Biofortification with selenium as an alternative to increase the total phenolic compounds in brassicas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The ability of brassicas to accumulate selenium is crucial for their positive effects on health. Selenium improves the immune system and the antioxidant defenses. Selenium biofortification of brassicas has therefore been explored to increase dietary selenium intake in humans. However, the effects of selenium biofortification on bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, are not clear. So, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to answer the question ‘What are effects of the biofortification of brassicas with selenium on total phenolic compounds?’ Ten studies, which assessed the effect of selenium biofortification on total phenolic compounds, were selected for qualitative synthesis and four studies were included in the meta-analysis after a thorough literature review of the PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Knowledge databases. The quality of the evidence ranged from high to moderate. The meta-analysis results indicated that the total phenolic compound content was significantly higher (P = 0.002) in the supplemented group but the results showed considerable heterogeneity (P < 0.00001, I² = 97%) between studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the effect of Se biofortification on the increase in the content of total phenolic compounds and it suggests that several factors can affect this relationship. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Development of an LC-MS/MS method for studying migration characteristics of acetaldehyde in polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-packed mineral water

During storage, acetaldehyde migration from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles can affect the quality of mineral water even in the low µg l^?1 range negatively, as it features a fruity or plastic-like off-flavour. For a sensitive and fast analysis of acetaldehyde in mineral water, a new analysis method of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivatisation followed by HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) was developed. Acetaldehyde was directly derivatised in the mineral water sample avoiding extraction and/or pre-concentration steps and then analysed by reversed-phase HPLC-ESI-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). Along with method development, the optimum molar excess of DNPH in contrast to acetaldehyde was studied for the mineral water matrix, because no specific and robust data were yet available for this critical parameter. Best results were obtained by using a calibration via the derivatisation reaction. Without any analyte enrichment or extraction, an LOD of 0.5 µg l^?1 and an LOQ of 1.9 µg l^?1 were achieved. Using the developed method, mineral water samples packed in PET bottles from Germany were analysed and the correlation between the acetaldehyde concentration and other characteristics of the samples was evaluated illustrating the applicability of the method. Besides a relationship between bottle size and CO₂ content of the mineral water and acetaldehyde migration, a correlation with acetaldehyde migration and the material composition of the bottle, e.g. recycled PET, was noted. Investigating the light influence on the acetaldehyde migration with a newly developed, reproducible light exposure setup, a significant increase of the acetaldehyde concentration in carbonated mineral water samples was observed.     

Release of butylated hydroxytoluene from an active film packaging to Asadero cheese and its effect on oxidation and odor stability

Antioxidant active packaging consisting of coextruded films made of low density polyethylene (LDPE) added with 0, 8, and 14 mg/g of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and polyamide 6/66 were fabricated. The release of BHT from the films to Asadero cheese was determined. Most of the BHT was diffused from the LDPE layer to the cheese during the first 20 d of storage at 5°C. Diffusion coefficient for the diffusion of BHT from the films 8 and 14 to the cheese was calculated as 6.24E-12 and 6.26E-12 cm²/s, respectively. The release of BHT from the film added with 8 mg/g of the antioxidant in the LDPE layer complied with the legal limit established for food products. However, the film added with 14 mg/g of the antioxidant exceeded that limit. The film added with 8 mg/g of BHT maintained the same levels of oxidized odor from 20 to 100 d of storage.     

Evaluation of solubilized proteins as an alternative to phosphates for meat enhancement

ABSTRACT:  Select grade strip loins ( n = 10) were enhanced 10% with either a phosphate or an acid solubilized protein solution. Color score, aerobic plate count, lipid oxidation, purge loss, cook yield, Warner–Bratzler shear force, and sensory analysis were measured to characterize storage quality. The phosphate injection consisted of 4.5% phosphate, 3.6% sodium chloride, 90.9% water, and 1% Herbalox seasoning. Two solutions were prepared for the protein injection: one consisting of 1:9 protein to water and the other an aqueous solution of 1% Herbalox seasoning and 3.6% sodium chloride. Enhancement solutions were injected twice at 5% to create a 10% total injection. It was found that the protein-enhanced steaks were comparable to phosphate-enhanced steaks for percent discoloration and overall acceptability. The phosphate-enhanced steaks performed better than the protein-enhanced steaks for lean color, fat color, aerobic plate count, lipid oxidation, percent purge, cook yield, and Warner–Bratzler shear force. It should be noted that for protein-enhanced steaks, lean color and cook yield, although statistically different, did perform similar to phosphate-enhanced steaks.     

