High Levels Of Anthocyanins Research Articles

Beneficial effects of anthocyanin-rich peels of Myrtaceae fruits on chemically-induced liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis in mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising from fibrosis/cirrhosis is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Conversely, a higher intake of fruits and vegetables might play a protective role in HCC risk. Recently, Myrtaceae family tropical fruits have raised great interest due to the high levels of anthocyanins especially in their peels, which are usually discarded upon consumption. Anthocyanins are antioxidant pigments known to have beneficial effects in vivo/in vitro cancer bioassays. Thus, we evaluated whether dietary Myrciaria jaboticaba, Syzygium cumini, and Syzygium malaccense fruit peel powders reduce fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Female C3H/HeJ mice were submitted to the model of diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Concomitantly, mice received a basal diet containing 2% of M. jaboticaba, S. cumini, or S. malaccense fruit peel powders, obtained by convective drying, for 10 weeks. M. jaboticaba peel powder showed the highest levels of total anthocyanins, while S. cumini peel powder displayed the greatest diversity of these pigments. All Myrtaceae family peel powders reduced the serum levels of the liver injury marker alanine aminotransferase. M. jaboticaba peel feeding reduced the incidence of liver preneoplastic foci, hepatocyte proliferation (Ki-67), and the protein levels of hepato-mitogen tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). M. jaboticaba peel feeding also diminished liver lipid peroxidation and increased total glutathione levels. S. cumini peel feeding reduced hepatic collagen, lipid peroxidation, and TNF-α levels while increased catalase activity. Although S. malaccense peel powder, which displayed the lowest anthocyanin levels, decreased oxidative stress, and cytokine levels, no effects were observed on liver fibrosis or preneoplastic lesion outcomes. Findings indicate a protective effect of anthocyanin-rich M. jaboticaba and S. cumini peel powder feeding on preneoplastic lesion development and fibrosis, respectively. Results indicate that differential biological responses may be attributed to distinct anthocyanin profiles and levels, assigning a functional/market value to the underutilized peel fraction.

Effect of grafting and harvest stage on the quality of black cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. OG) cultivated in Vietnam

Black cherry tomato is an important source of nutraceutical compounds; however, the quality of fruits depends on the cultivation technique and maturity stage at harvest. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of non-grafted and grafted tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. OG) were evaluated at different stages of maturity to observe the effect of grafting on quality of fruits and select the appropriate harvest stage to achieve the highest content of bioactive compounds, especially anthocyanin. The obtained results found that harvesting non-grafted tomatoes on the 30th day after fruit formation would be suitable for storage with the highest anthocyanin level of 4.27 mg CE/100 g and the content of other bioactive compounds (lycopene 24.60 μg/g, vitamin C 42.79 mg/100 g and total phenolic 40.61 mg GAE/100 g). Meanwhile, the optimal harvest stage of grafted tomatoes was shortened, on the 28th day (anthocyanin 4.31 mg CE/100 g, lycopene 38.79 μg/g, vitamin C 55.69 mg/100 g, and total phenolic 38.69 mg GAE/100 g). The grafting technique should be applied for supporting the plant to grow faster as shown by the earlier stage of harvest and the harvested fruit possessed higher content of bioactive compounds.

Chemical Composition Analysis, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Eggplant Leaves.

Agricultural by-products represent one of the biggest pollutants for the environment, therefore, investigating new sources for the extraction of bioactive compounds is a topic of great interest for the entire scientific community. This work is aimed at studying the chemical composition (pigments, phenolics, volatile compounds) and biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial properties) of young and mature leaves of five eggplant cultivars (Solanum melongena L.) grown in Tunisia (Tizona, A1014, Nawel, A336, and Mirval). Pigment analysis showed no statistical variations between the two types of leaves, whereas higher levels of anthocyanins were recorded in young leaves of three out of five cultivars (24.7-52.8 mg 100 g-1 ). Total phenolic compounds (966.5-2072.6 mg 100 g-1 ) and o-diphenols (343.9-741.2 mg 100 g-1 ) contents varied significantly according to leaf age and cultivar. However, no statistically significant variation between young and mature leaves was found in flavonols and tannins content. As for volatile profiles, 62 constituents were characterized with non-terpene derivatives (52.0-61.6 %) and apocarotenes (19.9-35.6 %) as major chemical classes. Regarding the antioxidant activity, methanol extracts of Tizona cultivar mature leaves displayed important antiradical properties using DPPH, ABTS, and phosphomolybdenum assays (IC50 0.1, 0.2 and 0.01 mg mL-1 , respectively). With regards to reducing power determination, the most active extract was obtained from mature A1014 leaves. Further, young Mirval leaves proved to be significantly active from a bactericidal point of view against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus of 3.1 mg mL-1 and 0.2 mg mL-1 MBC, respectively. In conclusion, eggplant leaves are a noteworthy source of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds with potential use in the pharmaceutical, the cosmetics and the food industries.

