Total Sugar Content Research Articles

Evaluation of physicochemical characteristics, bioactivity, flavor profile and key metabolites in the fermentation of goji juice by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus

This study aimed to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties, bioactivities and metabolites of fermented goji juice (FGJ) by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus at different fermentation stages. The results showed that Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation significantly decreased the content of soluble protein, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total sugar. Meanwhile, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and the inhibition rate of xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity were remarkably enhanced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation. Flavor profiles analysis indicated that FGJ produced novel volatile compounds such as 4-methylpentanol and 2-butanol, which provide its distinct aroma. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis showed that the differential metabolites in the FGJ28 vs. FGJ0 group were mainly included 1,7-bis (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) heptan-3-yl acetate, isoplumbagin, triacetylresveratrol, sulochrin, indole-3-acetaldehyde, etc., which might have an effect on the promotion of the bioactivity of goji juice. These findings will contribute to understanding the biotransformation effect of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation on goji juice.

Dynamic changes of starch properties, sweetness, and β-amylases during the development of sweet potato storage roots

Starch and sugar properties and sweetness of storage root (SR) are vital to the economic value of sweet potato. To clarify the factors determining these properties of raw sweet potato, eleven varieties with different SR properties were selected to investigate the changes of starch and sugar-related traits, brix and amylase activities during the growth and development of SRs, and the correlation among these SR properties and the amylase activities were analyzed. Five β-amylase genes expressed in SRs were cloned, and their expression and characteristics were analyzed to reveal the involvement of amylase in these SR properties. The results showed total sugar, soluble sugar, reducing sugar content and brix varied greatly among different varieties and development periods, β-amylase activities were much higher than that of α-amylase in SRs, dynamically changed during the development of SRs, and decreased at the late stage of SR expansion. The expression of three β-amylase encoding genes were positively correlated with the total sugar content, and might play vital roles in starch and sugar metabolism in SRs. The brix of raw SRs was significantly correlated with total starch, amylose, amylopectin, total sugar content and reducing sugar content, but had no significant relationship with soluble sugar content and β-amylase activity. These results indicated that the brix of SR was determined by both starch and sugar components, and multiple β-amylases function together in starch and sugar metabolism in developing SRs. These findings provide important information for the improvement of sweetness and the quality of processed products in sweet potato.

Chemical and Thermal Characteristics of PEF-Pretreated Strawberries Dried by Various Methods.

By increasing the permeability of the cell membrane of the treated material, pulsed electric fields (PEF) enhance the internal transport of various chemical substances. Changing the distribution of these components can modify the chemical and thermal properties of the given material. This study aimed to analyze the impact of PEF (1 kV/cm; 1 and 4 kJ/kg) applied to strawberries prior to drying by various methods (convective, infrared-convective, microwave-convective, and vacuum) on the chemical and thermal properties of the obtained dried materials (sugars content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays); thermal properties (TGA and DSC); and molecular composition (FTIR)). PEF could have induced and/or enhanced sucrose inversion because, compared to untreated samples, PEF-pretreated samples were characterized by a lower share of sucrose in the total sugar content but a higher share of glucose and fructose. Reduced exposure to oxygen and decreased drying temperature during vacuum drying led to obtaining dried strawberries with the highest content of antioxidant compounds, which are sensitive to these factors. All PEF-pretreated dried strawberries exhibited a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) than the untreated samples, which confirms the increased mobility of the system after the application of an electric field.

Enhancing cassava beer quality: Extrusion-induced modification of cassava starch structure boosts fermentable sugar content in wort

The high starch content and cost-effectiveness of cassava make it an attractive adjunct in beer brewing, with the fine structure of starch playing a crucial role in determining the composition of fermentable sugars (FS) and overall beer quality. This study investigated the effect of extrusion-induced changes in the starch structure of cassava flour on the FS profile of the wort and, consequently, on the quality attributes of cassava beer. The findings revealed that the shear stress during extrusion significantly reduced the molecular weight to 1.20 × 105g/mol and the branching degree of amylopectin. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the concentrations of short- and intermediate- chain amylose by 5.61% and 42.72%, respectively. These structural changes enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of extruded cassava flour (ECF), resulting in a higher total fermentable sugars content (22.00g/100 mL) in the ECF wort, predominantly composed of maltose and glucose. Furthermore, the altered FS profile led to an increased production of higher alcohols and esters in extruded cassava beer (ECB), particularly noted for the elevation of 2-phenylethyl alcohol levels, which imparted a distinctive rose aroma to the ECB. Consequently, the sensory profile of ECB showed significant improvement. This study offers critical insight into optimizing cassava beer quality and broadens the potential applications of cassava flour in the brewing industry.

