Chemometric Classification of Colombian Cacao Crops: Effects of Different Genotypes and Origins in Different Years of Harvest on Levels of Flavonoid and Methylxanthine Metabolites in Raw Cacao Beans.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of chemical markers in raw cacao beans in two clones (introduced and regional) in Colombia over several years. Multivariate statistical methods were used to analyze the flavanol monomers (epicatechin and catechin), flavanol oligomers (procyanidins) and methylxanthine alkaloids (caffeine and theobromine) of cocoa samples. The results identified genotype as the main factor contributing to cacao chemistry, although significant differences were not observed between universal and regional clones in PCA. The univariate analysis allowed us to establish that EET-96 had the highest contents of both flavanol monomers (13.12 ± 2.30 mg/g) and procyanidins (7.56 ± 4.59 mg/g). In addition, the geographic origin, the harvest conditions of each region and the year of harvest may contribute to major discrepancies between results. Turbo cocoa samples are notable for their higher flavanol monomer content, Chigorodó cocoa samples for the presence of both types of polyphenol (monomer and procyanidin contents) and the Northeast cocoa samples for the higher methylxanthine content. We hope that knowledge of the heterogeneity of the metabolites of interest in each clone will contribute to the generation of added value in the cocoa production chain and its sustainability.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) Phytochemical Profile: Impact of Pre/Post-Harvest Processing and Extractive Recovery.

The purpose of this study was to chemically compare samples of Mentha spicata (marketing byproducts, production byproducts, and export material), cultivated in the open field and under greenhouse, using an integrated approach by HPLC/DAD and GC/MS analysis. The presence of phenolic compounds was higher in the marketing byproducts cultivated in the open field. Marketing byproducts also had the highest amount of carvone. For this reason, this byproduct was selected as a candidate for the development of natural ingredients. With the best selected material, the optimization of simultaneous high-intensity ultrasound-assisted extraction processes was proposed for the recovery of the compounds of interest. This extraction was defined by Peleg's equation and polynomial regression analysis. Modeling showed that the factors amplitude, time, and solvent were found to be significant in the recovery process (p < 0.005). The maximum amount of compounds was obtained using 90% amplitude for 5 min and ethanol/water mixture (80:20) for extraction to simultaneously obtain phenolic and terpenoid compounds. This system obtained the highest amount of monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid compounds from the essential oil of M. spicata (64.93% vs. 84.55%). Thus, with an efficient and eco-friendly method, it was possible to optimize the extraction of compounds in M. spicata as a starting point for the use of its byproducts.

Chemical and Skincare Property Characterization of the Main Cocoa Byproducts: Extraction Optimization by RSM Approach for Development of Sustainable Ingredients.

Methylxanthines and polyphenols from cocoa byproducts should be considered for their application in the development of functional ingredients for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. Different cocoa byproducts were analyzed for their chemical contents, and skincare properties were measured by antioxidant assays and anti-skin aging activity. Musty cocoa beans (MC) and second-quality cocoa beans (SQ) extracts showed the highest polyphenol contents and antioxidant capacities. In the collagenase and elastase inhibition study, the highest effect was observed for the SQ extract with 86 inhibition and 36% inhibition, respectively. Among cocoa byproducts, the contents of catechin and epicatechin were higher in the SQ extract, with 18.15 mg/100 g of sample and 229.8 mg/100 g of sample, respectively. Cocoa bean shells (BS) constitute the main byproduct due to their methylxanthine content (1085 mg of theobromine and 267 mg of caffeine/100 g of sample). Using BS, various influencing factors in the extraction process were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM), before scaling up separations. The extraction process developed under optimized conditions allows us to obtain almost 2 g/min and 0.2 g/min of total methylxanthines and epicatechin, respectively. In this way, this work contributes to the sustainability and valorization of the cocoa production chain.

Production and Characterization of Sumac PlantCrystals: Influence of High-Pressure Homogenization on Antioxidant Activity of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.).

