Combination of freezing, low sodium brine, and cold smoking on the quality and shelf-life of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax l.) fillets as a strategy to innovate the market of aquaculture products

Aquaculture is playing a leading role in both meeting the growing demand for seafood and increasing the sustainability of the fish production sector. Thus, innovative technologies that improve its sustainability, competitiveness, and safety are necessary for growth in the sector. This study aimed to develop cold smoked sea bass fillets from aquaculture. The aptitude of frozen and fresh fillets for cold smoking was investigated by processing both fresh and thawed fillets kept previously at −20◦C for 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. Moreover, to develop a low-salt product, fillets were immersed in low-sodium or standard brine. Sensory, biochemical, and physical-chemical analyses were performed on both the raw fillets and the smoked fillets during vacuum packaged storage for 35 days at 1 ± 0.5◦C. Young modulus values, representative of texture and sensory evaluation, showed that the quality of fresh fillets was better compared to the thawed ones, thus affecting the quality of the final product as the correlation between parameters showed (principal component analysis). Cold smoking was effective in both maintaining the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) below the threshold for spoilage and preventing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, partial sodium replacement by potassium did not alter the sensory attributes of smoked fillets, which maintained high scores up to 21 days

Microbiological profile and bioactive properties of insect powders used in food and feed formulations

Microbiological, nutritional and bioactive properties of edible powders obtained from Acheta domesticus (house cricket) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) were investigated. Except for the enterobacteria, viable bacteria were at a higher concentration in mealworm flour. The diversity evaluation carried out using MiSeq Illumina that mainly identified Citrobacter and Enterobacteriaceae in mealworm powder and members of the Porphyromonadaceae family in house cricket powder. Enterococci were identified and characterized for their safety characteristics in terms of the absence of antibiotic resistance and virulence. Both powders represent a good source of proteins and lipids. The fatty acid profile of mealworm powder was characterized by the predominance of the monounsaturated fatty acids and house cricket powder by saturated fatty acids. The enzymatic hydrolysis produced the best results in terms of percentage of degree of hydrolysis with the enzyme Alcalase, and these data were confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Furthermore, the results showed that the protein hydrolysate of these powders produces a significant antioxidant power

Seasonal characterization of nutritional, technological and antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. mucilage

Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. fruit and cladodes are a source of mucilage, a carbohydrate complex, as well as of phytochemicals and other nutrients, useful in the food industry. Despite the environmental-based composition variability studied, there is no information on its seasonal variability, which is particularly important for its industrial use. In this study, some technological, nutritional, and bioactive properties of O. ficus-indica Mill. cladodes mucilage were analysed during the seasonal growth period. Total proteins did not change during the whole period and the lipid content significantly decreased from winter to the onset of summer. The fatty acid profile showed high levels of palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n9), and linoleic (18:2n6) acids and that the polyunsaturated fatty acid class (PUFA) is the most abundant fatty acid class, which showed a significant increase during the growth period. In this class, the presence of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA), two of the most important human nutrition essential fatty acids, is worth noting as well as the positive effect of the omega- 3 series founder, α-linolenic acid 18:3 n-3. Total polyphenol values indicated that extract quality changes with the sampling period and is not closely related to the total extract yield. All the descriptors of the antioxidant power seem to indicate that the best properties are exhibited during the summer. The principal component analysis can significantly help identify the technological, nutritional, and bioactive factors that make it possible to distinguish the quality of O. ficus-indica Mill. mucilage, in order to harvest it in the most appropriate season

Seasonal characterization of nutritional and antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica [(L.) Mill.] mucilage

Opuntia ficus-indica fruit and cladodes are a source of mucilage, a carbohydrate complex, as well as of phytochemicals and other nutrients, useful in the food industry. Despite the environmental-based composition variability has been studied, there is no information on its seasonal variability, which is particularly important for its industrial use. In this study, some technological, nutritional, and bioactive properties of O. ficus-indica cladodes mucilage were analyzed during the seasonal growth period. Total proteins did not change during the whole period and the lipid content significantly decreased from winter to the onset of summer. The fatty acid profile showed high levels of palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n9), and linoleic (18:2n6) acids and that the polyunsaturated fatty acid class (PUFA) is the most abundant fatty acid class, which showed a significant increase during the growth period. In this class, the presence of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA), two of the most important human nutrition essential fatty acids, is worth noting as well as the positive effect of the omega-3 series founder, α-linolenic acid 18:3 n-3. Total polyphenol values indicated that extract quality changes with the sampling period and is not closely related to the total extract yield. All the descriptors of the antioxidant power seem to indicate that the best properties are exhibited during the summer. The principal component analysis can significantly help identify the technical, nutritional, and bioactive factors that make it possible to distinguish the quality of O. ficus-indica mucilage, in order to harvest it in the most appropriate season

The combined impact of cold smoking and natural antioxidants on quality and shelf life of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) fillets

