Exploring Plants with Flowers: From Therapeutic Nutritional Benefits to Innovative Sustainable Uses.

Flowers have played a significant role in society, focusing on their aesthetic value rather than their food potential. This study's goal was to look into flowering plants for everything from health benefits to other possible applications. This review presents detailed information on 119 species of flowers with agri-food and health relevance.

Assessment of bioaccessibility of carotenoids and phenolic compounds in a model milk-mandarine beverage.

Mandarine juice is one of the richest sources of β-cryptoxanthin and flavonoids, which have been positively associated with bone mineral density. Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid compounds with a complex absorption process that can be affected by different factors. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of the food matrix on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and phenolic compounds in a model milk-mandarine beverage (MMB).

X-ray Thermo-Diffraction Study of the Aluminum-Based Multicomponent Alloy AlZnSiMg.

Newly designed multicomponent light alloys are giving rise to non-conventional microstructures that need to be thoroughly studied before determining their potential applications. In this study, the novel AlZnSiMg alloy, previously studied with CALPHAD methods, was cast and heat-treated under several conditions. An analysis of the phase evolution was carried out with in situ X-ray diffraction supported by differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy.

Influence of high pressure homogenization and pasteurization on the in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids and flavonoids in orange juice.

Production of high-quality healthy foods through sustainable methodologies is an urgent necessity. High pressure homogenization (HPH) is an interesting alternative to obtain premium citrus juices, but its effects on bioactive compounds are unclear. There was studied the influence of HPH (150 MPa) and pasteurization (92 °C for 30 s and 85 °C for 15 s) processing on physicochemical properties and in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids and flavonoids in orange juices.

Design, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Medium Entropy Aluminium Alloys.

In this work, the design, microstructures and mechanical properties of five novel non-equiatomic lightweight medium entropy alloys were studied. The manufactured alloys were based on the AlCuMgSiZnX and AlCuMgSiZnX systems. The formation and presence of phases and microstructures were studied by introducing Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn and Zr.

Simultaneous determination of dietary isoprenoids (carotenoids, chlorophylls and tocopherols) in human faeces by Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography.

An analytical method was validated for the quantitative determination of isoprenoids compounds in faecal samples, based on liquid-liquid extraction from a small aliquot (0.3-0.5 g of sample) and subsequent analysis by Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC) on a C30 column.

Internal preference mapping of milk-fruit beverages: Influence of color and appearance on its acceptability.

The individual preferences of 100 consumers between 20 and 30 years old for the color of 16 milk-fruit juice beverages (MFJB) were investigated by preference mapping technique. Consumers were asked to evaluate, just by looking at the samples, how much they liked them (from "Extremely dislike" to "Extremely like"). The color of the samples was analyzed by two different instrumental techniques.

Multivariate analyses of a wide selection of orange varieties based on carotenoid contents, color and in vitro antioxidant capacity.

Carotenoids, color and in vitro antioxidant capacity were analyzed in twenty-two genotypes of oranges produced in Spain in two consecutive seasons. The colorless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene were also analyzed. An important influence of the genotype on the carotenoid profile was observed.

Carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in horse tissues: a comparison with cattle.

Carotenoids are important for human health because of their provitamin A function among other biological actions. Their implication on consumer point of view of cattle products have been widely studied, but very little information is available for horse products. The aim of this study was to study the accumulation of carotenoids, retinoids and tocopherol by HPLC and HPLC-MS analysis in different horse tissues (plasma, milk, adipose tissue and liver) and compare it with that of cattle.

Development and validation of a rapid resolution liquid chromatography method for the screening of dietary plant isoprenoids: carotenoids, tocopherols and chlorophylls.

A rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of nine carotenoids compounds (violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene), four tocopherols and four chlorophylls and derivates (chlorophylls and pheophytins). The methodology consisted in a micro-extraction procedure with or without saponification and subsequent analysis by RRLC. The limits of detection were <0.

Effect of different carotenoid-containing diets on the vitamin A levels and colour parameters in Iberian pigs' tissues: utility as biomarkers of traceability.

Retinol and fat colour parameters in Iberian pigs fed on different carotenoid-containing diets were assessed. Thirty animals in two groups were considered: Iberian breed pigs fed on acorns and grass (Montanera) and on concentrate (Cebo). Carotenoids and retinoids were analysed in the diets and in plasma, liver and perirenal fat of the animals by HPLC and HPLC-MS.

Analysis of carotenoids and tocopherols in plant matrices and assessment of their in vitro antioxidant capacity.

Carotenoids and tocopherols are lipid secondary metabolites that play essential roles in plants. They are also relevant compounds from a nutritional standpoint and attract much attention due to their proposed antioxidant properties. In this chapter, methodologies for the extraction and HPLC analysis of these compounds are described as well as a widely used protocol to assess their antioxidant capacity.

Effect of orange juice's processing on the color, particle size, and bioaccessibility of carotenoids.

This study was aimed at assessing the differences between industrially processed and hand-squeezed orange juices (OJs) in relation to their color, particle size, carotenoid content, and carotenoid bioaccessibility. Specifically, industrial samples of fresh squeezed OJs after the finishing steps (FISO) and the same OJs after pasteurization (PISO), as well as hand-squeezed OJs (HSO) were studied. The results showed that the HSO and PISO were different (p < 0.

A novel and enhanced approach for the assessment of the total carotenoid content of foods based on multipoint spectroscopic measurements.

