Correction: Exploiting Locusta migratoria as a source of bioactive peptides with anti-fibrosis properties using an in silico approach.

Correction for 'Exploiting Locusta migratoria as a source of bioactive peptides with anti-fibrosis properties using an in silico approach' by Carla S. S. Teixeira et al., Food Funct., 2024, 15, 493-502, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO04246D.

Volatilome, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles of Coffee Leaf and Coffee Leaf-Toasted Maté Kombuchas.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage traditionally made from the leaves of Camelia sinensis. The market has drastically expanded recently, and the beverage has become more elaborated with new, healthy food materials and flavors. Pruning and harvesting during coffee production may generate tons of coffee leaves that are discarded although they contain substantial amounts of bioactive compounds, including those found in maté tea and coffee seeds. This study characterized the changes in volatilome, microbial, and sensory profiles of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf tea kombuchas between 3-9 days of fermentation. Acceptance was also evaluated by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 103). Kombuchas (K) were prepared using black tea kombucha starter (BTKS) (10%), sucrose (10%), a symbiotic culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY) (2.5%), and a pure coffee leaf infusion (CL) or a 50:50 blend with toasted maté infusion (CL-TM) at 2.5%. The RATA test was chosen for sensory profile characterization. One hundred volatile organic compounds were identified when all infusions and kombucha samples were considered. The potential impact compounds identified in CL K and CL-TM K were: methyl salicylate, benzaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, pentadecanal, phenylethyl-alcohol, cedrol, 3,5-octadien-2-one, ß-damascenone, α-ionone, ß-ionone, acetic acid, caproic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, isovaleric acid, linalool, (S)-dihydroactinidiolide, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl hexanoate, and geranyl acetone. Aroma and flavor descriptors with higher intensities in CL K included fruity, peach, sweet, and herbal, while CL-TM K included additional toasted mate notes. The highest mean acceptance score was given to CL-TM K and CL K on day 3 (6.6 and 6.4, respectively, on a nine-point scale). Arabica coffee leaf can be a co-product with similar fingerprinting to maté and black tea, which can be explored for the elaboration of potentially healthy fermented beverages in food industries.

In vitro bioaccessibility and intestinal transport of retinoic acid in ethyl cellulose-based microparticles and impact of meal co-ingestion.

The development of carrier-based delivery systems for oral administration of retinoic acid (RA), that provides its release and absorption at intestinal level, is of major relevance in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. The aim of this work was to evaluate RA bioaccessibility and intestinal transport on ethyl cellulose (EC)- and EC + polyethylene glycol (ECP)-based microparticles and to understand the impact of meal co-ingestion by applying in vitro assays. RA-loaded microparticles were produced by spray-drying with an encapsulation efficiency higher than 90 % for both formulations. The gastric bioaccessibility of RA (after in vitro static digestion of RA-loaded particles) was lower than 3 % for both types of microparticles, with and without meal co-ingestion. Whereas after intestinal digestion, RA bioaccessibility was significantly higher and affected by the type of microparticles and the presence of meal. The digestion of EC- and ECP-based microparticles without diet enabled a significantly higher bioaccessibility of RA when compared to the one recorded for the co-digestion of these microparticles with diet. Herein, RA bioaccessibility decreased from 84 ± 1 to 24 ± 6 % (p < 0.0001) for microparticles EC and 54 ± 4 to 25 ± 5 % (p < 0.001) for microparticles ECP. Moreover, comparing both types of microparticles, RA bioaccessibility was significantly higher for EC-based microparticles digested without diet (p < 0.0001). At last, the bioaccessibility of RA was similar among EC- and ECP-based microparticles when co-digested with diet. Intestinal transport experiments performed in Caco-2 monolayers evidenced that after 2 h of transport the amount of RA retained in the apical compartment was higher than the amount that reached the basolateral compartment evidencing a slow transport at intestinal level that was higher when RA is spiked in the blank of digestion and the meal digestion samples compared to RA dissolved in HBSS (44 ± 6 (p < 0.01) and 38 ± 1 (p < 0.05) vs 26 ± 2 %, respectively).

