A Two-Step Single Plex PCR Method for Evaluating Key Colonic Microbiota Markers in Young Mexicans with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Protocol and Pilot Epidemiological Application.

Many neurological disorders have a distinctive colonic microbiome (CM) signature. Particularly, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit a very dissimilar CM when compared to neurotypical (NT) ones, mostly at the species level. Thus far, knowledge on this matter comes from high-throughput (yet very expensive and time-consuming) analytical platforms, such as massive high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA. Here, pure (260/280 nm, ~1.85) stool DNA samples (200 ng.µL-1) from 48 participants [39 ASD, 9 NT; 3-13 y] were used to amplify four candidate differential CM markers [Bacteroides fragilis (BF), Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FP), Desulfovibrio vulgaris (DV), Akkermansia muciniphila (AM)], using micro-organism-specific oligonucleotide primers [265 bp (BF), 198 bp (FP), 196 bp (DV), 327 bp (AM)] and a standardized two-step [low (step 1: °Tm-5 °C) to high (stage 2: °Tm-0 °C) astringent annealing] PCR protocol (2S-PCR). The method was sensitive enough to differentiate all CM biomarkers in the studied stool donors [↑ abundance: NT (BF, FP, AM), ASD (DV)], and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the primers' specificity.

Revisiting the high-fat diet/low streptozotocin prediabetic rat model: A bioanalytical adjustment.

Insulin resistance (IR) is the main feature of prediabetes (PD), which ultimately leads to diabetes. High-dose streptozotocin-treated rodents often show irreversible ß-cell mass loss and function, leaving the premorbid diabetic state (PD/IR) unnoticed. This study aimed to re-evaluate the synergistic/independent effect of a sub-chronic consumption (1-5 weeks) of a high-fat diet (60% gross energy from fat, 3.8 kcal.g-1) with [PD/IR-2 (week 2) to PD/IR-5 week five)] or without [HFD-5 (week five)] a single intraperitoneal dose (35 mg.kg-1) of streptozotocin in Wistar rats. Bioassay performance and clinical/histological features suggesting PD/IR or diabetes, were documented weekly and compared to standard chow-fed (3.5 kcal.g-1) rats (healthy controls, HC). PD/IR1-5 (fed with HFD for 1 to 5 weeks plus a single dose of streptozotocin) and HFD-5 (just fed with HFD for 5 weeks) groups reduced their food intake yet gained more body weight than HC. Groups exhibited hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance in decreasing order as follows: PD/IR-5, PD/IR-4, HFD-5, PD/IR-2-3, and HC. Histological disturbances in the pancreas, Soleus muscle, and liver were mostly observed in HFD-5 and PD/IR4-5 groups. HFD administration for 4 weeks white a single moderate dose of streptozotocin four days before sacrifice, leads to a convenient PD/IR rat model.

Potential Anticancer Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruits of Different Color: In Vitro and In Silico Evidence.

Pomegranate (PMG; Punica granatum L.) fruits possess a well-balanced nutrient/phytochemical composition, with proven adjuvant benefits in experimental cancer chemotherapy; however, such bioactivity could be affected by PMG's phenogenotype (varietal). Here, the chemical and phytochemical (UPLC-DAD-MS2) composition, antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential [in vitro (MTT assay) and in silico (foodinformatics)] of three PMG fruits of different aryl color [red (cv. Wonderful), pink (cv. Molar de Elche), and white (cv. Indian)] were evaluated. The macro/micronutrient (ascorbic acid, tocols, carotenoids), organic acid (citric/malic), and polyphenol content were changed by PMG's varietal and total antioxidant activity (ABTS, alcoholic > hexane extract) in the order of red > pink > white. However, their in vitro cytotoxicity was the same (IC50 > 200 µg.mL-1) against normal (retinal) and cancer (breast, lung, colorectal) cell lines. Sixteen major phytochemicals were tentatively identified, four of them with a high GI absorption/bioavailability score [Ellagic (pink), vanillic (red), gallic (white) acids, D-(+)-catechin (white)] and three of them with multiple molecular targets [Ellagic (52) > vanillic (32) > gallic (23)] associated with anticancer (at initiation and promotion stages) activity. The anticancer potential of the PMG fruit is phenogenotype-specific, although it could be more effective in nutraceutical formulations (concentrates).

