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While it is widely accepted that the five main fruit trees that established horticulture in the late prehistoric period are: olive (Olea europaea), common fig (Ficus carica), grapevine (Vitis vinifera), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and pomegranate (Punica granatum), there is much less agreement on where, when, and why this happened. This review paper1 gathers all recent archaeological and archaeobotanical information on the topic and suggests that all five founders were first assembled into a package in one geographically small region – the Central Jordan Valley. From this core area, knowledge and/or genetic materials were shifted to nearby regions. Yet, it cannot be ruled out that other parallel independent domestications may have occurred in other regions. 14C dates provided in this study indicate that the beginning of this development is dated at ca. 7000 years cal. BP., earlier than previously considered. It seems that the primary motivation has been related to political and socioeconomic considerations rather than climatological-environmental concerns or other factors. The paper also discusses the cost-effective benefits of simultaneously cultivating several fruit trees. Understanding the early stages of horticulture sheds light on the history of our civilizations, which, according to this study, preceded urbanization or state formation by more than a millennium and a half. A better understanding of the origin and early stages of this development is also of great importance, given the immediate need to adapt horticultural practices to environmental degradation and global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGrapes are renowned for their health-promoting properties due to polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins in red grapes and flavonols in white grapes. This study evaluated the total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of specific grape varieties (Sultaniye, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, and Merlot) using the CUPRAC (CUPric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity) and ABTS/HRP (2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)/horseradish peroxidase) methods. Additionally, total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents were determined via Folin Ciocalteu, AlCl3/NaNO2, and pH differential methods. Primary phenolic compounds were identified with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array (HPLC-PDA). TAC values of the grape juices (mmol Trolox L−1) ranked as Alicante > Shiraz > Sultaniye > Carignan > Merlot > Chardonnay by CUPRAC, and Shiraz > Alicante > Merlot > Carignan ≥ Sultaniye >  Chardonnay by ABTS/HRP and for skin extracts (mmol Trolox g−1), Carignan > Alicante > Shiraz > Merlot > Chardonnay > Sultaniye by CUPRAC, and Carignan > Shiraz > Alicante > Merlot > Chardonnay >  Sultaniye by ABTS/HRP. The study demonstrated a strong correlation between phenolic composition and TAC values in grape samples, with anthocyanins as the predominant family contributing significantly to TAC. Varietal and intra-fruit differences in specific phenolic compounds were found to account for variations in observed TAC levels. Specifically, grape skin samples showed a more robust correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (r = 0.986) than grape juices (r = 0.777). These findings underscore the considerable variation in antioxidant potential among grape varieties and emphasize the critical role of phenolic composition in the health-related benefits of grape consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side effect of cancer that significantly affects patients' quality of life. This study aimed to assess the impact of DEBS syrup, a herbal formulation derived from grape juice, on CRF.‏ In a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 70 women with breast cancer and CRF were assigned to either the DEBS or placebo groups. Participants received 10 cc of DEBS syrup or placebo three times daily for four weeks. CRF was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), fatigue severity scale (FSS), and cancer fatigue scale (CFS) before and after the intervention. Results showed that DEBS group had significantly higher reductions in FSS, CFS, and VAS scores compared to the placebo group (p = 0.001). Subscale analysis demonstrated significant reductions in somatic, cognitive, and affective domains in the DEBS group. However, only the FSS scores decreased significantly in the placebo group. In conclusion, DEBS syrup was more effective than placebo in improving CRF among breast cancer patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20190708044149N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide residues in grapes from South and Southwest China were determined using the QuEChERS procedure and UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS methods. The 4-year monitoring and survey showed 94.6% of the 1341 samples of grapes collected from eight main production areas contained one or multiple pesticide residues (above the respective LOQs). Overall, 40 pesticides were detected, including 24 fungicides, 12 insecticides, 2 acaricides and 2 plant growth modulators, of which one pesticide was unauthorised for use in treating grapes. Two or more pesticide residues were discovered in 87.4% of the samples (above the respective LOQs), and pesticide residues in 5.7% of the samples exceeded the MRLs, such as difenoconazole, cyhalothrin, propiconazole, etc. The main risk factors affecting the safety of grape before 2019 were difenoconazole, cyhalothrin and cyazofamid. After 2019, however, the frequency of occurrence of the above pesticides significantly declined, and the banned or restricted pesticides including omethoate were not found, which was credited to the stricter supervision and management policies by local governments. Despite the high detection rates and multi-residue occurrence of pesticides in grapes, about 84% of the samples were compliant with regulatory standards. Moreover, the accumulative chronic diet risk determined from ADI is very low. This study and timely monitoring can ensure that grape growers comply with GAP and minimise the occurrence of residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are a class of nanosized extracellular vesicles from plants that can deliver drugs, siRNA, DNA, and proteins to various types of cells. Purification of ELNs from plants are tricky when compared to that from body fluids or cell culture medium because the initial suspension of the former contains high amounts of sugar, fiber, fat, etc. In this study, we have optimized the different steps for the isolation of ELNs from grapes. After preparing the juice, the bulk density was measured by Brix analysis and followed the same bulk density whenever doing the isolation. Differential centrifugation at various speeds and times and membrane filtration using different pore-size membranes were also optimized before the final step of ELN separation by ultracentrifugation. The size, zeta potential, and PDI value of the isolated ELNs were measured using a Malvern Zeta Sizer. SEM analysis showed that the grape ELN has an average size of 140.8 ± 10.75 nm. The results indicated that filtration and centrifugation at different levels are essential before the ultracentrifugation for isolating homogenous grape ELNs with desired size, zeta potential and PDI value. From the optimized method, we have obtained 4.8 ± 0.509 mg protein equivalents of ELNs from 100 g of grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinegar is used as one of the best seasoning and preservatives in foodstuffs worldwide; however, it might be contaminated with mycotoxins like ochratoxin A (OTA). This study aimed to investigate the fate of OTA during unit operations utilised for vinegar production, including washing, juicing, alcoholic fermentation, acetic fermentation, and pasteurisation. Results showed that all unit operations used in vinegar production led to OTA reduction. The highest (40.43%) and lowest (9.63%) reduction values of OTA were obtained during alcoholic fermentation and washing stages, respectively. Juicing, acetic fermentation, and pasteurisation stages reduced 18.86%, 35.97%, and 11.28% of OTA content, respectively. The