Exploiting Locusta migratoria as a source of bioactive peptides with anti-fibrosis properties using an in silico approach.

Edible insects have been proposed as an environmentally and economically sustainable source of protein, and are considered as an alternative food, especially to meat. The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, is an edible species authorised by the European Union as a novel food. In addition to their nutritional value, edible insects are also sources of bioactive compounds. This study used an in silico approach to simulate the gastrointestinal digestion of selected L. migratoria proteins and posteriorly identify peptides capable of selectively inhibiting the N-subunit of the somatic angiotensin-I converting enzyme (sACE). The application of the molecular docking protocol enabled the identification of three peptides, namely TCDSL, IDCSR and EAEEGQF, which were predicted to act as potential selective inhibitors of the sACE N-domain and, therefore, possess bioactivity against cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis.

Volatile fingerprinting, sensory characterization, and consumer acceptance of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf teas.

Coffee leaves contain several bioactive compounds and have been traditionally consumed as a medicinal infusion in the East for centuries. Coffee production generates large amounts of leaves as by-products, which are often wasted in most producing countries because of the low acceptability in the West. Nevertheless, processing and blending coffee leaves may increase aroma and flavor complexity. This study evaluated the volatile and sensory profiles and consumer acceptance of coffee leaf teas compared to two among the most consumed teas (black and maté teas) in Rio de Janeiro. Infusions were made with one experimental and one commercial coffee leaf tea (CLT), two black teas (BT), and one toasted maté tea (TMT) for volatile (GC-MS/MS) and sensory profiles. As an attempt to improve coffee leaf tea acceptance, CLT were also blended (50%) with BT or TMT. Acceptance, Check All That Apply (CATA), and Projective Mapping sensory tests were performed with untrained assessors aged 18-49 (n = 100). Volatile data were standardized by centering and normalization. Sensory data were treated by ANOVA/Fisher test, PCA, and AHCMFA, considering differences at p < 0.05. Ninety-two volatile compounds distributed in 12 classes were identified in different samples. CLT, BT, and TMT infusions shared 19 compounds, including 9 potential impact compounds for aroma and flavor: α-ionone, ß-ionone, hexanal, nonanal, decanal, benzaldehyde, trans-linalool oxide, linalool, and dihydroactinidiolide. The most cited flavor attributes for CLT infusions were herbs/green leaf, woody and refreshing. For TMT and BT, herbs/green leaf, woody, burnt, and fermented were the most cited. These attributes agreed with the volatile profiles. CLT shared 22 compounds with TMT and 28 with BT. Considering pure infusions, TMT presented the highest mean acceptance scores (6.7), followed by Com. and Exp. CLT (6.1 and 5.8, on a 9-point-hedonic scale, respectively). Blending with TMT increased mean acceptance of Exp. CLT (6.4), while blending with BT, downgraded the mean acceptance of Com. CLT (5.3). In Projective Mapping, CLT was considered to have a higher sensory resemblance with TMT than BT. If produced adequately, CLT was shown to have good market potential to support sustainable coffee production and promote health.

Investigating the Impact of Dietary Fibers on Mycotoxin Bioaccessibility during In Vitro Biscuit Digestion and Metabolites Identification.

Mycotoxins contamination is a real concern worldwide due to their high prevalence in foods and high toxicity; therefore, strategies that reduce their gastrointestinal bioaccessibility and absorption are of major relevance. The use of dietary fibers as binders of four mycotoxins (zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2, and T-2 toxins) to reduce their bioaccessibility was investigated by in vitro digestion of biscuits enriched with fibers. K-carrageenan is a promising fiber to reduce the bioaccessibility of ZEA, obtaining values lower than 20%, while with pectin a higher reduction of DON, HT-2, and T-2 (50-88%) was achieved. Three metabolites of mycotoxins were detected, of which the most important was T-2-triol, which was detected at higher levels compared to T-2. This work has demonstrated the advantages of incorporating dietary fibers into a biscuit recipe to reduce the bioaccessibility of mycotoxins and to obtain healthier biscuits than when a conventional recipe is performed due to its high content of fiber.

