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Insight to the Current State and Challenges in Aronia melanocarpa Cultivation, Phytochemicals, Potential and Applications
... In recent years, Aronia melanocarpa L. (also known as aronia, black chokeberry) has attracted a great interest due to its unique composition of bioactive compounds which ensures multiple healthpromoting properties (1). Namely, it was found that aronia is one of the richest sources of phenolic compounds and that the content of proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and phenolic acids in this fruit is quite high (2). Polymeric procyanidins with up to 66 % of total polyphenols are the major subclass and the main contributors to the specific astringent, tart taste of aronia berry fruit and their products (3). ...
... Positive effects of aronia on human health were the subject of numerous studies. A few of them showed favorable effects of aronia in: control and prevention of diabetes and diabetes-associated complications (6), prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, treatment of colon cancer, and hepatoprotective effect (1)(2)7). ...
The main aim of this study is to analyze the solid-liquid extraction followed by spray drying as a technological pathway for utilization of aronia fruit dust, a byproduct of filter tea factory. In the current study, ultrasound-assisted extraction was applied for the production of aronia liquid feed and maltodextrin was used as a carrier and encapsulating agent. In spray drying, the influence of inlet temperature and maltodextrin type and mass fraction on process efficiency and powder properties were observed. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained powders were characterized. It was determined that the powder produced using inlet temperature 140 °C and 40 % maltodextrin with dextrose equivalent (DE) 19.7 had the most desirable characteristics. It was observed that the increase in maltodextrin mass fraction decreases the powder moisture content, hygroscopicity and the content of bioactive compounds, but increases water solubility index and particle size. The increase in dextrose equivalent of maltodextrin increases the powder hygroscopicity and water solubility index, while the increase of inlet temperature causes a decrease in moisture content of aronia powders.
... Although a certain loss of bioactive components is noticed during the production of herbal tea, herbal dust still represents a good source of bioactive components [9]. This has already been confirmed in several studies in which, with various extraction techniques, extracts with significant amounts of bioactive components from herbal dust were obtained [10][11][12]. Additionally, it was confirmed that yarrow by-product represents a very good source of bioactive compounds. ...
In the present study, valorization of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) by-product from the filter tea industry was investigated through the application of subcritical water for the extraction of bioactive compounds. The influence of different process parameters (temperature 120-200 • C, extraction time 10-30 min, and HCl concentration in extraction solvent 0-1.5%) on extract quality in terms of content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity was investigated. Optimal conditions of the extraction process (temperature 198 • C, extraction time 16.5 min, and without acidifer) were determined and, when applied, the most efficient exploitation of by-products is achieved, that is, attainment of extracts rich in total phenols and flavonoids and high antioxidant activity. In addition, by applying the high performance liquid chromatographic analysis, the content of chlorogenic acid was determined as well as the hydroxymethylfurfural content in obtained extracts. The results demonstrated that subcritical water can be successfully used for utilization of yarrow by-products for obtaining extracts rich in antioxidants.
In recent years, growing attention has been focused on the utilization of natural sources of antioxidants in the prevention of chronic diseases. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) represents a lesser known fruit species utilized mainly as juices, purees, jams, jellies and wine, as important food colorants or nutritional supplements. The fruit is valued as a great source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, such as phenolic acids (neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids) and flavonoids (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavanols and flavonols), particularly cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside, as well as (−)-epicatechin units. The berries of A. melanocarpa, due to the presence and the high content of these bioactive components, exhibit a wide range of positive effects, such as strong antioxidant activity and potential medicinal and therapeutic benefits (gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative or anti-inflammatory activities). They could be also contributory toward the prevention of chronic diseases including metabolic disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, because of supportive impacts on lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose and blood pressure levels.
This project was established to evaluate the feasibility of black chokeberry [Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Ell.] culture on Canadian cut-over peatlands and to define its appropriate production practices. We tested the effects of different fertilizer rates, application methods, and mulches on the vegetative development and berry production of seedlings over a 6-year period (2000 to 2006). Fertilization was essential for survival of the plants. A low fertilizer rate (131 g/plant of 1.7N-4.1P-12K) ensured adequate vegetative development for good establishment. Applying such a rate for 2 consecutive years proved to be more beneficial than a single dose of fertilizer for increasing plant height, crown width, and height growth. However, fruit yield was best when fertilized with the highest dose tested (550 g/plant of 3.4N-8.3P-24.2K). Black plastic mulch had a positive effect on height, width, and growth of the plants. More weeds were observed when the fertilizer was applied to the surface as compared with soil incorporation. However, this study revealed that black chokeberry is tolerant of weeds. Based on these results, black chokeberry is a promising plant for the management of cut-over peatlands for both vegetative growth and fruit production.
Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) are nowadays believed to exhibit potential cardioprotective and antidiabetic effects principally due to their high content in bioactive phenolic compounds. The stability of the phenolic compounds was studied during different stages of a juice production line and a method for the valorization of pomace was evaluated. Samples were taken from a commercial juice production plant, extracted and analyzed for phenolic constituents and antioxidant potential. Prototypes of functional food ingredients were produced from the pomace by wet milling and micro-milling. Alongside juice processing, the contents of phenolic berry constituents did not vary to a great extent and the overall antioxidant activity increased by about 34%. A high quality juice and a by-product still rich in polyphenols resulted from the process. The phenolic compounds content and the overall antioxidant activity remained stable when milling and micro-milling the pomace. During coarse milling, extractability of total phenolic compounds increased significantly (40% to 50%). Nanosized materials with averaged particle sizes (x50,0) of about 90 nm were obtained by micro-milling. These materials showed significantly enhanced extractability of total phenolic compounds (25%) and total phenolic acid (30%), as well as antioxidant activity (35%), with unchanged contents of total procyanidins and anthocyanins contents.
