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Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) have been extensively explored in the design of accurate, transparent, and conclusive food safety and quality control assays. Its hyphenation with chemometric algorithms is instrumental in securing safe food campaigns. To provide valuable recommendations and meet the growing demands for food screening, the current study begins with a brief description of the Raman spectroscopy and SERS theory followed by a comprehensive overview of spectral preprocessing, qualitative algorithms, variable selection methods, and quantitative algorithms. The review emphasizes on the importance of food monitoring practices using multivariate regression models. The applicability of the distinct chemometrics modes toward monitoring pesticide, food and illicit additives, heavy metals, pathogens, and its metabolites in Raman spectroscopy and SERS is covered in dairy, poultry, oil, honey, beverages, and other selected food matrices. Its pertinence toward classification and/or discrimination in food quality and safety monitoring and authentication is examined. Finally, it also complies with the limitations, key challenges, and prospects. The chemometrics processing spectra implemented with simpler or no complicated sample pretreatment step make Raman spectroscopy/SERS technique a potential approach that is expected to achieve simultaneous and fast detection of multiple analytes in food matrices.

Major losses of fresh horticultural produce transpire during postharvest storage due to prompt senescence and diseases. The traditional postharvest preservation techniques used after harvest are based on cooling and the application of chemical preservation techniques. As a residue-free physical sterilization and preservation method, light-emitting diode (LED) treatment, has recently been applied for postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables by numerous researchers. This paper reviews the recent applications of LEDs in postharvest storage of fresh produce, including its effect on physiological characteristics, secondary metabolism, nutritional attributes, ripening process, senescence, shelf-life improvement, and pathogenic microbial spoilage of fruits and vegetables. LED treatment has promoted the accumulation of different phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, vitamins, glucosinolates, chlorophyll, total soluble solids, and carotenoids. Changes in the nutritional content, anthocyanin content, antioxidant capacity, and ripening were also observed after the treatment. Reduction in microbial spoilage and delay senescence were evident after the LED exposure. The influence of LED light depended on the fruit and vegetable variety. Therefore, LED treatment is an efficient and promising strategy for extending the storage life of fruits and vegetables with enhanced nutritional values.

Background Pistachio fruits suffer from postharvest decay, caused by Aspergillus flavus. This results in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) accumulation in kernels, which is hazardous for human health due to its carcinogenic activity. In this study, the mechanism used by exogenous β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) treatment for attenuating Aspergillus decay, minimizing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) accumulation, and maintaining nutritional quality in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus during storage at 25 °C for 18 days, was investigated. Result Results of an in vivo assay showed that the spore germination and germ tube elongation of A. flavus was repressed by BABA treatment at 7.5 mM. Aspergillus decay accompanied by AFB1 accumulation was also minimized in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA at 7.5 mM and infected by A. flavus. Fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus, treated with BABA at 7.5 mM, also exhibited higher phenol and flavonoid accumulation and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity accompanied by higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme activity. Conclusion Promoting phenylpropanoid pathway activity with higher PAL enzyme activity in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA may not only reduce Aspergillus decay in kernels by cell wall fortification but also may be favorable for maintaining the kernels' nutritional quality through its effects on ROS scavenging capacity. As oxidative stress, represented by ROS accumulation, is responsible for A. flavus growth and AFB1 accumulation, higher phenol and flavonoid accumulation in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA may be beneficial for attenuating Aspergillus decay and minimizing AFB1 accumulation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

In this article, the application of diffusion wave spectroscopy technique (DWS) in two systems is presented, one involving only physical changes and the other involving slow chemical reactions. Information which is hardly accessible via routine techniques was obtained via DWS; this demonstrates the intrinsic advantages, the versatility, and the sophistication of this technique. We argue that the major hurdle on the direct application of this technique in food lies in the lack of the latter's physicochemical details, which hinders full data interpretation.

Novel microencapsulation of Syringa essential oil (EO) was successfully prepared via the inclusion method, with encapsulation efficiency of 39.52% and loading capacity of 11.54%. Eugenol, caryophyllene and humulene were demonstrated to be the principal constituents in vitro released from Syringa EO microencapsulation (SEOM) independent of the environmental temperature. Furthermore, the potential delivery encapsulated by Syringa EO and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) synergistically maintained quality attributes and storage behavior of postharvest Prunus persia fruit. The SEOM and/or 1-MCP treatments retained fruit firmness and acidity, as well as inhibited fruit decay and ethylene release. And SEOM promoted ester and terpenoid biosynthesis as well as inhibited aldehyde production in Prunus persia fruit during storage.

The extraction and characterization of bioactive compounds from bamboo shoot shell was performed under ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) along with UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS analysis. Under optimized UAE conditions (ethanol concentration (58%), liquid to solid ratio (24 mL/g), extraction temperature (59 °C), and sonication time (29 min)), total phenolic content (TPC) was recorded highest as 85.3 mg GAE/g DW, while DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities were 77 μmol AAE/g DW and 33 μmol AAE/g DW, respectively. Using UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS analysis, fifteen phenolic acids, seven flavonoids, nineteen organic acids, two iridoid glucosides, and one neoglinan were identified. Among them, p-coumaric acid (119 μg/g DW), chlorogenic acid (87 μg/g DW), rutin (39 μg/g DW), and ferulic acid (17 μg/g DW) were found to be the most abundant phenolic compounds. Furthermore, compounds including phenolic acids (3-p-coumaroylquinic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, 3-O-feruloylquinic acid, 5-O-feruloylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, 5-p-coumaroylquinic acid, 1,3-dicaffeoyl quinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid), flavonoids (schaftoside/c-hexosyl-c-pentosylapigenin, apigenin 6,8-di-C-α-l-arabinopyranoside, kaempferide 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1->6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, 6-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-8-C-α-l-arabinopyranosylchrysin, narcissin), some organic acids, iridoid glucosides, and neolignan were also detected for the first time from bamboo shoot shell extract. The present study revealed that bamboo shoot shell extract contains a larger number of nutraceutically active compounds which can be further utilized by food and nutraceutical industries.

