Polyfunctional sugar-free white chocolate fortified with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG co-encapsulated with beet residue extract (Beta vulgaris L.).

Chocolate is a worldwide consumed food. This study investigated the fortification of sugar-free white chocolate with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG microcapsule co-encapsulated with beet residue extract. The chocolates were evaluated for moisture, water activity, texture, color properties, melting, physicochemical, and probiotic stability during storage. Furthermore, the survival of L. rhamnosus GG and the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds were investigated under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Regarding the characterization of probiotic microcapsules, the encapsulation efficiency of L. rhamnosus GG was > 89 % while the encapsulation efficiency of phenolic compounds was > 62 %. Chocolates containing probiotic microcapsules were less hard and resistant to breakage. All chocolates had a similar melting behavior (endothermic peaks between 32.80 and 34.40 °C). After 120 days of storage at 4 °C, probiotic populations > 6.77 log CFU/g were detected in chocolate samples. This result demonstrates the potential of this matrix to carry L. rhamnosus GG cells. Regarding the resistance of probiotic strains during gastric simulation, the co-encapsulation of L. rhamnosus GG with beet extract contributed to high counts during gastrointestinal transit, reaching the colon (48 h) with viable cell counts equal to 11.80 log CFU/g. Finally, one of our main findings was that probiotics used phenolic compounds as a substrate source, which may be an observed prebiotic effect.

Consumer acceptability and fragrance quality differentiate on of Mogiana coffee types using the Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) method.

Coffee, one of the most produced and consumed beverage in the world, has a range of variability in its quality. The aim of this work was to evaluate the consumer capacity to perceive the coffee quality through their fragrance and to verify the influence of previous information about quality on this perception using hedonic scale and Check All That Apply (CATA) sensory tests. The sensory tests were performed in two stages, one without and the other with quality related information of Mogiana coffee samples (Rio, Hard and Soft), and a traditional coffee sample. CATA attributes frequency of occurrence shows that samples discrimination could be done with specific attributes. For Soft coffee the attributes with more occurrence were sweet, caramel, brown sugar, and smooth. The Hard coffee sample was described by the attributes peanut, buttery, and chocolate. While for Rio coffee, the descriptive attributes most often mentioned were strong and burnt. The traditional sample stood out among consumers for its characteristics of old, medicine, sour, burnt, unpleasant and spicy. Therefore, the use of coffee powder fragrance can be alternative to differentiate the quality of the product and its function can be enhanced by passing on information on quality attributes to consumers.

The mechanism, biopolymers and active compounds for the production of nanoparticles by anti-solvent precipitation: A review.

The anti-solvent precipitation method has been investigated to produce biopolymeric nanoparticles in recent years. Biopolymeric nanoparticles have better water solubility and stability when compared with unmodified biopolymers. This review article focuses on the analysis of the state of the art available in the last ten years about the production mechanism and biopolymer type, as well as the used of these nanomaterials to encapsulate biological compounds, and the potential applications of biopolymeric nanoparticles in food sector. The revised literature revealed the importance to understand the anti-solvent precipitation mechanism since biopolymer and solvent types, as well as anti-solvent and surfactants used, can alter the biopolymeric nanoparticles properties. In general, these nanoparticles have been produced using polysaccharides and proteins as biopolymers, especially starch, chitosan and zein. Finally, it was identified that those biopolymers produced by anti-solvent precipitation were used to stabilize essential oils, plant extracts, pigments, and nutraceutical compounds, promoting their application in functional foods.

Composição química e atividade antibacteriana dos óleos essenciais de Cymbopogon winterianus (citronela), Eucalyptus paniculata (eucalipto) e Lavandula angustifolia (lavanda) / Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella), Eucalyptus paniculata (eucalyptus) and Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)

Neste estudo, foi determinada a composição química de óleos essenciais obtidos de três espécies de plantas medicinais cultivadas na região Sul do Brasil: Cymbopogon winterianus (citronela), Eucalyptus paniculata (eucalipto) e Lavandula angustifolia (lavanda), e as atividades antimicrobianas foram avaliadas frente a 11 espécies de bactérias, incluindo-se espécies de importância em alimentos e em saúde pública. A composição dos óleos essenciais, obtidos por destilação a vapor, foi determinada por CG/DIC e CG/EM; a atividade antimicrobiana foi detectada pela técnica de difusão em disco; a CMI e a CMB foram determinadas pela metodologia de microdiluição. Os óleos essenciais de lavanda e citronela apresentaram monoterpenos oxigenados como componentes majoritários e, no óleo essencial de eucalipto, os monoterpenos hidrocarbonados foram os principais constituintes. O óleo essencial de citronela foi o mais ativo contra a maioria das bactérias testadas, com valores de CMI e CMB, respectivamente, de 0,075 e 0,31mg/mL para Yersinia enterocolitica. O óleo essencial de lavanda destacou-se pela atividade inibitória contra Escherichia coli e Salmonella Typhimurium, e o óleo de eucalipto foi ativo contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Este estudo demonstra que os óleos essenciais avaliados apresentam potencial para aplicação como agentes antimicrobianos naturais.