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Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2019) | Viewed by 87670

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Prof. Dr. Jose M. Miranda

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Laboratorio de Higiene Inspección y Control de Alimentos, Departamento de Química Analítica, Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
Interests: food additives and contaminants; metagenomics; gut microbiota; capillary electrophoresis; tandem mass spectrometry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is aimed at the big advances achieved in the past decade regarding the contents of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and contaminants in foods, as well as their effects on human health. The improvement in the analytical techniques and the advancement of knowledge in the analysis of lipidomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, epigenomics, and metagenomics has allowed for the better diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of multiple pathologies.

Particularly, the non-transmissible chronic diseases related to nutrition have gained a great deal of attention because of their high prevalence, increasing trend, and impact on health systems around the world. Thus, this Special Issue welcomes original studies regarding new methods for the determination of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and food contaminants. It welcomes assays on digestion, absorption, bioaccessibility and bioavailability, lipidomic, proteomic, genomic, epigenetic and metagenomic approaches, and their relationship with human health. Additionally, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are also welcome.

Dr. Jose M. Miranda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

bioactive compounds
prebiotics
physiology
additives
food contaminants
liquid chromatography
gas chromatography
capillary electrophoresis
lipidomic
proteomic
genomics
epigenetics
metagenomics

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 389 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis

by Jose M. Miranda

Molecules 2020, 25(6), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25061362 - 17 Mar 2020

Viewed by 1953

Abstract

The great challenge facing humanity in the coming decades is to secure food for the 9 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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Research

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18 pages, 1093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolite Profiling by UPLC-MS^E, NMR, and Antioxidant Properties of Amazonian Fruits: Mamey Apple (Mammea Americana), Camapu (Physalis Angulata), and Uxi (Endopleura Uchi)

by Larissa Gabrielly Barbosa Lima, Julia Montenegro, Joel Pimentel de Abreu, Millena Cristina Barros Santos, Talita Pimenta do Nascimento, Maiara da Silva Santos, Antônio Gilberto Ferreira, Luiz Claudio Cameron, Mariana Simões Larraz Ferreira and Anderson Junger Teodoro

Molecules 2020, 25(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25020342 - 15 Jan 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5597

Abstract

The metabolite profiling associated with the antioxidant potential of Amazonian fruits represents an important step to the bioactive compound′s characterization due to the large biodiversity in this region. The comprehensive bioactive compounds profile and antioxidant capacities of mamey apple (Mammea americana), camapu (Physalis angulata), and uxi (Endopleura uchi) was determined for the first time. Bioactive compounds were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS^E) in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Globally, a total of 293 metabolites were tentatively identified in mamey apple, campau, and uxi extracts. The main classes of compounds in the three species were terpenoids (61), phenolic acids (58), and flavonoids (53). Ethanolic extracts of fruits showed higher antioxidant activity and total ion abundance of bioactive compounds than aqueous. Uxi had the highest values of phenolic content (701.84 mg GAE/100 g), ABTS (1602.7 μmol Trolox g⁻¹), and ORAC (15.04 μmol Trolox g⁻¹). Mamey apple had the highest results for DPPH (1168.42 μmol TE g⁻¹) and FRAP (1381.13 μmol FSE g⁻¹). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy results showed that sugars and lipids were the substances with the highest amounts in mamey apple and camapu. Data referring to chemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity of these fruits can contribute to their economic exploitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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16 pages, 3080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Scorpion Protein Extraction and Characterization of the Proteins’ Functional Properties

by Ahmidin Wali, Atikan Wubulikasimu, Sharafitdin Mirzaakhmedov, Yanhua Gao, Adil Omar, Amina Arken, Abulimiti Yili and Haji Akber Aisa

Molecules 2019, 24(22), 4103; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24224103 - 13 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4008

