Profiling selected phytochemicals and nutrients in different tissues of the multipurpose tree Moringa oleifera L., grown in Ghana

The purpose of this new study was to determine the types and levels of major phytochemicals (non-nutrients) and nutrients in the different tissues from vegetative and flowering Moringa oleifera L. an important multipurpose crop. Rhamnose and acetyl-rhamnose-substituted glucosinolates were found in all of the M. oleifera tissues with different profiles depending on the tissue. In addition the tissues of M. oleifera had a relatively complex flavonoid profile consisting of glucosides, rutinosides, malonylglucosides and traces of acetylglucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin. Fatty acid profiling of the different tissues showed that leaves were rich in palmitic (16:0) and linolenic (18:3) acid whereas seeds were predominated by oleic acid (18:1). Roots were rich in palmitic and oleic acid, whereas stems and twigs predominately contained palmitic acid. Potassium, magnesium and calcium were the predominant minerals in all of the tissues. Low levels of selenium were detected only in whole seeds.     

Bioactive products from fruit of the feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana, Myrtaceae): A review

The feijoa plant (Feijoa sellowiana, family Myrtaceae, synonym, Acca sellowiana) produces fruit similar to that of the guava. It is native to Brazil but is grown in many countries as a food crop, especially New Zealand, where it is valued for its highly aromatic fruit. This review covers published work on the bioactive components of the fruit of the feijoa and their pharmacology. Potential value might be added to this fruit if extracts of the fruit were to be used for nutraceutical purposes.     

Minimally processed ready-to-eat baby-leaf vegetables: Production,processing, storage,microbial safety,and nutritional potential

The market for minimally processed ready-to-eat (RTE) baby-leaf vegetables (BLVs) has been rapidly growing and offering to consumers convenient and appealing products, rich in health beneficial bioactive compounds. These vegetables are harvested at a very early stage of maturation and prepared with minimal processing methods such as cutting, washing, rinsing, and packaging with the modified atmosphere of O₂, CO₂, and relative humidity (RH). Maintenance of microbial safety, color, texture, aroma, and nutrients are the major problems associated with commercial production and marketing of BLVs. This review discusses the theoretical aspects and recent developments in the maintenance of nutritional quality and microbial safety during production, processing, sanitization, packaging, and storage of BLVs. The varietal improvements in BLVs for wider adaptability and disease resistance are also discussed. Additionally, future research challenges in these contexts are identified.     

Extraction of lignans, proteins and carbohydrates from flaxseed meal with pressurized low polarity water

This study examined the application of pressurized low polarity water (PLPW) extraction of lignans, proteins and carbohydrates from defatted flaxseed meal. Key processing conditions included temperature (130, 160, 190 °C), solvent pH (4, 6.5 and 9), solvent to solid ratio (90, 150 and 210 mL/g) and introduction of co-packing material (0 and 3 g glass beads). The addition of 3 g glass beads increased the yields for all target compounds. The maximum yield of lignans (21 mg/g meal) was obtained at 170 °C with solvent to solid ratio of 100 mL/g meal at pH 9. Optimal conditions for protein extraction were pH 9, solvent to solid ratio of 210 mL/g meal and 160 °C. Total carbohydrates recovery was maximized at 215 mg/g meal (50% recovery) at pH 4 and 150 °C with solvent to solid ratio of 210 mL/g meal. The increase of temperature accelerated extraction, thus reducing solvent volume and time to reach equilibrium. For the extraction of proteins and carbohydrates, however, a temperature of 130-160 °C is recommended, as proteins and carbohydrates are vulnerable to thermal degradation.     

The nutraceutical value of grain legumes: characterisation of bioactives and antinutritionals related to diabesity management

Beyond the nutritional value, legumes and particularly common beans are found in several dietary supplements used to treat diabesity (diabetes and obesity). These products contain not only inhibitors of carbohydrate-hydrolising enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), but also antinutritional factors that can cause adverse effects on human health. In the present research, twenty-two accessions of grain legumes were screened for bioactive (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors) and antinutritional (lectins, flatulence-producing sugars, trypsin inhibitors) phytochemicals. Results showed that four accessions had high α-amylase inhibiting activities (AI > 30%), and particularly the common bean ‘Great Northern’ resulted of interest for its high carbo-blocker activity (AI = 42.6 ± 0.5%), absence of lectins, low amounts of flatulence-producing oligosaccharides (2.5 ± 0.2 g/100 g DW) and low anti-trypsin activity (22.5 ± 4.3 trypsin inhibiting unit/mg DW). The knowledge offered from this work provides leads to the ultimate goal of developing new, more effective and safer dietary supplements for diabesity management.     