Two cultivars of chokeberry - ‘Nero’ and Polish ‘Galicjanka’ are sold in Poland. Sometimes, there are also present the seedlings of ‘Viking’ and ‘Hugin’ cultivars. In the experiment some morphological characteristics, the quality of fruits and chemical composition of four chokeberry cultivars (‘Galicjanka’, ‘Hugin’, ‘Nero’, ‘Viking’) were compared. Chokeberry plants were grown at the Experimental Station of Pomology Department at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. Fruits collected from ‘Hugin’ cultivar shrubs were the smallest (100 fruits weight was 32 g) and the least juice was obtained from them (73.6%); however, they were characterised by the highest content of soluble solids (18.7°Bx), titratable acids (1.05 g), polyphenols (2340 mg), especially cyanidin 3-galactoside as well as nitrates (98.5 mg) and nitrites (1.87 mg). The ‘Hugin’ cultivar was characterised by light-coloured fruits, and, as a result, by light-coloured juice. Fruits of ‘Galicjanka’ cultivar were the biggest, 100 fruits weight was 111,7 g. In fruits of the ‘Nero’ and ‘Viking’ cultivars, the content of individual components was at the lowest level. These cultivars have the largest amount of substances colouring fruits, pulp as well as red and blue juices, are also the darkest and the dark juice was obtained from them. Maceration of fruit pulp resulted in a significant change of colour of the juice obtained, it become darker and had a more intense blue colour.
Linking Europe and Central Asia, Romania is considered to be an important meeting point between different biogeographic regions and ecosystems. In this context, Romanian flora is truly an exceptional source of biological active phytocompounds, basis of new biopharmaceuticals. Data indicate that in Romania there are about 3600 higher plants (ferns and flowering plants) that grow wild and other 800 hybrid species. Amongst these, about 800 are medicinal species, some of them unique in Europe. In order to demonstrate their potential use as active ingredients in biopharmaceutical engineering, this work was aimed at revealing chemical composition, particularly polyphenols profile (HPTLC method) and antioxidant activity (DPPH method) face to potential dermal benefits (single and repeated dose tolerance test in rabbits) of two (ethanolic) extracts prepared from some less studied plant pieces of two valuable phytomedicines; leaves of chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa L.) and leaves of sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). Analytical studies have shown the occurrence of numerous polyphenols species, quercetin, gallic and caffeoylquinic acid derivates, known to have a high antioxidant potency. DPPH assay has confirmed high antioxidant activity of both vegetal extracts, even stronger than that of references, rutin and gallic acid phenolics (IC50 ranging from 2.66 to 5.08μg / mL). In vivo, pharmacological studies have indicated good dermal tolerance and healthy, supple and reepitelized tegument after being treated with both vegetal extracts, which has revealed their potential use as antioxidant and healing ingredients for (topic) biopharmaceuticals. Thus, while Aronia melanocarpa L. as well as Hippophae rhamnoides L. are known for their valuable fruit and seed derived products, this study proves that the (ethanolic) extracts prepared from their leaves pieces should also be taken into consideration.
Age-related diseases are a social problem of global significance and their prevention by natural products is a research area of particular interest. The present study is an approach to counteract the risk factors for atherosclerosis arising in the aging process by supplementation of chokeberry juice. It employed a model of healthy adult rats monitored for a number of somatometric, serum lipidogram, and histopathological parameters, related to risk factors and their response to supplementation with antioxidant-rich chokeberry juice. The results were used to calculate different atherogenic and cardioprotective indices, and all results were compared to those of young healthy rats. Chokeberry juice proved an extremely rich source of polyphenols resulting in very high antioxidant activity. Treatment with
Aronia
juice significantly lowered the proatherogenic low-density lipoprotein fraction of the animals studied and led to a 16.5% decrease in their total cholesterol. Atherogenic indices in
Aronia
-supplemented animals clearly showed lower atherogenic risk and cardioprotective indices indicated protection of the cardiovascular system. Besides that, chokeberry juice retarded the age-related changes in the aortic wall and can be recommended as a prophylactic tool for healthy aging.
Aronia melanocarpa is a common plant in Eastern Europe and in the North America. The fruit contains a lot of polyphenols, including anthocyanins, caffeic acid, and its derivatives also present in chokeberry at relatively high concentrations. Anthocyanins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, may be potentially used to prevent oxidative stress, frequently associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of anthocyanins contained in chokeberry juice on arterial blood pressure, lipid parameters, inflammatory state parameters and concentrations of antioxidant vitamins in men with mild hypercholesterolemia. Fifty eight healthy men with the diagnosed mild hypercholesterolemia without pharmacological treatment were enrolled to the study in 2006. In all men biochemical measurements were carried out 4 times: at the beginning, after 6 weeks of regular chokeberry juice drinking, after 6 weeks without the juice drinking, then repeated after 6 weeks of chokeberry juice drinking. Laboratory tests included: total, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and its subfractions: HDL2 and HDL3, triglycerides, lipid peroxides (LPO), C-reactive high sensitivity protein (hsCRP), homocysteine, fibrinogen, glucose and antioxidant vitamins. Regular chokeberry juice drinking resulted in reduction of total cholesterol level (p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (p < 0.01) and triglycerides (p < 0.001), and increased HDL2 cholesterol (p < 0.001) level. Moderate but significant decreases in the serum glucose (p < 0.05), homocysteine (p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (p < 0.01) concentrationi were also observed. These beneficial metabolic changes were associated with significant hypotensive effect of chokeberry juice drinking. Our studies showed that drinking of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice may have a beneficial effect on reduction of cardiovascular risk.
The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of a chokeberry anthocyanin extract (CAE) on pancreatic β-cells (βTC3) exposed to hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) and high glucose- (HG-) induced oxidative stress conditions. In order to quantify individual anthocyanins high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to photodiode array (PDA) was used. The identification of the fragment ion pattern of anthocyanins was carried out by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The results showed that physiologically achievable concentrations of CAE (1, 5, and 10 μM) protect βTC3 against H2O2- and HG-induced cytotoxicity. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were increased in pancreatic β-cells pretreated with CAE compared to cells exposed to the prooxidant agents. GSH levels initially reduced after exposure to H2O2 and HG were restored by pretreatment with CAE. Insulin secretion in βTC3 cells was enhanced by CAE pretreatment. CAE restored the insulin pool and diminished the intracellular reactive oxygen species level in glucose-induced stress condition in βTC3 cells. These results demonstrate that anthocyanins from CAE were biologically active, showing a secretagogue potential and an antioxidative protection of enzymatic systems, conferring protection against H2O2 and glucose toxicity in βTC3 cells.
