Impact of crossflow microfiltration on aroma and sensory profiles of a potential functional citrus-based food.

BACKGROUND: Citrus juices can be cold-concentrated by crossflow microfiltration (CMF) in order to obtain functional foods enriched in carotenoids, flavonoids and pectins. The work aimed to characterize the organoleptic quality of this type of micronutrient-dense foods through their aroma profile and sensory analysis. Two citrus concentrates with and without a diafiltration step were compared. RESULTS: Both citrus products were very different, linked to aroma compound, sugar and organic acid contents. Due to its sugar/acidity balance and its better aromatic profile responsible for the citrus-floral flavour, the concentrate without diafiltration was preferred by the sensory panel. Thanks to a simple transfer model, we showed that retention of volatiles clearly varied from one aroma compound to another. The terpene hydrocarbons were the most retained by the membrane during CMF, probably because they were strongly associated with insoluble solids by adsorption. CONCLUSION: Even though the process modified their organoleptic profiles, both citrus-based products were well rated and can be consumed directly as pleasant functional drinks. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of the extraction procedure on the kinetics of anthocyanin and colour degradation of roselle extracts during storage.

BACKGROUND: The stability of anthocyanins and colour of aqueous extracts from roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) was investigated during storage at 4-45 °C. The effect of the extraction procedure (cold or hot extraction with or without pasteurisation) on the kinetic behaviour was determined. RESULTS: Data analysis showed first-order kinetics for the evolution of anthocyanin content, colour density, colour strength and browning index. Three models (Arrhenius, Eyring and Ball) were used to represent the temperature dependence of the reaction rates. The three models allowed the prediction of colour modifications according to the storage temperature over 6 months. Activation energies ranged from 22 to 26 kJ mol(-1) for anthocyanin degradation and from 18 to 34 kJ mol(-1) for colour parameter modification. The degradation rate during storage depended on the extraction procedure. When heated, the extracts were clearly less stable. Their colour changed faster during storage especially when hot water and pasteurisation were used. CONCLUSION: Although the anthocyanin content and initial colour were not modified, the extraction conditions, especially temperature, greatly affected the stability of the extracts during storage. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved.

Characterisation of the volatile profile of coconut water from five varieties using an optimised HS-SPME-GC analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water is a refreshing tropical drink whose international market has recently been growing. However, little is yet known about its physicochemical composition, particularly its aroma. This study set out to characterise the volatile profile of water from five coconut varieties. RESULTS: Aroma compounds were characterised by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC) analysis. An experimental design was established to optimise SPME conditions, leading to an equilibration time of 10 min followed by an extraction time of 60 min at 50 °C. Accordingly, immature coconut water from WAT (West African Tall), PB121 (MYD × WAT Hybrid), MYD (Malayan Yellow Dwarf), EGD (Equatorial Guinea Green Dwarf) and THD (Thailand Aromatic Green Dwarf) palms was analysed and described. Ketones were mainly present in the Tall and Hybrid varieties, whereas aldehydes were most abundant in the Dwarf palms. Tall coconut water was characterised by a high lactone content. THD exhibited a high ethyl octanoate level. The cluster analysis of the volatile fraction from the five coconut cultivars was found to be related to their genetic classification. CONCLUSION: The volatile compounds of immature coconut water from five varieties were characterised for the first time. Volatile profile analysis could be a useful tool for the selection of Dwarf coconut varieties, which are mainly consumed as a beverage.

Enhancement of the in vitro bioavailable carotenoid content of a citrus juice combining crossflow microfiltration and high-pressure treatments.

High-pressure treatments combined with crossflow microfiltration were used to obtain citrus concentrates enriched in carotenoids. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this process combination on carotenoid bioaccessibility and uptake by intestinal Caco-2 cells. Two high-pressure processes, high hydrostatic pressure treatment (HHP) and ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) were compared to conventional pasteurization. Processing effects on carotenoid content and bioaccessibility, on physicochemical and structural characteristics of the product, on methylation degree of pectins and micelle size after in vitro digestion were assessed. UHPH at 400 MPa drastically enhanced carotenoid bioaccessibility compared to HHP and pasteurization. Moreover, carotenoid uptake by Caco-2 cells was significantly improved by UHPH underlining the importance of the micelle size after in vitro digestion and the degree of methylation of pectins in this uptake. Finally, the in vitro bioavailable carotenoid content of different concentrates was evaluated, taking into account carotenoid content, bioaccessibility and uptake. Combining crossflow microfiltration with UHPH increased by 4-6 fold the bioavailable carotenoid content in the final product. The process led to a concentrate of high nutritional quality compared to the original juice, raw or pasteurized concentrates.

