# Bioactive Compounds of Chamber-Dried Blueberries at Controlled Temperature and Wines Obtained from Them

Authors: Juan Martin-Gomez; M. Angeles Varo; Julieta Merida; Maria P. Serratosa
Journal: Journal of Chemistry
 (2017)

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## Abstract

The effects of chamber drying under controlled temperature and moisture conditions and fermentation process on blueberry juices to obtain three wines were studied in this work. Drying was carried out with a view to increase the sugar content and obtain wines with an ethanol content similar to a commercial grape wine or to obtain sweet wines. Analyses included color parameters; browning index; and anthocyanin, flavonols, flavan-3-ol derivatives, and tannin concentrations, as well as vitamin C concentration and antioxidant activity. Based on the results, drying increases color and the concentration of anthocyanins and tannins most probably by the effect of dehydration of the berries and diffusion of the colored compounds from the skin to the pulp due to the structural alterations in their skin. In addition, drying decreases flavonols, flavan-3-ol derivatives, and vitamin C concentrations. The browning index, anthocyanins, and tannins decreased with the fermentation time, and vitamin C was constant with the fermentation time. The sensory analysis showed that the wines with the best sensory characteristics were those with residual sugar, partial fermented wines 1 and 2.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Blueberries,Vaccinium corymbosum, are native to eastern North America and southeastern Canada [1]; however, they are extending to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Blueberries can be consumed as fresh fruits and also in products derived as seasoning products of bakery, pastry filling, juices, yogurt, and so forth [2]. Besides, in the last years, the use of different berries for the elaboration of fermented beverages or wines has spread, principally due to the fact that grapes are not well cultivated in every region of the world. Another type of fruit is used to carry out the fermentation process, with the berries of red fruits being some of the most used due to their phenolic composition, especially in anthocyanins content [3]. Yan et al. [4] have studied the optimal conditions of blueberries juice fermentation, with these conditions being a temperature of 22.65°C and a pH of 3.53. They carried out the fermentation of the blueberry juice adding sucrose, to reach the alcoholic graduation of a standard wine. Nevertheless, other authors have developed direct fermentation on the juice, reaching only 5-6% of alcohol, due to the concentration of sugar [5, 6].Blueberries are functional food due to their health benefits (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, antimetastatic, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, renoprotective, opthalmoprotective, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, antiosteoporotic, and antiaging) [7]. These properties are consequent of their phenolic composition [8]. The protective activity is attributed to their antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenger in addition to the ability to inhibit and reduce enzymes [9]. The phenolic compounds of blueberries include anthocyanins (anthocyanidins glycosides) which are in the cell vacuoles in the red fruit skins [10]. They are responsible for the fruit color, between red and blue characteristic of blueberry. Flavonols are a flavonoid family ranging from white to yellow in color depending on their structure, but in red wines they can participate in the color because they are copigments of anthocyanins [11]. Flavan-3-ol derivatives are flavonoid compounds with optical isomerism; (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin are the most representative, and they are found in the seeds and stems of the grapes [12]. Tannins encompass a series of phenolic compounds, including condensed tannins (namely, variably complex polymers of flavan-3-ol) and hydrolysable tannins (ellagitannins and gallotannins, mainly); they are highly astringent and bitter compounds present in seeds of fruits.The addition of sucrose is the most common method to increase the sugar content of blueberry juices [13–15] to obtain a fermented beverage with a standard ethanol content. Nevertheless, the partial dehydration of the berry can increase the sugar content in a similar way to that made in southern Spain or Italy for the production of sweet wines. Sun-drying is the most traditional drying method, but artificial drying with controlled temperature, relative humidity, and air flow had some advantages [16] such as avoiding losses for the weather (rain) or the attack of insects and fungi. These methods affect the berry’s properties such as color, texture, and density [17].The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes in bioactive compounds, color, and antioxidant activity during the drying process and subsequent fermentation of sugar-rich juices to obtain blueberry wines.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Reagents

Hydrochloric acid, metaphosphoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, methanol, acetonitrile, sodium metabisulphite, potassium chloride, sodium acetate, acid potassium dichromate, ethyl acetate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate were purchased from Merck (Madrid, Spain). Anthocyanins (malvidin-3-O-galactoside chloride), flavan-3-ol derivative ((+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2), Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), and DTT (DL-dithiothreitol) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (Madrid, Spain).


