Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of gamma irradiated sun dried apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Metabolic profiles, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of Prunus sibirica L. seed kernels

P. sibirica seed kernels are a valuable source of nutrition with various therapeutic properties. However, research on their active ingredients and medicinal properties remains limited. This study comprehensively evaluates the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacity, and secondary metabolites in P. sibirica seed kernels from six Chinese provinces. The bioactive constituents and antioxidant capacity of P. sibirica seed kernels varied across different provenances. Using targeted metabolomics, 15 comparative data groups were obtained for P. sibirica seed kernel samples. In total, 1133 secondary metabolites were identified, including nine classes of phenolic acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, etc., with phenolic acids (270) and flavonoids (261) emerging as the major metabolites. In particular, P. sibirica seed kernels from Zhalantun City, Hulun Buir City, Inner Mongolia exhibit potential as promising food and medicine sources. The differentially accumulated metabolites showed that these compounds were primarily enriched in secondary metabolic pathways, including the biosynthesis and metabolism of isoflavones, flavonoids, and flavanols. High concentrations of flavonoids affected the antioxidant capacity of P. sibirica through free radical scavenging. Correlation analysis identified 26 metabolites significantly and positively correlated with antioxidant capacity (r ≥ 0.9, p < 0.0001). These results offer a theoretical basis for understanding metabolic mechanisms underlying the variable antioxidant capacity among P. sibirica seed kernels from different provinces. They also provide insights to guide the development and utilization of P. sibirica germplasm.

Raman Spectroscopic and Sensory Evaluation of Cocoa Liquor Prepared with Ecuadorian Cocoa Beans Treated with Gamma Irradiation or Induced Electromagnetic Field Fermentation

Cocoa liquor is the primary precursor of the worldwide highly appreciated commodity chocolate. Its quality depends on several factors, such as the type of cocoa, the fermentation process, and the control of the contaminants in the fermented beans. This study aims to evaluate whether the induced magnetic field treatment during the fermentation process or the pathogen reduction with gamma irradiation after the fermentation affect the characteristics of the cocoa liquor obtained from Ecuadorian cocoa beans. For this purpose, liquor samples from controls (standard process), from beans treated with an induced magnetic field up to 80 mT, and from beans irradiated with nominal doses up to 3 kGy were characterized through Raman spectroscopic analysis and sensorial evaluation. The most relevant bands of the cocoa liquor were assigned according to reports from the literature, spectroscopic data, and chemometrics. The spectra corresponding to different treatments and doses were visually very similar, but they could be discriminated using OPLS-DA models, where the most intense Raman signals were attributed to the lipid components. The sensorial evaluation rated the presence of floral, fruity, almondy, acid, and bitter flavors, along with astringency and intense aroma, and these attributes exhibited variable behavior depending on the dose of the irradiation or magnetic treatment. Therefore, both treatments may exert an influence on cocoa beans and, therefore, on the cocoa liquor quality.

Effect of different pretreatments on antioxidant activity of oats grown in the Himalayan region

In this work the different varieties of oats were subjected to three pre-treatments such as germination, sand roasting and γ-irradiation. The pretreated oat grains were evaluated for phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. RP-HPLC displayed that the amount of ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, ellagic acid and epicatechin in native, roasted and γ-irradiated oats varied in the range of 2.51-3.23, 0.97-1.89, 4.35-5.33, 1.56-2.197 and 3.387-10.8 µg/100 g, respectively. Total phenolic content (TPC) expressed as µg GAE/g and µg FAE/g and total flavonoid content (TFC) expressed as µg rutin equivalent/g was found highest in germinated samples. Study reported increase in antioxidant activity in the following order; γ-irradiation > germination > roasting > native. It was concluded that the different pretreatments enhanced antioxidant properties of the oat grains therefore can be efficiently utilized as food or functional ingredient in various food systems.

