Development of Antioxidant and Nutritious Lentil (Lens culinaris) Flour Using Controlled Optimized Germination as a Bioprocess.

Germination is an efficient and natural strategy that allows the modification of the nutritional value and the nutraceutical properties of seeds, enabling one to tailor the process according to its final use. This study aimed at optimization of germination conditions to produce novel lentil flours with improved nutritional and functional features. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to model the effect of temperature (15-27 °C) and time (1-5 days) on different nutritional and quality parameters of lentil flours including proximate composition, content and profile of fatty acids, content of phytic acid, ascorbic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), content and profile of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, expected glycemic index (GI) and color during germination. As shown by RSM polynomial models, sprouting promoted the reduction of phytic acid content and enhanced the levels of ascorbic acid, GABA, insoluble phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and expected GI, and modified the color of the resultant lentil flours. RSM optimization of germination temperature and time using desirability function revealed that the optimal process conditions to maximize the nutritional, bioactive and quality properties of sprouted lentil flours were 21 °C for 3.5 days.

Sprouted Barley Flour as a Nutritious and Functional Ingredient.

The increasing demand for healthy food products has promoted the use of germinated seeds to produce functional flours. In this study, germination conditions were optimized in barley grains with the aim to produce flours with high nutritional and biofunctional potential using response surface methodology (RSM). The impact of germination time (0.8-6 days) and temperature (12-20 °C) on barley quality was studied. Non-germinated barley was used as the control. The content of vitamins B1, B2 and C, and proteins increased notably after germination, especially at longer times, while levels of fat, carbohydrates, fibre, and b-glucan were reduced. Total phenolic compounds, g-aminobutyric acid and antioxidant activity determined by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity increased between 2-fold and 4-fold during sprouting, depending on germination conditions and this increase was more pronounced at higher temperatures (16-20 °C) and longer times (5-6 days). Procyanidin B and ferulic acid were the main phenolics in the soluble and insoluble fraction, respectively. Procyanidin B levels decreased while bound ferulic acid content increased during germination. Germinated barley flours exhibited lower brightness and a higher glycemic index than the control ones. This study shows that germination at 16 °C for 3.5 days was the optimum process to obtain nutritious and functional barley flours. Under these conditions, sprouts retained 87% of the initial b-glucan content, and exhibited levels of ascorbic acid, riboflavin, phenolic compounds and GABA between 1.4-fold and 2.5-fold higher than the non-sprouted grain.

Effects of ewe's milk yogurt (whole and semi-skimmed) and cow's milk yogurt on inflammation markers and gut microbiota of subjects with borderline-high plasma cholesterol levels: a crossover study.

PURPOSE: Ewe's milk yogurt is richer in proteins, minerals and short- and medium-chain fatty acids compared to cow's milk yogurt. We aimed to evaluate the effects of cow's milk yogurt (CW, 3.0% fat), semi-skimmed (ES, 2.8% fat) and whole ewe's milk yogurts (EW, 5.8% fat) on inflammatory markers and gut microbiota in subjects with borderline-high plasma cholesterol. METHODOLOGY: 30 adults (16 women) were randomized into a crossover study to consume 250 g/yogurt/day during three 5-week periods (4-week washouts). Plasma insulin, leptin, adhesion molecules, cytokines and gut microbiota composition (qPCR) were analysed. Rates of change were used to assess treatment effects both in the whole group and in subgroups of subjects with different cholesterol/HDL-c ratio (Cho-I group A: the top 6 women and 4 men values; Cho-I group B: remaining subjects). RESULTS: The yogurts showed no different effects on the inflammatory biomarkers or the microbiota of the whole group. However, ICAM-1 and P-selectin rates of change were lower after EW compared to CW and ES, respectively, in subjects of the Cho-I group A (P = 0.047 and P = 0.020). Women of this group showed lower MCP-1 rates of change after EW compared to ES and CW (P = 0.028, both). Blautia coccoides-Eubacterium rectale decreased in women of the Cho-I group A during EW vs. ES (P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Ewe's yogurt effects on inflammatory markers and microbiota were not different from those after cow's yogurt, but the attenuation of some inflammatory biomarkers with ewe's whole-milk yogurt in subjects with the highest TC/HDL-c deserves further study.

Mechanical properties and quality parameters of chitosan-edible algae (Palmaria palmata) on ready-to-eat strawberries.

BACKGROUND: Strawberries are appreciated for their taste, flavor, and juiciness; however, they are highly perishable during postharvest, handling, and storage stages, producing significant physical damage and loss of vitamins and other phytonutrients. This study therefore aimed to determine the applicability of edible coatings as an environmentally friendly strategy to improve the fresh appearance of strawberries and extend their shelf life. RESULTS: The effectiveness of edible coatings formulated with chitosan (CHC) or chitosan and algae (Palmaria palmata Kuntze) (CH-PC) was investigated with regard to quality and nutritional parameters for ready-to-eat strawberries processed and stored at 4 °C for 10 days. Chitosan significantly (P < 0.05) controlled the gradual decline of strawberries, reducing their respiration rate, microbial load, and nutritional loss. The addition of P. palmata to the edible coating significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CH-PC could be used in the strawberry postharvest industry to slow senescence, while reducing product loss and enhancing its nutritional value. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The effect of delactosed whey permeate on phytochemical content of canned tomatoes.

