Effect of different microencapsulating materials and relative humidities on storage stability of microencapsulated grape pomace extract.

This work aims to prolong the storage stability of polyphenols, obtained from grape pomace, using a spray drying-based microencapsulation technique. The microcapsules obtained under optimal conditions were stored at two different relative humidities (33% and 52%) during 75 days. The analyses of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and individual phenolic compounds were carried out every 15 days, and the most stable microcapsules were achieved with maltodextrin DE4-7 prepared by adding gum Arabic to the wall material at a ratio of 8:2. The phenolic content loss rate was found to be in a range of 0.93-5.42 % depending on phenolic compound. The decrease in the content of rutin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, caftaric acid and catechin was only 0.93, 2.09, 2.13, 2.27, 2.41, 3.40 and 5.42%, respectively. These results indicate more efficient storage conditions than those of previously reported studies.

Microencapsulation of grape polyphenols using maltodextrin and gum arabic as two alternative coating materials: Development and characterization.

Phenolic compounds obtained from fruits have recently gained a great attention due to their bioactive roles. However, they are sensitive and they can be easily affected by physicochemical factors that create a great challenge to incorporate them into the food products. Hence, this work aimed to investigate microencapsulation of these compounds to provide a solution for this problem by improving their stability and protecting them against oxidation, light, moisture and temperature. A lab scale spray-dryer was chosen to produce microcapsules of polyphenols using different dextrose equivalents of maltodextrin and gum arabic as a coating material. Two different core: coating material ratios (1:1 and 1:2), three different maltodextrin: gum arabic ratios (10:0, 8:2 and 6:4), and four different inlet temperatures (120, 140, 160, 180°C) were investigated. When all parameters (yields, hygroscopicity, total and surface phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, individual phenolic compounds and particle morphology) were evaluated; the most efficient microcapsules were obtained with an 8:2 ratio of maltodextrin: gum arabic at 140°C inlet temperature. Microcapsules were also comprehensively studied and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Influence of calcium fortification on physical and rheological properties of sucrose-free prebiotic milk chocolates containing inulin and maltitol.

In the present study, chocolates were investigated that had been prepared according to the composition specified as a result of this previous work (9.00 % w/w inulin and 34.0 % w/w maltitol) Certain physical (particle size distribution [PSD], brightness, chroma, water activity and hardness) and rheological features of the samples resulting from the addition of calcium carbonate in different quantities (300, 450, 600, 750 and 900 mg calcium carbonate to 100 mg milk chocolate) were studied. Both the Herschel-Bulkley and Casson models were used to investigate the rheological findings. It was determined by comparing certain rheological (rate index, Casson yield stress and Casson viscosity) and physical (chroma and hardness) parameters that samples containing 409.5 mg calcium (nearly 41.0 % of the RDA of calcium) per 100 g chocolate did not show significant differences from samples from the control group. Furthermore, these calcium-containing samples were shown to exhibit positive differences in other physical properties (brightness and water activity) that could be noteworthy and significant with respect to visual quality and shelf life.

Food ellagitannins-occurrence, effects of processing and storage.

Interest in ellagitannins and ellagic acid has increased over the past few years due to its properties as a micronutrient. Ellagitannins are complex plant polyphenols composed of hexahydroxydiphenoyl moieties esterified to a sugar. Fruits (especially berries and nuts) are rich sources of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, a hydrolytic product of ellagitannins. These secondary metabolites give the characteristic taste to the fruits and their products, and also play an important role in food processing. This paper reviews research about occurrence in foods, change during process, and antioxidant activity of ellagitannins and ellagic acid.

A new quality parameter in tomato and tomato products: ergosterol.

The poor precision of the "percentage of discarded fruits" and "Howard mold count" methods has increased the importance of ergosterol for the microbiological quality evaluation of tomato and tomato products. Ergosterol, a constituent of the cell wall of some important vegetable parasites, such as molds, has been recently recognized as a potential objective parameter useful for the characterization of the quality of processing tomatoes. Thus, 15 mg of ergosterol/kg total solids has been stated as an acceptability maximum limit of tomato products.