Search

Background: Orange juices are widely known for their organoleptic characteristics and potential health benefits derived from their nutritional and functional composition. Objectives: The aim of this work was to provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on the content of folates and some minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn) present in different fresh and commercial orange juices available in the European market, including juices from concentrate (FC) and not from concentrate (NFC). Methods: A total of twenty-five juice samples were selected, comprising the most purchased types of commercial juices from France, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and Spain, and four fresh squeezed juices (FSJ) made from Spanish oranges. In FSJ, nutrient stability during storage time (0–48 h) was also assessed. Results: Folate concentration was highly variable between commercial samples, with higher contents in FSJ and NFC samples, followed by FC juices. Regarding mineral content, FSJ showed significant differences with FC (except for Mg) and NFC juice samples (except for Ca and Mg), while FC and NFC had similar mineral profiles, except for Ca. Storage time had no significant impact on FSJ folates and minerals. Conclusions: Among commercial juices, the NFC category generally showed the highest content of folates, K, Mg, and Fe, whereas FC juices showed the highest contents of Ca, Mn, and Zn. Some commercial juices met the legal use conditions for a "Source of folate" claim, whereas both commercial and fresh juices met the conditions for a "Source of potassium" claim, according to European and UK regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory diseases are strongly associated with global morbidity and mortality. Several mediators are involved in this process, including proinflammatory interleukins and cytokines produced by damaged tissues that, somehow, act as initiators of the autoreactive immune response. Bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods and byproducts have been largely considered active agents with the potential to treat or prevent inflammatory diseases, being a valuable alternative to traditional therapeutic agents used nowadays, which present several side effects. In this regard, the present research uncovers the anti-inflammatory activity of the bioaccessible fraction of broccoli stalks processed, by applying different conditions that render specific concentrations of bioactive sulforaphane (SFN). The raw materials' extracts exhibited significantly different contents of total glucosinolates (GSLs) that ranged between 3993.29 and 12,296.48 mg/kg dry weight (dw), with glucoraphanin as the most abundant one, followed by GI and GE. The indolic GSLs were represented by hydroxy-glucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, methoxy-glucobrassicin, and neo-glucobrassicin, with the two latter as the most abundant. Additionally, SFN and indole-3-carbinol were found in lower concentrations than the corresponding GSL precursors in the raw materials. When exploring the bioaccessibility of these organosulfur compounds, the GSL of all matrices remained at levels lower than the limit of detection, while SFN was the only breakdown product that remained stable and at quantifiable concentrations. The highest concentration of bioaccessible SFN was provided by the high-ITC materials (~4.00 mg/kg dw). The results retrieved on the cytotoxicity of the referred extracts evidenced that the range of supplementation of growth media tested (0.002–430.400 µg of organosulfur compounds/mL) did not display cytotoxic effects on Caco-2 cells. The obtained extracts were assessed based on their capacity to reduce the production of key proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, and TNF-α) by the intestinal epithelium. Most of the tested processing conditions provided plant material with significant anti-inflammatory activity and the absence of cytotoxic effects. These data confirm that SFN from broccoli stalks, processed to optimize the bioaccessible concentration of SFN, may be potential therapeutic leads to treat or prevent human intestinal inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uncovered the impacts of microwave (MW) treatments compared to conventional pasteurization (TP) on the quality of functional citrus–maqui beverages, with added sucrose or stevia. The influence of these thermal treatments on the microbiological burden and phytochemical composition was determined by processing under two MW power levels (600 W and 800 W) and TP at 85 °C for 15 s for 60 days at room temperature (20 °C). The results indicated that, beyond the microbiological quality achieved in the juices treated by both MW and TP technology, there were no differences among the treatments regarding the stability of vitamin C, anthocyanin, and flavanone concentrations. However, anthocyanins were more stable in those beverages with sucrose added, rendering a better red color. Besides, all treatments ensured microbiological stability throughout the entire storage time. In conclusion, MW treatment could be considered as an alternative to TP, which ensures microbial safety, protecting functional compounds associated with health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disease that includes metabolic and physiological alterations in various organs such as the heart, pancreas, liver, and brain. Reports indicate that blackberry consumption, such as maqui berry, has a beneficial effect on chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. In the present study, in vivo and in silico studies have been performed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms implied to improve the metabolic parameters of MetS. Fourteen-day administration of maqui berry reduces weight gain, blood fasting glucose, total blood cholesterol, triacylglycerides, insulin resistance, and blood pressure impairment in the diet-induced MetS model in male and female rats. In addition, in the serum of male and female rats, the administration of maqui berry (MB) improved the concentration of MDA, the activity of SOD, and the formation of carbonyls in the group subjected to the diet-induced MetS model. In silico studies revealed that delphinidin and its glycosylated derivatives could be ligands of some metabolic targets such as α-glucosidase, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ, which are related to MetS parameters. The experimental results obtained in the study suggest that even at low systemic concentrations, anthocyanin