A Review with Updated Perspectives on Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits of Apricot and the Industrial Application of Its Underutilized Parts

Fruits maintain the image as the richest sources of vitamins. Focusing on apricots, utilization of apricot species for many applications is possible due to its various benefits. Many research studies demonstrated different perspectives of apricot, especially in medical used as it can act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents. Moreover, in the industrial sectors, apricots can be used in the production of biofuels and batteries. All components of the apricot fruit, including seeds and kernels have been found to possess significant interest. This review is to breach the knowledge gap regarding the key nutrients and chemicals of apricot fruit, contributing to its health-promoting properties to emphasize the noble importance of this fruit in the diet and in the management of several diseases. We also cover the application of apricots in the industry that could be developed as a promising and sustainable source.

Influence of Gamma Irradiation on Different Phytochemical Constituents of Dried Rose Hip (Rosa canina L.) Fruits

Gamma irradiation is efficiently applied to many foods, but nevertheless there is a distinct lack of information about the changes of macro- and micronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, organic acids, and phenolics) in dried rose hip (RH) fruits. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, the effect of gamma irradiation (10 and 25 kGy) on RH constituents is investigated. Different analytical techniques (GC-FID, HPLC-UV, HPSEC-RID, IR-FT, and SEM) are employed to examine this effect. The irradiation treatment (10 kGy) increased the glucose content by 30% and released cellobiose from RH fruits, thus revealing cellulose destruction. The extractability of total uronic acids increased from 51% (control) to 70.5% (25 kGy-irradiated), resulting in a higher pectin yield (10.8% < 12.8% < 13.4%) and molecular heterogeneity. Moreover, de-esterification was not a major effect of the irradiation-induced degradation of pectin. The sample exposure to the highest dose did not change the content of total carotenoids, β-carotene, and (un)saturated fatty acids, but it affected the tocopherols levels. Gamma rays had a negligible effect on the phenolic constituents and did not affect ORAC and HORAC antioxidant activity. In conclusion, it can be compromised that the exposition of dried RH is safe and can be successfully applied to decontaminate fruits without affecting their nutritional value and biological activity.

Biochemical Characterization of Traditional Varieties of Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) of the Campania Region, Southern Italy

Campania is the most important region of Italy in the apricot cultivation, present mostly in the Vesuvio area. At least to the best of our knowledge, no studies are reporting the biochemical characterization of the considerable number of traditional apricot varieties present on this territory, including the qualitative and quantitative profile of the polyphenols present. Our work evaluated the content of β-carotene, total phenolics, phenolic profiles, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity of 23 traditional varieties of apricots of the Campania region. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted that, in the two main groups, the antioxidant activity was strongly affected by the content of ascorbic acid (-0.89), or slightly affected by the content of total polyphenols (-0.67), respect to the content of ascorbic acid (-0.55), never by β-carotene. Chlorogenic acid (up to 55.07 μg g^-1) and catechin (up to 96.15 μg g^-1) resulted the most abundant polyphenols recognized through the chromatographic analysis. PCA, extended to the polyphenol profile, confirmed the distribution of the varieties in two large groups, evidencing once again the hierarchical distance of four varieties ("Panzona", "Paolona" "Baracca" and "Boccucia Eboli") compared to the others.

Effect of gum Arabic, xanthan and carrageenan coatings containing antimicrobial agent on postharvest quality of strawberry: Assessing the physicochemical, enzyme activity and bioactive properties