Ecofriendly treatments to improve pomegranate trees production and tolerance to climate change

BackgroundPomegranate is capable of growing in different agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical to sub-tropical. Where vegetative growth, nutritional and physiological status of pomegranate plants oscillate at high temperatures waves in the summer season. While we can overcome the cracking and sunburn of fruits, which are the main problems confronting pomegranate cultivars due to their significant impact on the quality of fruits.MethodsThe present research was conducted over the course of two consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022. The study focused on ten-year-old trees that were cultivated in sandy soil inside a private orchard situated 70 km away from Cairo on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road in Egypt (30o13′31.4″N30o39′09″E). The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of Wonderful pomegranate trees with some nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Cu), amino acids and irradiated licorice on vegetative growth, fruit physical, quality and chemical and leaf chemical parameters. A randomized full-block design with three duplicates was employed in the study. Using the recently computed least significant difference values at the 5% level, averages were compared.ResultsThe results indicated that foliar spraying with nutrients, amino acids and licorice extract (irradiated or not) alone or in combination significantly increased the vegetative growth and leaf total chlorophyll content compared to the control. Also, they significantly increased fruit length, diameter, weight, and number/tree and thus yield. As compared to the control, all treatments significantly reduced the number of sunburned and cracked fruits leading to decrease the percentage of un-marketable fruits. The juice content of anthocyanin, total sugars and total soluble solids increased significantly in response to all treatments compared to the control while the acidity% greatly reduced. When these treatments were used instead of the control, the content of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the leaves was also positively increased.ConclusionsIn conclusion, foliar spraying of “Wonderful” pomegranate trees with a mixture of nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, Cu) and amino acids or irradiated licorice extract can be considered as a suitable management of the problem of sunburned or cracked fruits while improving the physical and chemical fruit quality with increased productivity.

Revealing novel insights into the enhancement of quality in black tea processing through microbial intervention

Black tea is highly favored by consumers worldwide, with enzymatic reactions being recognized as a pivotal factor influencing tea quality. The role of microorganisms in shaping the composition of black tea has emerged as a focus of research due to their involvement in enzyme catalysis and metabolic processes. In this study, full-length amplicon sequencing combined with qPCR more accurately reflected microbial profile, and Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Paucibacter, and Cladosporium were identified as the main microbial genera. Moreover, by comprehensively analyzing color, aroma, and taste components over time in black tea samples, correlations were established between the dominant genus and various quality factors. Notably, peroxidase activity levels, total soluble sugar content, and tea pigments concentration exhibited significant associations with the dominant genus. Consequently, this microbiological perspective facilitated the exploration of driving factors for improving black tea quality while establishing a theoretical foundation for quality control in industrial production.

The Effect of the Foliar Application of Biostimulants in a Strawberry Field Plantation on the Yield and Quality of Fruit, and on the Content of Health-Beneficial Substances

In modern horticulture, biostimulants can be an effective alternative to traditional, industrial means of production. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of three biostimulants (Calgreen, Erathis, Greit VG) containing selected macronutrients (N, Ca), organic matter, and amino acids on the yield and quality of strawberries and their content of health-beneficial substances. In the comparative variant, the plants were treated with mineral fertilisers applied into the soil. In 2021, an experiment was conducted on a two-year-old strawberry plantation of the ‘Rumba’ cultivar located on a horticultural farm in northwestern Poland. The following parameters were assessed: the yield, weight, and firmness of fruits as well as their content of soluble substances, sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, and anthocyanins. The use of biostimulants caused a decrease in soil acidity and salinity. In comparison with the soil fertilisation variant, the number of flowers and fruits on the plants increased by 50% to over 100%, which translated into a significant increase in the yield. The fruits from the plants treated with the biostimulants several times were of better quality. Their average weight, firmness, and the content of soluble substances (also after being stored for several days) increased significantly. However, the total content of sugars and ascorbic and malic acids, as well as the content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins, did not change.

System-wide analysis of groundnut's salinity resilience: Integrating plant-cell interactions with environmental stress dynamics through cutting-edge transcriptomics

Salinity stress is a major concern in regions where irrigation relies on saline water. This study aimed to investigate the relative water content (RWC), electrolytic leakage (EL), total chlorophyll content, free amino acid content, and total soluble sugar content were analyzed in different groundnut species subjected to various salinity treatments. The results showed that salinity stress significantly reduced the RWC in groundnut leaves, with A. duranensis (wild type) exhibiting higher RWC values compared to the Arachis hypogaea species. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during salt stress. A total of 9079 DEGs were identified, with 1372 genes upregulated and 2509 genes downregulated. Genes belonging to transcription factor families, such as WRKY, MYB, bHLH, E2F, and Auxin efflux carrier proteins, were induced under salt stress in the tolerant genotype. Conversely, genes encoding NADH dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase, protein kinases, UDP-glycosyltransferase, and peroxidase were downregulated. Gene ontology and pathway analyses revealed several enriched categories and metabolic pathways associated with salt stress response, including catalytic activity, response to salt stress, ATP-dependent activity, and oxidative phosphorylation. The findings of this study provide insights into the physiological and molecular responses of groundnut to salinity stress. A. duranensis exhibited better salinity tolerance than Arachis hypogaea, as indicated by higher RWC values, lower electrolytic leakage, and differential gene expression patterns. These results contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance in groundnut and may guide future efforts to develop salinity-tolerant groundnut species, ultimately improving crop yield in saline-affected regions.

Determination of total protein and sugar content in soy-based beverages using variable selection methods applied to ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

This study explores the potential of using ATR-FTIR coupled with partial least squares (PLS) and random forest (RF) for predicting total protein (TP), total sugar (TS), reducing sugars (RS), and non-reducing sugars (NRS) in soy-based beverages (SBBs). Employing variable selection techniques such as interval PLS (iPLS), synergy interval PLS (siPLS), uninformative variable elimination (UVE), ordered predictors selection (OPS), bat algorithm (BA), genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The OPS-PLS emerges as the optimal model for TS prediction, yielding an RMSEP of 0.114 wt% and R2p of 0.934. GA-PLS excels in TP, RS, and NRS prediction, achieving RMSEP values of 0.024 wt%, 0.273 wt%, and 0.339 wt%, with corresponding R2p values of 0.880, 0.847, and 0.450. In RF modeling, GA-RF is identified as the superior model for all properties. These findings underscore the potential of regression models and ATR-FTIR as effective and environmentally friendly tools for analyzing SBB composition.

Sea Bass Fish Head Broth Treated by Thermo-Ultrasonication: Improving the Nutritional Properties and Emulsion Stability.

This work investigated the underlying mechanism of thermo-ultrasonic treatment to improve the nutritional properties and emulsion stability of sea bass fish head broth. The effects of ultrasonication on the processing of fish broth were compared with boiling water treatment. The nutritional properties of fish broth mainly include protein, fat, total sugar, 5'-nucleotide and free amino acid content. To achieve a similar effect of nutrient extraction, the thermo-ultrasonic treatment required a shorter time (30 min) than boiling water (120 min). The water-soluble protein, fat and total sugar contents were at their maximum at 120 min of the thermo-ultrasonic treatment. In particular, the fat content increased with the time of thermo-ultrasonic treatment from 0.58% to 2.70%. The emulsion structure of the fish soup was characterized by measuring its color and particle size, using optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and determining its storage stability. Thermo-ultrasonic treatment reduced the particle size of the fish broth emulsion and the fat globules became smaller and more homogeneous. Ultrasonication not only accelerated the nutritional and flavor content of the fish head broth, but also reduced the particle size and enhanced the stability of the emulsified system of the fish broth. The fish head tissue was more severely disrupted by the cavitation effect of an ultrasound, and nutrients migrated more and faster. This was mainly due to the cavitation and mechanical breaking force of the ultrasound on the fish head tissue and the fat globules of the fish broth. Altogether, these findings suggest that the thermo-ultrasonic treatment technique is useful for processing nutrient-rich, storage-stable and ready-to-eat fish head broth.

Shoot Production and Metabolite Content of <i>Cosmos sulphureus</i> Cav. Leaves with Different Rates of Goat Manure

<i>Cosmos sulphureus</i> Cav. is a plant species commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes, with its young leaves being consumed as vegetables. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of goat manure rates and different harvest criteria on shoot production as well as the metabolite of <i>C</i>. <i>sulphureus</i>. The experiment was conducted in Kuningan Regency, West Java, Indonesia, from October to November 2022, using a factorial randomized complete block design. Goat manure rates examined were 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg N/ha, equivalent to 0, 6, 12, and 18 tons of goat manure/ha. Shoot harvest criteria were two and four top nodes, with each treatment replicated three times. The result showed that applying goat manure significantly increased the shoot production of <i>C</i>. <i>sulphureus</i>. The harvest criteria affected the shoot weight per plant, where the four-node harvest was 98.3% higher than the two-node. The metabolite content, such as crude fiber, phenolic, and antioxidant activity, was not significantly different between the upper and lower leaves. However, the lower leaves had a total flavonoid and sugar content of 38.9 and 12.6%, higher than the upper leaves.

