Influence of sprouting on the bioaccessibility and bioactivity of benzoxazinoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids of soft and hard wheat cultivars.

Grain germination increases the contents of benzoxazinoids and the antioxidant capacity of wheat and differentially affects the phytochemical composition of hard and soft wheat cultivars. It was investigated whether wheat cultivars (sprouted or not) with distinct grain texture characteristics (BRS Guaraim, soft vs. BRS Marcante, hard texture) would have different behavior in relation to changes in phytochemical compounds, bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion of a tabbouleh preparation. Sprouting increased the nominal amount of phytochemicals in tabbouleh resulting in increased release of phenolic acids (up to 7.5-fold) and benzoxazinoids (up to 12.5-fold) during all digestion phases besides higher bioaccessibility (up to 2.8-fold). Sprouting caused greater increase in the bioaccessibility of phenolic acids for the soft wheat cultivar (4.5-fold) than for the hard cultivar (1.9-fold) and it increased the colon available index of phenolic acids only for the soft cultivar (1.8-fold). Flavonoids, mainly represented by apigenin glycosides, were marginally increased after sprouting but underwent relative increase along digestion being the major phytochemicals found in the bioaccessible fraction obtained after intestinal digestion (73-94% of total phytochemicals). The increase in apigenin glycosides was associated to the increase of in vitro and intracellular antioxidant capacity of tabbouleh along digestion. Sprouting increased the peroxyl radical removal capacity of tabbouleh in the gastric phase and in the non-bioaccessible fraction regardless of the cultivar. The highest hydroxyl radical removal capacities were found in non-sprouted cultivars, especially in the soft texture cultivar in the undigested and bioaccessible fractions. The bioaccessible fraction obtained after wheat digestion was more efficient to scavenge intracellular ROS than undigested samples, the highest scavenging potency being observed for the hard texture cultivar with no effect of sprouting. These findings confirm the hypothesis that the phytochemicals of hard and soft wheat cultivars (sprouted or not) have different behavior during digestion in terms of biotransformation, bioaccessibility and ability to remove reactive species and indicate that tabbouleh produced from sprouted wheat results in increased release of bioactive phytochemicals during digestion.

Gelatin extracted from jundiá skin (Rhamdia quelen): An alternative to the discarded by-product.

The production of gelatin from by-products of the fishing industry values ​​the discarded raw material and serves a part of the population that does not consume products originating from mammals. Therefore, the objective of the research was to use the jundiá skin (Rhamdia quelen) (JS) to obtain gelatin (GJS) and characterize this product, not yet studied until the present moment. Thus, the extraction process showed a yield of 7.3 % for JS and 18.2 % for GJS (in wet weight). Both JS and GJS presented, in their composition, high concentration of protein (26.3 and 88.1 %), low levels of fixed mineral residue (1.0 and 1.9 %), lipids (1.7 and 1.5 %) and hydroxyproline content (1.5 and 7.2 %), respectively. The GJS dispersion had a pH value of 4.7 and the color analysis indicated a snow effect with a white appearance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed amide bands commonly found in gelatin, gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed high molecular weight bands, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a denaturation temperature of 69.4 °C and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a compact and non-porous structure. The emulsifying property was high when subjected to a temperature of 80 °C for 30 min, while the foaming capacity was significant at a concentration of 1 %. The highest dispersivity was observed at pH 2.0 and, in this condition, the viscosity was higher than that of other gelatin sources (25.5 cP). In view of the above, attention is drawn to the use of JS as a raw material for obtaining gelatin and for the various possibilities of application.

Extraction and characterization of collagen from sheep slaughter by-products.

