Physicochemical properties of cell wall materials from apple, kiwifruit and tomato

Cell wall materials (CWMs) were isolated from the fruit of ripe apple, kiwifruit and tomato using methods of isolation which maximised the water retaining capacity and viscosity generating properties of the CWMs. Aqueous suspensions of all three CWMs were able to form a gel-like matrix at a concentration of 1%. There was a dramatic enhancement in gel firmness of kiwifruit and tomato following a high shear treatment, but no such effect was apparent with apple CWM. Confocal microscopy showed that the shear-induced increase in viscosity was accompanied by fragmentation of the CWMs of kiwifruit and tomato which increased the available surface area for particle–particle and/or particle–solvent interaction. The viscosity of kiwifruit and tomato CWM dispersions was reduced in the presence of electrolytes indicating an important role for the double electrical layer in the gelling properties of the CWMs. The viscosifying properties of apple CWM were however independent of both shear and added electrolyte. This was attributed to the fact that CWM from apple resisted breakup under high shear. The greater connective integrity of the apple cell walls compared to that of kiwifruit and tomato is discussed in relation to differences in ripening induced changes to the pectic polysaccharides of the cell walls.     

Effects of air-drying temperature on the cell walls of kiwifruit processed at different stages of ripening

The effects of air-drying temperature on the cell wall components of three sets of fresh kiwifruits at different degrees of ripening, unripe, half-ripe and ripe samples, have been evaluated. The modifications affecting the physico-chemical properties of cell wall polysaccharides were largely dependent, not only on the air-drying temperature used (from 30 °C to 90 °C), but also on the initial stage of ripening of the processed kiwifruits. Thus, whereas in comparison with the fresh fruits, dehydrated unripe and half-ripe kiwifruits maintained their overall cell wall composition better, processed ripe kiwifruits seemed to be more sensitive to cell wall degradation/solubilisation. In fact, important losses of cell wall material (CWM), mainly pectins and, also, hemicelluloses, were detected in the riper kiwifruits when these samples were dehydrated at high temperature (up to 30% CWM losses when drying was carried out at 90 °C). Heating also promoted considerable modifications of the degree of methyl-esterification (DME) of pectins. In general, an increase in the DME corresponded to an increase in the degree of ripening of the processed samples, suggesting that methylated pectins exhibited a higher resistance to the degradation/solubilisation caused by heating. All these changes in composition were clearly reflected in the solubility and functional properties (FP) of processed CWMs. Hydration properties, swelling and water retention, and, in particular, the capacity to absorb lipids, were modified after processing. In general, CWMs from processed half-ripe kiwifruits exhibited the highest FP values. Overall, the study clearly reflects the importance of taking into consideration the stage of ripening of fruits in order to determine the final quality of CWMs, and therefore, the properties of the dietary fibre (DF) which could be obtained from processed kiwifruit samples.     

Effect of temperature on the cell wall composition of raisins during storage under a modified atmosphere

 Raisins obtained from seedless grapes ("Flame" variety) were kept under a modified atmosphere (MA) composed of CO₂ (60%) and N₂ (40%), and stored at 10  °C (10MA), 20  °C (20MA), 30  °C (30MA) and 40  °C (40MA). An additional sample was stored under air at 20  °C (20A). Colour, and changes in cell wall components were monitored during storage. At the end of the storage period, the 40MA and 20A samples showed a significant decrease (∼18–19%) in the yield of cell wall material (CWM), whereas less than 6% of CWM had been degraded in the 10MA sample. The decrease in CWM was mainly due to pectic polysaccharide degradation, although for 20A and 40MA samples, hemicelluloses were also affected. Throughout storage, 10MA, 20MA and 30MA samples exhibited similar CWM solubility; however, that of the 40MA sample underwent a significant decrease, from 10% to 4.5%, probably due to the formation of new pectic chains of higher molecular weight. In contrast, the CWM solubility of sample 20A increased from 10% to 15%, suggesting that MA may have promoted the inhibition of pectic-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. In general, the combined use of relatively low temperatures and a MA helped to preserve both the colour of raisins and maintain the levels of their CWMs at values similar to initial concentrations. Received: 5 October 1998     

