Profiles of Volatile Compounds from Seven New Hybrid Families Obtained by Crossings on Noir de Bourgogne Cultivar and Other Blackcurrant Varieties.

Berries of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) are popular for their strong and complex aroma and their benefits for health. In Burgundy (France), the most famous blackcurrant cultivar is the "Noir de Bourgogne". A blackcurrant breeding program was conducted to obtain new varieties, more resistant to infections and climate changes. The cultivar "Noir de Bourgogne" was crossed with seven other varieties in order to create a hybrid with good agronomic properties and organoleptic properties close to the ones of "Noir de Bourgogne". Several hybrids were created, and their aromatic profiles studied. Berries of eight cultivars, among which Noir de Bourgogne and hybrids resulting from crossings, were harvested during the summer of 2020. Volatile compounds of berries were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used as the most useful chemometric technique. The profiles in volatile compounds of hybrids were either different from those of the two parental varieties or close to that of varieties other than Bourgogne black. In all cases, the overall aroma strength of the hybrid did not equal that of the Noir de Bourgogne cultivar.

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.

Reduction of Nitrite in Canned Pork through the Application of Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.) Leaves Extract.

Sodium nitrite is a multifunctional additive commonly used in the meat industry. However, this compound has carcinogenic potential, and its use should be limited. Therefore, in this study the possibility of reducing the amount of sodium(III) nitrite added to canned meat from 100 to 50 mg/kg, while enriching it with freeze-dried blackcurrant leaf extract, was analyzed. The possibility of fortification of canned meat with blackcurrant leaf extract was confirmed. It contained significant amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives. These compounds contributed to their antioxidant activity and their ability to inhibit the growth of selected Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, it was observed that among the three different tested doses (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) of the blackcurrant leaf extract, the addition of the highest dose allowed the preservation of the antioxidant properties of canned meat during 180 days of storage (4 °C). At the end of the storage period, this variant was characterized by antiradical activity against ABTS (at the level of 4.04 mgTrolox/mL) and the highest reducing capacity. The addition of 150 mg/kg of blackcurrant leaf extract caused a reduction in oxidative transformations of fat in meat products during the entire storage period, reaching a level of TBARS almost two times less than in the control sample. In addition, these products were generally characterized by stability (or slight fluctuations) of color parameters and good microbiological quality and did not contain N-nitrosamines.

Polar Phenol Detection in Plasma and Serum: Insights on Sample Pre-Treatment for LC/MS Analysis and Application on the Serum of Corinthian Currant-Fed Rats.

Analysis of plasma and serum provides valuable information on the amounts of polar phenols' circulating after ingestion. In the present study, protein precipitation (PPT), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), enzymatic hydrolysis and their combinations were meticulously evaluated for the extraction of a variety of polar phenolic moieties from plasma and serum. The recovery values of the above methods were compared; satisfactory recoveries (>60%) were attained for most analytes. Polar phenol aglycones undergo degradation with enzymatic hydrolysis; however, their extended phase II metabolism makes enzymatic hydrolysis a mandated process for their analysis in such biofluids. Hence, enzymatic hydrolysis followed by LLE was used for the identification of polar phenols in rats' serum, after the long-term oral consumption of Corinthian Currant. Corinthian Currant is a Greek dried vine product rich in bioactive polar phenolics. Flavonoids and phenolic acids, detected as aglycones, ranged from 0.57 ± 0.08 to 181.66 ± 48.95 and 3.45 ± 1.20 to 897.81 ± 173.96 ng/mL, respectively. The majority of polar phenolics were present as phase II metabolites, representing their fasting state in the blood stream. This is the first study evaluating the presence of polar phenolics in the serum of rats following a long-term diet supplemented with Corinthian Currant as a whole food.

Fenugreek seed and cape gooseberry leaf extracts as green corrosion inhibitors for steel in the phosphoric acid industry.

