Nutraceutical Composition Research Articles

The Nutritional, Mineral, and Nutraceutical Quality Is Differentially Affected by the Mango Cultivar

The main mango cultivars produced in the southern Pacific region of Mexico are Ataulfo, Manila, Haden, and Criollo. However, mineral, nutritional, and nutraceutical composition studies are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cultivars on the nutritional, mineral, and nutraceutical qualities of mango produced in Mexico. The cultivar significantly affected (p ≤ 0.05) the fruit composition across these indices. Criollo had the highest potassium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc concentrations, while Haden showed the highest calcium content. Manila had the highest iron content, contributing 0.76% of the recommended daily intake. Ataulfo and Haden were statistically similar in manganese content, both higher than Criollo, with Ataulfo reaching the maximum copper concentration. Ataulfo also had the highest sugar content, while Criollo had the most dietary fiber (3.1%), double that of Ataulfo and Haden. Haden had the lowest dry matter (14.8%) and lowest protein content (0.46%), with Manila showing the lowest ash content. The cultivars also differed in nutraceutical composition: Ataulfo was highest in total phenols, DPPH, and vitamin A; Haden in carotenoids and flavonoids; and Criollo in vitamin C. Cultivar selection induces changes in mango nutritional composition.

Nutraceutical composition (yeast β-glucan, prebiotics, minerals, and silymarin) predicts improvement of sleep quality and metabolic parameters: A randomized pilot study

Background & AimsThe search for integrative and natural therapies that favor homeostasis to boost sleep and diet quality took place for young adult populations as a non-pharmacological strategy for long-term good quality of life. Thus, the present pilot study aims to investigate the effects of 90-day consumption of a nutraceutical composition on the neuro-immune-endocrine axis, providing better sleep quality and health improvement. MethodsFor this, from March 2021 to June 2021, twenty-two Brazilian young adult volunteers (women and men) with BMI between 18.5 to 34.9 kg/m2 were divided into three distinct supplementation groups: NSupple; NSupple plus_S, and NSupple plus. Briefly, the supplement compositions included yeast β-glucan, prebiotics, and minerals in different concentrations associated or not with the herbal medicine silymarin.Neither nutritional nor physical activity interventions were performed during this pilot study period. The anthropometrics measures, questionnaires answer data, and harvest blood for metabolic, inflammatory, and hormonal tests were collected at baseline time (day zero-T0) and day 90 (T90) post-supplementation. ResultsOur results highlight that the supplementation reduced body mass index (BMI), Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference, AST/ALT ratio, alkaline phosphatase, and HbA1c. Post-supplementation the IL-6 and IL-10 levels and the sleep, humor, and quality of life scores were suggested to improve. Sleep quality improvement seems to predict the reduction of adiposity-related body measures. ConclusionIn sum, the nutraceutical supplementation might be related to anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrine parameters after 90 days reflecting on perception of humor, sleep, and life quality enhancement. However, it is important to recognize the limitation of the data presented considering that this was a pilot study. Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04810572 registered on 20th February 2021.

An Overview of Extraction Methods of Bioactive Compounds from White Mulberry (Morus alba) Leaf

White mulberry (Morus alba) is a plant classified into the Morus genus and the Moraceae family, growing wild or cultivated in Indonesia. The mulberry fruit is the plant part that is more utilized than others. However, white mulberry leaves are abundant and contain bioactive and nutraceutical compounds, which benefit the medicine and food sectors, making them an exciting material to investigate further. The method used in this study was a literature review, in which data from earlier studies were collected from open-access database sources, especially Google Scholar, from 2006 to 2023. The results showed that the white mulberry leaf contains rich bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, anthraquinone, anthocyanin, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, saponins, steroids, tannic acids, and so on, which are revealed to have pharmacological activities, and also contain complete nutraceutical composition as promised as food ingredients. Extraction is the primary process for extracting bioactive compounds from white mulberry leaves. Maceration, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), soxhlet, supercritical CO2 extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) were common methods to extract bioactive compounds and produce white mulberry leaf extracts with different characteristics. Therefore, this review highlights the effect of various extraction methods on the bioactive compounds of white mulberry leaf extracts, represented by total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC).