Abstract

Scorpion has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, because whole scorpion body extract has anti-cancer, analgesic, anti-thrombotic blood anti-coagulation, immune modulating, anti-epileptic, and other functions. The purpose of this study was to find an efficient extraction method and investigate some of physical and chemical parameters, like water solubility, emulsification, foaming properties, and oil-holding capacity of obtained scorpion proteins. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the determination of optimal parameters of ultrasonic extraction (UE). Based on single factor experiments, three factors (ultrasonic power (w), liquid/solid (mL/g) ratio, and extraction time (min)) were used for the determination of scorpion proteins (SPs). The order of the effects of the three factors on the protein content and yield were ultrasonic power > extraction time > liquid/solid ratio, and the optimum conditions of extraction proteins were as follows: extraction time = 50.00 min, ultrasonic power = 400.00 w, and liquid/solid ratio = 18.00 mL/g. For the optimal conditions, the protein content of the ultrasonic extraction and yield were 78.94% and 24.80%, respectively. The solubility, emulsification and foaming properties, and water and oil holding capacity of scorpion proteins were investigated. The results of this study suggest that scorpion proteins can be considered as an important ingredient and raw material for the creation of water-soluble supramolecular complexes for drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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9 pages, 738 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Potato Crisps Processing Parameters on Acrylamide Formation and Bioaccesibility

by Emmanuel Martinez, Jose A. Rodriguez, Alicia C. Mondragon, Jose Manuel Lorenzo and Eva M. Santos

Molecules 2019, 24(21), 3827; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24213827 - 23 Oct 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3562

Abstract

A fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of temperature, frying time, blanching treatment and the thickness of potato slices on acrylamide content in crisps. The design was used on freshly harvested and four-month stored potatoes. The critical factors found were temperature and frying time, and the interaction between blanching treatment and slice thickness. Once frying conditions were selected, an acrylamide content of 725 and 1030 mg kg⁻¹ was found for non-stored and 4-month stored tubers, with adequate textural parameters in both cases. The difference in concentration is related to storage conditions, which must be controlled in order to control acrylamide levels. Bioaccesibility studies demonstrated that acrylamide concentration remained at 70%, and reductions took place mainly at the intestinal phase, as a result of reaction with nucleophilic compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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13 pages, 1616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of N-Carbamylglutamate in Feeds and Animal Products by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

by Yonghang Ma, Zhengcheng Zeng, Lingchang Kong, Yuanxin Chen and Pingli He

Molecules 2019, 24(17), 3172; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173172 - 31 Aug 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4319

Abstract

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), a synthetic analogue of N-acetylglutamate, is an activator of blood ammonia conversion and endogenous arginine synthesis. Here, we established an accurate quantitative determination of NCG in feeds, animal tissues, and body fluids using the high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The sample pretreatment procedures included extraction with 0.5% of formic acid in water/methanol (80/20, v/v), and purification using an anionic solid phase extraction cartridge. Satisfactory separation of NCG was achieved in 20 min with the application of an Atlantis T3 column, and a confirmative detection of NCG was ensured by multiple reaction monitoring of positive ions. NCG spiked in feeds, tissues, and body fluids were evaluated in regard to linearity, sensitivity, recovery, and repeatability. Recoveries for different sample matrices were in the range of 88.12% to 110.21% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 8.8%. Limits of quantification were within the range of 0.012 to 0.073 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.047 to 0.077 μg mL⁻¹ for solid and liquid samples, respectively. This study will provide a solid foundation for the evaluation of availability and metabolic mechanism of NCG in animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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14 pages, 638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequence Identification of Bioactive Peptides from Amaranth Seed Proteins (Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp.)

by Alexis Ayala-Niño, Gabriela Mariana Rodríguez-Serrano, Luis Guillermo González-Olivares, Elizabeth Contreras-López, Patricia Regal-López and Alberto Cepeda-Saez

Molecules 2019, 24(17), 3033; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173033 - 21 Aug 2019

