Starch-based antifungal edible coatings to control sour rot caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii and maintain postharvest quality of 'Fino' lemon.

BACKGROUND: Two edible coating (EC) emulsions based on potato starch (F6 and F10) alone or formulated with sodium benzoate (SB, 2% w/w) (F6/SB and F10/SB) were evaluated to maintain postharvest quality of cold-stored 'Fino' lemons and control sour rot on lemons artificially inoculated with Geotrichum citri-aurantii. Previous research showed the potential of these ECs to improve the storability of 'Orri' mandarins and reduce citrus green and blue molds caused by Penicillum digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively. RESULTS: The coatings F6/SB and F10/SB significantly reduced sour rot incidence and severity compared to uncoated control samples on lemons incubated at 28 °C for 4 and 7 days. The F6/SB coating reduced weight loss and gas exchange compared to uncoated fruit after 2 and 4 weeks of storage at 12 °C plus a shelf life of 1 week at 20 °C, without adversely affecting the lemon physicochemical quality. CONCLUSION: Overall, the F6/SB coating formulation, composed of pregelatinized potato starch, glyceryl monostearate, glycerol, emulsifiers and SB, with a total solid content of 5.5%, showed the best results in reducing citrus sour rot and maintaining the postharvest quality of cold-stored 'Fino' lemons. Therefore, it showed potential as a new cost-effective postharvest treatment suitable to be included in integrated disease management programs for citrus international markets with zero tolerance to chemical residues. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of Concentrated Liquid Coffee Acceptance during Storage: Sensory and Physicochemical Perspective.

Concentrated liquid coffees (CLCs) refer to stored extracts stable at environmental temperature, used as ingredients in the retail market. Their low chemical stability affects the sensory profile. This study was performed in two CLCs, one without additives (BIB) and another with a mix of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate additives (SD), stored at 25 °C for one year. Quantitative-Descriptive (QDA) and discriminant analyses permitted identifying the critical sensory attributes and their evolution over time. The concentrate without additives presented an acceptance limit of 196 days (evaluated at a 50% acceptance ratio), while the additives increased the shelf life up to 226 days (38.9% improvement). The rejection was related to a decreased aroma, increased acidity, and reduced bitterness. A bootstrapped feature selection version of Partial Least Square analysis further demonstrated that reactions of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5diCQA) could cause changes in the aroma at the first degradation stage. In the following stages, changes in fructose and stearic acid contents, a key indicator of acceptance for both extracts possibly related to non-enzymatic reactions involving fructose and other compounds, might affect the bitterness and acidity. These results provided valuable information to understand flavor degradation in CLCs.

Edible Active Coatings Based on Pectin, Pullulan, and Chitosan Increase Quality and Shelf Life of Strawberries (Fragaria ananassa).

Edible active coatings (EACs) based on pectin, pullulan, and chitosan incorporated with sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate were employed to improve the quality and shelf life of strawberries. Fruits were washed, disinfected, coated by dipping, packed, and stored at 4 °C for 15 d. Application of EACs reduced (P < 0.05) weight loss and fruit softening and delayed alteration of color (redness) and total soluble solids content. In contrast, pH and titratable acidity were not affected (P > 0.05) throughout storage, and ascorbic acid content was maintained in pectin-EAC coated strawberries. Microbiological analyses showed that application of EACs reduced (P < 0.05) microbial growth (total aerobic counts, molds, and yeasts) on strawberries. Chitosan-EAC coated strawberries presented the best results in microbial growth assays. Sensory quality (color, flavor, texture, and acceptance) improved and decay rate decreased (P < 0.05) in pectin-EAC, pullulan-EAC, and chitosan-EAC coated strawberries. In conclusion, EACs based on polysaccharides improved the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics, increasing the shelf life of strawberries from 6 (control) to 15 d (coated fruits).

Combination of solid phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for separation/preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of uranium prior to its fiber optic-linear array spectrophotometry determination.

A simple and sensitive method for the separation and preconcentration of the ultra trace amounts of uranium and its determination by spectrophotometry was developed. The method is based on the combination of solid phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Thus, by passing the sample through the basic alumina column, the uranyl ion and some cations are separated from the sample matrix. The retained uranyl ion along with the cations are eluted with 5 mL of nitric acid (2 mol L(-1)) and after neutralization of the eluent, the extracted uranyl ion is converted to its anionic benzoate complex and is separated from other cations by extraction of its ion pair with malachite green into small volume of chloroform using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. The amount of uranium is then determined by the absorption measurement of the extracted ion pair at 621 nm using flow injection spectrophotometry. Under the optimum conditions, with 500 mL of the sample, a preconcentration factor of 1980, a detection limit of 40 ng L(-1), and a relative standard deviation of 4.1% (n=6) at 400 ng L(-1) were obtained. The method was successfully applied to the determination of uranium in mineral water, river water, well water, spring water and sea water samples.

Influence of low-frequency massage device on transdermal absorption of ionic materials.

The influence of a low-frequency massage device on transdermal absorption of sodium benzoate, ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium was investigated in rats. Electrode pads spread with a hydroxypropyl cellulose gel containing the drug model were placed on excised skin in vitro. The transdermal permeation studies were carried out in the treatment group with the pulse applied through electrode pads spread with the gel, the pretreatment group with the gel applied after the application of the pulse and in the control group in which the gel was applied without the pulse. In vivo, transdermal absorption of ketoprofen was examined in the same groups used for the in vitro study. The pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in plasma after intravenous injection was also studied. The treatment group showed higher cumulative permeated amounts of the drug models than the control in vitro. However, the enhancing effect was not observed in the pretreatment group. In vivo, the plasma ketoprofen level increased temporarily after the pulse was applied and then increased gradually as compared with the control. Since the distribution of ketoprofen from the central to the peripheral compartment was enhanced by the pulse in the injection study, enhancement of the biodistribution of ketoprofen by the low-frequency pulse was suggested.

[Rationale for the use of sodium benzoate in clinical hepatology]. / Benzoato de sodio. Fundamentos para su uso clínico en hepatología.

Sodium benzoate is widely used in the Alimentary Industry at low doses for its antimicrobial action. It has also been used as a liver function test. The principle is to evaluate the liver capacity for conjugation of glycine to benzoic acid and to form hippuric acid which is excreted in the urine. In hyperammonemic syndromes, secondary to enzymatic deficiency of the urea cicle, sodium benzoate has the property to act as an alternative way of nitrogen excretion to urinary hippurate instead of urea. Recently, it has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative in cirrhotic patients with portal systemic encephalopathy. Historical, biochemical and clinical data which constitute the principles to validate its clinical application in Hepatology are reviewed in this manuscript.