Fruit-derived Products Research Articles

Prevention of postprandial metabolic stress in humans: role of fruit-derived products.

The consumption of unbalanced meals, consisting of foods rich in lipids and/or carbohydrates and calories, has been associated to a postprandial metabolic stress that involves the increase of the production of free radicals and proinflammatory markers. Growing evidence suggest that dietary polyphenols contained in fruit-derived products, such as fruit juices, are involved in the role played by plant foods in disease prevention. Their association to a calorie-dense meal may help to attenuate the onset of postprandial metabolic and inflammatory stress. The available evidence in the literature investigating the effects of polyphenols rich fruit juices on the modulation of postprandial-induced metabolic stress in humans will be presented and discussed.

Detoxification of mycotoxin patulin by the yeast Rhodosporidium paludigenum

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium species which often contaminates fruit and fruit-derived products. In this work the degradation of patulin by the yeast Rhodosporidium paludigenum was studied and the toxicity of the degradation product was determined. Patulin-degrading activity of R. paludigenum was inducible by patulin; it was located within yeast cells and the enzyme did not require a dissociable cofactor. Chromatographic behavior and molecular mass of the degradation product indicated that R. paludigenum transformed patulin into desoxypatulinic acid. The degradation product was significantly less toxic to Arabidopsis thaliana and human liver cells than patulin; it was not toxic to Escherichia coli at the highest concentration tested. The detoxification activity of R. paludigenum toward patulin is a promising tool for the control of patulin contamination in food and feed.

Effect of the Yeast Rhodosporidium paludigenum on Postharvest Decay and Patulin Accumulation in Apples and Pears

The effect of a strain of marine yeast Rhodosporidium paludigenum on postharvest blue mold and patulin accumulation in apples and pears stored at 23°C was evaluated. The occurrence and severity of apple and pear decay caused by Penicillium expansum were significantly inhibited by R. paludigenum. However, the application of the yeast at a high concentration (108 cells per ml) enhanced patulin accumulation after 7 days of storage; the amount of patulin increased 24.2 times and 12.6 times compared to the controls in infected apples and pears, respectively. However, R. paludigenum reduced the patulin concentration in the growth medium by both biological degradation and physical adsorption. Optimal in vitro patulin reduction was observed at 30°C and at pH 6.0. R. paludigenum incubated at 28°C was tolerant to patulin at concentrations up to 100 mg/liter. In conclusion, R. paludigenum was able to control postharvest decay in apples and pears and to remove patulin in vitro effectively. However, because the yeast induced patulin accumulation in fruit, the assessment of mycotoxin content after biological treatments in postharvest decay control is important. R. paludigenum may also be a promising source of gene(s) and enzyme(s) for patulin degradation and may be a tool to decrease patulin contamination in commercial fruit-derived products.

Fruit pomace extracts influence the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

The consumption of fruits and fruit-derived products correlates with a reduced risk for cardiovascular diseases [1]. With a European production of 10.7 billion litres of fruit juice in 2011, fruit-juice industry generates tons of fruit waste every year [2]. As fruit pressing is an incomplete extraction process, pomaces represent a valuable source of fruit-derived bioactive compounds [3]. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a protective factor counteracting inflammatory processes and platelet activation. In addition, NO promotes vasorelaxation. Therefore, pomace extracts obtained from Austrian fruits (apple, apricot, elderberry and bilberry) were investigated for their potential to activate eNOS. Extracts of dried fruit pomace were produced by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) using methanol/water (70/30) (MW), ethylacetate (EtOAc), dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane (Hex). eNOS activity was evaluated by the 14C-L-arginine to 14C-L-citrulline conversion assay (ACCA) [4] in endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells. Apple and apricot pomace extracts (EtOAc, DCM) as well as elderberry pomace extracts (MW, DCM, Hex) caused a significant increase in eNOS activity at the concentration of 50 µg/mL, while neither of the bilberry extracts showed significant effects at this concentration. In particular, the MW elderberry extract showed the highest eNOS activation (1.5-fold compared to negative control). In conclusion, apple, apricot and elderberry pomaces obtained from the Austrian fruit juice industry represent an easy-accessible raw material for the isolation of eNOS activating compounds.