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 4-week-long consumption of glucomannan-enriched, aronia juice-based supplement on anthropometric parameters, membrane fatty acid profile, and status of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes obtained from postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity. Twenty women aged 45-65 with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 36.1 ± 4.4 kg/m(2) and waist circumference of 104.8 ± 10.1 cm were enrolled. Participants were instructed to consume 100 mL of supplement per day as part of their regular diet. A significant increase in the content of n-3 (P < 0.05) polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids was observed, with a marked increase in the level of docosahexaenoic fatty acid (P < 0.05). Accordingly, a decrease in the n-6 and n-3 fatty acids ratio was observed (P < 0.05). The observed effects were accompanied with an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05). Values for BMI (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) were significantly lower after the intervention. The obtained results indicate a positive impact of tested supplement on cellular oxidative damage, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices of obesity.
The bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of aronia leaves at different stages of maturity were identified and evaluated. Young and old leaves were approximately 2 months of age and 4 months of age, respectively. The young leaves contained more polyphenols and flavonoids than the old leaves. Three phenolic compounds (i.e., chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rutin) were detected by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical, and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. The reducing power of aronia leaf extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner (0~100 μg/mL). The antioxidant activity of the 80% ethanol extract was greater than that of distilled water extract. The high phenolic compound content indicated that these compounds contribute to antioxidant activity. The overall results indicate that aronia leaves contain bioactive compounds, and that younger aronia leaves may be more favorable for extracting antioxidative ingredients because they contain more polyphenols.
Black chokeberry fruits are very rich in antioxidant phenolics. After juice extraction, the wastes of pressed berries (juice production by-products) still contain important amount of phenolic species and namely anthocyanins. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) from such wastes was studied. The influence of extraction time (0–240 min), temperature (20–70 °C), solvent composition (0–50% ethanol in water) and ultrasound power (0–100 W) on anthocyanins and polyphenols yields and on antioxidant capacity of the extracts was studied. High temperature and ethanol content in the solvent improved greatly the extraction yields. Ultrasounds improved mainly the extraction kinetics. Ultrasound effect was higher in the beginning of extraction process and at low temperatures. Suitability of UAE for preparation of antioxidant-rich plant extracts at reduced time and energy was confirmed obtaining high extraction efficiencies and high antioxidant capacities of Aronia extracts. To optimize extraction conditions a kinetic mathematical model, based on Peleg's equation and considering also the rate of anthocyanins thermal degradation, was proposed. The influences of extraction time, temperature, solvent composition and ultrasound power on polyphenols and anthocyanins yields and on antioxidant capacity were considered. The optimal conditions for anthocyanins extraction predicted by this model were experimentally validated.
The study validated the antidyslipidemic, antioxidant, and antihyperglycemic effects of Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract in human subjects with dyslipidemia along with subjects of normal health. A total of 200 mL of freshly prepared Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract was administered daily on empty stomach for 90 days. Significant reductions (P < .01) were found in triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in blood. Cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient, and atherogenicity index of plasma were also improved. Appreciable reductions in body mass index (P < .01) and blood pressure (systolic P < .01, diastolic P < .05) along with a significant reduction (P < .05) in fasting blood glucose levels were also observed in these subjects. Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity in dyslipidemic subjects as evident from elevations in SOD (P < .05) and GSH levels (P < .01) with marked improvement in catalase (P < .01) and TBARS levels (P < .05). Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract serves as dietary adjunct in treatment of human dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease.
Abstract The aim of our study was to investigate possible beneficial effects of organic chokeberry juice (OCJ) consumption in the treatment of cellulite. Twenty-nine women aged 25-48 with a cellulite grade 2 according to the Nurnberger-Muller scale were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Skin structure was analyzed by ultrasonography. All subjects consumed 100 mL of OCJ per day, during 90 days. Measurements of investigated parameters were performed at 0, 45, and 90 days of the study. A marked reduction in the subcutaneous tissue thickness was observed in all subjects, with the average reduction of 1.9 mm. The length of subcutaneous tissue fascicles (ScTFL) was reduced in 97% (28 out of 29) of subjects, with the average value of 1.18 mm. After 45 days of chokeberry juice consumption, reduction of edema was observed in 55.2% of the subjects with edema at the baseline, while at the endpoint of the study, edemas were not observed in any of the subjects involved in the study. OCJ could have beneficial effects on the cellulite condition, including the length of ScTFL, subcutaneous tissue, and dermis thickness as well as on edema reduction.
Objective: To analyze the prevalence, control, and management of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2).
Design: Cross-sectional analysis of all individuals attended in the Catalan primary care centers between 2006 and 2009.
Location: History of cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, DM2, lipid profile, glycemia and blood pressure data were extracted from electronic medical records. Age-standardized prevalence and levels of management and control were estimated.
Participants: Individuals aged 35–74 years using primary care databases.
Main measures: A total of 2,174,515 individuals were included (mean age 52 years [SD 11], 47% men).
Results: Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor (39% in women, 41% in men) followed by hypercholesterolemia (38% and 40%) and DM2 (12% and 16%), respectively. Diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were most often prescribed for hypertension control (
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a distinctive berry with a high content of polyphenol compounds and possesses one of the highest in vitro antioxidant activities among fruits. The bioavailability of aronia polyphenols seems to be low, but there is ample evidence for chokeberry health benefits including antidiabetic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic effects. This review presents the available information for the bioavailability and antioxidant activity of chokeberry polyphenols and explains the possible mechanisms of action in vivo in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. The review shows the available data for chokeberry antioxidant activity in vitro, in isolated cells and cell lines, and in vivo, in both human subjects and animals. It is evident that in vivo antioxidant action of chokeberry extends far beyond radical scavenging and includes suppression of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species formation, inhibition of prooxidant enzymes, restoration of antioxidant enzymes, and probably cellular signaling to regulate the level of antioxidant compounds and enzymes. The original contribution of this work is that it compiles the available information up to date and outlines the gaps and future directions in the assessment of chokeberry antioxidant action in vivo.