Contrast between Brazil and other countries in nutraceutical components of Camelina sativa grains

Camelina sativa, also known as false flax, is a species can be cultivated in a variety of climates, seasons and soil types, due to its short development cycle and tolerance to drought and low temperatures. In the composition of its grains, it presents a high amount of oil and rich in unsaturated fatty acids. In view of this, the objective of this work was to compare the composition of the nutraceutical components of Camelina sativa L. grains cultivated in Brazil and countries in Europe, Asia and North America. About 20 kg of grains were collected and then a homogeneous sample of 1kg of grains was cleaned to perform the centesimal composition of the grains. Afterwards, a search for information was carried out on the cultivation of Camelina sativa L. in other countries and the collection of information on the centesimal composition of the grains of this oleaginous plant. The collection of information was based on obtaining published scientific articles on the nutraceutical composition of Camelina sativa in regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Brazil presents a promising environment for the cultivation of Camelina sativa, with superior performance for the content of stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and palmitic acid. The fatty acids profile decreased with the reduction of the minimum air temperature. The mineral material, palmitic acid and linolenic acid are positively correlated.

Assessment of Yield and Quality of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Fruits Improved by Biodegradable Mulching Film in Two Different Regions of Southern Italy

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films have an important function in crop cultivation; at the end of their life, however, their removal and disposal become both an economic and environmental problem. One possible alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch is provided by certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, such as those produced by Novamont and commercially available under the trade name MaterBi®. MaterBi is a biodegradable thermoplastic material made with starch and a biodegradable copolyester based on proprietary technology. In this study, we compared two biodegradable MaterBi®-based films (commercial and experimental films) with bare soil and a low-density polyethylene to evaluate their effect on yield and on a number of qualitative characteristics (organoleptic and nutraceutical composition) of eggplant fruits (cv Mirabelle F1) grown in two different regions in Southern Italy (Sicily and Campania). In our study, the use of biodegradable MaterBi® films improved not only yield and production parameters, such as the number and average weight of fruits, but also lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activity and phenolic and ascorbic acid content. For many parameters, responses differed according to the cultivation environment and, in particular, the site’s pedoclimatic conditions. Our results suggest that biodegradable MaterBi®-based mulching films are a potentially valid alternative to traditional LDPEs, providing the production and quality benefits reported above and promoting environmental sustainability, thanks to their positive biodegradable properties.

A Review of the Nutraceutical Composition of Millets and their Health Benefits

A Review of the Nutraceutical Composition of Millets and their Health Benefits

Metabolomic and chemometrics depict to understand the nutraceutical potential of different flaxseed varieties

Flaxseeds phytochemical and nutraceutical composition is influenced by climatic conditions that possibly impact flaxseed fingerprinting authentication. Therefore, this research aimed to discriminate flaxseeds phytochemical and nutraceutical value among eight different varieties (originating from China and Pakistan). Metabolomic fingerprint and chemometrics revealed discrimination among these varieties due to variations in fatty acids, amino acids, cyclic peptides, tocopherols, carotenoids, phenolics, and volatile compounds composition in flaxseeds. A discrimination model with p-value < 0.05 and VIP score >1 was propounded those different biomarkers such as γ-tocopherol, leutein, C18:3, Thr, Glu, 1-hexanol, 2-decenal, 1-octen-3-ol, and cyclic peptides content contribute to the discrimination of different flaxseeds varieties. Compared to RO and CH flaxseed varieties, HU, MO1, and MO2 primarily have higher total fatty acids, amino acids, tocopherols, carotenoids, and cyclic peptides. The present study significantly contributes to the quality fingerprinting of flaxseeds for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Quality assessment of flax advanced breeding lines varying in seed coat color and their potential use in the food and industrial applications

