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This study explored the mechanism by which grape seed procyanidins (GSPs) alleviate colon inflammatory injury induced by a high‐concentrate diet in lambs. Forty‐eight 1/2 Dorper (♂) × 1/2 Small thin‐tailed (♀) crossed male lambs were randomly assigned into four groups: the control group (CON), fed with a high‐concentrate diet (concentrate:forage = 7:3) and three GSPs groups fed a high‐concentrate diet + 10 (LGSP), 20 (MGSP) and 40 (HGSP) mg/kg body weight (BW) GSPs per day, respectively. The results showed that the levels of interleukin (IL)−1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in plasma of lambs of the MGSP (0.155 and 38.52 pg/ml) and HGSP (0.165 and 39.60 pg/ml) groups were significantly lower than those in the CON (0.248 and 48.74 pg/ml) and LGSP (0.245 and 50.52 pg/ml) group (p < 0.05), and levels of IL‐1β in colon tissue in the MGSP (28.49 ng/g) and HGSP (26.67 ng/g) groups were also lower (p < 0.05) than that in CON (40.55 ng/g). Metabonomics analysis of colon tissue showed that differentially expressed metabolites were mainly enriched in the arachidonic acid metabolism, citric acid cycle, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor signalling pathway (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GSPs alleviate the colonic epithelium inflammatory response induced by a high‐concentrate diet by increasing energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, antioxidant metabolism and inhibiting arachidonic acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional food ingredients of apple juice can significantly change during processing, transportation, and storage, thus affecting the quality of the product. A simple and derivation‐free analytical method based on ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) was developed and optimized for the simultaneous determination of functional food ingredients in apple juice bought in the market. Cleanup steps and chromatographic conditions were optimized to remove interference and decrease the matrix effect. The nine target analytes were separated on an Acquity UPLC system equipped with a BEH C18 column and detected by electrospray ionization source (ESI) operating in positive subsection acquisition mode under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) conditions. The results showed that p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuate, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, phloridzin, hyperoside, procyanidin B2, and rutin could be sufficiently separated for content determination within 6 min. In the concentration range of 20 μg/L–50 mg/L, nine standard samples exhibited a good linear fit with correlation coefficients above.985. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research assessed the phenolic composition of Jussara pulp from the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais (MG) and Espírito Santo (ES) using HPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Seventeen anthocyanins were detected in fruits, derived from cyanidin, pelargonidin and peonidin. Among the non-anthocyanic phenolic compounds, flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin derivatives), flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin, B-type procyanidins and unknown dimers) and resveratrol in its glycosylated form have been identified. Catechin (32.41-60.56 mg 100g-1) and epicatechin (18.86-40.92 mg 100g-1) were the main flavan-3-ols present in the fruits. The samples showed small concentrations of resveratrol glycosides (0.02-0.91 mg 100g-1). The analytical methodology used (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) permitted the identification of newly reported compounds in this fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of innovation and food technological processes not only increases the profits of companies but also allows them to achieve the set goals of the green trajectory. This research aimed to collect data on the biochemical composition of different parts of the raspberry variety 'Polka', including the various morphological parts, to present the importance of differentiating plant parts in food processing, and to show the potential of usage for primary processing in different fields of the food industry. Fruits, stems (cane), leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots were evaluated according to their chemical composition and mineral (Ca, Mg, B, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn) contents, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. In our study, the contents of inverted sugar, saccharose, and total sugar varied from 51.8 ± 2.46 %, 18.9 ± 0.31 %, and 69.7 ± 4,36 % in raspberry puree to 5.9 ± %, 1.51 ± %, 7.39 ± % in the seeds, respectively. The results regarding the mineral composition of various raspberry parts (mg/kg) indicated significant differences (p < 0.05). The contents of manganese and iron (57.6 ± 0.50; 36.9 ± 0.59) were the highest in all the parts in the plant. Manganese varied from 246 ± 10.32 in inflorescence to 40.1 ± 0.87 in the seeds. Iron fluctuated from 1553 ± 44.03 in the roots to 35.5 ± 0.15 in the seeds. The highest statistically significant boron content (p < 0.05) was found in the leaves (41.8 ± 0.33), while the lowest was in the seeds (7.17 ± 0.19). The total phenol content of the raspberry's distinct parts ranged from 6500 mg GAE/100 g DW to 1700 mg GAE/100 g DW. The inflorescence had the considerably highest total phenol content. Our study found that the highest amount of epicatechin is found in the roots (9162.1 ± 647.86 mg), while the fruits contain only 657.5 ± 92.99, and the lowest value is in the stems (130.3 ± 9.22). High levels of procyanidin B2 were found in the raspberry roots (7268.7 ± 513.98), while the stems had the lowest value–368.4 ± 26.05. The DPPH of the raspberry morphological parts ranged from 145.1 to 653.6 µmol TE/g FW, ABTS—from 1091.8 to 243.4 µmol TE/g FW, and the FRAP—from 720.0 to 127.0 µmol TE/g FW. The study revealed the importance of differentiating plant parts in production for the quality of the final product. Studies showed that raspberry plant parts represent a potential source of natural food ingredients, and can be a potential raw material for products rich in phenolic compounds or dietary fiber, which can provide healthy properties to food when used as an additive that may be economically attractive for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils from Mediterranean wild plants are widely used, but the hydrodistillation residues produced in parallel with these essential oils are significantly understudied and underexploited. Since there are only fragmentary data in the literature, we have, for the first time, systematically analyzed the chemical composition of the by-products obtained after hydrodistillation of sage, bay laurel, and rosemary leaves, i.e., hydrolates, water residues, and solid residues. The chemical composition of the hydrolates changed compared to their respective essential oils towards the dominance of more hydrophilic, oxygenated compounds, such as camphor in sage, 1,8-cineole in bay laurel, and berbenone in rosemary. However, some compounds, mostly sesquiterpenes, which were present in considerable amounts in essential oils, were absent or only present in very small amounts in the hydrolates. Furthermore, both the water and the solid residues were rich in polyphenols, such as procyanidins in bay laurel and rosmarinic acid in rosemary and sage. In conclusion, we demonstrate the valuable chemical composition of sage, rosemary, and bay laurel hydrodistillation by-products and discuss a wide range of their possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Viticulture & Enology / Ciência e Técnica Vitivinícola is the property of EDP 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.)

