Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita L.) increases time to exhaustion in runners.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of peppermint essential oil to improve the physical performance of runners in running protocol until exhaustion. METHODS: In a clinical, randomized, double-blind, cross-over and controlled study, fourteen male recreational runners (37.1 ± 2.0 years; 24 ± 1.1 kg/m2; 53.1 ± 1.7 mL kg min) performed two runs to exhaustion at 70% of VO2max, after intake of 500 mL of water added with 0.05 mL of peppermint essential oil (PEO) or placebo (PLA), plus 400 mL of the drink during the initial part of the exercise. Records were made of body temperature (BT), thermal sensation (TS), thermal comfort (TC), subjective perception of effort (SPE), sweat rate (SR), and urine volume and density. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion was 109.9 ± 6.9 min in PEO and 98.5 ± 6.2 min in PLA (p = 0.009; effect size: 0.826). No significant changes were observed in the values of BT, TS, TC, SPE, SR, lost body mass, and urine volume and density (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Peppermint essential oil added to water before and during a race significantly increases the time to exhaustion of recreational runners but without altering BT, TS, TC, or hydration status, so the mechanisms involved were not clarified in this study. BRAZILIAN REGISTRY OF CLINICAL TRIALS (REBEC): RBR-75zt25z.

Turning cacay butter and wheat bran into substrate for lipase production by Aspergillus terreus NRRL-255.

Cacay oil and butter were evaluated as enzymatic inducers for lipase production from Aspergillus terreus NRRL-255 by solid-state fermentation (SSF). Initially, physicochemical characteristics of agro-industrial wastes were evaluated in order to identify a potential solid substrate for lipase production. Higher water absorption index (3.65 g H2O/g substrate), adequate mineral content, great carbon source, and nitrogen concentration were factors that influenced the choice of wheat bran as a solid substrate. Cacay butter presented the highest lipolytic activity (308.14 U g-1) in the screening of lipid inducer. Then, the effects of lipid inducer concentration (cacay butter), temperature, pH, moisture, and fermentation time were evaluated on process performance using multivariate statistical methodology. Under optimal conditions, the highest lipase activity observed was 2,867.18 U g-1. Regarding the lipase characterization, maximum relative activity was obtained at pH 7.0 and at 35 °C. An inhibitory effect was observed for Ca2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, and Cu2+ ions. Lipase activity was increased with the reduction of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration and the increase of Triton X-100. Therefore, the use of wheat bran as a solid substrate combined with cacay butter demonstrated a substantial lipase production, indicating its biotechnological industrial potential.

Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense) promotes changes in lipid metabolism and a hepatoprotective effect in rats fed a high-fat diet.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Malay apple (MA) on the glycaemic response, lipid metabolism and liver health of rats fed a normal- or high-fat diet. Male Wistar rats were initially randomized into two groups: normal-fat diet (NF, n = 16) and high-fat diet (HF, n = 16) for three weeks. Then, they were subdivided into: normal-fat diet (NF, n = 8); normal-fat diet supplemented with MA (NFMA, n = 8); high-fat diet (HF, n = 8); high-fat diet supplemented with MA (HFMA, n = 8), continuing for another three weeks with their respective diets. Simultaneously, the supplemented groups received MA (400 mg/kg body weight) via gavage. MA contains anthocyanins (26.59 mg/100 g), catechin (2.55 ± 0.33 mg/100 g) and gallic acid (1.07 ± 0.20 mg/100 g) as the main phenolics. MA had a low-key effect on insulin and glucose tolerance, however decreased serum lipids and protected the liver from steatosis induced by the high-fat diet. HFMA rats showed changes in the fatty acid composition of the liver and faeces and decreased liver cholesterol levels (20.5%); as well as increased faecal excretion of fat (98%), cholesterol (10.5%) and bile acids (42.2%) when comparing to HF. MA supplementation reduced food and fat intake in HFMA in the last two weeks of the experiment, which may also have influenced these results. Our results suggest that MA was not able to improve glycaemic parameters, however, had hepatoprotective effect and minimizes changes in lipid metabolism caused by high-fat diet intake, which can relate mainly to the phenolic compounds present in this fruit.

