Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Alimentaria Feed

Development and comparative analysis of protein-polyphenol-fibre bars as nutritional supplements suitable for healthy senior consumers

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The number of elderly people is steadily increasing in developing countries though the specific age-related challenges of nutrition fail to get properly addressed in the case of senior citizens. Accordingly, we have developed protein-polyphenol dietary fibre (PPF) bars using two kinds of protein mixtures (1 and 2) and some food additives, such as the banana powder, freeze-dried strawberries, coconut powder, Dutch cacao powder, and vanilla cookies, as they can interfere with the texture of bars and the flavour as well. The used food additives are also a source of polyphenols and dietary fibres that would enhance the nutritive values of the bars. The texture properties, such as hardness and cutting force, were assessed, and the results indicated a significant difference (P < 0.05) among the bars, offering important hints about their suitability for the elderly. Also, significant differences were observed for the polyphenol content of the bars that would stress their increased nutritional relevance too. On average, the sensorial evaluation showed the developed bars of moderate acceptability, while Bar 3 and 6 had the highest scores for colour, texture, flavour, and aroma. Conversely, Bar 1 recorded the lowest values for all assessed criteria. Interestingly, Bar 3 with freeze-dried strawberries and Bar 6 with Dutch cacao powder were the most appreciated flavours and contained in the range of 25–28% protein, 17–23% carbohydrate, 15–21% lipids, and 15–23% dietary fibre, which also indicates their nutritionally balanced nature. Furthermore, the above-mentioned macronutrient content ensures approximately 400 Kcal/100g per PPF bar, while through their polyphenol and flavonoid yield their health-promoting effect gets substantiated.

Proximate composition and sensory acceptability of cowpea-based pudding produced from cowpea cultivated using different weed control methods

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This study evaluates the effect of different weed control methods on the proximate composition and sensory properties of cowpea-based pudding produced from cowpea flour. Cowpea seeds of Ife Brown variety with three different treatments [(supplementary hoe weeding at 6 weeks after sowing, two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing, and three hoe weeding at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after sowing (WAS)] were processed into flour samples and analysed for physicochemical properties using standard methods. The puddings were prepared from cowpea flour and were subjected to proximate composition, colour properties as well as sensory qualities using standard methods. The pH, total titratable acidity, water absorption capacity and amylose of cowpea flour were 4.85–5.10, 0.02%–0.05%, 276.00%–287.09%, and 22.04%–24.60% respectively. The ranges of values for moisture content, crude fat, total ash, crude fibre, crude protein, and total carbohydrate of cowpea based pudding were 74.26%–76.15%, 0.63%–0.71%, 0.75%–0.94%, 0.66%–0.75%, 16.70%–17.83%, and 5.11%–5.55% respectively. The colour properties of cowpea-based pudding were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by each treatment. However, cowpea-based pudding prepared from treatment of supplementary hoe weeding at 6 weeks after sowing and three hoe weeding at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after were preferred most by the panelist.

Stress response in bacteria originated from dairy products

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

In some bacteria, the stress adaptation response, a defence mechanism against low pH, can also induce a number of physiological and genetic resistance mechanisms that provide advantages for bacteria to resist other environmental factors. This phenomenon is called cross-protection, which can potentially have serious consequences for food safety. In some fermented, acidified foods, low pH can provide a favourable environment for the growth of bacteria. Bacteria can adapt to acidic environments and become able to survive various factors that occur during storage and processing such as salt, antibiotics, or technological effects. The microbiota of dairy products includes beneficial microorganisms, spoilage bacteria, and foodborne pathogens. The most common bacteria on various dairy products are Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Bacillus sp. The aim of this research is to determine the resistance of the identified bacteria (16S rDNA-based bacterial identification) to antibiotics and osmotic pressure as a consequence of their possible defence mechanisms adapted to the acidic environment.

Nutritional quality and health benefits of roselle calyces

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Roselle calyces (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) were evaluated through a critical study of existing research works on health benefits, mineral compositions, bioactive compositions, mechanisms, and possible research gaps. The use of roselle calyces as an alternative to synthetic food dyes, addressing growing global challenges of overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, was evaluated and encouraged. Studies indicate the attenuation of obesity by chlorogenic acid (the predominant phenolic compound in roselle calyx) via mechanisms associated with the UCP-1 and PGC-1α pathways, resulting in reduced blood lipid levels, reduced fat accumulation in the liver, and increased thermogenesis through fat metabolism. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of known bacteria and fungi, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei, were studied. More research, however, needs to be conducted on organic acids present in roselle calyces to look into their possible applications and maximize their possible benefits.

