Optimisation of Almond-Based Dairy-Free Milk Alternative Formulation Fortified with Myrtle, Bay Leaf and Fennel Extracts§.

Research background: Herbs and spices used in traditional medicine are nowadays increasingly used in combinations to create functional food formulations aimed at treating specific symptoms and disorders. Among herbs originating from the Mediterranean region, extracts of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), bay leaf (Laurel nobilis L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) are traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders. When considering how to incorporate these extracts into products, dairy-free milk alternatives provide an excellent base with almond-based drinks being among the most popular within this group. Experimental approach: The aim of this study is therefore to optimise the formulation of an almond drink fortified with a 25 % (on dry mass basis) aqueous herbal extract containing myrtle, bay leaf (25 % each) and fennel seed (50 %) extracts. A central composite design with 20 formulations varied the content of φ(aqueous herbal extract)=2-6 %, lecithin as emulsifier 0.15-0.45 and xylitol as sweetener 2-5 % (m/V), while antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and sensory properties were determined as dependent variables. Results and conclusions: The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the prepared almond drink formulations increased with the amount of added concentrated aqueous herbal extracts, as did the colour, herbal odour and flavour, bitterness and aftertaste. The addition of lecithin resulted in a darker colour and the sweetness was increased by the xylitol content. All formulations had good overall attractiveness, which increased with higher xylitol content. Novelty and scientific contribution: The current work offers new insights into the optimisation of fortified dairy-free alternatives. The addition of myrtle, bay leaf and fennel seed extracts to almond drink-based formulations resulted in a 12-fold increase in antioxidant activity. Xylitol masks the potential bitterness of the phenolic compounds so that higher amounts of extracts can be added.

Sterols and pentacyclic triterpenoids from nettle root: content and composition as affected by pressurized liquid extraction.

BACKGROUND: Nettle is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive molecules. The composition of nettle leaves and stems has been extensively studied, whereas the root has been insufficiently investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to optimize the parameters of advanced extraction technique, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), for the lipid fraction of nettle root rich in triterpenoid derivatives and to compare the efficiency of isolation under optimal conditions with conventional Soxhlet extraction (SE). RESULTS: The PLE yields ranged from 0.39-1.63%, whereas the total content of triterpenoid derivatives ranged from 43.50-78.26 mg 100 g-1 , with nine sterols and three pentacyclic triterpenoids identified and quantified within a total range of 42.81-76.57 mg 100 g-1 and 0.69-1.68 mg 100 g-1 dried root, respectively. The most abundant sterol and pentacyclic triterpenoid were ß-sitosterol and ß-amyrin acetate, with mean values of 50.21 mg 100 g-1 and 0.56 mg 100 g-1 dried root. CONCLUSION: The optimal PLE conditions were 150 °C/5 min/four cycles and showed significantly better performance compared to SE (68 °C, 8 h), establishing an excellent technique for the isolation of the nettle root lipid fraction. Also, triterpenoid derivatives from nettle could be used as functional ingredients for the development of new foods and dietary supplements. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antioxidant and Anti-Atherogenic Activities of Essential Oils from Myrtus communis L. and Laurus nobilis L. in Rat.

Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic and medicinal plants, such as myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) and Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), are gaining popularity as a potential ingredient in functional foods and nutraceuticals. This study aims to investigate whether the essential oils (EOs) could be effective in weight control, antioxidative and antilipidemic status of rats by affecting microbiota and its enzymes activity and whether changes in intestinal enzyme activity affect the health of rats. The intragastric application of laurel and myrtle EOs to rats for two weeks affects weight loss, reduces glycolytic activity, lipid parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) and atherogenic indicators, leading to cardiovascular protection. Laurel EO can be an excellent candidate for the treatment of drug-induced obesity and related diseases, since it affects lipid metabolism in the liver and inhibits the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates into glucose in the digestive tract, leading to weight loss. In contrast, myrtle EO shows a better antioxidant capacity in most tissues, except kidneys, where it causes a pro-oxidative effect, compared to laurel EO. Myrtle EO increases the permeability and instability of the erythrocyte membrane, resulting in a loss of selectivity for the entry of toxic substances into the cell. On the other hand, myrtle EO leads to intestinal inflammation by reducing the number of probiotic bacteria and increasing Enterobacter.