The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction of antioxidant compounds from Schinus areira leaves using ultrasound assisted extraction and response surface methodology. The effect of sonication time and plant material:solvent ratio were used to optimize the recovery. Results showed that a high recovery of antioxidant compounds from leaves of three different S. areira specimens was achieved under optimized conditions. The leaf extracts obtained displayed a DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity analogous to the well-known antioxidant trolox (EC50 = 23-46 vs 36.1 µg/mL, respectively). In addition, these extracts showed a good potency to eliminate superoxide and nitric oxide-radicals as well as a moderate antimicrobial activity against gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis and yeast. HPLC chromatography analysis of the three S. areira leaf extracts showed different high contents of kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid. The results showed that the S. areira leaf extracts contained a high amount of antioxidant phenolic compounds, which might be a valuable source to be used as additives in plant-based foods.

The effects of heat blanching and UV-C light followed by heat on Portuguese cabbage peroxidase (POD), colour and texture were studied in the temperature range of 80-95 °C. POD inactivation, lightness (L) and yellowness (b) colour changes were described by a first-order reaction model. The greenness (a) colour and texture (firmness) changes followed a two fraction kinetic model behaviour. The temperature effect was well described by the Arrhenius law. At lower temperatures the combined treatment showed higher POD inactivation. Colour and texture parameters did not show significant differences between treatments. Long processing times turned the leaves slightly darker, decreased greenness, yellowness and firmness. Short processing times increased the firmness and greenness of the leaves. The treatment at 80 °C for 90 seconds reduced 90% of POD, retaining 98% of lightness and 92% of yellowness and improved the green colour (130%) and firmness (125%). At 80 °C the heat blanching required 7.4 min to inactivate 90% of the enzyme activity, reducing lightness, greenness, yellowness and firmness to 92%, 68%, 62% and 61%, respectively. The present findings will help to optimize the Portuguese cabbage blanching conditions.

Elephant foot yams make a significant contribution to diets in tribal people of India. However, there is insufficient study of their nutritional and antioxidant value. In this paper the various traits of eleven cultivars of elephant foot yam: BCA-1, BCA-2, BCA-4, BCA-5, BCA-6, NDA-4, NDA-5, NDA-9, IGAM-1, AC-28 and Gajendra were studied and observed during the growth and development stage. The cultivar of BCA-6 contained the maximum amount of starch and total phenol at 100 Days After Planting (DAP) while cv., NDA-9 and NDA-5 showed the maximum content of starch and total phenol at 250 DAP respectively. However, the cultivar BCA-1 stored the maximum amount of carbohydrate at 100 DAP whereas ascorbic acid and β-carotene content was highest at 250 DAP. The protein amount was maximum in cv., BCA-2 and AC-28 at 100 and 250 DAP respectively. This information will provide breeders with the ability to develop desirable types of elephant foot yams having high yields and better nutritional profiles.

In this study, sorghum Feterita malt extract was used to prepare carbonated beverages flavored with traditional Hulu-mur spices extract. The beverages produced were assessed for their physicochemical,sensory, and nutritional qualities. Malting (3–5 days) of the Feterita grains showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in proximate composition from that of unmalted grains. Protein and sugars increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with increased the malting time (days), while there was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in oil and starch content during malting progress. The kilning temperature of 150 °C for 20 minutes was found to produce the most acceptable Hulu-mur carbonated beverage analogue in terms of flavor and taste. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were observed in physicochemical and nutritional qualities between the Hulu-mur analogue carbonated beverage and commercial non-alcoholic beverage. The Hulu-mur carbonated beverage analogue was rich in Na, K, Ca, and Fe (26.45, 21.84, 24.00, and 0.57 mg /100 g, respectively) compared to levels of the same minerals in the non-alcoholic beverage (22.31, 8.19, 22.00 and 0.15 mg/100 g, respectively). The Hulu-mur analogue also had a higher calorific value (35.85 kcal /100 mL) compared to the non-alcoholic beverage (32.96 kcal/100 mL).