Laboratory-scale extraction of Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm. seed oil with different solvents, purified with membrane filtration

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The shortcomings encountered from the use of conventional methods of refining draw considerable attention when it comes to the processing of edible oils. The present invention to this effect is the usage of membrane technology, which stands out as a suitable alternative, as it offers significant advantages such as minimal chemical additions, low energy consumption, and the retention of nutrients and other desired components. This paper seeks to ascertain the quality of edible oil extracted by different solvents, refined via membrane filtration. Amounts of 25 mL of crude oil sample were extracted with three different solvents (n-hexane, ethanol, and n-hexane-ethanol blend) from seeds of Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm. and were refined using a micro-filter of pore size of 0.45 µm and an ultrafiltration membrane with 50 kDa cut off before bleaching and deodorizing to obtain table oil. Proximate composition and elemental analyses were carried out on the table oil samples produced and compared with food-grade standards. Results obtained showed 0.133–0.53% moisture content, 0.04% ash, 98.90–99.67% ether extract, 0.23% carbohydrate, and elemental compositions of 51.60–55.00% C, 6.12–6.30% H, 6.21–6.28% O, 0.01–0.02% N, and 13.0–15.0% P for edible oil samples. The findings of this study indicate that edible oil produced from the seeds of H. barteri via membrane technology yields good-quality oil for commercial production, except for the need to enhance further reduction of phosphorus content.

Exploring the effects of comminution level and natural antioxidant incorporation on the quality and oxidative stability of turkey meat system

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This study aimed to explore the effects of different comminution degrees and the incorporation of a natural antioxidant on the quality attributes and oxidative reactions of turkey meat. Four distinctive turkey meat systems were established, namely: 3 mm minced treatment (M), 3 mm minced treatment with the addition of 200 ppm gallic acid equivalent Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) extract (MA), fine-ground treatment (FM), and fine-ground treatment with the addition of 200 ppm gallic acid equivalent Aloe vera extract (FMA). The evaluation encompassed an in-depth analysis of various quality parameters and the assessment of lipid-protein oxidation reactions throughout the storage period. The inclusion of Aloe vera extract (AE) increased the pH and b* values while simultaneously decreasing the L* and a* values. Conversely, increasing the degree of comminuting manifested an elevation in L* values, concomitant with a decline in a* values. Increased comminuting degree ratios were found to contribute to an exacerbation of oxidative reactions. Nonetheless, the strategic utilization of AE demonstrated its potential to effectively mitigate oxidative reactions during storage.

Classification of different types of flours available in the Romanian market based on the nutrition content

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Flour is one of the most widely used products typically derived from wheat, corn, and rye and is classified based on its nutrition content. The present study aimed to identify and classify the different types of flour (wheat, rye, maize) commercially available in Romania. The market research covered eight types of flour available on the Romanian market: 1. Wheat Flour 000 (N-19), 2. Wheat Flour 550 (N-11), 3. Wheat Flour 650 (N-13), 4. Whole-Wheat Flour (N-15), 5. Durum Wheat Flour (N-8), 6. Spelt Wheat Flour (N-8), 7. Rye Flour (N-15), and 8. Maize Flour (N-23). The classification was carried out by analysing the most important parameters: energy, protein, fat, saturated fatty acid, carbohydrate, sugar, and dietary fibre content, using different statistical methods: descriptive statistics, box plot, hierarchical cluster, and surface radar analysis. The results revealed that white wheat flour represented more than 50% of the analysed samples, and significant differences were found between the tested types of flour. In addition, white wheat flour is characterized with lower dietary fibre, fat and protein content, but it has higher energy content and carbohydrate content. In contrast, whole meal, durum, spelt, and rye flours are characterized by lower carbohydrate and higher fibre and fat content. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed that, on the basis of nutritional similarities and differences, the flours studied in Romania can be grouped into three distinct clusters.

Effect of postharvest management on the microbial quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This experiment was conducted to appraise the role of the curing phytohormone treatment and storage method in the postharvest microbial decay of ware potatoes during storage. The study was designed as a Split-Split-Plot Design (SSPD) in which the curing period was placed in the main plot, and the storage method and the phytohormone were put in subplot and sub-sub-plot respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times to form a 4 × 3 × 3 factorial experiment. Each treatment consisted of 20 potato tubers out of which decayed samples were counted for the calculation of percentage rot loss and identification of the causal agent, which was done fortnightly until the end of the storage period of 12 weeks. Temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity were monitored weekly. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the GenStat Discovery Edition statistical software package. Means that exhibited significant difference were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMTR) at p = 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analysis showed that the phytohormone levels had highly significant influence (p ≤ 0.01) on percentage rot loss. Although there was a significant interaction between the curing periods and phytohormone concentration, storage conditions (p ≤ 0.05) were observed throughout the storage period of 2–8 weeks. Fusarium solani, Rhizopus oryzae, and Aspergillus niger were implicated in the rotting of potato tubers.

