Changes of microbial communities and metabolites in the fermentation of persimmon vinegar by bioaugmentation fermentation.

To evaluate the effects of bioaugmentation fermentation inoculated with one ester-producing strain (Wickerhamomyces anomalus ZX-1) and two strains of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum CGMCC 24035 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R2) for improving the flavor of persimmon vinegar, microbial community, flavor compounds and metabolites were analyzed. The results of microbial diversity analysis showed that bioaugmentation fermentation significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces, Pichia and Wickerhamomyces, while the abundance of Acetobacter, Apiotrichum, Delftia, Komagataeibacter, Kregervanrija and Aspergillus significantly decreased. After bioaugmentation fermentation, the taste was softer, and the sensory irritancy of acetic acid was significantly reduced. The analysis of HS-SPME-GC-MS and untargeted metabolomics based on LC-MS/MS showed that the contents of citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ethyl lactate, methyl acetate, isocitrate, acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were significantly increased. By multivariate analysis, 33 differential metabolites were screened out to construct the correlation between the differential metabolites and microorganisms. Pearson correlation analysis showed that methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, betaine, aconitic acid, acetoin, 2,3-butanediol and isocitrate positively associated with Wickerhamomyces and Lactobacillus. The results confirmed that the quality of persimmon vinegar was improved by bioaugmentation fermentation.

Separation, identification, and fingerprinting of antioxidant components in persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaves by offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and tandem mass spectrometry.

In this work, the antioxidant components in persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaves were separated by offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (LC×LC-ECD) and identified by LC-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 33 antioxidants, mainly proanthocyanidins, and glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, were identified. The antioxidant assays demonstrated that the fractions collected from the first-dimension LC (1D-LC) possessed considerable radical scavenging capabilities, with correlation coefficients of peak area versus radical scavenging capability of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) being 0.9335 and 0.9116, respectively. The fingerprinting showed that 37 peaks were present in all samples. The major antioxidant components of persimmon leaves were the glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin. Finally, fourteen antioxidants were quantitatively assessed. Offline LC×LC provided high peak capacity and separation; ECD enabled specific screening and detection of antioxidant components; and MS/MS provided excellent identification capability. In this study, the combination of the three approaches was utilized to screen for antioxidant components in persimmon leaves, with satisfactory findings. In conclusion, this technique is an effective means for rapid analysis of antioxidant components and quality control of medicinal plants, achieving rapid separation of congeners and facilitating more accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Persimmon leaf polyphenols as potential ingredients for modulating starch digestibility: Effect of starch-polyphenol interaction.

The interaction mode between persimmon leaf polyphenols (PLP) and corn starch with different amylose content and its effect on starch digestibility was studied. Results of iodine binding test, TGA, and DSC revealed that PLP interacted with starch and reduced the iodine binding capacity and thermal stability of starch. High amylopectin corn starch (HAPS) interacted with PLP mainly via hydrogen bonds, since the FT-IR of HAPS-PLP complex showed higher intensity at 3400 cm-1 and an obvious shift of 21 cm-1 to shorter wavelength, and the chemical shifts of protons in 1H NMR and the shift of C-6 peak in 13C NMR of HAPS moved to low field with the addition of PLP. Results of 1H NMR also showed the preferential formation of hydrogen bonds between PLP and OH-3 of HAPS. Different from HAPS, PLP formed V-type inclusion complex with high amylose corn starch (HAS) because XRD of HAS-PLP complex showed characteristic feature peaks of V-type inclusion complex and C-1 signal in 13C NMR of PLP-complexed HAS shifted to low field. Interaction with PLP reduced starch digestibility and HAS-PLP complex resulted in more resistant starch production than HAPS-PLP complex. To complex PLP with starch might be a potential way to prepare functional starch with slower digestion.

The effects of inulin on solubilizing and improving anti-obesity activity of high polymerization persimmon tannin.

