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Leaves of large‐leaved lime, Tilia platyphyllos Scop. (Malvaceae), harbor colonies of Eriophyes tiliae (Pagenstecher) (Acari: Eriophyidae), capable of modifying the leaf structure (inducer of nail‐galls) and physiology. The aerial organs of T. platyphyllos have traditionally been consumed for their high antioxidant capacity, related to the rich polyphenol profile. Here, we investigated the polyphenol profiles and antioxidant activity of T. platyphyllos non‐galled leaves and galls to determine the changes induced by the mite in a Chilean environment with high ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Phenolic compound identification in the methanol extracts of non‐galled leaves and galls was carried out through HPLC. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was quantified through spectrophotometry, and it was compared with the standards of the three major phenolic compounds of both organs. Nine phenolic compounds were detected in non‐galled leaves and galls, with no differences between the two organs, except for the absence of gallic acid in galls. The concentration of phenolic compounds did differ significantly between the two conditions. In leaf galls, epicatechin and cyanidin‐3‐glucoside concentrations and antioxidant capacity increased significantly compared to non‐galled leaves. As chlorogenic acid and cyanidin‐3‐glucoside are active phenols responding to UV radiation stress, their concentration in T. platyphyllos leaves could be a response to the high UV radiation occurring in Chile during spring and summer. The phenolic compounds detected here have been reported to be potent antioxidants, that are probably potentiated by E. tiliae for its own protection against UV‐B radiation, as the two most abundant compounds in the galls exhibited the highest capacity to reduce ABTS and DPPH radicals. However, we do not rule out the participation of phenolics in protection against natural enemies of the gall mite, as chlorogenic acid and epicatechin are powerful antifeedants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of various characteristic components of tea—theaflavins, catechins, thearubigins, theasinensins, theanine, catechin (C), catechin gallate (CG), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG)—on acrylamide formation. The results revealed that most of tea's characteristic components could significantly eliminate acrylamide, ranked from highest to lowest as follows: GC (55.73%) > EC (46.31%) > theaflavins (44.91%) > CG (40.73%) > thearubigins (37.36%) > ECG (37.03%) > EGCG (27.37%) > theabrownine (22.54%) > GCG (16.21%) > catechins (10.14%) > C (7.48%). Synergistic elimination effects were observed with thearubigins + EC + GC + CG, thearubigins + EC + CG, thearubigins + EC + GC, theaflavins + GC + CG, and thearubigins + theaflavins, with the reduction rates being 73.99%, 72.67%, 67.62%, 71.03%, and 65.74%, respectively. Tea's components reduced the numbers of persistent free radicals to prevent acrylamide formation in the model system. The results provide a theoretical basis for the development of low-acrylamide foods and the application of tea resources in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Due to the high level of organic acids – primarily citric acid – black, red, and white currants have an excessively sour taste, making taste adjustment during processing challenging. This study investigated and evaluated the effects of an inoculation dose of the acid‐reducing yeast Issatchenkia terricola WJL‐G4 on several aspect such as physicochemical properties, chromaticity, active substances, and antioxidant capacity. A sensory evaluation was also conducted. RESULTS: The results indicated that, when the inoculation dose increased from 2% to 12%, the total phenol, total flavonoid, and total anthocyanin content, and antioxidant capacity in currant juice decreased. A low inoculation dose (2–4%) was beneficial for preserving the total phenol and total flavonoid content. Although the levels of most phenolic compounds decreased, the concentrations of caffeic acid, p‐coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin, and epicatechin were significantly higher than the control after fermentation. Overall acceptability and taste scores of fermented currants improved compared with those of the control group. CONCLUSION: This experiment provided an effective solution, with a theoretical basis, to the problems of the sour taste and harsh flavor of currant juice. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Roasting is an essential step in making roasted teas, and its role in producing flavors has been widely studied. However, the variation of potential hazardous compounds during the tea roasting process is still vague. The present study established an effective method based on liquid chromatography‐triple quadrupole‐tandem mass spectrometry to simultaneously determine the variation of acrylamide (AA), 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF), and free amino acids during the tea roasting process. Meanwhile, the effects of several tea polyphenols on the formation of AA and 5‐HMF were investigated by a wet‐to‐dry thermal model reaction.Medium‐temperature roasted teas had the highest levels of AA and 5‐HMF, with ranges of 0.13–0.15 μg g−1 and 68.72–123.98 μg g−1, respectively. Quantitative results showed that the levels of monosaccharides and amino acids decreased during roasting, which might contribute to the formation of 5‐HMF and AA. Meanwhile, the decrease of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epicatechin (EC) might be related to their inhibitory effects on 5‐HMF and AA. Thermal model reaction results showed that EGCG and EC significantly inhibited 5‐HMF formation with a decline rate of 33.33% and 72.22%, respectively, mainly by trapping glucose. Gallic acid (GA) also had an inhibitory effect on the formation of AA (decreased by 92.86%) and 5‐HMF (44.44%), mainly through impeding the preliminary reaction of asparagine and glucose.The roasting temperature determined the levels of AA and 5‐HMF in teas. Catechins inhibited the formation of 5‐HMF and AA mostly through trapping monosaccharides, while the inhibitory effect of GA was achieved by impeding the reaction. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a pseudocereal originally grown in the Andean region of South America. This study focused on investigating the changes in phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity in white and red quinoa varieties after short-term fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v®. During fermentation, pH and lactic acid formation were monitored every three hours until pH was below 4.6. The quinoa phenolic profile was quantified via LC–UV–MS. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP) were determined via spectrophotometric methods. The findings showed that fermentation resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.001) in TPC from 4.68 to 7.78 mgGAE·100 g−1 for the white quinoa and from 5.04 to 8.06 mgGAE·100 g−1 for the red quinoa variety. Gallic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid detected in unfermented quinoa samples (averaging 229.5 μg·g−1). Fermented white quinoa showed an 18-fold increase in epicatechin, while catechin was found only in fermented red quinoa (59.19 μg·g−1). Fermentation showed a significantly positive impact on the iron-reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) of quinoa (p < 0.05). Red quinoa had a higher FRAP antioxidant capacity than the white variety; a similar trend was observed with the DPPH assay. There was a significant correlation (r > 0.9, p < 0.05) between TPC and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, short-time lactic fermentation effectively increased phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in both quinoa varieties. Overall, red quinoa showed higher polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity compared to the white variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, chestnut and tea polyphenols were used as the main raw materials to develop tea polyphenol chestnut juice, aiming to explore the stability of tea polyphenols on the stability of cloudy chestnut juice and the digestive characteristics of chestnut starch.By adding ethyl gallate (EG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and mixed tea polyphenols to chestnut juice, it was found that the concentration of the five monomeric tea polyphenols with the least impact on the stability was 0.8 mg/mL.Tea polyphenols EC had the least impact on the stability of chestnut juice.Adding mixed tea polyphenols was most likely to cause instability in chestnut juice.The rheology analysis of chestnut juice showed that tea polyphenols could aggregate the starch particles in the juice through intermolecular force, leading to the reduction of the viscosity of chestnut juice and easy sedimentation.The addition of tea polyphenols would inhibit the digestion of chestnut juice, among which the addition of EG and EGCG chestnut juice had a better inhibition effect.According to the results of light transmittance, sedimentation accumulation, and in vitro digestion tests, it could be found that the addition of tea polyphenols would have an impact on the stability of chestnut juice and the digestive properties of chestnut starch.It provides a new research direction for the development of a tea polyphenol chestnut juice compound drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the effects of different baking treatments on the quality of Yongchuan Xiuya (YCXY) green tea. It was found that a long time baking at low temperature was beneficial to keep green colour, faint scent, mellow and fresh taste quality, whereas baking under high temperature was adverse to the quality. Baking treatments slightly regulated (−)‐epigallocatechin, (−)‐epicatechin, (−)‐gallocatechin gallate, total chlorophyll and carotenoid. As the baking temperature rose, the content of tea polyphenols, gallic acid, catechins, caffeine, soluble sugar and polyphenols/amino acids ratio obviously decreased. A total of 40 kinds of volatiles were detected in these six tea samples. A model for aroma type discrimination was successfully established based on partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA). Ten kinds of volatile substances were the key characteristic markers for the faint scent, chestnut aroma and high‐fired aroma types of YCXY green tea. 1‐hexanol, hotrienol and dimethyl sulfide were furtherly used to discriminant aroma type based on Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, to optimize the creation of new neuroprotective agents based on bioflavonoids, we applied information technologies; these include docking analysis to calculate the binding of candidate molecules to the pharmacological target protein transthyretin as well as a program of virtual screening of NO scavengers. As a result of this approach, the substance catechin was isolated from candidate molecules—quercetin, catechin, Epicatechin gallate, Epicatechin, Procyanidin B1, Procyanidin B2, Procyanidin B3, and Catechin-3-gallate—according to docking analysis. As a result of virtual screening, catechin was identified as a potential NO scavenger (55.15% prediction). The results of the prediction were confirmed by in vitro experiments. Course administration of catechin to animals with experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) against the background of methylprednisolone administration completely eliminated lethal cases, reduced the number of diseased animals by 20% as well as prevented the development of severe neurological symptoms by 20% (compared to the methylprednisolone group) and by 60% compared to the control group. Course administration of catechin with methylprednisolone leads to a decrease in the neurodegradation markers in the cytosol of rats, with EAE: NSE by 37% and S-100 by 54.8%. The combined administration of methylprednisolone significantly exceeds the combination of methylprednisolone with the reference drug mexidol by the degree of NSE reduction. The obtained results indicate a significant neuroprotective effect of ocular combinations of methylprednisolone and catechin. The above-mentioned confirms the correctness of the bioflavonoid selection with the help of a virtual screening program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop an efficient method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from green tea waste (GTW) toward its potential application in the food industry. GTW, which is generated during the harvesting and processing of green tea products, accounts for a global annual loss of nearly 1 million tonnes. Notably, this waste is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly catechins, which are renowned for their significant health benefits. We assessed the optimization of catechin extraction from GTW employing hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE), and ethanol extraction (EthE) techniques at different sample‐to‐solvent ratios (1:100, 1:50, and 1:20 w/v). The extraction temperature was set at 80°C for both HWE and UAE; however, for EthE, the temperature was slightly lower at 70°C, adhering to the boiling point of ethanol. High‐performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the extraction efficiency by quantifying various catechins (i.e., catechin, epicatechin [EC], epicatechin gallate [ECG], epigallocatechin [EGC], and epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG]). In terms of the concentration for individual catechins, EC was found to be the highest concentration detected, ranging from 30.58 ± 1.17 to 37.95 ± 0.84 mg/L in all extraction techniques and ratios of solvents, followed by EGCG (9.71 ± 1.40–20.99 ± 1.11 mg/L), EGC + C (7.95 ± 0.66–12.58 ± 0.56 mg/L), and ECG (1.85 ± 0.71–6.05 ± 0.06 mg/L). The findings of DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl) free radical assay illustrated that HWE demonstrated the highest extraction efficiency at all ratios, ranging from 61.41 ± 1.00 to 70.36 ± 1.47 mg/L. The 1:50 ratio exhibited the highest extraction yield (25.98% ± 0.75%) compared to UAE (24.16% ± 0.95%) and EthE (22.59% ± 0.26%). Moreover, this method of extraction (i.e., HWE) produced the highest total catechins and %DPPH reduction. Consequently, HWE was the most efficient method for extracting catechins from GTW, underscoring its potential for valorizing waste within the food manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves and branches of rabbiteye blueberry are rich in proanthocyanidins, which are thought to have different physiological activities depending on their structure and degree of polymerization. In this study, we analyzed the constituents of the leaves and branches of rabbiteye blueberry to determine the seasonal variations in polyphenol and proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents as well as their mean degrees of polymerization (mDP). Total PAC content was determined