Mineral and anti-nutritional properties of pearl millet and pumpkin leaf flour as affected by fermentation

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This study was aimed at determining the mineral and anti-nutritional properties of naturally fermented millet and pumpkin leaf flour blends. The millet grains were allowed to ferment spontaneously for 24 hrs and 48 hrs and were processed into flour. Dried pumpkin leaves were blended into flour and substituted using D-optimal mixture design, which resulted in ten experimental runs. The mineral content and the anti-nutritional properties of the flour blend formulation were analysed. Duncan’s multiple range test was used to evaluate the mean at p < 0.05 with SPSS version 21.0. Significant differences were observed in the mineral and anti-nutritional composition of the fermented millet and pumpkin leaf flour blends at 24 hrs and 48 hrs of fermentation time respectively. Calcium, potassium, and iron content increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing the amount of pumpkin leaf flour in the flour blends. The values for tannins and total phenolic composition ranged from 0.089 to 0.162% and from 0.075 to 0.120% for 24 hrs and from 0.080 to 0.141% and from 0.060 to 0.120% for 48 hrs of fermentation time respectively. Results showed that fermentation technique could be used to enrich the nutritional and bioactive potential of millet.

The role of selenium in nutrition and the manufacturing of selenium-enriched milk

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The role of selenium has increased after the discovery of the first seleno-enzyme in the human body. Selenium supports growth, the immune system, the reproductive organs, thyroid and muscle function, has an antioxidant effect, and protects against free radicals. The recommended daily intake of selenium for adults is 55 µg/day, which cannot be covered with food alone in selenium-deficient areas. That is the reason why we chose as our research topic the production of functional food – in this research: milk – in which the selenium level has been elevated naturally. In our work, we supplemented six Holstein-Friesian cattle feeds with a daily 1, 2, 4, and 6 mg/individual organic selenium, and then we measured the selenium content by ICP-MS. With a selenium enrichment of 1 mg/day, a 60% increase in selenium content was achieved, as the selenium content of milk increased from 32.93 µg/kg to 52.79 µg/kg. With the 2, 4, and 6 mg supplementation, the milk contained 97.2, 182.69, and 231.31 µg/kg selenium respectively. The latter is seven times more than the selenium content of the control sample. We have developed a recommendation for the amount of naturally selenized milk that should be consumed for different age groups. In our opinion, milk with increased selenium content could contribute to improving the selenium status of the population.

Osmotic dehydration of wild garlic in sucrose–salt solution

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Due to its nutritional and nutraceutical qualities, wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) has great potential for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The availability of this plant is limited to the spring season, and it is perishable immediately after harvest. Osmotic dehydration (OD) is verified as an effective pre-treatment to improve sustainability by reducing the water content of raw material with minimal negative effect on its nutritive and sensorial qualities. In this study, OD of wild garlic leaves in aqueous solution of sucrose and salt was analysed at three temperatures and after diverse immersion times. The effects of the processing time and temperature on the dry matter content, water loss, and solid gain were evaluated using response surface methodology and analysis of variance. Some components in the samples were determined before and after OD. The results showed that during OD, the dry matter content of wild garlic increased from 7.91 ± 1.08% to 51.51 ± 1.34%. The maximum achieved values for water loss (0.6189 ± 0.0146 g/g i.s.) and solid gain (0.2417 ± 0.0146 g/g i.s.) indicated a good dehydration level. In the osmotically dehydrated wild garlic, the amount of analysed minerals decreased, sodium and sugar increased, and the content of protein, cellulose, and fat did not change – compared to the fresh sample.

The combined effect of time and temperature during oven drying on red grape pomace polyphenols, pigments, and antioxidant properties

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This study had as a goal to carry out the drying of red grape pomace (RGP) using a 2 × 3 factorial design. The design of the experiment included combinations of time and temperature in order to achieve the lowest possible moisture levels and examine losses in precious polyphenols, but also the effect on the antioxidant properties of RGP extracts. Drying for 6 hrs at 80°C (D6/80) provided RGP with a satisfactory moisture level (11%). A comparison with untreated (fresh) RGP revealed that drying significantly decreases the polyphenol and anthocyanin pigments’ content. This decline was accompanied by a decrease in both the ferric-reducing power and antiradical activity of the RGP extracts. Although necessary for long-term RGP stability, drying should be implemented with caution because improper drying may have severe effects on the polyphenolic composition and antioxidant activity.