Screening tea hybrid with abundant anthocyanins and investigating the effect of tea processing on foliar anthocyanins in tea

Abstract Anthocyanins are important bioactive supplements that are consumed from multiple foods and beverage products. Screening tea cultivars producing a high level of anthocyanins can help to enrich the edible bioactive supplements. ‘Zijuan’ (ZJ) is a tea cultivar growing purple shoots rich in anthocyanins, but it is susceptible to freezing winter and sprouts late in spring. Hybridisation using ‘ZJ’ as the female parent and an early sprouting cultivar ‘Wuniuzao’ as the male parent was carried out, and four hybrids with purple leaves were obtained. The quality of anthocyanins, catechins, caffeine and amino acids in shoots with three leaves and a bud of the purple leaf hybrids obtained were determined based on the field investigation on sprouting time in spring, winter resistance and leaf yield. It showed that hybrid ‘B-2’ sprouted earlier in the spring, contained a higher level of anthocyanins and also showed good performance in winter resistance than its female parent ‘ZJ’. It also showed that black tea processing induced a marked decrease in foliar anthocyanins, but green tea processing had little effect on the foliar anthocyanins. Purple tea leaves should be prepared into unfermented green tea instead of fermented black tea to preserve the high level of anthocyanins in the final tea products.

Bioactive components and biological properties of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.): A comprehensive review

Abstract Today, medicinal plants are very popular due to preventing many diseases and associated complications. Cornus mas L. (CM), is a member of Cornaceae family, is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, digestive ailments, anemia, liver and renal diseases, among others. The aim of this review is to present an overview of CM’s biological properties and usefulness as a nutritional supplement. CM fruits contain high levels of anthocyanins and iridoids while the leaves contain higher phenolic acids. The therapeutic effects of CM include anti (-oxidant, -microbial, -diabetic, -atherosclerosis, -obesity, -glaucoma); (cyto-, neuro-, cardio-, liver-, renal-) protective; hypo (-lipidemia and -tensive) have been found in reported studies, but clinical studies are limited. CM is rich in polyphenols, vitamin C and minerals, resulting in it being a “superfood”. Large-population and long-term clinical studies are needed to evaluate the biological activities of CM.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) by-Products as a Source of Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds—Evaluation of Varieties With Different Peel Color

Analysis of pulp and peels of Arabica coffee varieties with different external fruit color allowed the identification of 16 phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization multiple-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn). Nine chlorogenic acids, three flavan-3-ols, the xanthone mangiferin, the flavonol rutin and two anthocyanins were tentatively identified and quantified. 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid together with a putative (epi)catechin hexoside were the predominant phenolics detected in the coffee varieties analyzed in this work. Whereas 3- and 4-caffeoylquinic acids, as well as 5-O-feruloylquinic acid were consistently found in higher quantities in the pulp than in the peels when individual varieties were compared, the opposite was found for the other phenolic compounds detected. Complementary, GC-MS after alkaline hydrolysis and trimethylsilylation permitted the identification of more than 30 constituents, including phenolic compounds and other benzenoids, caffeine, and diverse carboxylic acids. Detected anthocyanins were cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside. Anthocyanin contents in orange-colored berries were lower than those in red fruits, while no anthocyanins were found in yellow-colored fruit. Among non-anthocyanin pigments, we found β-carotene and lutein in all varieties, along with other chloroplast-specific carotenoids in some accessions. In addition, saponification evidenced the presence of several xanthophyll esters. Both, chlorophyll a and b, were detected in the peels of all varieties, while only chlorophyll b was observed in the pulp. Thus, the color of yellow-peeled varieties is due to carotenoids, while that of orange and red-peeled varieties is due to both carotenoids as well as low and high levels of anthocyanins, respectively. Present results point out to the potential use of by-products of particular coffee varieties with differences in the external fruit color as a source of distinctive bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins and carotenoids, with health benefits.

