Recent insights in flavor-enhancers: Definition, mechanism of action, taste-enhancing ingredients, analytical techniques and the potential of utilization.

The consumers' demand for clean-label food products, lead to the replacement of conventional additives and redesign of the production methods in order to adopt green processes. Many researchers have focused on the identification and isolation of naturally occurring taste and flavor enhancers. The term "taste enhancer" and "flavor enhancer" refer to umami and kokumi components, respectively, and their utilization requires the study of their mechanism of action and the identification of their natural sources. Plants, fungi and dairy products can provide high amounts of naturally occurring taste and flavor enhancers. Thermal or enzymatic treatments of the raw materials intensify taste and flavor properties. Their utilization as taste and flavor enhancers relies on their identification and isolation. All the above-mentioned issues are discussed in this review, from the scope of listing the newest trends and up-to-date technological developments. Additionally, the appropriate sensory analysis protocols of the naturally occurring taste-active components are presented. Moreover, future trends in using such ingredients by the food industry can motivate researchers to study new means for clean-label food production and provide further knowledge to the food industry, in order to respond to consumers' demands.

A natural approach in food preservation: Propolis extract as sorbate alternative in non-carbonated beverage.

Propolis extract was investigated as potential substitute for sorbate in orangeade. Extract was prepared by using aqueous solution of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins. Propolis extract was incorporated in non-carbonated orange soft drinks and its antioxidant activity, microbiological stability and color changes were estimated and compared to those of orangeade containing potassium sorbate. l-Ascorbic acid (AsA) degradation at concentrations 0.13 and 1.3% w/w was investigated in the presence of propolis during storage using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ion Exclusion Column (HPLC-IEC). The results indicate that the rate of degradation decreased with an increase in ascorbic acid concentration, while addition of propolis affected the degradation rate of samples containing a high AsA concentration. The antifungal effect of propolis extract, potassium sorbate and their combination was assayed. Results showed the inhibition of Aspergillus spp. and B. bruxellensis inhibited in low combined concentrations antimicrobials, while Aspergillus spp. and T. macrosporus were inhibited at 450 mg/g propolis extract.