Temperature and gas composition control is essential for maintaining the fresh flavor and quality of perishable fruits. This study presented a design of consolidated cold and modified atmosphere package (MAP) system for fresh fruits by showing the potential benefits of a low-tech and low-cost approach to cold chain adoption. The effectiveness of insulated expanded polystyrene (EPS) box installed with phase change materials (PCM) and equipped with MAP on maintaining quality of fresh strawberries was reported. Real-time changes of gas composition, temperature and relative humidity inside packages, weight loss, total soluble solids, color, texture, respiration rate, electrical conductivity, and general appearance of strawberries were determined during the storage in successive harvests of Dec 2017 and Apr 2018. Loss of fruit weight and electrical conductivity were higher in the control strawberries comparing with packaged fruits. The consolidated package system had significant effect on maintaining firmness, color, total soluble solids, global appearance, respiration rate of strawberries for all attributes. Results of this study confirmed that this innovative approach to cold chain design had the potential use in express delivery of strawberry fruits when the ambient temperatures were not well controlled.

Lignification is a typical characteristic of senescence of bamboo shoots during postharvest storage. In this study, exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and diphenyliodonium iodide (DPI) were applied to postharvest bamboo shoots to explore the regulation of H2O2 in the lignification process. Bamboo shoots, soaked in 10 mM H2O2 or 5 mM DPI for 10 min, were stored at 20 ± 1 °C for 12 d. H2O2 treatment accelerated the accumulation of endogenous H2O2 by activating NADPH oxidase, while DPI treatment inhibited NADPH oxidase activity, leading to the decrease of endogenous H2O2. After 12 d of storage, the firmness and lignin content in H2O2-treated shoots was 4.79% and 5.14% higher, respectively, than in the control shoots. However, DPI treatment showed the opposite effects, with 10.88% less firmness and 19.23% less lignin content observed as compared with the control group. High level of endogenous H2O2 activated the activities of PAL, C4H and 4CL, thus promoting lignin biosynthesis. Also, H2O2 upregulated DNase, RNase and caspase 3-like activities, leading to the acceleration of the programmed cell death process, which finally contributed to the resulting lignification. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed thickened cell walls and the decompartmentalization of cellular structure in H2O2-treated shoots. Our results indicated that endogenous H2O2 may play a vital role in the lignification process of bamboo shoots.

Food waste including byproducts has been growing with increasing food and its products consumption, leading to various environmental problems. Considering valorization, the food waste could be converted into useful byproducts. Receptaculum Nelumbinis, a lotus byproduct, was considered to contain higher level of phenolic compounds. This study was designed to extract valuable phenolic compounds from Receptaculum Nelumbinis considering three independent factors i.e., extraction time, temperature and glycerol concentration. The viscosity of solvent was also estimated during experiment and analysis of phenolic compounds was conducted using UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS method. Results showed that under optimum condition the extraction yield as total polyphenol content (YTP) was found to be 62.32 ± 1.25 mg GAE g−1 dw, which was close to the model predicted value. Moreover, the extraction capacity of glycerol was significantly negatively correlated with viscosity. Under optimized extraction condition a total of seventeen phenolic compounds, including catechin, procyanidin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin and quercetin were recorded. These results indicated glycerol could effectively extract phenolic compounds from Receptaculum Nelumbinis and thus could be an ideal solvent for environmental-friendly extraction process of phenolic compounds. Moreover, the valorization of lotus byproduct into nutraceutically valuable compounds could also be considered as economically viable solution and further could be useful for industrial applications.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore aqueous glycerol as food grade solvent for rice bran polyphenolic antioxidants extraction and investigate the antidiabetic and antiglycation potential of the extract and its major polyphenols. Response surface methodology (Box-Behnken design) was implemented to optimize experimental conditions for rice bran polyphenols and antioxidants extraction. The optimum conditions provided a very satisfactory outcome in total polyphenols (549.6 ± 8.05 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g dry weight) and DPPH scavenging activity (57.83 ± 1.8%). The chromatographic separation of the extract showed higher concentrations of ferulic acid, ρ-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid followed by caffeic acid, syringic acid and rutin. Moreover, the extract inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activity as 34.2 ± 3.2%, 29.9 ± 1.0%, and 12.4 ± 2.3%, respectively. Furthermore, fructose readily forms Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) fluorescence with basic amino acids in low concentration in simulated intestinal digestion conditions. The extract inhibited AGEs formation by 52.6% at 20 μL/mL. Our study indicated that the antidiabetic and antiglycation potential of rice bran extract was mainly driven by the extract polyphenols. Rice bran glycerol extract could be employed as a natural antidiabetic and antiglycation remedy, and as economically and eco-friendly source of potent bioactive compounds with satisfactory outcome.

In the present study, the mechanisms employed by exogenous melatonin applying for conferring chilling tolerance in tomato fruits during storage at 4 °C for 28 days were investigated. Conferring chilling tolerance in tomato fruits in response to exogenous melatonin applying at 100 µM may arise from upregulating SlZAT2/6/12 giving rise to triggering CBF1 gene expression. Employing higher arginine pathway activity in tomato fruits by exogenous melatonin applying demonstrating by higher endogenous polyamines accumulation arising from higher ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) genes expression and enzymes activity, higher endogenous proline accumulation arising from higher pyroline 5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) genes expression and enzymes activity accompanying by lower proline dehydrogenase (PDH) gene expression and enzyme activity and higher endogenous nitric oxide (NO) accumulation arising from higher nitric oxide synthase (NOS) gene expression and enzyme activity may be responsible for keeping safe membrane integrity.

In this study, an effective ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for simultaneous determination of 15 constituents of catechins, caffeine, gallic acid and theaflavins was developed. Employing the developed UHPLC method, the contents of the 15 constituents were analyzed in 245 samples of 6 types of Chinese teas collected from different places. The catechin contents in these samples ranged from 16.50 to 94.35 mg/g. Theaflavins were not detected in green tea and white tea, and caffeine did not strongly relate to germplasm resource or fermentation degree. Principal component analysis (PCA) of UHPLC data revealed that white, oolong and green tea samples could be clustered closely, demonstrating notable difference of functional components between the three types of teas resulting from preparation process and varieties. The constituent profile could be primarily attributed to the structural transformation of catechins and pigments during tea processing. This study would advance our understanding of chemical profile of Chinese teas afforded by different processing technologies.

In this study, the mechanism recruited by exogenous melatonin application at 100 μM for alleviating chilling injury in tomato fruits during cold storage was investigated. Alleviating chilling injury in tomato fruits in response to exogenous melatonin application at 100 μM may ascribe to providing sufficient intracellular ATP occur by higher H-ATPase, Ca-ATPase, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzymes activity during cold storage. Also, higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acids (unSFA/SFA) ratio owing to higher linoleic and linolenic acids accumulation coincides with lower palmitic, stearic and oleic acids accumulation may be responsible for alleviating chilling injury in tomato fruits in response to exogenous melatonin application at 100 μM, which may occur by higher fatty acid desaturase 3 and 7 (FAD3 and FAD7) genes expression accompanying by lower phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) genes expression and enzymes activity, in addition to providing sufficient intracellular ATP. Therefore, exogenous melatonin application may be a beneficial postharvest procedure for alleviating chilling injury in tomato fruits during cold storage.

Phenolic compounds are minor metabolites usually present in mushroom species. Because of their potential advantages for human health, such as antioxidant and other biological activities, these bioactive components have been gaining more interest as functional foods, nutraceutical agents for providing better health conditions. This review aims to comprehensively discuss the recent advances in mushroom phenolic compounds, including new sources, structural characteristics, biological activities, potential uses and its industrial applications as well as the future perspectives. Phenolic acids as well as flavonoids are considered the most common phenolics occurring in mushroom species. These are responsible for its bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antihyperglycaemic, antiosteoporotic, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial activities. Several edible mushroom species with good phenolic content and show higher biological activity were highlighted, in a way for its futuristic applications. Trends on mushroom research highlighting new research areas, such as nanoformulation were discussed. Furthermore, the use of phenolic compounds as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical agents as well as the future perspectives and recommendations were made.

Lotus Receptaculum Nelumbinis has been sparking wide research interests due to its rich phenolic compounds. In the present work, ultrasonic-assisted extraction coupled with glycerol was employed to extract phenolic compounds from Receptaculum Nelumbinis and the process was optimized using a response surface methodology with Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal conditions for the total phenolic content (TPC) extract were obtained: glycerol concentration of 40%, an extraction temperature of 66 &deg, C, ultrasonic time of 44 min, and the solvent-to-solid ratio of 55 mL/g. Under these optimum extraction conditions, the extraction yield of TPC was 92.84 &plusmn, 2.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) /g. Besides, the antioxidant activities demonstrated the ability of free radical scavenging by four different methods that included 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2&prime, azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reducing activity (RA) were 459.73 &plusmn, 7.07, 529.97 &plusmn, 7.30, 907.61 &plusmn, 20.28, and 983.66 &plusmn, 11.80 &mu, mol TE/g, respectively. Six phenolic compounds were identified by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography combined with triple-time-of-flight mass spectrophotometry (UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS) from the extracts. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was conducted to identify the characteristic functional groups of the extracts and thus reflected the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated the microstructure difference of four treatments, which might explain the relationships between antioxidant activities and the structures of phenolic compounds.

The postharvest senescence accompanied by yellowing limited the shelf-life of broccoli. In this study, we developed a novel W/O/W double emulsion co-delivering brassinolide and cinnamon essential oil and applied it to broccoli for preservation. Results showed that double emulsion prepared by whey protein concentrate-high methoxyl pectin (1:3) exhibited best storage stability with largest particle size (581.30 nm), lowest PDI (0.23) and zeta potential (−40.31 mV). This double emulsion also exhibited highest encapsulation efficiency of brassinolide (92%) and cinnamon essential oil (88%). The broccoli coated with double emulsion maintained higher chlorophyll contents and activities of chlorophyllase and magnesium-dechelatase were reduced by 9% and 24%, respectively. The energy metabolic enzymes (SDH, CCO, H+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase) were also activated, inducing higher level of ATP and energy charge. These results demonstrated W/O/W double emulsion co-delivering brassinolide and cinnamon essential delayed the senescence of broccoli via regulating chlorophyll degradation and energy metabolism.

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of 10% carbon dioxide (CO2) on the fruit quality and sugar metabolism of fresh-cut pear during storage. The results indicated that carbon dioxide treatment maintained fruit quality by delaying the decline of firmness and promoting the accumulation of total soluble solids (TSS). Moreover, carbon dioxide enhanced activities of sucrose synthase (SS), and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS). The activities of amylase, acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), SS-cleavage, fructokinase (FK), hexokinase (HK), sorbitol oxidase (SOX), NAD-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH), and NADP-SDH in CO2-treated fruit were inhibited. Expression levels of key genes were found to correspond with the related enzyme activities. As a result, the accumulation of glucose, fructose, sorbitol, and sucrose were accelerated by CO2, which were 12.58%, 13.86%, 24.7%, and 13.9% higher than those of the control at the end of storage, respectively. The results showed that CO2 could maintain the quality of fresh-cut pears by regulating the conversion of various sugar components to enhance soluble sugars content.

This research studied the morphological characterization and quality attributes of ‘Kyoho’ and ‘Yongyou NO.1’ (Vitis vinifera L. × Vitis labrusca L.) grape berry and rachis in response to postharvest treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) alone or in combination with elevated 80% O 2 (H-O 2 ) / 20% CO 2 (H-CO 2 ). Results indicated that the integrated application of exogenous 1-MCP alone and combined with H-O 2 /H-CO 2 significantly prevented the rachis browning and chlorophyll degradation, maintained the cellular microstructure integrity and promoted esters and terpenes synthesis. Additionally, the transcriptional expression of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis was sharply downregulated by 1-MCP treatment in both cultivar rachis and berries. And genes expression related to softening was also downregulated by 1-MCP alone and plus elevated O 2 /CO 2 atmospheres treatment. Particularly, the combinatorial treatment of 1-MCP and H-O 2 effectively impeded berry abscission and alcohols accumulation; whereas 1-MCP with H-CO 2 treatment maintained the membrane permeability in berries. Nevertheless, 1-MCP alone or in combination with elevated atmospheres did not significantly affect total soluble solids and titratable acidity and did not harm sensory quality in both ‘Kyoho’ and ‘Yongyou NO.1’ cultivars after 32 days of storage.

