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Biodegradable films made from biopolymer materials have the potential to replace conventional plastics, which can reduce waste disposal problems. This study aims to explore the potential of different seaweed derivate films consisting of 2% (w/w) of kappaphycus alverezi (KA), kappa carrageenan (KC), refined carrageenan (RC) and semi-refined carrageenan (SRC) as bio-based materials with 0.9% (w/w) glycerol (G), and reinforced with different concentrations of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) derived from palm waste. A characterization of the glycerol-plasticized seaweed derivatives containing 0, 5, 10, and 15% (v/w) cellulose nanofiber is carried out. The CNFs were studied based on their mechanical, physical and thermal properties including mechanical properties, thickness, moisture content, opacity, water solubility, water vapor permeability and thermal stability. The hydrogen bonding was determined using the DFT calculation generated by Gauss view software version 9.6. The KA + G + 10%CNF film exhibited a surface with slight cracks, roughness, and larger lumps and dents, resulting in inferior mechanical properties (18.50 Mpa), making it unsuitable for biofilm production. The KC + G + 10%CNF film exhibited mechanical properties 24.97 Mpa and water vapor permeability of 1.42311 × 10−11 g s−1 m−1 Pa−1. The RC/G/10%CNF film displayed the highest TS (48.23 MPa) and water vapor permeability (1.4168 × 10−11 g s−1 m−1 Pa−1), but it also had higher solubility in water (66%). In contrast, the SRC + G + 10%CNF film demonstrated excellent mechanical properties (45.98 MPa), low water solubility (42.59%), low water vapor permeability (1.3719 × 10−11 g s−1 m−1 Pa−1), and a high decomposition temperature (250.62 °C) compared to KA, KC and RC. These attributes develop films suitable for various applications, including food packaging with enhanced properties and stability.

Semirefined carrageenan (SRC) plasticized with glycerol (G) and incorporated with antioxidants of 0.4% (v/v) of α-tocopherol and Persicaria minor (PM) extract was successfully developed. The objective of this study is to analyze the antioxidant effect of active packaging films from semirefined carrageenan incorporated with α-tocopherol and Persicaria minor on meat patties. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of α-tocopherol and PM extract were measured. The effects of α-tocopherol and PM extract incorporated with SRC-based films on meat patties were evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay, metmyoglobin assay, and pH value for 14 days of storage. The films with 0.4% (v/v) of α-tocopherol and PM extract exhibited a lower lipid oxidation in meat patties compared with that of control (SRC film only, p < 0.05). Also, a brown color development of the meat patties of less than 50% was observed at the end of the 14-day storage. Meanwhile, the pH values for all samples decreased throughout the storage period with the SRC+G+α-tocopherol film showed the highest pH value. Hence, the formulation of SRC film with α-tocopherol or PM extract could be used as an alternative packaging for extending the shelf life of food product with high fat content.

The traditional ways in the extraction of bioactive compounds using conventional methods are disadvantageous from both economic and environmental perspectives. In this, the potential of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation conditions for extraction of phytosterol from legume pods was investigated. Salkowski test performed on the legume pod has shown the reddish brown in all sample which confirmed the presence of phytosterol qualitatively. Liebermann-Burchard procedure and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) apparatus were used to study the concentration of phytosterol at different extraction parameters which are temperature (25–80 °C), solvent concentration (50–100% v/v), irradiation time (1–10 min) and microwave power (400–800 W). The optimal conditions for highest yield of extract (0.219 mg/L) were obtained at a microwave power of 600 W, the irradiation time of 6 min, and ethanol concentration of 75% v/v. Results obtained in this study have shown the capability of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation in the extraction of phytosterol from legume pod. Further works are nevertheless required to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved to facilitate the development of an optimum system applicable to the industry.

Context: Betula pendula Roth (Betulaceae) exhibits many pharmacological activities in humans including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. However, the antioxidant activity of BP towards lipid degradation has not been fully determined. Objective: The BP ethanol and methanol extracts were evaluated to determine antioxidant activity by an in vitro method and lyophilized extract of BP was added to beef patties to study oxidative stability. Materials and methods: Antioxidant activities of extracts of BP were determined by measuring scavenging radical activity against methoxy radical generated by Fenton reaction 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (TEAC) radical cation, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The lipid deterioration in beef patties containing 0.1% and 0.3% (w/w) of lyophilized extract of BP stored in 80:20 (v/v) O2:CO2 modified atmosphere (MAP) at 4 °C for 10 days was determined using thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), % metmyoglobin and colour value. Results: The BP methanol extract revealed the presence of catechin, myricetin, quercetin, naringenin, and p-coumaric acid. The BP ethanol (50% w/w) extract showed scavenging activity in TEAC, ORAC and FRAP assays with values of 1.45, 2.81, 1.52 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g DW, respectively. Reductions in lipid oxidation were found in samples treated with lyophilized BP extract (0.1% and 0.3% w/w) as manifested by the changes of colour and metmyoglobin concentration. A preliminary study film with BP showed retard degradation of lipid in muscle food. Conclusion: The present results indicated that the BP extracts can be used as natural food antioxidants.

