Evaluation of the composition of vine shoots and oak chips for oenological purposes by superheated liquid extraction and high-resolution liquid chromatography-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry analysis

Chemical contaminants from food contact materials and articles made from or containing wood and bamboo - a review

Due to recently introduced 'so-called' bio- and plant-based friendly food contact materials and articles (FCM/FCA), some neglected safety issues need to be raised. In this review, potential chemical contaminants from FCM/FCA made from or containing wood and bamboo are presented. Sources, migration, and analytical issues in determining contaminants including intentionally and non-intentionally added substances (IAS and NIAS, respectively) are reviewed. Most of the contaminants are components from melamine-formaldehyde-resin (MFR), paints and coatings, preservatives, and bleaching agents. Tableware made of MFR containing bamboo fibres as a filler are not always suitable for use as tableware since harmful amounts of melamine and formaldehyde can migrate from the tableware into food and even accelerate the degradation of certain polymers with which they are mixed. In addition, in the EU bamboo in plastic FCM is not authorized under Regulation (EU) 10/2011. Paints and coatings used to provide surface coverage for bamboo and wooden articles also pose a risk of migration of heavy metals. Limits on preservatives in wood FCM are covered by legislation in many countries, nevertheless their contamination should not be ignored. Some wood species are considered 'toxic' or contain 'toxic' constituents that should not be used in contact with food, which are worth considering for legislation. IAS analyses in bamboo and wooden FCM is generally not a problem, but has proven to be more challenging for NIAS. Due to a complex mixture of substances contained in plant-based materials, there is a need to improve databases for non-target screening of such chemicals.

Increasing the added value of vine-canes as a sustainable source of phenolic compounds: A review

Grapes represent one of the most produced fruit crops around the world leading to the generation of large amounts of vine-canes as a side product, with no current economically profitable application. However, vine-canes have been demonstrated to be natural sources of phenolic compounds with numerous health benefits associated, with several potential applications. Therefore, new ambitious applications focused on their re-use are needed, targeting a sustainable process that simultaneous produces functional products and mitigates the waste generation. This review gives to the readers a complete summary about the state of the art regarding the vine-canes extracts research. Vine-canes phenolic composition is addressed and related to the health benefits exhibited. This review comprises studies from the past two decades reporting the extraction processes to recover vine-cane phenolic compounds, including conventional and environmentally friendly technologies and discussing their advantages and disadvantages. The conditions that favour the extraction process for vine-cane polyphenols for each technique were also deeply explored for the first time, enabling to the reader apply only the best parameters to achieve the highest yields without huge investment in optimizations procedures. Furthermore, a correlation between the bioactive properties of the vine-cane extracts and their applications in multiple fields is also critically presented.

Implications of Aging Quality of Oak Shaving on Kyoho Wine Immersed with Residue of Cabernet Sauvignon

In order to study effect of oak sawdust on the quality of Kyoho wine immersed by fermented Cabernet Sauvignon residual, Kyoho wine aged without oak sawdust (KWO), including KWO1 and KWO2 according to immersed orders by fermented Cabernet Sauvignon residual, was taken as control to compare the effect of oak sawdust on quality of Kyoho wine (KO), including KO1 and KO2 according to aged orders by oak sawdust. During the 15 days of aging, physical and chemical indicators, such as chroma, tonality, and total phenol in wine were determined simultaneously by using a spectrophotometer, including tannin content by KMnO4 titration, once every 3 days. The results showed that the chromaticities of Kyoho wine were 3.21, 3.02, 4.46, and 3.71 for KO1, KO2, KWO1, and KWO2, respectively. Similarly, the hues were in turn 0.73, 0.68, 0.97, and 0.72, respectively. Tannin contents were 1601.5 mg/L, 1517.3 mg/L, 337.2 mg/L, and 115.6 mg/L; total phenol contents were 277.67 mg/L, 222.1 mg/L, 64 mg/L, and 79.8 mg/L. Therefore, the contents of tannin and total phenol from KO1 wine were all the highest values. The chroma and tone of the four types of wine showed an upward trend of “S.” The chromaticity and tone were the lowest for the KO2 wine and the highest for the KWO1 wine with the larger difference between KO2 and KWO1.