Dabsyl derivatisation as an alternative for dansylation in the detection of biogenic amines in fermented meat products by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

The commonly applied HPLC method to determine biogenic amines in dry fermented meat after dansylation was compared with an alternative dabsylation procedure. The use of dabsyl chloride at 70 °C resulted in a 25-min reduction of the derivatisation time, in comparison with the dansylation at 40 °C. Furthermore, the use of irritating ammonia to remove the excess of dansyl chloride can be avoided. Introduction of the SPE cleaning procedure on the C18 cartridge resulted in a reliable and sensitive method of biogenic amines determination in a complex protein–fat matrix, which is typical of dry fermented sausages.     

A probiotic soy-based innovative product as an alternative to petit-suisse cheese

The present study aimed to develop a probiotic soy-based product similar to petit-suisse cheese and to evaluate its perspectives regarding potential for consumer health benefits, sensory acceptability, and instrumental texture during storage. Three different trials were studied: MP (milk-based petit-suisse – control); MSP (mixed product with milk cream and soy); SP (soymilk-based product). The formulations were produced with an ABT culture, containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5, Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12, and the starter Streptococcus thermophilus and stored at 4 °C for up to 28 days. Bb-12 viability remained always above 8 log cfu g⁻¹ for all trials, whereas viability of La-5 was satisfactory at the end of storage for MP (7.56 log cfu g⁻¹) and MSP (6.49 log cfu g⁻¹), but only up to 21 days (6.84 log cfu g⁻¹) for SP. The pH remained stable and was lower for MSP (p < 0.05), whereas instrumental hardness and gumminess increased in soy-based products (MSP and SP) and decreased in the control (MP). SP had the highest sensory score means (6.4) on day 21, being sensorially attractive to provide consumers with a functional food without dairy ingredients and with high viability of the probiotic microorganisms.     

Preparation and characterisation of chicken skin gelatin as an alternative to mammalian gelatin

The aims of this study were to report for the first time, the extraction and physico-chemical properties of chicken skin gelatin compared to bovine gelatin. Extracted chicken skin gelatin 6.67% (w/v) had a higher bloom value (355 ± 1.48 g) than bovine gelatin (259 ± 0.71 g). The dynamic viscoelastic profile of chicken gelatin exhibited higher viscous and elastic modulus values compared to bovine gelatin for a range of concentrations and frequencies. Thermal properties studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the melting temperature of 6.67%, chicken skin gelatin was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that of bovine gelatin, indicating lower stability of bovine gelatin compared to chicken skin gelatin. Results obtained in this study showed that Gly (33.70%), Pro (13.42%), H.Pro (12.13%) and Ala (10.08%) were the most dominant amino acids in chicken skin gelatin which contributed to the higher gel strength and stability. Raman spectra of chicken skin and bovine gelatin were similar and displayed typical protein spectra. Chicken gelatin showed strong hydrogen bonding compared to bovine gelatin as the tyrosine doublet ratio (I₈₅₅/I₈₃₀) of chicken gelatin was significantly lower than that of bovine gelatin. Significantly, the alpha helix and β-sheet type structures were higher for chicken skin gelatin compared with bovine gelatin. The average molecular weight of chicken gelatin was 285,000 Da. These findings, obtained for the first time for chicken skin gelatin, show that it has high potential for application as an alternative to commercial gelatin.     

Gamma irradiation as an alternative treatment to abolish allergenicity of lectins in food

Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionising radiation to eliminate microorganisms or insects. Lectins are the most common agents in food intolerance, and efficient methods to reduce unwanted or intolerant immunological effects of lectins have not yet been described. Sebastiania jacobinensis bark lectin was structurally altered after gamma irradiation. Hemagglutination assays showed that the lectin was stimulated by low doses of radiation (0.1 kGy), while high doses (above 1 kGy) induced a significant loss of activity. The effect of γ-radiation on lectin hydrophobicity was measured by intrinsic and bis-ANS fluorescence. High doses of ionising radiation suppressed the intrinsic fluorescence emission and promoted polypeptide fragmentation and hydrophobic surface modification. The results suggested that changes in the hydrophobic surface induced by gamma irradiation led to protein misfolding and, subsequently, to aggregation. The pioneering viewpoints presented on the stability of a food allergen after gamma irradiation might contribute to the development of harmless and more effective methods to reduce or eliminate food allergenicity.     

