Ivane Benedetti Tonial

Fish Gelatin: Characteristics, Functional Properties, Applications and Future Potentials

Gelatin, an important biopolymer derived from collagen, is widely used by various industries because of its functional and technological properties. The vast majority of commercial gelatin is derived from mammals, but due to many sociocultural and religious reasons, there is an increasing demand for alternative sources. The by-products generated by the fish-processing industry are a potential source for the production of gelatin. The high potential of fish gelatin production is due to the large quantities of collagen by-products generated. However, the main restriction to its use regards their lower rheological properties when compared to mammalian gelatin, which limits its range of applications. This review discusses the latest scientific literature about the main characteristics and functional properties of fish gelatin, which shows the main strategies used to improve its properties, as well as its applications and future potentials.

Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator to measure cytotoxicity of surface water of the Quatorze River, located in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil

Due to an increase in water consumption in the industrial sector and within the Brazilian population, surface water that receives wastewater from industries, domestic sewage, agricultural industries, and sewage treatment stations can pollute water bodies when not properly treated. The water quality has been linked to catchment characteristics and intensity of agricultural activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to monitor the cytotoxic potential of the water of the Quatorze River, located in the town of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil, along its route in the rural area, using the root meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator. The results showed that the water at points 2, 3, and 4 were not cytotoxic because the rates of A. cepa cell division were unaltered. Point 1 had presented a mitotic index that was statistically larger than the negative control, indicating that this water contained substances with mitogenic capacity, as demonstrated by elevated values in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). However, the mitotic index values decreased along the route of the river (point 1 to point 4), possibly indicating a mechanism of self-purification, despite having received other sources of pollution. Thus, the results of this study show that the water of the Quatorze River should undergo periodic environmental monitoring at different times of the year, including cytotoxicity analysis, to evaluate the principal sources of contamination to maintain the quality of the river water and, consequently, to maintain human health and equilibrium of the entire ecosystem.

Application and evaluation of propolis, the natural antioxidant in Italian-type salami

O presente estudo teve por finalidade caracterizar a propolis quanto a sua atividade antioxidante e aplica-la na elaboracao de salame tipo italiano. Amostra de propolis foi coletada e submetida a caracterizacao fisico-quimica, quimica e capacidade antioxidante. Quatro formulacoes de salame foram elaboradas: F1 (sem antioxidante), F2 (adicao BHT 0,01%), F3 (adicao de propolis 0,01%) e F4 (adicao de propolis 0,05%). Os salames foram avaliados quanto as propriedades fisico-quimicas e oxidacao lipidica. A caracterizacao da propolis mostrou alto teor de ceras e baixo teor de compostos fenolicos e flavonoides, porem em quantidades suficientes para comprovar sua atividade antioxidante. Os salames tipo italiano apresentaram teor de umidade, proteinas e lipideos conforme limites preconizados pela legislacao brasileira. A formulacao F4 (0,05% de propolis) apresentou melhor resultado quando comparado as formulacoes F3 (0,01% de propolis) e F1 (sem antioxidante). No entanto, a F2 (0,01% de BHT) foi a formulacao que apresentou menor valor de oxidacao lipidica. Os resultados demonstraram que a propolis inibe a acao oxidativa, podendo ser adicionada em produtos carneos como antioxidante natural.