The efficacy of bitter blockers on health-relevant bitterants

Current strategies for decreasing the bitterness of conventional foods often involve the addition of sucrose and sodium chloride. However this has limited application with functional foods, as they are health promoting, and other approaches are required. This study assesses the efficacy of high and low concentrations of five bitter inhibiting compounds [β-cyclodextrin (β-CYCLO), homoeriodictyol sodium salt (HED), zinc sulphate monohydrate (ZnSO₄), magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄), carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC)] on the perceived bitterness of high and low concentrations of (+)-catechin and caffeine – two ingredients used in functional food formulations. Intensity ratings (bitterness, sourness, saltiness, sweetness, savoriness, astringency, ‘other’) of bitterant-bitter blocker binary solutions were collected from a panel of twelve, in duplicate, using a 15 cm line scale. Overall, β-CYCLO and HED were the most effective blockers at decreasing the bitterness of (+)-catechin, while the bitterness of caffeine was reduced most effectively by HED. Results also demonstrate that the bitter reducing capacity of these blockers is bitterant dependent. In general, these bitter blockers elicit minimum side tastes and sensations, although astringency and viscosity intensities are increased under some conditions. We conclude that some bitter blockers show considerable potential for decreasing the bitterness of phenols and caffeine in functional food formulations.     

De-oiled rapeseed and a protein isolate: characterization of sinapic acid derivatives by HPLC–DAD and LC–MS

De-oiled rapeseed is a rich source of proteins and phenolic compounds. The phenolic compounds, namely sinapic acid derivatives (SAD), could occur as free sinapic acid, esterified (as sinapine, the choline ester of sinapic acid) and decarboxylated (as canolol) forms. Rapeseed protein preparations containing very low phenolic compounds have been the focus of our ongoing research. A precipitated rapeseed protein isolate is investigated for SAD such as sinapine, sinapoyl glucose, canolol using HPLC–DAD and LC–MS. Profile of the phenolic compounds of de-oiled rapeseed, press cakes and the precipitated protein isolate are compared. HPLC–DAD analysis indicated SAD; particularly sinapine is the main phenolic compound of all the substrates. The protein derivation process did not remarkably alter the profile of the investigated protein isolate.     

Quantitative analysis of the main phenolics in rapeseed meal and oils processed differently using enzymatic hydrolysis and HPLC

Rapeseed meal is the dry residue of the rapeseed de-oiling process. It contains more phenolic compounds than any other oilseed meal. In analysis, rapeseed phenolic esters, mainly sinapine, are usually hydrolyzed to free phenolic acids, because sinapine is not available as a commercial standard. In this study, the efficiencies of different enzymes and enzyme preparations in hydrolyzing sinapine to sinapic acid were explored. The main phenolics in rapeseed meal were sinapine and sinapic acid. In rapeseed oil, the main phenolics were vinylsyringol, sinapine and sinapic acid. In hydrolyzing rapeseed meal, ferulic acid esterase and Ultraflo L were as effective in hydrolyzing sinapine as sodium hydroxide. Over 90% of sinapic acid derivatives were hydrolyzed to yield sinapic acid. Compared to base hydrolysis, enzyme treatment was not only as efficient but also less destructive to the liberated phenolics. Thus, enzymatic hydrolysis is a recommended procedure for optimal analysis of rapeseed phenolics. In rapeseed oils, hydrolysis was best applied in crude post-expelled rapeseed oils with high phenolic content.     

感官评定方法确定麻竹笋苦涩味物质成分及与口感的关系

通过分析测定麻竹笋苦涩味物质含量与感官评定方法确定竹笋苦涩味物质成分及与口感的关系。麻竹鲜笋在100℃纯净水中分别进行0、30、90、150 s和420 s 5个时间梯度水煮处理,并测定煮后笋汤、笋渣的可溶性单宁、草酸和游离苦味氨基酸(Phe、Val、Arg、Met和Leu)含量,感官评定小组对其涩味、苦味强度评定,并通过对食品级草酸、单宁标准样品配制的不同质量浓度溶液进行苦涩味感官评定,建立单宁、草酸、单宁和草酸混合液的质量浓度与滋味强度的特征曲线函数。结果表明,影响麻竹笋苦涩味的主要物质是可溶性单宁,竹笋苦味和涩味均与单宁含量呈极显著关系,相关系数分别达0.896和0.867;竹笋涩味与草酸含量呈显著关系,相关系数为0.448,而竹笋苦味与草酸含量无显著关系;竹笋苦涩味与游离苦味氨基酸含量均无显著关系。利用单宁特征曲线函数对竹笋苦涩味偏重的成因进行了分析,对9个笋渣、笋汤的分析结果表明,单宁特征曲线函数对竹笋涩味的解释程度达60.6%~136.4%,对竹笋苦味的解释程度达63.4%~132.0%,较高的可溶性单宁含量是引起麻竹笋苦涩味偏重的主要原因。     

