Anna Gramza-Michałowska

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum): composition and health effects - a review.

Abstract Goji berries contain many nutrients and bioactive compounds which allowed to classify them as superfruits. A short description of the fruits is presented together with cultivation requirements. The chemical composition of the berries and their health-promoting properties are described later in this literature review. Based on the available data, their potentially beneficial application in dietary prevention of diseases of affluence, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, is elaborated. We also refer to the safety of Goji consumption in the context of ingredients potentially harmful for human health, allergic reactions and the interactions with other substances.

Anti-polymerization activity of tea and fruits extracts during rapeseed oil heating

The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of natural antioxidants on polymerization of partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil heated in 170°C for 40h. In the research ethanolic extracts of green tea leaves (China Lung Ching), yellow tea leaves (China Kakecha), cranberry, blackberry, and lime were used. The yellow and green tea extracts were characterized by the highest content of total polyphenol and antioxidant activity. Polymers of triacylglycerols were found only in the polar fraction of heated oil. During heating, the increase of dimers, trimers, and oligomers was observed. However, it was dependent on the used additives and not directly related to the content of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity. The final content of polymers in oil samples increased in the fallowing order: green tea

PCL assay application in superoxide anion-radical scavenging capacity of tea Camellia sinensis extracts.

BACKGROUND Plant polyphenols are known for their limiting of adverse effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological systems. The photochemiluminescence (PCL) assay allows to evaluate the antiradical activity of a compound in the presence of a superoxide anion-radical (O •-), which is one of the ROS directly associated with the human body. In this work, determination of the superoxide anion radical scavenging activity of different tea extracts using the PCL assay was performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS Investigations were conducted on different tea leaves extracts. The study included five kinds of tea leaves subjected to aqueous and ethanol extraction procedure. Catechins content was evaluated using HPLC. Antiradical activity of the samples was conducted with use of Photochem assay. RESULTS Analysis of total catechins content in tea aqueous extracts enabled them to be arranged as follows: yellow > green > white > red > black, while for ethanol extracts it was: yellow = green > white > red > black. The examined tea extracts were ranked from highest to lowest water-soluble antioxidative capacity (ACW) values as follows: yellow > green > white > red > black. The results of lipid-soluble antioxidative capacity (ACL) values for aqueous extracts were similar; however, were approximately 50% lower than those presented as ACW. The second examined group were ethanol extracts, which ranked for ACW values: yellow > green = red = white > black, while ACL values ranked as follows: yellow > white = black = red > green. PCL assay results were correlated with total catechin content in aqueous extracts. CONCLUSIONS Antiradical activity of different tea leaves extracts in PCL assay, showed that the highest activity was found in extracts of yellow tea; the lowest, however, was identified in black tea extracts.

The importance of selected spices in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Literature data indicate that, due to these diseases, approximately 17.5 million people died in 2012. Types of cardiovascular disease include ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia. Proper nutrition is an important factor in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. An interesting element of our diets is spices. For thousands of years, they have been used in the treatment of many diseases: bacterial infections, coughs, colds, and liver diseases. Many studies also demonstrate their antioxidant, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This paper focuses on discussing the importance of selected spices (garlic, cinnamon, ginger, coriander and turmeric) in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

ANTIRADICAL CAPACITY AND POLYPHENOL COMPOSITION OF ASPARAGUS SPEARS VARIETIES CULTIVATED UNDER DIFFERENT SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS

BACKGROUND Asparagus officinalis has a high nutritional value. Asparagus is rich in a number of bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids (quercetin), glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin E, fructans (inulin and fructooligosaccharides) and phytosterols (b-sitosterol). These compounds may play an important role in human health. The purpose of this study was to examine the antioxidant potential and polyphenol composition of white, pale-colored and green asparagus spears of different cultivars. METHODS Investigations were conducted on different asparagus spear extracts. The study included three colors of asparagus (white, pale-colored and green) from five different cultivars subjected to the ethanol extraction procedure. Total phenolic content was also determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Polyphenol (phenolic acids and flavonols) composition was estimated using the HPLC method. The antioxidant properties of extracts were examined using DPPH, ABTS and metal ion chelating assays. RESULTS The highest contents of phenolic and flavonoids were observed in green asparagus from Grolim and the lowest in pale-colored asparagus from Gyjmlin. It was found that both the color of asparagus and the cultivar had a significant effect on the composition of phenolic acid and flavonols. Radical scavenging activity toward DPPH• and ABTS was highest for green asparagus cv. Grolim and Eposs. The greatest number of Fe ions was chelated by samples of green asparagus cv. Grolim and Huchels Alpha and pale-colored asparagus cv. Huchels Alpha. CONCLUSIONS It was shown that the antioxidant activity of asparagus spears measured by antiradical and chelating activity test depends on variety and color. The highest activity was found in green asparagus and the lowest was identified in white asparagus extracts. It has also been clarified that changes in flavonol and phenolic acid composition and increases in their diversity depends on growing with sunlight and variety. Asparagus can provide a valuable source of phenolic compounds in the human diet.

