Dorota Najgebauer-Lejko

Effect of green tea supplementation on the microbiological, antioxidant, and sensory properties of probiotic milks

Green tea and its constituents are known for a wide range of health-promoting properties. They may exert antimicrobial action but without altering lactic acid bacteria. The aim of the present study was to estimate the effect of green tea addition on the selected properties of probiotic milks. Bioyogurts (fermented with ABT-1 coculture of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12) and acidophilus milks (fermented with pure L. acidophilus LA-5 culture) with addition of 0, 5, 10, or 15% (v/v) green tea infusion (GTI) were produced and analyzed for the antioxidant capacity by the “diphenyl picrylhydrazyl” (DPPH) and “ferric-reducing antioxidant power” (FRAP) methods, acidity, the count of starter bacteria, and sensory properties at the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 21st day of cold storage. The 15% addition of GTI to the acidophilus milk significantly reduced the lactic acid production during the whole study. The GTI had no impact on the level of S. thermophilus and B. lactis BB-12 in bioyogurts, and its effect on the count of L. acidophilus LA-5 depended on the concentration and probiotic milk type. GTI similarly and in a dose-dependent manner enhanced the antioxidant capacity of both milk types. There were no significant differences between the sensory notes received for bioyogurts, whereas acidophilus milks with tea were less appreciated by the panelists. In conclusion, green tea could be successfully used as a functional additive for selected probiotic milks enhancing their health benefits, but the proper selection of tea additive and starter culture is recommended.

Estimation of the antioxidant activity of the commercially available fermented milks

BACKGROUND Free radicals are connected with the increased risk of certain diseases, especially cancers. There is some scientific evidence that antioxidant-rich diet may inhibit the negative impact of free radicals. The aim of the present study was to analyse the antioxidant capacity of the selected commercial natural and flavoured fermented milks offered in Poland, derived from different producers. METHODS The following commercially available natural fermented milks: 12 yoghurts, 12 kefirs, 2 butter milks, 2 cultured milks, Turkish yoghurt drink (ayran) and the following flavoured fermented milks: 22 yoghurts, 2 acidophillus milks, 2 kefirs, butter milk and vegetable flavoured fermented milk were analysed for their antioxidant potential. The antioxidant capacity was assessed, in two replicates and twice for each product, by means of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging ability (expressed as ARP - anti radical power) methods. RESULTS Among all analysed plain products, yoghurts and kefirs were characterised by the highest antioxidant activity. The presence of probiotic Lactobacillus casei strains in the product positively affected both FRAP and ARP values. Antioxidant capacity of the flavoured fermented milks was primarily affected by the type and quality (e.g. fruit concentration) of the added flavouring preparation. The most valuable regarding the estimated parameters were chocolate, coffee, grapefruit with green tea extract as well as bilberry, forest fruits, strawberry and cherry with blackcurrant fillings. CONCLUSIONS Protein content, inclusion of probiotic microflora as well as type and quality of flavouring preparations are the main factors affecting antioxidant properties of fermented milks.

THE EFFECT OF ADDITION OF SELECTED VEGETABLES ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL, TEXTURAL AND FLAVOUR PROFILE PROPERTIES OF YOGHURTS

BACKGROUND Vegetables, apart from having high nutritional value, also contain considerable amounts of dietary fibre and other components, which may affect physico-chemical properties of fermented milks, e.g. viscosity, texture, susceptibility to syneresis, flavour profile etc. The present work was established to study the effect of selected vegetables addition on the rheological, textural, microbiological and flavour profile parameters of yoghurts. METHODS The vegetable preparations (carrot, pumpkin, broccoli and red sweet pepper) were added (10% w/w) to the processed cows milk fermented with DVS yoghurt culture. Texture profile analysis, determination of viscosity, susceptibility to syneresis and descriptive flavour evaluation were conducted at the 1st, 7th and 14th day after production. Additionally, microbiological studies were performed for 28 days, at 7-day intervals. RESULTS The highest apparent viscosity and adhesiveness were obtained for the carrot yoghurt, whereas yoghurt with pumpkin was the least susceptible to syneresis. The other texture parameters were not affected by the addition of vegetables. Broccoli and red sweet pepper flavours were dominating in the fermented milks fortified with these vegetables, whereas carrot and pumpkin flavours were less distinctive. Yoghurt supplemented with red sweet pepper got the highest sensoric acceptability. The number of starter bacteria was not influenced by the vegetable additives, except for pumpkin yoghurt, which contained lower population of lactobacilli. CONCLUSIONS Among all tested vegetables, carrot additive had the greatest potential to improve yoghurt structure, whereas red sweet pepper imparted the most acceptable flavour.

