A starch/gelatin-based Halochromic film with black currant anthocyanin and Nanocellulose-stabilized cinnamon essential oil Pickering emulsion: Towards real-time Salmon freshness assessment.

Neoterically, food packaging systems designed solely for prolonging shelf life or monitoring freshness could not fulfil the dynamic demands of consumers. In this current investigation, using the solvent casting method, a versatile halochromic indicator was created by integrating black currant anthocyanin and cinnamon essential oil-loaded Pickering emulsion into a starch/gelatin matrix. The resulting indicator film underwent scrutiny for its structural, pH-sensitive, antioxidant, and antimicrobial attributes. Unexpectedly, the amalgamation of anthocyanin and essential oil led to decreased antioxidant activity, dropping from 73.23 ± 2.17 to 28.87 ± 2.50 mg Trolox equivalent/g sample. Additionally, no discernible antimicrobial properties were detected in the composite film sample against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Fourier transform infrared analyses unveiled robust intermolecular interactions among the film-forming components, providing insights into the observed antagonistic effect. The indicator film displayed distinctive colour changes corresponding to the fresh (greyish-brown), onset of decomposition (khaki), and spoiled (dark green) stages of the stored fish sample. This highlights its promising potential for providing real-time indications of food spoilage. These findings are important for the efficient design of composite films incorporating anthocyanins and essential oils. They serve as a guide towards their potential use as multifunctional packaging materials in the food industry.

Assessment on malvidin-3-glucoside interaction with TLR4 via multi-spectroscopic analysis and molecular docking.

As one innate immune pattern recognition receptor, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recently has been considered as a critical player in glucolipid metabolism. Blueberries contain high level of anthocyanins, especially malvidin-3-glucoside (Mv-3-glc), which contribute the anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. It is speculated that Mv-3-glc is able to possess these functions by binding to TLR4. Here, the noncovalent interactions of Mv-3-glc and TLR4 was explored through multi-techniques including fluorescence and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, as well as molecular docking. The results demonstrated that Mv-3-glc was able to quench TLR4 intrinsic fluorescence effectively. A stable complex was formed spontaneously and the reaction was exothermic. The degree of binding of Mv-3-glc to TLR4 showed a strong dependence on the chemical concentration, temperature, and pH values. The negative signs for enthalpy (ΔH = -69.1 ± 10.8 kJ/mol) and entropy (ΔS = -105.0 ± 12.3 J/mol/K) from the interaction of the Mv-3-glc and TLR4 shows that the major driving forces are the hydrogen bonding and van der Waals' force, which is consistent with the molecular docking results. In addition, molecular docking predicted that the active center with specific amino acid residues, Phe126, Ser127, Leu54, Ile153, and Tyr131 was responsible for the site of Mv-3-glc binding to TLR4/myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2). These findings confirmed that Mv-3-glc could bind to TLR4, which would be beneficial to understand the target therapeutic effects of blueberry anthocyanins on TLR4 in regulating glucolipid metabolism.

Characterization and bioaccessibility assessment of bioactive compounds from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) powders and their food applications.

Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a tropical fruit known for its content of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate physicochemically, morphologically, andsensorialpowders from camu-camu obtained by spray-drying at two inlet temperatures (150 °C and 180 °C) with three encapsulating agents (maltodextrin, whey protein and a 50:50 mixture of both) and by freeze-drying of whole fruit. The use of maltodextrin protected bet anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) and delphinidin-3-glucoside (D3G)), but whey protein showed a better protective effect on ascorbic and malic acids. These facts were confirmed during the storage stability test, finding that relative humidity is a critical variable in preserving the bioactive compounds of camu-camu powders. The powders with the highest content of bioactive compounds were added to a yogurt and a white grape juice, and then sensory evaluated. The bioaccessibility studies in gastric and intestinal phases showed better recovery percentages of bioactive compounds in camu-camu powders (up to 60.8 %) and beverages (up to 90 %) for C3G, D3G, ascorbic acid, and malic acid than in the fruit juice. Dehydration of camu-camu (M. dubia) is a strategy to increase the bioactive compounds stability, modulate the fruit sensory properties, and improve their bioavailability after incorporation in food matrices.