Red Wine and Model Wine Astringency as Affected by Malic and Lactic Acid

Red wines and model solutions containing grape seed phenols were assessed for perceived astringency, bitterness and sourness by a panel of trained assessors using time-intensity (T–I) methodology. The effect of lactic and malic acid on perception of these attributes was evaluated at two pH values, by adding different amounts of acids. Maximum intensity (I_max) and total duration (T_tot) of astringency increased with decreasing pH in model solutions and red wine, but no differences were found between malic and lactic acid on perception of astringency. The pH and the acid type did not affect any of the bitterness T-I parameters. However, sourness showed an increase in 1_max and T_tot with decreasing pH.     

Sensory evaluation of bitterness and astringency of 3R(−)-epicatechin and 3S(+)-catechin

Bitterness and astringency of the monomeric flavan-3-o!s ( + )-catechin and (?)-epicatechin were rated using time-intensity (T-I) methodology. Three concentration levels (0.5. 0.9 and 1.2 g liter^?1) oi each compound were assessed, and the parameters time to maximum intensity (TMAX), intensity at the maximum (IMAX) and total duration (TTOT) were extracted from the T-I curves. No differences in TMAX for either bitterness or astringency were found between these chiral isomers or as a function of concentration within a compound. Epicatechin had a significantly higher bitter IMAX than catechin at all three concentration levels, and had a significantly longer TTOT at the two higher concentrations. Epicatechin was more astringent than catechin. but this was only significant at one concentration. Astringency TTOT was longer for epicatechin, although this was nonsignificant at the lowest concentration. The three concentrations of catechin were significantly different for both bitterness and astringency IMAX and TTOT. Epicatechin showed evidence for the astringency response plateauing above the 0.9 g litre^?1 level. n-Propylthiouracil status had no effect on perception of either bitterness or astringency.     

Impact of apple procyanidins on sensory perception in model cider (part 1): Polymerisation degree and concentration

The impact of the degree of polymerization and of the concentration of procyanidins in a model solution of French cider was investigated. Four purified fractions of procyanidins at three concentrations were added in a solution containing water, ethanol, fructose and malic acid. The four studied sensory characteristics (bitterness, astringency, sweetness and sourness) were modified according to the concentration of procyanidins. The degree of polymerization (DP) of procyanidins influenced only bitterness and astringency but this impact was not the same for all concentrations. Despite the fact that pH, fructose and malic acid concentrations were the same in all samples, the perception of sweetness and sourness were modified according to the concentration of procyanidins.     

The phenolics of ciders: Bitterness and astringency

The bitterness and astringency of defined procyanidin fractions from bittersweet English ciders were assessed using a paired-comparison tasting technique. The results demonstrate that, while no one procyanidin can be uniquely identified with bitterness or astringency, bitterness is associated with oligomeric procyanidins reaching a maximum with the epicatechin tetramer whereas astringency is characteristic of higher-molecular-weight procyanidins. The effect of presentation media on taste response was also studied. High sugar and buffer strength suppressed the perceived bitterness, whereas ethanol increased bitterness but simultaneously decreased astringency. It is shown that the observed taste differences between two bittersweet ciders and the taste-modifying effect of ethanol can be explained satisfactorily by current theories of taste.     

