Effect of plantain (Musa paradisiaca L. cv. Dominico Harton) peel flour as binder in frankfurter-type sausage

Agroindustrial residues such as plantain (Musa paradisiaca L. cv. Dominico Harton) peel have functional properties, which made them suitable for use as a food ingredient. The aim of this research was to evaluate plantain peel flour (PPF) as a binder in the production of frankfurter- type sausage. Five formulations were prepared in which wheat flour (WF) was replaced by PPF as follows: 25%, 50%, 70% and 100%, respectively. Once the sausages are obtained, the water retention capacity (WRC), emulsifying stability (ES), and pH, were evaluated. When comparing treatments with the control sample, it was found that replacing up to 50% of WF by PPF, significantly increased WRC by 7.5%. When replacing 25%, Es, there were no statistically significant changes among treatments. When replacing 100%, the product pH, was significantly decreased. The results indicated, the sausages made with 50% of PPF, retain the formulation water, which is why the PPF has potential for this type of sausage manufacture. PPF could replace WF up to 25% in the frankfurter formulation, without affecting ES and pH and favoring WRC.Agroindustrial residues such as plantain (Musa paradisiaca L. cv. Dominico Harton) peel have functional properties, which made them suitable for use as a food ingredient. The aim of this research was to evaluate plantain peel flour (PPF) as a binder in the production of frankfurter- type sausage. Five formulations were prepared in which wheat flour (WF) was replaced by PPF as follows: 25%, 50%, 70% and 100%, respectively. Once the sausages are obtained, the water retention capacity (WRC), emulsifying stability (ES), and pH, were evaluated. When comparing treatments with the control sample, it was found that replacing up to 50% of WF by PPF, significantly increased WRC by 7.5%. When replacing 25%, Es, there were no statistically significant changes among treatments. When replacing 100%, the product pH, was significantly decreased. The results indicated, the sausages made with 50% of PPF, retain the formulation water, which is why the PPF has potential for this type of sausage manufacture. PPF could replace WF up to 25% in the frankfurter formulation, without affecting ES and pH and favoring WRC

Hydrogels Are Reinforced with Colombian Fique Nanofibers to Improve Techno-Functional Properties for Agricultural Purposes

Colombia es el mayor productor mundial de fibras de fique (Furcraea bedinghausii), con una producción neta de 30.000 toneladas anuales. Este trabajo propone revalorizar los residuos de la agroindustria colombiana del fique. Para ello, se obtuvieron nanofibras de celulosa del fique y se utilizaron como material de refuerzo para crear hidrogeles acrílicos superabsorbentes. Se sintetizaron hidrogeles acrílicos no reforzados (AHR0) e hidrogeles acrílicos reforzados con nanofibras de fique al 3 % p/p (AHR3), 5 % p/p (AHR5) y 10 % p/p (AHR10) utilizando el método de polimerización en solución. La mejor formulación de hidrogel para fines agrícolas se eligió comparando su comportamiento de hinchamiento, propiedades mecánicas y usando microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). Al elevar la concentración de nanofibras al 3% (AHR3), la formulación mejor elegida, aumentó la interacción entre las nanofibras y la matriz polimérica, lo que favoreció la estabilidad de la red. Sin embargo, más allá de AHR3, hubo una mayor viscosidad del sistema reactivo, lo que provocó una reducción en la movilidad de las cadenas poliméricas, desfavoreciendo así la capacidad de hinchamiento. El hidrogel reforzado propuesto en este estudio (AHR3) podría representar un aporte para superar los problemas de aridez de la tierra que se presentan en Colombia, tema que se agudizará en los próximos años debido a la emergencia climática.Colombia is the world’s largest producer of fique fibers (Furcraea bedinghausii), with a net production of 30,000 tons per year. This work proposes to revalue waste from the Colombian fique agroindustry. For this purpose, cellulose nanofibers were obtained from fique and used as reinforcement material to create acrylic superabsorbent hydrogels. Unreinforced acrylic hydrogels (AHR0) and acrylic hydrogels reinforced with fique nanofibers at 3% w/w (AHR3), 5% w/w (AHR5), and 10 % w/w (AHR10) were synthesized using the solution polymerization method. The best hydrogel formulation for agricultural purposes was chosen by comparing their swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By raising the nanofiber concentration to 3% (AHR3), the best-chosen formulation, the interaction between the nanofibers and the polymer matrix increased, which favored the network stability. However, beyond AHR3, there was a higher viscosity of the reactive system, which caused a reduction in the mobility of the polymer chains, thus disfavoring the swelling capacity. The reinforced hydrogel proposed in this study (AHR3) could represent a contribution to overcoming the problems of land dryness present in Colombia, an issue that will worsen in the coming years due to the climate emergency.na10 página

