Biosynthesis of ascorbyl benzoate in organic solvents and study of its antioxygenic and antimicrobial properties

Ascorbyl benzoate was synthesized through lipase-catalyzed esterification in organic media, and its properties studied. A series of organic solvents with a log P from −1.30 to 2.50 were investigated, in which cylcohexanone (log P = 0.96) was found to be the most suitable. The optimum reaction conditions in cylcohexanone were pH 6.0, a_w 0.33, a substrate concentration form 0.06 M to 0.1 M, 65 °C, and above 150 rpm speeds of shaking. Experimental results also demonstrated that benzoic acid was not an ideal substrate of lipase, which led to low conversion rates, but its limitation could be overcome by excess l-ascorbic acid. Schaal oven test illustrated that the antioxidant activity of ascorbyl benzoate was comparable to that of ascorbyl palmitate, and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) data showed that its antimicrobial activity was weaker than that of benzoic acid.     

Extraction of capsaicinoids from chillies (Capsicum frutescens L.) and paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) using supercritical fluids and organic solvents

 Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with subsequent HPLC analysis was performed in order to determine the amount of capsaicinoids in paprika and chillie powder samples. The extraction yields obtained by SFE were compared to those obtained by organic solvent extraction and were found to be comparable or slightly lower. The advantages of SFE are shorter extraction times, less sample preparation needed prior to HPLC analysis and fewer interfering peaks in the chromatograms. In addition, the SFE method developed (extraction temperature=80 ^°C, density= 0.75 g/ml, modifier=20 μl water) was shown to be suitable for analysis of capsaicinoids (capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin) that are present over a wide range of concentrations (10–1400 μg/g) in the samples. Received: 12 July 1996/Revised version: 26 August 1996     

Thermoactivity and effects of organic solvents on digestive lipase from hepatopancreas of the green crab

Unlike classical digestive lipases, the crab digestive lipase (CDL) displayed its maximal activity at a high temperature. The CDL activity’s optimal temperature, when using emulsified or monomolecular film as substrate, was 60 °C. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an animal digestive lipase having such an optimal temperature. The maximum activity of CDL appeared at pH 8. Lipase activity was compatible with the presence of organic solvents, except for butanol. Furthermore, the hydrolysis was found to be specifically dependent on the presence of Ca²⁺ ions, since no significant CDL activity was detected in the presence of ion chelators such as EDTA. Nevertheless, the CDL does not require Ca²⁺ to trigger the hydrolysis of tributyrin emulsion. Interestingly, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions acted as strong inhibitors of CDL activity when using tributyrin as substrate. Lipase stability in the presence of organic solvents, as well as at high temperatures, makes it a good candidate for application in non-aqueous catalysis.     

Effect of protein denaturation degree on texture and water state of cooked meat

We prepared cooked meat with varied denaturation degrees that were predicted based on 3D finite element heat transfer analysis and reaction kinetics. Using a meat sample with a clear denaturation distribution, we performed stress-relaxation measurements to obtain the elastic modulus and identified the state of water in the meat by using proton magnetic resonance imaging (¹H MRI) for quantification of a transverse relaxation time (T₂). Even after the complete denaturation of myosin, the elastic modulus did not exceed 14 kPa, which is not large compared with 6 kPa for unheated meat. However, when actin denaturation was initiated, the elastic modulus dramatically increased while the T₂ value at the meat surface remarkably decreased. The difference in the state of water between the surface and the core reflected the uneven denaturation distribution in the meat caused by heating. When actin denaturation was complete, the elastic modulus reached 60 kPa, which was the equilibrium value, and T₂ decreased and its distribution became more flat.     

