This diploma thesis was focused on study of low-molecular antioxidants present in various kinds of fruits, namely berries. In theoretical part detailed characterization of antioxidants studied in presented work and their biological effects are introduced. Further, principals of processing and storage of specified species of fruits are discussed. Changes observed during storage of specific fruits are described too. In practical part changes in content of selected antioxidants in berries were followed. As studied material strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, red and black currants were used. All kind of these fruits was stored in fridge for six months using several different kind of processing. Berries were stored as whole fruits, whole osmotically processed fruits by sucrose, raw pulp and sweetened pulp. At first, starting values of selected antioxidant parameters were measured in fresh fruits (ascorbate, total antioxidant activity, total phenolics, catechins and individual flavonoids). After freezing the same parameters were measured regularly in two month periods. As the most suitable method of fruit processing, with regard to antioxidant content, storage of the whole fruits or pulp can be recommended. Content of ascorbate decreased in all forms and species of the processed fruits during all the time of storage. Oppositely, the content of other studied antioxidants exhibited fluctuations or increasing trend. Sensory analysis was proved for the whole fruits and also for whole sweetened fruits.

Introduction: This thesis investigates the effect of isolated epigallocatechin-3-gallate on weight reduction in the adult population. An overview of Czech and foreign literature was provided on topics of obesity, the possibility of using green tea in its treatment and the positive effects of green tea on human health, followed by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methodology: Using a three-phase systematic search strategy, published studies were searched in the Scopus database using predefined keywords. The aim of the search was to find randomized placebo-controlled studies lasting at least 8 weeks, which examined the effect of isolated EGCG in the absence of other active substances on the change of body parameters. The extracted data from the primary studies were then evaluated using meta-analysis and forest plot. As a result, a standardized mean difference with a 95 % confidence interval was calculated using a random effect model. Results: Six1 studies met the inclusion criteria, one2 of which was excluded due to insufficient evaluation in the critical appraisal of methodological quality. The remaining 5 studies provided a total sample of 325 participants who were diagnosed with a change in BMI induced by EGCG consumption. The result was a standardized average difference of -0.01, 95 % CI:...

Procyanidins (PCs) have been extensively investigated for their potential health protective activities, but the prospective bioactivities are limited by their poor bioavailability. The majority of the ingested dose remains unabsorbed and reaches the colon where extensive microbial metabolism occurs. The objectives of these studies are to better understand the roles and activities of PCs in the lower gastrointestinal tract. First, a new high-throughput Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry method was developed to efficiently analyze PCs and an extensive profile of their microbial metabolites. This method is sufficiently sensitive and effective in simultaneously extracting and measuring native PCs and their microbial metabolites in biological samples. Furthermore, administration of grape seed extract increased the expression of gut junction protein occludin and reduced levels of fecal calprotectin, which suggests an improvement of gut barrier integrity and a potential modulation of endotoxemia. Additionally, chronic supplementation of the diet with flavanols did not increase colonic tissue accumulation of PCs or their microbial metabolites over a 12 week feeding study. This was the first long-term study of its kind, and the results indicate that we still do not fully understand the outcome of ingested flavanols in the colon during chronic exposure rather than acute doses. Lastly, new understanding of the microbial metabolism of PCs in the colon has been reached by studying the colon as 4 segments, rather than as a complete unit as previous studies have done. Data show that a gradient is established along the length of the colon for both PCs and their metabolites, with PCs reaching highest concentrations within 3 h after ingestion, while metabolites reach maximum concentrations anywhere form 3-18 h after ingestion. Moreover, data indicate the progressive, step-wise degradation of PCs into small metabolites throughout the length of the colon. Overall, there is greater understanding of the colonic metabolism of dietary PCs derived from GSE and cocoa, the accumulation of these compounds, and their effect on gut permeability. Future work will build off of these novel studies, and will continue to advance the understanding of the health benefits of dietary PCs. / Ph. D.

