypes.

Cultivation conditions may greatly affect fruit quality, especially in the accumulation of functional metabolites. Blackcurrant fruits (Ribes nigrum L.) have high ascorbic acid (AsA) concentrations. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of different shading treatments (full sunlight, and 40% and 60% sunlight) on the fruits’ maturity, and on the levels of fruit firmness, soluble solid, AsA, and enzyme activity involved in AsA biosynthesis and recycling in two blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) cultivars, ‘Heifeng’ and ‘Adelinia’. Shading conditions of 40% and 60% sunlight delayed fruit ripening and increased fruit firmness in both ‘Adelinia’ and ‘Heifeng’. Soluble solids in ‘Adelinia’ were markedly reduced by shading compared with ‘Heifeng’. Compared with full sunlight, the AsA content was significantly decreased in the ripe fruits under the 40% and 60% shading treatments. Additionally, the AsA content was decreased during the fruit development process under the 60% shading treatment, which was associated with the reduced activity of the enzymes monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione oxidoreductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and L-galactose dehydrogenase (GalDH) involved in the biosynthesis and recycling pathway of AsA. The correlation analysis results showed that the activity of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, APX, and GalDH was significantly positively correlated with AsA concentrations during the 60% shading treatment in ‘Adelinia’ and ‘Heifeng’ fruits, suggesting that AsA biosynthesis and recycling were affected and the two cultivars have similar mechanisms to deal with shading. Our results not only provide a better understanding of the regulation mechanism of AsA accumulation under shading, but also provide a theoretical basis for taking effective cultivation measures aimed at the improvement of AsA levels in blackcurrant fruits.

The aim of the study was to produce gel beads under continuous conditions. Pectins obtained from black and red currants and commercial apple pectin were used as the material. For the production of gel beads, a self-designed device was used. The designed device allows for the production of gel beads in a continuous process, the properties of which are similar to those obtained in the classic, batch process. Thanks to the device, it is possible to obtain a repeatable product while reducing the workload. The produced gel beads were tested for water absorption and textural properties. The water absorption of the obtained gel capsules is strongly influenced by the pectin chain structure. Pectin beads obtained from currant pectins have a less hard structure and are more sensitive to deformation than those from apple pectin. Shorter and more branched chains of currant pectin than apple pectin form gels with a delicate structure, which strongly absorbs water, and unlike apple pectin gel, it disintegrates. The results show that the use of raw material obtained from different sources allows for obtaining products with various properties, using the same method; moreover, the used device is fully scalable and can be used in large scale.

19 November 2021 Polli Horticultural Research Centre Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Estonian University of Life Sciences. Dear conference participants and guests, As director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of Estonian University of Life Sciences, I have a great honour to greet you at the scientific conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Polli Horticultural Research Centre. Research on fruits and berries in Estonia and at our University is carried out in two locations – at horticultural research centre at Polli village in Southern Estonia and on our university campus in Tartu where the Chair of Horticulture mainly operates. Through the history, Polli village has always been related to horticulture. In 1920, an agricultural school was founded at Polli. 25 years later, a horticultural research centre was established, focusing on breeding fruit varieties. During the last two decades, the focus of the horticultural research centre has shifted from breeding and cultivation technologies towards processing and product development. The topic of the conference is sustainable fruit and berry production. In the context of EU Green Deal and ambitious goals for tackling climate change, it is very important to readjust our activities in fruit and berry cultivation as well as processing. On the one hand, new pests and diseases that emerge due to global warming call for extra actions for securing plant health and high quality product. On the other hand, EU strategies foresee reduction of pesticide quantities by 50% in the next decade as well as remarkable increase in organic farming. Efforts to reach the goals will lead us to diversification of plant species, varieties and cultivation methodologies. Many currently grown commercial fruit cultivars may prove unsuitable in low-input or sustainable organic farming systems. However, we are sure that our research communities in collaboration with fruit and berry producers will find right directions and solutions for the selection of suitable varieties as well as sustainable pest control methods. Another important goal is to keep valuable nutrients from waste or residues in the agro-economic cycle. UN Sustainable Development Goals call for reducing food loss in production and supply chain, including postharvest loss up to 50% by 2030. It will make it urgent to find solutions for producers’ side-streams. Valorisation of production side-streams will not only reduce waste but will also help us achieve greater resource productivity. Recent decades have witnessed rapid developments and many good ideas, which will be discussed during the conference. Today we will have speakers from seven different countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Poland and Romania. I wish you a successful conference and fruitful discussions during the conference. I hope that we will also find new ideas for further cooperation. Aret Vooremäe Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences Tartu, Estonia The conference was supported by the ERDF project nr 11.6-12 / 0671 "PlantValor – full-scale product development service in synergy with the traditional activities of Polli Horticultural Research Centre". The conference was supported by the ERDF project nr 11.6-12 / 0671 "PlantValor – full-scale product development service in synergy with the traditional activities of Polli Horticultural Research Centre".

A Thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science. Antibacterial and antioxidative compounds are used in food processing to extend shelf life. Consumers are increasingly demanding these compounds to be as natural as possible. Polyphenols are a very diverse group of compounds found in plants, comprising molecules with both antibacterial and antioxidative properties. In the present study, the polyphenolic composition of blackcurrant berries and leaves and rhubarb petioles and roots were investigated by means of liquid chromatography-UV-Vis detector, coupled with ion trap mass detector and comparing the obtained results with scientific literature data. The antibacterial activity and free radical scavenging ability (considered as an antioxidative activity) of extracts made from the same plant parts were compared with the effects of different food plants in two different experiments. Comparison included tomato fruits, bilberry, sea buckthorn, blue honeysuckle and chokeberry berries. It was found that the high content of polyphenols in the plant material does not yet make it possible to say whether the material has good antibacterial or antioxidant properties. These properties seem to depend on different polyphenolic and other compounds. For example, in rhubarb the high levels of polyphenols are due to anthraquinones and stilbenes, which are known to have relatively strong antibacterial properties but weak antioxidative properties. In the blue and red berries, most of the polyphenols are composed of anthocyanins, which have strong antioxidative but weak antibacterial properties. In addition, berries contain vitamin C, which also has an antioxidative effect. By combining different food plants and adding them to other foods, it is possible to achieve both antibacterial and antioxidative properties, while keeping in mind the food safety and sensory properties of the food. Among other results, it was found, that the tested plant extracts (in paper III) had stronger AB effect against B. subtilis, K. rhizophila, L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, L. monocytogenes, E. coli and C. jejuni than sodium nitrite solutions, nevertheless, none of the authors recommends substituting sodium nitrite in the processed meat products entirely with plant materials. Many more studies are needed before such recommendations can be made, especially taking into account hazards, related to bacterial species like Clostridium botulinum and other Clostridia. At the moment, such studies can not be conducted in Estonia. In the later works of our research group, we have used many of the above mentioned plant materials in meat products and achieved both antibacterial and antioxidative activities. Toiduainete töötlemisel kasutatakse säilimisaja pikendamiseks antibakteriaalseid ja antioksüdantseid ühendeid. Tarbijad on üha enam huvitatud, et need ühendid oleksid nii looduslähedased kui võimalik. Polüfenoolid on näiteks üks väga mitmekesine rühm taimedes leiduvaid ühendeid, mille hulgas on nii antibakteriaalse kui ka antioksüdantse omadusega molekule. Uurimistöös uuriti musta sõstra marjade ja lehtede ning rabarberi varte ja juurte polüfenoolset koostist vedelikkromatograafia-UV-Vis-detektori ja ioonlõksu tüüpi massidetektori abil ning saadud tulemusi võrreldi teaduskirjanduse andmetega. Samadest taimeosadest valmistatud tõmmiste antibakteriaalset toimet ja vabade radikaalide sidumise võimet (käsitletakse töös ka antioksüdantse toimena) võrreldi kahes eri eksperimendis mõnede teiste toidutaimede toimetega. Eeltoodud taimeosade toimeid võrreldi tomati viljade, hariliku mustika, astelpaju, söödava kuslapuu ja aroonia marjade samade toimetega. Selgus, et suur polüfenoolide sisaldus taimses materjalis ei võimalda veel öelda, kas antud materjal on heade antibakteriaalsete või antioksüdantsete omadustega. Need omadused sõltuvad ilmselt erinevatest polüfenoolidest, aga ka muudest ühenditest, mida leidub eri taimedes erineval hulgal ja koosseisus. Näiteks rabarberi puhul on suure polüfenoolide sisalduse taga antrakinoonid ja stilbeenid, millel on suhteliselt tugevad antibakteriaalsed omadused, aga nõrgad antioksüdantsed omadused. Sinistes ja punastes marjades moodustavad enamiku polüfenoolide koosseisust antotsüaanid, mis on tugevate antioksüdantsete, kuid nõrkade antibakteriaalsete omadustega. Lisaks leidub marjades antioksüdantse toimega C-vitamiini. Erinevaid toidutaimi omavahel kombineerides ja teistele toiduainetele lisades on võimalik saavutada nii antibakteriaalsed kui ka antioksüdantsed omadused, pidades sealjuures silmas ka toiduohutust ja sensoorseid omadusi. Kuigi ühes töö käigus avaldatud artiklis leiti muuhulgas, et uuritud taimeekstraktid olid uuritud bakteriliikide (B. subtilis, K. rhizophila, L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, L. monocytogenes, E. coli ja C. jejuni) suhtes tugevama AB toimega kui naatriumnitriti vesilahus, siiski ei soovita artikli autorid lihatoodetesse naatriumnitriti lisamist täielikult taimsete lisanditega asendada. Selliste soovituste andmiseks on edaspidi vajalik läbi viia põhjalikumad teadusuuringud, mis arvestaksid eriti Clostridium botulinum’i ja teiste klostriididega seotud ohte. Hetkel Eestis selliseid uuringuid teostada ei saa. Toiduhügieeni ja rahvatervise õppetooli töörühma hiljutistes uuringutes oleme käesolevas doktoritöös käsitletud taimseid materjale kasutanud ka lihatoodete väärindamisel ning tuvastanud nii antibakteriaalse kui antioksüdantse toime. The publication of this dissertation is supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

