RESUMO

Hop cultivation has been increasing in the past decade in Brazil, demanding a better understanding of how the processing influences the national hop varieties. Despite the hop process being well-established in the producer countries, there is still room for optimization to reduce energy consumption for a more sustainable process. This study's main purpose was to understand the influence of drying and supercritical CO2 extraction on the quality of hop extracts. The hop quality during drying was evaluated regarding color, bitter acids, xanthohumol, total essential oil content, and volatile profile. Supercritical CO2 extraction yields, and bitter acid recovery were assessed by HPLC in a range of different temperatures (40 or 60 °C) and pressure (15, 20, 25, or 30 MPa) conditions. Hop processing was optimized to produce a greater extract quality from a Brazilian hop variety, saving energy and solvent consumption, and consequently, reducing the process footprint. Furthermore, this study established supercritical CO2 extraction conditions for Brazilian hop extract production, offering the national beer industry an alternative to overpriced products.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The baru tree fruit has a sustainable economical potential. However, the shelling process to release the whole kernel, the most valued part of the fruit, is still performed in a rather inefficient way. The objective of this investigation was to determine the physical-mechanical properties of the fruit to understand its behavior during shelling. Fruit and nut were characterized by unit mass, dimensions, volume and bulk, and real densities. Compression tests up to endocarp disruption were performed to determine maximum force, corresponding deformation, and deformation energy. X-ray tomography was used to identify potential nut internal dimension changes, affected by the treatments. Whole fruits and nuts showed average unit mass values of 28.20 ± 0.99 g and 16.52 ± 1.67 g, respectively. Their average dimensions, such as length, width, and thickness were 52.40 ± 4.48 mm, 38.31 ± 4.05 mm, and 28.64 ± 3.67 mm, and 50.78 ± 5.57 mm, 34.65 ± 5.14 mm, and 21.36 ± 2.86 mm, respectively. Average bulk and real densities values were 519.33 ± 49.63 kg/m3 and 918.87 ± 77.77 kg/m3, and 517.14 ± 41.88 kg/m3 and 1072.00 ± 187.01 kg/m3, respectively. Considering all treatments, the average rupture force ranged between 7926.7 and 9284.4 N, with corresponding widthwise specific deformation of 5.1% and 6.6%, to release 100% whole kernels of the tested nuts. Up to maximum force, deformation energy values ranged between 6.55 and 9.26J. There was no evidence of treatments effect on the internal dimension.Based on its mechanical behavior, showing that it is possible to open the endocarp and release the wholekernel, it was concluded that the baru nut has mechanized shelling potential.(AU)

O fruto do baruzeiro apresenta potencial econômico sustentável, mas o processo de decorticação com liberação de amêndoa inteira, a parte mais valiosa, é ainda realizada de forma um tanto ineficiente. O objetivo nesta investigação foi determinar suas propriedades físico-mecânicas visando compreensão do seu comportamento durante a decorticação. Fruto e castanha foram caracterizados pela massa, volume e dimensões unitários e massas específicas aparente e real. Ensaios de compressão até a ruptura do endocarpo foram realizados para determinar a força máxima, deformações correspondentes e energia de deformação. Utilizou-se da tomografia de raio-X para investigar potenciais modificações, causadas pelos tratamentos, nas dimensões internas. Fruto e castanha apresentaram massa unitária média de 28,20 ± 0,99 e 16,52 ± 1,67 g, respectivamente. O comprimento, a largura e a espessura médias foram 52,40 ± 4,48, 38,31 ± 4,05 e 28,64 ± 3,67 mm, e 50,78 ± 5,57, 34,65 ± 5,14 e 21,36 ± 2,86 mm, respectivamente. Os valores médios das massas específicas aparente e real foram 519,33 ± 49,63 e 918,87 ± 77,77 kg/m3, e 517,14 ± 41,88 e 1072,00 ± 187,01 kg/m3, respectivamente. Considerando todos os condicionamentos, a força média de ruptura do endocarpo variou entre 7926,7 e 9284,4 N, com deformação específica entre 5,1 e 6,6% da largura para a obtenção de 100% de amêndoas inteiras. Os valores médios de energia dedeformação até a força máxima variaram entre 6,55 e 9,26 J. Não foi possível evidenciar os efeitos dosdiversos condicionamentos nas dimensões internas. Devido ao seu comportamento mecânico evidenciara possibilidade de abertura do endocarpo com liberação de amêndoa inteira, concluiu-se que existepotencial para a decorticação mecanizada da castanha de baru.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