Red Carrot Cells Cultured in vitro Are Effective, Stable, and Safe Ingredients for Skin Care, Nutraceutical, and Food Applications.

Plant biomasses growing in bioreactor could be developed as production systems for cosmetic ingredients, nutraceuticals and food additives. We previously reported that the red carrot cell line R4G accumulates high levels of anthocyanins, which are potent antioxidants with multiple health-promoting properties. To investigate the industrial potential of this cell line in detail, we tested extract for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the mouse monocyte/macrophage cell-line J774A.1 and in reconstructed skin tissue models. We also compared the R4G extract to commercial carrot extracts in terms of stability and metabolomic profiles. We found that the R4G extract have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, protecting mammalian cells from the oxidative stress triggered by exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharides and H2O2. The extract also inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in an epidermal skin model, and induced the expression of VEGF-A to promote the microcirculation in a dermal microtissue model. The anthocyanins extracted from R4G cells were significantly more stable than those found in natural red carrot extracts. Finally, we showed that R4G extract has similar metabolomic profile of natural extracts by using a combination of targeted and untargeted metabolomics analysis, demonstrating the safety of R4G carrot cells for applications in the nutraceutical and food/feed industries.

Variation in nutritional quality of pigmented rice varieties under different water regimes

ABSTRACT This study evaluated grain anthocyanin, zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentrations, and grain yield of eleven purple rice varieties (PP1–PP11) grown under wetland (W+) and aerobic conditions (W0) in 2 years. There was a significant variation in the concentrations of anthocyanin, Zn and Fe, by water regime and year among the varieties with a wide range of anthocyanin (1–117 mg 100 g−1) and narrower ranges of Zn (19–41 mg kg−1) and Fe (6–19 mg kg−1) concentrations. The nutritional quality in aerobic grown rice was lower than wetland grown among the varieties with higher levels of anthocyanin (>40 mg 100 g−1), Zn (>30 mg kg−1) and Fe (>15 mg kg−1), with smaller effects of water among varieties in the lower quality ranges. The lowering of anthocyanin in aerobic grown rice was observed in the two varieties of the upland ecotype that were highest in anthocyanin concentration, as well as some wetland varieties. The grain yield (1.4–6.7 Mg ha−1) was associated negatively with grain Zn concentration (r = −0.50, P ≤ 0.001), but not with grain Fe (r = −0.14, NS0.05) or anthocyanin (r = −0.27, NS0.05). The anthocyanin concentration in the purple rice increased with Zn concentration (r = 0.57, P ≤ 0.001). Wetland condition was shown to be more favorable than aerobic culture for intense pigmentation in the production of purple rice, as well as higher Zn and Fe concentrations.

Fluoride toxicity variably affects overall physiology and grain development in three contrasting rice genotypes, representing a potential biohazard.

Ingestion of fluoride through consumption of contaminated food grains has been regarded to be hazardous for consumer health. The current study indicated the possible occurrence of such biohazard due to fluoride bioaccumulation in rice grains and straw (cattle feed). The effects of fluoride toxicity at three stages of grain development in three rice genotypes, viz., IR-64, Gobindobhog (aromatic), and Khitish, were also studied. Irrigation with fluoride-infested water inhibited grain formation in IR-64 and reduced grain yield in Gobindobhog. Fluoride toxicity promoted seed sterility in IR-64 by triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular necrosis, suppressing genes like GIF1, DEP1, and SPL14 (positively controlling seed formation) and inducing GW2 (negatively mediating grain development). Gobindobhog showed intermediate fluoride sensitivity and accumulated high levels of proline, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics due to the induction of genes like P5CS, ANS, and PAL in developing grains. The agronomic attributes in Khitish were unaffected by fluoride stress due to regulated fluoride uptake and high expression of GIF1, DEP1, and SPL14 along with an increased synthesis of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics. Khitish also accumulated low ROS as a result of which lowest lipoxygenase expression (among selected cultivars) was observed in developing grains. Fluoride entry was accelerated in the straw of Khitish, possibly due to the absence of regulated uptake mechanism in dead seedlings. Furthermore, the ecological concerns regarding fluoride bioaccumulation and reduced grain yield at the varietal level were also established, based on statistical modelling.

