Chronic consumption of orange juice modifies urinary excretion of flavanone gut-derived metabolites through gut microbiota modulation.

The metabolism and absorption of citrus flavanones are intrinsically linked to the gut microbiota, creating a bidirectional relationship where these compounds influence the microbiome, and in turn, the microbiota affects their metabolism. This study evaluates the effect of acute and chronic consumption of orange juice (OJ) on the urinary excretion of gut-derived flavanone metabolites and the gut microbiota. Health volunteers ingested 500 mL of OJ for 60 days in a single-arm human intervention study. Blood and feces were collected at baseline and after 60 days, with an additional 24-hour urine collection after a single dose on day 1 and day 63. LC-MS/MS analyzed urinary flavanone metabolites, while 16S rRNA sequencing characterized gut microbiota. Total urinary hesperetin conjugates excretion significantly decreased over 60 days, while gut-derived total phenolic acids, particularly three hydroxybenzoic acids, increased. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the total amount of flavanone conjugates, initially categorizing individuals into high-, medium- and low- urinary excretor profiles, shifted towards medium-excretor, except for five individuals who remained as low-excretors. This alteration was accompanied by a decrease in intestinal ß-glucosidase activity and a shift in the relative abundance of specific genera, such as decreases in Blautia, Eubacterium hallii, Anaerostipes, and Fusicatenibacter, among which, Blautia was associated with higher urinary flavanone conjugates excretion. Conversely, an increase in Prevotella was observed. In summary, chronic OJ consumption induced transient changes in gut microbiota and altered the metabolism of citrus flavanones, leading to distinct urinary excretion profiles of flavanone metabolites.

Sensitivity of Salmonella Typhimurium to nisin in vitro and in orange juice under refrigeration.

The influence of environmental factors on Salmonella sensitivity to nisin in vitro and in refrigerated orange juice were investigated. Nisin activity was observed in the different conditions, but the highest efficiency was achieved at lower pH (4.0) and with higher bacteriocin concentration (174 µM). Moreover, the bactericidal action was directly proportional to the incubation period. When tested in orange juice, nisin caused a reduction of up to 4.05 logarithm cycles in the Salmonella population. So, environmental factors such as low pH and low temperature favored the sensitization of Salmonella cells to the bactericidal action of nisin. Therefore, this may represent an alternative to control Salmonella in refrigerated foods.

A multilevel investigation to reveal the regulatory mechanism of lignin accumulation in juice sac granulation of pomelo.

Granulation of juice sacs is a physiological disorder, which affects pomelo fruit quality. Here, the transcriptome and ubiquitinome of the granulated juice sacs were analyzed in Guanxi pomelo. We found that lignin accumulation in the granulated juice sacs was regulated at transcription and protein modification levels. In transcriptome data, we found that the genes in lignin biosynthesis pathway and antioxidant enzyme system of the granulated juice sacs were significantly upregulated. However, in ubiquitinome data, we found that ubiquitinated antioxidant enzymes increased in abundance but the enzyme activities decreased after the modification, which gave rise to reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents in granulated juice sacs. This finding suggests that ubiquitination level of the antioxidant enzymes is negatively correlated with the enzyme activities. Increased H2O2 is considered to be a signaling molecule to activate the key gene expressions in lignin biosynthesis pathway, which leads to the lignification in granulated juice sacs of pomelo. This regulatory mechanism in juice sac granulation of pomelo was further confirmed through the verification experiment using tissue culture by adding H2O2 or dimethylthiourea (DMTU). Our findings suggest that scavenging H2O2 and other ROS are important for reducing lignin accumulation, alleviating juice sac granulation and improving pomelo fruit quality.

Two-Month Consumption of Orange Juice Enriched with Vitamin D3 and Probiotics Decreases Body Weight, Insulin Resistance, Blood Lipids, and Arterial Blood Pressure in High-Cardiometabolic-Risk Patients on a Westernized Type Diet: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

