Academic literature on the topic 'Bitterness (taste)'

The study presented here consists in an original piece of work to better understand complex food packaging interactions. The majority of investigations on food polymer interactions related to orange juice and this provided a good base to our study (Literature reviews: cf. Chapters 1a and b). Additionally a rather remarkable finding in 1994 was that limonin, a trace bitter material found in some varieties of orange juice was rapidly absorbed by highly plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PVC plastisol) (Chapter 2). Several commercial absorbants are available for debittering, relying on limonin absorption on the large surface area of the highly porous absorbant pellets. However, the absorptive properties of the smooth plastisols apparently relied on a different mechanism. Limonin is a very large (470.5 g/mol) compound, but some preliminary experiments with another much smaller orange juice constituent d- of absorbates in plastisols, methods used earlier (Moisan 1980, Holland and Santangelo 1988) to measure solubilities and diffusion constants in packaging films could be advantageously used to survey these properties in a wide range of materials, including model compounds of various types, and a number of compounds which may be found in citrus juices (Chapters 3, 4 and 5). Experimentally, the method found most suitable was to use a ‘test film’ of pure plastisol which was wrapped tightly on both sides by a similar ‘supply film’ blended with 1 Molar test material (also called ‘absorbate’), setting up a concentration gradient. The inner test film was removed at regular intervals (minutes to hours) to measure (mainly by weighing) the uptake of the test reagent with time. Rather unexpectedly, it was found in a number of cases that the test film lost weight, either from the beginning, or after a period of time. Three main types of behaviour were identified: Type A lost weight from the beginning and over a long period of time, Type B gained weight initially and then lost weight, and Type C gained weight until a steady state was reached. Often the maximum, or near maximum, mass increase occurred within around 100 minutes, indicating a very rapid, liquid-like diffusion mechanism, in harmony with the rapid uptake of d-limonene and limonin. The major parameters of interest with these compounds are their diffusion rates and their solubilities, and in the presence of aqueous media (orange juice and other foodstuffs) the partition coefficient between the plastisol and water, which is related to the hydrophobicity function LogP for the compound. The major complicating factor in these measurements is the observation that the plasticiser materials themselves also migrate, in the reverse direction, because of the lower effective concentration in the supply film. This effect tends to be small, but is one explanation for the mass loss observed above, and cannot be ignored over the long term, nor in its practical applications to contamination in foods. There are many possible applications for the techniques described above. The removal or addition of compounds in food packaging itself is one. Upgrading foods, such as orange juice, commercially, is another. In many cases ‘scalping’ off-flavours or other minor components takes place exclusively through solid or liquid contact with the packaging. The removal from the headspace measured by the current gas permeation methods is irrelevant for the vast numbers of involatile, but easily diffusable compounds. For such compounds these novel applications are simple and rapid, require little specialised equipment, and fill a niche in the armoury of food and packaging chemists.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Spoilage, be it due to microbial actions, chemical reactions or both, poses a serious threat to the food and beverage industries. Not only can spoilage lead to great economic losses, but it can also cause industries to lose their competitive edge in the economic and consumer market. Considering all the modern technologies and the range of preservation techniques that are available, it is surprising that spoilage is still an economic problem. Wine spoilage due to unpalatable bitterness, and the role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in causing this bitterness, have received much attention over the years, but no definite understanding has yet emerged. The first objective of this study was to isolate, enumerate and identify the LAB from three red grape varieties, viz. Pinotage, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The LAB populations on the grapes of all three varieties ranged from 102 to 104 cfu/ml during the 2001 and 2002 harvest seasons. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes had slightly higher numbers than the Pinotage and Merlot. The LAB population in the Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Merlot wines after completion of the alcoholic fermentation ranged from 102 to 105 cfu/ml, while during 2002 the numbers in wine undergoing malolactic fermentation (MLF) ranged from 104 to 108 cfu/ml. The isolated LAB were divided into the three metabolic groups, with 59% belonging to the facultatively heterofermentative group, 26% to the obligately heterofermentative group and 15% to the obligately homofermentative group. The isolates were identified by means of species-specific primers as Leuconostoc mesenteroides (4), Oenococcus oeni (28), Lactobacillus brevis (15), Lb. hilgardii (15), Lb. plantarum (98), Lb. pentosus (12), Lb. paraplantarum (3), Lb. paracasei (28), Pediococcus acidilactici (2) and Pediococcus spp. (35). The most predominant species isolated was Lb. plantarum, followed by Pediococcus spp. The results suggest that Pinotage carries a more diverse LAB population in comparison to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The second objective of this study was to determine the presence of the glycerol dehydratase gene in the LAB strains by using the G01 and G02 primers. Twenty-six strains tested positive, namely Lb. plantarum (15), Lb. pentosus (1), Lb. hilgardii (5), Lb. paracasei (2), Lb. brevis (2) and a Pediococcus spp. (1). Interestingly, 62% of these strains were isolated from Pinotage. The strains all had the ability to degrade glycerol by more than 90%, and no significant differences were observed between the species. The GO-possessing strains exhibited varying degrees of inhibition towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the results suggest that this inhibition activity may be similar to that of reuterin, which is produced by Lb. reuteri. This study can form the foundation for unravelling the causes of bitterness in red wines. Combining the results of this study with analytical, sensory and molecular data may very well provide the industry with valuable tools with which to combat the occurrence of bitterness.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bederf as gevolg van mikrobiese aksies, chemiese reaksies of beide, hou 'n groot bedreiging vir die voedsel- en drankbedrywe in. Nie net kan bederf lei tot groot ekonomiese verliese nie, maar dit kan ook veroorsaak dat bedrywe hul kompeterende voordeel in die ekonomiese en verbruikersmarkte verloor. As die moderne tegnologie en die reeks preserveringstegnieke wat beskikbaar is, in ag geneem word, is dit verbasend dat bederf steeds 'n ekonomiese probleem is. Wynbederf as gevolg van oormatige bitterheid en die rol van melksuurbakterieë (MSB) in die ontwikkeling van hierdie bitterheid het oor die jare heen baie aandag geniet, maar geen definitiewe verklaring is nog daarvoor gevind nie. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om MSB vanaf drie rooidruifvariëteite, nl. Pinotage, Merlot en Cabernet Sauvignon, te isoleer, te kwantifiseer en te identifiseer. Die MSB-populasies op die druiwe van al drie variëteite het gedurende die 2001- en 2002-parsseisoene tussen 102 en 104 kvu/ml gevarieer. Die Cabernet Sauvignon-druiwe het effens hoër getalle as die Pinotage- en Merlot-druiwe gehad. Die MSB-populasies in die Cabernet Sauvignon-, Pinotage- en Merlot-wyne aan die einde van die alkoholiese fermentasie het tussen 102 en 1055 kvu/ml gevarieer. Gedurende 2002 het die MSB-getalle in die wyne waarin appelmelksuurgisting (AMG) aan die gang was tussen 104 en 108 kvu/ml gevarieer. Die geïsoleerde MSB was onderverdeel in die drie metaboliese groepe, met 59% wat behoort aan die fakultatiewe, heterofermentatiewe groep, 26% aan die obligate, heterofermentatiewe groep en 15% aan die obligate, homofermentatiewe groep. Die isolate is geïdentifiseer as Leuconostoc mesenteroides (4), Oenococcus oeni (28), Lactobacillus brevis (15), Lactobacillus hi/gardii (15, Lactobacillus p/antarum (98), Lactobacillus pentosus (12), Lactobacillus parap/antarum (3), Lactobacillus paracasei (28), Pediococcus acidi/actici (2) en Pediococcus spp. (35) deur middel van spes iespesifieke inleiers. Die mees algemeen geïsoleerde spesies was Lb. p/antarum, gevolg deur Pediococcus spp. Die resultate impliseer dat Pinotage 'n meer uiteenlopende MSB-populasie in vergelyking met Merlot en Cabernet Sauvignon dra. Die tweede doelwit van hierdie studie was om die teenwoordigheid van die gliseroldehidratase-geen in die MSB-isolate deur middel van die GD1- en GD2- inleiers te bepaal. Ses-en-twintig isolate was positief, nl. Lb. p/antarum (15), Lb. pentosus (1), Lb. hi/gard;; (5), Lb. paracasei (2), Lb. brevis (2) en 'n Pediococcus spp. (1). 'n Interessante resultaat was dat 62% van hierdie isolate vanaf Pinotage geïsoleer is. Die isolate was almal in staat om meer as 90% van die gliserol te gebruik en geen noemenswaardige verskille is tussen die isolate waargeneem nie. Die GD-bevattende isolate het verskillende grade van inhibisie teenoor Grampositiewe en Gram-negatiewe bakterieë getoon, en die resultate impliseer dat hierdie inhiberende aktiwiteit dieselfde is as dié van reuterin wat deur Lb. reuteri geproduseer word. Hierdie studie kan dus die basis vorm vir die ontrafeling van die oorsake van bitterheid in rooiwyne. Deur die resultate van hierdie studie met analitiese, sensoriese en molekulêre data te kombineer, kan die wynbedryf voorsien word van waardevolle metodes om die voorkoms van bitterheid mee te bekamp.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2004.<br>A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, Centre for Advanced Food Research, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Advanced Food Science (& Food Packaging Science). Includes bibliography.

