Nutritional, chemical, and antioxidant screening of selected varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris spp.) from organic and conventional agriculture.

BACKGROUND: Lentils are an ancient legume established worldwide for direct consumption and with great potential for application in food processing. In addition, it is a sustainable crop owing to its ability to scavenge nitrogen and carbon, and it improves the nutrient status of the soil. A diet rich in lentils has been linked to significant health benefits. However, the composition of lentils can be influenced by both the lentil variety and the growing conditions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutritional profiles and antioxidant potential, as well as the impact that the type of cultivation (conventional or organic) and the variety could have on these parameters, in different lentil varieties. RESULTS: Overall, carbohydrates are the major macronutrients in all varieties, with notable amounts of fibre (11.62-27.36%) and starch (41.98-50.27%). High amounts of protein and ash were also identified, particularly in the Beluga variety, with 21.9-23.3 and 1.38-1.82 g 100 g-1 fresh weight, respectively. Fructose and sucrose were detected (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with refraction index detection), along with oxalic, quinic, malic, and shikimic acids (ultra-fast liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection), and α- and γ-tocopherol isoforms (HPLC with fluorescence detection). Fatty acid methyl ester assessment showed the prevalence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (33.5-46.3%). Good antioxidant capacity (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay) was also noted. CONCLUSION: The results obtained showed that all the varieties analysed are an excellent source of fibre and have a good antioxidant capacity. Lentil variety has a greater influence on its nutritional composition than the type of cultivation. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Fucus vesiculosus extracts as natural antioxidants for improvement of physicochemical properties and shelf life of pork patties formulated with oleogels.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information in the literature concerning the feasibility of using algal extracts as natural additives for improvement of the quality and shelf-life of meat products. Hence, a Fucus vesiculosus extract (FVE) at the concentrations of 250 mg kg-1 (FVE-250), 500 mg kg-1 (FVE-500) and 1000 mg kg-1 (FVE-1000) were added to pork patties with linseed oil oleogel as a fat replacer. RESULTS: Total polyphenol content of FVE was determined to be 20 g phloroglucinol equivalents 100 g-1 extract. Antioxidant values ranged from 37.5 µmol of Trolox equivalents (TE) g-1 (FRAP assay) to 2111 µmol TE g-1 extract (ABTS assay). Regarding oxidation stability, FVE-1000 showed the lowest values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance and carbonyl content. On the other hand, FVE did not improve color, surface discoloration or odor attributes of patties during storage. Sensory evaluation revealed that there was no significant difference among all studied samples. CONCLUSION: Although FVEs have a high polyphenol content and antioxidant activities, they are not effective oxidation inhibitors for long-term storage of meat products. Therefore, additional measures or compounds should be considered when FVE is the only antioxidant in meat products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

A comparison of the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of different Cichorium spinosum L. ecotypes.

BACKGROUND: Wild greens are considered a rich source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants and an essential part of the so-called Mediterranean diet. In the present study, Cichorium spinosum L. ecotypes, cultivated or collected in situ from wild plants from the eastern Mediterranean, were evaluated regarding their phenolic composition and antioxidant activity. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed among the various studied ecotypes regarding their phenolic compound content and profile, especially between wild and cultivated ecotypes, as well as the phenolic acid content between commercial products and cultivated plants. The antioxidant activity also varied among the various studied ecotypes and growing conditions, with commercial products having the highest antioxidant activity, whereas wild ecotypes showed lower antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: Cichorium spinosum leaves are a rich source of chicoric and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, while significant differences in total phenolic acids, flavonoids and phenolic compound content and in antioxidant activity were observed among the studied ecotypes, as well as between the tested growing conditions. According to the results of the present study, further valorization of C. spinosum species has great potential, since it could be used as a new alternative species in the food industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.