This study examined the effects of orange juice (OJ) supplemented with vitamin D3 (2000 IU) and probiotics (Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, 108 cfu/mL) on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults following a Westernized-type diet. Fifty-three high-risk individuals were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Over 8 weeks, one group consumed a vitamin D3 and probiotic-enriched OJ and the other regular OJ (control). Diets remained unchanged and were documented through food diaries. Measures of metabolic and inflammatory markers and blood pressure were measured at the start and end of the study. Post-intervention, the enriched OJ group showed the following significant metabolic improvements (without changes in triglycerides, inflammation, or central blood pressure): reduced fasting insulin, peripheral blood pressure, body weight (-1.4 kg 95% CI: -2.4, -0.4), energy (-270 kcal 95% CI: -553.2, -13.7), macronutrient (dietary fat -238 kcal 95% CI: -11.9, -1.0; carbohydrates -155 kcal 95% CI: -282.4, -27.3; sugars -16.1 g 95% CI: -11.9, -1.0) intake, and better lipid profiles (total cholesterol -10.3 mg/dL 95% CI: -21.4, 0.9; LDL-C -7 mg/dL 95% CI: -13.5, -0.5). The enriched OJ led to weight loss, less energy/macronutrient consumption, improved lipid profiles, and increased insulin sensitivity after 8 weeks in those following a Westernized diet, thus indicating potential benefits for cardiometabolic risk. This study was a part of FunJuice-T2EDK-01922, which was funded by the EU Regional Development Fund and Greek National Resources.

Effect of Sugar- and Polyphenol-Rich, Diluted Cloudy Apple Juice on the Intestinal Barrier after Moderate Endurance Exercise and in Ultra-Marathon Runners.

BACKGROUND: Exercise and the consumption of sugars result in a dysfunction of the intestinal barrier (IB). Here, we determined the effect of sugar in a natural matrix on the intestinal barrier after moderate (A) and intensive endurance exercise (B). METHOD: The IB function was determined before (pre) and after running (post), and 120 and 180 min after consuming the drink by measuring serum endotoxin concentrations (lipopolysaccharides-LPS), IL-6, CD14, and i-FABP. In study A, nonspecifically trained participants (n = 24, males and females, age 26 ± 4) ran for one hour at 80% of their individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). After finishing, the runners consumed, in a crossover setup, either 500 mL of water, diluted cloudy apple juice (test drink), or an identical drink (placebo) without the fruit juice matrix (FJM). In study B, the participants (n = 30, males and females, age 50 ± 9) completed an ultra-marathon run, were divided into groups, and consumed one of the above-mentioned drinks. RESULTS: Study A: Exercise resulted in a significant increase in serum LPS, i-FABP, and IL-6, which decreased fast after finishing. No impact of the different drinks on LPS i-FABP, or IL-6 could be observed, but there was an impact on CD14. Study B: The ultra-marathon resulted in a strong increase in serum LPS, which decreased fast after finishing in the water and test drink groups, but not in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The consumed drinks did not affect the kinetics of IB regeneration after moderate exercise, but impacted CD14 serum concentrations, indicating possible beneficial effects of the FJM on the immune system. After an ultra-marathon, IB function regenerates very fast. The intake of sugar (placebo) seems to have had a negative impact on IB regeneration, which was diminished by the presence of the FJM.

Analysis of the Protective Effects of Rosa roxburghii-Fermented Juice on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice through Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics.

Acute lung injury, a fatal condition characterized by a high mortality rate, necessitates urgent exploration of treatment modalities. Utilizing UHPLS-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, our study scrutinized the active constituents present in Rosa roxburghii-fermented juice (RRFJ) while also assessing its protective efficacy against LPS-induced ALI in mice through lung histopathological analysis, cytokine profiling, and oxidative stress assessment. The protective mechanism of RRFJ against ALI in mice was elucidated utilizing metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methodologies. Our experimental findings demonstrate that RRFJ markedly ameliorates pathological injuries in ALI-afflicted mice, mitigates systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, enhances energy metabolism, and restores dysregulated amino acid and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. This study indicates that RRFJ can serve as a functional food for adjuvant treatment of ALI.

A magnetic imprinted polymer nano-adsorbent with embedded quantum dots and mesoporous carbon for the microextraction of triazine herbicides.

A magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) adsorbent incorporating amino-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles, nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots and mesoporous carbon (MIP@MPC@N-GQDs@Fe3O4NH2) was fabricated to extract triazine herbicides from fruit juice. The embedded magnetite nanoparticles simplified the isolation of the adsorbent from the sample solution. The N-GQDs and MPC enhanced adsorption by affinity binding with triazines. The MIP layer provided highly specific recognition sites for the selective adsorption of three target triazines. The extracted triazines were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection (DAD). The developed method exhibited linearity from 1.5 to 100.0 µg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.5 µg L-1. Recoveries from spiked fruit juice samples were in the range of 80.1- 108.4 %, with a relative standard deviation of less than 6.0 %. The developed MMIP adsorbent demonstrated good selectivity, high extraction efficiency, ease of fabrication and use, and good stability.