The role of immunostimulants in reducing diseases and enhancing fish performance has been proven in various studies. In this study, the effects of antioxidant procyanidin and commercial probiotic Bio-Aqua® on some hematological and immune indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were investigated. A total number of 525 fingerlings in seven treatments (each treatment in triplicates) with experimental diets, including (1) commercial food without supplements (CTL), (2) 400 mg procyanidin kg-1 feed (PC400), (3) 800 mg procyanidin kg-1 feed (PC800), (4) 0.50% probiotic diet (PB0.5), (5) 1.00% probiotic diet (PB1), (6) probiotic and procianidin 0.50% and 800 mg kg-1 feed, respectively (PB0.5 + PC800) and (7) probiotic and procianidin 1.00% and 400 mg kg-1 feed, respectively, (PB1 + PC400) were fed for eight weeks. The results showed that the use of procyanidin alone did not have any significant effect on blood biochemistry and immune indices. However, the individual use of Bio-Aqua® probiotic could affect the hematological and immune indices of fish, except for monocyte, compared to the control and procyanidin treatments. However, the combined use of the supplements improved the hematological and immune indices of fish. It was concluded that the simultaneous dietary administration of procyanidin and probiotic Bio-Aqua® could improve the general health of rainbow trout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit thinning is a common practice employed to enhance the quality and yield of kiwifruits during the growing period, and about 30–50% of unripe kiwifruits will be thinned and discarded. In fact, these unripe kiwifruits are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, the applications of thinned young kiwifruits and related bioactive compounds in the food and functional food industry are still limited. Therefore, to promote the potential applications of thinned young kiwifruits as value-added health products, the extraction, characterization, and evaluation of beneficial effects of phenolic compounds from thinned young fruits of red-fleshed Actinidia chinensis cv 'HY' were examined in the present study. A green and efficient ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UADE) method for extracting phenolic compounds from thinned young kiwifruits was established. A maximum yield (105.37 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g DW) of total phenolics extracted from thinned young kiwifruits by UADE was obtained, which was significantly higher than those of conventional organic solvent extraction (CSE, about 14.51 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g DW) and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAEE, about 43.85 ± 1.17 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, 29 compounds, e.g., gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside, were identified in the kiwifruit extract by UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the contents of major phenolic compounds in different kiwifruit extracts prepared by conventional organic solvent extraction (EE), ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UEE), and ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UDE) were compared by HPLC analysis. Results revealed that the content of major phenolics in UDE (about 15.067 mg/g DW) was significantly higher than that in EE (about 2.218 mg/g DW) and UEE (about 6.122 mg/g DW), suggesting that the UADE method was more efficient for extracting polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits. In addition, compared with EE and UEE, UDE exhibited much higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, which were closely associated with its higher content of phenolic compounds. Collectively, the findings suggest that the UADE method can be applied as an efficient technique for the preparation of bioactive polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits, and the thinned young fruits of red-fleshed A. chinensis cv 'HY' have good potential to be developed and utilized as functional foods and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado peel and seed are the main by-products of avocado processing and are considered as promising sources of phenolic compounds with biological activities. Thus, this research focuses on the establishment, for the first time, of ultrasound-assisted extraction of flavan-3-ols with high antioxidant activity from avocado peel and seed using a sonotrode. Indeed, 2 Box–Behnken designs were performed for 15 experiments, with each design having three independent factors (ratio ethanol/water (v/v), time (min) and amplitude (%)). In both models, the responses included total procyanidins (flavan-3-ols) measured via HPLC-FLD and antioxidant activity measured via DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. The results showed that applying the sonotrode extraction method could increase flavan-3-ols recovery by 54% and antioxidant activity by 62–76% compared to ultrasound bath technology. Therefore, this technology was demonstrated to be a non-thermal, low time-consuming and scalable method that allowed the recovery of flavan-3-ols from avocado by-products that could be used as functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinal ischemic disease is a major type of retinal diseases causing vision loss. Identifying the molecular mechanisms mediating the retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) is the key to targeted intervention. In this study, we performed RNA-seq analysis of the retinal tissues of a retinal ischemia-reperfusion model of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, followed by differential gene expression analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. After studying we found that: The major biological processes affected after RIR was the regulation of vascular development. PPI analysis unveiled a regulatory module in which Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Beta (PDGFRB) was upregulated. In the RIR cell model of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRCEC) induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), silencing PDGFRB at least partially rescued the detrimental effect on cell proliferation and in vitro angiogenic ability. In the rat model of RIR, the administration of PDGFR inhibitor alleviated the damages in the retinal microvascular system. Besides, we further demonstrated the protective effect of procyanidin against RIR induced damages in both the cell and animal model by dampening the overexpression of PDGFRB. Together, our data indicate that the upregulation of PDGFRB contributes to RIR-induced damages in retinal microvascular system, which provides a targetable strategy for therapeutic intervention. • PDGFRB is upregulated in a regulatory module after RIR induction. • PDGFRB overexpression contributes to RIR-induced injury in retinal microvasculature. • Procyanidin protects against RIR-induced damages by dampening PDGFRB expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango fruit undergoes rapid metabolic changes following harvest that decrease quality, limit shelf life and marketability. In a completely randomized design experiment, the effect of 2% ascorbic acid (AA) and 1% procyanidin (PN) postharvest dipping either alone or in combination on quality changes of 'Sensation' mangoes were evaluated during ripening at ambient (23±1 oC and 60-70% RH) for 10 days. AA and PN treated fruit retained higher green color, firmness, titratable acidity (TA) and membrane stability index (MSI) but lower total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/TA ratio and weight loss than control during ripening. Total phenol (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents in peel and pulp showed different changes pattern during ripening but were higher in treated fruit than control. DPPH radical scavenging capacity (RSC) in peel increased with fluctuations and was higher in treated fruit than control after 3 and 6 days. In pulp, RSC increased during ripening and was higher in treated fruit than control after 10 days. Vitamin C decreased during ripening and was not affected by treatments. Changes in degradative enzymes (polygalacturonase (PG), xylanase and a-amylase) and oxidative enzymes (Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD)) activities in peel and pulp were evaluated in relation to fruit quality. It is concluded that postharvest dipping in 2% AA or 1% PN delayed ripening and retained quality of 'Sensation' mangoes via inhibiting degradative enzymes and enhancing fruit antioxidant system. [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.)