Food may undergo enhanced oxidation in the stomach leading to increases in the generation of deleterious lipid peroxidation products. Following meat consumption an escalation occurs in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in human plasma. It was hypothesized that MDA could cause postprandial LDL modification in vivo, which can be abolished by the simultaneous addition of red wine polyphenols. Healthy volunteers consumed two test meals for four sequential days: meat cutlets (MC) and meat cutlets with red wine (MCRW). Postprandial plasma MDA levels after meal (MC) increased by 106 nmol/ml, and only by 57 nmol/ml after meal (MCRW). Following meal (MC) day 1 postprandial MDA–LDL levels increased by 27%. Following 4 days of repeated consumption of meal (MC), postprandial MDA–LDL levels increased by 96% (P = 0.021) and remained elevated after an overnight fast. Addition of red wine to the meal (MCRW) completely prevented postprandial MDA–LDL modification. It is concluded that the postprandial increase level of MDA in the plasma is partially responsible for LDL modification.
Aronia Medik., commonly known as chokeberry, is a genus of deciduous, multistemmed, rosaceous shrubs native to eastern North America. Three species of chokeberry are commonly accepted, A. arbutifolia (L.) Pers., red chokeberry, A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott, black chokeberry, and A. prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, or purple chokeberry. In Europe, a fourth species of human origin is recognized as Aronia mitschurinii A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul. In North America this type of Aronia is described as cultivars of A. melanocarpa, including ‘Viking’, ‘Nero’, and ‘Aron’. This species is characterized by near homogeneity of the population, tetraploidy, and a distinct morphology with more robust stems, wider leaf blades, and larger fruits than wild populations of A. melanocarpa. It has been proposed that this genotype originated from Russian pomologist Ivan Michurin’s early 20th century experiments involving Aronia × Sorbus hybridization. In this study we used amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) markers to elucidate the relationships of A. mitschurinii to wild North American Aronia, ×Sorbaronia C.K. Schneid, Sorbus L., and six additional genera from subtribe Pyrinae (Rosaceae). Data from seven primer combinations were interpreted by the NTSYSpc software package into a similarity matrix using Jaccard’s coefficient. Clustering of AFLP similarity data using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) identified A. mitschurinii as distinct from wild Aronia, grouping it close to ×Sorbaronia fallax C. K. Schneid. and ×Sorbaronia ‘Ivan’s Beauty’. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) also demonstrated a relationship between A. mitschurinii, ×Sorbaronia fallax, a ×Sorbaronia × Aronia backcross and compound-leaved Sorbus.
The aim of this study is to characterize the content of Aronia melanocarpa Elliott (black chokeberry) extract and also to estimate the influence of polyphenolic compounds contained in chokeberries on oxidative stress, on an L-NAME-induced experimental model of arterial hypertension. The rat blood pressure values were recorded using a CODA Noninvasive Blood Pressure System. HPLC/DAD coupled with ElectroSpray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry allowed identification of five phenolic compounds in berries ethanolic extract as follows: chlorogenic acid, kuromanin, rutin, hyperoside, and quercetin. The serous activity of glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) has significantly lower values in the hypertensive (AHT) group as compared to the group protected by polyphenols (AHT + P). The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values are lower in the AHT group and they are significantly higher in the AHT + P group. All the measured blood pressure components revealed a biostatistically significant blood pressure drop between the AHT group and the AHT + P group. The results reveal the normalization of the reduced glutathion (GSH) concentration as well as a considerable reduction in the malondialdehyde (MDA) serum concentration in the AHT + P group. Ethanolic extract of black chokeberry fruits not only has a potential value as a prophylactic agent but also may function as a nutritional supplement in the management of arterial hypertension.
Phenolic compounds are well-known phytochemicals found in all plants. They consist of simple phenols, benzoic and cinnamic acid, coumarins, tannins, lignins, lignans and flavonoids. Substantial developments in research focused on the extraction, identification and quantification of phenolic compounds as medicinal and/or dietary molecules have occurred over the last 25 years. Organic solvent extraction is the main method used to extract phenolics. Chemical procedures are used to detect the presence of total phenolics, while spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques are utilized to identify and quantify individual phenolic compounds. This review addresses the application of different methodologies utilized in the analysis of phenolic compounds in plant-based products, including recent technical developments in the quantification of phenolics.
Anthocyanins from fruits of Aronia melunocap (chokeberry) were extracted with acidified ethanol and methanol and fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography. The pigment composition was very simple as there were only four compounds. Semi-preparative HPLC, thin-layer chromatography and spectral techniques indicated cyanidin as a single aglycone and glucose, galactose, arabinose, and xylose as associated sugars. The relative proportions of anthocyanins were determined. The major components were cyanidin 3-galactoside and cyanidin 3-arabinoside.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate small and high molecular phenolics (tannins) and antioxidant activity of
Aronia melanocarpa berries, juice and pomace in order to find new potential sources of natural antioxidants. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa Elliot were collected in the middle of October at a plantation near Wroclaw, Poland. The pomace has a much higher content
of phenolics in comparision to juice and fruits. Results showed that polymeric proanthocyanins, predominantly of (−)epicatechin,
are the major class of polyphenolic compounds in chokeberry, represent 66% of fruits polyphenols. The average concentration
ranged from 1578.79mg/100g of DW for chokeberry juice up to 8191.58mg/100g in pomace. The concentration of phenolic acids
(chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids) in juice was higher than in pomace. Anthocyanins in Aronia melanocarpa are second phenolic compound group and represent about 25% of total polyphenols, mixture of four different cyanidin glycosides:
3-galactoside, 3-glucoside, 3-arabinoside and 3-xyloside. The higher antioxidant activity expressed as TEAC was measured in
pomace >fruit >juice.
Berries contain vitamin C and are also a rich source of phytochemicals, especially anthocyanins which occur along with other classes of phenolic compounds, including ellagitannins, flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, flavonols and hydroxybenzoate derivatives. This review examines studies with both human subjects and animals on the absorption of these compounds, and their glucuronide, sulphate and methylated metabolites, into the circulatory system from the gastrointestinal tract and the evidence for their localisation within the body in organs such as the brain and eyes. The involvement of the colonic microflora in catabolising dietary flavonoids that pass from the small to the large intestine is discussed along with the potential fate and role of the resultant phenolic acids that can be produced in substantial quantities. The in vitro and in vivo bioactivities of these polyphenol metabolites and catabolites are assessed, and the current evidence for their involvement in the protective effects of dietary polyphenols, within the gastrointestinal tract and other parts of the body to which they are transported by the circulatory system, is reviewed.
