Elton Guntendorfer Bonafé

Glycerine levels in the diets of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot: carcass characteristics and meat quality.

The effects of corn replacement by different glycerine levels on carcass characteristics and meat quality of 40 young Purunã bulls, weighing 209 ± 33.3 kg and 8 ± 0.9 months old, finished in feedlot, were evaluated. The treatments were G00: without glycerine; G06: 6% glycerine; G12: 12% glycerine; and G18: 18% glycerine in the diets, on a DM basis. Hot weight, dressing, conformation and length carcass, leg length and cushion thickness were not (P>0.05) modified by different glycerine levels in the diets. Glycerine in the diets did not (P>0.05) affect fat thickness, Longissimus muscle area, marbling and texture. Muscle, fat and bone percentages were not (P>0.05) influenced by glycerine levels in the diets. No changes (P>0.05) in lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) on LM occurred when glycerine was included at 0, 6, 12 or 18% in the diet. There was no (P>0.05) difference in LM moisture, ash, crude protein and total lipids when feeding different glycerine levels. The inclusion of glycerine decreased (P<0.01) total saturated (10.8%), and increased monounsaturated (7.4%) and poly-unsaturated (44.0%) fatty acids, which resulted in a higher PUFA:SFA ratio (0.57).

Preparation and cytotoxicity of N-modified chitosan nanoparticles applied in curcumin delivery.

Nanoparticles (NPs) based on N,N-dimethyl chitosan (DMC) and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC), physical crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) were successful obtained, using water/benzyl alcohol emulsion system. NPs morphologies were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. NPs were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis, Zeta Potential, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Wide-angle X-ray Scattering. Curcumin (CUR) was loaded onto NPs and controlled release studies were evaluated in simulated intestinal fluid and in simulated gastric fluid. Cytotoxicity assays showed only loaded TMC/TPP particles containing CUR were slightly cytotoxic on human cervical tumor cells (SiHa cells), concerning unloaded TMC/TPP particles. Conversely, loaded NPs (TMC/TPP/CUR and DMC/TPP/CUR), especially TMC/TPP/CUR sample presented greater biocompatibility toward healthy VERO cells than unloaded NPs (TMC/TPP and DMC/TPP).

Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, fatty acids and correlation by principal component analysis of exotic and native fruits from Brazil

The antioxidant capacities of seven exotic and native fruits from Brazil were evaluated using DPPH•, ABTS•+ and FRAP assays, in addition to their total phenolic content and fatty acid composition. Murici and dovialis presented the highest total phenolic contents (243.42 and 205.98 mg GAE 100 g-1, respectively), and the highest antioxidant capacities by the FRAP assay (24.97 and 23.70 µmol Fe2+ g-1, respectively). In the DPPH• and ABTS•+ assays, dovialis presented the highest antioxidant capacity, 9.59 and 10.41 TE g-1, respectively. The highest alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid contents were found in siriguela (107.86 mg FA g-1 TL) and tomatinho do mato (215.50 mg FA g-1 TL), respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) of fatty acids yielded three significant PCs, which accounted for 99.75% of the data set total variance. The PCA data of the antioxidant analyses yielded two significant PCs, which accounted for 97.00% of the total variance.

Propolis or cashew and castor oils effects on composition of Longissimus muscle of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot

The natural additive products (propolis or essential oils), in replacing antibiotics, could be used as an alternative for feed strategies to improve animal production. This work was performed to evaluate the effect of natural additives as propolis or essential oils on meat quality of crossbred (Aberdeen Angus vs. Nellore) bulls. Thirty bulls were kept in feedlot (individual pen) for 55 d and randomly assigned to one of three diets (n = 10): control (CON), propolis (PRO), or essential oils (OIL). CON diet consists of corn silage (45% DM) and concentrate (cracked corn, soybean meal, glycerin, limestone, and mineral salt, 55% DM). The PRO group received same CON diet plus 3 g animal-1 d-1 of propolis premix added to the concentrate. The OIL group received same CON diet and 3 g animal-1 d-1 of a premix (cashew Anacardium occidentale L. and castor Ricinus communis L. oils) added to the concentrate. Fat thickness (5.0 mm), pH (5.9), Longissimus muscle area 58.0 cm2, marbling, texture, color (L* = 36.6, a* = 17.3, and b* = 5.9), lipid oxidation (0.08 malonaldehyde kg-1 meat), and Warner-Bratzler shear force (3.3 kg) were unaffected by the diet. PRO and OIL diets had no effect neither on moisture (73.7%), ashes (1.1%), protein (23.8%), and lipids (1.7%), fatty acid composition or polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/ SFA, 0.13), and n-6/n-3 ratio (6.9) on Longissimus muscle. Addition of natural additives as propolis extract or cashew and castor oils in the diet of bulls when they are finished in a feedlot did not change meat qualities.

A simple, fast and efficient method for transesterification of fatty acids in foods assisted by ultrasound energy

E altamente desejavel desenvolver testes analiticos com resultados de elevada qualidade e reduzir o tempo que e utilizado para esta finalidade. Neste contexto, um novo metodo de metilacao de acidos graxos assistido por ultra-som, rapido e eficiente para obtencao de esteres com melhor qualidade para analise de alimentos, foi otimizado e validado atraves da aplicacao da metodologia de superficie de resposta, sendo obtido um tempo de esterificacao ideal de 11,72 min, 71% mais rapido do que o melhor metodo, que e comumente utilizado para esta finalidade. O novo processo de metanolise pode ser eficazmente aplicado a amostras com acidos graxos livres e os teores de umidade superior a 10 e 5%, respectivamente, sem o risco de oxidacao de compostos durante o processo.

