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The primary processing method of coffee plays a crucial role in determining its flavor profile. In this study, roasted coffee beans were subjected to three primary processing methods, i.e., natural processing (SC), washed processing (WC), and honey processing (MC), that were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS metabolomics. Additionally, sensory evaluation was conducted by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) to assess coffee flavor characteristics. The results showed that 2642 non-volatile compounds and 176 volatile compounds were detected across the three primary processing methods. Furthermore, significant differentially changed non-volatile compounds (DCnVCs) and volatile compounds (DCVCs) were detected among SC/WC (137 non-volatile compounds; 32 volatile compounds), MC/SC (103 non-volatile compounds; 25 volatile compounds), and MC/WC (20 non-volatile compounds; 9 volatile compounds). Notable compounds, such as lichenin, 6-gingerdiol 5-acetate, 3-fluoro-2-hydroxyquinoline, and 4-(4-butyl-2,5-dioxo-3-methyl-3-phenyl-1-pyrrolidiny)benzenesulfonamide, were identified as important DCnVCs, while ethyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, 2,3-butanediol, maltol, and pentane-1,2,5-triol were identified as significant DCVCs in SC/WC. In MC/SC, 3-fluoro-2-hydroxyquinoline, etimicin, lichenin, and imazamox were important DCnVCs, whereas ethyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, 2-pyrrolidinone, furfuryl alcohol, and pentane-1,2,5-triol were import DCVCs. Lastly, MC/WC samples exhibited notable DCnVCS, such as (S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetonitrile O-[b-D-apiosyl-1->2]-b-D-glucoside], CMP-2-aminoethyphosphonate, talipexole, and neoconvallatoxoloside, along with DCVCS including citric acid, mannonic acid, gamma-lactone, 3-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)benzonitrile, and maltol. Therefore, the primary processing method was a useful influence factor for coffee compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an effective method to achieve stability and improve the quality of Tibetan tea has scientific significance. Aspergillus niger K1 isolated and identified from Tibetan tea was inoculated in unsterilized or sterilized tea leaves to develop the bioaugmented fermentation (BF) and normal fermentation (NF) processes of Tibetan tea. The results showed that BF resulted in infusions with a deeper color, a stronger aroma, and a thicker taste compared to NF. The dominant bacterium in BF was Staphylococcus (23.76%), while the dominant fungus was Blastobotrys adeninivorans (50.95%). Moreover, 859 metabolites were identified, and the level of 90 differentially changed metabolites (DCMs) in BF increased significantly (VIP > 1, p < 0.05, FC > 2) compared to those in NF, while the level of 37 DCMs in BF decreased significantly (VIP > 1, p < 0.05, FC < 0.5). Correlation analysis demonstrated that A. niger significantly positively correlated with theabrownins, caffeine, and glutamylisoleucine (p < 0.05, |r| > 0.8). B. adeninivorans showed significant negative correlations with 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-1,4-dihydronicotinamide and 2-hydroxyacetaminophen sulfate (p < 0.05, |r| > 0.8). Consequently, the inoculation of A. niger for BF has the potential to alter the metabolites in tea through a synergistic interaction with other microorganisms, ultimately improving the sensory quality of Tibetan tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To find the optimal main ingredient ratio of compound fruit wine for enriching the varieties of lycopene-enriched fruit products and improving their economic value, fuzzy mathematics sensory evaluation and the D-optimal mixture design were considered. Under the main ingredient ratios of tomato juice, papaya juice, carrot juice, and gac fruit juice of 27.2%, 27.5%, 10.0%, and 35.3%, respectively, a clear and transparent compound fruit wine with a full-bodied fruit and wine aroma and mellow taste can be obtained. Meanwhile, a total of 406 metabolites were identified in the compound fruit wine, which were classified into nine superclasses including lipids and lipid-like molecules (150), organic acids and derivatives (69), and others. The relative levels of 54 metabolites after optimization were decreased significantly (VIP > 1.0, p < 0.05, FC < 0.5), while the relative levels of 106 metabolites including lycopene and (13Z)-lycopene were increased significantly (VIP > 1.0, p < 0.05, FC > 2). Furthermore, the EC50 values of this compound fruit wine after optimization of the main ingredient ratio for scavenging ABTS+·, DPPH·, O2−·, and ·OH were 78.62%, 57.74%, 42.85%, and 59.91%, respectively. Together, a compound fruit wine rich in lycopene with antioxidant activities was manufactured, which has application potential in the development of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare chemical compositions, antioxidant activities, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of coffee flowers (ACF) and coffee leaves (ACL) with green coffee beans (ACGB) of Coffea Arabica L. The chemical compositions were determined by employing high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (HPLC–MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) techniques. Antioxidant effects of the components were evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities were also evaluated. The coffee sample extracts contained a total of 214 components identified by HPLC‐MS and belonged to 12 classes (such as nucleotides and amino acids and their derivatives, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, benzene, phenylpropanoids, and