The isolation and analysis of cell wall material from the alcohol-insoluble residue of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Cell wall material (CWM) was isolated from the wet ball-milled alcohol-insoluble residue of cabbage by treatment with Pronase, phenol-acetic acid-water and 90% aqueous dimethyl sulphoxide to remove precipitated proteins, starch and other intracellular compounds. Some solubilisation (mainly of pectic material) occurred during the purification stages. Methylation analysis of the cold water-soluble polysaccharides showed that the main neutral glycosidic linkages in descending order of concentration, were: non-reducing terminal arabinose groups, 5-linked arabinose and 4-linked galactose. The CWM contained a high level of arabinose-containing pectic polysaccharides. The main linkages present in the non-cellulosic polysaccharides were 4-linked galacturonic acid, non-reducing terminal arabinose groups and 5-linked arabinose; doubly branched arabinose residues were also present. Sequential extraction of the CWM by aqueous inorganic solvents yielded further information on the types of polysaccharides present. The general structural features of the CWM are discussed in the light of these results.     

The influence of the pre-treatment of apple cell wall samples on their functional properties

Apple cell wall materials (CWMs) exhibiting different degrees of cell wall degradation were prepared by the application of maceration and liquefaction enzymes (control sample without treatment), and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. Different methods were used for the determination of the water binding behaviour and the rheological properties. It was found that the standardized analysis methods gave results of limited correctness depending on the sample type and on the sample pre-treatment. Aggregates, formed during the drying of apple CWM that was treated with liquefaction enzyme, could be re-dissolved by mechanical stress (stirring) during rehydration. The stirring improved the detected functional properties (water binding and rheology) of the material to a great extent. It has to be realized that the analysis methods including the sample pre-treatment have to be adapted to the type of sample material. Furthermore the investigations showed that the water binding properties of CWMs do not simply correlate with separate parameters such as porosity, pectin content or the remaining natural grown cell structure. Probably, the functional properties are influenced mutually and multivariately by many material attributes.     

Apple pomace liquefaction with pectinases and cellulases:analytical data of the corresponding juices

Apple juices were produced by way of a two-stage process consisting of traditional enzyme treatment of the mash with pectinases for the premium juices and pomace liquefaction with different pectinases and cellulases for the extraction juices. Premium and extraction juices were analysed separately. Calculated to an equal juice strength of 12° Brix, there was an increase of D-galacturonic acid and cellubiose in the extraction juices. Released galacturonic acid from cell wall material was found at levels ranging from 107 mg/l to 1239 mg/l. This was an essential contribution to the total titrable acid of the extraction juices. The sum of phenolic substances determined by high performance liquid chromatography was significantly higher in all the extraction juices than in the corresponding premium juices. Among the phenolics, the dihydrochalcone phloretin 2′-glucoside (92–110 mg/l) showed an increase of 4 to 5 times the concentration in the respective premium juices. Quercetin derivatives were mainly present in the extraction juices; here the values were between 32 mg/l and 38 mg/l. Under the influence of strong pectolytic or cellulolytic enzyme activities, oligo- and polysaccharides are released from the apple cell wall material, resulting in colloid concentrations of up to 15 g/l in the extraction juices. High concentrations of polyphenols and pectic polysaccharides can lead to technological problems. However, pomace liquefaction may also turn out to be suitable for obtaining value-added foods. In respect to nutritional aspects, enzymatic treatment of pomace offers the opportunity of releasing apple polyphenols and polysaccharides contained in the pomace to a greater extent and obtaining them preparatively. Received: 2 December 1999     

Extraction of pectic polysaccharides from sugar‐beet cell walls

Previous methods of extracting pectin from sugar‐beet have used pulp as the starting material. As the temperature and pressure of the pulping process may modify the architecture of the cell wall, we have adapted a relatively non‐disruptive method to characterise cell wall material (CWM) isolated directly from the sugar‐beet. Cell walls from mature sugar‐beets (Beta vulgaris L Aztec) were sequentially extracted four times with imidazole and twice with sodium carbonate to produce six heterogeneous pectic polysaccharide extracts, and with KOH to produce a hemicellulosic extract which was predominantly xylans. Heterogeneity of the extracted pectins was indicated by differences in FTIR spectra, uronic acid content, % methyl esterification, % feruloylation, % acetylation, molecular weight distribution and neutral sugar composition. The highest proportion of feruloyl esters was found in polysaccharides solubilised by the second sodium carbonate extraction. Anion exchange chromatography of these polysaccharides gave three fractions, one of which contained most of the feruloyl ester. These results indicate that feruloyl esters are not randomly distributed among the different pectic polysaccharides in the sugar‐beet cell wall, and that esterification is likely to be dependent on the local sugar sequence or conformation. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

