Phenolic compounds profile of macerates of different edible parts of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MSE: Phytochemical screening and biological activities.

Locust bean pulp and gum extracts were prepared, and phytochemical tests based on color reactions and chromatographic analyzes were performed. A profile of seventy-six phenolic compounds was obtained by the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The main groups of phenolic compounds identified in the both extracts of Ceratonia siliqua L., were flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids. Moreover, carob pulp and gum extracts were tested for their antimicrobial activity using disk diffusion tests which showed sensitivity of the different strains to the analyzed extracts at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of Ceratonia siliqua L. extracts was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl acid test, which confirmed stronger antioxidant properties in the case of the pulp extract. To sum up, carob pulp and gum extracts present promising alternatives to synthetic additives within the medicinal industry, serving as potential antioxidant agents and preservatives that combat bacterial contamination, thereby offering a more natural approach to enhancing product safety and efficacy.

Migration of dihydroxyalkylamines from polypropylene coffee capsules to Tenax® and coffee by salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Migration of N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) alkyl(C8-C18)amines from five different polypropylene capsules to Tenax® and coffee powder have been studied. A single step extraction-cleanup procedure using salting out liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) method followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied. The critical parameters on the SALLE procedure such as extracting solvent, extracting volume, sample pH, salt and its concentration were optimized. The recovery values were in the range of 87.5%-106.5%. The %RSD were lower than 3.7%. The limit of detection was improved from 2.3 ng/g in Tenax® to 0.8 ng/g in coffee. The results indicated that the analyzed compounds have the potential to migrate from the polypropylene capsule containers to the coffee. In most of the cases, the migrated values were higher in Tenax® than in coffee in a range between 1.8 and 61%. One sample did not comply with the specific migration limit established by the European Commission.

Polyamide modified with green tea extract for fresh minced meat active packaging applications.

New antioxidant polyamide was prepared by total immersion in active extract for 48 h. Its antioxidant performance was tested using DPPH (IC50 = 270 ±â€¯21 µg/g) and ORAC (1.52 µmol Trolox/g). In vivo study was done using fresh minced meat stored at 4 °C and analysed after 0, 6, 13, 19, 23 days. After 23 days metmyoglobin (MetMbBK = 31.3 ±â€¯2.9% and MetMbAOX = 25.9 ±â€¯0.8%), CIE L*a*b* (a*BK = 15.0 ±â€¯0.4 and a*AOX = 16.6 ±â€¯0.3) and TBARS (MDABK = 0.0060 ±â€¯0.0003 µg/g and MDAAOX = 0.0044 ±â€¯0.0002 µg/g) showed an improvement of meat shelf life. The results showed that this active film protected meat during 23 days. Migration study to food simulants was done by UPLC®-QqQ-MS and UPLC®-ESI-Q-TOF-MSE. A decrease of oligomers migration (for caprolactam n = 3: BK = 0.050 ±â€¯0.004 mg/Kg; AOX = 0.019 ±â€¯0.001 mg/Kg) was found. INDUSTRIAL RELEVANCE: Nowadays, food industry is focused on improving shelf life of products by controlling its lipid oxidation using natural antioxidants. The obtained results let us design a new active packaging based on natural antioxidants for extending the shelf life of fresh minced meat at industrial scale.

Influence of medicinal and aromatic plants into risk assessment of a new bioactive packaging based on polylactic acid (PLA).

A new biodegradable antioxidant active packaging for food applications based on antioxidants from medicinal and aromatic plants incorporated into a polylactic acid matrix was designed and developed. Melt blending processing technique was applied to prepare polylactic acid films loaded by sage and lemon balm leaves. Antioxidant properties of developed active films were investigated using the following methods: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl and a home-made generator of hydroxyl radicals. In addition, reducing power and total phenolic content of polylactic acid films were checked. The results of antioxidant capacity showed that percentage of hydroxylation for active film with lemon balm and sage was 55.5% ±â€¯0.1% and 67.4% ±â€¯0.3%, respectively. The reducing power of active films increased 8 times in comparison to the blank samples. Moreover, extensive investigation of influence of sage and lemon balm leaves on material safety and type of migrants was performed using migration assays. The composition of both non-volatile and volatile compounds of different active packaging films was compared with neat polylactic acid film. Three different food simulants such as 95% (v/v) ethanol, 10% (v/v) ethanol and 3% (w/v) acetic acid were checked. It was shown that the addition of sage and lemon balm leaves into a polylactic acid structure decreased the migration of both linear and cyclic polylactic acid oligomers, currently not legislated by European Union. Besides, total absence or decrease of migration of volatile compounds were observed when using the active films. Both thermal and mechanical properties of films were also evaluated.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial markers by UPLC®-ESI-Q-TOF-MSE of a new multilayer active packaging based on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.

49 different non-volatile compounds were determined in Spanish Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaves using UPLC®-ESI-Q-TOF with MSE technology. Both positive and negative electrospray ionization were applied. MarkerLynx® was proposed as a powerful tool to distinguish samples from eight wild populations of Spain by determining their non-volatile markers. Development of HRMS methods let to analysis of metabolites in plants. Antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of different extracts were evaluated. Plant extract with the strongest antioxidant and simultaneous good antimicrobial capacity (Lierta) was chosen and incorporated in a multilayer packaging. Then, antioxidant capacity of the new packaging was evaluated and the efficient free radical scavenging properties were demonstrated.

Development and characterisation of HPMC films containing PLA nanoparticles loaded with green tea extract for food packaging applications.

A novel active film material based on hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) containing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with antioxidant (AO) green tea extract (GTE) was successfully developed. The PLA NPs were fabricated using an emulsification-solvent evaporation technique and the sizes were varied to enable a controlled release of the AO from the HPMC matrix. A statistical experimental design was used to optimise the synthesis of the NPs in order to obtain different sizes of nanoparticles and the loading of these into the HPMC matrix was also varied. The physico-chemical properties of the composite films were investigated and the release of the AO was confirmed by migration studies in 50% v/v ethanol/water food simulant. The AO capacity of the GTE released from the active films was studied using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method and the results suggest that the material could potentially be used for extending the shelf-life of food products with high fat content.

Rapid analytical procedure for determination of mineral oils in edible oil by GC-FID.

A procedure for the determination of mineral oils in edible oil has been fully developed. The procedure consists of using a sulphuric acid-impregnated silica gel (SAISG) glass column to eliminate the fat matter. A chemical combustion of the fatty acids takes place, while the mineral oils are not affected by the sulphuric acid. The column is eluted with hexane using a vacuum pump and the final extract is concentrated and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detector (FID). The detection limit (LOD) and the quantification limit (LOQ) in hexane were 0.07 and 0.21 µg g(-1) respectively and the LOQ in vegetable oil was 1 µg g(-1). Only a few minutes were necessary for sample treatment to have a clean extract. The efficiency of the process, measured through the recoveries from spiked samples of edible oil was higher than 95%. The procedure has been applied to determine mineral oil in olive oil from the retailed market.