Development of Fruit Jams and Juices Enriched with Fructooligosaccharides

In this work, fruit-derived products were enriched with a fructooligosaccharide, inulin, obtained from tubers of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). The products developed included juices and jams from various fruits and were analyzed in terms of chemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties right after production and again after storage. The comparison of the results before and after storage would allow establishing the conservation ability of the products developed. The results obtained allowed concluding that the products obtained contained a high content of inulin, which is a prebiotic compound with important benefits for gut health.

Effect of a different high pressure thermal processing compared to a traditional thermal treatment on a red flesh and peel plum purée

Abstract The effect of the application of different high pressure thermal (HPT) treatments on the instrumental color, the activity of the polyphenoloxidase (PPO) enzyme, bioactive compounds (total polyphenols and anthocyanins) content and the antioxidant activity were was evaluated after processing a red flesh and peel plum puree and compared to an equivalent thermal treatment (TT). Different pressure levels (300, 600, and 900 MPa) at different initial processing temperatures (60, 70, and 80 °C) were applied. HPT treatments produced a similar inactivation of the PPO as the TT (~ 50%). In addition, HPT treatment was more effective than the TT in preserving the original colour, the anthocyanins content and the antioxidant activity of the processed purees. The application of pressures at 600 MPa combined with initial temperatures of 70 °C was the treatment which gave the highest inactivation of the PPO and best maintained the bioactive compounds of purees. Industrial relevance The exploration of new technologies, such as the combination of pressure and heating for short times (high pressure thermal or HPT treatments), could be a new way to extend the shelf-life of fruit-derived products. HPT treatments can better preserve bioactive compared to most traditional thermal treatment. While there are currently no HPT-processed shelf-stable foods commercially available, it's possible to provide a viable process for heat-sensitive products such as fruit-derived products that would suffer a severe loss of quality by the application of a traditional thermal process. A previous study (Gonzalez-Cebrino et al., 2013) showed that high pressure processing (HPP) did not inactivate polyphenoloxidase enzyme in plum puree. Results of this paper could allow production of a plum puree with an enzyme activity similar to a thermally treated puree.

Extraction and quantification of SO2 content in wines using a hollow fiber contactor

Sulfites [Formula: see text] or sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a preservative widely used in fruits and fruit-derived products. This study aims to propose a membrane contactor process for the selective removal and recovery of SO2 from wines in order to obtain its reliable quantification. Currently, the aspiration and Ripper methods offer a difficult quantification of the sulfite content in red wines because they involve evaporation steps of diluted compounds and a colorimetric assay, respectively. Therefore, an inexpensive and accurate methodology is not currently available for continuous monitoring of SO2 in the liquids food industry. Red wine initially acidified at pH < 1 was treated by membrane extraction at 25 ℃. This operation is based on a hydrophobic Hollow Fiber Contactor, which separates the acidified red wine in the shell side and a diluted aqueous sodium hydroxide solution as receiving solution into the lumenside in countercurrent. Sulfite and bisulfite in the acidified red wine become molecular SO2, which is evaporated through the membrane pores filled with gas. Thus, SO2 is trapped in a colorless solution and the membrane contactor controls its transfer, decreasing experimental error induced in classical methods. Experimental results using model solutions with known concentration values of [Formula: see text] show an average extraction percentage of 98.91 after 4 min. On the other hand, two types of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon wines were analyzed with the same system to quantify the content of free and total sulfites. Results show a good agreement between these methods and the proposed technique, which shows a lower experimental variability.

