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The goal of this work was to evaluate the chemical constitution and health-promoting potential of 12 varieties of Chaenomeles × superba, speciosa and japonica leaves. Carotenoids, chlorophylls, triterpenes, sugars, polyols and acids were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using high pressure liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS), while the mineral profile was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Moreover, the in vitro anticholinergic potential (inhibition of acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl-cholinesterase (BuChE)) and antioxidant (ABTS, FRAP, ORAC) capacity were evaluated. For the first time in Chaenomeles genotypes 26 carotenoid derivatives and 22 chlorophyll derivatives were identified. Some varieties contained high amounts of carotenoids and chlorophylls (Ch. × superba 'Colour Trail', 'Nicoline', 'Pink Lady', 'Texas Scarlet'), and triterpenes (Ch. speciosa 'Simonii', 'Rubra', and Ch. × superba 'Colour Trail', 'Nicoline') and showed high ORAC antioxidant (Ch. × superba 'Pink Lady' and Ch. speciosa 'Simonii') and anticholinergic (Ch. speciosa species) activity. The studied leaves also contained sugars (3.1 to 16.5 mg/100 g), organic acids (3.9-8.1 g/100 g), and minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn). In conclusion, Chaenomeles leaves show potential as a new source for the production of nutraceuticals, as well as for medical and/or cosmetic purposes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study investigated the impact of Lonicera caerulea L. juice matrix modification and drying techniques on powder characteristics. The evaluation encompassed phenolics (514.7-4388.7 mg/100 g dry matter), iridoids (up to 337.5 mg/100 g dry matter), antioxidant and antiglycation capacity, as well as anti-ageing properties of powders produced using maltodextrin, inulin, trehalose, and palatinose with a pioneering role as a carrier. Spray drying proved to be competitive with freeze drying for powder quality. Carrier application influenced the fruit powder properties. Trehalose protected the phenolics in the juice extract products, whereas maltodextrin showed protective effect in the juice powders. The concentrations of iridoids were influenced by the matrix type and drying technique. Antiglycation capacity was more affected by the carrier type in juice powders than in extract products. However, with carrier addition, the latter showed approximately 12-fold higher selectivity for acetylcholinesterase than other samples. Understanding the interplay between matrix composition, drying techniques, and powder properties provides insights for the development of plant-based products with tailored attributes, including potential health-linked properties.

The fruit juice industry generates a significant amount of waste, with a strong impact on the environment and the economy. Therefore, researchers have been focusing on the characterization of resources considered as food waste. This work provides information about the lipophilic and polar metabolites of pear pomace flours (PPFs) as a tool that can shed more light on the bioactive potential of this residue. Using UPLC-PDA, UPLC-FLR, and GC-MS, the study identified and quantified PPF's polar and non-polar metabolites. Essential, conditional, and non-essential amino acids were found, with asparagine being the most abundant. Isoprenoids, including lutein, zeaxanthin, and carotene isomers, ranged from 10.8 to 22.9 mg/100 g dw. Total flavonoids and phenolic compounds were 520.5-636.4 mg/100 g dw and 536.9-660.1 mg/100 g dw, respectively. Tocotrienols and tocopherols were identified, with concentrations of 173.1-347.0 mg/100 g dw and 468.7-913.4 mg/100 g dw. Fatty acids were the major non-polar compounds. All fractions significantly reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. Although PPF had lower antioxidant potential (3-6 mmol Trolox/100 g dw), it inhibited AChE and BuChE by 23-30% compared to physostigmine salicylate. These findings suggest that pear pomace waste can be repurposed into functional products with valuable bioactive properties by re-introducing it in the food chain.

