Solvent-free sonication of blackberries for the anthocyanin enrichment of juices obtained by pressing.

An ultrasound pretreatment was used to increase anthocyanins content in blackberry juice. Whole fruits were inserted into a glass vessel without contact with any solvent, sonicated in an ultrasonic bath, and then pressed with a manual juicer. The experimental design showed that 7 min at 65% of ultrasound amplitude increased the anthocyanin content in juices from 31 to 56% for BRS Xingu, Guarani, and Xavante cultivars. Two major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were found in higher concentrations for sonicated fruits. Therefore, ultrasonic pretreatment of whole fruits increased the anthocyanins in blackberry juices using a simple, fast, and green approach.

Grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lamarck) functional phytochemicals: Effect of environmental conditions and ripening process.

Grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lamarck) is a native fruit of the Atlantic rain forest that belongs to Myrtaceae family. It presents economic potential due to the attractive sensory attributes and bioactive compounds. This study determined physicochemical characteristics, minerals (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn), sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), total content of phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins, individual phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity at three ripening stages of grumixama from two growing locations (Florianópolis and São Ludgero, Santa Catarina state, Brazil). Of the 23 phenolic compounds quantified, gallic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, and isoquercetrin were the major (with values up to 69.08 mg/100 g fresh weight). Fructose (up to 5.28 g/100 g fresh weight) was the main sugar, and K (up to 589.30 mg/100 g fresh weight) was the major mineral, followed by Ca, Na, and Mg (up to 149.02, 117.52, and 80.18 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively). More mature fruits had the highest levels of total phenolics (up to 469.18 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight), anthocyanins (up to 518.64 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent/100 g fresh weight), and proanthocyanidins (up to 420.70 mg catechin equivalent/100 g fresh weight). The influence of growing location and ripening on nutritional and physicochemical characteristics was confirmed. There was a statistically significant interaction (p < 0.05) between both factors for almost all parameters evaluated. The results showed that grumixama fruits could contribute to the daily intake of nutritional and bioactive compounds for consumers' health.

Effect of ultrasound application on the growth of S. xylosus inoculated in by-products from the poultry industry.

A wide variety of by-products are produced by the industry when animals are slaughtered. However, the proteins present in these by-products, are not being fully useable, in the elaboration of value-added products. Staphylococcus xylosus is commonly used as a starter culture in meat products subjected to ripening for a long period, as it produces proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes that improve the sensory quality of the products. Ultrasound (US) has been arousing interest in the meat industry, as it reduces processing time and also improves the technological and sensory quality of meat products. However, the stimulate effect of US on the growth of S. xylosus in by-products from the poultry industry is still unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the stimulate effect of US on the growth of S. xylosus inoculated in by-products from the poultry industry. S. xylosus was inoculated (5.63 log CFU/g) in sterilized by-products from the poultry, which were then sonicated at 37 °C for 0, 15, 30, and 45 min according to the following parameters: frequencies of 130 and 35 kHz, amplitudes of 50% and 80% and normal and degas operating modes. The sonicated samples were incubated at 37 °C for 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. Soon after sonication, no stimulate effect of US was observed on the growth of S. xylosus. However, after 24 h of incubation, the samples sonicated for 15 and 30 min in normal mode, at 35 and 130 kHz, and amplitudes of 50 and 80% exhibited better stimulate effect at the growth S. xylosus counts (p < 0.01) when compared to the Control, with values of 8.23 and 7.77 log CFU/g, respectively. These results can be exploited to obtain new added-value products, having as raw material by-products from the poultry industry.