Blackcurrant juice extraction was optimized by enzymatic maceration. A Box–Behnken experimental design was used considering the effect of enzyme concentration, temperature, and treatment time over the total polyphenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), and juice yield. Under the obtained optimal conditions (200 ppm enzyme, 45°C and 60 min), a 2.4-fold increment for TPC, 2.8-fold for AC, and 2.7-fold for total monomeric anthocyanins (ACY) were observed, along with a 15% increase in juice yield. The juice was spray-dried and the powder was tested as an ingredient in a jelly dessert. An attractive color product was obtained, also containing blackcurrant bioactive compounds (0.56 ± 0.03 mg GA/g, 0.20 ± 0.02 mg cyd-3-glu/g and 0.16 ± 0.02 mg of GA/g for TPC, ACY, and AC, respectively). This jelly was stable regarding syneresis and antioxidant compounds for 15 days at 4°C. The developed blackcurrant powder could be useful as natural colorant and source of bioactive compounds for several food applications. Practical applications: An efficient extraction process of blackcurrant juice by enzymatic treatment of ground fruit was achieved. As a result of the process, it was possible to improve the extraction of bioactive compounds and also increasing antioxidant activity. A fruit juice powder was obtained from the enriched juice by spray-drying. The blackcurrant powder showed relatively good physical characteristics and potential functional properties. The use of this powder as a natural colorant in a jelly dessert showed promising results. The ingredient not only enriched the product with bioactive components, but also provided a stable and attractive color. Moreover, the gel properties were improved and the jelly showed very good acceptance in the consumer’s perception test. These results prove that this ingredient has good potential to be used as natural colorant and functional additive in food. Fil: Toscano Martínez, Hernando. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina Fil: Gagneten, Maite. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; Argentina Fil: Díaz Calderón, Paulo. Universidad de Los Andes, Chile; Chile Fil: Enrione, Javier. Universidad de Los Andes, Chile; Chile Fil: Salvatori, Daniela Marisol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina Fil: Schebor, Carolina Claudia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; Argentina Fil: Leiva, Graciela Edith. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina

The water-based extraction of bioactive components from flavonoid-rich medicinal plants is a key step that should be better investigated. This is especially true when dealing with easy-to-use home-made conditions of extractions, which are known to be a bottleneck in the course for a better control and optimization of the daily uptake of active components from medicinal plants. In this work, the water-based extraction of Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) leaves (BC) and Chrysanthellum americanum (CA), known to have complementary pharmacological properties, was studied and compared with a previous work performed on the extraction of Hawthorn (Crataegus, HAW). Various extraction modes in water (infusion, percolation, maceration, ultrasounds, microwaves) were compared for the extraction of bioactive principles contained in BC and CA in terms of extraction yield, of amount of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and proanthocyanidin oligomers, and of UHPLC profiles of the extracted compounds. The qualitative and quantitative aspects of the extraction, in addition to the kinetic of extraction, were studied. The optimized easy-to-use-at-home extraction protocol developed for HAW was found very efficient to easily extract bioactive components from BC and CA plants. UHPLC-ESI-MS and high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) were also implemented to get more qualitative information on the specific and common chemical compositions of the three plants (including HAW). Their antihyaluronidase, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities were also determined and compared, demonstrating similar activities as the reference compound for some of these plants.

