Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Portuguese wine aged brandies

The antioxidant activity and the phenolic composition (total polyphenols, phenolic acids and hydrolyzable tannins) of Portuguese brandies were analyzed with regard to the kind of wood (chestnut and Limousin oak), the barrels toasting level (light, medium and heavy), and the ageing time (first 4 years of ageing). In the experimental conditions, the botanical species affects significantly the antioxidant activity of the brandies. Those aged in chestnut wood present higher antioxidant activity than those aged in Limousin oak, which confirms the remarkable quality of the former. The antioxidant activity of the aged brandies is not significantly influenced by the wood toasting level, owing to the strong variability induced by this cooperage operation. During the ageing period, the antioxidant activity of the brandies undergoes a highly significant increase. The most significant correlations between antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of brandies were found for phenolic acids, mainly for gallic acid and ellagic acid.     

Phenolic compounds and sensorial characterization of wines aged with alternative to barrel products made of Spanish oak wood (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.)

Wood of Quercus pyrenaica has suitable properties for the wine ageing process. However, the forest available for the barrel making from this particular type of tree is very limited. Nevertheless, it is highly advisable to use this kind of wood in order to manufacture alternative oak products. This study presents the results of ageing the same red wine using different pieces of wood (chips and staves) of Spanish oak (Q. pyrenaica), American oak (Quercus alba) and French oak (Quercus petraea) in conjunction with small, controlled amounts of oxygen. In addition, the phenolic parameters, colour and sensory analysis point out that wines aged with Q. pyrenaica pieces have similar enological characteristics to those aged with American or French oak pieces of wood (chips and staves). Furthermore, the total oxygen consumed and its relation with sensory properties also has been studied in this article in order to know how the oxygen behaves in these processes. Besides, it is going to put forward the fact that chips and staves from Q. pyrenaica oak are suitable for the ageing of red wines and better considered than American or French ones, showing higher aromatic intensity, complexity, woody, balsamic and cocoa. Finally, the tasters valued highly the wines with staves, pointing out its flavour and roundness in mouth.     

Determination of low-molecular mass phenols in red wines: the influence of chips, staves and micro-oxygenation aging tank

The aim of this study is to assess the use of polymeric cartridges with diode array detection to extract the main low-molecular mass phenolic compounds from red wine samples. This method expanded and improved permitted to quantify 20 compounds in red wines made and aged under different conditions. These conditions included aging in barrels and in tanks with chips or staves as well as micro-oxygenation. The study of wine development during its wood storage period and the compounds transferred from the wood to the wine during this period provide useful important information concerning the impact of wine aging methods on the chemical makeup of the resulting wines. The main compounds that differentiated wine aging systems were identified to be 5-hydroxymethyl-2 furaldehyde, gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic aldehyde, syringic acid and sinapic acid.     

Extraction and identification by GC-MS of phenolic acids in traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena

Traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena (Aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena, ABTM) is a typical Italian product obtained by a traditional method from grape must. As the chemical composition of this vinegar has not yet been fully investigated, the present work aims to develop a method for investigating the presence of biologically active compounds such as phenolic acids. The physico-chemical characteristics of ABTM required the development of a specific method for phenolic acid extraction. Different materials, such as diatomaceous earth cartridges for liquid–liquid extraction and polyamidic SPE cartridges, have been tested. The identification of phenolic acids in extracts of ABTM has been carried out using a GC/MS method after derivatization with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BTSFA). The developed procedure allowed the identification in ABTM of nine phenolic acids, confirming also the presence of these natural antioxidants at the end of the process that transforms grape must into ABTM.     

Inhibitory effects of balsamic vinegar on LDL oxidation and lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to contribute to atherosclerosis in part by being taken up into macrophages via scavenger receptors, thus accounting for foam cells. Balsamic vinegar is made from grapes and generally consumed in the Mediterranean region. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of balsamic vinegar on LDL oxidation and foam cell formation. Balsamic vinegar had stronger 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities and higher polyphenol concentrations than rice vinegar. Balsamic vinegar dramatically inhibited LDL oxidation by azoradicals and endothelial cell-mediated oxidation in vitro. Further, we assessed the anti-oxidative effect against LDL after balsamic vinegar consumption in human subjects. Balsamic vinegar prolonged the LDL oxidation lag time and decreased lipid peroxide (LPO) and lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) in LDL particles. We next examined the effect of balsamic vinegar on foam cell formation. Oil red O staining showed that balsamic vinegar inhibited oxidized LDL-induced foam cell formation in THP-1 macrophages. The concentrations of intracellular triglycerides and total cholesterols were reduced in the presence of balsamic vinegar. In addition, balsamic vinegar decreased the mRNA and protein expression level of scavenger receptors in THP-1 macrophages. These results showed that balsamic vinegar contained abundant polyphenols and inhibited LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL-induced foam cell formation by decreasing the expression of scavenger receptors.     