Optimisation of antioxidant activity of grape cane extracts using response surface methodology

Solid–liquid extraction and response surface methodology were used to optimise conditions for the antioxidant activity of grape cane extracts. The independent processing variables were ethanol concentration, temperature and solvent to solid ratio. Ethanol concentration and temperature significantly affected antioxidant activity measured by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity using fluorescein (ORAC_FL) method (p  0.01), whereas the solvent to solid ratio did not significantly affect the activity (p > 0.05). Antioxidant activity of the extracts, determined by the TEAC assay, varied from 85.6 to 238.6 μmol Trolox equivalents/g of dry sample. ORAC_FL values ranged from 308.4 to 1302.7 μmol Trolox equivalents/g of dry sample. Ethanol concentrations of 40.4% and 55.4% were optimal for the highest antioxidant activities measured by the TEAC assay and the ORAC_FL method, respectively. The optimal temperature was 83.6 °C. Antioxidant activity correlates with total phenolic content of extracts.     

Cold-set whey protein microgels for the stable immobilization of lipids

Novel sub-millimeter cold-set whey protein isolate (WPI) microgels for the stable immobilization of lipids were prepared by an emulsification/internal gelation technique. Microgels were prepared by the addition of a denatured WPI/lipid primary emulsion (containing a micronized calcium source) into an oil bath with gentle stirring, into which an oil soluble acid was added to liberate calcium and initiate gelling of the whey-based matrices. The efficiency of these matrices to entrap lipids was assessed by comparing to extrusion/externally gelled matrices, where the production process is potentially less destructive, but microgels under 1 mm in diameter are difficult to achieve. The micron-sized (below 100 μm in diameter) internally gelled matrices produced by an optimized process, successfully immobilized incorporated lipids, with greater than 93% retention of lipids, regardless of the investigated manufacturing conditions. Migration of exterior oil, during the O/W/O production process, into the microgels was also avoided. Examination of the micro-structure by scanning electron microscopy revealed voids uniformly distributed throughout the matrix, representative in size (under 0.4 μm) of the original primary emulsion lipid droplets. The study shows relevant feasibility for the stable inclusion of a wide range of sensitive lipophilic bioactive ingredients into these matrices, where the sub-millimeter size of the microgels represents potential for incorporation into a variety of food systems.     

Obesity. The food research agenda

It is estimated that almost 287 million children will be obese by 2010, and the overall obese population could rise to 700 million by 2015. The metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism, and has been linked to increased risk of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Diet, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors have a central role to play in the obesity epidemic. In this respect, the role of particular dietary components on satiety and regulation of food and energy intake, are discussed as are technological approaches to manufacture of foods with low obesigenicity.     

Extraction and purification of ferulic acid from flax shives,wheat and corn bran by alkaline hydrolysis and pressurised solvents

Extraction of ferulic acid and vanillin from flax shives, wheat bran and corn bran were carried out using two extraction methods, non-pressurised alkaline hydrolysis (0.5 M NaOH) and pressurised solvents (0.5 M NaOH, water, ethanol and ammonia). There were no differences in the content of products extracted with non-pressurised and pressurised 0.5 M NaOH solution yielding mostly ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and small amounts of vanillin. Pressurised low-polarity water (PLPW), pressurised aqueous ethanol (PAE) and pressurised aqueous ammonia (PAA) were efficient in the one-step production of vanillin from ferulic acid in flax shives (guaiacyl-rich), wheat bran and corn bran (ferulic acid-rich). Vanillin was produced from the bound-ferulic acid via cleavage of the aliphatic double bond under the pressurised conditions. Higher content of ferulic acid in the corn bran yielded higher amounts of vanillin compared to wheat bran and flax shives. A simple and efficient purification procedure for ferulic acid from the alkaline extracts is presented. This procedure exploits the solubility of ferulic acid at different ethanol concentrations.     

Chemical composition characteristics of the longissimus and semimembranosus muscles for pigs from New Zealand and Singapore

A range of composition characteristics of the longissimus (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were compared between pigs raised in intensive and extensive production systems in New Zealand (NZ), and pigs raised in an intensive system in Indonesia for supply to the Singapore market (n = 8/group). Ultimate pH was slightly higher for the Singaporean LL muscles (P < 0.05), while LL muscle of the NZ extensive group was redder (higher a^∗ values) and contained more fat (P < 0.05). Muscle iron levels were highest for the NZ extensive group and lowest for a lighter group within the Singapore pigs (P < 0.05). Differences in fatty acid concentrations, which were also measured in a sample of the belly cut, could largely be attributed to the effects of diet, with higher levels of alpha linolenic acid for the NZ extensive group (P < 0.05) due to linseed in the diet, and much higher levels of linoleic acid and the P:S ratio for the Singapore group (P < 0.05). Some statistically significant differences in amino acid concentrations were shown between muscles and groups, but they were not large. With respect to compounds with potential bioactive properties, coenzyme Q_10, and taurine levels were higher in pork from NZ pigs, and carnosine levels were highest for the NZ intensive group (P < 0.05). The LL muscle contained more coenzyme Q₁₀ and taurine, but less carnosine than the SM muscle (P < 0.001). It is concluded that some of these composition differences in the pork from the muscles and groups compared may be of commercial importance, but several are likely to have been due to dietary or weight differences.