Actividad antimicrobiana de weissella confusa y sus metabolitos frente a escherichia coli y klebsiella pneumoniae

Título en ingles: Antimicrobial activity of Weissella confuse and its metabolites against Escherichia coli and  Klebsiella pneumoniaeResumen: Con el fin evaluar el campo de aplicación potencial de una bacteria ácido láctica y de sus metabolitos, se realizó la cinética de la actividad antimicrobiana de W. confusa y de sus  metabolitos contra E. coli, y K. pneumoniae, dos patógenos causantes de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos. La producción de W. confusa se realizó por fermentación discontinua en sustrato comercial MRS. Se realizaron tres fermentaciones durante 6 horas, sin aireación, agitación continúa 33°C y 100 rpm. Cada hora de fermentación se separaron tres sustancias biológicas, W. confusa con sus metabolitos (W+W10b), células de W. confusa libres de metabolitos (W) y metabolito (W10b) y se midió la actividad antimicrobiana contra los patógenos E. coli, y K. pneumoniae. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre tratamientos y tiempo de fermentación. Para E. coli el tratamiento W presentó la mayor actividad antimicrobiana, la cual se obtuvo entre la cuarta y sexta hora de fermentación (2.45 cm de diámetro promedio de inhibición). Para K. pneumoniae, los tratamientos W y W+W10b presentaron actividad antimicrobiana entre la cuarta y quinta hora de fermentación, sin diferencia significativa entre ellos. W. confusa y el metabolito W10b demostraron poseer capacidad antimicrobiana contra E. coli y K. pneumoniae, lo cual sugiere que W. confusa y W10b podrían utilizarse como alternativa de bioconservación o bioprotección de alimentos frescos y procesados, para alimentación humana y animal; y podría convertirse en una alternativa al uso de antibióticos para enfermedades causadas por E. coli y K. pneumoniae.Palabras clave: bioconservación, alimentos, enfermedades, aplicaciones biotecnológicas.Summary: The kinetic of antimicrobial activity ofWeissella confusa and their metabolites against E. coli, and K. pneumoniae, (two pathogens causing foodborne illness) was evaluated, in order to know the possible use in food processing. W. confusa was produced by batch fermentation using MRS commercial substrate. Three fermentations, of 6 hours at 33 ° C, without aeration, stirring continuously (100 rpm) were performed. In every hour of fermentation, three biological substances, W. confusa with their metabolites (W + W10b), W. confusa free cells metabolites (W), and metabolite (W10b) were separated, and subsequently the antimicrobial activity against pathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae was measured. Statistically significant differences between treatments and fermentation time were found. Treatment (W) against E. coli, showed the greatest antimicrobial activity, it was obtained between the fourth and the sixth hours of fermentation (2.45 cm inhibition diameter average). In treatments W and W + W10b against K. pneumoniae, statistically significant differences between them were not found. The antimicrobial activity was shown between the fourth and fifth hour of fermentation. W. confusa and W10b have antimicrobial activity against E. coli andK. pneumoniae, suggesting that W and W10b could be used as an alternative to biopreservation or bioprotection of fresh and processed food for human and animal consumption, and could become an alternative to antibiotics used for diseases caused by E. coli and K. pneumoniae.Key words: bioconservation, food, diseases, biotechnology applications

The use of earthworm flour for lactic acid biomass production

The potential use of Californian red earthworm flour as a nitrogen source for the production of lactic biomass was assessed. Three fermentation substrates, earthworm flour (EF), earthworm flour + yeast extract (EF + YE) and a commercial substrate MRS (control) were used. The substrates were formulated using 60 g L-1 of glucose as the carbon source and 34 gL-1 of earthworm flour as the nitrogen source. Weissella confusa was used as lactic acid bacterium. Nine batch fermentations were performed at 32°C and 100 rpm for 4 h, and the kinetics of the biomass concentration, lactic acid concentration and substrate consumption were compared. No differences were observed in the biomass concentration of the EF and EF + YE substrates, and final concentrations of 1.36 and 1.47 g L-1 were obtained, respectively. The lactic acid concentration did not differ significantly between EF + YE and the commercial substrate, and values of 4.79 and 4.33 g L-1 were obtained, respectively. These results suggest that earthworm flour can be a low-cost alternative for lactic acid biomass production.Keywords: Earthworm flour, Weissella confusa, lactic acid bacteriaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5962-596

Lactic acid production by a strain of Lactococcus lactis subs lactis isolated from sugar cane plants