Potential of Portuguese vine shoot wastes as natural resources of bioactive compounds

Since annually a high amount of wastes is produced in vine pruning, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of vine shoots from two Portuguese grape varieties (Touriga Nacional - TN and Tinta Roriz - TR) to be used as a natural source of phenolic compounds. To reach this goal, three techniques were explored, namely microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), subcritical water extraction (SWE) and conventional extraction (CE). The phenolic composition of the extracts, antioxidant and biological activities were evaluated by spectrophotometry and chromatography. MAE and SWE produced the highest concentrated extracts. TR vine shoot variety had the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic (32.1±0.9mggallicacidequivalents/g dry sample), as well as flavonoid content (18.7±1.2mgepicatechinequivalents/g dry sample). For the first time, the biological activity of the vine shoot extracts was tested. Results demonstrated that all of them had antimicrobial potential against different bacteria and yeasts, and the ability of inhibiting α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes, with MAE TR extracts being the most efficient. HPLC analysis enabled the identification of different phenolic compounds, with gallic acid, catechin, myricetin and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside being the main contributors to the phenolic composition. Portuguese vine shoot wastes could serve as easily accessible source of natural antioxidants for the food or pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of toasting on non-volatile and volatile vine-shoots low molecular weight phenolic compounds

Low molecular weight phenolic compounds (LMWPC), including non-volatile and volatile, of Airén and Moscatel vine-shoot cultivars waste submitted to different toasting conditions (light, 180°/15min; medium, 180°/30min; high 180°/45min) were studied in order to exploit them with oenological purposes. The LMWPC differences were mainly due to the toasting times rather than vine-shoot variety. In non-volatile LMWPC fraction, flavanols and almost all phenolic acids decreased by toasting. The presence of trans-resveratrol has a special relevance at light toasting: 14 times more concentrated in Airén and 6 times in Moscatel vine-shoots, than their respective non-toasted samples. The volatile LMWPC showed a significant increment with toasting, being vanillin the one with the highest difference respect to non-toasted samples at high conditions: more than 15 times in Airén and 11 in Moscatel. Although toasting reduced some LMWPC, particular characteristics of these vine-shoots must be taken into account when considering its future use.

French Oak Wood (Quercus robur) Extract (Robuvit) in Primary Lymphedema: A Supplement, Pilot, Registry Evaluation

The aim of this pilot supplement study was the evaluation of an oak wood extract (Robuvit, Quercus robur [QR], Horphag Research) in an 8-week registry study on lymphatic signs in primary lymphedema. Subjects with primary lymphedema confined to a single leg without skin changes or ulcerations were followed for at least 8 weeks. Lymphedema was mainly present distally (below the knee). Three groups were formed: one group used only the standard management for lymphedema; one used the same management plus 300 mg Robuvit; and one used the standard management plus 600 mg of Robuvit. The three groups were comparable. After 8 weeks the variation in leg volume was on average -6.2% with standard management, -15% in the QR 300 mg group, and -18.9% in the 600 mg group. The edema score was also significantly lower at 8 weeks in the two QR groups. The variation in proteins in the interstitial fluid in comparison with initial values was -14.8% in controls in comparison with -29.9% in QR 300 mg group and -36.9% in QR 600 mg group. Skin flux significantly improved (increased) in the two QR groups. Ultrasound pretibial skin thickness was decreased on average 6% in controls versus 10.3% in the low-dose QR group and 11.8% in the higher dose group. Perimalleolar thickness was decreased 7% in controls and more in the two QR groups. Ankle circumference was decreased 4.4% in controls and more in the two supplement groups. This pilot registry indicates that Robuvit can be effective in the management of primary lymphedema. More patients and longer evaluation periods are needed.