Berries, especially members of several families, such as Rosaceae (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry), and Ericaceae (blueberry, cranberry), belong to the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds ...(BAC). They have delicious taste and flavor, have economic importance, and because of the antioxidant properties of BAC, they are of great interest also for nutritionists and food technologists due to the opportunity to use BAC as functional foods ingredients. The bioactive compounds in berries contain mainly phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, such as anthocyanins and flavonols, and tannins) and ascorbic acid. These compounds, either individually or combined, are responsible for various health benefits of berries, such as prevention of inflammation disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or protective effects to lower the risk of various cancers. In this review bioactive compounds of commonly consumed berries are described, as well as the factors influencing their antioxidant capacity and their health benefits.
In recent years, growing attention has been focused on the utilization of natural sources of antioxidants in the prevention of chronic diseases. Black chokeberry (
) represents a lesser known fruit ...species utilized mainly as juices, purees, jams, jellies and wine, as important food colorants or nutritional supplements. The fruit is valued as a great source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, such as phenolic acids (neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids) and flavonoids (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavanols and flavonols), particularly cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside, as well as (-)-epicatechin units. The berries of
, due to the presence and the high content of these bioactive components, exhibit a wide range of positive effects, such as strong antioxidant activity and potential medicinal and therapeutic benefits (gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative or anti-inflammatory activities). They could be also contributory toward the prevention of chronic diseases including metabolic disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, because of supportive impacts on lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose and blood pressure levels.
Matcha was analysed for its chemical composition, fibre, vitamin C, caffeine and chlorophyll contents. Flavonoids and phenolics, phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity both in water and methanol ...solutions were determined.
In vitro
digestibility was established. To understand the contribution of individual substances to antioxidant activity or digestibility their mutual correlations were evaluated. Crude fibre (10.7–17.5%), neutral-detergent fibre (30.7–42.8%) and organic matter digestibility values (59.4–69.7%) showed positive correlations, in contrast to protein contents (20.3–35.0%). It seems that chlorophyll
b
was a stronger contributor to antioxidant activity than chlorophyll
a
. The highest contents of flavonoids (99–139 mg RE/g) and phenolics (169–273 mg GAE/g) were determined in methanol fractions. High concentrations of chlorogenic (up to 4800 μg/g), sinapic (up to 1400 μg/g) and gallic acids (up to 423 μg/g) were recorded. Kaempferol and rutin were not proved as significant contributors to antioxidant activity.
In this study, the effect of using medicinal plants on nutrition composition and biologically active substances in cereal mixtures were investigated. In order to develop new type of non-traditional ...muesli mixtures supplemented with edible flowers, eight muesli mixtures were prepared applying the mixing ratio of 60‒70% of non-traditional flakes and 30‒40% of lyophilized fruits and edible flowers. This study examines nutritional composition, digestibility, fibres and phenolics of nutraceutical muesli mixtures using enzymatic–gravimetric and chromatographic methods. It shows that the mixture of kamut, einkorn, red and black quinoa or rice flakes together with hibiscus, mallow, rose, fruits has increased the fibre content (11.9‒21.2%) and
in vitro
digestibility (87.8‒93.8%). The greatest concentrations of individual phenolic contents were determined in free and soluble bound fractions of the mixtures. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (up to 116 mg/kg) and delphinidin-3-glucoside (up to 76.9 mg/kg) were established as major anthocyanins. Considering the individual phenolic fractions, sinapic and protocatechuic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids and quercetin and epigallocatechin represented the most frequent flavonoids. These results indicate that non-traditional muesli with edible flowers containing a high amount of nutrients and bioactive substances have the potential to enhance a nutritionally balanced diet.
Nowadays, much research attention is focused on underutilized berry crops due to the high antioxidant activity of fruits. Black crowberry (
L.) represents an important source of flavonols (quercetin, ...rutin, myricetin, naringenin, naringin, morin, and kaempferol) and anthocyanins. The fruit components could be utilised as natural colourants or as a part of functional foods and, because of the high antioxidant activity, the berries of black crowberry can be used in the treatment of diseases accompanied with inflammation, or as an effective antibacterial and antifungal remedy. Moreover, the reduction of lipid accumulation and total cholesterol as well as an improvement of postprandial hyperglycaemia have been proven. This review summarizes for the first time the main antioxidants (flavonoids) of black crowberry fruits, with a focus on their health promoting activity.
This thorough study analyses the amounts of 43 minerals and trace elements in non-traditional wheat grains, flakes, and undigested flake portions using ICP-MS and establishes declines in their ...respective contents after the flake production. It also identifies appropriate dietary intakes,
digestibility values, retention factors, and metal pollution indexes. The element contents in wheat flakes are lower than in wheat grains after the hydrothermal treatment process, and their declines are: Na (48-72%), Ce (47-72%), Sr (43-55%), Tl (33-43%), Ti (32-41%), U (31-44%), Ho (29-69%), Cr (26-64%), Zr (26-58%), Ag (25-52%), and Ca (25-46%). The flakes significantly contributed to the recommended dietary intake or adequate intake of particular elements for men of all categories as follows: Mn (143%) > Mo > Cu > Mg ≥ Cr > Fe (16%); for women: Mn (up to 183%) > Mo > Cu > Cr ≥ Mg > Fe (7-16%); for pregnant women aged 19-30: Mn (165%) > Mo > Cu > Mg > Cr (25%); and finally, for lactating women: Mn (127%) > Mo > Cu > Mg > Cr (17%). The contributions to the provisional tolerable weekly or monthly intakes of all toxic elements were established as being within the official limits. The daily intakes for non-essential elements were also calculated. The retention factors were calculated to assess the element concentrations in the undigested part using the digestibility values (87.4-90.5%). The highest retention factors were obtained for V (63-92%), Y (57-96%), Ce (43-76%), Pb (34-58%), Tl (32-70%), Ta (31-66%), and Ge (30-49%). K, Mg, P, Zn, Ba, Bi, Ga, Sb, Cu, Ni, and As appear to be released easily from flake matrices during digestion. The metal pollution index has been confirmed as being lower for non-traditional wheat flakes when compared with grains. Importantly, 15-25% of the metal pollution index assessed for native flakes remains in the undigested flake portion after
digestion.
