Effects of aroma-taste interaction on the sensory attributes of rebaudiosides in soymilk and milk

BACKGROUND

Rebaudioside A (Reb-A) and rebaudioside M (Reb-M) are intense natural sweeteners but can also elicit bitterness and a bitter aftertaste. In this study, the effect of vanilla and chocolate flavorings on the sensory attributes of Reb-A and Reb-M applied to soymilk and milk was investigated to identify whether the addition of flavoring could enhance the sweetness via aroma-taste interactions.

RESULTS

Nine samples each of soymilk and milk were formulated by adding sucrose, Reb-A and Reb-M in three flavor conditions (no flavoring, vanilla, and chocolate). Descriptive analyses were conducted using nine panelists for the soymilk and eight panelists for the milk. Another descriptive analysis was conducted using the same samples with olfactory occlusion via the wearing of a nose clip to check whether the sweetness enhancement was due to olfactory input. The chocolate flavoring significantly enhanced the sweetness of Reb-A and Reb-M and reduced the bitterness, bitter aftertaste and astringency in both soymilk and milk. The vanilla flavoring was not as effective as the chocolate flavoring in enhancing sweetness. When the olfactory passage was closed with a nose clip, the sweetness enhancement and bitterness suppression were not detected in the samples.

CONCLUSION

The addition of chocolate flavoring could successfully improve the sensory profile of soymilk sweetened with Reb-A through aroma-taste interactions. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Non-Nutritive (Artificial) Sweetener Knowledge among University Students

This study determined non-nutritive sweetener (NNS; artificial sweetener) depth of knowledge among university health and science students. An online survey was delivered to 1248 science students and completed by 493 respondents (19.0 ± 2.2 years old), evaluating ability to provide an NNS description/definition, examples of NNS from memory, and evaluate NNS word familiarity with a click-drag-box to identify six NNS by chemical name (CN) and six NNS by trade name (TN), relative to six decoy NNS, six caloric sweeteners, and six food items (mean ± standard deviation). NNS definitions contained 1.1 ± 1.1 of four previously defined elements suggestive of knowledge depth, with highest scores among self-described non-NNS users and food ingredient label users. Knowledge depth was not correlated with gender, age, American College Test score, or history of weight loss attempts. Without prompting, respondents could name 0.9 ± 1.1 NNS from memory, with highest scores among self-described non-NNS users (1.4 ± 0.8) and food ingredient label users (1.4 ± 0.8). NNS example memory was not correlated with gender, age, ACT score, or history of weight loss attempts. With the click-drag-box exercise, NNS were correctly identified 4.9 ± 1.0 times by TN and significantly less by CN (3.9 ± 1.9 times). Decoy NNS were incorrectly identified as being a real NNS 4.7 ± 1.3 times, while caloric sweeteners and food items were incorrectly identified as NNS 1.7 ± 1.7 times and 1.0 ± 1.5 times, (TN and Decoy NNS > CN > caloric sweetener and food item). NNS knowledge among university students may be inadequate for understanding what NNS are, if they consume NNS, or whether NNS are important for dietary health.

RQ3, A Natural Rebaudioside D Isomer, Was Obtained from Glucosylation of Rebaudioside A Catalyzed by the CGTase Toruzyme 3.0 L

In this study, a monoglucosyl rebaudioside A product was isolated from the mixture of glucosylated rebaudioside A obtained from the most reported and industrial used cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase, Toruzyme 3.0 L (CGTase, Toruzyme 3.0 L). The molecular structure of the monoglucosyl rebaudioside A was characterized using LC-MS/MS and methylation analysis combined with 1D and 2D NMR, indicating that it is 13-[(2-O-(3-α-O-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (also known as RQ3, which naturally exists in Stevia extract as an isomer of rebaudioside D). This study may help to further understand the reaction mechanism of glucosylation of steviol glycoside assisted by Toruzyme 3.0 L in the aspect of molecule linkage pattern, and also benefit the application of the glucosylated rebaudiosides.