High polymerization persimmon tannin has been reported to have lipid-lowering effects. Unfortunately, the poor solubility restricts its application. This research aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of inulin on solubilizing of persimmon tannin. Furthermore, we examined whether the addition of inulin would affect the attenuated obesity effect of persimmon tannin. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results demonstrated that inulin formed a gel-like network structure, which enabled the encapsulation of persimmon tannin through hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions, thereby inhibiting the self-aggregation of persimmon tannin. The turbidity of the persimmon tannin solution decreased by 56.2 %, while the polyphenol content in the supernatant increased by 60.0 %. Furthermore, biochemical analysis and 16s rRNA gene sequencing technology demonstrated that persimmon tannin had a significant anti-obesity effect and improved intestinal health in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, inulin was found to have a positive effect on enhancing the health benefits of persimmon tannin, including improving hepatic steatosis and gut microbiota dysbiosis. it enhanced the abundance of beneficial core microbes while decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria. Our findings expand the applications of persimmon tannin in the food and medical sectors.

Cytological, Phytohormone, and Transcriptome Analyses Provide Insights into Persimmon Fruit Shape Formation (Diospyros kaki Thunb.).

Fruit shape is an important external feature when consumers choose their preferred fruit varieties. Studying persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit shape is beneficial to increasing its commodity value. However, research on persimmon fruit shape is still in the initial stage. In this study, the mechanism of fruit shape formation was studied by cytological observations, phytohormone assays, and transcriptome analysis using the long fruit and flat fruit produced by 'Yaoxianwuhua' hermaphroditic flowers. The results showed that stage 2-3 (June 11-June 25) was the critical period for persimmon fruit shape formation. Persimmon fruit shape is determined by cell number in the transverse direction and cell length in the longitudinal direction. High IAA, GA4, ZT, and BR levels may promote long fruit formation by promoting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, and high GA3 and ABA levels may be more conducive to flat fruit formation by increasing the cell number in the transverse direction and inhibiting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Thirty-two DEGs related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways and nine DEGs related to cell division and cell expansion may be involved in the persimmon fruit shape formation process. These results provide valuable information for regulatory mechanism research on persimmon fruit formation.

Damage analysis of Pochazia shantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) in persimmons.

An invasive species, Pochazia shantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae), causes serious economic damage to fruit trees. In Korea, this pest is mainly managed using chemical insecticides. However, the management timing and insecticides for P. shantungensis negatively affect honeybee populations. Thus, this study estimated the decision-making level for P. shantungensis in persimmons to decrease insecticide application and increase management efficiency. We determined which developmental stage (i.e., egg, nymph, and adult) affected the damage-related factors (numbers of new shoots and fruit formations, and harvest amount) of persimmons using both spatial analyses and linear relationships. The distribution of P. shantungensis eggs was spatially correlated with the one of persimmon fruit number. However, we did not find any linear relationships between the densities of P. shantungensis eggs and damage-related factors of persimmons. Instead, we found that the density of P. shantungensis correlated with the death of oviposited branches. From the developed model of branch death possibility based on egg mass density, 5.75 egg masses per newly developed branch were proposed as the decision-making level. The findings would help increase the efficiency of P. shantungensis management in persimmon orchards and develop decision-making levels for other insects.

Osteogenic Effects of the Diospyros lotus L. Leaf Extract on MC3T3-E1 Pre-Osteoblasts and Ovariectomized Mice via BMP2/4 and TGF ß Pathways.

Osteoporosis, a disease defined by the primary bone strength due to a low bone mineral density, is a bone disorder associated with increased mortality in the older adult population. Osteoporosis is mainly treated via hormone replacement therapy, bisphosphates, and anti-bone resorption agents. However, these agents exert severe side effects, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic agents. Many studies are focusing on osteogenic agents as they increase the bone density, which is essential for osteoporosis treatment. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of Diospyros lotus L. leaf extract (DLE) and its components on osteoporosis in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts and ovariectomized mice and to elucidate the underlying related pathways. DLE enhanced the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, with a 1.5-fold elevation in ALP activity, and increased the levels of osteogenic molecules, RUNX family transcription factor 2, and osterix. This alteration resulted from the activation of bone morphogenic protein 2/4 (BMP2/4) and transformation of growth factor ß (TGF ß) pathways. In ovariectomized mice, DLE suppressed the decrease in bone mineral density by 50% and improved the expression of other bone markers, which was confirmed by the 3~40-fold increase in osteogenic proteins and mRNA expression levels in bone marrow cells. The three major compounds identified in DLE exhibited osteogenic and estrogenic activities with their aglycones, as previously reported. Among the major compounds, myricitrin alone was not as strong as whole DLE with all its constituents. The osteogenic activity of DLE was partially suppressed by the inhibitor of estrogen signaling, indicating that the estrogenic activity of DLE participated in its osteogenic activity. Overall, DLE suppresses osteoporosis by inducing osteoblast differentiation.