BackgroundWith the increasing consumer awareness of the strong relationship between food and health, flax became a promising functional food due to its bioactive nutraceutical composition. Intra-specific crosses of eight contrasting flax genotypes were performed previously, and within segregating F6 progeny families, we investigated a close-up composition of phytochemicals derived from whole seeds.ResultsThe considerable genetic variation among the flax F6 families suggested that intra-specific hybridization is essential in flax breeding to obtain and broaden genetic variability and largely affirmed the opportunity for selecting promising lines. Also, significant variations in the targeted metabolite contents and antioxidant properties were observed among brown and yellow-seeded families. Notably, brown-seeded families expressed the highest average values of saturated fatty acids, protein, fiber, tocopherol, phenolics, SDG, and SECO lignans. Yellow-seeded families represented the highest average content of unsaturated fatty acids and mucilage. The cultivation year significantly affects flaxseed’s composition and functional properties, presumably due to temperature, humidity, and sunshine time differences. Interestingly, the seeds obtained in warmer conditions were more potent and had more chemical constituents. The favorable genetic correlations among all evaluated traits suggest the possibility of joint genetic selection for several nutritional and phytochemical characteristics in flax. The current study highlights the importance and utilization of 19 top families as their seeds and oil play imperative roles in the pharmaceuticals and food industries. The antioxidant capacity of the seeds showed that families 84B, 23B, 35Y, 95Y, 30B, 88B, and 78B serve as a natural source of dietary antioxidants beneficial to human health. To increase the oxidative stability of the flaxseed oil, the quality evaluation identified some families with low levels of linolenic acid.ConclusionsThese findings are essential to improving flaxseed’s nutritional quality and therapeutic properties through a bulk breeding program.

Proximate, nutraceutical composition and antimicrobial activities of Uvaria chamea (Udagu) seeds and oil

The study investigated proximate, nutraceutical composition and Antimicrobial activities of Uvaria chamea (Udagu) seeds. Standard methods were used to analyze the plant seeds for the present of nutraceutical and proximate component of the plant Uvaria chamea (Udagu) seeds. While disk diffusion method was employed to assay the the potent of the seed oil as an antimicrobial agent. Result of the proximate revealed that Uvaria chamea (Udagu) seeds contains ash (10.19 %), moisture (5.2 %), crude protein (0.09 %), crude fiber (51.81 %), total fat (26.19 %) and carbohydrate (6.52 %). While nutraceutical study showed that Uvaria chamea (Udagu) seeds contains cardiac glycosides (0.046 %), tannins (0.2 %), saponins (0.01 %) and alkaloids (0.45 %).The proximate result implies that the plant contains essential component such as crude fiber, total fat and ash in significant quantities, and can be utilized as food and in treating several ailments. The presences of alkaloids, tannins, Cardiac glycoside, and saponins in the plant seed indicate it can be used as a medicinal source. The oil presented no antimicrobial and antibiotic activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The results suggest that Uvaria chamae seed have a potential role as a new source of health-promoting diets (can be used as a dietary fiber supplement in obesity management) with high oxidative stability. And the oil is a fixed oil that could be an acceptable substitute for cooking vegetable oil that do not have antimicrobial/antibiotic activities. Keywords: Proximate; nutraceutical; fiber; alkaloids; tannins

Nutraceutical formulation for immune system modulation: Active constituents, in vitro antibacterial and immunomodulatory activity, and metabolomics analysis.

There is a large demand for nutraceuticals in the market and studies related to their action are needed. In this paper, the antimicrobial activity and the immunomodulatory effect of a nutraceutical formulation containing 14.39% of ascorbic acid, 7.17% of coenzyme Q10, 1.33% of Echinacea polyphenols, 0.99% of pine flavan-3-ols, 0.69% of resveratrol and 0.023% of Echinacea alkylamides were studied using in vitro assays and cell-based metabolomics. Chromatographic analysis allowed us to study the nutraceutical composition. The antibacterial activity was evaluated on S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, H. influenzae, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis. The immunomodulatory activity was assessed on human macrophages and dendritic cells. The production of IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-10 and IL-8 was evaluated on culture medium by ELISA and the activation/maturation of dendritic cells with cytofluorimetric analysis. Treated and untreated macrophages and dendritic cell lysates were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry, and results were compared using multivariate data analysis to identify biological markers related to the treatment with the food supplement. The food supplement decreased K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and M. catharralis growth, reduced the inflammatory response in macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and modulated the activation and maturation of the dendritic cells. Oxidized phospholipids were identified as the main biological markers of treated cell lysates, compared with controls.