Inflammatory and Metabolic Biomarker Assessment in a Randomized Presurgical Trial of Curcumin and Anthocyanin Supplements in Patients with Colorectal Adenomas.

Colorectal cancer prevention is crucial for public health, given its high mortality rates, particularly in young adults. The early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions is key to preventing carcinogenesis progression. Natural compounds like curcumin and anthocyanins show promise in impeding adenomatous polyp progression in preclinical models. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II presurgical trial in 35 patients with adenomatous polyps to explore the biological effects of curcumin and anthocyanins on circulating biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism. No significant difference in biomarker changes by treatment arm was observed. However, the network analysis before treatment revealed inverse correlations between adiponectin and BMI and glycemia, as well as direct links between inflammatory biomarkers and leptin and BMI. In addition, a considerable inverse relationship between adiponectin and grade of dysplasia was detected after treatment (corr = -0.45). Finally, a significant increase in IL-6 at the end of treatment in subjects with high-grade dysplasia was also observed (p = 0.02). The combined treatment of anthocyanins and curcumin did not result in the direct modulation of circulating biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism, but revealed a complex modulation of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis.

Cost-effective colorimetric sensor for authentication of protected designation of origin (PDO) Longjing green tea.

Traceability and authentication of protected designation of origin (PDO) tea is an important prerequisite to safeguard its production and distribution system. Here, indicator displacement array (IDA) sensors consisting of natural anthocyanidins and edible metal ions were developed to authenticate PDO and non-PDO Longjing from different origins. Five IDA elements were selected for constructing sensors, achieved by an indicator displacement reaction after adding epigallocatechin gallate solution. The obtained sensors were subsequently used for real tea samples. Unsupervised algorithms were used for data exploration among PDO and non-PDO teas. The supervised support vector machine (SVM) model further achieved accurate authentication of PDO and non-PDO Longjing with a correct classification rate of 100% for the 26 validated samples. The developed IDA sensor thus achieves accurate authentication of PDO tea in a hazard-free and cost-efficient way, providing a useful tool for origin authentication of other agricultural products.

Assessment of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' Grape Quality Half-Véraison to Maturity for Grapevines Grown in Different Regions.

Grapes are widely cultivated around the world and their quality has distinct regional characteristics. In this study, the qualitative characteristics of the 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grape variety in seven regions, from half-véraison to maturity, were analyzed comprehensively at physiological and transcriptional levels. The results indicated that the quality traits of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes in different regions were significantly different with obvious regionality. Total phenols, anthocyanins, and titratable acids were the main factors of the regionality of berry quality, which were very sensitive to changes in the environment. It should be noted that the changes in titrating acids and total anthocyanin of berries vary greatly from half-véraison to maturity between regions. Moreover, the transcriptional analysis showed that the co-expressed genes between regions characterized the core transcriptome of berry development, while the unique genes of each region reflected the regionality of berries. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between half-véraison and maturity can be used to demonstrate that the environment of the regions could promote or inhibit gene expression. The functional enrichment suggested that these DEGs help to understand the interpretation of the plasticity of the quality composition of grapes according to the environment. Taken together, the information generated by this study could contribute to the development of viticultural practices aimed at making better use of native varieties for the development of wines with regional characteristics.

Evaluation of different blackcurrant seed ingredients in meatballs by using conventional quality assessment and untargeted metabolomics.