Immunomodulatory effects of Diospyros peregrina fruit preparation (DFP) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by utilizing dendritic cell-mediated antigen presentation and T helper (TH) cell differentiation.

Diospyros peregrina is a dioecious plant which is native to India. It belongs to the family of Ebenaceae and is extensively used to treat various ailments, such as leucorrhoea and other uterine-related problems. Though few studies have been on D. peregrina for their anti-tumour response, little is known. Therefore, this intrigued us to understand its immunomodulator capabilities on various types of cancer extensively. Our primary focus is on NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer), which is ranked as the second largest form of cancer in the world, and the treatments demand non-invasive agents to target NSCLC effectively. In an objective to generate an efficient Lung Cancer Associated Antigen (LCA) specific anti-tumour immune response, LCA was presented using dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of D. peregrina fruit preparation (DFP). Moreover, we also investigated DFP's role in the differentiation of T-helper (TH) cells. Therefore, this study aimed at better LCA presentation mediated by DFP by activating the LCA pulsed DCs and T helper cell differentiation for better immune response. DCs were pulsed with LCA for tumour antigen presentation in vitro, with and without DFP. Differentially pulsed DCs were irradiated to co-culture with autologous and allogeneic lymphocytes. Extracellular supernatants were collected for the estimation of cytokine levels by ELISA. LDH release assay was performed to test Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) mediated lung tumour cell cytotoxicity. Thus, DFP may be a potential vaccine to generate anti-LCA immune responses to restrict NSCLC.

Gaseous ozone and ozonized mist in the control of Escherichia coli on 'Rama Forte' persimmon.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using two ozone applications (gaseous and mist) as a disinfection method for fresh persimmon. To test these sanitizers, in vitro and in vivo assays were performed, and the Escherichia coli was selected because it is a pathogen that causes foodborne diseases in humans. For in vitro experiments, a plate was inoculated with Escherichia coli strain ATCC 25922 and treated. For in vivo assays, persimmon fruit surface was inoculated with the bacteria and treated. For both assays, it was used 10,15,20,30,40 and 50 µL L-1 of gaseous ozone or ozonized mist for five minutes. The results demonstrated that the gas ozone application significantly reduced the growth of E. coli on the plate surface in vitro at doses of 30, 40 and 50 µL L-1 (with 0.83, 0.89 and 0.95 log CFU mL-1, respectively). The application of ozonized mist showed a significant reduction for 50 µL L-1 (with 1.28 log CFU g-1). And, for the in vivo assays, ozonized mist significantly reduced the number of bacteria on the persimmon surface, with a 1.57 log reduction, which was the largest for 40 µL L-1. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the ozone application can contribute to the control of microorganisms present on fruit surfaces.

UHPLC-MS/MS analysis and protective effects on neurodegenerative diseases of phenolic compounds in different parts of Diospyros kaki L. cv. Mopan.