L'élevage en barriques est une étape clé de l'élaboration des vins et des eaux-de-vie, modifiant leur expression aromatique et influençant leur saveur. Si les principaux composés volatils libérés par le bois de chêne ont été identifiés, les déterminants moléculaires amers et sucrés demeurent, dans une large mesure, inconnus. Le premier axe de ce travail a consisté à apporter de nouvelles connaissances sur des familles de molécules déjà identifiées dans le bois de chêne : les lignanes et les coumarines. Une influence significative du (±)-lyonirésinol sur l’amertume des spiritueux a d’abord été démontrée. Puis, des analyses sensorielles ont mis en évidence la contribution de six coumarines à l'amertume des vins et des spiritueux via des effets de synergie. La fraxetine a été identifiée pour la première fois dans les trois matrices de l’étude. Dans un second axe, la sensation de sucrosité conférée au vin par la chauffe des douelles lors de la fabrication des barriques a été étudiée, ce qui a permis de confirmer et d’interpréter des observations empiriques. Ce travail a en effet visé à isoler de nouvelles molécules sapides, selon deux méthodologies différentes. La première a consisté à mettre en place un protocole de fractionnement d’extraits de bois de chêne, par des techniques séparatives couplées à la gustatométrie, et a permis la purification de 11 molécules sapides. Leur identification a été réalisée par HRMS et RMN. Dans un second temps, une approche ciblée a été adoptée à la suite d’un criblage métabolomique par HRMS sur plusieurs eaux-de-vie de Cognac. Deux nouveaux composés ont pu être purifiés. Ces marqueurs ont été quantifiés dans des extraits de bois de chêne, des vins et des spiritueux. L'incidence de plusieurs paramètres de tonnellerie sur leur teneur a ainsi été étudiée<br>During barrel aging, wines and spirits undergo organoleptic changes caused by the release of aroma and taste molecules. While the key aromatic compounds released from oak wood have been identified, the bitter and sweet molecular determinants remain largely unknown. The first objective of this work was to bring new insights on the families of molecules already identified in oak wood: lignans and coumarins. First, a significant impact of (±)-lyoniresinol on spirits bitterness has been demonstrated. Then, sensory analysis showed the contribution of six coumarins to bitter taste of wines and spirits by synergistic effect. Fraxetin was identified for the first time in all three matrices of the study. In the second part of this work, the contribution of oak wood toasting to wine sweet taste has been studied, which allowed to confirm and to interpret empirical observations. Indeed, the aim of this study was to isolate new taste-active compounds, according to two different methods. For the first one, a fractionation protocol of oak wood extracts has been established. Separation techniques coupled with gustatometry allowed the purification of eleven taste-active compounds. Their identification has been carried out by HRMS and NMR. For the second method, a targeted approach has been used following a metabolomic screening by HRMS on several eaux-de-vie of Cognac. Two new taste-active molecules have been purified. These new markers have been quantified in several oak wood extracts, wines and spirits. The influence of oenological parameters on its content has been studied

L'amertume fait partie intégrante de notre alimentation. Elle est par exemple fortement représentée dans certaines boissons (ex: café) ou dans certains légumes tels les crucifères. Néanmoins, la perception de l'amertume varie entre les individus et certains aliments considérés comme bénéfiques pour la santé peuvent être rejetés en raison de leur goût amer. Des facteurs génétiques (ex : polymorphisme génétique des récepteurs du goût amer) ou environnementaux (ex : âge, prise de médicaments) expliquent en partie les variations interindividuelles dans la perception de l'amertume. Cependant, d'autres facteurs péri-récepteurs pourraient intervenir, notamment la composition salivaire. Afin d'investiguer dans un premier temps le lien existant entre le protéome salivaire propre à un individu et sa sensibilité à l'amertume, le seuil de détection du goût amer de la caféine a été mesuré sur 29 hommes sains. Leur salive au repos a été étudiée par électrophorèse mono- et bidimensionnelle. L'analyse par électrophorèse bidimensionnelle de la salive au repos des 6 sujets les plus sensibles et 6 les sujets les moins sensibles à la caféine a permis la détection de 255 spots, dont 26 étaient significativement différents entre hyper- et hyposensibles. L'identification de ces 26 spots a révélé la surexpression de fragments d'alpha amylase, de fragments d'albumine sérique, et de sous-unités alpha de l'immunoglobuline A ainsi que la sous-expression de cystatine SN chez les hypersensibles. Ce dernier résultat a été confirmé par Western Blot. Ceci a permis de formuler une hypothèse sur le rôle de la protéolyse en bouche sur la sensibilité à l'amertume. Dans un deuxième temps et afin d'étudier l'effet des molécules amères sur la composition salivaire, une étude in vitro a été menée sur la lignée cellulaire de glandes salivaires humaines HSG différenciées en acini ou non. Après une mise au point des conditions de différenciation (culture dite en 3D), la cystatine SN a été détectée dans les cellules HSG par Western blot après traitement des cellules à la caféine, à la quinine, et à l'urée. Après traitement à la caféine à 5, 50 ou 100µM, une quantification par ELISA a mis en évidence que la cystatine SN était toujours plus abondante dans les cellules HSG différenciées que dans les cellules non-différenciées. Spécifiquement dans les cellules différenciées, l'exposition à la caféine induisait une sur-expression de cystatine SN, la teneur maximale en cystatine SN étant observée avec la caféine à 50 µM. La présence de cystatine SN a également été détectée dans les milieux de culture

