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Feature Papers in Food Chemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 35304

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mirella Nardini

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Guest Editor
CREA Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
Interests: biochemistry; food science; oxidative stress-related diseases; natural antioxidants; polyphenols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to announce a new Special Issue entitled “Feature Papers in Food Chemistry”. This is a collection of important high-quality papers (original research articles or comprehensive review papers) published in open access format by Editorial Board Members or prominent scholars invited by the Editorial Office and the Guest Editors. This Special Issue aims to discuss new knowledge or new cutting-edge developments in the food chemistry research field through selected works, in the hope of making a great contribution to the community. We intend for this issue to be the best forum for disseminating excellent research findings as well as sharing innovative ideas in the field.

Dr. Mirella Nardini
Guest Editor

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5 pages, 190 KiB  
Editorial
Feature Papers in Food Chemistry
by Mirella Nardini
Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8638; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248638 - 7 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1028
Abstract
The Special Issue, entitled “Feature Papers in Food Chemistry”, is a collection of important high-quality papers (original research articles or comprehensive review papers) published in open access format [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 3704 KiB  
Article
Determination of Glyphosate in White and Brown Rice with HPLC-ICP-MS/MS
by Maria Chiara Fontanella, Lucrezia Lamastra and Gian Maria Beone
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 8049; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27228049 - 19 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Background: In 2017, the European Commission renewed the approval of glyphosate (GLY) but only for five years. GLY remains one of the most controversial and studied molecules. Method: A simplified method was tested for the determination of GLY in white rice (WR) and [...] Read more.
Background: In 2017, the European Commission renewed the approval of glyphosate (GLY) but only for five years. GLY remains one of the most controversial and studied molecules. Method: A simplified method was tested for the determination of GLY in white rice (WR) and brown rice (BR), after extraction only with a methanol solution, by liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled mass triple quadrupole (HPLC-ICP-MS/MS) with a PRP-X100 anionic column. After performing a test on groundwater, the quantification of GLY in WR and BR was validated in terms of the LOD, LOQ, accuracy, precision, linearity, and the matrix effect. Results: The LOD was 0.0027 mg kg−1 for WR and 0.0136 mg kg−1 for BR. The LOQ was 0.0092 mg kg−1 for WR and 0.0456 mg kg−1 for BR. The mean recoveries were within 76–105% at three fortification levels. The relative standard deviation for the analysis (five replicates for three spike levels) was < 11% for both matrices. A linear response was confirmed in all cases in the entire concentration range (R2WR = 1.000 and R2BR = 0.9818). Conclusion: The proposed method could be considered useful for the determination of GLY in different types of rice and designed and adapted for other cereals. The matrix effect, quantified in BR matrix extraction, could be avoided by using a matrix-matched calibration line. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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17 pages, 1113 KiB  
Article
Thorough Investigation of the Phenolic Profile of Reputable Greek Honey Varieties: Varietal Discrimination and Floral Markers Identification Using Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry
by Georgios A. Koulis, Aristeidis S. Tsagkaris, Panagiota A. Katsianou, Panagiotis-Loukas P. Gialouris, Ioannis Martakos, Fotis Stergiou, Alberto Fiore, Eleni I. Panagopoulou, Sofia Karabournioti, Carsten Baessmann, Noud van der Borg, Marilena E. Dasenaki, Charalampos Proestos and Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
Molecules 2022, 27(14), 4444; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144444 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
Honey is a highly consumed commodity due to its potential health benefits upon certain consumption, resulting in a high market price. This fact indicates the need to protect honey from fraudulent acts by delivering comprehensive analytical methodologies. In this study, targeted, suspect and [...] Read more.
