Colour is one of the most relevant organoleptic attributes that directly affects consumers' acceptance and food selection. However, as food colouring pigments are generally unstable and become ...modified during processing, in order to maintain or restore product colour uniformity, colourants are added to food products around the world. In this context, although they are still widely used, synthetic food colorants, due to their potential hazards, are being replaced by those obtained from natural origins. Indeed, numerous side effects and toxicities, at both the medium and long-terms-namely allergic reactions, and behavioral and neurocognitive effects-have been related to the use of synthetic colourants, whereas their naturally-derived counterparts seem to provide a somewhat high-quality and effective contribution as a health promoter. In order to further understand the implications of the use of synthetic and naturally derived food colourants, this review aims to provide a synoptical approach to the chemical characteristics, properties, uses and side effects on health of those which are currently allowed and applied during food processing.
The increase of obesity and its metabolic comorbidities have led to a growing consumption of sugar-free products, where sucrose is replaced by low-calorie sweeteners. Since the discovery of the ...synthesis of saccharin, progressively more non-nutritive sweeteners have been produced and consumed, as they release none or only very small amounts of energy. In this context, traditional synthetic food sweeteners are largely used, because they have a higher sweetener power than most of the sweeteners of natural origin. Yet, due to their potential risks, some of them are being replaced by those obtained from natural origins with high sweetening power, such as thaumatins and neohesperidin DC, or by synthetic sweeteners with an even greater sweetener power, with advantame as the one with the highest sweetening power. Yet, numerous side effects of synthetic sweeteners have been reported (namely, stomach and liver problems, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, changes in behaviour, cognitive problems, genotoxicity and carcinogenic effects), whereas those naturally derived seem to have less important health problems associated. Moreover, some sweeteners of natural origin, such as polyols, have a low sweetening power, which makes them less effective, but have other functions in food processing. To further understand the implications of using synthetic and natural-derived food sweeteners, this review aims to provide a synoptical approach on chemical characteristics, properties, uses and side effects of those which are currently allowed and applied during food processing mostly considering the authorized sweeteners in European Union.
Keywords: Side effects of sweeteners; Sweetener food additives; Sweeteners of natural origin; Sweeteners of synthetic origin; Sweeteners applications
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The contamination of abandoned mining areas is a problem worldwide that needs urgent attention. Phytoremediation emerges as a successful method to extract different contaminants from the soil. In ...this context,
plants growing in soils artificial contaminated with arsenic (As) were used to access its phytoremediation capabilities. The effects of As on photosynthetic performance were monitored through different physiological parameters, whereas the uptake and translocation of As and the putative effects on calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc levels on plants were evaluated by X-ray fluorescence analysis. Root system is the major accumulator organ, while the translocation to the above-ground organs is poor. In the end of the experiment, the root biomass of plants treated with 200 μg As mL
is 27% and 49.7% lower than equivalent biomass from plants treated with 100 μg As mL
and control plants, respectively. Each plant can accumulate 8.19 and 8.91 mg As after a 6-month period, when submitted to 100 As and 200 As, respectively. It seems to exist an antagonistic effect of As on Zn root uptake by
. In general, the tested concentrations do not influence negatively plant metabolism, indicating that this species is suitable for plantation in contaminated areas.
This study aimed to assess the implications of Zn enrichment in wheat grains as a function of contrasting genotypes, edaphic conditions and foliar fertilizers.
L. varieties Roxo and Paiva were grown ...in four production fields, and sprayed with ZnSO
(0, 16.20 and 36.40 kg/ha) Zn-EDTA (0, 6.30 and 12.60 kg/ha) and Tecnifol Zinc (0, 3.90 and 7.80 kg/ha). The heterogeneous edaphic conditions of the wheat fields were chemically characterized, it being found that soil properties determine different Zn accumulation in the grains of both genotypes. Foliar spraying enhanced to different extents Zn content in the grains of both genotypes, but the average of enrichment indexes varied among the wheat fields. Zinc mostly accumulated in the embryo and vascular bundle and to a lesser extent in the endosperm. Grain yield and test weight sprayed by ZnSO
gave the highest values in both genotypes, but the opposite was found for Zn-EDTA. Considering the color parameters, lightness and red-green transitions were found to be a conjunction of genotype characteristics, fertilization types and edaphic conditions prevailing in each field. It is concluded that the index of Zn enrichment in wheat grains is a docket of edaphic conditions, genotype and type of fertilization.