The underlying mechanisms by which boron mitigates copper toxicity in Citrus sinensis leaves revealed by integrated analysis of transcriptome, metabolome and physiology.

Both copper (Cu) excess and boron (B) deficiency are often observed in some citrus orchard soils. The molecular mechanisms by which B alleviates excessive Cu in citrus are poorly understood. Seedlings of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Xuegan) were treated with 0.5 (Cu0.5) or 350 (Cu350 or Cu excess) μM CuCl2 and 2.5 (B2.5) or 25 (B25) μM HBO3 for 24wk. Thereafter, this study examined the effects of Cu and B treatments on gene expression levels revealed by RNA-Seq, metabolite profiles revealed by a widely targeted metabolome, and related physiological parameters in leaves. Cu350 upregulated 564 genes and 170 metabolites, and downregulated 598 genes and 58 metabolites in leaves of 2.5μM B-treated seedlings (LB2.5), but it only upregulated 281 genes and 100 metabolites, and downregulated 136 genes and 40 metabolites in leaves of 25μM B-treated seedlings (LB25). Cu350 decreased the concentrations of sucrose and total soluble sugars and increased the concentrations of starch, glucose, fructose and total nonstructural carbohydrates in LB2.5, but it only increased the glucose concentration in LB25. Further analysis demonstrated that B addition reduced the oxidative damage and alterations in primary and secondary metabolisms caused by Cu350, and alleviated the impairment of Cu350 to photosynthesis and cell wall metabolism, thus improving leaf growth. LB2.5 exhibited some adaptive responses to Cu350 to meet the increasing need for the dissipation of excessive excitation energy (EEE) and the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (reactive aldehydes) and Cu. Cu350 increased photorespiration, xanthophyll cycle-dependent thermal dissipation, nonstructural carbohydrate accumulation, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis and abundances; and upregulated tryptophan metabolism and related metabolite abundances, some antioxidant-related gene expression, and some antioxidant abundances. Additionally, this study identified some metabolic pathways, metabolites and genes that might lead to Cu tolerance in leaves.

Interaction of Capnodium alfenasii with extrafloral nectaries of Azadirachta indica.

Sooty moulds are saprophytic epiphytic fungi that grow mostly on insect secretions, but they can also be associated with plant secretions. In this study, we aimed to describe de interaction of Capnodium alfenasii sooty mould with the extrafloral shoot nectaries of Azadirachta indica. Anatomical and histochemical studies were carried out on serial sections of extrafloral shoot nectaries of A. indica without and with C. alfenasii infestation. The total soluble sugar content of the secreted nectar was determined, and the conidial germination of the fungus in distilled water and in dextrose and nectar solutions was evaluated. The shoot nectaries of A. indica are elongated structures that occur in pairs near the base of the petiole. The exuded nectar contains an average of 534.8µg of total soluble sugars per µL of nectar and provides ideal conditions for conidial germination and fungal growth. C. alfenasii hyphae grow on the nectary, penetrate through breaks in the cuticle, travel under the cuticle and penetrate the secretory tissue by inter- and intracellular routes. The present report is the first to describe the interaction of C. alfenasii with the A. indica nectary, including the penetration of hyphae into nectariferous tissues and the plant defence mechanisms.

Standardization of Process Variables for the Development of Osmo-dehydrated Coconut Haustorium

Background: Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is considered a highly valuable and beneficial perennial crop in our country. The basal portion of the coconut embryo enlarges during germination and forms a spongy structure, haustorium, which is an excellent source of essential nutrients. Since consumer preference is shifting towards healthy food and processed coconut products have immense scope in this sector, the study was conducted to standardize the process variables for osmo-dehydration of coconut haustorium and to evaluate the nutritional qualities of the osmo-dehydrated product. Methods: The present study involved the development of osmo-dehydrated coconut haustorium by standardizing the process variables, viz., osmotic solution concentration and immersion time. Mass transfer, physical, biochemical and sensory parameters were analysed to evaluate the nutritional qualities and consumer acceptance. Result: The results on biochemical properties revealed that an increase in concentration and time of immersion increased TSS, total sugar, reducing sugar, ash and mineral content. The process variables were standardized for the development of osmo-dehydrated coconut haustorium with optimum mass transfer characters, better nutritional qualities and consumer acceptance, which has application in the food industry.