Determination of Lignans in Edible and Nonedible Parts of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and Products Derived Therefrom, Particularly Focusing on the Quantitation of Isolariciresinol Using HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn

A method for the characterization and quantitation of phyto-estrogenic lignans from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits and fruit-derived products by HPLC-DAD-MS(n) was developed. For this purpose, edible and nonedible parts of pomegranate (aril, peel, mesocarp, seed, and twigs), commercial juices, juices produced on pilot-plant scale, and encapsulated dietary supplements were analyzed. In addition to the peel, mesocarp, and twigs, lignans were detected in two juices obtained from entire fruits, four commercial juices, and three encapsulated pomegranate extracts. Isolariciresinol was the predominant lignan with contents of 5.0, 10.5, and 45.8 mg/kg dry matter in processed pomegranate mesocarp, peel, and twigs, respectively. In contrast, due to their low amounts, quantitation of lignans in pomegranate products was impossible. Therefore, contrary to previous assumptions, lignans were found to be less relevant in pomegranate-derived products. However, the byproduct from pomegranate processing may be used for lignan extraction. The method presented allows one to differentiate between pomegranate-derived products obtained from fruits without peels or by dejuicing applying low pressures, which were devoid of lignans, and those obtained from entire fruits applying high pressures, thus containing lignans. Consequently, this study helps to optimize process technology aiming at the recovery of preparations with well-desired compositions, which may reduce the risk of a wide range of diseases, such as certain types of cancer.

Neutralizing antibodies against rotavirus produced in transgenically labelled purple tomatoes

Edible fruits are inexpensive biofactories for human health-promoting molecules that can be ingested as crude extracts or partially purified formulations. We show here the production of a model human antibody for passive protection against the enteric pathogen rotavirus in transgenically labelled tomato fruits. Transgenic tomato plants expressing a recombinant human immunoglobulin A (hIgA_2A1) selected against the VP8* peptide of rotavirus SA11 strain were obtained. The amount of hIgA_2A1 protein reached 3.6 ± 0.8% of the total soluble protein in the fruit of the transformed plants. Minimally processed fruit-derived products suitable for oral intake showed anti-VP8* binding activity and strongly inhibited virus infection in an in vitro virus neutralization assay. In order to make tomatoes expressing hIgA_2A1 easily distinguishable from wild-type tomatoes, lines expressing hIgA_2A1 transgenes were sexually crossed with a transgenic tomato line expressing the genes encoding Antirrhinum majus Rosea1 and Delila transcription factors, which confer purple colour to the fruit. Consequently, transgenically labelled purple tomato fruits expressing hIgA_2A1 have been developed. The resulting purple-coloured extracts from these fruits contain high levels of recombinant anti-rotavirus neutralizing human IgA in combination with increased amounts of health-promoting anthocyanins.

Conversion of the Mycotoxin Patulin to the Less Toxic Desoxypatulinic Acid by the Biocontrol Yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae Strain LS11

The infection of stored apples by the fungus Penicillium expansum causes the contamination of fruits and fruit-derived products with the mycotoxin patulin, which is a major issue in food safety. Fungal attack can be prevented by beneficial microorganisms, so-called biocontrol agents. Previous time-course thin layer chromatography analyses showed that the aerobic incubation of patulin with the biocontrol yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae strain LS11 leads to the disappearance of the mycotoxin spot and the parallel emergence of two new spots, one of which disappears over time. In this work, we analyzed the biodegradation of patulin effected by LS11 through HPLC. The more stable of the two compounds was purified and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance as desoxypatulinic acid, whose formation was also quantitated in patulin degradation experiments. After R. kratochvilovae LS11 had been incubated in the presence of (13)C-labeled patulin, label was traced to desoxypatulinic acid, thus proving that this compound derives from the metabolization of patulin by the yeast. Desoxypatulinic acid was much less toxic than patulin to human lymphocytes and, in contrast to patulin, did not react in vitro with the thiol-bearing tripeptide glutathione. The lower toxicity of desoxypatulinic acid is proposed to be a consequence of the hydrolysis of the lactone ring and the loss of functional groups that react with thiol groups. The formation of desoxypatulinic acid from patulin represents a novel biodegradation pathway that is also a detoxification process.

