M.C. García-Parrilla

Radical scavenging ability of polyphenolic compounds towards DPPH free radical.

Free radical scavenging activity of different polyphenolic compounds commonly present in wine has been evaluated using DPPH method. The experiments were performed with different amounts of phenols within the linear interval of response and with an excess of DPPH in all cases. In these conditions, for most of the compounds tested, the reaction was biphasic. Total stoichiometry values n confirm the implication of more than one step in the process. Flavan-3-ol compounds showed the highest values, especially procyanidins B1 (9.8) and B2 (9.1). In this family, n values coincide with the number of hydroxyl groups available. EC(50) and TEC(50) parameters have been calculated. EC(50) values are extremely diverse, being the procyanidins B1 and B2 the most potent scavenging compounds and resveratrol the less one. TEC(50) considers the rate of reaction towards the free radical. (+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin are the phenolic compounds that need more time to react. In contrast, caftaric and caffeic acids are the phenolic acids that react more rapidly. Antioxidant efficacy (AE) is a parameter that combines both factors. Compounds as kaempferol, with a high EC(50) value, could be considered as an antioxidant with low relevance, but instead shows the highest AE value of the phenolic compounds tested, due to its fast rate of reaction, what is of great biological importance.

Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds: From In Vitro Results to In Vivo Evidence

Over last decade an increasing interest for antioxidants in foods has arisen. The healthy properties of antioxidants related to the prevention of degenerative diseases are the main cause of this boom. An antioxidant prevents the oxidation process, the initial step of development of degenerative diseases, cancer and many others. Literature encompasses analytical methodology development to assess antioxidant properties of foods and beverages. The screening of antioxidant activity of foodstuffs is the subject of a large number of articles. Special interest has been addressed to wine, tea and chocolate. However, the crucial key in the prevention of disease is the action these antioxidants exert after their consumption. Studies involving human subjects are scarce due to the requirements of availability of volunteers and conditions to test are limited. This review summarizes data related to in vitro antioxidant activity of foods, emphasizing the main role of phenolic compounds. A critical comparison is realized between the biological significance of these values and the biological significance of in vivo measurements. In addition, the Plasma Antioxidant Capacity is evaluated and selected as biomarker for in vivo antioxidant status of human organism. In a second part, data collected from different intervention studies performed up to date are compiled and discussed. This review summarized data related to in vitro antioxidant activity of foods, emphasizing the main role of phenolic compounds. A critical comparison is realized between the biological significance of these values and the biological significance of in vivo measurements. In addition, the Plasma Antioxidant Capacity is evaluated and selected as biomarker for in vivo antioxidant status of human organism. In a second part, data collected from different intervention studies performed up to date are compiled and discussed. The original contribution of this work is to compile data of Plasma Antioxidant Capacity after dietetic intervention studies taking into account the portion of food ingested. In addition, we calculated the antioxidant compounds content (phenolic content, ascorbic acid, vitamin E and carotenoids) contained in each food ingested to evaluate better their impact in Plasma Antioxidant Capacity. Intervention studies are grouped by the length of intervention and type of food ingested. Results reported in literature reveal that the increment in Plasma Antioxidant Capacity largely depends on analytical method used.

Wine vinegar: technology, authenticity and quality evaluation

Abstract Wine vinegar is produced in most Mediterranean countries and extensively used as a condiment, acidifying and food preserving agent. Traditional production requires maturation in wood for many years to obtain a high acetic degree and the resulting product is relatively expensive. New technologies are being designed to overcome this difficulty with the objective of producing vinegars with a similar quality and at the same time less expensive. These methods of production involve the use of submerged bacterial culture and a continuous aeration system. Recent research is focussed in improving yield and quality of the final product.

Determination of the melatonin content of different varieties of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and strawberries (Fragaria ananassa)

Melatonin has recently been detected in various plants and foods. However, data regarding the food composition of melatonin are too scarce to evaluate dietary intake. This paper aims to identify melatonin unequivocally using LC-MS in a wide set of varieties of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and strawberry (Fragariaananassa). Furthermore, a validated LC fluorescence was developed. This is the first time melatonin has been identified in Bond, Borsalina, Catalina, Gordal, Lucinda, Marbone, Myriade, Pitenza, Santonio, Perlino, Platero, and RAF varieties of tomatoes, as well as in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa): Camarosa, Candonga, Festival, and Primoris. Melatonin concentration was shown to vary greatly depending on the tomato varieties and harvests (2009, 2010), ranging from 4.11ng/g to 114.52ng/g fresh weight. However, the four varieties of strawberries collected during the two harvests showed greater similarity in melatonin (1.38-11.26ng/g fresh weight).

Alcoholic fermentation induces melatonin synthesis in orange juice

Melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine) is a molecule implicated in multiple biological functions. Its level decreases with age, and the intake of foods rich in melatonin has been considered an exogenous source of this important agent. Orange is a natural source of melatonin. Melatonin synthesis occurs during alcoholic fermentation of grapes, malt and pomegranate. The amino acid tryptophan is the precursor of all 5‐methoxytryptamines. Indeed, melatonin appears in a shorter time in wines when tryptophan is added before fermentation. The aim of the study was to measure melatonin content during alcoholic fermentation of orange juice and to evaluate the role of the precursor tryptophan. Identification and quantification of melatonin during the alcoholic fermentation of orange juice was carried out by UHPLC‐QqQ‐MS/MS. Melatonin significantly increased throughout fermentation from day 0 (3.15 ng/mL) until day 15 (21.80 ng/mL) reaching larger amounts with respect to other foods. Melatonin isomer was also analysed, but its content remained stable ranging from 11.59 to 14.18 ng/mL. The enhancement of melatonin occurred mainly in the soluble fraction. Tryptophan levels significantly dropped from 13.80 mg/L (day 0) up to 3.19 mg/L (day 15) during fermentation. Melatonin was inversely and significantly correlated with tryptophan (r = 0.907). Therefore, the enhancement in melatonin could be due to both the occurrence of tryptophan and the new synthesis by yeast. In summary, the enhancement of melatonin in novel fermented orange beverage would improve the health benefits of orange juice by increasing this bioactive compound.