O chá-verde brasileiro, obtido a partir das partes aéreas de Camellia sinensis var. assamica, teve sua produção recentemente implantada no Brasil devido ao emergente consumo. As principais atividades farmacológicas atribuídas a esta planta estão relacionadas à atividade antioxidante, quimiopreventiva e antitumoral. Neste trabalho foi desenvo lvido e validado método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para avaliar o perfil dos constituintes majoritários [galato de epigalocatequina (EGCG), epigalocatequina, cafeína, galato de epicatequina (ECG) e epicatequina] do chá-verde brasileiro coletado na primavera e verão, e utilizando diferentes sistemas de extração. A resposta foi linear na faixa de 37-185 μg/ml para cafeína, 99-500 μg/ml para EGC, 20-100 μg/ml para catequina, 30-150 μg/ml para epicatequina, 150-800 μg/ml para EGCG, 20-105 μg/ml para galato de galocatequina e 40-205 μg/ml para ECG (r > 0,9999 para todos os compostos). Foi, também, avaliada a atividade antioxidante in vitro através do método fotocolorimétrico do DPPH· e do método enzimático da hipoxantina/xantina oxidase. Todos os sistemas de extração testados e seus respectivos extratos liofilizados apresentaram rendimento superior a 30%, sendo que o melhor sistema teve rendimento médio de 36,29%, e se mostrando mais eficiente na extração de EGCG e ECG. As amostras do verão apresentaram melhor atividade antioxidante em comparação às da primavera. Os teores dos componentes ECG e EGCG foram os únicos que correlacionaram com a atividade antioxidante in vitro (DPPH·). A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa (a = 0,05) nos teores de catequinas totais entre as estações primavera e verão. / The Brazilian green tea, produced from Camellia sinenis var. assamica, have been cultivated in Brazil recently because the rise at its consumption. The main pharmacological activities attributed to this plant are related to antioxidant activity as chemopreventive and anti-cancer agent. Herein, a new HPLC method was developed and validated to evaluate the profile of the major Brazilian green tea constituents [epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, caffeine, epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epicatechin] between spring and summer, using different extraction systems. The response was linear over a range of 37-185 μg.mL-1 for caffeine, 99-500 μg.mL-1 for epigallocatechin, 20-100 μg.mL-1 for catechin, 30-150 μg.mL-1 for epicatechin, 150-800 μg.mL-1 for EGCG, 20-105 μg.mL-1 for gallocatechin gallate and 40- 205 μg.mL-1 for ECG (r > 0.9999 for all compounds). Likewise, the in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH· assay and hipoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. The extractors systems to produce the freeze-drying extract had presented yield up of 30%. The best system an average yield of 36.26% showed more efficient to extract EGCG and ECG. The summer samples presented better antioxidant activity when compared with spring samples. Only ECG and EGCG contents presented correlation with in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH· assay). The statistic analysis did not show significant difference (a = 0.05) in total catechin content between spring and summer seasons.

O chá-verde brasileiro, obtido a partir das partes aéreas de Camellia sinensis var. assamica, teve sua produção recentemente implantada no Brasil devido ao emergente consumo. As principais atividades farmacológicas atribuídas a esta planta estão relacionadas à atividade antioxidante, quimiopreventiva e antitumoral. Neste trabalho foi desenvo lvido e validado método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para avaliar o perfil dos constituintes majoritários [galato de epigalocatequina (EGCG), epigalocatequina, cafeína, galato de epicatequina (ECG) e epicatequina] do chá-verde brasileiro coletado na primavera e verão, e utilizando diferentes sistemas de extração. A resposta foi linear na faixa de 37-185 μg/ml para cafeína, 99-500 μg/ml para EGC, 20-100 μg/ml para catequina, 30-150 μg/ml para epicatequina, 150-800 μg/ml para EGCG, 20-105 μg/ml para galato de galocatequina e 40-205 μg/ml para ECG (r > 0,9999 para todos os compostos). Foi, também, avaliada a atividade antioxidante in vitro através do método fotocolorimétrico do DPPH· e do método enzimático da hipoxantina/xantina oxidase. Todos os sistemas de extração testados e seus respectivos extratos liofilizados apresentaram rendimento superior a 30%, sendo que o melhor sistema teve rendimento médio de 36,29%, e se mostrando mais eficiente na extração de EGCG e ECG. As amostras do verão apresentaram melhor atividade antioxidante em comparação às da primavera. Os teores dos componentes ECG e EGCG foram os únicos que correlacionaram com a atividade antioxidante in vitro (DPPH·). A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa (a = 0,05) nos teores de catequinas totais entre as estações primavera e verão. / The Brazilian green tea, produced from Camellia sinenis var. assamica, have been cultivated in Brazil recently because the rise at its consumption. The main pharmacological activities attributed to this plant are related to antioxidant activity as chemopreventive and anti-cancer agent. Herein, a new HPLC method was developed and validated to evaluate the profile of the major Brazilian green tea constituents [epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, caffeine, epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epicatechin] between spring and summer, using different extraction systems. The response was linear over a range of 37-185 μg.mL-1 for caffeine, 99-500 μg.mL-1 for epigallocatechin, 20-100 μg.mL-1 for catechin, 30-150 μg.mL-1 for epicatechin, 150-800 μg.mL-1 for EGCG, 20-105 μg.mL-1 for gallocatechin gallate and 40- 205 μg.mL-1 for ECG (r > 0.9999 for all compounds). Likewise, the in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH· assay and hipoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. The extractors systems to produce the freeze-drying extract had presented yield up of 30%. The best system an average yield of 36.26% showed more efficient to extract EGCG and ECG. The summer samples presented better antioxidant activity when compared with spring samples. Only ECG and EGCG contents presented correlation with in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH· assay). The statistic analysis did not show significant difference (a = 0.05) in total catechin content between spring and summer seasons.