Summary: Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is one of the popular fruits world‐wide, and its quality is mainly determined by key metabolites (sugars, flavonoids, and vitamins). Previous works on kiwifruit are mostly done via a single omics approach or involve only limited metabolites. Consequently, the dynamic metabolomes during kiwifruit development and ripening and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood.In this study, using high‐resolution metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, we investigated kiwifruit metabolic landscapes at 11 different developmental and ripening stages and revealed a parallel classification of 515 metabolites and their co‐expressed genes into 10 distinct metabolic vs gene modules (MM vs GM). Through integrative bioinformatics coupled with functional genomic assays, we constructed a global map and uncovered essential transcriptomic and transcriptional regulatory networks for all major metabolic changes that occurred throughout the kiwifruit growth cycle.Apart from known MM vs GM for metabolites such as soluble sugars, we identified novel transcription factors that regulate the accumulation of procyanidins, vitamin C, and other important metabolites.Our findings thus shed light on the kiwifruit metabolic regulatory network and provide a valuable resource for the designed improvement of kiwifruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (Eos) have demonstrated antiviral activity, but their toxicity can hinder their use as therapeutic agents. Recently, some essential oil components have been used within safe levels of acceptable daily intake limits without causing toxicity. The "ImmunoDefender," a novel antiviral compound made from a well-known mixture of essential oils, is considered highly effective in treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. The components and doses were chosen based on existing information about their structure and toxicity. Blocking the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 with high affinity and capacity is critical for inhibiting the virus's pathogenesis and transmission. In silico studies were conducted to examine the molecular interactions between the main essential oil components in "ImmunoDefender" and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The screening results showed that six key components of ImmunoDefender formed stable complexes with Mpro via its active catalytic site with binding energies ranging from −8.75 to −10.30 kcal/mol, respectively for Cinnamtannin B1, Cinnamtannin B2, Pavetannin C1, Syzyginin B, Procyanidin C1, and Tenuifolin. Furthermore, three essential oil bioactive inhibitors, Cinnamtannin B1, Cinnamtannin B2, and Pavetannin C, had significant ability to bind to the allosteric site of the main protease with binding energies of −11.12, −10.74, and −10.79 kcal/mol; these results suggest that these essential oil bioactive compounds may play a role in preventing the attachment of the translated polyprotein to Mpro, inhibiting the virus's pathogenesis and transmission. These components also had drug-like characteristics similar to approved and effective drugs, suggesting that further pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to confirm the generated in silico outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanuts (Arachis hypogea) can be made into various products, from oil to butter to roasted snack peanuts and candies, all from the kernels. However, the skin is usually thrown away, used as cheap animal feed, or as one of the ingredients in plant fertilizer due to its little value on the market. For the past ten years, studies have been conducted to determine the full extent of the skin's bioactive substance repertoire and its powerful antioxidant potential. Alternatively, researchers reported that peanut skin could be used and be profitable in a less-intensive extraction technique. Therefore, this review explores the conventional and green extraction of peanut oil, peanut production, peanut physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and the prospects of valorization of peanut skin. The significance of the valorization of peanut skin is that it contains high antioxidant capacity, catechin, epicatechin resveratrol, and procyanidins, which are also advantageous. It could be exploited in sustainable extraction, notably in the pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chestnut pellicle has attracted lots of interests for its rich polyphenol content. However, little is known about the investigation of antioxidant activity of its different solvent extractions and applications in oil and oil-based food preservation. Here, we investigated the polyphenol contents of three chestnut pellicle extracts (CPEs) using different extractant, and found that chestnut pellicle ethanol extract (CPEE) exhibited the highest contents of total phenolic, while chestnut pellicle water extract (CPWE) possessed the highest contents of total flavonoid. What's more, chestnut pellicle ethyl acetate extract (CPEAE) exhibited excellent radical scavenging activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical. Additionally, CPEAE significantly reduced the lipid peroxide value (PV) in rapeseed oil and lard system. Finally, HPLC–ESI–MS/MS analysis demonstrated that CPEAE mainly contained oligomers of procyanidins and glycosides. These results suggested that chestnut pellicle may be a new potential source of antioxidant and promising candidate of natural additive in cooking oil preservation and other functional foods development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the berries, leaves and flowers of six species of hawthorn (Crataegus L.) were evaluated for bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, procyanides, UPLC profile) and their antioxidant activity (ABTS•+, CUPRAC, iron ion chelation, scavenging O2·- and OH− radicals). Most of the analyzes were performed for the first time for this material. The content of bioactive compounds differed significantly both between the species and morphological parts studied. In particular, the highest content of polyphenols was determined for hawthorn berries (301.65 to 387.16 mg/100 g d.w.), including the highest concentration for C. x subsphaericea. The polyphenolic profile of this species was dominated by flavan-3-ols, with procyanidin trimer, (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin dimer being the most numerous. Hawthorn berries were also characterized by the highest antioxidant activity, among which the species C. laevigata x rhipidophylla x monogyna showed the strongest antiradical