Proceedings of the tropical fruits in human nutrition and health conference 2008

Horticultural industries are Queensland’s second largest primary producer, with a total gross value of more than $1.9 billion in 2008. Queensland’s diverse geography and climate supports the production of more than 120 horticultural products. With a growing worldwide demand for quality, nutritious food Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries continues to focus its activities on accelerating growth within the sector. The conference, sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and DPI&F is the first of its kind to examine the latest knowledge on the health properties of tropical fruits. Organising committee member and DPI&F science leader Dr Roger Stanley said the conference would develop international networks to accelerate research in the area.

Increased profitability through product diversification and improved sugar quality.

The proposed simplified Integrated Sugar Production Process (ISPP) using membrane technology would allow the sugar industry to produce new product streams and higher quality mill sugar with increased sugar extraction efficiency. Membrane filtration technology has proven to be a technically sound process to increase sugar quality. However commercial viability has been uncertain partly because the benefits to crystallisation and sugar quality have not outweighed the increased processing cost. This simplified ISPP produces additional value-added liquid streams to make the membrane fractionation process more financially viable and improve the profitability of sugar manufacture. An experimental study used pilot scale membrane fractionation of clarified mill juice confirmed the technical feasibility of separating inorganic salt and antioxidant rich fractions from cane juice. The paper presents details on the compositions of the liquid streams along with their potential uses, values and challenges in getting these products out to market.

Membrane fractionation technologies for high quality mill sugar and value-added by products - an integrated sugar production process concept model.

Membrane filtration technology has been proven to be a technically sound process to improve the quality of clarified cane juice and subsequently to increase the productivity of crystallisation and the quality of sugar production. However, commercial applications have been hindered because the benefits to crystallisation and sugar quality have not outweighed the increased processing costs associated with membrane applications. An 'Integrated Sugar Production Process (ISPP) Concept Model' is proposed to recover more value from the non-sucrose streams generated by membrane processing. Pilot scale membrane fractionation trials confirmed the technical feasibility of separating high-molecular weight, antioxidant and reducing sugar fractions from cane juice in forms suitable for value recovery. It was also found that up to 40% of potassium salts from the juice can be removed by membrane application while removing the similar amount of water with potential energy saving in subsequent evaporation. Application of ISPP would allow sugar industry to co-produce multiple products and high quality mill sugar while eliminating energy intensive refining processes.

Natural Preservation Technologies for Tropical Fruits

The project intends to establish a cross DEEDI industry-leveraged project for tropical fruit convenience products.

Increased profitability through product diversification and improved sugar quality.

The proposed simplified Integrated Sugar Production Process (ISPP) using membrane technology would allow the sugar industry to produce new product streams and higher quality mill sugar with increased sugar extraction efficiency. Membrane filtration technology has proven to be a technically sound process to increase sugar quality. However commercial viability has been uncertain partly because the benefits to crystallisation and sugar quality have not outweighed the increased processing cost. This simplified ISPP produces additional value-added liquid streams to make the membrane fractionation process more financially viable and improve the profitability of sugar manufacture. An experimental study used pilot scale membrane fractionation of clarified mill juice confirmed the technical feasibility of separating inorganic salt and antioxidant rich fractions from cane juice. The paper presents details on the compositions of the liquid streams along with their potential uses, values and challenges in getting these products out to market. This paper was presented at the 2010 Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists annual conference.

Urinary excretion of antioxidants in healthy humans following queen garnet plum juice ingestion: a new plum variety rich in antioxidant compounds

In recent years, there has been intense interest in the potential health benefits of dietary derived plant polyphenols and antioxidants. A new variety of Prunus salicina, Queen Garnet plum (QGP), was developed as a high anthocyanin, high antioxidant plum, in a Queensland Government breeding program. Following consumption of 400 mL QGP juice (QGPJ; 1,117 mg anthocyanins) by two healthy male subjects, QGP anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside) were excreted mainly as methylated and glucuronidated metabolites in urine (0.5% of the ingested dose within 24 h). Furthermore, QGPJ intake resulted in a threefold increase in hippuric acid excretion (potential biomarker for total polyphenols intake and metabolite), an increased urinary antioxidant capacity and a decreased malondialdehyde excretion (biomarker for oxidative stress) within 24 h as compared with the polyphenol-/antioxidant-free control. Results from this pilot study suggest that metabolites, and not the native QGP anthocyanins/polyphenols, are most likely the bioactive compounds in vivo.

