Trends in functional beverages: Functional ingredients, processing technologies, stability, health benefits, and consumer perspective.

The World Health Organization's emphasis on the health benefits of functional foods and beverages that has contributed to the rise in its popularity globally. Besides these consumers have become more aware of the importance of their food composition and nutrition. Among the fastest-growing market segments within the functional food industries, the functional drinks market focuses on fortified beverages or products that are novel with improved bioavailability of bioactive compounds, and their implicated health benefits. The bioactive ingredients in functional beverages include phenolic compounds, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, peptides, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. which can be obtained from plant, animal and microorganisms. The types of functional beverages which are globally intensifying the markets are pre-/pro-biotics, beauty drinks, cognitive and immune system enhancers, energy and sports drink produced via several thermal and non-thermal processes. Researchers are focusing on improving the stability of the active compounds by encapsulation, emulsion, and high-pressure homogenization techniques to strengthen the positive consumer perspective in functional beverages. However, more research is needed in terms of bioavailability, consumer safety, and sustainability of the process. Hence, product development, storage stability, and sensory properties of these products are vital for consumer acceptance. This review focuses on the recent trends and developments in the functional beverages industry. The review provides a critical discussion on diverse functional ingredients, bioactive sources, production processes, emerging process technologies, improvement in the stability of ingredients and bioactive compounds. This review also outlines the global market and consumer perception of functional beverages with the future perspective and scope.

Multivariate analysis of chemometric based aroma dynamics in small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) during drying.

The aroma compositions and essential oil contents extracted from small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) dried at three temperatures using a hot air convective dryer was studied by chromatographic methods. The major compounds in the dried samples were 1,8-cineole (7.23-11.76%) and α-Terpinyl acetate (61.65-68.19%) that were responsible for the specific aroma. The extracted essential oil was found to be majorly composed of alkenes (33-42%), alcohols (18-30%) and esters (18-22%) with acids, alkyls and ketones. The changes in esters and alcohols with drying time were more significant (p < 0.05) than acids, alkenes and aldehydes at all three temperatures. The data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. The analyses indicated that the compounds varied significantly (p < 0.05) with drying temperatures. The PCA revealed that there was overall 66.47, 75.96 and 78.25% cumulative data variance among the constituents of essential oils of cardamom samples dried at 40, 50 and 60 °C respectively. The samples showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in aroma constituents after 26, 18 and 16 h of drying at 40, 50 and 60 °C respectively. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05560-8.

Bioactive potential of beetroot (Beta vulgaris).

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is the most well-known and commonly cultivated fruit from the Chenopodiaceae family. Beetroot is a rich source of nutrients including vitamins (B complex and C), minerals, fibre, proteins, and a variety of bioactive phenolic substances, which are chiefly composed of betalains, and other components possessing antioxidant activity, such as coumarins, carotenoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenes, and flavonoids (astragalin, tiliroside, rhamnocitrin, kaempferol, rhamnetin). Beetroot and its value-added products provide a variety of health advantages and may help prevent and manage various ailments and diseases due to bioactive components. Beetroot's phytochemical diversity makes them potential sources of nutraceutical chemicals that can be used to build functional foods. Pharmacologically, beetroot has the potential to be an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancerous, hypocholesterolemic, and anti-inflammatory agent. In a comprehensive analysis, this review first provides an overview of the bioactive compounds present in beetroot and its parts, followed by a specific description of the current evidence on this bioactive potential of beetroot and its parts, highlighting the biochemical mechanisms involved. Additionally, the factors affecting the concentration and activity of the beetroot bioactives and the best possible method to conserve its bioactivity has also been discussed in this review.