An Anthocyanin-Enriched Extract from Vaccinium uliginosum Improves Signs of Skin Aging in UVB-Induced Photodamage.

Accumulating evidence indicates that botanical extracts affect skin biophysical parameters, such as hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin index, erythema index, and wrinkle development. Vaccinium uliginosum extract contains a high level of anthocyanins as antioxidant and is ideal for use in dietary skin care products. Here, we assessed the photoprotective effects of dietary V. uliginosum extract in ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice. Quantitative analysis of anthocyanin composition in the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Skin parameter analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were conducted on skin samples from UVB-irradiated hairless mice to evaluate the effects of V. uliginosum extract on skin conditions. In addition, skin mRNA and protein expression were assessed to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of the anthocyanin-enriched extract on skin appearance and condition. Administration of the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample caused significant changes in skin water-holding capacity, TEWL, wrinkle-related parameters, and epidermal thickness in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. In addition, oral administration of V. uliginosum attenuated the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) and antioxidant-related genes. Further, V. uliginosum administration downregulated inflammatory cytokine levels and UVB-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signaling regulated kinase (ERK), as well as Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 protein levels. Oral administration of anthocyanin-enriched V. uliginosum extract can improve the appearance and condition of the skin following UV irradiation.

Comparison of anthocyanin profiles in şalgams (shalgams) produced with different production procedures

Recently, studies on the research of traditional fermented foods and beverages with positive health effects have emerged. Not only the production and consumption of şalgam, but also the number of research on şalgam is increasing rapidly. There are two principal procedures used by producers for şalgam production: (1) the traditional and (2) the direct procedure. In the present study, individual and total anthocyanins in şalgams manufactured by traditional procedure, direct procedure, and addition of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria cultures were compared. The lowest total solid, ash, methanol, total phenolic, and color intensity were determined in şalgam produced by the direct procedure, while the highest values were determined in şalgam produced by the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum. Similarly, the lowest individual and total anthocyanins were determined in şalgam produced by the direct procedure. Cyanidin-3, xylosyl-glucosyl-galactoside acylated with ferulic acid was found to be higher than the other individual anthocyanins. The quantities of anthocyanins individually and totally changed significantly for different production procedures. Practical applications Şalgam contains high levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phenolic substances, and anthocyanin. It is a nutritious and healthy drink for people. Consumption of şalgam is currently increasing in Turkey and also some European cities. As far as it is known, no previous work deals with the determine and compare the individual and total anthocyanins of şalgams produced by using autochthonous LAB starter cultures isolated from various previous şalgam fermentations. The aim of this study was to compare not only the şalgams produced with the addition of three different autochthonous LAB, but also the individual and total anthocyanins of şalgams produced by traditional and direct methods. We found that şalgam produced by Lb. plantarum represented the highest amount of solid matter, ash, and color intensity compared to the other şalgams. However, the highest anthocyanin was obtained in şalgam produced by the traditional method, and Cy-3, xylglc-gal-acy-fer was found to be higher than the other individual anthocyanins in şalgams.

Respiratory CO2 Combined With a Blend of Volatiles Emitted by Endophytic Serendipita Strains Strongly Stimulate Growth of Arabidopsis Implicating Auxin and Cytokinin Signaling.

Rhizospheric microorganisms can alter plant physiology and morphology in many different ways including through the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here we demonstrate that VOCs from beneficial root endophytic Serendipita spp. are able to improve the performance of in vitro grown Arabidopsis seedlings, with an up to 9.3-fold increase in plant biomass. Additional changes in VOC-exposed plants comprised petiole elongation, epidermal cell and leaf area expansion, extension of the lateral root system, enhanced maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and accumulation of high levels of anthocyanin. Notwithstanding that the magnitude of the effects was highly dependent on the test system and cultivation medium, the volatile blends of each of the examined strains, including the references S. indica and S. williamsii, exhibited comparable plant growth-promoting activities. By combining different approaches, we provide strong evidence that not only fungal respiratory CO2 accumulating in the headspace, but also other volatile compounds contribute to the observed plant responses. Volatile profiling identified methyl benzoate as the most abundant fungal VOC, released especially by Serendipita cultures that elicit plant growth promotion. However, under our experimental conditions, application of methyl benzoate as a sole volatile did not affect plant performance, suggesting that other compounds are involved or that the mixture of VOCs, rather than single molecules, accounts for the strong plant responses. Using Arabidopsis mutant and reporter lines in some of the major plant hormone signal transduction pathways further revealed the involvement of auxin and cytokinin signaling in Serendipita VOC-induced plant growth modulation. Although we are still far from translating the current knowledge into the implementation of Serendipita VOCs as biofertilizers and phytostimulants, volatile production is a novel mechanism by which sebacinoid fungi can trigger and control biological processes in plants, which might offer opportunities to address agricultural and environmental problems in the future.

