Total Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity in Oxidized Leaves of Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil)

Ilex paraguariensis is a native species to South America. Its economic importance is in the use of its leaves and twigs in the processing of a product popularly known as "chimarrão". The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between some physico-chemical process parameters in the oxidation of I. paraguariensis leaves oxidation. The leaves of Maté with age 1.0, 6.5 and 12.0 months were subjected to an oxidation process for 3 h under different relative humidity conditions (80, 90 and 99%) at 26°C. The extracts were evaluated using the experimental design techniques to maximize the oxidation conditions for the total polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, water activity and color. The condition of 90% humidity and leaf age 6.5 months resulted in lower lightness and yellow color of the product. Green color was not significantly influenced by the studied parameters. The highest levels of total phenols and antioxidant potential were found when the leaf age was one month and humidity was 90%. Thus, it could be concluded that the air humidity of the chamber and leaf age influenced the oxidation process of the leaves of Maté as well as the antioxidant capacity of the extract obtained.

Physico-chemical characterization of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. during the maturation

In Brazil, yerba mate is consumed after processing; however, in Chile and Uruguay, the consumers prefer the cured product, which acquires a yellow color. For that yerba-mate is stored for a period of six months to one year, which increases the cost of the final product for the overseas market. This study evaluated the effect of humidity and temperature in maturation chamber on the time required for the product to get this characteristic. The changes in the color, pH, moisture and water activity were evaluated during the time of storage in different conditions of temperature and humidity. Yerba-mate subjected to higher temperature and humidity showed nearest color of the product submitted to natural storage. The loss of green color was related to the reduction in pH and increase in the moisture of the samples. The higher humidity allowed the mate to reach conditions near to market requirements abroad in approximately 60 days of maturation.

Sedimentação em leite UHT integral, semidesnatado e desnatado durante armazenamento / Particle sedimentation in semi-skimmed, skimmed on whole milk UHT, during storage

Um dos maiores problemas do leite UHT é a sedimentação que ocorre durante o período de armazenamento, o que é muito reclamado pelos consumidores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a sedimentação em leite UHT integral, semidesnatado e desnatado, armazenados a 20°C e 30°C (±1°C) durante 120 dias. Nos leites pasteurizados que deram origem aos leites UHT, foram efetuadas análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas (bactérias mesófilas, psicrotróficas e láticas) e, nos leites UHT integral, semidesnatado e desnatado, avaliaram-se a acidez, pH, fervura, sensorial, integridade das embalagens e sedimentação, logo depois de embalados e no 30°, 60°, 90° e 120° dia de armazenamento. Os leites pasteurizados integral, semidesnatado e desnatado apresentaram resultados dentro dos padrões estipulados pela indústria para as bactérias mesófilas (log10 4,37 a log10 4,08UFC mL-1), psicrotróficas (log10 3,06 a log10 2,77UFC mL-1) e lácticas (log10 3,10 a log10 2,42UFC mL-1), que diferiram significativamente (P<0,05) das contagens dos leites in natura que lhes deram origem. Os valores de acidez (0,15% ácido láctico), crioscopia (-0,535 a -0,540°H), gordura, densidade (1,031 a 1,034g mL-1), ESD (8,65 a 8,93%) e pH (6,70 a 6,80) também ficaram dentro dos padrões. A partir do 60° dia de armazenamento foi observada sedimentação nos três tipos de leites UHT a 20°C (0,80 a 1,10g) e a 30°C (1,0 a 1,40g).

One of the biggest problems of UHT milk is the sedimentation of protein particles that occurs during the storage period, which faces rejection by the consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the particle sedimentation in semi-skimmed, skimmed and wholemilk, stored at 20°C, 30°C (±1) for 120 days. In pasteurized milk that yielded UHT milk physico-chemical and microbiological analisys (mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria) were carried out. In semi-skimmed, skimmed and whole milk, the acidity, pH, boiling, sensory analysis, integrity of packaging and sedimentation tests were carried out shortly after packing and at 30th, 60th, 90th and 120th days of storage. The pasteurized whole milk, semi skimmed and skimmed milk showed results within the required standards by the industry for mesophilic bacteria(log10 4.37 a log10 4.08UFC mL-1), psychrotrophic (log10 3.06 a log10 2.77UFC mL-1) and lactic acid (log10 3.10 a log10 2.42UFC mL-1) bacteria, that differed significantly (5%) of value of fresh milk from which they originate. The values of acidity (0.15% ác. láctic), freezing point (-0.535 a -0.540°H), fat, density (1.031 a 1.034g mL-1), pH (6.70 a 6.80) and degreased dry extract (8.65 a 8.93%) also were within the standards. From the 60th day of storage on, particle sedimentation was observed in the three types of UHT milk at the 20°C (0.80 a 1.10g) at the 30°C (1.0 a 1.40g).

Analysis of volatile compounds of Ilex paraguariensis A. St. - Hil. and its main adulterating species Ilex theizans Mart. ex Reissek and Ilex dumosa Reissek / Análise de compostos voláteis de Ilex paraguariensis A. St. - Hil. e suas principais espécies adulterantes Ilex theizans Mart. ex Reissek e Ilex dumosa Reissek

The adulteration of the product Ilex paraguariensis with other Ilex species is a mAjor problem for maté tea producers. In this work, three species of Ilex were evaluated for their volatile composition by headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrum detector (HS-SPME/GC-MS). The adulterating species I. dumnosa and I. theizans Mart. ex Reissek presented a different profile of volatile organic compounds when compared to I. paraguariensis. Aldehydes methyl-butanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal and nonanal were detected only in the adulterating species. This result suggests that such compounds are potential chemical markers for identification of adulteration and quality analysis of products based on Ilex paraguariensis.

A adulteração do produto Ilex paraguariensis com outras espécies de Ilex é um dos principais problemas dos produtores de erva-mate. Neste trabalho, três espécies de Ilex foram avaliadas quanto à sua composição volátil por microextração em fase sólida acoplada à cromatografia gasosa e detector de espectro de massas (HS-SPME/GC-MS). As espécies adulterantes I. dumnosa e I. theizans Mart. ex Reissek apresentaram um perfil diferente de compostos orgânicos voláteis, quando comparadas com a I. paraguariensis. Os aldeídos metil-butanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal e nonanal foram detectados apenas nas espécies adulterantes. Esse resultado sugere que esses compostos químicos são marcadores potenciais para a identificação de adulteração e análise da qualidade dos produtos à base de Ilex paraguariensis.

Assessment of oxidation of leaves of Ilex paraguariensis (St. Hil)

This work aimed to study the oxidation of leaves of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil, in a process similar to the oxidation of Camellia sinensis, with the purpose of developing new products based on yerba maté. So far, no previous systematic study about the oxidation of yerba maté has been found elsewhere. A Plackett-Burman experimental design was used for the screening of the significant parameters that affected the oxidation. The oxidation was indirectly quantified by following the changes in the product color, water activity, and pH with the time of processing. The factors that most influenced the process were the age of the leaves and the relative humidity of the oxidation chamber. The differences between the treatments were more evident after 3, 6 12 and 24 h of oxidation. The results could contribute to the developing of new products based on I. paraguariensis St. Hil, increasing the profitability of cultivation of this native species.

Intensity of bitterness of processed yerba mate leaves originated in two contrasted light environments

The bitterness intensity of beverage prepared from the leaves produced on the males and females of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), grown in the forest understory and monoculture, was evaluated. The leaves were grouped by their position (in the crown and on the branch tips) and by the leaf age. The leaf gas exchange, leaf temperature and photosynthetic photon flux density were observed. Inter and intra-specific competition for light and self-shading showed the same effect on yerba mate beverage taste. All the shading types resulted in bitterer taste of the processed yerba mate leaves compared to the leaves originated under the direct sun exposure. The leaves from the plants grown in the monoculture showed less bitterness than those grown in the forest understory. This conclusion was completely opposite to the conventionally accepted paradigm of the yerba mate industries. The leaves from the tips (younger leaves) of the plants grown in the monoculture resulted a beverage of softer taste; the males produced less bitter leaves in any light environment (forest understory or in the crown in monoculture). The taste was related to the photosynthetic and transpiration rate, and leaf temperature. Stronger bitterness of the leaves provided from the shade conditions was related to the decreased leaf temperature and transpiration in the diurnal scale.

Mediu-se a intensidade de amargor da bebida preparada a partir de folhas da erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) de diversas idades, situadas em duas posições na copa (interior e ponteiras), produzidas por plantas masculinas e femininas cultivadas na floresta antropizada e em monocultura. As trocas gasosas foliares, a temperatura de folhas e a densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossinteticamente ativos também foram medidas. Com isso verificou-se que a idéia corrente de que o sombreamento está diretamente relacionado ao sabor suave do chimarrão é completamente equivocada, já que as competições inter- e intra-específicas por luz e auto-sombreamento provocaram o mesmo efeito no sabor do chimarrão, isto é, todos os tipos de sombreamento resultaram em sabor mais amargo de folhas processadas do de pleno sol. Assim, as folhas de plantas cultivadas em monocultura mostraram-se menos amargas do que aquelas de plantas manejadas sob a floresta. Além disso, as folhas de ponteiras (mais jovens) da monocultura originaram o chimarrão mais suave e os machos produziram folhas menos amargas que as fêmeas em ambos ambientes luminosos (floresta e monocultura). O sabor mostrou-se relacionado à fotossíntese, à transpiração e à temperatura de folha. Em sombreamento a modificação de sabor foi direcionada ao aumento de amargor e, aparentemente, relacionada ao decréscimo da temperatura de folhas e da transpiração na escala diurna.

Iogurte com leite desnatado e extrato de erva-mate, evolução da cultura pura adicionada / Yogurt with milk and extract of Ilex paraguariensis, the evolution of pure culture added

As propriedades medicinais do iogurte e da erva-mate na saúde humana são em grande parte conhecidas. Conseqüentemente, a união de ambos em um único produto traria muitos benefícios à saúde do consumidor, mas não se tem conhecimento da ação de alguns compostos presentes na erva-mate sobre o crescimento das bactérias láticas utilizadas no iogurte, uma vez que os benefícios à saúde estão relacionados com o desenvolvimento dessas bactérias. Por esse motivo, este trabalho teve como objetivo elaborar iogurte com leite desnatado, adicionado de extrato de erva-mate, e acompanhar a evolução das bactérias lácticas, pH e acidez durante o período de armazenamento de 45 dias a 8°C. O iogurte com extrato de erva-mate apresentou menor valor de pH e maior valor de acidez em relação ao iogurte padrão, sendo estes resultados decorrentes do bom desenvolvimento das bactérias lácticas, durante os trinta primeiros dias de armazenamento no iogurte com extrato de erva-mate. O extrato de erva-mate adicionado ao iogurte apresentou características favoráveis ao desenvolvimento das bactérias láticas.