### 2.2. Blueberry Drying

The blueberries used for this study were Star variety(Vaccinium corymbosum) and they were harvested in 2015 in Moguer (Huelva, Spain) at the usual state of maturity for commercialization. One portion was crushed for analysis.Three batches of blueberries were dried in a Frisol Climatronic chamber at a constant temperature of 40°C and an initial relative humidity of 20%. During the drying process, a sample was collected daily and the weight loss and reducing sugar concentration of the blueberries were measured using a refractometer, model Atago Master.The drying process was finished when the reducing sugar content reached approximately 24.2°Brix. The blueberries were pressed on a vertical press similar to industrial models, obtaining the final juice. The maximum pressure reached in each of the two pressing cycles was 300 bar. The musts were centrifuged at 5000 rpm, filtered, and analyzed in triplicate.


### 2.3. Fermentation Process

The sweet juice was divided into three batches and was mixed with the solid parts of the berries in a ratio of 1 : 1 (w/v). The mix was added with a yeast inoculum of commercialSaccharomyces cerevisiae in a dose recommended by the manufacturer (0.3 g/L). The flasks were immersed in thermostatized water baths at 22 ± 0.5°C [4]. Three wines were elaborated in triplicate from the dried blueberries.Wine 1. The mix was partially fermented to 6% of ethanol (v/v) and the process was stopped by the addition of wine alcohol up to 17% (v/v).Wine 2. The mix was partially fermented to 14% of ethanol (v/v) and the process was stopped by the addition of wine alcohol up to 17% (v/v).Wine 3. The mixture was completely fermented, obtaining a wine with a 17% (v/v) ethanol content.After fermentation/maceration, the berries were pressed a second time on a vertical press and skin residues were removed from the wine. The resulting wines were centrifuged at 5000 rpm, filtered, and analyzed in triplicate.


### 2.4. Reducing Sugars

This parameter was determined according to the EEC official methods as described in Regulation 2676/1990 [18].


### 2.5. Volatile Acidity

Isolation of volatile acids is carried out according to the method of the OIV [19] by steam distillation and rectification of the distillate.


### 2.6. Spectrophotometric Determinations

Spectrophotometric measurements were made on a PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA) Lambda 25 spectrophotometer, using quartz cells of 1 mm light path. Samples were previously passed through Millipore (Billerica, MA) HA filters of 0.45μm pore size. All measurements were corrected for a path length of 1 cm.Absorbances at 420, 520, and 620 nm were measured. Hue indicates the proportion between orange and red colors;A420 and A520 nm relation was calculated.


#### 2.6.1. Polymeric Pigments Color (PPC)

To obtain PPC values, 5 mL of wine was added with 15 mg of Na2S2O5; after 45 min, the absorbance at 520 nm was measured. Anthocyanin monomers were immediately decolorized by the excess Na2S2O5 added, so the residual color was due to the polymeric forms of the pigments.


#### 2.6.2. Antioxidant Activity

Antioxidant activity was analyzed through the DPPH assay according to Alén-Ruiz et al. [20] with some modifications. The juice and wines were diluted at 1 : 5 with distilled water. A 45 mg/L solution of DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) in methanol was prepared on a daily basis and stored in the dark. An 80 mg/L solution of Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), a vitamin E analog, was used as a standard. The analytical procedure was as follows: a 200 μL aliquot of diluted sample was placed in a cell and 3 mL of a 45 mg/L solution of DPPH in methanol was then added. A blank (200 μL diluted sample + 3 mL methanol), a control sample (200 μL of 12% ethanol in water + 3 mL of DPPH solution), and a Trolox standard (200 μL of Trolox solution + 3 mL of DPPH solution) were also prepared in parallel. Following vigorous stirring, the absorbances at 517 nm of the control sample and blank were measured in a PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA) Lambda 25 spectrophotometer. The sample and the Trolox standard were measured under identical conditions after 120 min of incubation at room temperature. The results were expressed in millimoles of Trolox per liter.(1)AntioxidantactivitymmolTE/L=0,32·A1·dilutionfactorA2,A1=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancesample,A2=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancestandardt=120,Absorbanciasample=Absorbanciasamplet=120-Absorbanciablanct=0.


#### 2.6.3. Total Anthocyanins

The total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content was measured by the pH differential method described by Lee et al. [21]. This method is based on the change of the maximum of absorbance with a change in pH of the monomeric anthocyanins. Two dilutions at 1 : 10 of juice samples were prepared with pH 1.0 buffer (potassium chloride) and pH 4.5 buffer (sodium acetate) and the absorbance was measured at 500 and 720 nm within 20–50 minutes of preparation. Calculate total anthocyanin concentration, expressed as cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents, as follows:(2)Totalmonomericanthocyaninsmg/L=A·MW·D·1000ε·LPA=A520-A700pH1-A520-A700pH4,5,where MW is the molecular weight of cyanidin-3-glucoside (449.2 g/mol), D is the dilution factor, ε is molar extinction coefficient for cyanidin-3-glucoside (26900 L/mol·cm), and LP is the light path.