Hurdle Technology in Fruit Processing

Conventional preservation technologies such as thermal processing ensure the safety and shelf life of fruit-derived products but can result in the loss of physicochemical and nutritional quality attributes. This review examines innovative hurdle techniques to obtain novel fruit products with fresh-like characteristics. The multifactorial processes were based on emerging preservation factors in combination or combining emerging factors with traditional ones. Selected practical examples of fruit processing using UV light, pulsed light (PL), ultrasound (US), and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) are presented. Some issues of key importance for the design of combination processes are also addressed.

Short-term blackcurrant extract consumption modulates exercise-induced oxidative stress and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses

Exercise-induced oxidative stress is instrumental in achieving the health benefits from regular exercise. Therefore, inappropriate use of fruit-derived products (commonly applied as prophalytic antioxidants) may counteract the positive effects of exercise. Using human exercise and cellular models we found that 1) blackcurrant supplementation suppressed exercise-induced oxidative stress, e.g., plasma carbonyls (0.9 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg protein, placebo vs. blackcurrant), and 2) preincubation of THP-1 cells with an anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract inhibited LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion [TNF-alpha (16,453 +/- 322 vs. 10,941 +/- 82 pg/ml, control vs. extract, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (476 +/- 14 vs. 326 +/- 32 pg/ml, control vs. extract, P < 0.05)] and NF-kappaB activation. In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, we found that postexercise plasma collected after blackcurrant supplementation enhanced the differential temporal LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in THP-1 cells, resulting in an early suppression of TNF-alpha (1,741 +/- 32 vs. 1,312 +/- 42 pg/ml, placebo vs. blackcurrant, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (44 +/- 5 vs. 36 +/- 3 pg/ml, placebo vs. blackcurrant, P < 0.05) secretion after 24 h. Furthermore, by using an oxidative stress cell model, we found that preincubation of THP-1 cells with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) prior to extract exposure caused a greater suppression of LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion after 24 h, which was not evident when cells were simultaneously incubated with H(2)O(2) and the extract. In summary, our findings support the concept that consumption of blackcurrant anthocyanins alleviate oxidative stress, and may, if given at the appropriate amount and time, complement the ability of exercise to enhance immune responsiveness to potential pathogens.

Identifying Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds In Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam. Var. Puyo Hybrid), an Andean Fruit

The naranjilla or lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) is a little known fruit that originated in the Andes. Commonly consumed as a fresh drink, it is particularly appreciated for its aroma. Besides its organoleptic qualities, the naranjilla also seems to have good antioxidant properties. We therefore studied the physicochemical characteristics of variety "Puyo hybrid"; determined its juice composition; identified its carotenoids and phenolic compounds, using HPLC-DAD and HPLC/ESI-MS, respectively, in each fruit part; and measured the antioxidant capacities of each part, using the ORAC and DPPH methods. We found the following bioactive compounds: all-trans-beta-carotene, 13-cis-beta-carotene, and 9-cis-beta-carotene and the lutein (carotenoids); chlorogenic acids and their hexosides in the flesh and placental tissues, and flavonol glycosides in the skin (phenolic compounds); and many dihydrocaffeoyl spermidines in all three parts of the fruit. The naranjilla appeared to be a fruit with good nutritional potential that can provide the basis for a new fruit-drink flavor or other fruit derived-products.

Determination of patulin by online-SPE-LC

The mycotoxin patulin mainly occurs in fruits and fruit-derived products. For its determination a newly developed method employing a simplified liquid-liquid partitioning step followed by an online-SPE-LC analysis with UV detection is presented. The sample is diluted with phosphate buffer and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is evaporated and re-dissolved. The online-SPE-LC analysis employs a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymere phase for the SPE step, on which the carbonate washing step is carried out as well. The final LC analysis with UV detection uses a Polaris C18A column. This method reaches a limit of quantification of 15 μg/kg (clear apple juice), with a standard deviation of 10.7% (matrix calibration, n=5; c (patulin)=50 μg/kg).

Identification and occurrence of the novel alkaloid pentahydroxypentyl-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid as a tryptophan glycoconjugate in fruit juices and jams.