The main goal of this research was to investigate how particle size influences the characteristics of pear ( Pyrus Communis L.) pomace flour and to examine the impact of different pre-treatment methods on the phenolic content and associated bioactivities. Pear pomace flour was fractionated into different particle sizes, namely 1 mm, 710 µm, 180 µm, 75 µm and 53 µm. Then two extraction methods, namely maceration with methanol and two-step extraction with hexane via Soxhlet followed by ultrasound extraction with methanol, were tested. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents ranged from 375.0 to 512.9 mg gallic acid/100 g DW and from 24.7 to 34.6 mg quercetin/100 g DW, respectively. Two-step extraction provided antioxidant activity up to 418.8 (in FRAP assay) and 340.0 mg Trolox/100 g DW (in DPPH assay). In order to explore various bioactive properties, this study assessed the inhibitory effects of enzymes, specifically α-amylase and β-glucosidase (associated with antidiabetic effects), as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme (linked to potential antihypertensive benefits). Additionally, the research investigated antibacterial potential against both Gram-negative ( E. coli ) and Gram-positive ( S. aureus ) bacteria, revealing significant results ( p < 0.05), particularly in the case of the two-step extraction method. This investigation underscores the substantial value of certain food industry wastes, highlighting their potential as bioactive ingredients within the framework of a circular economy.

The present study aimed to evaluate the content of polyphenols and carotenoids as well as the health-promoting properties (antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiobesity, antiaging, and anti-inflammatory activities) in selected peaches cultivated in Poland. The qualitative analysis of the tested cultivars showed that the content of polyphenols was dominated by flavan-3-ols, and phenolic acids. In turn, the performed analysis clearly indicated that the dominant carotenoid was β-carotene, which constituted on average 88% of the total amount of carotenoids. The general content of yellow pigments is as follows: all- trans -β-carotene > 13 cis -β-carotene > 9 cis -β-carotene > zeaxanthin > β-cryptoxanthin ≥ β-cryptoxanthin-myristate > β-cryptoxanthin-palmitate > crocin ≥  cis -violaxanthin > lutein. In addition, the present study showed that the peach fruit has a high potential in the context of inhibition of pancreatic lipase, which may indicate a potential antiobesity effect. However, the potential of the peaches to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase, or 15-LOX has not been demonstrated., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Paulina Nowicka reports financial support was provided by The National Centre for Research and Development., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The aim of the present study was to examine the nutritional (fat, fatty acids, minerals, sugars) and bioactive compounds (polyphenols, tocochromanols, triterpene) and their influence on in vitro anti-diabetic (pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase), anti-obesity (pancreatic lipase) and anti-cholinergic (AChE and BuChE) inhibitory activity of 8 different popular nuts-pecan, pine, hazelnuts, pistachio, almonds, cashew, walnuts, and macadamia. The total content of phenolic compounds in nuts ranged from 432.9 (walnuts) to 5.9 (pistachio) mg/100 g. The dominant polyphenols are polymeric procyanidins (walnuts - 415.1 mg/100 g). Nuts are rich in tocochromanols (832.9-4377.5 μg/100 g), especially α- and γ-tocopherols. The highest content of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) was detected in hazelnuts and almonds (2551.0 and 2489.7 μg/100 g, respectively) while the lowest amounts were detected in macadamia, cashew and walnuts. The most abundant in nuts are oleanic and pomolic acids (35 and 22 % of total, respectively), while betulin, uvaol and erythrodiol are less characteristic triterpenes for nuts (<1%). Pine nuts are the nuts with the highest content of triterpene (690.3 mg/100 g). Pistachio and almonds are the richest in total fat (>45 %), but monounsaturated (17.5-79.3 %; hazelnuts, almonds, cashew, macadamia, pistachio and pecan) and polyunsaturated (7.5-69.3 %; pine, walnuts) are the dominant fatty acids. Moreover, nuts are low in Cu, Zn, Mn and Na content, but rich in K (464.5-1772.3 mg/100 g) and Mg (197.0-502.5 mg/100 g). Macadamia, walnuts and cashew are good sources of Se. Pistachio, almonds and cashew were characterized by the highest content of sugars, but the dominant sugar was saccharose (58.2-2399.3 mg/100 g). All nuts showed high activity in inhibiting intestinal α-glucosidase (>90 %), but lower ability to inhibit pancreatic α-amylase and pancreatic lipase activity. The activity in inhibiting acetyl- and butylcholinesterase was up to 30 %. As described above, all nuts contain various compounds that improve the nutritional value. Therefore they should be one of the important components of the daily human diet rich in functional