using two methods: The p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) method, which measures monomeric PAC, showed an increase from spring to summer in both leaves and branches. On the other hand, using the butanol/HCl method, which measures only polymerized PAC, the PAC content of leaves increased from spring to summer but those of branches remained low throughout the year, showing no significant increase or decrease. Furthermore, analysis of the mDP of PAC showed increases from spring to summer in the leaves of 'Kunisato 35 gou'. Although the highest value (8.0) was observed in October, values around 4 remained throughout the year in the branches. Since differences in polymerization degree affect absorption in the body and physiological properties such as antioxidant capacity, selecting the appropriate harvest time and plant organs for each purpose is expected to ensure the quality of processed blueberry foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beans' protein and slow-digesting carbohydrate content make it an appealing choice for healthy food development. However, its properties are influenced by the flour extraction processes. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of particle size and three pretreatments—drying (D), soaking + cooking + dehydrating 3 h (SCD3), and soaking + cooking + dehydrating 24 h (SCD24)—on the estimated glycemic index (eGI) compared with raw bean flour (R). The methodology covered water absorption (WAI), water solubility (WSI), amylose content, starch digestibility, eGI, phenolic quantification, and rheology. The results showed that WAI correlated negatively with WSI and amylose, varying among pretreatments and sizes. WAI increased as D < SCD 24 < SCD 3 < R. Glucose release (HI) differed between fine (125 μm) and coarse fractions (242 μm), with SCD24 and R showing the lowest eGI (22.8–24.2). SCD3 had the highest flavonoid concentration, while R and D had more quercetin-3-glucoside. SCD24 displayed higher elastic/viscous moduli than R. Bean flours from all treatments had low GI and contained bioactive polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, quercetin). The optimal treatment was SCD24, particularly in the coarse fraction, showing potential for functional food development and novel applications such as precision nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a new, eco-friendly, and swift method combining solid-phase extraction and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DES) with high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-DES-HPLC) for extracting and quantifying catechin and epicatechin in Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The parameters, such as the elution solvent type, the XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage, the DES ratio, the DES volume, the adsorption time, and the desorption time, were optimized via a one-way experiment. A central composite design using the Box–Behnken methodology was employed to investigate the effects of various factors, including 17 experimental runs and the construction of three-dimensional response surface plots to identify the optimal conditions. The results show that the optimal conditions were an HDES (tetraethylammonium chloride and octanoic acid) ratio of 1:3, an XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage of 188 mg, and an adsorption time of 11 min. Under these optimal conditions, the coefficients of determination of the method were greater than or equal to 0.9917, the precision was less than 5%, and the recoveries ranged from 98.8% to 118.8%. The environmentally friendly nature of the analytical process and sample preparation was assessed via the Analytical Eco-Scale and AGREE, demonstrating that this method is a practical and eco-friendly alternative to conventional determination techniques. In summary, this innovative approach offers a solid foundation for the assessment of flavanol compounds present in SAV samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using HPLC-DAD the presence of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol and protocatehuic acid was analysed in herb extracts of eight Ephedra species (Ephedra sinica, Ephedra major, Ephedra chilensis, Ephedra ciliata, Ephedra foeminea, Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra gerardiana and Ephedra distachya). For comparison purposes, the same phenolics were determined in Camellia sinensis herb, which is a common source of catechins and a medicinal plant with valuable antioxidant properties. The catechin content in Ephedra spp. ranged between 0.83 mg/g d.w.– 8.77 mg/g d.w., while the epicatechin content was between 0.11 mg/g d.w.– 3.38 mg/g d.w. In comparison to black tea, Ephedra major, Ephedra distachya and Ephedra equisetina had a higher catechin content. The selected Ephedra spp. are rich in catechins and the obtained results serve as the chemical rationale for the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of Ephedra that are currently being investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In California, over 3.4 million tons of wine grapes were crushed in 2020 while every year roughly 20% of the grape mass goes unused. Grape cluster thinning at veraison, a common agricultural practice to ensure color homogeneity in wine grapes, adds to the production costs and generates substantial on-farm loss during grapevine cultivation in which the health-promoting values of thinned clusters (unripe grapes) are usually overlooked. In particular, the health-promoting properties of flavanol monomers, specifically (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, and their oligomeric procyanidins, have been extensively studied in cocoa and chocolate but not so much in grape thinned clusters in recent epidemiology studies. As part of the important agricultural by-products upcycling effort, the current study compared thinned clusters from Chardonnay and Pinot noir, two premium wine grape varieties cultivated in California, to a traditionally Dutch (alkalized) cocoa powder that has been widely used in food applications. Thinned cluster fractions from Chardonnay and Pinot noir grapes grown in the North Coast of California showed much higher concentrations of flavanol monomers and procyanidins, with 208.8-763.5 times more (+)-catechin, 3.4-19.4 times more (-)-epicatechin, and 3.8-12.3 times more procyanidins (by degree of polymerization DP 1-7) than those in the traditionally Dutch cocoa powder. These flavanol-rich thinned clusters that are also considered as plant-based natural products suggested great potential to be functional ingredients in cocoa-based products-which have been ubiquitously perceived as flavanol-rich products by consumers-to enhance their overall dietary flavanol content.