Effect of edible coatings of gum Arabic, carrageenan and xanthan gum containing lemon grass essential oil 1% w/v on postharvest quality of strawberry was studied under refrigeration for a period of 12 days. Results showed all the three coatings maintained fruit quality parameters during storage compared to control. Among all the coatings, carrageenan coated fruits showed delayed weight loss (10.1 to 8%), decay percentage (78.42 to 14.29%), retained ascorbic acid (0.15 to 0.27 g kg^-1), antioxidant activity (18.17 to 25.85%), firmness (9.07 to 12.43 N), L* (32.38 to 40.42), a* (16.08 to 17.22) and b* (27.36 to 33.54). Carrageenan gum also showed lowest cellulase activity (0.03 units h^-1 mg protein^-1), pectin methylesterase activity (1.13 A620 min^-1 mg protein^-1) and β-galactosidase activity (0.51 μmol min^-1 mg protein^-1), while showed maximum reduction in polygalacturonase activity (0.07 units h^-1 mg protein^-1) at the end of storage. Carrageenan gum was found effective in retention of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds during storage. Coatings loaded with antimicrobial agent inhibited psychrophilic bacteria, yeast and mold growth. It is concluded that carrageenan gum could better retain strawberry quality up to 12 days under refrigeration.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity, toxicity, and mineral composition of kernel and pomace of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) grown in Balochistan, Pakistan

The present study aims to investigate some physical attributes, total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, mineral composition, bioluminescence toxicity assay and antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH, HPS, TAC and FRAP assays in the kernel and pomace samples of six apricot cultivars grown in Balochistan, Pakistan. TFC and TPC determined by the AlCl₃ and Folin-Ciocalteu assays in apricot kernel extracts of six cultivars varied from 1797.5 (Chagali) to 4778.9 (Badoghur) mg QUE/100 g DW and from 1750.0 (Chagali) to 5005.8 (Badoghur) mg GAE/100 g DW. Apricot kernels exhibited higher antioxidant activity than pomace; antioxidant activity in terms of IC₅₀ in kernels ranged from 24.88 to 98.61 μg/ml for DPPH, 334.84 to 516.63 μg/ml for HPS, from 22.02 to 110.80 μg/ml for TAC and from 96.27 to 163.35 μg/ml for FRAP. The apricot kernels showed higher TPC, TFC, bioluminescence toxicity to V. logei and antioxidant activity than the pomace. The correlation analysis demonstrated substantial contributions of polyphenols and flavonoids to antioxidant assays. The sample type was the leading factor affecting the amounts of K, Na, Ca, Fe, and Mn in the tested samples; mineral contents were higher in pomace than kernels. The highest inhibition to V. logei was found in the kernels of Badoghur (IC₅₀ = 1.61 mg/ml). The PCA analysis showed significant contributions of phenolic and flavonoid contents towards antioxidant bioluminescence toxicity assays. Our results suggest Badoghur, Shakarpara and Sardai kernels are rich sources of secondary metabolites and possess remarkable antioxidant and antiluminescence activity and can make a significant contribution to the treatment and prevention of chronic health problems.

Effects of 60Co-irradiation and superfine grinding wall disruption pretreatment on phenolic compounds in pine (Pinus yunnanensis) pollen and its antioxidant and α-glucosidase-inhibiting activities

Effects of ⁶⁰Co-irradiation and superfine grinding wall disruption on the phenolic, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase-inhibiting potential of pine pollen were investigated. Eight soluble phenolics (SP) and insoluble-bound phenolic (IBP) compounds were characterized for the first time. After ⁶⁰Co-irradiation, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in SP increased by 16.90% and 14.66%, respectively; in IBP, they decreased by 53.26% and 21.57%, respectively; whereas they were unchanged in pine pollen, but antioxidant activity decreased by 29.18%-40.90%. After superfine grinding wall disruption, the TPC and TFC in IBP increased by 80.24% and 27.24%, respectively; in pine pollen, they increased by 22.66% and 10.61%, respectively; whereas they were unchanged in SP; and their antioxidant activity increased by 46.68%-58.06%. Both pretreatments had a little effect on the α-glucosidase-inhibiting activities of pine pollen. These results would be helpful in promoting the application of pine pollen in functional food.

