Polyphenolic Composition and Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antihyperglycemic Activity of Different Extracts of Teucrium montanum from Ozren Mountain.

Teucrium montanum has widespread use in folk medicine on the Balkan peninsula. In order to scientifically justify this use, the composition and biological activity of aqueous, ethanol, and acetone extract were investigated in this study. Moreover, acetone and ethanol extracts were obtained from the plant material previously exhausted by water extraction. A total of 27 compounds were detected in extracts by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis, with all of them present in acetone and ethanol extracts. Consequentially, the acetone and ethanol extracts showed higher contents of total phenols of 23% and 18%, respectively, compared to the water extract. The results indicated high biological potential in the investigated extracts. Among all extracts, the aqueous extract showed slightly higher antimicrobial potential, especially against Gram-positive strains, probably due to the release of components soluble in water from the dry unexhausted plant material. On the other hand, the acetone and ethanol extracts had significantly higher antioxidative (by 20%), anti-inflammatory activity (up to 3 and 4 times higher, respectively), and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential (3 times higher) than the aqueous extract. The results of this investigation reveal the great potential of the use of T. montanum in various branches of food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry. An important part of this research is a confirmation that, once exhausted by water extraction, for example by hydrodistillation, T. montanum plant material can be reused for obtaining valuable products with a wide range of biological activities.

Composition, texture, sensorial quality, and biological activity after in vitro digestion of durum wheat pasta enriched with carrot waste extract encapsulates.

Aim of this research was to evaluate durum-wheat pasta enriched with encapsulated carrot waste extracts in oil, obtained by freeze drying (FDE) or spray drying techniques (SDE). Five pastas (control, enriched with 10% FDE, or 10% SDE, or 20% FDE, or 20% SDE) were evaluated for furosine, carotenoids, tocols, colour, in vitro bioactivities, cooking performance, texture and sensory quality. The encapsulates added to the enriched pastas α-carotene (0.58-1.24 mg/kg), ß-carotene (1.43-3.29 mg/kg), cis-ß-carotene (0.51-1.11 mg/kg) and total tocols (10.9-33.6 mg/kg). The carotenes were stable and the tocols diminished (-13%) during pasta manufacturing; both decreased (2-18% and 4-15%, respectively) during cooking, but they were still more abundant in the enriched pastas. Antioxidant, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities after in vitro digestion of cooked pastas improved, while sensory acceptability of control and 10% enriched pastas were similar. The encapsulates addition significantly improved the nutritional and technological qualities of durum-wheat pasta.

Carotenoids: Considerations for Their Use in Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Nutricosmetics, Supplements, Botanicals, and Novel Foods in the Context of Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Climate Change.

Carotenoids are versatile isoprenoids that are important in food quality and health promotion. There is a need to establish recommended dietary intakes/nutritional reference values for carotenoids. Research on carotenoids in agro-food and health is being propelled by the two multidisciplinary international networks, the Ibero-American Network for the Study of Carotenoids as Functional Foods Ingredients (IBERCAROT; http://www.cyted.org) and the European Network to Advance Carotenoid Research and Applications in Agro-Food and Health (EUROCAROTEN; http://www.eurocaroten.eu). In this review, considerations for their safe and sustainable use in products mostly intended for health promotion are provided. Specifically, information about sources, intakes, and factors affecting bioavailability is summarized. Furthermore, their health-promoting actions and importance in public health in relation to the contribution of reducing the risk of diverse ailments are synthesized. Definitions and regulatory and safety information for carotenoid-containing products are provided. Lastly, recent trends in research in the context of sustainable healthy diets are summarized.

Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Encapsulated Phenolics and Carotenoids Isolated from Red Pepper Waste.