From data to insight: Exploring contaminants in different food groups with literature mining and machine learning techniques.

Food remains a major source of human exposure to chemical contaminants that are unintentionally present in commodities globally, despite strict regulation. Scientific literature is a valuable source of quantification data on those contaminants in various foods, but manually summarizing the information is not practicable. In this review, literature mining and machine learning techniques were applied in 72 foods to obtain relevant information on 96 contaminants, including heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, mycotoxins, and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). The 11,723 data points collected from 254 papers from the last two decades were then used to identify the patterns of contaminants distribution. Considering contaminant categories, metals were the most studied globally, followed by PAHs, mycotoxins, pesticides, and HAAs. As for geographical region, the distribution was uneven, with Europe and Asia having the highest number of studies, followed by North and South America, Africa and Oceania. Regarding food groups, all contained metals, while PAHs were found in seven out of 12 groups. Mycotoxins were found in six groups, and pesticides in almost all except meat, eggs, and vegetable oils. HAAs appeared in only three food groups, with fish and seafood reporting the highest levels. The median concentrations of contaminants varied across food groups, with citrinin having the highest median value. The information gathered is highly relevant to explore, establish connections, and identify patterns between diverse datasets, aiming at a comprehensive view of food contamination.

Volatile, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Coffee Cascara Kombuchas.

Given the substantial world coffee production, tons of coffee fruit cascara rich in bioactive compounds are discarded annually. Using this by-product to produce potentially healthy and acceptable foods is a sustainable practice that aggregates value to coffee production and may help improve people's lives. This study aimed to elaborate kombuchas from coffee cascara tea, evaluate their microbial profile, and monitor the changes in the volatile profile during fermentation, together with sensory attributes and acceptance by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 113). Arabica coffee cascaras from Brazil and Nicaragua were used to make infusions, to which black tea kombucha, a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), and sucrose were added. Fermentation of plain black tea kombucha was also monitored for comparison. The volatile profile was analyzed after 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of fermentation via headspace solid phase microextraction GC-MS. A total of 81 compounds were identified considering all beverages, 59 in coffee cascara kombuchas and 59 in the black tea kombucha, with 37 common compounds for both. An increase mainly in acids and esters occurred during fermentation. Despite the similarity to black tea kombucha, some aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and ketones in coffee cascara kombucha were not identified in black tea kombucha. Potential impact compounds in CC were linalool, decanal, nonanal, octanal, dodecanal, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ß-damascenone, γ-nonalactone, linalool oxide, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetone, phenylacetaldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid, octanoic acid, isovaleric acid, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and limonene. The mean acceptance scores for cascara kombuchas varied between 5.7 ± 0.53 and 7.4 ± 0.53 on a nine-point hedonic scale, with coffee cascara from three-day Nicaragua kombucha showing the highest score, associated with sweetness and berry, honey, woody, and herbal aromas and flavors. The present results indicate that coffee cascara is a promising by-product for elaboration of fermented beverages, exhibiting exotic and singular fingerprinting that can be explored for applications in the food industry.

Intracellular Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Bioactive Profiles of Coffee Cascara and Black Tea Kombucha Beverages.

Kombucha is a functional beverage obtained through fermentation of sweetened Camellia sinensis infusion by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts that exerts many beneficial biological effects, mostly related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Alternative raw materials have been used to create new kombucha or kombucha-like products. Coffee is the most important food commodity worldwide and generates large amounts of by-products during harvest and post-harvest processing. The main coffee by-product is the dried fruit skin and pulp, popularly known as cascara. To date, no studies have evaluated the potential bioactivity of coffee cascara kombucha. In this study, we aimed to measure and compare the effects of infusions and kombuchas made with arabica coffee cascaras (n = 2) and black tea leaves (n = 1), fermented for 0, 3, 6, and 9 days on the intracellular production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Nitric Oxide (NO) in model cells. Oxidative stress was induced in HK-2 cells with indoxyl sulfate (IS) and high glucose (G). Inflammation was induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The contents of phenolic compounds, caffeine, and other physicochemical parameters were evaluated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study providing information on the bioactive profile and on the potential biological effects of coffee cascara kombucha. Fermentation caused the release of bound phenolic compounds from the infusions, especially total chlorogenic acids, with an average increase from 5.4 to 10.7 mg/100 mL (98%) and 2.6-3.4 mg/100 mL (30%) in coffee cascara and black tea kombucha, respectively, up to day 9. All evaluated beverages reduced (p < 0.0001) similarly the intracellular ROS (41% reduction, on average) and uric acid (10-55%) concentrations in HK-2 model cells, reversing the induced oxidative stress. All beverages also reduced (p < 0.0001, 81-90%) NO formation in LPS-induced macrophages, exhibiting an anti-inflammatory effect. These potential health benefits may be mostly attributed to polyphenols and caffeine, whose contents were comparable in all beverages. Coffee cascara showed similar potential to C. sinensis to produce healthy beverages and support sustainable coffee production.

Edible Insects as a Novel Source of Bioactive Peptides: A Systematic Review.

The production of food and feed to meet the needs of the growing world's population will soon become a serious challenge. In search for sustainable solutions, entomophagy is being proposed as an alternative source of proteins, with economic and environmental advantages when compared to meat. Edible insects are not only a valuable source of important nutrients, but their gastrointestinal digestion also originates small peptides with important bioactive properties. The present work intends to provide an exhaustive systematic review on research articles reporting bioactive peptides identified from edible insects, as demonstrated by in silico, in vitro, and/or in vivo assays. A total of 36 studies were identified following the PRISMA methodology, gathering 211 potentially bioactive peptides with antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemia, antimicrobial, anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), antithrombotic, and immunomodulatory properties, originated from the hydrolysates of 12 different insect species. From these candidates, the bioactive properties of 62 peptides were characterized in vitro and 3 peptides were validated in vivo. Data establishing the scientific basis of the health benefits associated with the consumption of edible insects can be a valuable contribution to overcoming the cultural issues that hinder the introduction of insects in the Western diet.

An in silico approach to unveil peptides from Acheta domesticus with potential bioactivity against hypertension, diabetes, cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis.

Entomophagy is a sustainable alternative source of proteins for human nutrition. Acheta domesticus is one of the three insect species that complies with the European Union Regulation on novel foods, but to date, there are no reports on their potential bioactive peptides. In this study, an in silico approach was applied to simulate the gastrointestinal (GI) digestion of six A. domesticus proteins and identify new peptides with potential anti-hypertensive and/or anti-diabetic properties, resulting from their capability to inhibit the somatic Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (sACE) and/or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4), respectively. A molecular docking protocol was applied to evaluate the binding interactions between the 43 peptides ranked with high probability of being bioactive and three drug targets: DPP-4 and two catalytic domains (N- and C-) of sACE. Five peptides (AVQPCF, CAIAW, IIIGW, DATW and QIVW) showed high docking scores for both enzymes, suggesting their potential to inhibit the DPP-4 and both catalytic domains of sACE, thus possessing multifunctional bioactive properties. Two peptides (PIVCF and DVW) showed higher docking scores for the N-domain of sACE, indicating a potential action as selective inhibitors and consequently with anti-cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis bioactivities. This is the first study identifying peptides originated from the simulated GI digestion of A. domesticus with potential activities against hypertension, diabetes, cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis.