Artemisia annua is currently the only commercial source of the sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin. Although artemisinin is a major bioactive component present in this Chinese herb, leaf flavonoids have shown a variety of biological activities. The polyphenolic profile of extract from leaves of A. annua was assessed as a source of natural antioxidants. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were established and three assays were used to measure the antioxidant capacity of the plant extract. The measurement of scavenging capacity against the 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were 314.99 µM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g DW, 736.26 µM TE/g DW and 212.18 µM TE/g DW, respectively. A. annua extracts also showed good antioxidant properties in 10% sunflower oil-in-water emulsions during prolonged storage (45 days) at 32 °C. Artemisia extract at 2 g/L was as effective as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) at 0.02 g/L in slowing down the formation of hydroperoxides as measured by peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The results of this study indicate that extract of A. annua may be suitable for use in the food matrix as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants.

Calcium alginate spheres with a volume of about 5 mL can be used for important purposes. Those that incorporate oolong tea give, in addition to the recreational aspect, the possibility of drinking small quantities of this tea, because oolong tea can be used as a compound with antioxidant properties. This incorporation can be achieved by reverse spherification (5 mL). Six types of spheres have been made, all of them with calcium alginate and the presence or absence of agar-agar and xanthan gum—XG—in two concentrations. The weight loss of the spheres, the release of bioactive compounds over time (a total of 48 h), the surface (internal and external) of the membranes, and the physical characteristics of these membranes have been analyzed. The data obtained indicate that the presence of XG prevents the formation of precipitates inside the spheres and slows down weight loss. It also provides opacity to the spheres. However, the incorporation of agar-agar does not have a significant influence on the different parameters analyzed. The release of catechins reaches a maximum of 80% of what could be achieved under ideal conditions, and it reaches 90% in the first 3 h. The incorporation of XG increases the shelf life of the spheres, slows down the release of chelate, and decreases weight loss over time, allowing for a new perspective on the spherification process.

Myrtus communis L. is a species of the Myrtaceae family that is found in the Mediterranean region, and it is traditionally recognized for its importance and different uses. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of M. communis L. leaf extract (MCLE), which was incorporated directly into alginate spheres and films, on preserving oil-in-water emulsions from oxidation. For this purpose, the solvent extraction (with ethanol at 40, 60, and 80%) of the antioxidant compounds was optimized (total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and total flavonoid content (TFC)) along with the scavenging activity. The best condition for the extraction corresponded with 60% ethanol (MCLE60), with a TPC of ~66.06 g GAE/L and a TFC of ~18.91 g QE/L, which was selected for use in the following assays. MCLE60 showed a considerable radical scavenging activity (24.85 mmol TE/L in FRAP, 28.75 mmol TE/L in DPPH, 30.61 mmol TE/L in ABTS, and 14.94 mmol TE/L in ORAC), which was probably due to its content in the phenolic compounds arbutin (122.08 mg/L), epicatechin (73.89 mg/L), sinapic acid (51.85 mg/L), and gallic acid (36.72 mg/L). The oil-in-water emulsions with the MCLE60 spheres showed the best oxidative stability (TBARS ~2.64 mg MDA/kg of emulsion, PV ~35.7 meq hydroperoxides/kg of emulsion) in comparison to the control. The film was also able to protect the emulsion from oxidation for more than a week at 30 °C (TBARS ~1.9 mg MDA/kg of emulsion). The alginate films with MCLE60 presented an important release of phenolic compounds in water and acetic food simulants, while in both ethanol simulants, the release of TPC remained more stable over time. Thus, this study highlights the potential uses of MCLE as a natural ingredient for emulsion oxidative preservation and the production of alginate delivery systems (spheres and films).