There is a growing search for alternative raw materials to obtain collagen and hydrolysates and processes that do not threaten the environment or human health. Thus, sheep slaughter residue, which doesn't yet have an adequate and sustainable destination, is an excellent source of study. The objective of this study was to investigate the technological properties of collagen extracted from sheep slaughter by-products. It was possible to produce and characterize collagens extracted from sheep slaughter by-products. The yield of collagen was 18.0% and 12.5% for lamb and sheep by-products, respectively, on a dry basis. Lamb and sheep collagens showed similar FTIR and digestibility spectra and increased solubility at acidic pH-value. Higher foaming capacity was found for lamb collagen, while the sheep collagen presented higher viscosity. The emulsifying power of the collagens was 59.1 and 69.6 m2/g for lamb and sheep by-products, respectively. The collagens presented bands corresponding to α1, α2, and ß chains, characteristic of collagen type I and a molecular weight (SDS-PAGE) between 100 and 5 kDa. The collagens of this study showed potential for application in food products, both for the technological improvement and nutrient enrichment, adding value and giving a sustainable destination to sheep slaughter by-products.

Physicochemical, technological and sensory properties of hamburger made with meat from lambs fed on whole cottonseed.

The physicochemical composition and the technological and sensory properties of hamburgers made with meat from Ile de France lambs fed on different levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) of whole cottonseed were studied. The addition of whole cottonseed to the lambs' diets decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the lamb meat and altered the physicochemical characteristics of the hamburgers, which were characterised by low lipid ( y^=4.27 ), cholesterol ( y^=75.15 ) and caloric content ( y^=122.04 ). The results regarding cooking characteristics were directly related to the microscopic observations regarding the hamburgers; the more cohesive structures exhibited better performance after cooking, with increased cooking yield and moisture retention, and decreased cooking loss. The levels of whole cottonseed did not influence the texture profile, but they negatively affected the acceptability of the hamburgers, since as the levels of cotton seedlings increased, the scores for the sensorial attributes decreased. Thus, a maximum inclusion of 16.7% of whole cottonseed in the dry matter of the diet of lambs is recommended.

Effect of ultrasound on the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of Italian salami.

Italian salami were sonicated in different times (0, 3, 6 and 9min) using ultrasound bath (US, 25kHz). The effect of sonication on microbial growth (lactic acid bacteria and Micrococcaceae), lipid and protein oxidation, total heme pigments (THP), non heme iron (NHI) and metmyoglobin (MMb) was investigated during processing (0, 2, 15, and 28days) and storage (1, 30, and 120days). US enhanced growth of microorganisms (P<0.05), mainly for the treatment 9min of sonication. The lipid (peroxide value and TBARS) and protein (thiol group) oxidative reactions were accelerated by US (P<0.05) and they should be considered to maintain Italian salami quality. Sonication contributed to maintenance of THP (P<0.05), especially during storage. MMb pigment was not affected by sonication (P>0.05). This study presented some features of US application that could be explored in the manufacture of Italian salami.

Correlações entre contagem bacteriana total e parâmetros de qualidade do leite

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da contagem bacteriana total (CBT) sobre os constituintes do leite, verificando a influência que as variáveis climáticas exercem sobre a CBT. Os dados utilizados foram de 1.541 unidades produtoras de leite, referentes a 15 municípios da bacia leiteira do Vale do Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul. Foram tabulados os dados de CBT, contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e composição centesimal do leite, referentes ao período de junho de 2008 a dezembro de 2011, totalizando 44.089 amostras analisadas. As variáveis climáticas (médias mensais da temperatura média, da umidade relativa do ar e precipitação pluviométrica) não apresentaram correlação significativa com a CBT. Os teores de gordura, proteína, minerais e sólidos totais foram diretamente correlacionados com a CBT, enquanto que os sólidos não gordurosos e a lactose apresentaram comportamento inverso. Através da análise de componentes principais (ACP), auxiliada pelo método hierárquico aglomerativo de agrupamento, os sete tratamentos presentes no estudo foram reduzidos a quatro grupos de acordo com a similaridade. Assim, os leites com CBT superiores a 50.000 até 500.000 UFC mL-1, e ainda de valores acima de 500.000 até 1.000.000 UFC mL-1 apresentam a mesma qualidade química e contagem de células somáticas, não justificando a estratificação de intervalos nesta amplitude de variação para avaliação do efeito da