Antibacterial effect of phenolic compounds from different wines

The antimicrobial properties of pure phenolic compounds and polyphenols of different wines against pathogens were investigated. It was observed that bacterial species exhibited different sensitivities towards the different concentrations of phenolic compounds. Escherichia coli was the most sensitive bacterium and Flavobacterium sp. was resistant against all phenolic compounds tested. All wine samples showed antimicrobial properties and the inhibition increased when the polyphenols concentration of wines increased. Clarified wines were inactive against all bacteria, indicating that polyphenolic compounds present in red wines, are responsible for the antimicrobial effects observed. The different concentrations of polyphenols in wines could have an important impact on consumers with the consequent increase in wine commercialization.     

Effects of Quillaja saponaria extract and Nα-lauroyl-l-arginine ethyl ester on reducing selected foodborne pathogens in vitro and maintaining quality of fresh-cut endive (Cichorium endivia L.) at pilot plant scale

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of Quillaja saponaria extract (QSE) and N^α-lauroyl-l-arginine ethyl ester (LAE) as antimicrobial wash water additives in fresh-cut lettuce processing. Antibacterial activities of LAE and QSE against selected strains of the foodborne pathogens Salmonella enterica, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes were examined in vitro. Minimum inhibitory concentrations determined by broth microdilution assay demonstrated that LAE exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity with MICs between 4 and 32 μg/mL against all tested strains, whereas QSE showed a weaker antimicrobial activity with MICs >512 μg/mL. On a pilot-plant scale, the effects of warm water washing at 45 °C for 120 s with and without 40 mg/L QSE or 100 mg/L LAE as well as cold water washing at 4 °C for 120 s with QSE or LAE, respectively, of shredded endive (Cichorium endivia L.) were investigated regarding microbiological and sensory quality as well as physiological properties. Samples were analyzed for headspace O₂ and CO₂ levels, phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase activity and contents of nitrite and nitrate during nine days of cold storage at 4 °C. By analogy to its antimicrobial effect against the foodborne pathogens in vitro, LAE allowed up to 4 log₁₀ cfu/mL reduction of the microbial load in the washing water of the pilot plant, and might therefore reduce cross-contamination while saving water. The addition of LAE to warm washing water impaired sensory properties of fresh-cut endive during storage, which was predicted by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analyses. QSE treatment combined with warm water washing best retained sensory appearance throughout our study, being possibly suitable for the production of premium products.     

由松针制取三种叶绿素钠盐及其稳定性的研究

为提高叶绿素的稳定性,以松针为原料,以乙醇水溶液为溶剂提取得到叶绿素,再经过皂化、酸化、铜代(或锌代、铁代)及加碱成盐等过程,分别制备得到叶绿素铜钠盐、叶绿素锌钠盐和叶绿素铁钠盐,将它们配成相同浓度的水溶液,颜色分别为深绿色、翠绿色和茶黄色。进而比较了它们对光、热、pH及氧化剂的稳定性,结果表明叶绿素铜钠对光照的稳定性最好;叶绿素锌钠对温度稳定性较好;pH会引起三者的异构化造成吸光值的改变;低氧化剂浓度下,三者均较为稳定,但高浓度时其稳定性均下降较快。     

Preparation and properties of phytosterols with hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

In order to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of phytosterols (PS), cyclodextrin–PS (CD–PS) inclusion complexes were prepared and the properties of PS-β-cyclodextrin (PS-β-CD) and the inclusion mechanism of its derivative hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (PS-HP-β-CD) in solution were also evaluated. The effects of crucial parameters on cyclodextrin–sterol inclusion efficiency were optimized, including solvent type, β-CD/PS molar ratio, temperature, PS content and reaction time; 92–98?% inclusion efficiency was achieved under the conditions of HP-β-CD/PS ratio 3:1–4:1, PS concentration 15–20?mM, temperature 50–55?°C, reaction time 12?h. For β-CD host, butanol was a good solvent for PS inclusion reaction. The properties of CD–PS inclusion complexes were characterized by differential scanning calorimetric, scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis scanning spectrophotometer (UV–Vis) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), which demonstrated that there are intermolecular hydrogen bonds between PS and HP-β-CD in inclusion complex, resulting in the formation of amorphous form. To clarify the mechanism of the increase in the solubility and bioactivity of HP-β-CD–PS inclusion complexes, the structure of CD as well as the interaction of the HP-β-CD–PS inclusion formation was elucidated. The conclusions indicated that PS-HP-β-CD showed higher water solubility with greater solubilizing and complexing capabilities than PS-β-CD and PS itself.     