foods., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Background: Nowadays it is highly important to find new, cheap and widely available sources of tocopherol and tocotrienol compounds, and leaves are promising unconventional sources. The main goal of this study was to extend the currently limited knowledge concerning tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers composition determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection analysis for various fruit tree leaves such as apple, pear, quince, apricot, peach, plum, sour cherry and sweet cherry. The leaves were collected 2 weeks after tree blooming and after fruit collection. Tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers were identified and quantified for the first time in all fruit tree leaves., Results: The total tocopherol content ranged from 203.34 to 260.86 μg g -1 dry weight for spring leaves and from 23.83 to 235.62 μg g -1 dry weight for autumn leaves and consisted mainly of α-tocopherol. The rest of the isomers of tocopherol and tocotrienols were also found, but in trace amounts. A significantly lower content of tocopherols and tocotrienols was detected in leaves after autumn collection of fruits compared to leaves collected after blooming. Among the analyzed leaves, time collected and species were significantly more important than their cultivars. Regarding quantification analysis, apricot > peach > > plums > apples leaves were identified as the best sources of tocopherols, and sweet and sour cherry leaves exhibited a lower content., Conclusion: Fruit tree leaves are a novel significant source and good material for isolation of α-tocopherol for application in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or in the food industry - for example, production of beverages or other functional foods. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Juices are currently a fast-growing segment in the fruit and vegetable industry sector. However, there are still no reports on the diversity of the phytochemical profile and health-promoting properties of commercial sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) juices. This study aimed to identify and quantify phytoprostanes, phytofurans by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS), tocopherols, tocotrienols by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector (UPLC-FL), carotenoids, and free amino acids by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode detector-quadrupole and tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS), and assess their anti-cholinergic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential by in vitro assays of commercial sea buckthorn juices., Results: Phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) in sea buckthorn juices were identified for the first time. Juices contained eight F 1 -, D 1 -, B 1 - and L 1 -phytoprostanes and one phytofuran (32.31-1523.51 ng and up to 101.47 μg/100 g dry weight (DW)), four tocopherol congeners (22.23-94.08 mg 100 g -1 DW) and three tocotrienols (5.93-25.34 mg 100 g -1 DW). Eighteen carotenoids were identified, including ten xanthophylls, seven carotenes and phytofluene, at a concentration of 133.65 to 839.89 mg 100 g -1 DW. Among the 20 amino acids (175.92-1822.60 mg 100 g -1 DW), asparagine was dominant, and essential and conditionally essential amino acids constituted 11 to 41% of the total. The anti-enzyme and antioxidant potential of juices correlated selectively with the composition., Conclusion: Sea buckthorn juice can be a valuable dietary source of vitamins E and A, oxylipins and amino acids, used in the prevention of metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and neurodegenerative processes. The differentiation of the composition and the bioactive potential of commercial juices indicate that, for the consumer, it should be important to choose juices from the declared berry cultivars and crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The functional food market has been in a state of constant expansion due to the increasing awareness of the impact of the diet on human health. In the search for new natural resources that could act as a functional ingredient for the food industry, microalgae represent a promising alternative, considering their high nutritional value and biosynthesis of numerous bioactive compounds with reported biological properties. In the present work, the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic inhibitory effect aiming at different metabolic disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity) were evaluated for the species Porphyridium purpureum , Chlorella vulgaris , Arthorspira platensis , and Nannochloropsis oculata . All the species presented bioactive diversity and important antioxidant activity, demonstrating the potential to be used as functional ingredients. Particularly, P. purpureum and N. oculata exhibited higher carotenoid and polyphenol content, which was reflected in their superior biological effects. Moreover, the species P. purpureum exhibited remarkable enzymatic inhibition for all the analyses.