We have devised a more sensible approach to estimate the carotenoid content of orange juices, which can be regarded as a model system of food with intricate carotenoid pattern. For this purpose spectroscopic information at several wavelengths and spectra of the juices and not from their carotenoid extracts were considered, such that more accurate and rapid quantitative assessments can be achieved. The wavelengths proposed on the basis of the characteristic vector method were 420, 455, 515, 545 and 610nm or 420, 445, 510, 545 and 605nm, depending on the measurement conditions.

Volatile hydrocarbon profile of Iberian dry-cured hams. A possible tool for authentication of hams according to the fattening diet.

The aims of this work were to carry out a comprehensive study of the volatile hydrocarbons of 34 Iberian dry-cured hams and to evaluate the efficiency of these compounds for discriminating hams according to the fattening system: "Montanera" (B) and "Cebo" (C). The samples of hams were obtained by mincing the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles from slices of dry-cured ham. The analyses were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a polar capillary column and after a previous extraction by Purge and Trap method.

Separation of structural, geometrical and optical isomers of epoxycarotenoids using triacontyl-bonded stationary phases.

The efficiency of C30 stationary phases in the separation of carotenes and diverse hydroxycarotenoids has been the subject of several studies. However, little is known concerning their ability to resolve epoxycarotenoids isomers, whose study is of great importance due to the functions they serve and the information they can reveal concerning the processing of foods. We have concluded that C30 columns provide an excellent separation of structural, geometrical and optical isomers of epoxycarotenoids and that the presence of 5,8-epoxide groups leads to a better shape recognition, to the extent that over 10 geometrical-optical isomers of 5,8-epoxycarotenoids have been separated.

Changes in the fatty acid and triacylglycerol profiles in the subcutaneous fat of Iberian ham during the dry-curing process.

In this study, we have evaluated the changes that occur in the profiles of total fatty acids and triacylglycerols during the dry-curing process (730 days) of Iberian ham. The subcutaneous adipose tissues of six hams obtained from three Iberian pigs fed on acorns were analyzed periodically during the processing time (from the raw to the dry-cured samples), including postsalting, drying, and ripening stages. The environmental conditions were also registered.

Efficient transfer of embryonic stem cells into the cochlea via a non-invasive vestibular route.

Conclusion: Cell transplantation into the utriculus provides an efficient and non-invasive route to introduce embryonic stem (ES) cells into the vestibular and cochlear portions of the inner ear.

Objective: The transfer of stem cells into the inner ear for therapeutic purposes is an important approach to cure damage to the cochlea and vestibulum. A key issue is to provide an entry point for cell transplants into the inner ear that does not affect its physiologic functions.

Changes in the concentrations of free fatty acid, monoacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol in the subcutaneous fat of Iberian ham during the dry-curing process.

Changes in diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and free fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat of six Iberian hams during the dry-cured process were investigated. In addition, an analytical method for simultaneous quantification of diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and free fatty acid by solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography was developed. The different molecular species of free fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, and diacylglycerols and 1,2- and 1,3-isomers of diacylglycerols have been described for the first time in this type of sample.

[Carotenoid pigments: structural and physicochemical considerations].

Carotenoid are ubiquitous compounds serving a series of functions that make them special. Thus, they are regarded as essential compounds for life mainly due to the different roles they perform in photosynthesis as we currently know it. For many years, the nutritional relevance ot carotenoids was due to some of them exhibiting vitamin A activity, although the interest in these pigments has expanded dramatically in the last years owing to a large variety of surveys that seem to indicate that they are antioxidant and may be beneficial for the prevention of several chronic non-transmissible human diseases, albeit there is some controversy in this regard.

Authentication of fattening diet of Iberian pig according to their triacylglycerols profile from subcutaneous fat.

Triacylglycerols of 50 samples of subcutaneous fat of Iberian pigs reared extensively on two different feeding systems: montanera (M) and cebo (C) have been analysed by gas chromatography flame ionization detector. The lipids were extracted by melting from subcutaneous fat into microwave oven. The fat was then filtered and dissolved in hexane.

[Socioeconomic factors and utilization of public family practice facilities in Madrid].

Objectives: To describe the possible association between demographic, social and economic characteristics of health areas in the autonomous community of Madrid and utilization of public family practice facilities.

Methods: An ecological study was carried out using health areas as the unit of analysis. The information sources were official data on population statistics and the reports of the National Institute of Health for 1996 and 2001.

Rapid assessment of vitamin A activity through objective color measurements for the quality control of orange juices with diverse carotenoid profiles.

The evaluation of the vitamin A activity of foods is important for the establishment of Dietary Reference Intakes and food composition databases, food labeling, etc. Regarding orange juice, probably the most accepted fruit product in much of the world, the vitamin A labeling has been reported to be defective and misleading, which revealed the inadequacy of the quality control system. In this study, the color and the vitamin A activity (in terms of retinol activity equivalents) of diverse orange juices were evaluated as well as the correlations existing between them.

Carotenoids, color, and ascorbic acid content of a novel frozen-marketed orange juice.

A recently developed food, the so-called ultrafrozen orange juice (UFOJ), has been characterized in terms of carotenoid pigments, ascorbic acid, and color. The juice, obtained from Valencia late oranges, is frozen immediately after the squeezing of the oranges, which makes it a product showing good organoleptic and nutritional quality. In relation to the carotenoid profile, it was observed that the 5,6-epoxy carotenoids violaxanthin and antheraxanthin (specifically (9Z)-violaxanthin and (9Z)- or (9'Z)-antheraxanthin), were by far the major pigments and that dihydroxycarotenoids predominate over monohydroxycarotenoids.