Modeling dehydration and rehydration of cooked soybeans subjected to combined microwave–hot-air drying

Pre-cooked soybeans were subjected to convective hot-air, microwave and combined microwave–hot-air dehydration. Three microwave levels (210, 300, 560 W) and three air temperatures (160, 180, 200 °C) were examined. Drying kinetics, rehydration kinetics and colour change were investigated relative to microwave level and air temperature. Combined microwave–hot-air drying decreased the drying time required when compared to drying with either hot-air or microwave energy alone. Predictive models were developed to describe dehydration and rehydration kinetics. Dehydration rate, rehydration rate and total colour change of rehydrated product generally increased with microwave level and air temperature. Within the studied range, optimal drying occurred for the lowest levels of both microwave and air temperature studied, i.e. microwave power = 210 W, air temperature = 160 °C.Industrial relevanceApplication of microwave energy simultaneously with convective hot-air drying to pre-cooked soybeans was up to four times faster when compared to convective drying alone, and up to twice as fast when compared to microwave drying alone. Rehydration time for soybeans subjected to combined microwave–hot-air drying was 50–60% less than for legumes subjected to either convective or microwave drying alone. Therefore, application of combined microwave–hot-air drying to pre-cooked soybeans resulted in significant saving in process time, while also producing a dehydrated product with fast rehydration properties.     

Antioxidant capacity and chemical constituents of Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) at different ripening stages

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is admired for its high nutritional value and has been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for its remarkable health functions. The antioxidant capacity (AOC) and the other qualitative parameters of jujube were measured at ripening stages of green maturity (GM), white maturity (WM), halfred maturity (HM), and red maturity (RM). AOC was screened with DPPH radical scavenging activity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, and reducing power. Jujube showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the total soluble solids and titratable acidity, and firmness have no change of all maturity stages, while ascorbic acid showed a significant (p<0.05) declining trend. At stage of GM, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and AOC in peel were the highest, and then rapidly decreased after WM. Meanwhile TPC and AOC in pulp reached a peak value in WM then declined, but TFC declined slowly during maturity.     

Biocontrol of postharvest gray and blue mold decay of apples with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and possible mechanisms of action

The efficacy of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa against postharvest gray mold, blue mold and natural decay development of apples and the possible mechanisms involved were investigated. The decay incidence and lesion diameter of gray mold and blue mold of apples treated by R. mucilaginosa were significantly reduced compared with the control fruits, and the higher concentration of R. mucilaginosa, the better the efficacy of the biocontrol. R. mucilaginosa also significantly reduced the natural decay development of apples following storage at 20 °C for 35 days or at 4 °C for 45 days followed by 20 °C for 15 days. Germination and survival of spores of Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea were markedly inhibited by R. mucilaginosa in an in vitro test. Rapid colonization of the yeast in apple wounds was observed whether stored at 20 °C or 4 °C. In apples, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) were significantly induced and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA) content) was highly inhibited by R. mucilaginosa treatment compared with those of the control fruits. All these results indicated that R. mucilaginosa has great potential for development of commercial formulations to control postharvest pathogens on fruits. Its modes of action were based on competition for space and nutrients with pathogens, inducement of activities of defense-related enzymes such as POD, PPO and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (MDA content) of apples, so as to enhance the resistance and delay the ripening and senescence of apples.     

Effect of ultrasound treatment on properties of gluten-based film

Gluten films obtained in acid conditions display some protein dispersion difficulties. Ultrasound treatment (UT) could represent an interesting strategy for improving gluten film appearance. Different UT exposure times were applied to film-forming dispersion. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of ultrasound treatment on gluten-based films at molecular and mesoscopic levels. Distribution in gliadin and glutenins was determined with SE-HPLC. The UT improved protein dispersion and final film appearance. Sonication did not lead to large changes in various gluten fractions, which suggests absence of important protein breakdown at the molecular level. Gluten showed high tolerance to UT. Surface properties of untreated and treated films were investigated by contact angle measurement: sonication promoted hydrophilic surface properties.Industrial relevanceBio-based packaging has been receiving increasing attention in view of its beneficial impact on the environment. Among proteins, gluten resulted as a very interesting film-forming material. Gluten films prepared in acid conditions showed problems in protein dispersion. Sonication represents a physical strategy which allowed us to obtain gluten-based films without the addition of chemical additives, such as sodium sulphite.