SOLUBILIZATION OF CELL WALLS BY TOMATO POLYGALACTURONASES: EFFECTS OF PECTINESTERASES

The susceptibility of isolated cell walls to solubilization by polygalacturonase and the effect of pectinesterase on the solubilization were examined. The two polygalacturonases in ripe tomatoes were purified to remove pectinesterase. Both polygalacturonases solubilized uronic acid from pectinesterase-free tomato cell walls most rapidly at about pH 3.5, well below p H 4.5, the pH optimum for their hydrolysis of pectic acid. At p H 3.5, very low levels of pectinesterase increased cell wall solubilization by the polygalacturonases seueralfold, whereas high concentrations of pectinesterase completely inhibited solubilization. A t pH 5, pectinesterase also increased cell wall solubilization, but higher concentrations were required than at pH 3.5 and high levels were not inhibitory. The materials solubilized at pH 3.5 were galacturonan with a molecular weight of about 110,000 and two fractions of much higher molecular weights consisting primarily of neutral sugars. Galactose accounted for about two-thirds of the monosaccharides in the neutral polysaccharides.     

Characterisation of Rosa Mosqueta seeds: cell wall polysaccharide composition and light microscopy observations

The utilisation of enzymes for the extraction of vegetable oils from seeds has been a topic of growing interest in recent years. Knowledge of the cell wall polysaccharide composition is important to select the enzyme(s) necessary for the most effective degradation of the cell walls. The purpose of the present work is to characterise the seeds of Rosa Mosqueta (Rosa aff rubiginosa) by light microscopy (where several differential staining methods were applied to analyse the seed structure) and by the isolation of cell wall polysaccharide extracts. The mature seed of Rosa Mosqueta has a very thick and structurally complex seed coat comprising heavily lignified tissue. The embryo has two cell layers of remaining endosperm tissue (indicating that this is an exalbuminous seed), two voluminous cotyledons that contain the oil, and bundles of provascular tissues distributed perpendicularly to the transverse axis of the embryo. The major non‐cellulosic polysaccharides from the non‐lignified tissues are glucuronoxylans and pectic polysaccharides; glucans are also present in small amounts. The major non‐cellulosic polysaccharides from the lignified tissues are glucuronoxylans. Concerning the use of enzymes for oil extraction, microscopy and cell wall polysaccharide analysis showed that the use of pectic enzymes followed by a xylanase or a cellulase should be explored. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Non-starch polysaccharide compositions of rice grains with respect to rice variety and degree of milling

The chemical compositions of cell wall materials (CWM) in brown and milled rice were investigated using four rice varieties, Taichung Sen 10 (TCS10, indica), Tainung 67 (TNu67, japonica), Taichung Sen Waxy 1 (TCSW1, indica waxy), and Taichung Waxy 70 (TCW70, japonica waxy). The yield of CWM preparation, equivalent to total dietary fiber content, followed the order of TNu67 > TCS10 > the waxy cultivars. This order also held for the water solubility and pectic substance content of the CWM preparations and the compositional ratio of arabinose to xylose of all CWM samples. Comparatively, the nonwaxy CWM were rich in pectic substances and glucans; whereas the waxy CWM counterparts were dominant with hemicellulose plus cellulose and arabinoxylan-related polysaccharides. These results were more significant for the hot-water-soluble than insoluble parts and mainly dependent of rice variety rather than the degree of milling.     

