Sub-chronic consumption of a phenolic-rich avocado paste extract induces GLP-1-, leptin-, and adiponectin-mediated satiety in Wistar rats.

Avocado paste (AP) is a phenolic-rich byproduct of avocado oil extraction. The effects of sub-chronic consumption of diets supplemented with an AP phenolic extract (PE) were analyzed. A standard diet (SD), high-fat diet (HFD), and these supplemented with PE (SD + PE and HFD + PE) were used. Significantly increased satiety was observed in PE-supplemented groups, according to less food consumption (-15% in SD + PE vs. SD, and -11% in HFD + PE vs. HFD), without changes in weight gain or percentage of adipose tissue. PE-supplemented groups had an increased plasma concentration ( + 16% in SD + PE vs. SD, and +26% in HFD + PE vs. HFD) and relative mRNA expression (+74% in SD + PE vs. SD, and +46% in HFD + PE vs. HFD) of GLP-1; an increase in plasma leptin and adiponectin was independent of their mRNA expression. Our results suggest that AP-derived PE exerts a satiety effect in vivo, possibly mediated by GLP-1, leptin, and adiponectin. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Minimizing food waste is a top priority in most of the world, thus, researchers seek methods to reintroduce industrial fruit and vegetable byproducts into the food processing chain. The present work highlights the potential of avocado byproducts as sources of bioactive phenolic compounds, whose sub-chronic consumption (8 weeks) exerts a satiety action in vivo. Avocado farming is resource-intensive, making it of relevance to producers and processing industries to avoid discarding its byproducts as much as possible.

Quality, Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, and Enzymes of Raspberries at Different Maturity Stages, Effects of Organic vs. Conventional Fertilization.

Raspberries are important sources of bioactive compounds, whose synthesis is influenced by the fertilization system and the maturity stage. This study evaluated the effect of organic and conventional fertilization systems on raspberries at three maturity stages, pink, ripe, and overripe. Physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds (phenolic profile, vitamin C), antioxidant capacity (DPPH, FRAP, TEAC, and ORAC), phenolic-associated enzyme, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, and APX) were evaluated. The physicochemical determination of the fruit did not reveal differences between fertilization systems. Regarding bioactive compounds, higher content of anthocyanins was found in organic raspberries at all maturity stages. Organic fertilization increased the content of ellagic acid and gallic acid at all stages of maturity. Higher content of caffeic, hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic acid, and vitamin C was observed in organic raspberry at the overripe stage. Raspberries grown with organic fertilization exhibited higher values of antioxidant capacity by the DPPH, FRAP, and TEAC methods at all maturity stages. Raspberries under organic fertilization showed significantly greater activity of CAT, SOD, APX, GPX, and PAL. The present study suggests that organic fertilization induces oxidative stress causing an increase in antioxidant defense mechanisms, enhancing bioactive compound production, and improving antioxidant capacity in raspberries.

Effect of the Combination Hot Water - Calcium Chloride on the In Vitro Growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and the Postharvest Quality of Infected Papaya.

Anthracnose of papaya fruit caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the most economically important postharvest diseases. Hot water immersion (HW) and calcium chloride (Ca) treatments have been used to control papaya postharvest diseases; however, the effect of the combination HW-Ca on the pathogen growth and the development of the disease in infected papaya fruit has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the HW-Ca treatment on the in vitro growth of C. gloesporioides conidia and the quality of infected papaya. In vitro, the HW-Ca treated conidia showed reduced mycelial growth and germination. In vivo, the HW-Ca treatment of infected papaya delayed for 5 days the onset of the anthracnose symptoms and improved the papaya postharvest quality. The combined treatment HW-Ca was better than any of the individual treatments to inhibit the in vitro development of C. gloeosporioides and to reduce the negative effects of papaya anthracnose.