Propolis is a bee product with known medical properties, including antioxidant activity. The scope of the study is profiling 19 different Eurasian propolis samples (mostly from Russia and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Ukraine, and Slovakia). Profiles of propolises were investigated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector–mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MS). Classical antioxidant properties, which are based on electron donation mechanism, were assessed by DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also evaluated by colorimetric tests. Most of the samples exhibited significant content of polyphenols (from 30.28 to 145.24 mg GAE/g of propolis) and flavonoids (from 10.45 to 82.71 mg GAE/g of propolis). Most of the propolis samples exhibited potent antiradical (DPPH test—from 8.83 to 64.47 mg GAE/g of propolis) and reducing activity (FRAP test—from 0.08 to 1.17 mmol Fe2+/g of propolis). Based on the occurrence of marker compounds, propolis samples were classified as poplar, aspen–birch, aspen–poplar, and aspen–birch–poplar type. Main markers present in propolis of poplar (e.g., chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin, and 3-O-acetyl-pinobanksin), birch (ermanin and acacetin) and aspen (2-acetyl-1,3-di-p-coumaroylglycerol) origin were used. DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC tests results were correlated with flavonoids, total polyphenols, or the polyphenols other than flavonoids content. In term of activity, poplar propolis type was variable, while aspen–birch–poplar type usually exhibited high DPPH and FRAP activity.

Chokeberry fruit (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) is known for its antioxidant properties and generally beneficial impact on human health. The aim of the research was to produce innovative corn porridge with a different content of chokeberry fruit percentage-wise and to test it to determine the content of polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids and individual free phenolic acids, and determine the antioxidant properties of analysed extracts. One of the objectives was also to identify the optimum porridge production parameters, including, among other things, the rotational speed of the extruder screw during the extrusion process.Obtained results showed that an increased content of chokeberry fruit in porridge enhances its antioxidant properties, as well the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and free phenolic acids. The greatest free radicals scavenging activity by all extracts was reported after 10 minutes of the process. The results of the above study demonstrate that extruded porridge enriched with chokeberry fruit have a potential for becoming a good source of natural antioxidants, and the extrusion process at 80 rpm does not degrade the tested active compounds.

Extrusion-cooking is used to produce directly expanded gluten-free snacks, especially for consumers with celiac disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of various fruits type supplementation as well as the processing screw speed on the physical properties and texture of ready-toeat corn-based gluten-free snacks. Black elderberry, chokeberry and strawberry were dried and used in the amount of 5 to 20% as a corn grit replacement. The directly expanded snacks were processed with a single-screw extruder at various screw speeds (80 and 120 rpm) and tested to measure their expansion ratio, bulk density, colour profile as well as their texture profile. The results showed the various effects of adding different types and amounts of fruit on the physical properties and texture of supplemented gluten-free snacks. A higher amount of fruit resulted in a significant decrease in the expansion ratio and an increase in the bulk density of the snacks. Reduced lightness and a more pronounced red tint were observed when red fruits were added. The desired hardness of the snacks suggested that the addition of fruit should be retained below 15% of the recipe content. The screw speeds applied showed a significant effect on the expansion, bulk density and texture of the tested snacks.

Chestnut fruit abounds in carbohydrates, proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, polyphenolic compounds, as well as vitamins and micronutrients, that are behind the health-promoting properties of this plant. The purpose of the discussed research was to obtain innovative gluten-free pasta from rice and field bean flour enriched with a various addition of chestnut flour. Regarding the studied pasta, the following were determined: the content of free phenolic acids, total polyphenols, and antioxidant properties. Chromatographic analysis (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS (high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry)) revealed a wide variety of phenolic acids. In a sample with 20% and higher content of chestnut flour, as many as 13 acids were detected. Isoferulic acid prevailed. The total content of free phenolic acids and total polyphenols increased along with the increasing chestnut content. Moreover, in most cases, the content of individual acids increased with the addition of chestnut flour. Besides, the antioxidant activity was positively correlated with the addition of chestnut fruit flour, the content of free phenolic acids, and total polyphenols. Our research has demonstrated that our innovative gluten-free pasta, with the addition of chestnut flour, has a potential to be a source of polyphenolic compounds, including free phenolic acids, that are valuable for human health.

Replacing the gluten network to produce high quality pasta is a great technological challenge. One of known solutions to the problem is the addition of xanthan gum. This paper focuses on the possibility of obtaining a new type of gluten-free maize-field bean pasta and explores the characteristics of phenolics content, antioxidant activity, cooking quality, textural and thermotropic behavior as well as the microstructure of pasta products with the various levels of added xanthan gum. The obtained results revealed that 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% addition of xanthan gum to pasta did not have significant influence on its phenolics content and antioxidant activity, whereas 1.00% addition caused a decrease in the tested parameters. On the other hand, the opposite effect of gum addition on the cooking quality, texture characteristic and microstructure was observed. The addition of xanthan gum to the formulation improved pasta quality while reducing the leaching of its components into the cooking water. Pasta prepared with 1.00% xanthan gum showed the lowest cooking loss, the highest firmness, and the lowest adhesiveness. These results revealed a significant influence of xanthan gum content on pasta properties as confirmed by the thermal analysis and SEM microstructure observations.