Objective: To valorize an industrial tomato byproduct from Northwest Mexico,based on the evaluation of its physicochemical, microbiological, and nutritionalquality and it´ s potential as a functional ingredient to obtain a carotenoids rich oil.Design / methodology / approach: Tomato by-product was collected from thefood industry and oven-dried. The fresh and dry tomato by-product quality wasevaluated through physicochemical, microbiological, proximal composition, dietaryfiber, and minerals analysis. HPLC carotenoids analysis was performed fromSoxhlet n-hexane extracted oil and dry-byproduct.
Results: The by-product showed 81 and 9.7% of humidity; 0.26 and 0.53% meq ofcitric acid for titratable acidity in fresh and dried, respectively, and 4.74 ° Brix infresh. Their color got paler due to the drying process, turning less red. The aerobicmesophylls, total coliforms, fungi and yeasts microbiological analysis in a fresh by-product (170, <10, <10 CFU / g-1, respectively) and dried (180, <10, ?95 CFU / g-1, respectively), proved their acceptable microbiological safety. Their dietaryinsoluble (52%) and soluble (9%) fiber stands out, protein (14%), lipids (9.09%)content, as well as Mn> Zn> Fe> Cu, and K> P> Ca> Mg > Na. The carotenoids rich oil was 13 times more concentrated in lycopene (4.98 mg g-1) and twice ?-carotene (0.48 mg g-1) content compared to the dry by-product from which itcomes (0.38 mg g-1 and 0.22 mg g-1, respectively).Limitations on study / implications: Great efforts were required to dry highamounts of the tomato industrial by-product.Findings / Conclusion: The tomato industrial by-product from Northwest Mexicopossesses suitable physicochemical, microbiological, and nutritional quality to beused as a functional ingredient to generate new products, for example, acarotenoid-rich oil.
Effect of gamma irradiation on the nutritional quality of Agaricus bisporus strains cultivated in different composts