On the electrochemical biosensing of phenolic compounds in wines

A simple electrochemical sensor based on polyphenol oxidases was proposed for determination of the total phenol content in wine. Application of two oxidases: tyrosinase and laccase (separately) was examined and the results were compared. An analytical characteristic of proposed sensor towards gallic acid was evaluated. The influence of sample matrix components on the sensor response was studied according to Plackett–Burman experimental design. The potential interferents ethanol, tartaric acid, sorbate, sulfate(IV), putrescine, Fe(III) and glucose, which are usually encountered in wines, were taken into account in the examination. Because of the significant matrix effect found, analyses of wine samples towards polyphenol contents were carried out using standard addition method and expressed as gallic acid equivalents. For comparative quantification of phenolic compounds well-established Folin–Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method was applied. Significant inter-method differences were observed in electrochemical behaviour of standard substance – gallic acid – and phenolic constituents of real wine samples in the presence of tartaric acid.     

Phytochemicals of foods, beverages and fruit vinegars: chemistry and health effects

Plant-based foods and food ingredients provide a wide range of phytochemicals and antioxidants that render their beneficial health effects through a number of mechanisms. The presence of phenolics in different plant materials and beverages depends on the source material which dictates the type and quantity present. In addition, processing of raw materials, including fermentation, may alter the chemical nature and efficacy of their phenolic constituents. While vinegar has traditionally been used for food preservation and as a seasoning, more recently, fruit vinegars with different sensory characteristics have appeared in the marketplace. In addition to acetic acid, fruit vinegars often contain citric, malic, lactic, and tartaric acids and may also include phenolics, some of which are produced as a result of fermentaion. The beneficial health effects of fruit vinegars may in part be related to the process-induced changes in their phenolics and generation of new antioxidative phenolics during fermentation.     

Chemical Characterization Of Commercial Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

The present study reports the chemical characterization of commercial balsamic vinegar glaze (BVG), a side product of the world-famous Aceto Balsamico di Modena (ABM). BVG, originally a homemade sweet and sour sauce, is now produced on an industrial scale and is gaining a growing success. The determination of total titratable acidity, dry matter, ash, metals, sugars, phenolic acids and furfurals is reported for BVG samples of different batches and years of production. Principal component analysis (PCA) and ANOVA test were applied to evaluate the experimental data. The results showed that the chemical characteristics of the product are almost unchanged in the investigated years and well reflect the characteristics of the ABM. Moreover, it was found that potentially harmful species, namely furfural compounds and heavy metals, were at a lower concentration than that of homologous products. In particular, the concentration of heavy metals, such as Cu, Zn and Pb, suggests that a preventive demetallization of the BVG starting raw materials occurs.     

Oxidation of fatty acid may be enhanced by a combination of pomegranate fruit phytochemicals and acetic acid in HepG2 cells

We investigated whether the combination of phytochemicals and acetic acid in the form of fruit vinegar provides an additive effect on changes of mRNA levels related to fatty acid oxidation in human hepatocyte (HepG2). Among the seven fruit vinegars (Rubuscoreanus, Opuntia, blueberry, cherry, red ginseng, mulberry, and pomegranate) studied, treatment of HepG2 with pomegranate vinegar (PV) at concentrations containing 1 mM acetic acid showed the highest in vitro potentiating effect on the mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, carnitinepalmitoyl transferase-1, and acyl-CoA oxidase compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Reversed-phase liquid chromatography in combination with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis revealed four potential compounds (punicalagin B, ellagic acid, and two unidentified compounds) responsible for altered gene expression in HepG2 cells treated with PV as compared with the others. Further investigations are warranted to determine if drinking PV beverages may help to maintain a healthy body weight in overweight subjects.     

Differences in major volatile compounds of red wines according to storage length and storage conditions

The effect of different ageing conditions on wine aroma compounds was studied. Wines aged under two different conditions (barrel ageing and bottle ageing) and for two different lengths of time (short term and long term) were analysed and the major volatile compounds were quantified. Esters and fatty acids decreased during storage. A cluster analysis showed that wines could be grouped according to the storage time and storage conditions. Step forward discriminant analysis showed that furfural, vanillin, isoamyl acetate and octanoic acid were the variables with the highest discriminant power, permitting a 100% correct classification of the studied samples.     