Efficacy and Tolerability Evaluation of a Nutraceutical Composition Containing Vitex agnus-castus Extract (EVX40™), Pyridoxine, and Magnesium in Premenstrual Syndrome: A Real-World, Interventional, Comparative Study.

Background Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition associated with altered hormone levels during the menstrual phase of females and is characterised by physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms that have a negative impact on the quality of life of females. The symptoms of PMS may vary between individuals, but the major complication is pain, especially during menstrual days. The current treatment strategy involves the use of hormonal therapies and analgesics for symptomatic relief, but these therapies have a risk of potential side effects. The use of herbal and nutraceutical supplements in PMS conditions is increasing due to their long-term safety and proven efficacy. The current real-world study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Ezedayz® tablets containing Vitex agnus-castus extract (EVX40™), vitamin B6, and magnesium in PMS subjects. Methodology A real-world, open-label study was conducted involving 64 participants with varied severity of PMS symptoms. Participants were categorised into Group A (N=23) receiving standard therapies, Group B (N=20) receiving Ezedayz®tablets, or Group C (N=21) receiving standard and Ezedayz®therapy. Standard therapies were provided as per physician supervision, and Ezedayz® tablets were given for 90 days. All subjects were evaluated on core symptoms of PMS like menstrual backache, menstrual cramps, joint or muscle pain, and headache using the numerical rating scale (NRS), and quality-of-life (QoL) was evaluated using a QoL questionnaire. A spontaneous reporting methodology was used to evaluate the tolerability of the therapies provided. Statistical analysis was performed as per the statistical plan. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of 64 participants, five were lost to follow-up, and the data of 59 participants were included in the final analysis. All groups showed improvement in all evaluated parameters, but Group B and Group C showed greater improvement at the end of the study in all evaluated parameters. The quality-of-life assessment revealed greater improvement in Group B and Group C participants compared to Group C in all evaluated QoL parameters. No serious side effects were observed in any subjects. Conclusion The results of the current study conclude that the nutraceutical composition of Vitex agnus-castus extract, vitamin B6, and magnesium is effective in reducing the severity of PMS symptoms and improving the quality of life of PMS subjects. The nutraceutical therapy provided greater relief from PMS symptoms compared to standard therapy alone, and this effect was augmented when the nutraceutical therapy was provided in combination with standard therapies. Similarly, the improvement in quality-of-life parameters was greater in subjects treated with nutraceuticals alone or in combination therapy. Despite the limitations of the study, the results of the current study are promising, and the nutraceutical composition (Ezedayz®) can be effectively used in clinical settings to control symptoms and improve the quality of life of PMS patients.

Molecular Docking for the Functional Properties Evaluation of Plant Stabilizing Particles in the Emulsion Food Systems

Good nutrition determines Human health; however, the current state of this issue requires a new approach focused on the maximum useful nutrient extraction from natural raw materials. To justify the nutraceutical composition use in food systems, a man has to evaluate the possibility of preserving their bioactivity in the final product. The convergent approach application enables to combine the achievements of various scientific fields. When developing emulsion food systems, a man supposes to use plant stabilizing particles. In the thesis framework the researchers scrutinized macromolecular compounds of a carbohydrate nature. Fucoidan, alginates, and resistant starch have proven bioactive properties and can act as functional and technological food ingredients. Modern molecular modeling methods enable to evaluate and predict the components docking within the food matrix comprehensively. Strict adherence to the conduction methodology of molecular docking with a high degree of reliability ensures the result. The study deals with the issue of the affinity and selectivity of antitumor and immunomodulatory receptors with polysaccharides isolated from plant materials. A man determined that fucoidan had a direct impact on cancer cells by stopping the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. Docking studies revealed a strong binding affinity for Lactobacillus towards amylose (–9.2 kcal/mol), then alginate (–6.3 kcal/mol), and fucoidan (–6.2 kcal/mol). Thus, the suggested method is very promising for determining the possible nutrient bioactivity preservation in the case of its use as a bifunctional component in emulsion food systems.