Three extraction methods for determination of lipids in fish meal: Evaluation of a hexane/isopropanol method as an alternative to chloroform-based methods

Three different extraction methods were compared for the determination of lipids in both oxidised and antioxidant-stabilised brown fish meal. The three methods under investigation were those of Smith-Ambrose-Knobl using chloroform/methanol/water, Bligh and Dyer also using chloroform/methanol/water but monophasic, and Hara and Radin using hexane/isopropanol. The fat content, determined gravimetrically, was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when hexane/isopropanol was used for lipid extraction from both oxidised and antioxidant-stabilised fish meal, than when either of the chloroform systems was used. Determination of lipid classes in the lipid extracts using silica gel thin-layer chromatography on Chromarods-SIII, with flame ionisation detection by latroscan, suggested that the lower lipid recovery by the hexane/isopropanol method may be due to a less effective extraction of the more polar lipid classes. including oxidation products, present in brown fish meal.     

Cumin seed meal as an alternative to wheat bran in commercial laying hen diets

To evaluate the nutritional significance of cumin seed meal (CSM) as a commercial poultry feedstuff on laying hen performance and quality of laid eggs, an experiment was conducted using 144 (48‐week‐old) laying hens receiving diets containing 0, 25 and 50 g CSM kg^?1 with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and xylanase enzyme (Grindazym^? GP 15000) for 9 weeks. Body weight on the first and last days of the experiment and daily egg production and egg weight and weekly feed intake during the first, fifth and ninth weeks of the experiment were recorded. Shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit and yolk colour were measured during the last week of the experiment. The results showed that inclusion of CSM in laying hen diets had no negative influence on the parameters measured compared with the control diet (P > 0.05), but enhanced egg yolk colour (P < 0.05). PEG increased the daily feed intake of birds receiving CSM diets (P < 0.01) and tended to enhance daily egg production and egg weight, although not significantly. Grindazym decreased shell weight and thickness of laid eggs (P < 0.05) and tended to increase hen body weight, but had no influence on other parameters measured. The results demonstrated that CSM can be substituted for wheat bran in layer diets at 25 or 50 g kg^?1 dietary inclusion level without any adverse effect on hen performance or egg quality, and might enhance egg yolk colour. In view of the low price of CSM, it could be concluded that inclusion of CSM in the diet might be beneficial to the commercial laying hen industry and reduce the overall cost of egg production. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ultrasonication as a novel processing alternative to pasteurization for camel milk: Effects on microbial load,protein profile,and bioactive properties

Ultrasonic technology presents a promising novel tool in the food industry for the processing of milk and dairy products. In this study, we investigated the effects of ultrasonication (US) as an alternative to thermal pasteurization for stabilization of the bioactive properties of camel milk. Camel and bovine milk samples were subjected to US at 6 different power levels (US1–US6), and 1 set of each type of milk was concurrently subjected to flash heat pasteurization (FHP) for comparative analysis (100 mL; n = 4). The microbiological and bioactive parameters of the samples were analyzed during 7 d of storage at 4°C. In both milk types subjected to US ≥ 140 W (US3), the bacterial load was reduced by almost 4 log cycles and complete reduction of microbial load was achieved with US = 170 W and US = 210 W (US5 and US6 treatments, respectively). No significant changes in protein patterns were observed with either FHP or US treatment. In addition, bioactive properties (cholesteryl esterase and pancreatic lipase inhibition) were either enhanced or retained at US3 or higher. 2,2′-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and ferric reducing antioxidant power activities in camel milk were decreased after FHP treatment but increased or retained upon US, particularly at US3 and US4 (160 W). Overall, under our experimental conditions, US4 was effective in completely reducing the microbial count, while concomitantly retaining different bioactive properties of both camel and bovine milk. These outcomes highlight the potential of US at 160 W as an efficient nonthermal alternative processing method for milk.     