The administration of a single dose of chitosan nanoparticles driving the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1a (SREBP1a) was recently associated with the enhanced conversion of carbohydrates into lipids. To address the effects of the long-lasting expression of SREBP1a on the growth and liver intermediary metabolism of carnivorous fish, chitosan-tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles complexed with a plasmid expressing the N terminal active domain of hamster SREBP1a (pSG5-SREBP1a) were injected intraperitoneally every 4 weeks (three doses in total) to gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed high-protein–low-carbohydrate and low-protein–high-carbohydrate diets. Following 70 days of treatment, chitosan-TPP-pSG5-SREBP1a nanoparticles led to the sustained upregulation of SREBP1a in the liver of S. aurata. Independently of the diet, SREBP1a overexpression significantly increased their weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio but decreased their feed conversion ratio. In agreement with an improved conversion of dietary carbohydrates into lipids, SREBP1a expression increased serum triglycerides and cholesterol as well as hepatic glucose oxidation via glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, while not affecting gluconeogenesis and transamination. Our findings support that the periodical administration of chitosan-TPP-DNA nanoparticles to overexpress SREBP1a in the liver enhanced the growth performance of S. aurata through a mechanism that enabled protein sparing by enhancing dietary carbohydrate metabolisation.

The interest in natural sources with high antioxidant powder has recently increased in several sectors. Ionic gelation methods could be used to protect bioactive substances to control the kinetics and release of these ingredients to the food matrix. This study dealt with the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. (HSL) (with 50% ethanol) encapsulated in calcium alginate spheres as a new source for preserving food against oxidative damage. Their antioxidant activity was measured in different o/w emulsions in which HSL spheres reduced the formation of hydroperoxides (~80%) and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance products (~20%). The scavenging activity of HSL extracts was measured in different food simulants (water, water acidified with 3% acetic acid, ethanol at 50%, and pure ethanol), and corresponded to 0.20–0.43, 0.31–0.62, and 11.13–23.82 mmol Trolox/mL extract for Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. In general, the best antiradical activity was observed in the ethanolic and acidified mediums, in which the highest concentration of released polyphenols ranged from 0.068 to 0.079 mg GAE/mL. This work indicates the potential of alginate spheres for encapsulating antioxidant compounds as an innovative strategy for several industrial applications.

The present study aims to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds of Azadirachta indica leaf extract using HPLC-MS and to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial (against different Gram-positive and negative bacteria) and in vitro anti-proliferative activities of this extract (against breast, human liver and cervix adenocarcinoma-derived cells). The application of this extract as a natural antioxidant for food preservation was also tested on oil-in-water food emulsions for the first time in the present work in order to determine the use of Azadirachta indica leaves as a natural additive to preserve the food against lipid oxidation and rancidity. The results obtained revealed that 50%-aqueous ethanol leaf extract showed the best extraction yield (25.14%), which was characterized by a high content in phenolic compounds and strong antioxidant activity. Moreover, this leaf extract inhibited the growth of the bacterial strains tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi and Micrococcus luteus) and showed better anti-proliferative activity against breast and cervix adenocarcinoma-derived cells than human liver cancer cells after 48 h of treatment. Additionally, Azadirachta indica leaf extract showed almost similar effects as gallic acid solutions (0.25% and 0.5%) in preserving the oxidation of oil-in-water food emulsions and prevented the formation of secondary oxidation products (malondialdehyde) as well. The results obtained suggested that extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves are a potential source of antioxidant and antibacterial compounds and pointed to the potential of these natural extracts as therapeutic agents.

In the current work, the leaf and flower extracts of Anthyllis vulneraria were evaluated for their chemical characterization using HPLC-MS and for their radical scavenging capacity toward methoxy radicals produced by a Fenton-type reaction using an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy assay. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these extracts against several human-derived cancer cells (breast: MCF-7; cervical: HeLa; hepatocellular: HepG2) was also evaluated. The results showed that the Anthyllis vulneraria leaf extract was characterized by 17 different phenolic compounds, among which phenolic acids were the most abundant, while its flower extract exhibited higher contents of flavonoids. Furthermore, Anthyllis vulneraria extracts demonstrated a potent radical scavenging activity against methoxy radicals. Both extracts also significantly reduced the viability of the different cancer cell lines. The results of the current study suggested that Anthyllis vulneraria extracts are a promising source of antioxidant compounds with health benefits and pointed to their potential use for treating cancer and developing novel therapeutic agents.

