Laminados de guayaba (Psidium guajava L) enriquecidos con inulina y calcio / Guava (Psidium guajava L.) laminates enriched with inulin and calcium

La guayaba (Psidium guajava L.) es una fruta de gran aceptación que puede ser utilizada como vehículo de nutrientes y componentes bioactivos, cualidades atractivas para elaborar alimentos con beneficios a la salud. Por tal motivo, se desarrollaron laminados de guayaba enriquecidos con inulina y calcio. Para elaborar los laminados se preparó un puré con pulpa de guayaba, sacarosa y fructosa en proporción 85:10:5, se adicionó inulina, lactato de calcio, solución de ácido cítrico (30%) y se deshidrató en un secador de bandejas a 60 ºC. Se desarrollaron cuatro formulaciones variando las proporciones de inulina y lactato de calcio. Se evaluó la aceptabilidad global de los laminados con una escala hedónica no estructurada de 10 cm (cero representó “me disgusta mucho”, cinco “indiferente” y diez “me gusta mucho”) y la aceptabilidad de los atributos sensoriales dulzor, acidez, color y dureza al morder con una escala JAR (just-about-right) de 3 puntos. Se evaluaron las características físicas, químicas y nutricionales de los laminados elaborados bajo la formulación seleccionada sensorialmente. La aceptabilidad varió entre 6,6 y 7,2, donde los laminados elaborados con 1,0 g de inulina y 1,0 g de lactato de calcio/100g de pulpa representaron la mejor opción. El producto presentó bajo dulzor, alta acidez y alta dureza al morder, sin embargo, ninguno de los atributos causó desagrado. Los laminados de guayaba aportan calcio y fibra dietaria a la ingesta diaria y representan una opción innovadora con potencial de alimento funcional, útil para diversificar y motivar el consumo de frutas y derivados(AU)

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) laminates enriched with inulin and calcium. Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a fruit of great acceptance that can be used as vehicle of nutrients and bioactive components, attractive qualities for making products with health benefits. Therefore, guava laminates enriched with inulin and calcium were developed. To elaborate the laminates a puree was prepared with guava pulp, sucrose and fructose in proportion 85:10:5, inulin, calcium lactate and citric acid solution (30%) was added and it was subjected to drying in a tray dehydrator at 60 °C. Four formulations were developed varying the proportions of inulin and calcium lactate. The overall acceptability of laminates was evaluated wih a 10-cm unstructured hedonic scale (zero represented "I dislike much" five "indifferent" and ten "I like") and the acceptability of the sensory attributes sweetness, acidity, color and hardness to bite with a 3-point JAR (just-about-right) scale. Physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics of the laminates produced under the selected treatment were evaluated. Acceptability varied between 6.6 and 7.2, where laminates made with 1.0 g inulin and 1.0 g calcium lactate/ 100g pulp represented the best choice. The product presented low sweetness, high acidity and high hardness to bite, however, none of the attributes caused displeasure. Guava laminates provide calcium and dietary fiber daily intake and represent an innovative option with potential functional food, useful to diversify and encourage consumption of fruits and derivatives(AU)

Cascarilla de cacao venezolano como materia prima de infusiones / Husk of Venezuelan cocoa as raw material of infusions

En la industria del cacao se subutilizan materiales que pudieran ser ingredientes en la elaboración de productos novedosos, uno de ellos es la cascarilla de cacao. Estudios previos le atribuyen a dicho material una alta capacidad antioxidante, lo que sumado a su relativo bajo costo, lo hacen un atractivo ingrediente para la elaboración de infusiones, pero antes de promoverlo como tal, se necesita garantizar su calidad. En este estudio se evaluó la composición química, la calidad microbiológica de la cascarilla de cacao, así como también aquellos parámetros que determinan su uso como materia prima en la preparación de infusiones. Las semillas de cacao fueron cultivadas en dos estados en Venezuela. A la cascarilla de cacao se le determinó el contenido de humedad, proteínas, grasa, cenizas, carbohidratos, minerales, calidad microbiológica, ocratoxina A y las propiedades como antioxidante, contenido de materias extrañas, cenizas insolubles en HCL y extracto acuoso. Los métodos aplicados se basan en normas nacionales e internacionales. Se determinaron diferencias significativas entre las muestras mediante la aplicación de ANOVA. Un bajo contenido de humedad pero alto en cenizas, una calidad microbiológica ajustada a la norma y la ausencia de ocratoxina A se observaron en la totalidad de las muestras analizadas. El bajo contenido de materias extrañas y alto valor del extracto acuoso y alto contenido de polifenoles con actividad antioxidante permite recomendar la cascarilla del cacao como materia prima para preparar infusiones.