Low anthocyanin plum nectar does not impact cognition, blood pressure and gut microbiota in healthy older adults: A randomized crossover trial

Queen Garnet plum (QGP), known for its high levels of anthocyanins, is a hybrid of the Japanese plum developed in Queensland, Australia. Anthocyanins provide the red, blue, and purple pigments in plants with demonstrated beneficial health effects. This study hypothesized that low-dose anthocyanin QGP intake will have a significant positive effect on cognition, blood pressure, and gut microbiota in healthy older adults. A randomized crossover trial was conducted to determine the effect and within subject variance on cognition and 24 hr. ambulatory blood pressure in older adults without cognitive impairment following daily consumption of 200 mL low-dose anthocyanin (5 mg/100 g) QGP nectar (intervention) or raspberry cordial (control). Secondary outcomes included inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein), nerve growth factor (BDNF), and gut microbiota (16S rRNA gene sequencing). Twenty-eight participants (55+ years) were recruited. Each randomized treatment arm lasted for 8 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Cognition, blood pressure, and urine samples were measured at each visit (5 total) while blood and fecal samples were collected at baseline, 8 weeks, and 20 weeks. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Across the treatments, no significant difference was observed for the different domains of cognition, blood pressure, or anti-inflammatory biomarkers. No intervention effect was found for genera or class of gut microbes. Low anthocyanin nectar derived from the QGP did not have any significant effects on cognition, blood pressure, or gut microbiota in healthy older adults.

Malvidin induces hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and mitochondrial pathway.

Blueberries have great beneficial effects due to high level of anthocyanins, especially malvidin. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can be activated and increase excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. Therefore, activated HSC’s apoptosis can be induced to recover liver fibrosis. Malvidin's effects on apoptosis in rat activated hepatic stellate T6 cells (HSC‐T6) in vitro were investigated here. High concentration of malvidin was found to significantly induce apoptosis, activate caspase‐3, increase malondialdehyde, upregulate Bax, but downregulate Bcl‐2. Moreover, malvidin upregulated the protein levels of some endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‐typical markers, including caspase‐12, glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), suggesting that malvidin induced HSC apoptosis by the ERS apoptosis pathway as well as the mitochondrial‐dependent pathway. These findings indicated that blueberry anthocyanins, especially malvidin, could induce activated hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and might act as one kind of functional food ingredient or a novel nutraceutical beneficial for liver health.

Fruit ripening in Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum is associated with distinct gene expression patterns.

Goji berries have been used as food and medicine for millennia. Due to their high morphological similarity, fruits of two distinct species belonging to the family Solanaceae, Lycium barbarum (LB) and Lycium chinense (Chinese boxthorn), are usually marketed together as goji berries, but nearly 90% of all commercially available goji berries belong to the former species. A third closely related species, a wild perennial thorny shrub native to north‐western China, Lycium ruthenicum (LR; known as Russian box thorn, and its fruit as black wolfberry), has become a popular choice for combating soil desertification and for alleviating soil salinity/alkalinity due to its high resistance to the harsh environment of saline deserts. Despite the phylogenetic closeness of LB and LR, their fruits are very different. To identify the genes involved in these distinct phenotypes, here we studied expression patterns of 22 transcriptional regulators that may be crucial drivers of these differences during five developmental stages. BAM1 may contribute to higher sugar content in LB. High expression of BFRUCT in ripe LR is likely to be an evolutionary adaptation to fruit ripening in an arid environment. Two arogenate dehydratase paralogues, CHS and LDOX, are probably crucial elements of the mechanism by which LR accumulates much higher levels of anthocyanin. DXS2 (carotenoid accumulation in LB) and CCD4 (carotenoid degradation in ripe LR fruit) may be crucial drivers behind the much higher content of carotenoids in LB. EIL3 and ERF5 are two transcription factors that may contribute to the higher abiotic stress resilience of LR. GATA22‐like appears to have more important roles in growth than ripening in LB fruit and vice versa in LR. HAT5‐like exhibited opposite temporal patterns in two fruits: high in the 1st stage in LB and high in the 5th stage in LR. PED1 was expressed at a much lower level in LR. Finally, we hypothesise that the poorly functionally characterised SCL32 gene may play a part in the increased resistance to environmental stress of LR. We suggest that BAM1, BFRUCT, EIL3, ERF5, ADT paralogues (for functional redundancy), PED1, GATA22‐like, HAT5‐like and SCL32 warrant further functional studies.

