Chemical composition andin vitroantimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of plum (Prunus domesticaL.) wine

Method Validation and Assessment of Hazardous Substances and Quality Control Characteristics in Traditional Fruit Wines

The presence of potentially hazardous substances in fruit wines poses a threat for human health. However, the management standards and specifications of hazardous substances contained within various types of fruit wines are currently insufficient. The aim of this study was to analyze hazardous substances (cyanide, acetaldehyde, and ethyl carbamate) and quality control characteristics (pH, titratable acidity, sulfur dioxide, and diacetyl) in seven different types of fruit wines. The pH levels and titratable acidity varied between fruit wine types. In all fruit wines, sulfur dioxide (SO2) was within acceptable ranges as per the Korean standard. Acetaldehyde content also varied between fruit wine types as well as based on the analytical method (titration or enzymatic analysis) employed. Cyanide was in the range of 0.02−0.35 mg/L. Diacetyl contents were in the range of 0.66−2.95 mg/L (p > 0.05). The contents of ethyl carbamate varied considerably, within the range of 5.22−259.69 μg/kg (p < 0.05). The analytical methods of diacetyl and ethyl carbamate were validated for specificity, linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. Therefore, the content of hazardous substances and quality control characteristics should be closely monitored and controlled to improve safety and quality of the traditional fruit wines.

Cancer protective effects of plums: A systematic review

Plums is one of the most cultivated stone fruits due to its fast growing popularity. It has various traditionally recognized health benefits. There are two main commercial types of plums: the European plum (Prunus domestica) and the Japanese plum (Prunus salicina), each having many varieties. Researchers are gathering further evidence of pharmacological effects for plums by scientifically studying its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. A systematic review analysing the literature related to the effects of plums on prevention and treatment of cancer is warranted. This is the first review examining the cancer-related effects of plums. Antioxidation properties of the active constituents of plum were also compared. Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, Medxriv and Cochrane Library databases, from their date of inception until July 2021 were utilized. The risk of bias was assessed using CONSORT checklist. A total of 6639 studies were screened and eventually only 54 studies were included. Full-text review of included studies revealed that plum extracts were rich in antioxidants. Overall, most of the studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were in vitro and a few clinical studies involving in vivo work. Therefore, it would be beneficial to perform more studies on animals or humans, to confirm that the result obtained from these in vitro studies are able to be extrapolated in a wider range of applications. Further clinical and in vivo studies are warranted to validate plums as a functional food for treatment and prevention of cancer.

A multiple-step strategy for screening Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with improved acid tolerance and aroma profiles

Acid tolerance and aroma profile are crucial factors for wine production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, most wine yeasts to date fail to endure low-pH environments, therefore resulting in problems such as lengthened fermentation and poor flavor during acidic fruit wine production. In the present study, we established a multiple-step screening strategy, which was composed of atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP), high-throughput screening (HTS), and laboratory adaptive evolution (ALE), to screen yeast strains for potential wine-producing with enhanced performances during low pH conditions. Importantly, we obtained the S. cerevisiae strain from the mutant library, ET008-c54, which displayed exhibited excellent performances in survival rate, fermentation time, aroma profile, and genetic stability. More specifically, the survival rate of ET008-c54 at low pH was increased by 10-fold, the fermentation time of greengage plum wine was shortened by about 70%, and the content of main aroma compounds was significantly increased by 52%. Collectively, we demonstrate the practical application of the screening platform designed for discovering mutant strains in winemaking technology.