The baru tree fruit has a sustainable economical potential. However, the shelling process to release the whole kernel, the most valued part of the fruit, is still performed in a rather inefficient way. The objective of this investigation was to determine the physical-mechanical properties of the fruit to understand its behavior during shelling. Fruit and nut were characterized by unit mass, dimensions, volume and bulk, and real densities. Compression tests up to endocarp disruption were performed to determine maximum force, corresponding deformation, and deformation energy. X-ray tomography was used to identify potential nut internal dimension changes, affected by the treatments. Whole fruits and nuts showed average unit mass values of 28.20 ± 0.99 g and 16.52 ± 1.67 g, respectively. Their average dimensions, such as length, width, and thickness were 52.40 ± 4.48 mm, 38.31 ± 4.05 mm, and 28.64 ± 3.67 mm, and 50.78 ± 5.57 mm, 34.65 ± 5.14 mm, and 21.36 ± 2.86 mm, respectively. Average bulk and real densities values were 519.33 ± 49.63 kg/m3 and 918.87 ± 77.77 kg/m3, and 517.14 ± 41.88 kg/m3 and 1072.00 ± 187.01 kg/m3, respectively. Considering all treatments, the average rupture force ranged between 7926.7 and 9284.4 N, with corresponding widthwise specific deformation of 5.1% and 6.6%, to release 100% whole kernels of the tested nuts. Up to maximum force, deformation energy values ranged between 6.55 and 9.26J. There was no evidence of treatments’ effect on the internal dimension.Based on its mechanical behavior, showing that it is possible to open the endocarp and release the wholekernel, it was concluded that the baru nut has mechanized shelling potential.

O fruto do baruzeiro apresenta potencial econômico sustentável, mas o processo de decorticação com liberação de amêndoa inteira, a parte mais valiosa, é ainda realizada de forma um tanto ineficiente. O objetivo nesta investigação foi determinar suas propriedades físico-mecânicas visando compreensão do seu comportamento durante a decorticação. Fruto e castanha foram caracterizados pela massa, volume e dimensões unitários e massas específicas aparente e real. Ensaios de compressão até a ruptura do endocarpo foram realizados para determinar a força máxima, deformações correspondentes e energia de deformação. Utilizou-se da tomografia de raio-X para investigar potenciais modificações, causadas pelos tratamentos, nas dimensões internas. Fruto e castanha apresentaram massa unitária média de 28,20 ± 0,99 e 16,52 ± 1,67 g, respectivamente. O comprimento, a largura e a espessura médias foram 52,40 ± 4,48, 38,31 ± 4,05 e 28,64 ± 3,67 mm, e 50,78 ± 5,57, 34,65 ± 5,14 e 21,36 ± 2,86 mm, respectivamente. Os valores médios das massas específicas aparente e real foram 519,33 ± 49,63 e 918,87 ± 77,77 kg/m3, e 517,14 ± 41,88 e 1072,00 ± 187,01 kg/m3, respectivamente. Considerando todos os condicionamentos, a força média de ruptura do endocarpo variou entre 7926,7 e 9284,4 N, com deformação específica entre 5,1 e 6,6% da largura para a obtenção de 100% de amêndoas inteiras. Os valores médios de energia dedeformação até a força máxima variaram entre 6,55 e 9,26 J. Não foi possível evidenciar os efeitos dosdiversos condicionamentos nas dimensões internas. Devido ao seu comportamento mecânico evidenciara possibilidade de abertura do endocarpo com liberação de amêndoa inteira, concluiu-se que existepotencial para a decorticação mecanizada da castanha de baru.

Assuntos

RESUMO

ABSTRACT Graviola leaves (Annona muricata L., Annonaceae) are used by some people to try to treat or even cure cancer, even though over-consumption of the fruit, which contains the neurotoxins annonacin and squamocin has caused an atypical form of Parkinson's disease. In previous analyses, the fruits were extracted with methanol under ambient conditions before analyses. In the present study, UPLC–QTOF–MS and NMR were used to analyze freeze-dried graviola leaves that were extracted using dry methanol and ethanol at 100 ºC and 10 MPa (100 atm) pressure in a sealed container. Methanol solubilized 33% of the metabolites in the lyophilized leaves. Ethanol solubilized 41% of metabolites in the lyophilized leaves. The concentrations of total phenolic compounds were 100.3 ± 2.8 and 93.2 ± 2.0 mg gallic acid equivalents per g of sample, for the methanolic and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Moreover, the toxicophore (unsaturated γ-lactone) that is present in neurotoxic acetogenins was found in the lipophilic portion of this extract. The concentrations of the neurotoxins annonacin and squamocin were found by UPLC–QTOF–MS to be 305.6 ± 28.3 and 17.4 ± 0.89 µg/g-dw, respectively, in the dried leaves. Pressurized methanol solubilized more annonacin and squamocin than ethanol. On the other hand, a hot, aqueous infusion solubilized only 0.213% of the annonacin and too little of the squamocin to be detected. So, graviola leaves contain significant amounts of the neurotoxins annonacin and squamocin, as well as some potentially healthy phenolic compounds. Finally, the potential neurotoxicity of whole leaves in dietary supplements could be much higher than that of a tea (hot aqueous infusion) that is made from them.

RESUMO

Outbreaks of acute Chagas disease (ACD) in northern Brazil can be caused by the ingestion of unprocessed açai pulp contaminated with Trypanosoma cruzi . The aim of this study was to determine the minimum thermal process required to inactivate T. cruzi in açai pulp. Trypomastigotes (100,000) of T. cruzi Y strain were added to 0.15 M NaCl or açai pulp and continuously mixed while being heat treated at 37 to 49°C for up to 1 h. When necessary, parasites were separated from açai pulp by forced sieving. Inocula were administrated intraperitoneally in inbred immunodeficient C.B-17-Prkdcscid/Pas Unib mice, and the recipients were monitored for parasitemia and mortality. Mice received prophylactic antibiotic therapy by using cephalexin to prevent bacterial infection from the açai pulp. T. cruzi retained its virulence in 0.15 M NaCl and açai pulp at 44 ± 0.1°C for 10 min and at 43 ± 0.1°C for 20 min, respectively, causing ACD and death in mice up to 24 days after infection. Incubation of açai pulp inoculum above 43°C for 20 min neutralized T. cruzi virulence, thereby preventing ACD and death in murine recipients. The heating of açai pulp above 43°C for 20 min is a practical and effective measure to prevent foodborne ACD caused by T. cruzi .

Assuntos

RESUMO

Objetivo: estudar a sobrevivência e a infectividade de Trypanosoma cruzi na polpa de açaí. Métodos: foram realizados experimentos in vitro e in vivo. Alíquotas de polpa provenientes da cidade de Belém (capital do estado do Pará, região Norte do Brasil) foram misturadas a 105 tripomastigotas e mantidas às temperaturas ambiente, 4°C e -20°C, com diferentes períodos de incubação; posteriormente, os parasitos foram isolados e inoculados em camundongos imunodeficientes C.B-17-Prkdcscid/PasUnib pelas vias intraperitoneal, oral ou gavagem. Resultados: todas as vias foram eficientes. Houve retardo de 5 dias no início da parasitemia na infecção oral. À temperatura ambiente por 48 horas, a polpa preservou a virulência do parasito. Refrigeração a 4°C por 144 horas e congelamento a -20°C por 26 horas não eliminaram o parasito. Conclusão: os testes sugerem a possibilidade de os surtos de doença de Chagas aguda no Norte do Brasil estarem relacionados ao consumo de polpa de açaí.

Objective: to evaluate infectivity by Trypanosoma cruzi and its survival in açaí pulp. Methods: experiments were performed in vitro and in vivo; aliquots of pulp from Belém City (capital of the state of Pará, Northern Region of Brazil) were mixed with 105 trypomastigotes, and maintained at room temperature, and at temperatures of 4°C and -20 °C, within different incubation periods; following that, the parasites were isolated and inoculated into immunodeficient mice CB-17-Prkdcscid/PasUnib, by intraperitoneal, oral, orgavage routes. Results: all routes showed effectiveness. There was a delay of 5 days in the beginning of the parasitemia by oral infection; the pulp at room temperature for 48h kept the parasite virulence preserved. Keeping the samples cooled at 4ºC during 144h and the freezing at -20°C for 26h did not kill the parasite. Conclusion: tests suggest that açaí pulp consumption may be related to outbreaks of acute Chagas' disease in Northern Brazil.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection with high socioeconomic impact throughout Latin America. Although this severe, incurable disease can be transmitted by several routes, oral transmission is currently the most important route in the Amazon Basin. Açaí pulp has nutritional properties and is popular throughout Brazil and abroad. However, this pulp has been associated with microepidemics of acute Chagas disease (ACD) in northern Brazil, where açaí fruit is the main food supplement. In this study, we examined the in vitro survival and in vivo virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in açaí pulp. Aliquots of in natura açaí pulp produced in Belém city in the northern Brazilian state of Pará were mixed with 105 trypomastigotes. The samples were incubated at room temperature or at 4 or -20°C for various periods, and the parasites were isolated by forced sieving. The resulting eluates were examined by microscopy, and the trypomastigotes were administered intraperitoneally, orally, or by gavage to immunodeficient mice (C.B-17-Prkdc(scid)/PasUnib) that had been pretreated with antibiotics. Parasitemia was quantified by the Brener method, and mortality was recorded daily. All routes of administration resulted in ACD. A 5-day delay in the onset of parasitemia occurred with oral administration. The survival and virulence of the parasites were unaffected by prior incubation at room temperature for 24 h, at 4°C for 144 h, and at -20°C for 26 h. These results indicate that T. cruzi can survive and retain its virulence in açaí pulp under various conditions and that cooling and freezing are not suitable methods for preventing foodborne ACD.