glycosides and aglycones could simultaneously act on different targets related to MetS. Therefore, these molecules could be used as coadjuvants in pharmacological interventions or as templates for designing new multitarget molecules to manage patients with MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is the development of a new fermented beverage ('kombucha'-like), enriched with broccoli by-products as an ingredient, a source of organosulfur compounds, which could be biotransformed into more bioaccessible, bioavailable, and bioactive metabolites. The new beverages have shown variations in the physicochemical (pH, 3.6–6.3; acidity, 0.65–1.39 g/L; °Brix, 4.63–8.20). Moreover, the phytochemical characterization has demonstrated different degrees of metabolization of the glucosinolates, leached during the infusion of the plant material into isothiocyanates (sulforaphane in concentrations up to 31.39 µg/100 mL) and its metabolic derivatives (sulforaphane-N-acetylcysteine in concentrations up to 5.37 µg/100 mL). Therefore, these results demonstrate that the increase in the concentration of the bioactive compounds concentration would provide higher bioavailability and health benefits. This is especially relevant with regard to anti-inflammatory activity. Reporting additional proof of enhanced biological benefits will boost the development of new functional beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic diseases have been related to the overdrinking of high-sugar content beverages. As a result, the demand for alternative formulations based on plant-based ingredients with health-promoting properties has increased during the last few years. Nonetheless, the design and production of effective formulations requires understanding the bioavailability of these compounds. For this purpose, a two-month longitudinal trial with 140 volunteers was conducted to measure the beneficial effects of a maqui–citrus beverage, rich in (poly)phenols. From data obtained by quantifying metabolites present in urine samples, biostatistical and machine learning (data imputation, feature selection, and clustering) methods were applied to assess whether a volunteer's sex and the sweetener added to the beverage (sucrose, sucralose, or stevia) affected the bioavailability of (poly)phenol metabolites. Several metabolites have been described as being differentially influenced: 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and naringenin with its derivatives were positively influenced by stevia and men, while eriodictyol sulfate and homoeridictyol glucunoride concentrations were enhanced with stevia and women. By examining groups of volunteers created by clustering analysis, patterns in metabolites' bioavailability distribution as a function of sex and/or sweeteners (or even due to an uncontrolled factor) were also discovered. These results underline the potential of stevia as a (poly)phenol bioavailability enhancer. Furthermore, they also evidence sex affects the bioavailability of (poly)phenols, pointing at a sex-dependent metabolic pathway regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amino acid tryptophan and its derived molecules serotonin and melatonin are involved in a wide range of physiological functions that contribute significantly to human health, namely antioxidant, immune-active, and neurological properties. Grapes and wine are a source of these compounds, but their presence in wine by-products remains underexplored. Therefore, the aim of this work was the identification and quantification of tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin in winery by-products (grape stems, grape pomace, and wine lees) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and mass spectrometer with triple-quadrupole technology (UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS), as well as the evaluation of the extracts obtained (by applying specific extraction conditions for each of them) for their antioxidant and reducing capacity (by three different and complementary methods: FRAP, ABTS•+, and ORAC). Furthermore, correlation analyses were developed to establish the contribution of the different analytes to the total antioxidant activity. The main results obtained pointed out grape stems as the by-product with the highest tryptophan content (96.28 mg/kg dw) and antioxidant capacity (142.86, 166.72, and 363.24 mmol TE/kg dw, FRAP, ABTS•+, and ORAC, respectively), while serotonin and melatonin were the predominant derivatives in grape pomace (0.086 and 0.902 µg/kg dw, respectively). The antioxidant capacity of the standards was also analysed at the concentrations found in the matrices studied. A significant correlation was found between the concentration of the pure tryptophan standard and the antioxidant capacity (ABTS•+, r2 = 0.891 at p < 0.001 (***); FRAP, r2 = 0.885 at p < 0.01 (**); and ORAC, r2 = 0.854 at p < 0.01 (**)). According to these results, winery by-products can be highlighted as valuable materials to be used as novel ingredients containing tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin, while tryptophan was identified as the most relevant contributor (out of phenolic compounds) to the antioxidant capacity exhibited by wine by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, most of the evidence on the clinical benefits of including cruciferous foods in the diet has been focused on the content of glucosinolates (GSL) and their corresponding isothiocyanates (ITC), and mercapturic acid pathway metabolites, based on their capacity to modulate clinical, biochemical, and molecular parameters. The present systematic review summarizes findings of human studies regarding the metabolism and bioavailability of GSL and ITC, providing a comprehensive analysis that will help guide future research studies and facilitate the consultation of the latest advances in this booming and less profusely researched area of GSL for food and health. The literature search was carried out in Scopus, PubMed and the Web of Science, under the criteria of including publications centered on human subjects and the use of Brassicaceae foods in different formulations (including extracts, beverages, and tablets), as significant sources of bioactive compounds, in different types of subjects, and against certain diseases. Twenty-eight human intervention studies met inclusion criteria, which were classified into three groups depending on the dietary source. This review summarizes recent studies that provided interesting contributions, but also uncovered the many potential venues for