average overall reduction of OTA during grape vinegar was 75.19%, which can play an influential role in reducing the risks of this mycotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune system plays a significant role in preventing and controlling diseases. Some studies reported the beneficial effects of grapes and their products on immunity. However, their results are controversial. This review aimed to discuss the effects of grapes and their products on immune system and their mechanisms of action. Although various in-vio and in-vitro studies and some human studies suggested that grapes and their products may help to improve the immune system’s function, clinical trials in this area are limited and inconsistent. In conclusions, although, consumption of grapes and their products may help to having a healthy immune syste, further studies particularly human studies are required to clarify the precise effects of them and their mechanisms regarding immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Agri-food by-products are emerging as a novel source of natural antihypertensive agents allowing for their valorization and making food and agricultural industries more environmentally friendly. In this regard, wine making process generates large amounts of by-products rich in phenolic compounds that have shown potential to exert several beneficial effects including antihypertensive properties. The aim of this study was to review the blood pressure-lowering effects of winery by-products. In addition, molecular mechanisms involved in their bioactivity were also evaluated. Among the winery by-products, grape seed extracts have widely shown antihypertensive properties in both animal and human studies. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that grape stem, skin and pomace and wine lees may also have great potential to manage HTN, although more studies are needed in order to confirm their potential in humans. Improvement of endothelial dysfunction and reduction of oxidative stress associated with HTN are the main mechanisms involved in the blood pressure-lowering effects of these by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical fingerprints of grape samples have been defined for 10 cultivars grown in two sampling areas characterized by homogeneous pedological and climate systems in the province of Treviso (northeast Italy). The choice of lithologies was based on the fact that vineyards in Italy frequently grow in both sedimentary soils with various terrigenous carbonate contents and basic volcanic soils. The latter may have high concentrations of heavy metals that are essential for a balanced human diet but can be toxic or harmful if assimilated in excess. To identify possible geochemical tracers within the soil that can be passed to the grapes and possible bioaccumulation of soil-derived elements within the grapes, major and trace elements of the soils, sampled at depths of greater root development, were determined by X-ray fluorescence, and metal concentrations in grape juice were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. All samples were compared with samples collected at two other sites located in the Euganean Hills, in the southern part of the Veneto region, considering that the wines produced in these areas are exported all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides present in grapes interact with wine sensory-active compounds (polyphenols and volatile compounds) via different mechanisms and can affect wine organoleptic qualities such as astringency, color and aroma. Studies on the role that grape polysaccharides play in wines are reviewed in this paper. First, the composition of grape polysaccharides and their changes during grape ripening, winemaking and aging are introduced. Second, different interaction mechanisms of grape polysaccharides and wine sensory-active compounds (flavanols, anthocyanins and volatiles) are introduced, and the possible effects on wine astringency, color and aroma caused by these interactions are illustrated. Finally, the control of the grape polysaccharide content in practice is discussed, including classical winemaking methods (applying different maceration enzymes, temperature control, co-fermentation, blending), modern vinification technologies (pulsed electric field, ultrasound treatment), and the development of new grape polysaccharide products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health and yield of grapes are affected by the microorganisms associated with the grapevine. The diversity of microorganisms present on the wine grape varieties is well defined whereas, the information associated with the microorganisms of table grape varieties remains scarce. In the present study, culture-dependent method was used to isolate the microbes present on the surface of the commercial white seedless table grape cultivar, Thompson Seedless at different stages of berry development. The microbial load of the grape berry surface increased as the berry progressed toward the ripening stage resulting in the identification of core bacteria (29), filamentous fungi (19) and yeast (3). A diversity analysis study also revealed that Cladosporium cladosporioides, was found in the vineyard on grapes from the early berry development stages, as an emerging pre-harvest pathogen. The study would help in understanding and exploiting the microbiota of table grape berry in agronomic and biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary flaxseed meal (FSM) supplemented with dried tomato pomace (DTP) and dried grape pomace (DGP) on performance, egg quality, biochemical parameters traits and antioxidant status of laying hens. Birds (1825 ± 87 g of body weight) were divided into 12 dietary groups with six replicates per group (eight birds per replicate), under a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 2 × 3 × 2 consisted of two levels of DTP (0 and 15%), three FSM levels (0, 4 and 8%) and two levels of DGP (0 and 5%). As a result of this study, there were no significant differences in egg production and weight as well in feed conversion ratio (FCR) among treatments (p > 0.05). Feeding of DGP reduced significantly feed intake and egg mass when compared to control group (p < 0.05). There was no effect (p > 0.05) of dietary treatment on shell thickness and strength, shape index, Haugh unit and egg specific gravity. Hens consuming 15% DTP and 5% DGP revealed a significantly higher yolk color compared to the other dietary treatments (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was no difference among dietary treatments in terms of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) cholesterol, atherogenic index, triglycerides, total cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). Serum antioxidant parameters as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (TSOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were not influenced by treatments (p > 0.05). Based on findings, FSM and DTP supplements did not significantly impact most of hens' performance indicators and egg quality parameters, whereas significant improvements were observed by feeding of 15% DTP and 5% DGP on egg traits, in particular on egg-yolk color that plays a key-role in consumer's choice. However, the supplementation of FSM and DTP or DGP even in laying hen diet is still controversial and further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the effect of soil application of three different sources of zinc (Zn) fertilizers including nano Zn chelate, Zn sulfate and nano Zn oxide (ZnO) each at three levels of 0, 250 and 500 mg kg−1 was examined in a 12-year-old vineyard. The results of the soil incubation test of different Zn containing fertilizers (with equal amounts of Zn) showed that these compounds had the highest availability during the first week they are added to soil, but over time this availability reduced. The highest Zn availability was related to nano Zn chelate and the lowest availability was related to nano ZnO and control treatments. Moreover, the amount of Zn extracted at the end of the growing season was lower in nano Zn chelate- treated soils than those treated with Zn sulfate and nano ZnO. The highest yield was related to those vines treated with nano Zn chelate at 500 mg kg−1 and the lowest was observed in