Honey is a highly consumed commodity due to its potential health benefits upon certain consumption, resulting in a high market price. This fact indicates the need to protect honey from fraudulent acts by delivering comprehensive analytical methodologies. In this study, targeted, suspect and non-targeted metabolomic workflows were applied to identify botanical origin markers of Greek honey. Blossom honey samples (n = 62) and the unifloral fir (n = 10), oak (n = 24), pine (n = 39) and thyme (n = 34) honeys were analyzed using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-q-TOF-MS) system. Several potential authenticity markers were revealed from the application of different metabolomic workflows. In detail, based on quantitative targeted analysis, three blossom honey markers were found, namely, galangin, pinocembrin and chrysin, while gallic acid concentration was found to be significantly higher in oak honey. Using suspect screening workflow, 12 additional bioactive compounds were identified and semi-quantified, achieving comprehensive metabolomic honey characterization. Lastly, by combining non-targeted screening with advanced chemometrics, it was possible to discriminate thyme from blossom honey and develop binary discriminatory models with high predictive power. In conclusion, a holistic approach to assessing the botanical origin of Greek honey is presented, highlighting the complementarity of the three applied metabolomic approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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14 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
Relationships between X-ray Diffraction Peaks, Molecular Components, and Heat Properties of C-Type Starches from Different Sweet Potato Varieties
by Yibo Li, Lingxiao Zhao, Lingshang Lin, Enpeng Li, Qinghe Cao and Cunxu Wei
Molecules 2022, 27(11), 3385; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27113385 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2367
Abstract
C-type starches with different proportions of A- and B-type crystallinities have different intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks. In this study, the intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks, molecular components and heat properties of C-type starches were investigated in seven sweet [...] Read more.
C-type starches with different proportions of A- and B-type crystallinities have different intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks. In this study, the intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks, molecular components and heat properties of C-type starches were investigated in seven sweet potato varieties, and their relationships were analyzed. The intensity and crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 5.6° were significantly positively correlated to the DP6-12 branch-chains of amylopectin and significantly negatively correlated to the true amylose content (TAC) determined by concanavalin A precipitation, gelatinization temperature, gelatinization enthalpy, water solubility at 95 °C, and pasting temperature. The intensity of diffraction peaks at 15° and 23° were significantly positively correlated to the gelatinization temperature and pasting temperature and significantly negatively correlated to the pasting peak viscosity. The significantly positive relationships were detected between the crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 15° and the DP13-24 branch-chains of amylopectin, gelatinization conclusion temperature and water solubility, between the crystallinity of diffraction peak at 17–18° and the TAC, gelatinization onset temperature, water solubility and pasting temperature, between the crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 23° and the gelatinization conclusion temperature and pasting peak time, and between the total crystallinity and the TAC, gelatinization conclusion temperature, water solubility and pasting temperature. The score plot of principle component analysis showed that the molecular components and heat property parameters could differentiate the C-type starches and agreed with their characteristics of X-ray diffraction peaks. This study provides some references for the utilizations of C-type starches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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16 pages, 2345 KiB  
Article
Metabolite Profiling of “Green” Extracts of Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus, Cultivar “Carciofo di Paestum” PGI by 1H NMR and HRMS-Based Metabolomics
by Antonietta Cerulli, Milena Masullo, Cosimo Pizza and Sonia Piacente
Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3328; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103328 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1945
Abstract
Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L.), is a perennial plant widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area, known for its edible part named capitula or heads. Its functional properties are related to its high levels of polyphenolic compounds and inulin. “Carciofo [...] Read more.
Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L.), is a perennial plant widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area, known for its edible part named capitula or heads. Its functional properties are related to its high levels of polyphenolic compounds and inulin. “Carciofo di Paestum”, an Italian traditional cultivar, is a labeled PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) product of the Campania region, representing an important economic resource. So far, a few chemical investigations were performed on this cultivar, mainly focused on the analysis of methanol extracts. Due to the increasing use of food supplements, in this study, a comprehensive analysis of green extracts of “Carciofo di Paestum” PGI heads was performed. EtOH, EtOH: H2O (80:20, 70:30, 60:40) extracts, as well as infusions and decoctions prepared according to Pharmacopeia XII were analyzed by LC-ESI/QExactive/MS/MS. A total of 17 compounds corresponding to caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids were identified. The extracts were further submitted to NMR analysis to highlight the occurrence of primary metabolites. Both LCMS and NMR data were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), showing significant differences among the extraction methods. Moreover, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were quantified in the extracts by LC-ESI/QTrap/MS/MS using the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) method. Furthermore, the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of C. cardunculus var. scolymus “Carciofo di Paestum” extracts were evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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14 pages, 4554 KiB  
Article
Dried and Fermented Powders of Edible Algae (Neopyropia yezoensis) Attenuate Hepatic Steatosis in Obese Mice
by Koji Nagao, Nao Inoue, Keisuke Tsuge, Akira Oikawa, Tomoko Kayashima and Teruyoshi Yanagita
Molecules 2022, 27(9), 2640; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27092640 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1770
Abstract
Edible algae Neopyropia yezoensis is used as “Nori”, its dried sheet product, in Japanese cuisine. Its lipid components reportedly improve hepatic steatosis in obese db/db mice. In this study, we prepared “Nori powder (NP)” and “fermented Nori powder (FNP)” to utilize [...] Read more.
Edible algae Neopyropia yezoensis is used as “Nori”, its dried sheet product, in Japanese cuisine. Its lipid components reportedly improve hepatic steatosis in obese db/db mice. In this study, we prepared “Nori powder (NP)” and “fermented Nori powder (FNP)” to utilize the functional lipids contained in “Nori” and examined their nutraceutical effects in vivo. Male db/db mice were fed a basal AIN-76 diet, a 10% NP-supplemented diet, or a 10% FNP-supplemented diet for 4 weeks. We detected eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) present in both NP and FNP in the serum and liver of db/db mice in a dose-dependent manner. The NP diet reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation (by 58%) in db/db mice by modulating gene expression, which resulted in the inhibition of lipogenic enzyme activity. Additionally, NP intake significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory genes in the liver and hepatic injury marker levels in the sera (by 26%) of db/db mice. The FNP diet also led to a marked reduction in hepatic triglyceride accumulation (by 50%) and hepatic injury (by 28%) in db/db mice, and the mechanism of these alleviative actions was similar to that of the NP diet. Although the EPA content of FNP was one-third that of NP, metabolomic analysis revealed that bioactive betaine analogs, such as stachydrine, betaine, and carnitine, were detected only in FNP. In conclusion, we suggest that (1) mechanical processing of “Nori” makes its lipid components readily absorbable by the body to exert their lipid-lowering effects, and (2) fermentation of “Nori” produces anti-inflammatory molecules and lipid-lowering molecules, which together with the lipid components, can exert hepatic steatosis-alleviating effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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18 pages, 5096 KiB  
Article
Sizes, Components, Crystalline Structure, and Thermal Properties of Starches from Sweet Potato Varieties Originating from Different Countries
by Yibo Li, Lingxiao Zhao, Laiquan Shi, Lingshang Lin, Qinghe Cao and Cunxu Wei
Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27061905 - 15 Mar 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1945
Abstract
Sweet potato is a root tuber crop and an important starch source. There are hundreds of sweet potato varieties planted widely in the world. Starches from varieties with different genotype types and originating from different countries have not been compared for their physicochemical [...] Read more.
Sweet potato is a root tuber crop and an important starch source. There are hundreds of sweet potato varieties planted widely in the world. Starches from varieties with different genotype types and originating from different countries have not been compared for their physicochemical properties. In the research, starches from 44 sweet potato varieties originating from 15 countries but planted in the same growing conditions were investigated for their physicochemical properties to reveal the similarities and differences in varieties. The results showed that the 44 starches had granule size (D[4,3]) from 8.01 to 15.30 μm. Starches had different iodine absorption properties with OD680 from 0.259 to 0.382 and OD620/550 from 1.142 to 1.237. The 44 starches had apparent amylose content from 19.2% to 29.2% and true amylose content from 14.2% to 20.2%. The starches exhibited A-, CA-, CC-, or CB-type X-ray diffraction patterns. The thermograms of 44 starches exhibited one-, two-, or three-peak curves, leading to a significantly different gelatinization temperature range from 13.1 to 29.2 °C. The significantly different starch properties divide the 44 sweet potato varieties into different groups due to their different genotype backgrounds. The research offers references for the utilization of sweet potato germplasm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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20 pages, 2369 KiB  
Article
Influence of Gamma Irradiation on Different Phytochemical Constituents of Dried Rose Hip (Rosa canina L.) Fruits
by Manol Ognyanov, Petko Denev, Desislava Teneva, Yordan Georgiev, Sabina Taneva, Iskra Totseva, Mariana Kamenova-Nacheva, Yana Nikolova and Svetlana Momchilova
Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27061765 - 8 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2237
Abstract
Gamma irradiation is efficiently applied to many foods, but nevertheless there is a distinct lack of information about the changes of macro- and micronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, organic acids, and phenolics) in dried rose hip (RH) fruits. Therefore, in this study, for the [...] Read more.