A chemometric approach to the evaluation of the ageing ability of red wines

One of the most important quality attributes of red wines is its ability to withstand and ageing process. The multidimensionality of the ageing ability concept, which includes a combination of colour, taste, mouthfeel, and aroma was reported in previous studies. Phenolic compounds are largely or partially involved in most of these wine attributes and have been proposed as potential candidates to evaluate the ageing ability of red wines. The phenolic and colour properties of a large number of wines were measured during a barrel and bottle ageing process of 24 months. To our understanding, a wine that needs the longest time to reach optimal phenolic quality is considered a wine with higher ability to age (concentration assumption). Moreover, a wine that is able to maintain its optimal phenolic quality for longer will also be a wine with high ageing ability (stability assumption). Based on the formulated assumptions a scoring system was used to identify those wines with theoretically high ability to age. As expected, these wines contained initial high levels of tannins, total phenols and anthocyanins, including high polymeric pigment presence and enhanced colour properties. Interestingly, high ageing ability wines showed a smaller change in the colour properties over time which might be indicating slower pigment formation rates. In addition, a chemometric attempt was undertaken to explore an ageing index based on initial phenolic content. The evolution of the index over time using a multi-block approach showed stability for the index values, in line with the short term stability of tannin and total phenol levels. Finally, promising results were obtained as two thirds of the wines were correctly classified when a validation task between the ageing index and the score values was attempted.

Carotenoid, Carotene and Anthocyanin Levels of Naturally Grown old Garden Roses (Rosa ssp.) in Van

Secondary metabolites especially phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids have potential antioxidants and antimicrobial activity. Carotenoids are important antioxidants and bioactive compounds supplying to the health benefits of different foods and rosehips known for high bioactive content. Anthocyanins have physiological importance because of their abilities to protect leaves from photooxidative injuries without significantly compromising photosynthesis. Numerous studies shown that roses are rich sources of bioactive compounds. The genus Rosa contains various species that are widely grown in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and North America. In this study it was aimed that determination of carotenoid, carotene and anthocyanin amounts of naturally growing old garden roses species in Van ecological conditions. In this study eleven species of rosehips (Rosa damascena, Rosa damascena var. semperflorens, Rosa laxa ssp. harputensis, Rosa alba, Rosa multiflora, Rosa pisiformis, Rosa foetida, Rosa foetida var. bicolor, Rosa hemisphaerica, Rosa hemisphaerica var. plena hort, Rosa heckellana subsp. vanheurckiona) naturally grown in Van conditions were used as plant material. The fresh leaves (100-200 mg), immediately after harvesting, were homogenized by 80% aqueous acetone and filtered by white tape filter paper. In the extracts, carotenoid, carotene and anthocyanin levels were determined by using UV spectrophotometer in 470 nm, 537 nm, 647 nm, 663 nm wavelengths respectively. As a result, the highest and lowest carotenoid levels were found as 3.18 µg/ml and 0.59 µg/ml in R. heckellana subsp. vanheurckiona and R. damascena var. semperflorens. The highest anthocyanin level was determined in R. damascena as 0.06 µg/ml.