future research on the benefits of consuming cruciferous foods in our health and well-being. The research will continue to support the inclusion of GSL-rich foods and products for multiple preventive and active programs in nutrition and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The by-products of grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) in the winemaking process present a diverse phytochemical profile of (poly)phenols, essentially represented by phenolic acids, flavonoids, and stilbenes, which have health benefits. In winemaking, solid (grape stems and pomace) and semisolid (wine lees) by-products are generated, negatively impacting the sustainability of the agro-food activity and the local environment. Although information on the phytochemical profile of grape stems and pomace has been reported, especially information concerning (poly)phenols, research on wine lees is necessary to take advantage of the compositional traits of this residue. So, in the present work, an updated, in-depth comparison of the (poly)phenolic profiles of these three resulting matrices in the agro-food industry has been carried out to provide new knowledge and interesting data on the action of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) metabolism in the diversification of phenolic composition; additionally, we extract complementarities for the possible joint application of the three residues. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts was carried out using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn. The (poly)phenolic profiles of the residues showed significant discrepancies. The results obtained showed that the greatest diversity of (poly)phenols was found in the stems of the grapes, followed closely by the lees. Through technological insights, it has been suggested that yeasts and LAB, responsible for the fermentation of must, might play a key role in the transformation of phenolic compounds. This would provide new molecules with specific bioavailability and bioactivity features, which might interact with different molecular targets and, consequently, improve the biological potential of these underexploited residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut broccoli is a highly demanded product due to its convenience and high content of bioactive compounds. Unfortunately, this product shows rapid senescence and anoxia generation problems, especially when storage temperature varies. Therefore, perforation-mediated modified atmosphere packaging (PM-MAP) of broccoli florets, in different temperature scenarios, was studied. Polypropylene films with different levels of laser perforation were evaluated. After packaging, florets were stored at two temperatures: 2 °C, and 2 °C + 7 °C (during 2 d before sampling). PM-MAP slightly modified the internal composition of O2 (14–20 kPa) and CO2 (0.9–5 kPa) and allowed us to preserve the external quality and bioactive compounds of broccoli florets throughout 21 d, even at 7 °C. The generation of anoxia was avoided at both temperatures. PM-MAP kept broccoli mass loss below 0.5% and preserved its sensory quality. The perforation level affected evolution of firmness and glucosinolate content, especially with increasing temperature. Broccolis packaged in the film with fewer perforations showed higher firmness (0.73 ± 0.09 N/mm) and total glucosinolate content (10 ± 0.3 mg/g) compared to broccolis packaged in films with higher perforations (0.59 ± 0.05 N/mm and 8.60 ± 0.2 mg/g). Therefore, the perforation level should be taken into account in the design of packaging for fresh-cut products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyses the effect of a beverage composed of citrus and maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) with different sweeteners on male and female consumers. Beverages were designed and tested (140 volunteers) as a source of polyphenols, in a previous work. Plasma samples were taken before and after two months of daily intake. Samples were measured for bioactive-compound levels with metabolomics techniques, and the resulting data were analysed with advanced versions of ANOVA and clustering analysis, to describe the effects of sex and sweetener factors on bioactive compounds. To improve the results, machine learning techniques were applied to perform feature selection and data imputation. The results reflect a series of compounds which are more regulated for men, such as caffeic acid or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and for women, trans ferulic acid (TFA) or naringenin glucuronide. Regulations are also observed with sweeteners, such as TFA with stevia in women, or vanillic acid with sucrose in men. These results show that there is a differential regulation of these two families of polyphenols by sex, and that this is influenced by sweeteners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, new formulations of beverages with low sugar and high bioactive compound contents are being demanded because of their association with metabolic health. However, the sweeteners' influences on the bioactive compounds remain underexplored. In this sense, this work aims to evaluate the interactions between different bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, vitamin C, and sweeteners (sucrose, stevia, and sucralose) in a functional citrus–maqui beverage. For this purpose, the phytochemical behavior was studied, in model system solutions, during one-month storage at 4 °C. The results obtained corroborated previous descriptions of the interactions between these compounds. However, when studying the bioactives in the model solutions, the loss of flavanones in the citrus solution increased up to 29%, while anthocyanin losses decreased to 27%. The vitamin C losses ranged from 100% (beverage) to 46% (ascorbic acid solution). Regardless, an influence of the sweeteners was observed. Sucrose reduced the anthocyanin and flavanone losses in both model solutions and the beverage, while sucralose increased flavanone loss. Finally, all sweeteners increased vitamin C degradation (up to 75%) when compared to the model solution. In conclusion, sweeteners added to beverages should be taken into account, depending on the bioactive compounds that should be preserved during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) stalks account for up to 35% of the broccoli harvest remains with the concomitant generation of unused waste that needs recovery to contribute to the sustainability of the system. However, due to its phytochemical composition, rich in bioactive (poly)phenols and glucosinolates, as well as other nutrients, the development of valorization alternatives as a source of functional ingredients must be considered. In this situation, the present work aims to develop/obtain a new ingredient rich in bioactive compounds from broccoli, stabilizing them and reducing their degradation to further guarantee a high bioaccessibility, which has also been studied. The phytochemical profile of lyophilized and thermally treated (low-temperature and descending gradient temperature treatments), together with the digested materials (simulated static in vitro digestion) were analysed by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn and UHPLC-3Q-MS/MS. Broccoli stalks and co-products were featured by containing phenolic compounds (mainly hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and glycosylated flavonols) and glucosinolates. The highest content of organosulfur compounds corresponding to the cores of the broccoli stalks treated by applying a drying descendant temperature gradient (aliphatic 18.05 g/kg dw and indolic 1.61 g/kg dw, on average, while the breakdown products were more abundant in the bark ongoing low temperature drying 11.29 g/kg dw, on average). On the other hand, for phenolics, feruloylquinic, and sinapoylquinic acid derivatives of complete broccoli stalk and bark, were more abundant when applying low-temperature drying (14.48 and 28.22 g/kg dw, on average, respectively), while higher concentrations were found in the core treated with decreasing temperature gradients (9.99 and 26.26 g/kg dw, on average, respectively). When analysing the bioaccessibility of these compounds, it was found that low-temperature stabilization of the core samples provided the material with the highest content of bioactives including antioxidant phenolics (13.6 and 33.9 g/kg dw of feruloylquinic and sinapoylquinic acids, on average, respectively) and sulforaphane (4.1 g/kg dw, on average). These processing options enabled us to obtain a new product or ingredient rich in bioactive and bioaccessible compounds based on broccoli stalks with the potential for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that the aqueous extract of pomegranate (AE-PG) has polyphenols with estrogenic-like activities. The present work determines if AE-PG alone or in combination with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, has antidepressant-like effects. It was also analyzed the participation of estrogen receptors (ER). AE-PG (0.1, 1.0, 10, or 100 mg/kg) was evaluated in ovariectomized female Wistar rats subjected to the forced swimming test. The effects induced by AE-PG were compared with those of citalopram (2.5, 5.0, 10, and 20.0 mg/kg) and 17β-estradiol (E2; 2.5 5.0, and 10 μg/rat). Likewise, the combination of suboptimal doses of AE-PG (0.1 mg/kg) plus citalopram (2.5 mg/kg) was evaluated. To determine if ER participates in the antidepressant-like action of pomegranate, the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen (15 mg/kg) was administered with AE-PG (1 mg/kg). AE-PG produced antidepressant-like actions with a similar behavioral profile induced by citalopram and E2. Suboptimal doses of citalopram plus AE-PG produced antidepressant-like effects. Tamoxifen was able to block AE-PG's antidepressant-like actions. These results confirm the participation of ER in AE-PG's antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, the additive effects observed with the combined treatment of AE-PG plus citalopram could be advantageous in the treatment of depressive disorders, such as menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study the absorption, metabolism and potential health benefits of plant bioactives derived from radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus cv. Rambo), a Brassicaceae species rich in glucosinolates and other phytochemicals. Flies were subjected to a diet supplemented with lyophilized radish sprouts (10.6 g/L) for 10 days, containing high amounts of glucoraphenin and glucoraphasatin, which can be hydrolyzed by myrosinase to the isothiocyanates sulforaphene and raphasatin, respectively. We demonstrate that Drosophila melanogaster takes up and metabolizes isothiocyanates from radish sprouts through the detection of the metabolite sulforaphane-cysteine in fly homogenates. Moreover, we report a decrease in the glucose content of flies, an upregulation of spargel expression, the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian PPARγ-coactivator 1 α, as well as the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. Overall, we show that the consumption of radish sprouts affects energy metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster which is reflected by lower glucose levels and an increased expression of spargel, a central player in mitochondrial biogenesis. These processes are often affected in chronic diseases associated with aging, including type II diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elicitation is a good strategy to induce physiological changes and stimulate defense or stress-induced responses in plants. The elicitor treatments trigger the synthesis of phytochemical compounds in fruits, vegetables and herbs. These metabolites have been widely investigated as bioactive compounds responsible of plant cell adaptation to the environment, specific organoleptic properties of foods, and protective effects in human cells against oxidative processes in the development of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Biotic (biological origin), abiotic (chemical or physical origin) elicitors and phytohormones have been applied alone or in combinations, in hydroponic solutions or sprays, and in different selected time points of the plant growth or during post-harvest. Understanding how plant tissues and their specific secondary metabolic pathways respond to specific treatments with elicitors would be the basis for designing protocols to enhance the production of secondary metabolites, in order to produce quality and healthy fresh foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive identification of phenolic compounds in food and beverages is a crucial starting point for assessing their biological, nutritional, and technological properties. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been described as a rich source of (poly)phenolic components, with a broad array of different structures (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins) and a quick, high throughput, and accurate screening of its complete profile is still lacking. In the present work, a method for UHPLC separation and linear ion trap mass spectrometric (MSn) characterization of pomegranate juice phenolic fraction was optimized by comparing several different analytical conditions. The best solutions for phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ellagitannins have been delineated and more than 70 compounds have been identified and fully characterized in less than one hour total analysis time. Twenty-one compounds were tentatively detected for the first time in pomegranate juice. The proposed fingerprinting approach could be easily translated to other plant derived food extracts and beverages containing a wide array of phytochemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays it is accepted that natural flavonoids present in fruits and plant-derived-foods are relevant, not only for technological reasons and organoleptic properties, but also because of their potential health-promoting effects, as suggested by the available experimental and epidemiological evidence. The beneficial biological effects of these food bioactives may be driven by two of their characteristic properties: their affinity for proteins and their antioxidant activity. Over the last 15 years, numerous publications have demonstrated that besides their in vitro antioxidant capacity, certain phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, catechins, proanthocyanidins, and other non coloured flavonoids, may regulate different signaling pathways involved in cell survival, growth and differentiation. In this review we will update the knowledge on the cardiovascular effects of anthocyanins, catechins and proanthocyanidins, as implied by the in vitro and clinical studies on these compounds. We also review the available information on the structure, distribution and bioavailability of flavanols (monomeric catechins and proanthocyanidins) and anthocyanins, data necessary in order to understand their role in reducing risk factors and preventing cardiovascular health problems through different aspects of their bioefficacy on vascular parameters (platelet agregation, atherosclerosis, blood pressure, antioxidant status, inflammation-related markers, etc.), myocardial conditions, and whole-body metabolism (serum biochemistry, lipid profile), highlighting the need for better-designed clinical studies to improve the current knowledge on the potential health benefits of these flavonoids to cardiovascular and metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calafate is a berry rich in anthocyanins that presents higher content of polyphenols than other fruits. Its compounds have been described previously, however, the potential thereof in preventing and treating degenerative disorders has not yet been studied. Due to its astringency, the consumption of this berry in its natural state is limited. To profit from the aforementioned properties and reduce palatability issues, calafate berry extracts were microencapsulated by spray drying, a rapid, cost-effective and scalable process, and were then compared with freeze drying as a control. The stability of its contents and its in-vitro potential, with respect to AChE activity and neuroprotection, were measured from the obtained microcapsules, resulting from temperature treatments and different encapsulant contents. The results indicated that the spray-dried powders were stable, despite high temperatures, and their encapsulation exhibited nearly 50% efficiency. The highest quantity of polyphenols and 3-O-glycosylated anthocyanins was obtained from encapsulation with 20% maltodextrin, at 120 °C. Temperature did not affect the microcapsules' biological action, as demonstrated by their antioxidant activities. The prevention of Aβ peptide cytotoxicity in PC12 cells (20%) revealed that encapsulated calafate can confer neuroprotection. We conclude that spray-drying is an appropriate technique for scaling-up and producing new value-added calafate formulations with anti-neurodegenerative effects and vivid colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruciferous sprouts are rising in popularity as a hallmark of healthy diets, partially because of their phytochemical composition, characterized by the presence of flavonols and cinnamates. However, to shed light on their biological activity, the ability to assimilate (poly)phenols from sprouts (bioaccessible fraction) during gastrointestinal digestion needs to be studied. In this frame, the present work studies the effect of the physicochemical and enzymatic characteristics of gastrointestinal digestion on flavonols and cinnamoyl derivatives, by a simulated static in vitro model, on different cruciferous (red radish, red cabbage, broccoli, and white mustard) sprouts. The results indicate that, although the initial concentrations of phenolic acids in red radish (64.25 mg/g fresh weight (fw)) are lower than in the other sprouts studied, their bioaccessibility after digestion is higher (90.40 mg/g fw), followed by red cabbage (72.52 mg/g fw), white mustard (58.72 mg/g fw), and broccoli (35.59 mg/g fw). These results indicate that the bioaccessibility of (poly)phenols is not exclusively associated with the initial concentration in the raw material, but that the physico-chemical properties of the food matrix, the presence of other additional molecules, and the specific characteristics of digestion are relevant factors in their assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruciferous vegetables are gaining importance as nutritious and sustainable foods, rich in phytochemical compounds such as glucosinolates (GSLs). However, the breakdown products of these sulfur-based compounds, mainly represented by isothiocyanates (ITC) and indoles, can contribute to human health. In the human digestive system, the formation of these compounds continues to varying extents in the different stages of digestion, due to the contact of GSLs with different gastric fluids and enzymes under the physicochemical conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to uncover the effect of gastrointestinal digestion on the release of glucosinolates and their transformation into their bioactive counterparts by applying a simulated in vitro static model on a range of brassica (red radish, red cabbage, broccoli, and mustard) sprouts. In this sense, significantly higher bioaccessibility of ITC and indoles from GSLs of red cabbage sprouts was observed in comparison with broccoli, red radish, and mustard sprouts, due to the aliphatic GSLs proportion present in the different sprouts. This indicates that the bioaccessibility of GSLs from Brasicaceae sprouts is not exclusively associated with the initial content of these compounds in the plant material (almost negligible), but also with the release of GSLs and the ongoing breakdown reactions during the gastric and intestinal phases of digestion, respectively. Additionally, aliphatic GSLs provided higher bioaccessibility of their corresponding ITC in comparison to indolic and aromatic GSLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) compared to thermal pasteurization (TP) were studied in healthy citrus-maqui beverages. The impact of the processing technologies on the microbiological and phytochemical profile was assessed by applying two HHP treatments at 450 and 600 MPa for 180 s and TP at 85 °C for 15 s. The shelf life under refrigeration (4 °C) and room temperature (20 °C) was monitored for 90 days. All treatments ensured microbiological stability at both storage temperatures. Aside from that, the physicochemical parameters were not significantly different after processing or throughout the storage period. Regarding color parameters, an increase in the reddish coloration was observed during storage for those beverages treated by HHP. In general, phenolic compounds were little affected by the processing technique, even when treatment under HHP was more stable than by TP during storage. On the other hand, vitamin C showed great degradation after processing under any condition. It can be concluded that HHP is an effective alternative to thermal treatments, achieving effective microbial inactivation and extending the shelf life of the juices by contributing to a better preservation of color and bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although physiologically pain has a protective function, in many diseases, it is one of the most prominent symptoms. Today, new trends are focused on finding more natural alternatives to conventional treatments to alleviate it. Thereby, the purpose of this investigation was to obtain preclinical data of the antinociceptive properties of a lyophilized obtained from a newly designed maqui–citrus beverage alone and added with different sweeteners. To achieve this objective, maqui berry and citrus pharmacological activity were studied separately, as well as the interaction of both ingredients. In addition, due to the controversy generated regarding the intake of sugars, related to different metabolic diseases, the influence of different sweeteners (stevia, sucralose, or sucrose) was studied to determine their possible influence on the bioactive compounds of this product. For the attainment of our goals, a pharmacological evaluation, using the 1% formalin test, a nociceptive pain model in mice, was performed by using a sub-efficacious dosage of Maqui (25 mg/kg, i.p.) alone and combined with citrus, and then compared with the effects obtained in the presence of the different sweeteners. As a result, the antinociceptive response of the maqui was synergized in the presence of citrus in the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test. However, this response was partially or totally reduced in the presence of the sweeteners. Our study gives preclinical evidence that a combination of maqui and citrus might exert beneficial actions to relieve pain, whereas the presence of sweeteners could reduce or avoid it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intake of sugar-sweetened beverages has been associated with an augmented prevalence of metabolic diseases, namely, obesity, type II diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, nowadays, it is broadly accepted that foods and beverages rich in (poly)phenols could contribute to reducing the incidence of these pathologies. In this sense, the objective of the work was to revalue second quality citrus fruits for the development of new beverages, rich in anthocyanins and flavanones (maqui berry and second qualities citrus-based), and evaluate the influence of alternative sweeteners (sucralose, sucrose, or stevia), regarding the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of these bioactive compounds in the frame of a chronic (longitudinal) intervention. To fulfill this objective, a longitudinal study of the urinary excretion of anthocyanins and flavanones, after 2-months of ingestion of the developed maqui-citrus beverage, by 138 volunteers (n = 46 per beverage) and the analysis of the resulting phenolic metabolites by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS) was carried out. As major results, the bioavailable metabolites of caffeic acid (CA), catechol (CAT), 3,4-di-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (DHPAA), eriodictyol (E), homoeriodictyol (HE), hippuric acid (HA), naringenin (N), trans-ferulic acid (TFA), 2,4,6-tri-hydroxybenzaldehyde (THBA), trans-isoferulic acid (TIFA), and vanillic acid (VA) were detected. Accordingly, significantly different bioavailability was dependent on the sweetener used, allowing proposing stevia and, to a lower extent, sucralose, as valuable alternatives to sucrose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) is a wild bush plant widely distributed in the south of Argentina and Chile. Their blue colored fruits present particular flavor and health benefits attributed to high polyphenol contents biosynthesized by the plant under stress. Studies about correlation of abiotic conditions with anthocyanin profiles and physicochemical features of calafate beneath wild origin environment are not described yet. Hence, this research aimed to evaluate the physicochemical changes, antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content of calafate fruit in relationship to UV solar radiation (W.m−2) and air temperature (°C) environment condition during three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019). Variations in fruit anthocyanins were determined by comparison between high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD-ESI)/MSn and CIEL*a*b* colors parameters. Correlations were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). Radiation was negatively correlated with fruit size and weight. Physicochemical aspects such as pH, soluble solids, color, total anthocyanins, flavanols and other phenolic compounds were positively correlated with temperature changes. The quantities of monomeric anthocyanins were dependent on both low temperature and global radiation (reaching 20.01 mg g−1 FW in calafate fruit). These results constitute a valuable resource to understand the structural and physiological plasticity