There is a growing interest for healthy non-bovine functional dairy products. Therefore, in the present study, an aqueous polyphenol-rich artichoke extract (AE) and two Bifidobacterium strains of ...human origin (B. pseudolongum INIA P2 and B. longum INIA P132) were added, alone or in combination with AE, for the manufacture of six sheep milk cheeses. In general, addition of 1.25 g of lyophilized AE per 100 g of curd did not affect cheese pH, dry matter, lactoccci starter counts or organic acid levels during ripening. Bifidobacterial strains showed good viability in cheeses with AE during ripening and after simulated major gastrointestinal conditions. Cheeses with AE showed improved functional properties, with significantly (P < 0.01) higher total polyphenol content and, especially, antioxidant activity The cheese with AE and strain INIA P2 fulfil the definition of a symbiotic cheese. It contains prebiotic compounds and Bifidobacterium at adequate levels to sustain a therapeutic effect, which are able to survive major gastrointestinal conditions. This cheese could confer beneficial effects on consumers’ health by contributing to the host antioxidant capacity and increasing polyphenol bioavailability.
•Artichoke extract (AE) did not affect cheese pH, dry matter, colour or microbiota.•AE increased cheese proteolysis, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity.•INIA P2 increased AE polyphenol bioavailability and showed good viability in cheese.•AE and bifidobacteria affected cheese volatile profile.•Symbiotic cheese with AE and INIA P2 may provide polyphenol health benefits.
This study was to design a novel wide pH–sensing colorimetric film of κ-carrageenan incorporated with extract from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (Car-LRM) for food freshness monitoring. The structure, ...basic properties (thermal stability, mechanical, barrier and antioxidant activity), and release kinetics of LRM from the films were investigated. Attentions were centered on colorimetric response of films and their applications for freshness monitoring of milk and shrimps. A low incorporation of LRM (no more than 2.5%) led to an enhancement in thermal stability and water vapor barrier of films to a certain extent. At above level of incorporation, LRM could be well-distributed in Car matrix by the interactions of hydrogen bonds. In addition to good antioxidant activity, the film displayed colorimetric response at a wide range of pH (2−10) and the color change was reversible. The release of LRM from films followed Fickian's law which was controlled by diffusion mechanism rather than swelling mechanism. The successful applications of Car-LRM2.5 for the freshness monitoring of milk and shrimps indicate that Car-LRM2.5 may have great potential for monitoring the freshness of milk and aquatic products.
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•Development of a wide pH–sensing colorimetric film based on κ-carrageenan.•Colorimetric film exhibits good release control and antioxidant activity.•Fickian diffusion is the predominant mechanism of release.•Application as an indicator for freshness monitoring of milk and shrimps.
Bromoxynil octanoate (BO) is a herbicide necessary for plant growth and production. However, it may cause damage to environment and humans. This study aimed to investigate the potential testicular ...toxicity of BO and its possible underlying mechanisms.
Male Albino (Sprague Dawley) rats were administered BO in different doses (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/BW; P.O.) daily for 21 days. Testicular function was evaluated by determining count and viability of epididymal sperm, and testosterone. In addition, the following parameters were assessed; MDA, NO, and H2O2 as oxidative stress markers; SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH as antioxidant markers; NF-ĸB-P65 and IL-18 as inflammatory markers; caspase-9 and caspase-3 as apoptotic markers; gene expression of NF-ĸB-P65, TNF-α, BAX, Bcl-2, and caspase-3; and histopathological examination of epididymis and testis sections.
The results showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in MDA, NO, H2O2, IL-18, and caspase-9 content, NF-ĸB-P65, TNF-α, Bax, and Caspase-3 expression as compared to control. Furthermore, the count and viability of epididymal sperm, testosterone level, SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH content, and Bcl-2 expression showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease as compared to control. In conclusion BO-induced testicular damage by altering oxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis.
•BO-induced testicular toxicity.•Testicular toxicity was a dose-dependent manner.•BO stimulated testicular damage by altering oxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis.