Gamma irradiation is efficiently applied to many foods, but nevertheless there is a distinct lack of information about the changes of macro- and micronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, organic acids, and phenolics) in dried rose hip (RH) fruits. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, the effect of gamma irradiation (10 and 25 kGy) on RH constituents is investigated. Different analytical techniques (GC-FID, HPLC-UV, HPSEC-RID, IR-FT, and SEM) are employed to examine this effect. The irradiation treatment (10 kGy) increased the glucose content by 30% and released cellobiose from RH fruits, thus revealing cellulose destruction. The extractability of total uronic acids increased from 51% (control) to 70.5% (25 kGy-irradiated), resulting in a higher pectin yield (10.8% < 12.8% < 13.4%) and molecular heterogeneity. Moreover, de-esterification was not a major effect of the irradiation-induced degradation of pectin. The sample exposure to the highest dose did not change the content of total carotenoids, β-carotene, and (un)saturated fatty acids, but it affected the tocopherols levels. Gamma rays had a negligible effect on the phenolic constituents and did not affect ORAC and HORAC antioxidant activity. In conclusion, it can be compromised that the exposition of dried RH is safe and can be successfully applied to decontaminate fruits without affecting their nutritional value and biological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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12 pages, 3928 KiB  
Article
l-Lysine-Based Gelators for the Formation of Oleogels in Four Vegetable Oils
by Qiannan Li, Jieying Zhang, Guiju Zhang and Baocai Xu
Molecules 2022, 27(4), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041369 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2045
Abstract
Supramolecular oleogel is a soft material with a three-dimensional structure, formed by the self-assembly of low-molecular-weight gelators in oils; it shows broad application prospects in the food industry, environmental protection, medicine, and other fields. Among all the gelators reported, amino-acid-based compounds have been [...] Read more.
Supramolecular oleogel is a soft material with a three-dimensional structure, formed by the self-assembly of low-molecular-weight gelators in oils; it shows broad application prospects in the food industry, environmental protection, medicine, and other fields. Among all the gelators reported, amino-acid-based compounds have been widely used to form organogels and hydrogels because of their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and non-toxicity. In this study, four Nα, Nε-diacyl-l-lysine gelators (i.e., Nα, Nε-dioctanoyl-l-lysine; Nα, Nε-didecanoyl-l-lysine; Nα, Nε-dilauroyl-l-lysine; and Nα, Nε-dimyristoyl-l-lysine) were synthesized and applied to prepare oleogels in four kinds of vegetable oils. Gelation ability is affected not only by the structure of the gelators but also by the composition of the oils. The minimum gel concentration (MGC) increased with the increase in the acyl carbon-chain length of the gelators. The strongest gelation ability was displayed in olive oil for the same gelator. Rheological properties showed that the mechanical strength and thermal stability of the oleogels varied with the carbon-chain length of the gelators and the type of vegetable oil. The microstructure of oleogels is closely related to the carbon-chain length of gelators, regardless of oil type. The highest oil-binding capacity (OBC) was obtained in soybean oil for all four gelators, and Nα, Nε-dimyristoyl-l-lysine showed the best performance for entrapping oils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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15 pages, 4503 KiB  
Article
Neuraminidase Inhibitor of Garcinia atroviridis L. Fruits and Leaves Using Partial Purification and Molecular Characterization
by Muchtaridi Muchtaridi, Rina Fajri Nuwarda, Emmy Hainida Khairul Ikram, Aisyah Saad Abdul Rahim, Amirah Mohd Gazzali and Habibah A. Wahab
Molecules 2022, 27(3), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030949 - 30 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2849
Abstract
Neuraminidase (NA) is an enzyme that prevents virions from aggregating within the host cell and promotes cell-to-cell spread by cleaving glycosidic linkages to sialic acid. The best-known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase, which present in the influenza virus. Thus, the development of anti-influenza [...] Read more.
Neuraminidase (NA) is an enzyme that prevents virions from aggregating within the host cell and promotes cell-to-cell spread by cleaving glycosidic linkages to sialic acid. The best-known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase, which present in the influenza virus. Thus, the development of anti-influenza drugs that inhibit NA has emerged as an important and intriguing approach in the treatment of influenza. Garcinia atroviridis L. (GA) dried fruits (GAF) are used commercially as seasoning and in beverages. The main objective of this study was to identify a new potential neuraminidase inhibitor from GA. A bioassay-guided fractionation method was applied to obtain the bioactive compounds leading to the identification of garcinia acid and naringenin. In an enzyme inhibition study, garcinia acid demonstrated the highest activity when compared to naringenin. Garcinia acid had the highest activity, with an IC50 of 17.34–17.53 µg/mL or 91.22–92.21 µM against Clostridium perfringens-NA, and 56.71–57.85 µg/mL or 298.32–304.31 µM against H1N1-NA. Based on molecular docking results, garcinia acid interacted with the triad arginine residues (Arg118, Arg292, and Arg371) of the viral neuraminidase, implying that this compound has the potential to act as a NA enzyme inhibitor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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13 pages, 1050 KiB  
Article
Preservative Effect on Canned Mackerel (Scomber colias) Lipids by Addition of Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Cooking Liquor in the Packaging Medium
by José M. Malga, Marcos Trigo, Beatriz Martínez and Santiago P. Aubourg
Molecules 2022, 27(3), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030739 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2295
Abstract
The preservative properties of waste liquor obtained from octopus (Octopus vulgaris) cooking were investigated. Three different concentrations (high, medium, and low) of octopus cooking liquor (OCL) were included, respectively, in the aqueous packaging medium employed for mackerel (Scomber colias) [...] Read more.
The preservative properties of waste liquor obtained from octopus (Octopus vulgaris) cooking were investigated. Three different concentrations (high, medium, and low) of octopus cooking liquor (OCL) were included, respectively, in the aqueous packaging medium employed for mackerel (Scomber colias) canning. As a result, the canning process led to an increase (p < 0.05) of lipid content, lipid oxidation (development of fluorescent compounds and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), lipid hydrolysis (formation of free fatty acids, FFA) and ω3/ω6 ratio in fish muscle. In all canned samples, primary (peroxides) and secondary (TBARS) levels of lipid oxidation were low. Remarkably, the presence in the packaging medium of the high and medium OCL concentrations led to lower (p < 0.05) lipid oxidation development (fluorescent compound and TBARS detection, respectively). Furthermore, an increasing OCL presence led to an average decrease of peroxide and FFA content and to an average increase of the polyene index (PI). All OCL-packaged muscle showed lower average values of saturated fatty acids and ω3/ω6 ratio and higher average values of PI and monounsaturated fatty acid presence. This study provides a first approach to novel and beneficial use of the present marine waste to inhibit lipid damage of commercial canned fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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18 pages, 2588 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Probiotic Compounds in Relieving Constipation and Their Colonization in Gut Microbiota
by Yuan He, Leilei Zhu, Jialun Chen, Xin Tang, Mingluo Pan, Weiwei Yuan and Hongchao Wang
Molecules 2022, 27(3), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030666 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4161
Abstract
A number of studies have confirmed the relationship between constipation and gut microbiota. Additionally, many human and animal experiments have identified probiotics as effectors for the relief of constipation symptoms. In this study, probiotic compounds, including Lactobacillus acidophilus LA11-Onlly, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR22, Limosilactobacillus [...] Read more.
A number of studies have confirmed the relationship between constipation and gut microbiota. Additionally, many human and animal experiments have identified probiotics as effectors for the relief of constipation symptoms. In this study, probiotic compounds, including Lactobacillus acidophilus LA11-Onlly, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR22, Limosilactobacillus reuteri LE16, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP-Onlly, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BI516, were administered to mice with loperamide-induced constipation, and the impacts of these strains on constipation-related indicators and gut microbiota were evaluated. The effects of probiotic compounds on constipation relief were associated with various aspects, including gastrointestinal transit rate, number and weight of stools, serum and intestinal gastrointestinal regulatory hormones, and serum cytokines. Some of the probiotic compounds, including Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, were found to colonize the intestinal tract. Furthermore, higher dosages promoted the colonization of specific strains. This study yields a new perspective for the clinical use of probiotics to improve constipation symptoms by combining strains with different mechanisms for the alleviation of constipation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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17 pages, 4680 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Thermogravimetric Behaviors of Glanded and Glandless Cottonseed Kernels
by Zhongqi He, Sunghyun Nam, Hailin Zhang and Ocen Modesto Olanya
Molecules 2022, 27(1), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010316 - 5 Jan 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Common “glanded” (Gd) cottonseeds contain the toxic compound gossypol that restricts human consumption of the derived products. The “glandless” (Gl) cottonseeds of a new cotton variety, in contrast, show a trace gossypol content, indicating the great potential of cottonseed for agro-food applications. This [...] Read more.