Increasing anthocyanin content in Queen Garnet plum and correlations with in-field measures

While plums are traditionally bred for fresh fruit traits such as size, sweetness, yield and disease resistance the Queensland Government breeding program for Japanese plum ( Prunus salicina Lindl.) also selected for anthocyanin content to develop a new plum selection named 'Queen Garnet'. When ripe or overripe, it has a near black skin and deep red flesh colour, which when combined, result in exceptionally high anthocyanin content, reaching up to 277 mg/100 g fruit. The skin fraction contributes 36-66% of the total anthocyanin content of fruit. The plum is now being commercially grown to be processed into a range of functional products from food colourants to premium health products. These are sold on the basis of anthocyanin and antioxidant content. Protocols for increasing anthocyanin content have therefore been researched to maximise the total anthocyanin yield rather than fresh fruit weight and taste. The principal approach is through selective harvest of overripe plums high in colour, although post-harvest storage at 21°C results in further anthocyanin synthesis. Modified processing is also required to ensure recovery of anthocyanins from the skin fraction. The plum products have entered testing for assessing health properties beginning with an initial proof of in vivo bioavailability of the anthocyanins.

Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) and phytochemicals – breeding, horticultural practice, post-harvest storage, processing and bioactivity

Previous reviews of plum phytochemical content and health benefits have concentrated on the European plum, Prunus domestica L.. However, the potential bioactivity of red and dark red fleshed Japanese plum, Prunus salicina Lindl., so called blood plums, appears to warrant a significant increase in exposure as indicated in a recent review of the whole Prunus genus. Furthermore, Japanese plums are the predominate plum produced on an international basis. In this review the nutrient and phytochemical content, breeding programs, horticultural practice, post harvest treatment and processing as well as bioactivity (emphasizing in vivo studies) of Japanese plum are considered with a focus on the anthocyanin content that distinguishes the blood plums.

Phytochemicals in Australian papaya cultivars: the effect of maturity and cooking

To measure the effect of maturity and cooking on phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of fruit and leaves of four commercially available Australian papaya cultivars (RB1, RB2, RB4 and YB1).

An inordinate fondness for Fusarium: Phylogenetic diversity of fusaria cultivated by ambrosia beetles in the genus Euwallacea on avocado and other plant hosts

Ambrosia beetle fungiculture represents one of the most ecologically and evolutionarily successful symbioses, as evidenced by the 11 independent origins and 3500 species of ambrosia beetles. Here we document the evolution of a clade within Fusarium associated with ambrosia beetles in the genus Euwallacea (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) symbionts are unusual in that some are plant pathogens that cause significant damage in naive natural and cultivated ecosystems, and currently threaten avocado production in the United States, Israel and Australia. Most AFC fusaria produce unusual clavate macroconidia that serve as a putative food source for their insect mutualists. AFC symbionts were abundant in the heads of four Euwallacea spp., which suggests that they are transported within and from the natal gallery in mandibular mycangia. In a four-locus phylogenetic analysis, the AFC was resolved in a strongly supported monophyletic group within the previously described Cade 3 of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Divergence-time estimates place the origin of the AFC in the early Miocene similar to 21.2 Mya, which coincides with the hypothesized adaptive radiation of the Xyleborini. Two strongly supported clades within the AFC (Clades A and B) were identified that include nine species lineages associated with ambrosia beetles, eight with Euwallacea spp. and one reportedly with Xyleborus ferrugineus, and two lineages with no known beetle association. More derived lineages within the AFC showed fixation of the clavate (club-shaped) macroconidial trait, while basal lineages showed a mix of clavate and more typical fusiform macroconidia. AFC lineages consisted mostly of genetically identical individuals associated with specific insect hosts in defined geographic locations, with at least three interspecific hybridization events inferred based on discordant placement in individual gene genealogies and detection of recombinant loci. Overall, these data are consistent with a strong evolutionary trend toward obligate symbiosis coupled with secondary contact and interspecific hybridization. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Consumption of anthocyanin-rich Queen Garnet plum juice reduces platelet activation related thrombogenesis in healthy volunteers

