Impact of high-pressure processing on the stability and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds in Clementine mandarin juice and its cytoprotective effect on Caco-2 cells

HPP can be recommended as a suitable technology to retain or indeed increase antioxidant bioactives and their cytoprotective activity in Clementine mandarin juices after gastrointestinal digestion.

Antioxidant Activity, Color, Carotenoids Composition, Minerals, Vitamin C and Sensory Quality of Organic and Conventional Mandarin Juice, cv. Orogrande

The effects of organic farming on antioxidant activity, CIE L*a*b* color, carotenoids composition, minerals contents, vitamin C and sensory quality of Orogrande mandarin juices were studied. Independent of the farming type, mandarin juices can be considered as good source of some important nutrients, such as potassium and antioxidant chemicals, for example, β-cryptoxanthin. Organic farming of mandarins resulted in juices with higher antioxidant activity, total carotenoids concentrations, minerals (Ca, K and Fe) contents, vitamin C content, more appealing and intense orange color and better sensory quality. For instance, organic Orogrande juice contained significantly (p < 0.001) higher total carotenoids content (22.7 ± 0.3 mg/L) than conventional juice (15.7 ± 0.4 mg/L); a similar pattern was observed for the antioxidant activity, with values being 0.076±0.004 and 0.053 ± 0.003 mM Trolox m/L in organic and convectional juices, respectively. A trained panel stated that organic Orogrande juices had higher intensities of orange color, fresh mandarin and floral aromas than conventional juices.

Sensory Profile of Mandarin Chilled Juices and Consumers' Acceptability

Chilled mandarin juices from four different commercial brands, two mandarin juices prepared in our pilot plant and two commercial orange juices included for comparative purposes were scored for acceptability by 100 consumers in a unique evaluation session. Independently, a descriptive profile of the same samples was performed by 10 trained assessors, who quantified 29 sensory attributes. Most consumers preferred mandarin juices although a small group (about 10%) found orange juices more acceptable. No differences in acceptability were observed between samples from diluted concentrates and from direct juice, either mandarin or orange. Among sensory attributes, maximum differences between samples were found for color, pulp (aspect and texture), mandarin odor, mandarin taste, bitterness and persistent taste.