This paper presents characterization of healthy potential new sources of functional constituents with reference to basic plant sources. In this study, the phenolics, triterpene, isoprenoids (chlorophylls and carotenoids), amino acids, minerals, sugars and organic acids of different cultivars of pome species-apple, pear, quince-leaves vs. fruits and their enzymatic in vitro enzyme inhibition of hyperglycemic (α-glucosidase, α-amylase), obesity (pancreatic lipase), cholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase, butylcholinesterase), inflammatory (15-LOX, COX-1 and -2) and antioxidant capacity (ORAC, FRAP, ABTS) were evaluated. Leaves of pome species as a new plant sources were characterized by higher content of bioactive and nutritional compounds than basic fruits. The dominant fraction for quince, pear, and apple fruits was polymeric procyanidins. In quince and pear leaves flavan-3-ols, and in apple dihydrochalcones dominated. Triterpene was present in equal content in leaves and fruits. Leaves are excellent sources of amino acids and minerals (especially Ca, Mg, Fe, and K), with high content of organic acids and low content of sugars compared to fruits of pome species. Leaves of apples and pears most effectively inhibited COX-1, COX-2, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase enzyme but quince leaves showed the most effective inhibition of pancreatic lipase, AChE and BuChE, 15-LOX, and antioxidant capacity, which particularly correlated with bioactive compounds. Present study shows that leaves are promising sources of valuable compounds and may be used to produce functional foods as well as for medical purposes., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

This study focused on the identification (by LC-PDA-qTof-ESI-MS) and quantification (by UPLC-PDA) of isoprenoids of the fruit tree leaves (FTL) of commonly consumed fruits: apple, pears, quince, apricot, peach, plums, sweet and sour cherry. The FTL were collected at 2 time points: after tree blooming and after fruit collection. In FTL 7 carotenoids and 16 chlorophylls were identified, but the number of labeled chlorophyll compounds depended on the species. FTL of apple, sour cherry and apricot were identified as the best sources of chlorophylls (mean 404.8, 388.7 and 364.5 mg/100 g dw, respectively) and sweet and sour cherry leaves as the best sources of carotenoids (831.4 and 1162.0 mg/100 g dw, respectively). A lower content of chlorophylls and carotenoids, but not significantly, was detected in leaves after autumn collection of fruits compared to leaves collected after blooming. Fruit tree leaves are good material for isolation of chlorophylls and carotenoids for application in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or in the food industry, e.g. production of beverages or puree., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the most extended current chronic diseases and also Alzheimer pathology which is a progressive degenerative neurological disorder. Therefore, finding effective enzyme inhibitors responsible for the development of these diseases are essential. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fruit purée (Cydonia oblonga, Ziziphus jujube and Malus domestica) and pomegranate juice cultivar ('Mollar de Elche' and 'Wonderful') of dried pomegranate sheets (DS) on the inhibition of enzymes associated with metabolic (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase activity), and neurological disorder (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity). Quality properties (colour coordinates, texture properties and sensory characteristics) of DS were also studied. In addition, it was researched the effect of storage conditions (4 months at 4 and 20 °C) on phenolic content., Results: DS from jujube had the highest antioxidant capacity and were characterized by the highest storage stability with respect to phenolic compounds. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 , in mg mL -1 ) inhibition of DS ranged from 107 to 216 and from 55.2 to values indicating no effect, respectively. The inhibition toward pancreatic lipase (IC 50  < 5 mg mL -1 ), acetylcholinesterase (ranged 9.15-22.2%) and butyrylcholinesterase (ranged 20.6-48.6%) was increased with the presence of total flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids content (identifying mainly in DS from quinces). It is noteworthy that none of the samples presented off-flavour notes, supporting the high quality of the products., Conclusion: DS can be an innovative supplement to a diet as a snack used in the prevention of neurological changes and disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Sea buckthorn berries fit into the strategy of seeking natural factors in the non-communicable diseases prevention, but their sensory qualities are a challenge for consumers and food industry. The study aimed to evaluate anti-cholinesterase (anti-acetylcholinesterase and -butylcholinesterase), anti-diabetic (anti-α-amylase, -α-glucosidase, -pancreatic lipase) and antioxidant potential (FRAP, ORAC), phenolic compounds (UPLC-PDA-FL), basic chemical composition, and sensory quality of sea buckthorn-based smoothies. Eighteen novel products containing sea buckthorn (25-50%) with other fruits