Traditional and industrial oven-dry processing of olive fruits: influence on textural properties,cell wall polysaccharide composition,and enzymatic activity

The preparation of table olives according to the Italian traditional “Ferrandina” method (Fer) includes an initial blanching step of black Cassanese olives, followed by salting and oven-drying. Its industrial implementation, also called the “Sybaris” method (Syb), replaces the blanching procedure by cutting the olives followed by immersion in water. The measurement of tensile properties showed that the Fer processing increased the weakness, softness, and deformability of the skin and the flesh of olive fruits, while the flesh of the Syb fruits became stronger and stiffer. These differences are probably correlated to the degradation and/or reorganisation of cell wall polysaccharides in the fruits. The degradation of pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides in the Fer olives was inferred by their increased solubility in aqueous solutions. Contrarily, retention of pectic polysaccharides was observed in Syb olives. As no correlation was found between cell wall degrading enzymatic activities and cell wall polysaccharides extractability, it is probable that these modifications were driven by heat.     

Changes in cell wall pectin and pectinase activity in apple and tomato fruits during Penicillium expansum infection

Cell wall pectin degradation in apple and tomato fruit during infection by Penicillium expansum was investigated. In infected apple fruit, a significant decrease in the average molecular mass was observed in pectins extracted with CDTA and also in pectins extracted with Na₂CO₃. In tomato fruits, depolymerisation was also observed in both pectic fractions during infection, the major change being in the pectins extracted with Na₂CO₃. This pectin depolymerisation associated with P. expansum infection can be attributed to the action of pectinases; in apple fruit, a significant increase in polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase was observed in infected fruits, although in tomato fruit the only increase in enzymatic activity significantly related to the infection was in polygalacturonase. These differences between apple and tomato fruit during fungus infection could be related to differences in cell wall structure and composition and also to the specificity of P. expansum's infection spectrum in each case. In both cases, pectin depolymerisation might increase the porosity of the wall and allow increased access of fungus colonisation and facilitate the progress of the fungal infection. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of candying on cell wall polysaccharides of plums (Prunus domestica L.) and influence of cell wall enzymes

“Ameixa d’Elvas” is a candied plum (Prunus domestica L.) produced by a traditional process, using fruits of a specific ‘greengage’ variety, “Rainha Cláudia Verde”. The candying process consists of boiling the intact plums in water for 15 min and then putting them in sugar syrup, which is successively concentrated until 75 °Brix. Although a loss of intercellular adhesion of parenchyma cells after boiling is observed, candied plums are able to recover their cell-to-cell adhesion, giving a final tissue with a consistency similar to that observed for the fresh fruit. In order to explain this observation, cell wall polysaccharides of plums harvested in two orchards, Vila Viçosa (VV) and Cano (CA), from the same geographic region and at the same stage of ripening, were analysed fresh, boiled and candied. Plum cell walls are composed mainly of pectic polysaccharides and cellulose that, during the boiling step, are degraded and solubilised. Highly esterified pectic polysaccharides undergo gelation inside the fruits in the presence of sucrose, leading to the recovery of the fruit’s consistency. During the candying process diffusion of these methylesterified pectic polysaccharides to the sucrose syrup increase the syrup viscosity. The activity of pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, and cellulase of fresh fruits explains the observed higher extension of degradation of cell wall polysaccharides of the CA plum tissues after boiling. This higher degradation seems to prevent the complete recovery of the parenchyma cell structure, which was observed for the less degraded polysaccharides of VV plums.     

均质压力对番茄浆料粘度的影响

采用流变仪对番茄浆料的流变性质进行测定,研究均质压力对番茄浆料粘度的影响。结果表明:番茄浆料为假塑体系,其粘度随剪切速率的增加而迅速下降。番茄浆料的粘度随均质压力的增加而增加。均质处理会影响番茄浆颗粒的大小和分布、纤维物质的性状以及番茄固形物中果胶物质的释放量,影响由番茄浆颗粒(纤维物质)聚集所形成的网状结构。     

Naturally fermented black olives: Effect on cell wall polysaccharides and on enzyme activities of Taggiasca and Conservolea varieties