The influence of texture improver type and its addition level on rheological properties of goat’s milk yogurt

Set yoghurt from goat’s milk with addition of two texture improvers DSE 6693 and DSE 6694 from NZMP New Zealand, added in the amount of 1, 2and 3% and control yogurt without addition of texture improvers were produced. In yogurt determined sensory quality, pH, apparent viscosity and rheological properties. Flow curves obtained for produced yogurts were described by three rheological models: Ostwald de Waele, Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) and Casson. Addition of texture improver caused an increase in total solids and total protein content of milk for yogurt. Yogurt with texture improvers gave better sensory quality than control yogurt. The yogurt with 1% addition of DSE 6693 and with 2% addition of DSE 6694 had the best sensory quality. The increase in addition level of texture improvers caused an increase in apparent viscosity, consistency coefficient K, yield stress (except H-B model) and deviation from Newtonian flow (decrease of flow index n). Effect of type of improver was rather negligible, whereas its level addition considerably influenced the evaluated rheological parameters.

The suitability of different probiotic strains for the production of fruit-whey beverages

BACKGROUND When designing new probiotic products, one of the most important aspects is the selection of bacterial strains with high survival rates in the matrix of the product concerned. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the potential of selected strains of probiotic bacteria for the production of fruit-whey beverages. METHODS Orange, apple and blackcurrant whey beverages were produced, and each was inoculated with one of the following probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium lactis HN019TM; Lactobacillus aci- dophilus NCFM®; Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37TM; Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001TM. The count of probiotic bacteria as well as pH and total acidity were evaluated at the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of storage. RESULTS Beverages containing L. paracasei Lpc-37TM or L. rhamnosus HN001TM were characterized by a sig- nificantly higher average number of viable cells (7.02 or 7.05 log cfu/g, respectively) than products with lactis HN019TM or L. acidophilus NCFM® (6.43 or 6.37 log cfu/g, respectively). The use of L. paracasei Lpc-37 and L. rhamnosus HN001 strains in orange and apple drinks allows the recommended count for probiotic products, 106 cfu/g for 28 days of storage, to be exceeded. Survival of the B. lactis HN019 strain fulfills the above requirements only in the orange drink. The L. acidophilus NCFM® strain was found to be the least suitable for the production of beverages, as it did not reach 6 log cfu/g in any products after 28 days of stor- age. The highest average number of bacteria was found in the orange beverages (7.14 log cfu/g). In terms of bacteria viability, blackcurrant juice was the least suitable for the production of whey probiotic drinks, due to its high acidity. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study indicate that careful selection of the fruit juice component, especially in terms of its acidity, is key to designing successful probiotic fruit-whey beverages. Other factors which should be taken into account to ensure a sufficient number of live probiotic cells, i.e. their therapeutic level in fruit-whey drinks, are the choice of probiotic strain and determination of the maximal shelf life.

The Influence of WPC 80 Additive on the Stability of Water-In-Oil Emulsions

Abstract The effect of 0, 1.5, 5, 10 and 15 (g 100 g-1 of emulsion) WPC 80 additive (80% whey protein concentrate) on the pH, physical, oxidative and microbiological stability of the water-in-oil emulsion was studied during 16-week storage at ~20°C at 4-week intervals. All determined features were significantly affected by the supplementation. The most beneficial as regards storage stability was the emulsion with 5% of WPC 80. This treatment was the most resistant to oxidative changes showing low increase of the concentration of conjugated diene hydroperoxides (from 0.92 to 1.04 mg g-1) and of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (from 0.83 to 1.37 mg malondialdehyde g-1) as well as only slight increment (by 0.47 log CFU g-1) of the microorganisms number during storage. Thus, the results of the present study revealed that whey proteins can be applied in the proper amount to produce cosmetic emulsions composed of natural ingredients and with reasonable storage stability.