Objectives: We examined the acute effects of anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract and a placebo on hemodynamics during 120 min of sedentary sitting in healthy males. Additionally, we investigated whether changes in resting hemodynamics altered repeated isometric hand-grip exercise performance and post exercise forearm blood flow (FBF).Methods: Ten healthy males completed two trials during which they ingested either blackcurrant extract (1.87 mg total anthocyanins/kg bodyweight) or placebo powder. Heart rate, blood pressure and forearm blood flow were measured, and venous blood was sampled, prior to and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min-post ingestion. Participants remained seated for the duration of each trial. At 120 min post-ingestion participants completed as many repetitions of isometric hand-grip contractions as possible.Results: Heart rate, blood pressure and mean arterial pressure changed over time (all p < 0.001) but did not differ between treatments. A treatment x time interaction for FBF (p = 0.025) and forearm vascular resistance (FVR) (p = 0.002) was found. No difference in the number of isometric hand-grip contractions was observed between treatments (p = 0.68) nor was there any treatment x time interaction in post-exercise FBF (p = 0.997). Plasma endothelin-1 (p = 0.023) and nitrate (p = 0.047) changed over time but did not differ between treatments (both p > 0.1). Plasma nitrite did not change over time (p = 0.732) or differ between treatments (p = 0.373).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that acute ingestion of a single dose of blackcurrant extract maintained FBF and FVR during an extended period of sitting; however, this did not influence exercise performance during hand-grip exercise.

A range of dietary bioactive ingredients have claimed to improve mental clarity and reduce fatigue, including blackcurrant, pine bark, and l-theanine. These active ingredients provide a good source of dietary polyphenols which could be useful in reducing mental fatigue in a sports setting. The aim of the investigation was to test the effect of Ārepa® a blackcurrant-based nootropic-drink also containing pine-bark and l-theanine (BC+), on mental clarity in a sport setting. Twenty-three rugby league players completed a cross-over design, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Intervention and control phases lasted 7 days, with a washout in between. Cognition was assessed pre and post intervention following a standardized training session. Our study found the total score, accuracy, and average time per response scores improved significantly more after drinking the BC+ drink (p = 0.001, 0.003, and 0.043 respectively). The BC+ improved the perception that participants were reliable (p = 0.02) and less distracted (p = 0.03), while placebo supplementation increased participant perception they could control their nervousness (p = 0.03). Thematic analysis of post-trial questionnaire indicated participants found the BC+ sour, most reported no side effects, and opinion on which drink was more effective was not unanimous. The results indicate that the BC+ drink may be useful for athletes.

In response to pathogen attacks, plants activate a complex of defense mechanisms including an accumulation of the endogenous signaling compounds salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. The activity of pathogenesis-related genes (PRs) and coronatine-insensitive 1 (COI1) in defense-response pathways are established in plants. The aim of this study was to identify homologs of the PRs and COI1 in blackcurrants. Primers with degenerate nucleotides were designed based on the most conservative parts of PR1 and COI1 genes from other plants and applied for amplification of specific fragments of PRs and COI1 in Ribes spp. Seven heterogeneous sequences of PR with a diversity of 66.0–98.3% at nucleic acid level were found. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the dependence of R. nigrum PR homologs on the PR1 and PR6 families. Four heterogeneous sequences of R. nigrum COI1 with an identity of 95.9–98.8% at nucleic acid level were isolated. Specific primers for newly detected genes’ homologs were designed in this study and could be useful for evaluating the defense response to pathogen attacks in blackcurrants.

Global warming may modify the timing of dormancy release and spring growth of buds of temperate fruit crops. Environmental regulation of the activity-dormancy cycle in perennial plants remains poorly understood at the metabolic level. Especially, the fine-scale metabolic dynamics in the meristematic zone within buds has received little attention. In this work we performed metabolic profiling of intact floral primordia of Ribes nigrum isolated from buds differing in dormancy status using high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR. The technique proved useful in monitoring different groups of metabolites, e.g., carbohydrates and amino acids, in floral primordia and allowed metabolic separation of primordia from endo- and ecodormant buds. In addition, due to its nondestructive character, HR-MAS NMR may provide novel insights into cellular compartmentation of individual biomolecules that cannot be obtained using liquid-state NMR. Out results show that HR-MAS NMR may be an important method for metabolomics of intact plant structures.

