Screening filamentous tropical fungi for their nutritional potential as sources of crude proteins, lipids and minerals.

The use of fungal and yeast biomass in foodstuff, either as supplements or as major ingredients in formulations is an area of growing interest for the modern food industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional potential of biomasses obtained from filamentous fungi Penicillium sclerotiorum, Penicillium janthinellum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Syncephalastrum racemosum. Biomasses presented 26-37% of total proteins, 1.7-3.5% of lipids and 4.6-9.1% of ashes. The humidity level reached 75-83%. Ashes were screened for minerals contents with a special outcome for S. racemosum biomass that presented 3438 mg/100 g (dw) of magnesium. Fatty acids present in the biomasses were screened and the palmitic (C16:0), estearic (C18:0), elaidic (18:1n9-t), oleic (18:1n9-c), linolelaidic (C18:2n6-t), linoleic (C18:2n6-c) and γ-linolenic (C18:3n6) acids were found to be the most abundant, from a total of 88-90% of identified fatty acids. Overall data indicate that the filamentous fungi studied have good nutritional properties, possessing a combination of good level of proteins, low level of fat, and presence of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 derivatives, along with the presence of Ca, Mg, Zn and Fe.

Aminas bioativas e características físico-químicas de salames tipo italiano / Bioactive amines and physico-chemical characteristics of Italian sausages

Amostras de seis lotes de sete marcas de salames tipo italiano foram analisadas quanto a aminas bioativas e características físico-químicas de qualidade. Oito das 10 aminas pesquisadas foram detectadas em todas as amostras com teores totais de 28,33 a 53,27mg/100g. A tiramina foi a amina predominante seguida da putrescina e da cadaverina. Todas as marcas apresentaram teores de tiramina capazes de causar efeito tóxico em indivíduos sensíveis dependendo da quantidade ingerida. Duas marcas apresentaram também teores potencialmente tóxicos de histamina e de feniletilamina. Nenhuma das marcas atendeu à legislação em pelo menos um parâmetro físico-químico. Os teores de umidade e de açucares totais foram as características com maior percentual de não-atendimento. Os teores de cinzas variaram de 5,54 a 7,12g/100g, sendo os cloretos 66 a 79 por cento desses teores. As amostras apresentaram valores de pH de 4,86 a 5,78, acidez de 16,61 a 55,03ml NaOH N/100g e índice de peróxidos de não detectado a 334,82mEq/kg.

Six batches of seven brands of Italian sausages purchased in Belo Horizonte, MG were analyzed for bioactive amines and physico-chemical characteristics. Eight out of 10 amines investigated were detected in every sample with total levels varying from 28.33 to 53.27mg/100g. Tyramine was the predominant amine followed by putrescine and cadaverine. Every brand contained toxic tyramine levels for sensitive individuals depending on the amount of sausage consumption. Two brands also contained toxic levels of histamine and phenylethylamine. No brand was in conformity to legislation levels for at least one physico-chemical parameter. The highest discrepancies to legislation levels were observed for moisture and total sugar contents. The levels of ash varied from 5.54 to 7.12g/100g, with chlorides representing 66 to 79 percent of the levels.The pH varied from 4.86 to 5.78, acidity from 16.61 to 55.03ml NaOH N/100g and peroxide values from 0.0 (no detected) to 334.82mEq/kg.

[Evolution of phenolic compounds and condensed tannins (Proanthocyanidins) during the development of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)]. / Evolução dos fenólicos totais e taninos condensados (Proantocianidinas) durante o desenvolvimento das sementes do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

The evolution of phenolic compounds and tannins (proanthocyanidins) of bean seeds, Phaseolus vulgaris L., (cultivar aroana 80), from anthesis to maturity (10 to 45 days after anthesis), was investigated. During seed development, phenolic compounds and tannins contents increased by seed unit, until the 31st and 21st day after anthesis respectively, decreasing afterwards. The gradual decrease in catechin and the increase of its polymers (intermediate compounds), as well as the gradual increase in alpha-amylase inhibition capacity were indications that tannins polymerize during seed development.

[Effect of the dietary fiber content in nutrition on various stool parameters, in man]. / Influencia do teor de fibra dietética da alimentação sobre alguns parâmetros feciais, no homem.

Ten subjects were studied for two periods of six days each during which they were fed respectively a regular diet (control diet) followed by a fiber-supplemented diet (experimental diet). The experimental diet consisted of a regular diet in which some foods where substracted and some bran biscuits, specially produced for this investigation, were added. The experimental diet produced a significant increase in daily stool weight, dried stool weight, water contents of the stools and intestinal transit time. The study has shown that special bran biscuits is effective in promoting a increase in bowel transit time, and therefore should be submitted to therapeutic trial in patients with constipation.

Influencia do teor de fibra dietetica da alimentacao sobre alguns parametros fecais, no homem. / Effect of the content of dietary fibers in nutrition on some stool parameters, in man

Os autores estudaram o efeito produzido, em alguns parametros fecais, pela substituicao do pao de uma dieta normal por biscoito de farelo de trigo. Analisaram-se o peso fecal, a agua eliminada nas fezes, o peso das fezes secas, a gordura e o nitrogenio fecais, a frequencia das evacuacoes, pH, a cor, a forma e a consistencia das fezes. Utilizaram-se l0 individuos sadios durante dois periodos de seis dias cada um. No primeiro, estudou-se a dieta controle (dieta I) e, no segundo, a dieta experimental (dieta II), enriquecida com biscoito de farelo de trigo. Foram observados aumentos significativos do peso fecal, da agua eliminada nas fezes, do peso das fezes secas e da frequencia das evacuacoes. A gordura e o nitrogenio fecal nao foram alterados significativamente com o uso da dieta II. O pH, a cor, a forma e a consistencia das fezes nao apresentaram alteracoes substanciais quando os individuos passaram a utilizar a dieta II. Em vista dos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que a utilizacao do biscoito de farelo de trigo e benefica como suplementacao de fibra dietetica, podendo ser de grande utilidade terapeutica, especialmente em individuos com constipacao intestinal essencial

Avaliacao de um novo teste de gravidez para fazer em casa, baseado na deteccao da gonadotrofina corionica na urina. / Evaluation of a new test of pregnancy to make at home, based on detection of chorionic gonadotropin in urine

Foram comparados os resultados do teste de gravidez Predictor executado por 100 pacientes em casa com os resultados dos testes executados pelo laboratorio. Houve coincidencia em 99% dos casos e somente uma paciente nao conseguiu executar o teste corretamente