Enhancing Acid Resistance of Aspergillus niger Pectin Lyase through Surface Charge Design for Improved Application in Juice Clarification.

Pectin lyases (PNLs) can enhance juice clarity and flavor by degrading pectin in highly esterified fruits, but their inadequate acid resistance leads to rapid activity loss in juice. This study aimed to improve the acid resistance of Aspergillus niger PNL pelA through surface charge design. A modification platform was established by fusing pelA with a protein tag and expressing the fusion enzyme in Escherichia coli. Four single-point mutants were identified to increase the surface charge using computational tools. Moreover, the combined mutant M6 (S514D/S538E) exhibited 99.8% residual activity at pH 3.0. The M6 gene was then integrated into the A. niger genome using a multigene integration system to obtain the recombinant PNL AM6. Notably, AM6 improved the light transmittance of orange juice to 45.3%, which was 8.39 times higher than that of pelA. In conclusion, AM6 demonstrated the best-reported acid resistance, making it a promising candidate for industrial juice clarification.

The Influence of a Polyphenol-Rich Red Berry Fruit Juice on Recovery Process and Leg Strength Capacity after Six Days of Intensive Endurance Exercise in Recreational Endurance Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Various nutritional strategies are increasingly used in sports to reduce oxidative stress and promote recovery. Chokeberry is rich in polyphenols and can reduce oxidative stress. Consequently, chokeberry juices and mixed juices with chokeberry content are increasingly used in sports. However, the data are very limited. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of the short-term supplementation of a red fruit juice drink with chokeberry content or a placebo on muscle damage, oxidative status, and leg strength during a six-day intense endurance protocol. METHODS: Eighteen recreational endurance athletes participated in a cross-over high intensity interval training (HIIT) design, receiving either juice or a placebo. Baseline and post-exercise assessments included blood samples, anthropometric data, and leg strength measurements. RESULTS: A significant increase was measured in muscle damage following the endurance protocol in all participants (∆ CK juice: 117.12 ± 191.75 U/L, ∆ CK placebo: 164.35 ± 267.00 U/L; p = 0.001, η2 = 0.17). No group effects were detected in exercise-induced muscle damage (p = 0.371, η2 = 0.010) and oxidative status (p = 0.632, η2 = 0.000). The reduction in strength was stronger in the placebo group, but group effects are missing statistical significance (∆ e1RM juice: 1.34 ± 9.26 kg, ∆ e1RM placebo: -3.33 ± 11.49 kg; p = 0.988, η2 = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Although a reduction in strength can be interpreted for the placebo treatment, no statistically significant influence of chokeberry could be determined. It appears that potential effects may only occur with prolonged application and a higher content of polyphenols, but further research is needed to confirm this.

Continuous-Flow High-Pressure Homogenization of Blueberry Juice Enhances Anthocyanin and Ascorbic Acid Stability during Cold Storage.

Blueberries (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus) have a wealth of bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins and other antioxidants, that offer significant health benefits. Preserving these compounds and maintaining the sensory and nutritional qualities of blueberry products such as juice during cold market storage is critical to meet consumer expectations for nutritious, safe, and minimally processed food. In this study, we compared the effects of two preservation processing techniques, high-temperature short-time (HTST) and continuous flow high-pressure homogenization (CFHPH), on blueberry juice quality during storage at 4 °C. Our findings revealed that inlet temperature (Tin) of CFHPH processing at 4 °C favored anthocyanin retention, whereas Tin at 22 °C favored ascorbic acid retention. After 45 days of storage, CFHPH (300 MPa, 1.5 L/min, 4 °C) juice retained up to 54% more anthocyanins compared to control at 0 day. In contrast, HTST treatment (95 °C, 15 s) initially increased anthocyanin concentrations but led to their subsequent degradation over time, while also significantly degrading ascorbic acid. Furthermore, CFHPH (300 MPa, 4 °C) juice had significantly lower polyphenol oxidase activity (>80% less than control), contributing to the overall quality of the juice. This innovative processing technique has the potential to improve commercial blueberry juice, and help meet the rising demand for healthy and appealing food choices.

Interactions between grapefruit juice and psychotropic medications: an update of the literature and an original case series.

