Contamination and persistence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rice grains after drying in direct-fired dryer.

The objective of this work was to study PAHs contamination in rice grains subjected to different milling types, after drying at different air temperatures in a direct-fired dryer and using firewood with different moisture contents as a heating source. In addition to verifying the persistence of these compounds after storage. Drying of rice grains was performed in a cross-flow dryer at air temperatures of 55 and 65 ºC. As heating source firewood containing different moisture contents was used. The presence of nine PAHs was detected. The drying air temperature, as well as the storage time, did not significantly influence the PAHs contamination of grains. The highest PAHs contamination was observed in grains from the brown subgroup. Grain polishing promoted a reduction in the PAH concentration. The grains subjected to parboilization showed a higher PAHs concentration. The use of firewood with higher moisture content promoted greater PAHs contamination in the grains.

Characterization of the chemical profile and the effects of ethanolic extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek on glucose metabolism in normal hyperglycemic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae, is popularly known as "espinheira-santa" and used to treat pathologies related to the stomach. However, in popular culture, this species has also been used to treat other disorders such as diabetes, but without scientific evidence, requiring more phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the plant. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aims to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic potential of ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves from two different accessions of Maytenus ilicifolia (MIA and MIB) in normal hyperglycemic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were divided into different experimental groups: normal hyperglycemic (negative control); MIA (treatment of Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 116); MIB (treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 122; and glipizide (positive control). At 30 min after treatment, all animals received glucose overload orally. Blood collection occurred at different periods for the assessment of blood glucose (0, 60, 90 and 210 min after treatment) and at the end of the experiment blood was collected through cardiac puncture and the liver, muscle, pancreas and intestine were dissected for further analysis. RESULTS: Chromatographic analysis identified oleic and palmitic acid as the most common constituents, and both extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia caused a reduction in blood glucose levels within 60 min after administration of glucose overload when compared to the normal hyperglycemic group. No significant changes were observed in hepatic and muscular glycogen levels, plasma insulin concentration and disaccharidases activity with none of the extracts in the model employed. However, hyperglycemic rats treated with the extracts showed a marked increase in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that Maytenus ilicifolia extracts from different locations showed differences in chemical composition which did not reflect significant differences in the results of biological tests. In addition, it was possible to conclude that the treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia had a discreet anti-hyperglycemic effect; however, it was not possible to identify the responsible mechanism, being necessary, therefore, new studies using different technologies in order to determine the possible mechanisms of action of the extract.

Gluten-free green banana flour muffins: chemical, physical, antioxidant, digestibility and sensory analysis.

Considering the low availability of gluten-free products that are offered an affordable price and good sensory characteristics, the main objective of the study was developed a gluten-free muffin based on green banana flour and evaluate their physical-chemical and sensorial aspects. The quality of the muffin was analyzed through such moisture content, ashes, proteins, lipids, fiber, carbohydrates, total caloric content, yield mass, weight loss in the supply, antioxidant activity, protein digestibility, and hedonic scale. The results showed that the gluten-free muffin had a moisture content of 26.7%, ash of 2.39%, lipids of 15.4%, proteins of 10.3%, fibers of 1.2%, carbohydrates of 44.0%, the total caloric value of 261.2 kcal, high protein digestibility and moderate antioxidant activity. The acceptability index was 84.5%. It has been concluded that gluten-free muffin with green banana flour is a viable alternative for the reason that they have higher protein content than other alternative flours.

Antimicrobial potential of spray drying encapsulated thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil on the conservation of hamburger-like meat products.