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) and brewer’s spent hops (BSH) are the major solid by-products of the brewing industry. The present work evaluated their potential as an alternative source of natural antioxidants. The efficacy of different solvents (MilliQ water, 0.75% NaOH, 50% MeOH, 50% MeOH + 0.3% HCl and 50% Acetone) for extracting polyphenols of these by-products was firstly evaluated, with NaOH showing the best results. The extraction conditions were optimized using the response surface methodology, and were determined to be 1.45% NaOH and 80 °C. BSG extracts showed the highest total polyphenol content (24.84–38.83 µmol GAE/g), whereas the BSH showed the lowest value (24.84 ± 1.55 µmol GAE/g). In general, BSG extracts presented significantly higher antioxidant capacity (ABTS, ORAC). Ferulic acid was the main polyphenol in all BSG extracts (156.55–290.88 mg/100 g), whereas in BSH, this compound was not detected. The addition of 10% BSG extract in o/w emulsions (stored 14 days) showed a reduction in the formation of primary oxidation products of 97%. In the emulsions covered with polylactic acid active films (1% BSG), this reduction corresponded to 35%. Hence, this study demonstrates the potential of these by-products as natural antioxidant sources for protecting food systems against oxidation.

The high phenolic compound content of grapes makes them an important source of natural antioxidants, among other beneficial health properties. Vineyard irrigation might affect berry composition and quality. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is a widely used strategy to reduce the possible negative impact of irrigation on grapes, improving grape composition and resulting in water savings. Monastrell grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in eastern Spain were subjected to two water regime strategies: rainfed (non-irrigation) and RDI. The content of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes was determined by HPLC and was related with total phenolic content and three antioxidant activity methods (ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC). The study aimed to evaluate and compare the phenolic composition and antioxidant potential of Monastrell grapes. The rainfed regime concentrated grapes in terms of phenolic compounds. Thus, total content of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, hydroxybenzoic acids, and total phenols were higher in the rainfed grapes than in the RDI ones. Besides, the rainfed grapes doubled their antioxidant potential with respect to the RDI grapes with the ORAC method. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity by ORAC assay positively correlated with most of the total phenolic compounds analyzed. This study demonstrates how field practices can modulate final grape composition in relation to their antioxidant activity.

Abstract Background The impact of nutritional status and diet composition on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in fish remains largely unknown. To identify biomarkers of interest in nutritional studies, herein we obtained a deep-coverage transcriptome by 454 pyrosequencing of liver and skeletal muscle cDNA normalised libraries from long-term starved gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and fish fed different diets. Results After clean-up of high-throughput deep sequencing reads, 699,991 and 555,031 high-quality reads allowed de novo assembly of liver and skeletal muscle sequences, respectively (average length: 374 and 441 bp; total megabases: 262 and 245 Mbp). An additional incremental assembly was completed by integrating data from both tissues (hybrid assembly). Assembly of hybrid, liver and skeletal muscle transcriptomes yielded, respectively, 19,530, 11,545 and 10,599 isotigs (average length: 1330, 1208 and 1390 bp, respectively) that were grouped into 15,954, 10,033 and 9189 isogroups. Following annotation, hybrid transcriptomic data were used to construct an oligonucleotide microarray to analyse nutritional regulation of the expression of 129 genes involved in OXPHOS in S. aurata. Starvation upregulated cytochrome c oxidase components and other key OXPHOS genes in the liver, which exhibited higher sensitive to food deprivation than the skeletal muscle. However, diet composition affected OXPHOS in the skeletal muscle to a greater extent than in the liver: most of genes upregulated under starvation presented higher expression among fish fed a high carbohydrate/low protein diet. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the expression of coenzyme Q-binding protein (COQ10), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6A2 (COX6A2) and ADP/ATP translocase 3 (SLC25A6) in the liver, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 5B isoform 1 (COX5B1) in the liver and the skeletal muscle, are sensitive markers of the nutritional condition that may be relevant to assess the effect of changes in the feeding regime and diet composition on fish farming.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of pecan shell (PSW), combined with roselle flower (RS) and red pepper (CA) were analyzed in beef patties by several methods during chilled storage for 13 days. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of PSW, RS and CA extracts were determined. The PSW extract exhibited a higher radical scavenging activity (by the DPPH method) and more total phenolic compounds than RS and CA. RS presented the best antimicrobial capacity. Nine formulations of beef patties were prepared, including a control (CM), a synthetic preservative (CAMPA N.3 (A)) and different combinations of PSW, RS and CA. The bacterial counts of the beef patties with RS (4–5 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g meat) were significantly lower than those of the control sample (CM) (6–7 CFU/g meat) at day 6. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) values at day 7 of all treatments were similar to the values of samples containing the synthetic antioxidant and significantly lower than the CM group. The order of stability assessed by the TBARS values were in agreement with the hexanal content. Thus, these results support the hypothesis that the combination of PWS, RS and CA could represent a good natural food preservative.