Sensory quantitative descriptive analysis of African slimy okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) preparations and its correlation with instrumental parameters.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the ingredients used in traditional West and Central African gastronomy because of the slimy texture it gives to sauces, soups and stews. However, in the literature, the definition of "sliminess" is unclear, the textural perception of these slimy preparations has not been described, and the possibility of measuring the textural quality of these sauces instrumentally has not been established. This study therefore aims (a) to identify the sensory attributes adapted to describe the texture of these slimy sauces and (b) to verify that the instrumental measurements adapted to characterize the rheology and texture of these sauces are well correlated to these attributes. Nine okra sauces were prepared by varying their formulation and the preparation process. A quantitative descriptive sensory analysis and a ranking test were carried out with a trained panel of 16 panelists. The texture of the okra-based slimy sauces prepared can be described using 11 attributes referring to their consistency and to their adhesive, elastic, elongation and functional properties. Results showed that sliminess is a complex textural property resulting from the combined perception of stringiness and viscosity of semi-solid matrices. Therefore, it is not possible to correctly predict the sensory perception of sliminess with a single instrumental measurement. However, measuring their consistency index K and their stringiness is necessary and sufficient to characterize the texture of these sauces and to predict the sensory perception of their consistency and elongational properties.

Clustering of instrumental methods to characterize the texture and the rheology of slimy okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) suspensions.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the ingredients widely used in African gastronomy because of the unique slimy texture it gives to sauces. However, processing and formulation can affect the textural and rheological properties of these sauces, leading to unacceptable quality for the African consumer. The aim of this study was to select the instrumental measurements best enabling (a) characterization of the rheology and texture of slimy sauces prepared from okra and (b) monitoring its evolution during the preservation process. Thirty-seven slimy suspensions (sauces and purées) were measured with 16 rheological and textural parameters. A principal component analysis revealed that flow consistency index K and flow behavior index n were well correlated with visco-elastic, adhesive, and shear thinning properties, and that stringiness was well correlated with elongational, cohesive, and ductile properties. These two sets of measurement methods are sufficient to characterize their rheological and textural properties, and necessary to discriminate them according to their process and formulation.

Alcoholic fermentation as a potential tool for coffee pulp detoxification and reuse: Analysis of phenolic composition and caffeine content by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS.

High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array (HPLC-DAD) and liquid chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) were used to characterize raw and fermented coffee pulps in terms of their phenolic composition and caffeine content. The qualitative analysis showed no significant differences between the raw and the fermented pulps. Free hydroxycinnamic acids (HAs) were mainly chlorogenic acids, with 5-caffeoylquinic acid as the major compound. Bound HAs released caffeic acids during alkaline hydrolysis, and no bound ferulic and p-coumaric acids were detected. The fermentation process allowed the detoxification of the pulp from caffeine by 50%, while significantly reducing the amounts of residue by 64%. Moreover, the fermented products could be further processed to provide high added-value molecules with potential industrial applications, providing a new source of income for the small coffee producers.

Monitoring anthocyanin degradation in Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts with multi-curve resolution on spectral measurement during storage.

This study aims to monitor composition changes in an anthocyanin-rich beverage during storage by the means of UV-VIS measurements associated with a multi-curve resolution procedure. Hibiscus sabdariffa extract was stored at 37 °C for 50 days and UV-VIS spectra were measured on the extract and the fractions of the extract every 5 days. MCR was carried out in two steps, first with the fraction and then the extract spectra. The results enabled the main polyphenols initially present to be identified, anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid, but also found the nature of the main degradation products: the polymers from anthocyanin condensation and scission products. In addition, comparison with HPLC analysis results showed that the MCR procedure recovered the correct shapes of the concentration profiles particularly of anthocyanin and polymer kinetics during storage. This work gives perspective for the use of a rapid and efficient technique to monitor pigment-rich beverage processing or storage.

Analysis of the main components of the aguamiel produced by the maguey-pulquero (Agave mapisaga) throughout the harvest period.

