Prebiotics and Probiotics - Potential Benefits in Human Nutrition and Health

The growing interest of using probiotic bacteria into foods has lately increased due to its beneficial effects on intestinal microbiota. This fact has motivated researchers and the food industry to develop new functional products, such as probiotics. The probiotic fruit juices can be a good alternative for new foodstuff production mainly for people with galactosemia and lactose intolerance. Among the microencapsulation techniques of probiotics in juices, spray drying and freeze drying are two of the most used with 220 and 228 publications found in Science Direct, 8 and 0 Web Science, and 5 and 0 in SCOPUS, respectively. Several studies have reported the addition of probiotics in different fruit juices to produce functional beverages; however, there are no reports on the use of three or more probiotic microorganisms in mixed beverage. Our research group has been directing studies in this area in order to provide results of scientific interest and to food industry

Effects of Pretreatments with Ethanol and Ultrasound on Convective Drying of BRS Vitória Grapes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol and ultrasound as pretreatment to improve the convective drying of the BRS Vitória grape. The drying kinetics, rehydration, quality parameters, and phenolic compounds were evaluated. Before drying, grapes cv. BRS Vitória was ultrasound treated using two separate means, with ethanol (99.5% v/v) and distilled water. After pretreatment, the grapes were dried at 60°C and 0.1 m/s. The Logarithmic model provided a better prediction to describe the drying of grapes. Peleg’s model showed satisfactory adjustments to predict rehydration. Compared to the Control, pretreatment using the combination of ultrasound and ethanol decreased the drying time of the grapes by 61%. The pretreatments did not influence in quality parameters. In contrast, phenolic retention was observed in samples with ethanol. These results open new perspectives on the drying process and product quality by combining ethanol and ultrasound

Microencapsulation of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) AND ciriguela (Spondias purpurea L) mixed juice with different wall materials

The effect of five different mixtures containing xanthan gum (XG), maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA) on microencapsulation by spray drying of mixed acerola and ciriguela juice was investigated in order to preserve its contents of ascorbic acid (AA), total phenolic compounds (PC) and total carotenoids (TC), as well as its an tioxidant activity (AO) under different temperatures. All microcapsules produced with the different mixtures showed effective AA retention. Microcapsules produced using the mixtures with the highest and the lowest XG concentrations showed the greatest TC and PC retentions, respectively. As the mixture with MD and the lowest XG concentration ensured the highest AO retention, these microcapsules were stored for 30 days at 5°C, which ensured satisfactory preservation of AA, PC, TC and AO. Examination of their morphology by scanning electron microscopy showed the absence of pores or cracks, which allowed us to infer low oxygen permeability and high oxidative stability

Validation of a HPLC-DAD method for quantification of ascorbic acid in mixed juice powder of acerola and seriguela / Validação de um método HPLC-DAD para quantificação de ácido ascórbico de suco misto em pó de acerola e seriguela

The objective of this work was to optimize extraction process and to validate the HPLC-DAD method for quantification of ascorbic acid content in mixed juice powder of acerola and seriguela with different dextrose equivalent maltodextrin (5, 10, 15) as an encapsulating agent. The influence of the extraction variables was studied through factorial design. Control variables were mass, percent of orthophosphoric acid and stirring time. Chromatographic method was validated in terms of precision, selectivity, linearity and accuracy. Chromatographic and titrimetry results were compared for all dextrose equivalent. Mass and percentage of orthophosphoric acid presented p < 0.05. There were no significant differences among the dextrose equivalents ranging from 2,830.1 mg/100 g to 2,931.61 mg/100 g of ascorbic acid. Both values, intra and intermediary precision test coefficients of variation were less than 5%. The correlation coefficient was 0.99. Respective value of limit of detection was 0.001 mg/mL and for quantification was 0.003 mg/mL. The application of HPLC-DAD method can be considered acceptable for quantification ascorbic acid in fruit powder

New functional non-dairy mixed tropical fruit juice microencapsulated by spray drying: Physicochemical characterization, bioaccessibility, genetic identification and stability