This study aimed to produce new value-added products from dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) as fillets when using cold smoking combined with natural antioxidants, obtained from Halocnemum strobilaceum a plant belonging to halophytes. The fillet treatments were controlled (untreated), immersed in standard brine (STD), treated with NaCI and antioxidant before freezing (Aox-pre) and treated with NaCl and antioxidant after thawing (Aox-post). The quality of dolphinfish fillets was assessed using sensory, biochemical, microbiological, and technological parameters. Treating fillets with antioxidants before freezing and cold smoking (Aox-pre) enhanced significantly the shelf life, as well as improved the biochemical, microbiological, and sensory aspects of the product. Aox-pre fillets had the lowest peroxide values (PV) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, demonstrating that the immediate treatment of fillets with the polyphenols protected lipids from peroxidation. The smoking process, together with antioxidant treatment, significantly reduced microbial counts after 15 days of storage, compared to the control. Overall, combining antioxidant treatments with cold smoking has a positive effect on the quality of Aox-pre fillets with respect to both sensory components and biochemical parameters associated with shelf life. Consequently, Aox-pre treatment enhances the marketability of this species, promoting local and seasonal products, contributing to costal fisheries sustainability. © 2019 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.4513362121This work was supported by funding from the Programma Operativo Nazionale “Ricerca e Competitività” (PON R&C) 2007-2013 project PESCATEC, code 004513362121 and from the project BioVecQ, Cod PS1.3_08 IEVP 2007- 2013 Decision CE C (2008) 8275.–CUP I57G12000360007

Immunity and inflammatory responses in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to sub-lethal mixture of carbamazepine, cadmium chloride and polybrominated diphenyl ether

Chemical contaminants such as industrial and urban by-products, pharmaceuticals, drugs metabolites and, plastics, are continuously found in the oceans, affecting its quality and organism's welfare. Although these compounds are found at concentrations ranged ng L−1, there is an increasing concern about the potential adverse effects of the interactions among those substances present, simultaneously, in a mixture. In the present study, specimens of sea bream (Sparus aurata) were exposed, by food, to rising concentrations of a mixture of carbamazepine, polybrominated diphenyl ether-47 and cadmium chloride, for 15 days and then, maintained, with the same control diet, without contaminants, for other 15 days. Samples of skin mucus, serum, head-kidney, liver and intestine were sampled at 0, 15 and 30 days. Cellular immune parameters were evaluated on head-kidney, as well as humoral parameters were determined on skin mucus and serum. In addition, the expression of some genes, related to immunity, was analysed on liver and intestine. Both cellular and humoral response were affected at 15 days, showing slightly signs of recovery at 30 days. Besides, the expression of immune-related genes was highly affected, suggesting the development of inflammatory processes, as well as a reduction of immune parameters. Overall, the mixture of compounds severally affected the immune system of sea bream, suggesting a lower degree of recovery. The prolonged exposure to a mixture of these compounds could entail serious change on population immunity and, eventually, promote changes on marine biota

Green biotechnology for valorisation of residual biomasses in nutraceutic sector: Characterization and extraction of bioactive compounds from grape pomace and evaluation of the protective effects in vitro

The grape pomace (GP) is an important by-product of winemaking, accounting for about 13-25% of the grapes processed. The aim of this work was to investigate the nutritional and antioxidant composition of GP obtained from Nero d\u2019Avola (NA) grape, one of the most important indigenous varieties in Italy, in order to verify application in nutraceutics. Seeds and skin of the GP were studied for their nutritional and antioxidants composition, fatty acid and polyphenols profile, bioactives properties in vitro, by gravimetric, spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques. The results showed that NAGP seeds are rich in the beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids and that the polyphenols extracted from the GP skin present a strong antiradical and antiproliferative activity, attested also in vitro, in human skin fibroblast (HS-68) and in hepatoma cell line (Hep-G2). Obtained results underline the possibility to employ this residual biomass for nutraceuticals application, contributing also to increase the sustainability

Effects of BDE-47 exposure on immune-related parameters of Mytilus galloprovincialis

The persistent pollutants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been demonstrated to produce several negative effects on marine organisms. Although Mytilus galloprovincialis was extensively studied as model system, the effects of PBDEs on the innate immune system of mussels remains unclear. In this study, except for the control treatment, specimens of M. galloprovincialis were fed with microalgae treated with increasing concentrations of PBDEs (maximum level 100 ng L 121 of BDE-47 per day). BDE-47 treatment was maintained for 15 days and then the animals were fed with the same control diet, without contaminants, for 15 days. Samples of haemolymph (HL) were obtained at T0, T15 and T30 days of the experiment to evaluate different parameters related to immunity, such as neutral red retention time, and peroxidase, protease, antiprotease, lysozyme and bactericidal activities. BDE-47 exposure for 15 days affected both the stability of haemocytes and humoral parameters. In addition, the obtained results indicated that, at 30 days, after 15 days of culture without contaminant, the immune parameters were still affected, as some of them did not return to the basal levels, and others remained stimulated. Overall the results indicate that BDE-47 exposures at environmentally realistic levels may affect various aspects of immune function in M. galloprovincialis, acting as stressor that can compromise the general welfare