Sensory evaluation of isolated natural capsaicinoids showed that there was a significant linear relationship between pungency and concentration. Detection thresholds were evaluated using an ASTM method. Pungency thresholds were calculated using the established relationships between pungency and concentration of individual compounds. Total pungency of a mixture of capsaicinoids was highly correlated with the sum of pungencies of individual capsaicinoids. Determination of the total pungency of Cupsicum extracts can be accomplished by adding the pungencies of individual capsaicinoids upon multiplication of their pungency threshold values by their respective concentrations.

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Goji fruit (Lycium barbarum L.) has been identified as a polyphenolic compound plant source of noted richness. It also contains polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals, fatty and organic acids. The purpose of the presented research was to produce innovative instant corn gruels with various dry goji berry contents (1, 3 and 5%), to determine the level of included polyphenolic compounds (including individual free phenolic acids) and to assess the antioxidant properties of these functional-food products. A further objective was to identify the optimum value of one of the most important production parameter, the rotational speed of the extruder’s screw during gruel processing. The undertaken chromatographic analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS) showed a wide variety of available phenolic acids. In the samples with 5% addition of fruit, eight phenolic acids were detected, whereas in the corn gruel without additives, only five were noted. The antioxidant activity, the content of free phenolic acids and the sum of polyphenols increased with increase of the functional additive. For all goji content, screw speeds of 100 and 120 rpm rather than 80 rpm resulted in higher polyphenol amounts and greater Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, as well as higher ability to scavenge DPPH.

A new gas chromatographic (GC) method is described that uses a simple on-column methylation for the quantitative determination of the major naturally occurring capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids are extracted from the dry sample with acetone in a Soxhlet apparatus, purified by extraction with petroleum ether and water, mixed in a microsyringe with trimethylanilinium hydroxide solution, and injected onto the GC column. The methylated capsaicinoids thus formed require 16 min for elution. The gas chromatographic response is linear with increased concentration of capsaicinoids

Dandelion flowers (DF) are a rich source of many phytochemicals which can reduce oxidative stress in the human body. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of dried and powdered DF addition into wheat flour (WF) on dough and bread properties. WF was replaced with DF at levels 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6%. Physical properties of dough and quality of control and supplemented bread were studied. The addition of DF increased water absorption of flour, development time and dough stability during mixing. However, these changes had no positive effect on bread quality. With an increase in the proportion of DF in the bread recipe, the volume of loaves and lightness of crumb decreased while its hardness and yellowness increased. As a result of these changes, the overall sensory acceptability of DF-enriched bread decreased. On the other hand, supplementation of WF with DF increased minerals, fiber and fat content in bread. Most importantly, DF enhanced the antioxidant capacity of bread and increased content of phenolics. Total phenolic content ranged from 1.00 mg GAE/g dry mass (DM) for control bread to 3.45 mg GAE/g DM when wheat flour was replaced with 6% of DF. To summarize, we showed that DF can be a valuable ingredient for bread fortification. However, the amount of WF replaced with DF should not exceed 2–3% while taking into account the sensory results.