Comparative proteomic and ultrastructural analysis shed light on fruit pigmentation distinct in two Lycium species

Lycium barbarum L. (LB) and L. ruthenicum Murr. (LR) are the two closet species in Lycium genus phylogenetically. The LB fruit (LBF) contains high level of carotenoids and undetectable anthocyanins, while LR fruit (LRF) has abundant anthocyanins and very low amount of carotenoids. Although the causes of the pigmentation difference in term of gene expression and metabolites were previously investigated in the two species, the underlying mechanism remains unclear at protein level. In this study, the ripening fruits of LB, LR and their hybrid were harvested for comparative proteomic and ultrastructural analysis. Ultrastructural analysis indicates that LBF successfully form abundant tubular chromoplasts, and that LRF fail to develop chromoplasts. This result is confirmed by the expression ratio of rbcLs/PDS as an indicator of plastid number. Proteomic results uncover that the number of photosynthesis-related proteins undetectable in LRF is significant higher than in LBF. Chromoplast-biogenesis protein OR and plastoglobules-localized ABC1K1 is abundant in LBF but undetectable in LRF. Meanwhile, anthocyanin enzyme localizing ER vesiculate seriously in LRF while failed in LBF. The abundance of vacuole-localized anthocyanin trafficking protein SYP22 and vacuolar formation protein VPS4 increased in LRF and decreased/undetectable in LBF. Proteomic results also reveal that differentially expressed proteins related to anthocyanin synthesis and accumulation are enriched and increased in ripening LRF with undetectable certain proteins involved in carotenoid pathway and vice versus for LBF. Altogether, our data provide new insight on ER and vacuole formation and plastid differentiation, which contribute largely to the pigmentation distinct in Lycium fruits.

Blueberry Juice Antioxidants Protect Osteogenic Activity against Oxidative Stress and Improve Long-Term Activation of the Mineralization Process in Human Osteoblast-Like SaOS-2 Cells: Involvement of SIRT1.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables with many antioxidants can be very important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Studies show that oxidative stress, often due to lack of antioxidants, is involved in alteration of bone remodeling and reduction in bone density. This study demonstrates in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells that blueberry juice (BJ), containing 7.5 or 15 μg∙mL−1 total soluble polyphenols (TSP), is able to prevent the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation and the mineralization process due to oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion. This situation mimics a metabolic condition of oxidative stress that may occur during estrogen deficiency. The effect of BJ phytochemicals occurs through redox- and non-redox-regulated mechanisms. BJ protects from oxidative damage factors related to bone remodeling and bone formation, such as alkaline phosphatase and Runt-related transcription factor 2. It upregulates these factors by activation of sirtuin type 1 deacetylase expression, a possible molecular target for anti-osteoporotic drugs. Quantitative analysis of TSP in BJ shows high levels of anthocyanins with high antioxidant capacity and bioavailability. These novel data may be important to elucidate the molecular and cellular beneficial effects of blueberry polyphenols on bone regeneration, and they suggest their use as a dietary supplement for osteoporosis prevention and therapies.

Karakteristrik Enkapsulat Ekstrak Pewarna Fungsional Bunga Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) pada Perlakuan Perbandingan Kasein-Maltodekstrin

Rosella contains high levels of anthocyanin and can be used as a source of functional dyes. The making of functional dyes is carried out through the process of extraction and encapsulation. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of casein-maltodextrin encapsulation ratio on the encapsulation characteristics of rosella flower functional dye extract and determine the best encapsulation ratio of casein-maltodextrin in producing rosella functional dye extract encapsulates. Experiments in this study used a single factor randomized block design. These factors are the casein and maltodextrin ratio which consists of (maltodextrin), (1: 0.5), (1: 1), (1: 1.25), (1: 1.5), (1: 1.75), (1: 2.0), (1: 2.5) and (casein). The results showed that casein and maltodextrin comparison factors had a significant effect of yield, (P <0.01) on yield, total anthocyanin, surface anthocyanin level, encapsulation efficiency, solubility, brightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowish level (b*) but did not have a significant effect (P> 0.05) on water content. The comparison treatment between casein and maltodextrin 1: 0.5 is a treatment to produce encapsulate products of roselle flower functional dye extract with a yield of 42.86 percent, water content of 5.04 percent, surface anthocyanin total of 9.43 mg/g, surface anthocyanin level 1.66 mg/g, encapsulation efficiency 82.37 percent, solubility 45.84 percent, brightness level (L*) 60.86, redness level (a*) 25.64, yellowish level (b*) 29.61.
 Keywords: rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), extraction, casein, maltodextrin, encapsulation.