Phytonutrients in Oat (Avena sativa L.) Drink: Effect of Plant Extract on Antiradical Capacity, Nutritional Value and Sensory Characteristics

Abstract The purpose of this study was to design the formula and antioxidant potential of gluten-free oat drinks fortified with bioactive plant components. The paper describes the use of three preparations of plant origin: yellow tea leaf extract, mulberry extract and steviol glycosides from stevia leaves. Analyses of the oat drinks basic composition – including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, dietary fiber fractions and antioxidant properties with DPPH, ABTS, ORAC and FRAP assays were conducted. Tea extract with steviosides oat drink showed the highest total phenolic concentration and the highest antioxidant activity followed by stevia and mulberry oat drink, whereas stevia oat drink showed the lowest phenolics level and weakest antioxidant activity. Moreover, the applied plant components showed moderate ability to influence the sensory values of the fortified oat drinks. The results demonstrate that tea, stevia and mulberry preparations applied in oat drinks enhanced antioxidant potential and might be a natural source of antioxidant components.

Alternatywne źródła białka w żywieniu człowieka

The constantly increasing population of the world requires necessity to provide a sufficient amount of food. Presently, more than one billion people in the world suffer from hunger. One of the solutions to the growing hunger problem is to increase global food production, which is however associated with many economic problems. Therefore, new unconventional sources of nutrients, including proteins, have to be found to satisfy the nutritional needs of human populations. Edible insects and marine organisms are promising alternatives. They have a large potential as a diet component due to their high nutritional value, complete protein content, fat, minerals and vitamins. The benefits from placing insect-based foods on the market are also reflected in positive environmental, economic and health issues. Currently, in most European countries the main problem limiting the usage of insects in human diet is the lack of acceptance of this type of food and its safety. This study includes a literature review focused on alternative sources of protein, including edible insects and their potential use in human nutrition. / Synopsis. Stale zwiekszająca sie liczba ludności świata powoduje koniecznośc zapewnienia odpowiedniej ilości pozywienia. Obecnie ponad miliard osob na świecie gloduje. Jednym z rozwiązan narastającego problemu glodu jest zwiekszenie produkcji zywności w skali globalnej, co wiąze sie z wieloma problemami ekonomicznymi. Zaspokojenie potrzeb zywieniowych populacji ludzkiej wymaga zatem poszukiwania niekonwencjonalnych źrodel skladnikow pokarmowych, w tym bialka. Obiecującą alternatywą są przede wszystkim bialka owadow jadalnych i organizmow morskich. Mają duzy potencjal jako komponent diety z uwagi na wysoką wartośc odzywczą, zawartośc pelnowartościowego bialka, tluszczu, skladnikow mineralnych i witamin. Korzyści wynikające z wprowadzenia na rynek zywności na bazie owadow to takze pozytywne aspekty środowiskowe, ekonomiczne i zdrowotne. Aktualnie w wiekszości krajow europejskich, glownym problemem limitującym wykorzystanie owadow w diecie czlowieka jest brak akceptacji tego typu zywności oraz jej bezpieczenstwo. Niniejsza praca obejmuje przegląd danych literaturowych dotyczących alternatywnych źrodel bialka, w tym owadow jadalnych oraz mozliwości ich wykorzystania w zywieniu czlowieka.

Functional Aspects of Antioxidants in Traditional Food

Antioxidants have become one of the hottest topics in the modern food industry, not only as food additives preventing oxidative changes, but also as food components acting in vivo after ingestion. According to their mechanisms of activity, antioxidants have been divided into two basic groups: primary antioxidants or donators, so-called preventive antioxidants, and secondary antioxidants or the acceptors, the so-called chain-breaking antioxidants. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention towards phenolic compounds, secondary metabolites of the plant world, which are highly bioactive. Today, the food industry needs to search for other innovative sources of antioxidants that could be consumed everyday and that would lead to a healthier life, that would be acceptable to consumers, safe, with a high potential, cheap, and biologically active in low concentrations.