A Lactococcus lactis subs lactis strain was selected from 20 lactic acid strains isolated from the leaves of sugar cane plants, variety CC 85-92. The effects of substrate concentration and pH control on lactic acid (LA) production, glucose conversion (GC) and yield (Yp/s) were investigated using this strain. In batch fermentation at 32\ub0C, with 60 gl-1 of glucose and a pH of 6.0, concentrations of up to 35 gl-1 of lactic acid were obtained. Maximum production and glucose conversion was achieved at low glucose concentrations. The strain shows great potential for lactic acid production from glucose, even without using pH control during fermentation (13.7 gl-1)

Importancia de la encapsulación de probióticos: gelificación iónica y coacervación compleja como técnicas prometedoras para uso alimentario

The intestinal microflora has living microorganisms that promote the well-being and health of the intestine and indirectly of different systems of the body. When probiotic microorganisms are supplied in the correct dose and in an adequate manner, they contribute to the reduction of acquiring certain diseases; Probiotics have numerous properties that affect the microflora of the body, resulting in benefits mainly for intestinal health and the immune system, which can be supplied by nutraceutical products or functional foods. However, there are limitations in their use because they are sensitive under adverse environmental conditions, they degrade in food matrices under acidic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, where they must exert their mechanism of action to generate beneficial effects on the health of the host. Therefore, it is important to implement strategies that provide protection to probiotics against unfavorable conditions, to significantly maintain viability during processing and in the digestive system. There are various encapsulation techniques, including ionic gelation and complex coacervation, both methods with great benefits for the protection of probiotic microorganisms and broad advantages for application in different food matrices; These techniques are made with non-toxic, natural materials approved for human consumption. This review aims to present important aspects of probiotic microorganisms in the food industry and the need for protective barriers, focusing mainly on encapsulation techniques by ionic gelation and complex coacervation.La microflora intestinal cuenta con microorganismos vivos que promueven el bienestar y la salud del intestino y de manera indirecta de diferentes sistemas del cuerpo. Cuando se suministran microorganismos probióticos en dosis correcta y de manera adecuada, estos contribuyen a la disminución de adquirir ciertas enfermedades; los probióticos cuentan con numerosas propiedades que inciden sobre la microflora del organismo resultando beneficiosos principalmente en la salud intestinal y en el sistema inmunológico, que pueden ser suministrados por productos nutraceúticos o por alimentos funcionales. Sin embargo, existen limitaciones en su uso debido a que son sensibles bajo condiciones adversas del entorno, se degradan en matrices alimentarias en condiciones ácidas del tracto gastrointestinal, lugar donde deben ejercer su mecanismo de acción para generar los efectos benéficos en la salud del hospedero. Por lo tanto, es importante la implementación de estrategias que brinden protección a los probióticos frente a condiciones no favorables, para mantener significativamente la viabilidad durante el procesamiento y en el sistema digestivo. Existen diversas técnicas de encapsulación, entre ellas la gelificación iónica y la coacervación compleja, ambos métodos con grandes bondades para la protección de microorganismos probióticos y amplias ventajas para la aplicación en diferentes matrices alimentarias; estas técnicasse realizan con materiales no tóxicos, naturales y aprobados para el consumo humano. La presente revisión tiene por objetivo presentar aspectos importantes sobre los microorganismos probióticos en la industria de alimentos, en la salud, y la necesidad de las barreras de protección con enfoque principalmente en el método de gelificación iónica y coacervación compleja como técnicas emergentes de encapsulación. 

Cambios en propiedades mecanicas durante la deshidratación osmotica de pitahaya amarilla

Fruits such as yellow pitahaya exhibit changes in their mechanical properties during osmotic dehydration (OD). The knowledge of these mechanical properties is useful for the analysis of the quality and/or stability of the food. There was evaluated the influence of the time of osmotic dehydration, the level of pressure (atmospheric pressure and vacuum pulse) and the sucrose concentration of the osmotic solution (SO) (45 and 65°Brix) on the mechanical properties of slices of pitahaya. The vacuum pulse was 5 kPa for 5 min. Fresh and dehydrated samples were subjected to uniaxial compression tests until rupture; Three mechanical parameters were evaluated (fracture stress, fracture strain and modulus of elasticity). The results showed that the fracture stress and modulus of elasticity decreased significantly with OD time and vacuum pulse application, while increasing with increasing sucrose concentration. The fracture strain was increased with the OD time and with the vacuum pulse. These results indicate that the yellow pitahaya retains more firmness with atmospheric pressure and with 65°Brix with respect to the treatments with application of the empty pulse.Las frutas como la pitahaya amarilla presentan cambios en sus propiedades mecánicas durante la deshidratación osmótica (DO). El conocimiento de estas propiedades mecánicas es útil para el análisis de la calidad y/o estabilidad de los alimentos. Se evaluó la influencia del tiempo de deshidratación osmótica, el nivel de presión (presión atmosférica y pulso de vacío) y la concentración de sacarosa de la solución osmótica (SO) (45 y 65°Brix) sobre propiedades mecánicas de rodajas de pitahaya. El pulso de vacío fue de 5 kPa durante 5 min. Las muestras frescas y deshidratadas fueron sometidas a pruebas de compresión uniaxial hasta la ruptura; se evaluaron 3 parámetros mecánicos (esfuerzo de fractura, deformación de fractura y módulo de elasticidad). Los resultados mostraron que el esfuerzo de fractura y el módulo de elasticidad disminuyeron significativamente con el tiempo de DO y con la aplicación del pulso de vacío, mientras que se incrementaron con el aumento de concentración de sacarosa. La deformación de fractura se incrementó con el tiempo de DO y con el pulso de vacío. Estos resultados indican que la pitahaya amarilla retiene mayor firmeza con presión atmosférica y con 65°Brix respecto a los tratados con aplicación del pulso de vacío

Effect of the immersion in 1-metylciclopropene on the physicochemical and physiological properties of yellow pitahaya fruit (selenicereus megalanthus how) with minimum processing

Yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus How), is an exotic fruit with great commercial potential, it has been commercialized without using methods that add value and/or prolong its shelf-life. The effect the application of 200 mg/lt 1-MCP on the respiratory rate and quality properties of vacuum sealed minimally processed yellow pitahaya slices during shelf-life under refrigeration was evaluated. Soluble solids, total titratable acidity, weig%t loss, total sugars, firmness and color were measured in fruit slices with and without skin. The application of 1-MCP before storage increased the respiratory rate and consequently increased soluble solids and total sugars, and did not show any detrimental on weight loss, total titratable acidity, color c%anges and firmness. and amp;owever, t%e application of 1-MCP reduced loss of vitamin C in yellow pitahaya slices with and without skin during storage time.La pitahaya amarilla (Selenicereus megalanthus How) es una fruta exótica con gran potencial comercial. No obstante, sólo ha sido aprovechada comercialmente como fruta entera, sin procedimientos que le den valor agregado y mayor tiempo de vida de anaquel. En este trabajo se evaluó la aplicación de 200 mg/lt de 1-MCP (Metylciclopropene) en pitahaya amarilla mínimamente procesada (rodajas con cáscara y sin cáscara), empacada al vacío y almacenada bajo refrigeración, sobre la intensidad respiratoria y parámetros de calidad como sólidos solubles, acidez total titulable, pérdida de peso, azúcares totales, firmeza y color. La aplicación de 1-MCP aumentó la producción de C02, lo cual se manifestó en mayores contenidos de sólidos solubles y azúcares totales, pero no incidió en la pérdida de peso, variación de la acidez total titulable, cambios de color y retención de la firmeza. En ambos tipos de procesamientos se logró reducir durante el almacenamiento la pérdida de vitamina C

Effect of 1-metylciclopropene application on some physicochemical and organoleptic properties of sweet passion fruit

Shelf life extension of the sweet passion fruit is helpful for its marketing, since it is positioned in the international market as a gourmet fruit. In this work the effect of applying an antagonistic agent to the ethylene action was evaluated, 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was used to prolonged shelf life of sweet passion fruit, stored of 27 ± 2 °C and 76 ± 2% RH. Physical properties as weight loss, firmness loss and color changes were evaluated, together with chemical properties such as pH, acidity and soluble solids and sensory analysis. Three concentrations of 1-MCP: 200, 400 and 600 mg/l with three exposure times: 15, 30 and 60 seconds were applied. The results suggest that application of 600 mg/l of 1-MCP for 60 seconds of exposure preserves the fruit during 15 days at 27 ± 2°C and 76 ± 2% of HR.Se evaluó el efecto de la aplicación de 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP), un agente antagonista a la acción del etileno -el 1-metilciclopropeno es utilizado para prolongar la vida útil del fruto de granadilla común-, almacenado a 27 ± 2 °C y 76 ± 2% de HR. Se evaluaron propiedades físicas como pérdidas de peso y cambios de dureza de la corteza; propiedades químicas como pH, acidez titulable y sólidos solubles; y propiedades organolépticas como cambios de color. Se aplicaron tres concentraciones de 1-MCP: 200, 400 y 600 mg/l y tres tiempos de exposición: 15, segundos 30 segundos y 60 segundos. Los resultados sugieren que la aplicación de 600 mg/l de 1-MCP y 60 segundos de exposición conserva la granadilla común durante 15 días a 27 ± 2 °C y 76 ± 2% de HR