Application of the dual attribute time‐intensity (DATI) sensory method to the temporal measurement of bitterness and astringency in sorghum

Bitterness and astringency are attributes generally cited as the cause of tannin sorghums being unpalatable. The objective here was to determine the effect of sorghums with varying tannin content on bitterness and astringency simultaneously using dual attribute time‐intensity (DATI). A trained panel assessed bitterness and astringency of bran infusions of tannin and tannin‐free sorghums. In both sorghum types, bitterness developed and reached maximum intensity faster (T_max 22.5 s; P < 0.001) than astringency (27.9 s). The duration of the astringent sensation (D_tot 69.9 s) lasted longer than bitterness (66.3 s). Overall, the temporal parameters for bitterness distinguished infusions from tannin and tannin‐free sorghums slightly more clearly than those for astringency. The research established that, for sorghum, bitterness and astringency are related. The DATI method also revealed that panellists’ perceptions of the time course of bitterness and astringency differ.     

油菜籽中多酚的分布及加工过程对菜籽多酚含量的影响

对油菜籽壳粕和脱壳后的菜籽肉粕中提取液的总酚含量、对DPPH 自由基清除能力以及FRAP 抗氧化能力进行比较,并采用液质联用法对提取液中的主要成分进行鉴定,对其中的芥子酸和芥子碱进行定量分析。结果表明：菜籽肉粕提取液中的总酚含量、对DPPH 自由基清除能力以及FRAP 抗氧化能力约为菜籽壳粕中的两倍,芥子酸和芥子碱的含量分别为菜籽壳粕中的约2.5 倍和1.5 倍。通过对实验室溶剂除油的菜籽粕与工业高温粕比较发现,高温榨油过程会使菜籽的总酚含量、抗氧化性、芥子酸和芥子碱含量有所下降,其中总酚含量下降了12.06%,DPPH 自由基和FRAP 抗氧化值分别降低10.0% 和5.6%,芥子酸和芥子碱含量分别下降了5.6% 和21.12%。     

Sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose and other sweeteners

The present study investigated the sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose, an emerging natural low-calorie sweetener with various functional properties, compared to other sweeteners (sucrose, sucralose, erythritol, rebaudioside A), over a wide range of sweetness commonly found in foods and beverages (3% to 20% sucrose [w/v]). A total of 34 subjects evaluated aqueous solutions of the 5 sweeteners for the perceived intensities of sweetness, bitterness, astringency, chemical-like sensations, and sweet aftertaste, using the general version of the Labeled Magnitude Scale. The relationship between the physical concentrations of the sweeteners and their perceived sweetness (that is, psychophysical functions) was derived to quantify the relative sweetness and potency of the sweeteners. The results suggest that tagatose elicits a sweet taste without undesirable qualities (bitterness, astringency, chemical-like sensations). Out of the 5 sweeteners tested, rebaudioside A was the only sweetener with notable bitterness and chemical-like sensations, which became progressively intense with increasing concentration (P < 0.001). In terms of perceived sweetness intensity, the bulk sweeteners (tagatose, erythritol, sucrose) had similar sweetness growth rates (slopes > 1), whereas the high-potency sweeteners (sucralose, rebaudioside A) yielded much flatter sweetness functions (slopes < 1). Because the sweetness of tagatose and sucrose grew at near-identical rates (slope = 1.41 and 1.40, respectively), tagatose produced about the same relative sweetness to sucrose across the concentrations tested. However, the relative sweetness of other sweeteners to sucrose was highly concentration dependent. Consequently, sweetness potencies of other sweeteners varied across the concentrations tested, ranging from 0.50 to 0.78 for erythritol, 220 to 1900 for sucralose, and 300 to 440 for rebaudioside A, while tagatose was estimated to be approximately 0.90 times as potent as sucrose irrespective of concentration. Practical Application: The present study investigated the sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose, an emerging natural low-calorie sweetener, compared to other sweeteners. Study results suggest that tagatose elicits a sweet taste without undesirable qualities over a wide range of concentrations. Tagatose produced about the same relative sweetness to sucrose across the concentrations tested, while the relative sweetness of other sweeteners was highly concentration dependent. The present data provide a general guideline when considering the use of tagatose and other sweeteners in foods and beverages.     