O chá-verde brasileiro, obtido a partir das partes aéreas de Camellia sinensis var. assamica, teve sua produção recentemente implantada no Brasil devido ao emergente consumo. As principais atividades farmacológicas atribuídas a esta planta estão relacionadas à atividade antioxidante, quimiopreventiva e antitumoral. Neste trabalho foi desenvo lvido e validado método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para avaliar o perfil dos constituintes majoritários [galato de epigalocatequina (EGCG), epigalocatequina, cafeína, galato de epicatequina (ECG) e epicatequina] do chá-verde brasileiro coletado na primavera e verão, e utilizando diferentes sistemas de extração. A resposta foi linear na faixa de 37-185 μg/ml para cafeína, 99-500 μg/ml para EGC, 20-100 μg/ml para catequina, 30-150 μg/ml para epicatequina, 150-800 μg/ml para EGCG, 20-105 μg/ml para galato de galocatequina e 40-205 μg/ml para ECG (r > 0,9999 para todos os compostos). Foi, também, avaliada a atividade antioxidante in vitro através do método fotocolorimétrico do DPPH· e do método enzimático da hipoxantina/xantina oxidase. Todos os sistemas de extração testados e seus respectivos extratos liofilizados apresentaram rendimento superior a 30%, sendo que o melhor sistema teve rendimento médio de 36,29%, e se mostrando mais eficiente na extração de EGCG e ECG. As amostras do verão apresentaram melhor atividade antioxidante em comparação às da primavera. Os teores dos componentes ECG e EGCG foram os únicos que correlacionaram com a atividade antioxidante in vitro (DPPH·). A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa (a = 0,05) nos teores de catequinas totais entre as estações primavera e verão. / The Brazilian green tea, produced from Camellia sinenis var. assamica, have been cultivated in Brazil recently because the rise at its consumption. The main pharmacological activities attributed to this plant are related to antioxidant activity as chemopreventive and anti-cancer agent. Herein, a new HPLC method was developed and validated to evaluate the profile of the major Brazilian green tea constituents [epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, caffeine, epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epicatechin] between spring and summer, using different extraction systems. The response was linear over a range of 37-185 μg.mL-1 for caffeine, 99-500 μg.mL-1 for epigallocatechin, 20-100 μg.mL-1 for catechin, 30-150 μg.mL-1 for epicatechin, 150-800 μg.mL-1 for EGCG, 20-105 μg.mL-1 for gallocatechin gallate and 40- 205 μg.mL-1 for ECG (r > 0.9999 for all compounds). Likewise, the in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH· assay and hipoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. The extractors systems to produce the freeze-drying extract had presented yield up of 30%. The best system an average yield of 36.26% showed more efficient to extract EGCG and ECG. The summer samples presented better antioxidant activity when compared with spring samples. Only ECG and EGCG contents presented correlation with in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH· assay). The statistic analysis did not show significant difference (a = 0.05) in total catechin content between spring and summer seasons.

In theoretical part of this diploma thesis the basic properties of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and phenolic compounds are described, as well as the basic features and principles of free radicals formation. The theoretical part also describes some possible ways of encapsulation of antioxidants into polysaccharide and lipid particles. In the experimental part basic characteristics of extracts from selected lyophilized fruits and vegetables (carrots, apples and mixed berries) are described. As group parameters of plant extracts the total antioxidant activity, content of flavonoids and phenolics, carotenoids, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid were determined. In experimental part also various encapsulation techniques were tested, encapsulation effectiveness of each technique was evaluated and the stability and size of the created particles were determined. As the best encapsulation method in terms of encapsulation efficiency in most of samples/parameters ethanol injection was found. On the other hand the particles prepared by ethanol injection are relatively unstable in terms of zeta potential, which is followed by their tendency to aggregate. As the most stable particles prepared by thin layer evaporation (TLE) and reverse phase thin layer evaporation (RP-TLE) were evaluated. Particles prepared by TLE, RP-TLE and chitosan-alginate particles exhibited a negative charge, while particles prepared by ethanol injection stayed uncharged and chitosan particles have a positive charge.