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infect more than a quarter of the world's human population. In the absence of vaccines for most animal and human gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), treatment of infections primarily relies on anthelmintic drugs, while resistance is a growing threat. Therefore, there is a need to find alternatives to current anthelmintic drugs, especially those with novel modes of action. The present work aimed to study the composition and anthelmintic activity of Combretum mucronatum leaf extract (CMLE) by phytochemical analysis and larval migration inhibition assays, respectively. Methods: Combretum mucronatum leaves were defatted with petroleum ether and the residue was extracted by ethanol/water (1/1) followed by freeze-drying. The proanthocyanidins and flavonoids were characterized by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). To evaluate the inhibitory activity of this extract, larval migration assays with STH and GIN were performed. For this purpose, infective larvae of the helminths were, if necessary, exsheathed (Ancylostoma caninum, GIN) and incubated with different concentrations of CMLE. Results: CMLE was found to be rich in flavonoids and proanthocyanidins; catechin and epicatechin were therefore quantified for standardization of the extract. Data indicate that CMLE had a significant effect on larval migration. The effect was dose-dependent and higher concentrations (1000 µg/mL) exerted significantly higher larvicidal effect (P < 0.001) compared with the negative control (1% dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO) and lower concentrations (≤ 100 µg/ml). Infective larvae of Ascaris suum [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 5.5 µg/mL], Trichuris suis (IC50 = 7.4 µg/mL), and A. caninum (IC50 = 18.9 µg/mL) were more sensitive to CMLE than that of Toxocara canis (IC50 = 310.0 µg/mL), while infective larvae of Toxocara cati were largely unaffected (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL). Likewise, CMLE was active against most infective larvae of soil-transmitted ruminant GIN, except for Cooperia punctata. Trichostrongylus colubriformis was most sensitive to CMLE (IC50 = 2.1 µg/mL) followed by Cooperia oncophora (IC50 = 27.6 µg/mL), Ostertagia ostertagi (IC50 = 48.5 µg/mL), Trichostrongylus axei (IC50 = 54.7 µg/mL), Haemonchus contortus (IC50 = 145.6 µg/mL), and Cooperia curticei (IC50 = 156.6 µg/mL). Conclusions: These results indicate that CMLE exhibits promising anthelmintic properties against infective larvae of a large variety of soil-transmitted nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is an important cash crop that is often consumed by chewing pests, resulting in reduced yields and economic losses. It is important to establish a method to quickly identify the degree of damage to tea plants caused by leaf‐eating insects and screen green control compounds. This study was performed through the combination of deep learning and targeted metabolomics, in vitro feeding experiment, enzymic analysis and transient genetic transformation. A small target damage detection model based on YOLOv5 with Transformer Prediction Head (TPH‐YOLOv5) algorithm for the tea canopy level was established. Orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) was used to analyze the correlation between the degree of damage and the phenolic metabolites. A potential defensive compound, (‐)‐epicatechin‐3‐O‐caffeoate (EC‐CA), was screened. In vitro feeding experiments showed that compared with EC and epicatechin gallate, Ectropis grisescens exhibited more significant antifeeding against EC‐CA. In vitro enzymatic experiments showed that the hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (CsHCTs) recombinant protein has substrate promiscuity and can catalyze the synthesis of EC‐CA. Transient overexpression of CsHCTs in tea leaves effectively reduced the degree of damage to tea leaves. This study provides important reference values and application prospects for the effective monitoring of pests in tea gardens and screening of green chemical control substances. Summary statement: Based on deep learning and targeted metabolomics, a model was established and (‐)‐epicatechin‐3‐O‐caffeoate (EC‐CA) was screened to have the function of defense against chewing pests, and hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) was identified as a substrate promiscuity that could efficiently catalyze the synthesis of EC‐CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to obtain a clear product and enhance the product quality by reducing or preventing the formation of tea cream, one of the most critical problems in ready to drink (RTD) tea production. Thus, the tannase enzyme was applied to the Turkish black tea extracts at by different brewing temperatures (50 and 70 °C), times (5, 10, and 20 min), and tea:water ratios (1:100, 5:100, 10:100). Total phenolic, tea cream and catechin analysis were performed on the extracts. The amount of tea cream was in the range of 0.37–0.74 g/100 g black tea in the enzyme-treated samples and 1.23–2.19 g/100 g black tea in the untreated control sample. Moreover, a decrease in the cream in black tea extracts obtained using the classic extraction method was observed at around 65.89–74.55% with the tannase enzyme application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves and branches of rabbiteye blueberry are rich in proanthocyanidins, which are thought to have different physiological activities depending on their structure and degree of polymerization. In this study, we analyzed the constituents of the leaves and branches of rabbiteye blueberry to determine the seasonal variations in polyphenol and proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents as well as their mean degrees of polymerization (mDP). Total PAC content was determined using two methods: The p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) method, which measures monomeric PAC, showed an increase from spring to summer in both leaves and branches. On the other hand, using the butanol/HCl method, which measures only polymerized PAC, the PAC content of leaves increased from spring to summer but those of branches remained low throughout the year, showing no significant increase or decrease. Furthermore, analysis of the mDP of PAC showed increases from spring to summer in the leaves of ‘Kunisato 35 gou’. Although the highest value (8.0) was observed in October, values around 4 remained throughout the year in the branches. Since differences in polymerization degree affect absorption in the body and physiological properties such as antioxidant capacity, selecting the appropriate harvest time and plant organs for each purpose is expected to ensure the quality of processed blueberry foods.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of blanching and ultrasound pretreatments on drying and quality characteristics of apple peel. Blanching was conducted in boiling water, ultrasound in a water bath, and drying in a batch tray dryer. The product obtained was ground into a flour, and assessed for color, water activity, proximate composition, sugars, and bioactive compounds. Results showed that effective moisture diffusivity increases with a decrease in product moisture content, being such dependence well described by a second order polynomial model. Average drying rate was higher and product moisture content was lower for blanched and sonicated flour, especially for the former. Such result suggests that blanching and ultrasound enhance water removal during drying of apple peel. Physical properties were significantly affected by pretreatments, being more intense red color and lower water activity obtained for sonicated flour. Nutritional and bioactive properties were also significantly affected by pretreatments, being lower sugar, higher protein, fiber, catechin and epicatechin content observed for blanched flour. Summarizing, blanching and ultrasound pretreatments improve drying of apple peel, both regarding process efficiency and product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gray blight disease, which is caused by Pestalotiopsis-like species, poses significant challenges to global tea production. However, the comprehensive