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. cv. Mopan.), an important commercial crop belonging to the genus of Diospyros in the Ebenaceae family, is rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. In this study, the phenolic compounds from fruits, leaves, and calyces of persimmon were qualitatively and quantitatively determined by UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap/MS and UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS, respectively. Furthermore, the role of phenolic extract from different parts of persimmon on neuroprotective activity in vitro, through against oxidative stress and anti-neuroinflammation effect was firstly evaluated. The results showed that 75 phenolic compounds, and 3 other kinds of compounds were identified, among which 44 of phenolic compounds were quantified from different parts of persimmon. It is the first time that epicatechin-epigallocatechin, catechin-epigallocatechin, catechin-epigallocatechin (A-type), and glycoside derivatives of laricitrin were identified in persimmon extract. The dominated phenolic compounds in three parts of persimmon were significantly different. All phenolic extracts from each part of persimmon showed strong neuroprotective activities against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PC-12 cells and LPS-induced BV2 cells. The fruit extract presented the strongest activity, followed by calyx and leaf extract. The systematic knowledge on the phytochemical composition along with activity evaluation of different parts of persimmon could contribute to their targeted selection and development.

Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Diospyros digyna and Their PTP1B Inhibitory Activity.

Six new 2α-hydroxy ursane triterpenoids, 3α-cis-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,19α-dihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (1), 3α-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,19α-dihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (2), 3α-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α-hydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (3), 3ß-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α-hydroxy-12,20(30)-ursadien-28-oic acid (4), 3ß-trans-feruloyloxy-2α-hydroxy-12,20(30)-ursadien-28-oic acid (5), and 3α-trans-feruloyloxy-2α-hydroxy-12,20(30)-ursadien-28-oic acid (6), along with eleven known triterpenoids (7-17), were isolated from the leaves of Diospyros digyna. Their chemical structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR spectra. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their PTP1B inhibitory activity. 3ß-O-trans-feruloyl-2α-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (13) showed the best inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 10.32 ± 1.21 µM. The molecular docking study found that the binding affinity of compound 13 for PTP1B was comparable to that of oleanolic acid (positive control).

Effect of Addition of Tannin Extract from Underutilized Resources on Allergenic Proteins, Color and Textural Properties of Egg White Gels.

Tannins, present in numerous plants, exhibit a binding affinity for proteins. In this study, we aimed to exploit this property to reduce the concentration of allergenic egg white proteins. Tannins were extracted, using hot water, from the lyophilized powder of underutilized resources, such as chestnut inner skin (CIS), young persimmon fruit (YPF), and bayberry leaves (BBLs). These extracts were then incorporated into an egg white solution (EWS) to generate an egg white gel (EWG). Allergen reduction efficacy was assessed using electrophoresis and ELISA. Our findings revealed a substantial reduction in allergenic proteins across all EWGs containing a 50% tannin extract. Notably, CIS and BBL exhibited exceptional efficacy in reducing low allergen levels. The addition of tannin extract resulted in an increase in the total polyphenol content of the EWG, with the order of effectiveness being CIS > YPF > BBL. Minimal color alteration was observed in the BBL-infused EWG compared to the other sources. Additionally, the introduction of tannin extract heightened the hardness stress, with BBL demonstrating the most significant effect, followed by CIS and YPF. In conclusion, incorporating tannin extract during EWG preparation was found to decrease the concentration of allergenic proteins while enhancing antioxidant properties and hardness stress, with BBL being particularly effective in preventing color changes in EWG.

Pulp or Peel? Comparative Analysis of the Phytochemical Content and Selected Cosmetic-Related Properties of Annona cherimola L., Diospyros kaki Thumb., Cydonia oblonga Mill. and Fortunella margarita Swingle Pulp and Peel Extracts.