Macrophages are polarized into different phenotypes depending on tissue microenvironment where they reside. In obesity-associated inflammation, M1-type macrophages are predominant in the inflamed tissue, exerting pro-inflammatory responses. Our previous studies demonstrate that blackcurrant consumption attenuates hepatic inflammation and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses of splenocytes in obese mice. In this study, we determined whether blackcurrant modulates macrophage phenotypes to exert its anti-inflammatory action. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and human THP-1 macrophages were polarized into M1 macrophages in the presence or absence of blackcurrant extract (BCE). BCE repressed M1 polarization of both murine and human macrophages. Also, to gain insight into the role of blackcurrant metabolites produced in vivo in the regulation of macrophage phenotypes, BMDM were treated with serum obtained from lean or obese mice fed blackcurrant. While serum from lean mice fed blackcurrant did not exert either anti-inflammatory actions or suppressive effects on M1 polarization, serum from obese mice fed blackcurrant reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in BMDM. Our data demonstrate that BCE suppresses M1 polarization, with reduced pro-inflammatory responses. Moreover, this study suggests that blackcurrant metabolites may not exert their anti-inflammatory effect directly by altering macrophage phenotypes, but possibly by inhibiting the production of obesity-associated inflammatory factors.

The use of chitosan and chitosan composite coatings for the preservation of fruits and vegetables during storage is attracting increasing attention. In this study, a chitosan-based edible coating, as well as a second chitosan-based edible coating containing salicylic acid (CTS + SA), a third containing nanosized titanium dioxide particles (CTS + TiO2), and a fourth containing a combination of these two (CTS + SA + TiO2) were evaluated in terms of their effects on the postharvest quality of blackcurrant fruit during storage at 4 °C. The results showed that compared with the other three treatment groups, the blackcurrants treated with CTS + SA + TiO2 underwent the smallest changes in weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, and total anthocyanin content, and retained the highest total flavonoid content. This combined treatment significantly inhibited polyphenol oxidase activity during storage, and the CTS + SA + TiO2 samples also displayed the lowest malondialdehyde content. These results, thus, indicate that the CTS + SA + TiO2 composite coating could maintain the nutrient composition of blackcurrants, thereby playing a significant role in preserving the quality of this fruit at 4 °C.

Blackcurrant leaf midge (Dasineura tetensi) is a widespread pest of blackcurrant. Attacks by this pest can cause up to 60% reduction in the growth of shoots resulting in yield decreases. Our study, conducted (2012–2014) in Poland, aimed to assess the susceptibility of blackcurrant genotypes to D. tetensi, in order to select genotypes as parental lines for breeding new blackcurrant genotypes. Among tested blackcurrant genotypes, none were found to be completely resistant to this pest. The pest colonized genotypes Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, Ben Hope, Foxendown, Ben Nevis, Fariegh, Ojebyn, and Ben Tirran below the threshold level (10%). In contrast, genotypes Nr 7/15, Ben Lomond, Ben Finlay, Tisel, Polares, Polonus, Tiben, PC-110, Polben, Gofert, Ruben, and Ores suffered pest levels above the threshold. With regard to egg numbers, the fewest were recorded on genotypes Big Ben, Ben Connan, Ben Alder, and Ben Nevis, and the most on Gofert and Ores. Fewer larvae were recorded on genotypes Big Ben, Nr 8/72, Ben Connan, and Foxendown compared to Ben Lomond, PC-110, Gofert, Tiben, Polben, and Ores. Developing blackcurrant genotype resistance to leaf midge strongly supports the IPM strategy.

The fruit of the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) is round-shaped, dark purple, bittersweet, and seed-containing edible berries. The blackcurrant has been used as a traditional medicine in both Asia and European countries. It is known as a rich source of antioxidants, largely due to its high content of phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. Studies on anthocyanins from blackcurrants have adopted different extraction methods and a panel of anthocyanins has been identified in them. Research on the health benefits of blackcurrant anthocyanins has also grown. To present a general overview of research in blackcurrant anthocyanins, this review focuses on the extraction methods of anthocyanins from blackcurrants and the molecular mechanisms underlying their health benefits.

The volatile profiles of three blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars grown in Finland and their responses to growth latitude and weather conditions were studied over an 8 year period by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas-chromatographic-mass-spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. Monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes were the major classes of volatiles. The cultivar 'Melalahti' presented lower contents of volatiles compared with 'Ola' and 'Mortti', which showed very similar compositions. Higher contents of volatiles were found in berries cultivated at the higher latitude (66° 34' N) than in those from the southern location (60° 23' N). Among the meteorological variables, radiation and temperature during the last month before harvest were negatively linked with the volatile content. Storage time had a negative impact on the amount of blackcurrant volatiles.