Multifunctional Nutraceutical Composition Based on Fermented Spirulina, Apple Cider Vinegar, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Bovine Colostrum.

The main purpose of this experiment was to develop a multifunctional nutraceutical composition based on ingredients of different origins (Spirulina powder (SP), bovine colostrum (BC), Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP), and apple cider vinegar (ACV)) which possess different health benefits through their different mechanisms of action. In order to improve the functional properties of Spirulina and bovine colostrum, fermentation with the Pediococcus acidilactici No. 29 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUHS244 strains, respectively, was carried out. These LAB strains were chosen due to their good antimicrobial properties. The following parameters were analysed: for Spirulina (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, fatty acid profile, and contents of L-glutamic and GABA acids; for bovine colostrum (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, dry matter, and microbiological parameters (total LAB, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, Escherichia coli, and mould/yeast counts); for the produced nutraceuticals-hardness, colour coordinates, and overall acceptability. It was established that fermentation reduced the pH of the SP and BC and affected their colour coordinates. Fermented SP contained a greater concentration of gamma-aminobutyric and L-glutamic acids (by 5.2 times and 31.4% more, respectively), compared to the non-treated SP and BC. In addition, the presence of gamma-linolenic and omega-3 fatty acids was observed in fermented SP. Fermentation of BC reduces Escherichia coli, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, and total mould/yeast counts in samples. The obtained three-layer nutraceutical (I layer-fermented SP; II-fermented BC and JAP; III-ACV) demonstrated a high overall acceptability. Finally, our finding suggest that the selected nutraceutical combination has immense potential in the production of a multifunctional product with improved functionality and a high acceptability.

Bioactives from Crude Rice Bran Oils Extracted Using Green Technology.

Crude rice bran oils from different rice cultivars and extraction methods bear different contents of nutraceuticals. The health benefits of lowering cholesterol activity of rice bran oil being confirmed by many reports are partly attributed to non-nutrient nutraceuticals, especially γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, and policosanols. As the world has been facing the global warming crisis, green extraction technology is gaining attention from many sectors. The current study aims to compare the nutraceutical composition with respect to γ-oryzanol, phytosterol, and policosanol content as well as the antioxidant properties of crude rice bran oils extracted from white and red rice bran using three green technologies, comparing with conventional hexane extraction. The data show that the traditional solvent extraction gave the highest oil yield percentage (26%), but it was not significantly different from subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction (24.6%). Subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction gave higher oil yield than supercritical CO2 extraction (15.5-16.2%). The crude rice bran oil extracted using subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction produced the highest total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities. The highest γ-oryzanol content of the crude rice bran oil was found in oil extracted by conventional cold press (1370.43 mg/100 g). The γ-oryzanol content of the oil obtained via subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction was high (1213.64 mg/100 g) compared with supercritical CO2 extraction. The red rice bran yielded the crude rice bran oil with the highest total phytosterol content compared with the white bran, and the oil from red rice bran extracted with subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether generated the highest total phytosterol content (1784.17 mg/100 g). The highest policosanol content (274.40 mg/100 g) was also found in oil obtained via subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction.

Role of a novel nutraceutical composition for irritable bowel syndrome management: symptoms relief and unexpected triglycerides-lowering effect

