Maria Isabel Lima Ramos

Perfil lipídico de quatro espécies de peixes da região pantaneira de Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazilian rivers have a great diversity of fish, however, little is known about the nutritional potential of most native fish. The present study evaluates the centesimal composition and the fatty acid profile of the muscle tissue of four species of fish: pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans), cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and dourado (Salminus maxillosus), from the Miranda River in the pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul. Dourado had the highest protein content (21.12%), while pintado had the lowest value (17.90%). There was no difference between the protein levels of cachara and pacu (approximately 18%). Pacu fillets were revealed to be the most caloric and this value did not change when the dry sample was considered. The four fish species presented oleic acid (20.25 to 37.25%) as the predominant fatty acid, followed by palmitic acid (19.96 to 21.37%) and stearic acid (7.39 to 9.82%). Total polyunsaturated fatty acid contents varied from 5.24 in pacu to 17.33% in pintado; and total saturated fatty acids from 32.91 to 38.89%. Cachara, pintado and dourado species presented equal proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 family (average of 7.80%) and of the ω-6 family (average of 8.40%), while pacu presented the lowest contents of these fatty acids (1.13 and 4.11%, respectively). All the samples studied presented ω6/ω3 and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (HH) indexes that indicate good nutritional quality. Only pacu presented non-recommended levels in relation to trombogenicity (TI) and polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) indexes.

Carotenóides pró-vitamínicos A e composição em ácidos graxos do fruto e da farinha do bacuri (Scheelea phalerata Mart.)

Seeking to contribute to the study of the composition of oils and the characterization of natural pigments which are vitamin A precursors, as well as to verify changes during processing, the fresh pulp of bacuri (Scheelea phalerata Mart.) and the flour obtained from the pulp of that fruit were analyzed, in relation to the profile of fatty acids and the principal pro-vitamin A carotenoids. The contents of b-carotene and b-zeacarotene found in the pulp and in the flour of the bacuri were, respectively, 17.28 and 5.38mg/g and 23.51 and 7.42mg/g. Of the total pro-vitamin A carotenoids found in the pulp of the bacuri, there was a loss of approximately 37% with the processing to obtain the flour. The main fatty acids found in the pulp of the bacuri were the oleic acid (52.90%) and palmitic acid (17.13%). The oil of the pulp and the flour of bacuri presented values of 29.79 and 45.65% of saturated fatty acids, 54.32 and 38.60% of monounsaturated and 12.65 and 13.72% of polyunsaturated, respectively.

Conservação pós-colheita de guavira (Campomanesia sp.)

This study aimed to evaluate the postharvest conservation of guavira (Campomanesia sp.), depending on the use of 1-MCP and modified atmosphere, as well as storage at room temperature and at 11oC. The fruits were harvested at physiological maturity, divided into portions and treated with 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) (700 ηL.L-1 for 12 hours) and modified atmosphere, with plastic packaging. The fruits were submitted to the analysis of weight loss, soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenols and antioxidant activity and general appearance. The use of 1-MCP did not reduce the fruit weight loss in both ambient and cold storage, which was verified using the modified atmosphere. The cold storage reduced the mass loss of the fruits and extended the shelf life maintaining the levels of vitamin C, total phenolics and antioxidant activity contents. The final concentration of soluble solids and vitamin C of the fruits showed no significant interference in relation to treatments. The titratable acidity values increased during the storage period, with the exception of fruits treated with 1-MCP associated with modified atmosphere and stored in room temperature. The use of 1-MCP and modified atmosphere extended the shelf life of fruits both in storage environment and cold, with a better overall appearance of the fruit, especially when combined.

1-MCP em Mangabas armazenadas em temperatura ambiente e a 11ºC

The mangaba, a highly perishable native fruit, presents reduced shelf-life. New technologies of fruit preserving have been developed and the use of plant growth regulators has been promising. This study evaluated the application of the regulator ethylene 1-MCP at different concentrations (250, 500 and 1000 ηL L-1), in order to verify the increase of fruits durability and their physical and chemical characteristics during storage at room temperature and at 11 oC. The use of 1-MCP, at every concentrations used, was beneficial to the fruits post-harvest under natural conditions, increasing the shelf life of mangaba, and so was the use of storage at 11 oC, which favored the reduction of weight loss and the maintenance of the levels of acidity, soluble solids and vitamin C. When associated with the application of 1-MCP, the loss by excessive maturation decreased. The fruits presented a proper content of total phenols, which increased during storage, mainly under the concentration of 1.000 ηL L-1 of 1-MCP.

Annatto seed residue (Bixa orellana L.): nutritional quality

Considering that annatto seeds are rich in protein, the present work aimed to evaluate the biological quality of this nutrient in the meal residue originating from annatto seed processing. We determined the general composition, mineral levels, amino acid composition and chemical scores, antinutritional factors, and protein quality using biological assays. The following values were obtained: 11.50% protein, 6.74% moisture, 5.22% ash, 2.22% lipids, 42.19% total carbohydrates and 28.45% fiber. The residue proved to be a food rich in fiber and also a protein source. Antinutritional factors were not detected. The most abundant amino acids were lysine, phenylalanine + tyrosine, leucine and isoleucine. Valine was the most limiting amino acid (chemical score 0.22). The protein quality of the seed residue and the isolated protein showed no significant differences. The biological value was lower than that of the control protein but higher than that found in other vegetables. Among the biochemical analyses, only creatinine level was decreased in the two test groups compared to the control group. Enzyme tests did not indicate liver toxicity. The results showed favorable aspects for the use of annatto seed residue in the human diet, meriting further research.

Caracterização química do palmito guariroba in natura e congelado

In Brazil many kinds of native palms can provide hearth palm of good quality and among them stands out the guarirobeira (Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) J. Becc.), which has different flavor and great acceptance in the Cerrado region. The objective of this research was to determine the characteristics of guariroba palm heart, with relationship to the moisture, ash, total lipids, proteins, reducer and no-reducer sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenol, pH, total fiber and iron, phosphorus, calcium, sodium and potassium minerals. It was also verified the effect of processing (blanching, acidification and freezing) in the frozen product. Significant differences (P<0.05) was noted among average values found in frozen and raw samples, with contents (g 100g-1) respectively, for moisture, of 87.68 and 90.56; ash, 0.96 and 0.73; and lipids, 0.44 and 0.24; besides the occurrence of decreasing energy value from 11.64 to 9.97kcal 100g-1 in the integral sample. The citric acid use in the processing of guariroba palm heart decreased the pH of 5.8 to 4.5, and was efficient for avoid browning. The guariroba palm heart still be a good source of e fiber and total phenol after freezing, in addition to offer high contents of vitamin C and iron mineral.

SUPLEMENTAÇÃO COM AMÊNDOA DE BACURI NA COMPOSIÇÃO CORPORAL DE RATOS SUBMETIDOS AO EXERCÍCIO

ABSTRACT Introduction: The bacuri almond protein (Attalea phalerata Mart. Ex Spreng) and whey protein (WP) have significant amounts of essential amino acids and are of good digestibility, characteristics that have been sought by athletes to aid in improving body composition, particularly when associated with exercises. Objective: To evaluate the effect of diets with vegetable and animal protein content on the body composition of Wistar rats submitted to resisted ladder exercise. Methods: Forty male newly weaned rats were exposed to a period of adaptation to a commercial diet (4 weeks) and resistance training for eight weeks (three times a week), receiving diets with bacuri flour and whey protein. They were randomly assigned to 6 groups: G1 (sedentary bacuri), G2 (exercised bacuri), G3 (sedentary WP), G4 (exercised WP), G5 (sedentary control) and G6 (exercised control). Dietary intake, body weight, length, thoracic and abdominal circumferences were evaluated to calculate Lee index and body mass index; the fat sites were removed after eutha-nasia. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test, considering a 5% significance level. Results: The final weight of G3 (372±8.86 g) was higher than those of G2 (326.83±15.03 g) and G6 (316.75±5.90 g); the groups that received diet with bacuri flour consumed higher amount of food, however, they had lower final weight, did not differ in the Lee index and BMI, fat sites and adiposity index in relation to the groups treated with WP, presenting lower values in the thoracic and abdominal circumferences. Regarding fat and adiposity index, there was no difference between the sedentary and exercised groups. Conclusion: The bacuri almond protein showed good quality when compared to whey protein, and it is possible to recommend its use in the preparation of nutritional supplements as an alternative and low cost vegetable protein source.Keywords: proteins; fruit; body composition; exercise.