control vines. Also, the highest and lowest total phenol and soluble sugars was detected in 500 mg kg−1 nano Zn chelate- treated and control vines, respectively. Berry anthocyanin, flavonoid, titratable acid, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase activity, protein, ascorbic acid, iron, and potassium dramatically increased in response to nano Zn chelate application. For this reason, because nano Zn chelate is less stabilized on soil, it is better to use nano Zn chelate fertilizer instead of other Zn compounds for improving the yield and quality of grape berries, especially in calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is one of the best food preservation methods, especially for grapes. This study aimed to determine the fate of pesticides after grapes are being subjected to different drying methods, namely, sun-, oven-, shade-, and alkaline-drying, which are employed in raisin production. Pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Washing before drying decreased the diazinon, ethion, phosalone, penconazole, and hexaconazole levels in the grape samples by 52.04%, 6.75%, 9.99%, 56.54%, and 20.97%, respectively. In the raisins, the concentration of all the pesticide residues increased based on wet weight, and this result was due to dehydration; by contrast, the concentrations of the pesticides decreased based on dry weight. The sun-drying method demonstrated the greatest efficiency in residue removal wherein it decreased the diazinon, ethion, phosalone, penconazole, and hexaconazole levels by 76.65%, 68.40%, 69.55%, 72.74%, and 82.19% (dry weight), respectively. On the contrary, the shade-drying method demonstrated the least efficiency in reducing the residue levels (19.57%–42.55%). The evaluation of the processing results showed pesticide residue level in the raisins prepared using the investigated drying methods was higher than the maximum residual limits (MRL). This finding indicates that it is necessary to consider the pre-harvest interval in pesticide application in grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate pesticide residues on Sultana Seedless Grapes harvested at different times and consequently evaluate the risk. Analyses were performed with the Quick-Easy-Cheap-Efficient-Rugged-Safe (QuEChERS)-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) procedure. Pesticide-free grapes were spiked at 3 levels. Chlorpyrifos-methyl, lambda-cyhalothrin and tebuconazole detection limits were 20, 10 and 1 µg kg−1, respectively. These values were below maximum residue levels (MRL) of 1000, 80 and 500 µg kg−1, respectively. The overall recovery of the method was 108.60%. Present values were within acceptable recovery (60–140%) and repeatability (≤20%) ranges set by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE). The vineyards were sprayed 4 times. Grapes were harvested in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th days from the last spray. The residues in the samples taken from 5 vine stock groups were determined. MRL-exceeding chlorpyrifos-methyl residue of 1140.09 µg kg−1 was detected in the 1st day. The MRL-exceeding lambda-cyhalothrin (381.15 and 307.39 µg kg−1) and tebuconazole residues (650.58 and 570.85 µg kg−1) were detected in the 1st and 3rd days, respectively. The residues of 7th and 14th day samples were significantly different from the others. Excessive pesticide concentrations did not pose any health risks on consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work proposed a method for recognising the green grapes in the orchard based on multi-source image fusion. First, the acquired multi-source images were denoised based on median filtering and wavelet transform. After extracting the feature points by the improved SURF (speeded up robust features) method, the registration was completed based on the consistency of feature offset and the affine relationship between images. The registered multi-source images were fused based on the CS (compressed sensing) and NSCT-DWT (non-down sampled contourlet transform-discrete wavelet transform). Then the MI-OPT (mutual-information optimal threshold) and the minimum circumscribed rectangle were used to segment the fused images and recognise fruits. The experimental results showed that the information of the target fruits in the fused images was complete. Therefore, compared with the K-means method using colour components of the visible light image and the OTSU (proposed by Nobuyuki Otsu and named after him) method based on near-infrared image, the fruit region obtained by the algorithm in the work was complete. On this basis, the average recognition rate of green grapes reached 92.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin is a potent human toxin and suspected carcinogen metabolite generated by Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. The current systematic meta-analysis review was conducted for the first time on the prevalence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dried grapes and grape-derived products including sultana, currant, raisin, pekmez, and grape juice. All studies published up to December 2019 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The references of published papers were collected in order to investigate the prevalence of OTA in dried grapes and grape-derived products. The degree of heterogeneity between the studies was evaluated by the I2 heterogeneity statistic. The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence in subgroups such as country and type of grape products. The search retrieved 725 studies, 39 of which were included in this meta-analysis. According to reviewed reports, the global pooled prevalence of OTA was estimated as 42% (95% CI: 32%, 52%) for currants, 36% (95% CI: 20%, 52%) for grape juice, 39% (95% CI: 28%, 50%) for pekmez, 58% (95% CI: 48%, 68%) for raisins, and 27% (95% CI: 22%, 33%) for sultana. The rank of grape-based products based on mean concentration of OAT was in order of pekmez > raisin > sultana > currant > grape juice. The lowest and highest prevalence of OTA in different studied samples were related to grape juice and pekmez, respectively. The results of this meta-analysis can be useful in different risks management models, and can help health strategists and different industries to reduce the prevalence of OTA in grape-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise induces free radicals' overproduction and therefore, an enhancement of oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between the production of reactive species and the intrinsic antioxidant defense. Redox activity of reactive species plays an important and a positive role on exercise adaptation, but these species at very high concentrations have detrimental effects. As a result, the use of antioxidant supplements for reducing oxidative stress can be an effective health strategy to maintain an optimal antioxidant status. In this sense, grapes are an important source of natural antioxidants due to their high content in polyphenols. They have shown antioxidant potential benefits for the reduction of intense exercise effect in athletes of different sport disciplines. Consequently, it is plausible to hypothesize that a strategic supplementation with grape based products may be a good approach to mitigate the exercise induced oxidative stress. The goal of this review is to present the state of the art of supplementation effects with grape beverages and grape extracts on the oxidative stress markers in athletes. The data of polyphenolic dosages, participant characteristics and exercise protocols are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of metals in peel, pulp, and seeds of grapes obtained from family farms in Brazil, compare them to the maximum threshold levels and to evaluate the risk by estimating the daily intake (EDI). Grape samples were collected from farms and levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were assessed via ICP-MS. The highest metal levels were found in grape peels, Cu at the highest concentration (107.6 mg kg−1). Cr, Cu, and Pb were found at concentrations which exceeded maximum threshold levels. The EDI of Cd, Cu and Pb through consumption of grapes for the assessed Brazilian population was 0.29, 1822 and 3.02 µg/kg bw/day, respectively. The EDI of Cu was above the Provisionary Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI). Thus, there are possible health risks due to the occurrence of Cu in Brazilian grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are important secondary metabolites crucial for the quality of grape berry and wine. Despite important advances in our understanding of the structural and regulatory genes involved in the PAs biosynthesis pathway, our knowledge about the details of biosynthetic and regulatory networks, especially the mechanism of polymerization and transportation remains limited. We provided an overview of the latest discoveries related to the mechanisms of grape PAs structure, astringency properties, detection methods, biosynthesis and transportation. We also summarized the environmental influencing factors of PAs synthesis in grape. Future trends were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissipation and residue of validamycin A in grapes were investigated under field conditions. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of validamycin A in grapes was established and validated. Methanol and water (90/10, v/v) were used for validamycin A extraction and purification used MCX solid-phase extraction cartridges. The average recoveries of validamycin A in grapes at 0.01, 0.50, and 5.0 mg/kg levels were between 83.8 and 91.4%, with relative standard deviations of 2.3–3.0%. The half-lives of validamycin A in grape were 4.4–6.1 days. The terminal residues in grapes over a range of harvest times (7, 14, and 21 days) were no more than 0.73 mg/kg. According to Chinese consumption data, the risk quotient (RQ) of validamycin A was 3.22%, demonstrating a low risk to consumers. The current study may offer guidance for validamycin A use and could aid the government in determining the maximum residue level (MRL) values for validamycin A in grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoke taint is becoming a worldwide problem for wine production because of the increasing number of fires in wine regions. It is the result of volatile phenols released by fire smoke which bind to berry sugars, translocate mainly through bunch stem and/or through berry skin. The techniques used to remove smoke taint from wine can modify wine quality provided that smoke taint is completely removed from the wine. We report the first data on the ozone fumigation of harvested grape which was affected by the smoke taint. The experiments were run on table grapes in the laboratory. The grape bunches were smoked by straw fire for 2 hours and then ozone fumigated for 4 hours in a cold room at 10 °C. At a nonformal sensory evaluation, the smoke taint which was strong on smoked grapes, was not perceived after the ozone treatment, and the main volatile phenols (guaiacol and 4-methylguaiacol) of the smoke taint were reduced significantly; the skin color slightly darkened in the berries affected by smoke while skin firmness increased; ozone did not recover these effects. Application of NIR-AOTF (Near InfraRed-Acoustic-Optic Tunable Filter) and E-nose (electronic nose) on smoked grapes emphasizes the role of temperature but overall discovers the usefulness of the E-nose in the early detection of smoke taint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains of Lactobacillus plantarum 21802 and Lactobacillus brevis 6239 were selected and combined for fermentation of grape juice. The changes of sugars, organic acids, volatiles, phenolic compounds as well as antioxidant capacity of the grape juice were characterized. Results showed that fermentation with LAB led to a slight decrease in sugar content and increased in organic acid content. The sugars were mainly consumed at the initial stage of fermentation, while the malic acid was consumed completely during the fermentation. The contents of total phenolics and flavonoids in grape juice decreased gradually during the fermentation process. As compared with the initial contents in unfermented grape juice, the contents of proanthocyanin B2, rutin, isoquercitrin, rhamnose-3-O-glucoside in the final fermented grape juice were increased by 26.83%, 249.24%, 138.48%, 139.60%, respectively, while the contents of gallic acid, proanthocyanin B1, catechin and epicatechin were decreased by 24.49%, 14.85%, 71.68%, 42.52%, respectively. The mice fed with the fermented grape juice showed higher activity of superoxide dismutase and lower level of malondialdehyde both in serum and liver tissue than those fed with the unfermented grape juice. Fermentation with LAB also enhanced the flavor profile by increasing the total number and content of volatile compounds, especially those of monoterpene alcohols, which are the main and characteristic aroma volatile compounds in Muscat aroma grapes. This research confirmed that fermentation with LAB might be a desirable option for improving the flavor and nutritional attributes of grape juice by altering the ratio of sugar to organic acid, improving the phenolic compounds, enhancing the antioxidant capacity, intensifying of the characteristic aroma and pleasant flavor of the grape juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early ripening is an important desirable attribute for fruit crops. 'Tiangong Moyu', a bud mutant of the grape cultivar 'Summer Black' (Vitis vinifera L.× Vitis labrusca L.), ripens nearly 10 days earlier and shows earlier increase in fresh weight, sugar accumulation, and color change and faster decrease in titratable acid than 'Summer Black'. To identify the genes controlling early fruit development and ripening in 'Tiangong Moyu', RNA-Seq profiles of the two cultivars were compared at five different berry developmental stages. Based on GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, the differentially expressed genes were clustered into various functional groups, including plant hormone signal transduction, transcription factors, anthocyanin-associated biosynthesis pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant–pathogen associated and plant–pathogen interaction, and ripening-related protein genes. Our results provided a global transcriptional profile of candidate genes involved in regulating berry development and ripening and a genetic basis for the understanding of grape berry ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes used in the wine or juice production are mainly Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca and possess high amounts of polyphenolic compounds. These compounds are associated with the reduction of the inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and protection against cardiovascular diseases. The industrial processes used for juice and wine production may interfere with the antioxidant composition of these products and the effects on human health. The aim of this review is to compare the effects of the consumption of wine or grape juice on cardiovascular risk factors. We used PRISMA guidelines and Medline/PUBMED and EMBASE to perform our search. The main effects of red wine and grape juice in humans were a reduction of body mass index, waist circumference, glycemia, plasma lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol, LDL-c, triglycerides, blood pressure, and homocysteine levels. Both wine and grape juice possess numerous bioactive compounds that are potentially responsible for many beneficial effects on human health. Nevertheless, there is a need for more double-blind, randomized controlled studies comparing the effects of juice and wine consumption without the biases that occur when comparisons are made with different populations, ages, doses, and different types of wine or juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health challenge due to its high prevalence, and it increases the risk of development of end-stage renal disease. Although the pathophysiology of CKD is complicated and has not been fully understood, the elevated oxidative stress is considered to play a central role in the development of this disease, thus it becomes an attractive target for CKD prevention or management. The grape extract is one of the rich sources of antioxidants. Literature demonstrates that the consumption of grape antioxidants has significant benefits to the reduction of oxidative stress in different health conditions. In this article, we reviewed the role of the oxidative stress in