Blackcurrants are sources of phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, possessing strong antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Therefore, the addition of different blackcurrant pomace ingredients may affect the overall meat quality. The actual chemical profile and bioactivities of blackcurrant pomace ingredients may strongly depend on its preparation; for instance, in our study the highest values of the in vitro antioxidant capacity were determined for blackcurrant seeds after supercritical CO2 extraction. Starting from these background conditions, in this work, we evaluated the ability of three different concentrations (namely 1, 3, and 5% w/w) of blackcurrant (BC) seeds following EtOH/water extraction (BC-AE), before supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (BC-RS), and after supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (BC-ASC) to affect different quality parameters of pork meatballs. These latter were stored considering three different time-points, namely 1, 3 and 6 days at 4 °C packed under modified atmosphere (i.e., 70% N2 and 30% CO2). Untargeted metabolomics allowed to identify several lipid and protein-related oxidation products involved in redox reactions, such as 13-L-hydroperoxylinoleic acid, (12S,13S)-epoxylinolenic acid, 9,10-epoxyoctadecenoic acid, glutathione, glutathione disulfide, L-carnosine, l-ascorbic acid, and tocotrienols. Besides, multivariate statistics applied on the metabolomics dataset confirmed that the chemical profile of meatballs was an exclusive combination of both BC inclusion levels and type of BC-ingredients considered. Our findings showed that the higher the concentration of BC seed ingredients in meatballs, the lower the cooking loss and the higher the fibre content. Also, all the ingredients significantly affected the colour parameters.

[Bioactive compounds anthocyanins as a factor in the nutritional recovery of the body's adaptive potential after intense physical activity in the experiment: assessment of immunological and hematological indicators of adaptation].

Restoring the adaptive potential of an athlete is of paramount importance not only for the implementation of his training and competitive activities, but also for maintaining health. One of the leading place in complex recovery programs in sports is given to full-fledged optimal nutrition, which provides for meeting the body's requirements not only in energy, macro- and micronutrients, but also in minor bioactive compounds. The use of anthocyanin-containing products is a promising strategy for the normalization of metabolic and immune disorders that develop as a result of intense physical and neuro-emotional stress not only in athletes, but also in other groups of people exposed to these factors, including military personnel undergoing training in conditions close to combat. This determines the relevance of this study. The aim of the research was to study the effect of an anthocyanin-enriched diet on hematological profile and cellular immunity in rats after intense physical activity. Material and methods. The experiment was carried out for 4 weeks on 4 groups of male Wistar rats with an initial body weight of ~300 g. The motor activity of the animals of the 1st (control) and 2nd groups was limited by the standard keeping animals in the vivarium, while physically active rats of the 3rd and 4th groups received additional physical activity - training on a treadmill. Before the end of the experiment, the animals of 3rd and 4th groups were given debilitating physical activity on a treadmill (until the rats refused to continue the exercise). Rats of all 4 groups received a standard semi-synthetic diet, water ad libitum. Animals in 2nd and 4th groups were additionally fed blueberry and blackcurrant extract (30% anthocyanins) as part of the diet at a daily dose of 15 mg anthocyanins/kg body weight. Hematological parameters were determined on a Coulter ACT TM 5 diff OV hematological analyzer. Expression of CD45R, CD3, CD4, CD8a, CD161 receptors on rat peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined by direct immunofluorescent staining of whole blood cells using a panel of monoclonal antibodies conjugated with fluorescent dyes: APC, FITC, PE. The measurements were carried out on an FC-500 flow cytometer. Results. Intense physical activity in rats of the 3rd group did not lead to a significant change in erythrocyte parameters compared with the control group. Enrichment of the diet with blueberry and black currant extract (the 2nd and the 4th groups) provided a significant (p<0.05) increase in blood content of hemoglobin (Hb) (150.7±0.9 and 154.4±2.0 vs 145.4±0.9 g/l in control), hematocrit (44.95±0.21 and 46.18±0.64 vs 43.78±0.32%) and the average content of Hb in erythrocytes (18.00±0.20 and 18.03±0.24 vs 17.35±0.24 pg). The absolute content of leukocytes and other cellular elements of the leukocyte formula, as well as leukocyte indices in rats of the experimental groups didn't significantly differ from those of the control rats, which confirms the absence of an inflammatory process. Intense physical activity and anthocyanin enrichment of the diet didn't have a significant effect on rat platelet parameters. Enrichment of the diet of rats of the 4th group with blueberry and black currant extract led to the activation of cellular immunity, as evidenced by a significant (p<0.01) increase in the percentage (from the total content of T-lymphocytes) of T-helpers (70.13 ±1.34 vs 63.75±0.99%) and a decrease in the relative content of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (28.65±1.38 vs 34.71±0.95%) in comparison with those in rats of the 3rd group and at the level of the trend (р<0.1) - from the 1st group indexes (66.87±1.20 and 31.87±1.26%, accordingly). Intense physical activity led to a decrease in immunoregulatory index in rats of the 3rd group (1.86±0.07) compared with the control (2.13±0.12) (p<0.1), and in animals of the 4th group this indicator was significantly higher (2.50±0.14, p<0.05). In animals of the 3rd group a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in the relative content of NK cells in peripheral blood was found compared to the control. Enrichment of the diet of physically active rats with blueberry and black currant extract led to a significant (p<0.05) increase in the percentage of NK cells compared to this indicator in rats of the 3rd group (4.87±0.75 vs 2.08±0.18%) and had no significant difference with the indicator in rats of the control group (4.32±0.98%). Conclusion. The enrichment of the rats' diet with blueberry and blackcurrant extract containing a daily dose of 15 mg of anthocyanins per kg of body weight provides an increase in blood Hb content, hematocrit and the average content Hb in erythrocytes. It has been established that intense physical activity induces the cellular immunity suppression. The activating effect of anthocyanins on adaptive cellular immunity and NK cells, which are lymphocytes of innate immunity, was revealed. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of the use of bioactive compounds (anthocyanins) to increase the adaptive potential of the organism.