Phosphoric acid is the core material for the fertilizer industry; however, it is incredibly corrosive to manufacturing plants' structures, mainly steel. Corrosion is one of the most severe problems encountered during phosphate fertilizer manufacturing. Recently, plant extracts have been commonly used as corrosion inhibitors because they are cheap and environmentally friendly. Steel corrosion in a 20% aqueous phosphoric acid solution in the absence and presence of fenugreek seed (Fen) or cape gooseberry leaf (CgL) extracts was investigated using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique, potentiodynamic polarization measurement, scanning electron microscope, and quantum chemical calculations. Fourier Transform Infrared, FTIR, was used to identify the functional groups in Fen and CgL extracts. The inhibition efficiency for steel in 20% aqueous phosphoric acid was roughly equal to 80% for 0.4 g/L CgL and 1.2 g/L Fen extracts. A scanning electron microscope showed that the chemical constituents of extracts block the surface roughness of steel, decreasing the corrosion rate. The activation parameters indicated the effectiveness of the extracts at a higher temperature. Measurements of the potential of zero charges showed that the steel surface is positively charged in the phosphoric acid solution. Quantum chemical computations were also employed to examine the corrosion inhibition mechanisms of the natural extracts.

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Seeds-A Valuable Byproduct for Further Processing.

The rational exploitation of byproducts is important from the point of view of their potential applicability in various fields. In this study, the possibility of further processing of blackcurrant seeds (BCs), which are a byproduct of fruit processing, was investigated. BCs were used as a material for the extraction of oil on a semi-industrial scale, and the residues were assessed in terms of their potential application in skin care products. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 at pressures of 230 and 330 bar and extraction temperature of 40 °C was exploited for isolation of oil, and the products were characterised taking into account lipophilic constituents. After 120 min, the oil yields were 19.67% and 20.94% using CO2 at 230 and 330 bar, respectively, which showed that SFE was an effective method on a semi-industrial scale, taking into account the extraction yield. The oils had similar fatty acid compositions with a high percentage of linoleic acid (ca. 43%); however, tocopherols and carotenoids were most abundant in the oil obtained at 230 bar. It was also found that the composition of the SFE oils was comparable with that of cold-pressed oil, which shows that supercritical fluid extraction provides a high-quality product; therefore, it can be an alternative to cold pressing. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the extracts from the oil isolation residues were established using UPLC-MS, and the impact of the extracts on human skin fibroblasts was assessed using the MTT and NR assays. The quantitative analysis revealed that the residues contained high amounts of polyphenolic acids, including gallic, protocatechuic, and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, as well as flavonoids, especially quercetin and kaempferol glucoside. Moreover, it was found that the extracts were nontoxic and exerted a stimulatory effect on cell metabolism. Therefore, they can be a valuable additive to natural plant-based cosmetics. Our results showed that blackcurrant seeds, regarded as a byproduct, can be a valuable material for further use.

Blackcurrants Reduce the Risk of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Pilot Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Beneficial effects of blackcurrant supplementation on bone metabolism in mice has recently been demonstrated, but no studies are available in humans. The current study aimed to examine the dose-dependent effects of blackcurrant in preventing bone loss and the underlying mechanisms of action in adult women. Forty peri- and early postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups for 6 months: (1) a placebo (control group, n = 13); (2) 392 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (low blackcurrant, BC, group, n = 16); and (3) 784 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (high BC group, n = 11). The significance of differences in outcome variables was tested by repeated-measures ANOVA with treatment and time as between- and within-subject factors, respectively. Overall, blackcurrant supplementation decreased the loss of whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) compared to the control group (p < 0.05), though the improvement of whole-body BMD remained significant only in the high BC group (p < 0.05). Blackcurrant supplementation also led to a significant increase in serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), a marker of bone formation (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that daily consumption of 784 mg of blackcurrant powder for six months mitigates the risk of postmenopausal bone loss, potentially through enhancing bone formation. Further studies of larger samples with various skeletal conditions are warranted to confirm these findings.

Effect of Ozonation on the Mechanical, Chemical, and Microbiological Properties of Organically Grown Red Currant (Ribes rubrum L.) Fruit.

Red currant fruits are a valuable source of micro- and macronutrients, vitamins, and chemical compounds with health-promoting properties, the properties of which change depending on the harvest date and the time and method of storage. This study analysed the effect of applying 10 ppm ozone gas for 15 and 30 min on the mechanical properties, chemical properties and microbiological stability of three organic-grown red currant fruit cultivars. Fruits harvested at the time of harvest maturity had significantly larger diameters and weights and lower water contents compared with fruits harvested seven days earlier, and the ozonation process, regardless of its harvesting date, reduced the physical parameters in question (diameter, weight, and water content). The ascorbic acid content of the ozonated fruit varied, with the highest decreases observed for fruit harvested 7 days before the optimal harvest date and stored for 15 days under refrigeration (an average decrease of 13.31% compared with the control fruit without ozonation). In general, the ozonation process had a positive effect on the variation of fruit antioxidant activity, with the highest average values obtained for fruit harvested 7 days before the optimum harvest date and stored for 15 days under refrigeration conditions; in addition, it also had an effect on reducing the development of microorganisms, including mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts, and moulds, mainly for the cultivar 'Losan'.

