Process optimization for simultaneous production of phenolic acids and enzymes with high transfructosylation activity in cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) residue by submerged fermentation with Aspergillus carbonarius.

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) generates a large amount of waste, which can be better used to obtain products with high added value through biotechnological processes. Thus, the present study aimed to obtain optimized conditions for the simultaneous production of phenolic acids, invertases and transferases enzymes in cupuassu residue with Aspergillus carbonarius. The main methodologies used to select the variables that influence the system were a Plackett-Burman design, followed by a Central Composite Rotational Design. The optimal conditions were use of 17.3% sucrose, 5.1% residue and 4.6% yeast extract to produce 2204.89 ± 5.75 mg GAE/100 g, 39.84 ± 2.08 U/mL of hydrolytic activity, 168.09 ± 3.81 U/mL of transfructosylation activity and 4.23 ± 0.19 of transfructosylation and hydrolytic activity ratio. Among the phenolic acids identified by the UFLC-DAD system, there was an increase of 148.17% in gallic acid and 205.51% in protocatechuic acid. The antioxidant activities also showed changes after fermentation, with an increase of 350% for the ABTS assay, 51.97% for FRAP, 22.65% for ORAC and 16.03% for DPPH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that cupuassu residue is fermented with Aspergillus carbonarius to obtain invertases and transferases enzymes and phenolic acids. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05418-z.

α-Amylase inhibition, cytotoxicity and influence of the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds in the peel and seed of Theobroma grandiflorum.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the bioaccessibility, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of peel and seeds of cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum). Thus, the extracts of cupuassu were evaluated for inhibition of α-amylase, cytotoxicity, and bioaccessibility after gastrointestinal digestion and probiotic fermentation (Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus jhonsoni, Lactobacillus rhamus and Bifidobacterium longum). Digestion increased concentrations of phenolics, showing bioaccessibility of up to 274.13% (total phenolics) and 1105.15% (ORAC). ß-carotene, quinic, tartaric, malic, citric, epicatechin, ethyl gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, gallic acid, pyrocatechol, vanillin, ramnetine were the main compounds while the epicatechin, ethyl gallate, gallic acid and pyrocatechol were the major effective phenolic compounds. The extracts did not show toxic effects and the cupuassu seeds showed 97% inhibition of α-amylase and 47.91% bioaccessibility of pyrocatechol. This study suggests that cupuassu extracts are sources of natural antioxidants with promising antidiabetic potential, and probiotics are able to increase phenolic compounds, responsible for health benefits.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion and probiotics fermentation impact on bioaccessbility of phenolics compounds and antioxidant capacity of some native and exotic fruit residues with potential antidiabetic effects.

A bioaccessibility study on polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity after the in vitro simulated digestion was evaluated for extract of fruit (caja-umbu, cashew apple, canafistula, cupuassu, soursop, manguba and strawberry) residues. The results show that ORAC assay presented a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in bioaccessibility varying from 35.99 ± 0.02% (caja-umbu residue) to 339.83 ± 0.06% (cupuassu residue) after the digestion process. Approximately 15.01 ± 1.54 to 237.77 ± 4.10% of phenolic compounds were bioaccessible after probiotics fermentation. The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds were performed through the UHPLC-QDa-MS system. Catechin and epicatechin were widely detected in all fruit residues. After the gastrointestinal digestion and probiotics fermentation the contents of simple phenolics and hydroxybenzoic acids increased. Also, the α-amylase inhibitory activity exhibited a maximum value of 98.66 ± 1.41% for soursop residue. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, bioaccessibility study on caja-umbu, canafistula and manguba residues was performed in association with antidiabetic effects. The soursop residue presented the highest bioaccessibility and can be potentially explored for application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the joint consumption of probiotics and phytochemicals are essential for the effective assimilation by the human organism.

Phytochemicals screening, antioxidant capacity and chemometric characterization of four edible flowers from Brazil.

Edible flowers are receiving renewed interest as potential sources of bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of some exotic flowers present in Brazil such as Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Tropaeolum majus (red), Tropaeolum majus (orange) and Spilanthes oleracea L. The content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, condensed, hydrolysable tannins and antioxidante capacity were determined. The identification and quantification of the phenolic compounds was performed through the UHPLC-QDa-MS system. The compounds p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid were identified and quantified for the first time in all flowers. Tropaeolum majus (red) presented the hightest amounts of total phenolic compounds and hydrolysable tannins. Also, it presented the highest antioxidant capacity for ORAC and FRAP assays. Thus, this study showed the diversity and abudance of natural antioxidants present in edible flowers, which could be explored for application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.