Majdi A. Al-Mahasneh

Effect of jam processing and storage on total phenolics, antioxidant activity, and anthocyanins of different fruits.

BACKGROUND Fruits have been widely recognised as an excellent source of bioactive phenolic compounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing of strawberry, cherry, apricot, fig and orange on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity and anthocyanins during 5 months of storage at 25 °C. RESULTS Fresh strawberry had the highest contents of total phenolics (8503.1 mg GAE kg(-1) ) followed by cherry, apricot, fig and orange, respectively. Jam processing decreased the total phenolics, antioxidant activity, and anthocyanins of all fruits. Total phenolics of jam during storage decreased only in apricot, fig and orange. Fresh strawberry had the highest antioxidant activity (54.88% inhibition) followed by the other fruits. Antioxidant activity did not change in strawberry during jam storage, while there are reductions in the other fruits were observed. Fresh strawberry had the highest anthocyanins (2323.8 mg cya-3-glu kg(-1) ), followed by cherry and the other fruits, respectively. Results showed only a decrease of anthocyanins and pH in apricot and fig jams during 5 months of storage. CONCLUSION Despite the reduction of these compounds in jam processing, it is considered a good method to maintain them during 5 months of storage.

Total Phenolics, Antioxidant Activities, and Anthocyanins of Different Grape Seed Cultivars Grown in Jordan

The total phenolics, antioxidant activities, anthocyanins, vitamine E, and tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) of different cultivars of grape seed extracts (GSE) grown in Jordan were evaluated. In addition, antioxidant activities of GSE were investigated using olive oil substrate by oxidative stability instrument (OSI). Results of chemical composition showed that Baladi black and Asbani black had the highest amount of fat content 14.52 and 14.22 g /100 g seed, respectively, followed by Baladi green (13.28 g /100 g seed), Ajloni green (12.24 g/100 g seed), and Khudari green (10.92 g/100 g seed), respectively. The total phenolics and anthocyanins of GSE ranged from 4.66 to 5.12 g/100 g extracts and 0.14 to 0.68 g/100 g extracts, respectively. Antioxidant activities of GSE ranged from 66.4 to 81.40%, while vitamin E and BHT were 90.34 and 94.70%, respectively. Antioxidant activity of the extracts using OSI ranged from 3.10 to 41.13 h induction time, while vitamin E and BHT had 16.33 and 17.20 h, respectively. GSE had high amounts of antioxidants and can be used to retard lipid oxidation in a variety of food products.

Effect of Barley Flour on Quality of Balady Bread

Balady bread was prepared from barley flour (Rum and ACSAD 176 flour) with local wheat flour (Unified and Zero flour). Chemical, physical, and sensory analysis of the bread was performed. The results showed that there were variations in physical and chemical properties, between different barley varieties, barley flour, and the bread. This study showed that barley flour can be mixed with wheat flour to provide Balady bread that is acceptable to the consumer by 15 and 30%. Additional portions of barley flour resulted in harder bread, darker color, non uniform-shaped loaf, and unacceptable quality for the consumer. The results also showed a better quality of unified wheat flour compared to Zero wheat flour, which was mixed with barley flours; Rum and ACSAD 176 produced a better overall bread quality that was acceptable to the consumers.

Effects of Green Tea and Grape Seed and TBHQ on Physicochemical Properties of Baladi Goat Meats

The effect of natural extracts of green tea or commercial grape seed in combination with synthetic tert methyl-butylhydroquinone at different concentrations on lipid oxidation and the redness of goat meats stored at 5°C for 9 days was evaluated. Fresh boneless Baladi goat meats were ground and mixed at varying concentrations of green tea or grape seed extract alone or combined with tert methyl-butylhydroquinone. The color values of raw goat meat and the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values of raw and cooked goat meats were determined following 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of storage at 5°C. The antioxidant activity of the plant extracts and the tert methyl-butylhydroquinone ranged from 4.6–10.2 h induction time using an oxidative stability instrument. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values ranged from 0.21 to 1.21 and 0.31 to 4.57 mg malondialdehyde/kg (goat meat) for the raw and cooked goat meats, respectively. Tert methyl-butylhydroquinone and plant extracts significantly decreased lipid oxidation of the goat meats, with a higher level of addition being more effective in minimizing lipid oxidation. Grape seed extract significantly increased the redness, while green tea extract decreased it; no effect of tert methyl-butylhydroquinone on the redness of goat meats was observed. This study has shown that inclusion of natural extracts of green tea and grape seed in goat meat could reduce lipid oxidation during its storage.

A review of phenolic compounds in oil-bearing plants: Distribution, identification and occurrence of phenolic compounds.

Over the last two decades, separation, identification and measurement of the total and individual content of phenolic compounds has been widely investigated. Recently, the presence of a wide range of phenolic compounds in oil-bearing plants has been shown to contribute to their therapeutic properties, including anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, hypo-lipidemic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Phenolics in oil-bearing plants are now recognized as important minor food components due to several organoleptic and health properties, and they are used as food or sources of food ingredients. Variations in the content of phenolics in oil-bearing plants have largely been attributed to several factors, including the cultivation, time of harvest and soil types. A number of authors have suggested that the presence phenolics in extracted proteins, carbohydrates and oils may contribute to objectionable off flavors The objective of this study was to review the distribution, identification and occurrence of free and bound phenolic compounds in oil-bearing plants.