In order to deactivate the health properties of bioactive compounds, they need to withstand the effects of food processing, their potential release from the food matrix, and remain bio-accessible in the gastrointestinal tract. Bio-actives from different plants are prone to oxidative degradation, and encapsulation is an effective method in improving their stability. In the present study, red pepper waste (RPW), a by-product of vegetable processing industry, was encapsulated in whey protein using spray and freeze-drying techniques. The aim was to evaluate the effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the release and bioactivity of encapsulated bio-actives, after each digestion step. The results showed that the release of phenolics and carotenoids, as well as antioxidants, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory activities are influenced by pH and intestinal fluid, with pH 7.5 exhibited at higher levels. There was a rapid initial release of carotenoids from whey protein matrices, while a more gradual increase of phenolics was observed, reaching around 50% for both encapsulates first at 6 h and 37 °C, and small intestine conditions. The encapsulation of RPW demonstrated a protective effect against pH changes and enzymatic activities along digestion, and contributed to the increase in bio-accessibility in the gut. Also, the results suggest that encapsulation is an efficient method for valorization of bio-actives from RPW, with improvements in nutrition, color, and bioactive properties.

Physical, sensorial and bioactive characteristics of white chocolate with encapsulated green tea extract.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have described cocoa polyphenols as being bioactive compounds with a potential positive effect on human health. Although dark chocolate is a most powerful source of antioxidants, their content is lower in milk chocolate; conversely, in white chocolate the fat-free cocoa solids are omitted. The aim of this study was to increase polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of white chocolate by adding encapsulated green tea extract (GTE) in amounts of 60, 80 and 100 g kg-1 . RESULTS: GTE influenced the particle size parameters, increasing the volume weighted mean from 15.43 µm in white chocolate to 19.34 µm in chocolate with 100 g kg-1 GTE. At the same time, the viscosity of enriched chocolate also increased owing to the addition of new solid particles. The surface color of enriched chocolates changed in accordance with the amount of encapsulate, where all enriched chocolates had a slightly lighter color after 12 months of storage. Total polyphenol content (mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) kg-1 ) increased from 0.41 in white chocolate to 2.73 in chocolate enriched with maximal GTE. This amount of GTE increased antioxidant capacity (mmol Trolox equivalents kg-1 ) from 1.22 in white chocolate to 16.12. After 12 months of storage, degradation of polyphenols was found to be a maximum of 37.27%, while antioxidant capacity decreased up to 44.14%. CONCLUSION: In addition to the impact on chocolate viscosity, GTE added value through the polyphenol content and sensorial profile of the new product with an unusual green tea flavor and a shelf life of at least 12 months. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Encapsulation of Sour Cherry Pomace Extract by Freeze Drying: Characterization and Storage Stability.

In this study sour cherry pomace was extracted with food-grade solvent (50% ethanol), concentrated and stabilized in whey and soy proteins by encapsulation. Soy proteins exhibited higher encapsulation efficiency (94.90%), but not significantly (p < 0.05), from whey (90.10%). Storage properties of whey (WP) and soy protein (SP) encapsulates in terms of total polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity were tested for 6 weeks. At the end of storage period the retention of polyphenols in SP and WP was similar (67.33 and 69.30%, respectively), while the content of anthocyanins has increased in SP (for 47.97%) and decreased in WP (for 1.45%). The decrease in antioxidant activity in SP (12.22%) was lower than in WP (35.04%). Colour parameters of encapsulates have followed the similar trend as anthocyanin change during storage. The technique reported herewith can be used for obtaining quality encapsulates for their use as functional food additives, as a way of fruit waste valorization.

Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Goji fruits (Lycium barbarum L.) Cultivated in Serbia.

OBJECTIVE: Goji fruit extracts, methanol (MGE) and hexane (HGE), were subjected to evaluation as potential source of phenolic antioxidants and antiradical activity. METHODS: Some phenolic compounds (gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic, chlorogenic, coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acid and catechin and rutin), vitamin C and carotenoids were identified and quantified by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was tested by measuring ability to scavenge DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. Also, reducing power of goji fruit extracts was determined. RESULTS: HPLC analysis results showed predominance of gallic acid (40.44 mg/g g.f). Vitamin C content in MGE was 716.91 mg vitC/100 g g.f. IC50DPPH· varied from 26.64 µmolTEAC/g for HGE to 62.15 µmolTEAC/g for MGE, while RP0.5 values varied from 952.23 µmolTEAC/g for MGE to 1360.48 mg/mL for HGE. IC50·OH for MGE was 1844.01 µmolTEAC/g. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of goji fruits as rich sources of phytochemicals for further utilization in the food industry as supplements and functional food ingredients.