#### 2.6.4. Total Tannins

The total tannins were determined by measurement of the absorbance at 550 nm after acid hydrolysis of the samples diluted at 1 : 50 with distilled water and a blank. The resulting absorbance (Asample-Ablank) was multiplied by a factor of 19.33, in order to calculate the total tannin concentration, in g/L.


#### 2.6.5. Ethanol Content

Ethanol content was determined according to Crowell and Ough [22]; to this end, ethanol in the sample was collected by steam and then reacted with acid potassium dichromate. The reaction was spectrophotometrically monitored via the absorbance at 600 nm against a blank on a PerkinElmer Lambda 25 spectrophotometer.


### 2.7. Flavonols Extraction

A volume of 2 mL of must was passed through a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, with 900 mg of filling (Long Body Sep-Pak Plus; Waters Associates, Milford, Massachusetts) that was previously activated with 5 mL of pure methanol and washed with aqueous 0.01% (v/v) HCl. The cartridge was successively washed with 10 mL of 0.01% aqueous HCl. The cartridge was eluted with 5 mL of pure ethyl acetate. This collected fraction was evaporated on a rotary evaporator thermostated at 35°C and resolved in 1 mL of pure methanol. The fraction was passed through a filter of 0.45μm pore size before injection into the HPLC instrument.


### 2.8. Identification and Quantification of Flavonols by HPLC-DAD

A volume of 50μL of the sample was injected into an HPLC-DAD instrument (Beckman Coulter System Gold, 168 Detector) and the analyses were carried out on a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), according to the method proposed by Marquez et al. [23]. The identification was carried out by comparing their retention times with those for standards, recording UV-Vis spectra, and calculating the UV absorbance ratios for samples and standards simultaneously coinjected one at a time.


### 2.9. Identification and Quantification of Flavan-3-ol Derivatives

In the case of identification and quantification of flavan-3-ol derivatives, the samples were diluted 25 times in ultrapure water. The identification and quantification were carried out in an HPLC (Thermo Spectra Physics Series P100) with a fluorescence detector (PerkinElmer Series 200a), on a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5μm), according to the method proposed by Marquez et al. [23].


### 2.10. Vitamin C

0.7 mL of 4.5% metaphosphoric acid was added to 0.7 mL of juice, and the mix was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C. 1 mL of the mix was added to 0.2 mL of DTT (DL-dithiothreitol) solution and the sample was kept in the dark for 2 hours in order to reduce the dehydroascorbic acid to L-ascorbic acid. After complete conversion, the sample was filtered with a nylon filter of 0.45μm pore size. Ascorbic acid quantification was performed on an HPLC chromatograph (Thermo Spectra Physics Series P100) coupled to a UV detector (Thermo Finnigan Spectra System UV2000), using a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). KH2PO4 (0.2 M at pH = 2.3–2.4) was used as a mobile phase with a flow of 1.0 mL/min for 15 minutes at λ=243 nm and an injection volume of 20 μL.


### 2.11. Sensory Analysis of Wines

The wines were assessed for aroma, flavor, and color acceptability in accordance with ISO 8586-1:1993. The tasting room was kept at 20°C and wines were served in coded tasting glasses certified in accordance with ISO 3591:1977. The sixteen tasters were instructed in advance in their task and the rules to be followed and were given a scoring sheet. The evaluation of the quality of wines was made according to ISO 4121:2003, with options of desirable (5-6), acceptable (3-4), and undesirable (1-2).


### 2.12. Statistical Procedures

The results for all samples were subjected to analysis of variance at the 95.0% confidence level; in addition, homogeneous groups were calculated in order to establish significant differences between means. The software used was the Statgraphics Computer Package v.5.0 from Statistical Graphics Corp.


## 2.1. Reagents

Hydrochloric acid, metaphosphoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, methanol, acetonitrile, sodium metabisulphite, potassium chloride, sodium acetate, acid potassium dichromate, ethyl acetate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate were purchased from Merck (Madrid, Spain). Anthocyanins (malvidin-3-O-galactoside chloride), flavan-3-ol derivative ((+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2), Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), and DTT (DL-dithiothreitol) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (Madrid, Spain).


