Effects of industrial and home-made spread processing on bilberry phenolics.

Bilberries processed into spreads represent an important source of anthocyanins if these remain rich in the final product. The effects of thermal processing were studied with non-ground and ground bilberries processed into spreads according to industrial and home-made procedures. Samples were analysed by LC-DAD-MS/MS and LC-MS.

Phenolic content of strawberry spreads during processing and storage.

This study provides a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of phenolics in strawberry spreads processed according to different industrial procedures and stored under several storage conditions for up to 19 weeks. Total phenolics were determined spectrophotometrically, and individual phenolics were determined by combined liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry: six anthocyanins, four phenolic acids, two flavonols, one flavanol, and one flavone. During storage, the phenolics were modified.

Bilberry and blueberry anthocyanins act as powerful intracellular antioxidants in mammalian cells.

Berry anthocyanins have pronounced health effects, even though they have a low bioavailability. The common mechanism underlying health protection is believed to relate to antioxidant activity. Berry extracts, chemically characterised for their phenolic content, were prepared from bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillusL.