Maria Inês Sucupira Maciel

Caracterização física e físico-química de frutos de cajá-umbu (Spondias spp.)

This work had as objective the physical and physico-chemical characterization of fruits of caja-umbu (Spondias spp.) genotypes cultivated under climatic conditions of the Zone of Forest of Pernambuco, aiming at identifying promising materials for commercial use and for works of genetic improvement. Fruits of caja-umbu from a collection of germ-plasm installed at experimental Station of Itambe-Pe were submitted to the following determinations: fruit and seed weight (FW and SW), pulp yield (PY), relation between longitudinal and transversal diameter (LD/TD), pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titrable acidity (TTA) and the relation TSS/TTA. it was evidenced that the weight of the fruits and the seeds had presented significant variation without, however, presenting difference in the RP and relation Ld/td of the fruits. the pH, TSS, TTA and TSS/TTA for the fruits from the genotypes showed significant differences.

Famine Foods of Brazil’s Seasonal Dry Forests: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Aspects

Famine Foods of Brazil’s Seasonal Dry Forests: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Aspects. Famine foods are used by people in times of food scarcity. Although the northeast of Brazil regularly faces periods of drought that cause a shortage of traditional foods, the use of famine foods is insufficiently recorded. The purpose of this study was to record the knowledge of famine food in two rural Caatinga communities, Carão and Cachoeira, in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba, respectively, and to determine the chemical composition of the major famine foods utilized. The ethnobotanical aspect was divided into two stages: free lists and semistructured interviews. Based on the interviews, the main famine foods known by communities were selected for nutritional analysis. The study revealed that certain foods are used by communities only in times of shortages. Carão showed a higher species richness than Cachoeira, but the food knowledge was more widespread among the interviewees in Cachoeira. In Carão, the main species mentioned were Dioclea grandiflora and Manihot dichotoma, whereas in Cachoeira, Encholirium spectabile and Pilosocereus gounellei were the major species indicated. The species examined had a high carbohydrate content, especially D. grandiflora, Manihot glaziovii, and M. dichotoma, and could be used for complementary feeding of the population if adverse effects could be minimized. Mandevilla tenuiflora is indicated for future studies of potential agro-industrial applications and the beneficial aspects of its root, which could represent an alternative source of income for the population.ResuméAspectos etnobotânicos e nutricionais de alimentos emergenciais usados em florestas estacionais secas do Nordeste do Brasil. Os alimentos emergenciais são aqueles que as pessoas consomem apenas em tempos de escassez de alimentos. Muito embora a população da região Nordeste do Brasil enfrente períodos de seca que provoca a falta dos alimentos oriundos da agricultura, o uso dos alimentos emergenciais é pouco registrado. O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar o conhecimento sobre alimentos emergenciais em duas comunidades rurais da Caatinga e determinar a composição química dos principais alimentos conhecidos. O estudo foi conduzido no município de Altinho, estado de Pernambuco e no município de Soledade, estado da Paraíba. O trabalho etnobotânico foi dividido em duas etapas: lista livre e entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Com base nas entrevistas, selecionaram-se para a análise nutricional os principais alimentos conhecidos pelas comunidades. O estudo revelou que as comunidades conhecem espécies alimentícias consumidas apenas em períodos de escassez alimentar. Carão tem maior conhecimento que Cachoeira, no entanto, em Cachoeira o conhecimento é mais disseminado entre os informantes. Em Carão as principais espécies conhecidas foram Dioclea grandiflora e Manihot dichotoma, em Cachoeira foram Encholirium spectabile e Pilosocereus gounellei. As espécies analisadas têm alto teor de carboidratos, especialmente D. grandiflora, Manihot glaziovii e M. dichotoma que podem ser utilizadas na complementação da dieta da população se minimizados os seus efeitos colaterais. Por suas características Mandevilla tenuiflora é indicada para estudos futuros de seu potencial agroindutrial e beneficiamento de suas raízes, que podem representar uma fonte alternativa de renda para a população.

Avaliação do teor de antocianinas em polpa de acerola congelada proveniente de frutos de 12 diferentes aceroleiras (Malpighia emarginata D.C.)

The great variability of the Brazilian acerola orchards results in fruits with yellow to red color, producing a light colored acerola pulp which is not as appealing as full red pulp. Anthocyanins are unstable pigments, responsible for red color in mature acerola. In order to examine some pigment degradation in frozen pulp acerola, it was installed a randomized experiment. Pulps obtained from 12 accesses (plants) of Germoplasm Active Bank from Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) were stored (-18°C) for 6 months. Total anthocyanins were determined in randomized samples (30g) collected at the beginning and end of the experiment, using spectrophotometer method. Great variation on the total anthocyanin content was observed in the studied accesses. At time zero of storage the lowest and highest level of this phytochemical were 3.79 mg and 59.74 mg 100 g-1 of pulp, respectively. After 6 months of storage, a reduction of 3.4 % to 23.6 % on content of these pigments were shown. The storage at -18oC for six months reduced the anthocyanin content. The anthocyanin pigments of accesses 08 and 13 were the most stable during frozen storage.

Knowledge and Use of Wild Food Plants in Areas of Dry Seasonal Forests in Brazil

The investigation aimed to compare the knowledge about food plants in rural communities of the Caatinga. The study was conducted in two rural communities in northeastern Brazil. Data collection utilized different ethnobotanical methods, including free listing, semi-structured interviews, and recall. Native species are less frequently consumed as food in both locations. Fruits are the most frequently cited wild resource, but in practice, most of this food availability potential is wasted. Despite community knowledge about wild species with potential food, few species are actually utilized, and thus, many plants are not included in the diets of the populations studied.