Red cabbage extract-mediated colorimetric sensor for swift, sensitive and economic detection of urease-positive bacteria by naked eye and Smartphone platform.

The bacterial pathogens have caused various serious infectious diseases in the human body, and even some threats to human life by leading to deaths. Enterobacteriaceae species especially urease positive ones, Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), show resistance to antibiotics and cause respiratory and urinary tract infections. We have developed natural indicator-incorporated colorimetric urease tests with a naked eye and smartphone readout to rapidly, sensitively and economically detect P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae. We utilized anthocyanin found as a predominant component in red cabbage (Brassica oleracea) extract as a natural pH indicator instead of toxic and synthetic indicators. As a mechanistic explanation for the detection of P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae, urease enzymes secreted from the P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae hydrolyze urea to produce ammonia (NH3), which increases the pH value of the reaction environment and leads to deprotonation from anthocyanins. The changes in the molecular structure and electronic structure of anthocyanins are responsible for revealing many different colors. We demonstrated how some reaction parameters including the concentration of the bacteria (colony-forming unit, CFU), the concentration of anthocyanin in the tests, initial color and pH values (pHs) of the tests influence their detection performance. We further developed a 3D-printed smartphone platform with smartphone based digital image processing software to improve the detection limit and shorten the detection time. We claim that natural indicator-incorporated rapid urease tests providing colorimetric readout evaluated by the human eye and smartphone imaging processing has great potential in practical use and they can be implemented in clinics.

Comparison between dietary assessment methods and biomarkers in estimating dietary (poly)phenol intake.

