Advances in the research on phenolic acids and flavonoids in vinegar: Sources, formation and degradation mechanisms, and functional properties.

Vinegar, a globally cherished condiment, owes its partly unique flavor and health benefits to phenolic acids and flavonoids. Phenolic acids and flavonoids are primarily derived from raw materials degradation. However, the contents of these bioactive components are significantly influenced by multiple factors, including the type of raw materials, the species of fermentation microorganisms, the fermentation environment and brewing processes. These challenges have hindered more extensive research and applications of vinegar as a functional food for promotion health. This review systematically summarized recent advancements of phenolic acids and flavonoids in vinegar, mainly including detection, sources, formation and degradation mechanisms, and functional properties. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential of these bioactive compounds in terms of their functional properties and points out the challenges and future development directions of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the vinegar industry. The findings of this review highlight the significant advantages of different liquid chromatography techniques in detecting trace phenolic acids and flavonoids in vinegar, as compared to mobile and stationary phase parameters and validation parameter differences between LC-MS/MS and other detection techniques. This review provided a comprehensive summary of the sources, formation, and degradation mechanisms of these compounds from both chemical and microbiological perspectives, elucidating their molecular-level potential in lipid lowering, alleviating liver and cellular damage, regulating gut microbiota, and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These findings are crucial for developing innovative, nutrient functional vinegar products, optimizing their applications in disease prevention, metabolic health, and overall wellness, and providing theoretical support and technical guidance for future research.

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