Analysis of umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae)) in different landscape management regimes

Plant domestication is an evolutionary process guided by human groups who modify the landscape for their needs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic variations between populations of Spondias tuberosa Arruda (umbuzeiro) when subjected to different local landscape management strategies. The influence of the landscape management system on these populations was evaluated in five identified regional units (mountains, base of mountains, pastures, cultivated areas and home gardens). Ten individuals were randomly selected from each region and subjected to morphological and chemical fruit analysis. The diversity index, based on Simpson’s index, was determined for the different populations. We then evaluated the morphological differences between the individual fruits from the distinct landscape areas. We observed no significant differences in morphological diversity between the areas studied. Our data suggest that the umbuzeiro specimens in this region may be in the process of incipient domestication.

Characterisation of a new exopolysaccharide obtained from of fermented kefir grains in soymilk

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have been widely studied in recent decades due to similarity to gums used in the food industry. Exopolysaccharides can be used in food processing as a thickener and/or stabiliser. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties, thermal behaviour and structural composition of the lyophilised EPS obtained from the fermentation of kefir grains in soymilk. The EPS in concentration 18 mg/mL exhibited water activity of 0.204 and pH=6.20 at 25°C, reducing sugars content of 22.10% (v/v) and protein content of 2% (v/v). The thermogravimetric curve obtained was similar to those reported in the literature for other EPSs. The degradation temperature was 351.84°C and showed that the EPS in this study had a high thermal stability. Characteristic polysaccharide bands were observed in the infrared spectrum. The analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) showed that the EPS is only composed of glucose.

Optimization of the extraction process of polyphenols from cashew apple agro-industrial residues

The goal of this study was to determine the chemical composition of cashew apples agro-industrial residue and optimize the process of polyphenols extraction in this residue. The extraction process conditions were defined using a 24-1 fractional factorial experimental design using acetone and methanol as solvents. The independent variables were: time (30 to 90 min), temperature (30 to 50 °C), solvent concentrations (50% to 90%), agitation speed (100 to 300 rpm); the dependent variables were: total phenolic content and DPPH scavenging capacity. The optimized process was carried out by applying the Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD) considering the results obtained with the 24-1 fractional factorial experimental design. The residue presented bioactive compounds in its composition, with emphasis on the content of total phenolic compounds (1975.64 mg/ 100 g). The extraction process was not affected by methanol; however, acetone affected the amounts of extracted phytochemicals. Extracts with high levels of polyphenols and strong DPPH scavenging capacity (> 80%) were obtained using 55% acetone, 30 minutes, 30 °C, and 150 rpm. The results showed that cashew apple residue is a potential natural source of bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant capacity. These compounds could be used partially or totally to replace synthetic antioxidants.

Effects of biofilm and refrigeration on acerola postharvest conservation

The objective of this work was to compare the effects of four different concentrations of cassava starch film and storage temperature on shelf life and the quality of a genotype of acerola from the Germplasm Active Bank (GAB) of Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Brazil. Sound orange-reddish acerola fruits were washed with a chlorine solution (100 mg.L-1 active chlorine) and randomly distributed into different lots. The fruits were dipped for 3 min in a cassava starch suspension with concentrations of 1, 2, 3 and 4% (w/v) and the control without coating, stored at 10oC (85% RH) and 22oC (85% RH). The total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were determined at harvest and regular interval during storage. The use of cassava biofilm at 1% on acerola fruits maintained the highest ascorbic acid content and the temperature of 10oC extended storage life. The fruits coated with 1 and 2% biofilm could be stored for a period up to 15 days at 10oC, with acceptable quality characteristics.

Caracterização físico-química de frutos de genótipos de aceroleira (Malpighia emarginata D.C.)

In Brazil, acerola tree commercial orchards yield fruits with different quality attributes since their propagation is by seeds. The physicochemical characteristics of 18 genotypes of acerola tree (Malpighia emarginata DC.) from the Active Bank of Germoplasm of UFRPE were evaluated. The pulp efficiency ranged from 41.06 (PL 40) to 72.54% (PL 43). Except for the genotype PL 37, all others showed ascorbic acid content higher than 1,000 mg.100 g-1. The genotype PL 39 showed the highest content of ascorbic acid (1,667 mg.100 g-1), TSS and flavonols (15.04 mg.100 g-1) and a high value for anthocyanins. Therefore, it can be said it is the promising genotype. The fruits from genotype PL 34 showed the highest value for the TSS/TTA; they were the sweetest

Inclusão do farelo grosso de trigo na dieta e seu efeito sobre as propriedades físicas e sensoriais da carne caprina

The effect of inclusion levels of Coarse Wheat Bran (CWB) (0; 8.9; 19.8 and 31.7%) in the animal diet on sensorial attributes (goat aroma, strange aroma, color, texture, tenderness, goat flavor, juiciness and general appearance) and physical-chemical characteristics (pH, losses during cooking and color of the meat operating in the CIE (L*, a* e b*) system of goat loins were evaluated. A statistical design of four treatments and four replications was used. The inclusion of CWB did not significantly affect goat meat aroma. However, there was a quadratic effect on color and on the characteristic taste of the meat. Texture, tenderness and general appearance decreased linearly. For pH, the behavior was quadratic, with a maximum of 18.53% and the average percentage of losses during cooking was 25.5%. There was a decreasing linear effect on brightness (L*), which varied from 30.2 to 32.2; red color (a*) was intensified with the increase of CWB levels, and varied from 7.56 to 8.47, while yellow color (b*) showed a quadratic behavior (maximum of 14.53%). The increasing inclusion of CWB in the animal diet affected all sensorial attributes, except for aroma. According to the chromatic evaluation, goat meat color was darker with increasing CWB levels.