Trends in functional beverages: Functional ingredients, processing technologies, stability, health benefits, and consumer perspective

The World Health Organization's emphasis on the health benefits of functional foods and beverages that has contributed to the rise in its popularity globally. Besides these consumers have become more aware of the importance of their food composition and nutrition. Among the fastest-growing market segments within the functional food industries, the functional drinks market focuses on fortified beverages or products that are novel with improved bioavailability of bioactive compounds, and their implicated health benefits. The bioactive ingredients in functional beverages include phenolic compounds, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, peptides, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. which can be obtained from plant, animal and microorganisms. The types of functional beverages which are globally intensifying the markets are pre-/pro-biotics, beauty drinks, cognitive and immune system enhancers, energy and sports drink produced via several thermal and non-thermal processes. Researchers are focusing on improving the stability of the active compounds by encapsulation, emulsion, and high-pressure homogenization techniques to strengthen the positive consumer perspective in functional beverages. However, more research is needed in terms of bioavailability, consumer safety, and sustainability of the process. Hence, product development, storage stability, and sensory properties of these products are vital for consumer acceptance. This review focuses on the recent trends and developments in the functional beverages industry. The review provides a critical discussion on diverse functional ingredients, bioactive sources, production processes, emerging process technologies, improvement in the stability of ingredients and bioactive compounds. This review also outlines the global market and consumer perception of functional beverages with the future perspective and scope.

Optimization of a tannase-assisted process for obtaining teas rich in theaflavins from Camelia sinensis leaves

This work aimed at optimizing the extraction of theaflavins for the development of a potentially functional tea beverage using different technological parameters as factors. Green tea leaves treated with tannase provided a beverage with significant higher amount (4.7-fold) of theaflavin (TF) compared to the pure withered leaf fermentation. For black tea, the optimized process conditions to produce a beverage with high TF (0.269 μg/mL) concentration were: 6 g of leaves/400 mL, a low fermentation temperature of 25 °C with the absence of buffer and pH control, an intermediate fermentation time (60 min) and a relatively low aeration rate (0.8-1.0 L/min). The tea liquid produced under optimized fermentation conditions appears to be ideal for making a black tea beverage with surplus summer tea leaves and brings economic benefits.

Determination of trace bisphenols in functional beverages through the magnetic solid-phase extraction with MOF-COF composite

In this study, a novel porous composite (Fe₃O₄@TAPB-COF@ZIF-8) consisting of metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks was developed and applied to the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of bisphenols. The extraction parameters such as the extraction time, solution pH, amounts of adsorbent, and ionic strength were investigated to obtain the best extraction conditions. By optimizing the MSPE, a convenient and sensitive analytical method was established in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography. The method achieved low detection limits (0.04-0.05 ng mL^-1), wide linear range (0.25-1000 ng mL^-1), good repeatability (1.20-4.30%), good reproducibility (1.34-4.03%), and satisfactory recoveries of four functional beverages (66.2-116.6%).

Whole, concentrated and reconstituted grape juice: Impact of processes on phenolic composition, "foxy" aromas, organic acids, sugars and antioxidant capacity

The concentration and reconstitution processes of grape juices can result in losing compounds associated with beverage quality. In this context, three tanks containing 50,000 L of grape juice were individually concentrated up to 68 °Brix using a triple vacuum concentrator. The concentrated juice was reconstituted up to the original °Brix of the whole juice (18.4). Phenolic compounds, sugars and organic acids were quantified by high-performance-liquid-chromatography. "Foxy" aromatic compounds were also quantified by gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry. The concentration and reconstitution process resulted in significant losses (Tukey test, p < 0.01) of trans-caftaric acid, decreasing from 397.08 to 159.14 mg/L, chlorogenic-acid from 34.97 to 8.44 mg/L, aromatic furaneol compound from 9.06 to 1.93 mg/L, as well as total losses for gallic-acid, caffeic-acid, p-coumaric-acid, syringic-acid, hesperidin, pelargonidin-3-glucoside and epicatechin compounds. The concentration and reconstitution of grape juice preserved the antioxidant capacity and most of the quantified compounds, with the reconstituted juice having good nutritional quality.

Fluorine and nitrogen functionalized magnetic graphene as a novel adsorbent for extraction of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from water and functional beverages followed by HPLC-Orbitrap HRMS determination

Most of the reported magnetic adsorbents are difficult to absorb multi-class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), especially the short-chain PFASs. In this work, a novel fluorine and nitrogen functionalized magnetic graphene (G-NH-FBC/Fe₂O₃) was first synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The as-prepared G-NH-FBC/Fe₂O₃ was utilized as adsorbents for the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of 19 PFASs from water and functional beverages and showed excellent adsorption capacity probably due to the hydrophobic interaction. Under the optimal pretreatment and instrumental conditions, a selective and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-Orbitrap HRMS) method was developed for the determination of PFASs. Results indicated that the proposed method had favorable linearity (R² ≥ 0.994) within a wide range of concentrations. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the developed method ranged from 3 ng/L to 15 ng/L and 10 ng/L to 49 ng/L, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully applied to determine PFASs in drinking water, river water, tap water, factory drainage and functional beverages with recoveries ranging from 71.9% to 117.6% and relative standard deviation of <10%. The prepared G-NH-FBC/Fe₂O₃ was easy to recycle and could be reused for five times without significant decrease in extraction recoveries of PFASs. These results demonstrated that this novel magnetic G-NH-FBC/Fe₂O₃ could efficiently enrich PFASs and the proposed method is reliable and robust for the determination of PFASs in water and beverage samples.