Phenolic compounds in red wine digested in vitro in the presence of iron and other dietary factors

Quantitative and qualitative changes in the phenolic composition of red wine may occur during digestion in the lumen, particularly when other dietary components are present. In this study, mixtures of red wine, iron, and ascorbic acid, meat or casein were subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal digestion. This process involves incubation of samples for 4.5 h at 37 degrees C, at different pH values, in the presence of peptic enzymes and fractionation of digests through a dialysis membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 6000-8000. Selected phenolic compounds were determined in undigested samples and in their dialysable digests by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. A dramatic decrease in the concentration of the selected phenolic compounds was observed in all samples after they were digested in vitro. Moreover, when iron and/or protein were added to red wine samples, changes in the phenolic profile of the undigested and of the in vitro digested samples were detected. These results suggest that interactions between red wine phenolic compounds and iron, protein and/or digestion components are important determinants of the physicochemical properties and the concentration of these phenolic compounds in the lumen. The in vitro methodology employed herein offers a tool for the study of phenolic compounds under conditions of simulated gastrointestinal digestion, incorporating lumenal events that may affect phenolic compounds.     

2010年杭州市售发酵性食品中氨基甲酸乙酯调查与分析

目的 调查2010年杭州市售发酵性食品中氨基甲酸乙酯含量.方法 2010年在杭州大、中、小型3家超市采集237份发酵性食品,包括黄酒、白酒、葡萄酒、啤酒、料酒、酱油、食醋、腐乳等8类食品,采用D5-氨基甲酸乙酯核素稀释技术,硅藻土固相萃取净化样品,然后用气相色谱-质谱法测定样品中氨基甲酸乙酯.结果 237份发酵性食品中氨基甲酸乙酯检出率为100%,含量范围为2.0 ~515.0 μg/kg,氨基甲酸乙酯含量平均值(中位数)从高到低依次为红腐乳[182.2 μg/kg(161.2 μg/kg )]、黄酒[159.6 μg/kg(121.0 μg/kg)]、料酒[86.8 μg/kg(95.6 μg/kg)]、白酒[72.0 μg/kg(60.5 μg/kg )]、酱油[47.2 μg/kg(40.7 μg/kg)]、食醋[26.7 μg/kg(31.8 μg/kg )]、葡萄酒[15.7 μg/kg(16.8 μg/kg )]、啤酒[2.2 μg/kg(2.3 μg/kg)].结论 2010年杭州市发酵性食品中均存在氨基甲酸乙酯,尤以红腐乳、黄酒中氨基甲酸乙酯含量为高.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the ethyl carbamate concentrations in different commercial fermented foods in Hangzhou in 2010.Methods In 2010,237 commercial fermented food samples of eight categories,including yellow wine,white spirit,wine,beer,cooking wine,sauce,vinegar and fermented bean curd,were purchased from 3 different size markets respectively in Hangzhou.The ethyl carbamate was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selection ion mode,after the samples were coupled with D5-ethyl carbamate,and purified by diatomite solid phase extraction column.Results The results showed that ethyl carbamate was detected in all samples analyzed (100%) with the range from 2.0 μg/kg to 515.0 μg/kg.The ethyl carbamate average(median)levels in 8 food catergories were descending with fermented red bean curd (182.2 μg/kg (161.2 μg/kg)),yellow wine (159.6 μg/kg (121.0 μg/kg)),cooking wine (86.8 μg/kg (95.6 μg/kg)),white spirit (72.0 μg/kg (60.5 μg/kg)),soy sauce (47.2 μg/kg(40.7μg/kg)),vinegar (26.7 μg/kg (31.8 μg/kg)),wine (15.7 μg/kg (16.8 μg/kg)) and beer (2.2 μg/kg (2.3 μg/kg)).Conclusion The ethyl carbamate was detected in all fermented foods in Hangzhou in 2010,and the levels of ethyl carbamate in red bean curd and yellow wine were higher than others.     

Cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects of ellagitannins from European oak bark (Quercus petraea L.) extract in rats

Background

Red wine contains many potentially bioactive polyphenols including resveratrol, catechins, anthocyanins and flavonoids as well as tannins derived from oak during maturation. This study examined the effects of a mixture of ellagitannins from oak bark (Quercus petraea L.) on cardiovascular, metabolic and liver changes in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet–fed rats and in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR).