Postharvest strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were coated either by the layer-by-layer (LBL) electrostatic deposition, based on chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), or coated by 1% chitosan. Results suggested that LBL edible coating was significantly effective at inhibiting the loss of fruit firmness and aroma volatiles of strawberry, with little effect on the total soluble solids and total acidity contents. Through an untargeted metabolomic analysis, we found that the LBL application significantly reduced the primary metabolite contents involved in carbohydrate, fatty acids and amino acids metabolism, as well as the secondary metabolite contents involved in terpenoid, carotenoid, phenylpropanoid and flavonoid metabolism after storage. Our results indicated that the LBL edible coating could be potential to maintain strawberry quality with lower metabolites contents after eight days of storage.

In this study, we tested the exogenous application of phytosulfokine α (PSKα) for delaying the yellowing of broccoli florets during cold storage. Our results showed that the lower yellowing in broccoli florets treated with 150 nM PSKα was probably due to the higher endogenous accumulation of PSKα, leading to the endogenous accumulation of guanosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Besides, broccoli florets treated with 150 nM PSKα exhibited a higher accumulation of phenols and flavonoids by triggering gene expression and activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS). Moreover, the higher expression of L‐galactotno‐1,4‐lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH) gene and the lower expression of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) gene in broccoli florets treated with 150 nM PSKα may be the reasons for the higher accumulation of ascorbic acid. In conclusion, the exogenous application of PSKα is a promising strategy in delaying the yellowing and preserving the nutritional quality of broccoli florets during cold storage.

Rice bran, the industry byproduct, contains high levels of phenolic compounds. Based on glycerol, a green recovery of phenolics from rice bran was proposed. Extraction temperature (X₁), glycerol concentration (X₂) and liquid‐to‐solid ratio (X₃) were optimised by response surface methodology. Basic physical properties, that is, viscosity, conductivity, density were analysed and UPLC‐Triple‐TOF/MS method was applied for phenolic identification. Results showed the optimum conditions were X₁ = 66.76 °C, X₂ = 19.47% and X₃ = 32.92 mL g⁻¹. Under these conditions, the recovery yield in total polyphenols was 708.58 ± 12.36 mg GAE/100 g DW. Moreover, the recovery capacity of phenolic compounds was significantly correlated with viscosity, conductivity and density of glycerol solution. Under the optimal conditions, totals of thirteen phenolic compounds were identified and phenolic acids (4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, 4‐coumaric acid, ferulic acid and salicylic acid) were quantified. These results demonstrate glycerol can serve as an ideal green solvent to recover phenolic compounds from rice bran.

The elevated CO2 was applied to the strawberry fruit during storage at 0 °C, in which its effects on energy metabolism and the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway were investigated. 10% and 20% CO2 maintained quality of the fruit. The energy charge of 10% and 20% CO2-treated fruit was decreased by 7.58% and 23.93% on day 12, respectively, compared with the control fruit, which was associated with the decline of NADH/NAD+. The GABA in 10% and 20% CO2-treated fruit was increased by 1.2-fold and 1.6-fold compared with the control fruit on day 12, respectively. The accumulation of GABA resulted from the decrease of GABA transaminase activity and gene expression, which may partially contribute to the decrease of NADH at later storage. These results indicated that 20% CO2 is an optimal concentration for strawberry fruit to prolong the storage to 12 days.

Recent studies presented preharvest ultraviolet C (UV-C) as an environmentally friendly approach for the management of horticultural crop diseases. The effect of this approach on quality preservation during postharvest storage has not yet been investigated. Strawberry fruit harvested from plants grown with supplemental UV-C were stored at room temperature for 72 h, and their postharvest shelf-life biochemical indicators were evaluated. The involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the activation of UV-C-induced antioxidant systems was investigated. Preharvest UV-C contributed to the preservation of sugar and organic acid and reduced overall lipid peroxidation in strawberry fruit during storage. We found that miR159 and miR398 were downregulated by preharvest UV-C and that their respective targets were upregulated at the early stage of storage with enhancement of the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The initial burst of H

This study was designed to establish an efficient purification method for phenolic compounds from rice bran and to acquire insightful knowledge of purification impact on its chemical constituents, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Among the eight macroporous resins investigated, HPD‐300 resin was verified to bosses superior adsorption and desorption qualities for the extract. Purification parameters were optimised. Eighteen phenolic compounds were identified using HPLC‐PDA, the contents of ferulic acid and syringaldehyde were significantly (P

The effect of superatmospheric oxygen exposure on the sensory quality, decay incidence, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, aroma volatiles of strawberries during storage at 0 °C were explored. Freshly harvested strawberry fruits were stored under modified atmosphere 1 (MA1, 90% O2/10% N2), modified atmosphere 2 (MA2,3% O2/5% CO2/92% N2) and control (CT, air). The exogenous superatmospheric oxygen (MA1) had a beneficial effect on maintaining sensory quality and strawberry firmness, and reduced the decay incidence. Titrable acidity and total soluble solid were only slightly affected by superatmospheric oxygen atmosphere. Additionally, superatmospheric oxygen exposure maintained higher levels of total phenolics content and antioxidant capacity than that of CT. Strawberries stored in superatmospheric oxygen emitted more esters, 4-methoxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF) and γ-decalactone. In conclusion, superatmospheric oxygen exposure could be a good alternative for maintaining sensory quality, antioxidant capacity, and aroma volatiles of strawberry.