Effect of the solvent composition on the profile of phenolic compounds extracted from chia seeds.

This study investigated the efficiency of the extraction of phenolic compounds from seeds of chia, Salvia hispanica L. utilizing the statistical tool of mixture planning, simplex-lattice design. The solvents used were acetone, ethanol and water and the responses analyzed were total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity by the capture of the free radical DPPH and ferric reduction ability (FRAP). Moderately polar mixtures were highly efficient to extract the antioxidant phenolic compounds. The best results were obtained for the water-acetone (1/3-2/3) binary mixture, presenting TPC, DPPP and FRAP values of 58.44 mg GAE/g, 250.20 µmol TE/g and 720.15 µmol TE/g, respectively. The best ternary mixture was water-ethanol-acetone (1/6-1/6-2/3), with 60.96 mg GAE/g, 380.53 µmol TE/g and 990.15 µmol TE/g, respectively. The phenolic profile showed that the acids rosmarinic, caffeic, salicylic and the flavonoids myricetin and quercetin are the compounds that most contribute to the elevated antioxidant activity.

Farinha de entrecasca de melancia em biscoitos sem glúten / Watermelon flour rind in gluten-free cookies

Objetivo foi avaliar a farinha da entrecasca de melancia, desenvolver e estudar a aplicação desta farinha em biscoitos sem glúten (CT), fonte de fibra (F1) e com alto conteúdo de fibra alimentar (F2). A farinha obtida por secagem convectiva (60ºC; velocidade 3m s^-1, 240 min) e trituração apresentou rendimento de 1,84%. As formulações de biscoitos com adição de diferentes concentrações de farinha de entrecasca de melancia respeitaram o disposto na RDC n^o 54/2012. A matéria in natura, farinha e biscoitos foram analisados quanto aos parâmetros físico-químicos, sendo esses dois últimos analisados ainda quanto aos atributos físicos. Os biscoitos foram caracterizados quanto à microbiologia e análise sensorial. Os resultados foram avaliados por teste de Tukey com 5% de significância. A farinha obteve valores significativos de fibra alimentar (33,3%) e minerais (cálcio 465,36mg 100g^-1 b.s; potássio 3381mg 100g^-1 b.s). Os biscoitos apresentaram expressivos teores de cinzas para F1 e F2 com relação à CT. As formulações CT e F1 obtiveram índices de aceitabilidade (>70%) e melhores respostas quanto aos aspectos de dureza e fraturabilidade. À medida que se acrescentou farinha da entrecasca intensificou-se o parâmetro a* (mais avermelhado) nos biscoitos. A farinha da entrecasca de melancia pode ser considerada uma alternativa como ingrediente em produtos de panificação para suplementação de fibras e minerais.

The study aimed to evaluate the flour produced from the watermelon rind gluten free (CT), to develop and to study the use flour from the watermelon rind to formulations of the cookies source dietary fiber (F1) and with high content of dietary fiber (F2). The flour was obtained by convective drying (60°C; velocity 3m s^-1, 240 min) and grinding in a yield of 1.84%. The formulations of the cookies with different concentrations of the flour from the watermelon rind considered RDC n^o54/2012. Matter in natura, flour and cookies were analyzed through physicochemical parameters, the latter two also analyzed by their physical attributes. Cookies were characterized by their microbiology and sensorial analysis. The results were evaluated by Tukey test with 5% of significance. The flour obtained significant amounts of dietary fiber (33.3%) and minerals (calcium 465.36mg 100g^-1, potassium 3381mg 100g^-1). The cookies presented significant amounts of ash into F1 and F2 with respect to CT. The formulations CT and F1 obtained indexes acceptability (>70%) and better responses to the aspects of hardness and brittleness. As it was added flour from the watermelon rind gluten free it was intensified the parameter a* (reddishr) in the cookies. The flour from watermelon rind can be considered alternative as an ingredient in baking goods for supplementation of fibers and mineral.