Relationship between browning and related enzymes (PAL, PPO and POD) in rambutan fruit (Nephelium lappaceum Linn.) cvs. Rongrien and See-Chompoo

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum Linn.) fruit cvs. Rongrien and See-Chompoo were stored in low (60–70%) and high (85–95%) relative humidity (RH) environments at 25 °C for 6 d. Changes in weight loss, browning index, phenols content and activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were measured. By d 6 of storage, browning was severe in the spinterns but slight in the peel of both cultivars. High RH delayed spintern browning but had only a small effect on peel browning. The phenols content and PAL activity in peel from both cultivars were generally higher than in the spinterns. RH had no effect on the changes in phenols during storage but PAL activity increased in the peel but not spinterns of both cultivars at d 4 of storage in low RH. The initial activities of PPO and POD in spinterns of both cultivars were higher than in peel. PPO activity in the spinterns of both cultivars was similar and was not affected by RH. The initial activity of POD was lower in the peel and the spinterns of Rongrien fruit but there were no clear responses to RH during storage. Higher activities of PPO and POD in the spinterns compared to the peel may also be a factor in the higher rates of browning of the spinterns.     

Inhibitory Activity of Cinnamon Bark Species and their Combination Effect with Acarbose against Intestinal α-glucosidase and Pancreatic α-amylase

Inhibition of α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase is one of the therapeutic approaches for delaying carbohydrate digestion, resulting in reduced postprandial glucose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical analysis and the inhibitory effect of various cinnamon bark species against intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase. The results showed that the content of total phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannin ranged from 0.17 to 0.21 g gallic acid equivalent/g extract, from 48.85 to 65.52 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, and from 0.12 to 0.15 g catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The HPLC fingerprints of each cinnamon species were established. Among cinnamon species, Thai cinnamon extract was the most potent inhibitor against the intestinal maltase with the IC₅₀ values of 0.58 ± 0.01 mg/ml. The findings also showed that Ceylon cinnamon was the most effective intestinal sucrase and pancreatic α-amylase inhibitor with the IC₅₀ values of 0.42 ± 0.02 and 1.23 ± 0.02 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, cinnamon extracts produced additive inhibition against intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase when combined with acarbose. These results suggest that cinnamon bark extracts may be potentially useful for the control of postprandial glucose in diabetic patients through inhibition of intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase.     

Quality and volatile attributes of attached and detached ‘Pluk Mai Lie’ papaya during fruit ripening

The ‘Pluk Mai Lie’ papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a promising cultivated fruit for use in fresh and processed products due to its firm flesh, but the aroma it releases is flat. Changes in quality and volatile profiles were analyzed during on- and off-tree fruit ripening. Detached fruit ripened faster than attached fruit, accumulating high internal ethylene levels. Aside from peel color, which was redder in on-tree ripened fruit, most quality attributes changed similarly in the two ripening situations. A slight increase in total soluble solids (TSS) was measured from the onset of the preclimacteric stage, whereas titratable acidity (TA) remained stable throughout the development. Whereas 2-ethyl-1-hexanol was found specifically in green fruit, ethyl octanoate emerged only in fully-ripe fruit. Furthermore, benzyl isothiocyanate was the most abundant volatile and was present in fruit at every stage except full ripening. The production of total esters, highly correlated with a loss of firmness and an increase in cavity ethylene accumulation, was about 10-fold higher in off-tree ripened fruit. The levels of methanol and ethanol sources in fruit increased steadily throughout ripening, with esters formed from ethyl alcohol predominating from the half-ripe through the senescence phases. The alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the mesocarp increased dramatically during the early ripening stages, whereas alcohol acetyltransferase was active throughout ripening. No difference in volatile profiles was found in the papaya fruit during on-tree and postharvest ripening.     

Physiological and physico-chemical changes in green papaya (Carica papaya L. ‘Kaek Noul’) shreds taken from the outer or inner mesocarp

This study compared physiological and physico-chemical changes in shreds of green papaya (Carica papaya L. ‘Kaek Noul’), taken from inner and outer mesocarp tissues, during storage at 7ºC for up to 8 d. Reductions in the flesh firmness of shreds, microstructure, colouration, dry matter content (DMC), and fresh weight (FW) loss, and in the rates of respiration, ethylene production, and enzyme activities were measured. The rapid loss of firmness of green papaya ‘Kaek Noul’ shreds taken from the inner mesocarp was attributed to the larger and more loosely arranged cells of the inner mesocarp compared to the smaller and compact cells of the outer mesocarp. Shreds taken from the outer mesocarp had a higher DMC [6.21–6.77% (w/w)] than those from the inner mesocarp [5.83–6.34% (w/w)] during storage at 7ºC. FW loss was higher for shreds from the inner mesocarp than from the outer mesocarp (0.89–1.12% vs. 0.39–1.00%, respectively). Colour values (h°) were lower at the end of storage for shreds from the inner mesocarp than shreds from the outer mesocarp (104.38° and 111.94°, respectively). Moreover, scanning electron micrographs of shreds from inner mesocarp and outer mesocarp tissues showed that the slower loss of firmness in shreds from the outer mesocarp could be attributed to having smaller and more compact cells, as well as to lower ethylene production by the outer mesocarp. However, this was not related to cellulase activity. This study indicated why processors prefer to use shreds from the outer mesocarp of green papaya.     