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and HepG2 cancer cells' antiproliferation potential in the kernels of apricot cultivars

Phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells were studied in the kernels of apricot cultivars grown in the northern areas of Pakistan. Relatively, the kernel of Habbi cultivar/AP-12 depicted significant potential to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals as well as oxygen radical absorbance capacity along with highest contents of total flavonoids, phenolics, chlorogenic and syringic acids on dry weight basis. The average concentration of quercetin ranged 0.072-1.343 mg/100 g, and of EGCG from 0.713 to 6.521 mg/100 g with maximum concentration in Hulappa/AP-3 and Kho Chali-Khatta 3/AP-17, respectively. Amygdalin content was highest (1145 mg/100 g) in the kernel of Balaani/AP-14. Highest inhibition of HepG2 cells was found in the kernel of Waflu Chuli/AP-9 (EC50 = 15.70 ± 3.77 mg/mL). The PCA showed significant contributions of polyphenols and flavonoids towards biochemical assays, while CA revealed similarities and associations among various cultivars. Our study revealed that Habbi, Waflu Chuli, Thukdeena and Balaani kernels are rich sources of bioactive compounds and possess significant antioxidant and anticancer activity and can contribute considerably in the prevention and treatment of chronic health disorders.

Effect of various food processing and handling methods on preservation of natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables

Bioactive compounds from plant sources are generally categorized as natural antioxidants with well-known health benefits. The health-promoting characteristics of natural antioxidants include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and hepatic effects as well as free radical scavenging. Herein, a comprehensive and comparative review are presented about the effects of conventional (thermal and mechanical) and relatively new (non-thermal) processing methods on phytochemicals and discussed the importance of implementing the use of those methods that could be of very helpful retaining the quality of the bioactive compounds in plant-based foods. Plant-based foods rich in phenolics, vitamin C, carotenoids, and other compounds undergo a range of processing operations before they are consumed. Most of these methods involve thermal treatments of fruits, stems, leaves, and roots. These techniques have varying effects on bioactive compounds and their activities, and the magnitude of these effects depends on process parameters such as temperature, time, and the food matrix. Thermal processing can be detrimental to bioactive compounds while nonthermal procedures may not cause significant deterioration of important health-promoting phytochemicals and in some cases can improve their bio-activity and bio-availability. The detrimental effects of conventional processing on the quality of natural antioxidants have been compared to the effects of innovative nonthermal food treatments such as gamma and ultraviolet irradiation, ultraviolet light, pulsed electric fields, and high hydrostatic pressure.

Global assessment of select phytonutrient intakes by level of fruit and vegetable consumption

Despite dietary recommendations that have repeatedly underscored the importance of increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, intakes worldwide are lower than recommended levels. Consequently, the diets of many individuals may be lacking in nutrients and phytonutrients typical of a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables. In the present study, we estimated phytonutrient intakes by adults categorised by sex, level of fruit and vegetable consumption (< 5 v. ≥ 5 servings/d), and geographic diet cluster. Intakes of nine select phytonutrients were estimated from the 2002-4 World Health Survey fruit and vegetable servings intake data (n 198,637), the FAO supply utilisation accounts data, and phytonutrient concentration data obtained from the US Department of Agriculture databases and the published literature. Percentage contributions to each phytonutrient intake from fruit and vegetable sources were also estimated. Estimated intakes of phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables varied across the thirteen geographic diet clusters, reflecting regional differences in both numbers and proportions of fruit and vegetable servings consumed, and the specific types of fruits and vegetables available in the diet. The mean phytonutrient intakes by adults consuming ≥ 5 servings/d of fruits and vegetables were approximately 2- to 6-fold the mean phytonutrient intakes by adults with low fruit and vegetable consumption (< 5 servings/d). In some cases, phytonutrient intakes by adults consuming ≥ 5 servings/d of fruits and vegetables in one geographic diet cluster were lower than the intakes by adults reporting < 5 servings/d in another cluster. The findings from this assessment provide important information regarding the major dietary patterns of phytonutrient intakes across geographic diet clusters.