Alexandre José Cichoski

Antifungal Activity of Basil Essential Oil (Ocimum basilicum L.): Evaluation In Vitro and on an Italian-type Sausage Surface

This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of basil essential oil in vitro and on the surface of an Italian-type sausage. This is justified by the relevance of obtaining safety and functional products, with emphasis on the use of natural additives and on the lack found in the literature related to the control of the fungi on the surface of food products. The results can be considered important since no significant differences were observed in the products taste using different oil concentrations, viabilizing the technical application of this natural compound on the maturation chambers at the industrial scale. Similar behaviors were observed in the in vitro and on the product surface evaluation, validating the methodology used in plate. A previous evaluation of the results reveals that the basil essential oil seems to be a promising option as an antifungal compound, making possible its use as substitute for chemical additives.

Production of healthier bologna type sausages using pork skin and green banana flour as a fat replacers.

The effect of pork skin (PS) and green banana flour (GBF) on the physicochemical, technological, microbiological, and sensory properties of Bologna-type sausages was assessed. For this propose, six batches were manufactured: control (formulated with 20% fat) and five treatments replacing 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of pork-fat by a mixture of PS, water, and GBF (1:2:2). Fat contents significantly (P<0.05) decreased, while moisture, resistant starch and ash levels significantly (P<0.05) increased with the addition of PS and GBF gel. Lower cooking loss and higher emulsion stability (P<0.05) were observed in the modified treatments. No difference was observed between the treatments for the microbiological quality. The substitution of up to 60% fat did not influence (P>0.05) on color (L*, a*, b*, and whiteness), texture parameters, and sensory acceptability. Therefore, healthier Bologna type sausages could be produced by replacing up to 60% of the fat with a mixture of PS, water, and GBF without depreciating products quality.

Lipid and protein oxidation in the internal part of italian type salami containing basil essential oil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Different concentrations of basil essential oil (Ocimum basilicum L.) (0.19; 0.38; 0.75; 1.87; 3.75 and 6.00 mg.g-1) were evaluated in relation to their antioxidant activity using the DPPH● radical methodology. From the IC50 obtained data, the concentrations of 0.19; 0.38; 0.75; 1.87; 3.75; 6.00 and 12.00 mg.mL-1 were applied directly to the product and these were sensorially evaluated by the test of control difference. The concentrations related to the highest acceptability (0.19; 0.38 and 0.75 mg.g-1) were tested for antioxidant activity in the internal part of Italian type salami - during the processing and after 30 days of storage, in terms of lipid and protein oxidation. The oxidation of lipids was determined using the method of TBARS. The method of carbonyl compounds was employed for proteins oxidation. Five different formulations of salami were elaborated: blank (without the use of antioxidant); control (using sodium eritorbate as antioxidant); and adding 0.19; 0.38 and 0.75 mg.g-1 of basil essential oil. The product was kept between 25 oC and 18 oC and UR between 95% and 70%, for 28 days. Analyses were carried out on the processing day and after 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, and also following 30 days of storage. The basil essential oil in vitro presented an antioxidant activity of IC50 12 mg.mL-1. In the internal part of the Italian type salami the commercial antioxidant (control) and the formulation containing 0.75 mg.g-1 of basil essential oil presented antioxidant activity in relation to the lipids, but not to the proteins - during processing and storage.

Is it possible to produce a low-fat burger with a healthy n − 6/n − 3 PUFA ratio without affecting the technological and sensory properties?

Burgers subjected to lipid reformulation were made by replacing 50% of the fat component by microparticles containing chia (CO) and linseed (LO) oils obtained by external ionic gelation. The microparticles presented high n-3 PUFAs levels and were resistant to the pH and temperature conditions commonly used in burger processing. The lipid reformulation did not affect hardness and improved important technological properties, such as cooking loss and fat retention. In addition to reducing the fat content of burgers by up to 50%, the lipid reformulation led to healthier PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios, and lower atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices. The burgers with CO microparticles showed a higher lipid oxidation and a lower sensory quality compared to the other treatments. However, the substitution of pork back fat by LO microparticles did not impair the sensory quality of burgers. Therefore, the microencapsulation of n-3 PUFA-rich oils by external ionic gelation can be considered an effective strategy to produce healthier burgers.

Impact of lysine and liquid smoke as flavor enhancers on the quality of low-fat Bologna-type sausages with 50% replacement of NaCl by KCl.

Low-fat Bologna-type sausages were produced with 50% of NaCl replaced by KCl and with addition of lysine and/or liquid smoke as flavor enhancers. The influence of sodium reduction on technological, physicochemical, and microbiological properties was determined. In addition, the sensory properties were evaluated using a Check all that apply questionnaire (CATA) and a consumer study. The partial replacement of NaCl by KCl did not have negative impacts on physicochemical, technological, and microbiological properties. However, the addition of KCl affected the sensory acceptance, as consumers identified by CATA questionnaire a reduction in salty taste and an increase in bitter, astringent, and metallic taste. The isolated or combined addition of lysine and liquid smoke reduced the sensory quality defects caused by the addition of KCl. Therefore, high quality low-fat Bologna-type sausages with sodium reduction close to 50% can be produced by replacing 50% NaCl by KCl and with addition of 1% lysine and/or 0.1% liquid smoke.