## 2.2. Blueberry Drying

The blueberries used for this study were Star variety(Vaccinium corymbosum) and they were harvested in 2015 in Moguer (Huelva, Spain) at the usual state of maturity for commercialization. One portion was crushed for analysis.Three batches of blueberries were dried in a Frisol Climatronic chamber at a constant temperature of 40°C and an initial relative humidity of 20%. During the drying process, a sample was collected daily and the weight loss and reducing sugar concentration of the blueberries were measured using a refractometer, model Atago Master.The drying process was finished when the reducing sugar content reached approximately 24.2°Brix. The blueberries were pressed on a vertical press similar to industrial models, obtaining the final juice. The maximum pressure reached in each of the two pressing cycles was 300 bar. The musts were centrifuged at 5000 rpm, filtered, and analyzed in triplicate.


## 2.3. Fermentation Process

The sweet juice was divided into three batches and was mixed with the solid parts of the berries in a ratio of 1 : 1 (w/v). The mix was added with a yeast inoculum of commercialSaccharomyces cerevisiae in a dose recommended by the manufacturer (0.3 g/L). The flasks were immersed in thermostatized water baths at 22 ± 0.5°C [4]. Three wines were elaborated in triplicate from the dried blueberries.Wine 1. The mix was partially fermented to 6% of ethanol (v/v) and the process was stopped by the addition of wine alcohol up to 17% (v/v).Wine 2. The mix was partially fermented to 14% of ethanol (v/v) and the process was stopped by the addition of wine alcohol up to 17% (v/v).Wine 3. The mixture was completely fermented, obtaining a wine with a 17% (v/v) ethanol content.After fermentation/maceration, the berries were pressed a second time on a vertical press and skin residues were removed from the wine. The resulting wines were centrifuged at 5000 rpm, filtered, and analyzed in triplicate.


## 2.4. Reducing Sugars

This parameter was determined according to the EEC official methods as described in Regulation 2676/1990 [18].


## 2.5. Volatile Acidity

Isolation of volatile acids is carried out according to the method of the OIV [19] by steam distillation and rectification of the distillate.


## 2.6. Spectrophotometric Determinations

Spectrophotometric measurements were made on a PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA) Lambda 25 spectrophotometer, using quartz cells of 1 mm light path. Samples were previously passed through Millipore (Billerica, MA) HA filters of 0.45μm pore size. All measurements were corrected for a path length of 1 cm.Absorbances at 420, 520, and 620 nm were measured. Hue indicates the proportion between orange and red colors;A420 and A520 nm relation was calculated.


### 2.6.1. Polymeric Pigments Color (PPC)

To obtain PPC values, 5 mL of wine was added with 15 mg of Na2S2O5; after 45 min, the absorbance at 520 nm was measured. Anthocyanin monomers were immediately decolorized by the excess Na2S2O5 added, so the residual color was due to the polymeric forms of the pigments.


### 2.6.2. Antioxidant Activity

Antioxidant activity was analyzed through the DPPH assay according to Alén-Ruiz et al. [20] with some modifications. The juice and wines were diluted at 1 : 5 with distilled water. A 45 mg/L solution of DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) in methanol was prepared on a daily basis and stored in the dark. An 80 mg/L solution of Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), a vitamin E analog, was used as a standard. The analytical procedure was as follows: a 200 μL aliquot of diluted sample was placed in a cell and 3 mL of a 45 mg/L solution of DPPH in methanol was then added. A blank (200 μL diluted sample + 3 mL methanol), a control sample (200 μL of 12% ethanol in water + 3 mL of DPPH solution), and a Trolox standard (200 μL of Trolox solution + 3 mL of DPPH solution) were also prepared in parallel. Following vigorous stirring, the absorbances at 517 nm of the control sample and blank were measured in a PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA) Lambda 25 spectrophotometer. The sample and the Trolox standard were measured under identical conditions after 120 min of incubation at room temperature. The results were expressed in millimoles of Trolox per liter.(1)AntioxidantactivitymmolTE/L=0,32·A1·dilutionfactorA2,A1=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancesample,A2=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancestandardt=120,Absorbanciasample=Absorbanciasamplet=120-Absorbanciablanct=0.


### 2.6.3. Total Anthocyanins

The total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content was measured by the pH differential method described by Lee et al. [21]. This method is based on the change of the maximum of absorbance with a change in pH of the monomeric anthocyanins. Two dilutions at 1 : 10 of juice samples were prepared with pH 1.0 buffer (potassium chloride) and pH 4.5 buffer (sodium acetate) and the absorbance was measured at 500 and 720 nm within 20–50 minutes of preparation. Calculate total anthocyanin concentration, expressed as cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents, as follows:(2)Totalmonomericanthocyaninsmg/L=A·MW·D·1000ε·LPA=A520-A700pH1-A520-A700pH4,5,where MW is the molecular weight of cyanidin-3-glucoside (449.2 g/mol), D is the dilution factor, ε is molar extinction coefficient for cyanidin-3-glucoside (26900 L/mol·cm), and LP is the light path.