Methods

First, 8-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and given either cornstarch diet, cornstarch diet + oak bark extract (0.5 mL/kg food), high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet + oak bark extract (0.5 mL/kg food) for 16 weeks. Oak bark extract was added to the diets for last 8 weeks of the feeding period. Secondly, SHR aged 42 weeks fed on standard chow diet were divided into two groups with and without oak bark extract treatment for 12 weeks (0.5 mL/kg food).

Results

The high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet induced signs of metabolic syndrome along with cardiovascular remodelling and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Oak bark extract attenuated the signs of metabolic syndrome in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet–fed rats and improved the structure and function of the heart and the liver. SHR after oak bark extract treatment for 12 weeks showed lower systolic blood pressure, lower cardiac fibrosis and cardiac stiffness and improved vascular reactivity.

Conclusions

Oak bark extract containing ellagitannins improved cardiovascular, metabolic and liver parameters in these rat models of human disease, suggesting that part of the benefits attributed to red wine may be produced by these ellagitannins.     

Evaluation of colour parameters and antioxidant activities of fruit wines

The evaluation of oenological colorimetric indexes, CIELAB parameters, total phenols and antioxidant activities has been studied in different fruit wines made from black mulberry, blackberry, quince, apple, apricot, melon, red raspberry, bilberry, sour cherry and strawberry.The highest value of antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents were determined in bilberry, blackberry and black mulberry wines (61.80%, 1161 mg/l gallic acid equivalents; 60.00%, 1232 mg/l gallic acid equivalents; 58.10%, 1081 mg/l gallic acid equivalents), respectively. The highest values for A420 nm, A520 nm, A620 nm, the proportion of blue, wine colour, wine total colour of pigments, wine polymeric pigment colour and K-K values logarithmic colour intensity) were determined in bilberry fruit wine. Positive correlation was found between antioxidant activities and total phenols (r=0.958, P = 0.001). The results of grouping of different parameters in n-dimensional space with different fruit wines demonstrated the importance of bilberry, blackberry and black mulberry wines as natural antioxidants and colourants.     

Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy: A new tool for control in the wine industry

PARAllel FACtor Analysis (PARAFAC) in combination with front-face fluorescence spectroscopy was applied in the evaluation of wine samples according to their appellation and ageing condition. Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were obtained from front-face fluorescence measurements of untreated wine samples between 245-345 and 300-500 nm for excitation and emission respectively. Firstly, PARAFAC was applied for exploratory analysis and the four obtained components were assigned to different fluorophores present in the wine samples according to bibliographic data. Further interpretation of PARAFAC-score values allows the discrimination and clustering of wine samples belonging to different appellations. Therefore when plotting the scores of second PARAFAC component against the third a good separation between Rioja and Ribera del Guadiana samples is achieved. The effect of ageing was also studied using the same methodology. An improved discrimination between Rioja and non-Rioja samples for crianza and reserva wines compared to young wines was found.     

Ion-pair dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction solidification of floating organic droplets method for the rapid and sensitive detection of phenolic acids in wine samples using liquid chromatography combined with a core–shell particle column

This study describes a novel sample preparation method for extraction of phenolic acids from wine using ion pair dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic droplet (IP-DLLME-SFO). The ion-pairing technique combined with DLLME-SFO dramatically enhanced the extraction efficiency for very polar phenolic acids, such as gallic acid and protocatechuic acid, which could not be extracted by DLLME-SFO in the absence of an ion-pairing reagent. The effects of the parameters that can affect the extraction efficiency were systematically investigated, including the type and concentration of ion-pairing reagent, type and volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, sample pH, and ion strength. The method linearity was constructed in the range of 0.01–15 μg/mL, and the sensitivity expressed as limit of detection was as low as 10 ng/mL. The method that we developed was applied for the analysis of commercial wine samples, revealing different levels of phenolic acids among these products.     

Phenolics and abscisic acid identified in acacia honey comparing different SPE cartridges coupled with HPLC-PDA

The major components of honey are sugar and water, but some phenolic compounds may be responsible for honey quality. We investigated the effects of four reversed-phase (RP) and four reversed-phase and anion-exchange (RP-AE) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges as a pre-concentration technique for honey phenolics. Eleven acacia honey samples were collected from different apiaries of China and their levels of phenolics and abscisic acid were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our results reveal that RP-AE SPE cartridges are superior to RP SPE cartridges for the pre-concentration of honey phenolics. The improved pre-concentration effect of RP-AE SPE cartridges may be a novel finding of our research. The Strata-X-A cartridge may be used in the concentration of low content phenolics of complex food matrices. We identified cis-trans-abscisic acid and 19 phenolics occurring in acacia honey samples. Seven phenolic compounds and abscisic acid were identified in almost all samples, representing 50% of total phenolics. Abscisic acid possesses the highest average content of 146.0 μg/100 g, and pinobanksin also presented the highest average of 53.1 μg/100 g among all flavonoids. Moreover, we infer that abscisic acid could be the solid ingredient for adulteration identification and quality control of acacia honey.     

