Carob () Flour as Source of Bioactive Compounds: Production, Characterization and Nutraceutical Value.

Carob () seeds are rich in diverse bioactive compounds, including galactomannan, β-sitosterol, unsaturated fatty acids and proteins with bioactive peptides in their sequence. This study delineates the compositional characterization of six carob seed flour types derived from different production processes, providing valuable insights for designing tailored nutraceutical products based on desired bioactive compound profiles. Our analysis indicated that a higher purity of galactomannan resulted in a greater mannose/galactose ratio, which increased the linearity of the galactomannan polymer and could enhance interchain interaction, thereby increasing aggregation capacity.

New Pipeline for Analysing Fruit Proteolytic Products Used as Digestive Health Nutraceuticals.

Proteolytic products are extensively used in the nutraceutical sector to improve protein digestion and muscle quality in target populations (e.g., athletes or elderly).

A Comparative Study of LC-MS and FIA-(ESI)MS for Quantitation of -Allyl-L-Cysteine in Aged Garlic Supplements.

The increasing consumption of food supplements demands the development of improved analytical methodologies to ensure their quality and authenticity. In this paper, two new approaches, liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and flow injection analysis-(electrospray ionization) mass spectrometry (FIA-(ESI)MS), were optimized and validated for their application in the quantitative analysis of bioactive -allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) in commercial aged garlic supplements (AGS). Although both methodologies were found to be useful for the sensitive and precise quantitation of SAC, the LC-MS approach allowed the differential determination of SAC and its bioactive diastereoisomer, -1-propenyl-L-cysteine (S1PC), together with the identification of a number of organosulfur compounds typical of garlic.

A Combined Gas and Liquid Chromatographic Approach for Quality Evaluation of Saffron-Based Food Supplements.

Considering the interest in the bioactive properties of saffron ( L.), as well as its limited production and high price, saffron-based food supplements (SFS) are highly susceptible to adulteration. However, their complex composition and the wide variety of potential fraudulent practices make the comprehensive assessment of SFS quality a challenging task that has been scarcely addressed.