ABSTRACT
Ethylene is a plant hormone regulator that stimulates chlorophyll loss and promotes softening and aging, resulting in a deterioration and reduction in the post-harvest life of fruit. Commercial activated carbons have been used as ethylene scavengers during the storage and transportation of a great variety of agricultural commodities. In this work, the effect of the incorporation of copper oxide over activated carbons obtained from baru waste was assessed. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption at -196 °C, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the amount of ethylene removed using activated carbon obtained from baru waste and impregnated with copper oxide (1667 µg g-1) was significantly increased in comparison to the raw activated carbon (1111 µg g-1). In addition, carbon impregnated with copper oxide exhibited better adsorption performance at a low ethylene concentration. Activated carbons produced from baru waste are promising candidates to be used as adsorbents in the elimination of ethylene during the storage and transportation of agricultural commodities at a lower cost.
ABSTRACT
Pequi is a native and popular fruit in Cerrado biome. The internal yellow-orange mesocarp is the edible fraction of the fruit, but its shell (peel and external mesocarp), which comprises 80% of the fruit, is not used by the agro-industry during fruit processing. There is a growing interest in the reduction of food loss and waste because of environmental, economic, and social impacts. So this study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro prebiotic activity of pequi shell flour. Pequi shell flour was obtained from the lyophilization and milling of pequi shell. The content of dietary fibers, oligosaccharides, sugars, organic acids, total phenolics and tannins, polyphenol profile, and antioxidant capacity was determined in pequi shell flour. In addition, its prebiotic activity was evaluated on growth and metabolism of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Pequi shell flour has a high content of dietary fibers (47.92 g/100 g), soluble fibers (18.65 g/100 g), raffinose (2.39 g/100 g), and phenolic compounds (14,062.40 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g). For the first time, the polyphenols epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 were identified in this by-product. Pequi shell flour promoted greater growth of Lacticaseibacillus casei L-26 (at 24-48 h) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, as well as higher prebiotic activity scores than fructooligosaccharides (standard prebiotic). Pequi shell flour is rich in prebiotic compounds and has a high antioxidant and prebiotic potential. The promising results encourage its use as an ingredient with antioxidant and potential prebiotic properties to elaborate new functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Subject(s)
Food Ingredients , Malpighiales , Antioxidants , Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , Dietary FiberABSTRACT
RESUMEN Objetivo. Se determinaron los resultados de la inclusión de heno de alfalfa en la dieta de los emús, como ensayo simple para analizar la práctica de campo de su uso como fuente de forraje similar a otras dietas de ratitas. Materiales y métodos. Los tratamientos consistieron en dos dietas, sin (dieta 1) o con (dieta 2) inclusión de heno de alfalfa. Veinte emús, con 38.4 semanas de edad media, se distribuyeron en los dos tratamientos y se alojaron en un sistema semiintensivo con alimentación y agua ad libitum. El peso corporal se evaluó semanalmente durante 13 semanas. Tras 91 días de ensayo, los emús fueron sacrificados y se midió el rendimiento de la canal y la alometría gastrointestinal. Resultados. La ganancia de peso acumulada fue menor (p<0.05) con la ingesta de la dieta 2 que con la dieta 1, 2.12 y 2.08 kg, a las 11 y 12 semanas del inicio del ensayo, respectivamente. Además, la deposición de grasa abdominal y visceral en los emús alimentados con la dieta 2 fue un 0.77 y un 0.63% menor (p<0.05), respectivamente. La inclusión de heno de alfalfa aumentó el peso relativo de la molleja y el intestino (p<0.05) y la longitud relativa del intestino (p<0.05), sin embargo, la alometría del ciego no se vio afectada (p>0.05). Conclusiones. El heno de alfalfa puede comprometer negativamente el crecimiento y la deposición de grasa de los emús cuando se añade a la alimentación de los finalizadores, y alterar la alometría del tracto gastrointestinal.
ABSTRACT Objective. The results of the inclusion of alfalfa hay on emus diet were determined, as a plain trial to analyze the field practice of using it as a roughage source similar to other ratites diets. Materials and methods. The treatments consisted of two diets, without (diet 1) or with (diet 2) alfalfa hay inclusion. Twenty emus, with 38.4 weeks of mean age, were distributed in two treatments and housed in a semi-intensive system with ad libitum feed and water. The body weight was assessed weekly over 13 weeks. After 91 days of trial, the emus were slaughtered and the carcass yield and gastrointestinal allometry were measured. Results. Cumulative weight gain was lower (p<0.05) by intake diet 2 than diet 1, 2.12 and 2.08 kg, at 11 and 12 weeks after the start of the trial, respectively. Further, abdominal and visceral fat deposition in the emus fed with diet 2 was 0.77 and 0.63% lower (p<0.05), respectively. The inclusion of alfalfa hay increased gizzard and intestine relative weight (p<0.05) and intestine relative length (p<0.05), however, cecum allometry wasn't affected (p>0.05). Conclusions. Alfalfa hay can negatively compromise the growth and fat deposition of emus when it is added to the finisher feed, and alter the allometry of the gastrointestinal tract.