A number of databases on the plant metabolome describe the chemistry and biosynthesis of plant chemicals. However, no such database is specifically focused on foods and more precisely on polyphenols, one of the major classes of phytochemicals. As antioxidants, polyphenols influence human health and may play a role in the prevention of a number of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, some cancers or type 2 diabetes. To determine polyphenol intake in populations and study their association with health, it is essential to have detailed information on their content in foods. However this information is not easily collected due to the variety of their chemical structures and the variability of their content in a given food. Phenol-Explorer is the first comprehensive web-based database on polyphenol content in foods. It contains more than 37,000 original data points collected from 638 scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals. The quality of these data has been evaluated before they were aggregated to produce final representative mean content values for 502 polyphenols in 452 foods. The web interface allows making various queries on the aggregated data to identify foods containing a given polyphenol or polyphenols present in a given food. For each mean content value, it is possible to trace all original content values and their literature sources. Phenol-Explorer is a major step forward in the development of databases on food constituents and the food metabolome. It should help researchers to better understand the role of phytochemicals in the technical and nutritional quality of food, and food manufacturers to develop tailor-made healthy foods. Database URL: http://www.phenol-explorer.eu.
The Aronia genus (Rosaceae family, Maloideae subfamily) includes two species of native North American shrubs: Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Ell. (black chokeberry) and Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Pers. (red chokeberry). The fruits of A. melanocarpa have been traditionally used by Potawatomi Native Americans to cure colds. In the first half of the 20(th) century, cultivars of black chokeberry were introduced to the Soviet Union and other European countries, providing fruits used by food industry. At present, it is used mainly for juice, jam, and wine production, as well as an ornamental plant. Among other substances, the berries of A. melanocarpa contain anthocyanins and procyanidins, possessing strong antioxidative potential. Numerous health-promoting activities-namely, antioxidative, antimutagenic, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, radioprotective, and immunomodulatory-have been demonstrated for black chokeberry extracts by both in vitro and in in vivo studies. The presented review summarizes the information concerning botany, cultivation, chemical composition, and pharmacological activities of Aronia plants.
Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of antioxidant polyphenols from Aronia melanocarpa berries was
studied. The influence of various parameters (time and temperature of extraction, solvent composition,
solid–solvent ratio, particle size, and ultrasonic irradiations) on the extraction kinetics and yields was
evaluated. Very clear effect of ultrasound was observed (up to 85% increase of the yield of extracted polyphenols).
High temperature and the presence of ethanol in the solvent improved also greatly the extraction
process. The high antioxidant activity of the extracts determined by DPPH tests confirmed suitability
of UAE for the preparation of antioxidant-rich plant extracts. A very good correlation between the concentration
of polyphenols in the extracts and the corresponding antioxidant activity was observed.
Aronia melanocarpa, black chokeberry, is a deciduous shrub native to the Great Lakes Region and eastern North America. In August 2014, aronia plants with brown leaf spots (approximately 60% disease incidence) were sampled from an orchard in Hamyang, South Korea. Leaf symptoms included small, 1 to 5-mm-diameter, circular to irregularly shaped, brown spots surrounded by distinct dark, brownish-red haloes. Later, spots expanded and coalesced into irregularly shaped lesions. Leaves with severe infection dried and eventually dropped. To isolate fungal pathogens from infected leaves, diseased leaf tissues excised from the margin of lesions were surface-disinfested in 1% NaOCl for 30 s, rinsed three times with distilled sterilized water, then placed on water agar and cultured at 25°C for 4 days. Mycelial tips of developing fungal cultures were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) for identification. Five Alternaria isolates were recovered from the infected plant samples. All fungal colonies were dark olive and produced loose, aerial hyphae on the surface of the colony. Conidia, which had 3 to 6 transverse septa, 1 to 2 longitudinal septa, and sometimes also a few oblique septa, were pale brown to golden brown, ellipsoid to ovoid, obclavate to obpyriform, and measured 12 to 38 × 7 to 16 μm (n = 50). On the basis of the morphological characteristics, the fungi were placed in the Alternaria alternata group (Woudenberg et al. 2013). A representative isolate was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection under Accession No. KACC 47991. To confirm the identity of the fungus, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region and the large intron of translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) of isolate KACC 47991 were amplified using ITS1/ITS4 and EF1-728F/EF1-986R primers, respectively (White et al. 1990; Deng et al. 2013). The DNA products were cloned into the pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and the resulting plasmids were sequenced using universal primers. The ITS rDNA sequence of isolate KACC 47991 (GenBank Accession No. KT355705) was homologous and shared 100% identity with A. alternata strains HBxn2-1 from China and STE-U4349 from South Africa, causing ramie leaf spot (HQ645083) and citrus black rot (AF404664), respectively, while the EF-1α gene sequence (KT355704) was 99% identical to that of A. alternata isolate PhP2 from Italy (KP861903), causing heart rot of pomegranate (Faedda et al. 2015). Isolate KACC 47991 was used to conduct pathogenicity tests on detached aronia leaves. Ten leaves were rinsed with distilled sterilized water and inoculated by spraying with a conidial suspension of 2 × 106 conidia/ml until run-off. Ten negative control leaves were treated with sterilized distilled water. All leaves were kept in a moist chamber with >90% relative humidity at 25°C. After 15 days, leaf spot symptoms similar to those observed in the field developed on the inoculated leaves, whereas the control leaves remained asymptomatic. A. alternata was reisolated from the lesions of the inoculated plants to fulfill Koch’s postulates. The morphological features of fungi reisolated from inoculated plants were the same as those of the original isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of brown leaf spot caused by A. alternata on aronia in Korea. As the plants are imported, little is known about pathogens associated with aronia in Korea. The recent outbreak of brown leaf spot poses a potential threat to aronia production in Korea. © 2016, American Phytopathological Society. All rights reserved.
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa Elliott), belonging to Rosaceae, is low wood of North America origin. It was introduced for the berry into Japan (Hokkaido) from former Soviet Union in 1976. Now in Hokkaido, it is cultivated in Sapporo (at Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station), Ebetsu and Otaki. As for the cultivation, there were both trees of the North America derivation and the Russia derivation in Ebetu, and were the Russia derivation in the other places. In order to develop processed foods for Black chokeberry, chemical components and characteristics, i.e., proximate composition, organic acids and dietary fiber, polyphenol contents, mineral and vitamin contents, Brix, pH and one fruit weight, were investigated on 4 kinds of Black chokeberries in 3 places. The berries contained more β-carotene (770.6 μg/100 g), dietary fiber (5.62 g/100g) than other fruits and berries. The content of β-cryptoxanthin (463.0 μg/100g) and polyphenol (748.4 mg/100g) in these were also high. The berries of the Russia derivation, as compared with those of the North America derivation, tended to be higher content of vitamin C, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and organic acids, but to be lower content of polyphenol.
The application of dietary fiber produced from fruit or vegetable by-products in baked foods is of growing interest for the food industry, providing the possibility for delivering reduced energy/sugar products. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of sucrose replacement by a combination of rebaudioside A and wheat, apple or pea fiber, and the respective influence on batter and product characteristics. The main focus was on the production of muffins from batters with similar viscosity, the formulation of which was realized by the adaption of water levels in the recipes. Small strain oscillatory measurements of muffin batter with temperature sweeps from 25 to 100 °C revealed that thermally induced structure modifications caused by protein denaturation and starch gelatinization were delayed with increasing replacement of sucrose by fiber. Volume, water activity and crumb firmness increased and in vitro starch digestion decreased with increasing level of fiber incorporation and sugar replacement. Sucrose replacement of 30% by wheat fiber and rebaudioside A resulted in products close to the reference muffin.
Black chokeberry fruits are rich in anthocyanins and can be used as a raw material for the production of natural food colourants. Fruit quality was studied during maturation in three true black chokeberry cultivars and in three cultivars derived through hybridization between chokeberry and rowans (Sorbus spp.). For each trait studied, the three black chokeberry cultivars were very similar. The three hybrid cultivars differed however from the black chokeberry cultivars for some traits in both timing and size of the response which indicates that cultivar selection for improvement of fruit quality can hardly be done among the true black chokeberry genotypes but may be efficient when the hybrid cultivars are also included. For the black chokeberry cultivars, maximum berry weight was reached already by the 22 August. Anthocyanin content increased by 180% during the period mid-August to mid-September. Meanwhile, the content of undesirable brown compounds increased by 100%. The content of malic acid remained unchanged whereas total acidity decreased in the initial part of the study period. Variation among sampling dates in total acidity was negatively correlated with variation in berry weight which suggests that dilution by water uptake affects total acidity. For the true black chokeberry cultivars, optimal harvest date was determined to be 8 September for this trial, when both mean berry weight and anthocyanin content had reached their maximum. By harvesting one week earlier browning was reduced by 32% but with a simultaneous decrease in anthocyanin content of 20%.
A planting of chokeberry [Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott] was established in 1997, using rooted cuttings, at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, Oregon. The cultivars evaluated were 'Albigowa', 'Darbrowice', 'Egerta', 'Kutno', 'Nero', and 'Nowa Wies'. All cultivars grew vigorously in the planting year. In 1998, there was no fruit harvest due to bird depredation; the plot was netted from 1999-01. Yield in 1999 ranged from 4.4 to 12.4 kg/plant with 'Egerta' producing the lowest yield and 'Nero' the highest. In 2000, yield ranged from 13.0 ('Egerta') to 22.1 ('Kutno') kg/plant and in 2001, from 13.1 ('Egerta') to 24.1 ('Nero') kg/plant. 'Kutno', 'Albigowa' and 'Nowa Wies' did not differ significantly in yield from 1999-2001. Plants were pruned for the first time in winter 2000/01. Berry weight ranged from 2.7 to 2.8 g in 2001, considerably larger than in 1999 and 2000. Percent soluble solids at harvest in 2001 ranged from 15.8 to 18.3 percent. Berries contained from 440 to 574 mg/100g anthocyanin.
Pancreatic lipase is the most important enzyme in digestion of triglycerides. Reduction of energy intake from dietary fat through inhibition of this enzyme may be a strategy to prevent and treat obesity. In this study, the effect of 31 fruit extracts on pancreatic lipase was investigated using triolein, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil emulsions. Surprisingly, about 30 % of the fruits tested stimulated pancreatic lipase activity in oil emulsions by over 50 %. Only six fruit extracts were found to inhibit pancreatic lipase activity with the IC50 value varying from 21.11 to 266.48 mg of fruit equivalent/ml of emulsion. Among them, chokeberry demonstrated the highest anti-lipase activity. The inhibitory activity ranks were comparable in all lipid emulsion models and suggest that consumption of chokeberry, red gooseberry and red currant fruits may be a new dietary option for reduction of fat absorption via inhibition of pancreatic lipase.
A new integrated extraction–adsorption process has recently been proposed for selective recovery of
antioxidants from black chokeberry wastes. This green process consists in combining extraction of
antioxidants and simultaneous enrichment of the extracts in a single operation. The objective of the present
work was to demonstrate pilot scale feasibility of this new process for production of larger quantities
of antioxidant rich extracts. To prepare better the pilot scale experiment, the process was firstly optimized
at a laboratory scale. Best results were obtained at process duration of 8 h and 10 cycles of liquid
phase. A scale-up factor of 50 between laboratory and pilot scale was applied for quantities of raw source,
adsorbent (both from 4 to 200 g) and solvent (from 0.8 to 40 L). The results obtained at pilot scale were
similar to those at laboratory scale, showing that the integrated extraction–adsorption process could be
used for production of large quantities of extracts highly rich in antioxidant phenolics.
