High concentrations of anthocyanins in genuine cherry-juice of old local Austrian Prunus avium varieties

Methods for quality evaluation of sweet cherry

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly valued fruit, whose quality can be evaluated using several objective methodologies, such as calibre, colour, texture, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), as well as maturity indexes. Functional and nutritional compounds are also frequently determined, in response to consumer demand. The aim of the present review is to clarify and establish quality evaluation parameters and methodologies for the whole cherry supply chain, in order to promote easy and faithful communication among all stakeholders. The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a non-destructive and expeditious method for assessing some quality parameters is discussed. In this review, the results of a wide survey to assess the most common methodologies for cherry quality evaluation, carried out among cherry researchers and producers within the framework of the COST Action FA1104 'Sustainable production of high-quality cherries for the European market', are also reported. The standardisation of quality evaluation parameters is expected to contribute to the preservation and shelf-life extension of sweet cherries, and the valorisation of the whole supply chain. For future studies on sweet cherry, we put forward a proposal regarding both sample size and the tests chosen to evaluate each parameter. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cherries and Blueberries-Based Beverages: Functional Foods with Antidiabetic and Immune Booster Properties

Nowadays, it is largely accepted that the daily intake of fruits, vegetables, herbal products and derivatives is an added value in promoting human health, given their capacity to counteract oxidative stress markers and suppress uncontrolled pro-inflammatory responses. Given that, natural-based products seem to be a promising strategy to attenuate, or even mitigate, the development of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and to boost the immune system. Among fruits, cherries and blueberries are nutrient-dense fruits that have been a target of many studies and interest given their richness in phenolic compounds and notable biological potential. In fact, research has already demonstrated that these fruits can be considered functional foods, and hence, their use in functional beverages, whose popularity is increasing worldwide, is not surprising and seem to be a promising and useful strategy. Therefore, the present review reinforces the idea that cherries and blueberries can be incorporated into new pharmaceutical products, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals and be effective in preventing and/or treating diseases mediated by inflammatory mediators, reactive species, and free radicals.

Autochthonous Austrian Varieties of Prunus avium L. Represent a Regional Gene Pool, Assessed Using SSR and AFLP Markers

Sweet cherry production faces new challenges that necessitate the exploitation of genetic resources such as varietal collections and landraces in breeding programs. A harmonized approach to characterization is key for an optimal utilization of germplasm in breeding. This study reports the genotyping of 63 sweet cherry accessions using a harmonized set of 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers optimized in two multiplexed PCR reactions. Thirty-eight distinct allelic profiles were identified. The set of SSR markers chosen proved highly informative in these germplasm; an average of 6.3 alleles per locus, a PIC value of 0.59 and above-average expected and observed heterozygosity levels were detected. Additionally, 223 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers derived from eight selective primer combinations were employed to further differentiate 17 closely related accessions, confirming the SSR analysis. Genetic relationships between internationally known old cultivars were revealed: SSR fingerprints of “Schneiders Späte Knorpelkirsche” and “Germersdorfer” were found to be identical to those of the standard cultivar “Noire de Meched”, among others, whereas four accessions known as “Hedelfinger Riesenkirsche” and four known as “Große Schwarze Knorpelkirsche” showed allelic differences at various loci. The genetic diversity of locally-grown cultivars worldwide might be currently underestimated. Several autochthonous Austrian sweet cherry germplasm accessions were genotyped for the first time and their genetic relationships analyzed and discussed. Interestingly, seven Austrian sweet cherry landraces were shown to be clearly genetically separated from international and modern varieties, indicating that Austrian germplasm could include valuable genetic resources for future breeding efforts.

Impact of tart cherries polyphenols on the human gut microbiota and phenolic metabolites in vitro and in vivo

Tart cherries have been reported to exert potential health benefits attributed to their specific and abundant polyphenol content. However, there is a need to study the impact and fate of tart cherries polyphenols in the gut microbiota. Here, tart cherries, pure polyphenols (and apricots) were submitted to in vitro bacterial fermentation assays and assessed through 16S rRNA gene sequence sequencing and metabolomics. A short-term (5 days, 8 oz. daily) human dietary intervention study was also conducted for microbiota analyses. Tart cherry concentrate juices were found to contain expected abundances of anthocyanins (cyanidin-glycosylrutinoside) and flavonoids (quercetin-rutinoside) and high amounts of chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids. Targeted metabolomics confirmed that gut microbes were able to degrade those polyphenols mainly to 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acids and to lower amounts of epicatechin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. Tart cherries were found to induce a large increase of Bacteroides in vitro, likely due to the input of polysaccharides, but prebiotic effect was also suggested by Bifidobacterium increase from chlorogenic acid. In the human study, two distinct and inverse responses to tart cherry consumption were associated with initial levels of Bacteroides. High-Bacteroides individuals responded with a decrease in Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, and an increase of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Collinsella. Low-Bacteroides individuals responded with an increase in Bacteroides or Prevotella and Bifidobacterium, and a decrease of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Collinsella. These data confirm that gut microbiota metabolism, in particular the potential existence of different metabotypes, needs to be considered in studies attempting to link tart cherries consumption and health.

Bioactive components of Prunus avium L. black gold (red cherry) and Prunus avium L. stark gold (white cherry) juices, wines and vinegars

Cherries are one of the most popular fruits, characterized by attractive colour, firmness, appearance and delicious tastes. Cherries are consumed fresh as well as in jams, wine, dried, candy and other processed products. Cherries vary in antioxidant properties and phenolic substances. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of ethanol and acetic acid fermentation on total antioxidant activities and phenolic substances of cherry juice. Total investigation of solids, pH, soluble solids, phenolic substances, ORAC and TEAC of Prunus avium L. cherry juices, macerated cherries wine, and vinegars were analyzed. All samples had 300.1-854.79 mg GAE/L of total phenolic contents, and 6.62-17.97 µmol/mL of ORAC values, and 1.5-5.5 mmol/mL of TEAC. Chlorogenic acid was present in the highest amount P. avium L. black gold vinegar.

Influence of Cultivar and Industrial Processing on Polyphenols in Concentrated Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Juice

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of cultivar and industrial processing on total polyphenols, anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids and antioxidant activity in concentrated sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L., cvs. Marasca and Oblačinska) juices. Samples were collected during four processing steps: from fresh fruit prior to processing, then from pressed, filtered and concentrated juices. The content of total phenols was the same in both cultivars, but antioxidant activity (Oblačinska>Marasca) and total monomeric anthocyanins (Marasca>Oblačinska) differed. All processing steps significantly influenced the content of total phenols, total monomeric anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. In all samples four major anthocyanins were identified by HPLC with UV/VIS PDA detector, listed in the descending order based on their abundance: cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-sophoroside and cyanidin-3-glucoside. Marasca cv. contained more total anthocyanins, and contents of cyanidin-3-sophoroside and cyanidin-3- -glucosylrutinoside. The content of total hydroxycinnamic acids was also higher in Marasca than Oblačinska cv. After processing, the concentration of all identified anthocyanins increased in both cultivars. Majority of the highest values of polyphenols were detected in the juice after pressing. The content of polyphenols and their antioxidant activity were considerably stable during industrial processing to concentrated juice. Although Marasca had higher polyphenolic content than Oblačinska, both cultivars showed promising industrial potential for processing to concentrated juice.