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4848

Abstract

Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp. is a commonly grown cereal in Latin America, known for its high protein content. The objective of this study was to separate and identify bioactive peptides found in amaranth seeds through enzymatically-assisted hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme. Hydrolysis was carried out for each enzyme separately and compared to two-step continuous process where both enzymes were combined. The biological activity of the resulting three hydrolysates was analyzed, finding, in general, higher bioactive potential of the hydrolysate obtained in a continuous process (combined enzymes). Its fractions were separated by RP-HPLC, and their bioactivity was analyzed. In particular, two fractions showed the highest biological activity as ACE inhibitors with IC50 at 0.158 and 0.134, thrombin inhibitors with IC50 of 167 and 155, and antioxidants in ABTS assay with SC50 at 1.375 and 0.992 mg/L, respectively. Further sequence analysis of the bioactive peptides was carried out using MALDI-TOF, which identified amino acid chains that have not been reported as bioactive so far. Bibliographic survey allowed identification of similarities between peptides reported in amaranth and other proteins. In conclusion, amaranth proteins are a potential source of peptides with multifunctional activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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12 pages, 4465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Extraction of Phenolic Acids from Artemisia argyi Leaves by Tailor-Made Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvents

by Li Duan, Chenmeng Zhang, Chenjing Zhang, Zijing Xue, Yuguang Zheng and Long Guo

Molecules 2019, 24(15), 2842; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24152842 - 5 Aug 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4270

Abstract

The Artemisia argyi leaf (AL) has been used as a traditional medicine and food supplement in China and other Asian countries for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies disclosed that AL contains various bioactive constituents. Among bioactive constituents, phenolic acids have been recognized as the main active compounds in AL. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been focused on extraction method for the bioactive phenolic acids from AL. Nowadays, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are emerging as a new type of green and sustainable solvent for efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from natural products. In the present study, an environmentally friendly extraction method based on DESs was established to extract bioactive phenolic acids from ALs. Diverse tailor-made solvents, including binary and ternary DESs, were explored for simultaneous extraction of four phenolic acids (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid) from AL. The results indicated that the ternary DES composed of a 2:1:2 molar ratio of choline chloride, malic acid, and urea showed enhanced extraction yields for phenolic acids compared with conventional organic solvents and other DESs. Subsequently, the extraction parameters for the four phenolic acids by selected tailor-made DESs, including liquid–solid ratios, water content (%) in the DESs, and extraction time, were optimized using response surface methodology and the optimal extraction conditions were: extraction time, 23.5 min; liquid–solid ratio, 57.5 mL/g (mL of DES/g dry weight of plant material); water content, 54%. The research indicated that DESs were efficient and sustainable green extraction solvents for extraction of bioactive phenolic acids from natural products. Compared to the conventional organic solvents, the DESs have a great potential as possible alternatives to those organic solvents in health-related areas such as food and pharmaceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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14 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical, Micronutrient and Physicochemical Properties of the Dried Red Seaweeds Gracilaria edulis and Gracilaria corticata

by Thomas Rosemary, Abimannan Arulkumar, Sadayan Paramasivam, Alicia Mondragon-Portocarrero and Jose Manuel Miranda

Molecules 2019, 24(12), 2225; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24122225 - 14 Jun 2019

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 7336

Abstract

The present study sought to evaluate the nutritional composition and physicochemical properties of two dried commercially interesting edible red seaweeds, Gracilaria corticata and G. edulis. Proximate composition of the dried seaweeds revealed a higher content in carbohydrates (8.30 g/100 g), total crude protein (22.84 g/100 g) and lipid content (7.07 g/100 g) in G. corticata than in G. edulis. Fatty acids profile showed that G. corticata samples contain higher concentrations of saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic and stearic acids, and polyunsaturated ones such as α-linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids. Contrariwise, G. edulis contained higher amounts of monounsaturated oleic acid. Total amino acid content was 76.60 mg/g in G. corticata and 65.42 mg/g in G. edulis, being the essential amino acid content higher in G. edulis (35.55 mg/g) than in G. corticata (22.76 mg/g). Chlorophyll a was found in significantly higher amounts in G. edulis (17.14 μg/g) than G. corticata, whereas carotenoid content was significantly higher in G. corticata (12.98 μg/g) than in G. edulis. With respect to physical properties, both water- and oil-holding capacities were similar in both seaweeds, whereas swelling capacity was higher in G. edulis. In view of the results, the present study suggests that G. corticata and G. edulis contains important nutrients for human health and are possible natural functional foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

12 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concentration of EPA and DHA from Refined Salmon Oil by Optimizing the Urea–Fatty Acid Adduction Reaction Conditions Using Response Surface Methodology

by Gretel Dovale-Rosabal, Alicia Rodríguez, Elyzabeth Contreras, Jaime Ortiz-Viedma, Marlys Muñoz, Marcos Trigo, Santiago P. Aubourg and Alejandra Espinosa

Molecules 2019, 24(9), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24091642 - 26 Apr 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5582

Abstract

This research focused on obtaining eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) (EPA+DHA) concentrates from refined commercial salmon oil (RCSO). Independent variables of the complexation process were optimized by means of the application of response surface methodology (RSM) in order to obtain the maximum content of such fatty acids (FAs). As a result of employing the optimized conditions for all the variables (6.0, urea:FA content ratio; −18.0 °C, crystallization temperature; 14.80 h, crystallization time; 500 rpm, stirring speed), high contents of EPA and DHA could be obtained from RCSO, achieving increases of 4.1 and 7.9 times in the concentrate, with values of 31.20 and 49.31 g/100 g total FA, respectively. Furthermore, a 5.8-time increase was observed for the EPA + DHA content, which increased from 13.78 to 80.51 g/100 g total FA. It is concluded that RCSO can be transformed into a profitable source of EPA and DHA (EPA+DHA), thus leading to a product with higher commercial value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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Review

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26 pages, 414 KiB

Open AccessReview

Potential Use of Marine Seaweeds as Prebiotics: A Review

by Aroa Lopez-Santamarina, Jose Manuel Miranda, Alicia del Carmen Mondragon, Alexandre Lamas, Alejandra Cardelle-Cobas, Carlos Manuel Franco and Alberto Cepeda

Molecules 2020, 25(4), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25041004 - 24 Feb 2020

Cited by 116 | Viewed by 8363

Abstract

Human gut microbiota plays an important role in several metabolic processes and human diseases. Various dietary factors, including complex carbohydrates, such as polysaccharides, provide abundant nutrients and substrates for microbial metabolism in the gut, affecting the members and their functionality. Nowadays, the main sources of complex carbohydrates destined for human consumption are terrestrial plants. However, fresh water is an increasingly scarce commodity and world agricultural productivity is in a persistent decline, thus demanding the exploration of other sources of complex carbohydrates. As an interesting option, marine seaweeds show rapid growth and do not require arable land, fresh water or fertilizers. The present review offers an objective perspective of the current knowledge surrounding the impacts of seaweeds and their derived polysaccharides on the human microbiome and the profound need for more in-depth investigations into this topic. Animal experiments and in vitro colonic-simulating trials investigating the effects of seaweed ingestion on human gut microbiota are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

21 pages, 715 KiB

Open AccessReview

Avocado Oil: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications

by Marcos Flores, Carolina Saravia, Claudia E. Vergara, Felipe Avila, Hugo Valdés and Jaime Ortiz-Viedma

Molecules 2019, 24(11), 2172; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112172 - 10 Jun 2019

Cited by 108 | Viewed by 36824

Abstract

Avocado oil has generated growing interest among consumers due to its nutritional and technological characteristics, which is evidenced by an increase in the number of scientific articles that have been published on it. The purpose of the present research was to discuss the extraction methods, chemical composition, and various applications of avocado oil in the food and medicine industries. Our research was carried out through a systematic search in scientific databases. Even though there are no international regulations concerning the quality of avocado oil, some authors refer to the parameters used for olive oil, as stated by the Codex Alimentarius or the International Olive Oil Council. They indicate that the quality of avocado oil will depend on the quality and maturity of the fruit and the extraction technique in relation to temperature, solvents, and conservation. While the avocado fruit has been widely studied, there is a lack of knowledge about avocado oil and the potential health effects of consuming it. On the basis of the available data, avocado oil has established itself as an oil that has a very good nutritional value at low and high temperatures, with multiple technological applications that can be exploited for the benefit of its producers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Technology in Nutrition Analysis)

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