CKD pathophysiology, and both the preclinical and clinical findings of anti-oxidative activity of proanthocyanidins in grape extracts (catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1 and procyanidin), particularly in subjects with CKD. It has been shown that grape-based antioxidants have beneficial effects on chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and may also prevent the development of CKD and cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey and blue mould diseases are among the most important diseases of grapes worldwide. They are causing extensive decay in postharvest grapes. Chemical fungicides remain the primary treatment for managing these diseases. However, consumer's interest in organic produce, restrictions on chemical use by some countries, and concerns about human and environmental safety have driven research to identify safe and effective alternatives. Among several alternative approaches, the use of biological control agents (BCAs) is getting more acceptance and has been comprehensively studied. This review summarizes the use of BCAs as a postharvest treatment to control the postharvest grey and blue mould of grapes. The review also emphasizes the economic importance of these two major postharvest diseases of grapes. In addition, other non-chemical postharvest treatments, the advantage of an integrated approach and finally problems, challenges, and future trends of the BCAs are described. Several yeasts that have a promising result to control grey and blue mould disease of grapes are thoroughly reviewed. The current market share of BCAs and their future directions on commercialization are also suggested in this review. Biocontrols can be a potential control method for postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables in place of chemical fungicides. Antagonistic yeasts have high ability to suppress fungal growth. Integrated approach utilizes a combination approaches, which often results in a synergistic effect to control the diseases. USA and Europe are currently the largest markets for biocontrol products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape is intolerant of aluminum. This intolerance leads to severe aluminum poisoning when the plants are cultivated in acidic soil, resulting in a decline in their yield and quality. To reduce and prevent the dangers of aluminum toxicity to grape, a method of identifying tolerance to aluminum was discussed, and genotypes tolerant to aluminum were screened. Twenty-six grape germplasm resources from different sources were used as materials. The morphological and physiological indices in different germplasm sources grown in soilless cultivation and subjected to aluminum stress were measured and compared to a control. The coefficient for the tolerance to aluminum of each character was used as the index of aluminum tolerance. The principal component analysis method was used to combine 13 individual indices into five independent comprehensive indices, which could represent 85.341% of the original data on the tolerance of the plants to aluminum. Through cluster analysis, the 26 grape germplasm sources were divided into three types. Vitis vinifera 'Red Globe', V. vinifera 'Blackcurrant', (V. amurensis × V. vinifera)×V. amurensis 'Zuoyouhong' and V. sinocinerea were tolerant to aluminum. Twelve genotypes were moderately tolerant to aluminum and ten genotypes were intolerant to aluminum. Four indices with significant effects on the tolerance to aluminum were screened out, including the fresh weight of the aboveground vegetation and the malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 and proline contents, which could be used as the identified index of the tolerance to aluminum in grape. The comprehensive evaluation of the tolerance of grape to aluminum using these methods can avoid the one-sidedness and instability of a single index, and the result is more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey describes the occurrence of Ethephon (ETH) and Fosetyl in fruits intended for export produced in the São Francisco Valley, Brazil. The determination of these compounds was carried out by the QuPPe-method (Quick Polar Pesticides Method), which was optimised and successfully validated according to the SANTE/11813/2017. From January 2016 to December 2018 a total of 1048 samples were analysed for ETH residues. In 547 (53%) of the samples, residues below the EU MRL of 1 mg kg−1 were present. In 17 samples (2%) ETH residues were above 1 mg kg−1. Overall, the mean ETH level decreased after 2016. Analyses of fosetyl showed that (18%) of 109 mango samples were positive for this compound. Phosphonic acid was found in concentrations ranging from 0.12 to 3.2 mg kg−1 and 5% of the measurements were above the EU MRL of 2 mg kg−1. The results emphasise the quality control of fruits produced in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A controlled acute, cross-over clinical study (NCT02710461) was performed in order to evaluate the effects on glucose metabolism of a grape/pomegranate pomace dietary supplement in subjects with abdominal obesity (aged 40-60, n = 20). A standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was administered alone, together with or 10 h after the consumption of 10 g of the dietary supplement, rich in both extractable (0.4 g) and non-extractable (1.4 g) polyphenols. The dietary supplement did not ameliorate glucose or insulin at any sampling time. No improvement in antioxidant capacity was observed in plasma or urine, concordant with no increased urine polyphenol excretion. A tendency towards improved insulin sensitivity was observed when the product was consumed 10 h before glucose solution. These results suggest that a single realistic dose of grape/pomegranate pomace is not able to clearly improve glucose metabolism; chronic intake remains to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies about superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes were mostly with regard to biotic and abiotic stress responses. Some reports have indicated SOD genes may play an important role in plant development. However, little is known about the relationship of SOD genes with grape berry ripening. Thirteen VviSOD genes were identified from grape genome sequences based on the bioinformatic method. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these VviSODs could be divided into two groups. The genes of VviCu/ZnSOD1a and VviCu/ZnSOD1c were identified as tandem replication genes. The expression analyses based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR results in 'Kyoho' and its early-ripening bud mutant, 'Fengzao', demonstrated that the VviSOD genes involved in the grape berry ripening and VviCu/ZnSOD1c were the main candidate. Sequence analysis of VviCu/ZnSOD1c gene in 'Fengzao' showed that the coding sequence was the same as that of 'Kyoho'. According to the bioinformatic and expression analysis, VviSOD genes probably involved in the grape berry ripening and VviCu/ZnSOD1c was selected as the main candidate to further explore its potential role in the early ripening of 'Fengzao'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite produced by filamentous fungi species belonging to the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus. The contamination of grapes by ochratoxigenic species occurs worldwide in regions of tropical and temperate climates. Better control of fungal growth is achieved through good cultural practice and proper selection of fungicides. Kresoxim-methyl and famoxadone are the most common fungicides used in vineyards. This study aimed at analysing the OTA production and toxigenic potential of Aspergillus carbonarius under fungicide treatment with famoxadone and kresoxim-methyl. The growth rate of A. carbonarius was evaluated by measuring the glucosamine content and the diameter of the fungal colonies. OTA production was quantified by HPLC analysis. The treatment with fungicides, kresoxim-methyl and famoxadone, significantly reduced the fungal growth, by 76% and 60%, respectively. However, the mycotoxin production was greater in the fungicide-treated groups than the control group, showing that even though the fungicides were effective in controlling fungal growth, they were ineffective against mycotoxin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the