This paper investigates the effects of storage conditions on the stability of phenolics and their antioxidant activities in unique nutraceutical supplements containing non-traditional cereal flakes, ...edible flowers, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Significant total phenolic content (TPC) of 1170-2430 mg GAE/kg and total anthocyanin content (TAC) with the values of 322-663 mg C3G/kg were determined with the highest TPC content established in free phenolic fractions. The most notable declines in TPC (by 53%), TAC (by 62%), phenolics (e.g., glycosylated anthocyanins by 35-67%), and antioxidant activity (by 25% using DPPH) were established in the presence of sunlight at 23 °C followed by the storage at 40 °C. Quercetin, rutin, peonidin, pelargonidin,
coumaric, ellagic, and
hydroxybenzoic acids were identified as the least stable phenolics when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, glycosylated forms of anthocyanins demonstrated a greater stability when compared with anthocyanidins. The mixtures considerably eliminated ABTS and DPPH radicals. In all samples, water-soluble substances showed a higher antioxidant activity than lipid-soluble substances with the main contributors in the following order: delphinidin-3-glucoside (
= +0.9839) >
coumaric > gallic > sinapic >
hydroxybenzoic acids > delphinidin > peonidin and malvidin (
= +0.6538). Gluten-free nutraceutical mixtures M3 (containing red rice and black quinoa flakes, red and blue cornflowers, blueberries, and barberries) and M4 (containing red and black rice flakes, rose, blue cornflower, blueberries, raspberries, and barberries) were evaluated as the least stable under all storage conditions although they showed considerable phenolic concentrations. Phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of the nutraceutical mixtures were the highest at 23 °C without the presence of sunlight with the most stable M1 nutraceutical mixture (containing oat and red wheat flakes, hibiscus, lavender, blueberries, raspberries, and barberries).
In this study, the changes in nutritional composition, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in free and bound fractions of shortcrust cookies were investigated. By incorporating ingredients ...such as kamut, matcha tea, dried mango and jasmine flowers, the contents of crude and neutral-detergent fibre reached up to 2.0% and 5.0%, respectively. Similar increments were observed in phenolic compound contents and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity values. Concerning cookies supplemented with matcha tea, the total phenolic compound content raised from 1.0 to 4.8 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and the antioxidant activity value increased from 0.5 to 5.7 mg trolox equivalent/g on a dry weight basis. For determining the antioxidant activity values in water-soluble and insoluble phenolic fractions of the cookies, a photochemiluminiscence assay was separately applied, and they were found up to 0.8 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g and 3.2 mg trolox equivalent/g, respectively. The main phenolic compounds in all supplemented cookies were neochlorogenic, gallic and vanillic acids.
This study analysed the contents of thirty-six mineral and trace elements in teff (
L.) grains. What is more, dietary intakes were calculated. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) ...was used to assess mineral and trace element contents. Consequently, the appropriate Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) or adequate intake (AI), and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) or provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) values for adults were determined according to the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) and Institute of Medicine (IOM) regulations. Teff is a significant contributor to RDAs and AIs for females in the following order: Mn > Cu > Zn ≥ Mg > Fe ≥ P and Ca. For males, teff contributes in the order, Mn > Cu > Fe > Zn ≥ P ≥ Mg > and Ca. The concentration of arsenic (65.9 µg/kg) in brown teff originating in Bolivia exceeded the average acceptable value set by Reg. No. 1881 of 6-50 µg/kg in cereals consumed in the EU. The PTWIs or PTMIs for Al, Cd, Sn and Hg were all under 7%, which is below the limits of toxic element intake related to the body weight of 65 kg for adult females and 80 kg for males, set by the FAO/WHO. Teff grains can be recommended as a valuable and safe source of minerals and trace elements.
This study investigates the effects of
digestion on the antioxidant activity and release of phenolics, xanthine alkaloids, and L-theanine contents of matcha. It establishes digestibility values ...between 61.2-65.8%. Considering native matcha, the rutin content (303-479 µg/g) reached higher values than catechin (10.2-23.1 µg/g). Chlorogenic acid (2090-2460 µg/g) was determined as predominant. Rutin, quercetin, ferulic, ellagic, and caffeic acid were the least-released phenolics, and their remaining residues reached 76-84%. Protocatechuic, hydroxybenzoic acid, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate were the best-released phenolics, with the remaining residues under 1%. Caffeine, L-theanine, and theobromine contents in native matcha reached 16.1, 9.85, and 0.27 mg/g, respectively. Only caffeine (3.66-5.26 mg/g) and L-theanine (0.09-0.15 mg/g) were monitored in the undigested residue, representing 13 and 0.1% of the remaining part, respectively. A chemiluminescence assay showed that water-soluble antioxidants showed significant antioxidant activity in native matcha, while lipid-soluble compounds showed higher antioxidant activity in the undigested samples. Cinnamic and neochlorogenic acids were determined as the main contributors to the ACW values in the undigested matcha, epicatechin, and quercetin in the ACL fraction. The application of the digestion process reduced the antioxidant activity by more than 94%. SEM has proved specific digestion patterns of
digestibility of matcha.
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