Caracterização físico-química da farinha e dos extratos das sementes de abacate (Persea americana (Mill.) Lauraceae)

Introdução: as indústrias de processamento de frutas geram grande quantidade de biomassa residual que poderia ser reaproveitada. Considerando o elevado volume de resíduos produzidos pelo descarte das sementes do abacate e destacando o alto teor de compostos bioativos, é um produto interessante para ser avaliado. Objetivo: avaliar a composição centesimal da farinha das sementes de abacate e as propriedades antioxidantes e antimicrobianos dos seus extratos. Métodos: os extratos foram obtidos por maceração da farinha do caroço do abacate desidratada em diferentes temperaturas (4,25 e 60 °C) utilizando n-hexano e etanol como solventes. Resultados: verificou-se que a farinha é uma excelente fonte de carboidratos, com alto teor de fibras, proteínas e minerais (N, K, Mg e Ca, entre outros). A temperatura da extração influenciou tanto no rendimento como no conteúdo de fenóis totais, atividades antioxidantes e antimicrobianas dos extratos. Os extratos etanoicos obtidos à 60 °C apresentaram maior rendimento (18%) e teor de compostos fenólicos totais (~840 mgEAG/g). Também os extratos etanoicos apresentaram maior atividade antioxidante (IC50= 0,013 mg/mL e 0,018 mg/mL) em temperaturas mais baixas de extração, 4 °C e 25 °C, respectivamente. Já extrato hexanóico obtido à 4 °C apresentou maior atividade antimicrobiana para as quatro bactérias testadas (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. choleraesuis e E. coli). Conclusão: a farinha obtida das sementes de abacate, apresentam alto valor biológico e podem ser usadas como suplementos na alimentação humana.

SUMMARY Introduction: The fruit processing industries generate a large amount of residual biomass that could be reused. Considering the high volume of residues produced by the disposal of avocado seeds and highlighting the high content of bioactive compounds. Aim: To evaluate the centesimal composition of avocado seed flour and the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of its extracts. Methodology: The extracts were obtained by macerating the avocado seed flour dehydrated at different temperatures (4,25 and 60 °C) using n-hexane and ethanol as solvents. Results: The flour is an excellent source of carbohydrates, with a high content of fibers, proteins and minerals (N, K, Mg and Ca, among others). The extraction temperature has influence in the yield and the content of total phenols, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts. The ethanolic extracts obtained at 60 °C showed high yield (18%) and content of total phenolic compounds (~840 mg GAE/g). In addition, ethanol extracts showed high antioxidant activity (IC50= 0.013 mg/mL and 0.018 mg/mL) at lower extraction temperatures, 4 °C and 25 °C, respectively. Hexanoic extract obtained at 4 °C, on the other hand, showed greater antimicrobial activity for the four tested bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. choleraesuis and E. coli). Conclusion: The flour obtained from avocado seeds has a high biological value and can be used as supplements in human food.

Introducción: las industrias de procesamiento de frutas generan una gran cantidad de biomasa residual que podría reutilizarse. Considerando el alto volumen de residuos que produce la disposición de semillas de aguacate y destacando el alto contenido de compuestos bioactivos. Objetivo: evaluar la composición centesimal de la harina de semilla de aguacate y las propiedades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas de sus extractos. Metodología: los extractos se obtuvieron macerando la harina de semilla de aguacate deshidratada a diferentes temperaturas (4, 25 y 60 °C) utilizando n-hexano y etanol como solventes. Resultados: la harina es una excelente fuente de carbohidratos, con un alto contenido en fibras, proteínas y minerales (N, K, Mg y Ca, entre otros). La temperatura de extracción influye en el rendimiento y el contenido de fenoles totales, actividades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas de los extractos. Los extractos etanólicos obtenidos a 60 °C mostraron alto rendimiento (18%) y contenido de compuestos fenólicos totales (~ 840 mg GAE/g). Además, los extractos de etanol mostraron una alta actividad antioxidante (IC50 = 0,013 mg/mL y 0,018 mg/mL) a temperaturas de extracción más bajas, 4 °C y 25 °C, respectivamente. El extracto hexano obtenido a 4 °C, en cambio, mostró mayor actividad antimicrobiana para las cuatro bacterias ensayadas (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. choleraesuis y E. coli). Conclusión: la harina obtenida a partir de semillas de aguacate tiene un alto valor biológico y puede ser utilizada como complemento en la alimentación humana.