Abstract This study shows the development of a powdered non-dairy probiotic 40:60% (w/w) acerola:siriguela mixed juice. The mixed juice enriched with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus LPAA 01, Lactobacillus casei LPAA 02 and Lactobacillus plantarum LPAA 03 strains was microencapsulated by spray drying using 140 °C air inlet temperature, 0.60 L/h feed flow rate and 10% (w/w) 5 dextrose equivalent maltodextrin. Microcapsules were analyzed in terms of physicochemical characteristics, chemical composition, in vitro bioaccessibility, microbial viability and stability at 5 and 25 °C for 45 days. Viable cell counts were >6 log CFU. g−1 for up to 20 days at 5 °C and 14 days at 25 °C, and physicochemical properties of microparticles were shown to be in acceptable ranges. Each specific primer pair showed unique amplification, confirming the survival of all the three probiotics. The levels of phenolic compounds, with the exception of quercetin, as well as antioxidant activity by ORAC method increased after exposure to simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Antioxidant capacity of the fruits

Extratos aquoso e acetônico de 15 frutas foram submetidos a ensaios para investigar a habilidade de seqüestrar o radical estável 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) e a capacidade de inibir a oxidação em sistema modelo β-caroteno/ácido linoléico. Todas as frutas exibiram propriedade antioxidante, entretanto a ação foi diferenciada entre elas. O extrato aquoso da acerola, caju, mamão "Formosa", mamão Havaí, laranja pêra e goiaba foram os mais eficazes (superior a 70%), enquanto que o do abacaxi, laranja cravo, manga rosa, melão espanhol, melão japonês, melão orange flesh e pinha apresentaram ação moderada (60-70%) e o da manga espada e melancia exibiram a mais fraca capacidade de seqüestrar o radical DPPH. Os extratos acetônico da acerola, caju, pinha e goiaba exibiram uma forte capacidade de seqüestrar o radical DPPH (superior a 70%). Em sistema modelo β-caroteno/ácido linoléico, o extrato aquoso da pinha e o acetônico da goiaba exibiram moderada capacidade antioxidante (60-70%) enquanto que a acerola (extrato aquoso) e o mamão formosa (extrato acetônico) os menores percentuais. Frente à capacidade antioxidante exibida, as frutas podem ser apontadas como fontes de antioxidantes naturais, destacando-se a acerola, caju, mamão Formosa, mamão Havaí, goiaba, laranja pêra, e a pinha por terem apresentado uma potente capacidade antioxidante.Aqueous and acetone extracts from 15 fruits have been screened for antioxidant activity using DPPH method and ß-carotene/linoleic acid model. All fruits studied showed antioxidant activity, but in different extent. Acerola, cashew-apple, papaya "formosa", papaya "solo", orange and guava showed the higher antioxidant activity (>;70%) in DPPH method, followed by pineapple, bergamont, mango "rosa", melon "reticulares", melon "inodorus", melon "orange flesh" and sugar-apple aqueous extract (moderate, 60-70%) and mango "espada" and watermelon aqueous extract, the lowest activity. Acerola, cashew-apple, sugar-apple and guava acetone extracts exhibited higher scavenging activity toward DPPH radicals (>;70%).β-carotene/linoleic acid model index of sugar-apple aqueous extract and guava acetone extract demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity (60-70%), meanwhile acerola aqueous extract and papaya "formosa" acetone extract the lower. According to antioxidant activity, fruits can be indicated as natural antioxidants sources, pointing out acerola, cashew-apple, papaya "solo", papaya "formosa", guava, orange and sugar-apple as the highest in antioxidant capacity