Sensory Profile, Drivers of Liking, and Influence of Information on the Acceptance of Low-Calorie Synbiotic and Probiotic Chocolate Ice Cream

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensory profile and the influence of the information on the acceptance of the symbiotic chocolate ice cream made with sucrose and different sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, neotame, Stevia with 60%, 85%, 95%, and 97% of rebaudioside A) through analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test, and partial least of square (PLS) regression. Quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was carried out by 18 assessors, who evaluated the samples in relation to the raised descriptors. Additionally, two acceptance tests (blind/informed) were performed with 120 consumers. The samples sweetened with sucralose and rebaudioside 97% presented similar profile to the control sample, thus having a better potential to replace sucrose in chocolate ice cream. The acceptance test carried out with information had higher scores for the attributes appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, and overall impression. The correlation between data from the acceptance tests and QDA showed that the descriptors "low-energy" and "natural sweetener" claims interfered negatively in the drivers of liking of chocolate ice cream. Therefore, we can conclude that some characteristics unnoticed by consumers were highlighted after providing the information about the product's characteristics.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This research is important and contributes to the manufacture and development of low-calorie chocolate ice cream with functional properties, guiding, through suitable sensory and statistical tools, the application of stevia and other artificial sweeteners in products with reduction or total absence of sucrose and highlighting the impact of the labeling of these products on consumer perception.

Characterizing Dynamic Sensory Properties of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners with Temporal Check-All-That-Apply

Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (TCATA) is a rapid method where attributes are actively checked and unchecked to track sensations over time, so that the checked words fully describe the sample in any given moment. Here, we characterize the temporal profiles of sweeteners using TCATA. In two experiments, sweeteners were tested in water at concentrations known to elicit weak to moderate sweetness. Before evaluating the sweeteners, participants (n= ~125 per experiment) were familiarized with the TCATA method with a guided example using imaginary samples of Kool-Aid. Participants then received 10 ml of each sweetener solution and were instructed to click "start" after he or she finished swallowing the sample. Incidence of 6 attributes obtained from prior literature - sweet, bitter, metallic, licorice, cooling, and drying - was obtained for 60s. We observed similarities across temporal profiles of various sweeteners: sweet and bitter occurred first (~10s), then metallic and cooling (~10-25s), followed by drying much later (30-50s depending on the stimulus). The presence of side tastes influenced how often 'sweet' was endorsed: stimuli with fewer endorsements of side tastes showed more prominent sweetness. Finally, unfamiliar side tastes may lead to a smearing bias where participants check every attribute in an attempt to characterize those unfamiliar sensations.

From Caá-ehé to a commercial sweetener - the diterpenoid glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana

The isolation, structure elucidation, chemistry, biosynthesis and biological activity of the sweet steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana, are reviewed.

Comprehensive review on agro technologies of low-calorie natural sweetener stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni): a boon to diabetic patients

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a low-calorie natural sweetener plant native to Paraguay. The leaves of stevia have sweetening compounds called steviol glycosides (SGs), which contain different marker compounds, i.e. stevioside (St), rebaudioside (Rb) A, B, C, D and E, dulcoside A and steviol biosides, which are nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is a better alternative to sugar in formulating food products, reducing the harmful effect of sugar and improving the nutrient properties. We have tried to compile a literature on various agronomic and management aspects which are helpful in increasing the yield and quality of stevia to be grown as a crop that will benefit farmers and industrialists. The stevioside thus obtained can be used to make different food products for sweetening purposes, which could be a boon to diabetic patients. Incorporation of different agronomic techniques like propagation method, transplanting time, intercropping, irrigation, mulching, plant geometry, pinching and harvesting time not only improve the biomass but also increase the quality of stevia. Therefore, agronomic considerations are of high priority to utilize its maximum potential. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Study of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni antioxidant activities and cellular properties

The aim of our study was to determine the antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity and proliferative properties in Stevia rebaudiana leaves and stems. Leaves extracts exhibited a higher antioxidant activity than stems extract, through oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Stevioside and rebaudioside A, the main sweetening metabolites in stevia leaves, exhibited a low ORAC value in comparison with plant extracts, while did not elicit any CAA. Stevia rebaudiana did not exhibit toxicity against HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) human cells. No proliferative nor catalase modulations were observed in cells treated with such extracts. Our findings support the promising role of stevia that, apart from its sweetness, can act as a source of antioxidants, even at the intracellular level. This activity makes S. rebaudiana crude extract an interesting resource of natural sweetness with antioxidant properties which may find numerous applications in foods and nutritional supplements industries.