Anthocyanins and Curcumin: Possible Abilities of Prevention of Diabetes and Obesity via Stimulation of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secretion and Induction of Beige Adipocyte Formation.

There is growing interest in the health benefits of natural plant pigments such as anthocyanins and curcumin. In this review, we introduce how these pigments can contribute to the prevention of diabetes and obesity by stimulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion or inducing beige adipocyte formation. Of the anthocyanins, delphinidin 3-rutinoside (D3R) was shown to increase GLP-1 secretion. Pre-administered D3R-rich blackcurrant extract (BCE) significantly ameliorated glucose tolerance after intraperitoneal glucose injection in rats by stimulating the secretion of GLP-1 and subsequently inducing insulin secretion. D3R did not break down significantly in the gastrointestinal tract for at least 45-60 min after BCE administration. An increase in endogenous GLP-1 secretion induced by food-derived factors may help to reduce the dosages of diabetic medicines and prevent diabetes. Curcumin has various biological functions, including anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. However, high doses of curcumin have been administered in most animal and human trials to date, due mainly to the poor solubility of native curcumin in water and its low oral bioavailability. We demonstrated that a highly dispersible and bioavailable curcumin formulation (HC), but not native curcumin, induces the formation of beige adipocytes. Furthermore, co-administration of HC and artepillin C (a characteristic constituent of Brazilian propolis) at lower doses significantly induces beige adipocyte formation in mice, but administration of the same dose of HC or artepillin C alone does not. Our studies demonstrate that curcumin formulations or the co-administration of curcumin with other food-derived factors provide effects that native curcumin alone does not.

Mixed Infection of Blackcurrant with a Novel Cytorhabdovirus and Black Currant-Associated Nucleorhabdovirus.

A virome screen was performed on a new breeding line, KB1, of blackcurrant. Rhabdovirus-like particles were observed by electron microscopy in ultrathin sections of flower stalks, and the complete genome sequence of a novel virus, provisionally named blackcurrant rhabdovirus 2 (BCRV2), was determined and verified using high-throughput sequencing. The genomic organization of BCRV2 was characteristic of cytorhabdoviruses (family Rhabdoviridae) and included seven genes: 3 ́- N-P´-P-P3-M-G-L -5 ́. BLASTP analysis revealed that the putative L protein had the highest amino acid sequence identity (75 %) with strawberry virus 2. BCRV2 was detected in Cryptomyzusgaleopsidis, but efficient transmission by this aphid was not confirmed. Of note, we observed coinfection of the KB1 line with blackcurrant-associated rhabdovirus (BCaRV) by RT-PCR. This is likely the first evidence of the presence of a cyto- and a nucleorhabdovirus in a single host.

Short-Term Effects of Traditional Greek Meals: Lentils with Lupins, Trahana with Tomato Sauce and Halva with Currants and Dried Figs on Postprandial Glycemic Responses-A Randomized Clinical Trial in Healthy Humans.

Low glycemic index (GI) diets have been associated with decreased chronic disease risk. In a randomized, cross-over study we investigated the GI and glycemic response to three traditional Greek mixed meals: Lentils, Trahana, and Halva. Twelve healthy, fasting individuals received isoglucidic test meals (25 g available carbohydrate) and 25 g glucose reference, in random order. GI was calculated and capillary blood glucose (BG) samples were collected at 0-120 min after meal consumption. Subjective appetite ratings were assessed. All three tested meals provided low GI values. Lentils GI was 27 ± 5, Trahana GI was 42 ± 6, and Halva GI was 52 ± 7 on glucose scale. Peak BG values were lowest for Lentils, followed by Trahana and then by Halva (p for all <0.05). Compared to the reference food, BG concentrations were significantly lower for all meals at all time-points (p for all <0.05). Lentils provided lower glucose concentrations at 30 and 45 min compared to Trahana (p for all <0.05) and at 30, 45, and 60 min compared to Halva (p for all <0.05). BG concentrations did not differ between Trahana and Halva at all time points. No differences were observed for fasting BG, time to peak rise for BG, and subjective appetite ratings. In conclusion, all three mixed meals attenuated postprandial glycemic response in comparison to glucose, which may offer advantages to glycemic control.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of an In Vitro Digested Anthocyanin-Rich Extract on Intestinal Epithelial Cells Exposed to TNF-α.

