scholarly journals Phenolic Components and Health Beneficial Properties of Onions

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 872
Author(s):  
Feiyue Ren ◽  
Sumei Zhou

Onions are a widely cultivated and consumed vegetable, and contain various bioactive components, which possess various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties. As the major bioactive constituents in onions, it is essential to study phenolic compounds and the heath beneficial properties of onion and its by-products. The bioactivity of phenolic components in onions can be affected by many factors, including the genotype, different growing environments and food processing methods. Currently, most reviews have focused on an investigation of the chemical compounds or bioactivity of raw onions, but there is a paucity of studies concerning whether pre-harvest (i.e., genotype and growing environment) and post-harvest (i.e., storage) factors can impact its phenolic compounds. This review provides knowledge and guidance to agricultural production on producing high-quality onions and to the food industry on developing functional foods to reduce some chronic diseases such as diabetes. It also promotes research interest in studying bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables considering different pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-461
Author(s):  
Gabriela M. Baia ◽  
Otniel Freitas-Silva ◽  
Murillo F. Junior

Fruits and vegetables are foods that come into contact with various types of microorganisms from planting to their consumption. A lack or poor sanitation of these products after harvest can cause high losses due to deterioration and/ or pathogenic microorganisms. There are practically no post-harvest fungicides or bactericides with a broad spectrum of action that have no toxic residual effects and are safe. However, to minimize such problems, the use of sanitizers is an efficient device against these microorganisms. Chlorine is the most prevalent sanitizing agent because of its broad spectrum, low cost and well-established practices. However, the inevitable formation of disinfection by-products, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), is considered one of the main threats to food safety. Alternative sanitizers, such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and ozone, are becoming popular as a substitute for traditional post-harvest treatments. Thus, this review addresses the use of chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone emphasizing aspects, such as usage, safe application, spectrum of action and legislation. In order to ensure the quality and safety of final products, the adoption of well-prepared sanitation and sanitation programs for post-harvest fruits and vegetables is essential.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Amir Ashraf ◽  
Mohd Adnan ◽  
Mitesh Patel ◽  
Arif Jamal Siddiqui ◽  
Manojkumar Sachidanandan ◽  
...  

Recent developments in nutraceuticals and functional foods have confirmed that bioactive components present in our diet play a major therapeutic role against human diseases. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on food scientists for identifying and producing foods with better bioactive activity, which can ultimately provide wellness and well-being to human health. Among the several well-known foods with bioactive constituents, fish has always been considered important, due to its rich nutritional values and by-product application in food industries. Nutritionists, food scientists, and other scientific communities have been working jointly to uncover new bioactive molecules that could increase the potential and therapeutic benefits of these bioactive components. Despite the innumerable benefits of fish and known fish bioactive molecules, its use by food or pharmaceutical industries is scarce, and even research on fish-based nutraceuticals is not promising. Therefore, this review focuses on the current information/data available regarding fish bioactive components, its application as nutraceuticals for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of chronic diseases, ethnic issues related to consumption of fish or its by-products. Especial emphasis is given on the utilization of fish wastes and its by-products to fulfill the world demand for cheap dietary supplements specifically for underdeveloped/least developed countries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Coelho Serquiz ◽  
Raphael Paschoal Serquiz ◽  
Thayane Kerbele Oliveira das Neves Peixoto ◽  
Elizeu Antunes dos Santos ◽  
Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha

ABSTRACT The benefits of various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have been the focus of several studies aimed at improving welfare, health, and reducing the incidence of diseases. Therefore, the present paper objectified to investigate the presence of molecules of biotechnological and pharmacological interest in peel, seed, and pulp of Annona x atemoya Mabb. Aqueous extracts of the fruit parts were obtained with different buffers and assessed as to their protein and phenolic compounds content. The three parts of the fruit presented different proportions of these compounds when subject to different extraction conditions, with the highest concentrations of proteins being found in the seed and phenolic compounds in the peel of the studied fruit. Bioactive proteins (protease inhibitors and lectins) were detected through inhibitory tests for trypsin and chymotrypsin and hemagglutinating activity tests with human erythrocytes. A variation of 400 to 9600 inhibition units for the trypsin in the analyzed extracts, whereas for chymotrypsin a variation of 200 to 2500 in the inhibition units for the three fruit parts, considering the different extraction conditions were identified. The extracts obtained from the seeds and the peel presented titers higher than 0.9 hemagglutination units, suggesting that the by-products from the processing of A. x atemoya are potential sources of bioactive molecules.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8516
Author(s):  
Ana R. Nunes ◽  
Ana C. Gonçalves ◽  
Amílcar Falcão ◽  
Gilberto Alves ◽  
Luís R. Silva

Prunus avium L. (sweet cherry) is one of the most appreciated fruit due to its organoleptic and nutritional value. Interestingly, cherry leaves, stems, and flowers are agri-food by-products rich in bioactive compounds that are mostly still unexploited. Stems and leaves have been used in folk medicine since ancient times. Recently, cherry flowers have also proved to be an interesting source of compounds with therapeutic properties. Phenolic compounds, namely hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids, are the most present phytochemicals in P. avium fruits and their by-products. These compounds have shown a good antioxidant potential to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases and glycemic control, fundamental in preventing and controlling diabetes mellitus. The present review summarizes the main phenolics found in P. avium stems, leaves, and flowers as compared to their fruits and describes their antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties. Thus, these by-products are an accessible and low-cost source of bioactive constituents with interesting health-promoting properties, making their use promising in diabetes therapy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
K. Węglarzy ◽  
Yu. Shliva ◽  
B. Matros ◽  
G. Sych

