Karin Allen

Comparison of spice-derived antioxidants and metal chelators on fresh beef color stability.

Effects of Type I antioxidants eugenol and rosmarinic acid were compared to those of Type II antioxidants milk mineral (MM), sodium tripolyphosphpate (STPP), and phytate in raw ground beef held for 14 days at 4 degrees C in oxygen-permeable polyvinylchloride. Meat color stability was measured as % oxymyoglobin, Hunter a * value, chroma, and hue angle. Significant correlations (P<0.0001) were observed between all color measurement methods. By day 14, STPP-treated patties lost more red color (P<0.05 for a* and hue angle) and had higher thiobarbituric acid values than other treatments. By day 14, MM was as effective as eugenol and rosmarinate at preventing oxymyoglobin oxidation (72, 76, and 71% retained, respectively) and red color loss as measured by a * (9.2, 9.4, and 10.9), hue angle (58.4, 56.2, and 53.5), and chroma (17, 17, and 18), but was unable to inhibit microbial growth as effectively as the spice-derived antioxidants.

Effect of Chelating Agents and Spice-Derived Antioxidants on Myoglobin Oxidation in a Lipid Free Model System

This study compared myoglobin (Mb) oxidation in lipid-free model systems containing iron and Type I (radical quenching) or Type II (metal chelating) antioxidants. Oxidation was measured as loss of oxymyoglobin (MbO(2)) during 0 to 24 h holding at 22 degrees C. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) demonstrated iron-binding ability at all concentrations tested (88% and 21% added iron bound at 1 and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively). Iron chelation was observed for phytic acid only at the highest concentration (9.5% bound at 1 mg/mL phytate). Neither Type I antioxidant (rosmarinate or eugenol) demonstrated any iron chelating ability (<0.5% bound). In presence of iron, Type I antioxidants had a significant (P < 0.05) prooxidant effect (54.7% retention of MbO(2) in control, 9.5% and 37.5% retention in rosmarinate and eugenol samples, respectively). The Type II antioxidants (STPP and phytate) were more effective inhibitors (P < 0.05) of Mb oxidation than Type I antioxidants, (68.7% and 61.1% for STPP and phytate, respectively). Type I antioxidants were capable of rapid reduction of ferric iron to the ferrous form, as measured by the ferrozine assay. This strong reducing ability accounted for the prooxidant effects of rosmarinic acid and eugenol, since ferrous iron is the form associated with generation of oxygen radicals, and subsequent Mb oxidation. Type II antioxidants chelated and thus prevented the oxidizing effect of added ferrous iron. Mb oxidation can proceed rapidly (within 15 min) in the presence of iron and the absence of lipid, especially if reducing compounds such as rosmarinic acid or eugenol are also present to maintain iron in an active ferrous form.

Extraction of anthocyanins from black bean canning wastewater with macroporous resins.

This study investigated purification of anthocyanins from black bean canning wastewater by column chromatography with 5 types of macroporous resins (Diaion Hp20, Sepabeads Sp70, Sepabeads Sp207, Sepabeads Sp700, and Sepabeads Sp710). By-product of canned black beans was partially purified by filtration, in anticipation of higher performance during column chromatography. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms were measured and analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Both Langmuir (all R² ≥ 0.98) and Freundlich (all R² ≥ 0.97) models can describe the adsorption process of anthocyanins from black bean canning wastewater using the tested resins. The adsorption and desorption behaviors of anthocyanins were studied using a dynamic method on the 5 types of resins, and Sp700 presented the highest adsorption capacity (39 ± 4 mg/g; P < 0.05) as well as desorption capacity (19 ± 2%; P < 0.05), indicating that of the resins examined, Sp700 is a better candidate for purification of anthocyanins from black bean canning wastewater.

Analysis of the Sustainability of Selected Targeted NGO Interventions for a Representative Small-Scale Farm Family in Ecuador

Linear programming techniques are used to illustrate the potential effects of targeted agricultural development interventions by non-governmental organizations. The results demonstrate the interconnection of nutrition, agricultural production, and economics in determining optimum decisions for farm families in the study area in northern Ecuador. The findings suggest that planned interventions for small-scale farmers should first consider a range of nutritional, agricultural, and economic factors before an intervention is implemented. Otherwise, planned interventions that focus on only one aspect of the family’s well-being have a high probability of being unsustainable