Biochemical Characterization of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Leaves Infected with Little Leaf Disease

The experiment was conducted during September, 2023 to February, 2024 at the Department of Biochemistry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India. Total 28 genotype originating from a cross between a little leaf resistance parent AB 15-06 (S. melongena) and a susceptible parent GRB 5 (S. melongena). Disease incidence recorded from 14 each of highly resistant and susceptible genotypes and their parents AB 15-06 (Resistance against little leaf disease) and GRB 5 (Susceptible against little leaf disease) were selected for biochemical attributes comprised of chlorophyll (0.73–0.98 mg g-1), moisture (76.77–97.43%), phenol (0.43–3.26 mg g-1), total soluble sugar (2.36–4.57 mg g-1), membrane injury (24.56–69.87%). Correlation analysis of biochemical characters like chlorophyll and moisture were observed negatively correlated with disease incidence while rest of biochemical parameters total soluble solids, membrane injury and phenol content were positively correlated. Membrane injury (0.254), moisture (0.026), TSS (0.030), and phenol content (0.016) showed positive skewness whereas chlorophyll (-1.318), membrane injury (-1.540), moisture (-1.543), total soluble sugar (-1.160) and phenol content (-1.626) detected negative kurtosis. GCV, PCV and heritability analysis for all biochemical characters recorded were chlorophyll (36.46%, 36.5% and 99.82%), membrane injury (61.52%, 61.96% and 98.59%), moisture (7.55%, 8.73% and 13.44%), total soluble sugar (99.39%) and phenol content (46.76%, 46.83% and 99.67%).

Integrated transcriptome and metabolism unravel critical roles of carbon metabolism and oxidoreductase in mushroom with Korshinsk peashrub substrates

Edible fungi cultivation serves as an efficient biological approach to transforming agroforestry byproducts, particularly Korshinsk peashrub (KP) branches into valuable mushroom (Lentinus edodes) products. Despite the widespread use of KP, the molecular mechanisms underlying its regulation of mushroom development remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolism of mushroom fruiting bodies cultivated on KP substrates compared to those on apple wood sawdust (AWS) substrate. Our aim was to identify key metabolic pathways and genes that respond to the effects of KP substrates on mushrooms. The results revealed that KP induced at least a 1.5-fold increase in protein and fat content relative to AWS, with 15% increase in polysaccharide and total sugar content in mushroom fruiting bodies. There are 1196 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between mushrooms treated with KP relative to AWS. Bioinformatic analysis show significant enrichments in amino acid metabolic process, oxidase activity, malic enzyme activity and carbon metabolism among the 698 up-regulated DEGs induced by KP against AWS. Additionally, pathways associated with organic acid transport and methane metabolism were significantly enriched among the 498 down-regulated DEGs. Metabolomic analysis identified 439 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) in mushrooms treated with KP compared to AWS. Consistent with the transcriptome data, KEGG analysis on metabolomic dataset suggested significant enrichments in carbon metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism among the up-regulated DAMs by KP. In particular, some DAMs were enhanced by 1.5-fold, including D-glutamine, L-glutamate, glucose and pyruvate in mushroom samples treated with KP relative to AWS. Targeted metabolomic analysis confirmed the contents of DAMs related to glutamate metabolism and energy metabolism. In conclusion, our findings suggest that reprogrammed carbon metabolism and oxidoreductase pathways act critical roles in the enhanced response of mushroom to KP substrates.

How Nano-ZnO Affect Tomato Fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.)? Analysis of Selected Fruit Parameters.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), as one of the most valuable horticulture crops, was chosen to investigate the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) in the form of nano-ZnO combined with conventional fertilizer on the quality of tomato fruits, including their antioxidant potential (total antioxidant activity, lycopene and β-carotene content), sugars content and allergenic potential (profilin and Bet v 1 content). Nano-ZnO was implemented during plant cultivation, applied by foliar spraying or directly via soil, at three different concentrations (50, 150 and 250 mg/L). The obtained results suggest that the usage of NPs during tomato plant cultivation had minor impacts on parameters such as total antioxidant activity or the content of selected allergens. Even though the total antioxidant activity was not affected by nano-ZnO, the malondialdehyde activity (MDA) content was notably decreased in fruits under nano-ZnO treatment. The content of lycopene and β-carotene was significantly affected by the use of nano-ZnO. Moreover, the usage of nano-ZnO significantly increased the total sugar content in fruits treated with nanoparticles via foliar spraying. Based on the obtained results, it can be stated that nano-ZnO, regardless of the method of application, significantly affected tomato fruits which can be beneficial for fruit production.