INTRODUCTION: There is a large body of preclinical data implicating that grapefruit juice (GJ) inhibits many CYP 450 isoforms. The potential of GJ-to-drug is of high relevance to clinical psychiatry, because a wide range of psychotropic medicines undergo CYP 450 metabolism and P-gp transport. AREAS COVERED: Relevant data were identified by searching the electronic databases up to February 2024. This work constitutes a summary of preclinical and clinical data on GJ impact on CYP 450 metabolism, P-glycoprotein, and organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs), with focus on studies that assessed GJ-to-psychotropic drug interactions. Additionally, an unpublished case series of nine patients is provided. EXPERT OPINION: The impact of GJ on CYP 3A4 appears to be the critical mechanism for the majority of GJ-to-psychopharmacotherapy interactions described in human studies or case reports. However, there are studies and cases of patients clearly showing that this is not the only route explaining the GJ effect, and at times, this particular is of no relevance and that other CYP 450 isoforms as well as drug transporting proteins might be involved. The risk of GJ-to-psychotropic drugs needs to be further evaluated in a 'real-world' setting and apply not only measures of pharmacokinetics but also treatment effectiveness and safety.

Alicyclobacillus spp. in fruit-based products: Isolation, identification, quantitative assessment (SPME/GC-MS) of spoilage compounds and spore's resistance to thermal shocks.

Alicyclobacillus spp. is the cause of great concern for the food industry due to their spores' resistance (thermal and chemical) and the spoilage potential of some species. Despite this, not all Alicyclobacillus strains can spoil fruit juices. Thus, this study aimed to identify Alicyclobacillus spp. strains isolated from fruit-based products produced in Argentina, Brazil, and Italy by DNA sequencing. All Alicyclobacillus isolates were tested for guaiacol production by the peroxidase method. Positive strains for guaiacol production were individually inoculated at concentration of 103 CFU/mL in 10 mL of orange (pH 3.90) and apple (pH 3.50) juices adjusted to 11°Brix, following incubation at 45 °C for at least 5 days to induce the production of the following spoilage compounds: Guaiacol, 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) and 2,6-dibromophenol (2,6-DBP). The techniques of micro-solid phase extraction by headspace (HS-SPME) and gas-chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to identify and quantify the spoilage compounds. All GC-MS data was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). The effects of different thermal shock conditions on the recovery of Alicyclobacillus spores inoculated in orange and apple juice (11°Brix) were also tested. A total of 484 strains were isolated from 48 brands, and the species A. acidocaldarius and A. acidoterrestris were the most found among all samples analyzed. In some samples from Argentina, the species A. vulcanalis and A. mali were also identified. The incidence of these two main species of Alicyclobacillus in this study was mainly in products from pear (n = 108; 22.3 %), peach (n = 99; 20.5 %), apple (n = 86; 17.8 %), and tomato (n = 63; 13 %). The results indicated that from the total isolates from Argentina (n = 414), Brazil (n = 54) and Italy (n = 16) were able to produce guaiacol: 107 (25.8 %), 33 (61.1 %) and 13 (81.2 %) isolates from each country, respectively. The PCA score plot indicated that the Argentina and Brazil isolates correlate with higher production of guaiacol and 2,6-DCP/2,6-DBP, respectively. Heatmaps of cell survival after heat shock demonstrated that strains with different levels of guaiacol production present different resistances according to spoilage ability. None of the Alicyclobacillus isolates survived heat shocks at 120 °C for 3 min. This work provides insights into the incidence, spoilage potential, and thermal shock resistance of Alicyclobacillus strains isolated from fruit-based products.

A photothermal aptasensor based on rolling circle amplification-enriched DNAzyme for portable detection of ochratoxin A in grape juice.

Aptasensors for detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) have been extensively studied, but the majority of them require costly and large-scale equipment as signal readers. Herein, a photothermal aptasensor capable of portable detection of OTA through a thermometer was developed on basis of aptamer structural switching and rolling circle amplification (RCA)-enriched DNAzyme. Oligonucleotides and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) modified magnetic beads were prepared. The binding of aptamers to OTA led to the release of ALP labeled complementary DNA. After magnetic separation, ALP catalyzed the padlock dephosphorylation, inhibiting the subsequent RCA reaction. This process converted the OTA concentration into the amount of the photothermal reagent oxTMB produced from the catalytic reaction induced by RCA-enriched DNAzyme. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit (LOD) of this aptasensor was 2.28 nM in a clean buffer, while the LOD reached 2.43 nM in 2 % grape juice. The good performance of the photothermal aptasensor makes it possible to measure OTA pollution in low resource environments.

Nanozymes sensor array for discrimination and intelligent sensing of phenolic acids in food.