Phenolic compounds that come from natural products are a good option for minimizing lipid oxidation. It should be noted that these are not only introduced directly into the food, but also incorporated into edible biofilms. In contact with food, they extend its useful life by avoiding contact with other surface and preventing deterioration air, one of the main objectives. In particular, gelatin is a biopolymer that has a great potential due to its abundance, low cost and good film-forming capacity. The aim of this study has been to design and analyse gelatin films that incorporate bioactive compounds that come from the walnut and a by-product, the walnut shell. The results showed that mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the developed films varied depending on the concentration of the walnut, shell and synthetic antioxidant. With increasing walnut concentration (15%) the permeability to water vapor (0.414 g·mm/m2·day·Pascal, g·mm/m2·day·Pa) was significantly lower than the control (5.0368 g·mm/m2·day·Pa). Furthermore, in the new films the elongation at the break and Young’s modulus decrease by six times with respect to the control. Films with pure gelatin cannot act as an antioxidant shield to prevent food oxidation, but adding pecan walnut (15% concentration) presents 30% inhibition of the DPPH stable radical. Furthermore, in the DSC, the addition of walnut (15 and 9% concentrations), showed the formation of big crystals; which could improve the thermal stability of gelatin films. The use of new gelatin films has shown good protection against the oxidation of beef patties, increasing the useful lifetime up to nine days, compared to the control (3–4 days), which opens up a big field to the commercialization of meat products with lower quantities of synthetic products.

Chitosan is increasingly used for safe nucleic acid delivery in gene therapy studies, due to well-known properties such as bioadhesion, low toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Furthermore, chitosan derivatization can be easily performed to improve the solubility and stability of chitosan–nucleic acid polyplexes, and enhance efficient target cell drug delivery, cell uptake, intracellular endosomal escape, unpacking and nuclear import of expression plasmids. As in other fields, chitosan is a promising drug delivery vector with great potential for the fish farming industry. This review highlights state-of-the-art assays using chitosan-based methodologies for delivering nucleic acids into cells, and focuses attention on recent advances in chitosan-mediated gene delivery for fish biotechnology applications. The efficiency of chitosan for gene therapy studies in fish biotechnology is discussed in fields such as fish vaccination against bacterial and viral infection, control of gonadal development and gene overexpression and silencing for overcoming metabolic limitations, such as dependence on protein-rich diets and the low glucose tolerance of farmed fish. Finally, challenges and perspectives on the future developments of chitosan-based gene delivery in fish are also discussed.

The eff ect of dried pods of Caesalpinia spinosa, known as tara, on pH, cooking loss, lipid oxidation, colour stability and texture of model meat systems stored at 4 °C for 21 days was investigated. Tara pod powder showing a potential antioxidant activity was added at 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 % (by mass) directly to the pork batt er and compared with a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and control (no added antioxidants). The addition of tara pod powder at 0.02 % was as effective as BHA (0.02 %) in retarding lipid oxidation in pork products during storage. Results showed that redness increased after the addition of tara pod powder. Specifically, 0.02 % of tara pod powder was effective in keeping the red colour of meat batter stored under illumination at 4 °C for 48 h. Hardness of pork products was the lowest in samples manufactured with tara pod powder compared with control. Results highlight the potential of using tara pod powder as natural functional ingredient in the development of pork products with enhanced quality and shelf life.

The optimization of the extraction of natural antioxidants from white tea has fostered intensive research. This study has investigated the effects of ethanol-water mixtures, temperature and time on the extraction of polyphenols and antioxidant components from white tea. The response surface methodology was applied to identify the best extraction conditions. The best conditions to maximize the extraction of total polyphenols were: ethanol, 50%, for 47.5 min. Although the yield of polyphenols was optimal at 65 °C, the maximum antioxidant capacity was achieved with an extraction temperature of 90 °C. This study has identified the optimal conditions for the extraction of tea liquor with the best antioxidant properties. Epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin and epicatechin were extracted from white tea at concentrations up to 29.6 ± 10.6, 5.40 ± 2.09, 5.04 ± 0.20 and 2.48 ± 1.10 mg/100 g.

