Applications of propolis encapsulation in food products.

Propolis has beneficial health properties attributed to of phenolic compounds. However, its application is limited. Thus, encapsulation protects the bioactive compounds of propolis from degradation, allowing their release under controlled and specific conditions and increasing their solubility. In addition to protecting flavonoids, encapsulation also minimises the undesirable characteristics of propolis, such as strong odour. We brought attention to the high antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of encapsulated propolis, and its maintained biological activity enables more uses in different areas. Encapsulated propolis can be applied in food products as an ingredient. This review describes recent advances in improving the bioactivity of propolis extracts by using encapsulation techniques, and biopolymer research strategies, focusing on applications in food products. Encapsulated propolis has a promising market perspective due to the industrial and scientific-technological advancement, the increase in the amount of research, the improvement of propolis extraction techniques, and the need of consumers for innovative products.

Thermal stability of avocado oil: A comparative study with rice bran and olive oils

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the thermal stability of avocado oil (Breda variety) compared to olive and rice bran oils. The oils were heated to a temperature of 180 °C for 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 h in a digester block. The evaluations performed were: acidity, indices of peroxides, iodine, p-anisidine, refraction, electrical conductivity, specific extinction coefficients, phenolic compounds, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity of the samples. Changes in the evaluated parameters were found as a function of the heating time. In general, olive oil was found to be more stable, followed by avocado oil. However, the avocado oil showed good maintenance of characteristics when subjected to heating. This work has shown that avocado oil is very similar to olive oil and that both show considerable stability after heating at the usual temperature of the frying process.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la estabilidad térmica del aceite de aguacate (variedad Breda) en comparación con los aceites de salvado de arroz y oliva. Se calentaron los aceites a una temperatura de 180 °C durante 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 y 6,0 h en un bloque digestor. Las muestras fueran sometidas a los siguientes análisis: acidez, índices de peróxidos, yodo, p-anisidina, refracción, conductividad eléctrica, coeficientes de extinción específica, compuestos fenólicos, clorofilas, carotenoides y actividad antioxidante. Se encontraron cambios en los parámetros evaluados en función del tiempo de calentamiento. Por lo general, se encontró que el aceite de oliva es más estable, seguido del aceite de aguacate. Sin embargo, el aceite de aguacate mostró un buen mantenimiento de las características bajo el calentamiento. Este trabajo ha demostrado que el aceite de aguacate es muy similar al aceite de oliva y que ambos muestran una estabilidad considerable al calentar a la temperatura habitual del proceso de fritura.

Bioactive compounds in fruits from different regions of Brazil / Compuestos bioactivos en frutas de diferentes regiones del Brasil

It is important to determine the chemical composition of fruits in order to establish their potential health benefits for human nutrition and thus stimulate their cultivation and consumption. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the physical and chemical parameters, vitamin C content, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids, fatty acid profile and antioxidant activity of fruits from different regions of Brazil. We observed that the different regions and fruits studied presented very distinct characteristics. For example, the cupuaçu pit is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, while the genipap and java plum presented high flavonoid content and the butia had a high concentration of carotenoids. Guava was the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity through the ABTS radical, while the yellow mombim presented the best response when the activity was determined by FRAP.

Es importante determinar la composición química de las frutas para establecer sus potenciales beneficios para la salud humana y, por lo tanto, estimular su cultivo y consumo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar parámetros físicos y químicos, el contenido de vitamina C, los compuestos fenólicos, los flavonoides y los carotenoides, el perfil de ácidos grasos y la actividad antioxidante de las frutas de diferentes regiones de Brasil. De los resultados obtenidos en este estudio se pudo observar que las diferentes regiones y frutas estudiadas presentaban características muy distintas, ya que la semilla de cupuaçu es rica en ácidos grasos insaturados, mientras que el genipapo y la ciruela java presentaron un alto contenido de flavonoides y el butia presentó alta concentración de carotenoides. La guayaba fue la fruta con la mayor actividad antioxidante determinada por el radical ABTS, mientras que el mombim amarillo presentó la mejor respuesta cuando la actividad fue determinada por FRAP

Bioactive compounds and quality parameters of avocado oil obtained by different processes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of avocado oil whose pulp was processed through different drying and oil extraction methods. The physicochemical characteristics of avocados cv. Breda were determined after drying the pulp in an oven under ventilation (40 °C and 60 °C) and vacuum oven (60 °C), followed by the oil extracted by mechanical pressing or the Soxhlet method. From the approximately 72% pulp found in the avocado fruit, the 16% fraction is lipids. The quality indices evaluated in avocado oil showed better results when the pulp was dried at 60 °C under vacuum and oil extraction was done by the Soxhlet method with petroleum ether, whereas the bioactive compounds were better preserved when the avocado pulp was dried at 60 °C under ventilation and mechanical pressing was used for the oil extraction. Among the fatty acids found, oleic acid was the main.

Microencapsulation of purple Brazilian cherry juice in xanthan, tara gums and xanthan-tara hydrogel matrixes.

The purple Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora L.) juice was encapsulated in xanthan, tara and xanthan-tara hydrogel matrixes. Encapsulation efficiency, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry, release profile, stability of carotenoids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of microparticles were evaluated. Encapsulation was confirmed. The highest encapsulation efficiency was obtained with xanthan gum and hydrogel was mostly indicated for the release of carotenoids in GFS and IFS medium. Phenolic compounds had the highest release rate but not in a gradually way, regardless of wall material and fluids under analysis. Stored microparticles at 4 and 25 °C, showed carotenoid degradation. Xanthan and hydrogel wall material provided the greatest stability to these compounds. The microparticles' anti-oxidant activity decreased during storage due to the degradation of carotenoids.