Brewing method-dependent changes of volatile aroma constituents of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.).

The determination of optimal levels of green tea amount and brewing time would have a crucial role in the accumulation of desired aromatic volatile compounds to meet worldwide market demand. Aroma is the most important factor influencing tea consumers' choices along with taste, price, and brand. This study aims to determine how the brewing time and amount of green tea affect the aroma profile of green tea infusion. The effect of the amount of Turkish green tea (5-10 g) and brewing time (5-60 min) on aromatic volatile compounds was evaluated using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The SPME/GC-MS analysis identified 57 components in the aroma profile of green tea infusions including 13 esters, 12 alkanes, 7 unknowns, 6 ketones, 3 alcohols, 2 terpenes, 2 terpenoids, 1 alkaloid, 1 phenolic compound, 1 lactone, 1 pyrazine, and 1 norisoprenoid. The green tea amount and brewing time had significant effects on the number of chemical compounds. A total of 42, 47, and 36 aromatic volatile compounds were determined by brewing 5, 7.5, and 10 g of green tea. The most abundant constituents in green tea infusions were phytone, 2-decenal, lauric acid, unknown 1, methoxy-1-methylethyl pyrazine, α-ionone, ß-ionone, and diethyl phthalate (DEP). With this study, the aroma structures of green tea infusion have been revealed for the first time depending on the brewing time and quantity.

Recent Advances in Dietary Sources, Health Benefits, Emerging Encapsulation Methods, Food Fortification, and New Sensor-Based Monitoring of Vitamin B12: A Critical Review.

In this overview, the latest achievements in dietary origins, absorption mechanism, bioavailability assay, health advantages, cutting-edge encapsulation techniques, fortification approaches, and innovative highly sensitive sensor-based detection methods of vitamin B12 (VB12) were addressed. The cobalt-centered vitamin B is mainly found in animal products, posing challenges for strict vegetarians and vegans. Its bioavailability is highly influenced by intrinsic factor, absorption in the ileum, and liver reabsorption. VB12 mainly contributes to blood cell synthesis, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health, and potentially reduces anemia and optic neuropathy. Microencapsulation techniques improve the stability and controlled release of VB12. Co-microencapsulation of VB12 with other vitamins and bioactive compounds enhances bioavailability and controlled release, providing versatile initiatives for improving bio-functionality. Nanotechnology, including nanovesicles, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles can enhance the delivery, stability, and bioavailability of VB12 in diverse applications, ranging from antimicrobial agents to skincare and oral insulin delivery. Staple food fortification with encapsulated and free VB12 emerges as a prominent strategy to combat deficiency and promote nutritional value. Biosensing technologies, such as electrochemical and optical biosensors, offer rapid, portable, and sensitive VB12 assessment. Carbon dot-based fluorescent nanosensors, nanocluster-based fluorescent probes, and electrochemical sensors show promise for precise detection, especially in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Effect of Alginate-Microencapsulated Hydrogels on the Survival of Lactobacillus rhamnosus under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions.

Thanks to the beneficial properties of probiotic bacteria, there exists an immense demand for their consumption in probiotic foods worldwide. Nevertheless, it is difficult to retain a high number of viable cells in probiotic food products during their storage and gastrointestinal transit. Microencapsulation of probiotic bacteria is an effective way of enhancing probiotic viability by limiting cell exposure to extreme conditions via the gastrointestinal tract before releasing them into the colon. This research aims to develop a new coating material system of microencapsulation to protect probiotic cells from adverse environmental conditions and improve their recovery rates. Hence, Lactobacillus rhamnosus was encapsulated with emulsion/internal gelation techniques in a calcium chloride solution. Alginate-probiotic microbeads were coated with xanthan gum, gum acacia, sodium caseinate, chitosan, starch, and carrageenan to produce various types of microcapsules. The alginate+xanthan microcapsules exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (95.13 ± 0.44%); they were simulated in gastric and intestinal juices at pH 3 during 1, 2, and 3 h incubations at 37 °C. The research findings showed a remarkable improvement in the survival rate of microencapsulated probiotics under simulated gastric conditions of up to 83.6 ± 0.89%. The morphology, size, and shape of the microcapsules were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. For the protection of probiotic bacteria under simulated intestinal conditions; alginate microbeads coated with xanthan gum played an important role, and exhibited a survival rate of 87.3 ± 0.79%, which was around 38% higher than that of the free cells (49.4 ± 06%). Our research findings indicated that alginate+xanthan gum microcapsules have a significant potential to deliver large numbers of probiotic cells to the intestines, where cells can be released and colonized for the consumer's benefit.

Effect of different microencapsulating materials and relative humidities on storage stability of microencapsulated grape pomace extract.

This work aims to prolong the storage stability of polyphenols, obtained from grape pomace, using a spray drying-based microencapsulation technique. The microcapsules obtained under optimal conditions were stored at two different relative humidities (33% and 52%) during 75 days. The analyses of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and individual phenolic compounds were carried out every 15 days, and the most stable microcapsules were achieved with maltodextrin DE4-7 prepared by adding gum Arabic to the wall material at a ratio of 8:2. The phenolic content loss rate was found to be in a range of 0.93-5.42 % depending on phenolic compound. The decrease in the content of rutin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, caftaric acid and catechin was only 0.93, 2.09, 2.13, 2.27, 2.41, 3.40 and 5.42%, respectively. These results indicate more efficient storage conditions than those of previously reported studies.

Microencapsulation of grape polyphenols using maltodextrin and gum arabic as two alternative coating materials: Development and characterization.

Phenolic compounds obtained from fruits have recently gained a great attention due to their bioactive roles. However, they are sensitive and they can be easily affected by physicochemical factors that create a great challenge to incorporate them into the food products. Hence, this work aimed to investigate microencapsulation of these compounds to provide a solution for this problem by improving their stability and protecting them against oxidation, light, moisture and temperature. A lab scale spray-dryer was chosen to produce microcapsules of polyphenols using different dextrose equivalents of maltodextrin and gum arabic as a coating material. Two different core: coating material ratios (1:1 and 1:2), three different maltodextrin: gum arabic ratios (10:0, 8:2 and 6:4), and four different inlet temperatures (120, 140, 160, 180°C) were investigated. When all parameters (yields, hygroscopicity, total and surface phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, individual phenolic compounds and particle morphology) were evaluated; the most efficient microcapsules were obtained with an 8:2 ratio of maltodextrin: gum arabic at 140°C inlet temperature. Microcapsules were also comprehensively studied and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).