Lesser-Consumed Tropical Fruits and Their by-Products: Phytochemical Content and Their Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

Açaí, lychee, mamey, passion fruit and jackfruit are some lesser-consumed tropical fruits due to their low commercial production. In 2018, approximately 6.8 million tons of these fruits were harvested, representing about 6.35% of the total world production of tropical fruits. The present work reviews the nutritional content, profile of bioactive compounds, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of these fruits and their by-products, and their ability to modulate oxidative stress due to the content of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and dietary fiber. Açaí pulp is an excellent source of anthocyanins (587 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents/100 g dry weight, dw), mamey pulp is rich in carotenoids (36.12 mg ß-carotene/100 g fresh weight, fw), passion fruit peel is rich in dietary fiber (61.16 g/100 dw). At the same time, jackfruit contains unique compounds such as moracin C, artocarpesin, norartocarpetin and oxyresveratrol. These molecules play an important role in the regulation of inflammation via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (including p38, ERK and JNK) and nuclear factor κB pathways. The properties of the bioactive compounds found in these fruits make them a good source for use as food ingredients for nutritional purposes or alternative therapies. Research is needed to confirm their health benefits that can increase their marketability, which can benefit the primary producers, processing industries (particularly smaller ones) and the final consumer, while an integral use of their by-products will allow their incorporation into the circular bioeconomy.

Synergistic Interactions between Tocol and Phenolic Extracts from Different Tree Nut Species against Human Cancer Cell Lines.

Tree nuts are rich in polar (phenolic compounds) and non-polar (tocols) antioxidants, with recognized effects in the prevention of diseases such as cancer. These biomolecules possess antiproliferative activity on cancer cells; however, the combined effect of both types of compounds has been scarcely studied, and this approach could give valuable information on the real anticancer potential of tree nuts. In the present study, the antiproliferative activity of pure tocols and phenolic compounds, tocol- and phenolic-rich extracts (TRE and PRE, respectively) from tree nuts and the extracts combinations, was evaluated in four cancer (HeLa, MCF7, PC3, A549) and one control (ARPE) cell lines. The most sensible cell lines were HeLa and MCF7. TRE and PRE from nuts were chemically characterized; γ and δ tocopherols, total tocols, total tocopherols and total phenolic compounds were negatively correlated with cell viability in MCF7 cells. In HeLa cells, only δ and total tocopherols were negatively correlated with cell viability. TRE and PRE had a low effect in reducing cell viability of the cancer cell lines, the most effective extracts were those of emory oak acorn (EOA), pecan nut (PEC) and walnut (WAL), and these were further studied for their pharmacological interactions, using the combination index and the isobologram methods. Combinations of both extracts showed a synergistic and strongly synergistic behavior in the three nuts (EOA, PEC and WAL), with combination indexes between 0.12 and 0.55. These results highlight the need to understand the interactions among components found in complex natural extracts or food products in order to fully understand their bioactivities.

[Functional feeding to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review]. / Alimentación funcional para aliviar desórdenes gastrointestinales asociados a trastornos del espectro autista: Una revisión sistemática.

Introduction: Background: gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) are common comorbidities in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); treatments with gluten- and casein-free (LGLC) diets or prebiotic/probiotic supplements may reduce the severity of GIDs. Objective: to integrate and discuss the evidence on the effectiveness of LGLC diet therapies and prebiotic/probiotic supplements on GIDs in patients with ASD. Methodology: the guidelines for the publication of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) were used. Participant characteristics, dietary interventions, prebiotic/prebiotic supplementation, effects of interventions on GIDs, risk of bias, and safety of treatments were analyzed. Results: fifteen investigations were analyzed; the prevalence of GIDs among patients with ASD was high (58 %; range, 27-83 %). In more than 20 % of the patients managed with LGLC diets or supplements GID severity decreased (mainly constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain). Increases in the counts of beneficial bacteria and a decrease in the proportion of pathogenic bacteria were reported after supplement use. However, all these investigations had significant methodological biases. Conclusions: although reductions in the frequency and severity of some GIDs have been found, the effectiveness of these treatments has not been proven yet. Given the methodological differences in the investigations, the design of rigorous studies to evaluate the therapeutic effects of these treatments on gastrointestinal health in patients with ASD is warranted.