Oxidative stress diseases are usually treated or prevented by using antioxidants from natural or artificial sources. However, as a sustainable source of phytochemicals, plants got a renewed interest in obtaining their active agents using green extraction technologies, i.e., sustainable extraction techniques that reduce energy consumption, use renewable sources and result in less post-extraction wastes. The high-pressure homogenization (HPH) technique was introduced into the food industry since it was invented in 1900 to homogenize milk and later to produce fruit juices with a longer shelf-life without preservatives. Recently, HPH was introduced as an eco-friendly method to nanomill plants for improved extraction efficacy without using organic solvents. In this study, sumac was used as an antioxidants-rich spice model to investigate the effects of HPH on its antioxidant capacity (AOC). Sumac was rendered into PlantCrystals by using HPH. Particle size characterization proved the presence of submicron-sized particles (about 750 nm). Thus, HPH was able to produce sumac PlantCrystals and increased the AOC of bulk sumac by more than 650% according to the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assay. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents showed higher values after HPH. Interestingly, the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay also showed a well improved AOC (similar to ascorbic acid) after HPH. In fact, in this study, the PlantCrystal-technology was demonstrated to cause an efficient cell rupture of the sumac plant cells. This caused an efficient release of antioxidants and resulted in sumac PlantCrystals with a 6.5-fold higher antioxidant capacity when compared to non-processed sumac bulk material.

Chemometric classification of Garcinia madruno raw material: Impact of the regional origin and ripeness stage of a neotropical exotic species.

Garcinia madruno is a neotropical tree characterized by its exotic fruit and its functional compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and variability of the chemical markers of G. madruno according to the part of the plant used, the origin and the ripeness stage by applying chemometric tools. A total of 167 samples were evaluated, and 27 compounds were quantified per sample. The expression of amentoflavone, morelloflavone-type biflavonoids and polyisoprenylated benzophenones (PIBs) promoted intergroup differentiation, whereas the expression of GB-2a-type biflavonoids promoted intragroup cluster generation. Epicarp was the main source of biflavonoids and the secondary source of PIBs, with values up to 25% in some individuals. The origin of the fruit significantly impacted the expression of metabolites, whereas the ripeness stage did not. The results indicate that epicarp is a good source of functional compounds and, with appropriately agronomic development, could be improved even more.

Effects of biflavonoids from Garcinia madruno on a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is pathologically characterized by the deposition of ß-amyloid (ßA) peptides in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Flavonoids have recently been used to prevent and treat a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, but little is known about bioflavonoids. In this study, we evaluate whether a biflavonoid fraction (BF) exerts neuroprotective effects on an aged triple transgenic mouse mode of AD (3xTg-AD). Then, 21-24-month-old 3xTg AD mice were i.p. injected with 25mg/kg of a BF from Garcinia madruno composed of morelloflavone (65%), volkensiflavone (12%), GB 2a (11%), fukugiside (6%) and amentoflavone (0.4%) every 48h for 3 months. The BF treatment reduced ßA deposition in different regions of the brain (the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and amygdala), reduced ßA1-40 and ßA1-42 levels, BACE1-mediated cleavage of APP (CTFß), tau pathology, astrogliosis and microgliosis in the brains of aged 3xTg-AD mice. Although the BF treatment weakly improved learning, animals treated with BF spent more time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze test and displayed greater risk assessment behavior than the control groups. In summary, the BF reverses histopathological hallmarks and reduces emotional disorders in the 3xTg-AD mouse model, suggesting that the biflavonoids from G. madruno represent a potential natural therapeutic option for AD if its bioavailability is improved.

Botanical ingredients: the key link in Colombia for the development of innovative and natural pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products / El eslabón clave en Colombia para el desarrollo de productos farmacéuticos, cosméticos y alimentarios innovadores y naturales

Botanical ingredients are widely used in food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and other products. These ingredients may either be made as fresh material, dry and ground material, or as valorized sub-products obtained following more complex industrial process such as extraction, concentration, and purification. The plant sources of botanical ingredients are diverse. Roots, flowers, fruits, leaves, or seeds could be obtained from i) industrial crops (food and non-food); ii) wild plants (non-agroindustrial development); or iii) agroindustrial wastes (byproducts obtained during harvesting, post-harvesting, and industrial processing). Each of these sources is associated with specific challenges and advantages in the botanical ingredient industry. For example, industrial crops provide the most homogeneous raw material, but the degree of novelty and innovation in the development of these ingredients could be limited. Conversely, wild plants are the best source of novel ingredients; however, they require a lot of time and money to develop. These increased expenditures normally emerge from bioprospecting studies and legal procedures, given that the inclusion of a new ingredient is required. On the other hand, agroindustrial wastes are the most sustainable and environmentally friendly bioingredient sources; however their availability, homogeneity, and innocuousness are the most important challenges to solve.