Internal preference mapping of milk–fruit beverages: Influence of color and appearance on its acceptability

The individual preferences of 100 consumers between 20 and 30 years old for the color of 16 milk–fruit juice beverages (MFJB) were investigated by preference mapping technique. Consumers were asked to evaluate, just by looking at the samples, how much they liked them (from “Extremely dislike” to “Extremely like”). The color of the samples was analyzed by two different instrumental techniques. Results obtained from the instrumental color measurement showed the wide diversity in hues of the beverages available in the market, and correlations between techniques proved that both of them were appropriate to analyze color. Results showed that participants preferred samples with orangish appearance instead of those with a whiter look. Anyway, punctuations given by the consumers suggest that generally, color of these products is not highly evaluated by consumers, as the best mean punctuation was 6.6.Consejería de Innovación Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía P11-AGR-778

Carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in horse tissues: a comparison with cattle

Carotenoids are important for human health because of their provitamin A function among other biological actions. Their implication on consumer point of view of cattle products have been widely studied, but very little information is available for horse products. The aim of this study was to study the accumulation of carotenoids, retinoids and tocopherol by HPLC and HPLC- MS analysis in different horse tissues (plasma, milk, adipose tissue and liver) and compare it with that of cattle. Fat color was also studied. Four groups of animals were studied (15 animals within each group): lactating mares (709.82 ± 23.09 kg) and cows (576.93 ± 31.94 kg) reared outdoors; and foals (556.8 ± 25.9 kg, 14 months old) and calves (474.7 ± 36.2 kg, 14 months old) reared indoors. Both mares and foals were from the Hispano–Breton breed, whereas both cows and calves belonged to the commercial crossbred Limousine–Retinta. Differences in plasma and milk carotenoids (P 0.05). Both species showed different levels of accumulation of retinoids in the liver, with the foal having better accumulation (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). These results indicate that there are species-specific differences in the accumulation of carotenoids, retinol and tocopherol, but further studies are required to establish the mechanism of these difference

Estudio preliminar sobre la utilidad del color para clasificar los zumos de naranja según su elaboración

En este trabajo se caracteriza el color de los zumos de naranja comerciales y se explora la utilidad de las coordenadas cromáticas CIELAB para clasificarlos según el proceso de elaboración. 41 muestras de zumos comerciales 15 de ellos procedentes de zumo a base de concentrado (ZC) y 26 procedentes de naranjas exprimidas (ZE) fueron analizadas por espectrorradiometría. Se observaron diferencias significativas en todos los parámetros colorimétricos (p<0, 05) excepto para la coordenada L*. Los zumos procedentes de concentrado (ZC) presentaron un valor medio de croma de 63, 78±2, 36 y de tono 83, 42±2, 10, mientras que los zumos procedentes de naranjas exprimidas (ZE) presentaron mayores valores de croma (C* ab=73, 11±2, 62) y menores de tono (hab=80, 87º±1, 68º). Con el objetivo de determinar qué variables permiten clasificar los zumos según su proceso de fabricación, se realizó un análisis discriminante. Las mejores predicciones se obtuvieron para los modelos que incluían las variables L* y C* ab. La aplicación de las funciones discriminantes obtenidas a un set de 25 muestras de test, produjo un porcentaje de acierto del 100%.In this study the colour of commercial orange juices has been characterized and the utility of CIELAB colour coordinates to classify them according to their processing has been investigated. 41 samples of commercial orange juices, 15 from concentrate (ZC) and 26 from squeezed oranges (ZE) were analyzed by spectroradiometry. Significant differences were obtained in all colorimetric parameters (p<0.05) except for the coordinate L* . Juices made from concentrate (ZC) showed an average value for chrome of 63.7±2.36 and for hue 83.42±2.10, while squeezed orange juices (ZE) showed higher chrome values (C* ab=73.11±2.62) and lower hue values (hab=80.87º±1.68º). Discriminant analysis was performed with the aim of selecting the variables which allows the classification of the juices according to their manufacturing process. The best predictions were obtained for the models which included L* and C* ab variables. The application of the discriminant functions to a set of 25 juices, resulted in a 100% of correct classifications.Junta de Andalucía P08-AGR-0378

Hybrid Formulations of Liposomes and Bioadhesive Polymers Improve the Hypotensive Effect of the Melatonin Analogue 5-MCA-NAT in Rabbit Eyes

