Identification of Volatile Compounds Contributory to Mango and Tropical-Type Aroma in Whisky

There is an increasing drive across the global distilling industry for a greater understanding of the development of sensory properties in whisky. Origins of the fruity aroma descriptor have been reasonably well-explored in the current literature, but this umbrella term captures a wide range of quite varied sub-descriptors. One such fruit-type lexicon term that has received limited attention is that of mango. The present trial assessed the sensory profiles of 14 commercial whisky products and identified whiskies elevated in the target mango trait. Further analysis of product volatile compound composition allowed for the shortlisting of candidate compounds potentially contributory to this trait. Spiking of candidate compounds into a base whisky identified a potential role for several common whisky components in the development of mango aroma. In particular, aldehyde and acetal components (such as isobutyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, and isovaleraldehyde diethyl acetal) were found to positively impact the sensory reporting of mango aroma in whisky. These compounds are not atypical to whisky, and their production pathways and precursors are previously identified; this provides scope for their control without substantial process modification

Novel Cationic Prodrug of Ubiquinol-10 Enhances Intestinal Absorption via Efficient Formation of Nanosized Mixed-Micelles with Bile Acid Anions

The aim of this study was to develop a prodrug of ubiquinol-10 (UqH-10), the active form of ubiquinone-10 (Uq-10), for oral delivery. Bioavailability of UqH-10 is hampered by its high susceptibility to oxidation and water-insolubility. We prepared three novel N,N-dimethylglycine ester derivatives of UqH-10, including a 1-monoester (UqH-1-DMG), 4-monoester (UqH-4-DMG), and 1,4-bis-ester (UqH-DMG), and assessed their physicochemical properties in vitro and in vivo. UqH-DMG spontaneously formed an aqueous micelle solution comprising 20 nm particles at 36.5 °C. Cationic UqH-DMG formed nano-sized (5 nm) mixed-micelles with taurocholic acid. Reconversion of the derivatives to UqH-10 was accelerated in human liver microsomes. The oral bioavailability of UqH-10 after administration of UqH-derivatives or Uq-10 was determined in fasted and postprandial rats secreting normal and high levels of bile, respectively. In fasted rats, plasma UqH-10 after UqH-derivatives administration reached Cmax at 2–3 h and after Uq-10 administration, it remained low. The AUC0-24h of UqH-10 after UqH-derivatives administration was 2–3-fold higher than that after Uq-10 administration. In postprandial rats, the Tmax of UqH-10 after UqH-derivatives administration was an hour earlier than after Uq-10 administration. In conclusion, cationic UqH-derivatives are convenient prodrugs that enhance UqH-10 bioavailability by forming nanosized mixed-micelles with intestinal bile acids