IPFN - Latest News

Final Report Plants and Antimicrobials

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:53:00 +0100

Final Activity Report - PLANTS AND MICROBES

JOHN INNES CENTRE

The contract ran from 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2010, providing research training for 23 EST Fellows in the field of plant molecular biology and microbiology (total 492 training months). The John Innes Centre served as a host mono-site for this multidisciplinary training programme. It was able to do this effectively because of its size, scope and international reputation as a high quality environment for research training.

Research undertaken by EST Fellows has led to important discoveries in the fields of plant breeding, developmental biology and biotechnology. The main research objectives were:
- to discover basic biological processes in plants and microorganisms;
to develop and apply the platform technologies that underpin modern molecular biology, and,
- to create plants and bacteria of enhanced value.

For example, there has been an important advance in the development of a high level expression system for production of introduced proteins in plant tissues from plant virus vectors. There have also been advances in the development of anti-tuberculosis pharmaceuticals based on the use of DNA gyrase as a drug target. In the field of crop science, there have been major advances in the understanding of the mechanism of innate immunity in plants and further discoveries relating to the role of micro-RNAs in the control of flowering.

High quality scientific research and training was recognised in many instances:
- Over 25 publications in refereed journals with many more in preparation.
- Six prizes for science communication at national/ international/ local meetings;%: - Four invitations to speak at prestigious international meetings;
- Two short-term visits to international laboratories;
- Four international postdoctoral research fellowships awarded (with more applications currently being prepared).
- From the final reports received from EST Fellows, 60% rated the quality of research training received as 'Excellent'; and 40% as 'Very Good'.

This programme has provided an excellent training environment and a springboard for careers in academic or industrial research. A combination of taught courses and a wide range of research seminars provided opportunities for a broad-based scientific and technical training. This was supported by an extensive programme designed to enhance complementary professional skills. In all cases, EST Fellows have progressed towards PhD-level degrees, thus contributing to an enhancement of knowledge and skills in the labour pool of the European Research Area.

Research has already led to 25 publications in high quality refereed journals with many more manuscripts in preparation. EST Fellows have attended over 30 international conferences and workshops: in the majority of cases they were active (rather than passive) participants. EST Fellows have also taken an active role in the communication of science to schools and to the general public, for ex...

Alimentatia HUB - Innovation and Trends for the food sector

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:42:00 +0100

The Alimentaria Hub will be the core link to knowledge, innovation and trends, a key initiative that will join long-standing Alimentaria activities already sharing values such as R&D, business development, sustainability, nutrition... This is the case with the International Conference on the Mediterranean Diet, Innoval, Best Pack, Conferences on the transfer of research and technology, the FIAB business meetings, and the university research presented by the Triptolemos Foundation, among others. The Alimentaria Hub will unite all these initiatives under one common umbrella, multiplying their synergies and common denominators in the process.

This new macro area will promote, drive and develop initiatives geared towards improving the food industry and distribution. The project, essentially oriented towards Spanish and international food and drink companies as well as distributors and operators in the food value chain, looks to better competitiveness and the corporate responses to the new challenges brought about by the consumer and society as a whole.

Thematic and product exhibitions, conferences, congresses, seminars, new product presentations, master lectures and activities focused on business development that deal with innovation, development, nutrition, health and well-being, corporate social responsibility, new ways of communicating in social networks, internationalization, retail, etc... These all take place within dynamic and versatile formats with a high concentration of content.

The Alimentaria Hub will cover a space of approximately 3,000 m2 in pavilion 7 of Alimentaria, and will be made up of an area dedicated to exhibiting products and content, two auditorium for conferences, a lounge space for business networking that will be visited by guest buyers from around the world as well as the Alimentaria Club.