Calcium is essential for plants, yet as its mobility is limited, the understanding of the rate of Ca2+ accumulation and deposition in tissues of tubers, as well as the interactions with other ...critical nutrients prompted this study. To assess the interactions and differential accumulation of micro and macronutrients in the tissues of tubers, Solanum tuberosum L. varieties Agria and Rossi were cultivated and, after the beginning of tuberization, four foliar sprayings (at 8–10 day intervals) with CaCl2 (3 and 6 kg ha−1) or Ca(NO3)2 (2 and 4 kg ha−1) solutions were performed. It was found that both fertilizers increased Ca accumulation in tubers (mostly in the parenchyma tissues located in the center of the equatorial region). The functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus was not affected until the 3rd application but was somewhat affected when approaching the end of the crop cycle (after the 4th application), although the lower dose of CaCl2 seemed to improve the photochemical use of energy, particularly when compared with the greater dose of Ca(NO3)2. Still, none of these impacts modified tuber height and diameter. Following the increased accumulation of Ca, in the tubers of both varieties, the mean contents of P, K, Na, Fe, and Zn revealed different accumulation patterns. Moreover, accumulation of K, Fe, Mn, and Zn prevailed in the epidermis, displaying a contrasting pattern relative to Ca. Therefore, Ca accumulation revealed a heterogeneous trend in the different regions analyzed, and Ca enrichment of tubers altered the accumulation of other nutrients.
Calcium is one of the 16 essential elements for plants, being required as Ca2+ and being involved in several fundamental processes (namely, in the stability and integrity of the cell wall, the ...development of plant tissue, cell division, and in stress responses). Moreover, Ca plays an important role in potato production. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the culture development (in situ and using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) and the mineral content of four essential elements (Ca, P, K, and S) in different organs of Solanum tuberosum L. (roots, stems, leaves, and tubers) during a calcium biofortification process, carried out with two types of solutions (CaCl2 and Ca-EDTA) with two concentrations (12 and 24 kg∙ha−1). The calcium content generally increased in the S. tuberosum L. organs of both varieties and showed, after the last foliar application, an increase in Ca content that varied between 5.7–95.6% and 20.7–33%, for the Picasso and Agria varieties, respectively. The patterns of accumulation in both varieties during the biofortification process were different between the variety and mineral element. Regarding the quality analysis carried out during the development of the tubers, only the Agria variety was suitable for industrial processing after the last foliar application.
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husnot) was grown under conditions to promote mineral biofortification at the grain level. Along plant development, biomass accumulation and the ...kinetics of nutrients accumulation were assessed, identifying the nutrient fluxes of roots and shoots, and the timescale constraints of crop biofortification. Plants were grown under environmentally controlled conditions, submitted to four increasing concentrations of nutrient solutions (1-, 2-, 4- and 6-fold) of micro- (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) and macronutrients (Ca, K, P and Mg). The threshold of mineral toxicity was not reached as evaluated through plant biomass accumulation, but considering grain yield, the twofold nutrient concentration was the best treatment for biofortification. In the different treatments, the contents and the mineral unrests of roots uptake and shoots translocation varied, at different magnitudes and trends, before the onset of booting and from the physiological maturity onwards. Except for Cu, all mineral nutrients were mainly detected in the bran and embryo of the grains; therefore, the production of biofortified pasta for human consumption requires the use of integral semolina.
Selenium is an essential element for human health but its intake is low. Accordingly, biofortified rice with this trace element can be prophylactic to consumers. In this context, this study aimed to ...develop an agronomic itinerary for rice biofortification with selenium, considering sodium selenite and selenate as foliar fertilizers. Since both forms of selenium fertilizers have different metabolic specificity among genotypes, the implications on sugars, fatty acids and proteins quality were also assessed. Biofortification was performed in field trials, in four target genotypes, applying both foliar fertilizers with concentrations ranging between 0 and 300 g Se ha−1. It was found that biofortification with sodium selenite caused, relatively to sodium selenate, a higher accumulation of selenium in the grain. Application of high concentrations of sodium selenite and selenate increased total lipids in all the genotypes, mostly oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2) and palmitic acid (C16:0). Sugars (with the concentration pattern being sucrose > glucose > raffinose > fructose) and proteins showed a similar trend. It is concluded that biofortification of crops with selenium is more effective with 120–300 g Se ha−1, but macronutrients quality in the flour varies significantly within rice genotypes.
•Agronomic biofortification with selenium can be done applying foliar fertilization with sodium selenite or selenate.•The highest concentration of selenium triggered by selenite fertilization in the rice flour varied among genotypes.•Selenium accumulation in rice crops has direct implications at the accumulation of fatty acids, sugars and proteins.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Selenium is an antioxidant trace mineral with important biochemical functions related to the enzymatic activity of selenoproteins. Due to a wide variation in the content of selenium from different ...plant sources, there is a high risk of deficiency of this nutrient in human nutrition, and particularly in the early childhood. Thus, the use of biofortified staple foods, namely selenium rice flour can be understood as an important trait, namely for food production for infants. This study aims to evaluate the importance of selenium biofortified rice flour, further considering baby foods.
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The forgotten implications of low oil prices on biofuels Reboredo, Fernando Henrique; Lidon, Fernando Cebola; Ramalho, José Cochicho ...
Biofuels, bioproducts and biorefining,
July/August 2017, Volume:
11, Issue:
4
Journal Article
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