Effects of baking on protein digestibility of organic spelt products determined by two in vitro digestion methods

Consumption of organic foods is steadily increasing because it is believed to be healthier than conventional foods. This study was designed to investigate protein digestibility of organic spelt bread, biscuit, cookie and muffin in comparison to their corresponding normal wheat products. Three types of fermented bread products namely, yeast leavened, sour and yeast/sour dough were evaluated. Protein digestibility was assessed based on two methods, three-enzyme one-step and two-enzyme two-step digestion in vitro. The one-step digestion method produced results that were comparable with in vivo (rat) methods whereas the two-step digestion method was more reliable in determining differences among the examined wheat products. Organic spelt used in the present study was comparable to common wheat in protein content averaging 15.4 g/100 g dry matter. Slight differences were observed between organic spelt and common wheat products in protein digestibility determined by the two digestion methods. However, significant differences were found among each wheat products. In general, after baking protein digestion was significantly increased. Spelt and common wheat bread products had similar protein digestibility within each type of bread with sour dough breads had the highest protein digestibility. Biscuit, cookie and muffin products possessed lower protein digestibility than breads. In general, variations in protein digestibility due to baking were more noticeable than that found between the two wheats.     

Effect of high pressure treatment on aggregation and structural properties of soy protein isolate

The aggregation and structural properties of soy protein isolate (SPI), induced by high pressure (HP) treatment at 200-600 MPa were investigated by size-exclusion chromatography combined with multi-angle laser scattering (SEC-MALLS) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. HP treatment at lower pressure level (e.g., 200 MPa) resulted in formation of marked insoluble aggregate of SPI, while the treatment at higher pressure level (e.g., 600 MPa) led to transformation of insoluble aggregate to soluble one. The soluble aggregate formed at 400 or 600 MPa had much less mean molecular weight (MW) (about 5.2 × 10⁶ g/mol) than that at 200 MPa (about 1.6 × 10⁷ g/mol), and was also much more homogenous in MW distribution. FTIR analyses confirmed changes in secondary and tertiary structures, induced by HP treatment. These results can provide direct evidence or explanation for HP-induced modification of soy proteins.     

Combined effect of ultrasound and organic acids to reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on organic fresh lettuce

This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of individual treatments (ultrasound and organic acids) and their combination on reducing foodborne pathogens on organic fresh lettuce. Lettuce leaves were inoculated with a cocktail of three strains each of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes and treated with ultrasound (40 kHz) alone, organic acids (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, and 2.0% — malic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid) alone and combined with ultrasound and organic acids for 5 min. For all 3 pathogens, the combined treatment of ultrasound and organic acids resulted in additional 0.8 to 1.0 log reduction compared to individual treatments, without causing significant quality change (color and texture) on lettuce during 7 day storage. The maximum reductions of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes were 2.75, 3.18, and 2.87 log CFU/g observed after combined treatment with ultrasound and 2% organic acid for 5 min, respectively. Our results suggest that the combined treatment of ultrasound with organic acids was effective at increasing pathogen reduction compared to individual treatments without significantly affecting quality, and demonstrates its potential as a novel method to increase the microbial safety on organic fresh lettuce.     

Ester synthesis reaction with CALB displaying yeast whole cell biocatalyst: Effect of organic solvent and initial water content

The effect of the reaction conditions on the ester synthesis reaction with CALB displaying yeast whole cells was determined. Utilization of hydrophobic organic solvent improved the efficiency of the ester synthesis reaction. Also the initial water content was important for the expression of the ester synthesis activity of CALB displaying yeast whole cells.     

Inhibitory effects of sweet potato leaves on nitric oxide production and protein nitration

The inhibitory effects of a water extract of sweet potato leaves (WSPL) on nitric oxide (NO) production and protein tyrosine residue nitration were investigated. The results showed that WSPL inhibited NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. In the range of 0–1.0 mg/ml, the inhibitory effect on NO generation in macrophages increased with increasing concentration of WSPL. Meanwhile, the protein tyrosine residue nitration in mouse heart homogenates was inhibited by 1 mg/ml WSPL. In addition, WSPL, in the range of 0–0.4 mg/ml, also exhibited radical scavenging, reducing and chelating activities and protected liposomes against oxidative damage. A high performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that phenolic acids and flavonols such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin were present in the WSPL, which could contribute to the protective effect against oxidative damage. Thus, WSPL might be useful in preventing protein nitration and oxidative stress.     

Probiotic Cheddar cheese: Influence of ripening temperatures on survival of probiotic microorganisms, cheese composition and organic acid profiles

Bifidobacterium longum 1941, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LAFTI^®B94 (B94), Lactobacillus casei 279, Lb. casei LAFTI^®L26 (L26), Lactobacillus acidophilus 4962 or Lb. acidophilus LAFTI^®L10 (L10) were used as an adjunct in the production of Cheddar cheeses which were ripened for 24 wk at 4 and 8 °C. Effects of ripening temperatures on survival of starter lactococci and probiotic microorganisms, pH and composition of cheeses and production of organic acids were examined. The counts of starter lactococci in cheeses produced with B. animalis B94, Lb. casei L26 or Lb. acidophilus 4962 ripened at 8 °C were significantly lower than those ripened at 4 °C (P < 0.05) at 24 wk. Probiotic microorganisms remained viable (>7.50 log₁₀ CFU/g) at the end of 24 wk and their viability was not affected by the ripening temperatures. There were significant effects of the type of probiotic microorganisms used, ripening time, ripening temperatures and their interactions on the concentration of lactic and acetic acids in the cheeses (P < 0.05). The acetic acid concentration in cheeses made with Bifidobacterium sp. or Lb. casei sp. was significantly higher than that of the control cheese (P < 0.05). Citric, propionic and succinic acids contents of the cheeses were not significantly affected by the type of probiotic microorganisms or ripening temperatures (P > 0.05).     

Recovery and upgrading bovine rumen protein by extrusion: Effect of lipid content on protein disulphide cross-linking, solubility and molecular weight

Bovine rumen protein with two levels of residual lipids (1.9% or 3.8%) was subjected to thermoplastic extrusion under different temperatures and moisture contents. Protein solubility in different buffers, disulphide cross-linking and molecular weight distribution were determined on the extrudates. After extrusion, samples with 1.9% residual lipids content had a higher concentration of protein insoluble by undetermined forces, irrespective of feed moisture and processing temperature used. Lipid content of 3.8% in the feed material resulted in more protein participating in the extrudate network through non-covalent interactions (hydrophobic and electrostatic) and disulphide bonds. A small dependency of the extrusion process on moisture and temperature and a marked dependency on lipid content, especially phospholipid, was observed, Electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions showed that protein extrusion with low feed moisture promoted high molecular breakdown inside the barrel, probably due to intense shear force, and further protein aggregation at the die end.     

Whey protein aggregation under shear conditions – effects of lactose and heating temperature on aggregate size and structure

Summary Whey protein concentrates with different lactose contents were heat- and shear-treated in a scraped surface heat exchanger at various temperatures. The properties of the resulting protein aggregates are closely correlated with the denaturation kinetics of β-lactoglobulin and the different mechanisms – unfolding and aggregation – which determine the overall reaction rate. At temperatures below 85 °C, unfolding is slowed down especially if there is a high content of lactose. A loose, porous aggregate structure is formed and the particle size and the serum binding capacity increase. The smallest aggregates are produced when heating takes place between 85 and 95 °C. In the temperature range above 100 °C aggregation is the rate-limiting step and the aggregate structure is very dense and compact. The particle size increases and is no longer dependent on the concentration of lactose.     

豆奶、杏仁露、椰子汁等植物蛋白饮料的品质控制

用质量管理体系中的危害性分析方法，对豆奶、杏仁露、椰子汁等植物蛋白饮料的生产工艺进行了分析，对影响产品品质的主要工序进行了分析研究，确定了关键控制点及范围，以提高植物蛋白饮料的质量管理水平，确保产品质量的稳定．     

The decontaminative effects of acidic electrolyzed water for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on green onions and tomatoes with differing organic demands