of calafate in facing climate changes for future domestication research as well as for agri-food industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a gap between the theoretical bioactivity of (poly)phenols and their real influence in health, once ingested. Due to this, new studies, including in vitro and in vivo models that allow for exploring bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity, need to be developed to understand the actual importance of consuming functional foods, rich in these plant secondary metabolites. Moreover, current new strategies need to be developed to enhance the content of these foods, as well as setting up new formulations rich in bioaccessible and bioavailable compounds. Altogether, it could give a new horizon in therapy, expanding the use of these natural functional compounds, ingredients, and foods in the clinical frame, reducing the use of synthetic drugs. As a result, the joint contribution of multidisciplinary experts from the food science, health, and nutrition areas, together with the industrial sector, would help to reach these objectives. Taking this into account, diverse studies have been included in this study, which comprises different strategies to approach these objectives from different, complementary, points of view, ranging from the enrichment of by-products in bioactive compounds, through different agricultural techniques, to the assimilation of these compounds by the human body, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as by clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been related with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other pathophysiological situations, such as obesity or diabetes mellitus. Given the increasing awareness on this fact, food industries are developing new products to reduce the amount of added sugar in development of food products development. Accordingly, in the present work, new functional beverages, constituting a dietary source of bioactive phenolics and supplemented with stevia or sucrose, were designed in order to study the influence of the sweetener during processing and shelf-life. This study is of critical for the informed selection of the sweetener based on its effect on the final phytochemical profile of beverages, especially taking into consideration that there are no previous studies on Stevia rebaudiana. Physicochemical features and phytochemical composition, as well as stability of the different beverages concerning these parameters, were evaluated for 90 days during storage under different conditions (refrigeration (4 °C) and room temperature (25 °C) under light or darkness conditions). Physicochemical parameters (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, and color) did not display statistically significant differences between beverages. Storage temperature was the greatest determinant affecting the stability of all the analyzed bioactive compounds (vitamin C, anthocyanins, and flavanones). The main difference between sweeteners was observed in flavanones, which exhibited a higher loss during storage under day light conditions when stevia was added instead of sucrose. In addition, the juices' colors were rather stable, keeping a reddish coloration and natural appearance throughout the shelf life. Hence, stevia could be considered as an alternative sweetener by the beverage industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar intake abuse is directly related with the increase of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance. Along this line, the development of new beverages using alternative sweeteners could help with combatting the pathophysiological disorders associated to the consumption of sugar. To provide evidence on this issue, in the present work, the bioavailability of anthocyanins was evaluated after the acute ingestion of a new maqui-citrus-based functional beverage rich in polyphenols, and supplemented with a range of sweeteners including sucrose (natural high caloric), stevia (natural non-caloric), and sucralose (artificial non-caloric), as an approach that would allow reducing the intake of sugars while providing bioactive phenolic compounds (anthocyanins). This approach allowed the evaluation of the maximum absorption and the diversity of metabolites excreted through urine. The beverages created were ingested by volunteers (n = 20) and the resulting anthocyanin metabolites in their urine were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 29 degradation metabolites were detected: Caffeic acid, catechol, 3,4-dihidroxifenilacetic acid, hippuric acid, trans-ferulic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde, trans-isoferulic acid, and vanillic acid derivatives, where peak concentrations were attained at 3.5 h after beverage intake. Sucralose was the sweetener that provided a higher bioavailability for most compounds, followed by stevia. Sucrose did not provide a remarkably higher bioavailability of any compounds in comparison with sucralose or stevia. The results propose two sweetener alternatives (sucralose and stevia) to sucrose, an overused high calorie sweetener that promotes some metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary sugar has been largely related to the onset of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, among others. The growing awareness on the close relationship between the dietary habits and this health disturbance has encouraged the development of new beverages using alternative sweeteners that could contribute to combat the above referred pathophysiological disorders. To gain further insight into this issue, the present work, upon an acute dietary intervention, evaluated the urinary excretion of flavanones ingested through polyphenols-rich beverages composed of maqui berry and citrus, with the aim of establishing the highest urinary excretion rate and metabolite profiles. The functional beverages evaluated were supplemented with a range of sweeteners including sucrose (natural and high caloric), stevia (natural and non-caloric), and sucralose (artificial and non-caloric) as an approach that would allow reducing the intake of sugars and provide bioactive phenolics (flavanones). The juices developed were ingested by volunteers (n = 20) and the resulting flavanones and their phase II metabolites in urine were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A total of 16 metabolites were detected: eriodyctiol, naringenin, and homoeriodyctiol derivatives, where peak concentrations were attained 3.5 h after beverage intake. Sucralose and