A novel virus with distinct genome features was discovered by high throughput sequencing in a symptomatic blackcurrant plant. The virus, tentatively named Ribes americanum virus A (RAVA), has distinct genome organization and molecular features bridging genera in the order Tymovirales. The genome consists of 7106 nucleotides excluding the poly(A) tail. Five open reading frames were identified, with the first encoding a putative viral replicase with methyl transferase (MTR), AlkB, helicase, and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains. The genome organization downstream of the replicase resembles that of members of the order Tymovirales with an unconventional triple gene block (TGB) movement protein arrangement with none of the other four putative proteins exhibiting significant homology to viral proteins. Phylogenetic analysis using replicase conserved motifs loosely placed RAVA within the Betaflexiviridae. Data strongly suggest that RAVA is a novel virus that should be classified as a species in a new genus in the Betaflexiviridae or a new family within the order Tymovirales.

Background Consumption of polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables may improve postprandial glucose and insulin levels and hence promote well-being. Previously it has been observed that consumption of bilberry decreases the postprandial insulin demand. The intention with the present study was to compare the impact of different supplements with various polyphenol profiles, on the postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy young adults. Methods In a randomized, controlled, crossover study the postprandial glycemic and insulin responses were observed in eleven healthy adults after intake of five different beverages containing bilberry (European blueberry), blackcurrant, beetroot, mango and rose hip, respectively; all drinks were enriched with the same composition of fermented oatmeal and probiotics. The control was a glucose drink. The profile and content of the polyphenols in the different beverages were determined by HPLC-DAD analysis. The antioxidative capacity of the different beverages were measured by TEAC and DPPH assays. Results Beverages containing bilberry, blackcurrant, mango or rose hip significantly attenuated the early postprandial insulin response (0–90 min), but showed no effect on glucose response. Drinks with bilberry or rose hip reduced the insulin response from the very early phase (0–30 min), and had significantly lower insulin index compared with the control. The efficiency of the bilberry and rose hip to decrease early postprandial insulin responses correlated with higher phenolic contents. Conclusions Supplements with bilberry, blackcurrant, mango or rose hip in the tested probiotic and oatmeal enriched beverage attenuated early-phase insulin response, but had no effect on the postprandial glycemic response. The improved ability of bilberry and rose hip to lower the very early phase of insulin response seems to be due to a higher phenolic content. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT03159065. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12937-018-0335-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recent studies have suggested that blackcurrant (BC) anthocyanins have promising health benefits, possibly through regulating gut microbiome. Three- and eighteen-month old female mice were fed standard mouse diets for 4 months, each with or without BC (1% w/w) supplementation (n = 3 in each treatment group, 12 in total). We then assessed gut microbiome profiles using 16S sequencing of their feces. Old mice had a less diverse microbiome community compared to young mice and there was a remarkable age-related difference in microbiome composition in the beta diversity analysis. BC supplementation did not significantly affect alpha or beta diversity. The relative abundance of several phyla, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes, was lower in old mice. BC downregulated Firmicutes abundance in young mice and upregulated Bacteroidetes in both age groups, leading to a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. There were age-specific differences in the effect of BC supplementation on the microbiome. Twenty-four operational taxonomic units showed a significant interaction between age and BC supplementation (p &lt, 0.01), which suggests that the ecosystem and the host health status affect the functions and efficiency of BC intake. These results indicate that BC supplementation favorably modulates gut microbiome, but there are distinct age-specific differences. Studies with human hosts are needed to better understand BC&rsquo, s regulatory effects on the gut microbiome.

Carbonyl stress is the major consequence for advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Polyphenols have been shown to inhibit the formation of AGEs. However, little is known about whether anthocyanins contribute to trapping methylglyoxal (MGO) and reducing carbonyl stress. Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) extract (BE) is known to have high content of anthocyanins. When an aliquot of 7.5 mg/mL BE sample was incubated with 2.9 mM MGO in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for an hour, 36.75% MGO decrease was observed. The BE extract sample was separated and purified by Sephadex LH-20 and reverse phase C18 column chromatography. Delphinidin-3-rutinoside (D3R) and cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R) were identified as major pigments in BE sample. Some 71.45 and 78.72% of D3R and C3R, respectively, remained when they were incubated alone in a phosphate buffer solution at 37 °C for 1 h, but only 2.48 and 1.83% of D3R and C3R, respectively, remained when individually incubated with MGO. D3R- and C3R-mono-MGO adducts were characterized by HPLC-MSn.

