Is there a direct relationship between oral astringency and human salivary protein binding?

For decades, it is believed that astringency is due to the polyphenol-induced complexation of proline-rich salivary proteins in the oral cavity. In order to compare for the first time the human sensory threshold concentrations and the salivary protein binding activity of a series of astringent stimuli, human saliva protein was incubated for 5 min at 37 °C in the presence of astringent food-derived compounds and, after micro-centrifugation, the amount of the target molecules in the supernatant was quantitatively determined by HPLC-UV/Vis. Significant protein binding was observed for (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, (−)-gallocatechin-3-gallate, (+)-gallocatechin, and (−)-catechin-3-gallate, all of which containing at least one galloyl moiety in the molecule and exhibiting rather high sensory thresholds of more than 200 μmol/L. In comparison, (+)-catechin and procyanidin B2, both lacking in any galloyl function, showed only comparatively low binding activity and, most interestingly, quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside and 3-carboxymethyl-indole-1-N-β-d-glucopyranoside did not show any protein binding at all, although the later N- and O-glycosides exhibited extraordinarily low sensory threshold concentrations of less than 0.001 and 0.0003 μmol/L, respectively. The data give some first evidence that the quantity of the non-bound, “free” astringent stimulus in the saliva liquid might be more closely related to the sensory perception of astringency than the amount complexed or precipitated by proteins. It is therefore questionable as to whether oral perception of astringency is related to the complexation and/or precipitation of salivary proteins.     

Drying with Chemical Reaction in Cocoa Beans

Desirable flavor qualities of cocoa are dependent on how the cocoa beans are fermented, dried, and roasted. During fermentation and drying, polyphenols such as leucocyanidin and apecatechin are oxidized by polyphenols oxidase to form o-quinone, which later react nonenzymatically with a hydroquinone in a condensation reaction to form browning products and moisture. The objective of this article is to model the cocoa beans drying together with the browning reaction. A Luikov drying model for the moisture and a simple Fick's law diffusion model combined with first-order reactions for both the enzymatic oxidation and nonenzymatic condensation reactions were constructed. Both models were used to identify moisture diffusivity coefficient and total polyphenols diffusivity in cocoa beans from experimental drying and polyphenols degradation data and published kinetic data of the reactions. The theoretical drying model fitted the experimental cocoa bean drying curves with low mean square of residuals. The polyphenols diffusion and reaction model also fitted the experimental polyphenols degradation curves with minimum mean residual squares. The rate of polyphenols degradation in the cocoa beans increases at higher temperature and higher relative humidity. This is because the increasing reaction rate of polyphenols oxidation reaction as well as higher moisture diffusion at higher relative humidity and temperature. The effective moisture diffusivity in cocoa beans is estimated to be between 8.194 × 10^-9 and 8.542 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1, which is of the same order of magnitude as published data. The effective total polyphenols diffusivity is estimated to be between 8.333 × 10^-12 to 1.000 × 10^-11 m²·s^-1 with minimum mean residual squares. It is three orders of magnitude less than the estimated moisture diffusivity because of the larger polyphenols molecules. The estimated polyphenols diffusivity is very close to those published in the literature for sorption and ultrafiltration processes.     

A profile of physicochemical and antioxidant changes during fruit growth for the utilisation of unripe apples

The physicochemicals associated with fruit quality, antioxidant activities and changes in polyphenol composition during Fuji apple growth were investigated from the 25th to 105th day after full bloom day (DAFB). Three kinds of antioxidant assays, including oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC) were executed, and polyphenol composition were examined using HPLC. The change in weight of the Fuji apples during fruit growth showed a typical sigmoidal curve. Both the rise of the soluble solid content and the drop of the titratable acidity appeared to be more significant (p < 0.05) after the 85th DAFB. Concurrently, the antioxidant activities and the polyphenol content decreased (p < 0.05) rapidly after the same date. Accordingly, a profitable thinning date can be chosen around the 85th DAFB to utilise dropped unripe apples as resources of antioxidants. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of Fuji apples may be highly affected by the chlorogenic acid content.     

Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues – Part 2: Phenolic acids

Bacterial cellulose and cellulose–pectin composites were used as well-defined model plant cell wall (PCW) systems to study the interaction between phenolic acids (PA) derived from purple carrot juice concentrate (PCJC) and PCW components. Significant PA depletion from solution occurred, with pure cellulose initially (30 s–1 h) absorbing more than cellulose–pectin composites in the first hour (ca 20% cf 10–15%), but with all composites absorbing similar levels (ca 30%) after several days. Individual PAs bound to different relative extents with caffeic acid > chlorogenic acid > ferulic acid. Extrapolation of data for these model systems to carrot puree suggests that nutritionally-significant amounts of PAs could bind to cell walls, potentially restricting bioavailability in the small intestine and, as a consequence, delivering PAs to the large intestine for fermentation and metabolism by gut bacteria.     

Optimization of process variables for supercritical fluid extraction of ergothioneine and polyphenols from Pleurotus ostreatus and correlation to free-radical scavenging activity

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was employed to extract antioxidants from Pleurotus ostreatus. The response surface methodology was employed to determine the optimal conditions for extraction of ergothioneine and polyphenols. The ergothioneine concentration in the mushroom extract was quantified and characterized using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The optimized values of responses were obtained at a pressure of 21 MPa, a temperature of 48 °C and a co-solvent amount of 133 ml, yielding an ergothioneine content of 1.35 mg/g dw, total phenol content of 5.48 mg GAE/g dw, and IC50 for DPPH radical scavenging capacity of 0.008 mg/ml. A higher desirability value of 0.98 for model demonstrated that response surface methodology can be successfully applied for optimizing supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of antioxidants from P. ostreatus. A good correlation was found between DPPH radical scavenging capacity and ergothioneine (R² = 0.94) as well as with polyphenols (R² = 0.95).     

Phytochemical Constituents,Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Four Plant Leaves Used for Preparing Rice Beer in Assam,India

Phytochemicals content and antimicrobial activity of Artocarpus heterophyllus, Cyclosorus extensa, Oldendia corymbosa, and Alpinia malaccensis were investigated. Maximum alkaloids and terpenoids were found in A. heterophyllus; tannins and saponins in C. extensa; flavonoids, polyphenols, and phytosterols in O. corymbosa and anthraquinone, glycosides, and anthocyaninin A. malaccensis. Aqueous, methanolic, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts were prepared from all the leaves. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric (ATR-FTIR) analysis revealed that alkanes and alkyl halides were prevalent in all the extracts and the ethyl acetate extracts contained comparatively higher number of functional groups, which were also more effective against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of A. malaccensis against the tested pathogens were found to be lesser than the other species.     

Hemp seed oil: Minor components and oil quality

Owing to its high content of omega‐6/omega‐3 fatty acids and bioactive minor components with antioxidant activities, hemp seed oil is now recognized for its health benefits by a large number of consumers. This paper primarily discusses the profile of minor components in hemp seed oil and their beneficial and adverse effects on oil quality. While tocopherols, polyphenols and phytosterols prevent oxidative deterioration of hemp seed oil, the high amount of chlorophyll can be detrimental to oil quality.     

Comparative study of the antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content of Douro wines by chemical and electrochemical methods

A comparative study of the antioxidant capacity and polyphenols content of Douro wines by chemical (ABTS and Folin–Ciocalteau) and electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry) was performed. A non-linear correlation between cyclic voltammetric results and ABTS or Folin–Ciocalteau data was obtained if all types of wines (white, muscatel, ruby, tawny and red wines) are grouped together in the same correlation plot. In contrast, a very good linear correlation was observed between the electrochemical antioxidant capacity determined by differential pulse voltammetry and the radical scavenging activity of ABTS. It was also found that the antioxidant capacity of wines evaluated by the electrochemical methods (expressed as gallic acid equivalents) depend on background electrolyte of the gallic acid standards, type of electrochemical signal (current or charge) and electrochemical technique.     

Addition of milk to tea infusions: Helpful or harmful? Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on antioxidant properties

Tea consumption is practised as a tradition, and has shown potential to improve human health. Maximal uptake of tea antioxidants and milk proteins without a negative impact on tea flavor is highly desired by consumers. There is a conflicting evidence of the effect of milk addition to tea on antioxidant activity. Differences in the type of tea, the composition, type and amount of milk, preparation method of tea–milk infusions, the assays used to measure antioxidant activity, and sampling size likely account for different findings. Interactions between tea polyphenols and milk proteins, especially between catechins and caseins, could account for a decrease in antioxidant activity, although other mechanisms are also possible, given the similar effects between soy and bovine milk. The role of milk fat globules and the milk fat globule membrane surface is also important when considering interactions and loss of polyphenolic antioxidant activity, which has not been addressed in the literature.