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and an irregular bowel habit. The prevalence is up to 20% in Western adults, which makes IBS the most common diagnosis in gastroenterology. Despite extensive interest and investigation, IBS's precise aetiology and pathophysiology are poorly understood. Current knowledge suggests that an altered gut microbiota, altered motility, visceral hyperalgesia, and dysregulation of the brain-gut axis are central to IBS. This is also significantly related to a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and elevated triglycerides among the adult population. This retrospective study examines the effect of a novel nutraceutical compound, Triobiotix, on gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS patients. Effects on lipid profiles have also been recorded. Objectives: The focus of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Triobiotix, a nutraceutical compound composed of prebiotics and probiotics. Methods:Triobiotix is a nutraceutical consisting of Maltodextrin; mineralized extract of Lithothamnion (Lithothamnion calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug, thallus dry extract); Bioecolians® gluco-oligosaccharides; Ferment mix (corn starch, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. Lactis BLC1 (DSM 17741), Lactobacillus acidophilus LA3 (DSM 17742), Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 (DSM 16104), Lactobacillus paracasei Streptococcus 501 IMC102 SP4 (DSM 19385); short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides powder. The database of 40 Italian General Practitioners (GPs) was analyzed. A total of 587 patients with IBS treated with Triobiotix were identified. Among them, 535/587 (91.1%) completed the first (T0) and second (T1) visits and their data were available. The primary endpoint of this analysis was to assess if Triobiotix, at a dosage of 1 sachet per day for 30 days, could reduce abdominal pain and bloating, thus resulting in a lower intensity of the main gastrointestinal symptoms. Secondary endpoints were to evaluate presence of any significant changes in triglycerides blood levels and glycaemia.Results: Treatment with this nutraceutical for one month resulted in a reduction in the frequency and intensity of bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, and tenesmus. In the 85 patients who reported evacuative urgency, the frequency of the episodes didn’t significantly change while their intensity was statistically reduced. Unexpectedly, triglyceride levels also significantly decreased.Conclusions:Our analysis demonstrates this formulation is effective in the relief of the main symptoms associated with IBS. Moreover, an unexpected effect of this combination of micronutrients on tryglicerides, beyond IBS symptoms, was also found. However, further studies are needed to confirm this evidence and to evaluate the particular compound responsible of this effect.Keywords: Irritable bowel disease; Triglyceridemia; Nutraceuticals

Assessing Yield and Quality of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Improved by Biodegradable Mulching Film.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic mulching films have an important function, but at the end of their lifetime pose an economic and environmental problem in terms of their removal and disposal. Biodegradable mulching films represent an alternative to LDPE with the potential to avoid these environmental issues. In this preliminary study, we employed a biodegradable film based on Mater-Bi® (MB) in comparison with low-density polyethylene to assess their effect on the yield and particular quality traits (organoleptic and nutraceutical composition of the fruits) of muskmelon (cv Pregiato) grown on soils with different textures (clay-loam-CL and sandy loam-SL) in two private farms in South Italy. Soil temperature under the mulch was also measured. During the monitored periods, mean soil temperature under LDPE was higher (about 1.3 °C) than that under the biodegradable film and was higher in SL soil than in CL soil, at 25.5° and 24.2 °C, respectively. However, the biodegradable film was able to limit the daily temperature fluctuation, which was 1.7 °C in both soils compared with 2.3 °C recorded for LDPE. Fruit yields were higher with MB film than LDPE (+9.5%), irrespective of soil texture. MaterBi® also elicited increases in total soluble solids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity compared with LDPE films: 13.3%, 22.4%, 27.2%, and 24.6%, respectively. Color parameters of flesh, namely brightness, chroma, and hue angle were better in fruits grown on LDPE. Our findings suggest that Mater-Bi® based biodegradable mulching film is a potentially valid alternative to traditional LDPE, particularly for obtaining the agronomical benefits outlined above and for promoting environmental sustainability due to its favourable biodegradable properties.

Perfil antioxidante de cultivares de pimenta e pimentão por dois métodos de extração

ABSTRACT Chili peppers are among the most important vegetables in the world. The demand of this fruit reveals a noticeable rapid increasing, which importance is mainly due to its nutraceutical composition. These fruits are rich in capsaicinoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and others, including vitamins. In this study, a comparative evaluation between two extraction methods of bioactive compounds of fourteen chili pepper cultivars was performed. Two extraction methods for antioxidants, the time-solvent and the ultrasound were evaluated. The design of the experiment was completely randomized with three repetitions where variables evaluated were total phenolic compounds, flavonoids content, antioxidant capacity and capsaicin. Results showed that the phenolic compounds oscillated between 48.7 - 634.1 mg GAE/100 g dry weight (DW), the flavonoids content varied from 1 - 97 mg QE/100 g DW, the antioxidant activity from 65 - 348 µmol Trolox/g DW and the capsaicin content oscillated from 0.3 - 922 mg/100 g DW. The extraction method with higher values of bioactive compounds for each of the chili pepper types was the ultrasound for all the measured variables.