Background: Blackcurrant anthocyanin (BCA) is expected to repair endothelial dysfunction, but it remains unclear whether beneficial effects are present in young healthy persons. This study examines whether supplements containing blackcurrant anthocyanin improve endothelial function and peripheral temperature in young smokers. Methods: Young, healthy male nonsmokers (N group: n = 11, mean age 22 &plusmn, 2 years) and smokers (S group: n = 13, mean age 21 &plusmn, 1 years) were enrolled. A randomized and double-blind trial was designed to compare the effects of no supplement, a supplement containing 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanin (supplement A), and a supplement containing 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanin plus vitamin E (supplement B) on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and skin temperature. Results: Under no supplement, FMD was unchanged during the 2 h period after smoking in the N group, whereas it was decreased during the 2 h period after smoking in the S group. Under the A supplement, FMD was decreased 1 h after smoking and returned to the baseline level 2 h after smoking in the S group. The skin temperature in the area of the foot dorsum was decreased in the S group after smoking compared with that in the N group, who did not smoke, whereas under A and B supplements, it was higher in the S group compared with that in the N group. Conclusions: BCA could attenuate the smoking-induced acute endothelial dysfunction and improve peripheral temperature in young smokers.

fruit grown commercially in Lithuania, and is planted in a area of 2900 ha. The climate of Lithuania is suitable for blackcurrant production (Sasnauskas et al., 2012). Blackcurrant fruit is rich in many bioactive compounds. Buds and their essential oil extracts have become increasingly important (Dvaranauskaite et al., 2008; 2009). The main targets of Ribes breeding programmes are fruit yield and quality, resistance to pest and fungal diseases, suitability for processing and fresh market, and adaptability to local environmental conditions (Pluta and Zurawicz, 1993; Trajkovski et al., 2000; Brennan et al., 2008; Libek et al., 2008; Paprstein et al., 2012; Yareshchenko et al., 2012; Strautina et al., 2012). Since 1946, the breeding programme for blackcurrant has been carried out at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (IH-LRCAF). Seventeen new IH-LRCAF cultivars are included in the National List of Plant Varieties 2012 and recommended for commercial growing in Lithuania (Sasnauskas et al., 2012). There is still a strong need for new blackcurrant cultivars, because some European cultivars are not winter hardy enough and susceptible to fungal diseases, but they have good berry quality. On the other hand, investigations of new blackcurrant cultivars are important for cross-combinations.

We investigated the inhibitory effect of extracts of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) from New Zealand and Poland on 4 strains of influenza virus (IFV) by the inhibition of virus adsorption ; pandemic flu from 2009-2010 (IFV-AH1pdm), Hong Kong flu (IFV-AH3), oseltamivir phosphate- resistant Russian flu (IFV-AH1tam r ) and influenza virus type B (IFV-B). The inhibitory effect of the extracts of blackcurrant or blueberry on the infectivity of the virion were evaluated by the inhi- bition of virus adsorption on the cell surface (adsorption-inhibitory assay). Three percent solutions of the blackcurrant extracts from New Zealand and Poland were enough to disinfect more than half of IFV-AH1pdm and IFV-B, and 10 % solutions from both regions disinfected all IFV strains com- pletely. Our previous study showed that the antiviral effect of the blackcurrant differed according to viral species. Here we showed that although the antiviral effect of Blackcurrant was slightly dif- ferent within viral strains from one species, the extract of Blackcurrant could disinfect all of 4 IFV strains we examined. The extracts of blackcurrant showed definite potential for use as a disinfec- tant and antiseptic agent to prevent IFV infection.

This study presents the influence of major weather factors during the blackcurrant blossoming period on the yields of the ‘Ojebyn’, ‘Titania’ and ‘Roodknop’ cultivars, cultivated in Warmia (Olsztyn). The study was conducted for five years (2003-2007). Among the factors analysed were the currant yield, the duration of the blossoming period, average daily air temperature, the number of days with frost at the height of 2 m and at the ground level, total rainfall during the blossoming period and the number of days with rainfall during the blossoming period. The statistical analysis of particular weather factors has shown that the number of days with frost contributed significantly to the yield of the fruit. A linear correlation analysis has shown that the yield of the three examined cultivars of blackcurrant depended on variable weather conditions during the blossoming period. The yield of the ‘Ojebyn’ cultivar was significantly correlated with the duration of the blossoming period, the number of days with frost and the number of days with rainfall. A significant correlation in the ‘Titania’ cultivar was found with the number of days with frost and with the total amount of rainfall during the blossoming period. The fruit yield from the ‘Roodknop’ cultivar in the five-year period under study depended only on one variable: the duration of the blossoming period. The highest yield was obtained from the ‘Titania’ cultivar.