Determining 1-kestose, nystose and raffinose oligosaccharides in grape juices and wines using HPLC: method validation and characterization of products from Northeast Brazil

The objective of this work was to validate a method for direct determination in grape juice and wine of 1-kestose, nystose and raffinose oligosaccharides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection using a new type of RP-C₁₈ column (150 × 4.6 mm, 4 µm) with polar end-capping. The validated methodology was also used to characterize grape juice and fine wine products from Northeastern Brazil; and presented suitable linearity, precision, recovery, limits of detection and quantification. The method presented good specificity, revealing that sugars, organic acids, and ethanol (the main interferences in refraction detection) did not influence the quantification of the studied oligosaccharides. The main oligosaccharide found was 1-kestose (approximately 50% of the samples), followed by raffinose (20% of the samples). The results obtained in this are an indication that grape juices and wines have the potential to be functional beverages in relation to the presence of prebiotics.

Volatile compounds associated with growth of Asaia bogorensis and Asaia lannensis-unusual spoilage bacteria of functional beverages

Acetic acid bacteria of the genus Asaia are recognized as common bacterial spoilage in the beverage industry. Their growth in contaminated soft drinks can be visible in the form of flocs, turbidity and flavor changes. Volatile profiles associated with the growth and metabolic activities of Asaia lannensis and As. bogorensis strains were evaluated using comprehensive gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToF MS). Based on obtained results, 33 main compounds were identified. The greatest variety of volatile metabolites was noted for As. lannensis strain W4. 2-Phenylethanol, 3-pentanone, 2-nonanol, 2-hydroxy-3-pentanone, and 2-nitro-1-butanol were detected as dominant volatile compounds. Additionally, As. lannensis strains formed 2-propenoic acid ethyl ester. As. bogorensis ISD1 was distinguished by the higher concentration of 2-hydroxy-3-pentanone and 3-methyl-1-butene but the lowest concentration of 2-phenylethanol. Based on these results, it was found that volatile profiles of Asaia spp. are unique among acetic acid bacteria. Moreover, obtained profiles depended not only on bacterial species and strains but also on the composition of culture media.

Chemical profiling of infusions and decoctions of Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii by UHPLC-PDA-MS and in vitro biological activities comparatively with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis)

Several medicinal plants are currently used by the food industry as functional additives, for example botanical extracts in herbal drinks. Moreover, the scientific community has recently begun focusing on halophytes as sources of functional beverages. Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (everlasting) is an aromatic halophyte common in southern Europe frequently used as spice and in traditional medicine. In this context, this work explored for the first time H. italicum subsp. picardii as a potential source of innovative herbal beverages with potential health promoting properties. For that purpose, infusions and decoctions were prepared from roots, vegetative aerial-organs (stems and leaves) and flowers and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. Samples were also assessed for toxicity in different mammalian cell lines and chemically characterized by spectrophotometric methods and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). Results were expressed relating to 'a cup-of-tea' and compared with those obtained with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis). Tisanes from the everlasting's above-ground organs, particularly flowers, have high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified; the main compounds were chlorogenic and quinic acids, dicaffeoylquinic-acid isomers and gnaphaliin-A. The antioxidant activity of beverages from the everlasting's above-ground organs matched or surpassed that of green tea and rooibos. Its anti-diabetic activity was moderate and toxicity low. Overall, our results suggest that the everlasting is a potential source of innovative and functional herbal beverages.

Development of functional beverages from blends of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract and selected fruit juices for optimal antioxidant properties

The demand for functional foods and drinks with health benefit is on the increase. The synergistic effect from mixing two or more of such drinks cannot be overemphasized. This study was carried out to formulate and investigate the effects of blends of two or more of pineapple, orange juices, carrot, and Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts (HSE) on the antioxidant properties of the juice formulations in order to obtain a combination with optimal antioxidant properties. Experimental design was carried out using optimal mixture model of response surface methodology which generated twenty experimental runs with antioxidant properties as the responses. The DPPH (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS [2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid)] radical scavenging abilities, ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), vitamin C, total phenolics, and total carotenoids contents of the formulations were evaluated as a test of antioxidant property. In all the mixtures, formulations having HSE as part of the mixture showed the highest antioxidant potential. The statistical analyzes, however, showed that the formulations containing pineapple, carrot, orange, and HSE of 40.00, 16.49, 17.20, and 26.30%, respectively, produced optimum antioxidant potential and was shown to be acceptable to a research laboratory guidance panel, thus making them viable ingredients for the production of functional beverages possessing important antioxidant properties with potential health benefits.