metabolic responses of tea plants during gray blight infection remain understudied. Here, we employed a multi-omics strategy to characterize the temporal transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in tea plants during infection by Pseudopestalotiopsis theae, the causal agent of gray blight. Untargeted metabolomic profiling with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOFMS) revealed extensive metabolic rewiring over the course of infection, particularly within 24 h post-inoculation. A total of 64 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified, including elevated levels of antimicrobial compounds such as caffeine and (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate, as well as oxidative catechin polymers like theaflavins, theasinensins and theacitrins. Conversely, the synthesis of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, oligomeric proanthocyanidins and flavonol glycosides decreased. Integrated omics analyses uncovered up-regulation of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, lignin biosynthesis and down-regulation of photosynthesis in response to the pathogen stress. This study provides novel insights into the defense strategies of tea plants against gray blight disease, offering potential targets for disease control and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee became a beverage that was in demand in the world and consequently produced millions of tons of coffee byproducts namely coffee silverskin (CS). Unutilized CS will be waste and cause environmental pollution such as greenhouse gas emissions, landfill waste, and groundwater contamination. This is a research concern at this time, although many studies have been conducted to find newer applications of CS, exploration of its benefits in the health sector is still limited. Therefore, exploring the benefits of CS to prevent or delay aging will be very interesting to develop in functional food industry technology. Therefore, this study aims to report profiling metabolites or phytochemicals, biological activities in terms of antioxidant activity, and potential anti-aging of CS via molecular docking simulation and in vitro modulation of the mTOR/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Something new has been obtained from this work, the profile of phytocompounds, and biological activities both in molecular docking simulation and in vitro studies. Some of the compounds observed in Robusta CS extract (rCSE) such as Epicatechin, Kaempferol, and Quercitrin, and Arabica CS extract (aCSE) such as (+)-Catechin dan Naringin have promising potential as inhibitors of iNOS, mTOR, and HIF-1α via molecular docking simulation. Interestingly, the in vitro biological activity assay of antioxidant and anti-aging activity, rCSE showed the same promising potential as the results of a molecular docking simulation. More interestingly, AMPK/SIRT1/mTOR expressions are well modulated by rCSE compared to aCSE significantly (p < 0.05). This makes the rCSE have promising biological activity as a candidate for functional food development and/or treatment agent in combating free radicals that cause the aging process. In vivo studies and human trials are certainly needed to see the further efficacy of the rCSE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different extraction techniques, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), subcritical water extraction (SWE), and conventional extraction (CE), were tested to evaluate their efficiency in recovering bioactive compounds from grapevine by-products. SWE was the extraction technique that allowed for the highest recovery of polyphenolic compounds, while grape stalk from the Cerceal Branco variety obtained using SWE at 150 °C had the highest TPC (17.0 ± 0.2 mgGAE/g fw) as well as the highest antioxidant activity from ABTS and FRAP assays (19.9 ± 0.3 and 13.0 ± 0.3 mgAAE/g fw). The phenolic composition revealed high amounts of catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic, and neochlorogenic acids. SWE was demonstrated to be a powerful extraction technique for the recovery of polyphenols from grapevine by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research presents a new, eco-friendly, and swift method combining solid-phase extraction and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DES) with high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-DES-HPLC) for extracting and quantifying catechin and epicatechin in Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The parameters, such as the elution solvent type, the XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage, the DES ratio, the DES volume, the adsorption time, and the desorption time, were optimized via a one-way experiment. A central composite design using the Box–Behnken methodology was employed to investigate the effects of various factors, including 17 experimental runs and the construction of three-dimensional response surface plots to identify the optimal conditions. The results show that the optimal conditions were an HDES (tetraethylammonium chloride and octanoic acid) ratio of 1:3, an XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage of 188 mg, and an adsorption time of 11 min. Under these optimal conditions, the coefficients of determination of the method were greater than or equal to 0.9917, the precision was less than 5%, and the recoveries ranged from 98.8% to 118.8%. The environmentally friendly nature of the analytical process and sample preparation was assessed via the Analytical Eco-Scale and AGREE, demonstrating that this method is a practical and eco-friendly alternative to conventional determination techniques. In summary, this innovative approach offers a solid foundation for the assessment of flavanol compounds present in SAV samples.

Abstract In California, over 3.4 million tons of wine grapes were crushed in 2020 while every year roughly 20% of the grape mass goes unused. Grape cluster thinning at veraison, a common agricultural practice to ensure color homogeneity in wine grapes, adds to the production costs and generates substantial on‐farm loss during grapevine cultivation in which the health‐promoting values of thinned clusters (unripe grapes) are usually overlooked. In particular, the health‐promoting properties of flavanol monomers, specifically (+)‐catechin and (−)‐epicatechin, and their oligomeric procyanidins, have been extensively studied in cocoa and chocolate but not so much in grape thinned clusters in recent epidemiology studies. As part of the important agricultural by‐products upcycling effort, the current study compared thinned clusters from Chardonnay and Pinot noir, two premium wine grape varieties cultivated in California, to a traditionally Dutch (alkalized) cocoa powder that has been widely used in food applications. Thinned cluster fractions from Chardonnay and Pinot noir grapes grown in the North Coast of California showed much higher concentrations of flavanol monomers and procyanidins, with 208.8–763.5 times more (+)‐catechin, 3.4–19.4 times more (−)‐epicatechin, and 3.8–12.3 times more procyanidins (by degree of polymerization DP 1–7) than those in the traditionally Dutch cocoa powder. These flavanol‐rich thinned clusters that are also considered as plant‐based natural products suggested great potential to be functional ingredients in cocoa‐based products—which have been ubiquitously perceived as flavanol‐rich products by consumers—to enhance their overall dietary flavanol content.