In the present study, whey protein nanofibrils (WPN) were used as carriers to improve the aqueous solubility of curcumin at acidic conditions (pH 3.2) for expanding its applications in functional ...beverages and drinks. Nanofibrils with nanometric diameter (less than 15 nm) and micrometric length were produced by 5 h heating (85 °C) of whey protein isolate (WPI) solution at pH 2.0. WPN showed a higher surface hydrophobicity compared to the native parental proteins which improved its ability to form a soluble complex with curcumin. The water solubility of curcumin was increased by about 1200-folds through the complexation with WPN, whereas the complexation with WPI increased its solubility by approximately 180-folds. Fluorescence measurements and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy indicated that the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were mainly contributed to the formation of curcumin-WPN complexes. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that the secondary structures of WPN were not significantly affected by binding to curcumin. The structural phase of nanocomplexes also was studied using X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexation of whey protein nanofibrils with curcumin improved their apparent viscosity and surface activity which makes them appropriate candidates to design new functional food emulsions and beverages. The results of antioxidant activity measurements (DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power) also showed that the antioxidant capacity of curcumin was drastically improved through the complexation with WPN. Generally, this study suggests that the whey protein nanofibril could be employed as a material to enhance the food applications of curcumin as a water-insoluble bioactive compound.
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•Whey protein nanofibrils (WPN) with high surface hydrophobicity were produced.•Binding of curcumin to WPN drastically increased its aqueous solubility at pH 3.2.•Curcumin was bound to WPN mainly by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds.•Curcumin-WPN nanocomplexes showed a good antioxidant activity and high viscosity.
The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of chitosan-pullulan (50:50) composite edible coating enrich with pomegranate peel extract on quality and storage life of green bell ...pepper at room (23 ± 3 °C, RH: 40–45%) and cold (4 ± 3 °C, RH: 90–95%) temperatures for 18 days. Physiochemical characteristics as well as the quality of the bell peppers were improved by coating treatment at both the storage temperatures. Results revealed that chitosan-pullulan (50:50) composite edible coating exhibited significantly reduced physiological loss in weight & color browning, maintained total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH. The treatment also helps to maintain phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, firmness, and sensorial attributes of bell pepper over the storage period. The sensory scores (freshness, color, taste, hardness) were recorded higher in treated bell-pepper during the storage period at both storage temperatures. Therefore, results of the present study suggested that composite coating of green bell pepper with chitosan-pullulan (50:50) enrich with pomegranate peel extract can maintain postharvest storage quality of bell pepper at room and cold storage temperature during storage.
•Development of chitosan-pullulan (50:50) composite edible coating with incorporation of pomegranate peel extract.•Edible coating maintained the physiochemical characteristics of the bell-pepper.•Enhanced the shelf life of the bell-pepper during storage period.•Sensory characteristic of treated bell pepper was superior during the storage period.
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of corona discharge plasma (CDP) treatments of different durations (1, 3, 5, and 10 min) on the drying kinetics and quality attributes of lilies, ...including color, enzyme activities, total phenols content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. The microstructure of lilies under different CDP conditions were also investigated. As a result, all CDP treatments enhanced the drying rate relative to untreated lilies, and the shortest drying time of 7 h was obtained at CDP-3 minute samples. CDP treatment led to a higher retention in the TPC of dried lilies. Microstructural analysis revealed the formation of irregular micropores on the surface of the lilies after CDP treatment, which was closely associated with the accelerated drying rate and improved bioactive substances of the dried product. In conclusion, CDP has emerged as a novel and beneficial pretreatment technique that accelerates the drying process and enhances the nutritional qualities of dried lilies.
•Corona discharge plasma application was tested as a pretreatment to drying of lilies.•CDP pretreatment markedly enhanced the drying ratio and rehydration ratio.•The CDP treatment did not demonstrate a competitive advantage in terms of preserving color.•The use of CDP increased the preservation of TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity in dried lilies.