The present study was aimed at understanding the effect of micro-perforated polyethylene film packing (MPFP) on the metabolism of fatty acid-derived volatiles and physicochemical attributes in “Red Globe” table grapes under storage at 0 °C for 50 days. Physicochemical properties evaluated in grapes were total soluble solids (TSS), texture profile, decay incidence, fatty acid content, and aroma-related enzyme activities including lipoxygenase (LOX), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and volatiles in grape peel and flesh. Aroma-related genes (VvLOX, VvHPL, and VvADH) were also evaluated. Grapes treated with MPFP was found to retain the texture profile and decay incidence was reduced (17.4% of reduction compared with control) significantly (P ≤ 0.05). Linoleic acid (LA), the main substrate of LOX/HPL pathway, was the highest in table grapes packed in MPFP, indicating the use of MPFP was able to preserve LA compound. Micro-perforated film packing upregulated VvLOX and VvHPL, downregulated VvADH, increased LOX and HPL activities, and inhibited ADH activity, enhancing C6/C9 compounds. The results indicated that MPFP system was the best choice to improve aroma quality of “Red Globe” table grapes in comparison to polyethylene film packing (PFP) and control (no packing).

Background As universal energy currency, intracellular ATP (iATP) shortages in horticultural crops during postharvest stresses and senescence. In addition to function as intracellular energy currency, ATP serves as friendly extracellular signaling molecule (eATP). Scope and approach Postharvest treatments attenuate stresses, delay senescence and maintain quality in horticultural crops by ensuring sufficient iATP supplying, which was accompanied with lower phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes activity concomitant with higher antioxidant system activity which along with higher heat shock proteins (HSPs) accumulation resulting in lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation leading to higher membrane unsaturated/saturated fatty acids (unSFA/SFA), higher shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways activity revealing by higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme activity leading to higher phenols accumulation, higher endogenous proline and glycine betaine accumulation, higher endogenous polyamines accumulation, and higher pathogenesis (PRs) proteins accumulation, which are crucial for membrane fluidity and integrity maintaining and cell wall fortification. In addition to intracellular energy currency, friendly eATP signaling is crucial for promoting iATP biosynthesis machinery activity and reinforcing defense response by triggering jasmonic and salicylic acids signaling pathways. Also, friendly eATP signaling not only is crucial for regulating stomatal closure which is pivotal for attenuating stresses and delaying senescence in horticultural crops but also is crucial for postharvest biofactories representing high phenols accumulating fresh horticultural crops in response to abiotic stresses which are beneficial for human health. Key findings and conclusions Ensuring sufficient iATP supplying and friendly eATP signaling would be crucial for attenuating stresses, delaying senescence and maintaining quality in horticultural crops during postharvest life.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., also known as the sacred lotus, is extensively cultivated in Southeast Asia, primarily for food and as an herbal medicine. This article reviews studies published between 1995 and 2017, on flavonoid and phenolic acid profiles and contents of 154 different cultivars of lotus. So far, some 12 phenolic acids and 89 to 90 flavonoids (47 flavonols, 25 to 26 flavons, 8 flavan-3-ols, 4 flavanons, and 5 anthocyanins) have been isolated from different parts of the lotus plant, including its leaves (whole leaf, leaf pulp, leaf vein, and leaf stalk), seeds (seedpod, epicarp, coat, kernel, and embryo), and flowers (stamen, petal, pistil, and stalk), although not all of them have been quantified. Factors affecting flavonoids and phenolic acid profiles, including types of tissues and extracting factors, are discussed in this review, in order to maximize the application of the lotus and its polyphenols in the food industry. Health promotion activities, attributed to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids, are described along with toxicology studies, illustrating appropriate usage and safe consumption dosages of lotus extracts. This review also presents the controversies and discusses the research gaps that limit our ability to obtain a thorough understanding of the bioactivities of lotus extracts.

Direct electrochemical detection in real food samples remains challenging due to the fouling and interference by abundant interference components. Herein, we report an electrochemical sensing platform based on binary assembly of silica nanochannels and polydimethylsiloxane that is able to detect Pb2+ and Cd2+ in real food samples without complex pretreatments. Using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, the electrochemical detection consists of electro-deposition of metal species and subsequent anodic stripping in the modified silica-nanochannels. Under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges were obtained from 4 to 1500 μg L−1 for Pb2+ and 30 to 900 μg L−1 for Cd2+. The relative standard deviations were 2.9% and 3.6% for Pb2+ and Cd2+ of 300 μg L−1. Without tedious pretreatments, the quantitative detection of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in real juice and beverage samples was successfully performed, revealing that the developed sensor possesses excellent anti-interference and practicability properties for unprocessed food.

Preharvest ultraviolet C (UV-C) irradiation is an innovative approach for increasing the bioactive phytochemical content of strawberries to increase the disease resistance and nutritional value. This study investigated the changes in individual flavonoids in strawberry developed with three different cumulative doses of preharvest UV-C treatment (low, 9.6 kJ m–2; middle, 15 kJ m–2; and high , 29.4 kJ m–2). Significant accumulation (p < 0.05) of phenolics (25–75% increase), namely, cyanidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside/rutinoside, glucoside and glucuronide of quercetin and kaempferol, and ellagic acid, was found in the fruit subjected to low and middle supplemental doses of UV-C radiation. The expression of the flavonoid pathway structural genes, i.e., FaCHS1, FaCHI, FaFHT, FaDFR, FaFLS, and FaFGT, was upregulated in the low- and middle-dose groups, while the early stage genes were not affected by the high dose. FaMYB1 was also relatively enhanced in the low- and middle-dose groups, while FaASR was...

The effects of nano-ZnO-based low-density polyethylene (NZLDPE)-packaging on chilling tolerance and pectin metabolism in postharvest “Hujingmilu” peaches were investigated. Peaches packed in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and NZLDPE were stored at 2 °C for 40 d. Compared with the control, both packages alleviated the development of chilling injury, showed higher fruit firmness with lower browning index, electrolyte leakage, relative viscosity, and decay rate. NZLDPE-packaging performed better than LDPE-packaging because of the rapid formation of low O 2 and high CO 2 . Moreover, NZLDPE-packaging inhibited pectin esterase and enhanced polygalacturonase and β-galactosidase, leading to the promotion of alkali soluble-pectin and water-soluble pectin, and the decrease of chelater-soluble pectin. These effects were of great benefit to the maintaining of cell wall structure and the degradation of calcium-pectate gel, which finally alleviated the chilling injury and therefore maintained good quality during chilling stress.