Oxidative stability of fermented Italian-type sausages using mate leaves (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil) extract as natural antioxidant

The objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of the addition of dried extract from mate leaves on the oxidative stability (lipid and protein), microbiological characteristics (lactic and Micrococcaceae bacteria) and sensory attributes of formulations of Italian-type sausages. The different Italian-type sausages formulations tested in this work were in agreement with the legislation in terms of chemical and microbiological parameters. During storage, the formulation with 0.4 wt% of mate leaves extract presented lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl values compared with the control, proving the antioxidant action of the extract. The sensory characteristics of flavour, texture and global acceptation were not affected by the addition of mate extract compared with the formulation with artificial antioxidant.

O ultrassom no amaciamento de carnes

Ultrasound is one of the new clean technologies applied to food. In science and technology of meat, is mainly studied for its ability to improve meat tenderness by cavitation mechanisms. Some acoustic parameters such as frequency, intensity and exposure time influence the treatment of meat tenderization. Initial studies determined that the use of high frequencies did not show effects on the texture, due to not cause cavitation. The intensity in which the ultrasound reaches the meat matrix is also important, and when applied below 10W cm-2 or much above this value does not realize the effect. The exposure time is dependent on the frequency and the used intensity directly influences the softness. Meat quality characteristics, such as weight loss after cooking, drop in pH, color and microbiology were also analyzed by several authors, with conflicting data on the effect of ultrasound on these parameters. The particularities of each muscle hinder comparisons of results, stimulating new researches. The use of ultrasound technology to improve meat tenderness shows itself as a promising technology with the potential to be exploited.

Investigation of glutathione peroxidase activity in chicken meat under different experimental conditions

Due to the fact that previous studies on the enzymatic activity of Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) diverge widely in their methodology and results, this study aimed to investigate the influence of different analytical conditions on GSH-Px activity in chicken thighs from broilers that were fed different diets with different sources and concentrations of selenium. GSH-Px activity was evaluated six hours after slaughter and 120 days after frozen storage at -18 oC. The different analytical conditions included time of pre-incubation (0, 10 and 30 minutes), reaction medium, types of substrate (H2O2 (0.72 mM, 7.2 mM, and 72 mM) and Terc-butil hydroperoxide 15 mM), and different buffer concentrations (buffer 1, potassium phosphate 50 mM pH 7.0 + EDTA 1 mM + mercaptoethanol 1 mM, and buffer 2, tris-HCl 50 mM pH 7.6 + EDTA 1 mM + mercapthanol 5 mM). The results show that the highest GSH-Px activity was observed when enzyme and substrate were in contact at 22 oC without any pre-incubation, and that, when used at concentrations above 0.72 mM, hydrogen peroxide saturated the GSH-Px enzyme and inhibited its activity. The enzyme presented higher affinity to hydrogen peroxide when compared to terc-butil peroxide, and the addition of a buffer containing mercaptoethanol did not increase GSH-Px enzymatic activity. The activity of GSH-Px was not influenced by the source and concentration of selenium in the diet either. The obtained results allowed the determination of the best temperature of contact between the enzyme and substrate (22 oC), the optimum concentration, and the type of substrate and buffer to be used. This information is extremely useful for future studies on GSH-Px activity in meat due to the divergence and little information found in the literature.

Sedimentação em leite UHT integral, semidesnatado e desnatado durante armazenamento

One of the biggest problems of UHT milk is the sedimentation of protein particles that occurs during the storage period, which faces rejection by the consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the particle sedimentation in semi-skimmed, skimmed and wholemilk, stored at 20°C, 30°C (±1) for 120 days. In pasteurized milk that yielded UHT milk physico-chemical and microbiological analisys (mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria) were carried out. In semi-skimmed, skimmed and whole milk, the acidity, pH, boiling, sensory analysis, integrity of packaging and sedimentation tests were carried out shortly after packing and at 30th, 60th, 90th and 120th days of storage. The pasteurized whole milk, semi skimmed and skimmed milk showed results within the required standards by the industry for mesophilic bacteria(log10 4.37 a log10 4.08UFC mL-1), psychrotrophic (log10 3.06 a log10 2.77UFC mL-1) and lactic acid (log10 3.10 a log10 2.42UFC mL-1) bacteria, that differed significantly (5%) of value of fresh milk from which they originate. The values of acidity (0.15% ac. lactic), freezing point (-0.535 a -0.540°H), fat, density (1.031 a 1.034g mL-1), pH (6.70 a 6.80) and degreased dry extract (8.65 a 8.93%) also were within the standards. From the 60th day of storage on, particle sedimentation was observed in the three types of UHT milk at the 20°C (0.80 a 1.10g) at the 30°C (1.0 a 1.40g).

Nota científica: perfil bioquímico de ratos alimentados com iogurte contendo extrato de erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of yoghurt containing yerba-mate extract (Ilex paraguariensis), with and without probiotic cultures, on the lipidic, glycemic, hepatic and kidney profiles of rats fed these types of yoghurt. Wistar rats (42) were divided into three groups (n=14) and for 30 days were fed yoghurt without yerba-mate extract, yoghurt with 0.1% yerba-mate extract and yoghurt with 0.1% yerba-mate extract and probiotic cultures. No significant effect of the yerba mate extract on the levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, glucose and the activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase was observed in the present study. The addition of 0.1% yerba mate extract to the yoghurt did not interfere with the metabolism of the rats during 30 days.