Synthetic preservatives can have harmful effects on the body, so plant essential oils appear to be an attractive natural alternative. However, the use of essential oils is limited due to the low stability and possible negative effects on the sensory properties of food. Oil encapsulation was suggested as a way to overcome these drawbacks. The objective of this study was to encapsulate thyme essential oil and to evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial potential in vitro and in situ in of hamburger-like meat products. The casein-maltodextrin capsules produced by spray-drying were assessed for encapsulation efficiency, thermal stability, chemical compounds and morphology. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, hydroxyl and nitric oxide methods, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated in vitro against four bacteria and in situ in hamburger-like products. The capsule showed high encapsulation efficiency and thermal stability, and spherical and irregular morphology. The casein-maltodextrin encapsulated essential oil showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium tested in vitro and against thermotolerants coliforms and Escherichia coli in situ, showing potential for application as a natural preservative in food.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of unencapsulated and encapsulated clove (Syzygium aromaticum, L.) essential oil.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum, L.) essential oil is known for its antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria. Encapsulation of clove oil was proposed as a mean to disguise its strong odor that limits its uses in food industry. Thus, the aim of this study was extraction, encapsulation and assessment of the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of clove essential oil. The essential oil showed high DPPH scavenging capacity and low hydroxyl radical inhibition. Clove essential oil showed in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal effect against S. aureus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimurium. In addition, in situ antimicrobial activity of clove oil against S. aureus was superior to nitrite. The essential oil particles encapsulated with sodium alginate and emulsifiers, showed high encapsulation efficiency, low antioxidant activity and strong antimicrobial inhibition. Similar bacterial growth was observed in meat-like products after addition of either particles or nitrite.

Characterization of blueberry cultivar ‘climax’ / Caracterização da cultivar ‘climax’ de mirtileiro

The objective of this work was to characterize the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) cultivar Climax, Rabbiteye group (Vaccinium ashei Reade). In order to achieve that, a survey with blueberry plants (cultivar Climax), in full production, was conducted during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons in the mesoregion of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Data regarding the distribution of flower and vegetative buds on branches of two lengths (long and short) was collected. Another evaluation, considering three positions of flower buds in the branch (apical, medial and basal), the number of flower primordia, open flowers and fruits formed was performed. Data were subject to ANOVA and, when significant, the averages were compared using either the F or Tukey’s HSD test (p ≤ 0.05). The results demonstrate the presence of flower buds intercalated with vegetative ones. The total number of flower and vegetative buds, flower primordia, flowers and fruits was influenced by the length of the branch. Likewise, the position of the bud on the branch affected the results, with a greater number of flower primordia on the basal, a greater number of flowers on the medial and a greater number of fruits on the apical portions of the branches.

Objetivou-se realizar a caracterização do mirtileiro (Vaccinium spp.), cultivar Clímax, grupo Rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei Reade). Para tanto, foi conduzida a pesquisa com plantas da cultivar Clímax, em plena produção, durante as safras de 2012/13 e 2013/14. Foram coletados dados referentes à distribuição das gemas floríferas e vegetativas nos ramos de dois comprimentos (longos e curtos). Bem como, sob estes, foi avaliado, considerando-se três posições de gemas floríferas no ramo (apical, mediana e basal), o número de primórdios florais, flores abertas e frutos formados. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e quando houve efeito significativo suas médias foram comparadas pelo teste de F e/ou Tukey (p ≤ 0,05). Os resultados demonstraram a presença de gemas floríferas intercaladas às vegetativas. O número total de gemas floríferas e vegetativas, de primórdios florais, flores e frutos foi influenciado pelo comprimento do ramo. Da mesma forma, a posição da gema no ramo, influenciou os resultados, sendo observado maior número de primórdios florais na gema basal, maior número de flores na porção mediana e maior número de frutos na apical.

Necessidades térmicas de videiras na região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul - Brasil / Thermal requirement of vines in the Rio Grande do Sul region Campaign - Brazil