activity (0.91 mmol TE/g and 294.96 µg/ml for tests with the ABTS•+ and OH− radical, respectively) and chelating iron ions (700.28 µg/ml). In conclusion, the results explain the traditional use of hawthorn in folk medicine and indicate a potentially new wider application as a source of natural antioxidants in the design of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A glycosylated protein/procyanidin complex was prepared by self-assembly of glycosylated whey protein isolate and proanthocyanidins (PCs). The complex was characterized through endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, oil–water interfacial tension, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the degree of protein aggregation could be regulated by controlling the added amount of procyanidin, and the main interaction force between glycosylated protein and PCs was hydrogen bonding or hydrophobic interaction. The optimal binding ratio of protein:PCs was 1:1 (w/w), and the solution pH was 6.0. The resulting glycosylated protein/PC compounds had a particle size of about 119 nm. They exhibited excellent antioxidant and free radical-scavenging abilities. Moreover, the thermal denaturation temperature rose to 113.33 °C. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images show that the emulsion maintains a thick interface layer and improves oxidation resistance with the addition of PCs, increasing the application potential in the functional food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Kidney disorders are among the most common diseases and there is a scarcity of effective treatments for chronic kidney disease. There has been a progressive improvement in specific flavonoids for protective effects against kidney diseases. Flavonoids inhibit the regulatory enzymes to control inflammation-related diseases. In the present study, a hybrid approach of molecular docking analyses and molecular dynamic simulation was followed by principal component analyses and a dynamics cross-correlation matrix. In the present study, the top-ranked five flavonoids were reported, and the maximum binding affinity was observed against AIM2. Molecular docking analyses revealed that Glu_186, Phe_187, Lys_245, Glu_248, Ile_263, and Asn_265 are potent residues against AIM2 for ligand–receptor interactions. Extensive in silico analyses suggested that procyanidin is a potential molecule against AIM2. Moreover, the site-directed mutagenesis for the reported interacting residues of AIM2 could be important for further in vitro analyses. The observed novel results based on extensive computational analyses may be significant for potential drug design against renal disorders by targeting AIM2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents quantification of proanthocyanidins (PAs) isolated from grapevine using disposable screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). Procyanidin B2 (B2) used as a model to investigate the electrochemical characteristics of complicated PAs structures in Britton Robinson buffer solution using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. B2 exhibits a well‐defined reversible redox wave at +0.49 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Significantly, the B2 was determined over a linear concentration range of 3.45–34.6 μM with a detection limit of 2.07 μM. The SPCE was used to analyze PAs in grapevine samples, and the results were consistent with those obtained using Folin‐Ciocalteu standard method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Limited research studies exist that assess the impact of thermosonication (TS) processing on antioxidant compounds in blackberry juice. Different combinations of TS parameters (temperature, amplitude power and time) were applied to blackberry juice using a pilot‐scale ultrasonic transducer (UIP500hdT). In low‐temperature treatment, the juice was treated at 10°C and 50% amplitude power for 5 min (10‐50‐5) showed the best retention of ascorbic acid (0.95 mg), total phenolic content (TPC) (459.55 mg GAE), 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (261.34 mg TE) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (604.09 mg TE). Similarly, in high‐temperature treatment, the juices were treated at 70°C and 100% amplitude power for 5 min (70‐100‐5) showed ascorbic acid (1.05 mg), TPC (166.17 mg GAE), DPPH (304.95 mg TE) and FRAP (686.93 mg TE). Both low‐ and high‐temperature treatments showed higher retentions in these attributes than untreated and pasteurised juices. The results were further supported by high retention of predominant polyphenols, namely cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside (400.58 and 336.94 mg/100 mL, for 10‐50‐5 and 70‐100‐5, respectively). A similar trend was observed in the contents of cyanidin‐3‐O‐rutinoside, procyanidin dimer B2, 5‐chlorogenic acid, epicatechin and rutin. TS treatment in overall could be a considerable alternative option to be used for antioxidant‐rich blackberry juice production as it has effects on phytochemicals similar to that of pasteurisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.) are an important source of polyphenols. Nevertheless, the content of these compounds is influenced by post-harvest processes. In this sense, the concentration of polyphenols can decrease by more than 50% during drying. In this study, the process of procyanidins extraction was optimized and the stability of catechins, procyanidins, and theobromine to different drying temperatures was evaluated. First, the effectiveness of methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water as extract solvents was determined. A Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) process. The ratios of methanol-water, time, and temperature of extraction were selected as independent variables, whereas the concentration of procyanidins was used as a response variable. Concerning the drying, the samples were dried using five temperatures, and a sample freeze-dried was used as a control. The quantitative analyses were carried out by HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-MS. The optimal MAE conditions were 67 °C, 56 min, and 73% methanol. Regarding the drying, the maximum contents of procyanidins were obtained at 40 °C. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the stability of dimers, trimers, and tetramers of procyanidins on drying temperature was evaluated. In conclusion, drying at 40 °C presented better results than the freeze-drying method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Euryale ferox is an important cash crop and valuable tonic in traditional medicine. The seeds of E. ferox are rich in starch, which is hard to digest, and the digestion speed is significantly slower than that of rice starch. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of E. ferox seed‐coat phenolics (EFCPs) on the digestion of E. ferox seed starch. RESULTS: EFCPs were extracted and identified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. We optimized the extraction parameters, and the final extraction yield was about 1.49%. We identified seven phenolics from the E. ferox seed‐coat extracts: gallic acid, digalloylhexoside, catechin, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, ellagic acid, and epicatechin gallate. Quantitative analysis results showed that the E. ferox seed phenolics mainly distributed in the seed coat and the gallic acid, digalloylhexoside, and epicatechin gallate were three main phenolic compounds. The phenolics displayed strong inhibitory activities on α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase with an IC50 of 3.25 μg mL−1 and 1.36 mg mL−1 respectively. Furthermore, these phenolics could interact with starch by hydrogen bonds, which might make its starch more difficult to digest. CONCLUSION: Our investigation suggests that the EFCPs can strongly inhibit the digestion of E. ferox seed starch by inhibiting the α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase activities and interacting with starch by hydrogen bonds; therefore, E. ferox seeds have a promising application prospect in foods for hypoglycemia. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a frequent and challenging aspect of sepsis that currently lacks effective treatments. Procyanidin B2 (PB2) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and mechanism of action of PB2 in treating sepsis-induced ALI using animal experiments. A sepsis-induced ALI mouse model was used by administering lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then evaluating the levels of inflammatory cytokines and lung injury through measurements of cytokine levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot and real-time PCR, as well as by the examination of relevant signaling pathways. The animal experiments showed that PB2 protected the lungs from injury caused by LPS and reduced the levels of various inflammatory cytokines in both the serum and lung tissue. Western blot analysis showed that PB2 reduced the expression of TLR4/NF-κB and increased the expression of PI3K/Akt, and also inhibited the Hippo and Rho signaling pathways. The results of the study showed that PB2 helps to treat sepsis-induced ALI by controlling cytokine storms and reducing inflammation by altering the expressions of the TLR4/NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, Hippo and Rho signaling pathways. This research provides a foundation for the further investigation of PB2's mechanism and its potential use in treating sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact that healthy aging can have on society has raised great interest in understanding aging mechanisms. However, the effects this biological process may have on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) have not yet been fully described. Results in relation to changes observed in the enteroendocrine system along the GIT are controversial. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) have been shown to protect against several pathologies associated with aging. Based on previous results, we hypothesized that a GSPE pre-treatment could prevent the aging processes that affect the enteroendocrine system. To test this hypothesis, we treated 21-month-old female rats with GSPE for 10 days. Eleven weeks after the treatment, we analyzed the effects of GSPE by comparing these aged animals with young animals. Aging induced a greater endocrine response to stimulation in the upper GIT segments (cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)), a decrease in the mRNA abundance of GLP-1, peptide YY (PYY) and chromogranin A (ChgA) in the colon, and an increase in colonic butyrate. GSPE-treated rats were protected against a decrease in enterohormone expression in the colon. This effect is not directly related to the abundance of microbiome or short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) at this location. GSPE may therefore be effective in preventing a decrease in the colonic abundance of enterohormone expression induced by aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulatory mechanism of the MBW (MYB‐bHLH‐WD40) complex in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) remains unclear. In the present study, we show that the separate overexpression of the genes CtbHLH41, CtMYB63, and CtWD40‐6 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased anthocyanin and procyanidin contents in the transgenic plants and partially rescued the trichome reduction phenotype of the corresponding bhlh41, myb63, and wd40‐6 single mutants. Overexpression of CtbHLH41, CtMYB63, or CtWD40‐6 in safflower significantly increased the content of the natural pigment hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYSA) and negatively regulated safflower petal size. Yeast‐two‐hybrid, functional, and genetic assays demonstrated that the safflower E3 ligase CtBB1 (BIG BROTHER 1) can ubiquitinate CtbHLH41, marking it for degradation through the 26S proteasome and negatively regulating flavonoid accumulation. CtMYB63/CtWD40‐6 enhanced the transcriptional activity of CtbHLH41 on the CtDFR (dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase) promoter. We propose that the MBW‐CtBB1 regulatory module may play an important role in coordinating HYSA accumulation with other response mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, natural polyelectrolyte complex chitosan/poly-γ-glutamic acid (CS/γ-PGA) has emerged as a promising nanocarrier delivery system for drug delivery due to its non-toxic and easily degradable properties. However, tightly bound CS/γ-PGA complexes often lead to lower encapsulation efficiency of peptide drugs without coordination of metal ions. In this investigation, we find that procyanidin (PC), as a cross-linking agent, is able to combine with CS and insulin through hydrogen bonding, which significantly improve encapsulation efficiency of insulin up to 90% in CS/γ-PGA/PC complex nanoparticles (CNPs). The results of this study demonstrate that CNPs release insulin in a pH-dependent approach and greatly reduce its enzymatic degradation in vitro. The transepithelial permeability of the CNPs is 8.1-fold higher than that of native insulin via both endocytosis and paracellular passways. Further pharmacokinetic studies reveal an oral pharmacological availability of 9.81 ± 1.32% in type I diabetic rats after intragastric administration of freeze-dried CNPs which loaded in enteric-coated capsules. In consequence, CNPs not only improve oral bioavailability of insulin but also are a promising delivery platform for insulin or other peptide/protein drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we implemented a structure-based virtual screening protocol in search of natural bioactive compounds in Clitoria ternatea that could inhibit the viral Mpro. Methods: A library of twelve main bioactive compounds in C. ternatea was created from PubChem database by minimizing ligand structure in PyRx software to increase the ligand flexibility. Molecular docking studies were performed by targeting Mpro (PDB ID: 6lu7) via Discovery Studio Visualiser and PyRx platforms. Top hits compounds were then selected to study their Adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) and drug likeness properties through pkCSM pharmacokinetics tool to understand the stability, interaction, conformational changes, and pharmaceutical relevant parameters. Results: This investigation found that, in the molecular docking simulation, four bioactive compounds (procyanidin A2 [−9.3 kcal/mol], quercetin-3-rutinoside [−8.9 kcal/mol], delphinidin-3-O-glucoside [−8.3 kcal/mol], and ellagic acid [−7.4 kcal/mol]) showed producing the strongest binding affinity to the Mpro of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, as compared to positive control (N3 inhibitor) (−7.5 kcal/mol). These binding energies were found to be favorable for an efficient docking and resultant. In addition, the stability of quercetin-3-rutinoside and ellagic acid is higher without any unfavorable bond. The ADMET and drug likeness of these two compounds were found that they are considered an effective and safe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inhibitors through Lipinski’s Rule, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and toxicity properties. Conclusion: From these results, it was concluded that C. ternatea possess potential therapeutic properties against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of