and vegetables were analyzed. Sea buckthorn enriched the smoothies in flavonols (25.46-95.13 mg/100 g), and fruits and vegetables provided phenolic acids and procyanidins. The anti-BuChE effect was higher than anti-AChE, while products with apricot, orange, grape and parsley root were strong inhibitors of carbohydrates digesting enzymes. Lipase inhibition by all smoothies was over 50%. Products with 75% fruits or 50% vegetables were the most sensory attractive. The results will be valuable in designing innovative food with rarely used berries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) berries have high biological value as a rich source of phenolic compounds, fatty acids and vitamins A, C, E. Due to the high organic acid content and sour taste, the fruits are rarely used in juice production. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the metabolic activity of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. argentoratensis and Oenococcus oeni strains along with the dynamics of changes in organic acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity during 72-h fermentation of 100% sea buckthorn and mixed with apple (1:1) juices. The strongest malolactic conversion was in mixed juices (to 75.0%). The most efficient strains were L. plantarum DSM 10492, 20174 and 6872. L. plantarum strains caused an increase in flavonols and antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn-apple juices. The results can be used to select conditions and strains in industrial-scale fermentation, to produce novel sea buckthorn products and increase their consumption., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to analyze potential health-promoting and nutritional components (polyphenols, L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, chlorophylls, amino acids, organic acid, sugars, ash and pectins) of selected sprouts (radish, lentil, black medick, broccoli, sunflower, leek, beetroot, mung beans) and microgreens (kale, radish, beetroot, green peas, amaranth). Moreover, antioxidant capacity (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)), in vitro anti-diabetic potential (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and anti-obesity (pancreatic lipase) and anti-cholinergic (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) activity were evaluated. The results of this study show that sprouts are effective in antioxidant capacity as a result of a high content of polyphenols and L-ascorbic acid. Additionally, sprouts are better sources of amino acids, pectins and sugars than microgreens. Microgreens were characterized by high content of carotenoids and chlorophylls, and organic acid, without any sugars, exhibiting higher anti-diabetic and anti-cholinergic activity than sprouts. Some selected sprouts (broccoli, radish, lentil) and microgreens (radish, amaranths, kale) should be used daily as superfoods or functional food.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) constantly emphasize the importance of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption; these natural products help in the prevention of major diseases. Smoothies are a simple and convenient way of doing so; thus, their demand is constantly growing and their market is becoming important for the food industry. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine Millennial consumer opinion towards novel fruit- and vegetable-smoothies available on the retail market. Napping ® , descriptive sensory analysis, and consumer studies were conducted. Napping ® results group samples into four clusters of smoothies; the main grouping factor was the type of fruit and the percentage of vegetables. Penalty analysis showed that smoothies need improvement mainly dealing with sweetness, bitterness, and vegetable flavors. Millennial consumers formed a homogeneous sensory group in which the overall liking was negatively correlated with the level of sweetness, and earthy, carrot, beetroot, and pear flavors. The key liking drivers were sourness and notes of mango, banana, and peach flavors. This research is a new insight into the perception of smoothies, provides comprehensive knowledge for the food industry, and can guide the design of new healthy smoothies.

Sea buckthorn ( Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) juice with inulin, maltodextrin, and inulin:maltodextrin (1:2 and 2:1) were spray-, freeze- and vacuum-dried at 50, 70 and 90 °C. The study aimed to assess the impact of drying methods and carrier agents on physical properties (moisture content, water activity, true and bulk density, porosity, color parameters, browning index), chemical components (hydroxymethylfurfural and phenolic compounds) and antioxidant capacity of sea buckthorn juice powders. Storage of powders was carried out for six months. Inulin caused stronger water retention in powders than maltodextrin. Vacuum drying provided powders with the highest bulk density. Maltodextrin did not promote browning and HMF formation as strongly as inulin. More phenolic compounds were found in powders with maltodextrin. Storage increased the antioxidant capacity of powders. The results obtained will be useful in optimizing the powders production on an industrial scale, designing attractive food ingredients.