The anti-thrombotic properties of an anthocyanin-rich Queen Garnet plum juice (QGPJ) and anthocyanin-free prune juice (PJ) were studied in this randomised, double-blind, crossover trial. Twenty-one healthy subjects (M = 10, F = 11) consumed QGPJ, PJ or placebo, 200 mL/day for 28-days followed by a 2-week wash-out period. Only QGPJ supplementation inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP (<5%, P = 0.02), collagen (<2.7%, P < 0.001) and arachidonic acid (<4%, P < 0.001); reduced platelet activation-dependent surface-marker P-selectin expression of activated de-granulated platelets (<17.2%, P = 0.04); prolonged activated-partial thromboplastin clotting time (>2.1 s, P = 0.03); reduced plasma-fibrinogen (<7.5%, P = 0.02) and malondialdehyde levels, a plasma biomarker of oxidative stress ( P = 0.016). PJ supplementation increased plasma hippuric acid content ( P = 0.018). QGPJ or PJ supplementation did not affect blood cell counts, lipid profile, or inflammation markers. Our findings suggest that QGPJ but not PJ has the potential to significantly attenuate thrombosis by reducing platelet activation/hyper-coagulability and oxidative stress.

Formulation and characterization of drug-loaded microparticles using distiller’s dried grain kafirin

Kafirin, a protein extracted from sorghum grain has been formulated into microparticles, and proposed for use as a delivery system due to the resistance of kafirin to upper gastrointestinal digestion. However, extracting kafirin from sorghum “distiller’s dried grains with solubles” (DDGS) may be more efficient as the carbohydrate component has been removed by fermentation. This study investigated the properties and use of kafirin extracted from DDGS to formulate microparticles. Prednisolone, an anti-inflammatory drug that could benefit from a delayed and targeted delivery system to the colon, was loaded into DDGS kafirin microparticles by phase separation using sodium chloride. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the empty and prednisolone-loaded microparticles were round in shape and varied in size. Surface binding studies indicated prednisolone was loaded within the microparticles rather than being solely bound on the surface. These findings demonstrate DDGS kafirin can be formulated into microparticles and loaded with medication. Future studies could investigate the potential applications of DDGS kafirin microparticles as an orally administered targeted drug-delivery system.

Phytochemicals of papaya and its traditional health and culinary uses – A review

This paper reviews the current research on phytochemical composition and non-Western traditional culinary food preparation and health uses of papaya. Only ripe papaya fruit flesh is normally eaten in Western countries. The orange or red flesh is an excellent source of pro-vitamin A and ascorbic acid. In South-East Asia, both ripe and green fruit are used and additionally leaves are popularly consumed either raw in salad or cooked as a green vegetable. The leaves contain alkaloids as well as quercetin and kaempferol as the main phenolic compounds. In contrast to Western use papaya has a reputation as a medicinal plant in tropical countries where it is grown. Different plant parts such as fruit, leaf, seed, root, bark and flowers have been used as health treatments. These have included use as topical dressings for treating ulcers and dermatitis, gastrointestinal uses such as antihelminthic and antibacterial activity treatments and traditional uses for fertility control. The differences in use for food and health illustrate potential applications and nutritional benefits of the plant which require further research. With better verification the health applications of papaya could be more widely adopted into Western culture.

Formulation and characterization of drug-loaded microparticles using distiller’s dried grain kafirin

Kafirin, a protein extracted from sorghum grain has been formulated into microparticles, and proposed for use as a delivery system due to the resistance of kafirin to upper gastrointestinal digestion. However, extracting kafirin from sorghum distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) may be more efficient as the carbohydrate component has been removed by fermentation. This study investigated the properties and use of kafirin extracted from DDGS to formulate microparticles. Prednisolone, an anti-inflammatory drug that could benefit from a delayed and targeted delivery system to the colon, was loaded into DDGS kafirin microparticles by phase separation using sodium chloride. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the empty and prednisolone-loaded microparticles were round in shape and varied in size. Surface binding studies indicated prednisolone was loaded within the microparticles rather than being solely bound on the surface. These findings demonstrate DDGS kafirin can be formulated into microparticles and loaded with medication. Future studies could investigate the potential applications of DDGS kafirin microparticles as an orally administered targeted drug-delivery system.