In the cocoa bean industry, some by-products go underutilized. Some of these components could provide other innovative products, and such is the case with the husk of the cocoa bean. Previous studies have attributed the husk with a high antioxidant capacity, which added to its relative low cost, makes it an attractive ingredient for the production of infusions. However, prior to promoting it as such, its quality needs to be guaranteed. This study evaluated the chemical composition of the husk of cocoa, its microbiologic quality and other parameters in order to be considered raw material in the preparation of infusions. The cocoa was cultivated in two different states in Venezuela. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrates, microbiologic quality and ochratoxin A as well antioxidant properties, content of foreign matter, insoluble ash in HCL and aqueous extract were evaluated in the husk of cocoa seeds. Applied methods were in compliance with national and international norms. Significant differences were determined between the samples through the ANOVA application. A low level in moisture content, but high in ash, along with a microbiologic quality that met the norm, and an absence of ochratoxin A were observed in the totality of the analyzed samples. Low levels of foreign matter, the high value of its aqueous extract and high phenolic compounds content with antioxidant activity allow for the recommendation of the husk of cocoa as raw material for the preparation of infusions.

[Husk of Venezuelan cocoa as raw material of infusions]. / Cascarilla de cacao venezolano como materia prima de infusions.

In the cocoa bean industry, some by-products go underutilized. Some of these components could provide other innovative products, and such is the case with the husk of the cocoa bean. Previous studies have attributed the husk with a high antioxidant capacity, which added to its relative low cost, makes it an attractive ingredient for the production of infusions. However, prior to promoting it as such, its quality needs to be guaranteed. This study evaluated the chemical composition of the husk of cocoa, its microbiologic quality and other parameters in order to be considered raw material in the preparation of infusions. The cocoa was cultivated in two different states in Venezuela. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrates, microbiologic quality and ochratoxin A as well antioxidant properties, content of foreign matter, insoluble ash in HCL and aqueous extract were evaluated in the husk of cocoa seeds. Applied methods were in compliance with national and international norms. Significant differences were determined between the samples through the ANOVA application. A low level in moisture content, but high in ash, along with a microbiologic quality that met the norm, and an absence of ochratoxin A were observed in the totality of the analyzed samples. Low levels of foreign matter, the high value of its aqueous extract and high phenolic compounds content with antioxidant activity allow for the recommendation of the husk of cocoa as raw material for the preparation of infusions.

[Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) hulls: a posible commercial source of pectins]. / La cáscara de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.): una posible fuente comercial de pectinas.

Commercial exploitation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) generates a volume of hulls that could be used in the production of pectins on an industrial scale. Therefore, pectins from cocoa hulls were extracted at different pH and temperature conditions, and their main chemical characteristics were evaluated. EDTA at 0.5% was used for the extraction at pHs 3, 4 and 5 and temperatures of 60, 75 and 90 degrees C, under a 3 2 factorial design. The response variables were yield, content of anhydrous galacturonic acid (AGA), content of metoxil, degree of esterification and equivalent weight of the pectins extracted. The strength of the pectic gel was determined with a TA-XT2 texturometer. Strawberry jam was made with the pectin extracted, and its acceptability was determined using a 7-point hedonic scale. The results obtained were as follows: an extraction yield from 2.64 to 4.69 g/100 g; an AGA content between 49.8 and 64.06 g/100 g; a content of metoxil between 4.72 and 7.18 g/100 g; a degree of esterification between 37.94 and 52.20%; an equivalent weight from 385.47 to 464.61 g/equivalent of H+, and a degree of gelation between 28.64 and 806.03 g force. The pectin extracted at pH 4 and 90 degrees C showed a gelation power of 422.16 g force, purity 62.26 g/100 g of AGA, and a yield of extraction of 3.89 g/100 g and allowed to prepare ajam with an average level of liking of "like moderately". Pectins from cocoa hulls show potential application in the food industry, but it is necessary to optimize the extraction parameters to increase its yield.

La cáscara de cacao (Theobroma cacao L. ): una posible fuente comercial de pectinas / Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L. ) hulls: a posible commercial source of pectins

La explotación comercial del cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) genera un volumen de cáscaras que pudiera utilizarse para la producción de pectinas a nivel industrial. Por tal razón, se extrajeron de la cáscara de cacao a diferentes condiciones de pH y temperatura y se evaluaron sus principales características químicas. Para la extracción se usó EDTA al 0.5 por ciento a pHs 3, 4 y 5 y temperaturas de 60, 75 y 90°C, bajo diseño factorial 3

Comparison of methods for recovering Vibrio cholerae O1 from ice.

Alkaline peptone water (1% peptone, 1% NaCl, pH 8.5) and Trypticase soy yeast extract broth (TSYB) supplemented with 2.5% NaCl (pH 8.5) or 1% NaCl (pH 7.5) were evaluated as enrichment broths for the isolation of Vibrio cholerae O1 from ice. Thirty samples of sterile and nonsterile mineral water were inoculated with cell suspensions of this bacterium, quickly frozen, and stored for 3 days at--18 degrees C. After thawing, samples were analyzed by a three-tube most-probable-number technique. Incubation in TSYB with 2.5% NaCl (pH 8.5) for 18 h at 37 degrees C yielded the highest recovery of V. cholerae O1 cells (P < 0.05), a result that might be attributable to the nutrients and to the NaCl concentration of the TSYB, both of which would promote V. cholerae O1 growth and prevent the growth of competitive microbiota.