Senna occidentalis seeds were roasted at varying temperatures of 190, 210 and 230 °C each for 10, 15 and 20 min. Phytochemicals of the roasted seeds were determined using standard methods. The phytochemicals analysed were tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, oxalate and phenolics. Phytochemicals are compounds hypothesized for much of the disease-protection provided by diets high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and plant-based beverages. This study has clearly shown that roasting time and temperature have significant effects on the seed parameters analyzed. There was an increase in tannin, alkaloid, saponin and phenolic contents and a decrease in the contents of flavonoids and oxalates.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds have gained interest as a valuable by-product of the date fruit industry and have been identified as a rich source of functional and bioactive ingredients. In this study, date seeds from five varieties (Medjool, Deglet Nour, Barhee, Bou Sthammi and Dayrie) cultivated in Australia were analysed for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and in-vitro inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The date seed powders (DSP) were extracted with acetone-methanol-water (2:2:1, v:v:v) to obtain free polyphenols. The bound polyphenols were extracted from the residual solids with butanolHCl (97.5:2.5; v/v) treatment at 100 °C. The greatest quantities of total phenols (4166±227 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents 100g−1 DSP), total flavonoids (52.1±9.6 mg Quercetin Equivalents 100g−1 DSP), FRAP (1589±47 µmol Iron (II) Equivalents g−1 DSP) and TEAC (45.2±1.4 µmol Trolox Equivalents g −1 DSP) were detected in seeds from Deglet Nour variety. Both free and bound polyphenol fractions showed significant (p<0.05) inhibition against rat intestinal α-glucosidase with little or no inhibition against pancreatic α-amylase. Bound polyphenols showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibition compared with free polyphenols. The IC50 for α-glucosidase were reported as mg GAE mL−1 ranged from 0.39±0.02 (Deglet Nour ) to 0.68±0.02 (Medjool) for bound polyphenols, and from 0.907±0.08 (Medjool) to 1.75±0.15 (Barhee-khalal) for free polyphenols. Bound polyphenol fraction, with strong α-glucosidase inhibition and weak α-amylase inhibition, was suggested as a significant source of functional food ingredients with anti-hyperglycaemic properties.

Natural ingredients are an important trend in the present day food industry since manufacturers are demanding natural food dyes originating from concentrates of plant origin. However, if the use of plant extracts as technological additives is intended, their stability should be evaluated. This paper presents research on the stability of a 50% ethanolic extract of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) from the Republic of Moldova. The extract was subjected to various thermal regimes, i.e. -2 °C for 12 hours; 4 °C for 12 hours; 40 °C for 15 minutes, 60 °C for 15 minutes, 80 °C for 15 minutes and 100 °C for 2 minutes, after which the antioxidant activity and the colour parameters (CIELab) were evaluated. Three sets of extracts were also stored for 2 weeks at -2 °C; 4 °C; and 25-30 °C and afterwards the parameters mentioned above were measured once again. Furthermore, total content of polyphenols was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was stable at temperatures under 0 °C and temperatures as high as 100°C, as well as during storage at -2 °C, 4 °C and 25-30 °C. High temperatures however decreased the value of luminosity, and increased the redness, the yellowness and the chroma value which reached a maximum value of 55.66 after the extract was subjected to 100 °C for 2 minutes. Storage at room temperature significantly affected the luminosity of the extract by increasing its value from 42.36 to 50.22. For most treatments, the colour was stable and was not significantly modified. 

This study sought to evaluate the bioactive components (total phenolics, vitamin C and flavonoid), antioxidant properties (FRAP, and hydroxyl, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities) and inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation of the peel of mango fruit stored at refrigeration temperature and room temperature. The peel of mango fruit stored at room temperature had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher contents of total phenolic (13.61 mg GAE/g), vitamin C (12.98 mg AAE/g), total flavonoid (4.49 mg QE/g) and non-flavonoid (9.12 mg Qe/g) than the peel of freshly harvested mango fruit and the peel of mango fruit stored at refrigeration temperature. In consonance with the bioactive components, the peel of mango fruit stored at room temperature had a higher FRAP, and hydroxyl, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities than the others. The peel of mango fruit stored at room temperature showed stronger inhibition of Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation by exhibiting the least IC50 (1.44 mg/ml in brain), (1.43 mg/ml in pancreas) and (1.88 mg/ml in kidney). Thus freshly harvested, matured, edible and just ripe mango fruit (Sheri Mango) could be stored at room temperature and be consumed with the peel.

In order to investigate the solubility of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in different solvents (ethanol, water, ethanol:water 30:70 and ethanol:water 70:30), supersaturated solutions of pre-crystalized steviol glycosides were maintained at different temperatures (from 5 °C to 50 °C) to reach equilibrium. Under these conditions significant differences were found in the extent of solubility. Rebaudioside A was poorly soluble in ethanol and water, and Stevioside was poorly soluble in water. Solvent mixtures more effectively promoted solubilisation, and a significant effect of temperature on solubility was observed. The two steviol glycosides showed higher solubilities and this behavior was promoted by the presence of the other sweetener. The polarity indices of the solvents were determined, and helped to explain the observed behavior. Several solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions can occur, along with the incidence of a strong affinity between solvents. The obtained results are in accordance with technological applications of ethanol, water and their binary mixtures for Stevioside and Rebaudioside A separations.