Phytochemical and Functional Diversity of Enzyme-Assisted Extracts from Hippophae rhamnoides L., Aralia cordata Thunb., and Cannabis sativa L.

Plant leaves are a source of essential phenolic compounds, which have numerous health benefits and can be used in multiple applications. While various techniques are available for recovering bioactive compounds from by-products, more data are needed on enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). The aim of this study was to compare EAE and solid-liquid extraction (SLE), to evaluate the impact on bioactive compounds' extraction yield, phytochemical composition, and the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties of Aralia cordata leaves and roots, sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, and hemp Cannabis sativa leaves. The results indicate that EAE with Viscozyme L enzyme (EAE_Visc) extracts of the tested plant leaves possess the highest yield, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content. Moreover, the EAE_Visc extract increased by 40% the total sugar content compared to the control extract of A. cordata root. Interestingly, the sea buckthorn leaf extracts exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which reached an almost 99% inhibition in all extracts. Furthermore, the sea buckthorn leaves SLE and EAE_Visc extracts possess antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was used to examine changes in cell wall morphology after EAE. Overall, this study shows that EAE can be a promising method for increasing the yield and improving the functional properties of the resulting extracts in a fast and sustainable way compared to SLE.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] genotypes using molecular markers in the North-Western plains of India

Bael is a fruit crop that is extensively distributed throughout South-East Asia and is underutilized in medicine. The potential applications of bael's therapeutic and nutritional qualities in diverse ethnic communities are enormous. This study focuses on evaluating the morpho-pomological and molecular characteristics, utilizing SSR markers, of 80 wild bael genotypes alongside the NB-5 and NB-9 cultivars, derived from the North Western plains of India. Based on the evaluated morpho-pomological features, substantial variations were found between all genotypes. The fruit's inner diameter and pulp weight varied from 4.41 to 11.54 cm and 34.63 to 786.41 g, respectively. Numerous variations in the genotypes were observed in the shell weight/fruit, fruit skull thickness and fruit yield/plant. The bael fruit mucilage's total soluble solids (TSS) and total sugar content varied from 40.10 to 49.60 obrix and 8.11 to 21.17%, respectively. Using ward cluster analysis, the genotypes were divided into two primary clusters. Among the bael genotypes, the population structure analysis identified three subpopulations. SSR markers are used to measure genetic variety; of the 27 polymorphic markers, 17 show allelic diversity between genotypes. Molecular genetic diversity analysis, on the other hand, highlighted the genotypes genetic distinctiveness by classifying them into three major clusters. These findings offer valuable insights into the rich diversity and intricate interactions among the bael genotypes under investigation, paving the way for more strategic future breeding and selection efforts to elevate the quality of this remarkable fruit.

Physicochemical, structural and functional properties of pomelo peel pectin extracted by combination of pulsed electric field and cellulase hydrolysis

In this study, pectin extracted from pomelo peel was investigated using three different combination methods of pulsed electric field (PEF) and cellulase. Three action sequences were performed, including PEF treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis followed by PEF treatment, and enzymatic hydrolysis simultaneously treated by PEF. The three corresponding pectins were namely PEP, EPP and SP. The physiochemical, molecular structural and functional properties of the three pectins were determined. The results showed that PEP had excellent physiochemical properties, with the highest yield (12.08 %), total sugar (80.17 %) and total phenol content (38.20 %). The monosaccharide composition and FT-IR analysis indicated that the three pectins were similar. The molecular weights of PEP, EPP and SP were 51.13, 88.51 and 40.00 kDa, respectively. PEP showed the best gel properties, emulsification stability and antioxidant capacity among the three products, due to its high galacturonic acid and total phenol content, appropriate protein and low molecular weight. The mechanism of PEF-assisted cellulase hydrolysis of pomelo peel was also revealed by SEM analysis. These results suggested that PEF pretreatment was the best method, which not only improved the efficiency of enzymatic extraction, but also reduced resource waste and increased financial benefits.