Although nanozymes sensor arrays have the potential to recognize multiple target substances simultaneously, they currently rarely identify phenolic acids in food due to limited catalytic performance and complex preparation conditions of nanozymes. Here, inspired by the structure of polyphenol oxidase, we have successfully prepared a novel gallic acid-Cu (GA-Cu) nanozyme with laccase-like activity. Due to the different catalytic efficiency of GA-Cu nanozymes towards six common phenolic acids, a three-channel colorimetric sensor array was constructed using reaction kinetics as the sensing unit to achieve high-throughput detection and identification of six phenolic acids within a concentration range from 1 to 100 µM. This method avoids the creation of numerous sensing units. Notably, the successful discrimination of six phenolic acids in samples of juice, beer, and wine has been achieved by the sensor array. Finally, aided by smartphones, a portable technique has been devised for the detection of phenolic acids.

In situ formation of solidified supramolecular solvent based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the enrichment of phenylurea herbicides in water, fruit juice, and milk.

A convenient, efficient, and green dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the in situ formation of solidified supramolecular solvents combined with high performance liquid chromatography was developed for the determination of four phenylurea herbicides in liquid samples, including monuron, monolinuron, isoproturon, and chlortoluron. Herein, a novel supramolecular solvent was prepared by the in situ reaction of [P4448]Br and NH4PF6, which had the advantages of low melting point, high density, and good dispersibility. In addition, the microscopic morphology and physical properties of supramolecular solvent were characterized, and the extraction conditions were optimized. The results showed that the analytes had good linearity (R2 > 0.9998) within the linear range. The limits of detection and quantification for the four phenylurea herbicides were in the range of 0.13-0.19 µg L-1 and 0.45-0.65 µg L-1, respectively. The prepared supramolecular solvent is suitable for the efficient extraction of phenylurea herbicides in water, fruit juice, and milk.

High-throughput semi-automated emulsive liquid-liquid microextraction for detecting SDHI fungicides in water, juice, and alcoholic beverage samples via UHPLC-MS/MS.

Herein, a High-Throughput Semi-automated Emulsive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction (HTSA-ELLME) method was developed to detect Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides in food samples via UHPLC-MS/MS. The Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsion comprising a hydrophobic extractant and water was dilutable with the aqueous sample solution. Upon injecting the primary emulsion into the sample solution, a secondary O/W emulsion was formed, allowing SDHI fungicides to be extracted. Subsequently, a NaCl-saturated solution was injected in the secondary O/W emulsion as a demulsifier to rapidly separate the extractant, eliminating the need for centrifugation. A 12-channel electronic micropipette was used to achieve a high-throughput semi-automation of the novel sample pretreatment. The linear range was 0.003-0.3 µg L-1 with R2 > 0.998. The limit of detection was 0.001 µg L-1. The HTSA-ELLME method successfully detected SDHI fungicides in water, juice, and alcoholic beverage samples, with recoveries and relative standard deviations of 82.6-106.9% and 0.8-5.8%, respectively. Unlike previously reported liquid-liquid microextraction approaches, the HTSA-ELLME method is the first to be both high-throughput and semi-automated and may aid in designing pesticide pretreatment processes in food samples.

Bioprocess optimization for food-grade cellulolytic enzyme production from sorghum waste in a novel solid-state fermentation bioreactor for enhanced apple juice clarification.

Transforming global agricultural waste into eco-friendly products like industrial enzymes through bioconversion can help address sustainability challenges aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Present study explored the production of high-yield food-grade cellulolytic enzymes from Trichoderma reesei MTCC 4876, using a novel media formulation with a combination of waste sorghum grass and cottonseed oil cake (3:1). Optimization of physical and environmental parameters, along with the screening and optimization of media components, led to an upscaled process in a novel 6-L solid-state fermentation (SSF)-packed bed reactor (PBR) with a substrate loading of 200 g. Saturated forced aeration proved crucial, resulting in high fungal biomass (31.15 ± 0.63 mg glucosamine/gm dry fermented substrate) and high yield cellulase (20.64 ± 0.36 FPU/g-ds) and xylanase (16,186 ± 912 IU/g-ds) production at an optimal airflow rate of 0.75 LPM. The PBR exhibited higher productivity than shake flasks for all the enzyme systems. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration of the crude cellulolytic extract achieved 94% and 71% recovery, respectively, with 13.54 FPU/mL activity in the cellulolytic enzyme concentrate. The concentrate displayed stability across wide pH and temperature ranges, with a half-life of 24.5-h at 50 °C. The cellulase concentrate, validated for food-grade safety, complies with permissible limits for potential pathogens, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticide residue. It significantly improved apple juice clarity (94.37 T%) by reducing turbidity (21%) and viscosity (99%) while increasing total reducing sugar release by 63% compared with untreated juice. The study also highlighted the potential use of lignin-rich fermented end residue for fuel pellets within permissible SOx emission limits, offering sustainable biorefinery prospects. Utilizing agro wastes in a controlled bioreactor environment underscores the potential for efficient large-scale cellulase production, enabling integration into food-grade applications and presenting economic benefits to fruit juice industries.