deeper coloring mechanism of berry, the 'Benitaka' (Be) grape, ABA treatment on 'Benitaka' (Be (ABA)), and its deeper coloring bud mutation 'Brasil' (Br) grape were compared three weeks post-ABA treatment (11 weeks post-flowering, 200 mg/g ABA). Firstly, the ABA-treated group exhibited a deeper coloring at three weeks post-ABA treatment than the 'Brasil'. Deeper color in 'Brasil' was caused by higher content of peonidin-3-O-monoglucoside, malvidin-3-O-monoglucoside, and malvidin-3-O-coumarylglucoside, while the deeper color in ABA-treated group was mainly caused by higher content of cyanidin-3-O-monoglucoside and peonidin-3-O-monoglucoside. In addition, the results revealed that 'Brasil' showed deeper coloring than 'Benitaka' was probably due to the higher expression of the VvmybA1 and VvmybA1-1 genes, similar with ABA-treated group. Compared with 'Benitaka', the distinction between the ABA-treated group and 'Brasil' was the expression of VvmybA1 gene. The gene expression was delayed in the ABA-treated group until three weeks post treatment. The VvmybA1 gene and transcription factor play an important role in the anthocyanin biosynthesis, and showed the difference in expressions of the VvmybA1 and VvmybA1-1 gene during different period of time probably due to different kind of anthocyanins. Based on these results, a possible mechanism of anthocyanins biosynthesis was established to elaborate the reason for the deeper coloring in ABA-treated 'Benitaka' and 'Brasil' grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genotype selection is an essential step in breeding programs determining nutrient content and composition and, thereby, the quality indices of grapevines and their products. The grapevine bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids, are determinants of grape quality and possess strong health-promoting effects in grapevine and humans. Grapevine nutrient content and composition depends on genotype–environmental interaction in which genotype selection and stress conditions, particularly severity, time, and combination of stresses play significant roles in determining grape and wine quality. This review article aims to provide information required for appropriate genotype selection of grapevines for production of high-quality fruits. The influence of interacting factors, including genotype selection, grapevine metabolites, and environmental conditions, and their interrelationships on the quality of grapevines (flavor, aroma, pigmentation, color stability, and stress tolerance of red and white grapes) and their products (organoleptic properties and storage life of wine/must and juice) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on plant genotype–environment interactions, cell signal transduction, and thereby gene expression, disruptive or promotive effects on grapevine physiology, metabolism, and, consequently, fruit quality and yield may occur. This review article aims to evaluate the effects of temperature and light stress on grapevine signaling and metabolic pathways to provide insights into breeding/engineering strategies for designing grapevines with improved quality, yield and tolerance. The modifications of signaling and metabolic pathways are discussed to assist geneticists with designing tolerant grape cultivars with high capacity of producing bioactive compounds and, thereby health-promoting effects in grapevines and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are important constituents of red wine, contributing to its sensory properties and antioxidant activity. Owing to the diversity and structural complexity, study of these compounds was mainly limited, during the last three decades, on their low-molecular-mass compounds or simple phenolic compounds. Only in recent years, much attention has been paid to highly polymerized polyphenols in grape and red wines. The reason for this is largely due to the development of analytical techniques, especially those of HPLC-ESI-MS, permitting the structural characterization of highly polymerized polyphenols. Furthermore, the knowledge on the biological properties of polymeric polyphenols of red wine is very limited. Grape polyphenols mainly consist of proanthocyanidins (oligomers and polymers) and anthocyanins, and low amount of other phenolics. Red wine polyphenols include both grape polyphenols and new phenolic products formed from them during winemaking process. This leads to a great diversity of new polyphenols and makes wine polyphenol composition more complex. The present paper summarizes the advances in the research of polymeric polyphenols in grape and red wine and their important role in Enology. Scientific results indicate that polymeric polyphenols, as the major polyphenols in grape and red wine, play a major role in red wine sensory properties, color stability and antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound identification is the main hurdle in LC-HRMS-based metabolomics, given the high number of ‘unknown’ metabolites. In recent years, numerous in silico fragmentation simulators have been developed to simplify and improve mass spectral interpretation and compound annotation. Nevertheless, expert mass spectrometry users and chemists are still needed to select the correct entry from the numerous candidates proposed by automatic tools, especially in the plant kingdom due to the huge structural diversity of natural compounds occurring in plants. In this work, we propose the use of a supervised machine learning approach to predict molecular substructures from isotopic patterns, training the model on a large database of grape metabolites. This approach, called ‘Compounds Characteristics Comparison’ (CCC) emulates the experience of a plant chemist who ‘gains experience’ from a (proof-of-principle) dataset of grape compounds. The results show that the CCC approach is able to predict with good accuracy most of the sub-structures proposed. In addition, after querying MS/MS spectra in Metfrag 2.2 and applying CCC predictions as scoring terms with real data, the CCC approach helped to give a better ranking to the correct candidates, improving users’ confidence in candidate selection. Our results demonstrated that the proposed approach can complement current identification strategies based on fragmentation simulators and formula calculators, assisting compound identification. The CCC algorithm is freely available as R package (https://github.com/lucanard/CCC) which includes a seamless integration with Metfrag. The CCC package also permits uploading additional training data, which can be used to extend the proposed approach to other systems biological matrices. List of abbreviations: Acidic: acidic moiety; aliph: aliphatic chain; AUC: area under the ROC curve; bs: best glycosidic structure; CCC: Compounds’ Characteristics Comparison; Cees: Carbons estimation errors; CO: Carbon to Oxygen ratio; Het: Heterocyclic moiety; IMD: Isotopic Mass Defect (and Pattern); LC-HRMS: Liquid Chromatography - High Resolution Mass Spectrometry; md: mass defect; MM: Monoisotopic Mass; MS: Mass Spectrometry; MSE: Mean Squared Error; nC: number of Carbons; NN: Nitrogen; pC: percentage of Carbon mass on the total mass; Pho: Phosphate; PLSr: Partial Least Square regression; ppm: parts per million; QSRR: Quantitative structure-retention relationship; RMD: Relative Mass Defect; ROC: Receiver Operating Characteristics; rRMD: residual Relative Mass Defect; RT: retention time; Sul: Sulphur; UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS: Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography - ElectroSpray Ionization -Quadropole - Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometry; VAT: Vitis arizonica Texas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, rapid and selective method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and QuEChERS was established for simultaneous determination of dimethomorph and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl residues in grape. The mean intra-day recoveries of dimethomorph and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl in grape were in the range of 91.5-103.5% at four-spiked levels. The inter-day recoveries of dimethomorph and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl in grape were 98.9% and 98.6% at spiked level of 0.5 