Details on the subjects to be discussed in the Alimentaria HUB can be downloaded here

PhD Studentship (EU FP7 Project) Queen's Universtiy Belfast NI

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:29:00 +0100

PhD Studentship (EU FP7 Project)Integrating new Technologies in the processing and packaging of Ready-to-Eat Foods.Queen's University Belfast - School of Biological Sciences A PhD studentship (3 years) funded by EU project STARTEC is available in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen's University Belfast. This project will be based in the Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use by the new Food Science and Nutrition research initiative led by Dr Tassos Koidis (http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/InstituteofAgri-FoodLandUse/Staff/DrTassosKoidis/).The successful candidate will join the European FP7 project "STARTEC" aimed at developing "Decision support tools to ensure Safe, Tasty and Nutritious Advanced Ready-To-Eat foods" (EC/KBBE) and will work alongside other researchers involved in QUB and other partners of the consortium. The specific PhD project offered will be devoted to applying novel food processing technologies in model systems of Ready-to-Eat foods. It will also integrate new advanced packaging and sensor technology to improve the nutritive, flavour and safety properties of ready-to-eat foods. As there are a number of food producing SMEs involved in the project, the student will be expected to liaise with these companies for the implementation of the developed technologies where required.We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a minimum of 2.1 BSc or MSc degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry or other relevant discipline, who has a strong interest in food analysis and novel food processing. Experience in process modelling and IT programming languages is desirable but not essential for the position.Applications are accepted until 24th of February with an anticipated interview date of early March and the successful candidate is expected to start in April or May 2012. Eligible candidates should have residency in the EU.Starting stipend (tax free): �13,590. European/UK Students OnlyFunding Notes:The studentship, totalling a minimum of GBP 17,682 per year for three years (subject to the student's satisfactory progress), including fully-paid tuition fees at the UK/EU student level (GBP3,732 per year) and a tax-free stipend of GBP13,950 per year. There may also be opportunities to undertake limited teaching duties, which attract additional pay. We are sorry that we are unable to cover overseas student tuition fees. As a result, only UK/EU students should apply. Student on this project will be expected to fully participate in the overall EU project.For informal enquiries about the project please contact the academic supervisor directly: t.koidis@qub.ac.ukApplication process: To apply, please use the postgraduate Direct Applications Portal at https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php.

Final Activity Report - MOBSIV (Modelling brassinosteroid signalling in vascular development)

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:38:00 +0100

The main objective of the project is to untangle the role of BRs in vascular differentiation using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system. The project analysed the contribution of the BR-responsive BRI1/BRL1 and BRI1/BRL3 pathways in setting up the proliferation and/or differentiation of xylem and phloem tissues from pluripotent vascular stem cells. To reach this objective, the project planned to use a multidisciplinary approach combining cell biology techniques, molecular genetics, plant physiology and genomics. Our final long-term goal is to bring together all the biological information obtained for the role of BRs in vascular development using a mathematical modelling approach thanks to the active collaboration that my host researcher has with Dr Marta Ibáñes, from the Physics Faculty of the University of Barcelona (UB), Spain.

To the major objectives of this research project are:
a) identification of BR-responsive genes involved in vascular development;
b) genetic dissection of the role of BRs in xylem and phloem differentiation;
c) hormone crosstalk in vascular development.

For more details in this project please check the following link:

http://canolab.cragenomica.es/

Final Activity Report - DYNAMIC (Dynamic interactive chemical biology and biomedicine)