cold storage at 2 °C for 180 days on water content, total acids, reducing and total sugar, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, and polyphenol profile of three Croatian traditional apple cultivars (‘Kanadska Reneta’, ‘Ilzer Rosenapfel’, ‘Wagener’). A significant variation in polyphenol profile of apple cultivars under investigation was noted. The most represented polyphenols in all apple cultivars were procyanidin B2 followed by chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and phloridzin. After storage, the content of procyanidin B2 and chlorogenic acid was higher, while content of epigallocatechin after storage was lower in all investigated apple cultivars. Water content before storage ranged between 79.17 and 80.76 %, and after storage between 75.62 and 78.56 %. Total acids, polyphenol oxidase activity, and flavonoids had decreased during storage, while reducing and total sugar content was higher after storage. Moreover, after storage, cultivar ‘Kanadska Reneta’ had the highest antioxidant activity measured by both ABTS and DPPH methods, 1.65 and 0.70 mmol trolox kg−1, respectively. A significant variation in polyphenol profile of apple cultivars under investigation was noted. The most represented polyphenols in all apple cultivars were procyanidin B2, followed by chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and phloridzin. After storage, the content of procyanidin B2 and chlorogenic acid was higher, while content of epigallocatechin after storage was lower in all investigated apple cultivars. Overall, it can be concluded that investigated apple cultivars, after storage, preserved most of the antioxidants and functional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs), as a class of compounds widely found in plants, are particularly abundant in grapes and blueberries. It is a polymer comprising many different monomers, such as catechins and epicatechins. The monomers are usually linked to each other by two types of links, A-linkages (C-O-C) and B-linkages (C-C), to form the polymers. Numerous studies have shown that compared to high polymeric procyanidins, OPCs exhibit antioxidant properties due to the presence of multiple hydroxyl groups. This review describes the molecular structure and natural source of OPCs, their general synthesis pathway in plants, their antioxidant capacity, and potential applications, especially the anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, cardiovascular disease prevention, and antineoplastic functions. Currently, OPCs have attracted much attention, being non-toxic and natural antioxidants of plant origin that scavenge free radicals from the human body. This review would provide some references for further research on the biological functions of OPCs and their application in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality dark chocolates (70% cocoa content) can have shades from light to dark brown color. This work aimed at revealing compounds that discriminate black and brown chocolates. From 37 fine chocolate samples from years 2019 and 2020 provided by Valrhona,8 dark black samples and 8 light brown samples were selected. A non-targeted metabolomics study was performed based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography—high resolution mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry experiments, univariate, multivariate, and feature-based molecular networking analyses. Twenty-seven overaccumulated discriminating compounds were found for black chocolates. Among them, glycosylated flavanols including monomers and glycosylated A-type procyanidin dimers and trimers were highly representative. Fifty overaccumulated discriminating compounds were found for brown chocolates. Most of them were B-type procyanidins (from trimers to nonamers). These phenolic compounds may be partially related to the chocolate colors as precursors of colored compounds. This study increases the knowledge on the chemical diversity of dark chocolates by providing new information about the phenolic profiles of black and brown chocolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procyanidins (PCs), which are organic antioxidants, suppress oxidative stress, exhibit anti−apoptotic properties, and chelate metal ions. The potential defense mechanism of PCs against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) was investigated in this study. Pre−administration for 7 days of a PC enhanced nerve function and decreased cerebellar infarct volume in a mouse middle cerebral artery embolization paradigm. In addition, mitochondrial ferroptosis was enhanced, exhibited by mitochondrial shrinkage and roundness, increased membrane density, and reduced or absent ridges. The level of Fe2+ and lipid peroxidation that cause ferroptosis was significantly reduced by PC administration. According to the Western blot findings, PCs altered the expression of proteins associated with ferroptosis, promoting the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 while reducing the expression of TFR1, hence inhibiting ferroptosis. Moreover, the treatment of PCs markedly elevated the expression of HO−1 and Nuclear−Nrf2. The PCs' ability to prevent ferroptosis due to CIRI was decreased by the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. Our findings showed that the protective effect of PCs may be achieved via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis. This study provides a new perspective on the treatment of CIRI with PCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of wine grapes and wine depends on their content of phenolic compounds. Under commercial conditions, the phenolic maturity of grapes is mostly achieved by applying abscisic acid analogues. Some Ca forms represent a cost-effective alternative for these compounds. In this study, 'Shiraz' vines (veraison of 90%) were sprayed with CaCO3-rich residues from the cement industry (4.26 g of Ca per L). Fruit from treated and untreated vines was harvested 45 days after CaCO3 spraying and evaluated for quality. The fruit was vinified, and the obtained wines were bottled and stored in darkness for 15 months at 20 °C. Wines were evaluated for quality after storage. The evaluation of grape and wine quality included the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The treatment with CaCO3 did not affect the ripening rate of grapes. However, the treatment improved the fruit yield as well as the color development, the content of phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of grapes and wine. The treatment favored especially the accumulation of malvidin-3-O-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, caftaric acid, caffeic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, resveratrol, and the procyanidins B1 and B2. Wine made with treated fruit was of higher quality than that of control fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut skin is a by-product rich in bioactive compounds with high nutritional and pharmaceutical values. The phenolic fraction, rich in proanthocyanidins/procyanidins, is a relevant class of bioactive compounds, which has been increasingly applied as functional ingredients for food and pharmaceutical applications and is mostly recovered from peanut skins through low-pressure extraction methods. Therefore, the use of green high-pressure extractions is an interesting alternative to value this peanut by-product. This review addresses the benefits of the phenolic fraction recovered from peanut skin, with a focus on proanthocyanin/procyanidin compounds, and discusses the improvement of their activity, bioavailability, and protection, by methods such as encapsulation. Different applications for the