Proximate Composition, Mineral Contents and Fatty Acid Composition of the Different Parts and Dried Peels of Tropical Fruits Cultivated in Brazil

The proximate composition, mineral contents and fatty acid composition of different parts (peel, pulp and seeds) of seven tropical fruits were evaluated. Beyond that, this study aims to evaluate the effect of drying processing on peels. Pulp and peel showed highest moisture values (65.7-93.3%), while the seed ranged from 5.8 to 67.2%. The drying processing of peels decreased moisture values (2.3-18.7%). Furthermore, drying processing did not affect ash contents, total crude protein, lipids and fiber values and fatty acid composition for avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon. A wide range of mineral contents was noted in different parts of fruit and calcium and potassium were found in larger quantities (25.4 to 4808 mg per 100 g). The fruits exhibited essential fatty acids as omega-6 and omega-3 with the largest contents observed in the peels and seeds (31.4 to 1970 mg per 100 g).

Multi-block data analysis using ComDim for the evaluation of complex samples: Characterization of edible oils

The ComDim chemometrics method for multi-block analysis was employed to evaluate thirty-two vegetable oil samples analyzed by near infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and by Gas Chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for their fatty acids composition. This unsupervised pattern recognition method was able to extract information from the tables of results that could be presented in informative graphs showing the relationship between the samples through the scores, the predominance of information in particular tables through the saliences and the contribution of the variables in each table which were responsible for the similarities observed in the samples, through the loadings plots. It was possible to infer similarities and differences among the samples studied according to the specific absorption in the UV-Vis and NIR region, as well as their fatty acids composition. The proposed methodology demonstrates the applicability of ComDim for the characterization of samples when different variables (different techniques) describe the same samples. In this particular study, the ComDim chemometrics method was able to discriminate samples by their characteristics and compositions.

Incorporation of conjugated fatty acids into Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

BACKGROUND The aim of this work was to improve the nutritional quality of Nile tilapia meat through enriched diets with conjugated isomers of linolenic acid from tung oil. The transfer process of conjugated fatty acids (CFAs) into fish muscle tissue was evaluated by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS). RESULTS The results showed that conjugated fatty acids were transferred from enriched diet for muscle tissue of Nile tilapia. Conjugated linoleic acids biosynthesis from conjugated linolenic acids was also observed after 10 days. Other important fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and arachidonic (AA) acids were also identified over time; however, DHA showed the highest concentration when compared with EPA and AA compounds. CONCLUSION Therefore, the nutritional quality of Nile tilapia was improved through feeding with enriched diets. The ingestion of these fish may contribute to reaching adequate levels of daily CFA consumption. Furthermore, other important substances which play an important role in human metabolism, such as EPA, DHA and AA, can also be ingested together with CFA.

Optimization and Validation of an Extraction Method for Evaluating the Availability of Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr and Cd in Soil with the Use of the Mehlich-1 Extractor

The Mehlich-1 extractor is routinely used to evaluate the bioavailability of metals in soil since it has a high closeness between the amount of these elements absorbed by the plants and those available in soil, as well as being simple and practical to use. Thus, the aim of this work was to improve (optimize) a Mehlich-1 extraction method for evaluating the availability of Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr and Cd in soil using Box-Behnken type response surface method (RSM). After optimizing the soil amount, Mehlich-1 extractor volume and stirring time, the validation of the newly developed method was performed by evaluating the following parameters: matrix adjustment, linearity, linear range, limits of detection (LOD) and of quantification (LOQ), precision and accuracy. The analytical method proposed by this study can be routinely employed for the evaluation of soil toxicity since it presented advantages such as simplicity, speed and efficacy, as well as being precise and accurate.

Effect of the inclusion of natural additives on animal performance and meat quality of crossbred bulls (Angus × Nellore) finished in feedlot

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence a finishing diet containing natural additives fed for 94 days on animal performance, carcass, and meat quality characteristics of crossbred bulls (1/2 Angus × 1/2 Nellore). Forty-eight bulls (initial BW 318 ± 4.7 kg and initial age 22 months) were used in a completely randomised design. Bulls were fed one of four diets: (1) CON – Control; (2) CCO – addition of 4 g/animal.day of a mix of essential oils from castor bean and cashew; (3) MIX – addition of 4 g/animal.day of a mix of essential oils (oregano oils, castor bean, cashew); (4) YST – addition of 4 g/animal.day of yeast. Bulls were finished in feedlot (in individual pens) and slaughtered at an average weight of 469 ± 6.7 kg. Final BW, hot carcass weight and average daily gain were greater (P 0.05) among the four diets. The carcass conformation score was higher (P 0.05) on lipid oxidation, moisture, ash, and total lipids contents. C14:0, C14:1 n-9, C16:0, C18:1 n-9, C18:1 n-7 and C18:3 n-6 fatty acids in intramuscular fat from the longissimus muscle were affected by the inclusion of additives in the diets. SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 and n-6 fatty acid percentages, and the ratios PUFA : SFA and n-6 : n-3 were similar (P > 0.05) among diets. In conclusion, adding a mix of oregano, castor bean, and cashew oils in the diet improved the performance of the bulls, but meat characteristics did not significantly change.