Fruit powders can become a new and innovative direction of using the potential of Japanese quince (JQ) fruit in an affordable form. Therefore, physical (dry matter, true and bulk density, porosity and color) and chemical parameters of JQ juice powders obtained by using different carrier agents and drying techniques were evaluated. The juice was mixed with maltodextrin, inulin and a mixture of both in different proportions and dried using freeze, spray, and vacuum (50, 70, and 90 °C) drying techniques. The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in JQ juice powders were performed by LC-PDA-QTOF-MS and UPLC-PDA, respectively, while antioxidant capacity was measured using ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assays. In addition, enzymatic in vitro inhibition tests of α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, acetylcholinesterase and 15-lipoxygenase were performed. Among the drying techniques applied, freeze-drying resulted in the highest retention of polyphenols, while among the carrier agents maltodextrin was found to be the best biopolymer for obtaining high-quality fruit powder and also ensured powders with the lowest content of undesirable hydroxymethylfurfural., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to identify by UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS and quantify by UPLC-PDA phenolic compounds (26 flavonols and 2 phenolic acids) and carotenoids (16) from berries of different cultivars of Hippophaë rhamnoides and determine correlations between these variables and in vitro anticholinergic and on-line antioxidant potential. Isorhamnetin derivatives presented over 65% of total flavonols, but quercetin and kaempferol derivatives were also determined. Carotenes accounted for 19 to 47%, xanthophylls 16 to 81% of total carotenoids. Pearson's correlations between AChE and BuChE inhibition and phenolic acid content were low (r = 0.388 and 0.355), moderate for carotenoids (0.504 and 0.437) and high for flavonols (0.851 and 0.614). The PCA biplot showed the highest correlation between anticholinergic activity and all-trans-ß-cryptoxanthin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-(2-rhamnosyl)glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-hexoside-7-O-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-(6-rhamnosyl)hexoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside concentrations. The results obtained can be used to identify sea buckthorn cultivars, develop crops and production, and design functional products rich in flavonols and carotenoids with anticholinergic properties., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to identify and quantify the chemical composition and polyphenolic profile of 19 cultivars of Chaenomeles × superba, Chaenomeles japonic a, and Chaenomeles speciosa by liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-QTOF-ESI-MS). Antioxidant (ABTS on-line, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC), as well as in vitro biological activities, i.e., the ability to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) were determined. Most of the Chaenomeles species and cultivars analyzed in this study have not been examined in this respect until now. Fruits contained 30.26 to 195.05 mg of vitamin C, 0.65 to 1.69 g of pectin, 0.32 to 0.64 g of ash, 0.60 to 3.98 g of sugars, and 41.64 to 110.31 g of organic acids in 100 g fresh weight. The lowest content of total polyphenols showed C. speciosa 'Rubra' (57.84 g/kg dry weight, dw) while C. × superba 'Nicoline' (170.38 g/kg dw) exhibited the highest concentration of those compounds. In the phenolic compounds, polymeric procyanidin fraction predominated (65%) with procyanidin B2, C1, and (-)-epicatechin the most abundant. The antioxidant capacity measured by ABTS assay was mainly formed by polymeric procyanidins and flavan-3-ols, which was confirmed by ABTS on-line profiling. Chaenomeles fruits showed high potential for inhibition of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The analyzed cultivars displayed greater potential for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition than for butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). The data indicate that Chaenomeles fruits could be regarded as a promising source of bioactive functional food., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro biological activities as anti-oxidant, anti- α -amylase, anti- α -glucosidase, anti-lipase, and anti-lipoxygenase activity, relative to bioactive components (phenolic acids, flavonols, xanthophylls, carotenes, esterified carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and fatty acids) and the basic chemical composition (sugars, organic acid, dry matter, soluble solid, pH, titratable acidity, ash, pectins, and vitamin C) of Hippophaë rhamnoides berries. Six sea buckthorn cultivars commonly grown in Poland were analyzed including Aromatnaja, Botaniczeskaja-Lubitelskaja, Józef, Luczistaja, Moskwiczka, and Podarok Sadu. Berries contained 1.34-2.87 g of sugars and 0.96-4.22 g of organic acids in 100 g fresh weight, 468.60-901.11 mg of phenolic compounds, and 46.61-508.57 mg of carotenoids in 100 g dry mass. The fatty acid profile was established: palmitic > palmitoleic > oleic and linoleic > stearic and linolenic acids. The highest anti-oxidant (34.68 mmol Trolox/100 g dry mass) and anti- α -amylase potential (IC 50 = 26.83 mg/mL) was determined in Aromatnaja, anti- α- glucosidase in Botaniczeskaja-Lubitelskaja (IC 50 = 41.78 mg/mL), anti-lipase in Moskwiczka and Aromatnaja (average IC 50 = 4.37 mg/mL), and anti-lipoxygenase in Aromatnaja and Podarok Sadu fruits (100% inhibition). The studied sea buckthorn berries may be a raw material for the development of functional foods and nutraceutical products rich in compounds with high biological activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Punicalagin is responsible for over 50% of the antioxidant activity of pomegranate, but ellagic acid (EA) and total polyphenol content (TPC) are also key parameters regarding pomegranate bioactivity. Many juices and other drinks based on pomegranate take advantage from the widespread healthy image of this fruit, whereas their real content of bioactive phytochemicals is low. For that reason, the objective of this study was to compare the labelling information with the real phytochemical contents (TPC, punicalagin [Pn] [isomers α, β], and EA). Titratable acidity (TA), color density (CD), polymeric color (PC), and sensory profiles (trained panel) were assessed. The experimental ranges of TPC and Pn contents were 2.75 to 70.9 mg/g and traces to 3.18 mg/g, respectively. The percentage of pomegranate juice was highly correlated with the intensity of the pomegranate ID attribute (R = 0.85; p < 0.001), Pn content (R = 0.71; p < 0.001), and EA content (R = 0.36; p < 0.001). The experimental results showed a high variability in the content of bioactive compounds and the need to urge food companies to optimize processes and storage conditions. Although no health claim for pomegranate has been authorized so far at the European Union, significant mismatches among labelling and bioactive compounds content are misleading consumers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Pomegranate juice and nectar producers need to evaluate the real content of bioactive Pn, EA, and TPC in their products to optimize formulation, heat treatment, packaging and storage conditions to guarantee high levels of bioactive compounds during shelf life. Producers' organizations may benefit from harmonizing Pom products labelling, so they may fulfill consumer expectations and may be ready if health claims are finally authorized for these products. The development of a new sensory quality marker will be an interesting option., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The aim of the study was to analyze the chemical composition of new artichoke cultivars and hybrids and to assess their potential health-promoting properties. Polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls were identified by liquid chromatography-photodiode detector-mass spectrometry/quadrupole time of flight (LC-PDA-MS/QTof) and quantified by ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode detector (UPLC-PDA). Sugar and organic acid profiles were prepared, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP and ORAC) and in vitro antidiabetic (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and anticholinesterase (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)) potentials were evaluated. The analyses revealed a highly varied content of bioactive compounds and great health-promoting potential significantly depending on a cultivar. The content of polyphenolic compounds ranged from 1681.49 ("Sambo") to 3638.91 ("Symphony") mg/100 g of dry weight (DW). "Blanca de Tudela" contained the highest amounts of carotenoids and chlorophylls (3761.91 mg/100 g DW) and exhibited high ABTS and ORAC capacity. Inhibition of antidiabetic enzymes was significant in cvs. "Symphony" and "Calico". Additionally, all tested cultivars and hybrids turned out to be effective inhibitors of neurodegenerative enzymes.