Sprout Caffeoylquinic Acid Profiles as Affected by Variety, Cooking, and Storage

Various health-promoting properties inherent to plant-based foods have been attributed to their rich bioactive compounds, including caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs). The potential health benefits of CQAs have been well-documented. While sprouts are widely recognized as health-promoting foods owing to their high phytonutrient content, our knowledge regarding the effect of cooking and storage, commonly practiced by consumers, on the CQA content remains limited. First, sunflower sprouts were found to have the highest total CQA content (~ 22 mg/g dry weight) out of 11 commonly available sprouts. Then, the effect of variety, cooking, and low-temperature storage on the CQA profile of sunflower sprouts was investigated. Among the four different varieties of sunflower sprouts, variety 1 harbored the highest total CQA content. Notably, cooking adversely affected the CQA content of sunflower sprouts relative to the uncooked samples in a time-dependent manner, possibly due to the heat sensitivity of CQAs. Under simulated home-refrigeration storage conditions, we observed a significant decline in the content of major CQA compounds (5-monoCQA and 3,5-diCQA) at days 10 and 13 of storage. The results obtained herein provide consumers and food industrialists with increased insight into the effect of cooking and refrigeration on the CQA content of sunflower sprouts.

Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria with In Vitro Probiotic-Related Characteristics from the Cactus Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl

Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl., popularly known as xique-xique, is a cactus from the Caatinga biome, which is rich in bioactive compounds but has not been previously studied as a source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic aptitudes. This study aimed to identify, characterize, and select LAB isolates with in vitro probiotic-related characteristics from xique-xique cladodes and fruit. Isolates with the most promising probiotic-related characteristics were evaluated regarding their in vitro technological properties and capability of surviving in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea with mint during 21 days of refrigeration storage. Seventeen recovered isolates had typical characteristics of LAB. Six out of these seventeen LAB isolates passed the safety tests and were included in experiments to evaluate the in vitro probiotic-related characteristics. Based on the results of a principal component analysis, the isolates 69, 82, 98, and 108 had the best performances in experiments to evaluate the probiotic-related characteristics. In addition to showing good technological properties, the four selected LAB isolates had high viable counts (>7.3 log cfu/mL) and high sizes of physiologically active cell subpopulations in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea during refrigeration storage. These four isolates were identified by 16S-rRNA sequencing as being Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus casei. The results indicate xique-xique as a source of potentially probiotic LAB isolates.

Effects of a cold plasma-assisted shrimp processing chain on biochemical and sensory quality alterations in Pacific white shrimps (Penaeus vannamei)

In this paper, remodeling the shrimp processing chain and the effects of the transformation on the biochemical and sensory qualities of fresh Pacific white shrimp ( Penaeus vannamei) under refrigeration storage were investigated. In the proposed model, a dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment step using a 60 kV source for 60, 90, 120, and 150 s was introduced after the first and second wash followed by refrigeration storage at 4 ± 1 °C for 12 days. Chemical, biochemical, and sensory attributes of the shrimp were monitored and compared with those of shrimp processed through the traditional method without atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment (control). Incorporating minimal dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment step had more desirable quality outcomes characterized by low malondialdehyde concentration, low volatile nitrogen products content, and comparable proximate composition. Texture, pH, and color were remarkably retained at 120 and 150 s of atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment and protein degradation was negligible up to 90 s than at 120 and 150 s of pretreatment. We conclude that remodeling the shrimp processing chain through incorporating minimal dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment with key considerations on operation parameters can maximize the beneficial biochemical and sensory quality outcomes while minimizing the negative impacts associated with traditional shrimp processing.

Physicochemical Parameters, Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Properties of a New Beverage Formulated with Xique-Xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) Cladode Juice

This study elaborated different formulations with xique-xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) cladode, passion fruit and lime juice and sugar cane syrup. The formulated beverages were subjected to physical and physicochemical analysis, determination of total carotenoid, total flavonoid and total phenolic compound contents, as well as of their antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP method), organic acid, sugar and phenolic compound profile during 21 days of refrigeration storage (4 °C). Significant variations were found among formulated beverages for most of the measured parameters during storage. Beverages with xique-xique juice were less acidic (7.90–10.27 g/100 mL) than beverages without this juice (11.66–12.76 g/100 mL). Beverages with xique-xique juice had overall higher contents of bioactive compounds and higher antioxidant activity when compared to the control formulation. Beverages with the highest xique-xique juice concentrations had the highest contents of carotenoids (51.51–59.27 µg/100 mL), flavonoids (1.39–2.15 mg CE/100 mL), phenolic compounds (68.49–115.66 mg EGA/100 mL) and antioxidant activity, as measured by ABTS (0.71–0.84 µmol Trolox/mL) and FRAP (0.33–0.39 µmol Trolox/mL). These results indicate that the incorporation of xique-xique cladode juice in these mixed beverages enhanced their bioactive properties, especially of antioxidant compounds, enabling the development of a new product with potential functional properties to the beverage industry.

Pengaruh Berbagai Macam Pendinginan dan Pengemasan Terhadap Umur Simpan Jagung Manis (Zea mays saccharata)

This research was aimed to study the influence of kinds of cooling and packing on the storage life of sweetcorn in order to obtain the simple postharvest technology and easy to practice. The research was done during the February - March of 2005 in the Research Laboratory of Agriculture Faculty, Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta. The reducing sugar analysis was done in the Agriculture Technology Faculty of Gadjah Mada University. The laboratory experiment was arranged ini 2 x 3 factorial completely randomized design with three replications. The cooling first factor was refrigerated in refrigerator to be compared to the hydro-cooling. Meanwhile, the polypropilene and polyethylene packaging were tested and compared to the unpackaged one. The flavor; reducing sugar, water content, percentage of nonconsumable part of sweetcorn, fresh weight of ears, and organoleptic properties were observed. The result showed that there was no significantly interaction between cooling and packaging on the storage life and quality of sweet corn. The cooling treatment was significantly influenced the starch and reducing sugar level as well as the packaging treatment. Refrigeration storage could significantly keep the level of reducing sugar to remain higher than the hydro-cooling, this treatment was also decreased the starch content, decreased the proportion of unconsumable part, and maintained the flavor. The polyethylene packaging significantly keep the level of reducing sugar to remain higher and relatively maintained the flavor than the polypropilene packaging or unpackaged, but decreased the portion of unconsumable part.