Prunus lusitanica L. Fruits: A Promising Underexploited Source of Nutrients with Potential Economic Value

In recent times, less-known fruit species have increasingly attracted worldwide attention and their health benefits are at the forefront. The fruits of plants from the genus Prunus are good sources of nutrients due to their economic, agronomic, and healthy values. However, Prunus lusitanica L., commonly known as Portuguese laurel cherry is considered an endangered species. Thus, the present work aimed to monitor the nutritional components of P. lusitanica fruits grown in three locations in northern Portugal for four consecutive years (2016-2019), using AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analysis. The results evidenced the abundance of phytonutrients in P. lusitanica, such as proteins, fat, carbohydrates, soluble sugars, dietary fibre, amino acids, and minerals. It was also highlighted that the variation of nutritional components was relatively linked to the year factor, being especially relevant in the frame of the current changing climate, among others. These findings suggest that P. lusitanica L. deserves to be conserved and planted because of its food and nutraceutical applications. However, more detailed information on this rare plant species, such as phytophysiology, phytochemistry, bioactivity, pharmacology, etc., is certainly required for the design and development of appropriate uses and valorization alternatives for this species.

[Status of fresh vegetables and fruit consumption among Chinese aged 60 years old and above in 2015]

OBJECTIVE

To analysis the fresh vegetables and fresh fruit consumption among the elders aged 60 and above of China in 2015.

METHODS

The consumption of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits in the past 12 months was calculated by using the food frequency questionnaire data of 58 335 elderly people aged 60 and above from "China National Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance of Adults(2015)", and the intake status was evaluated according to the recommended intake of Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents(2016).

RESULTS

The consumption rate of fresh vegetables among the elderly in China was 98. 7%, the median intake of the whole population was 270. 0 g, the median intake of the consumer population was 300. 0 g, and the proportion of under-intake was 49. 6%. The fresh fruit consumption rate was 84. 2%, the median intake of the whole population was 30. 0 g, and the median intake of the consumer population was 50. 0 g. The proportion of insufficient intake of fresh fruits reached 85. 2%. The frequency of intake of fresh vegetables was mainly 2 times/day, accounting for 45. 9%; fresh vegetables intake 1-3 times/week and ≥2 times/day were 38. 7% and 35. 6%, respectively. The consumption rate and intake of fresh vegetables and fruits were both higher in urban areas than in rural areas, and decrease significantly with increasing age, lower educational background and lower income. In addition, the consumption rate and intake were lower in elderly living alone.

CONCLUSION

China& apos; s elderly people aged 60 and above have insufficient intake of vegetables and fruits. Health education and dietary guidance should be carried out, and intervention measures should be taken for key populations to effectively promote a reasonable diet for the elderly.

Inactivation of microbes on fruit surfaces using photodynamic therapy and its influence on the postharvest shelf-life of fruits

In this study, the disinfection effect of curcumin-mediated photodynamic therapy on the contact surfaces of fresh fruit was investigated. Our results showed that the optimum concentration of curcumin and the energy density required were 0.5 μM and 7.2 J/cm², respectively. Photodynamic therapy showed an excellent disinfection rate for the fresh fruits with a reduction of more than 80% in the total bacteria and coliform counts. The photodynamic therapy inhibited species that belonged to the categories of gram-negative and facultative anaerobic bacteria, except for two species of the Trichoderma fungus. Importantly, photodynamic therapy prolonged the shelf-life of grapes for two days at room temperature. Therefore, photodynamic therapy should be commercialized as a high efficiency and non-thermal sterilization technology for use in the food industry.