Assessment of Sorbate and Benzoate Content in Mustard, Ketchup and Tomato Sauce by Sub-Minute Capillary Electrophoresis.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Sorbate and benzoate are important preservatives in food products, but these compounds can also have genotoxic effects, causing health risks to consumers. In this regard, this study aims to determine the mass fractions of sorbate and benzoate in Brazilian samples of mustard, ketchup and tomato sauce using an adequately validated sub-minute capillary electrophoresis method. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study, sorbate and benzoate were evaluated in sauce samples by capillary electrophoresis using a simple sample preparation procedure. Previously, the method was validated according to Eurachem guidelines, and its greenness was assessed by Eco-Scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The fitness for purpose of the method, as well as its suitability for the analysis of the studied matrices and its agreement with the principles of green chemistry were checked and confirmed. Also, according to our findings, among the 30 commercial samples assessed, six of them presented some mislabeling or non-compliance with European or Brazilian legislation, reinforcing the constant need for quality assessment and surveillance of food products. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: So far, there have been few studies related to investigating the preservatives such as sorbate and benzoate in mustard, ketchup and tomato sauce, highlighting the significance and contribution of the obtained results to the knowledge in the field.

Effects of ultrasonic-assisted cooking on the volatile compounds, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of mortadella.

Ultrasound is a form of green technology that has been applied efficiently to improve processes in the food industry. This study evaluated the application of ultrasound to reduce the cooking time of mortadella. The volatile compounds, oxidative stability, and sensory quality of mortadella were evaluated. Four cooking conditions were used, as follows: Control, corresponding to the cooking time traditionally used in the meat industry; TUS100 and TUS50: cooking with US (25 kHz) and 50% reduction of the cooking time of Control, using 100% (462 W) and 50% (301 W) amplitude, respectively; and TWUS: cooking without the application of US and 50% reduction of the cooking time of Control. TUS100 and TUS50 showed an increase of 10.8% and 29.4%, respectively, in the total amount of terpenes on the first day of storage in relation to the Control. The presence of nonane on the 60th day only in the US-treated samples (0.22 × 106 vs 0.11 × 106 for TUS100 and TUS50, respectively) indicated that the US treatment may have induced higher oxidation in mortadella. The oxidative stability index ranged from 274 to 369 days for TUS100 and the Control, respectively. The treatments TWUS and TUS50 showed a lower sensory quality at the end of storage. On the other hand, TUS100 presented sensory quality similar to the Control, demonstrating that ultrasonic-assisted cooking using a 100% amplitude is an alternative to reduce the cooking time without affecting the product quality.

Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Three Edible Ripening Stages of Yellow Guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) after Acidic Hydrolysis by LC-MS/MS.

Yellow guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) has received considerable attention in the last years because of their high content in bioactive compounds with potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the phenolic compounds of three edible ripening stages of yellow guava fruits after acidic hydrolysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and their antioxidant capacity. Among the 23 phenolics quantified, catechin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, gallic acid, and syringic acid showed significant concentrations in all the evaluated stages, with values ranging from 479.59 ± 12.52 to 12,795.50 ± 320.95 µg 100 g-1 of dry matter. In general, higher concentrations of phenolic acids were found in the latter ripening stages, while flavonoids were in the earlier ripening stages. These findings suggest that the ripening process promotes changes in the phenolic composition of yellow guava. However, considering the sum of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity, all ripening stages investigated can be suggested as a supply of bioactive compounds for consumers.

Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott): Chemical composition, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in two edible stages.

The berries of the genus Rubus has been highlighted as important source of bioactive and health promoting constituents, however, information about chemical composition and antioxidant potential of the specie Rubus ulmifolius are still scarce. In this regard, this study aimed to assess the physicochemical characteristics, total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), individual phenolics, minerals, sugars, and antioxidant properties of mature and fully mature R. ulmifolius. With the advance of maturation, changes in the physicochemical composition suggest pleasant characteristics for consumption especially in the fully mature stage. High levels of TMA and sugars (fructose and glucose) were also verified in the fully mature stage, as well as, expressive antioxidant potential, with values of 241.06 µM Fe+2 g-1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power and 28.22 mg gallic acid equivalent g-1 for Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity (all expressed in dry matter, DM). In contrast, minerals (potassium, calcium, sodium) and most of the studied phenolic compounds showed the highest concentrations in mature fruits. Among the phenolics investigated, 26 compounds were identified and quercetin and isoquercitrin were the predominant phenolic compounds in the fruit. The results reinforce the nutritive and antioxidant potential of Rubus ulmifolius in both maturation stages studied.

