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Using stress elicitors in fruits and vegetables is considered a good strategy to increase the content of bioactive compounds in plant foods. However, bioactive compounds can affect the sensory characteristics of food products, and little is known about their shelf-life stability in fresh produce treated with elicitors. In the present work, carotenoids and polyphenols were quantified by spectrophotometric methods in red and green butterhead lettuce treated with elicitors that had previously been demonstrated to increase bioactive compounds: arachidonic acid (AA), methyl jasmonate (MJ), and Harpin protein (HP). The bioactive compounds were determined immediately and during three weeks after harvest. A descriptive sensory analysis was carried out, which included odor, taste, tactile, and visual attributes of control and elicitor-treated lettuce. Carotenoids showed greater shelf-life stability than polyphenols, and both were more stable in red than in green lettuce during the first two weeks of storage. The best elicitor was MJ, which increased phenolic compounds (red and green lettuce), anthocyanins, and carotenoids (red lettuce) through the storage period. Color intensity, crispness, wettability, and bitter taste were some of the primary sensory attributes in butterhead lettuce and were not affected by any treatment. Other organoleptic properties were also not affected by the elicitors. These results suggest that elicitation could improve the content of bioactive compounds, which is stable through the shelf-life of butterhead lettuce, without any adverse effect on the sensory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of bioactive compounds in agro-industrial by-products of plant origin lies in their direct impacts on human health. These compounds have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, contributing to disease prevention and strengthening the immune system. In particular, the antimicrobial action of these compounds emerges as an important tool in food preservation, providing natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives and contributing to combating antimicrobial resistance. Using agro-industrial by-products of plant origin not only addresses the need to reduce waste and promote sustainability but also inaugurates a new era in the formulation of functional foods. From fruit peels to pulps and seeds, these by-products are emerging as essential ingredients in the creation of products that can promote health. Continued research in this area will unveil new applications and properties of these by-products and open doors to a food paradigm in which health and sustainability converge, paving the way to a healthier and more equitable future. The present review presents an overview of our knowledge of agro-industrial by-products and some of their more relevant health-promoting bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guava and mamey are phenolic- and carotenoid-rich fruits with potential health benefits, but are minimally used as ingredients in functional beverages. The objectives of the present work are to optimize the content of guava and mamey pulps and a stevia solution in the formulation of a functional beverage with high content of bioactive compounds and sensory acceptability using a mixture design analysis, and to analyze its composition after in vitro digestion. The optimized formulation (17.77 and 19.23 g of guava and mamey pulps, respectively; 1% stevia solution) yielded a beverage with 418.21 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 mL and 0.20 mg β-carotene/100 mL, and an antioxidant capacity of 213.58, 78.90 and 234.03 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/100 mL using three methodologies. The mathematical model developed was significant (p < 0.05), according to R2 values between 0.70 and 0.75. α- and β-carotene were quantified during the oral phase of in vitro digestion. Gallic, p-coumaric, ferulic and chlorogenic acids were also identified. The beverage had a general acceptability of 6.72. We conclude that the mathematical model developed was a good predictor of the experimental data and that the optimized beverage contained high bioactive concentrations (phenolics and carotenoids) and was well-accepted by potential consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their nutritional and sensorial characteristics, tropical fruits like guava, mamey sapote, and passion fruit are regularly incorporated into daily diets. Their by-products, especially peels, are approximately 10 to 35% of their weight and possess an important content of bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber and phenolics. The nutritional, technological, physio-functional properties and phenolic compound compositions of guava, mamey sapote, and passion fruit peels were studied. Peels had promising techno- and physio-functional characteristics, good dietary fiber contents (45.18-61.42 g/100 g), and phenolic profiles with ferulic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric, and catechin as the main compounds. Peel powders also showed excellent DPPH radical scavenging activity (125.3-252.4 µmol TE/100 g) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, TEAC (369.2-656.8 µmol TE/100 g). The a-amylase and lipase inhibitory activity varied from 28.15 to 51.4% and 30.89 to 57.15%, respectively. Higher values of a-glucosidase inhibition capacity were found, ranging from 51.64 to 70.32%. The chemical composition and properties reported in the present work suggest that peel powders of these guava, mamey sapote, and passion fruit