Direct acidification of requeijão cremoso model by lactobionic acid: physical, chemical and antimicrobial effects.

ABSTRACT: Lactobionic acid (LBA) shows singular properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial). However, few studies aim to test them in foods and confirm the actual occurrence of properties. The present study aims to apply LBA/lactic acid in the production of requeijão cremoso model in order to recognize some of the effects caused by the component as a food additive. The effects on the requeijão cremoso model were evaluated by the final properties of the product: water activity, rheological properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. Model of requeijão completely acidified with LBA showed the maximum antioxidant activity (88%). The results revealed a potential of application of LBA for microbial inhibition. All model produced presented pseudo plastic behaviour.

Valorization of Euterpe edulis Mart. agroindustrial residues (pomace and seeds) as sources of unconventional starch and bioactive compounds.

Juçara fruit pomace is one of the most abundant byproducts of the pulp-making process, generally discarded despite their attractive nutritional content. In this sense, this study aimed to investigate the potential of juçara fruit pomace as an alternative source of starch and natural dyes. Starch extracted from juçara seed (JS) was characterized in approximate composition, crystallinity, thermal profile, morphology, and equilibrium moisture data. Total phenolic content, anthocyanins content, and in vitro antioxidant capacity were assessed for the juçara seedless pomace (JSP). JSP is rich in monomeric anthocyanins (7.19 to 7.23 mg cyanidin 3-O-glycoside/g dry matter [dm]), presents high antioxidant potential, elevated dietary fibers (72.7% dm), considerable amount of lipids (12.8% dm), low protein content, and ash traces. JS is a rich carbon source (76.91% fibers [dm]; 12.21% amylaceous reserve). Being high in carbohydrates, mainly starch, it can be classified as high starch content flour (juçara seed starch-flour [JSS-F]). JSS-F presented B-type crystallinity and conventional starch-like thermal stability. JSS-F exhibited type III sorption isotherm behavior and the Gugghenheim-Anderson-DeBoer model adequately represented the moisture equilibrium data. As a nutritive source of bioactive compounds and starch, juçara pomace should be regarded as a coproduct to be explored as an alternative natural ingredient to food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Juçara agroindustrial residues (pomace and seeds) are a promising source of antioxidants and unconventional starch, which are usually discarded after depulping, representing approximately 74% of the fruits. Juçara pomace can be used to produce flour with marketing potential due to their functional properties and nutritional value. This flour can be incorporated directly into formulations or be used in extraction processes to obtain components of interest, for example, anthocyanins, to be used as a natural food dye. Starch can be extracted from juçara seeds, presenting adequate technological properties for partial replacement of conventional starches.

Lactobionic Acid as a Potential Food Ingredient: Recent Studies and Applications.

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a bionic acid naturally found in the "Caspian Sea yogurt" and chemically constituted of a gluconic acid bonded to a galactose. The compound is known for its numerous proven attributes as an antioxidant, chelator, and moisturizer agent. There is a growing interest of the academic community and industry research sectors in the application of LBA as a food ingredient. Thus, this review describes the current methods of LBA production, patents related, general applications and regulations, research statistics, future prospects, and an overview of the challenges faced by the food industry to incorporate the acid in their products. Studies associated to food application and human intake are scarce in the literature. To date, they account for only a small amount of all available research papers and patents on the subject, which is due to LBA prohibitions despite the approval of its salt (calcium lactobionate) and the lack of regulation in most countries. Further studies on the safety of consumption should be carried out in coming years in order to elucidate its toxicological aspects and to extend the technological possibilities of the food processing industry.

Relationship Between Parameters of Development and Functional Compounds of Yacon Leaves

Abstract Yacon is a tuberous root from the Andean region being increasingly grown across the world due to the low caloric values of their roots and the functional properties of extractions of its leaves. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge of how the plant develops, and if physical and chemical changes are noticed regarding maturity. The subject of this work was to investigate the dynamics of a group of parameters and to establish correlations across them. To achieve this goal, leaves collected from three different parts of the plant in three months were assessed regarding size (plant height and leaf area), color and the presence of sesquiterpene lactones. Different methods of extraction were also studied and the total phenolic content was analyzed. The analysis of the results revealed different patterns in the quantity, size and leaf distribution according to the age of the plant. From three different methods of extraction studied, decoction seems to be the most appropriate one to obtain phenolic compounds with greater yield and safety. Besides, the greenness of yacon leaves showed a linear correlation to the total phenolic content, being a simple and promising estimator of the corresponding bioactive group. Sesquiterpene lactones were identified in all extracts, indicating the ease of their extractability even in simple procedures of tea-making.

Modelling studies by adsorption for the removal of sunset yellow azo dye present in effluent from a soft drink plant.

This paper reports a study on the adsorption of the dye sunset yellow, present in an aqueous synthetic solution and a real effluent from a soft drink plant, onto granular-activated carbon derived from coconut husks, using a batch system. The kinetic equilibrium was investigated using two different dye concentrations (10(2) and 10(3) mg L(-1)) at 25 degrees C and 150 rpm. The adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics parameters were evaluated at 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C, 45 degrees C and 55 degrees C, using the synthetic and real effluents (5-10(3) mg L(-1)). Experimental data showed that the adsorbent was effective in the removal of sunset yellow dye and the contact time required to attain the adsorption equilibrium did not exceed 10 h. The adsorption capacity was not influenced within a wide range of pH values (1-12), although at high dye concentrations it increased with increasing temperature for both the synthetic and real effluents. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm best represented the equilibrium data of the system. The negative values obtained for DeltaG0 and DeltaH0 suggest that this adsorption process is spontaneous, favourable, and exothermic. The positive values for DeltaS0 indicate an increase in the entropy at the solid/liquid interface. Based on the results of this study, adsorption appears to be a promising method for the removal of sunset yellow azo dye from effluent generated at soft drink plants.