Fogging with antibrowning agents as an alternative to conventional immersion treatments to extend shelf life of mushrooms

Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is a highly perishable product and can be easily damaged when immersion in antibrowning solutions is performed; therefore, fogging application represents a less aggressive technique. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different antibrowning agents (ascorbic acid, sodium metabisulphite and L-cysteine) applied by two methodologies (immersion and fogging) on the quality of mushrooms during storage at 5 °C. Weight losses, microstructural organisation, colour and texture changes were evaluated as quality indicators. Polyphenol oxidase activity, phenolic content and antioxidant activity were also evaluated. Fogging achieved browning inhibition without major changes in firmness, while immersion treatments inhibited browning but significant changes in firmness were found. Browning inhibition achieved by fogging showed similar results when compared to the conventional immersion treatments. Fogging has the advantage of being less aggressive than immersion while requiring a significantly smaller amount of antibrowning solution than traditional immersion.     

Fish gelatin: properties,challenges, and prospects as an alternative to mammalian gelatins

Food and pharmaceutical industries all over the world are witnessing an increasing demand for collagen and gelatin. Mammalian gelatins (porcine and bovine), being the most popular and widely used, are subject to major constraints and skepticism among consumers due to socio-cultural and health-related concerns. Fish gelatin (especially from warm-water fish) reportedly possesses similar characteristics to porcine gelatin and may thus be considered as an alternative to mammalian gelatin for use in food products. Production and utilization of fish gelatin not only satisfies the needs of consumers, but also serves as a means to utilize some of the byproducts of the fishing industry. This review focuses on the unique features, advantages, constraints, and challenges involved in the production and utilization of fish gelatin in order to provide a comprehensive look and deeper insight on this important food ingredient, as well as prospects for its future commercial exploitation and directions for future studies.     

Acidified sodium chlorite as an alternative to chlorine to control microbial growth on shredded carrots while maintaining quality

Shredded carrots are particularly susceptible to microbial growth and quality deterioration as a result of a large cut surface area to mass ratio. Acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) in the concentration range 500–1200 µL L^?1 has been shown to have stronger efficacy against pathogens and spoilage bacteria than chlorine and does not form carcinogenic products. However, ASC in this concentration range aggravates tissue damage. The objective of this study was to optimize ASC treatment parameters to balance antimicrobial activity with quality retention of shredded carrots. Shredded carrots were immersed for either 1 min in 100, 250 or 500 µL L^?1 ASC solutions or 2 min in 200 µL L^?1 chlorine or water (control). Treated samples were spin‐dried and packaged in polypropylene bags and stored at 5 °C for up to 21 days. Carrots were evaluated at 7‐day intervals for visual appearance, package atmosphere composition (O₂ and CO₂), product firmness, tissue electrolyte leakage and pH. The microbial growth, including total aerobic bacterial counts, total coliforms/Escherichia coli, yeast and mold counts and lactic acid bacterial counts on the products was also determined. Treatments with all concentrations of ASC reduced the aerobic bacterial counts, coliform/E. coli counts, yeast mold and counts and lactic acid bacterial populations by 1.2–2.0 log cfu g^?1 when compared with the water‐washed and unwashed samples. During storage, unwashed samples had a sharp increase in lactic acid bacterial populations accompanied by a sharp decline in pH readings and rapid loss in firmness and tissue integrity; samples washed with 100 µL L^?1 ASC maintained the best overall visual quality, accompanied by the retention of tissue integrity and firmness. Therefore, 100 µL L^?1 was determined as the optimum concentration of ASC for maintaining overall quality and firmness, inhibiting microbial growth and prolonging the shelf‐life of shredded carrots. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pressurized liquids as an alternative process to antioxidant carotenoids' extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae

In this work, extraction of antioxidant carotenoids from Haematococcus pluvialis microalga, has been studied combining pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), using hexane and ethanol as extracting solvents, and analytical techniques such as thin layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC with DAD. The effect of the extraction temperature (50, 100, 150 and 200 °C) and the polarity of the solvent have been studied in terms of in vitro antioxidant activity and chemical composition considering two different morphological cells (green vegetative cells and red cysts). Results demonstrate that the extraction temperature had a positive influence in the extraction yield while its effect in the antioxidant activity was negative, lowering the activity of the extracts with an increase of the extraction temperature. The best yields were obtained with ethanol at the higher extraction temperature while the best antioxidant activity was also achieved using ethanol but at lower temperatures. Chemical composition was determined by TLC and HPLC with DAD. Several compounds were identified in the samples and concentration of astaxanthin was obtained. Results pointed out that the extracts contained different carotenoids in both, the green and the red phase, and that depending on its contribution a stronger antioxidant activity would be expected.