BACKGROUND: The consumption of foods rich in anthocyanins (ACN) have been associated with beneficial properties in chronic inflammatory disorders such as intestinal bowel diseases (IBD). These effects were attributed not only to a direct antioxidant mechanism but also to the modulation of cell redox-dependent signaling. However, ACN bioavailability is low for their poor stability in the digestive tract, so ACN gastrointestinal digestion should be considered. METHODS: To have a more realistic knowledge of the effects of ACN, we performed an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of an ACN-rich purified and standardized bilberry and blackcurrant extract (BBE), followed by an evaluation of ACN composition modification (HPLC-DAD and pH differential method) and antioxidant activity (FRAP assay). Then, we studied the effects of BBE gastrointestinal extract on Caco-2 exposed to TNF-α. RESULTS: The results confirmed the high instability of ACN in the mild alkaline environment of the small intestine (17% recovery index). However, the digested BBE maintained part of its bioactivity. Additionally, BBE gastrointestinal extract inhibited the TNF-α-induced NF-κB pathway in Caco-2 and activated the Nrf2 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Although ACN stability is affected by gastrointestinal digestion, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of digested extracts were confirmed; thus, the loss of ACN can probably be counterweighed by their metabolites. Then, ACN introduced by diet or food supplements could represent an approach for IBD prevention.

Stability Enhancement of Anthocyanins from Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum L.) Pomace through Intermolecular Copigmentation.

Intermolecular copigmentation denotes the interaction between colored anthocyanins and the colorless copigment, which is not bound covalently to the anthocyanin molecule. This is the first study to investigate the effect of intermolecular copigmentation on the stability of individual anthocyanins from dried blackcurrant pomace (DBP) using four pure phenolic acids as copigments (ferulic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and rosmarinic acid). Studies were performed at pH 3.0 and pH 6.0, with a copigment/anthocyanin extract molar ratio of 5:1, during storage at 20 °C. At both pH 3.0 and 6.0, rosmarinic acid showed the strongest hyperchromic and bathochromic effects (p < 0.05) on day 0. However, rosmarinic acid showed low stability during storage. At pH 3.0, chlorogenic acid and control samples were capable of maintaining very high levels of total anthocyanin stability during storage (p < 0.05). On the other hand, ferulic acid and control samples had the longest estimated half-life during storage at pH 6.0. Intermolecular copigmentation successfully increased the half-life, color retention, and antioxidant activity of the anthocyanin solution, with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) exhibiting the highest stability at both pH values. Overall, anthocyanins from DBP, in combination with chlorogenic or ferulic acid, showed potential for use in commercial food applications.

Physicochemical characterization of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruits ecotype Colombia during preharvest development and growth.

Cape gooseberry fruits are increasingly recognized due to their excellent organoleptic and functional characteristics as a food. As the cultivation of this fruit expands, it is necessary to determine the quality characteristics and evolution of the new growing zones. This study sought to characterize the growth and development of cape gooseberry fruits, Ecotype Colombia, in the Ventaquemada region (Department of Boyacá in Colombia). For the experiments, 50 plants were taken completely at random from which 20 flowers of the middle third were selected and marked considering that 50% of the flowers were open. The selected cape gooseberry plants were 9 months old from the establishment. Samples were carried out every 5-7 days to evaluate changes in different physiological and physicochemical properties of the fruits such as equatorial diameter, weight, dry matter, respiration intensity (RI), total soluble solids (SST), titratable acidity (TA), and maturity ratio (SST/TA). Logistic and modified enzyme kinetics models were fitted to represent the change in these characteristics as a function of growth time and to establish a suitable maturity index. A rapid increase in the growth and a substantive change in the properties of the fruits were observed between 36 and 45 days after anthesis (DAA) and stabilization between 60 and 65 DAA, which constitutes the stage of physiological maturity. At this stage, fruits with a polar/equatorial diameter of 2.2-2.5 cm, 14.9% TSS, 2.2% TA, and 191.7 cm3 CO2 /g/d RI were obtained. Likewise, from the adjusted models, it was possible to identify these changes, especially for the relative growth rate (RGR), color index, and maturity ratio. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this work, we present the characterization of some physicochemical properties of cape gooseberry throughout its development and preharvest growth. This fruit is of wide interest due to its broad nutritional properties and is known as a "superfruit." The monitoring of the changes in the quality characteristics is important because it allows producers to define an optimum maturity stage for its commercialization. We also fit suitable regression models to relate the evolution in the product as a function of time and provide prediction tools to monitor fruit development. The above can help growers better schedule their production cycles.