Consumption of avocado (Persea americana Mill) has increased worldwide in recent years. Part of this food (skin and seed) is lost during processing. However, a high proportion of bioactive substances, such as polyphenols, remain in this residue. The primary objective of this study was to model the extraction of polyphenols from the avocado pits. In addition, a further objective was to use the extract obtained to evaluate the protective power against oxidation in food systems, as for instance oil in water emulsions and meat products. Moreover, the possible synergy between the extracts and egg albumin in the emulsions is discussed. In Response Surface Method (RSM), the variables used are: temperature, time and ethanol concentration. The results are the total polyphenols content (TPC) and the antiradical power measured by Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity (ORAC). In emulsions, the primary oxidation, by Peroxide Value and in fat meat the secondary oxidation, by TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), were analyzed. The RSM model has an R2 of 94.69 for TPC and 96.7 for ORAC. In emulsions, the inhibition of the oxidation is about 30% for pure extracts and 60% for the combination of extracts with egg albumin. In the meat burger oxidation, the formation of TBARS is avoided by 90%.

Gentiana Lutea root (G. Lutea) is a medicinal herb, traditionally used as a bitter tonic in gastrointestinal ailments for improving the digestive system. The active principles of G. Lutea were found to be secoiridoid bitter compounds as well as many other active compounds causing the pharmacological effects. No study to date has yet determined the potential of G. Lutea antioxidant activity on lipid oxidation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an extract of G. Lutea on lipid oxidation during storage of an emulsion. G. Lutea extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity measured by DPPH scavenging assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. An amount of 0.5% w/w G. Lutea lyophilise was able to inhibit lipid oxidation throughout storage (p < 0.05). A mixture of G. Lutea with 0.1% (w/w) BSA showed a good synergic effect and better antioxidant activity in the emulsion. Quantitative results of HPLC showed that G. Lutea contained secoiridoid-glycosides (gentiopiocroside and sweroside) and post column analysis displayed radical scavenging activity of G. Lutea extract towards the ABTS radical. The results from this study highlight the potential of G. Lutea as a food ingredient in the design of healthier food commodities.

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a typical Spanish plant. During processing, 60% are leaves. The aim of this work is to model and optimize the extraction of polyphenol from borage leaves using the response surface method (RSM) and to use this extract for application in emulsions. The responses were: total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity by ORAC, and rosmarinic acid by HPLC. The ranges of the variables temperature, ethanol content and time were 50–90 °C, 0%–30%–60% ethanol (v/v), and 10–15 min. For ethanolic extraction, optimal conditions were at 75.9 °C, 52% ethanol and 14.8 min, yielding activity of 27.05 mg GAE/g DW TPC; 115.96 mg TE/g DW in ORAC and 11.02 mg/L rosmarinic acid. For water extraction, optimal activity was achieved with extraction at 98.3 °C and 22 min, with responses of 22.3 mg GAE/g DW TPC; 81.6 mg TE/g DW in ORAC and 3.9 mg/L rosmarinic acid. The significant variables were ethanol concentration and temperature. For emulsions, the peroxide value was inhibited by 60% for 3% extract concentration; and 80% with 3% extract concentration and 0.2% of BSA. The p-anisidine value between the control and the emulsion with 3% extract was reduced to 73.6% and with BSA 86.3%, and others concentrations had similar behavior.

Poly (α-dodecyl γ-glutamate) (PAAG-12) was successfully synthesized from poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGGA) according to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses. PAAG-12 films were prepared and enriched with 5% α-tocopherol, with the aim of using them as novel antioxidant active packaging for food applications. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) characterization determined that α-tocopherol improved thermal stability of films, which is beneficial for industrial processing. Polylactic Acid (PLA) films prepared with the same amount of α-tocopherol were used to set a comparative frame and both types of films were applied to two different food models to assess their protective action against oxidation. Water, 50% ethanol (EtOH) and 95% EtOH were used as food simulants and HPLC analyses were performed to determine diffusion and partition coefficients in PLA and the novel polymer, the latter exhibiting slower release rates. Primary oxidation was measured with peroxide value, which revealed that PAAG-12 films with α-tocopherol protected oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions up to 29 days, complying with the Codex Alimentarius.

