ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative edible coating, based on chitosan from mushrooms enriched with procyanidins extracted from grape seeds, on fresh blueberry quality maintenance, (weight loss, pH, dry matter, colour, firmness and antioxidant activity) and microbial growth, during 14â¯days of storage at 4⯰C. For weight loss, pH and dry matter no relevant differences were detected among the control and the differently coated samples at each considered storage time. Chitosan and chitosanâ¯+â¯procyanidins coatings promoted a slight decrease of luminosity and an increase of blue hue colour of blueberry samples during the whole storage period. The use of coating promoted an increase in the antiradical activity that was the highest in blueberries coated with chitosanâ¯+â¯procyanidins. Microbiological analysis results indicated that the chitosan-based coated samples had a significantly higher yeast and mould growth inhibition compared to the uncoated sample.
Subject(s)
Blueberry Plants/physiology , Chitosan/pharmacology , Food Storage/methods , Proanthocyanidins/pharmacology , Antioxidants/metabolism , Blueberry Plants/drug effects , Blueberry Plants/microbiology , Food Microbiology , Food Preservation/methods , Food Quality , Grape Seed Extract/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Yeasts/drug effects , Yeasts/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The present work investigates how ultrasound pretreatment modulates the effects of osmotic dehydration (OD) on the water state and microstructure of kiwifruit. Kiwifruit slices (10mm thick) were subjected to ultrasonic waves in a water bath at a frequency of 35 kHz for 10, 20 and 30 min. OD process was then carried out by immersing the samples in 61.5% sucrose solution equilibrated at 25°C for a contact period of 0, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min. The partition of water into the cellular tissue structures (vacuole, cytoplasm, extracellular spaces and cell wall) was investigated by Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR). In parallel, the microstructure of kiwifruits slices was examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The results showed that US pretreatment performed for more than 10 min had a positive effect on the mass exchange caused by osmotic dehydration. A creation of microchannels and an increase of the average cross-section area of cells were observed when the samples were pretreated with US before OD. TD-NMR showed a slight redistribution of water through the substructures of the cells, as a function of the length of the US pretreatment applied.
Subject(s)
Actinidia/chemistry , Food Preservation/methods , Fruit/chemistry , Ultrasonics/methods , Water/analysis , Desiccation , OsmosisSubject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/radiotherapy , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/mortality , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Proportional Hazards Models , Radiotherapy Dosage , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Since to our knowledge no data are available in the literature regarding the influence of green coffee type and origin on ochratoxin A (OTA) content, determinations were carried out in order to assess the level of OTA contamination in green coffee samples of different provenience. A total of 162 samples of green coffee beans from various countries (84 from Africa, 60 from America, and 18 from Asia) were analyzed for OTA. Both the amount and the variability of OTA levels were tested as a function of green coffee provenience. The results showed that 106 of the overall samples were positive for OTA, with concentration ranging from 0 to 48 microg/kg (ppb). In particular, it was possible to verify that African samples were more contaminated with respect to samples of other origin in terms of frequency and level of OTA; the highest concentrations observed were 18 and 48 microg/kg in two samples from The Congo.