Assessment of sodium chloride tolerance and antibiotic resistance of Citrobacter braakii EC-PS1 and Macrococcus caseolyticus Li-PT1 isolated from artisanal cheeses

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The different varieties of cheese are fermented dairy products with high nutritional value, which have been part of the healthy human diet for centuries. Cheeses are characterized by complex and diverse microbiota carrying beneficial, spoilage, or foodborne pathogen bacteria. Harmful bacteria originate from the production chain. Identification and characterization of microorganisms in cheese are important nutritional, food safety, and technological issues. During this study, Citrobacter braakii EC-PS1 and Macrococcus caseolyticus Li-PT1 bacteria strains, isolated on selective mediums from two artisanal cheeses, were identified by way of 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Their antibiotic resistance and NaCl stress tolerance were also determined M. caseolyticus Li-PT1 showed tolerance to 6.5% and 10% NaCl. The increasing NaCl concentration above 15% contributed to the decrease of viability in bacteria. The increasing NaCl concentration to 10% contributed to the decrease of viability in C. braakii EC-PS1 bacteria. The identified bacterial species exhibited different levels of resistance to the tested antibiotics C. braakii EC-PS1 showed resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and streptomycin, whereas M. caseolyticus Li-PT1 was susceptible only to two antibiotics (erythromycin, tetracycline) out of the eight tested.

The role of circular economy in food waste management in fulfilling the United Nations’ sustainable development goals

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Based on the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021, approximately 931 million tons of food waste were generated in 2019, with nearly 570 million tons of that waste occurring in households. Hunger affects more than 800 million people worldwide. Furthermore, the non-consumption of food accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, food waste generation has significant environmental, societal, and economic consequences. The circular economy (CE) is an economic model that seeks to reduce waste and extend resource life. The purpose of this study is to examine and present the connections between the CE, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and food waste management. Food waste management is commonly regarded as an environmental issue. Still, it also offers vital economic and social benefits for sustainable development. The first section of the research looks at the function of food waste management in the transition to a circular economy. The second part of this study examines the SDGs in food waste management and circular economy. The findings revealed that the most significant connections and synergies between food waste management, circular economy practices, and SDG targets could be found in SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Both goals have high scores for direct and indirect contributions.

Milk powder incorporation in the cereal-based Nepalese indigenous food bhakka and its quality assessment

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This work aims to study the effect of milk powder incorporation on the nutritional and sensory quality of our traditional indigenous food, bhakka. Different samples were prepared replacing the rice flour by milk powder at different ratios (2.5:97.5, 5:95, 7.5:92.5, 10:90). Bhakka prepared from 100% rice flour was considered as control. Sensory-related results showed that 7.5% milk powder and 92.5% rice flour can be mixed to prepare an acceptable quality. The proximate analysis showed protein content of 5.18% in rice flour bhakka and 6.7% in milk-powder-incorporated bhakka. The milk-powder-incorporated bhakka had a fat content of 1.51%, crude fibre content of 0.18%, crude protein content of 6.70%, total ash content of 0.44%, and carbohydrate content of 62.3%, which was higher than that of rice flour bhakka. The product prepared can help in combating protein–energy malnutrition, adds a new taste as well as value to our traditional indigenous food.

Mass transfer rate and osmotic treatment efficiency of peaches

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The highest-quality peaches [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] are cultivated in areas with sunny summers, therefore the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is a favourable region for their production. Peaches are usually consumed fresh, canned, or dried and represent a great source of the essential nutrients. Osmotic dehydration is a well-known preservation method that relies on mild temperatures and requires low energy. Research conducted at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad has introduced sugar beet molasses as an efficient osmotic solution for drying various food samples. In this research, peach samples were osmotically treated in sugar beet molasses, and the goal was to investigate the impact of different solution concentrations, temperatures, and immersion time on the mass transfer rate and the efficiency of treatment. The results have shown that the mass transfer rate during the osmotic treatment of peach samples in sugar beet molasses was the most intensive at the beginning of the process, at the highest solution concertation, and at the highest temperature. In accordance with the results, diffusion occurred most rapidly during the first three hours of the process; therefore, processing time can be reduced.