Pd(II) and Pt(II) Trinuclear Chelates with Spermidine: Selective Anticancer Activity towards TNBC-Sensitive and -Resistant to Cisplatin.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer and constitutes 10-20% of all breast cancer cases. Even though platinum-based drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin are effective in TNBC patients, their toxicity and development of cancer drug resistance often hamper their clinical use. Hence, novel drug entities with improved tolerability and selectivity profiles, as well as the ability to surpass resistance, are needed. The current study focuses on Pd(II) and Pt(II) trinuclear chelates with spermidine (Pd3Spd2 and Pt3Spd2) for evaluating their antineoplastic activity having been assessed towards (i) cisplatin-resistant TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231/R), (ii) cisplatin-sensitive TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231) and (iii) non-cancerous human breast cells (MCF-12A, to assess the cancer selectivity/selectivity index). Additionally, the complexes' ability to overcome acquired resistance (resistance index) was determined. This study revealed that Pd3Spd2 activity greatly exceeds that displayed by its Pt analog. In addition, Pd3Spd2 evidenced a similar antiproliferative activity in both sensitive and resistant TNBC cells (IC50 values 4.65-8.99 µM and 9.24-13.34 µM, respectively), with a resistance index lower than 2.3. Moreover, this Pd compound showed a promising selectivity index ratio: >6.28 for MDA-MB-231 cells and >4.59 for MDA-MB-231/R cells. Altogether, the data presently gathered reveal Pd3Spd2 as a new, promising metal-based anticancer agent, which should be further explored for the treatment of TNBC and its cisplatin-resistant forms.

Mycotoxins' Prevalence in Food Industry By-Products: A Systematic Review.

The recovery of biomolecules from food industry by-products is of major relevance for a circular economy strategy. However, by-products' contamination with mycotoxins represents a drawback for their reliable valorization for food and feed, hampering their application range, especially as food ingredients. Mycotoxin contamination occurs even in dried matrices. There is a need for the implantation of monitoring programs, even for by-products used as animal feed, since very high levels can be reached. This systematic review aims to identify the food by-products that have been studied from 2000 until 2022 (22 years) concerning mycotoxins' contamination, distribution, and prevalence in those by-products. PRISMA ("Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses") protocol was performed via two databases (PubMed and SCOPUS) to summarize the research findings. After the screening and selection process, the full texts of eligible articles (32 studies) were evaluated, and data from 16 studies were considered. A total of 6 by-products were assessed concerning mycotoxin content; these include distiller dried grain with solubles, brewer's spent grain, brewer's spent yeast, cocoa shell, grape pomace, and sugar beet pulp. Frequent mycotoxins in these by-products are AFB1, OTA, FBs, DON, and ZEA. The high prevalence of contaminated samples, which surpasses the limits established for human consumption, thus limiting their valorization as ingredients in the food industry. Co-contamination is frequent, which can cause synergistic interactions and amplify their toxicity.

Bioactive Properties and Phenolic Composition of Wood-Aged Beers: Influence of Oak Origin and the Use of Pale and Dark Malts.

Ageing beer in contact with wood is a common technological procedure that has been used for centuries to improve colour, structure, and certain flavours. Herein, the impact of the addition of French and American oak wood to two beer styles, pale and dark, on beer phenolic composition (total phenolics, total flavonoids, and HPLC-DAD) and bioactivity (FRAP, DPPH, anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7, and antiproliferative in Caco-2 cells) was assessed. Thirteen phenolics were quantified with values according to previous reports. Dark malt resulted in higher values of total phenolics, to which m-hydroxybenzoic, syringic, p-coumaric acids, and xanthohumol contributed considerably; the exception was (+)-catechin and salicylic acid, which were found to be higher in pale beers. American oak significantly increased 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, vanillic, and syringic acids up to roughly 3, 2, and 10 times, respectively, when compared with French wood. FRAP and DPPH values varied between pale and dark beers, with a less pronounced effect after wood addition. All samples presented considerable cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory as well as antiproliferative activity, but differences were found only for the antiproliferative activity, which was higher for the dark beers, which reached about 70% inhibition. Overall, the influence of malts was more pronounced than that of wood, in the studied conditions, highlighting the overwhelming impact of malts on the bioactivity of beer.

Delphinidin-3-rutinoside from Blackcurrant Berries (Ribes nigrum): In Vitro Antiproliferative Activity and Interactions with Other Phenolic Compounds.