Effect of Partial and Total Replacement of Inorganic by Organic Microminerals Sources on the Quality of Broiler Carcasses

ABSTRACT Among the nutrients involved in the chicken diet, the microminerals deserve attention as they exert essential functions in the organism. These compounds can be provided in inorganic (traditional) and organic (chelate) forms. In organic form, the micromimerals can attend a new concept related to a better bio-availability. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the partial and total substitution of inorganic by organic sources of microminerals on the animal diet, assessing its concentration in the blood and liver after 21 and 40 days and also in the bones after 40 days. Moreover, the effect on the physical-chemical and sensory characteristics of the muscle after 15 days of storage at 4°C was also evaluated. The animals were divided into five treatments: 100% inorganic, 70% inorganic and 30% organic, 50% inorganic and 50% organic, 30% inorganic and 70% organic and 100% organic-chelate. It is shown that the use of organic sources of microminerals in the diet of poultry induced to an increase of its concentrations in the blood and liver, with no significant alterations in the compositions of bones, compared to the use of inorganic sources. Feed formulated using 50% of organic minerals and 50% of inorganic minerals led to similar results. The diet with organic minerals or mixture with inorganic sources results in a low lipid oxidation in the drumsticks stored at 4°C for 15 days, in comparison with those using only inorganic minerals. No sensory alterations were observed for all different treatments.

Concentration, characterization and application of lipases from Sporidiobolus pararoseus strain

Lipases produced by a newly isolated Sporidiobolus pararoseus strain have potential catalytic ability for esterification reactions. After production, the enzymatic extracts (conventional crude and precipitated, 'CC' and 'CP', and industrial crude and precipitated, 'IC' e 'IP') were partially characterized. The enzymes presented, in general, higher specificity for short chain alcohols and fatty acids. The precipitated extract showed a good thermal stability, higher than that for crude enzymatic extracts. The 'CC' and 'CP' enzymes presented high activities after exposure to pH 6.5 and 40 ºC. On the other hand, the 'IC' and 'IP' extracts kept their activities in a wide range of pH memory but presented preference for higher reaction temperatures. Preliminary studies of application of the crude lipase extract in the enzymatic production of geranyl propionate using geraniol and propionic acid as substrates in solvent-free system led to a reaction conversion of 42 ± 1.5%.

Semi-volatile compounds variation among Brazilian populations of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil

The use of compressed carbon towards extracting semi-volatile compounds present in maté leaves (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) is due to the growing interest in mate constituents to develop new products in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. The objective of this work was to assess the chemical distribution of semi-volatile compounds in 20 native populations of maté collected all over Brazil. The extracts of bulk samples (30 plants) of each population were obtained by the high-pressure carbon dioxide extraction technique, and analyzed by GC/MSD. The quantification of compounds (caffeine, theobromine, phytol, squalene, vitamin E, eicosane, pentatriacontane, and stigmasterol) showed significant variations within the different populations and compounds analyzed, which are not related to geographical origin or macroclimate characteristics. The results pointed out to the importance of genetic and local environmental factors on the chemical composition of this species.

A extração empregando dióxido de carbono a altas pressões em erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.), tem sido justificada pelo crescente interesse desta matriz vegetal ou de parte de seus constituintes na formulação de novos produtos, tais como cosméticos e medicamentos, entre outros. Neste contexto, o objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar a distribuição química de compostos semi-voláteis em 20 populações de erva-mate coletadas em toda área de distribuição desta espécie no Brasil. 30 plantas foram selecionadas para produzir a amostra de cada população. Os extratos de cada amostra foram obtidos por extração com dióxido de carbono a alta pressão e, posteriormente, foram analisados por CG/EM. A quantificação de alguns compostos semi-voláteis presentes nos extratos (cafeína, teobromina, fitol, esqualeno, vitamina E, eicosano, pentatriacontano e stigmasterol), apresentaram variações significativas entre as concentrações dos diferentes compostos analisados nas diferentes populações, os quais não estão relacionados com origem geográfica ou com características de macroclima. Os resultados apontam para a importância dos fatores genéticos e/ou fatores de microclima sobre a composição química desta espécie.