Acidic electrolyzed water (AC-EW) has strong bactericidal activity against foodborne pathogens on fresh vegetables. However, the efficacy of AC-EW is influenced by soil or other organic materials present. This study examined the bactericidal activity of AC-EW in the presence of organic matter, in the form of bovine serum against foodborne pathogens on the surfaces of green onions and tomatoes. Green onions and tomatoes were inoculated with a culture cocktail of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes. Treatment of these organisms with AC-EW containing bovine serum concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ml/l was performed for 15 s, 30 s, 1 min, 3 min and 5 min. The total residual chlorine concentrations of AC-EW decreased proportional to the addition of serum. The bactericidal activity of AC-EW also decreased with increasing bovine serum concentration, whereas unamended AC-EW treatment reduced levels of cells to below the detection limit (0.7 logCFU/g) within 3 min.     

Effectiveness of rosemary essential oil as an inhibitor of lipid and protein oxidation: Contradictory effects in different types of frankfurters

The effect of increasing levels (150, 300 and 600ppm) of rosemary essential oil on lipid and protein oxidation and the increase of non-heme iron (NHI) content during refrigeration (+4°C/60 days) of frankfurters produced with tissues from Iberian pigs (IF) or white pigs (WF), was studied. Frankfurters with no added essential oil were used as controls. Iberian pigs were free-range reared and fed on acorns and pasture whereas white pigs (Large-white×Landrance) were intensively reared and fed on a mixed diet. Large differences were detected between types of frankfurters (Iberian vs white) in terms of fatty acid composition and tocopherols content due to the different feeding background of the animals. The effect of the addition of rosemary essential oil on the oxidative stability of frankfurters depended on the level of added essential oil and the characteristic of the frankfurter. The rosemary essential oil successfully inhibited the development of lipid and protein oxidation in IF with that antioxidant effect being more intense at higher concentrations of essential oil. In WF, 150ppm rosemary essential oil showed an antioxidant effect, significantly reducing the generation of lipid and protein oxidation products. At higher levels (300 and 600ppm) the essential oil had, in general, no effect on lipid oxidation while significantly enhanced the oxidation of proteins and the release of iron from myoglobin. The presence of certain amounts of tocopherols in the frankfurters could have influenced the activity displayed by the added essential oil leading to antioxidant or prooxidants effects though the different fatty acid composition and oxidative status between frankfurters could also have had an effect.     

Changes in protein compositions and their effects on physical changes of shrimp during boiling in salt solution

Dried shrimp is a high-value fishery product of Thailand. Boiling shrimp in salt solution is an important step during the production of dried shrimp and affects significantly the quality of dried shrimp. However, not much information is so far available on the effects of various boiling parameters on the quality changes of shrimp, especially in terms of the changes of shrimp protein compositions and their consequences on microstructural and physical changes of shrimp. The present work was thus aimed at studying the effects of boiling time and concentration of salt solution on the protein fractions, microstructural and physical changes of boiled shrimp. In addition, the relationships between protein compositions, cooking loss, texture and microstructure of shrimp were established using coupled image and fractal analysis. Boiling was investigated at various concentrations of salt solution and boiling times. Boiled shrimp was then evaluated in terms of its protein fractions, microstructure in terms of fractal dimension and physical changes (cooking loss and hardness). The relationships between all studied parameters were monitored and simple correlations between them were determined. The changes of cooking loss, hardness as well as the normalized changes of fractal dimension (ΔFD/FD₀) highly correlated with the changes of protein compositions of shrimp.     

Metabolite composition of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) upon cooking: Proximate analysis,fibre, organic acids and phenolics