Background: although widely used, there is limited understanding of the suitability of different dietary assessment tools to estimate (poly)phenol intake. This study aims to compare the agreement between a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 7-day food diary (7DD) in assessing (poly)phenol intake and explore their associations with the urinary and plasma (poly)phenol metabolites. Methods: healthy free-living participants aged 18-80 years (n = 413) completed a 7DD and an FFQ (EPIC-Norfolk) and provided a 24 h urine and a fasting plasma sample. A comprehensive in-house (poly)phenol database was used to estimate (poly)phenol intake. The phenolic metabolite levels were analysed using a validated LC-MS method. The agreement between dietary assessment methods and biomarkers were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), weighted kappa, quartile classification, Bland-Altman plots and correlations. Results: the total (poly)phenol intake estimated from FFQ was higher than from 7DD (median 1463 and 1042 mg d-1, respectively). The agreement between FFQ and 7DD were moderate (ICC 0.51-0.59) for total (poly)phenols, flavan-3-ols, total phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and alkylmethoxyphenols, and were poor for all the other classes and subclasses (ICC 0.00-0.48). Positive correlations with total urine phenolic metabolites were found in FFQ estimated anthocyanins, dihydroflavonols, total lignans, tyrosols, alkylmethoxyphenols, total phenolic acids, and total stilbenes and the 7DD estimated theaflavins and thearubigins (all FDR adjusted p values < 0.1). No significant correlations were found between total plasma phenolic metabolites and (poly)phenol intake. Conclusion: agreements between dietary assessment tools were moderate for the major classes of (poly)phenols, while agreements between (poly)phenol intake and biomarkers were poor. Future research using biomarker approaches to increase the accuracy of estimating (poly)phenol exposure in larger populations is needed.

Bee Pollen and Bread as a Super-Food: A Comparative Review of Their Metabolome Composition and Quality Assessment in the Context of Best Recovery Conditions.

Recently, functional foods have been a subject of great interest in dietetics owing not only to their nutritional value but rather their myriad of health benefits. Moreover, an increase in consumers' demands for such valuable foods warrants the development in not only production but rather tools of quality and nutrient assessment. Bee products, viz., pollen (BP) and bread, are normally harvested from the flowering plants with the aid of bees. BP is further subjected to a fermentation process in bee hives to produce the more valuable and bioavailable BB. Owing to their nutritional and medicinal properties, bee products are considered as an important food supplements rich in macro-, micro-, and phytonutrients. Bee products are rich in carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals in addition to a myriad of phytonutrients such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, volatiles, and carotenoids. Moreover, unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs) of improved lipid profile such as linoleic, linolenic, and oleic were identified in BP and BB. This work aims to present a holistic overview of BP and BB in the context of their composition and analysis, and to highlight optimized extraction techniques to maximize their value and future applications in nutraceuticals.

Genetic Diversity Assessment of Iranian Kentucky Bluegrass Accessions: II. Nuclear DNA Content and Its Association with Morphological and Geographical Features.

Poa pratensis L. is a perennial turfgrass with high regeneration and fertility, resistance to cold and drought, and quick colonization. By facultative apomixis, this plant can create a wide range of ploidy levels (2n = 22 to 2n = 154), resulting in a wide range of chromosomal numbers and sexual and apomictic reproductive diversity. The plant materials included fifty accessions from Iran's Center, South, North, North-East, North-West, and West ecoregions. UPOV standards were used to measure the qualities that were researched. The squash technique of chromosome counting revealed that Iranian Kentucky bluegrass accessions had chromosomal counts ranging from 24 to 87. The relative sizes of the 2C genomes were measured using laser flow cytometry. The range of DNA content was fairly wide, ranging from 4.92 to 11.52 pg. DNA content has a strong positive correlation with elevation, a moderately positive correlation with flag leaf length and leaf sheath width, and a negative correlation with inflorescence anthocyanin color and leaf anthocyanin color. The genotypes and ecological zones of this plant in Iran were distinguished based on morphological diversity and DNA content. The results from this study could be useful in identifying and studying wild Kentucky bluegrass genotypes. It aids in predicting the location of rare genotypes used as breeding materials. It can also increase the plant's variability for future generations by introducing new ecotypes, with particular genomic and morphological traits, to previously cultivated populations. We expect that the findings of this study will aid in understanding the evolution of this plant in the context of Iran's climatic variety.

Sensor-integrated biocomposite membrane for food quality assessment.