Fruit peels might be a valuable source of active ingredients for cosmetics, leading to more sustainable usage of plant by-products. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phytochemical content and selected biological properties of hydroglycolic extracts from peels and pulps of Annona cherimola, Diospyros kaki, Cydonia oblonga, and Fortunella margarita as potential cosmetic ingredients. Peel and pulp extracts were compared for their antiradical activity (using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays), skin-lightening potential (tyrosinase inhibitory assay), sun protection factor (SPF), and cytotoxicity toward human fibroblast, keratinocyte, and melanoma cell lines. The total content of polyphenols and/or flavonoids was significantly higher in peel than in pulp extracts, and the composition of particular active compounds was also markedly different. The HPLC-MS fingerprinting revealed the presence of catechin, epicatechin and rutoside in the peel of D. kaki, whereas kaempferol glucoside and procyanidin A were present only in the pulp. In A. cherimola, catechin, epicatechin and rutoside were identified only in the peel of the fruit, whereas procyanidins were traced only in the pulp extracts. Quercetin and luteolinidin were found to be characteristic compounds of F. margarita peel extract. Naringenin and hesperidin were found only in the pulp of F. margarita. The most significant compositional variety between the peel and pulp extracts was observed for C. oblonga: Peel extracts contained a higher number of active components (e.g., vicenin-2, kaempferol rutinoside, or kaempferol galactoside) than pulp extract. The radical scavenging potential of peel extracts was higher than of the pulp extracts. D. kaki and F. margarita peel and pulp extracts inhibited mushroom and murine tyrosinases at comparable levels. The C. oblonga pulp extract was a more potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitor than the peel extract. Peel extract of A. cherimola inhibited mushroom tyrosinase but activated the murine enzyme. F. margarita pulp and peel extracts showed the highest in vitro SPF. A. cherimola, D. kaki, and F. margarita extracts were not cytotoxic for fibroblasts and keratinocytes up to a concentration of 2% (v/v) and the peel extracts were cytotoxic for A375 melanoma cells. To summarize, peel extracts from all analyzed fruit showed comparable or better cosmetic-related properties than pulp extracts and might be considered multifunctional active ingredients of skin lightening, anti-aging, and protective cosmetics.

Immature persimmon residue as a novel biosorbent for efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) from wastewater: Performance and mechanisms.

Owing to the powerful affinity of tannin toward heavy metal ions, it is frequently immobilized on adsorbents to enhance their adsorption properties. However, natural adsorbents containing tannin have been overlooked owing to its water solubility. Herein, a novel natural adsorbent based on the immature persimmon residue (IPR) with soluble tannin removed was fabricated to eliminate Pb(II) and Cr(VI) in aquatic environments. The insoluble tannin in IPR endowed it with prosperous properties for eliminating Pb(II) and Cr(VI), and the IPR achieved maximum Pb(II) and Cr(VI) adsorption quantities of 68.79 mg/g and 139.40 mg/g, respectively. Kinetics and isothermal adsorption analysis demonstrated that the removal behavior was controlled by monolayer chemical adsorption. Moreover, the IPR exhibited satisfactory Pb(II) and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies even in the presence of multiple coexisting ions and showed promising regeneration potential after undergoing five consecutive cycles. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis unveiled that the elimination mechanisms were primarily electrostatic attraction, chelation and reduction. Overall, the IPR, as a tannin-containing biosorbent, was verified to possess substantial potential for heavy metal removal, which can provide new insights into the development of novel natural adsorbents from the perspective of waste resource utilization.

Mitochondrial genome features and systematic evolution of diospyros kaki thunb 'Taishuu'.

BACKGROUND: 'Taishuu' has a crisp texture, abundant juice, and sweet flavor with hints of cantaloupe. The availability of mitochondrial genome data of Diospyros species is far from the known number of species. RESULTS: The sequencing data were assembled into a closed circular mitochondrial chromosome with a 421,308 bp length and a 45.79% GC content. The mitochondrial genome comprised 40 protein-coding, 24 tRNA, and three rRNA genes. The most common codons for arginine (Arg), proline (Pro), glycine (Gly), tryptophan (Trp), valine (Val), alanine (Ala), and leucine (Leu) were AGA, CCA, GGA, UGG, GUA, GCA, and CUA, respectively. The start codon for cox1 and nad4L protein-coding genes was ACG (ATG), whereas the remaining protein-coding genes started with ATG. There are four types of stop codons: CGA, TAA, TAG, and TGA, with TAA being the most frequently used stop codon (45.24%). In the D. kaki Thunb. 'Taishuu' mitochondrial genome, a total of 645 repeat sequences were identified, including 125 SSRs, 7 tandem repeats, and 513 dispersed repeats. Collinearity analysis revealed a close relationship between D. kaki Thunb. 'Taishuu' and Diospyros oleifera, with conserved homologous gene fragments shared among these species in large regions of the mitochondrial genome. The protein-coding genes ccmB and nad4L were observed to undergo positive selection. Analysis of homologous sequences between chloroplasts and mitochondria identified 28 homologous segments, with a total length of 24,075 bp, accounting for 5.71% of the mitochondrial genome. These homologous segments contain 8 annotated genes, including 6 tRNA genes and 2 protein-coding genes (rrn18 and ccmC). There are 23 homologous genes between chloroplasts and nuclei. Mitochondria, chloroplasts, and nuclei share two homologous genes, which are trnV-GAC and trnW-CCA. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a high-quality chromosome-level draft genome for D. kaki was generated in this study, which will contribute to further studies of major economic traits in the genus Diospyros.