Encapsulation of Beetroot Pomace Extract: RSM Optimization, Storage and Gastrointestinal Stability.

One of the great problems in food production are surplus by-products, usually utilized for feeding animals and for preparation of dietary fibre or biofuel. These products represent potential sources of bioactive antioxidants and colour-giving compounds which could be used in the pharmaceutical industry and as food additives. In the present study beetroot pomace extract was encapsulated in soy protein by a freeze drying method. Process parameters (core: wall ratio, extract concentration and mixing time) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) in order to obtain the optimum encapsulate (OE) with the highest polyphenol encapsulation efficiency (EE) and radical scavenging activity on DPPH radicals (SA). Using the calculated optimum conditions, the EE (86.14%) and SA (1668.37 µmol Trolox equivalents/100 g) of OE did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the predicted ones. The contents of total polyphenols (326.51 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (10.23 mg RE/100 g), and betalains (60.52 mg betanin/100 g and 61.33 mg vulgaxanthin-I/100 g), individual content of phenolic compounds and betalains by HPLC, and the ability to reduce Fe(3+) ions, i.e., reducing power (394.95 µmol Trolox equivalents/100 g) of OE were determined as well. During three months of storage at room temperature, polyphenol retention was much higher (76.67%) than for betalain pigments, betacyanins (17.77%) and betaxanthins (17.72%). In vitro digestion and release of phenolics from OE showed higher release rate in simulated intestinal fluid than in gastric fluid. These results suggest encapsulation as a contemporary method for valorisation of sensitive bioactive compounds from food industry by-products.

Sour cherry pomace extract encapsulated in whey and soy proteins: Incorporation in cookies.

One of the potential sources of valuable bioactives is pomace, a by-product from fruit juice processing industry. In the presented study, bioactive compounds extracted from cherry pomace, encapsulated in whey and soy proteins, have been incorporated in cookies, replacing 10% (WE10 and SE10) and 15% (WE15 and SE15) of flour. Total polyphenols, anthocyanins, antioxidant activity and colour characteristics of enriched cookies were followed during 4 months of storage. Total polyphenols of WE10, SE10, WE15 and SE15 have shown a slight increase (23.47, 42.00, 4.12 and 1.16%, respectively), while total anthocyanins (67.92, 64.33, 58.75 and 35.91%, respectively) and antioxidant activity (9.31, 24.30, 11.41 and 12.98%, respectively) decreased. Colour parameters (L(∗), a(∗) and b(∗)) of cookies were influenced by the colour of encapsulates. Fortified cookies received satisfactory sensory acceptance as well. Encapsulated sour cherry pomace bioactives have positively influenced functional characteristics of fortified cookies and their preservation.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant, antimicrobiological and cytotoxic activities of native and fermented chamomile ligulate flower extracts.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The work investigated differences in apigenin content, as well as in other compounds, and examined the chemical profiles, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of extracts obtained from native and fermented chamomile ligulate flowers. Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) has a long history of being used as a medicinal plant due to many health benefits, including antiinflammatory, anticancer, antispasmodic, radical-scavenging effects and others. Apigenin is recognized as one of the most bioactive phenolic compounds in chamomile. In comparison to its bound forms, which include mostly apigenin-7-O-ß-glucoside and various acylated forms, the aglycone is attributed with much higher bioactivity. Due to this fact, in this work ligulate florets of chamomile anthodium were subjected to a fermentation process using native chamomile enzymes to hydrolyze bound forms of apigenin to free aglycone. The contents of apigenin and apigenin-7-O-ß-glucoside were determined in both fermented and nonfermented samples by UHPLC-MS-MS analysis to define the efficiency of conversion. After defining their chemical profiles, the extracts of fermented and nonfermented chamomile samples were also compared with respect to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects. The antioxidant effects of the obtained extracts were defined by electron spin resonance analysis for hydroxyl and superoxide radicals. The antimicrobial activity was defined for eight microbial strains, whereas cytotoxic activity was evaluated using two human cell lines (human cervix carcinoma and human rhabdomyosarcoma) and murine fibroblasts.

