Microbiological quality and other characteristics of refrigerated chicken meat in contact with cellulose acetate-based film incorporated with rosemary essential oil

Antimicrobial active packaging delays or inhibits microorganism growth in packed products, and it can be used in a variety of food systems. The objective of the present research was to develop packaging incorporated with natural antimicrobial agents (active film). The effects of the active film on the spoilage, pathogenic microorganism counts, pH and color of the refrigerated chicken breast cuts were analyzed. Cellulose acetate-based active films incorporating two concentrations (20% and 50%, v/w) of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil were manufactured and placed in contact with the chicken breast cuts for six days. An analysis of variance and mean comparison tests (Tukey's test, p<0.05) were performed on the results. The films that contained 20% essential oil and were intercalated with chicken breast samples did not demonstrate significant effects on the control of psychrotrophic or total coliform microorganisms during the storage period; however, the films incorporated with 50% essential oil demonstrated efficacy toward the control of coliforms during the storage of the samples (6 days, 2 ± 2ºC). The pH was related to the psychrotrophic microorganism count and was not influenced by the treatment. The color was not influenced by the time of storage or the treatment. The results demonstrate that active films incorporating 50% rosemary essential oil are effective at controlling certain microorganisms in chicken breast cuts.

Evolution of invertase activity in honey from Castanea sativa and Rosmarinus officinalis collected in Granada

The content of α-glucoxidase in two varieties of honey covered by the Granada Honey Protected Denomination of Origin Regulatory Board is studied. The evolution of invertase activity was followed for 10 months, in 12 monofloral chestnut honey samples collected in the Alpujarra area of Granada and 9 monofloral rosemary honey samples collected in la Resinera, Valle de Lecrin and in the Sierra de Baza for 10 months. The invertase was measured in the months of June 2005, September 2005, January 2006 and finally in the month of April 2006. We obtained an invertase activity in fresh chestnut honey of 194.6±3.6 U/kg, with a range between 188.7 U/kg and 199.5 U/kg. After 10 months at ambient temperature, the chestnut honey lost between 28.3% and 39.8% of the initial values of α-glucosidase, with an average of 33.4%±3.3%. In the rosemary honey we obtained average invertase values of 69.4±14.9 U/kg, with a range between 56.9 U/kg and 91.9 U/kg. After 10 months at ambient temperature, the rosemary honey lost between 19.3% and 32.3% of the initial α-glucosidase values, with an average of 28.1%±4.4%(AU)

Recherche des principes actifs de Rosmarinus officinalis / Research of the active principles of Rosmarinus officinalis

Le romarin, Rosmarinus officinalis, est traditionnellement utilise dans les affections de la sphere hepatobiliaire sous forme d'infusion aqueuse ou de solutions hydro-alcooliques de degres divers. Il fait partie de la famille des Lamiacees dont plusieurs representants semblent presenter des proprietes antioxydantes particulierement interessantes. Des travaux recents ont montre, sur des modeles in vitro, que le romarin s'opposait aux consequences toxiques de la production de radicaux libres et notamment aux desordres membranaires provoques par la peroxydation lipidique