The main characteristics of the aguamiel (maguey-pulquero sap) during the harvest period of the Agave mapisaga plants were assessed to establish its stability through time and the industrial potential of its components. Only minor differences in aguamiel composition were detected among samples collected at different time points of the harvest period. The aguamiel analyzed contained 11.5 wt % of dry matter, which was composed mainly of sugars (75 wt %). Among these sugars, 10 wt % were fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which are known to be important in the food industry for their prebiotic properties. Other components include 0.3 wt % of free amino acids (with most essential amino acids and four neurotransmitters: GABA, GLY, GLX, and ASX), 3 wt % of proteins, and 3 wt % of ashes.

Bioaccessibility of Biofortified Sweet Potato Carotenoids in Baby Food: Impact of Manufacturing Process.

Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), a biofortified crop rich in ß-carotene, can be used as a component of baby food recipes in order to tackle vitamin A deficiency in children <6 years old. In this work, the impact of formulation (addition of pumpkin, oil, and egg yolk) and industrial heat processing (pasteurization, sterilization) on carotenoid content and bioaccessibility was evaluated in an OFSP-based baby puree. A commercial OFSP baby food product from Brazil and a homemade OFSP puree were used as references. The losses of all-trans-ß-carotene ranged from 16 to 21% (pasteurization, homemade) to 32% (sterilization). Because of higher particle sizes and despite a higher content in carotenoids, the homemade puree had a lower bioaccessibility (i.e., micellar transfer using in vitro digestion: 0.50%) compared with the sterilized and commercial purees (5.3-6.2%). Taking into account bioaccessibility and applying a 50% conversion to retinol, a 115 g baby portion of the sterilized OFSP-puree formulated with 2% oil provided 31.4% of the daily vitamin A requirement (RDA) for children under 6 years. In comparison, 115 g of homemade OFSP-puree provided only 3.5% of the RDA. Addition of pumpkin to OFSP did not improve the percentage of RDA. Interestingly, the incorporation of an emulsifier (egg yolk powder) before cooking could improve the percentage of provision by a factor of 2.7. These results showed that reaching a balance between formulation and processing is determinant to maximize carotenoid bioaccessibility of carotenoids from OFSP-based baby food.

Thermal degradation of antioxidant micronutrients in citrus juice: kinetics and newly formed compounds.

The thermal degradation kinetics of vitamin C, two carotenoids (beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin), and hesperidin, as a function of temperature, were determined for Citrus juice [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck and Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan]. The influence of dissolved oxygen on the rate of ascorbic acid degradation was also assessed. Analysis of kinetic data suggested a first-order reaction for the degradation of vitamin C and carotenoids. The kinetics parameters Dtheta, z, and Ea have been calculated. Following the Arrhenius relationship, the activation energy of ascorbic acid was 35.9 kJ mol-1 and agreed with the range of literature reported value. The results on vitamin C and carotenoids from citrus juice made it possible to validate the predicting model. Thermal degradation of carotenoids revealed differences in stability among the main provitamin A carotenoids and between these and other carotenoids belonging to the xanthophyll family. The activation energies for the two provitamin A carotenoids were 110 and 156 kJ mol-1 for beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, respectively. On the other hand, no degradation of hesperidin was observed during thermal treatment. Finally, the vitamin C in citrus juice was not as heat sensitive as expected and the main provitamin A carotenoids present in citrus juice displayed a relative heat stability. The high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry analysis of degradation products showed that the isomerization of the epoxide function in position 5,6 into a furanoxide function in position 5,8 was a common reaction for several xanthophylls. These findings will help determine optimal processing conditions for minimizing the degradation of important quality factors such as vitamin C and carotenoid in citrus juice.

Anthocyanins degradation during storage of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract and evolution of its degradation products.

Degradation parameters of two main anthocyanins from roselle extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) stored at different temperatures (4-37°C) over 60days were determined. Anthocyanins and some of their degradation products were monitored and quantified using HPLC-MS and DAD. Degradation of anthocyanins followed first-order kinetics and reaction rate constants (k values), which were obtained by non-linear regression, showed that the degradation rate of delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside was higher than that of cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside with k values of 9.2·10(-7)s(-1) and 8.4·10(-7)s(-1) at 37°C respectively. The temperature dependence of the rate of anthocyanin degradation was modeled by the Arrhenius equation. Degradation of delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside (Ea=90kJmol(-1)) tended to be significantly more sensitive to an increase in temperature than cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside (Ea=80kJmol(-1)). Degradation of these anthocyanins formed scission products (gallic and protocatechuic acids respectively) and was accompanied by an increase in polymeric color index.