Isolation, characterization and nutraceutical bioactive composition of bark of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce

Isolation, characterization and nutraceutical bioactive composition of bark of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce

Technological, Biochemical and Microbiological Evaluation of Dehydrated Pleurotus ostreatus Powder for Nutraceutical Applications

Abstract: Mushroom-based products can serve as superior nutraceuticals in both preventing and alleviating human diseases. Dehydrated powder of Pleurotus ostreatus grown in Cuba has a rich nutritional composition and a large number of therapeutic properties. However, technological parameters (e.g. rheological), as well as biochemical and microbiological quality control standards for its use as a raw material in the manufacture of solid dosage forms with nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical applications have not been established yet. Objective: The study aims to determine the technological, biochemical and microbiological quality parameters of dehydrated Pleurotus ostreatus powder. Method: Rheological properties (Carr´s index, Hausner´s ratio, angle of repose and flow rate) were determined in seven batches of mushroom powder. Biochemical and microbiological analyses were performed using standard methods. Other physicochemical properties (mean particle size, pH and moisture) were also determined. Results: Technical parameters showed a mean particle size of 224.08±7.96 μm, Carr´s compressibility index (23.08-26.58%), Hausner´s ratio (1.30-1.36), angle of repose (36.6-41.90°) and flow rate (3.69-6.93 g cm-2 s-1), typical of materials with poor flowability. Biochemical analyses indicated significant nutraceutical composition: protein (25.0-30.4%), carbohydrate (45-60%), ash (6.1-9.8%), fiber (5-9%), β-D-Glucans (1.47-1.61%), iron (21-50 mg/100 g), zinc (3.8-8.0 mg/100 g), and polyphenols (123-160 mg/100 g). Moisture content was ≤3.50% and microbiological analyses were in agreement with ISO standards. Conclusion: Dehydrated P. ostreatus powder exhibits good nutraceutical composition and microbiological quality. Technological parameters evidenced poor flow properties, suggesting the need to include excipients to improve the rheological properties for applications as an active ingredient in solid dosage forms for health benefits.

Phenolic Acid Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Whole and Defatted Seeds of Italian Hemp Cultivars: A Two-Year Case Study

The study investigated the nutritional profile and nutraceutical composition of the seeds (whole and defatted) of two monoecious hemp cultivars (Carmaleonte, Codimono) and one dioecious cultivar (CS) grown during the 2018 and 2019 crop seasons. The phenolic acid profiles, both free and bound, antioxidant activity (AA), protein content (PC), total phenolic content (TPC), β-carotene, lutein content, and condensed tannins (CT) were studied, and the effects of genotype (G), year (Y), and GxY interaction were also measured. The results indicated the stronger involvement of the year in the nutritional and antioxidant properties of the whole seeds than in those of the defatted seeds, as indicated by the analysis of the variance. The PC, TPC, AA, sum of phenolics free (SPF), and sum of phenolics bound (SPB) were significantly affected by year, while the lutein and some phenolic acids, free and bound (ferulic and p-coumaric acids and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine), showed significant effects of the genotype. In this respect, the Carmaleonte revealed the highest content of ferulic and p-coumaric acids, as well as CS of N-trans-caffeoyltyramine. A prevalence of Y effect over G was measured in the free and bound fraction of the phenolics of the whole seeds, in contrast to the defatted seeds, in which significant effects of GxY were also measured. Moreover, the Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicated a strict involvement of precipitations in the variation of the phenolics accumulation, above all with bound p-hydroxybenzoic acid (r = 0.71 **), bound syringic acid (r = 0.69 *), bound N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (r = 0.64 *), and SPB (r = 0.60 *). As phenolics bound fractions have strong biological activities, (including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities) the high concentrations of N-trans-Caffeoyltyramine B in the CS defatted seeds suggest that it is valuable ingredient for functional foods.