Characterisation of phenolic acids,flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and antioxidant activity of water extracts from seed coats of marama bean [Tylosema esculentum] – an underutilised food legume

Freeze‐dried aqueous phenolic extracts with possible application as natural antioxidant functional food ingredients were prepared from marama bean seed coats by extracting with water. Phenolic acids, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins in the extracts were characterised by HPLC/MS. The major flavonoids were the flavanols methyl (epi)afzelechin‐3‐O‐gallate (40%) and methyl (epi)catechin‐3‐O‐gallate (28%), and the major phenolic acid was gallic acid (10%). Proanthocyanidins in the extracts were predominantly prodelphinidins composed of epicatechin‐3‐O‐gallate and epigallocatechin present as major terminal and extension units and epigallocatechin‐3‐O‐gallate and epicatechin present as minor extension unit constituents. The polymer structure was found to be unique compared with other legumes because of the high percentage of galloylated units. Extracts showed a high DPPH free radical scavenging activity (707 μmol TE g^?1), protective effect against AAPH‐induced human red blood cell haemolysis and copper‐catalysed human LDL oxidation suggesting that the extracts may have potential health benefits.     

Optimising the extraction of tea polyphenols, (−)‐epigallocatechin gallate and theanine from summer green tea by using response surface methodology

In this study, response surface methodology was applied to determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of tea polyphenols, EGCG and theanine from summer green tea. As results, the optimal extraction conditions were determined to be temperature 96 °C, time 40 min and ratio of water to raw material 16 mL g^?1. Under these optimal conditions, the experimental values for tea polyphenols, EGCG, theanine and IC₅₀ for DPPH free radical scavenging activity were 133.41 ± 3.12 mg gallic acid g^?1, 30.23 ± 1.22, 3.99 ± 1.13 mg g^?1 and 724.95 ± 15.12 μg mL^?1, respectively. There was no statistical difference at significant level of 0.05 between the experimental and predicted values. The results suggested that the regression models were accurate and adequate for the bioactives extraction from summer green tea.     

Drying kinetics,physico‐chemical properties,antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of foam‐mat dried germinated rice bean (Vigna umbellata) hydrolysate

This research was aimed to study physico‐chemical properties and antioxidant activities of foam‐mat dried germinated rice bean (Vigna umbellata) hydrolysate. Germination led to an increase in released phenolic content and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP) of rice bean hydrolysate. The hydrolysate obtained from germinated rice bean (GRB) and non‐germinated rice beans (NGRBs) was foam‐mat dried at 60 and 70 °C. Semi‐theoretical and empirical model could suitably describe the drying characteristic of foamed bean hydrolysate. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of foam‐mat dried samples decreased with increasing air‐drying temperature (P ≤ 0.05). Gallic acid, catechol and epicatechin were major phenolic compounds in foam‐mat dried samples prepared from both GRB and NGRB. The higher phenolic content and antioxidant activities were found in foam‐mat dried hydrolysate of GRB. Electron spin resonance spectrometry revealed that foam‐mat dried rice bean hydrolysate showed a strong ability to scavenge free radicals, especially carbon‐centred radicals.     

Green recovery of phenolic compounds from rice byproduct (rice bran) using glycerol based on viscosity,conductivity and density

Rice bran, the industry byproduct, contains high levels of phenolic compounds. Based on glycerol, a green recovery of phenolics from rice bran was proposed. Extraction temperature (X₁), glycerol concentration (X₂) and liquid-to-solid ratio (X₃) were optimised by response surface methodology. Basic physical properties, that is, viscosity, conductivity, density were analysed and UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS method was applied for phenolic identification. Results showed the optimum conditions were X₁ = 66.76 °C, X₂ = 19.47% and X₃ = 32.92 mL g⁻¹. Under these conditions, the recovery yield in total polyphenols was 708.58 ± 12.36 mg GAE/100 g DW. Moreover, the recovery capacity of phenolic compounds was significantly correlated with viscosity, conductivity and density of glycerol solution. Under the optimal conditions, totals of thirteen phenolic compounds were identified and phenolic acids (4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, 4-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and salicylic acid) were quantified. These results demonstrate glycerol can serve as an ideal green solvent to recover phenolic compounds from rice bran.     

Metabolic pathways of the colonic metabolism of flavonoids (flavonols,flavones and flavanones) and phenolic acids

Flavonoids are metabolized by the gut microflora giving rise to a wide range of phenolic acids that may exert systemic effects in the body. Nevertheless, the colonic metabolism pathways and the function of the metabolites formed are poorly studied. In the present study, the individual colonic metabolism of three subclasses of flavonoids (flavonols, flavones and flavanones) and phenolic acids was evaluated. For this, seven standards of flavonoids (quercetin, quercetin–rhamnoside, quercetin–rutinoside, myricetin, luteolin, naringenin and kaempferol–rutinoside) and two phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid and gallic acid) were submitted to an in vitro fermentation model using rat colonic microflora. Simultaneously, a nuts–cocoa cream enriched with these standards of flavonoids was incubated and the colonic metabolism of these compounds was evaluated. The results showed that the greatest number of colonic metabolites came from the fermentation of quercetin and quercetin–rhamnoside, and the maximum concentration of fermentation products was observed after 48 h of fermentation. On the other hand, a smaller number of fermentation products were observed after the colonic fermentation of kaempferol–rutinoside, naringenin, luteolin and myricetin. The phenolic acids were slightly metabolized by the colonic microflora.     

Cytoprotective and antioxidant activity of free,conjugated and insoluble-bound phenolic acids from swallow root (Decalepis hamiltonii)

Swallow root (Decalepis hamiltonii) was extracted for free (SRFP), conjugated (SRCP) and insoluble-bound phenolic acids (SRIBP), and evaluated for cytoprotectivity, 1,1,diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, reducing power and protection to DNA damage. In addition, the constituent phenolic acids in the extracts were also analysed. Results indicated a total phenol content of 20.72, 7.97 and 11.52 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g for SRFP, SRCP and SRIBP extracts, respectively. At 0.12 μg/mL concentration SRCP showed 87% cytoprotection (on NIH 3T3 cells) compared to SRFP (47%) and SRIBP (65%). DPPH radical scavenging activity indicated an IC₅₀ of 0.046, 0.06 and 0.128 μg/mL for SRCP, SRIBP and SRFP, respectively. Also, SRCP showed higher reducing power and DNA protectivity (80%). HPLC analysis of phenolic acid extracts showed the presence of hydroxybenzoate and cinnamate derivatives. Among the phenolics identified gallic, gentisic, protocatechuic and p-coumaric acids were the major contributors to antioxidant activity.     

Effect of packaging materials and storage time on changes of colour,phenolic content,chlorogenic acid and antioxidant activity in arabica green coffee beans (Coffea arabica L. cv. Catimor)

The conditions and storage time of green coffee beans are very important for the commercial quality of coffee. This includes factors such as light, humidity and temperature in the warehouse and also the packaging material used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of type of packaging materials namely high density polyethylene (HDPE) bag and jute sack on moisture content, colour, phenolic contents, chlorogenic acids content and antioxidant activity of Arabica green coffee bean during 15 months of storage. The results show that HDPE bag can preserve the moisture content, colour and chlorogenic acid in green coffee beans (GCB) better than a jute sack during storage. No significant difference of phenolics content in green coffee beans was observed during 4 months of storage in both types of packaging. During initial 10 months of storage the antioxidant activity of GCB stored in HDPE showed higher values than that of GCB stored in jute sack. However, after 1 year of storage, the phenolics content and antioxidant activity in GCB in a jute sack were higher than in HDPE bag. The fluctuation of moisture content could lead to stress condition of green coffee bean and contributing to forming of bioactive compounds. This finding was observed and need further investigation.     

Biotransformation of phenolics (isoflavones,flavanols and phenolic acids) during the fermentation of cheonggukjang by Bacillus pumilus HY1

Changes in β-glycosidase, esterase activities, isoflavone, flavanols and phenolic acid during the fermentation of Korean whole soybean fermented food cheonggukjang by Bacillus pumilus HY1 were investigated. The levels of aglycones, flavanols and gallic acid increased, while the β-glucosidase activity, esterase activity, glycosides content (except for acetylglycosides) and flavanol gallates decreased. Total isoflavone content slightly decreased after 60 h of fermentation, while total flavanol and phenolic acid content increased. The highest levels of daidzein (aglycone type) and acetyldaidzin (glycoside type) were recorded after 48 h of fermentation. The levels of catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid also increased during fermentation. However, total contents of glycosides, malonylglycosides and flavanol gallates decreased by about 80%, 90% and 60% during 60 h of fermentation, respectively. In addition, total phenolic content increased markedly during fermentation, while levels of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity increased. Hence, it would be beneficial for the food industry if components of cheonggukjang could be separated and developed into functional products.     

Identification,characterisation, and quantification of phenolic compounds in the antioxidant activity-containing fraction from the seeds of Korean perilla (Perilla frutescens) cultivars

The present research was the first to investigate phenolic compound profiles and antioxidant properties in the seeds of various perilla (Perilla frutescens) cultivars. The 80% methanol extract (50 μg/ml) of this species showed potent antioxidant activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals. Phenolic compounds were characterised by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector and electrospray ionisation/mass (UPLC-PDA-ESI/MS) analysis. Nine compounds were elucidated as caffeic acid-3-O-glucoside (1), caffeic acid (2), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (3), apigenin-7-O-glucoside (4), rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucoside (5), rosmarinic acid (6), luteolin (7), apigenin (8), and chrysoeriol (9). The individual and total phenolic contents were remarkably different, especially rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucoside (5) and rosmarinic acid (6) which were the predominant compounds (>95%) in all perilla cultivars. Additionally, Yeupsil cultivar exhibited the highest phenolic content (5029.0 μg/g) and antioxidant activity, whereas the lowest was shown by Dasil (2138.7 μg/g). Therefore, these results suggest that antioxidant effects of perilla seeds are correlated with phenolic contents.     

Varietal differences among the phenolic profiles and antioxidant properties of four cultivars of spine grape (Vitis davidii Foex) in Chongyi County (China)

Spine grape (Vitis davidii Foex) is an important wild plant species in South China. To provide sufficient experimental evidence for the strong antioxidant activity of spine grapes, four cultivars from Chongyi County, China, including three red varieties (Junzi #1, Junzi #2, and Liantang) and one white variety (Baiyu) were evaluated. The Junzi #1 had the highest phenolic content (total phenolic, flavonoids, flavanols, and anthocyanins) and the strongest antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical-scavenging capacity, cupric-reducing capacity and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity) among the four varieties. HPLC analysis of spine grapes revealed that the (+)-catechin was the most abundant phenolics and the hydroxycinnamic acids were the major phenolic acids in the four varieties. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the Junzi #1 belongs to the group with high phenolic content and strong antioxidant power. The results suggest the Junzi #1 has the best health promoting properties, and the higher utilization value and potential for development.