Bioactive extracts from persimmon waste: influence of extraction conditions and ripeness.

In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits.

Encapsulation of probiotics in soybean protein-based microparticles preserves viable cell concentration in foods all along the production and storage processes.

The influence on the stability of CECT 220 (25 °C/60% relative humidity) of microencapsulation by simple coacervation followed by spray-drying using different Ca-to-soybean protein isolate ratios was evaluated. After optimisation, the selected soybean protein concentrate (SPC) microparticles were used to evaluate the tolerance of under acidic conditions (lactic acid, pH = 4; and HCl, pH = 3) and heat stress (80 °C for 1 min) in contrast to free cells. Moreover, after the heat treatment, the influence of the simulated gastric fluid was evaluated.

Phenolic Compounds Inhibit 3T3-L1 Adipogenesis Depending on the Stage of Differentiation and Their Binding Affinity to PPARγ.

Phenolic compounds might modulate adiposity. Here, we report our observation that polyphenols and phenolic acids inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 with different intensity depending on the family and the stage of differentiation. While quercetin and resveratrol inhibited lipid accumulation along the whole process of differentiation, apigenin and myricetin were active during the early and latest stages, but not intermediate, contrary to hesperidin.

Toxicity and biodistribution of orally administered casein nanoparticles.

In the last years, casein nanoparticles have been proposed as carriers for the oral delivery of biologically active compounds. However, till now, no information about their possible specific hazards in vivo was available. The aim of this work was to assess the safety of casein nanoparticles when administered orally to animals through a 90 days dose-repeated toxicity study (OECD guideline 408), that was performed in Wistar rats under GLP conditions.

Guide for the support of health claims in foods.

During the past years there is a rising demand for improving the quality and nutritional value of foods that has encouraged the research and development of new food ingredients and products. Nevertheless, to date, many of the health claim applications evaluating EFSA have been rejected. Hence, it is critical for companies involved in the development of functional foods to be aware of the full flowchart needed for the scientific support of a health claim from the very beginning.

Monitoring of alcoholic fermentation of onion juice by NIR spectroscopy: valorization of worthless onions.

The valorization of vegetable byproducts is one of the main objectives of industry today. The project on which this study is based examined the potential usefulness of worthless onions (Allium cepa L. sp.