This study evaluated the changes caused by cooking presoaked aged carioca beans in the autoclave steam, focusing on its bioactive components, antioxidant activity, and nutritional compounds. Additionally, to identify which carioca bean cultivar could preserve the most quantity of bioactive compounds in cooked flour. The cooked flours from Imperador had the highest antioxidant activity (DDPH: 10.58 µmolTrolox·g-1, ABTS: 18.71 µmolTrolox·g-1), anthocyanins (8.08 µg·g-1), and total phenolic content (TPC) (36.69 mg·g-1). The cultivar Gol also retained part of these compounds after cooking. The phenolic and saponin profiles of cooked flours revealed a reduction in phenolic compounds such as catechin, epicatechin, and kaempferol and an increase in soyasaponin-Ba and Bb. The samples Notavel, Dama, and Madreperola, presented the highest amount of soyasaponin-A0. Thus, the cooked flours from Imperador and Gol stood out due to their retention of part of their bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and group B saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics (2097-2806) is the property of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The bioactivity and gastrointestinal stability of epicatechin gallate (ECG) may be affected by processing conditions. Results showed that the antioxidant ability and inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase (XO) of ECG were higher at low pH values. Appropriate microwave and heating treatments improved the antioxidant (the scavenging rate increased from 71.75% to 92.71% and 80.88% under the microwave and heating treatments) and XO inhibitory activity (the inhibitory rate increased from 47.11% to 56.89% and 51.85% at the microwave and heating treatments) of ECG. The treated ECG led to a more compact structure of XO. Moreover, there may be synergistic antioxidant and inhibitory effects between ECG and its degradation products. The bioaccessibility of ECG after simulated digestion was untreated > microwave > heating, and the microwave−treated ECG still had good XO inhibitory activity after digestion. These findings may provide some significant information for the development of functional foods enriched in catechins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are more aggressive and faster when compared to other types of breast cancers. Targeted therapy is not available for TNBC due to the lack of receptors. Due to various cellular stress and oxidative stress, the accumulated misfolded or unfolded proteins induce endoplasmic reticulum stress that further activates an unfolded protein response (UPR). Plants are the source of several potent and effective medicines. Epicatechin is a polyphenol that is extensively present in fruits and vegetables and has a wide range of pharmacological uses. In silico docking studies have proven to be an important tool to facilitate the structural diversity of natural products to be harnessed in an organized manner. Here, we attempted using in silico docking to check whether epicatechin interacts with selected endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins in triple-negative breast cancer cells. ASK1 and JNK showed good interaction with epicatechin among the various ER stress proteins. The results from in silico docking between epicatechin and ER stress proteins showed that the epicatechin could regulate the oncoprotein expression in stress conditions. Thus, epicatechin may be used as a therapeutic agent against ER stress proteins which play a major role in the development of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green tea catechins are bioactive polyphenol compounds which have attracted significant attention for their diverse biological activities and potential health benefits. Notably, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has emerged as a potent apoptosis inducer through mechanisms involving caspase activation, modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, disruption of survival signaling pathways and by regulating the redox balance, inducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that green tea catechins can modulate epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. In addition to their apoptotic actions, ROS signaling effects and reversal of epigenetic alterations, green tea catechins have shown promising results in promoting the differentiation of leukemia cells. This review highlights the comprehensive actions of green tea catechins and provides valuable insights from clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of green tea catechins in leukemia treatment. Understanding these multifaceted mechanisms and the outcomes of clinical trials may pave the way for the development of innovative strategies and the integration of green tea catechins into clinical practice for improving leukemia patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we have chosen to highlight the main natural molecules extracted from Camellia sinensis, Andrographis paniculata, and Curcuma longa that may possess antioxidant activities of interest for skin protection. The molecules involved in the antioxidant process are, respectively, catechins derivatives, in particular, EGCG, andrographolide, and its derivatives, as well as various curcuminoids. These plants are generally used as beverages for Camellia sinensis (tea tree), as dietary supplements, or as spices. The molecules they contain are known for their diverse therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and dermatological treatment. Their common antioxidant activities and therapeutic applications are widely documented, but their use in cosmetics is more recent. We will see that the use of pharmacomodulated derivatives, the addition of co-antioxidants, and the use of various formulations enable better skin penetration and greater ingredient stability. In this review, we will endeavor to compile the cosmetic uses of these natural molecules of interest and the various structural modulations reported with the aim of improving their bioavailability as well as establishing their different mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: In this study, we report that peroxynitrite is necessary for ethylene-mediated aerenchyma formation in rice roots under waterlogging conditions. Plants under waterlogging stress face anoxygenic conditions which reduce their metabolism and induce several adaptations. The formation of aerenchyma is of paramount importance for the survival of plants under waterlogging conditions. Though some studies have shown the involvement of ethylene in aerenchyma formation under waterlogging conditions, the implication of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) in such a developmental process remains elusive. Here, we report an increase in aerenchyma formation in rice roots exposed to waterlogging conditions under which the number of aerenchyma cells and their size was further enhanced in response to exogenous ethephon (a donor of ethylene) or SNP (a donor of nitric oxide) treatment. Application of epicatechin (a peroxynitrite scavenger) to waterlogged plants inhibited the aerenchyma formation, signifying that ONOO− might have a role in aerenchyma formation. Interestingly, epicatechin and ethephon co-treated waterlogged plants were unable to form aerenchyma, indicating the necessity of ONOO− in ethylene-mediated aerenchyma formation under waterlogging conditions. Taken together, our results highlight the role of ONOO− in ethylene-mediated aerenchyma formation in rice and could be used in the future to develop waterlogging stress-tolerant varieties of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

INTRODUCTION: We conducted an open-label study to examine the effects of the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin in seven ambulatory adult patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). METHODS: Seven participants received (-)-epicatechin 50 mg twice per day for 8 weeks. Pre- and postprocedures included biceps brachii biopsy to assess muscle structure and growth-relevant endpoints by western blotting, mitochondria volume measurement, and cristae abundance by electron microscopy, graded exercise testing, and muscle strength and function tests. RESULTS: Western blotting showed significantly increased levels of enzymes modulating cellular bioenergetics (liver kinase B1 and 5-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha, a transcriptional coactivator of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and cristae-associated mitofilin levels, increased as did cristae abundance. Muscle and plasma follistatin increased significantly while myostatin decreased. Markers of skeletal muscle regeneration myogenin, myogenic regulatory factor-5, myoblast determination protein 1, myocyte enhancer factor-2, and structure-associated proteins, including dysferlin, utrophin, and intracellular creatine kinase, also increased. Exercise testing demonstrated decreased heart rate, maximal oxygen consumption per kilogram, and plasma lactate levels at defined workloads. Tissue saturation index improved in resting and postexercise states. DISCUSSION: (-)-Epicatechin, an exercise mimetic, appears to have short-term positive effects on tissue biomarkers indicative of mitochondrial biogenesis and muscle regeneration, and produced improvements in graded exercise testing parameters in patients with BMD.

Twenty-four samples of differently produced commercial Italian cider were analyzed for their polyphenols profile and antioxidant activity. A partial least square regression was used to correlate the ciders' antioxidant activity with their polyphenolic content. Statistical analyses revealed only a clustering pattern in the samples based on their geographical area of production (North-West, NW, vs. North-East, NE). Indeed, NW ciders, compared to NE ones, showed higher antioxidant activity and higher contents of procyanidin B1, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, and total polyphenols. On the contrary, no clear-cut clustering pattern determined by cidermaking procedures (i.e., Charmat or Champenoise method) has been observed. These data suggest that the differences observed between NW and NE ciders might be accounted uniquely to the use of different apple varieties and/or the maturation status, as well as the pedoclimatic conditions of their production areas and not for cellar procedures' specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theaflavins (TFs) are good for health because of their bioactivities. Enzymatic synthesis of TFs has garnered much attention; however, the source and activity of the enzymes needed limit their wide application. In this study, a microbial polyphenol oxidase from Bacillus megaterium was screened for the synthesis of theaflavin-3,3′-digallate (TFDG). Based on structural and mechanistic analyses of the enzyme, the O-O bond dissociation was identified as the rate-determining step. To address this issue, a transition state (TS) conformation optimization strategy was adopted to stabilize the spatial conformation of the O-O bond dissociation, which improved the catalytic efficiency of tyrosinase. Under the optimum transformation conditions of pH 4.0, temperature 25 °C, (−)-epigallocatechin gallate/epicatechin gallate molar ratio of 2:1, and time of 30 min, Mu4 (BmTyrV218A/R209S) produced 960.36 mg/L TFDG with a 44.22% conversion rate, which was 6.35-fold higher than that of the wild type. Thus, the method established has great potential in the synthesis of TFDG and other TFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived compounds, specifically antioxidants, have played an important role in scavenging the free radicals present under diseased conditions. The persistent generation of free radicals in the body leads to inflammation and can result in even more severe diseases such as cancer. Notably, the antioxidant potential of various plant-derived compounds prevents and deregulates the formation of radicals by initiating their decomposition. There is a vast literature demonstrating antioxidant compounds' anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer potential. This review describes the molecular mechanism of various flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate, against different cancers. Additionally, the pharmaceutical application of these flavonoids against different cancers using nanotechnologies such as polymeric, lipid-based nanoparticles (solid–lipid and liquid–lipid), liposomes, and metallic nanocarriers is addressed. Finally, combination therapies in which these flavonoids are employed along with other anti-cancer agents are described, indicating the effective therapies for the management of various malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids have various pharmacological activities, such as antihypertensive, anticancer, and and antidiabetic effects. Several studies have shown that luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, naringenin, hesperetin, and epicatechin have antihypertensive effects, but the mechanism of action has yet to be discovered with certainty. This study aims to identify flavonoids from luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, naringenin, hesperetin, and epicatechin as renin inhibitors through in silico study; seven flavonoid compounds were docked with 2V0Z with renin inhibitor (Aliskiren) in humans (Homo sapiens 6 LU7) using AutoDock v4.2.6. SwissADME was used to evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these substances. Results molecular binding of luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, naringenin, hesperetin, and epicatechin, has potential as renin inhibitors with affinity energy values lower than those of aliskiren of -9.3; -9.3; -10.0; -9.2; -9.9; -9.3; and -9.7 kcal/mol. The interactions of these seven compounds have the same catalytic activity as aliskiren on two aspartic acid residues, Asp32 and Asp215. The analysis of pharmacokinetic profiles and the search for physical and chemical properties showed that the seven compounds violated three of the five Lipinski rules, while aliskiren violated one. Hesperitin, kaempferol, and naringenin had similarities with aliskiren on the amino-acid residues in the renin-binding pocket. However, based on pharmacokinetic analysis, the three compounds had an oral pharmacokinetic profile that could have been better than aliskiren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a typical tea polyphenol epicatechin (EC) was investigated for its impact on the oxidative stability of whey protein isolate (WPI) in a fish oil-fortified emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion system consisted of fish oil (1%, w/w), WPI (6 mg/mL), and EC (0.1, 1, and 2 mM), and the oxidation reaction was catalyzed by Fenton's reagent at 25 °C for 24 h. The results showed EC exhibited a dose-dependent activity in the reduction of lipid oxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonylation. A Western blot analysis demonstrated that protein lipoxidation was inhibited by EC via interrupting the covalent binding of lipid secondary oxidation products, MDA, onto proteins. In addition, protein lipoxidation induced a loss of tryptophan fluorescence, and protein hydrolysis was partially recovered by EC. The findings of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the performance of phenolic antioxidants in relieving lipid oxidation and subsequent protein lipoxidation in oil-containing dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry hopping imparts distinct aromas but also a series of non-volatile compounds suspected of causing flavor and physical instability during beer storage. In this work, color, chill haze, total polyphenols, total flavanoids, and flavan-3-ol monomers (catechin and epicatechin) and oligomers (procyanidin dimers and trimers) were monitored in five commercial pale-colored Belgian dry-hopped beers over 24 months of storage at 20 °C in the dark. Fresh dry-hopped beers contained unusually high levels of flavan-3-ol monomers (up to 6.6 mg/L) and oligomers (up to 14.1 and 10.2 mg/L dimers and trimers, respectively). The increase in color intensity during storage (up to 6.4°EBC) correlated with fresh beer monomer levels, while the oligomer content correlated with chill haze formation (up to 25.7°EBC). The evolution of these two physical attributes also correlated with the level of total polyphenols in the fresh beers. In a pilot-scale production, kettle hopping was shown to impart either monomers (early) or oligomers (late), while dry hopping promoted efficient extraction of both monomers and dimers (extraction yields of 62 and 74%, respectively). Dry hopping thus plays an important role in color and chill haze increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has major adverse consequences on human health contributing to the development of, among others, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, altered behavior and cognition, and cancer. Changes in dietary habits and lifestyle could contribute to mitigate the development and/or progression of these pathologies. This review will discuss current evidence on the beneficial actions of the flavan-3-ol (-)-epicatechin (EC) on obesity-associated comorbidities. These benefits can be in part explained through EC's capacity to mitigate several common events underlying the development of these pathologies, including: i) high circulating levels of glucose, lipids and endotoxins; ii) chronic systemic inflammation; iii) tissue endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress; iv) insulin resistance; v) mitochondria dysfunction and vi) dysbiosis. The currently known underlying mechanisms and cellular targets of EC's beneficial effects are discussed. While, there is limited evidence from human studies supplementing with pure EC, other studies involving cocoa supplementation in humans, pure EC in rodents and in vitro studies, support a potential beneficial action of EC on obesity-associated comorbidities. This evidence also stresses the need of further research in the field, which would contribute to the development of human dietary strategies to mitigate the adverse consequences of obesity.