CARACTERÍSTICAS SENSORIAIS E FÍSICO-QUÍMICAS DE GELEIAS MISTAS DE MANGA E ACEROLA

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a melhor formulação de geleia mista de manga espada e acerola e verificar o efeito dos tratamentos sobre as características físico-químicas e sensoriais do produto. Foram elaboradas cinco formulações, contendo diferentes proporções de caldo de manga (M) (75%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 25%), de acerola (A) (25%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75%), pectina (0,1%; 0,125%; 0,2%; 0,3%; 0,6%), ácido cítrico (0,1%; 0,125%; 0,25%) e açúcar (30%). As geleias obtidas foram submetidas a teste sensorial pela método de ordenação - preferência e as formulações de maior preferência ao Teste de Análise Descritiva Quantitativa (ADQ) pelo método perfil de características. A acidez total titulável, pH, ácido ascórbico, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), carotenoides totais, polifenóis (antocianinas, flavonóis, e fenólicos totais) e cor foram determinadas e os resultados submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e ao teste de Tukey ao nível de 5%. Todas as geleias foram classificadas como "extra" uma vez que o teor de SST situou-se entre 63,5 a 64°Brix. As geleias G7 (75%M:25%A), G5 (60%M:40%A) e G3 (50%M:50%A) foram as mais apreciadas pelos julgadores, destacando-se a G5 e a G7 por reunirem, de forma satisfatória, todos os atributos de qualidade. As geleias mistas apresentaram teor elevado de ácido ascórbico e quantidades significantes de carotenoides e polifenóis. As geleias com maior proporção de manga na formulação apresentaram as melhores características sensoriais e forte potencial antioxidante em função do teor de ácido ascórbico, carotenoides totais e polifenóis. Assim, a acerola (com teores significativos desses fitoquímicos bioativos) pode ser vista como agente enriquecedor na produção de geleias mistas com manga

Quality of minimally processed guava with different types of cut, sanification and packing Qualidade de goiaba processada minimamente com diferentes tipos de corte, sanificação e embalagem

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the sanitization effect on the quality of minimally processed guava. Initially, research was carried out with consumers in a supermarket to verify preferences of packaging for guava. Following this, the guava cv. Paluma underwent two sanitization sequences using dehydrated sodium dichloroisocyanurate compound, in 50 ppm concentration, sanitization prior to (S1) and after (S2) being cut; removal of excess water; conditioning in PET packaging and PSPVC and storage at 3 ºC ± 1 ºC. Physicochemical analysis - [pH, total soluble solids (SST), total labeled acidity (ATT), ascorbic acid (AA), total sugars (AT) and reducers (AR)], textural sensorial and microbiological analyses were used to monitor the quality of the products. The consumers preferred the guava cut in halves with pulp and packed in PET, although this packaging promoted condensation of water vapor on the inner surface of the lid, compromising the appearance of the product. The two sanitization sequences and the two kinds of packaging did not significantly affect the pH, SST, ATT, SST/ATT, texture and AA values. The AT and AR tenors increased significantly in the MP guavas stored in the PSPVC package. Both sanitizations were efficient in the bacterial control of the indicators of the hygienicsanitary conditions, although the S1 sanitization proved to be more efficient in the control of autochthonous aerobic microbiota (aerobic mesophylic microorganisms). It can be concluded that guava cv. Paluma packed in PSPVC can be conserved for 6 days when stored at 3 ºC.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da sanitização sobre a qualidade de goiabas minimamente processadas. Inicialmente, foi realizada uma pesquisa com consumidores em um supermercado para verificar a preferência em relação a tipos de cortes e tipos de embalagens para goiabas. Após essa etapa, goiabas cv. Paluma passaram por duas sequências de sanificação com o composto clorado orgânico dicloro isocianurato de sódio dihidratado, na concentração de 50 ppm: sanificação antes (S1) e depois do corte (S2); retirada do excesso d'água; acondicionamento em embalagens PET e PSPVC e armazenamento a 3 ºC ± 1 ºC. Análises físicoquímicas [pH, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez total titulável (ATT), ácido ascórbico (AA), açúcares totais (AT) e redutores (AR)], texturais, sensoriais e microbiológicas foram efetuadas para monitorar a qualidade do produto. Os consumidores preferiram a goiaba cortada na metade equatorial com polpa e embalada em PET, entretanto esta embalagem promoveu a condensação de vapor de água na superfície interna da tampa comprometendo a aparência do produto. As duas sequências de sanificação e os dois tipos de embalagens não influenciaram significativamente os valores de pH, SST, ATT, SST/ATT, textura e AA. Os teores de AT e AR aumentaram significativamente nas goiabas MP armazenadas na embalagem PSPVC. Ambas as sanificações foram eficazes no controle das bactérias indicadoras das condições higiênicosanitárias, entretanto a sanificação S1 mostrouse mais eficaz no controle da microbiota autóctone (microrganismos aeróbios mesofilos viáveis). Podese concluir que goiabas da cv. Paluma embaladas em PSPVC podem ser conservadas por 6 dias quando armazenadas a 3 ºC