Raw Pu-erh tea (RAPT) was employed for kombucha fermentation using tea fungus obtained from different regions of China. The metagenomic sequencing revealed that Gluconobacter and Komagataeibacter ...were dominant bacterial genera and Brettanomyces and Starmerella were dominant fungal genera identified in the three samples. For volatile profile analysis, a total of 95 volatile compounds were identified in the three RAPT kombucha samples and 12 of them were recognized as aroma active compounds due to their high OAVs (≥1). The significant differences of volatiles in three samples were observed by the principal components analysis (PCA), which demonstrated that the flavor and sensory profile of RAPT kombucha were greatly influenced by the tea fungus. In addition, the antioxidant assay revealed that tea fungus fermentation could significantly (p < 0.05) enhance the bioactivity of RAPT due to the greatly (p < 0.05) increased total polyphenol content (TPC).
•Raw Pu-erh tea (RAPT) was employed as new substrate for kombucha production.•The microbial composition and volatiles composition of RAPT kombucha were evaluated.•Key aroma compounds of three kombucha were identified and further quantified.•Significant differences in aroma and bioactivity were observed among tested kombucha.•The relationship between phytochemicals and the antioxidant capacity was evaluated.
•A new HPLC-MS/MS method for analysis of 36 phenolics in berry fruits and jams.•Blueberry exhibited higher contents of anthocyanins, flavonols and phenolic acids.•Strawberry showed higher amounts of ...flavan-3-ols, dihydrochalcones and flavanones.•Higher phenolic content in the blueberry justified greater antioxidant activity.•This HPLC-MS/MS method is reliable for quality control analyses of fruit products.
Berry fruits consumption has increased in recent years because they are rich sources of polyphenols with reported health benefits. The aim of the present work was to develop a new comprehensive and fast HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of 36 phenolic compounds (7 anthocyanins, 9 flavonols, 4 flavan-3-ols, 2 dihydrochalcones, 2 flavanones and 12 phenolic acids) present in blueberry, strawberry, and their fruit jam. Blueberry fruits showed higher contents of anthocyanins, flavonols and phenolic acids, while strawberry fruits exhibited higher contents of flavan-3-ols, dihydrochalcones and flavanones. Anthocyanins were the main phenolic constituents in both berries. Furthermore, the higher total phenolic content in the blueberry fruit and jam justified their greater antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH free radical assay, compared to strawberry. In conclusion, this new HPLC-MS/MS method is useful and reliable for quality control and authentication analyses of blueberry and strawberry fruits and their commercial food products, such as jams.
The Special Issue “Extractable and Non-Extractable Antioxidants” gives an updated view on antioxidants—both in their extractable and non-extractable form—in the different food groups, their products ...thereof, and food preparations as well as byproducts and biomass waste. The potential beneficial properties of these compounds and nutraceutical formulations are described in the various studies covered in this Special Issue.
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•New bis(2-furanylmethyl)spiro(N/N)cyclotriphosphazenes and some quaternized derivatives were prepared.•The characteristic NMR spectral data of the phosphazenes were elucidated.•The ...crystal structures of two phosphazenes were determined crystallographically.•The antioxidant activities of the phosphazenes were evaluated.
In the present study, the reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (N3P3CI6, HCCP) and N1,N2-bis(2-furanylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane (1) yielded the tetrachloro-spiro(ethane-1,2-diamino)-N,N-bis(2-furanylmethyl)cyclotriphosphazene (2). Tetrachlorocyclotriphosphazene (2) was then converted to fully substituted cyclotriphosphazenes (2a-2e) using secondary amines and sodium dimethylaminoethoxide. Compound 2e with dimethylaminoethoxy chains was quaternized in substituted nitrogen by reacting with methyl iodide (CH3I) to give polyiodo salt (2f). Subsequent metathesis with bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt (LiNTf2) gave the corresponding ionic salt (2g). This phosphazene-based amide salt (2g) arose as a viscous liquid at room temperature. The structures of 2–2g were confirmed by elemental analysis, HRMS, FT-IR, 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR data. The crystal structures of 2 and 2b were also elucidated by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the antioxidant activities of the phosphazene derivatives were investigated using free radical scavenging assays. The highest radical scavenging activity values (%) were detected for compounds 2e (53.4 ± 0.4) and 2f (56.1 ± 0.2).