For the treatment of chronic ocular diseases such as glaucoma, continuous instillations of eye drops are needed. However, frequent administrations of hypotensive topical formulations can produce adverse ocular surface effects due to the active substance or other components of the formulation, such as preservatives or other excipients. Thus the development of unpreserved formulations that are well tolerated after frequent instillations is an important challenge to improve ophthalmic chronic topical therapies. Furthermore, several components can improve the properties of the formulation in terms of efficacy. In order to achieve the mentioned objectives, we have developed formulations of liposomes (150–200 nm) containing components similar to those in the tear film and loaded with the hypotensive melatonin analog 5-methoxycarbonylamino-N-acetyltryptamine (5-MCA-NAT, 100 µM). These formulations were combined with mucoadhesive (sodium hyaluronate or carboxymethylcellulose) or amphiphilic block thermosensitive (poloxamer) polymers to prolong the hypotensive efficacy of the drug. In rabbit eyes, the decrease of intraocular pressure with 5-MCA-NAT-loaded liposomes that were dispersed with 0.2% sodium hyaluronate, 39.1±2.2%, was remarkably higher compared to other liposomes formulated without or with other bioadhesive polymers, and the effect lasted more than 8 hours. According to the results obtained in the present work, these technological strategies could provide an improved modality for delivering therapeutic agents in patients with glaucoma.Fil: Quinteros, Daniela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vicario de la Torre, Marta. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Andrés Guerrero, Vanessa. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Palma, Santiago Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Allemandi, Daniel Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Herrero Vanrell, Rocío. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Molina Martinez, Irene T.. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Españ

Utilidad del color para clasificar los zumos de naranja según su elaboración

En este trabajo se caracteriza el color de los zumos de naranja comerciales y se explora la utilidad de las coordenadas cromáticas para diferenciarlos según su proceso de elaboración. Se concluye que es posible la discriminación de los zumos elaborados a base de concentrado de los procedentes de naranjas exprimidas, a partir de los parámetros L* y C*ab.Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa (Junta de Andalucía): proyecto P08- AGR-0378

The potential of using biodegradable microspheres in retinal diseases and other intraocular pathologies

Pathologies affecting the posterior segment are one of the major causes of blindness in developed countries and are becoming more prevalent due to the increase in society longevity. Sucessful therapy of diseases affecting the back of the eye requires effective concentrations of the active substance mantained during a long period of time in the intraocular target site. Treatment of vitreoretinal diseases often include repeated intravitreous injections that are associated with adverse effects. Local administration of biodegradable microspheres offers an excellent alternative to multiple administrations, as they are able to deliver the therapeutic molecule in a controlled fashion. Furthermore, injection of microparticles is performed without the need for surgical procedures. As most of the retinal diseases are multifactorial, microspheres result especially promising because they can be loaded with more than one active substance and complemented with the inclusion of additives with pharmacological properties. Personalized therapy can be easily achieved by changing the amount of administered microspheres. Contrary to non-biodegradable devices, biodegradable PLA and PLGA microspheres disappear from the site of administration after delivering the drug. Furthermore, microspheres prepared from these mentioned biomaterials are well tolerated after periocular and intravitreal injections in animals and humans. After injection, PLA and PLGA microspheres suffer aggregation behaving like an implant. Biodegradable microspheres are potential tools in regenerative medicine for retinal repair. According to the reported results, presumably a variety of microparticulate formulations for different ophthalmic therapeutic uses will be available in the clinical practice in the near future

Nano and microtechnologies for ophthalmic administration. An overview

Ocular drug delivery is one of the most challenging fields of pharmaceutical research. They are generally employed to overcome the static (different layers of cornea, sclera, and retina including blood aqueous and blood-retinal barriers) and dynamic barriers (choroidal and conjunctival blood flow, lymphatic clearance, and tear dilution) of the eye. Ophthalmic formulations must be sterile, and the biomaterials used in the preparation of pharmaceutical systems completely compatible and extremely well tolerated by ocular tissues. The location of the target tissue in the eye will determine the route of administration. Ophthalmic administration systems are intended for topical, intraocular and periocular administration. In this review we describe the main pharmaceutical nano- and microsystems currently under study to administrate drugs in the eye, covering microparticles, nanoparticles, liposomes, microemulsions, niosomes and dendrimers. We have performed the corresponding revision of the published scientific literature always emphasizing the technological aspects. The review discusses also the biomaterials used in the preparation of the nano and microsystems of ophthalmic drug delivery, fabrication techniques, therapeutic significances, and future possibilities in the field

