Meat-based functional foods for dietary equilibrium omega-6/omega-3

Nutritionists encourage improving the diet by combining meat products with fish or other sea-related foods, in order to equilibrate the omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Strong scientific evidence supports the beneficial health effects of a balanced omega-6/omega-3 PUFA (poly unsaturated fatty acids) diets. In the present work, the scientific bases of new functional meat products with both a balanced omega-6/omega-3 ratio and a synergic combination of antioxidants are discussed. The aim is to contribute to the dietary equilibrium omega-6/omega-3 and to increase the antioxidant intake. Conventional meat products supplemented with a specific fatty acids and antioxidants combination led to functional foods with healthier nutritional parameters.     

Modification of functional properties of egg‐white proteins

Egg‐white proteins are extensively utilised as food ingredients due to their unique functional properties. Several attempts have been made in order to improve the functional properties of egg‐white proteins and to identify the optimal formulations for unique food products. Experimental data proves that controlled denaturation of egg‐white proteins can have a beneficial impact on various functional applications in the food industry such as emulsifying ability, heat stability, gelation. This review describes the effect of heat‐induced denaturation on protein structure and functionality. Studies on the impact of Maillard reaction, which aim to elucidate the structure‐function relationship of egg‐white proteins, are presented. A novel approach which could be the basis for the development of new methods aiming to improve the functional properties of egg‐white proteins is also discussed.     

Antiadhesion as a functional concept for prevention of pathogens: N-Phenylpropenoyl-L-amino acid amides as inhibitors of the Helicobacter pylori BabA outer membrane protein

Scope: Besides flavan‐3‐ols, a family of N‐phenylpropenoyl‐L ‐amino acids (NPAs) has been recently identified as polyphenol/amino acid conjugates in the seeds of Theobroma cacao as well as in a variety of herbal drugs. NPAs were shown to exhibit antiadhesive activities against Helicobacter pylori. Methods and results: For structure/activity relationship 24 homologous NPAs (2 mM) were investigated in a flow cytometric assay on potential antiadhesive effects against H. pylori adhesion to human gastric AGS cells. Dihydroxylation of the aromatic molecule part was shown to be necessary for activity; methoxylation decreases activity. High polarity of the amino acid is a prerequisite for activity. The model compound N‐(E)‐caffeoyl‐L ‐glutamic acid 11 exerted a concentration‐dependent inhibition of bacterial adhesion with saturation at 30% inhibition level. The antiadhesive effect was additionally confirmed by in situ adhesion assay on intact human gastric tissue. NPAs exhibited no cytotoxicity. Using immobilized ligands interaction 11 with bacterial adhesin BabA was demonstrated. RT‐PCR indicated that the inhibition of BabA is not correlated with subsequent feed back regulations to express more adhesins or virulence factors (vacA, cagA, cagL, cagα, fucT, ureI, ureA, OMPs). The interaction of bacterial adhesins with the respective ligands does not automatically lead to a subsequent signal transduction towards induction of virulence processes. Conclusion: The nutritional use of NPA‐containing food may justify a positive antiadhesive effect against the recurrence of H. pylori infections.     

Eating quality of low‐fat beef burgers containing fat‐replacing functional blends

Tapioca starch, carrageenan, oat fibre, pectin, whey protein and a commercial mixture of carrageenan and locust bean gum were assessed for their ability to mimic fat characteristics in cooked low‐fat (10%) beef burgers. Thirteen different blends of the ingredients were formulated in order to examine their effects on quality parameters of low‐fat beef burgers. The beef burgers were tested for cook yield, water‐holding capacity (WHC), retention of shape, sensory and mechanical texture analysis. Most blends significantly (P<0.05) increased both cook yield and WHC, in particular blends containing tapioca starch, oat fibre, whey protein and the carrageenan/locust bean gum mixture. These blends substantially reduced both Warner–Bratzler and Kramer shear values. Sensory analysis showed that beef burgers containing tapioca starch, oat fibre and whey protein were acceptable in terms of flavour and texture. The low‐fat control was found to be the toughest and driest of the beef burgers examined. This study shows that blends of these ingredients can be used to offset the poor quality associated with low‐fat beef burgers. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Use of Mucor miehei lipase to improve functional properties of yolk-contaminated egg whites

Egg yolk contamination of egg whites continues to be a serious problem in the egg industry. The ability of egg whites to form stable and voluminous foams is greatly inhibited by yolk contamination, even at very low levels, between 0.01% and 0.2% w/w yolk in white. Experiments were conducted to determine if Mucor miehei lipase could regenerate the functional properties of yolk-contaminated egg whites. Lipase from M. miehei and colipase from porcine pancreas were added to yolk-contaminated (0.2%, w/w) egg white samples to hydrolyze triglycerides originating from egg yolk. Enzymatic hydrolysis of triacylglycerols was confirmed using thin-layer chromatography. Treatment of yolk-contaminated samples with lipase and colipase yielded significant (P < 0.05) improvements in a number of the functional properties, including the final foam volume, foam capacity, and foaming power. These functional properties showed complete restoration to control levels. However, foam stability and foam drainage levels were not statistically different from yolk-contaminated samples that had not been enzymatically treated. Enzyme-treated yolk-contaminated egg whites were also tested in angel food cakes. Enzyme-treated, yolk-contaminated egg whites performed similarly to non-yolk-contaminated control, and much better than yolk-contaminated sample in angel food cakes. The results show that most negative effects of yolk contamination can be reversed by treatment with Mucor miehei lipase and colipase.     

Development of the Rhodiola rosea Fuqu and Rhodiola rosea soy sauce,and the determination of their functional properties

A mixed starter, composed of high‐quality Rhodiola rosea Fuqu, was developed. Compared with normal Fuqu, Rhodiola rosea Fuqu demonstrated higher spore numbers, spore germination rates, protease activity, liquefying amylase activity and total acid and amino acid nitrogen. Specifically, the spore number was 1.36 times that of regular Fuqu. Protease activity, liquefying amylase activity, total acid and amino acid nitrogen were 0.475 g/100 mL, 104.16 U/g dry Qu, 35.67 mmol/L and 26.08 g/100 mL, respectively. These values were 21.48, 7.41, 6.07 and 67.82% higher than the regular Fuqu. The Rhodiola rosea soy sauce indices were also better than those for the control. The DPPH scavenging abilities of R. rosea soy sauce, control soy sauce, market soy sauce 1 and market soy sauce 2 were 74.25, 44.01, 34.73 and 11.38%, respectively. The total phenolic content in these four samples was 387.38, 309.23, 212.85 and 202.60 mg GAE/g, respectively. As observed with the DPPH and total phenolic assay, the R. rosea soy sauce showed the highest antioxidant capacity. A simple, rapid, and sensitive determination method of salidroside in R. rosea Fuqu and R. rosea soy sauce using HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS was developed and validated with multiple reaction monitoring in the negative mode.     

Preparation and characterisation of selected physicochemical and functional properties of β‐chitosans from squid pen

Squid pen β‐chitosans prepared under various deacetylation conditions (30%, 35%, 40% and/or 45% NaOH for 15, 30 and/or 60 min) were characterised. β‐Chitosans (deacetylated with 35–45% NaOH for 15–60 min) had 87.1–96.2% degree of deacetylation (DD), 93.5–96.7% solubility and 120.5–654.9 mPa s viscosity. Treatment with 30% NaOH for 15–60 min yielded inadequately deacetylated β‐chitosans (DD = 51.9–80.2%). Two chitosans prepared under 35% NaOH for 15 min and 45% NaOH for 30 min (designated as 35%–15 and 45%–30, respectively) were further compared. Drying (sun‐drying vs. oven‐drying) methods did not affect DD. 35%–15 chitosan exhibited lower nitrogen, DD and bulk density, but higher viscosity compared with 45%–30 chitosan. Higher water‐ and fat‐binding capacity but lower DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed for 35%–15 chitosan compared with 45%–30 chitosan. Compared with 45%–30 chitosan, 35%–15 chitosan exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes, but lower antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.     

Optimisation of production yield by ultrasound‐/microwave‐assisted acid method and functional property of pectin from sugar beet pulp

Response surface methodology was used to optimise pectin recovery from sugar beet pulp using ultrasound‐/microwave‐assisted acid method (UMAAM). The independent variables were microwave heating temperature, microwave heating time and solid‐to‐liquid ratio. From the results, the selected optimal conditions were 92 °C, 37 min, and solid‐to‐liquid ratio 1:30. Under these conditions, the yield and uronic acid content of the pectin (SBP1) was 26.16% and 75.38%, respectively. Compared with the sugar beet pectin (SBP2) extracted by traditional acid method, SBP1 showed a higher molecular weight, higher viscosity and emulsifying activity and stability. The possible reason was that the UMAAM could have had minimal change in the protein–polysaccharide complex structure of pectin, but significantly increased the length of polysaccharide chains compared with SBP2. These results suggested that UMAAM is an efficient method in extracting pectin and has the potential to be used in the sugar beet industry.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of hard‐to‐cook bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) protein concentrates and its effects on biological and functional properties

Inadequate postharvest handling and storage under high temperature and relative humidity conditions produce the hard‐to‐cook (HTC) defect in beans. However, these can be raw material to produce hydrolysates with functional activities. Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidant capacities were determined for extensively hydrolysed proteins of HTC bean produced with sequential systems Alcalase‐Flavourzyme (AF) and pepsin–pancreatin (Pep‐Pan) at 90 min ACE inhibition expressed as IC₅₀ values were 4.5 and 6.5 mg protein per mL with AF and Pep‐Pan, respectively. Antioxidant activity as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was 8.1 mm  mg^?1 sample with AF and 6.4 mm  mg^?1 sample with Pep‐Pan. The peptides released from the protein during hydrolysis were responsible for the observed ACE inhibition and antioxidant activities. Nitrogen solubility, emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, foaming capacity and foam stability were measured for limited hydrolysis produced with Flavourzyme and pancreatin at 15 min. The hydrolysates exhibited better functional properties than the protein concentrate.     

Effect of microbial transglutaminase on the functional properties of megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) skin gelatin

This paper examines the effect of a microbial transglutaminase (TGase) on the gelling and viscoelastic properties of a gelatin from megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) skins. Although TGase extended the setting time of fish gelatin, it was found that melting temperature, gel strength and viscosity in solution at 60 °C were considerably increased by the covalent cross‐linking action of the enzyme, as observed by SDS‐PAGE and SEM. Increasing concentrations of TGase increased the elasticity and cohesiveness of gelatin gels but reduced gel strength and hardness. Partial inactivation of the enzyme was achieved thermally without negatively affecting the properties of the gelatin; whether or not gelatin is thermoreversible depends essentially on the degree of enzyme inactivation. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Relationship between functional properties and aggregation changes of whey protein induced by high pressure microfluidization

Aggregation changes of whey protein induced by high-pressure microfluidization (HPM) treatment have been investigated in relation with their functional properties. Whey protein was treated with HPM under pressure from 40 to 160 MPa. Functional properties (solubility, foaming, and emulsifying properties) of whey protein concentrate (WPC) ultrafiltered from fluid whey were evaluated. The results showed significant modifications in the solubility (30% to 59%) and foaming properties (20% to 65%) of WPC with increasing pressure. However, emulsifying property of WPC treated at different pressures was significantly worse than untreated sample. To better understand the mechanism of the modification by HPM, the HPM-induced aggregation changes were examined using particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, and hydrophobicity. It was indicated that HPM induced 2 kinds of aggregation changes on WPC: deaggregation and reaggregation of WPC, which resulted in the changes of functional properties of WPC modified by HPM.     

Apple pomace as a potential ingredient for the development of new functional foods

Extruded snacks and baked scones were formulated with increasing levels (0–30%) of apple pomace (AP). The incorporation of up to 20% of AP in extruded snacks and in baked scones does not change significantly (P < 0.05) the proximate composition of the final products, except for the content of starch of baked scones. At this level of incorporation, the fibre content, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and β‐carotene/linoleic acid system) increased when compared to the products to which no AP was added. Chlorogenic acid and quercetin were the major phenolic compounds found in the products. Loss of phenolic compounds during heat treatment occurred; however, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of final products was not affected.