proanthocyanidins, in the food and pharmaceutical industries, are also explored. Additionally, high-pressure green extraction methods, combined with micro/nanoencapsulation, using wall material derived from peanut industrial processing, may represent a promising biorefinery strategy to improve the bioavailability of proanthocyanidins recovered from underutilized peanut skins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) favor inflammation and oxidative stress, playing a role in chronic diseases pathogenesis. Grape polyphenols exert antiglycative and antioxidant effects which may contribute to prevent chronic diseases. However, clinical evidence of grape polyphenols on chronic disease prevention and treatment by glycation markers modulation are limited. Therefore, we aimed to critically analyze studies about that topic to investigate the antiglycative power of dietary grape polyphenol, and to explore the molecular mechanism involved. This systematic review was conducted and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. The following search terms were used: "grape", "extract", "grape seed extract", "grape skin extract", "polyphenol extract", "grape polyphenol(s)", "grape juice", "resveratrol", "quercetin", "catechin", "epicatechin", "procyanidin(s)", and "anthocyanin(s)". Seven studies were included. Glycated hemoglobin was not affected. The interventions duration may not have been enough to detect changes. Grape polyphenols reduced fructosamine and methylglyoxal (MGO) concentrations, and increased endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) gene expression but did not affect the serum concentration. Resveratrol antiglycative effects are mainly due its ability to trap MGO and downregulate RAGE. In conclusion, grape polyphenols may have a positive impact on early glycation products, AGEs and esRAGE. Future studies are needed to explore how they modulate AGEs and receptors in chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus serrulata is a famous ornamental plant worldwide. Flower color is the most prominent trait of cherry. In order to analyze the different pathways and key metabolite change in flower color among P. serrulata cultivars, we conducted a comparative analysis of anthocyanin metabolomics among white, green, and pink P. serrulata cultivars using LC-MS/MS. The results were as follows:(1)A total of 42 anthocyanins were detected, mainly including petunidin, delphinidin, flavonoids, malvidin, peonidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, and procyanidins.(2)A total of 25 anthocyanins were identified as differential metabolites, including 11 down-regulated and 14 up-regulated ones, in which seven anthocyanins with higher abundance in the pink flower.(3)KEGG pathway annotation showed that the differential metabolites were significantly enriched in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway; the results of clustering showed that petunidin-3-O-glucoside was the key metabolite for flower color differences of P. serrulata cultivars. This study provides important insights into the metabolic mechanism of flower color differences in P. serrulata and a reference for novel color cultivars and variety breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance of malaria parasites to conventionally used antimalarial drugs has necessitated the search for new potent antimalarials, especially those that can also ameliorate oxidative stress‐mediated secondary complications. This has led to the synthesis of an antimalarial artesunate–procyanidin hybrid compound (PC14), but it has not been evaluated for its antioxidant activity. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of PC14 in the erythrocyte and liver of Plasmodium berghei NK65‐infected mice. A hundred mice were randomly divided into 10 equal groups (A–J). Mice in Groups B–J were inoculated with P. berghei NK65 while group A mice were not inoculated. Starting from Day 3 post‐inoculation, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (5%) was administered to mice in Groups A and B (normal and negative controls, respectively), while various doses of chloroquine, artesunate, procyanidin, and PC14 were administered to their respective groups for 3 days. Thereafter, antioxidant parameters were determined in the erythrocyte and liver on Days 6 and 10 post‐inoculation. A significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed in malondialdehyde levels in the erythrocyte and liver of negative control on Day 10 post‐inoculation compared to normal controls. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in activities of liver catalase and superoxide dismutase and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and glutathione‐S‐transferase of negative control on Days 6 and 10 compared to normal controls. However, PC14 at various doses significantly (P < 0.05) reversed these alterations. The results suggest that PC14 possesses antioxidant activity, and it enhanced antioxidant defense in the erythrocyte and liver of P. berghei‐infected mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcritical water-ethanol extraction (SWE) was performed to extract proanthocyanidins (PAs) from Chinese quince fruits. The extraction parameters (temperature, time, liquid-solid ratio) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), based on single-factor experiments. The optimal SWE conditions were: temperature, 135 °C; time, 31 min; liquid-solid ratio, 32 mL/g. The maximum PAs obtained were 22.36 ± 0.35 mg PB2/g DW, which matched predicted values. In the analysis of PAs, 7 compounds were identified: catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and proanthocyanidins dimers, trimers and tetramers. Structurally, these PAs contained substantial procyanidin (PC) but little prodelphinidin (PD). The findings revealed that SWE yielded more total PA than the conventional method extraction (CME). Furthermore, compared with CME PAs, PAs obtained by SWE showed higher radical scavenging capacities (IC50: 139.32 µg/mL for DPPH; IC50: 113.11 µg/mL for ABTS) and stronger α-amylase inhibition (IC50: 88.29 µg/mL). These results indicate that SWE is an efficient method for the separation of PAs from Chinese quince. Chinese quince PAs represent a potentially valuable resource for use in functional foods and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Californian-style black olives can undergo different chemical changes during the sterilization process that can affect their sensory and phenol characteristics. Thus, these olives were stuffed with flavoured hydrocolloids and submitted to different thermal sterilization treatments to assess sensory categories. The triangular test indicated that the panellists were able to discriminate between samples from different categories according to their aromas with more than 85% success. The results indicated that the negative aroma detected by tasters was related to burn defects. The highest level of defects was found in standard olives, while the lowest was identified in the extra category. Furthermore, olives submitted to the lowest thermal sterilization treatment (extra) presented significantly higher phenol profile content, such as for hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleuropein and procyanidin B1. The electronic nose (E-nose) discriminated between samples from different categories according to the specific aroma (PC1 = 82.1% and PC2 = 15.1%). The PLS-DA classified the samples with 90.9% accuracy. Furthermore, the volatile organic compounds responsible for this discrimination were creosol, copaene, benzaldehyde and diallyl disulphide. Finally, the models established by the PLS analysis indicated that the E-nose could predict olives according to their aroma and total phenol profile (R C V 2 values were 0.89 and 0.92, respectively). Thus, this device could be used at the industrial level to discriminate between olives with different sensory aromas to determine those with the highest quality. [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]

The bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolics compounds of two grape stem extracts with different composition were studied. High polymeric extract (HPE) presented a higher content of total phenolics (TPC), procyanidins, hemicelluloses, proteins, and ashes, whereas low procyanidin extract (LPE) showed a higher fat, soluble sugars, and individual phenolic compounds content. Corresponding to its higher total phenolics content, HPE possesses a higher antioxidant activity (TEAC value). The digestion process reduced the antioxidant activity of the HPE up to 69%, due to the decrease of TPC (75%) with a significant loss of polymeric compounds. LPE antioxidant activity was stable, and TPC decreased by only 13% during the digestion process. Moreover, a higher antioxidant phenolic compounds bioavailability was shown in LPE in contrast to HPE. This behaviour was ascribed mainly to the negative interaction of polymeric fractions and the positive interaction of lipids with phenolic compounds. Therefore, this study highlights the convenience of carrying out previous studies to identify the better extraction conditions of individual bioavailable phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, along with those constituents that could increase their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, such as lipids, although the role played by other components, such as hemicelluloses, cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial health effect of red wine depends on its phenolic content and the phenolic content in red wines is affected by ecological, agricultural, and enological practices. Enriched wines have been proposed as an alternative to increase the phenolic content in wines. Nevertheless, phenolic compounds are related to the sensory characteristics of red wines, so enrichment of red wines requires a balance between phenolic content and sensory characteristics. In the present study, a Merlot red wine was enriched with a phenolic extract obtained from Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace. Two levels of enrichment were evaluated: 4 and 8 g/L of total phenolic content (gallic acid equivalents, GAE). Wines were evaluated by a trained panel to determine their sensory profile (olfactive, visual, taste, and mouthfeel phases). The bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds from enriched red wines was evaluated using an in vitro digestive model and phenolic compounds were quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Enrichment increased mainly flavonols and procyanidins. Such an increase impacted astringency and sweetness perceived by judges. This study proposes an alternative to increase the phenolic content in wines without modifying other main sensory characteristics and offers a potential beneficial effect on the health of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Background and Objectives: An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) usually leads to acute liver injury, and oxidative stress is one of the fundamental mechanisms used to characterize it. Procyanidins (PCs) can reduce the oxidative stress in the liver of mice. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of PCs against APAP-induced acute liver injury. Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on male Kunming mice in six groups: phosphate-buffered saline, PCs, APAP, and PCs pretreated with 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The mice were peritoneally injected with PCs 30 min before the administration of APAP. First, survival rates of mice were scored every 12 hr for three days in succession. Furthermore, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (T-Bil), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-1 (IL-6) were determined. Additionally, histological analysis and hepatic oxidative stress including the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were assessed. Finally, the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and SOD-1 was detected by Western blotting. Results: The data indicated that PCs improved survival rates of APAP-induced liver injury in mice models. Moreover, PCs could reduce the elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, T-Bil, TC, TG, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 due to APAP exposure with a dose-dependent manner. Besides, PCs pretreatment attenuated hepatic histopathological damage and oxidative stress which manifested the increases of SOD and GSH, whereas the decrease of MDA. Furthermore, PCs enhanced the protein expression of Nrf2 and SOD-1 in the PCs pretreatment groups compared with the APAP group. Conclusion: PCs ameliorated APAP-induced acute liver injury, and Nrf2 signaling pathway modulating antioxidative stress might be involved in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenolic profile of wines is often used to evaluate their quality and authenticity. The phenolic composition of twenty-five commercial wines produced in different Croatian regions from eight red and nine white grape varieties was studied. A total of twenty-four polyphenols were analyzed using HPLC-DAD and classified into five groups based on their structure: phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and stilbenes. The red wines contained higher concentrations of phenolic constituents than the white wines, of which gallic acid (11.8–90.3 mg/L), procyanidin B1 (13.7–63.8 mg/L), and catechin (10.5–34.5 mg/L) were the most abundant. In contrast to the white wines, great variability was observed in the red wines, with the autochthonous Plavac Mali and Babić showing the most specific phenolic profiles. The most representative phenolic components in the studied Croatian wines showed strong antioxidant activity. Gallic acid proved to be the most effective DPPH (IC50 = 0.33 µg/mL) and NO scavenger (IC50 = 12.36 µg/mL), while myricetin was the most potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 1.68 µg/mL). Our research has contributed to the characterization and varietal differentiation of Croatian wines, highlighting those rich in certain polyphenols as potential nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides of bitter acids, hop polyphenols can influence the sensory properties of beer. While the concentration of bitter acids is tightly monitored by the hop industry, comprehensive datasets concerning the polyphenols do not exist yet. To quantitate the hop phenolic compounds, LC-MS/MS analysis was applied to various hop varieties from different growing regions for the harvest year 2021 (> 400 samples). The list of compounds tested includes multifidol glucosides, flavonol glycosides and their aglycones, flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, and phenolic acids. The multifidol glucosides (co- and ad-multifidol glucoside) are typical to hops as intermediates in the biosynthesis of bitter acids. The detected concentrations for co-multifidol glucoside are between 8-200 mg/100 g depending on hop variety. Consistently low amounts (< 5 mg/100 g) were found for quercetin, kaempferol or myricetin as flavonol aglycones in comparison to their glycosides quercetin and kaempferol glucoside or quercetin and kaempferol rutinoside (up to 100 mg/100 g). Characteristics for single hop cultivars were observed for the procyanidins B1, B2 and B3, and for the flavan-3-ols catechin and epicatechin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]