Black olives of Taggiasca (Ta) and Conservolea (Co) varieties were processed according to the Greek style method in order to investigate the effect of this type of table olive processing on cell wall composition. Naturally black processing involves the storage in brine of fully ripe olives for several months, allowing a spontaneous fermentation by a mixed flora followed by fermentation by the lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. The smaller fruits of Ta variety are richer in pectic polysaccharides, accounting for half of total cell wall polysaccharides (12 mg/fruit), whereas in Co they accounted for one third (23 mg/fruit). Fresh Co olives had higher proportion of glucuronoxylans and xyloglucans (33%), whereas these polysaccharides accounted for 22% in Ta. The processing did not cause significant variations in the cell wall polysaccharide composition of Ta fruits, although pectic polysaccharides became more soluble in aqueous solutions. Conversely, processed Co olives had slightly higher amounts of galacturonan-rich pectic polysaccharides than the unprocessed fruits, suggesting that the long stage in brine might have contributed to the stabilisation and/or the biosynthesis of new polysaccharides. The changes caused by processing on cell wall polysaccharides appear to be closely related to the activity and availability of cell wall degrading enzymes.     

Evaluation of the extraction efficiency for polyphenol extracts from by‐products of green kiwifruit juicing

The health benefits of fruits are attributable in part to their bioactive components such as phenolics and pectic polysaccharides. By‐products derived from kiwifruit processing can be a good source of such bioactive compounds. Extracts were produced using different concentrations of ethanol in water (0%, 30%, 50%, 74% and 96% v/v) from by‐products (skin, residue and pulp) of the green‐fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa‘Hayward’) juicing process. The amounts of phenolic compounds and uronic acid (UA) as well as the phenolic composition in each extract were determined. Results show that different by‐products contained different concentrations of phenolics and pectic polysaccharides. Based on total phenolic contents, 96% v/v ethanol appeared to be the best extraction medium. The 30% or 74% ethanolic dilution was the second best medium for phenolic extraction from skin and pulp/residue, respectively. Water was a good medium for extracting satisfactory quantities of phenolics as well as the highest concentration of pectic polysaccharides. Phenolic profiling by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect individual phenolic compounds in an extract. Results using HPLC showed that alkali pre‐treatment has improved the extraction efficiency of phenolics as a function of alkali concentration, fruit tissue type, extraction media, by‐product preparation method, and class of polyphenols. As a result more efficient methods for both extraction and characterisation of polyphenols could be evaluated.     

Mechanistic insight into common bean pectic polysaccharide changes during storage,soaking and thermal treatment in relation to the hard-to-cook defect

Different mechanisms responsible for the development of the hard-to-cook defect in common beans during storage, their soaking behavior and softening during thermal treatment have been previously suggested. However, these mechanisms have not been sufficiently confirmed by direct molecular evidence. This research aimed at gaining a detailed mechanistic insight into changes occurring in Canadian wonder bean pectic polysaccharides during storage, soaking and/or thermal treatment in different brine solutions in relation to the development and manifestation of the hard-to-cook (HTC) defect. Both fresh or easy-to-cook (ETC) and stored (HTC) bean samples were either soaked or soaked and thermally treated in demineralized water, solutions of Na₂CO₃ and CaCl₂ salts followed by extraction of cell wall materials. Pectic polysaccharide properties examined included sugar composition, degree of methylesterification (DM), extractability and molar mass (MM). The DM of pectin from ETC and HTC beans was similar but low (< 50%). Upon (pre)treatment in a Na₂CO₃ solution, solubilization of pectic polysaccharides, especially the strongly bound chelator- (CEP) and Na₂CO₃- (NEP) extractable pectins was enhanced leading to increased amounts of water extractable pectin (WEP). Also, there was a decrease in high MM polymers paralleled by an increase in β-elimination degradation products. These observations are in line with the fast cooking behavior of beans (pre)treated in a Na₂CO₃ solution. In contrast, (pre)treatment in a CaCl₂ solution hindered softening leading to the failure of the beans to cook. The beans (pre)treated in a CaCl₂ solution showed increased high MM polymers and lack of cell wall separation. Therefore, it can be inferred that development of the hard-to-cook defect in Canadian wonder beans during storage and its manifestation during soaking and subsequent thermal treatment is largely reflected by the pectic polysaccharide properties in line with the pectin hypothesis. Our data suggest the release of Ca⁺⁺ leading to pectin cross-linking and the increase or decrease of β-elimination depolymerization. However, the relatively high amounts of neutral sugars and strongly bound NEP in HTC seeds do not allow to rule out the possible existence of non-Ca⁺⁺ based pectin cross-linking.     

Effect of dry‐salt processing on the textural properties and cell wall polysaccharides of cv. Thasos black olives

BACKGROUND: Thasos is an olive variety cultivated mainly in Greece used to produce ‘naturally black dry‐salted olives’. This process consists in placing the olives in disposed layers with coarse sodium chloride. The loss of water and other solutes gradually debitters and wrinkles the fruits. In this study, the effect of dry‐salt processing on the texture and cell wall polysaccharide composition was investigated. RESULTS: This type of processing affected primarily the mechanical properties of the olive flesh. In processed olives, this tissue was approximately 4.5 times stronger and also more deformable up to failure and stiffer than that from the raw olives. The dry‐salt processing had its strongest effect on pectic polysaccharides. This included the increment of solubilization of arabinose‐rich polymers in aqueous solutions, and thus their partial loss to the soak medium during dry‐salting. Contrarily, galacturonic acid‐rich polymers were further retained in the processed olives, probably by their stabilization within the cell walls by reduction of the electrostatic repulsion between the acidic groups of these polysaccharides due to sodium ions. CONCLUSION: The texture improvement of olive flesh by dry‐salt processing seems to be correlated with the reorganization of the galacturonic acid‐rich pectic polysaccharides into the cell wall of the fruit. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of extraction techniques and conditions on the physicochemical properties of the water soluble polysaccharides from gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis)

The extraction of nonstarch polysaccharides from fruits and vegetables has received much attention recently in terms of their utilisation in functional food systems. In New Zealand kiwifruit production is one of the major fruit growing exploits. This paper explores the potential extraction techniques which may be employed to extract water soluble polysaccharides from kiwifruit material, in an attempt to utilise this commodity as an added value food ingredient. Crude water soluble polysaccharides of fresh gold kiwifruit were extracted under different extraction techniques (acid, hot water and enzyme) and conditions (time, temperature and concentration). The recovery of water soluble polysaccharide fraction (WSP), chemical composition, and their rheological behaviour were examined. The extraction technique had a significant effect on the WSP yield, galacturonic acid content, as well as the viscosity. Enzymatic extraction method yielded higher WSP and galacturonic acid than water and acid extraction, but this fraction exhibited lower viscosity. Acid extracted WSP yield decreased with increasing temperature and time. In contrast, water extracted WSP yield increased with increasing temperature and time. The selected extraction parameters for acid extraction were temperature 50 °C, extraction time 60 min, and 1:6 kiwifruit puree to acid solution ratio. The water extraction optimum parameters were 25 °C, 30 min and 1:4 puree to water ratio and 25 °C, 30 min with medium concentration for enzymatic extraction. The WSP viscosity and galacturonic acid content was maximum under these extraction conditions.     

Effect of Cooking and Pre-Cooking on Cell-Wall Chemistry in Relation to Firmness of Carrot Tissues

The aim of this work was to investigate heat-induced changes in cell wall polysaccharides of carrot in relation to texture. Discs of fresh carrot (Daucus carota cv Amstrong) tissue were subjected to cooking (100°C, 20 min), with or without a pre-cooking treatment (50°C, 30 min). Alcohol-insoluble residues were prepared from the tissues and were extracted sequentially with water, NaCl, CDTA, Na₂CO₃ and 0·5 M KOH to leave a residue. These were analysed for their carbohydrate compositions, their degree of methyl esterification and the molecular size of selected soluble polysaccharides. Cooking caused tissues to soften. This involved cell separation, an increase in water- and salt-soluble, high-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharides and a concomitant decrease in the pectic polymers in all wall extracts and the residue. Pre-cooking prior to cooking enhanced cell–cell adhesion and reduced the extent of softening. This was accompanied by a general reduction in the degree of methylesterification of cell-wall pectic polymers, and a decrease in the cooking-induced modification to all pectic fractions. The firming effect of pre-cooking could be reversed by extracting the precooked+cooked tissue with CDTA, a chelating agent. The role of Ca²⁺ cross-linked polymers and pre-cooking in the enhancement of firmness are discussed. © 1997 SCI.