Larvicidal Activity against Spodoptera frugiperda of some Constituents from two Diospyros Species. In silico Pesticide-likeness Properties, Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Molecular Docking.

This report informs for the first time the chemical constituents of Diospyros xolocotzii and Diospyros digyna, the pesticidal and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition potential of some compounds calculated by in silico approaches, the larvicidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda of available compounds, the AChE inhibition of selected compounds, and the results of the molecular docking of the most active ones with this receptor. From the aerial parts of D. xolocotzii were isolated pentacyclic triterpenes (1-4, 6, 10, 11-13), phytosterols (15-17), and isodiospyrin (18), whereas the analysis of aerial parts of D. digyna conducted to the isolation of pentacyclic triterpenes (4, 5, 7-9, 11-14), (4S)-shinanolone (19), and scopoletin (20). For comparison purposes, origanal (21) was chemically prepared from 11. The in silico analysis showed that the tested compounds have pesticide potential. The larvicidal activities of 11>13>12 indicated that the increase of the oxidation degree at C-28 increases their bioactivity. Compounds 11 and 21 presented the higher inhibition in the acetylcholinesterase assay, and the higher binding energies, and for the interactionswith AChE by molecular docking. Both Diospyros species are sources of triterpenes with pesticidal potential and the molecular changes in lupane triterpenes correlate with the observed bioactivity and molecular docking.

Maturation and antioxidant activity of 'Giombo' and 'Rama Forte' persimmons produced in the Brazilian semiarid.

The objective of this work was characterizing persimmons of the 'Giombo' and 'Rama Forte' cultivars harvested at different ripening stages in the Brazilian semiarid. Fruits were harvested at three ripening stages - green, semi-ripe and ripe - then evaluated for the following characteristics: fruit weight and diameter, skin and pulp color, fruit firmness, pulp pH, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, SSC/TA ratio, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, astringency index, and the contents of tannin, vitamin C, carotenoid, ß-carotene, and total extractable polyphenols. Also, total antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods and pectin methylesterase, and polygalacturonase enzyme activities were evaluated. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design, one for each cultivar, with treatments consisting of different stages of maturation, with five replications of three fruits each. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and the differences between the means were compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. Fruit firmness and soluble solids content did not vary between maturation stages for any of the cultivars. However, the skin color index increased with advancing maturation for both 'Giombo' and 'Rama Forte'. The astringency index, the content of total extractable polyphenols, soluble tannins and the antioxidant capacity were lower in fruits harvested at the ripe stage, for both cultivars. It can be concluded that persimmons of the 'Giombo' and 'Rama Forte' cultivars present better physicochemical quality characteristics when harvested when ripe, with a totally yellow skin.

Persimmon preservation using edible coating of chitosan enriched with ginger oil and visualization of internal structure changes using X-ray computed tomography.