### 2.6.4. Total Tannins

The total tannins were determined by measurement of the absorbance at 550 nm after acid hydrolysis of the samples diluted at 1 : 50 with distilled water and a blank. The resulting absorbance (Asample-Ablank) was multiplied by a factor of 19.33, in order to calculate the total tannin concentration, in g/L.


### 2.6.5. Ethanol Content

Ethanol content was determined according to Crowell and Ough [22]; to this end, ethanol in the sample was collected by steam and then reacted with acid potassium dichromate. The reaction was spectrophotometrically monitored via the absorbance at 600 nm against a blank on a PerkinElmer Lambda 25 spectrophotometer.


## 2.6.1. Polymeric Pigments Color (PPC)

To obtain PPC values, 5 mL of wine was added with 15 mg of Na2S2O5; after 45 min, the absorbance at 520 nm was measured. Anthocyanin monomers were immediately decolorized by the excess Na2S2O5 added, so the residual color was due to the polymeric forms of the pigments.


## 2.6.2. Antioxidant Activity

Antioxidant activity was analyzed through the DPPH assay according to Alén-Ruiz et al. [20] with some modifications. The juice and wines were diluted at 1 : 5 with distilled water. A 45 mg/L solution of DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) in methanol was prepared on a daily basis and stored in the dark. An 80 mg/L solution of Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), a vitamin E analog, was used as a standard. The analytical procedure was as follows: a 200 μL aliquot of diluted sample was placed in a cell and 3 mL of a 45 mg/L solution of DPPH in methanol was then added. A blank (200 μL diluted sample + 3 mL methanol), a control sample (200 μL of 12% ethanol in water + 3 mL of DPPH solution), and a Trolox standard (200 μL of Trolox solution + 3 mL of DPPH solution) were also prepared in parallel. Following vigorous stirring, the absorbances at 517 nm of the control sample and blank were measured in a PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA) Lambda 25 spectrophotometer. The sample and the Trolox standard were measured under identical conditions after 120 min of incubation at room temperature. The results were expressed in millimoles of Trolox per liter.(1)AntioxidantactivitymmolTE/L=0,32·A1·dilutionfactorA2,A1=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancesample,A2=Absorbancecontrolt=0-Absorbancestandardt=120,Absorbanciasample=Absorbanciasamplet=120-Absorbanciablanct=0.


## 2.6.3. Total Anthocyanins

The total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content was measured by the pH differential method described by Lee et al. [21]. This method is based on the change of the maximum of absorbance with a change in pH of the monomeric anthocyanins. Two dilutions at 1 : 10 of juice samples were prepared with pH 1.0 buffer (potassium chloride) and pH 4.5 buffer (sodium acetate) and the absorbance was measured at 500 and 720 nm within 20–50 minutes of preparation. Calculate total anthocyanin concentration, expressed as cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents, as follows:(2)Totalmonomericanthocyaninsmg/L=A·MW·D·1000ε·LPA=A520-A700pH1-A520-A700pH4,5,where MW is the molecular weight of cyanidin-3-glucoside (449.2 g/mol), D is the dilution factor, ε is molar extinction coefficient for cyanidin-3-glucoside (26900 L/mol·cm), and LP is the light path.


## 2.6.4. Total Tannins

The total tannins were determined by measurement of the absorbance at 550 nm after acid hydrolysis of the samples diluted at 1 : 50 with distilled water and a blank. The resulting absorbance (Asample-Ablank) was multiplied by a factor of 19.33, in order to calculate the total tannin concentration, in g/L.


## 2.6.5. Ethanol Content

Ethanol content was determined according to Crowell and Ough [22]; to this end, ethanol in the sample was collected by steam and then reacted with acid potassium dichromate. The reaction was spectrophotometrically monitored via the absorbance at 600 nm against a blank on a PerkinElmer Lambda 25 spectrophotometer.


## 2.7. Flavonols Extraction

A volume of 2 mL of must was passed through a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, with 900 mg of filling (Long Body Sep-Pak Plus; Waters Associates, Milford, Massachusetts) that was previously activated with 5 mL of pure methanol and washed with aqueous 0.01% (v/v) HCl. The cartridge was successively washed with 10 mL of 0.01% aqueous HCl. The cartridge was eluted with 5 mL of pure ethyl acetate. This collected fraction was evaporated on a rotary evaporator thermostated at 35°C and resolved in 1 mL of pure methanol. The fraction was passed through a filter of 0.45μm pore size before injection into the HPLC instrument.