Widely targeted metabolomics-based analysis of the impact of L. plantarum and L. paracasei fermentation on rosa roxburghii Tratt juice.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruits (RRT) exhibit extremely high nutritional and medicinal properties due to its unique phytochemical composition. Probiotic fermentation is a common method of processing fruits. Variations in the non-volatile metabolites and bioactivities of RRT juice caused by different lactobacilli are not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to profile the non-volatile components and investigate the impact of L. plantarum fermentation (LP) and L. paracasei fermentation (LC) on RRT juice (the control, CG). There were both similarities and differences in the effects of LP and LC on RRT juice. Both of the two strains significantly increased the content of total phenolic, total flavonoid, and some bioactive compounds such as 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, hydroxytyrosol and indole-3-lactic acid in RRT juice. Interestingly, compared with L. paracasei, L. plantarum showed better ability to increase the content of total phenolic and these valuable compounds, as well as certain bioactivities. The antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of RRT juice were notably enhanced after the fermentations, whereas its cholesterol esterase inhibitory activity was reduced significantly. Moreover, a total of 1466 metabolites were identified in the unfermented and fermented RRT juices. There were 278, 251 and 134 differential metabolites in LP vs CG, LC vs CG, LC vs LP, respectively, most of which were upregulated. The key differential metabolites were classified into amino acids and their derivatives, organic acids, nucleotides and their analogues, phenolic acids and alkaloids, which can serve as potential markers for authentication and discrimination between the unfermented and lactobacilli fermented RRT juice samples. The KEGG enrichment analysis uncovered that metabolic pathways, purine metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and ABC transporters contributed mainly to the formation of unique composition of fermented RRT juice. These results provide good coverage of the metabolome of RRT juice in both unfermented and fermented forms and also provide a reference for future research on the processing of RRT or other fruits.

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of American Elderberry Juice for Improving Cognition and Inflammation in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Despite data showing that nutritional interventions high in antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties (anthocyanin-rich foods, such as blueberries/elderberries) may decrease risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, evidence for such effects in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is limited. This study examined preliminary effects of American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) juice on cognition and inflammatory markers in patients with MCI. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with MCI (n = 24, Mage = 76.33 ± 6.95) received American elderberry (n = 11) or placebo (n = 13) juice (5 mL orally 3 times a day) for 6 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, patients completed tasks measuring global cognition, verbal memory, language, visuospatial cognitive flexibility/problem solving, and memory. A subsample (n = 12, 7 elderberry/5 placebo) provided blood samples to measure serum inflammatory markers. Multilevel models examined effects of the condition (elderberry/placebo), time (baseline/3 months/6 months), and condition by time interactions on cognition/inflammation outcomes. Attrition rates for elderberry (18%) and placebo (15%) conditions were fairly low. The dosage compliance (elderberry-97%; placebo-97%) and completion of cognitive (elderberry-88%; placebo-87%) and blood-based (elderberry-100%; placebo-100%) assessments was high. Elderberry (not placebo) trended (p = 0.09) towards faster visuospatial problem solving performance from baseline to 6 months. For the elderberry condition, there were significant or significantly trending decreases over time across several markers of low-grade peripheral inflammation, including vasorin, prenylcysteine oxidase 1, and complement Factor D. Only one inflammatory marker showed an increase over time (alpha-2-macroglobin). In contrast, for the placebo, several inflammatory marker levels increased across time (L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain, complement Factor D), with one showing deceased levels over time (L-lactate dehydrogenase A chain). Daily elderberry juice consumption in patients with MCI is feasible and well tolerated and may provide some benefit to visuospatial cognitive flexibility. Preliminary findings suggest elderberry juice may reduce low-grade inflammation compared to a placebo-control. These promising findings support the need for larger, more definitive prospective studies with longer follow-ups to better understand mechanisms of action and the clinical utility of elderberries for potentially mitigating cognitive decline.