Assuntos

RESUMO

In April 2009, the centenary of the discovery of the American trypanosomiasis, or Chagas disease, was celebrated. A hundred years after the discovery, little has been invested in diagnostics and treatment because the disease affects mainly poor people in developing countries. However, some changes in the epidemiology of the disease are of great importance today. Chagas disease transmitted through food is a public health concern in all areas where there is a reservoir of Trypanosoma cruzi in wild animals (e.g., mammals and marsupials) and/or where infected triatomine bugs are in contact with human food source items (especially fruits and vegetables). Recently, several outbreaks of illness related to the ingestion of food contaminated with T. cruzi have been recorded in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The use of antibiotics in agriculture is limited when compared to their applications in human and veterinary medicine. On the other hand, the use of antimicrobials in agriculture contributes to the drug resistance of human pathogens and has stimulated the search for new antibiotics from natural products. Essential oils have been shown to exert several biological activities including antibacterial and antifungal actions. The aim of this study was to determine the activity of 28 essential oils from medicinal plants cultivated at CPMA (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Collection), CPQBA/UNICAMP, against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc., the anthracnose agent in yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg), as well as evaluating their effect in the control of post-harvest decay. The oils were obtained by water-distillation using a Clevenger-type system and their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determined by the micro-dilution method. According to the results, 15 of the 28 essential oils presented activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and the following four oils presented MIC values between 0.25 and 0.3 mg/mL: Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus and Lippia alba. The evaluation of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil in the control of post-harvest decay in yellow passion fruit showed that the disease index of the samples treated with the essential oil did not differ (P < 0.05) from that of the samples treated with fungicide. The present study shows the potential of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil in the control of the anthracnose agent in yellow passion fruit.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) consiste de uma pequena fruta roxa de sabor levemente amargo e cujo conteúdo de polpa é proporcionalmente menor do que o caroço. O fruto é bastante perecível e além da carga microbiana a ele naturalmente associada, muitas falhas higiênicas ocorrem nas etapas de colheita, transporte e processamento do mesmo, fazendo com que haja um incremento dessa microbiota no produto final. O consumo dessa polpa de açaí in natura vem sendo apontado como principal veículo de transmissão da Doença de Chagas Aguda (DCA) pela via oral na região da Amazônia Brasileira. Somente nos últimos anos, devido a um surto ocorrido no estado brasileiro de Santa Catarina em 2005 e a diversos surtos que vêm ocorrendo nos últimos três anos na Amazônia Brasileira, associados principalmente ao consumo de suco de açaí, esta rota de transmissão vem merecendo atenção de estudiosos e pesquisadores. Assim, a Doença de Chagas, nas regiões em que é endêmica, deve passar a ser encarada como uma enfermidade passível de transmissão alimentar. Mecanismos de controle e prevenção da contaminação de alimentos susceptíveis pelo protozoário T. cruzi, bem como medidas educacionais devem ser adotadas.(AU)

The açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is a small purple fruit with a slightly bitter flavored pulp whose content is proportionally less than its lump The fruit is very perishable and in addition to its natural microbial load an increase in the microbiota population may occur in the final product due to failures related to hygienic aspects, in the first steps of processing, including collection and transportation. This pulp consumption in natural state has been pointed as the main vehicle of the acute oral transmission of Chagas' disease (ACD) in the Brazilian Amazon. Recently, due to an outbreak occurred in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina in 2005 and others that have been occurring in the last three years in the, Brazilian Amazon, associated mainly for the consumption of açaí juice, this route of transmission has been deserving attention of scholars and researchers. So Chagas disease transferred by foods, in regions where it is endemic, should be observed as a real possibility. The contamination control and prevention mechanisms of food by the protozoan Ticruzi and educational improvements must be adopted. (AU)

Assuntos