Chemically Different but Often Mistaken Phenolic Polymers of Food Plants: Proanthocyanidins and Lignin in Seeds.

Flavonoid based proanthocyanidins and cinnamyl alcohol based lignins are chemically complex phenolic oligomers/polymers that are found in food plants. Although structurally very different, these two biopolymers are often not distinguished, for example, in the (quantitative) compositional analysis of cell walls and dietary fiber. Here, we analytically distinguish lignin and proanthocyanidins in dietary fiber samples by using degradative and nondegradative techniques and provide information about their occurrence, abundance, and structural characteristics in seeds of chokeberries, cranberries, raspberries, red currants, and grapes. These data revealed that the seeds of botanically diverse fruits largely differ in terms of their phenolic fiber polymers. The mostly hardened tissue of the seeds is not necessarily based on lignified cell walls. For example, red currant and chokeberry seeds almost exclusively contain proanthocyanidins, and raspberry seeds were clearly lignified (G-H-lignin) but did not contain proanthocyanidins. Our data also allows for estimating the bias of proanthocyanidins on different approaches of lignin analysis.

[Protective effect of anthocyanins on apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes of rats after intense exercise].

Currently, in sports medicine, much attention is paid to the prevention and treatment of delayed muscle soreness syndrome (DOMS), which occurs several hours or days after unusual or intense physical activity, as well as the state of athlete overtraining. One of the main pathogenetic factors in the development of this syndrome is myocyte ultrastructural damage with apoptosis activation. Therefore, using natural antioxidants in sports nutrition for the relief of this pathology is of particular relevance. The aim of the study was to study the effect of an anthocyanin-enriched diet on apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes of rats after intense exercise. Material and methods. The experiment was carried out for 4 weeks on 4 groups of male Wistar rats (12 animals in each, initial body weight ~300 g). Animals were divided into groups of rats (groups 1 and 2), whose motor activity was limited by standard conditions for keeping animals in vivarium, and groups of physically active rats (groups 3 and 4), which received additional physical activity - treadmill training. Before the end of the experiment, the animals of groups 3 and 4 were given debilitating (until the rats refused to continue the exercise) physical activity on a treadmill. Rats of all four groups received a standard semi-synthetic diet, water ad libitum. Animals in groups 2 and 4 were additionally given blueberry and blackcurrant extract (30% anthocyanins) as part of the diet at a daily dose of 15 mg anthocyanins/kg body weight. The intensity of apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes was studied by flow cytometry. Cells were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated annexin V and vital dye 7-aminoactinomycin. The results are presented as the percentage of intact cells and cells at different stages of apoptosis per 100 000 counted objects in each sample. Results. The enrichment of the diet of control group rats with blueberry and black currant extract did not have a significant effect on the relative content of intact cells and the studied parameters of apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes of rats of the 2nd group. Intense physical activity in rats of the 3rd group led to a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in the relative content of intact (live) cells compared with this indicator in rats of other groups (85.32±1.44 vs 90.87±0.66% - in the 1st group; 90.16±0.79% - in the 2nd group; 89.01±0.81% - in the 4th group, р<0.05). After intense physical activity in rats of the 3rd group, activation of apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes was found, as evidenced by an increase in the relative content of objects in apoptosis compared with other groups (11.61±1.45 vs 7.88±0.60% - in the 1st group, р<0.05; 8.01±0.70% - in the 2nd group, p<0.10; 7.93±0.59% - in the 4th group р<0.05). Enrichment of the diet of exercise rats with blueberry and blackcurrant extract (4th group) had a protective effect on the intensity of the apoptosis process, the studied parameters did not differ significantly from those in rats of the control and the 2nd groups. Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the activation of the process of apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes of rats after intense physical activity. Enrichment of rats' diet with anthocyanins from blueberry and black currant extracts ensures the restoration of the studied apoptosis parameters to the level of control group rats. In the control group of rats with normal physical activity, the addition of anthocyanins to the diet does not have a significant effect on the physiological process of apoptosis of gastrocnemius muscle myocytes. In this way, an evidence base for the effectiveness of the use of biologically active substances - anthocyanins - in sports nutrition for the restoration of skeletal muscles has been obtained.