Active packaging containing natural extracts is a promising innovation to prolong the shelf life of perishable food. The objective of this work was to develop a bioactive edible film from semi-refined carrageenan (SRC) and glycerol (G) as plasticizer incorporated with natural extract. Five Malaysian herbs were evaluated to determine their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities. The Persicaria minor (PM) extract demonstrated the highest TPC (1.629 mg GAE/L sample) and radical scavenging activity evaluated by the radicals 2,2’-azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] (27.166 mg TE/L sample), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (719.89 mg eq. Trolox/L sample) and α,α′-Azodiisobutyramidine dihydrochloride (5.81 mg TE/L sample). Thus, PM extract was selected for active packaging film at concentrations of 0.4, 1.0 and 2.0% and compared with 0.4% Butylatedhydroxianisole in 2% SRC and 0.9% G film formulation. The meat patties were wrapped in the films and stored under refrigeration (4 ± 2 °C) for 14 days. The film with 2% PM exhibited significantly lower lipid deterioration analysed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (p < 0.05) and small changes in % metmyoglobin value which indicated the minimum development of brown colour (p < 0.05). Hence, this film can be used as a packaging material to improve meat quality characteristics.

In addition to being essential for the transcription of genes involved in cellular lipogenesis, increasing evidence associates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) with the transcriptional control of carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of overexpression SREBP1a, a potent activator of all SREBP-responsive genes, on the intermediary metabolism of Sparus aurata, a glucose-intolerant carnivorous fish. Administration of chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles complexed with a plasmid driving expression of the N-terminal transactivation domain of SREBP1a significantly increased SREBP1a mRNA and protein in the liver of S. aurata. Overexpression of SREBP1a enhanced the hepatic expression of key genes in glycolysis-gluconeogenesis (glucokinase and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase), fatty acid synthesis (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2), elongation (elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 5) and desaturation (fatty acid desaturase 2) as well as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate production (glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase) and cholesterol synthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase), leading to increased blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Beyond reporting the first study addressing in vivo effects of exogenous SREBP1a in a glucose-intolerant model, our findings support that SREBP1a overexpression caused multigenic effects that favoured hepatic glycolysis and lipogenesis and thus enabled protein sparing by improving dietary carbohydrate conversion into fatty acids and cholesterol.

The effects of pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) and roselle flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa) as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents on shelf life extension of sardines (Sardina pilchardus) were evaluated over a period of 5 days at 7 ± 1 °C. Treatments consisted of the addition of 5% and 10% w/w pecan nut, 5% w/w roselle flower and a combination of 5% of each. Physicochemical (lipid oxidation, fatty acids, hexanal and biogenic amines), sensory and microbiological characteristics of fish samples were periodically analyzed. All treatments effectively improved physicochemical quality parameters, with 10% w/w pecan nut having the highest effectiveness. The presence of roselle flower reduced microbial growth. Our findings suggest that addition of a natural preservative combining pecan nut and roselle flower may extend the shelf life of fresh sardines during chilled storage while maintaining quality indexes.

Increasingly, consumers want products containing little or no synthetic compounds. Avocado seeds, which are a residue of the food industry, could be used to obtain extracts with high antioxidant power. In the present study, the most popular radical scavenging methods are presented, establishing a comparison between them, besides working with two different extractions: pure methanol and ethanol–water (50:50 v/v). The radical scavenging assay methods ORAC and ABTS were performed, as well as a novel method: the reaction to methoxy radical, as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive compounds (TBARs) were used to monitor the oxidation of avocado seed oil, as well as the power of the avocado seed extract (ASE) to delay oil oxidation by oxidation induction time (OIT) and measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Radical scavenging methods have values between 1310–263 µmol TE/g of mass dissolved for ORAC and ABTS, respectively. The individual contribution of each of the compounds present in the extract was analyzed. The sum of all of them contributed up to 84% of the total radical scavenging activity. The concentration of 0.75% ASE causes a delay in the oxidation that is close to 80%, as measured by OIT. This implies that avocado seed residue may have a use as a natural antioxidant source, providing added value to organic waste.

The main targets of this work were to determine the phenolic content of Anthyllis vulneraria (A. vulneraria) leaves and flowers and to evaluate their antioxidant activity. Total polyphenols and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC, respectively) were determined. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and the diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, and by the analysis of primary and secondary oxidation products in oil-in-water emulsions and in raw beef patties during storage. The results revealed that the flowers of the A. vulneraria contained the highest content of total polyphenols and flavonoids and extracts from these tissues exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, as they were more effective at retarding lipid oxidation in oil-in-water emulsions and raw beef patties than extracts from the leaves which had a potent antioxidant effect only at the beginning of the oxidation process. The results of this study allowed us to obtain a deep knowledge about the properties of A. vulneraria and confirmed the possibility of using its biologically active extracts in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