SummaryAn extract obtained from industrial blackcurrant pomace was purified and fractionated on an RP C18 column, resulting in three phenolics preparations of different composition. The phenolics in the preparations were quantified by HPLC, their anti-oxidant capacity was determined, and the preparations were subjected to HPLC-MS analysis in order to identify the bioactive compounds present. The purified preparations selected for study were an anthocyanin-rich preparation, a myricetin and quercetin glycosides-containing preparation, and an aglycon-containing preparation. All three preparations were characterised by having a high content of polyphenols. The anthocyanin-rich preparation was the most concentrated in polyphenols [> 50% (w/w)], followed by the aglycon-containing preparation [> 20% (w/w)], and finally the glycosides-containing preparation [> 9% (w/w)]. The preparations were also characterised by their high anti-oxidant capacity, which was > 3,100 µM TEAC g−1 (TEAC = Trolox Equivalent Anti-oxida...

It is usually thought that adequate winter chill is required for the full flowering of many temperate woody species. This paper investigates the sensitivity of blackcurrant bud burst and flowering to natural weather fluctuations in a temperate maritime climate, and compares a range of chill models that have been proposed for assessing the accumulation of winter chill. Bud break for four contrasting cultivars are compared in an exceptionally cold and in a mild winter in Eastern Scotland. The results confirm the importance of chilling at temperatures lower than 0ºC and demonstrate that no single chilling function applies equally to all blackcurrant cultivars. There is a pressing need for further model development to take into account the relationship between chilling temperatures and warming temperatures occurring both during and after the chill accumulation period.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of apple juice concentrate (AJC), blackcurrant concentrate (BCC) and pectin on the moisture content, water activity, color, texture and ascorbic acid content of apple-blackcurrant fruit leather using the response surface methodology. The results showed the moisture content increased with increasing pectin level and with greater increases at higher AJC and BCC levels while the water activity increased with increasing pectin level and with increasing AJC level, at low pectin levels, but with decreasing AJC, at high pectin levels. The chroma decreased with increasing pectin level and with lower values at the middle AJC level. The puncturing force decreased with increasing AJC level but with a lower value at the middle pectin level. Lastly, the ascorbic acid content increased with increasing BCC level regardless of AJC and pectin levels. There is a need to reduce the drying temperature or time of apple-blackcurrant fruit leather just enough to bring the water activity closer to 0.60, thereby increasing the moisture content resulting in higher product yield.

Modeling is widely used to predict radionuclide distribution following accidental radionuclide releases. Modeling is crucial in emergency response planning and risk communication, and understanding model uncertainty is important not only in conducting analysis consistent with current regulatory guidance, but also in gaining stakeholder and decision-maker trust in the process and confidence in the results. However, while methods for dealing with parameter uncertainty are fairly well developed, an adequate representation of uncertainties associated with models remains rare. This paper addresses uncertainty about a model's structure (i.e., the relevance of simplifying assumptions and mathematical equations) that is seldom addressed in practical applications of environmental modeling. The use of several alternative models to derive a range of model outputs or risks is probably the only available technique to assess consistency in model prediction. Since each independent model requires significant resources for development and calibration, multiple models are not generally applied to the same problem. This study uses results from one such model intercomparison conducted by the Fruits Working Group, which was created under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) BIOMASS (BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment) Program. Model-model intercomparisons presented in this study were conducted by the working group for two different scenarios (acute or continuous deposition), one radionuclide ((137)Cs), and three fruit-bearing crops (strawberries, apples, and blackcurrants). The differences between models were as great as five orders of magnitude for short-term predictions following acute radionuclide deposition. For long-term predictions and for the continuous deposition scenario, the differences between models were about two orders of magnitude. The difference between strawberry, apple, and blackcurrant contamination predicted by one model is far less than the difference in prediction of contamination for a single plant species given by different models. This study illustrates the importance of problem formulation and implementation of an analytic-deliberative process in risk characterization.

Total phenol (TP) and total anthocyanin (TA) contents as well as 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antiradical activity (AA) were monitored during storage of three industrial blackcurrant nectars and one blackcurrant-aronia mix at two temperatures (4 and 22C) for 10 days. Severe loss in the TP and TA contents and a substantial loss in the AA were observed in blackcurrant nectars stored at both temperatures. The thermal degradation of TP, TA and AA followed first-order reaction kinetics. The kinetic constants of anthocyanin degradation were higher at 22 C, while the constants for AA degradation were not significantly different at 22 C and 4 C.