A vitivinicultura, reconhecida por sua importância econômica e social no Rio Grande do Sul, tem ampliado sua fronteira de produção para a região da Campanha. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o comportamento fenológico, bem como a necessidade térmica em graus-dia e a necessidade em dias, de cultivares de uvas finas destinadas à produção de vinhos, quando cultivadas na região da Campanha, local de recente introdução da espécie com caráter econômico. Os dados utilizados foram coletados em um vinhedo comercial, localizado no município de Dom Pedrito - RS, Brasil, durante as safras de 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 e 2011/2012. Foram utilizadas as cultivares, 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Tannat', 'Tempranillo', 'Merlot', 'Gewurztraminer', 'Sauvignon Blanc' e 'Chardonnay'. Os resultados demonstram que as cultivares respondem de forma diferente quanto à necessidade térmica, em Graus-dia (GD), e à necessidade em dias para completar o ciclo, necessitando, em média, respectivamente, 2084 GD e 174 dias para a 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 1937 GD e 166 dias para 'Tempranillo', 1893 GD e 161dias para a 'Merlot', 1793 GD e 156 dias para 'Tannat', 1759 GD e 147 dias para a 'Sauvignon Blanc', 1689 GD e 152 dias para a 'Chardonnay' e 1606 GD e 145 dias para a 'Gewurztraminer'. A maior necessidade térmica é na fase de desenvolvimento do fruto e maturação do fruto e a menor necessidade, na fase de floração.

The vitiviniculture, recognized for its economic and social importance in Rio Grande do Sul, has increased its production in the frontier of campaign region. The present study aimed to evaluate the phenological behavior, as well as the need for thermal degree-days and the need in days of cultivars of fine grapes intended for production wine, when cultivated in the campaign, local recent in the introduction of this species of economic nature. Data were collected in a commercial vineyard located in Dom Pedrito - RS, Brazil, during the growing seasons of 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/11 and 2011/12. The species cultivated were, 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Tannat', 'Tempranillo', 'Merlot', 'Gewurztraminer', 'Sauvignon Blanc' and 'Chardonnay'. The results demonstrated that cultivars responds differently to the need for thermal days to complete the cycle, requiring on average 2084 and 174 respectively for Cabernet Sauvignon, 1937 and 166 for 'Tempranillo', 161 and 1893 to 'Merlot', and 156 to 1793 for 'Tannat', and 147 to 1759 for 'Sauvignon Blanc', and 152 to 1689 for 'Chardonnay' and 145 to 1606 for 'Gewurztraminer'. The greatest need regarding thermal necessities is to fruit development and ripening and less need to flowering stage.

Época de emergência de azevém e nabo sobre a habilidade competitiva da cultura da cevada / Time of emergency of ryegrass and wild radish on the competitive ability of barley crop

Objetivou-se com o trabalho avaliar os efeitos de épocas de emergência das plantas daninhas, azevém e nabo, sobre a cultura da cevada. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos casualizados, arranjado em esquema fatorial 2x5, com três repetições. No fator A, foram alocadas as plantas competidoras (azevém e nabo) e no B as épocas de emergência (14 e 07 dias antes, no mesmo dia, 07 e 14 dias depois da emergência da cultura). No início da floração da cevada, foram mensuradas as variáveis: estatura das plantas, número de colmos ou caules, área foliar e matéria seca da parte aérea da cultura e das plantas daninhas. Todas as variáveis avaliadas da cevada apresentaram aumento de valor com o atraso da emergência das plantas daninhas. As espécies, cultivada ou daninhas, que emergiram antes, apresentaram maior habilidade competitiva, dominando o ambiente quando emergiram 14 dias antes uma da outra. Quanto mais tarde ocorrer a emergência das plantas daninhas com relação à cultura, menor é a interferência e, desse modo, maior é a habilidade da cevada em competir com a espécie daninha pelos recursos disponíveis no meio.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of times of emergence of the weed ryegrass species and wild radish on barley. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, arranged in a 2x5 factorial design, with three replicates. In factor A were allocated the competing species (ryegrass and wild radish) and in factor B the emergence periods (14 and 7 days before, on the same day, 7 and 14 days after crop emergence). At the beginning of barley flowering, the following variables were quantified: plant height, number of stalks or stems, leaf area, and shoot dry mass of crop and weeds. All barley variables had increased in value with the delay in weed emergence. The species, cultivated or weeds, that emerged earlier showed greater competitive ability, dominating the environment when emerging 14 days before each other. The later the emergence of weeds with respect to the crop, the less the interference they cause, and, thereby, the crop presents a greater ability to compete with the weeds for available resources in the environment.