Green Techniques for Preparation of Red Beetroot Extracts with Enhanced Biological Potential.

Red beetroot is well known for its high proportion of betalains, with great potential as functional food ingredients due to their health-promoting properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of processing techniques such as Soxhlet, cold, ultrasound and supercritical fluid extraction on the betalains content and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activities. Whilst Soxhlet extraction with water has provided the highest yield, the highest content of total phenolics was found in an extract prepared using Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol. Amongst eight phenolic compounds detected in the extracts, protocatechuic acid was the most abundant. The concentrations of total phenolics ranged from 12.09 mg/g (ultrasound extraction with 30% methanol) to 18.60 mg/g (Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol). The highest anti-inflammatory activity was observed for cold extraction with 50% methanol extract. The high radical scavenging activity of supercritical fluid extracts could be a consequence of nonphenolic compounds. The chemometrics approach was further used to analyse the results to find the "greenest" method for further possible application in the processing of beetroot in the food and/or pharmaceutical industry. According to the standard score, the best extraction method was determined to be Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol.

Encapsulated sour cherry pomace extract: Effect on the colour and rheology of cookie dough.

In this study, the effect of encapsulated sour cherry pomace extract on the physical characteristics of the cookie dough (colour, textural and rheological properties) was investigated. Sour cherry pomace extract encapsulated in whey (WE) and soy proteins (SE) was incorporated in cookie dough, replacing 10% (WE10 and SE10) and 15% (WE15 and SE15) of wheat flour. The dough samples containing encapsulates had the grey-blue colour ( b* values significantly decreased compared to control sample). Due to the presence of anthocyanins, a* values of the dough colour increased significantly with the addition of encapsulates. The addition of soy protein encapsulate increased hardness, resistance to extension and viscosity of cookie dough and decreased deformation compliance ( J), while the addition of whey encapsulate caused dough softness, higher deformation compliance and lower values of viscosity compared to control sample. Values of storage and loss modulus, G' and G″, significantly decreased when wheat flour was replaced with WE and increased when the flour was replaced with soy protein encapsulate. The addition of soy protein encapsulate resulted in higher cookie hardness.

Sprouted and Freeze-Dried Wheat and Oat Seeds - Phytochemical Profile and in Vitro Biological Activities.

This research was carried out to study phytochemical profile, in vitro antioxidant capacity, reducing power, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory activities and simulated gastrointestinal digestion of 7-day old cereal sprouts: spelt wheat 'Nirvana' (WSSpe), wheat 'Simonida' (WSSim), oat 'Golozrni' (OSG) and oat 'Jadar' (OSJ). OSG expressed significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) total phenols (TPC) and flavonoids content (TFC), antioxidant capacities (DPPH and ABTS assays) and reducing power (EC50DPPH  = 2.12 mg/ml; EC50ABTS  = 0.87 mg/ml; EC0.5RP  = 12.24 mg/ml) as well as anti-hyperglycemic activity (EC50AHgA  = 0.96 mg/ml). WSSpe had the highest content of chlorophyll (131.23 mg/100 g) and carotenoids (22.84 mg/100 g). WSSim possessed the most potent anti-inflammatory activity (2.71 mg/ml), though not significantly different from OSG (2.77 mg/ml). The in vitro simulation of gastro-intestinal digestion showed higher release of phenolic compounds in intestinal than in gastric fluid.

Phenolic Profile, Antiradical and Antitumour Evaluation of Raspberries Pomace Extract from Serbia.

Raspberry waste, obtained from two cultivars, Meeker (ERM) and Willamette (ERW) was subjected to evaluation antioxidants and antitumour activities as a potential source of phenolics. Some phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified and quantified by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was tested by measuring ability to scavenge DPPH• and •OH by ESR spectroscopy. IC50DPPH• varied from 0.67 for ERM to 0.54 mg/mL for ERW, while IC50•OH values varied from 3.73 for ERM to 1.23 mg/mL for ERW. Cytotoxic activity was investigated using in vivo model of Ehrlich Ascite carcinoma cells (EAC) in mice. Pretreatment with extracts exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against EAC cells (up to 60%) and both extracts inhibited the tumour growth. Activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) was extremely increased in pretreated animals, while the activity of enzyme complex glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) was significantly increased. This study suggests that raspberry pomace could be used as nutraceutic resource and functional food ingredient.

Anthocyanin profiles and biological properties of caneberry (Rubus spp.) press residues.

BACKGROUND: The global interest in natural food colours shows increasing attention towards new product development to replace synthetic colourants, because of the strengthening of legislative rules and consumer awareness of synthetic additives and chemicals in food. This study was designed to evaluate anthocyanin content and biological activities of press residues from four caneberries: two raspberry (Rubus idaeus, cv. 'Meeker' (RM) and 'Willamette' (RW)) and two blackberry (Rubus fruticosus, cv. 'Thornfree' (BT) and 'Cacanska bestrna' (BC)) cultivars. RESULTS: Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry identified cyanidin glycosides in all press residues, cyanidin 3-glucoside being prevalent in BC (1360.6 mg kg(-1)) and BT (1397.7 mg kg(-1)), and cyanidin 3-sophoroside in RM (349.2 mg kg(-1) ) and RW (581.0 mg kg(-1)). Antioxidant capacity (AC), evaluated by ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay, reducing power (RP) and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential (α-GIP) was higher in blackberry press residues. Total anthocyanin content was in good correlation with AC (r = 0.953; P < 0.05), RP (r = 0.993, P < 0.01) and α-GIP (r = 0.852, P < 0.15). CONCLUSION: This study has revealed the potential for valorization of juice production byproducts for further industrial use as a rich source of bioactive compounds and natural colourants (mainly anthocyanins). Also, they can provide health-promoting effects beyond their general organoleptic acceptance in food product development.