Qualidade físico-química de polpas de fruta de goiaba e manga comercializadas no Gama-DF / Physico-chemical quality of guava and mango fruit pulps sold in Gama-DF

As polpas de fruta congeladas são uma boa opção de aproveitamento das frutas, uma vez que eleva a sua vida útil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade de polpas de fruta comercializadas no Gama-DF. Foram selecionadas quatro marcas comerciais de polpas de fruta congeladas (A, B, C e D) dos sabores goiaba e manga. Avaliou-se o pH, teor de umidade, sólidos totais e açúcares totais determinados baseando-se nos métodos descritos pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Todas as marcas apresentaram teor de umidade e de açúcar total condizentes com a legislação. No entanto, os resultados de pH obtidos para as marcas A, B e C apresentaram valores em discordância com os Padrões de Identidade e Qualidade regulamentados, para pelo menos um dos sabores de polpa de fruta. Adicionalmente, os valores do teor de sólidos totais das marcas comerciais B e C do sabor goiaba e B e D do sabor manga apresentaram discrepância em relação aos valores preconizados pela legislação. Assim, verificou-se que todas as marcas apresentaram, pelo menos, um parâmetro em desacordo com a legislação. Conclui-se que é necessário a adoção de boas práticas de fabricação e padronização das matérias-primas no processo de fabricação de polpas de fruta.

The frozen fruit pulps are a good option for the utilization of fruits, since they increase their useful life. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of fruit pulps sold in Gama-DF. Four commercial brands of frozen fruit pulps (A, B, C and D) of the guava and mango flavors were selected. The pH, water content, total solids and total sugars were determined based on the methods described by Adolfo Lutz Institute. All brands had moisture and total sugar content in line with the legislation. However, the pH results obtained for brands A, B and C showed values in disagreement with the regulated Identity and Quality Standards, for at least one of the fruit pulp flavors. Additionally, the values of the total solids content of the trademarks B and C of the guava flavor and B and D of the mango flavor presented discrepancy in relation to the values recommended by the legislation. Thus, it was found that all the pulps had at least one parameter without compliance with the legislation. The conclusion is that is necessary to adopt good manufacturing practices and standardization of raw materials in the fruit pulp manufacturing process.

Efecto de recubrimientos comestibles de Aloe vera y alginato de sodio sobre la calidad poscosecha de fresa / Effect of Aloe vera and sodium alginate edible coatings on postharvest quality of strawberry

RESUMEN Las fresas son frutas altamente perecederas, susceptibles a daño mecánico, deterioro y desórdenes fisiológicos durante su almacenamiento. La aplicación de recubrimientos, se presenta como una alternativa promisoria de tratamiento poscosecha, que permite mantener la calidad de las fresas. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estudiar el efecto de recubrimientos comestibles de sábila (A. vera) y alginato de sodio sobre parámetros de calidad de fresas, durante el almacenamiento refrigerado. Se evaluaron mezclas de recubrimientos comestibles de alginato de sodio y A. vera (100:0, 75:25, 50:50 y 25:75) sobre la pérdida de peso, color, firmeza, pH y acidez titulable de fresas, durante almacenamiento refrigerado (0, 3 ,9 y 12 días). Adicionalmente, se determinó el espesor y la opacidad de las películas obtenidas a partir de las soluciones formadoras de recubrimientos, utilizando el método de "casting". Los resultados mostraron que la combinación de A. vera y alginato de sodio tiene un efecto significativo en la reducción de pérdida de calidad de fresa, durante el almacenamiento en refrigeración. Todos los tratamientos con recubrimientos comestibles presentaron, al final del almacenamiento, menor pérdida de peso (7-16%), mayor firmeza (entre 1,3 a 2,1 veces más), mayor retención del color y mayor acidez titulable que las muestras sin recubrimiento (control). El espesor de las películas disminuyó con el incremento de la adición de Aloe vera y la opacidad disminuyó significativamente con la adición de la sábila en 25% y 50% en las mezclas con alginato de sodio.

ABSTRACT Strawberries are highly perishable fruits, being susceptible to mechanical injury, decay and physiological disorders during storage. Applications of edible coatings have been shown to be promising as a tool to improve the quality and extend storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Aloe vera and sodium alginate as an edible coating in postharvest quality of cold storage strawberries. The composition of edible coatings of sodium alginate and A. vera (100: 0, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75) was studied on weight loss, color, firmness, pH and titrable acidity of strawberries during refrigerated storage (0, 3, 9 and 12 days). The thickness and opacity of the films were also determined, from the coating forming solutions using the casting method. The short shelf life and the high deterioration of the quality characteristics of strawberries during postharvest, justify to investigate alternative conservation techniques such as edible coatings, in order to reduce food loss and improve consumer acceptance The results showed that the combination of Aloe vera and sodium alginate has a significant effect in the reduction of the loss of the quality of the fruit during refrigerated storage. All coating treatments showed at the end of storage less weigth loss (7-16%), greater firmness, (between 1,3 to 2,1 more times) more color retention and greater titrable acidity tan uncoated samples (Control). The addition of Aloe vera decreased the thickness of the films and the opacity decreased significantly with the addition of Aloe vera in 25 and 50% in the mixtures with sodium Alginate.

Development and Validation of LC-APCI-MS Method for the Estimation of Ellagic acid in Fresh and Processed Fruit Products.

A rapid and simple LC/MS method has been developed for the quantification of ellagic acid in fresh and processed fruits. The interface used was Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization technique. Analysis was performed using a Princeton SPHER C18 column (100 X 4.6 mm) by isocratic elution with 10 mM ammonium acetate: Acetonitrile (20:80) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The calibration plot was linear over the range studied (Ellagic acid: 80 – 1300 ng/ml) with a correlation of 0.999. The (M-H) peak of ellagic acid was identified at m/z of 302 in selective ion monitoring mode. Two fresh fruits and two processed fruit products were subjected to analysis by the developed method. The samples were found to contain ellagic acid in the range of 18.20 – 97.80 μg/10 gm of the products consumed. The method was also validated for the precision and recovery. Thus the method is suitable for routine analysis of ellagic acid in fresh and processed fruits.