mg kg−1, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 8.4%, and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.01 mg kg−1 for both fungicides. The residual behaviour of both fungicides in the grape field at two different locations was investigated using the developed and validated method. The half-lives of dimethomorph in grapes were 5.9 to 8.8 d, and that of benthiavalicarb-isopropyl were 7.9 to 11.6 d. The terminal residues of dimethomorph and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl were lower than 1.3 and 0.79 mg kg−1, respectively. The results of dietary risk assessment showed that the risk of dimethomorph and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl was negligible to Chinese residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) was determined in the ripe pericarps of several grape genotypes. Moreover, the abundance pattern of PEPCK during the development of grape berries was studied in a range of cultivars. In addition, the presence of PEPCK in grape leaves and the location/abundance of PEPCK in developing grape seeds were investigated. PEPCK was present in the pericarp of all the cultivars of Vitis vinifera studied and in that of the hybrid 420A (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis riparia). By contrast, PPDK was either not present or present at very low abundance. The results strongly indicated that the PEPCK and not the PPDK pathway is the predominant one utilised in gluconeogenesis in the berry pericarp of grape genotypes. Further, the results showed that the abundance of PEPCK increased greatly at the start of ripening in all the cultivars, showing a similar pattern in all of them. PEPCK was not present (or at very low abundance) in grape leaves throughout their development. In developing grape seeds, the results indicated a similar abundance of PEPCK in both the seed coat and the tissues enclosed by it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viticultural practices as defoliation (DF) and cluster tipping (CT) (hereinafter referred to as the abbreviation) are often used for crop regulation to enhance quality. Reduced yield can be accompanied not only with more favourable sugar-acid composition but also with changes of other chemical compounds in the berries, for example, biogenic amines as well. The latter play a significant role in human health. The experiment has been carried out at three different growing sites of Hungary in 2014. DF was done at full bloom, CT occurred when the berry reached pea size. Berry sampling for biogenic amine analysis was carried out several times during the ripening period. In our trial, we examined the effect of the above-mentioned treatments, the sites and the sampling dates on the amount of berries’ biogenic amine content. We concluded that DF and CT changed the amount of each type of amines in the berries. According to our measurements the treatments and the site did affect the amount and composition of biogenic amines, but the sampling time not. The treatments were most effective in the case of histamine which is crucial for triggering allergic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of wine industry wastes (grape peel, seed, and stem) as alternative biosorbents to remove Ag from aqueous media was investigated in this work. Wine industry wastes were washed, lyophilized and pulverized to obtain the biosorbents. The powdered biosorbents were characterized in detail and several batch experiments were performed to found the most suitable conditions for Ag biosorption. Kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies were also performed. The interactions Ag-biosorbent were elucidated by analyses before and after the biosorption. For all wastes, the maximum removal percentages were found using a biosorbent dosage of 3.0 g L−1at pH of 7.0. The kinetic data were well represented by the pseudo-first-order model. The equilibrium was satisfactorily represented by the Sips model. The maximum biosorption capacities, found at 298 K, were: 41.7, 61.4, and 46.4 mg g−1for grape peel, seed, and stem, respectively. Thermodynamically, the biosorption was a spontaneous, favorable, exothermic, and enthalpy-controlled process. The magnitude of ΔH0indicated a physical sorption. These results showed that the wine industry wastes can be considered alternative efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly biosorbents to remove Ag from aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ultraviolet radiation has detrimental effects on plants and levels are expected to rise through mid-century. Photosystem II is the most vulnerable site in chlorophyll affecting productivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate leaf-level interactions with UV radiation in tropical and temperate crops. The species sampled were (1) citrus, (2) banana, (3) coffee, (4) pineapple, (5) olive, (6) grape, (7) apple, and (8) tobacco. Plants of each species were placed beneath a polycarbonate structure that excluded 98% of UV radiation, but maintained ambient environmental conditions and transmitted 96% PAR (UV-treatment). Plants of each species were maintained nearby under ambient conditions (i.e., without a UV filter; UV+ treatment). The maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) was measured with and without UV radiation at the time of measurement. Photosynthesis (A) and quantum efficiency (ΦII) were measured in the same experimental system using only apple, citrus, banana, and coffee. Only banana and coffee did not fully recover their Fv/Fm potential when they had not been previously exposed to UV, indicating that these species probably had not induced background repair mechanisms. The ΔFv/Fm is small in magnitude for banana and coffee due to UV treatment but when A is measured, the treatment impact has greater magnitude and banana and coffee A do not recover and coffee ΦII continues to decline while banana ΦII appears to stabilize. Banana and coffee have the potential to benefit from cultural practices that reduce the UV irradiance to the leaf or canopy surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape as one of the important horticultural crops plays significant role in health maintenance. In this study, the effect of nitric oxide (NO) was investigated on some physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidant enzymes activities of grape fruits (cv. Rish Baba) during chilling damage. Grape fruits were treated by 0 (control), 0.25 and 0.5 mM of NO and stored at −0.5°C and 95% relative humidity for 5 weeks. The results showed that NO reduced chilling injury (CI) and decay, ion leakage, lipid peroxidation and accumulation of malon dialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content of grape fruits. The NO also increased vitamin C, organic acids, total soluble solids, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) during chilling damage. The results indicated that 0.5 mM showed the best effect. The founding revealed that NO has potential application in postharvest treatment by alleviating CI and maintain of quality. The present study is the first evidence of nitric oxide effects on avoiding chilling damage in grape. AbbreviationsNitric oxide (NO); Sodium nitroprusside (SNP); Chilling injury (CI); Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Peroxidase (POD); Ascorbate peroxidase (APX); Superoxide dismutase (SOD); Catalase (CAT); Glutathion reductase (GR); Malon dialdehyde (MDA); Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantified the free and conjugated phenolic content of extracts from selected Liliaceae (white and red onion), Punicaceae (red and pink pomegranate), Vitaceae (zini, red globe, and baladi grape), and Rosaceae (yellow and red apple) cultivated family plants and evaluated their antioxidant activities and beneficial properties toward diabetes and hypertension. Free and bound phenolics were extracted from plants, and total phenolic contents were evaluated. Antioxidant activities were assessed, as well as the inhibitory effects of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/ mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) measured the individual phenolic content in both free and bound extracts. The free phenolic contents in the selected plants were higher than bound phenolic contents, except for in zini and red globe grapes. In onion, the highest antioxidant activity was observed in the bound phenolic extract (49.6-56.9%). In pomegranates, grapes, and apples, the highest antioxidant activities were obtained in free phenolic extracts at 30°C with values of 65.3% to 74.2%, 39.6% to 47.6%, and 49.5% to 55.9%, respectively. ACE was 100% inhibited by the free phenolic extract at 30°C from white onion and by the bound phenolic extract after acid hydrolysis of red onion. The highest α-amylase enzyme inhibitory activity was obtained in free phenolic extracts at 60°C of both red pomegranates and zini grapes. The highest α-glucosidase inhibition activity (99.3-99.6%) was found in free phenolic extracts at 30°C from red and pink pomegranates. Reverse phase HPLC revealed two predominant groups of free and bound phenolics identified in onion, pomegranate, grape, and apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, grape fruits showing ripe rot symptom were found in fields of Korea. The fungus was isolated and identified as Colletotrichum viniferum based on morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ß-tubulin. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. viniferum causing grape ripe rot disease of grape fruits in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of whole red grape juice (juice) on blood pressure (BP) at rest and on the magnitude of post-exercise hypotension (PEH).Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled study was performed with 26 individuals with hypertension (40 to 59 years old) who were divided into experimental (n = 14) and control (n = 12) groups. Subsequently, the experimental group was subdivided according to the initial BP values. The subjects performed 2 sessions of aerobic exercise on a treadmill (60 minutes, 60%-85% maximum heart rate), separated by a 28-day period of supplementation with a daily dose of juice (150 ml for men and 100 ml for women) or a control drink. BP was measured before, during, and immediately after each exercise session as well as every 10 minutes during the 60-minute post-exercise recovery period.Results: The BP at rest did not change in the experimental group, but when this group was subdivided by initial BP, the subjects with controlled initial BP (EGCP) achieved a significant reduction (133.3 ± 5.6 to 114.6 ± 12.2 mmHg, p = 0.02); in contrast, the experimental group with borderline hypertensive BP values (EGBP) did not. Intervention with juice did not modify PEH in the experimental group, but when this group was divided as a function of the initial BP, PEH was potentiated at some times in EGCP.Conclusions: We conclude that juice promotes a reduction in BP at rest and is also capable of improving PEH in individuals with hypertension, but these effects are dependent on the initial BP values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability of bio-based chemicals, materials and energy at reasonable cost will be one of the forthcoming issues for the EU economy. In particular, the development of technologies making use of alternative resources to fossil fuels is encouraged by the current European research and innovation strategy to face the societal challenge of natural resource scarcity, fossil resource dependence and sustainable economic growth. In this respect, second- generation biorefineries, i.e. biorefineries fed with biowastes, appear to be good candidates to substitute and replace the present downstream processing scheme. Contrary to first-generation biorefineries, which make use of dedicated crops or primary cultivations to achieve such a goal, the former employ agricultural, industrial, zootechnical, fishery and forestry biowastes as the main feedstock. This leaves aside any ethical and social issue generated by first-generation approaches, and concomitantly prevents environmental and economical issues associated with the disposal of the aforementioned leftovers. Unfortunately, to date, a comprehensive and updated mapping of the availability and potential use of bioresources for second-generation biorefineries in Europe is missing. This is a lack that severely limits R&D and industrial applications in the sector. On the other hand, attempts at valorizing the most diverse biowastes dates back to the nineteenth century and plenty of information in the literature on their sustainable exploitation is available. However, the large majority of these investigations have been focused on single fractions of biowastes or single steps of biowaste processing, preventing considerations on an integrated and modular (cascade) approach for the whole valorization of organic leftovers. This review aims at addressing these issues by gathering recent data on (a) some of the main high-impact biowastes located in Europe and in particular in its Southern part, and (b) the bio-based chemicals, materials and fuels that can be produced from such residues. In particular, we focused on those key compounds referred to as “chemical platforms”, which have been indicated as fundamental to generate the large majority of the industrially relevant goods to date. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ethanol consumption has deleterious effects on all organs and especially on brain. In our study, the radical scavenging properties of grape skin and grape flesh (contains natural antioxidants like polyphenols) was determinedin vitroand forin vivostudies, male Wistar rats (16–18 week-old) and 100–120 gm weight were divided in five groups of six animals each. One group were fed with ethanol (1.6 gm/kg body weight), while second group were fed with ethanol (1.6 g/kg body weight) and grape skin extract (2.5 g/kg body weight), the third group were fed with ethanol (1.6 g/kg body weight) and grape flesh extract, daily once for 12 weeks, while the fourth group were fed with ethanol (1.6 g/kg body weight) and tocopheryl acetate (80 mg/kg/day) daily once for 12 weeks. Results ofin vitrostudies indicate that grape skin extracts showed significant radical scavenging properties (ROS). There was also significantly alteration of serum cytokines in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Resveratrols and flavonoids have important beneficial roles in plants and to humans. The grape family (Vitaceae) is one of several families that can biosynthesise both resveratrols and flavonoids. Previous research has shown that UV-C may induce the biosynthesis of resveratrols in the fruit of grape. But little is known about the UV-C-induced biosynthesis of resveratrols and flavonoids in grape leaves. This study demonstrated that the biosynthesis of resveratrol in grape leaves strongly increased in response to UV-C irradiation. The largest contribution to total resveratrols wastrans-resveratrol. The expression of related genes, includingPAL, C4H, 4CLandSTS, increased and peaked 6–12 h after treatment, earlier than the peak of total resveratrol. In contrast, total flavonoid content and the expression of the key geneCHSwas not affected by UV-C radiation, staying at a low level after UV-C irradiation. In summary, there is a differential response to UV-C radiation for the biosynthesis of stilbenes and flavonoids in grape leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic composition of a natural food colourant (G8000™) as well as its effects on plasma markers after 28-day consumption by healthy individuals at a dietary dose (70 g). Parameters of total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides and plasma enzymes biomarkers of muscle injury were measured. Major compounds identified in G8000™ by ESI-MS showed the presence of anthocyanins, organic acids, phenolic acids as well as monosaccharides. HDL levels significantly increased from 43 ± 10.2 mg/dL to 95 ± 16.9 mg/dL. LDL levels significantly decreased from 110 ± 40.9 mg/dL to 69 ± 39 mg/dL ( p < 0.001). No significant statistical differences ( p > 0.05) were observed for total cholesterol, triglycerides and VLDL. After the intake, plasma enzyme CK-MB decreased from 20 ± 12.1 U/L to 10 ± 1.9 U/L while LDH levels increased from 275 ± 124.4 U/L to 317 ± 114.7 U/L ( p < 0.005). No significant differences were observed for CK levels. Taken together, dietary intake of natural colourant G8000™ was able to exert beneficial effects on atherosclerosis biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]