A life cycle assessment study is performed for the energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions in an algal biodiesel production system. Subcritical water (SCW) extraction was applied for extracting bio-crude oil from algae, and conventional transesterification method was used for converting the algal oil to biodiesel. 58MJ of energy is required to produce 1kg of biodiesel without any co-products management, of which 36% was spent on cultivation and 56% on lipid extraction. SCW extraction with thermal energy recovery reduces the energy consumption by 3-5 folds when compared to the traditional solvent extraction. It is estimated that 1kg of algal biodiesel fixes about 0.6kg of CO2. An optimized case considering the energy credits from co-products could further reduce the total energy demand. The energy demand for producing 1kg of biodiesel in the optimized case is 28.23MJ.
UTI (Urinary tract infection) is a major problem in nursing homes, and the mainstay of treatment is antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of uropathogens resistant to antimicrobial agents has stimulated interest in specific nutrients, e.g., cranberries, to prevent recurring UTI. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa [Michx.] Elliott) is a rich source of phenolics, and thus, dietary intake of black chokeberry juice may reduce the incidences of UTI requiring medical treatment. In this pilot study, we examined the frequency of medically treated UTI among residents in six nursing homes who were offered black chokeberry juice or a placebo during a 6-month cross-over intervention. The residents were offered a placebo drink for a 3-month period, and followed by chokeberry juice for the next 3 months (group A) or vice versa (group B). The juice was characterized by a high content of total phenolics (715 mg GAE 100 mL-1), including B-type procyanidins, anthocyanins, and chlorogenic acids. Daily intake of chokeberry juice was 156 mL per resident in group A (n = 110) and 89 mL per resident in group B (n = 126). UTI comprised 55% of all medically treated infections during the study period. The results revealed no immediate reduction in the frequency of UTI or the total use of antibiotics; however, during the subsequent 3 month period of juice administration, a reduction in antibiotics toward UTI was observed in both groups. The incidence of UTI was reduced by 55% in group A and 38% in group B. No changes in other infections or in use of prophylactics were observed.
The effect of long-term polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice consumption on activities of antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in erythrocytes of 25 healthy women was examined. Percentages of membrane fatty acids, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were assessed at a baseline, in the middle and at the end of a 3-month-long consumption period. A significant increase in C22:6n-3, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), total PUFAs and unsaturation index and a significant decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and n-6:n-3 ratio were found. Significantly higher SOD and GPX activities were also recorded at the end of the study. Serum lipids and glucose were stabile during the consumption period, while the levels of thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (TBARS), as serum indicator of lipid peroxidation, were reduced significantly. These results indicate a positive impact of regular chokeberry juice consumption on cellular oxidative damage and suggest its putative role in the protection against oxidative stress.
Aronia berries are known for their high content of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin. Four different cultivars of aronia berries, Aronia melanocarpa ‘Moskva’, ‘Hugin’, ‘Nero’ and Aronia prunifolia, were studied with respect to their phenolic composition, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. Quantification of anthocyanins was determined by HPLC and separation was accomplished in less than 4 min. Cyanidin 3-galactoside was the major anthocyanin in all cultivars, with the highest content in A. prunifolia (497 ± 20 mg/100 g FW). A. prunifolia was also found to have the highest content of polyphenols (2996 ± 172 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g FW) and proanthocyanidins (4.79 g procyanidin B2 equivalents/100 g FW). As antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors, the differences between extracts from the tested berries were minor. Berries from A. prunifolia constitute the richest source of polyphenols and might be the species of choice in order to attain berries with a high content of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin.
Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) fruit contains some bioactive phenolic phytochemicals, mainly cyanidin-3-glucoside (cy3-glc) and chlorogenic acid. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anthocyanin-rich phenolic phytochemical (containing 13.2% anthocyanin) purified from a Haskap fruit (named Haskap phytochemical) on postprandial serum triglyceride and blood glucose levels. The Haskap phytochemical (containing cy 3-glc at 300 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally to rats fasted for 24 h and 30 min later, a corn oil emulsion was administered to these rats. After the administration, serum triglyceride concentration was measured. An increase in serum triglyceride concentration and the AUC significantly lowered in the Haskap phytochemical-administered group than in the saline-administered group. To evaluate the effect of serum glucose levels, the Haskap phytochemical was orally administered to rats fasted for 24 h and sucrose solution (2 g/kg of body weight) was administered to these rats after 30 min. After the administration, blood glucose level was measured. The Haskap phytochemical significantly reduced the increase in blood glucose levels and AUC in the Haskap phytochemical-administered group than in the saline-administered group. Furthermore, to investigate the long-term effects of Haskap phytochemical intake, high-fat diet (HF diet) with 1.5% or 3.0% Haskap phytochemical was administered to rats for four weeks. The investigation of chronological changes in the serum components of the rats fed HF diets in addition to the administration of Haskap phytochemical showed that the increase in serum triglyceride concentrations, total cholesterol concentrations and blood glucose were significantly suppressed compared to the HF diet-fed control (HF-control). These results suggest that the decrease in postprandial blood lipids and blood glucose by short or long-term Haskap phytochemical ingestion is due to anthocyanin and other polyphenols contained in the Haskap phytochemical.
Chokeberries are an excellent source of polyphenols, but their fate during juice processing and storage are unknown. The stability of anthocyanin's, total proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols at various stages of juice processing and over six months of storage at 25 oC were determined. Flavonols, total proanthocyanidins and hydroxycinnamic acids were retained in the juice to a greater extent than anthocyanins, with losses mostly due to removal of seeds and skins following pressing. Anthocyanins were extensively degraded by thermal treatments during which time levels of protcatechuic acid and phloroglucinaldehyde increased, and additional losses occurred following pressing. Flavonols, total proanthocyanidins and hydroxycinnamic acids were well retained in juices stored for 6 months at 25 oC, while anthocyanins declined linearly. Anthocyanin losses during storage were paralleled by increased polymeric color values indicating that the small amounts of anthocyanins remaining were present in large part in polymeric forms.
Hypertension is a major public health problem rising across the globe. Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is identified as a main therapeutic target in controlling high blood pressure. The present study investigated the ACE inhibitory property of a flavonoid-rich apple peel extract (FAE), its constituents, selected flavonoids and some quercetin metabolites using a biochemical assay of ACE inhibition and a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. FAE, all the tested flavonoids except genistein, and two quercetin metabolites (quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid and quercetin-3-O-sulfate) significantly (p<0.05) inhibited ACE. Enzyme kinetic analysis revealed that flavonoids are competitive inhibitors of ACE. In the HUVEC model, FAE, quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid inhibited significantly (p<0.05) ACE activity. Overall, FAE and most of the flavonoids tested showed ACE inhibition in vitro which needs further investigations using animal and human clinical trials.