The novel carbohydrate-derived beta-carboline, 1-pentahydroxypentyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, was identified in fruit- and vegetable-derived products such as juices, jams, and tomato sauces. This compound occurred as two diastereoisomers, a cis isomer (the major compound) and a trans isomer, ranging from undetectable amounts to 6.5 microg/g. Grape, tomato, pineapple, and tropical juices exhibited the highest amount of this alkaloid (up to 3.8 mg/L), whereas apple, banana, and peach juices showed very low or nondetectable levels. This tetrahydro-beta-carboline was also found in jams (up to 0.45 microg/g), and a relative high amount was present in tomato concentrate (6.5 microg/g) and sauce (up to 1.8 microg/g). This beta-carboline occurred in fruit-derived products as a glycoconjugate from a chemical condensation of D-glucose and L-tryptophan that is highly favored at low pH values and high temperature. Production, processing treatments, and storage of fruit juices and jams can then release this beta-carboline. Fruit-derived products and other foods containing this compound might be an exogenous dietary source of this glucose-derived tetrahydro-beta-carboline.

Use of Electrospray Mass Spectrometry for Mass Determination of Grape (Vitis vinifera) Juice Pathogenesis-Related Proteins: A Potential Tool for Varietal Differentiation

Methods based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and protein trap mass spectrometry (trap-MS) were developed to determine the complement of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in grape juice. Trap-MS was superior to LC-MS in terms of simplicity, rapidity, and sensitivity. Proteins with a wide range of masses (13--33 kDa) were found in the juices of 19 different varieties of grape (Vitis vinifera) and were identified as mostly PR-5 type (thaumatin-like) and PR-3 type (chitinases) proteins. Although the PR proteins in juices of grapes are highly conserved, small consistent differences in molecular masses were noted when otherwise identical proteins were compared from different varieties. These differences persisted through different harvest years and in fruits grown in different Australian locations. With the definition of four different masses for PR-5 proteins (range = 21,239--21,272 Da) and nine different masses of PR-3 proteins (range = 25,330--25,631 Da) and using statistical analysis, the methods developed could be used for varietal differentiation of grapes grown in several South Australian locations on the basis of the PR protein composition of the juice. It remains to be seen whether this technology can be extended to grapes grown worldwide and to wine and other fruit-derived products to assist with label integrity to the benefit of consumers.

Solid-Phase Extraction as a Clean-Up Procedure for the Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Benzoic and Sorbic Acids in Fruit-Derived Products

A liquid-chromatographic procedure is proposed for the simultaneous determination of benzoic and sorbic acids in fruit-derived products. Prior to the chromatographic separation, a clean-up pre-treatment of the sample is carried out off-line, using successively an anionic resin and a C18 stationary phase as sorbent beds. After elution from the cartridges, the acids are separated and quantitated by LC with UV-absorbance detection. The validation tests show that the technique can be applied to different types of fruit-derived products (i.e. jams, dried fruits and almond paste).

Monitoring the extraneous matters in pulps of tomato, guava, mango and strawberry marketed during the seasons of the year

Fruit-derived products sold in Brazil and for exportation are required to comply with the quality and safety standards. These products and, among them, the fruit pulps may contain extraneous materials due to the inappropriate conditions or practices during their production, storage and distribution, including filth, decomposed material and miscellaneous materials. This study aimed at evaluating the sanitary conditions (regarding to extraneous materials) of fruit pulps sold in the Great Sao Paulo, during the four seasons of 2010. This investigation analyzed 115 tomato pulp, 93 guava pulp, 99 strawberry pulp and 89 mango pulp by means of the techniques described in the AOAC, 18th, 2005, Chapter 16 - Extraneous Materials: Isolation. Insect fragments were the most frequent filth category detected in the pulps (in 93 % of guava and strawberry, 77 % of tomato and 48 % of mango samples), followed by the rodent hair (in 24 % of tomato, in 3 % of guava, in 1 % of strawberry and in 0.5 % of mango samples). The occurrence of mites was mostly frequent in strawberry samples (33 %). This study indicated that the majority of the analyzed pulps showed satisfactory sanitary conditions, evidencing that the Good Manufacturing Practices was adopted by the productive sector.