Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization

In recent decades, there has been growing interest in the fortification of food products with antioxidants and phenolics derived from plant by-products. The present study focused on the production of a plant-based beverage enriched with hazelnut cuticle extract to characterize its antioxidant conten...

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Main Authors: Raffaele Conte, Fabrizia Sepe, Sabrina Margarucci, Ezia Costanzo, Orsolina Petillo, Gianfranco Peluso, Loredana Marcolongo, Anna Calarco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/433
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author Raffaele Conte
Fabrizia Sepe
Sabrina Margarucci
Ezia Costanzo
Orsolina Petillo
Gianfranco Peluso
Loredana Marcolongo
Anna Calarco
author_facet Raffaele Conte
Fabrizia Sepe
Sabrina Margarucci
Ezia Costanzo
Orsolina Petillo
Gianfranco Peluso
Loredana Marcolongo
Anna Calarco
author_sort Raffaele Conte
collection DOAJ
description In recent decades, there has been growing interest in the fortification of food products with antioxidants and phenolics derived from plant by-products. The present study focused on the production of a plant-based beverage enriched with hazelnut cuticle extract to characterize its antioxidant content, phenolic profile, and organoleptic characteristics. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) enabled the identification of key polyphenols in hazelnut cuticles, including catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin derivatives, guiding the selection of a biocompatible Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) composed of choline chloride and lactic acid for efficient extraction. The obtained phytochemical profile of the extract revealed a high concentration of bioactive compounds, with a Total Phenolic Content of 160.88 ± 14.27 mg GAE/g and Antioxidant Power measured by DPPH of 5848.2 ± 11.3 μmol TE/g. The bioaccessibility of phenolics in the fortified hazelnut-based beverage was determined after in vitro digestion, reaching a value of 89.7%, indicating excellent release and stability during digestion. Organoleptic evaluation revealed high sensory acceptability, with aftertaste scoring 3.61 ± 0.4 respect the 3.94 ± 1.3 result of reference milk, on a 5-point scale. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential for sustainable valorization of hazelnut cuticles, through their incorporation as NADES extracts in plant-based milk, providing an innovative solution to reduce food waste while catering to consumer demand for nutritionally enriched and eco-friendly products.
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spelling doaj-art-142cb1b106c24deb8de16b620b097fdb2025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130343310.3390/molecules30030433Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content CharacterizationRaffaele Conte0Fabrizia Sepe1Sabrina Margarucci2Ezia Costanzo3Orsolina Petillo4Gianfranco Peluso5Loredana Marcolongo6Anna Calarco7Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, ItalyIn recent decades, there has been growing interest in the fortification of food products with antioxidants and phenolics derived from plant by-products. The present study focused on the production of a plant-based beverage enriched with hazelnut cuticle extract to characterize its antioxidant content, phenolic profile, and organoleptic characteristics. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) enabled the identification of key polyphenols in hazelnut cuticles, including catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin derivatives, guiding the selection of a biocompatible Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) composed of choline chloride and lactic acid for efficient extraction. The obtained phytochemical profile of the extract revealed a high concentration of bioactive compounds, with a Total Phenolic Content of 160.88 ± 14.27 mg GAE/g and Antioxidant Power measured by DPPH of 5848.2 ± 11.3 μmol TE/g. The bioaccessibility of phenolics in the fortified hazelnut-based beverage was determined after in vitro digestion, reaching a value of 89.7%, indicating excellent release and stability during digestion. Organoleptic evaluation revealed high sensory acceptability, with aftertaste scoring 3.61 ± 0.4 respect the 3.94 ± 1.3 result of reference milk, on a 5-point scale. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential for sustainable valorization of hazelnut cuticles, through their incorporation as NADES extracts in plant-based milk, providing an innovative solution to reduce food waste while catering to consumer demand for nutritionally enriched and eco-friendly products.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/433natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs)plant by-productshazelnut cuticlesbioaccessibility
spellingShingle Raffaele Conte
Fabrizia Sepe
Sabrina Margarucci
Ezia Costanzo
Orsolina Petillo
Gianfranco Peluso
Loredana Marcolongo
Anna Calarco
Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
Molecules
natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs)
plant by-products
hazelnut cuticles
bioaccessibility
title Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
title_full Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
title_fullStr Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
title_full_unstemmed Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
title_short Functional Plant-Based Beverage Fortified with Hazelnut Cuticle Polyphenols: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization
title_sort functional plant based beverage fortified with hazelnut cuticle polyphenols antioxidant and phenolic content characterization
topic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs)
plant by-products
hazelnut cuticles
bioaccessibility
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/433
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