Optimization of Hypericum Perforatum Microencapsulation Process by Spray Drying Method.

Hypericum perforatum (HP) contains valuable and beneficial bioactive compounds that have been used to treat or prevent several illnesses. Encapsulation technology offers protection of the active compounds and facilitates to expose of the biologically active compounds in a controlled mechanism. Microcapsulation of the hydroalcoholic gum arabic and maltodextrin have hot been used as wall materials in the encapsulation of HP extract. Therefore, the optimum microencapsulation parameters of Hypericum perforatum (HP) hydroalcoholic extract were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) for the evaluation of HP extract. Three levels of three independent variables were screened using the one-way ANOVA. Five responses were monitored, including total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), carr index (CI), hausner ratio (HR), and solubility. Optimum drying conditions for Hypericum perforatum microcapsules (HPMs) were determined: 180 °C for inlet air temperature, 1.04/1 for ratio of maltodextrin to gum arabic (w/w), and 1.98/1 for coating to core material ratio (w/w). TPC, antioxidant activity, CI, HR, and solubility values were specified as 316.531 (mg/g GAE), 81.912%, 6.074, 1.066, and 35.017%, respectively, under the optimized conditions. The major compounds of Hypericum perforatum (hypericin and pseudohypericin) extract were determined as 4.19 µg/g microcapsule and 15.09 µg/g microcapsule, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the mean particle diameter of the HPMs was 20.36 µm. Based on these results, microencapsulation of HPMs by spray drying is a viable technique which protects the bioactive compounds of HP leaves, facilitating its application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

The effect of fermentation time on the volatile aromatic profile of tarhana dough.

Tarhana is a traditional food produced by fermentation of a dough prepared by mixing wheat flour, yoghurt, tomato, paprika, onion and mint. The fermentation of mixture of natural products gives the tarhana an aromatized desired food characteristic. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of fermentation time at home and commercial scale on the aromatic volatile profile of tarhana. In this respect, nine different tarhana dough samples were prepared at home and commercial scale and analysed for volatile and organic acid composition during fermentation which were then evaluated by principal component analysis. In all dough samples, the lactic, succinic and acetic acids were the most produced organic acids while the amounts of ketones decreased, and the alcohols, in particular the esters, increased within fermentation. Particularly, ethyl-lactate and ethyl-acetate increased significantly as well as ethyl-caprylate, ethyl-capronate and ethyl-hexanote responsible for fruity and flower flavour were also accumulated. Tarhana doughs were clustered in two main groups after five days of fermentation with principal component analysis and these clusters remained stable until the end of fermentation. As a conclusion, fermentation time determines the desirable tarhana by ensuring the formation of aromatic volatiles particularly esters. It is necessary to ferment tarhana for at least five days in order to obtain typical aromatic properties.

Effects of Microbial Transglutaminase on Physicochemical, Microbial and Sensorial Properties of Kefir Produced by Using Mixture Cow's and Soymilk.

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects microbial transglutaminase (m-TGs) on the physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties of kefir produced by using mix cow and soymilk. Kefir batches were prepared using 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 Units m-TGs for per g of milk protein. Adding m-TGs to milk caused an increase in the pH and viscosity and caused a decrease in titratable acidity and syneresis in the kefir samples. Total bacteria, lactobacilli and streptococci counts decreased, while yeast counts increased in all the samples during storage. Alcohols and acids compounds have increased in all the samples except in the control samples, while carbonyl compounds have decreased in all the samples during storage (1-30 d). The differences in the percentage of alcohols, carbonyl compounds and acids in total volatiles on the 1st and the 30th d of storage were observed at 8.47-23.52%, 6.94-25.46% and 59.64-63.69%, respectively. The consumer evaluation of the kefir samples showed that greater levels of acceptability were found for samples which had been added 1.5 U m-TGs for per g of milk protein.

Composition of volatile aromatic compounds and minerals of tarhana enriched with cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis).

Different concentrations of cherry laurel pulp (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) were used to produce tarhana samples. Volatile aromatic compounds and minor mineral content were investigated. Volatile aromatic compounds were analyzed by using GC-MS with SPME fiber and minor mineral values were evaluated with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The statistical analysis showed that addition of pulp affected volatile aromatic compounds and minor mineral content significantly. Thirty five volatile aromatic compounds were found in tarhana samples. The octanoic acid from acids, benzaldehyde (CAS) phenylmethanal from aldehydes, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one from ketones, octadecane (CAS) n-octadecane form terpenes, ethyl caprylate from esters and benzenemethanol (CAS) benzyl alcohol from alcohols had the highest percentage of volatile aromatic compounds. Tarhana samples were rich source of Mn, Cu and Fe content.