The aim of this research was to study the processing effects (roasting and boiling) on primary and secondary metabolite composition of fruits from the following chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) cultivars (cvs.) of three Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) areas in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region (Portugal): PDO Terra Fria (cvs. Aveleira, Boaventura, Côta, Lamela and Trigueira), PDO Padrela (cvs. Judia, Lada, Longal and Negra) and PDO Soutos da Lapa (cvs. Longal and Martaínha). The cooking processes significantly (p < 0.0001) affected primary and secondary metabolite composition of the chestnuts. Roasted chestnuts had higher protein contents, insoluble and total dietary fibre and lower fat contents whilst boiled chestnuts had lower protein, but higher fat contents. Cooking increased citric acid contents, especially in roasted chestnuts. On the other hand, raw chestnuts had higher malic acid contents than cooked chestnuts. Moreover, roasted chestnuts had significantly higher gallic acid and total phenolics contents, and boiled chestnuts had higher gallic and ellagic acids contents, when compared to raw chestnuts. The present data confirms that cooked chestnuts are a good source of organic acids and phenolics and have low fat contents, properties that are associated with positive health benefits.     

Transglutaminase treatment of pea proteins: Effect on physicochemical and rheological properties of heat-induced protein gels

Rheological properties of heat-induced pea protein isolate (PPI) gels with added microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) were studied under various reaction conditions. A positive linear relationship was observed between level of MTGase used (0 to 0.7% w/w) and shear stress and shear strain of heat-set commercial pea protein isolate (PPIc) gels at 92 °C following incubation at 50 °C. Use of MTGase allowed for preparation of PPIc gels of similar strength and elasticity as commercial soy protein isolate gels and commercial meat bologna. MTGase treatment did not alter thermal properties of PPI gels. The shear stress and strain of PPIc gels were also improved following low temperature (4 °C) incubation of PPI with MTGase. Enhancement of shear strain or gel elasticity of heat-induced PPI gels with MTGase has not been reported before and provides opportunities for extending the properties of pea proteins when developing new food products.     

Isolation and characterization of protein isolated from defatted cashew nut shell: Influence of pH and NaCl on solubility and functional properties

This work reports the isolation of protein from defatted cashew nut shell (CNS), with the crude protein product containing 91.07% protein. Under its natural conditions, the solubility of this protein isolate is comparable (74.02%) to that of mustard green meal protein. The solubility of the protein isolate decreases with decreasing pH, with the minimum solubility observed at its isoelectric point (pH 3). The water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, foaming capacity, foam stability, emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability were found to be 2.56 cm³ H₂O/g protein, 4.28 cm³ oil/g protein, 76.88%, 70.98%, 62.0% and 79.0%, respectively. The profiles of these functional properties were determined with varying pH values and NaCl concentrations, and improved properties were observed in the alkaline pH range and in the presence of NaCl. Electrophoretic analysis showed that the high molecular weight protein globulin was the major protein in the protein isolate.     

Effect of extraction and isolation on physicochemical and functional properties of an underutilized seed protein: Gingerbread plum (Neocarya macrophylla)

The effect of extraction and isolation on the physicochemical and functional properties of gingerbread plum seed protein isolate was studied. Gingerbread plum seed protein isolate was extracted from defatted gingerbread plum seed flour (DGPSF) by alkali solution along with isoelectric precipitation. The protein isolate was subjected to freeze or vacuum drying process. Freeze dried gingerbread plum seed protein isolate (FGPSPI) and vacuum dried gingerbread plum seed protein isolate (VGPSPI) were evaluated for their physicochemical and functional properties (protein solubility, water/oil binding capacity, emulsifying capacity, foaming capacity). Among physicochemical parameters, the proximate composition, amino acid composition, minerals, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), SDS-PAGE and color attributes were studied. Both FGPSPI and VGPSPI contained over 90% protein versus DGPSF (56.72%) used as raw material. The method of drying had significant effect (p < 0.05) on the physicochemical characteristics of FGPSPI and VGPSPI except for amino acids composition. The functional properties were variable among samples. DGPSF had higher emulsifying, water holding and oil binding capacities compared with FGPSPI and VGPSPI. FGPSPI exhibited better emulsifying capacity and water holding capacity than VGPSPI. FGPSPI also showed comparable oil binding capacity and bulk density to commercial soy protein isolate (SPI). The results indicated that FGPSPI and VGPSPI could be a good source of protein fortification for a variety of food products for protein deficient consumers as well as a potential food ingredient.