Exploration of reaction mechanisms of anthocyanin degradation in a roselle extract through kinetic studies on formulated model media.

Effect of oxygen, polyphenols and metals was studied on degradation of delphinidin and cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Experiments were conducted on aqueous extracts degassed or not, an isolated polyphenolic fraction and extract-like model media, allowing the impact of the different constituents to be decoupled. All solutions were stored for 2months at 37°C. Anthocyanin and their degradation compounds were regularly HPLC-DAD-analyzed. Oxygen concentration did not impact the anthocyanin degradation rate. Degradation rate of delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside increased 6-fold when mixed with iron from 1 to 13mg.kg-1 but decreased with chlorogenic and gallic acids. Degradation rate of cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside was not affected by polyphenols but increased by 3-fold with increasing iron concentration with a concomitant yield decrease of scission product, protocatechuic acid. Two pathways of degradation of anthocyanins were identified: a major metal-catalyzed oxidation followed by condensation and a minor scission which represents about 10% of degraded anthocyanins.

Effect of Temperature on Acidity and Hydration Equilibrium Constants of Delphinidin-3-O- and Cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside Calculated from Uni- and Multiwavelength Spectroscopic Data.

Delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside are the main anthocyanins of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces, traditionally used to make a bright red beverage by decoction in water. At natural pH, these anthocyanins are mainly in their flavylium form (red) in equilibrium with the quinonoid base (purple) and the hemiketal (colorless). For the first time, their acidity and hydration equilibrium constants were obtained from a pH-jump method followed by UV-vis spectroscopy as a function of temperature from 4 to 37 °C. Equilibrium constant determination was also performed by multivariate curve resolution (MCR). Acidity and hydration constants of cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside at 25 °C were 4.12 × 10(-5) and 7.74 × 10(-4), respectively, and were significantly higher for delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside (4.95 × 10(-5) and 1.21 × 10(-3), respectively). MCR enabled the obtaining of concentration and spectrum of each form but led to overestimated values for the equilibrium constants. However, both methods showed that formations of the quinonoid base and hemiketal were endothermic reactions. Equilibrium constants of anthocyanins in the hibiscus extract showed comparable values as for the isolated anthocyanins.

Evaluation of lactoperoxidase system treatment to reduce anthracnose, stem-end rot, and bacterial black spot development during storage of mangoes.

The lactoperoxidase system (LPS) was evaluated for the prevention of postharvest diseases caused by Xanthomonas campestris, Botryodiplodia theobromae, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in 'Keitt' and 'Kent' mangoes. The LPS treatment significantly reduced the disease development on both cultivars after storage at 12 degrees C for 2 weeks, which was followed by a ripening at 25 degrees C. The LPS treatment did not alter the sensory quality of mango fruits (color, firmness, titrable acidity, and total soluble solids) when compared to untreated fruits. The LPS thus presents good potential alternative to the chemical fungicides traditionally used to improve the shelf life of mangoes.

Effect of the lactoperoxidase system against three major causal agents of disease in mangoes.

The antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) on the growth of Xanthomonas campestris, the causal agent of bacterial black spot in mangoes, Botryodiplodia theobromae, the causal agent of stem-end rot disease in mangoes, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of anthracnose disease in mangoes, was determined during culture at 30 degrees C and at several pH values (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5). When the results of using the LPS were compared with those from control cultures without the LPS reagents, the growth of the three microorganisms was totally inhibited in all of the conditions tested. Viability tests enumerating cultivable cells of X. campestris showed that the LPS had a bactericidal effect, whatever the pH value. This effect is faster at pH 5.5, corroborating the results reported in the literature (optimal pH for the LPS efficiency). Further, we proved that hydrogen peroxide alone had little inhibition effect on the growth of the microorganisms studied. This compound is essentially used to convert thiocyanate into hypothiocyanate during the lactoperoxidase reaction. The potential of the LPS for the postharvest treatment of the fruits for controlling microbial diseases was thus demonstrated. Nevertheless, further studies are needed on fresh fruits before envisaging any application.

Carotene reactivity in pink grapefruit juice elucidated from model systems and multiresponse modeling.

