Improving bioactive compounds extractability of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an underground, unbranched deciduous plant that produces a large tubercle (rhizome) with recognized health effects. In this study, the influence of solvent nature (water, water/etanol (1:1) and absolute ethanol) and processing type (fresh, lyophilized and boiled) on the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds extractability of elephant foot yam was evaluated. Extracts were compared for their contents in total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH▪) scavenging capacity assays. Phenolics (154 mg GAE/L) and tannins (109 mg GAE/L) were maximized in lyophilized samples extracted with the hydroalcoholic solvent, which attained also the highest FRAP value (711 mg FSE/L). In turn, flavonoids reached the highest yields in lyophilized samples (95 mg ECE/L) extracted with pure ethanol, as well as the highest DPPH▪ scavenging activity. These findings might have practical applications to define the best processing methodology regarding the enhancement of elephant foot yam, either for prompt consumption, as well as to develop food supplements or pharmaceutical related products.J.C.M. Barreira and R.C. Alves thank to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BD/76019/2011 and SFRH/BPD/68883/2010, respectively). This work received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (FCT) through project LAQV UID/QUI/50006/2013. This work also received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds) under the framework of QREN through Project NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000069

Análise do Uso de Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação no Ensino Técnico em Agropecuária

Este artigo descreve os resultados de uma investigação que teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento de tecnologias digitais que pudessem contribuir para o processo de ensino e aprendizagem de disciplinas técnicas da área de agropecuária, dentro da filosofia do software livre. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram realizadas entrevistas com professores da área técnica, que discutiram as possibilidades pedagógicas das ferramentas que lhes foram apresentadas. Os resultados apontam uma disposição dos docentes para o uso das tecnologias no contexto educacional, porém ainda existe uma grande limitação de recursos disponíveis

Characterization Properties of Banana Peel as a Promising Alternative for Bioplastic

The increasing use of conventional plastic has been creating some big problems, ranging from the oil crisis as a raw material for plastic production and the accumulation of unbiodegradable plastic waste on the earth. One of the promising measures to handle the problem is the use of environmentally–friendly biodegradable plastic, made from renewable materials. The aim of this project is to characterize the properties of bioplastic from banana peel. The process begins with the extraction of pectin from banana peel with hydrochloric acid and followed by the addition of water, CaSO4, tapioca starch, acetic acid, glycerin to form plastic. The analysis of pectin extract gave 8.3 % pectin yield, 29 % water content, 10 % ash content, 4.9 % methoxyl content, 50 % galacturonic acid content, and 13.8 % degree of esterification. The plastic obtained after the following process had a the thickness of 0.28 mm, the water solubility of 20 %, water absorption capability of 53.8 %, and it was biodegradable. In conclusion, the plastic produced is biodegradable with certain characteristics

Improving bioactive compounds extractability of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an underground, unbranched deciduous plant that produces a large tubercle (rhizome) with recognized health effects. In this study, the influence of solvent nature (water, water/etanol (1:1) and absolute ethanol) and processing type (fresh, lyophilized and boiled) on the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds extractability of elephant foot yam was evaluated. Extracts were compared for their contents in total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) scavenging capacity assays. Phenolics (154 mg GAE/L) and tannins (109 mg GAE/L) were maximized in lyophilized samples extracted with the hydroalcoholic solvent, which attained also the highest FRAP value (711 mg FSE/L). In turn, flavonoids reached the highest yields in lyophilized samples (95 mg ECE/L) extracted with pure ethanol, as well as the highest DPPH• scavenging activity. These findings might have practical applications to define the best processing methodology regarding the enhancement of elephant foot yam, either for prompt consumption, as well as to develop food supplements or pharmaceutical related products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improving bioactive compounds extractability of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an underground, unbranched deciduous plant that produces a large tubercle (rhizome) with recognized health effects. In this study, the influence of solvent nature (water, water/etanol (1:1) and absolute ethanol) and processing type (fresh, lyophilized and boiled) on the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds extractability of elephant foot yam was evaluated. Extracts were compared for their contents in total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPHradical dot) scavenging capacity assays. Phenolics (154 mg GAE/L) and tannins (109 mg GAE/L) were maximized in lyophilized samples extracted with the hydroalcoholic solvent, which attained also the highest FRAP value (711 mg FSE/L). In turn, flavonoids reached the highest yields in lyophilized samples (95 mg ECE/L) extracted with pure ethanol, as well as the highest DPPHradical dot scavenging activity. These findings might have practical applications to define the best processing methodology regarding the enhancement of elephant foot yam, either for prompt consumption, as well as to develop food supplements or pharmaceutical related products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio