In vitro enzyme activity and in vivo healing activity of the protein extract from pineapple peel

The pineapple is a fruit that has wide acceptance worldwide both in natural form, as industrialized. Your peel is a residue generated by food industries and from this residue can obtain a protein extract which is a good source of bromelain. This study aimed to obtain a protein extract from pineapple peel, evaluate its enzyme activity and its healing properties in skin lesions in rats. Seven animal groups were used: control, treated with 5% of protein extract, 10% of protein extract and pure protein extract; 5% of commercial bromelain, 10% of commercial bromelain and pure commercial bromelain. The animals were subjected to a tissue incision and treated for 21 days. Proteolytic and specific activities of the protein extract were 1.30 U mg-1 and 45 x 10-3 U μg-1 and, for commercial bromelain, 1.04 U mg-1 and 6 x 10-3 U μg-1, respectively. In the histology of the lesion, there was no significant difference between the control and treated groups; however, macroscopically, the prepared topical formulations assisted in the recovery of skin lesions, providing a significant reduction in their width, in the groups treated with pure protein extract, 5 and 10% commercial bromelain, and pure bromelain.

Quantificação de compostos fenólicos e ácido ascórbico em frutos e polpas congeladas de acerola, caju, goiaba e morango / Quantification of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid in fruits and frozen pulp of acerola, cashew, strawberry and guava

O crescente interesse da população pela promoção da saúde vem despertando a atenção dos consumidores por alimentos ricos em antioxidantes, combinado com a praticidade do consumo de sucos de frutos processados. O presente trabalho objetivou quantificar e avaliar a capacidade antioxidante de compostos fenólicos e ácido ascórbico em frutas in natura e polpas congeladas. As frutas in natura e polpas congeladas obtidas na região de Lavras - MG foram submetidas à quantificação de compostos fenólicos e ácido ascórbico e os respectivos extratos acetônico-etanólico e acetônico-metanólico. Foram determinadas suas atividades antioxidantes pelos métodos radicalares DPPH e ABTS. O extrato acetônico-metanólico foi mais efetivo para extrair os compostos antioxidantes das amostras. Apenas as polpas congeladas de acerola apresentaram uma redução do teor de compostos fenólicos em relação ao fruto. Para o teor de ácido ascórbico, houve uma redução nas polpas congeladas de acerola e goiaba. As amostras de acerola apresentaram os maiores teores de compostos fenólicos, ácido ascórbico e atividade antioxidante em relação aos demais frutos analisados.

The growing public interest in health- promotion, has called the attention of consumers for foods rich in antioxidants, combined with the practicality of the consumption of processed fruit juices. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify and evaluate the antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid in fruits "in natura" and frozen pulps. The fruits "in natura" and frozen pulps from region of Lavras-MG, underwent quantification of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and the corresponding extracts acetonic-ethanolic and acetonic-methanolic. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS radical methods. The extract acetonic-methanolic was more effective to extract the antioxidant compounds from samples. Only frozen acerola pulps showed lower content of phenolic compounds in relation to fruit. For ascorbic acid, there was a reduction in the frozen pulp of acerola and guava. Acerola samples showed higher content of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity compared to other fruits analyzed.

Estudo dos métodos de extração de carotenóides em cenoura por fluido supercrítico (efs) e convencional / A study of the methods of carotenoid extraction in carrots using supercritical fluid extraction (sfe) and conventional methods

A cenoura (Daucus carota L. ), planta da família das umbelíferas, produz uma raiz aromática e comestível, sendo uma das hortaliças mais cultivadas no Brasil. Representa a principal fonte de origem vegetal em carotenóides pró-vitamínicos A, especialmente o á e o β-caroteno, sendo, também, uma grande fonte de fibra dietética, antioxidantes e minerais. Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de avaliar dois processos de extração de β-caroteno, fluído super crítico (EFS) e o convencional e analisar a composição centesimal da cenoura in natura. O teor de β-caroteno obtido pela extração por EFS e por convencional foi de 2.457 e 2.455 µg/100g, respectivamente. Os valores médios encontrados para a matéria-seca da cenoura foram de: matéria-seca = 8,9 por cento; extrato etéreo = 0,29 por cento; cinzas = 8,11 por cento; fibra bruta = 14,57 por cento, proteína bruta = 6,4 por cento, extrato não nitrogenado = 6,3 por cento e valor calórico = 27,7kcal. Conclui-se que a extração de carotenóides em cenoura pelo fluido supercritico é uma técnica de separação viável, pois este fluido é inerte, não deixa resíduo final e não gera resíduo ambiental. Pelos teores encontrados conclui-se também que as cenouras são boas fontes de fibras, apresentam alto teor de umidade e baixo teor de gorduras, cinzas e valor calórico.

The carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a plant of the Umbelliferae family. It produces an aromatic and edible root, and is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable in Brazil. It represents the main source of plant-origin, pro-vitamin A carotenoids, especially α and β-carotene, and is also a great source of dietary fiber, antioxidants and minerals. This study aimed to evaluate two methods of extraction of β-carotene, supercritical fluid (SFE) and conventional, and to examine the proximate composition of the carrot in nature. The contents of β-carotene obtained by SFE and by conventional extraction were 2,457 and 2,455 µg/100g, respectively. The average values found for the dry-matter of the carrot were: dry matter = 8.9 percent; ether extract = 0.29 percent; ashes = 8.11 percent, crude fiber = 14.57 percent, crude protein = 6,4 percent, non- nitrogen extract = 6.3 percent and caloric value = 27.7 kcal. It is concluded that the extraction of carotenoids using the supercritical fluid is a viable separation technique since this fluid is inert and does not generate waste or final environmental waste. It can be concluded from the levels found that carrots are good sources of fiber, present high moisture content and low fat, ash and calorific value.