Alcohol use and abuse in adolescence: proposal of an alternative analysis

Background A national, representative, school‐based sample of Portuguese youths was used to examine the prevalence of alcohol use in this population and to analyse differences between demographic variables such as gender and age, as well as to propose a statistical procedure that optimally quantifies categorical variables. Methods Data on 6109 state school students from Portugal, in the 6th, 8th and 10th grades, aged 11–18, who participated in the 2002 (Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children/WHO) survey of adolescent health, were analysed. Adolescents aged between 11 and 14 were placed in the younger group, and those 15–18 years old were placed in the older group. Optimal scaling was used to optimize the computation of factor scores, which were subsequently submitted to multiple regression analysis in order to analyse the impact of gender and age on alcohol use. Results The results of this study show that the majority of Portuguese school‐aged adolescents attending regular school at 6th, 8th and 10th grades do not drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or spirits) on a regular basis (at least once a month). However, about 8% of these adolescents do drink beer, 3% do drink wine and 12% do drink spirits on a regular basis. With regard to age and gender, about a quarter of the older boys stated that they drink beer or spirits regularly. The multiple regression analysis showed that age and gender had a significant impact on alcohol use. Conclusion Alcohol – in particular spirits – is a substance used by some Portuguese adolescents. Alcohol use and abuse is more frequent in boys and increases with age. The importance of these findings for health promotion strategies is discussed.     

Evolution of benzoate derivatives and their hydroxycinnamate analogues during ageing of white wines in oak barrels

Two white wines produced industrially, originating from the V. vinifera cultivars Asyrtiko and Chardonnay, were monitored with regard to the evolution of selected phenolic acids, during “on lees” ageing in oak casks for a period of 197 days. Four benzoic acid derivatives, namely p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid and syringic acid, and their corresponding hydroxycinnamate analogues p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid, were considered. The most abundant benzoate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives were protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid, with concentrations varying from 0.31 to 0.42 μg mL⁻¹ and 1.71 to 2.47 μg mL⁻¹, respectively, while the profile of both phenolic categories was essentially the same in both wines. The evolution pattern of benzoates showed that maximum concentration of protocatechuic acid was achieved after approximately 100 days (0.45–0.48 μg mL⁻¹) of ageing for both samples, whereas all other compounds exhibited an increasing trend towards the end of the examination period. The concentration of all hydroxycinnamates increased at the end of ageing, from 49.4% (caffeic acid) to 123% (p-coumaric acid), to the exception of sinapic acid which underwent practically no changes.     

Phenolic composition and radical scavenging activity of commercial Greek white wines from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malagousia

Seven commercial white wine samples of the Malagousia cultivar were investigated for the first time with regard to their phenolic composition and radical scavenging activity. Total phenol content, corrected for ascorbic acid contribution (0–47 mg gallic acid equivalents/L of wine), ranged between 241 and 336 mg gallic acid equivalents/L of wine. On the other hand, the range for total hydroxycinnamates was 51.5–122.4 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents/L of wine and that for total flavanols 19.6–68.8 mg catechin equivalents/L wine. Fifteen phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector. Tyrosol, caftaric, caffeic and 2-S-glutathionyl caffeoyl tartaric (GRP) acids were the major phenolics in all samples with mean concentrations of 12.32, 10.71, 10.17 and 4.79 mg/L wine, respectively. Catechin (3.75 mg/L) and p-coumaric acid (3.04 mg/L) followed in abundance. Variations in the values of GRP/caftaric (0.1–4.6) and caffeic/caftaric (0.4–4.2) acid concentrations, suggested differences in the degree of oxidation on one hand and hydrolytic processes during production and bottling on the other. Despite these variations, the radical scavenging activity of samples examined with DPPH and ABTS⁺ assays (mean value 0.85 and 3.45 mmol Trolox equivalents/L of wine) indicated a high efficiency in comparison to literature data on native and foreign white wines. The present findings can be useful for both technological and nutritional purposes.