Carotenoides en agroalimentación y salud

Los carotenoides son compuestos especiales; si bien es común referirse a ellos como pigmentos, lo cierto es que son compuestos de gran versatilidad e importancia en la naturaleza. Más específicamente, son de gran interés en agroalimentación y salud. Así, por ejemplo, son pigmentos naturales y por lo tanto tienen un importante papel en la elección de alimentos por parte de los consumidores. Asimismo, algunos de ellos son precursores de la vitamina A. Sin embargo, que cada vez exista más interés en los carotenoides en este contexto se debe en gran parte a muchos estudios de distinta naturaleza que indican que pueden proporcionar beneficios para la salud. Su interés en alimentación funcional es por lo tanto indudable. En este libro se refleja la experiencia en carotenoides de un gran número de profesionales de la región iberoamericana. En conjunto, se ofrece una visión general de la investigación sobre estos compuestos en agroalimentación y salud. Los autores son miembros de la red IBERCAROT (http://carotenoides.us.es), que tiene entre sus objetivos conformar una red estable y funcional de profesionales que aúnen esfuerzos en pos de identificar nuevas fuentes de carotenoides de interés nutricional, mejorar su producción y aumentar el valor de los productos que los contengan

0 Novel anti-inflammatory liposomal formulation for the pre-ocular tear film: In vitro and ex vivo functionality studies in corneal epithelial cells

In ocular surface inflammatory diseases, such as dry eye disease, long-term symptom relief requires targeting the inflammation itself rather than treating only the surface-associated dryness with artificial tears. Therefore, we included an anti-inflammatory agent in an unpreserved liposome-based (LP) formulation used as artificial tears. Our aim was to characterize and study its in vitro and ex vivo cell uptake and functionality. Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were used to study MPA-LP37 induced effects after 60 min of exposure, using blank LP and non-LP MPA formulations as controls. A fluorescent labeled LP formulation was used to determine uptake by HCE cells and localization in ex vivo porcine corneas. The LP formulation complied with the required physicochemical properties and had no cytotoxicity on HCE cells after 60 min of exposure. HCE cells showed LP-associated fluorescence at 24, 48, and 72 h after 60 min of exposure, and the LP-associated fluorescence was uniformly distributed throughout the porcine corneal epithelium immediately after 5 min of exposure. MPA44 LP increased protein expression and nuclear translocation of progesterone receptor in comparison with controls as determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Moreover, MPA-LP significantly reduced the cell proliferation rate and IL-6 and IL-8 production 48 h after the exposure period, as determined by the alamarBlue assay and ELISA, respectively. None of these effects were evident in blank LP-exposed cells and non-LP MPA formulation reduced only IL-6 production. Our results suggest that the LP50 based formulation, used to replenish the lipids of the tear film, can be loaded with anti-inflammatory agents that can be delivered into the cells and activate specific drug receptors. These agents can reduce inflammatory cytokine production and may be effective in the treatment of inflammatory processes associated with ocular surface diseases

Headspace delivery of limonene from the serum and non-serum fractions of orange juice in-vitro and in-vivo

The impact of orange juice pulp on the physical release of limonene to the headspace of freshly prepared orange juice was evaluated both in-vitro and in-vivo. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used to analyse the impact of the matrix on the dynamic release of the volatile aroma compound, limonene, in orange juice. Pulp and aqueous serum was isolated (by centrifugation and filtration) from freshly prepared orange juice and subsequently reconstituted at varying pulp addition levels in serum (0g/100 g–20 g/100 g, wwb). The addition of pulp significantly enhanced the static headspace concentration of limonene with a 210 fold increase with 10 g/100 g pulp addition. In addition, pulp enhanced the ability of the orange juice serum to replenish limonene in the headspace after dynamic headspace dilution. The release of limonene was studied under realistic consumer consumption conditions (In-nose delivery) by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry; pulp significantly enhanced the amount of limonene exhaled in the nasal airflow (retronasal delivery). Surprisingly, given the variations in limonene concentration, naïve consumers did not perceive samples as significantly different on consumption. This is presumably due to the wide range of other aroma compounds not evaluated in this study that contribute to the perceived aroma