[Instant drinks based on extracts of Japan sea brown algae and fruit and berry juices as functional products].

Nowadays, there is a need to create functional drinks that not only normalize the water-electrolyte balance, but also correct and optimize the chemical structure of the diet. The basis for the production of dry drinks can be fruit and berry juices, extracts of herbal raw materials, including algae, etc. The aim of the study was to develop dry drinks based on dry extracts of brown algae (Costaria costata and Undaria pinnatifida) and concentrated fruit and berry juices and to evaluate the content of biologically active substances in them, as well as the antioxidant properties of the resulting drinks. Material and methods. Brown algae of the Far Eastern region Costaria costata and Undaria pinnatifida were used as objects, from which dry hydrothermal extracts were obtained, as well as dry drinks based on these extracts (21-26%) and concentrated fruit and berry juices of black currant and blueberry (31-37%). The content of iodine was determined by titrimetric method, fucoidan, the sum of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, catechins - by spectrophotometric method, vitamin C - titrimetrically, anthocyanins - by pH-differential spectrophotometry. Identification of phenolic compounds was carried out by HPLC. The antiradical properties of beverages were evaluated by the ability to interact with the stable 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical in vitro spectrophotometrically. Results. Dry hydrothermal extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae are characterized by a high content of bioactive substances, the main of which are fucoidan and iodine. The fucoidan content in C. costata extract was 1.7 g/100 g, in U. pinnatifida extract - 0.5 g/100 g; the iodine content was 0.0036 and 0.0028 g/100 g, respectively. The content of phenolic compounds was at least 205 mg of tannic acid per 1 g, the main compounds were syringic acid and epicatechin, salicylic and coumaric acids, as well as chlorogenic, caffeic, 2.5-dihydroxybenzoic, ferulic acid and gallates of epigallocatechin and epicatechin. The developed drinks based on dry extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae (21-26%) and concentrated blueberry and blackcurrant juices (31-37%) (the rest is powdered sugar) are a food system enriched with bioactive substances. The content per 1 serving of drinks (10 g per 200 ml) of iodine was high and amounted to 70-75 mcg, phenolic compounds - about 250 mg, vitamin C level was maximum in a drink with black currant (41-44 mg), fucoidan content ranged from 79 to 84 mg. The resulting dry drinks satisfy the daily physiological requirement in iodine by at least 40%, in vitamin C - by at least 30% when consuming 1 serving. The radical binding activity of all the studied beverages was quite high and amounted to 91.1-96.5%. The drink with blueberry juice and C. costata extract showed maximum antiradical properties. Conclusion. The developed dry soft drinks based on dry extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae and concentrated juices of black currant or blueberry contain a wide range of bioactive compounds. They can be attributed to functional products due to the high degree of satisfaction of the daily physiological requirement of the human body in vitamin C and iodine and are characterized by high antiradical properties.

The Effects of Blackcurrant and Caffeine Combinations on Performance and Physiology During Repeated High-Intensity Cycling.