Verification of yield monitor performance for on-the-go measurement of yield with an in-board electronic scale.

A commercial combine equipped with a yield monitor and Global Positioning System (DGPS) was constructed to include a weighing system in the clean grain tank. The scale was able to output its current readings two times per second to a data-logger. The reading from the yield monitor and the scale could be matched to check the accuracy of the yield monitor summary as well as the individual (1 s) readings. Harvest data from fields of corn and oats were collected using this system. Data from both the scale and yield monitor were analyzed to verify the accuracy of the yield monitor. The scale was verified to be accurate by calibration. Results showed that the yield monitor has two data processing streams; one gives the individual weights (1 s interval weights) and the other gives the summary weights (total load weights). The results showed that these two streams are slightly different. Further analysis was conducted to understand these differences. The results showed an increase in the yield monitor accuracy with the harvest strip length. Data collected in 1997 were more accurate than data collected in 1996. It was concluded that improvement was primarily due to the updated yield monitor system (ver. 6.02 CJC).

Evaluation of the Nutraceutical, Physiochemical and Sensory Properties of Raisin Jam

This objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing of grape and raisin on the nutraceutical, physiochemical, and sensory properties. The results showed that fresh grape had the highest antioxidant activity, and total phenolic and anthocyanin content followed by grape jam, raisin, and raisin jam, respectively. No significant differences existed in soluble solids, pH, or firmness between grape and raisin jams. No significant differences in color parameters, ΔE, and chroma existed between grape and raisin jam. Descriptive sensory results showed minor differences in some sensory attributes between grape and raisin jams. In terms of consumer evaluation (9-point verbal hedonic scale and a 5-point just-about-right scale) the jams made from local raisins were parity with those from grape, despite small differences especially in whole raisin jam. Although raisin and other dried products are not traditionally considered as a raw material for jam processing, they have the same potential as fresh fruits.

Application of Hybrid Neural Fuzzy System (ANFIS) in Food Processing and Technology

Abstract Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has emerged as a synergic hybrid intelligent system. It combines the human-like reasoning style of fuzzy logic system (FLS) with the learning and computational capabilities of artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANFIS has several applications related to food processing and technology. The first part of this review provides a brief overview and discussion of ANFIS including: the general structure and topology, computational considerations, model development and testing. In the second part, two detailed examples are explained to demonstrate the capabilities of ANFIS in comparison with other modeling methods, followed by a brief but comprehensive discussion of ANFIS applications in different food processing and technology areas. The applications are divided into five main categories: food drying, prediction of food properties, microbial growth and thermal process modeling, applications in food quality control and food rheology. In all applications, the performance of ANFIS is compared to other methods such as ANNs, FLS and multiple regressions when available. It is concluded that, in most applications, ANFIS outperforms other modeling tools such as ANNs, FIS or multiple linear regression. Finally, some application guidelines, advantages and disadvantages of ANFIS are discussed.

Fuzzy and Conventional Modeling of Open Sun Drying Kinetics for Roasted Green Wheat

Roasted green wheat is a high-value product made by roasting green (under-mature) wheat. Due to its high initial moisture content, drying is needed to avoid fast deterioration. Open sun drying of this product is by far the most common practice due to its simplicity, effectiveness, and low cost. The assumption of open sun drying adequacy to prevent deterioration was tested in this study. The drying data were fitted into eight common thin-layer drying models. Goodness of fit for each model was evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error. The two-term exponential model was found to best describe open sun drying of roasted green wheat with R2, and root mean square error values of 0.988 and 0.038, respectively. A fuzzy model of open sun drying for roasted green wheat was also developed and compared with conventional modeling. The results showed a much better performance of fuzzy model compared to conventional models with a much lower value of root mean square error (1.2 × 10−6). The effective diffusivity was also evaluated for roasted green wheat kernels and found to be 1.7 × 10−11 m2/s, which was in agreement with published data. The results showed that open sun drying for 5.5 h was effective and adequate to reduce moisture content to a safe level and to prevent deterioration of this product. These findings will provide valuable information for the design of a commercial roasted green wheat solar drying system.

Molecular characterization and bio-functional property determination using SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC of protein fractions from two Nigella species

This study aimed to investigate the molecular and bio-functional properties of protein fractions from Nigella damascena and Nigella arvensis, including the albumin, globulin, glutein-1, glutein-2 and prolamin fractions. Protein subunits were not observed in globulin and prolamin fractions. No peaks appeared in RP-HPLC chromatograms of globulin for either species. Two predominant peaks were observed in the RP-HPLC profiles of all protein fractions. Proteins separated by RP-HPLC have potential inhibitory and antioxidant activities in all fractions. Optimum ACE-inhibitory and antioxidant activities of proteins separated by RP-HPLC were observed in glutein-2 and albumin, respectively, for both species. For pepsin and combined pepsin-trypsin hydrolyses, the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) was obtained in glutein-2 fraction of Nigella arvensis. Highest ACE-inhibitory activity of hydrolyzed protein fractions was found at 4h via pepsin hydrolysis in globulin fraction of Nigella damascena. Highest antioxidant activities of hydrolyzed protein fractions were found in glutelin-2 for both species.