Bioactivity of Meeker and Willamette raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) pomace extracts.

Taking into account the substantial potential of raspberry processing by-products, pomace extracts from two raspberry cultivars, Meeker and Willamette, were investigated. Total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents were determined. Willamette pomace extract (EC50=0.042 mg/ml) demonstrated stronger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH radical-scavenging activity than did Meeker pomace extract (EC50=0.072 mg/ml). The most pronounced cell growth inhibition effect was obtained in the breast adenocarcinoma cell line, reaching EC50 values of 34.8 and 60.3 µg/ml for Willamette and Meeker extracts, respectively. Both extracts demonstrated favourable non-tumor/tumor cell growth ratios and potently increased the apoptosis/necrosis ratio in breast adenocarcinoma and cervix carcinoma cells. In reference and wild bacterial strains, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were achieved in a concentration range from 0.29 to 0.59 mg/ml, and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) in a range from 0.39 to 0.78 mg/ml. The results indicate significant antioxidant, antiproliferative, proapoptotic and antibacterial activities of raspberry pomace and favour its use as a functional food ingredient.

Free-radical scavenging activity and antibacterial impact of Greek oregano isolates obtained by SFE.

The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Greek oregano extracts obtained by fractional supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide were investigated and compared with the properties of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation. According to DPPH, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity assays, the supercritical extracts expressed stronger antioxidant activity comparing to the essential oil. The most effective was the supercritical extract obtained by fractional extraction at 30 MPa and 100°C after the volatile fraction had been extracted at lower pressure. At the same time this extract showed strong antibacterial activity against staphylococci, including MRSA strain, but did not affect Escherichia coli of normal intestinal flora. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation showed stronger antibacterial activity against E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella pneumoniae, comparing to the supercritical extracts but at the same affected the normal gut flora.

Antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of commercial beetroot pomace.

The by-product of food processing is often utilized as feed, and for the preparation of dietary fiber and biofuel. However, these products are also promising sources of bioactive antioxidants and color giving compounds, which could be used as additives in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile, and the antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of industrial beetroot pomace extract (BPE). The content of phenolics (45.68 mg gallic acid equivalents g(-1)), flavonoids (25.89 mg rutin equivalents g(-1)) and betalains (4.09 mg betanin g(-1); 7.32 mg vulgaxanthin I g(-1)) were determined spectrophotometrically. The antiradical activity on DPPH (EC(50)(DPPH·) = 0.0797 mg ml(-1)), hydroxyl (EC(50)(·OH) = 0.0655 mg ml(-1)) and superoxide anion (EC(50)(O2·-) = 1.0625 mg ml(-1)) radicals were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. Gram(-) bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter freundii) and Gram(+) bacteria, (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Bacillus cereus) showed high susceptibility, while yeasts and moulds were resistant. BPE exhibits cytotoxic properties against Ehrlich carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo due to induction of oxidative stress. The largest decreases in EAC cell numbers were observed in the pre-treated male (approximately 53%) and female (approximately 47%) mice, and also the EAC cell viability was decreased after administration of BPE. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, xanthine oxidase (XOD) and peroxidase (Px), were significantly different between the untreated EAC control group and all other groups that were treated with BPE. The XOD and Px activities were very low in untreated malignant cells, but increased significantly after administration of BPE. Our results show that BPE holds promise in the food industry as a source of bioactive compounds.