Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.): A critical review for the food industry.

This review aimed to critically and comparatively analyze the physicochemical, proximate, nutritional, phytochemical composition, and bioactivities of araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) (AAc), a fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado. Additionally, the potential applications of this fruit in the food industry were reviewed. Data and information were collected from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. AAc, a fruit mainly studied in the Brazilian regions of Minas Gerais and Goiás, has well-documented physicochemical, proximate, and nutritional characteristics. It is rich in fiber, sugars, vitamins A and C, minerals, and oil, making it attractive to the food industry. However, there are research gaps, such as the impact of climatic conditions on the AAc chemical composition. Additional studies are needed, especially for the peel and seeds, and investigations of pre-treatments effect on the chemical composition are recommended. The application of AAc in food products is mainly limited to pulp, but there is potential for using peels and seeds. AAc is a rich source of phytochemical compounds with various biological properties, such as antioxidants, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial activities. Future studies should explore other phytochemicals present in the fruit beyond phenolic compounds. The consumption of AAc can contribute to combating food insecurity malnutrition, and promoting the conservation of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Enzymatic hydrolysis improves the encapsulation properties of rice bran protein by increasing retention of anthocyanins in microparticles of grape juice.

There is a growing demand for the food industry to find appealing matrices that display a clean and sustainable label capable of replacing animal proteins in the encapsulation market for natural pigments. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of enzymatic hydrolysis by Flavourzyme protease on the encapsulation properties of rice bran proteins, aiming to protect anthocyanins in grape juice microparticles. To achieve this, rice bran protein hydrolysates (RPH) with low (5%, LRPH), medium (10%, MRPH), and high (15%, HRPH) degrees of hydrolysis (DH) were used combined with maltodextrin as carrier agents for the microencapsulation of grape juice by spray drying. The feed solutions contained 1 g of carrier agents (CA)/g of soluble solids from the juice (SS) and protein: a 15% CA ratio. Non-hydrolyzed rice protein was used as a carrier agent to obtain a control sample to evaluate the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on the microencapsulation of grape juice. Protein modification increased the surface activity of the protein and its ability to migrate to the surface of the microparticles, forming a protective film, as observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using HRPH as a carrier agent combined with maltodextrin improved the internal and total anthocyanin retention, antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH and ABTS+ assays, and powder recovery compared to the control sample, and increased DH reduced particle size and powder stickiness. These particles were more homogeneous, rough, and without cracks. The microencapsulation efficiency was above 70%. All powders exhibited low values of hygroscopicity and degree of caking. Therefore, enzymatic hydrolysis proves to be a promising alternative for improving rice bran protein's encapsulating properties since using RPH as an encapsulating agent conferred greater protection of anthocyanins in microparticles. Moreover, the HRPH sample exhibited the most favorable outcomes overall, indicating its potential for prospective utilization in the market, supported by its elevated Tg.

Chocolates, compounds and spreads: A review on the use of oleogels, hydrogels and hybrid gels to reduce saturated fat content.

This study is a bibliometric analysis and literature review on the use of oleogels (OGs), hydrogels (HGs) and hybrid gels (HYGs) in chocolate, compounds and spreads with the aim of reducing the saturated fat in these products. The articles were selected by analyzing titles, keywords and abstracts in the Web of Science (WoS), Scopus and Google Scholar databases. Supplementary documents were obtained from government sources, including patent registrations. The theoretical and practical aspects were critically analyzed, highlighting the main points of agreement and disagreement between the authors. The results revealed a lack of regulations and official guidelines that widely allow the use of OGs, HGs and HYGs in chocolate confectionery products. The type and characteristics of raw materials affect the properties of products. Replacing cocoa butter (CB) with OGs, HGs or HYGs also affects texture, melting point and behavior, and nutritional aspects. These substitutions can result in products with better sensory acceptance and health benefits, such as reducing saturated fat and promoting cardiovascular health. However, it is important to find the ideal combination and proportions of components to obtain the desired properties in the final products.