This study was carried out to assess the impact of pink grapefruit juice composition and structure on the degradation kinetics of lycopene and ß-carotene using model systems and multiresponse modeling. Carotenes were heated at four temperatures in their native matrix (juice) or were extracted and incorporated in water/ethanol emulsion systems formulated with or without ascorbic acid or naringin. Kinetic analysis showed that the rate constants and activation energy were lower for lycopene than for ß-carotene in the juice, while this trend was inversed in the model system. Multiresponse modeling was used to analyze the role of ascorbic acid and naringin in carotene degradation. Ascorbic acid had a very low impact, while naringin significantly increased the carotene degradation and isomerization rates. We concluded that lycopene was more sensitive to thermal degradation and phytochemical interactions than ß-carotene, but this behavior was masked in the fruit juice matrix by better structural protection.

Cashew apple extract inhibition of fat storage and insulin resistance in the diet-induced obesity mouse model.

The cashew apple is an unvalued by-product from the cashew nut industry, of which millions of tonnes are simply discarded globally. Interestingly, however, cashew apple nutrients may have beneficial effects for health even if these are still poorly described. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of a hydro-alcoholic extract of cashew apple (cashew apple extract; CAE; Cashewin(™)) on obesity and diabetes, in two experimental designs using the diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. First, in the preventive design, mice were treated orally with the CAE at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight from the first day under a high-fat diet (HFD) and during 8 weeks thereafter. Second, in the curative design, the animals were first maintained under the HFD for 4 weeks and then treated with the CAE for a further 4 weeks under the same regimen. For both experimental designs, body weight, peri-epididymal adipose tissue, liver weight, food consumption, glycaemia, insulinaemia and insulin resistance were assessed. In both designs, the CAE significantly reduced body-weight gain and fat storage in both the peri-epididymal adipose tissue and the liver for mice under the HFD. This was achieved without modifying their energy consumption. Furthermore, glycaemia, insulinaemia and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) of the DIO mice were significantly lowered compared with the control group. Thus, a well-designed hydro-alcoholic extract of cashew apple could provide an attractive nutritional food ingredient to help support the management of body weight and associated metabolic parameters such as blood glucose and insulin levels.

Degradation kinetic modelling of ascorbic acid and colour intensity in pasteurised blood orange juice during storage.

The stability of ascorbic acid and colour intensity in pasteurised blood orange juice (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) during one month of storage was investigated at 4-37 °C. The effects of ascorbic acid fortification (at 100, 200 mg L(-1)) and deaeration, temperature/time storage on the kinetic behaviour were determined. Ascorbic acid was monitored by HPLC-DAD and colour intensity by spectrophotometric measurements. Degradation kinetics were best fitted by first-order reaction models for both ascorbic acid and colour intensity. Three models (Arrhenius, Eyring and Ball) were used to assess the temperature-dependent degradation. Following the Arrhenius model, activation energies were ranged from 51 to 135 kJ mol(-1) for ascorbic acid and from 49 to 99 kJ mol(-1) for colour intensity. The effect of storage temperature and deaeration are the most influent factors on kinetics degradation, while the fortification revealed no significant effect on ascorbic acid content and colour intensity.

Thermal degradation kinetics of xanthophylls from blood orange in model and real food systems.

Thermal degradation kinetics of the major blood orange xanthophylls (cis-violaxanthin, lutein, ß-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and cis-antheraxanthin) were investigated at 45, 60, 75, and 90°C in real juice and three model systems formulated to evaluate the impact of xanthophyll form (esterified or free) and pH (acid or neutral). Xanthophylls were monitored by HPLC-DAD and kinetic parameters were identified by non-linear regression. A second order model best fitted the degradation curves of xanthophylls. All degradation rates were the lowest in real juice. Esterified forms were more stable than were the free forms. In all acidic media, ß-cryptoxanthin exhibited the lowest degradation rates followed by lutein and zeaxanthin. In comparison, the epoxy carotenoids cis-violaxanthin and cis-antheraxanthin degraded around 3-fold faster in their esterified form. In their free form, cis-antheraxanthin degraded 30-fold faster while cis-violaxanthin instantaneously disappeared because of the isomerisation of its 5,6-epoxy groups into 5,8-epoxy. By contrast, in neutral medium, free epoxy-xanthophylls were about 2-fold more stable than were the free hydroxy xanthophylls lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin. Kinetic behaviours of xanthophylls were closely dependent on their chemical structures.