Summary This study investigated the aroma volatiles, sensory and chemical attributes of strawberry achenes and receptacle. Samples were subjected to chemical analysis in terms of total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), total phenolics, anthocyanin content, antioxidant capacity and volatile compounds. Descriptive tests indicated that fresh whole fruit had the best overall quality. Chemical evaluations revealed that the receptacle emitted more aroma volatiles but exhibited lower TSS, phenolics and antioxidant capacity than the achenes. Moreover, achenes plus receptacle contained higher levels of phenolics and antioxidant capacity and showed moderate aroma volatile profiles than frozen whole fruit. The processing of juice showed the higher loss of phenolics, antioxidant capacity and aroma volatiles. Achene induced a significant increase in phenolics and antioxidant capacity. Aroma volatiles were reduced by freezing. These results suggested that the fresh whole fruit puree exhibited better overall quality, which had better sensory attributes, more aroma volatiles and higher antioxidant capacity.

The effects of exogenous nitro oxide (NO) on chilling resistance and the metabolism of polyamine, proline, and γ-aminobutyric acid of bamboo shoots were investigated. Bamboo shoots were dipped in 0.07 mM sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and stored at 1 °C for 56 days. During the storage, the development of chilling injury of SNP treated bamboo shoots was inhibited with decreased accumulation of malonaldehyde and electrical leakage. At the end of storage, the chilling injury incidence of treated bamboo shoots decreased by 37.9% while their malonaldehyde content and electrical leakage were 8.8% and 18.6% lower than that of the control, respectively. Interestingly, the endogenous NO, polyamines, γ-aminobutyric acid, and proline contents of treated bamboo shoot also significantly increased. Consistently, the metabolisms of these nitrogenous compounds were stimulated in treated bamboo shoots, according to their higher (20.2%-49.8%) related enzyme activities, including nitric oxide synthase, arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase, glutamate decarboxylase, orn-δ-aminotransferase, and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase. The results indicated that the SNP treatment enhanced chilling tolerance of bamboo shoots, which might associate with the activated metabolism of polyamines, γ-aminobutyric acid, and proline. SNP treatment might be an alternative technology to avoid chill injury during cold storage of bamboo shoots.

The effects of H2S on yellowing and energy metabolism of broccoli florets treated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or DL-propargylglycine (PAG) were investigated after four days of storage at 20 °C. Our study showed that H2S treatment enhanced endogenous H2S content by 28.19% and 49.78% in comparison to the control and PAG-treated group respectively. This result might be related to the increase of l -cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD) and d -cysteine desulfhydrase (DCD) activities. Meanwhile, H2S treatment can maintain chlorophyll content at 0.329 g kg−1, whereas the control at 0.298 g kg−1 and PAG-treated group at 0.275 g kg−1. This led to an alleviation of the yellowing in broccoli florets. In addition, high endogenous H2S content also activated the key enzymes, involved in energy metabolism, including ATPases, cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), glucokinase, fructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH). As a result, significantly higher energy charge was observed in H2S-treated group (p

The effects of thermal treatment on the ultrastructure and quality of Chilgoza pine nuts stored at near-freezing temperature were investigated. The moisture content of pine nuts was adjusted to 13.3%, compared to the initial 17.3% moisture content. Thermal treatment improved the storage stability. The hydrolysis of lipids was delayed in low-moisture pine nuts, resulting in a significant inhibition of free fatty acid accumulation in pine nuts. Low-moisture pine nuts also showed lower peroxide and thiobarbituric acid (TBA)​ values compared with the control. Ultrastructure characterization revealed that thermal treatment maintained the cell integrity, deferred the degradation of the plasmalemma and protected the internal lipid droplet. Thermal treatment better retained the antioxidant components, including total phenolics and vitamin E, and reduced the activities of lipase and lipoxygenase in pine nuts. These results indicated that thermal treatment could retard the senescence and deterioration of quality in pine nuts stored at a near-freezing temperature. Se investigaron los efectos del tratamiento térmico en la ultrastructura y la calidad del piñón de pino Chilgoza almacenado a una temperatura cercana a congelación. El contenido de humedad de los piñones de este pino fue de 13,3%, en comparación con el contenido de humedad inicial de 17,3%. El tratamiento térmico mejoró la estabilidad de almacenamiento. La hidrólisis de los lípidos se retardó en los piñones de pino de baja humedad, resultando en una inhibición significativa de la acumulación de ácidos grasos libres en los piñones. Los piñones de pino de baja humedad también mostraron unos índices bajos de peróxido y TBA en comparación con la muestra control. La caracterización de la ultrastructura reveló que el tratamiento térmico mantuvo la integridad de las células, atrasó la degradación de la plasmalema y protegió la gota lipídica interna. El tratamiento térmico retuvo de forma más favorable los componentes antioxidantes, como el total fenólico y la vitamina E, además redujo la actividad de la lipasa y la lipoxigenasa en los piñones. Estos resultados indicaron que el tratamiento térmico podría retardar la senescencia y la deterioración de la calidad de los piñones almacenados a una temperatura cercana a la congelación.

The effects of 4.5 kJ m−2 UV-C radiation on the quality of minimally processed lily bulb, such as browning, growth of microorganism, total phenolic content, starch, total soluble sugar, reducing sugar content, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), α-amylase, β-amylase, starch phosphorylase and the antioxidant activity were studied. Results showed that UV-C treatment inhibited browning index and microbial growth by approximately 37% and 32% respectively. Compared with the control, PPO and POD activities of UV-C treated minimally processed lily bulb were reduced by about 26% and 18% respectively, while total phenolic content was increased by 13%. UV-C treatment down-regulated the activities of α-amylase, β-amylase and starch phosphorylase, which resulted in higher content of starch, total soluble sugar content and lower content of reducing sugar. The antioxidant activity and PAL activity were higher than the control during storage. These results indicated UV-C treatment could effectively maintain quality of minimally processed lily bulb stored at 4 ± 1 °C. Therefore, UV-C radiation might be an effective and safe alternative technology for minimally processed lily bulb.