Blackcurrant juices and extracts containing anthocyanin may provide ergogenic benefits to sports performance. However, there are no studies examining the effects of coingestion of blackcurrant and caffeine. This investigation examined the effects of acute supplementation with a proprietary blackcurrant beverage administered in isolation or in combination with caffeine on repeated high-intensity cycling. Twelve well-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD: age, 39.5 ± 11.4 years; height, 177.9 ± 5.7 cm; weight, 78.2 ± 8.9 kg; and peak oxygen consumption, 4.71 ± 0.61 L/min) completed experimental sessions consisting of repeated (8 × 5 min) maximal intensity efforts. Four experimental treatments were administered in a double-blind, balanced Latin square design: blackcurrant + caffeine, blackcurrant + placebo, caffeine + placebo and placebo + placebo. Differences in power output, heart rate, oxygen consumption, muscle oxygen saturation, rate of perceived exertion, and cognitive function (Stroop) were compared between treatments using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and effect size analysis. There were no significant differences (p > .05) in either physiological or cognitive variables with any supplement treatment (blackcurrant + caffeine, blackcurrant + placebo, and caffeine + placebo) relative to placebo + placebo. Moreover, any observed differences were deemed trivial (d < 0.2) in magnitude. However, power output was lower (p < .05) in blackcurrant + placebo compared with blackcurrant + caffeine. A blackcurrant extract beverage administered in isolation or combination with caffeine provided no beneficial effect on cycling performance or physiological measures relative to a placebo control.

Geographic Variability of Berry Phytochemicals with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties.

The aim of this study was to determine the variability of several chemical compounds and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of eight types of berries harvested from two different geographical regions in the same year. The analyses were performed on bilberry, black currant, gooseberry, red currant, raspberry, sea buckthorn, strawberry and sour cherry, which were handpicked during the summer of 2019, in the same periods when they are typically harvested for consumer purposes. Total anthocyanins content (TAC), total flavonoids content (TFC), total polyphenolic compounds (TPC), determination of the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), determination of the DPPH free radical scavenging assay (RSA), determination of nine phenolic compounds by HPLC-UV assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for undiluted hydroalcoholic extracts of all the studied berries. The results showed that the berries from Romania were richer in antioxidant compounds than the berries from Russia. The TPC content varied between 4.13-22.2 mg GAE/g d.w., TFC between 3.33-8.87 mg QE/g d.w. and TAC between 0.13-3.94 mg/g d.w. The highest variability was determined for TPC. Regarding the antioxidant activity assessed by FRAP assay, values were between 6.02-57.23 µmols TE/g d.w. and values for the RSA method between 18.44-83.81%. From the eight types of berries analyzed, bilberries and raspberries had the highest antioxidant activity considering both regions and both determination methods. Not only the type, but also the environmental and cultivation conditions in which the berries grow, can lead to variations in their chemical composition. The extracted polyphenolic compounds from the studied berries showed antibacterial properties on pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphyloccocus aureus. The inhibitory action on Salmonella typhi and fungi Candida albicans and Aspegillus niger was absent to very low. The antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extracts was dependent on the provenance of the berries, too.

QTOF-ESI MS Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Physalis peruviana L. (Cape Gooseberry) Husks and Fruits from Costa Rica.

There is increasing interest in research of secondary metabolites from Physalis peruviana (Cape gooseberry) because of their potential bioactivities. In this study, the profile of compounds found in fruits and husks from Costa Rica was determined through ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry using a quadrupole time-of-flight analyzer (UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS) on extracts (n = 10) obtained through pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) conditions. In total, 66 different compounds were identified, comprising 34 withanolides, 23 sucrose ester derivatives and 9 flavonoids. UPLC-DAD analysis was performed to determine the ß-carotene in fruits and to quantify the flavonoids in all 10 samples, with the results showing higher contents in samples from the Dota region (58.6-60.1 µg/g of dry material versus 1.6-2.8 mg/g of dry material). The Folin-Ciocalteau total polyphenolic content (FC) and antioxidant activity using the DPPH method showed better results for the husk extracts, with the ones from the Dota region holding the best values (4.3-5.1 mg GAE/g of dry material versus IC50 = 1.6-2.3 mg of dry material/mL). In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between the RU, FC and DPPH values (r = -0.902, p < 0.05), aligning with previous reports on the role of polyphenols in antioxidant activity. Principal correlation analysis (PCoA) and hierarchical clustering (HC) analysis were performed on HRMS results, and they indicated that the D1 and D2 fruit samples from the Dota region were clustered with husks related to a higher presence of the analyzed metabolites. In turn, principal component analysis (PCA) performed on the flavonoid content and antioxidant activity yielded results indicating that the D1 and D2 husks and fruit samples from the Dota region stood out significantly, showing the highest antioxidant activity. In summation, our findings suggest that P. peruviana husks and fruits from Costa Rica constitute a substrate of interest for further studies on their potential health benefits.