Common “glanded” (Gd) cottonseeds contain the toxic compound gossypol that restricts human consumption of the derived products. The “glandless” (Gl) cottonseeds of a new cotton variety, in contrast, show a trace gossypol content, indicating the great potential of cottonseed for agro-food applications. This work comparatively evaluated the chemical composition and thermogravimetric behaviors of the two types of cottonseed kernels. In contrast to the high gossypol content (3.75 g kg−1) observed in Gd kernels, the gossypol level detected in Gl kernels was only 0.06 g kg−1, meeting the FDA’s criteria as human food. While the gossypol gland dots in Gd kernels were visually observed, scanning electron microcopy was not able to distinguish the microstructural difference between ground Gd and Gl samples. Chemical analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that Gl kernels and Gd kernels had similar chemical components and mineral contents, but the former was slightly higher in protein, starch, and phosphorus contents. Thermogravimetric (TG) processes of both kernels and their residues after hexane and ethanol extraction were based on three stages of drying, de-volatilization, and char formation. TG-FTIR analysis revealed apparent spectral differences between Gd and Gl samples, as well as between raw and extracted cottonseed kernel samples, indicating that some components in Gd kernels were more susceptible to thermal decomposition than Gl kernels. The TG and TG-FTIR observations suggested that the Gl kernels could be heat treated (e.g., frying and roasting) at an optimal temperature of 140–150 °C for food applications. On the other hand, optimal pyrolysis temperatures would be much higher (350–500 °C) for Gd cottonseed and its defatted residues for non-food bio-oil and biochar production. The findings from this research enhance the potential utilization of Gd and Gl cottonseed kernels for food applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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9 pages, 912 KiB  
Article
Structural Changes of β-Casein Induced by Temperature and pH Analysed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Chemometrics
by Tatijana Markoska, Davor Daniloski, Todor Vasiljevic and Thom Huppertz
Molecules 2021, 26(24), 7650; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247650 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2965
Abstract
This study investigated structural changes in β-casein as a function of temperature (4 and 20 °C) and pH (5.9 and 7.0). For this purpose, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used, in conjunction with chemometric analysis. Both temperature and [...] Read more.
This study investigated structural changes in β-casein as a function of temperature (4 and 20 °C) and pH (5.9 and 7.0). For this purpose, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used, in conjunction with chemometric analysis. Both temperature and pH had strongly affected the secondary structure of β-casein, with most affected regions involving random coils and α-helical structures. The α-helical structures showed great pH sensitivity by decreasing at 20 °C and diminishing completely at 4 °C when pH was increased from 5.9 to 7.0. The decrease in α-helix was likely related to the greater presence of random coils at pH 7.0, which was not observed at pH 5.9 at either temperature. The changes in secondary structure components were linked to decreased hydrophobic interactions at lower temperature and increasing pH. The most prominent change of the α-helix took place when the pH was adjusted to 7.0 and the temperature set at 4 °C, which confirms the disruption of the hydrogen bonds and weakening of hydrophobic interactions in the system. The findings can assist in establishing the structural behaviour of the β-casein under conditions that apply as important for solubility and production of β-casein. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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18 pages, 31976 KiB  
Article
Effects of Variety and Growing Location on Physicochemical Properties of Starch from Sweet Potato Root Tuber
by Laiquan Shi, Yibo Li, Lingshang Lin, Xiaofeng Bian and Cunxu Wei
Molecules 2021, 26(23), 7137; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26237137 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2067
Abstract
Three sweet potato varieties with purple-, yellow-, and white-fleshed root tubers were planted in four growing locations. Starches were isolated from their root tubers, their physicochemical properties (size, iodine absorption, amylose content, crystalline structure, ordered degree, lamellar thickness, swelling power, water solubility, and [...] Read more.
Three sweet potato varieties with purple-, yellow-, and white-fleshed root tubers were planted in four growing locations. Starches were isolated from their root tubers, their physicochemical properties (size, iodine absorption, amylose content, crystalline structure, ordered degree, lamellar thickness, swelling power, water solubility, and pasting, thermal and digestion properties) were determined to investigate the effects of variety and growing location on starch properties in sweet potato. The results showed that granule size (D[4,3]) ranged from 12.1 to 18.2 μm, the iodine absorption parameters varied from 0.260 to 0.361 for OD620, from 0.243 to 0.326 for OD680 and from 1.128 to 1.252 for OD620/550, and amylose content varied from 16.4% to 21.2% among starches from three varieties and four growing locations. Starches exhibited C-type X-ray diffraction patterns, and had ordered degrees from 0.634 to 0.726 and lamellar thicknesses from 9.72 to 10.21 nm. Starches had significantly different swelling powers, water solubilities, pasting viscosities, and thermal properties. Native starches had rapidly digestible starch (RDS) from 2.2% to 10.9% and resistant starch (RS) from 58.2% to 89.1%, and gelatinized starches had RDS from 70.5% to 81.4% and RS from 10.8% to 23.3%. Two-way ANOVA analysis showed that starch physicochemical properties were affected significantly by variety, growing location, and their interaction in sweet potato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Food Chemistry)
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