Blackcurrant berries (Rigrum L.) are of great interest for food scientists/technologists as a source of delphinidin-3-rutinoside (D3R). This is an uncommon phenolic compound in diets that unveils potent antiproliferative activity besides its colour. Other phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid (CA) and epicatechin (EC), also known by their antiproliferative effects, are abundant in foods and beverages. To design smart food/supplements combinations containing blackcurrant and improved anticancer properties at the gastrointestinal level, there is the need for more data concerning the combined effects of those molecules. In this work, synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects against gastric and intestinal cancers of D3R, CA, and EC were assessed in vitro. The antiproliferative activity of D3R, CA, and EC, alone and in binary combinations (D3R+CA, D3R+EC, and CA+EC) on NCI-N87 (gastric) and Caco-2 (intestinal) cells, was assessed following the Chou-Talalay theorem at equipotent contributions (i.e., (IC50)1/(IC50)2). D3R presented the strongest antiproliferative activity of the single molecules tested, with IC50 values of 24.9 µM and 102.5 µM on NCI-N87 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. The combinations D3R+CA and CA+EC were synergic against NCI-N87 until IC50 and IC75, respectively, while D3R+EC shifted from slight antagonism to synergism at higher doses. On Caco-2 cells, antagonism at low doses and synergism at high doses was observed. Therefore, the synergisms observed on the gastric cancer model at low doses occurred on the colon model only at high doses. Data herein described is vital to the targeted smart design of foods and supplements, as it is foreseen that the same combination of phenolic compounds causes different interactions/effects depending on the dose and gastrointestinal compartment.

The Improved Quality of Gluten-Free Bread Due to the Use of Flaxseed Oil Cake: A Comprehensive Study Evaluating Nutritional Value, Technological Properties, and Sensory Quality.

The development of gluten-free bakery products, the quality of which is comparable to the quality of regular wheat-based products, remains a technological challenge. In this study, flaxseed oil cake (FOC), a by-product of flaxseed oil extraction and a source of nutritional and functional compounds, was used as an ingredient in the experimental bread formulation as partial replacement of starches (5%, 15%, and 30%). The gluten-free breads (GFBs) were evaluated for technological parameters, nutritional value, and sensory quality. Compared with the control, all FOC-enhanced GFBs were significantly (p < 0.05) richer in proteins, fat, and dietary fibre, with an increase that was proportional to the concentration of FOC in the formulation. At low-to-moderate levels (5% and 15%), FOC improved the specific volume, texture characteristics (reduced crumb hardness, gumminess, and chewiness), and appearance of GFBs, which allowed us to ameliorate its sensory features, but at 30% of FOC, the quality of the crumb texture decreased significantly (p < 0.005). Among the experimental GFBs, FOC15% exhibited improved technological characteristics and was rated by the sensory panel as the best in terms of overall quality. The results of the conducted research highlighted the benefits of incorporating FOC into GFB as a promising approach to developing a palatable, high-quality bakery product that may be a healthier option for individuals on a gluten-free diet, offering nutritional benefits. Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that the amount of FOC in GFB requires careful regulation.

Unravelling Potential Health-Beneficial Properties of Corema album Phenolic Compounds: A Systematic Review.

Corema (C.) album belongs to the family Ericaceae and can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, especially on the coastal areas facing the Atlantic coast. C. album berries have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Recent studies have revealed that not only the berries but also the leaves have relevant antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties, bringing this plant to the forefront of discussion. A systematic review of the literature was carried out to summarize the phenolic compounds and bioactive properties identified in C. album berries and leaves and to search for research gaps on this topic. The search was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) using PRISMA methodology. The inclusion criteria were the chemical compositions of the berries, leaves, or their extracts and their bioactive properties. The exclusion criteria were agronomic and archaeological research. The number of studies concerning phenolic compounds' composition and the bioactive properties of C. album berries and leaves is still limited (11 articles). However, the variety of polyphenolic compounds identified make it possible to infer new insights into their putative mechanism of action towards the suppression of NF-kB transcription factor activation, the modulation of inflammatory mediators/enzymes, the induction of apoptosis, the modulation of mitogen activated protein kinase, cell cycle arrest, and the reduction of oxidative stress. These factors can be of major relevance concerning the future use of C. album as nutraceuticals, food supplements, or medicines. Nevertheless, more scientific evidence concerning C. album's bioactivity is required.

Protein Hydrolysates from Brewing By-Products as Natural Alternatives to ACE-Inhibitory Drugs for Hypertension Management.

The treatment of hypertension is of major importance to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are anti-hypertensive drugs associated with several side effects. Natural products, namely bioactive peptides from brewing by-products, brewers' spent grain (BSG), and yeast (BSY), are promising alternatives since they can inhibit ACE in vitro. However, the oral intake of these peptides may modify their expected inhibitory effect owing to possible changes in active peptides' bioavailability, which have not been assessed so far. The goal of this study was to simulate oral administration to evaluate BSG/BSY peptides' effectiveness by submitting protein hydrolysates sequentially to simulated gastrointestinal digestion, intestinal absorption (Caco-2 cells), and liver metabolism (HepG2 cells). MTT assay was used to assess BSG/BSY protein hydrolysates safeness. The ACE-inhibitory potential of initial and final protein hydrolysates (BSY, BSG, and a new product, MIX) were tested using a fluorometric assay and compared with captopril (1 µM, an ACE-inhibitory drug). Simulation of oral administration greatly increased BSY and MIX protein hydrolysates' ACE-inhibitory capacity, though final MIX and BSG revealed greater ACE-inhibitory potential than captopril. Notwithstanding, all final protein hydrolysates presented ACE-inhibitory capacity, thus being promising compounds to manage hypertension.

Volatile Fingerprinting and Sensory Profiles of Coffee Cascara Teas Produced in Latin American Countries.

Coffee is one of the most produced and consumed food products worldwide. Its production generates a large amount of byproducts with bioactive potential, like the fruit skin and pulp, popularly called cascara. This study aimed to evaluate the volatile and sensory profiles and the consumption potential of commercial Coffea arabica cascara teas by Rio de Janeiro consumers. Analyses of volatile organic compounds in unfermented (n = 2) and fermented (n = 4) cascara tea infusions were performed by GC-MS. RATA and acceptance sensory tests were performed with untrained assessors (n = 100). Fifty-three volatile organic compounds distributed in 9 classes were identified in different samples. Aldehydes, acids, alcohols, esters, and ketones prevailed in order of abundance. With mild intensity, the most cited aroma and flavor attributes were sweet, herbal, woody, prune, fruity, honey, toasted maté and black tea for unfermented teas. For the fermented teas, sweet, woody, black tea, prune, herbal, citric, fruity, honey, raisin, peach, toasted maté, tamarind, and hibiscus were rated as intense. A good association between the attributes selected by the assessors and the volatile compounds was observed. Unfermented teas, with a mild flavor and traditional characteristics, showed better mean acceptance (6.0−5.9 points) when compared to fermented teas (6.0−5.3 points), with exotic and complex attributes. These were well accepted (>8.0 points) by only about 20% of the assessors, a niche of consumers that appreciate gourmet foods.

Corema album Leaves Mediate DNA Damage in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Corema (C.) album is a shrub endemic to the Atlantic coast and has been described as yielding beneficial effects for human health. Nevertheless, studies concerning the bioactivity of C. album leaves are scarce. This study aims at investigating the anticancer potential and mode of action, of an hydroethanolic extract of C. album leaves (ECAL) on triple-negative breast cancer. This is a poor survival breast cancer subtype, owing to its high risk of distant reappearance, metastasis rates and the probability of relapse. The ECAL ability to prevent tumor progression through (i) the inhibition of cell proliferation (cell viability); (ii) the induction of apoptosis (morphological changes, TUNEL assay, caspase-3 cleaved) and (iii) the induction of DNA damage (PARP1 and γH2AX) with (iv) the involvement of NF-κB and of ERK1/2 pathways (AlphaScreen assay) was evaluated. ECAL activated the apoptotic pathway (through caspase-3) along with the inhibition of ERK and NF-κB pathways causing DNA damage and cell death. The large polyphenolic content of ECAL was presumed to be accountable for these effects. The extract of C. album leaves can target multiple pathways and, thus, can block more than one possible means of disease progression, evidencing the anticancer therapeutic potential from a plant source.