lipids.), where phenylpropanoids were the dominant component (>30%). The contents of flavonoids, alkaloids, saccharides, and carboxylic acid and its derivatives in ACF and ACL varied significantly (p <.05) compared to similar components in ACGB. Meanwhile, 30 differentially changed chemical compositions (variable importance in projection [VIP] > 1, p <.01 and fold change [FC] > 4, or <0.25), that determine the difference in characteristics, were confirmed in the three coffee samples. Furthermore, among 25 volatile chemical components identified by GC–MS, caffeine, n‐hexadecanoic acid, 2,2′‐methylenebis[6‐(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐4‐methyl‐phenol], and quinic acid were common in these samples with caffeine being the highest in percentage. In addition, ACL showed the significantly highest (p <.05) DPPH radical scavenging capacity with IC50 value of 0.491 ± 0.148 mg/ml, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity with inhibition ratio 25.18 ± 2.96%, whereas ACF showed the significantly highest (p <.05) ABTS radical scavenging activity with 36.413 ± 1.523 mmol trolox/g Ex. The results suggested that ACL and ACF had potential values as novel foods in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus amstelodami A1 isolated from Pu-erh tea was inoculated in sterilized or unsterilized sun-dried green tea leaves to develop pure culture fermentation and enhanced fermentation (EF) of Pu-erh tea. The results showed that the content of tea polyphenols and five catechins in tea decreased significantly, and the content of thearubigins and theabrownins increased significantly after pure culture fermentation. Compared with natural fermentation, the levels of soluble sugars and theabrownins in EF were significantly higher, whereas the levels of gallic acid, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin and caffeine were significantly lower; the scores of sensory evaluation including appearance, color of infusion, taste, aroma and infused leaves in EF were significantly higher; while the value of a* and b* of EF's tea infusion were higher and the value of L* was lower. A. amstelodami A1 didn't become the dominant fungi in EF, while the microbial communities in EF were different from those in NF. Therefore, the enhanced fermentation by inoculation of A. amstelodami A1 changed the chemical components of tea leaves through the synergistic effect with other microorganisms, therefore improving the sensory quality of Pu-erh tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to screen out the appropriate sterilization method for sun-dried green tea, six sterilization methods including irradiation sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, microwave sterilization, high-pressure steam sterilization, pasteurization and ozone sterilization were used to treat sun-dried green tea, then total viable counts, biochemical composition and sensory evaluation of sun-dried green tea after sterilization were determined. The results showed that microorganisms in tea leaves were sterilized fully by methods of high-pressure steam sterilization and irradiation sterilization, 7.5 kGy irradiation sterilization had the least effect on the biochemical compositions of tea, only the contents of soluble sugar, catechin, flagellin, rutin and luteolin changing significantly (P<0.05). Meanwhile, sensory evaluation also confirmed that 7.5 kGy irradiation sterilization had the least effect on sensory quality of sun-dried green tea. In conclusion, the best sterilization method of sun-dried green tea was 7.5 kGy irradiation sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric variceal bleeding is often more serious and can be fatal. Currently, international consensus recommendations for the treatment of gastric variceal bleeding vary according to endoscopic classification. Few studies have investigated ligation versus gastric variceal obturation (GVO) for the treatment of gastric varices., Methods: The study included 79 patients with cirrhosis-induced bleeding from esophageal and fundal varices who were treated at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2016 and December 2020 and who met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 42 patients were included in the intensive gastric varices ligation (IGVL) group, and 37 were included in the GVO group. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to analyze the effectiveness and safety of these 2 treatments., Results: The rebleeding rate after initial treatment was significantly lower in the IGVL group than in the GVO group (23.8% vs. 48.6%, P<0.05). No significant between-group difference was observed in overall mortality (14.3% vs. 32.4%), 6-week mortality (0.0% vs. 2.7%), or 1-year mortality (11.9% vs. 13.5%, all P>0.05). The >1-year mortality and bleeding-related mortality rates were significantly higher in the GVO group than in the IGVL group (23.3% vs. 2.7%, P<0.05; 27.0% vs. 9.5%, P<0.05). The incidence of adverse events was 57.1% in the IGVL group and 48.6% in the GVO group, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Independent predictors for rebleeding after initial treatment were the use of GVO as endoscopic treatment, total bilirubin >17.1 µmol/L, liver cancer, and diabetes. For mortality, the independent predictors were male sex, liver cancer, ascites, and rebleeding after initial treatment., Conclusions: Rebleeding after initial treatment was lower after IGVL than GVO. Independent predictors for rebleeding after initial treatment were endoscopic treatment method, total bilirubin >17.1 µmol/L, liver cancer, and diabetes. For mortality, the independent predictors were male sex, liver cancer, ascites, and rebleeding after initial treatment.