ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nutritional intervention with the use of phytochemicals is an important method for the treatment and prevention of a metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to chemically characterize Moro orange juice. The influence of juice intake on metabolic parameters of rats that were obese, diabetic or both by means of body mass management after the activation of anthocyanins during refrigerated storage was also assessed. RESULTS: Juice intake reversed most of the metabolic abnormalities exhibited by obese rats, including reduction of body mass and improvement of the biochemical profile. The loss of body mass by diabetic animals and obese and diabetic animals was not attributed to juice intake, but to type I diabetes mellitus. In these animals, no improvement was observed in the biochemical profile, liver enzymes and glycemia, so this treatment model was deemed unfeasible. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects cannot be explained only by the anthocyanin C3G present in the juice, but rather, by the synergism between all the components. Studies in humans are needed to determine whether the ingestion of this orange can be recommended as an effective strategy to prevent or ameliorate complications of obesity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Subject(s)
Citrus sinensis/chemistry , Diabetes Mellitus/diet therapy , Fruit and Vegetable Juices/analysis , Obesity/diet therapy , Animals , Anthocyanins/analysis , Anthocyanins/metabolism , Citrus sinensis/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Fruit/chemistry , Fruit/metabolism , Humans , Male , Obesity/metabolism , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Distilled spirits, in addition to satisfying the legal requirements with respect to its composition, must possess a sensorial quality capable of satisfying its consumers. The present work describes the analysis of volatile compounds, trace elements and glycerol in thirteen samples of Mozambican spirits collected in different regions of the country. Extraction of volatile components was a accomplished using the headspace SPME technique, the quantification of glycerol was achieved by UV/Vis spectroscopy and the determination of trace elements by atomic absorption spectrometry. Of the 35 volatile compounds identified, 19 were esters, of which ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl decanoate, ethyl laurate, ethyl hexadecanoate, ethyl tetradecanoate, ethyl benzenepropanoate, 3-methylbutyl acetate and isoamyl alcohol were the predominant compounds found in the different samples, contributing to the characteristics and aroma of the beverages. As for glycerol, concentrations below 5 mg L-1 were observed in all the samples studied. The samples were found to be contaminated by metals such as copper, lead and zinc. In addition, the results provided information on the quality of Mozambican spirits regarding some aspects related to the determination of metals and glycerol. This information might stimulate producers to be more attentive to the conditions of production and the risks involved in achieving good quality spirits.