## 2.8. Identification and Quantification of Flavonols by HPLC-DAD

A volume of 50μL of the sample was injected into an HPLC-DAD instrument (Beckman Coulter System Gold, 168 Detector) and the analyses were carried out on a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), according to the method proposed by Marquez et al. [23]. The identification was carried out by comparing their retention times with those for standards, recording UV-Vis spectra, and calculating the UV absorbance ratios for samples and standards simultaneously coinjected one at a time.


## 2.9. Identification and Quantification of Flavan-3-ol Derivatives

In the case of identification and quantification of flavan-3-ol derivatives, the samples were diluted 25 times in ultrapure water. The identification and quantification were carried out in an HPLC (Thermo Spectra Physics Series P100) with a fluorescence detector (PerkinElmer Series 200a), on a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5μm), according to the method proposed by Marquez et al. [23].


## 2.10. Vitamin C

0.7 mL of 4.5% metaphosphoric acid was added to 0.7 mL of juice, and the mix was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C. 1 mL of the mix was added to 0.2 mL of DTT (DL-dithiothreitol) solution and the sample was kept in the dark for 2 hours in order to reduce the dehydroascorbic acid to L-ascorbic acid. After complete conversion, the sample was filtered with a nylon filter of 0.45μm pore size. Ascorbic acid quantification was performed on an HPLC chromatograph (Thermo Spectra Physics Series P100) coupled to a UV detector (Thermo Finnigan Spectra System UV2000), using a LiChrospher 100 RP-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). KH2PO4 (0.2 M at pH = 2.3–2.4) was used as a mobile phase with a flow of 1.0 mL/min for 15 minutes at λ=243 nm and an injection volume of 20 μL.


## 2.11. Sensory Analysis of Wines

The wines were assessed for aroma, flavor, and color acceptability in accordance with ISO 8586-1:1993. The tasting room was kept at 20°C and wines were served in coded tasting glasses certified in accordance with ISO 3591:1977. The sixteen tasters were instructed in advance in their task and the rules to be followed and were given a scoring sheet. The evaluation of the quality of wines was made according to ISO 4121:2003, with options of desirable (5-6), acceptable (3-4), and undesirable (1-2).


## 2.12. Statistical Procedures

The results for all samples were subjected to analysis of variance at the 95.0% confidence level; in addition, homogeneous groups were calculated in order to establish significant differences between means. The software used was the Statgraphics Computer Package v.5.0 from Statistical Graphics Corp.


