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The aim of the study was to determine changes incurred by polyphenolic compounds from selected fruits in the lipid phase of the erythrocyte membrane, in liposomes formed of erythrocyte lipids and phosphatidylcholine liposomes. In particular, the effect of extracts from apple, chokeberry, and strawberry on the red blood cell morphology, on packing order in the lipid hydrophilic phase, on fluidity of the hydrophobic phase, as well as on the temperature of phase transition in DPPC liposomes was studied. In the erythrocyte population, the proportions of echinocytes increased due to incorporation of polyphenolic compounds. Fluorimetry with a laurdan probe indicated increased packing density in the hydrophilic phase of the membrane in presence of polyphenolic extracts, the highest effect being observed for the apple extract. Using the fluorescence probes DPH and TMA-DPH, no effect was noted inside the hydrophobic phase of the membrane, as the lipid bilayer fluidity was not modified. The polyphenolic extracts slightly lowered the phase transition temperature of phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The studies have shown that the phenolic compounds contained in the extracts incorporate into the outer region of the erythrocyte membrane, affecting its shape and lipid packing order, which is reflected in the increasing number of echinocytes. The compounds also penetrate the outer part of the external lipid layer of liposomes formed of natural and DPPC lipids, changing its packing order.

This study investigated the effects of a flash release versus traditional maceration expansion on the content of phenolic compounds (by LC–MS, UPLC–PDA), antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP), and other physical and chemical properties of wine from Pinot noir cultivar. The content of polyphenols in a must obtained by the flash release technology was higher than when using a traditional method. Flash release expansion improved the extraction of polyphenol compounds, especially anthocyanins, as well as color properties and antioxidant activity. However, during maturation and storage, the content of polyphenols significantly decreased, especially in the wine exposed to the flash release expansion. Despite lower total polyphenols content (1435 vs. 1686 mg/L in control), the final flash release wine contained more anthocyanins which resulted in approximately 2 times higher antioxidant activity. High correlation between antioxidant activity (r 2 = 0.84 and 0.79 for ABTS and FRAP assay, respectively) and the content of anthocyanins was determined in both types of examined wines. Changes in color were also observed in the must prepared by flash release versus traditional maceration. During fermentation, L* and a* parameters, the variables associated with more light and red color, increased, and during maturation, a rise in b* parameter, associated with yellow color, was observed.

Polyphenols are one of the most important dietary antioxidants, and the apples, being a major source of polyphenolic compounds. There is increasing evidence that the consumption of fruit and their preserves, which are rich sources of vitamins and phenolics, is negatively associated with lung cancer and coronary heart disease. The influence of ascorbic acid addition on the quality, polyphenolic profile and antioxidant capacity in 14 selected varieties of apple juices during the 3 years of study was examined. Evaluation of changes of ascorbic acid content allowed to demonstrate the differences in susceptibility of apples on the enzymatic oxidation. The study shows that the variations of the least susceptible to oxidation of ascorbic acid are ‘Shampion’ and ‘Topaz’, and to a lesser extent, ‘Szara Reneta’, ‘Arlet’ and ‘Jonafree’ apples. A total of 17 kinds of polyphenolic compounds including catechins, procyanidins, hydroxycinnamates, flavonols, anthocyanins and dihydrochalcones were identified in apple tissues by HPLC with DAD analysis and after phloroglucinolysis and LC–MS. During the 3 years of study, the addition of ascorbic acid positively affects on the polyphenol compounds and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), increasing their content in the analyzed samples by 65 and 433, 328 and 300 %, respectively. The correlation coefficient between DPPH, ABTS and FRAP antioxidant capacity and ascorbic acid was 0.71, 0.71 and 0.72, respectively.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of microwave power during the vacuum-microwave drying (VMD) on sour cherries in terms of drying kinetics, includ- ing the temperature profile of dried material, as well as on some quality factors of the finished product including phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and color. The content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and color change were used as quality indicators of dried sour cherries. Sour cherries were dehydrated by convective drying (CD) at tem- peratures of 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C and by VMD at the initial microwave power of 240 W, 360 W, and 480 W reduced to 240 W and 120 W in order to avoid a rapid increase in temperature at the critical moisture content of ca. 1 kg/kg dry mass. Control samples were prepared by freeze drying (FD). The increase in air temperature during CD as well as the increase in material temperature during VMD deteriorated dried product quality in terms of the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and color, which was consis- tent with anthocyanins content. However, VMD turned out to be much better than CD and competitive to FD. The best quality of the dried product and its more attractive color were achieved at VMD at 480 W followed by drying at microwave power reduced to 120 W, which corresponds to anthocyanins content. In addition, the drying process had a positive impact on contents of quercetin and keampferol derivatives. Dried sour cherries have a long shelf life and therefore may be a fine alternative to fresh fruit all year round.