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:18:00 +0100

Final Activity Report - DYNAMIC (Dynamic interactive chemical biology and biomedicine)
Quality validation date:2011-11-23
Abstract
The scientific landscape is constantly undergoing rapid change and growth, and nowhere is this more evident than at the interface of biology/biomedicine and chemistry. Recent advances in biological, chemical, and biophysical techniques are presenting us with spectacular opportunities to increase our understanding of biological systems at the molecular level and to address medical problems. Chemical biology biomedicine bridges the chemical and biological sciences with particular attention to the emerging power of designed small molecules as probes of protein and cellular function in the design of therapeutic agents. Particularly important is the contribution of organic chemistry and molecular design as a complement to structural biology, genomics, glycomics and proteomics. In this context, it is evident that successful researchers in chemical biology and biomedicine have to possess a multitude of different skills. Not only is a strong hold on modern organic synthesis necessary for the production of building blocks, but also knowledge of biological tools and medical issues are a prerequisite. In addition, physical techniques including modelling and characterisation of the substances are essential.
The present programme is generally based on the concept of dynamic chemistry for the field of glycosciences. Constitutional dynamic chemistry is a new evolutional approach to produce chemical diversity, and the glycosciences constitutes a rapidly evolving field where the structure, synthesis and function of complex carbohydrate structures of biomolecules are studied. Carbohydrate recognition plays a central role in many biological processes, and a multitude of proteins and other entities are involved in carbohydrate-mediated processes associated with, e.g., cell-cell interactions, cell communication, cell proliferation and cell death. The programme is thus truly cross-sectional, requiring skills at the interface between chemistry, biology, medicine and physics.
The research training network has resulted in several significant outcomes:
1. Advanced inter-disciplinary training in chemical biology, biomedicine, using a dynamic chemistry/glycosciences platform, to a number of early stage- and experienced researchers has been provided.
2. Inter-national and inter-cultural training have been provided for these researchers in a network of highly skilled research groups throughout Europe.
3. Inter-sectorial training between academic groups and participating industrial partners, with special emphasis on corporate prerequisites and entrepreneurship, has been provided.
4. New protocols in dynamic chemistry, with special emphasis on biological systems have been developed. These have led to the design and synthesis of ligands and inhibitors of a variety of proteins in the glycosciences area.
5. New protocols to the design and synthesis of stable small molecules, and clusters of small molecules, that interact with different proteins have been developed.
6. New analytical techniques and biosensor instrumentation for the study of carbohydrate-protein interactions have been developed.
7. New, detailed understanding of carbohydrate-protein interactions has been revealed from in-depth analytical techniques and functional studies.
8. New, detailed understanding of the highly complex functions of carbohydrates and carbohydrate-binding proteins in humans and other living organisms has been revealed. This includes for example immunology and autoimmune diseases, tumour biology and different cancer forms, and neurobiology and neural repair processes.
9. A new textbook in general glycoscience, especially suited for advanced training courses, has been authored by several members of the network.

NAFISPACK (Natural antimicrobials for innovative and safe packaging)

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:09:00 +0100

Periodic Report - NAFISPACK (Natural antimicrobials for innovative and safe packaging)
Quality validation date:2011-09-21
Abstract
The industry needs effective packaging systems to preserve the food safely during distribution and storage while maintaining the food quality, along with increasing demands of the consumer for fresher, minimally processed, more convenient and safer foods. The NAFSIPACK project looks at all these issues through the development of innovative packaging solutions for some selected target foodstuffs: fresh chicken, minimally processed vegetables (MPVs) and fresh fish.
Food quality is related to the preservation of the fresh food products, being the action of microorganisms one of the main food spoilage mechanisms. This is the case of the fresh chicken, fresh fish and MPVs studied in this project, which shelf life values are 11, 4 and 7 days, respectively. NAFSIPACK tries to increase them to 13, 7 and 9 days. To achieve those objectives, the project is focused on developing novel 'active packaging technologies' based on natural antimicrobials. The use of natural antimicrobials is considered safer and better tolerable than the use of synthetic preservatives, because concern about latter is steadily rising, due to a limited documentation on safety and tolerance. Despite some of them are time tested as food additives and ingredients, in general, their usage in packaging pose new parameters of evaluation and problems (stability, effectiveness, availability, costs, law compliance, etc.) that have to be studied and a severe risk assessment of materials is needed.
NAFSIPACK is also focused on the detection of the growth of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms responsible for product lost in fresh salmon and fresh chicken by means of 'intelligent packaging technologies'. The development of new visual/measurable indicators sensible to substances indicating food quality and safety, produced during spoilage of the food, will offer more reliable information than the traditional 'best before' or the 'use by'.
Collaboration sought:N/A
Source of support:CEC
Related Programme(s)/Projects
Programme Project reference Project title
FP7-KBBE 212544 Natural antimicrobials for innovative and safe packaging

Europe has unique opportunity to reform farm support, says OECD

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:13:00 +0100

Information from OECD website

High commodity prices have made European farmers much less dependent on income support, offering cash-strapped governments a unique opportunity to reform the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), according to a new OECD report.

Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in the European Union shows that European support to farm incomes has decreased substantially over the past 20 years. Farmers earned 22% of total annual receipts from government support over the 2008-10 period, down from 39% annually over the 1986-88 period.

The decline is due to many factors, including high commodity prices, which automatically push down income support, as well as 25 years of CAP reform outlined in the report.

Despite the decline, CAP expenditures nonetheless comprised close to 45% of the total EU budget in 2010, or about EUR 53 billion. Overall farm support reached EUR 77 billion in 2010, as measured by the OECD's Producer Support Estimate, which includes direct payments to farmers as well as the impacts of government policies on prices.

"Expected growth in demand and higher real commodity prices offer tremendous opportunities for farmers and government alike," said Ken Ash, OECD director of Trade and Agriculture, during the report's launch in Brussels. "A window has opened for re-orientation of policy away from broad income support and towards investments in a strong and competitive agri-food sector."

The OECD report details the major CAP reforms over the past 25 years, describes the main characteristics and structure of the current CAP and recommends paths for future reform, including:

the removal of remaining impediments to the functioning of input and output markets, more open access to the European market and transparent EU-wide markets for the sale and lease of land, production quotas and payment entitlements.
greater investment in agricultural innovation.
introduction at the EU level of an effective and comprehensive framework for risk management, steering clear of areas where private sector solutions exist, such as production contracts, insurance and futures contracts.
targeted efforts to improve the environmental performance of agriculture, including direct payments to farmers, when necessary, for provision of environmental goods and services.

For further details visit the OECD website:

http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_48813909_1_1_1_1,00.html

health claim related to polyphenolic apple extract powder and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:47:00 +0100

Following an application from Diana Naturals, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Appl'In® polyphenolic apple extract powder and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses.

The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim based on newly developed scientific evidence and including a request for the protection of proprietary data.

The food constituent which is the subject of the claim, is Appl'In®, a polyphenolic extract powder of apple, standardised for its content in phloridzin, which is proposed by the applicant to be the active ingredient. The Panel considers that the food Appl'In® polyphenolic apple extract powder (Malus domestica Borkh.) containing at least 5 % phloridzin, which is the subject of the claim, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect.

The claimed effect proposed by the applicant relates to the reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses. The target population proposed for the claim is healthy women in the general population willing to reduce their glycaemic response. The Panel considers that reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses (as long as post-prandial insulinaemic responses are not disproportionally increased) may be a beneficial physiological effect.

The applicant provided one published and two unpublished human intervention studies, three animal studies and two in vitro studies as pertinent to the claim.

The food used in one human intervention study did not comply with the specifications of the food which is the subject of the claim. The Panel considers that no conclusion can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim.

In two other human intervention studies, post-prandial blood glucose concentrations were measured but not insulin responses. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these studies for the scientific substantiation of the claim.

Animal and in vitro studies were provided on the effect of phloridzin on glucose transport and absorption. The Panel considers that human studies are required for the substantiation of a claim, and that evidence provided in animal and in vitro studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of apple polyphenol extract powder consumption on reduction of post prandial glycaemic responses in humans.

The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Appl'In® and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses.

For further information check the EFSA journal website

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2383.htm

IPP and VPP do not maintain normal blood pressure according to EFSA

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:52:00 +0100

Following an application from Valio Ltd submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Finland, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to isoleucyl-prolyl-proline (IPP) and valyl-prolyl-proline (VPP) and maintenance of normal blood pressure (BP). The tripeptides IPP and VPP are sufficiently characterised.

Maintenance of normal blood pressure is a beneficial physiological effect. The applicant identified a total of 20 published intervention studies (in 19 papers; five papers were translated by the applicant into English from the Japanese original) and one unpublished study, as well as two published and one unpublished meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) as being pertinent to the claim. Thirteen of the RCTs provided, four of which were adequately powered to detect small between-group differences in systolic BP (SBP), did not observe an effect of IPP and VPP on SBP or diastolic BP. The interpretation of the results from seven out of the eight studies which reported an effect of IPP and VPP on office SBP was hampered by major methodological limitations. The animal studies did not provide additional information on the effect of IPP and VPP on BP in humans, and no convincing evidence for a mechanism by which IPP and VPP could exert the claimed effect at the proposed dose has been provided.