The Himalayan ethnic beverage tongba with therapeutic properties in high-altitude illnesses and metabolomic similarities to Japanese sake

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Tongba, a millet-based fermented ethnic drink of the Limbu and other Nepalese-Tibetan communities, is consumed in the highlands of Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas and the adjoining high-altitude places of Nepal, the northern and north-eastern parts of India, and the Tibetan Plateau and is valued for its ethnomedicinal properties. In this research, the GCMS-based metabolite profiling of an authentic sample of tongba was carried out, identifying various bioactive metabolites. Several biologically active components, such as glycoside, amino acids, fatty acids, and other long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives, terpenoids and phenol, were detected in tongba, which have therapeutic properties against various high-altitude illnesses. Probable biosynthesis routes of those compounds in tongba’s broth were also studied, where many similarities were noticed with the Japanese beverage sake. The key finding of this metabolomic investigation was the detection of bioactive ethyl-α-D-glucopyranoside and cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro) with abundant peak areas, which confirmed tongba’s therapeutic importance in high-altitude illnesses and its metabolomic similarities with sake.

Influence of milk used for cheese making on microbiological aspects of Camembert-type cheese

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Camembert-type cheeses are surface mould-ripened soft cheeses obtained with Penicillium camemberti. Soft cheeses are more frequently associa ted with foodborne disease outbreaks than hard and semi-hard cheeses. During our work, three Camembert-type cheeses were prepared on a pilot/small industrial scale. The first cheese was made from bulk milk and pasteurized at 74 °C for 15 seconds. The second and third cheese were prepared from one type of milk and were heat-treated at 72 °C for 60 seconds. The microbial contamination with Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus of the three Camembert-type cheeses was evaluated. The food-related stress survival of Salmonella spp. and S. aureus isolates originated from the cheese samples was assayed. The antibiotic suscep tibility of the bacterial isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method, using 12 and 16 different antibiotics respectively. Based on the results, the first cheese sample contained the highest number of Salmonella bacteria; S. aureus was detected only in the first sample. According to the results of antibiotic susceptibility of the Salmonella, isolates showed susceptibility to the majority of assayed antibiotics and resistance to trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, amikacin, and cefotaxime. The S. aureus isolates showed resistance to trimethoprim and displayed intermediate resistance to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin.

The role of r esistant starch in human nutrition

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

In this paper, we examine the role and effect of resistant starch (RS) in human nutrition; further, the structure and properties of RS, the food sources based on resistance to digestion in the colon, and the physiological effects of RS are described. The nutritional value of RS, the effect of RS on short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, the relationships between RS and colon function, and the relationships between food starch, dietary fibre, and RS content and colon cancer development are reviewed. It has been shown that the use of RS in foods may have some benefits. Resistant starch, digestion of resistant-starch-containing foods have a number of health benefits for colon function but appear to have less effect on lipid-glucose metabolism. It has a positive effect on colon bacterial activity, promotes the growth of beneficial microbes, and reduces the activity of enzymes that are harmful to the digestive system. Under the influence of RS, increased SCFA production lowers the pH of the colon and stimulates bile acid secretion. The decreased pH protects against colon cancer and inhibits the conversion of primary and secondary bile acids, which are cytotoxic to intestinal cells. At the end of the review article, the relationships between RS and the colon microflora, its use as a prebiotic, and the relationship between RS and glucose metabolism are analysed. It was found that the use of RS in the diet might have benefits as it shortens the time it takes food to pass through the colon and increases the amount of stool. It was also found that the physicochemical properties of foods can directly affect the amount of RS and thereby the blood glucose levels and insulin response.

Physiological benefits of a honeydew-based functional food fortified with selected bioactive agents justified by trials

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Honey is a consumer-preferred, highly esteemed natural product with a broad variety of distinct bioactive components. In recent days, the consumption of high-added-value, honey-based products are increasingly coming to the forefront of interest, and thus huge efforts are being made by researchers/developers to elaborate honey variants with fortified biological value. Relevant human clinical trials have scarcely been accomplished; thus, the biological impact of honey and its derivatives has not been thoroughly revealed. In this work, we present our experiments on the development of a novel honey-based prototype and its plausible physiological impacts certified via human clinical trials. The investigated product was a newly elaborated honeydew-based prototype fortified with pumpkin, sea buckthorn, and inulin, which was subjected to a 13-week-long, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. The prototypes were applied to 20 adult volunteers to establish the complex impact of the newly developed product. Conclusions drawn at the end of the trial were based on results of blood tests taken at diverse phases of the study. The positive physiological effects of consumption of the investigated products are underpinned by the fact that no significant elevations have been measured in terms of the blood glucose level and parameters featuring long-term blood sugar levels. Slight decrease of both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were also experienced.