Summary The content of bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the hydroalcoholic extracts of Rosa roxburghii were determined. Yellow fruits of cultivated R. roxburghii showed the highest phenolic content (154.81 mg gallic acid g−1), and the green fruits of wild R. roxburghii showed higher content of flavonoid and triterpenoid. Rosa roxburghii fruits from different cultivars and maturity stages all demonstrated as good antioxidant agents and tyrosinase inhibitors, with IC50 value about twice of the positive standard in the DPPH assay and triple of the standard in the tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay. Nineteen compounds, mainly ellagic acids and its derivatives, flavonoids and their glycosides were identified by UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS analysis. As the first study of bioactive phytochemicals of R. roxburghii by UPLC-MS, the present research may provide valuable information for fulfilling the potential of R. roxburghii in the functional food area.

Microencapsulation is a promising technique, which provides core materials with protective barrier, good stability, controlled release, and targeting delivery. Compared with the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and textile industries, food processing has higher requirements for safety and hygiene and calls for quality and nutrition maintenance. This paper reviews the widely used polymers as microcapsule wall materials and the application in different food products, including plant-derived food, animal-derived food, and additives. Also, common preparation technologies (emphasizing advantages and disadvantages), including spray-drying, emulsification, freeze-drying, coacervation, layer-by-layer, extrusion, supercritical, fluidized bed coating, electrospray, solvent evaporation, nanocapsule preparation, and their correlation with selected wall materials in recent 10 years are presented. Personalized design and cheap, efficient, and eco-friendly preparation of microcapsules are urgently required to meet the needs of different processing or storage environments. Moreover, this review may provide a reference for the microencapsulation research interests and development on future exploration.

A novel nano-silicon oxides (SiOx)/chitosan complex film was prepared using ultrasonic assistant in the process of dissolving chitosan and silicon oxides (SiOx), and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Its effect on quality preservation of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Zheza 205) was investigated under ambient temperature. The results revealed that the nano-SiOx/chitosan complex (NSCC) film retarded weight loss and softness, delayed the titratable acids and total soluble solids loss, and thus markedly extended shelf life of green tomatoes. The antimicrobial activity of tomatoes coated with NSCC film was also recorded higher compared to chitosan (Ch) films and control. In addition, the NSCC film-coated tomatoes prevent the increase of malondialdehyde content and total polyphenol content. Moreover, the peroxidase activity, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, and polyphenoloxidase activity of tomatoes coated with NSCC film were found lower than that in other treatments. These data indicated that the beneficial effects of nano-SiOx/chitosan complex coating on postharvest quality were possibly associated with the lower rate of O2/CO2 transmission coefficient, limiting food-borne pathogenic bacterial growth, higher antioxidant activities, and also higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and anti-browning activities of related enzymes in the tomatoes. Further, the results of the study could be used to successfully develop a novel nano-SiOx/chitosan complex film for improving the postharvested quality of tomatoes and thus effectively utilized by the food packaging industry.

Foodborne pathogen contamination has become a severe threat to human health. Traditional methods for foodborne pathogen detection have several disadvantages, including long detection time, low sensitivity, and low selectivity. The emergence of multiple excellent nanomaterials enables the construction of novel biosensors for foodborne pathogen detection. Based on the outstanding properties of nanomaterials, the novel biosensors possess the advantages of sensitivity, specificity, rapidity, accuracy, and simplicity. The present review comprehensively summarizes the advanced biosensors, including electrochemical, colorimetric, fluorescent, and surface enhanced Raman scattering biosensors for sensing key foodborne pathogens in recent decades. Furthermore, several issues are identified for further exploration, and possible directions for the development of biosensors are discussed.

In this study, the mechanism activated by melatonin treatment at 100 µM for maintaining nutraceutical properties in pomegranate fruits during storage at 4 °C for 120 days was investigated. Our results showed that the higher G6PDH and 6PGDH activities in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may be responsible for sufficient supply of intracellular NADPH. Also, higher AA and GSH accumulation in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may ascribe to higher APX and GR activities coincided with lower AAO activity. In addition, pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin exhibited significantly higher PAL activity resulting in higher phenols and anthocyanins accumulation as well as higher DPPH scavenging capacity. Additionally, higher AOX gene expression in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may be beneficial for ROS scavenging molecules accumulation. Therefore, maintaining nutraceutical properties of pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may ascribe to sufficient intracellular NADPH supply by promoting G6PDH and 6PGDH activities during cold storage.

This study aimed to examine the modification effect of whey protein concentrate (WPC), WPC-gum arabic (WPC-GA) or WPC-high methoxyl pectin (WPC-PEC) complex to tailor-modify W/O/W emulsion for secondary microencapsulation of hydrophilic arbutin and hydrophobic coumaric acid. The stability and rheological properties of coated emulsions, encapsulation yield, release and degradation kinetics of arbutin and coumaric acid were investigated. Results revealed that WPC-PEC complex (at the ratio of 1:3) coating W/O/W emulsion exhibited the highest viscosity and stability, with the highest encapsulation yield of 91.08% for arbutin and 80.92% for coumaric acid, respectively. Tighter coating structure of the WPC-PEC complex (1:3) forming a stronger gel network structure was confirmed, accounting for the larger mean particle size of 569.67 nm. Moreover, the WPC-PEC (1:3) coating W/O/W emulsion also showed controlled release of arbutin and coumaric acid in simulated conditions. The k value of degradation kinetics for arbutin (7.99 × 10−4 at pH = 1.2, 4.19 × 10−4 at 90 °C and 7.52 × 10−4 at UV-C treatment) and coumaric acid (5.18 × 10−4 at pH = 1.2, 3.24 × 10−4 at 90 °C and 6.90 × 10−4 at UV-C treatment) indicated low degradation rate. The present study revealed that the WPC-PEC (1:3) coating W/O/W emulsion could provide a better synergistic effect on higher encapsulation yield and stability of arbutin and coumaric acid.

Consumption of phytosterols (PSs), the plant-based analogs of cholesterol, can reduce serum cholesterol levels. This review discusses the current state of the art into the research of the structural features and dietary sources of PSs and their derivatives. The effect of PSs on individual lipid metabolites is summarized in the present review. PS-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, and the alleviation of inflammatory bowel diseases are discussed. PSs reduce the risk of having NAFLD by improving the blood biochemical parameters related to lipid transport and metabolism. However, current research on the circulating PSs indicates its safety concern regarding fatty liver disease induction. In addition, PS oxidation products exhibit pro-atherogenic properties, cytotoxicity oxidative stress, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory properties. Further research is needed to investigate the bioavailability and safety issues of PSs and their derivatives in animal models and clinical trials.

Exogenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) treatment at 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 µM retarded cap browning in mushrooms by 0, 34, 26, 51 and 32 %, respectively, during storage at 4 °C for 18 days. Triggering signaling H2O2 accumulation arising from elevating NADPH oxidase enzyme activity during 6 days of storage at 4 °C may be pivotal for promoting shikimate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in mushrooms treated with ATP during 18 days of storage at 4 °C. Promoting melatonin accumulation (390 µg kg−1 FW vs. 160 µg kg−1 FW) in mushrooms treated with ATP during cold storage may attribute to signaling H2O2 accumulation. Higher DPPH scavenging capacity (72 % vs. 65 %) in mushrooms treated with ATP may attribute to higher phenols accumulation arising from higher phenylalanine ammonialyase/polyphenol oxidase enzymes activity concomitant with higher alternative oxidase gene expression during 18 days of storage at 4 °C.

Rapid postharvest softening largely limits the shelf-life of persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) fruit. Microwave is a new environmental-friendly inside-out heat-shock approach, whose effect on the fruit softening and quality has not yet been investigated. The current study applied two kinds of microwave treatments (low-power long-time, LPLT, or high-power short-time, HPST) to persimmon fruit with comparison to the hot water (HW) treatments. The results showed both microwave treatments maintained firmness, facilitated the deastringency, and increased soluble solid contents (SSC) and sugar-acid ratio of persimmon fruit. The microwave treatments reduced the cellulose and pectin degradation, and inhibited the cellulase activity, resulting in a significantly higher firmness than HW treatment and control after 2 and 4 days of storage. Moreover, application of HPST treatment down-regulated gene expression of DkPG1, DkPE2 and DkEGase1 compared with untreated fruits. These results indicated that microwave treatment is a promising soft-delaying method for the preservation of persimmon fruit.

A deep understanding upon the relation between anthocyanin extraction performance and physicochemical properties of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) was obtained, and a high-efficiency NADES (Choline chloride-Oxalic acid (ChOa)) was selected and coupled with pulse-ultrasonication for anthocyanin extraction from blueberry pomace. Response surface methodology was adopted to analyzed the significant factors’ influence, interactive effects on extraction yield and optimize the extraction conditions. The theoretical optimal conditions with highest yield of total anthocyanins content (TAC) were 3.2 min of ultrasonic time, 325 W of ultrasonic power, 349.15 K of temperature, 60 mL/g of solvent to solid ratio, under which the experimental TAC value (24.27 ± 0.05 mg C3GE/g DW) was highly correlated with theoretical result (24.28 mg C3GE/g DW). Multi-stability protective effect of ChOa on anthocyanin over acidified ethanol was revealed by stability assays in high temperature, varying pH and light exposure conditions. FT-IR and DSC analysis further characterized the influence of ChOa over acidic ethanol on typical anthocyanins functional groups and thermal behavior of anthocyanin extracts. UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS analysis identified 10 anthocyanins that mainly consisted of delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin compounds. Overall, this study provided a green, high-efficiency and multi-stability protective strategy for the recovery of anthocyanins from plant source by-products.

In this study, the mechanism by which the exogenous application of 150 nM signaling bioactive peptide phytosulfokine α (PSKα) delays senescence and improves antioxidant nutrient accumulation in strawberry fruit during storage at 4 °C for 18 d was investigated. Results showed that the higher endogenous accumulation of PSKα in strawberry fruit treated with 150 nM PSKα may result from the higher expression of PSK3 and PSK6 genes. Besides, the higher endogenous accumulation of Ca2+ in strawberry fruit treated with 150 nM PSKα may be ascribed to the higher cytosolic accumulation of cGMP, resulting from the triggering of endogenous PSKα signaling pathway, represented by higher expression of PSKR1 gene. Besides, the higher endogenous melatonin accumulation resulting from higher expression of TDC, T5H, SNAT, and ASMT genes in strawberry fruit treated with 150 nM PSKα may be ascribed to the higher endogenous accumulation of Ca2+. Moreover, the higher ABTS and DPPH scavenging capacity in strawberry fruit treated with 150 nM PSKα may be ascribed to the higher accumulation of phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, resulting from higher gene expression and activities of PAL and CHS. Based on our findings, the exogenous application of PSKα could be employed as a beneficial procedure for delaying senescence and improving antioxidant nutrient accumulation in strawberry fruit during cold storage, by triggering endogenous PSKα signaling, promoting endogenous melatonin accumulation, and activating the phenylpropanoid pathway.

To investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin (MLT) treatment on the quality of postharvest jujubes, fresh ‘Lingwuchangzao’, and ‘Dongzao’ jujubes (Zizyphus jujuba Mill) were dipped in MLT solution at the dose of 0, 50,100 and 200 μmol L−1 for 20 min. Results showed the exogenous MLT application significantly delayed the color change and firmness decline, and maintained the content of total soluble solids and titratable acidity of both jujube cultivars, (p

Black rice is recognized for managing diabetes in Chinese folk medicine. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of thermal treatments and the succeeding cooking on black rice physicochemical properties, phenolic composition, total antioxidant activity (TAA), enzymes and glycation inhibition in addition to starch digestibility. Thermal decomposition of anthocyanin and cyanidin-3-glucoside was evident across all processing methods and reflected in increasing levels of protocatechuic acid, while proanthocyanidins (TPAC) were susceptible to cooking. Roasting of grains sustained total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), TPAC, and antilipase activity. Additionally, the combined effect of frying and cooking diminished TFC, TPAC, and α-glucosidase inhibition. The thermally treated grains showed pronounced activity against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and glycation, whereas their cooked counterparts reduced the estimated glycemic index (eGI), and enhanced resistant starch (RS). Processed grains chrominance, TAA, and apparent amylose content (AAC) showed a significant correlation with phenolics. These findings are demonstrating that black rice processing is favorable for the dietary management of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.