## 3. Results and Discussion

The first stage in the elaboration of blueberry wine was a drying process in order to increase the sugar content to obtain a fermented beverage with an ethanol content similar to a grape wine. The blueberry variety presented a sugar content of 13.2°Brix. This content increased to 24.2°Brix after 48 hours of drying. During the drying process, evaporation of water occurred, causing the concentration of other compounds besides the sugars. A sweet juice was obtained from the dried blueberries and this juice was subjected to a fermentation process obtaining three wines with different sugar contents due to the different times of fermentation. Wine 1 was a sweet wine with 117 g/L of residual sugars, wine 2 was a semisweet wine (28.8 g/L of residual sugars), and wine 3 was a dry wine (0 g/L of residual sugars).The volatile acidity was measured in order to control the quality of wines. This parameter represents the amount of volatile acids in the wines, acetic acid being the majority. The volatile acidity increased with the fermentation time with values of 5.4, 5.9, and 8.9 meq/L for wine 1, wine 2, and wine 3, respectively. The latter presented a value higher than the limit established in the Official State Bulletin [24] for commercial grape wines.Color is the first attribute perceived by the consumer in food. The absorbances at 420, 520, and 620 nm as well as the hue were measured and expressed as absorbance units (a.u.). These three absorbances represent the contribution of browning and red and blue compounds, respectively. As can be seen in Figure1, the absorbances increased in the drying process, so the color intensity of the juice from dried fruits was higher than of the juice from fresh fruits. In relation to wines, the browning index (A420) decreased with the fermentation time; wine 3 presented the lowest value. The values of absorbances at 520 and 620 nm were the highest in wine 2; wine 3 presented the lowest values of both absorbances. This may be a result of the adsorption of colored compounds by the cell walls of the yeasts [25]. The hue, expressed as the ratio between absorbances at 420 and 520 nm (Figure 1(d)), decreased in the drying process, although the values were always above value 1, which indicates greater contribution of the brown compounds. In wines, wine 3 (total fermentation) was the beverage with the lowest value.Figure 1
Changes in (a) absorbance at 420 nm (a.u.), (b) absorbance at 520 nm (a.u.), (c) absorbance at 620 nm (a.u.), and (d) hue for blueberry juices and wines.N=3. Columns with different superscript letters are significantly different, p=0.05.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)The polymeric pigments color measured in wines shows that the fermentation process produced a decrease of PPC with time (0.699, 0.517, and 0.373 in wine 1, wine 2, and wine 3, resp.), so the contribution of pigment polymers to color decreases. On the one hand, the high value of wine 1 was due to the concentration resulting from the loss of water by evaporation during the drying process. On the other hand, the maceration with solid parts should increase the values during the fermentation. Nevertheless, these compounds decreased during the maceration, possibly due to other reactions in which they may be involved.Anthocyanins are polyphenolic pigments which are responsible for the red color of blueberry juices and wines. The drying process increased the concentration of these compounds due to the water evaporation and the diffusion process from skin to juice due to the structural alterations in fruit skin [26]. After the drying, the anthocyanins content was 40 mg/L (Figure 2). In wines, the concentration of monomer anthocyanins decreased with the fermentation time, with wine 3 presenting the lowest concentration. This fact could be due to, on the one hand, the adsorption of anthocyanin by the cell membranes of yeast; as the time of contact with yeasts increases, a reduction of these compounds occurs in the juice [25]. Furthermore, condensation reactions occur between the monomeric anthocyanins and some yeast metabolites resulting in new compounds called pyranoanthocyanins [27] or condensation reactions with other phenolic compounds such as flavonols and flavans [28].Figure 2
Changes in anthocyanins, vitamin C, and tannins of blueberry juices and wines.N=3. Columns of the same parameter with different superscript letters are significantly different, p=0.05.Regarding the concentration of total vitamin C, fresh blueberries showed the highest value (28.1 mg/L) (Figure2). The drying process produced a decrease in total vitamin C content to 21.5 mg/L. This vitamin C concentration was maintained without significant changes during the fermentation process. Vitamin C is a typical heat sensitive micronutrient, so the decrease during the drying process is due to the temperature [29]. Then, the fermentation process did not affect the content of this vitamin.Tannins are polymer compounds responsible for the astringency of wines. In wines, certain astringency is appreciable, although if it is excessive it becomes a defect. Drying process raised its content from 4.13 to 8.95 g/L (Figure2), due mainly to the concentration effect by water evaporation. However, the fermentation process produced a decrease in total tannin values, which was more pronounced as the fermentation time increased. The final values of the wines were 3.97 g/L in wine 1 (less fermentation time) and 1.15 and 0.570 g/L in wine 2 and wine 3, respectively. This fact can be contrary in other fermentation processes where tannins content increased due to the effect of their synthesis and/or extraction in an ethanol medium. Tannins in grape seeds are slowly dissolved during maceration as the cuticle is dissolved in ethanol; by contrast, tannins in grape skins were extracted more rapidly by the effect of their ready dissolution in the aqueous phase [30].Table1 shows the concentrations of flavonols and flavan-3-ol derivatives in blueberry juices and wines. Four flavonols were identified: two quercetin derivatives and two syringetin derivatives. Quercetin derivatives presented higher concentrations than those of syringetin in the juice from fresh fruit; in addition, the galactose derivatives were found in higher concentration in both cases. The drying process decreased the concentration of these phenolic compounds. Some authors found out that the drying process increases the concentration of flavonols [23]. During the fermentation process, a maceration process occurs with the berry skins, so these compounds should be extracted from skins; however, the concentration decreased, and this reduction can be ascribed to copigmentation reactions with anthocyanins [11]. The final concentration in wines is a balance between the extraction from skins and the reactions with other compounds, obtaining wine 2 with the highest flavonol concentration.Table 1