The effect of delactosed whey permeate (DWP) treatment on antioxidant and phyto-chemical components of canned Irish plum tomatoes were investigated. Tomatoes were sterilised for 5 min (F(0)) at 120 °C and stored for 6 months. The DWP treatment retained significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of ascorbic acid and lycopene of tomatoes. The antioxidant activity of DWP treated tomatoes was higher (7%) than the control at the end of storage. The firmness in DWP-treated fruits was around 40% higher than that in control. All the parameters decreased significantly (p<0.05) during storage except lycopene and total phenols. Lycopene content showed no significant change and total phenols increased during storage. The changes in ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and texture were fitted well to Weibull kinetic models with high coefficients of determination (R(2)) and low RMSE (root mean sum of squared error). The results clearly indicate that DWP enhanced the retention of antioxidant compounds in tomatoes during storage.

Optimization of ultrasound assisted extraction of antioxidant compounds from marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) using response surface methodology.

The present study optimized the ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) conditions to maximize the antioxidant activity [Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)], total phenol content (TP) and content of individual polyphenols of extracts from marjoram. Optimal conditions with regard to amplitude of sonication (24.4-61.0 µm) and extraction temperature (15-35 °C) and extraction time (5-15 min) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the combined treatment conditions of 61 µm, 35 °C and 15 min were optimal for maximizing TP, FRAP, rosmarinic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, caffeic acid, carnosic acid and carnosol values of the extracts. The predicted values from the developed quadratic polynomial equation were in close agreement with the actual experimental values with low average mean deviations (E%) ranging from 0.45% to 1.55%. The extraction yields of the optimal UAE were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than solid/liquid extracts. Predicted models were highly significant (p < 0.05) for all the parameters studied with high regression coefficients (R(2)) ranging from 0.58 to 0.989.

Optimization of application of delactosed whey permeate treatment to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut tomato using response surface methodology.

Optimization of delactosed whey permeate (DWP) treatment for fresh-cut tomato was accomplished by evaluating different quality, nutritional and microbial markers. Response surface methodology was applied to obtain polynomial model equations. DWP concentration (0-5%) and storage (0-10 days) were used as independent factors in order to optimize the process. The analyses showed that increases in DWP concentration extended the quality of the fresh-cut tomato significantly (p<0.05) by maintaining texture and antioxidant activity (FRAP) and controlling the spoilage during the storage. The total aerobic counts and yeast and molds were reduced by ∼1.5 log cfu/g and ∼1.0 log cfu/g respectively after 10 days of storage treated with 3% DWP. Ascorbic acid and lycopene were retained best within the range of 3 to 5% of DWP treatment. However, concentrations>3% were scored unacceptable by the sensory panel due to perceived off-odors. Predicted models were highly significant (p<0.05) for all the markers studied in fresh-cut tomato with high regression coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.79 to 0.99. The study recommends the use of DWP at a concentration of 3% to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut tomato by preserving its quality and antioxidant properties during storage.

Characterization of phenolic composition in Lamiaceae spices by LC-ESI-MS/MS.

A total of 38 phenolic compounds in the solid/liquid extracts of five Lamiaceae spices, rosemary, oregano, sage, basil, and thyme, were identified in the present study using LC-ESI-MS/MS. These compounds were distributed in four major categories, namely, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and phenolic terpenes. Among them, the category of flavonoids was the largest, with 17 compounds. Identification of the phenolic compounds was carried out by comparing retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic standards. If standards were unavailable, phenolic compounds were identified on the basis of accurate mass of pseudomolecular [M - H](-) ions and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data. The results of accurate mass measurements fit well with the elemental composition of the compounds. The diagnostic fragmentation patterns of the compounds during collision-induced dissociation (CID) elucidated the structural information of the compounds analyzed.

Simultaneous modelling of the thermal degradation kinetics of pectin methylesterase in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) extracts: analysis of seasonal variation and tissue type.

The thermal degradation kinetics of pectin methylesterase (PME) from carrot and lettuce were studied. Fresh extracts were exposed to temperatures from 55 to 70 degrees C until the enzyme was inactivated. A model based on the presence of two forms of the enzyme, one active and one non-active, is proposed. The natural variability of the PME activity was taken into the model in the form of normally distributed random effects. The common model parameters obtained (cleavage constant (0.0395+/-0.0062 s(-1)), degradation constant (0.556+/-0.112 s(-1)), cleavage energy of activation (469+/-23 kJ mol(-1)) and degradation energy of activation (488+/-18 kJ mol(-1))) show that the PME degradation kinetics of the two vegetables can be explained with a single set of parameters.