Characterisation of phenolic compounds in processed fibres from the juice industry

The content of phenolic compounds was determined in nine industrially processed fibres derived from the juice industry. Apple, peach, and pear as non-citrus fruit fibres were examined, as well as orange peel and flesh, tangerine peel and flesh, and lemon flesh as citrus fruit fibres, and carrot as vegetable fibre. The extractable phenolic profile of all fibres was obtained by UPLC-PDA-FLR-MS/MS. Forty phenolic compounds were identified and their concentrations determined. In addition, bound phenolic acids and proanthocyanidins were measured in solid residues in order to determine the phenolic compounds remaining. Also, to allow the comparison of the profiles and contents in the fresh fruit and fibres, we analysed extractable and bound phenolic compounds in lyophilized peel and pulp from fresh fruit. The profile and phenolic content of the fibres was similar to that of the fresh fruit, except for flavan-3-ols, which registered lower values.

Black chokeberry juice (Aronia melanocarpa) reduces incidences of urinary tract infection among nursing home residents in the long term--a pilot study

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a major problem in nursing homes, and the mainstay of treatment is antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of uropathogens resistant to antimicrobial agents has stimulated interest in specific nutrients, for example, cranberries, to prevent recurring UTI. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa [Michx] Elliott) is a rich source of phenolics, and thus, dietary intake of black chokeberry juice may reduce the incidences of UTI requiring medical treatment. In this pilot study, we examined the frequency of medically treated UTI among residents in 6 nursing homes who were offered black chokeberry juice or a placebo during a 6-month crossover intervention. The residents were offered a placebo drink for a 3-month period followed by chokeberry juice for the next 3 months (group A) or vice versa (group B). The juice was characterized by a high content of total phenolics (715 mg gallic acid equivalent, 100 mL(-1)), including B-type procyanidins, anthocyanins, and chlorogenic acids. Daily intake of chokeberry juice was 156 mL per resident in group A (n = 110) and 89 mL per resident in group B (n = 126). Urinary tract infection comprised 55% of all medically treated infections during the study period. The results revealed no immediate reduction in the frequency of UTI or the total use of antibiotics; however, during the subsequent 3-month period of juice administration, a reduction in antibiotics toward UTI was observed in both groups. The incidence of UTI was reduced by 55% in group A and 38% in group B. No changes in other infections or in use of prophylactics were observed.

Automated analysis of synthesized oligorutin and oligoesculin by laccase

The polymerization of phenolic species is an interesting way to generate derivatives with new or improved properties. The structural analysis of these compounds is complex and requires specific analytical techniques. The size exclusion chromatography coupled with an UV detector (SEC-UV) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization coupled with a time-of-flight detector (MALDI-TOF) analyses are two methods used to investigate the masses of biopolymers. To analyse the oligomers of rutin and esculin synthesized by the laccase from Trametes versicolor , these two techniques were used and coupled with an automated platform. The conditions of detection by MALDI-TOF were optimized. The parallel synthesis, the preparation of sample, the SEC analysis, and the MALDI spotting were realized automatically on a Chemspeed platform. The MALDI-TOF technique enables the detection of oligomers up to pentamer and nonamer, whereas the SEC-UV permits the detection of about 17-mer for rutin and esculin. The molecular mass distribution is underestimated by MALDI-TOF analysis compared with SEC-UV, but comes to the determination of absolute masses. So these two techniques would be combined to explore the masses and the oligomer distributions.

Evaluation of olive oil mill wastewater toxicity on the mitochondrial bioenergetics after treatment with Candida oleophila

In a previous work the ability of Candida oleophila to use phenolic compounds as sole carbon and energy source at high concentrations without an additional carbon source was reported. C. oleophila grown in bioreactor batch cultures in a diluted and sterilized olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) caused a significant decrease in the total tannins content but no significant alteration was observed in phenolic acid and fatty acid content. Both treated and untreated OMWs were tested to evaluate the capacity in interfering with mitochondrial bioenergetics. Mitochondrial respiration was not affected by treated OMW on the range of used concentrations, contrary to the untreated OMW. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory complexes were always significantly less affected by treated OMW in comparison with untreated OMW. However, supplementary treatment should be applied before OMW could be considered non-toxic.

[Procyanidin polymers, the crucial ingredients of the almond seed coat]

The seed coat of almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) contains up to 30% procyanidins with different degrees of polymerisation and, in addition, fatty oils, lignin, polysaccharides and cutin. Monomer units of dimers to tetracosamers are (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin. Prodelphinidins could not be detected. The dimers B-1, B-3, B-4, trimers and oligomers are soluble in acetone/water. The bulk material is large polymer, that is only soluble, by thiolysis, in thioglycolic acid. The large polymer procyanidins are crucial to the structure and attributes of the seed coat.