Caffeine metabolism rate influences coffee perception,preferences and intake

Several factors – genetic, demographic and environmental – contribute to individual differences in sensitivity to the pharmacological effects of caffeine. Caffeine metabolism influences coffee consumption, but its effect on bitterness perception in, and preference for, coffee is unknown.This study explores the possible relationship between caffeine metabolism rate and coffee preferences and consumption habits. In addition, the extent to which caffeine metabolism interacted with variations in bitterness perception was investigated. Caffeine metabolism rate was assayed by competitive immuno-enzymatic assay in one-hundred thirty-five coffee consumers who provided saliva samples after 12 h caffeine abstinence and at 30 and 90 min after ingestion of caffeine (100 mg). A caffeine metabolism index (CmI) was computed as the ratio between the amount of residual caffeine in saliva 60 min after the adsorption peak and the amount of caffeine at the adsorption peak corrected with the baseline. Ninety-one subjects were selected to investigate the relationships between inter-individual variation in caffeine metabolism, bitterness perception and coffee preference. Subjects rated liking for, and sourness, bitterness and astringency of, six unsweetened and freely sweetened coffee samples varying in roasting degree, caffeine content and bitterness. They also rated the bitterness of six caffeine and six quinine (equi-intense) solutions. Finally, subjects choose coffee to drink on the basis of a label (strong vs balanced flavor) both after caffeine abstinence and after no restrictions on caffeine intake. The CmI was strongly associated with the frequency of daily coffee consumption. Subjects with lower CmI gave higher bitterness ratings than other subjects for both coffee and caffeine solutions, but not for quinine solutions. They also added more sugar to the coffee samples. Following caffeine abstinence, all subjects chose the “strong flavor” coffee, while without caffeine restrictions, subjects with lower CmI preferentially tended to choose the “balanced flavor” coffee. These results provide the first link between caffeine metabolism and bitterness perception, and to the use of sugar to modify coffee bitterness.     

不同抑制剂对苦瓜粉味觉的修饰效果

以苦瓜粉浸泡液为对象,分别添加乳酸锌、新甲基橙皮苷二氢查尔酮、γ-氨基丁酸、酪朊酸钠、全脂乳粉、阿魏酸、聚葡萄糖、三氯蔗糖、新地奥明、单磷酸腺苷,采用感官评定结合标签量值评估（general labeled magnitude scale,gLMS）法评价不同抑制剂对苦瓜粉浸泡液苦味、后苦味、甜味、后甜味、涩味以及特征风味的影响;通过模糊评判筛选抑制效果最佳的3?种抑制剂进行正交试验,评价复合抑制剂对苦瓜粉浸泡液苦味及后苦味的影响。结果表明,10?种抑制剂对苦瓜粉浸泡液的苦味、后苦味、涩味均有显著抑制作用。其中新甲基橙皮苷二氢查尔酮对苦味、后苦味抑制作用最强;乳酸锌对后苦味、γ-氨基丁酸对苦味也有较好的抑制作用;酪朊酸钠对涩味的抑制作用最为明显;三氯蔗糖、聚葡萄糖、酪朊酸钠、全脂乳粉会增加整个体系的甜味及后甜味。以乳酸锌、新甲基橙皮苷二氢查耳酮、γ-氨基丁酸3?种抑制剂进行正交试验,结果表明1?g苦瓜粉添加0.60?mg新甲基橙皮苷二氢查耳酮、3.98?mg?γ-氨基丁酸、4.46?mg乳酸锌时,苦瓜粉浸泡液苦味和后苦味可以从明显降低到基本察觉不到,且苦瓜特征风味保留较好,无其他异味存在。     

Effects of viscosity on the bitterness and astringency of grape seed tannin

To examine the separate effects of viscosity and sweetness on astringency, aqueous solutions of grape seed tannin (GST) were thickened with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from 2 to 45 cP (experiment 1) or sweetened with 0 to 1.8 g/L aspartame (experiment 2). Trained subjects continuously rated astringency and bitterness in duplicate. Subjects were categorized by the salivary flow induced by citric acid and ability to taste n-propyl thiouracil (PROP). In experiment 1, maximum intensity and total duration of astringency were significantly decreased as viscosity rose, although time to maximum intensity of astringency was not affected. Maximum intensity and total duration of bitterness were not significantly affected by increasing viscosity; however, the onset of bitterness was significantly delayed. In experiment 2, increasing sweetness had no affect on any astringency parameter, although maximum intensity of bitterness was significantly decreased. Neither PROP nor salivary flow-status had any effect on perception of bitterness or astringency in either experiment.     