Assessment of volatile and non-volatile organic compounds in the liquid endosperm of young ‘Nam Hom’ coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) at two stages of maturity

SUMMARY

Young coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) fruit collected 6–8 months after anthesis (MAA) contain a high volume of water [20% (w/w)] and can provide a refreshing drink. The present study investigated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as aroma components, and physico-chemical changes in the liquid endosperm of young ‘Nam Hom’ coconut at two stages of maturity: the one-layer stage (6 MAA) and the two-layer stage (7.0–7.5 MAA) of the flesh. The liquid endosperm of coconut fruit becomes sweeter and more turbid late during maturation. Lauric acid (C_12:0) and myristic acid (C_14:0) were the main free fatty acids in the liquid endosperm of coconut. Short-chain fatty acid (C₁₀–C₁₂) concentrations increased slightly, and longer-chain fatty acid (C₁₄–C₁₈) concentrations declined when fruit matured from the one- to the two-layer stage of flesh. Solvent extractions showed a 1.4-fold increase in the total concentration of VOCs in the liquid endosperm during fruit development. This was related to a major increase in squalene and sterols, to 21.7% (w/w) of the total VOC and non-volatile organic compounds, whereas the concentrations of terpenes and esters remained stable. Although a series of alkanes existed in the liquid endosperm of coconut, the main aroma components were 2-methyl-1-butyl acetate and terpenes such as D-limonene, α-pinene, and 3-carene. We conclude that, when coconut fruit developed from the one- to the two-layered flesh stage, the liquid endosperm not only became sweeter and contained higher concentrations of aroma volatile and non-volatile components, but also became oily and less translucent.     

Protection of Clitoria ternatea flower petal extract against free radical-induced hemolysis and oxidative damage in canine erythrocytes

The present study assessed the antioxidant activity and protective ability of Clitoria ternatea flower petal extract (CTE) against in vitro 2,2′-azobis-2-methyl-propanimidamide dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis and oxidative damage of canine erythrocytes. From the phytochemical analysis, CTE contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In addition, CTE showed antioxidant activity as measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. CTE (400 µg/ml) remarkably protected erythrocytes against AAPH-induced hemolysis at 4 h of incubation. Moreover, CTE (400 µg/ml) reduced membrane lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl group formation and prevented the reduction of glutathione concentration in AAPH-induced oxidation of erythrocytes. The AAPH-induced morphological alteration of erythrocytes from a smooth discoid to an echinocytic form was effectively protected by CTE. The present results contribute important insights that CTE may have the potential to act as a natural antioxidant to prevent free radical-induced hemolysis, protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes.     

Phytochemical Composition,Antiglycation, Antioxidant Activity and Methylglyoxal-Trapping Action of Brassica Vegetables

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Brassica vegetables are common in cuisines worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiglycation, methylglyoxal (MG)-trapping action and...     

Biochemical and physiological changes during chlorophyll degradation in lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle cv. ‘Paan’)

Summary

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle cv. ‘Paan’) native to South East Asia, has a distinct flavour and quality characteristics. Maintenance of the green colour in the peel of lime is a desirable quality attribute during storage. Post-harvest chlorophyll degradation in lime was studied in fruit stored at room temperature (30°C) at a relative humidity (RH) of 70 – 85%. Within 7 d of storage, the total chlorophyll content decreased to 53.9% of its initial level. The highest chlorophyllase activity (1.68 units mg^–1 protein) was observed after 4 d of storage and declined thereafter. Peroxidase activity differed from chlorophyllase activity and increased significantly to 6.25 units mg^–1 protein after 9 d of storage, (i.e., at the late maturity stage). Respiration rate and 1-aminocyclopropene-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase activity did not significantly affect the chlorophyll degradation process in lime.The total nitrogen content of lime peel was inversely correlated with its chlorophyll content. A higher soluble protein content was observed in yellow peel than in mature green peel. A colour index chart was developed for maturity stages 1–4 in lime based on peel colour changes from mature green to full-yellow, and its correlation with chlorophyll content and fruit quality attributes.     

Insulin-releasing properties of a series of cinnamic acid derivatives in vitro and in vivo

Cinnamic acid derivatives are naturally occurring substances found in fruits, vegetables, and flowers and are consumed as dietary phenolic compounds. In the present study, cinnamic acid and its derivatives were evaluated for insulin secreting activity in perfused rat pancreas and pancreatic beta-cells (INS-1) as well as an increase in [Ca(2+)]i in vitro. The presence of m-hydroxy or p-methoxy residues on cinnamic acid was a significantly important substituent as an effective insulin releasing agent. The introduction of p-hydroxy and m-methoxy-substituted groups in cinnamic acid structure (ferulic acid) displayed the most potent insulin secreting agent among those of cinnamic acid derivatives. In particular, the stimulatory insulin secreting activities of test compounds were associated with a rise of [Ca(2+)]i in INS-1. In perfused rat pancreas, m-hydroxycinnamic acid, p-methoxycinnamic acid, and ferulic acid (100 microM) significantly stimulated insulin secretion during 10 min of administration. The onset time of insulin secretion of those compounds was less than 1 min and reached its peak at 4 min that was about 2.8-, 3.3-, and 3.4-fold of the baseline level, respectively. Intravenous administration of p-methoxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid (5 mg/kg) significantly decreased plasma glucose and increased insulin concentration in normal rats and maintained its level for 15 min until the end of experiment. Meanwhile, m-hydroxycinnamic acid induced a significant lowering of plasma glucose after 6 min, but the effects were transient with plasma glucose concentration, rapidly returning to basal levels. Our findings suggested that p-methoxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid may be beneficial for the treatment of diabetes mellitus because they regulated blood glucose level by stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells.