Effect of industrial processing on chlorophyll content of broccoli

Chlorophylls a and b and pheophytins a and b were quantitaty determined in raw, frozen (after blanching for 60, 120 or 150 s) and canned florets and stems of broccoli. The chlorophyll a and b contents were 0.11 and 0.043 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight respectively in raw florets and 0.036 and 0.018 g kg⁻¹ respectively in stems. About 37.8% and 61.1% losses were incurred during the freezing process in florets and stems respectively, and 98.5% after canning as a consequence of industrial processing. After different blanching times the losses of chlorophyll a in frozen florets varied between 17.7 and 66.4%, while the losses of chlorophyll b varied between 23.2 and 48.8%. In the losses ranged from 55.5 to 75% and from 50 to 88.9% for chlorophylls a and b respectively. These losses resulted in an increase in pheophytin a and b levels in both florets and stems. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of industrial processing on amino acid content of broccoli

The levels of amino acids in broccoli stems and florets before and after various blanching times (in the case of freezing) and after bottling have been studied to elucidate to what extent nutrient quality is affected by industrial processing. The following amino acids (mg kg^?1 fresh weight) were identified by ion exchange chromatography in raw broccoli florets: glutamine (1338), proline (732), asparagine (578), valine (310), arginine (296), isoleucine (204), threonine (169), leucine (166), phenylalanine (159), aspartic acid (140), lysine (127), alanine (122), tyrosine (105), S‐methylcysteine (96), histidine (89), ornithine (59), glutamic acid (44), γ‐aminobutyric acid (31), glycine (11) and serine (0.2). Raw stems contained the same amino acids but at lower levels (p < 0.05). The levels of all these amino acids fell during both industrial processes studied (bottling and freezing after blanching for 60, 90, 120 and 150 s), particularly in the frozen samples (losses of 50–70% in the florets and 20–50% in the stems). In summary, losses of broccoli amino acids were lower if blanching times were kept short. The optimal blanching time at 94 °C for florets and stems intended for freezing was 90 s, and this did not result in any great loss of nutritional value related to amino acid content. Bottled florets had greater nutritional value than those frozen after being exposed to the longest blanching times (120 and 150 s). © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

MICROWAVE AND CONVENTIONAL BLANCHING EFFECTS ON CHEMICAL, SENSORY, AND COLOR CHARACTERISTICS OF FROZEN BROCCOLI

Broccoli (cv. Empress) obtained from a local supplier was blanched within 15 h of harvest. It was blanched by four methods in covered containers: conventional boiling water (1900 mL, 4 min) (BW), steam (300 mL water, 4 min) (ST), microwave heated in 1 L glass containers (60 ml water, 4 min, 700 W) (MW), and microwave heated in 1 L Seal-a-Meal^TM bags (45 ml water, 4 min) (MWB). Aliquots were frozen at -18C for 4 weeks. Fresh unblanched broccoli peroxidase activity ranged from 389 to 829 units/min; activity was essentially zero immediately after all blanching treatments. The highest reduced ascorbic acid (RAA) content occurred in fresh unblanched broccoli. Some peroxidase regeneration occurred during frozen storage. Immediately after blanching, all blanched broccoli had lower RAA content than control broccoli. MW-blanched broccoli retained the greatest amount of RAA and had appearance, visual color, texture scores, and chroma of florets and stems equivalent to ST-blanched broccoli. MW-blanched broccoli had flavor and general acceptability scores similar to BW-blanched broccoli. After 4 weeks in frozen storage, MW-blanched broccoli had the highest RAA content.     

Composition and content of flavonol glycosides in broccoli florets (Brassica olearacea) and their fate during cooking

The two main flavonol glycosides present in broccoli florets were identified as quercetin 3-O-sophoroside and kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside. Three minor glucosides of quercetin and kaempferol were also detected, namely isoquercitrin, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside and a kaempferol diglucoside. The sophorosides of quercetin and kaempferol were present in raw florets at a level of 65 mg kg⁻¹ and 166 mg kg⁻¹ fresh weight, respectively. The total content of quercetin and kaempferol glycosides expressed as aglycone was 43 and 94 μg g⁻¹ fresh weight, respectively, and these agree with other recently published data. During the cooking process only 14–28% of the individual glucosides were retained in the cooked tissue, the remainder being largely leached into the cooking water with only a small loss attributed to the formation of the respective aglycones. © 1998 SCI.     

Influence of blanching and low temperature preservation strategies on antioxidant activity and phytochemical content of carrots, green beans and broccoli

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of blast freezing and blanching in combination followed by chilling, on the antioxidant activity (ARP), phenols, ascorbic acid and colour of broccoli, carrots and green beans. No significant changes (p > 0.05) in ARP of blanched frozen (BLFR) broccoli, carrot and green beans were observed. In contrast, UBFR (unblanched frozen) treatments caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in ARP and ascorbic acid content of vegetable samples. BLFR treated samples had better retention of antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid as compared to UBLR counterparts at chill storage (4 °C) for 7 days. However, no significant changes were observed in phenol content for all vegetables. Ascorbic acid decreased exponentially for both blanched and unblanched samples. The reaction rate constant (k) increased from 1.06 × 10⁻¹ day⁻¹ to 1.17 × 10⁻¹ day⁻¹ for blanched and unblanched broccoli florets and from 4.6 × 10⁻³ day⁻¹ to 1.98 × 10⁻¹ day⁻¹ for blanched and unblanched carrots during 7 days storage. Result presented here indicates greater stability of nutritional parameters for BLFR samples compared to UBFR samples during 7 days storage at 4 °C for all vegetables.     

EFFECTS OF BLANCHING METHOD ON THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF FROZEN PEAS

This study evaluated the effects of microwave blanching prior to freezing as an alternative pretreatment for frozen peas. Peas were blanched (steam‐, boiling water immersion‐, microwave‐ or microwave‐blanched in a bag), frozen and evaluated after 0, 6 and 12 weeks for moisture and ascorbic acid content, peroxidase activity, visual appearance and instrumental color, and after 6 and 12 weeks for aroma, flavor and texture. All blanch treatments reduced peroxidase activity by 97% compared with controls (unblanched); blanching methods did not differ. Steam blanching resulted in significantly better ascorbic acid retention than all other treatments; microwave blanch treatments were either equivalent to or better than boiling water immersion. Both microwave treatments darkened (L* value) peas. Microwave‐blanched peas were visually greener than other treatments, but their appearance was less intact. Aroma and flavor were similar among blanch treatments. Texture of boiling water immersed peas was similar to the two microwave treatments.     

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar,L) as raw material for the smoking industry. II: Effect of different smoking methods on losses of nutrients and on the oxidation of lipids

The changes in total fat content, fatty acid composition, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, pH and oxidation were analysed in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.) in response to either cold smoking (20 or 30 °C) or electrostatic smoking. Both fresh and frozen fillets were dry-salted before smoking. The fish smoked were the lean ocean-ranched salmon caught off Iceland in June 1998 and farmed Norwegian salmon, slaughtered in either November 1998 or April 1999, differing in fresh fillet fat content from 84 to 169 g·kg⁻¹ wet weight. The fresh material used in smoking significantly affected the smoking loss of nutritive components in the fillets. The leaner the fish the higher percentile loss in fillet fat. Ascorbic acid decreased about 80 percent from the fresh value, independent of smoking temperature (20 or 30 °C). The fish that were dry-salted and electrostatically smoked only lost about 10 percent of the fresh ascorbic acid content, independent of the type of raw material used, indicating a conserving effect on ascorbic acid by the electrostatic process. Also, the electrostatically smoked fish showed a smaller drop in fillet pH than cold-smoked fillets, while tocopherol was little affected by the smoking methods tested.     

Influence of different treatments on dehydrated cauliflower quality

Fresh cauliflower was cut into florets, blanched, treated and spread in trays to dry by means of a solar drying process. The influences of packaging materials, blanching time, and potassium metabisulphite (KMS) concentration levels on the quality of solar dehydrated cauliflower up to 6 months of storage were studied. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) present in fresh cauliflower was 74.61 mg (100 g)^?1. Results revealed that ascorbic acid concentration decreased with an increase in blanching time but its retention was high in cauliflower dehydrated by solar drying. Dehydrated cauliflower had 581.37 mg (100 g)^?1 of ascorbic acid in samples treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of KMS with 3 min blanching at day zero. Washing cauliflower florets in tap water reduced the microbial load as compared with the unwashed sample. Processed and dehydrated cauliflower, packed in three types of packaging materials did not show presence of fungi even after storage for 6 months. In almost all samples, permissible levels of bacterial counts were observed after 6 months of storage. All the samples were also found to be free from Escherichia coli. It was found that blanched samples (blanching done for 7 min) treated with 0.5% KMS, dehydrated and then packed in laminated aluminium foil (LF) were the best in regard with nutritional and microbiological quality of dehydrated cauliflower.     

Sugar Beet Grown Using Nutrient Film Technique: Yield and Nutritional Quality

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L cv Great Western Sugar) was grown using the nutrient film technique with a half-strength modified Hoagland nutrient solution to determine its biomass yield and nutritional quality. After 6 months, storage root and foliage weights per plant were 493·1 g and 551·0 g, respectively. Sucrose content in the fresh storage root was 118·4 g kg⁻¹ but was less than 10 g kg⁻¹ in the fresh leaves and petioles. Some nutrients in the leaves and petioles were analysed to evaluate their potential as a leafy vegetable. Fresh leaf protein, total dietary fibre, mineral (Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and K), vitamin (carotene, ascorbic acid and thiamine) and oxalic acid concentrations were similar to those of consumer-accepted green vegetables.     

Development of lipid oxidation and flesh colour in frozen stored fillets of Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.). Effects of treatment with ascorbic acid

Frozen stored fillets from Norwegian spring spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.) become discoloured. Based on the hypothesis that lipid oxidation in the fillets caused discoloration, we designed an experiment where ascorbic acid was added to the water (2 g l⁻¹) in RSW-tanks on board a fishing vessel and/or by spray (20 g l⁻¹) after filleting but before freezing. Treatment with ascorbic acid on board and on the fillet line led to 8- and 17–24-fold increases, respectively, in the ascorbic acid concentration in the herring fillets. Ascorbic acid treatment on the fillet line, but not the treatment on board, protected the herring fillets against oxidation during freezing, an effect that could be detected until 9 weeks of storage at −30 °C. Between 9 and 14 weeks of storage there was a new burst of lipid oxidation where the treatments had no effect. There was a large variation in colour within each fillet and between fillets in the same group. During freezing, the amount of yellow colour increased substantially and the amount of red colour increased in the posterior end of the fillets, causing a visible change in appearance. Thereafter only minor changes occurred until week 10 but, in week 30, the fillets had become less red, causing a less fresh and more grey appearance. Compared to the within fillet and within group variations, there were only minor effects of ascorbic acid treatment on colour. It is suggested that shelf life of frozen herring fillets should be set at between 9 and 14 weeks at −30 °C. Treatment with ascorbic acid will not alleviate the discoloration of frozen herring fillets.     

采后青花菜花球抗氧化水平变化与衰老的关系

为研究采后青花菜花球抗氧化水平变化与衰老的关系,将采后青花菜花球贮藏于20℃条件下,连续4 d测定了花蕾衰老生理指标(叶绿素、蛋白质、丙二醛(MDA)含量)及抗氧化水平指标(抗坏血酸(AsA)和β-胡萝卜素(β-Car)含量、超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化氢酶(APX)活性)。结果表明:贮藏过程中,叶绿素和蛋白质含量逐渐减少,MDA含量逐渐增多;AsA和β-Car含量逐渐减少,SOD、CAT和POD活性逐渐升高,APX活性逐渐降低;这些抗氧化水平指标与衰老生理指标的线性相关性均在1%水平显著。说明采后青花菜花球的抗氧化水平变化与衰老密切相关。     