The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of IPP and VPP and maintenance of normal blood pressure.

For further information chech the EFSA journal website

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2380.htm

Post-doctoral position available at the NUIG

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:22:00 +0100

The National University of Ireland in Galway (NUIG) is seeking applicants to fill a postdoctoral researcher position at the newly established Biodiscovery Laboratory at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), Ireland to work on (marine) functional foods. The position is available from December 1st 2011 . The duration of the post will initially be for 12 months with the possibility of extension -dependent on progress- up to 3 years. It requires a young scientist who holds a PhD in natural products chemistry, marine natural products chemistry or food chemistry, with high competence and experience in separation (HPLC and other chromatographic methods) and characterization/chemical profiling (by NMR, MS, LC-MS and others) of natural products.Attached please find the advert. More details can be found at the university website, http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/jobs/ (section research)Please note that the application deadline is October 14th. 2011.

Significance vs Biological Relevance

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:47:00 +0100

Juan Valverde

The Scientific Committee (SC) of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has developed an opinion addressing the issue of statistical significance and biological relevance. The objective of the document is to help EFSA Scientific Panels and Committee in the assessment of biologically relevant effects.

The SC considered the distinction between the concepts of biological relevance and statistical significance and produced descriptions of the terms. It is suggested that EFSA Experts and Staff members should use the terminology of biological relevance and statistical significance as interpreted by the SC in their considerations.

The SC recommends that the nature and size of biological changes or differences seen in studies that would be considered relevant should be defined before studies are initiated. The size of such changes should be used to design studies with sufficient statistical power to be able to detect effects of such size if they truly occurred.

Statistical significance is considered as just one part of an appropriate statistical analysis of a well designed experiment or study. Identifying statistical significance should not be the primary objective of a statistical analysis. The relationship of statistical significance to the concept of hypothesis testing was considered and the limitations on the use of hypothesis testing in the risk assessment process when interpreting data were noted.

The SC therefore recommended that less emphasis should be placed upon the reporting of statistical significance and more on statistical point estimation and associated interval estimations (e.g. Confidence Interval) as more information can be presented using the latter.

In addition, the SC recommends that a complete description of the methods used, the programming code and the raw data are made available to the assessors so that alternative analyses could be conducted to test the robustness of any conclusions drawn.

For further details in this interesting question for researchers...and industry!

See the link below:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2372.htm

EFSA approves Thaumatin for all animal species

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:26:00 +0100

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety for the target animals, consumers of animal products, users and the environment and the efficacy of the natural sweetener thaumatin for all animal species. The thaumatins are a mixture of proteins first isolated from the katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii Benth) of West Africa.

Commercial extraction of thaumatin from the fruit began in the 1970s and the sequencing of the two principal proteins found in thaumatin (thaumatin I and thaumatin II) was completed in 1990. It has been previously assessed for safety for consumers by both JECFA and the Scientific Committee for Food, neither body proposing an ADI. It is currently authorised for use as a sweetener or flavour enhancer in the European Union and in many other countries.

Figure. Katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii Benth) from West Africa, and the 3D structure of Thaumatin I, one of thaumatins present in this fruit

Thaumatin at a recommended use range of 1 to 5 mg/kg complete feed is safe for all animal species with a considerable margin of safety. Consequently, thaumatin can be administered simultaneously via feed or water for drinking. Thaumatins are highly digestible proteins and no residues in edible tissues/ products are expected. Consequently there are no concerns for the consumer safety.

The MSDS provided by the manufacturer identifies as potential hazards irritation to the eyes and sensitisation following inhalation. Sensitisation and irritation to the skin are not addressed. The precautions for handling the product proposed by the manufacturer (respiratory, hand, eye and skin protection) are considered sufficient to ensure user safety.