Introducción: Antecedentes: los trastornos gastrointestinales (TGI) son comorbilidades comunes en los pacientes con trastornos del espectro autista (TEA); los tratamientos con dietas libres de gluten y caseína (LGLC) o suplementos de prebióticos/probióticos podrían reducir la severidad de los TGI. Objetivo: integrar y discutir la evidencia sobre la efectividad de las terapias con dietas LGLC y suplementos de prebióticos/probióticos sobre los TGI en pacientes con TEA. Metodología: se utilizaron las guías para la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis (PRISMA). Se analizaron las características de los participantes, las intervenciones dietéticas, la administración de suplementos de prebióticos/prebióticos, los efectos de las intervenciones sobre los TGI, el riesgo de sesgo de los estudios y la seguridad de los tratamientos. Resultados: se analizaron quince investigaciones; la prevalencia de los TGI entre los pacientes con TEA fue alta (58 %; rango, 27-83 %). En más del 20 % de los pacientes intervenidos con dietas LGLC o suplementos disminuyó la severidad de los TGI (principalmente estreñimiento, diarrea y dolor abdominal). Se reportaron aumentos en los conteos de bacterias benéficas y una disminución de la proporción de bacterias patógenas tras el uso de los suplementos. Sin embargo, todas estas investigaciones presentaron sesgos metodológicos importantes. Conclusiones: aunque se han encontrado reducciones en la frecuencia y severidad de algunos TGI, la efectividad de estos tratamientos aún no se ha comprobado. Dadas las diferencias metodológicas de las investigaciones, se justifica el diseño de estudios rigurosos para evaluar los efectos terapéuticos de estos tratamientos sobre la salud gastrointestinal en pacientes con TEA.

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Phenotypes: From Agroindustry to Health Effects.

Sweet potato (SP; Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an edible tuber native to America and the sixth most important food crop worldwide. China leads its production in a global market of USD 45 trillion. SP domesticated varieties differ in specific phenotypic/genotypic traits, yet all of them are rich in sugars, slow digestible/resistant starch, vitamins, minerals, bioactive proteins and lipids, carotenoids, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, coumarins, and saponins, in a genotype-dependent manner. Individually or synergistically, SP's phytochemicals help to prevent many illnesses, including certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disorders. These and other topics, including the production and market diversification of raw SP and its products, and SP's starch as a functional ingredient, are briefly discussed in this review.

Mango "Ataulfo" Peel Extract Improves Metabolic Dysregulation in Prediabetic Wistar Rats.

The hypoglycemic effect of functional phytochemicals has been evaluated in diabetic rodents but scarcely in its premorbid condition (prediabetes; PD). This study aimed to evaluate a mango (cv. Ataulfo) peel hydroethanolic (20:80) extract (MPE) for in vivo glycemic/lipidemic-normalizing effect and in vitro enzyme inhibitory (α-amylase/α-glucosidase) activity. The polyphenolic MPE (138 mg EAG.g−1, mainly gallic acid and mangiferin) with antioxidant capacity (DPPH• 34 mgTE.g−1) was fed to PD rats (induction: high-fat diet (60% energy) + single dose streptozotocin (35 mg·kg−1), 4 weeks). At the 8th week, fasting glycemia (FG), oral glucose tolerance test, and insulin sensitivity indexes (HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß) > blood lipid-normalizing effect were documented as healthy controls > MPE > disease (PD) controls, which was possibly related to the extract's concentration−response in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity (IC50 ≈ 0.085 mg·mL−1). MPE is a rich source of glucose-lowering phytochemicals for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes.

¿Quién está consumiendo productos dietéticos en Perú? Reporte de consumo de una encuesta transversal no probabilística

Objetivo: Identificar el perfil y la percepción de los consumidores de productos dietéticos en las poblaciones de Lima, Arequipa y Trujillo en Perú. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico realizado en sujetos mayores de 18 años que eran residentes en las ciudades de Lima, Arequipa y Trujillo en Perú. El estudio se realizó en dos etapas. En la primera etapa, se realizaron entrevistas personales, para lo cual se empleó cuestionarios estructurados y estandarizados. En la segunda etapa, se diseñó un cuestionario estructurado con preguntas abiertas y cerradas relacionadas con los hábitos de uso y compra de productos dietéticos. Resultados: Se entrevistaron a 890 personas, de las cuales el 42 % señalaron que consumían productos dietéticos, de los cuales las vitaminas y los minerales eran los productos de mayor consumo. Se observó que los consumidores mantenían una frecuencia diaria y una antigüedad de consumo entre 3 y 12 meses. Además, se identificó que la recomendación de los familiares y amigos sobre el consumo de productos dietéticos tenía un nivel de confianza similar a las recomendaciones de médicos y nutricionistas. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio en una muestra representativa obtenida en Lima, Arequipa y Trujillo nos indican que un alto porcentaje de la población se encuentra satisfecha consumiendo productos dietéticos con regularidad. Es importante señalar que no existen diferencias significativas entre el porcentaje de la población encuestada que consume productos dietéticos por recomendación de un nutricionista y la que los consume por sugerencia de familiares y amigos. Esto indica que es necesario mejorar los hábitos nutricionales con estrategias de educación sobre hábitos alimenticios y la adaptación del uso de productos dietéticos a una dieta balanceada. Estos resultados podrían permitir que la población haga un uso más eficaz de los productos dietéticos como herramienta para reducir deficiencias nutricionales.