Effect of post‐harvest treatments on the level of glucosinolates in broccoli

Broccoli is a very perishable vegetable with a high water content (around 88%) which leads to rapid dehydration and probably to an alteration in composition if conditions after harvest are not controlled. This study evaluates the glucosinolate pattern and glucosinolate levels in the principal and secondary inflorescences of fresh broccoli cv ‘Tokyodome’, and after being submitted to some situations which are likely to occur during or after harvest: room temperature (±20 °C) for 5 days, kept in the fridge at 4 °C for 5 days, and frozen after blanching. Another set of material was harvested 5 days later, simulating a post‐maturation stage, and analysed. The highest total glucosinolate content was found at commercial maturation with 20 888 and 20 355 µmoles kg⁻¹ DW in the principal and secondary inflorescences, respectively. Keeping the inflorescences at room temperature caused the most significant (P < 0.05) reductions in total and individual glucosinolates, except for 4‐hydroxyindol‐3‐ylmethyl‐, 2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylethyl‐ and 2‐phenylethyl‐, when compared to the other situations. The highest levels (10 925 µmoles kg⁻¹ DW) of 4‐methylsulphinylbutyl‐, the precursor of the anti‐cancer isothiocyanate sulphoraphane, were found in the inflorescences freshly harvested at commercial stage. Refrigeration at 4 °C and freezing were shown to be the best preservation processes for maintaining high levels of these and other glucosinolates in contrast with the other situations. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar,L.) as raw material for the smoking industry. I: effect of different salting methods on the oxidation of lipids

The changes in total fat content, fatty acid composition, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, pH and oxidation were analysed in response to different salting methods, either dry or brine, in cold-smoked (20 or 30 °C) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.). The fish were lean ocean-ranched salmon caught at Iceland in June 1998 and farmed Norwegian salmon slaughtered in November 1998 and April 1999, differing in fresh fillet fat content from 84 to 169 g kg⁻¹ wet weight. The total fat content decreased in all groups during processing, whereas the relative fatty acid composition of the fillets was not severely affected during salting and cold-smoking. The most conspicuous process consumption of antioxidants in all the groups was the relative ascorbic acid loss (58–82%). Generally, no clear effect of different salting methods was observed on the tocopherol loss during processing, but brine salting had a stronger effect on both fat and ascorbic acid loss than dry salting. The fattiest fish showed the highest oxidation during processing and they lost more tocopherol, but the final oxidation levels were generally low (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS: 6.0–14.7 μmol kg⁻¹), reflecting the antioxidative protection offered by the vitamins during processing.     

Lipid composition and palatability of canned sardines. Influence of the canning process and storage in olive oil for five years

Lipid variations of canned sardines in olive oil, both quantitative and in fatty acid composition, have been studied during various stages of the canning process: raw sardines (RS), precooked sardines (PS), just canned sardines (CS) and sardines stored for 6 months (6MS), 12 months (12MS) and 5 years (5YS). The effect of maturation on the palatability of sardines has also been observed by means of triangle tests using a panel of 60 tasters. Our results show a significant loss of SFA in fish during the canning process (C16: 0, 273±6 g kg⁻¹ of fat in RS and 169±11 g kg⁻¹ of fat in CS) and a rise in MUFA (C18:1 207±2 g kg⁻¹ of fat in RS and 506±14 g kg⁻¹ of fat in CS); PUFA showed almost no variation. The maturation and canning processes both yielded similar qualitative modifications. The palatability of the sardines was significantly higher after 6 months of maturation than immediately after canning, and this quality was maintained, for at least 5 years of storage. © 1998 SCI.     

Effect of industrial processing and storage on antioxidant activity of apricot (Prunus armeniaca v. bulida)

The effect of different methods of conservation (frozen and canned) on the antioxidant properties of raw apricot was evaluated, and antioxidant activity of both types of processed fruit was monitored during 150 days of storage. The raw apricot exhibited the highest inhibition of oxidation according to the lipid peroxidation assay. The freezing process led to a slight loss of antioxidant activity, whereas canned apricots lost their antioxidant capacity. All samples showed a higher degree of protection in the deoxyribose assay (OH^·) than BHA and BHT. The capacity of raw apricot to scavenge radical superoxide was higher than that of the antioxidant standards analysed, whereas the freezing and canning treatment decreased this capacity. The raw or processed apricots showed no capacity to scavenge hydrogen peroxide, nor offered oxidative stability to olive, sunflower and corn oils under the conditions of heating involved in the Rancimat test. Canned apricots showed higher ABTS^·+ scavenging capacity than the raw fruit, perhaps as a result of the syrup absorbed by canned apricots. Raw apricots showed a very good capacity to protect linoleic acid against oxidation. During storage in frozen and canned apricots no important changes were detected in the different antioxidant activities assayed from 1 to 150 days.     

采后水分和营养胁迫对西兰花未成熟衰老中相关酶活性的影响

本研究以西兰花(Brassica oleracea)花蕾为试材,研究了采后水分胁迫和营养胁迫对西兰花贮藏过程中色值变化、叶绿素含量、抗坏血酸(Vitamin C,Vc)含量、呼吸强度、超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide Dismutase,SOD)、过氧化物酶(Peroxidase,POD)、过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)活性和丙二醛(Malondialdehyde,MDA)含量以及总抗氧化能力的影响。结果表明,西兰花在采后贮藏过程中花蕾出现黄化现象,采后水分和营养胁迫加速了西兰花叶绿素、Vc的降解。采后12 h,对照、水处理、聚乙二醇(polyethylene glycol,PEG)处理、PEG加营养液处理和营养液处理的花球Vc含量为8.84 mg/100g,12.16 mg/100g,PEG 24.44 mg/100g,PEG 30.68 mg/100g,27.56 mg/100g。采后水分和营养胁迫均可导致西兰花花蕾POD活性下降,CAT活性峰值升高,两者同时发生时,延缓了西兰花花蕾总抗氧化性的上升。SOD、POD、CAT活性和总抗氧化性相比较可以看出,总抗氧化能力比单纯的某一种抗氧化酶更能反映西兰花的抗衰老能力。     

Carcass and meat characteristics of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Seven Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) of 1300 mm length were slaughtered in order to established baseline values for component yields and expected percentage of lean meat, fat and bone for this species. The skin presents nearly 20% of the live weight of the Nile crocodile, while a dressing percentage of 56.5% was derived. The tail realised 18 and 33% of the live weight and empty carcass weight respectively. Values of 60.8, 12.2 and 26.6% of carcass weight were obtained for total lean meat, fat and bone respectively. A pH value of ± 6.5 at 24 h post‐mortem in both tail and leg muscles and a decreasing pH towards 48 h post‐mortem illustrated that rigor mortis is still not complete when crocodile carcasses are processed. While fat content differed statistically (P < 0.05) from 91.1 g kg⁻¹ in raw torso samples to 29.4 g kg⁻¹ in raw neck samples, protein content was relatively constant around a mean of 220.8 g kg⁻¹ in raw meat. Cooking did not have any influence of practical value on proximate, amino acid or mineral composition. Crocodile meat is characterised by a lower iron, magnesium and sodium content than either beef or chicken. Of the total fatty acids present in the tail samples, 37.7% were saturated, 51.1% monounsaturated and 10.7% polyunsaturated. Oleic acid was predominant (43.1%), whilst palmitic acid (25.4%), stearic acid (9.9%) and linoleic acid (9.1%) were also present in high concentrations. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of Post-Harvest Handling and Processing on Vitamin Contents of Peas

Vitamin contents of peas were measured at various stages of raw product handling, during 1976–1979 seasons, on different cultivars, on different sizes of peas, at various stages of processing, and at different processing plants. Some cultivar differences were shown in ascorbic acid, carotene, and folic acid, and different sizes of peas contained significantly different amounts of ascorbic acid, carotene, and thiamin contents. Profound effects were observed during blanching and thermal processing of peas. Ascorbic acid, thiamin, vitamin B₆, and niacin contents of canned peas were significantly (95% level) lower than those of fresh peas. Also some significant differences in vitamin contents of canned peas among different processing plants were observed.     

Changes in post-harvest phytochemical qualities of broccoli florets during ambient and refrigerated storage

The effect of ambient and refrigerated storage temperature on post-harvest phytochemical qualities of broccoli florets was investigated during storage. Fresh broccoli florets were packed in polypropylene (PP) micro-perforated film bags and stored, under open ambient storage conditions (15 ± 1 °C, 55 ± 2% RH), and laboratory refrigerated storage (4 ± 0.5 °C, 50 ± 2% RH) for a total period of 144 h. Quality of broccoli florets was evaluated in terms of physiological weight loss (PLW), ascorbic acid content, chlorophyll content, β-carotene and total antioxidant activity. Samples packed in PP micro-perforated film showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower losses of PLW, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, β-carotene and total antioxidant activity (5.51%, 4.53%, 18.9%, 4.04% and 16.4%, respectively), during storage for up to 144 h under refrigerated conditions. For better phytochemical retention, the broccoli florets should be packed in PP micro-perforated film bags and stored under refrigerated conditions.