Phenolic Compounds Determined by LC-MS/MS and In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Brazilian Fruits in Two Edible Ripening Stages.

The aim of this study was to investigate the free individual phenolics and the in vitro antioxidant capacity of blackberry, acerola, yellow guava, guabiju, jambolan and jabuticaba fruits in two edible stages. Of the thirty-three phenolics investigated by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), twenty-five were quantified and the major ones were catechin, isoquercitrin, epicatechin and gallic acid. The highest values for the total phenolic content (in dry matter) were observed for acerola (83.6 to 97.7 mg gallic acid equivalents g-1 DM) and blackberry (18.9 to 28.3 mg gallic acid equivalents g-1 DM); however, acerola, jabuticaba, and blackberry showed the highest antioxidant capacities (134.6 to 1120.4 mg Trolox equivalents g-1 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 43.6 to 501.8 µmol Trolox equivalents g-1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power). For most fruits, the antioxidant capacity decreased during the ripening, possibly due to a decrease in the concentration of most of the phenolics.

Nutritional and bioactive potential of Myrtaceae fruits during ripening.

This study aimed to characterize jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora), guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens), and jambolan (Syzygium cumini) in relation to its individual phenolic compounds (LC-ESI-MS/MS), antioxidant capacity, total monomeric anthocyanin, sugars, and minerals during ripening (intermediate and ripe stages). In the three studied fruits, 22 phenolic compounds were quantified, especially phenolic acids and flavonoids, which presented a higher concentration in the intermediate ripening stage. In contrast, the total monomeric anthocyanin, fructose, glucose, Ca, Na values were higher in the ripe stage. In addition, all studied fruits showed expressive antioxidant capacity in both ripening stages: 2569.28 to 5066.35mg AAE 100g-1 DW for DPPH; 13777.52 to 26667.45µmol Fe+2 100g-1 DW for FRAP; and 957.72 to 2061.35mg GAE 100g-1 DW for Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity. Therefore, our results revealed that these fruits represent a supply of high-value nutrient and bioactive components, especially in the ripe stage.

Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds, minerals, and antioxidant capacity of Mimosa scabrella Bentham honeydew honeys.

Honey is a product traditionally consumed due to its possible health benefits promoted by natural antioxidants. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on these compounds in honeys. To improve the knowledge of this subject, the present study aimed to investigate the influence of simulated digestion on the stability of antioxidant capacity (FRAP, DPPH, and Folin-Ciocalteu assays), phenolic compounds (LC-ESI-MS/MS), and minerals (CE-DAD) in Mimosa scabrella Bentham honeydew honeys. The results show that the digestive system, mainly after duodenal digestion, significantly decreased the antioxidant capacity assessed by FRAP (410.3±18.3 to 564.7±8.4µmolFe+2100g-1), DPPH (30.1±0.8 to 33.9±1.4mgAAE100g-1), and Folin-Ciocalteu assays (58.3±2.6 to 142.0±1.6mgGAE100g-1) of this honey. However, phenolic compounds and minerals showed high stability and in some cases, significantly increased after the simulated digestion, presenting a bioaccessible fraction that ranged from 78.2±6.4 to 174.38±6.82% and 94.0±4.3 to 220.5±3.4%, respectively. Therefore, these honey constituents may be considered highly bioaccessible and potentially bioavailable. Additionally, the correlation between the investigated parameters suggests that other honey constituents could also possibly affect antioxidant capacity of this honey. In conclusion, the bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Benth.) honeydew honey can be highlighted as an important natural source of bioaccessible polyphenols, besides presenting highly bioaccessible minerals in its composition, maintaining a satisfactory antioxidant capacity.