stevia were the sweeteners that provided the highest urinary excretion for most compounds. Sucrose did not provide a remarkable higher elimination through urine of any compounds in comparison with sucralose or stevia. These results propose two alternative sweeteners to sucrose (sucralose and stevia), an overused, high caloric sweetener that promotes some metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica vegetables are of great interest due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, being responsible for the glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydroxylated derivatives, the isothiocyanates (ITC). Nevertheless, these compounds are quite unstable when these vegetables are cooked. In order to study this fact, the influence of several common domestic cooking practices on the degradation of GLS and ITC in two novel Brassica spp.: broccolini (Brassica oleracea var italica Group x alboglabra Group) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.) was determined. On one hand, results showed that both varieties were rich in health-promoter compounds, broccolini being a good source of glucoraphanin and sulforaphane (≈79 and 2.5 mg 100 g−1 fresh weight (F.W.), respectively), and kale rich in glucoiberin and iberin (≈12 and 0.8 mg 100 g−1 F.W., respectively). On the other hand, regarding cooking treatments, stir-frying and steaming were suitable techniques to preserve GLS and ITC (≥50% of the uncooked samples), while boiling was deleterious for the retention of these bioactive compounds (20–40% of the uncooked samples). Accordingly, the appropriate cooking method should be considered an important factor to preserve the health-promoting effects in these trending Brassica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) methodology was developed for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) contents in liquid and solid vegetable samples. The advantages of this method are speed, high sensitivity and practical application. In accordance with these advantages, the present method allows the simultaneous determination of AA and DHAA without previous reduction/derivatization of DHAA and without the use of internal standards in the samples. This is of high interest in routine analysis, providing a simpler sample preparation, as well as enhanced accuracy and robustness. Its validation included selectivity, sensitivity and linearity, precision and accuracy, matrix effect, and recovery. The results showed high selectivity and sensitivity, with calibration curves ranging from 10 to 500 ng mL−1 and from 50 to 500 ng mL−1 for AA and DHAA, respectively. Appropriate dilutions for each sample are necessary to avoid the matrix effect with accepted recoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible sprouts with germinating seeds of a few days of age are naturally rich in nutrients and other bioactive compounds. Among them, the cruciferous (Brassicaceae) sprouts stand out due to their high contents of glucosinolates (GLSs) and phenolic compounds. In order to obtain sprouts enriched in these phytochemicals, elicitation is being increasing used as a sustainable practice. Besides, the evidence regarding the bioavailability and the biological activity of these compounds after their dietary intake has also attracted growing interest in recent years, supporting the intake of the natural food instead of enriched ingredients or extracts. Also, there is a growing interest regarding their uses, consumption, and applications for health and wellbeing, in different industrial sectors. In this context, the present review aims to compile and update the available knowledge on the fundamental aspects of production, enrichment in composition, and the benefits upon consumption of diverse edible cruciferous sprouts, which are sources of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates, as well as the evidence on their biological actions in diverse pathophysiological situations and the molecular pathways involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is a field of research that has been stressed as a very valuable approach for the prevention and treatment of different human health disorders. This has been stressed as a delivery system for the therapeutic fight against an array of pathophysiological situations. Actually, industry has applied this technology in the search for new oral delivery alternatives obtained upon the modification of the solubility properties of bioactive compounds. Significant works have been made in the last years for testing the input that nanomaterials and nanoparticles provide for an array of pathophysiological situations. In this frame, this review addresses general questions concerning the extent to which nanoparticles offer alternatives that improve therapeutic value, while avoid toxicity, by releasing bioactive compounds specifically to target tissues affected by specific chemical and pathophysiological settings. In this regard, to date, the contribution of nanoparticles to protect encapsulated bioactive compounds from degradation as a result of gastrointestinal digestion and cellular metabolism, to enable their release in a controlled manner, enhancing biodistribution of bioactive compounds, and to allow them to target those tissues affected by biological disturbances has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive identification of phenolic compounds in food and beverages is a crucial starting point for assessing their biological, nutritional, and technological properties. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been described as a rich source of (poly)phenolic components, with a broad array of different structures (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins) and a quick, high throughput, and accurate screening of its complete profile is still lacking. In the present work, a method for UHPLC separation and linear ion trap mass spectrometric (MSn) characterization of pomegranate juice phenolic fraction was optimized by comparing several different analytical conditions. The best solutions for phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ellagitannins have been delineated and more than 70 compounds have been identified and fully characterized in less than one hour total analysis time. Twenty-one compounds were tentatively detected for the first time in pomegranate juice. The proposed fingerprinting approach could be easily translated to other plant derived food extracts and beverages containing a wide array of phytochemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]