Process optimization for simultaneous production of phenolic acids and enzymes with high transfructosylation activity in cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) residue by submerged fermentation with Aspergillus carbonarius.

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) generates a large amount of waste, which can be better used to obtain products with high added value through biotechnological processes. Thus, the present study aimed to obtain optimized conditions for the simultaneous production of phenolic acids, invertases and transferases enzymes in cupuassu residue with Aspergillus carbonarius. The main methodologies used to select the variables that influence the system were a Plackett-Burman design, followed by a Central Composite Rotational Design. The optimal conditions were use of 17.3% sucrose, 5.1% residue and 4.6% yeast extract to produce 2204.89 ± 5.75 mg GAE/100 g, 39.84 ± 2.08 U/mL of hydrolytic activity, 168.09 ± 3.81 U/mL of transfructosylation activity and 4.23 ± 0.19 of transfructosylation and hydrolytic activity ratio. Among the phenolic acids identified by the UFLC-DAD system, there was an increase of 148.17% in gallic acid and 205.51% in protocatechuic acid. The antioxidant activities also showed changes after fermentation, with an increase of 350% for the ABTS assay, 51.97% for FRAP, 22.65% for ORAC and 16.03% for DPPH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that cupuassu residue is fermented with Aspergillus carbonarius to obtain invertases and transferases enzymes and phenolic acids. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05418-z.

Evaluation of bioactive compounds, phytochemicals profile and antioxidant potential of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of some traditional fruit tree leaves used in Brazilian folk medicine.

The aim of this study was to analyze eight selected species of leaves, used in the traditional medicine of the Northeast region of Brazil obtained from several fruit trees (grageru, soursop, jambolanum, passion fruit, insulin, nogueira, pedra ume kaá and stévia), regarding their polyphenols contents and antioxidant activity. Condensed and hydrolysable tannins, phenolics and flavonoids contents were determined and the antioxidant activities measured by ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assays. Organic acids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD system. Phenolic compounds of aqueous and ethanolic extracts were determined by UHPLC-DAD-MS. The results revealed high contents of total phenolics (13.34 ± 0.19 - 127.65 ± 0.21 mg.g-1 of GAE:QE (2:1) of sample) and flavonoids (12.30 ± 0.42 - 71.79 ± 0.00 mg.g-1 QE of sample). The ABTS results exhibited extraordinary activity in the extracts (74.48 ± 6.23 - 1487.33 ± 2.67 µmol Trolox.g-1 of sample). Acids quinic, tartaric, citric, gallic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic and vanillic along with naringenin, rutin, vanillin, catechin, epicatechin, kaempferol were the most important compounds. Thus, these leaves extracts may be considered as sources of phenolics compounds having a high potential as natural antioxidants. In addition, the polyphenols present in these leaves have many beneficial effects and can also be used in medicinal and nutraceuticals products with enhanced bioactivities.

Enzymatic and ultrasonic-assisted pretreatment in the extraction of bioactive compounds from Monguba (Pachira aquatic Aubl) leaf, bark and seed.

The present study aims to characterize leaf, bark and seed of monguba in terms of their physicochemical and bioactive composition, and to determine total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoids (TF), well as their antioxidant activities (AA), of three organic solvent extracts with and without enzyme pretreatment by ultrasonic assisted extraction. Physicochemical composition was measured by pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, moisture, ashes, lipids, crude protein, raw fiber, total carbohydrates, and water activity as well as, phytochemical composition analysis constituted of sugars, condensed (CT) and hydrolysable tannins (HT), carotenoids, total anthocyanins (TA), and organic acids contents. TPC and TF contents, and UHPLC/PDA/QDa flavonoids and phenolic acids quantification were performed for the solvent extracts. Antioxidant activity was determined by radical scavenging capacity assays (ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC), and reducing power assay (FRAP). Results showed that the leaf stood out with higher concentrations of ash, HT, TA and carotenoids; the bark with higher concentrations of raw fiber, total carbohydrates and organic acids (tartaric, quinic and 3.4-dihydroxybenzoic acids); in contrast, the seeds showed high concentrations of lipids, crude protein, sugars (fructose and sucrose), CT, and high values in all AA. The solvents significantly influenced the extraction of TPC and TF, highlighting ethanol. In general, the enzymatic treatments empowered the phenolic extraction and AA. The monguba seed extracts showed higher concentrations of hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic acid, mainly), and flavanols (catechin and epicatechin), whereas the leaf extracts, flavanones (narigenin), flavonols (rutin, mainly) and flavones (acacetin). The bark extracts stood out for the presence of vanillin. The monguba seed extract can be used in functional foods production.

Influência da torrefação no rendimento de óleo de sementes de melão obtido por extração assistida por ultrassom / Influence of roasting on the yield of melon seeds obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction

Os resíduos do processamento de frutas, como o melão, têm se tornado um problema para as agroindústrias, pois são gerados em grandes quantidades e podem provocar danos ao meio ambiente quando descartados inadequadamente. Diante disto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a influência da torrefação no rendimento de óleo das sementes de melão obtido por extração assistida por ultrassom. Para tanto, as sementes foram caracterizadas físico-quimicamente, e o rendimento de óleo foi estudado em relação à temperatura e o tempo de torrefação, utilizando um fatorial 22 com blocos casualizados. Os resultados mostraram que a temperatura e o tempo de torrefação influenciaram no rendimento do óleo de sementes de melão, sendo que os maiores rendimentos de óleo foram obtidos nas condições de 89 ºC por 53 minutos e de 131 ºC por 17 minutos.

Microencapsulation of extracts of bioactive compounds obtained from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) pulp and residue by spray and freeze drying: Chemical, morphological and chemometric characterization.

The acerola pulp and residue extracts were microencapsulated by spray and freeze-drying, using gum arabic and maltodextrin as encapsulating agents. Total anthocyanins, carotenoids (CA), ascorbic acid (AA), phenolic compounds (PC), total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, color, moisture, water activity, solubility, hygroscopicity and microstructure of the powders were analyzed. The acerola residue extract had higher concentrations of bioactive compounds (except for AA) and lower antioxidant activity. The microencapsulated powders by spray and freeze-drying showed good physico-chemical properties. Spray-dried powder has lower microencapsulation efficiency for CA, AA and PC and in general, it presented the best characteristics due to its higher concentration of bioactive compounds (except AA), and antioxidant activity by FRAP and ORAC assays. The spray-dried particles were of spherical shape while the freeze-dried products were of irregular structures. Overall, these results demonstrate the better utility of agro-industrial acerola residue in the form of microparticles of bioactive compounds, retaining good antioxidant activity.