Microparticles play a role in cardiovascular disease pathology. The flavanol-like epicatechin is increasingly considered due to its cardioprotective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of epicatechin on microparticle generation, phenotype and procoagulant properties. Plasma samples from 15 healthy subjects were incubated with increasing concentrations of epicatechin (1 to 100 μM). Then, the expression of glycoprotein IIb, phosphatidylserine (PS), glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and P-selectin was assessed by flow cytometry analysis after (or not) platelet stimulation. Microparticle procoagulant activity was determined using ZymuphenTM MP and ZymuphenTM MP-TF for phospholipid and tissue factor content, and with thrombin generation (TG) assays for procoagulant function. Platelet microparticles that express GPIb (/µL) decreased from 20,743 ± 24,985 (vehicle) to 14,939 ± 14,333 (p = 0.6), 21,366 ± 16,949 (p = 0.9) and 15,425 ± 9953 (p < 0.05) in samples incubated with 1, 10 and 100 µM epicatechin, respectively. Microparticle concentration (nM PS) decreased from 5.6 ± 2.0 (vehicle) to 5.1 ± 2.2 (p = 0.5), 4.5 ± 1.5 (p < 0.05) and 4.7 ± 2.0 (p < 0.05) in samples incubated with 1, 10 and 100µM epicatechin, respectively. Epicatechin had no impact on tissue factor-positive microparticle concentration. Epicatechin decreased TG (endogenous thrombin potential, nM.min) from 586 ± 302 to 509 ± 226 (p = 0.3), 512 ± 270 (p = 0.3) and 445 ± 283 (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that epicatechin affects microparticle release, phenotype and procoagulant properties.

Secondary bile acids promote gastrointestinal (GI) tract permeabilization both in vivo and in vitro. Consumption of high fat diets increases bile acid levels in the GI tract which can contribute to intestinal permeabilization and consequent local and systemic inflammation. This work investigated the mechanisms involved in bile acid (deoxycholic acid (DCA))-induced intestinal epithelial cell monolayer permeabilization and the preventive capacity of (-)-epicatechin (EC). While EC prevented high fat diet-induced intestinal permeabilization in mice, it did not mitigate the associated increase in fecal/cecal total and individual bile acids. In vitro, using differentiated Caco-2 cells as a model of epithelial barrier, EC and other NADPH oxidase inhibitors (VAS-2870 and apocynin) mitigated DCA-induced Caco-2 monolayer permeabilization. While EC inhibited DCA-mediated increase in cell oxidants, it did not prevent DCA-induced mitochondrial oxidant production. Prevention of DCA-induced ERK1/2 activation with EC, VAS-2870, apocynin and the MEK inhibitor U0126, also prevented monolayer permeabilization, stressing the key involvement of ERK1/2 in this process and its redox regulation. Downstream, DCA promoted myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation which was related to MLC phosphatase (MLCP) inhibition by ERK1/2. DCA also decreased the levels of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin, which can be related to MMP-2 activation and consequent ZO-1 and occludin degradation. Both events were prevented by EC, NADPH oxidase and ERK1/2 inhibitors. Thus, DCA-induced Caco-2 monolayer permeabilization occurs mainly secondary to a redox-regulated ERK1/2 activation and downstream disruption of TJ structure and dynamic. EC's capacity to mitigate in vivo the gastrointestinal permeabilization caused by consumption of high-fat diets can be in part related to its capacity to inhibit bile-induced NADPH oxidase and ERK1/2 activation.

Flavan-3-ol monomers are interesting, functionalised phenolic building blocks. Here, a strategy is presented for producing these flavan-3-ol monomers, starting from condensed tannins present in biomass waste streams such as tree bark. Using purified procyanidin condensed tannins as a reference substrate, a one pot depolymerisation-hydrogenation process was developed. Briefly, procyanidin condensed tannins were processed in methanol at elevated temperature (125-175 °C) in the presence of hydrogen gas and a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst (Pd/C). The elevated temperature enables a solvolytic depolymerisation of the condensed tannins, forming reactive intermediates which are immediately stabilised through catalysed hydrogenation. The flavan-3-ol monomers catechin and epicatechin are the two main products, with a combined yield of up to 34 wt%. Furthermore, the role of the hydrogenation catalyst is elucidated, and the effect of reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure and catalyst loading is studied. Finally, the successful depolymerisation-hydrogenation of a crude methanolic larch bark extract demonstrated the feasibility of this process and its robustness against impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aboveground and root parts of Onosma mutabilis were extracted using subcritical water and the process was optimized with response surface methodology. The composition of the extracts was determined by chromatographic methods and compared to that of conventional maceration of the plant. The optimum total phenolic contents for the aboveground part and the roots were 193.9 and 174.4 μg/g, respectively. These results were achieved at a subcritical water temperature of 150 °C, an extraction time of 180 min, and a water/plant ratio of 0.1, for both parts of the plant. Principal component analysis revealed that the roots contained mainly phenols, ketones, and diols, with the aboveground part mostly alkenes and pyrazines, whereas the extract from maceration contained mainly terpenes, esters, furans, and organic acids. The quantification of selected phenolic substances showed that subcritical water extraction compared favorably to maceration, especially with respect to pyrocatechol (1062 as compared to 10.2 μg/g) and epicatechin (1109 as compared to 23.4 μg/g). Furthermore, the roots of the plant contained twice as much of these two phenolics compared to the aboveground part. Subcritical water extraction of O. mutabilis is an environmentally friendly method that can extract selected phenolics at higher concentrations compared to maceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]