The incorporation of ginger oil (GO) influenced the physical, optical, and structural properties of the chitosan (CH) film including the decreases of moisture content (60.15 %), water solubility (35.37 %) and water vapor permeability (WVP) (32.79 %) and the increases of tensile strength (TS) (125 %), elongation at break (EAB) (2.74 %) and opacity (131.08 %). Antifungal capacity of the CH film was enhanced when GO was added to the film. The CH + GO film showed a less homogeneous surface that the presence of the oil droplets on the film surface. Moreover, the CH and CH + GO coatings reduced weight loss of persimmon by 14.87 %, and 21.13 %, respectively, compared to the control. Moisture content loss of the coated CH- and the coated CH + GO- persimmons was decreased by 1.94 % and 4.92 %, respectively, compared to that of the control persimmon. Furthermore, the CH and CH + GO coatings decreased in color changes, respiration rate, ethylene production, changes in pH and TSS, and remained firmness of persimmon during storage at 25 °C. In addition, X-ray CT images can be used to monitor internal changes and observe the tissue breakdown during storage period. The ΔGS value can be used as a predictor of persimmon internal qualities. Thus, the CH film containing GO can be applied as an active packaging material.

Assessment of freeze, continuous, and intermittent infrared drying methods for sliced persimmon.

Persimmons contribute positively to human health. Although off-season utilization typically presents a challenge due to permissions' perishable nature, it may become feasible through the implementation of appropriate drying methods. In this study, round sliced samples were dried to assess drying kinetics, modeling potential, color attributes, rehydration capacity, energy consumption (EC), cost index, and thermal properties. The fruits were subjected to distinct drying methodologies including freeze-drying, continuous infrared drying (300, 400, and 500 W), and intermittent infrared drying (PR = 1 [continuous], PR = 2 [30 s on-30 s off], and PR = 3 [20 s on-40 s off]). The duration of the drying process ranged from 40 to 390 min. It was determined that the most suitable models for depicting continuous and infrared drying kinetics of persimmon fruit were the Midilli et al. and Page models, whereas the Logarithmic model was identified as the optimal choice for characterization of freeze-drying kinetics. Assessment of EC revealed that both intermittent and continuous infrared drying methods incurred lower energy expenditure in comparison to the freeze-drying technique. Remarkably, throughout the course of the infrared drying processes, product surface temperatures varied between 106.33 and 22.65°C across different treatments. Despite its high EC, it has been found that high-quality products are produced by freeze-drying. However, infrared and intermittent infrared applications can be a low energy cost and feasible method for drying persimmon with a shorter duration. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Persimmon is an important fruit with high nutritional value. However, as with many fresh products, they have a short shelf life. Within the scope of this research, three different drying methodologies were employed in the desiccation of persimmon specimens, and the impact of these methodologies on the overall qualitative attributes of the persimmon product was investigated. Despite its elevated energy consumption, the freeze-drying approach was found to yield high-quality products. Moreover, it was discerned that infrared drying represented a viable and expeditious alternative for drying the fruit, particularly when executed intermittently.

Ultrasound assisted phytochemical extraction of persimmon fruit peel: Integrating ANN modeling and genetic algorithm optimization.

In the present study, ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of phytochemicals from persimmon fruit peel (PFP) was modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN) and optimized by integrating with genetic algorithm (GA). The range of process parameters selected for conducting the experiments was ultrasonication power (XU) 150---350 W, extraction temperatures (XT) 30---70 °C, solid to solvent ratio (XS) 1:15---1:35 g/ml, and ethanol concentration (XC) 40---80 %. The range of responses total phenolic content (YP), antioxidant activity (YA), total beta carotenoid (YB) and total flavonoid content (YF) at various independent variables combinations were found to be 7.72---24.62 mg GAE/g d.w., 51.44---85.58 %DPPH inhibition, 24.78---56.56 µg/g d.w. and 0.29---1.97 mg QE/g d.w. respectively. The modelling utilised an ANN architecture with a configuration of 4-12-4. The training process employed the Levenberg-Marquardt method, whereas the activation function chosen for the layers was the log sigmoid. The optimum condition predicted by the hybrid ANN-GA model for the independent variables, XU, XT, XS and XC was found to be 230.18 W, 50.66 °C, 28.27 g/ml, and 62.75 % respectively. The extraction process was carried out for 25 min, with 5-minute intervals, at various temperatures between 30 and 60 °C, to investigate the kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the process, under the optimal conditions of XU, XS and XC. The UAE of phytochemicals from persimmon peel followed pseudo second order kinetic model and the extraction process was endothermic in nature.