This work has been intended to investigate the antioxidant properties of compounds extracted from seeds of Sterculia apetala (a plant from Central America) in order to add further results to the relatively poor existing literature on the beneficial properties of this plant. Different extraction methodologies were used such as batch or continuous extraction conditions using water or ethanol 50% as solvents. The kinetic study has allowed estimation of the effective diffusion coefficients in a continuous solid-liquid extraction, highlighting the strict dependence of the diffusion rate and temperature and kind of solvent, showing the highest diffusion rate with ethanol 50% at 60 °C. The comparison between different techniques and two solvents led to the selection of water as the best extraction solvent while batch mechanically-agitated extraction was the most efficient mode, with the benefits of use of an environmental-friendly solvent and reduction in process time to achieve a high amount of extracted phenolic compounds. The analysis techniques used were ABTS and Folin-Ciocalteau methods to investigate the antioxidant activity and quantify the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) respectively. Also, different fatty acids were extracted from Sterculia apetala seeds and analysed by Gas Chromatography in order to quantify other interesting chemical species besides antioxidants.

Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston (Fabaceae) (CD) is used in folk medicine to prevent colds and treat bronchitis. This plant has antitumor and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant effects of an extract from Caesalpinia decapetala (Fabaceae) were assessed by storage of model food oil-in-water emulsions with analysis of primary and secondary oxidation products. The antioxidant capacity of the plant extract was evaluated by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Lyophilized extracts of CD were added at concentrations of 0.002%, 0.02% and 0.2% into oil-in-water emulsions, which were stored for 30 days at 33 ± 1 °C, and then, oxidative stability was evaluated. The CD extract had high antioxidant activity (700 ± 70 µmol Trolox/g dry plant for the ORAC assay), mainly due to its phenolic components: gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid. At a concentration of 0.2%, the extract significantly reduced the oxidative deterioration of oil-in-water emulsions. The results of the present study show the possibility of utilizing CD as a promising source of natural antioxidants for retarding lipid oxidation in the food and cosmetic industries.

Red fruits, as rich antioxidant foods, have gained over recent years capital importance for consumers and manufacturers. The industrial extraction of the phenolic molecules from this source has been taking place with the conventional solvent extraction method. New non-conventional extraction methods have been devised as environmentally friendly alternatives to the former method, such as ultrasound, microwave, and pressure assisted extractions. The aim of this review is to compile the results of recent studies using different extraction methodologies, identify the red fruits with higher antioxidant activity, and give a global overview of the research trends regarding this topic. As the amount of data available is overwhelming, only results referring to berries are included, leaving aside other plant parts such as roots, stems, or even buds and flowers. Several researchers have drawn attention to the efficacy of non-conventional extraction methods, accomplishing similar or even better results using these new techniques. Some pilot-scale trials have been performed, corroborating the applicability of green alternative methods to the industrial scale. Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) emerge as the berries with the highest antioxidant content and capacity. However, several new up and coming berries are gaining attention due to global availability and elevated anthocyanin content.

The common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Sprengel) is a ubiquitous procumbent evergreen shrub located throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. The fruits are almost tasteless but the plant contains a high concentration of active ingredients. The antioxidant activity of bearberry leaf extract in the 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation assay was 90.42 mmol Trolox equivalents/g dry weight (DW). The scavenging ability of the methanol extract of bearberry leaves against methoxy radicals generated in the Fenton reaction was measured via electron paramagnetic resonance. Lipid oxidation was retarded in an oil–water emulsion by adding 1 g/kg lyophilised bearberry leaf extract. Also, 1 g/kg of lyophilised bearberry leaf extract incorporated into a gelatin-based film displayed high antioxidant activity to retard the degradation of lipids in muscle foods. The present results indicate the potential of bearberry leaf extract for use as a natural food antioxidant.

The development of antioxidant-active packaging has numerous advantages, such as the reduction of synthetic additives in food, the reduction of plastic waste and food protection against oxidation reactions. Different concentrations of extracts of the plants Caesalpinia decapetala (CD) and Caesalpinia spinosa “Tara” (CS) were incorporated into gelatine films as natural antioxidants. The physical, mechanical and antioxidant properties of these films were studied. Films containing plant extracts at a high concentration had lower tensile strength with higher elongation at break points, compared to the control film (p < 0.05). Films exhibited antioxidant activity in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and Trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays when added at 0.2%. The application of gelatine film containing CD and CS was found to be effective in delaying lipid oxidation and deterioration of beef patty quality during storage. Therefore, the films prepared in this study offered an alternative edible coating for the preservation of fresh food.