Thaumatins occur in nature, albeit with a narrow distribution, amongst plant species. Its use in animal nutrition is not expected to affect the environment since it is not excreted as such due to its essentially complete digestion.

Thaumatin is used in food as a sweetener/flavour modifier. Since its function in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.

User-friendly model for shelf-life prediction of food products treated by novel processing

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:24:00 +0100

Results from FP7 collaborative project Novel Q

Abstract
There is a clear need to predict the shelf life of novel processing treated products. Within the NovelQ project, predictive modelling was performed including the entire production chain, e.g. ingredients (initial microbial load), effects of novel processing, packaging and storage. Shelf life was evaluated with respect to microbiology, quality and nutrients. The main factors determining quality and shelf-life were identified: initial quality and contamination, effect of novel processing, packaging and storage conditions. By linking these factors in a model it was possible to predict quality and shelf-life. A shelf life model for pulsed electric field and high pressure pasteurization treated orange juice was developed using data from the literature and insights from NovelQ This model can be applied to predict shelf life based upon microbial and enzymatic spoilage, and determination of processing conditions to obtain a desired shelf life. The model combines microbial inactivation and growth with enzyme inactivation, enzyme rest activity and quality. A user friendly interface was developed within the NovelQ project.

Stage of development:Guidelines, methodologies, technical drawings

Stage description:User-friendly model for shelf-life prediction of food products treated by novel processing was developed and tested by the NovelQ project

Property rights:Partnership/other contractual agreement(s)

Collaboration sought:Private-public partnership, Available for consultancy

Collaboration Detail:Interested (food companies) are invited to contact us to receive more information about the user-friendly model for shelf-life prediction of food products treated by novel processing and its application for their businesses.

Market applications:Foods, drinks

Source of support:National, CEC

Organization:TNO

Name:BOON, Floor

Position:Scientist

Address: Food & Biotechnology Innovations
Utrechtseweg 48
3700 AJ
Zeist
NEDERLAND

EFSA 2010 Annual Report

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:31:00 +0100

Juan Valverde

In 2010, EFSA delivered 565 scientific outputs on a number of important issues including, amongst others, Q fever, influenza H1N1 and bisphenol A. In addition to providing robust scientific advice and risk assessment to European risk managers, EFSA took the opportunity in 2010 to reflect on its own structures and processes and also initiated a wide-ranging review to further strengthen its internal procedures regarding independence.

The full report and the summary can be downloaded from EFSA's website:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/corporate/pub/ar10.htm

New powerful antioxidant discovered in tomato plants

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:09:00 +0100

Juan Valverde

A new antioxidant from tomato plants (Solanum esculentum L.) has been discovered. The new antioxidant compound is nearly 5 times more antioxidant than Vitamin E, 10 times more antioxidant than Vitamin C and 14 times more antioxidant than Resveratrol a potent antioxidant found in red wine and linked to the French paradox.

This strong antioxidant substance is synthesized by the tomato plants when they are under the stress of a bacterial pathogen (Pseudomonas synringae) and therefore why it wasn't discovered previously. The plant in order to protect itself from the exposure to the pathogen releases a range of secondary metabolites (mostly form the family of phenyl propanoids) that accumulate in the areas of the infection.
Four compounds never described in literature were identified. In addition the researchers from the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP) in Valencia (Spain) have developed a simple and economical process of synthesizing feruloylnoradrenaline (FNA) in the laboratory. FNA possessed high free radical scavenging activity.

This new discovery could have multiple applications; for example the breeding/development of tomato plants with higher contents of these compounds could make them more resistant to infections; also the high antioxidant capacity of the FNA makes it an interesting candidate for food ingredients. Antioxidants are among the most common food ingredients used to avoid undesirable oxidation in lipids or proteins (rancidity).

For further details on this subject:
López-Gresa, M. P.; Torres, C.; Campos, L.; Lisón, P.; Rodrigo, I.; Bellés, J. M.; Conejero, V., Identification of defence metabolites in tomato plants infected by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Environmental and Experimental Botany In Press,