Production and characterization of mixed pineapple and hibiscus jam

Pineapple is a food rich in vitamins, antioxidants and bromelain, but because it has high water content it becomes a highly perishable fruit. Hibiscus is a plant with flowers rich in phytochemicals that can be used as an ingredient to add value to processed products. The objective of this work was to prepare mixed jams using pineapple with hibiscus extract at different concentrations and to characterize the physicochemical properties of the jams produced. Experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates. The treatments consisted of three concentration levels of hibiscus extract (5, 10 and 15%) in pineapple jelly (50:50). Analyzed physical-chemical characteristics were: water content, water activity, ash, lipids, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, vitamin C, total titratable acidity, pH and total soluble solids. It was found that increasing concentrations of hibiscus in the formulations significantly influenced resulting jam composition. Increasing hibiscus concentration reduced the total sugars content and increased ascorbic acid content, acidity, total soluble solids and ash, as well as total anthocyanins and flavonoids contents. Among the jams produced, the formulation with 15% hibiscus was distinguished by its high content of ascorbic acid, flavonoids and anthocyanins. The addition of hibiscus to pineapple jelly improves the nutritional and functional value of the resulting jams, so it can be considered a high potential ingredient for this type of product

Produção e caracterização de geleias de maracujá com sementes de linhaça marrom

O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar e caracterizar geleias de maracujá do tipo extra com adição de diferentes concentrações de sementes de linhaça marrom (1,5, 2,5 e 3,5%).  As geleias foram analisadas em relação às suas características físico-químicas (pH, acidez total titulável, sólidos solúveis totais, açúcares totais, açúcares redutores e não redutores , teor de água, vitamina C, lipídeos e cinzas) e compostos bioativos (flavonóides totais, antocianinas totais e carotenóides totais). O maracujá se mostrou como alternativa explorável para seu uso na fabricação de geleias de maracujá com linhaça. Observou-se nas geleias que com o aumento da concentração de linhaça houve aumento dos flavonóides e antocianinas, que representam compostos bioativos importantes para a saúde humana e no combate a doenças, indicando assim que as geleias deste estudo podem ser consideradas funcionais.  

Production and characterization of mixed pineapple and hibiscus jam

Pineapple is a food rich in vitamins, antioxidants and bromelain, but because it has high water content it becomes a highly perishable fruit. Hibiscus is a plant with flowers rich in phytochemicals that can be used as an ingredient to add value to processed products. The objective of this work was to prepare mixed jams using pineapple with hibiscus extract at different concentrations and to characterize the physicochemical properties of the jams produced. Experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates. The treatments consisted of three concentration levels of hibiscus extract (5, 10 and 15%) in pineapple jelly (50:50). Analyzed physical-chemical characteristics were: water content, water activity, ash, lipids, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, vitamin C, total titratable acidity, pH and total soluble solids. It was found that increasing concentrations of hibiscus in the formulations significantly influenced resulting jam composition. Increasing hibiscus concentration reduced the total sugars content and increased ascorbic acid content, acidity, total soluble solids and ash, as well as total anthocyanins and flavonoids contents. Among the jams produced, the formulation with 15% hibiscus was distinguished by its high content of ascorbic acid, flavonoids and anthocyanins. The addition of hibiscus to pineapple jelly improves the nutritional and functional value of the resulting jams, so it can be considered a high potential ingredient for this type of product

Maltodextrin as a Drying Adjuvant in the Lyophilization of Tropical Red Fruit Blend

Guava, pitanga and acerola are known for their vitamin content and high levels of bioactive compounds. Thus, the preparation of combinations of these fruits comprises a blend with high nutraceutical potential, yielding a strong and attractive pigmentation material. In this study, the influence of different proportions of maltodextrin on the lyophilization of a blend of guava, acerola and pitanga was evaluated considering not only the physicochemical, physical and colorimetric parameters but also the bioactive compounds in the obtained powders. The blend was formulated from the mixture and homogenization of the three pulps in a ratio of 1:1:1 (m/m), then maltodextrin was added to the blend, resulting in four formulations: blend without adjuvant (BL0), and the others containing 10% (BL10), 20% (BL20) and 30% (BL30) maltodextrin. The formulations were lyophilized and disintegrated to obtain powders. The powders were characterized in terms of water content, water activity, pH, total titratable acidity, ash, total and reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, lycopene, color parameters, Hausner factor, Carr index, angle of repose, solubility, wettability and porosity. All evaluated powders showed high levels of bioactive compounds and the increase in maltodextrin concentration promoted positive effects, such as reductions in water content, water activity and porosity and improved flow, cohesiveness and solubility characteristics

Physicochemical Aspects, Bioactive Compounds, Phenolic Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Tropical Red Fruits and Their Blend

The combination of fruit pulps from different species, in addition to multiplying the offer of flavors, aromas and textures, favors the nutritional spectrum and the diversity of bioactive principles. The objective was to evaluate and compare the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, profile of phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of pulps of three species of tropical red fruits (acerola, guava and pitanga) and of the blend produced from the combination. The pulps showed significant values of bioactive compounds, with emphasis on acerola, which had the highest levels in all parameters, except for lycopene, with the highest content in pitanga pulp. Nineteen phenolic compounds were identified, being phenolic acids, flavanols, anthocyanin and stilbene; of these, eighteen were quantified in acerola, nine in guava, twelve in pitanga and fourteen in the blend. The blend combined positive characteristics conferred by the individual pulps, with low pH favorable for conservation, high levels of total soluble solids and sugars, greater diversity of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity close to that of acerola pulp. Pearson’s correlation between antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and carotenoids for the samples were positive, indicating their use as a source of bioactive compounds