Chlorogenic acid (CQA), the ester of caffeic acid with quinic acid, has been one of the most studied polyphenols due to its potential biological activity and usefulness in pharmaceutical treatment. We found that in an aqueous solution of each chlorogenic acid isomer, 3-, 4- and 5-CQA, its two complexes with water are formed. In the RP chromatographic system, these CQA-water derivatives differ in retention data from that of their precursors and do not decompose, which indicates their considerable stability. The formation of CQA-water complexes has not been reported yet. Comprehensive NMR research of CQA-water derivatives complexes shows that their significant stability results from the formation of hydrogen bonds between water and CQA isomer – e.g., between water and OH3, OH4 and ester groups of CQA molecule in the case of 5-CQA-water derivative. The existence of CQA-water derivatives in CQA containing food products was in the paper shown. It should be noted that the stable CQA-water complexes may exhibit a different biological activity than CQA. This issue requires separate biomedical research.

Yamato Tachibana (Tachibana; Citrus tachibana) is an endemic fruit and represents one of the oldest citrus species in Japan; it is grown in the Mie Prefecture. It has been attracting attention for its cultural heritage and unique scent. To evaluate biological activities of Tachibana, we fed several parts of the Tachibana fruit (whole fruit, pulp [albedo and segment wall], and flavedo) to adult zebrafish and found that Tachibana increased body weight and plasma triglycerides besides increasing overall food intake. We then created a simple fluorescence-based feeding assay using dried rotifer sheets and larval zebrafish (6 days postfertilization) to screen the various extracts of Tachibana parts. We found that water extracts of Tachibana pulp increased feeding volume in zebrafish. Although citrus species are believed to prevent obesity and obesity-associated diseases in general, our findings showed that water extracts of Tachibana increase food intake in zebrafish and lead to an increase in body weight. We suggest that Tachibana might reverse appetite loss in lean populations and may prove beneficial in aiding fish cultivation.

Contaminants of emerging concern present in domestic waste streams include a highly diverse group of potentially biologically active compounds that can be detected at trace levels in wastewater. Concerns about potential uptake into crops arise when reclaimed water is used in food crop production. The present study investigated how 9 contaminants of emerging concern in reclaimed water are taken up into edible portions of two food crops. Two flame retardant chemicals, tris(1‐chloro‐2‐propyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(2‐chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and several polar pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim) accumulated in a linear, concentration‐dependent manner in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) irrigated with reclaimed water, suggesting passive uptake of both neutral and ionizable chemical contaminants in lettuce. Furthermore, concentration‐dependent accumulation of TCEP and TCPP from reclaimed water was also observed in strawberry fruits (Fragaria ananassa). Collectively, these data suggest that highly polar or charged contaminants can be taken up by crops from water bearing contaminants of emerging concern and can be accumulated in the edible portions. Using these data, however, estimates of human exposure to these contaminants from reclaimed water food crop accumulation suggest that exposure to the contaminants of emerging concern examined in the present study is likely substantially lower than current exposure guidelines. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2213–2221. © 2015 SETAC