Recent studies dramatically showed that the removal of circulating modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) results in complete prevention of atherosclerosis. The gastrointestinal tract is constantly exposed to food, some of it containing oxidized compounds. Lipid oxidation in the stomach was demonstrated by ingesting heated red meat in rats. Red wine polyphenols added to the rats' meat diet prevented lipid peroxidation in the stomach and absorption of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat plasma. In humans, postprandial plasma MDA levels rose by 3-fold after a meal of red meat cutlets. MDA derived from meat consumption caused postprandial plasma LDL modification in human. The levels of plasma MDA showed a 75% reduction by consumption of red wine polyphenols during the meat meal. Locating the main biological site of action of polyphenols in the stomach led to a revision in the understanding of how antioxidants work in vivo and may help to elucidate the mechanism involved in the protective effects of polyphenols in human health.
A method for extraction of oregano oil based on the use of subcritical water is proposed. Ground oregano (ca. 1.8 g accurately weighed) was extracted with water at 2.0 MPa, 125 °C and 1 ml min−1 for 24 min. The extracted compounds were removed from the aqueous extract by a single extraction with 4 ml hexane, determined by gas-chromatography-flame ionisation (GC-FID) and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Hydrodistillation was performed on 30 g of ground oregano with 500 ml water for 3 h for comparison of the results with those provided by the proposed method. The subcritical water extraction-based method is clearly quicker and more efficient than the conventional: yields from the former for eight of the 11 major compounds in the extract are higher after 15-min extraction than after hydrodistillation for 3 h. This enables substantial cost savings of both energy and raw material. In addition, the proposed method has the possibility of manipulating the composition of the oil and thus its quality. The aqueous-oil extract was investigated for essential oil preparative purposes and several fast, cheap and clean alternatives for breaking the emulsion and separating the phases are proposed.
The effect of fertilizer rate on fruit quality parameters in the black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa [Michx] Ell.) cv. `Viking' was studied over three years. A combined N–P–K fertilizer was applied in different rates. Plant height, yield, berry weight, anthocyanin content, content of brown compounds, content of soluble solids, anthocyanin composition and total acidity were recorded for the different treatments. Increased application of fertilizers resulted in increased vegetative growth and yield whereas the content of anthocyanins and total acidity decreased. Mean berry weight, content of brown compounds, soluble solids and anthocyanin composition were unaffected. Correlations between the different parameters were calculated at single plant level. Positive correlations were found between plant height and yield, between plant height and browning index, and between anthocyanin content and total acidity. Negative correlations were found between plant height on one hand, and anthocyanin content and total acidity on the other hand. It was concluded that an increased fertilizer application results in increased growth and higher yield whereas pigment content and total acidity decrease. Maximum production of anthocyanins per plant was obtained with a medium high fertilizer rate (50 kg N/ha, 44 kg P/ha, 100 kg K/ha).
Chokeberries are a rich source of anthocyanins, which may contribute to the prevention of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to determine if an extract from chokeberries would reduce weight gain in rats fed a fructose-rich diet (FRD) and to explore the potential mechanisms related to insulin signalling, adipogenesis and inflammatory-related pathways. Wistar rats were fed a FRD for 6 weeks to induce insulin resistance, with or without chokeberry extract (CBE) added to the drinking-water (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, daily: CBE100 and CBE200). Both doses of CBE consumption lowered epididymal fat, blood glucose, TAG, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. CBE consumption also elevated plasma adiponectin levels and inhibited plasma TNF-α and IL6, compared with the control group. There were increases in the mRNA expression for Irs1, Irs2, Pi3k, Glut1, Glut4 and Gys1, and decreases in mRNA levels of Gsk3β. The protein and gene expression of adiponectin and Pparγ mRNA levels were up-regulated and Fabp4, Fas and Lpl mRNA levels were inhibited. The levels of gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as Il1β, Il6 and Tnfα were lowered, and protein and gene expression of ZFP36 (zinc finger protein) were enhanced in the epididymal adipose tissue of the rats that consumed the CBE200 extract. In summary, these results suggest that the CBE decreased risk factors related to insulin resistance by modulating multiple pathways associated with insulin signalling, adipogenesis and inflammation.
Products derived from the black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa, are claimed to be beneficial in disorders or diseases associated with oxidative stress. The claims are based on evidence from in vitro studies and animal experiments. The active principle--a mixture of procyanidins, anthocyanins and phenolic acids--constitutes one of the most potent natural antioxidants. A systematic review was carried out of the quality of the clinical trials on chokeberry products that had been published up to December 2009, and conventionally established criteria were used to assess the strength of the evidence for their clinical effectiveness. Thirteen studies were identified. The quality of most of the trials and, correspondingly, the evidence of effectiveness for Aronia products is poor. Though laboratory and clinical data indicate that chokeberry products may well be useful as 'functional food' for disorders or diseases related to oxidative stress, these promising indications need to be confirmed in more rigorous studies before putative therapeutic uses can be confidently recommended for chokeberry products.
Cranberry pomace was mixed with corn starch in various ratios (30:70, 40:60, 50:50 pomace/corn starch DW) and extruded using a twin-screw extruder at three temperatures (150, 170, 190 degrees C) and two screw speeds (150, 200 rpm). Changes in the anthocyanin, flavonol, and procyanidin contents due to extrusion were determined by HPLC. Antioxidant capacity of the extrudates was determined using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Anthocyanin retention was dependent upon barrel temperature and percent pomace. The highest retention was observed at 150 degrees C and 30% pomace. Flavonols increased by 30-34% upon extrusion compared to an unextruded control. ORAC values increased upon extrusion at 170 and 190 degrees C. An increase in DP1 and DP2 procyanidins was also observed; however, a decrease was observed in DP4-DP9 oligomers. These data suggest that extrusion alters the polyphenolic distribution of cranberry pomace and has application in the nutraceutical industry as a means of improving the functionality of this coproduct.