The use of biopolymers is gaining momentum owing to their compatibility with various food commodities and acceptability by the industry and consumers. Biopolymers integrated with natural pigments can be used for assessing the quality of perishable packaged food products. Here, a biodegradable composite membrane of starch and chitosan, integrated with anthocyanin has been developed. The chromogenic response of the developed biocomposite membrane was used to assess spoilage in milk. The surface roughness recorded using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed smooth membrane surface, and a pore size 4.21 nm was determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The water vapour transmissibility of the membrane was 4.616E-09 and 1.147E-08 g/h Pa.mm and water solubility was 5.6 and 5.8 % at 25 and 37 ℃, respectively, indicating high water resistance and low vapour transmission rate. The developed biocomposite membrane offers an environment friendly substrate for biosensing with a promising potential in smart food-packaging applications.

Assessment of the role of anthocyanin standardized elderberry (Sambucus nigra) extract as an immune-stimulating nutraceutical of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

The study of nutraceuticals and their connection to immunity is an expanding field of research. The use of nutraceuticals to alleviate stress and enhance immunity in adverse aquaculture environments have been examined to a certain extent. To elucidate the understanding, we focused on the immunological effect of membrane-separated 13% anthocyanin standardized elderberry (EB) extract with maltodextrin excipient, widely used first-line nutraceuticals to augment the immunity, in aquaculture fish, Nile tilapia. To evaluate the potential of EB-extract, we assessed their capability to enhance lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin-2 production in an in-vitro condition using spleen and thymus lymphocytes. The experiments on spleen and thymus T-cells demonstrated significantly higher T-cell proliferation by EB-extract when lectin mitogen Con A was present as a stimulator. Likewise, our spleen B-cell proliferation result reveals a significant effect of EB-extracts, along with B-cell stimulator non-lectin mitogen LPS. Further, the quantification of IL-2 indicates elevated IL-2 levels when spleen T-cells were cultured with EB-extracts and with Con A present as a stimulator. These suggest that 13% anthocyanin standardized EB-extracts can aggrandize fish cells' cellular and humoral immune responses. With further research, elderberry extracts could be used to supplement commercial feed in aquaculture to reduce stress and stimulate the immune response.

Comparison of wheatgrass juices from colored wheat (white, black, blue, and purple) for health promoting phytochemicals.

Wheatgrass juice is a low-acid functional drink extracted from white wheat seedlings. It is cherished by consumers due to its potent health benefits. The present study was conducted to develop and analyze wheatgrass juice from colored wheat lines to meet consumers increasing demand for a novel functional drink. The conventional lyophilized wheatgrass juice powder (WJLP) was found to contain significant chlorophyll content (0.3%), soluble phenolic content (0.6%), protein content (20%), moderate essential amino acid index (EAAI; 86%), high K (RDA; 11.6%) and antioxidant activity. Whereas, black WJLP had 564.2% higher anthocyanins, 30.5% higher chlorophyll, 87.5% higher soluble phenolic content, 10.2% higher proteins, 31.5% higher EAAI, and 112.5% higher antioxidant activity compared to white WJLP. Overall, the biochemical parameters of WJLP were increased in the order of white < blue < purple < black. The findings indicate that a proper cultivar selection can improve the nutritional value of wheatgrass juice.

Assessment of ultrasound-assisted vacuum impregnation as a method for modifying cranberries' quality.

Combined vacuum impregnation and ultrasound was proposed as an alternative method to improve the infusion of ascorbic acid in berry fruit. The effect of ultrasound application at different stages of impregnation - vacuum, relaxation, and both stages - on the qualitative characteristics of impregnated cranberries was investigated. The quality assessment was based on porosity, color, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin, polyphenol and structure compound content. Ultrasound-assisted vacuum impregnation contributed to higher ascorbic acid content, smaller relative color difference, and greater antioxidant properties. It was found that the degree of impregnation varies considerably and depends on the stage of using ultrasound. Due to more favorable quality attributes, the conclusion was reached that ultrasound should be applied during the relaxation stage of vacuum impregnation.

Development of highly stable color indicator films based on κ-carrageenan, silver nanoparticle and red grape skin anthocyanin for marine fish freshness assessment.