abstract: The unpleasant bitter taste found in many nutritious vegetables may deter people from consuming a healthy diet. We investigated individual differences in taste perception and whether these differences influence the effectiveness of bitterness masking. To test whether phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) `supertasters' also taste salt and sugar with greater intensity, as suggested by Bartoshuk and colleagues (2004), we infused strips of paper with salt water or sugar water. The bitterness rating of the PTC strip had a significant positive linear relationship with ratings of both the intensity of sweet and salt, but the effect sizes were very low, suggesting that the PTC strip does not give a complete picture of tasting ability. Next we investigated whether various seasonings could mask the bitter taste of vegetables and whether this varied with tasting ability. We found that sugar decreased bitterness and lemon decreased liking for vegetables of varying degrees of bitterness. The results did not differ by ability to taste any of the flavors. Therefore, even though there are remarkable individual differences in taste perception, sugar can be used to improve the initial palatability of vegetables and increase their acceptance and consumption.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.A. Psychology 2012

博士<br>國立中興大學<br>園藝學系所<br>104<br>‘Tai-Nong No. 2’Carica papaya L.is one of the important papaya cultivars in Taiwan which occupies around 90% of the total planted area. In spite of being eaten as fresh fruit or juice; immature fruits, leaves and flowers can also be eaten as vegetables. Furthermore, papaya latex can also be used as tenderizer and additive for beer brewing. However, ‘Tai-Nong No. 2’ papaya may taste bitter during the cool seasons or when mixed with milk. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the bitter taste in papaya fruit in different harvest seasons, maturity, development stage, lines/cultivars and papaya milk. The results showed that fruits harvested at pre-climacteric fruits and stored under low temperature are unable to develop the bitter taste. However, when the fruits were ripened at low temperature (pre- to climacteric / transition stage) showed were not significantly different from those ripened at room temperature. Furthermore, the investigation of mature green and 25% yellowed skin fruits ripened at low or room temperature showed that mature green fruits had significantly stronger bitter taste than 25% yellowed skin fruits. Moreover, ripe mature fruit can be classified into light yellow and yellow-fleshed color while 25% yellowed skin perform red-fleshed color. In addition, the bitter taste of light yellow-fleshed fruit is stronger than yellow and red-fleshed fruits. Moreover, cool seasons had more light yellow-fleshed fruit than warm seasons. These results suggested that improper harvest maturity during cool season caused bitter taste in ‘Tai-Nong No. 2’ papaya fruits. The investigation of bitter taste in fruits at different developmental stages during warm and cool seasons indicated that young fruits had stronger bitter taste in both seasons. Furthermore, the comparison between warm and cool seasons found that cool season fruits are bitter than warm season fruits. The analyses of bitter taste related substances in fruits demonstrated that cyanogenic glucoside is negative correlation with bitter taste. In contrast, phenylalanine and glucosinolate showed positive correlations with bitter intensity. In addition, the phenylalanine and glucosinolate content in cool seasons were higher than warm seasons. However, the investigation of BITC content showed an adverse tendency with phenylalanine and glucosinolate content. Our results indicated that myrosinase activities are not significantly different between warm and cool seasons. It remains unclear whether cool season affect the glucosinolate biosynthesis or only inhibit myrosinase activities causing glucosinolate accumulation. Results from papaya milk showed that the source of the bitter taste in papaya milk is due to the degradation of milk protein by proteolytic enzymes in papaya fruits. In addition, the free amino acid, total soluble protein, tyrosine and phenylalanine contents showed positive correlation with bitter intensity. However, investigation in different papaya lines/cultivars showed that bitter intensity is more closely related to tyrosine or phenylalanine content than total soluble protein and free amino acid content. In conclusion, the bitterness of ripe papaya fruits happened due to the improper harvest maturity. Although, glucosinolate is one of the bitter substances in young fruits, bitterness in ripe fruits might be caused by other bitter compounds beside glucosinolate. In addition, papaya milk bitterness showed positive correlation with phenylalanine and tyrosine. However, the role of bitter taste in papaya fruits might only play as bitter compound precursors.