Production of melatonin by Saccharomyces strains under growth and fermentation conditions

Abstract:  Melatonin is a bioactive compound that is present in wine because it is contained in vinification grapes and synthesized by yeast during alcoholic fermentation. The purpose of this study was to determine the capacity of various Saccharomyces strains to form melatonin during its growth and alcoholic fermentation. A selection of yeasts including six S. cerevisiae (Lalvin CLOS, Lalvin ICV‐D254, Enoferm QA23 Viniferm ARM, Viniferm RVA, and Viniferm TTA), one S. uvarum (Lalvin S6U) and one S. cerevisiae var. bayanus (Uvaferm BC) were tested to determine whether they produce melatonin in yeast extract peptose dextrose and synthetic must media in a variety of conditions. Two S. cerevisiae strains (ARM, and QA23), the S. uvarum and the S. cerevisiae var. bayanus, synthesized melatonin. The conditions in which they did so, however, were different: the QA23 strain produced melatonin best in a medium with a low concentration of reducing sugars and Lalvin S6U and Uvaferm BC required a synthetic must under fermentation conditions. Melatonin synthesis largely depended on the growth phase of the yeasts and the concentration of tryptophan, reducing sugars and the growth medium. These results indicate that melatonin may have a role as a yeast growth signal molecule.

Intake of alcohol-free red wine modulates antioxidant enzyme activities in a human intervention study.

Wine intake affects the antioxidant enzyme activities that contribute to the overall antioxidant properties of wine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether alcohol-free wine has any effect on antioxidant enzymes. The study was a randomized cross-over human intervention. A low phenolic diet (LPD) was designed to prevent interference from polyphenols in other food sources. In the first period, the volunteers ate only this low phenolic diet; in the second, they ate this diet and also drank 300 mL of alcohol-free wine. The enzymes under study were: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. The activities of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased during the LPD period and increased in the LPD+dealcoholized wine period. On the third day of intervention, significant changes were observed in glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase activity for both intervention periods under study. Catalase activity changed significantly on the seventh day of intervention. Antioxidant enzymes modulated their activity more easily than the endogenous antioxidants, which did not undergo any changes. Our results show for the first time that the increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes is not due to the alcohol content in wine but to the polyphenolic composition. Therefore, alcohol-free wine could be an excellent source of antioxidants to protect people suffering from oxidative stress (cancer, diabetes, alzheimer, etc.) who should not consume alcohol.

Acetic Acid Bacteria and the Production and Quality of Wine Vinegar

The production of vinegar depends on an oxidation process that is mainly performed by acetic acid bacteria. Despite the different methods of vinegar production (more or less designated as either “fast” or “traditional”), the use of pure starter cultures remains far from being a reality. Uncontrolled mixed cultures are normally used, but this review proposes the use of controlled mixed cultures. The acetic acid bacteria species determine the quality of vinegar, although the final quality is a combined result of technological process, wood contact, and aging. This discussion centers on wine vinegar and evaluates the effects of these different processes on its chemical and sensory properties.

Simulated digestion and antioxidant activity of red wine fractions separated by high speed countercurrent chromatography.

Wine is an important source of dietary antioxidants because of its phenolic compound content. The antioxidant activity (AA) of pure monomer substances present in wines, such as phenolic acids, flavanols, and anthocyanins, has already been described, but the AA of polymeric phenols is still unknown. In this study, we have fractionated a red wine by countercurrent chromatography (CCC) into four fractions: fraction 1, made up of polymeric compounds; fraction 2, containing malvidin-3-glucoside; fraction 3, containing peonidin-3-glucoside; and fraction 4, containing vitisin A. The AA of these fractions was determined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferric reducing ability assays. The weight of fraction 1 was the largest, so this was the largest contributor to the AA of the wine. However, the antioxidant powers (muM Trolox/g fraction) of fractions 2-4 were similar and higher than that of fraction 1. We also determined AA before and after in vitro gastric and intestinal digestions. After gastric digestion, the AA was 100-1000 times higher than the original fraction values. Gallic acid was determined in gastric and intestinal digested fractions. After intestinal digestion, the concentrations of simple phenols, such as caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and protocatechualdehyde, increased as they were released from the fractions under our conditions. Protocatechuic acid was determined in more intestinal digested fractions than in gastric digested fractions. These results partly explain the increase in AA after the digestion and indicate the relevance of polymeric polyphenolic compounds as precursors of smaller molecules with biological activity.

Separation and identification of phenolic acids in wine vinegars by HPLC

Abstract The phenolic fraction of wine vinegars was studied by HPLC. The technique proposed gives a good separation of the great majority of the phenolics in current wine vinegar as well as in Jerez vinegars. The identification of the peaks was based on UV-spectra and capacity factors. Some differences in composition were found in the samples analysed.