Comparison of powdered and fresh jambu (Acmella oleracea).

Jambu, Acmella oleracea (L.), is a low-growing herb plant, with cylindrical, fleshy, decumbent and branched stem varying from 20 to 30 cm in height. It is an abundantly cultivated and consumed vegetable in the northern region of Brazil and usually consumed in preparations of typical foods of the Amazon region. So, this work aimed to compare the chemical composition and physical chemistry of powdered and jambu leaf mass. Acmella oleracea plants were selected, sanitized and their leaves were crushed (without adding water). The mass was dried in an oven with forced air circulation under different conditions of temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C) and relative humidity (13.09, 8.14 and 5.45%, respectively), in two layer thicknesses (0.5 and 1.0 cm). The physical, chemical, physicochemical parameters moisture content, water activity, ash, protein, lipids, pH, total titratable acidity and color were analyzed in powdered and fresh leaves. Contrast test was used to evaluate the interaction between the layer thicknesses at 5% level of significance. Considering the contrasts, the parameters total soluble solids, ash, protein and lipids do not differ from those in the fresh sample, demonstrating that these parameters are not modified or degraded with the drying conditions. The pH and color parameters differed from those of the fresh material, due to degradation, which can be linked to the rise in temperature sensitivity. The moisture content and water activity also differed and were reduced, contributing to conservation of the material. Contrast analysis made it possible to conclude that the physicochemical composition did not undergo modifications through the use of drying. In addition, a powdered material with reduced water activity was obtained.

Using chitosan and radish powder to improve stability of fermented cooked sausages.

Radish powder and chitosan were evaluated in fermented cooked sausages to replace sodium nitrite. Treatments of fermented cooked sausages were prepared and evaluated during the ripening process and storage time: control (150 ppm nitrite, CONT); and two levels of chitosan (0.25%, CHI1) and (0.5%, CHI2) with radish powder (0.5%) and without the addition of nitrite. During storage, pieces sliced or not were also evaluated regarding the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory. Pure chitosan was evaluated regarding determination of MIC and MBC to Enterobacter aerogenes, Listeria innocua and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and antioxidant capacity. The addition of chitosan increased aw and decreased weight loss of fermented sausages along processing, but pH was not affected during ripening. Except for aroma, sensory attributes were affected by the addition of chitosan. The addition of 0.5% radish powder and 0.25% chitosan showed promising results to development of nitrite-free fermented cooked sausages, mainly regarding their physicochemical and microbiological stability.