Flavan-3-ol and flavonols concentrations (mg/L) and homogenous groups for blueberry juices and wines at different fermentation times.
Fresh juice
Juice after drying
Wine 1
Wine 2
Wine 3
Quercetin-3-O-galactoside
10.6
±
0
.
862
a
4.93
±
0.232
b
1.87
±
0.104
c
2.18
±
0.044
c
1.88
±
0.011
c
Quercetin-3-O-glucoside
7.13
±
1.03
a
4.04
±
0.123
b
3.05
±
0.221
c
3.68
±
0.078
b
c
3.08
±
0.028
c
Syringetin-3-O-galactoside
4.25
±
0.569
a
3.28
±
0.249
b
2.06
±
0.116
d
2.64
±
0.084
c
2.61
±
0.015
c
Syringetin-3-O-glucoside
2.08
±
0.351
a
3.60
±
0.292
b
3.10
±
0.302
c
3.48
±
0.039
b
c
3.22
±
0.160
b
c
Total flavonols
24.1
±
0.382
a
15.8
±
0.897
b
10.1
±
0.106
c
12.0
±
0.247
d
10.8
±
0.139
c
Procyanidin B1
19.5
±
1.32
a
24.6
±
1.68
b
14.9
±
0.422
c
15.5
±
0.120
c
17.0
±
1.19
a
Epigallocatechin gallate
2.87
±
0.064
a
2.78
±
0.085
a
2.88
±
0.336
a
3.12
±
0.045
a
4.84
±
0.650
b
Catechin
15.9
±
1.19
a
5.38
±
0.526
b
4.22
±
0.776
b
4.95
±
0.282
b
4.51
±
0.557
b
Procyanidin B2
3.17
±
0.622
a
2.80
±
0.187
a
3.45
±
0.673
a
3.37
±
0.087
a
3.59
±
0.609
a
Epicatechin
ND
2.20
±
0.136
a
3.06
±
0.134
c
2.26
±
0.057
a
3.87
±
0.542
b
Total flavan-3-ol
41.5
±
0.687
a
37.8
±
1.388
b
28.5
±
1.321
c
29.2
±
0.237
c
33.8
±
0.117
b
ND: not detected. Values in the same row with different superscript letters are significantly different,p=0.05.Also, five flavan-3-ol derivatives were identified and quantified: 3 monomers and 2 procyanidins. The major compound in juice from fresh fruit was procyanidin B1 followed by catechin. Drying and fermentation stages caused a decrease in concentration of total flavan-3-ol derivatives, although procyanidin B1 increased during drying and epicatechin could be quantified. These compounds are involved in different reactions. Catechins and proanthocyanidins are the main substrates for condensation with monomeric anthocyanins and their subsequent evolution to polymeric anthocyanins [31].Figure3 shows the values of antioxidant activity measured by DPPH assay in juices and wines from blueberries. As can be seen, the juice from fresh fruit had a high antioxidant activity; this value decreased after the drying process. Wines 1 and 2 obtained from the sweet juice had no significant differences, whereas wine 3 (totally fermented wine) presented the lowest value. Antioxidant activity has been related to phenolic compound and vitamin C. Some authors have found out that anthocyanins are the main compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity of berry fruits, and vitamin C affects this activity less. Specifically, a linear relation between total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity has been found in blueberry varieties [32] and others have found that vitamin C did not contribute to the antioxidant activity values in blueberries [33]. Some authors state that the antioxidant activity is closely related to compounds of high molecular weight [34, 35]. In this work, the antioxidant activity decreased during the drying process and during the fermentation and there was no significant correlation between antioxidant activity, measured by the DPPH assay, and the composition of phenolic compounds, although there was a statistically significant relationship between antioxidant activity and vitamin C at the 99% confidence level, since the p value in the ANOVA is less than 0.01.Figure 3
Antioxidant activity for blueberry juices and wines.N=3. Columns with different superscript letters are significantly different, p=0.05.Figure4 shows the scores obtained in the sensory analysis of the three wines. Wine 1 presented a more balanced score, standing out among others in terms of aroma. This can be due to the fact that the fermentation process was shorter, so varietal aromas were higher than in wine 2 and wine 3. Wine 2 also presented an acceptable score for the tasters, standing out among the others in terms of flavor, as a result of the compensation between the acid flavor of the blueberry and the sweetness of a semisweet wine. On the other hand, in spite of having the worst score in flavor and aroma, wine 3 presented the best score in color, as a consequence of the highest contact time with the solid parts during the fermentation.Figure 4
Sensory evaluation of the obtained wines.


## 4. Conclusions

The winemaking of blueberry wines caused changes in color and concentration in bioactive compounds. The drying process increased the absorbances at 420, 520, and 620 nm, so the browning index and the contribution of red compounds were higher in the juice after drying. The concentration of anthocyanins and tannins also increased with drying; however, flavonols, flavan-3-ol derivatives, and vitamin C decreased in this stage. The fermentation stage caused a decrease in phenolic compounds, tannins, and antioxidant activity, while the concentration of vitamin C was constant. Wine 3 presented lower values of anthocyanins and tannins as well as antioxidant activity, in addition to high volatile acidity. The sensory analysis showed that partially fermented wines had the best score. In this sense, in the production of blueberry wines, the drying process is suitable to obtain juices rich in sugars; partial fermentation obtains better results than total fermentation. Further study on the drying stage as well as the fermentation could improve the characteristics of these wines.



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*Source: 1567106-2017-10-16.xml*