No abstract

The total phenolic compounds content, free radical-scavenging capacity and capsaicinoid content in populations of wild Piquin chili (C. annuum) were studied. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from nine ecotypes were evaluated. High contents of phenolic compounds and free radical-scavenging capacities were observed for both extracts; however, the values that were found for the hydroalcoholic phase were substantially higher. LC-MS analysis allowed for the detection of 32 compounds, where apigenin-8-C-glucoside followed by vanillic acid 1-O-β-o-glucopyranosylester (Isomer I or II) and 7-ethoxy-4-methylcoumarin were the most widely distributed; they were found in more than 89% of the ecotypes. The diversity of identified phenolic compounds was different among ecotypes, allowing them to be distinguished by chemical diversity, free radical-scavenging capacities and heat Scoville units. The total capsaicinoid content was higher in Population I (23.5 mg/g DW) than in Populations II and III, which had contents of 15.3 and 10.7 mg/g DW, respectively. This variability could lead to phytochemical exploitation and the conservation of the natural populations of wild chili.

No abstract

(Moringaceae) is a specie of significant importance because of its multiple nutraceutical properties, that has led to increase in its consumption. The seeds contain a high percentage of protein (37.48%). However, little is known about the bioactive properties of these proteins and peptides, especially those generated by enzymatic hydrolysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biofunctional properties of total hydrolysates (TH) and peptide fractions from protein isolates of moringa seeds. Isoelectric protein isolates were prepared and TH were obtained by digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin and pepsin-trypsin for 2.5 and 5 h. TH were fractioned by ultrafiltration (UF) with a 10 kDa membrane to generate the peptide fractions. In all treatments, the antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in peptide fractions > 10 kDa with 5 h of hydrolysis. The results showed that the fraction > 10 kDa of pepsin-trypsin digested for 5 h presented a better Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibition (ACE-I) activity with an IC of 0.224 μg/μl. Also, antidiabetic activity was enhanced in pepsin-trypsin treatment with 5 h of hydrolysis showing an IC of 0.123 μg/μl. Finally, this study showed that hydrolysates of moringa seed proteins had excellent in vitro nutraceutical potential.