Objective: To identify the profile and perception of dietary supplement users in the population of Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo, Peru. Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted with subjects over 18 years of age residing in the cities of Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo, Peru. The study was performed in two steps. In the first step, personal interviews were held using structured and standardized surveys. In the second step, a structured survey was designed with open and closed questions related to the purchasing and consumption habits of dietary supplements. Results: Eight hundred ninety (890) people were interviewed, out of which 42 % reported to be dietary supplement users, being vitamins and minerals the most commonly used products. It was observed that these users had been taking daily doses of dietary supplements for 3 to 12 months. Additionally, it was found that family and friends served as a source of information on dietary supplements similar to the one provided by doctors and nutritionists. Conclusions: The results of this study conducted with a representative sample from Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo showed that a high percentage of the population was satisfied with using dietary supplements regularly. It is important to point out that there were no significant differences between the percentage of the surveyed population that used dietary supplements recommended by nutritionists and the one which used them on family and friends' recommendation. This suggests that it is necessary to improve nutritional habits with educational strategies on eating habits and adapt the use of dietary supplements to a balanced diet. These results could allow the population to use dietary supplements more effectively as a tool to reduce nutritional deficiencies.

Cápsulas de polvo de arándano como propuesta nutracéutica para mejorar la bioaccesibilidad de compuestos fenólicos / Blueberry Powder capsules as a nutraceutical proposal to improve bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds. Introduction

El arándano (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) posee un alto contenido de compuestos fenólicos los cuales han sido estudiados principalmente por su actividad antioxidante, antiobesogénica, antiinflamatoria, entre otras. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de la digestión gastrointestinal in vitro sobre la bioaccesibilidad de compuestos fenólicos y actividad antioxidante de una formulación nutracéutica de arándano (cápsula), comparado con arándano fresco y polvo. Materiales y métodos. Se obtuvieron extractos metanólicos de muestras de arándano fresco y liofilizado y se determinó su contenido de fenoles, flavonoides y antocianinas totales, así como también actividad antioxidante. Se llevó a cabo un ensayo de simulación de digestión gastrointestinal para evaluar la bioaccesibilidad de los compuestos fenólicos presentes en las muestras. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron que la digestión gástrica de arándano en polvo y en cápsula promovió una mayor bioaccesibilidad de fenoles (42% y 40%), flavonoides (52% y 33%) y antocianinas (45% y 40%) comparado con digestos de arándano fresco. Posterior a la digestión intestinal, la bioaccesibilidad de fenoles (63%) y flavonoides (67%) fue mayor en la cápsula de arándano comparada con su contraparte arándano en polvo. Las condiciones de digestión intestinal afectaron negativamente la bioaccesibilidad de las antocianinas independientemente del tipo de muestra evaluada. Conclusión. Las condiciones de digestión gástrica promueven una mayor estabilidad de los compuestos fenólicos en arándano en polvo y en cápsula lo que pudiera ser relevante para el mantenimiento de un ambiente antioxidante a este nivel. Las condiciones de digestión intestinal afectaron de manera particular a los compuestos fenólicos de arándano fresco y polvo, pero no a la cápsula, lo que puede sugerir que el encapsulamiento protegió de las condiciones alcalinas a los fenoles presentes. Se sugieren estudios posteriores sobre absorción in vitro de los componentes remanentes en intestino y sus posibles efectos sobre biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo en modelos in vivo(AU)