Color indicator films for fish freshness were fabricated by incorporating κ-carrageenan (CAR) polymer with red grape skin extract (GSE) as a pH-sensing agent and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antimicrobial agent. Anthocyanins in GSE exhibited distinguished pH responsive color changes. GSE and AgNPs were well compatible with CAR with intramolecular interactions, approved by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). GSE-containing films displayed distinguished color changes in response to pH variations and volatile ammonia. Enhanced UV blocking ability and strong antioxidant activity were revealed for GSE included films without sacrificing the physico-chemical properties of the CAR film. Films containing AgNPs showed improved mechanical strength and strong antimicrobial ability against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The CAR/AgNPs/GSE film displayed a distinctive color change corresponding to changes in the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) of fish during storage. In addition, the CAR/AgNPs/GSE film showed excellent color stability to consecutive UV exposure and its storage time at 25 °C is expected to be at least 240 days, which indicates that it has high potential as an intelligent food freshness indicator film.

Towards the Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction and the Assessment of Chemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Wine Lees Extracts.

Wine lees, a sub-exploited byproduct of vinification, is considered a rich source of bioactive compounds, such as (poly)phenols, anthocyanins and tannins. Thus, the effective and rapid recovery of these biomolecules and the assessment of the bioactive properties of wine lees extracts is of utmost importance. Towards this direction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) factors (i.e., extraction time, microwave power and solvent/material ratio) were optimized using experimental design models in order to maximize the (poly)phenolic yield of the extracts. After optimizing the MAE process, the total phenolic content (TPC) as well as the antiradical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts were evaluated. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to investigate the chemical profile of wine lees extracts. Red varieties exhibited higher biological activity than white varieties. The geographical origin and fermentation stage were also considered as critical factors. The white variety Moschofilero presented the highest antioxidant, antiradical and antimicrobial activity, while Merlot and Agiorgitiko samples showed noteworthy activities among red varieties. Moreover, IR spectra confirmed the presence of sugars, amino acids, organic acids and aromatic compounds. Thus, an efficient, rapid and eco-friendly process was proposed for further valorization of wine lees extracts.

An overview of the nutritional value, health properties, and future challenges of Chinese bayberry.

Chinese bayberry (CB) is among the most popular and valuable fruits in China owing to its attractive color and unique sweet/sour taste. Recent studies have highlighted the nutritional value and health-related benefits of CB. CB has special biological characteristics of evergreen, special aroma, dioecious, nodulation, nitrogen fixation. Moreover, the fruits, leaves, and bark of CB plants harbor a number of bioactive compounds including proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, vitamin C, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins that have been linked to the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective properties and to the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The CB fruits have been used to produce a range of products: beverages, foods, and washing supplies. Future CB-related product development is thus expected to further leverage the health-promoting potential of this valuable ecological resource. The present review provides an overview of the botanical characteristics, processing, nutritional value, health-related properties, and applications of CB in order to provide a foundation for further research and development.

Assessment of different mechanical treatments for improving the anaerobic biodegradability of residual raspberry extrudate.

Mechanical treatments can be simple and feasible methods for enhancing the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic substrates. This work aims to relate the direct effect of five different mechanical treatments, i.e., variation in the size and number of particles, with the variations in the chemical composition and, subsequently, the effect over the anaerobic digestion of residual raspberry extrudate, which was used as a model substrate. A high variation in the number of particles and the particle size distribution was achieved depending on the mechanical treatment applied, reaching the highest number of particles for the treatments with knife mills and mortar (around 8000 particles per gram). The higher number of particles was related to higher solubilisation, including phenolic compounds and sugars. The combination of knife mills and mortar pretreatment, which presented the highest number of particles, resulted in a 66% more of polyphenols in comparison to the raw substrate. However, the presence of anthocyanins was higher in mechanical treatments with less effect. The enhancement of the anaerobic digestion was clearly related to the increment in the number of particles of small size after the mechanical treatments. The highest methane yield coefficient (236 ± 11 mL CH4/g volatile solids) was achieved for the raspberry extrudate treated with knife mills.