Aim. To optimize the methane digestion process while using different recipes of substrate components of ag- ricultural origin. Methods. The chemical composition of separate components of the substrate of agricultural by-products, industrial wastes, fats of the agrorefi nery and corn silage was studied. Dry (organic) mass, crude protein (fat) fi ber, loose ash, nitrogen-free exhaust were estimated in the components and the productivity of biogas was determined along with the methane content. These data were used as a basis for daily recipes of the substrate and the analysis of biogas production at the biogas station in Kostkowice. Results. The application of by-products of agricultural production solves the problem of their storage on boards and in open containers, which reduces investment costs, related to the installation of units for their storage. Conclusions. The return on investment for obtaining electric energy out of agricultural biogas depends considerably on the kind of the substrate used and on technological and market conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 542-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann ◽  
Cristina Theoduloz ◽  
Felipe Jiménez-Aspee ◽  
Javier Echeverría

Background: The pods from several South American Prosopis species have been considered relevant food in arid and semi-arid South America since prehistoric times. Traditionally the meal from the pods was processed to prepare different foods and beverages. Objective: The objective was to discuss literature from the archaeological evidence of use to study the chemistry and (bio)activity of the extracts and secondary metabolites occurring in different Prosopis food products. Method: The review was carried out by searching electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Scopus, Scielo, Google Scholar, PubMed and hand-search on literature. The review mainly covers studies performed in the year 1995-2019 and the first-hand experience of the authors. References on the historical and prehistorical uses of the natural resource were also included. Results: In the last decades, most studies on the edible South American Prosopis focused on the constituents of pods meal, traditional preparations and by-products. Total 45 flavonoids, ellagic acid derivatives, catechin and simple phenolics were identified. Alkaloids occur mainly in the leaves, that are not used for human nutrition but as food for domestic animals. Piperidine alkaloids, tryptamine, tyramine and β-phenethylamine were isolated and identified from several species. The (bio)activity studies included mainly the antioxidant effect, antiinflammatory and enzyme inhibition associated with metabolic syndrome. The products showed no toxicity or mutagenic effect. Conclusions: While data on the chemistry, some (bio)activities and toxicity are available for the pods meal and byproducts, little is known about the composition of the fermented Algarrobo beverages. Further studies are needed on the digestion of Algarrobo products both in humans and cattle.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Conceição ◽  
Bianca R. Albuquerque ◽  
Carla Pereira ◽  
Rúbia C. G. Corrêa ◽  
Camila B. Lopes ◽  
...  

Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh) is a fruit economically relevant to the Amazon region, mostly consumed in the form of processed pulp. Our aim was to perform an unprecedented comparative study on the chemical composition and bioactivities of the camu-camu pulp and industrial bio-residues (peel and seed), and then the most promising fruit part was further explored as a functionalized ingredient in yogurt. A total of twenty-three phenolic compounds were identified, with myricetin-O-pentoside and cyanindin-3-O-glucoside being the main compounds in peels, followed by p-coumaroyl hexoside in the pulp, and ellagic acid in the seeds. The peel displayed the richest phenolic profile among samples, as well as the most significant antibacterial (MICs = 0.625–10 mg/mL) and anti-proliferative (GI50 = 180 µg/mL against HeLa cells) activities. For this reason, it was selected to be introduced in a food system (yogurt). Taken together, our results suggest the possibility of using the camu-camu peel as a source of food additives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5514
Author(s):  
Francesca Truzzi ◽  
Camilla Tibaldi ◽  
Yanxin Zhang ◽  
Giovanni Dinelli ◽  
Eros D′Amen

Polyphenols are natural organic compounds produced by plants, acting as antioxidants by reacting with ROS. These compounds are widely consumed in daily diet and many studies report several benefits to human health thanks to their bioavailability in humans. However, the digestion process of phenolic compounds is still not completely clear. Moreover, bioavailability is dependent on the metabolic phase of these compounds. The LogP value can be managed as a simplified measure of the lipophilicity of a substance ingested within the human body, which affects resultant absorption. The biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS), a method used to classify drugs intended for gastrointestinal absorption, correlates the solubility and permeability of the drug with both the rate and extent of oral absorption. BCS may be helpful to measure the bioactive constituents of foods, such as polyphenols, in order to understand their nutraceutical potential. There are many literature studies that focus on permeability, absorption, and bioavailability of polyphenols and their resultant metabolic byproducts, but there is still confusion about their respective LogP values and BCS classification. This review will provide an overview of the information regarding 10 dietarypolyphenols (ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, apigenin, cirsimaritin, daidzein, resveratrol, ellagic acid, and curcumin) and their association with the BCS classification.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 942
Author(s):  
Emilie Isidore ◽  
Hamza Karim ◽  
Irina Ioannou

Cannabis sativa L. is a controversial crop due to its high tetrahydrocannabinol content varieties; however, the hemp varieties get an increased interest. This paper describes (i) the main categories of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, stilbenoids and lignans) and terpenes (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) from C. sativa by-products and their biological activities and (ii) the main extraction techniques for their recovery. It includes not only common techniques such as conventional solvent extraction, and hydrodistillation, but also intensification and emerging techniques such as ultrasound-assisted extraction or supercritical CO2 extraction. The effect of the operating conditions on the yield and composition of these categories of phenolic compounds and terpenes was discussed. A thorough investigation of innovative extraction techniques is indeed crucial for the extraction of phenolic compounds and terpenes from cannabis toward a sustainable industrial valorization of the whole plant.


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