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has a high content of phenolic compounds which have been studied mainly for their antioxidant, antiobesogenic, anti-inflammatory activity, among others. Objetive. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of a nutraceutical formulation of blueberry (capsule), compared to fresh and powder blueberry. Materials and methods. Methanolic extracts of fresh and lyophilized blueberry were obtained and determined its total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins content, as well as antioxidant activity. A gastrointestinal digestion simulation test also was carried out to assess the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds found in samples. Results. The results showed that gastric digestion of powder and capsule blueberry promoted greater bioaccessibility of phenols (42% and 40%), flavonoids (52% and 33%) and anthocyanins (45% and 40%), compared to fresh blueberry digests. After intestinal digestion, the bioaccessibility of phenols (63%) and flavonoids (67%) was higher in the blueberry capsule compared to its powdered blueberry counterpart. The intestinal digestion conditions negatively affected the bioaccessibility of anthocyanins regardless of the type of sample evaluated. Conclusion. Gastric digestion conditions promote greater stability of phenolic compounds in powdered and capsule blueberries, which could be relevant for the maintenance of an antioxidant environment at this level. The intestinal digestion conditions particularly affected the phenolic compounds of fresh and lyophilized blueberry, but not the capsule, which may suggest that encapsulation protected the phenols present from alkaline conditions. Further studies on in vitro absorption of the remaining components in the intestine and their possible effects on oxidative stress biomarkers in in vivo models are suggested(AU)

Peptides, Exopolysaccharides, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids from Fermented Milk and Perspectives on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by chronic inflammatory processes and an imbalanced immune response along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Pharmacological treatments have been widely used, although their long-term application has adverse side effects. On the other hand, milks fermented with specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been shown to be useful as alternative or complementary aids. Many metabolites such as peptides, exopolysaccharides, and short-chain fatty acids are produced during milk fermentation. These components have been shown to change the pH of the gastrointestinal lumen, aid intestine mucosal recovery, modulate the microbiota, and reduce the inflammatory response (innate and adaptive immune system), both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to describe how these bioactive compounds from fermented milk by specific LAB can decrease the deleterious symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Exercise Fat Oxidation Is Positively Associated with Body Fatness in Men with Obesity: Defying the Metabolic Flexibility Paradigm.

Obesity is thought to be associated with a reduced capacity to increase fat oxidation in response to physical exercise; however, scientific evidence supporting this paradigm remains scarce. This study aimed to determine the interrelationship of different submaximal exercise metabolic flexibility (Metflex) markers and define its association with body fatness on subjects with obesity. Twenty-one male subjects with obesity performed a graded-intensity exercise protocol (Test 1) during which cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and its corresponding exercise intensity (FATmax) were recorded. A week afterward, each subject performed a 60-min walk (treadmill) at FATmax (Test 2), and the resulting fat oxidation area under the curve (TFO) and maximum respiratory exchange ratio (RERpeak) were recorded. Blood lactate (LAb) levels was measured during both exercise protocols. Linear regression analysis was used to study the interrelationship of exercise Metflex markers. Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate all possible linear relationships between Metflex and anthropometric measurement, controlling for CRF). The MFO explained 38% and 46% of RERpeak and TFO's associated variance (p < 0.01) while TFO and RERpeak were inversely related (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.01). Body fatness positively correlated with MFO (r = 0.64, p < 0.01) and TFO (r = 0.63, p < 0.01) but inversely related with RERpeak (r = -0.67, p < 0.01). This study shows that MFO and RERpeak are valid indicators of TFO during steady-state exercise at FATmax. The fat oxidation capacity is directly associated with body fatness in males with obesity.

Gastrointestinal metabolism of monomeric and polymeric polyphenols from mango (Mangifera indica L.) bagasse under simulated conditions.

Mango bagasse (MB) is an agro-industrial by-product rich in bioactive polyphenols with potential application as a functional ingredient. This study aimed to delineate the metabolic fate of monomeric/polymeric MB polyphenols subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The main identified compounds by LC/MS-TOF-ESI were phenolic acids [gallic acid (GA) and derivates, and chlorogenic acid], gallotannins and derivatives [di-GA (DA) and 3GG-to-8GG], benzophenones [galloylated maclurins (MGH, MDH)], flavonoids [Quercetin (Quer) and (QuerH)] and xanthones [mangiferin isomers]. The bioaccessibility depended on the polyphenols' structure, being Quer, 5G to 8G the main drivers. The results suggested that the gastrointestinal fate of MB polyphenols is mainly governed by benzophenones and gallotannins degalloylation and spontaneous xanthone isomerization in vitro to sustain GA bioaccessibility.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion and simulated colonic fermentation of pistachio nuts determine the bioaccessibility and biosynthesis of chronobiotics.

Chronodisruption leads to obesity and other metabolic disorders that can be alleviated by food-derived potential chronobiotics, such as phytomelatonin (PMT), phenolic compounds (PCs) and dietary fiber rich pistachios. Pistachios with (PN + SC) or without (PN) the seed coat were investigated for their in vitro chronobiotic potential since they are one of the main reported PMT sources. Consequently we evaluated the bioaccessibility, permeability, and biosynthesis of pistachio chronobiotics, particularly PMT, during gastrointestinal and colonic fermentation. The maximum in vitro bioaccessibility and apparent permeability (efflux-prone) of PCs, flavonoids and PMT were sample-specific [∼1.3% (both), 27 and 3.4% (PN + SC)], but additional amounts (flavonoids > PCs > PMT) were released under simulated colonic conditions. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; 38 mM; >50% butyrate, PN + SC > PN) and some metabolites (e.g., indole, benzaldehyde, phenolic acids, and aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbons) were detected depending on the sample. The predominant pistachio butyrate production during in vitro colonic fermentation can improve chronodisruption and benefit obese individuals. Pistachio's digestion increases the bioaccessibility and intestinal permeability of potential chronobiotics (PMT and PCs) and the biosynthesis of colonic metabolites (SCFAs, among others) also with chronobiotic potential.

Dehiscence and prolonged storage of 'Kerman' Pistachios: Effects on morphometry and nutraceutical value.

'Kerman' pistachios (KP; Pistacia vera L.) are an important crop for several countries but their commercial value is diminished by their shell dehiscence status and prolonged storage in popular marketplaces. The aim was to evaluate the independent/synergistic effect of prolonged storage (1-4 year) and dehiscence status (split/unsplit) on KP's morphometry and chemical composition. Whole nut's and kernel's length, width, thickness, surface area, and volume were more affected by dehiscence (split > unsplit; p ≤ 0.01) than storage time; Kernel's mass, macronutrient composition and tocopherols (T)/tocotrienols (T3) were not much affected by dehiscence but time-trend correlations were observed with macronutrient composition (split/unsplit; ρ = - 0.57-0.42) and T + T3 (unsplit; ρ = 0.81). Specific/total fatty acids were affected by a complex dehiscence × storage time interaction, and they linearly correlated with certain morphometric characteristics (r ≥ 0.6). Shell dehiscence status more than prolonged storage substantially modifies KP's quality.

Avocado fruit and by-products as potential sources of bioactive compounds.

The increased demand for avocado, and therefore production and consumption, generate large quantities of by-products such as seeds, peel, and defatted pulp, which account for approximately 30% of fruit weight, and which are commonly discarded and wasted. The present review focuses on various compounds present in avocado fruit and its by-products, with particular interest to those that can be potentially used in different industrial forms, such as nutraceuticals, to add to or to formulate functional foods, among other uses. Main molecular families of bioactive compounds present in avocado include phenolic compounds (such as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids and proanthocyanins), acetogenins, phytosterols, carotenoids and alkaloids. Types, contents, and possible functions of these bioactive compounds are described from a chemical, biological, and functional approach. The use of avocado and its by-products requires using processing methods that allow highest yield with the least amount of unusable residues, while also preserving the integrity of bioactive compounds of interest. Avocado cultivar, fruit development, ripening stage, and processing methods are some of the main factors that influence the type and amount of extractable molecules. The phytochemical diversity of avocado fruit and its by-products make them potential sources of nutraceutical compounds, from which functional foods can be obtained, as well as other applications in food, health, pigment, and material sectors, among others.

Effect of drying methods on the gastrointestinal fate and bioactivity of phytochemicals from cocoa pod husk: In vitro and in silico approaches.

Cocoa pod husk (CPH) contains many nutraceutical phytochemicals whose gastrointestinal fate and bioactivity can be affected by drying methods. Microwave (MW), forced-air drying (AF), and AF plus extrusion (AF-E) dried CPH samples were chemically characterized, and their phenolic and theobromine (THB) contents were evaluated under oral-gastric-intestinal (in vitro) and colonic fermentation (ex vivo). Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADEMT) properties of CPH's small molecules were evaluated in silico. The chemical composition of CPH [mostly carbohydrates/insoluble dietary fiber], polyphenol [total polyphenols > condensed tannin (CT) > monomeric flavonoids] differed minimally among samples, except for THB content (AF/AF-E > MW) and antioxidant capacity (MW > AF/AF-E). Time- trend gastrointestinal (X3 behavior) and colonic bioaccessibility were AF/AF-E > MW, but phenolic acids, procyanidins, and THB fluctuated in a sample-specific fashion. In silico modeling showed that bioactives of CPH easily crossed the intestinal epithelium illustrating their bioaccessibility and, permeability. These bioactives can act as receptor ligands in a structure-dependent manner, suggesting their use as a functional ingredient.