Matcha Tea: Analysis of Nutritional Composition, Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity.

Matcha was analysed for its chemical composition, fibre, vitamin C, caffeine and chlorophyll contents. Flavonoids and phenolics, phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity both in water and methanol solutions were determined. In vitro digestibility was established. To understand the contribution of individual substances to antioxidant activity or digestibility their mutual correlations were evaluated. Crude fibre (10.7-17.5%), neutral-detergent fibre (30.7-42.8%) and organic matter digestibility values (59.4-69.7%) showed positive correlations, in contrast to protein contents (20.3-35.0%). It seems that chlorophyll b was a stronger contributor to antioxidant activity than chlorophyll a. The highest contents of flavonoids (99-139 mg RE/g) and phenolics (169-273 mg GAE/g) were determined in methanol fractions. High concentrations of chlorogenic (up to 4800 µg/g), sinapic (up to 1400 µg/g) and gallic acids (up to 423 µg/g) were recorded. Kaempferol and rutin were not proved as significant contributors to antioxidant activity.

Impact of phenolic compounds and vitamins C and E on antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) berries and leaves of diverse ripening times.

Bioactive compounds demonstrating antioxidant activity were analyzed in berries and leaves of nine cultivars of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) of various ripening times. Total polyphenols were ranging between 0.70-3.62 g GAE.kg-1 (berries) and 1.88-3.72 g GAE.kg-1 (leaves). Leaves were significantly richer source of total flavonoids (14.40-49.44 mg RE.kg-1) in comparison with berries (0.55-4.11 mg RE.kg-1). Phenolic compounds, carotenoids and vitamins were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detection. The content of vitamin C was 0.98-3.65 g.kg-1 in berries and 22.81-46.32 g.kg-1 in leaves, vitamin E content was 6.98-29.91 g.kg-1 in berries and 71.54-153.99 g.kg-1 in leaves. Distribution of individual phenolic compounds varied, their total content in berries was considerably lower (76.1-205.2 mg.kg-1) than in leaves (1477.7-8709.0 mg.kg-1). Regarding antioxidant activity, Raisa and Slovan (berries) and Bojan and Maslicnaja (leaves) were evaluated as the best cultivars.

Contribution of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and vitamin E to antioxidant activity of currant (Ribes L.) and gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) fruits.

Berries of four gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) cultivars of Invicta, Rixanta, Karat and Black Negus and five currant (Ribes L.) cultivars of NS 11, Focus, Ben Gairn, Otelo and Viola were evaluated as potential sources of bioactive compounds with extraordinary antioxidant activity. Their total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents were determined in the range of 3.52-30.77 g GA.kg-1, 2.83-17.35 g RE.kg-1 and 0.03-186.12 mg COG.100 g-1, respectively. Furthermore, quantification of phenolic compounds and vitamins was established by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. Flavonoids were the most abundant phenolic substances in the range of 345.0-3726.5 mg.kg-1. Ascorbic acid and vitamin E were established in the amounts of 6.2-14.04 g.kg-1 and 0.43-12.85 mg.kg-1, respectively. Considering all analyzed factors and antioxidant activities determined by various methods (DPPH, ACW and ACL), red gooseberry Black Negus and black currant Otelo were the most significant cultivars.

Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Biological Effects of European Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos).

Lesser known fruits or underutilized fruit species are recently of great research interest due to the presence of phytochemicals that manifest many biological effects. European cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos fruit, as an important representative of this group, is a valuable source of antioxidants and other biologically active substances, similar to American cranberry (V. macrocarpon) which is well known and studied. European cranberry fruit is rich especially in polyphenolic compounds anthocyanins (12.4⁻207.3 mg/100 g fw), proanthocyanins (1.5⁻5.3 mg/100 g fw), and flavonols, especially quercetin (0.52⁻15.4 mg/100 g fw), which mostly contribute to the antioxidant activity of the fruit. Small cranberry is also important due to its various biological effects such as urinary tract protection (proanthocyanidins), antibacterial and antifungal properties (quercetin, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins), cardioprotective (proanthocyanidins) and anticancer activities (proanthocyanidins), and utilization in food (juice drinks, jams, jellies, sauces, additive to meat products) and pharmacological industries, and in folk medicine.

Contribution of Red Wine Consumption to Human Health Protection.

Wine consumption has been popular worldwide for many centuries. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies, a certain amount of everyday wine consumption may prevent various chronic diseases. This is due, in part, to the presence and amount of important antioxidants in red wine, and, therefore, research has focused on them. Wine polyphenols, especially resveratrol, anthocyanins, and catechins, are the most effective wine antioxidants. Resveratrol is active in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases by neutralizing free oxygen radicals and reactive nitrogenous radicals; it penetrates the blood-brain barrier and, thus, protects the brain and nerve cells. It also reduces platelet aggregation and so counteracts the formation of blood clots or thrombi. The main aim of this review is to summarize the current findings about the positive influence of wine consumption on human organ function, chronic diseases, and the reduction of damage to the cardiovascular system.

Fruits of Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.

In recent years, growing attention has been focused on the utilization of natural sources of antioxidants in the prevention of chronic diseases. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) represents a lesser known fruit species utilized mainly as juices, purees, jams, jellies and wine, as important food colorants or nutritional supplements. The fruit is valued as a great source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, such as phenolic acids (neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids) and flavonoids (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavanols and flavonols), particularly cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside, as well as (-)-epicatechin units. The berries of A. melanocarpa, due to the presence and the high content of these bioactive components, exhibit a wide range of positive effects, such as strong antioxidant activity and potential medicinal and therapeutic benefits (gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative or anti-inflammatory activities). They could be also contributory toward the prevention of chronic diseases including metabolic disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, because of supportive impacts on lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose and blood pressure levels.