Abstract
The present study aims to examine whether and to what extent the bioaccessibility of the major saffron apocarotenoids, namely crocetin sugar esters (CRTSEs), is affected by the presence of strong water-soluble antioxidants, ingredients of the herbs found in commercial tea blends with saffron. An in vitro digestion model was applied to infusions from these products to investigate the possible changes. All of the studied infusions were rich in total phenols (9.9–22.5 mg caffeic acid equivalents/100 mg dry infusion) and presented strong DPPH radical scavenging activity regardless of the composition of the corresponding herbal blends. RP-HPLC-DAD and LC-MS analysis enabled the grouping of the infusions into hydroxycinnamic acid-rich and in flavan-3-ol-rich ones. CRTSEs in herbal tea infusions were found to be significantly more bioaccessible (66.3%–88.6%) than those in the reference saffron infusion (60.9%). The positive role of strong phenolic antioxidants (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid) on the stability of CRTSEs was also evidenced in model binary mixtures. On the contrary, cinnamic acid, exerting no antioxidant activity, did not have such an effect. Our findings suggest that strong radical scavengers may protect the crocetin sugar esters from oxidation during digestion when present in excess.
Highlights
Crocetin esters with sugars (C20H24O4, 8,8′-diapocarotene-8,8′-dioic acid) (CRTSEs) selectively known as crocins, are a group of water-soluble apocarotenoids rarely found in nature
The latter was determined under exhaustive extraction conditions by RP-High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD) analysis according to [1]
In order to examine whether the existing phenolic antioxidants positively affect the stability of crocetin sugar esters (CRTSEs), the bioaccessibility of the latter was tested in a model system containing approximately the mean amount of apocarotenoids recovered in the infusions (0.4 mg/100 mg dry infusion) and an excess of rosmarinic acid, a well-known potent radical scavenger, at ratio values of 1:3, 1:6 and 1:12 (w/w)
Summary
Crocetin esters with sugars (C20H24O4, 8,8′-diapocarotene-8,8′-dioic acid) (CRTSEs) selectively known as crocins, are a group of water-soluble apocarotenoids rarely found in nature. Characteristic examples are the studies on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in blended fruit-juice containing orange, kiwi, pineapple and mango [6] and on the effect of milk on the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds of black tea [7] In this view, the present study aims to examine whether and to what extent the bioaccessibility of CRTSEs is affected by the presence of strong water-soluble antioxidants, ingredients of the herbs found in commercial tea blends with saffron. Teas (from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis) or herbal teas (from leaves, flowers, roots, etc., of other plant species) are among the most widely-consumed beverages across the world Such kinds of products are commercially available and attract the interest of consumers for their flavor, and due to the biological activities assigned to certain ingredients. Model binary mixtures of CRTSEs and selected phenolic compounds were tested under the abovementioned digestion conditions to provide further support to the findings so far
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