could be used as constituents in different foods, such as bakery and meat goods, with beneficial health effects like control of hyperglycemia, improved intestinal function, and control of overweight; however, more studies are necessary for animal models and humans to confirm these bioactivities conclusively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical composition, techno-functional properties and in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of papaya, pineapple and mango peels for their possible use as functional ingredients. The peel powders were found to possess interesting techno-functional properties, high dietary fiber content (37.77 to 62.26%) and phenolic compounds, namely gallic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acid, catechin, quercetin-3-β-d-glucoside and quercetin. They also showed excellent antioxidant activity, as determined by ABTS (3.63 to 29.8 µM TE/g), DPPH (5.76 to 35.3 µM TE/g), NO. (60.67 to 86.35%) and O2 – (17.56 to 50.64%). Mango peel powders presented the best ability to inhibit the activity of the different enzymes evaluated: modest α-amylase inhibition (51.40%), stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (70.32%), and moderate antiglycation potential (57.15%). Peel powders of these tropical fruits make them suitable to be used as food ingredients with possible health benefits, improving intestinal function and controlling hyperglycemia. Further studies require animal models and, subsequently, in humans. This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical composition, techno-functional properties and in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of papaya, pineapple and mango peels for their possible use as functional ingredients. The peel powders were found to possess interesting techno-functional properties, high dietary fiber content (37.77 to 62.26%) and phenolic compounds, namely gallic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acid, catechin, quercetin-3-β-d-glucoside and quercetin. They also showed excellent antioxidant activity, as determined by ABTS (3.63 to 29.8 µM TE/g), DPPH (5.76 to 35.3 µM TE/g), NO. (60.67 to 86.35%) and O2 – (17.56 to 50.64%). Mango peel powders presented the best ability to inhibit the activity of the different enzymes evaluated: modest α-amylase inhibition (51.40%), stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (70.32%), and moderate antiglycation potential (57.15%). Peel powders of these tropical fruits make them suitable to be used as food ingredients with possible health benefits, improving intestinal function and controlling hyperglycemia. Further studies require animal models and, subsequently, in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella can form biofilms that contribute to its resistance in food processing environments. Biofilms are a dense population of cells that adhere to the surface, creating a matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) consisting mainly of polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA. Remarkably, the secreted substances, including cellulose, curli, and colanic acid, act as protective barriers for Salmonella and contribute to its resistance and persistence when exposed to disinfectants. Conventional treatments are mostly ineffective in controlling this problem; therefore, exploring anti-biofilm molecules that minimize and eradicate Salmonella biofilms is required. The evidence indicated that terpenes effectively reduce biofilms and affect their three-dimensional structure due to the decrease in the content of EPS. Specifically, in the case of Salmonella, cellulose is an essential component in their biofilms, and its control could be through the inhibition of glycosyltransferase, the enzyme that synthesizes this polymer. The inhibition of polymeric substances secreted by Salmonella during biofilm development could be considered a target to reduce its resistance to disinfectants, and terpenes can be regarded as inhibitors of this process. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these compounds against Salmonella enzymes that produce extracellular polymeric substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of ultrasound treatment (UT) on a beverage from mango pulp and carrot juice with added turmeric powder on total soluble phenolic content (TSP), total carotenoid content (TC) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) was evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to obtain the optimal formulation of the beverage. The AOC was assigned as a response variable in addition to TSP and TC. Mathematical modeling showed that the formulation with 35% (v/v) of mango pulp, 10% (v/v) of carrot juice, and 0.7% (w/v) of turmeric powder, yielded the highest values of TSP, TC, and AOC. The beverages were subjected to different ultrasound conditions with varying exposure times (ET), sonication amplitudes (SA), and pulse cycles (PC) to obtain the highest values for response variables. Statistical modeling showed that a UT at 21 min ET, 100% SA, and 0.7 s PC, increased TSP, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) by 15.5%, 45.1%, and 15.9%, respectively. Seven phenolic acids, three curcuminoids, five flavonoids, and a xanthonoid were identified in the beverages. The quantities of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acids, (+)-catechin, quercetin, kaempferol, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, and mangiferin were higher in the UT beverage compared to the control, suggesting their release from cell-wall structures as a result of UT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]