不同产地无糖绿茶饮料滋味特征差异分析

对市售不同产地无糖绿茶饮料滋味品质及其化学成分进行分析比较,以期明确无糖绿茶饮料中的主要滋味物质,探究不同产地绿茶饮料间滋味特征的差异性。结果表明,不同产地绿茶饮料的滋味因子和色差差异不明显,其中日本绿茶饮料的整体滋味品质较优。日本和中国台湾绿茶饮料中茶多酚、咖啡碱、黄酮、可溶性糖质量浓度和儿茶素总量、黄酮苷总量、阳离子总量都明显高于中国大陆绿茶饮料。有13 种化学组分与感官评分相关性较高,其中茶多酚（0.910）、黄酮（0.917）、Mn2＋（0.912）质量浓度与绿茶饮料滋味浓度呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）;咖啡碱（0.830）质量浓度与绿茶饮料滋味苦度呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）;牡荆素-2’’-O-鼠李糖苷（Vit-rha）（0.862）、Al3＋（0.811）质量浓度与绿茶饮料滋味涩度呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）。滋味贡献度（dove-over-threshold,Dot）分析发现黄酮及其苷元对无糖绿茶饮料涩味起主要贡献,包括槲皮素-3-O-芸香糖苷（Que-rut）、山柰酚-3-O-芸香糖苷、槲皮素-3-O-半乳糖苷、槲皮素-3-O-葡萄糖苷、杨梅素-3-O-半乳糖苷、Vit-rha,其中Que-rut的Dot值最高;咖啡碱对无糖绿茶饮料苦味起主要贡献。     

Taste interaction of ethyl alcohol with sweet, salty, sour and bitter compounds

The influence of ethyl alcohol in concentrations ranging from 4 to 24%, on the perceived taste intensities of sucrose, citric acid, quinine, and sodium chloride was determined by 24 subjects. A paired comparison method was used in which subjects selected the sample with the greater taste intensity (sweetness, sourness, bitterness or saltiness) as well as rating the intensity on a 13-point scale. The alcohol generally enhanced the sweetness of sucrose, with results varying slightly according to the subjects' task. The sourness of citric acid, and the saltiness of sodium chloride at all but the lowest concentration, were depressed by increasing additions of alcohol. Alcohol significantly enhanced the bitterness of quinine at all four concentrations. Although these results disagree with previously reported electrophysiological measurements on alcohol-quinine mixtures, they were internally consistent, and meaningful in terms of alcoholic beverage consumption behaviour.     

The effectiveness of palate cleansing strategies for evaluating the bitterness of caffeine in cream cheese

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of seven methods used to cleanse the palate including: water, sparkling water, carrots, crackers, plain cream cheese, and rinsing six times or not at all before evaluations. Twenty subjects rated the bitterness intensity of cream cheese samples varying in caffeine content. Each participant completed seven sessions, using a different palate cleanser in each session. We found no differences in the effectiveness of these palate-cleansing strategies for their ability to control adaptation and build-up, or for their ability to increase panelists' discrimination among samples. Rinsing with sparkling water depressed the perceived bitterness at all levels of caffeine.     

The occurrence and characterisation of phenolic compounds in Camelina sativa seed, cake and oil

In this study, the antioxidant activities of Camelina sativa methanolic extracts were evaluated by different chemical assays: reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) assay, the β-carotene bleaching method and the metal chelating activity assay. An LC-MS profiling method was used for a comprehensive study of the phenolic compounds and their representation in camelina seeds, cake and oil. For this purpose, 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids were synthesized by thermal decarboxylation of the corresponding phenolic acids and sinapine was isolated from kale (Brassica oleracea) applying a new method and confirmed by NMR. The results revealed that besides the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, seeds and cake also possess a similar phenolic profile. In addition to sinapine and 4-vinyl derivatives, other antioxidants were successfully identified: ellagic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, sinapic acid, salicylic acid, catechin, rutin, quercetin and quercetin glucoside. Since after oil pressing most of the phenolic compounds remain in the seed residues, only a few compounds were identified in the oil. Camelina cake was found to have the best reducing power and radical scavenging activity, whereas camelina oil, with a relatively low phenolic content, exhibited the highest iron-chelating capacity and the best inhibitory action against β-carotene discolouration in an emulsified system.