Graziela Bragueto Escher’s research while affiliated with State University of Ponta Grossa and other places

Alimentos tipo snacks obtidos por extrusão podem ser adicionados de subprodutos agroindustriais, alternativa de baixo custo para incrementar o valor nutricional, e Spirulina platensis (SP) fonte de proteínas e antioxidantes. Neste estudo foram desenvolvidos snacks, usando delineamento experimental 2² onde se testou as variáveis SP (S. platensis) - 2,5 a 7,5 g.100 g-1 e umidade de alimentação (U) - 18 a 26 g.100 g-1. As formulações continham farinha de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) (72,5 a 77,5 g.100 g-1) e 20 g.100 g-1 da mistura de farinha de subprodutos de laranja (FL) (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) e de palmito pupunha (FP) (Bactris gasipaes) (1:1). Os snacks foram avaliados quanto aos parâmetros nutricionais, tecnológicos e sensoriais. Verificou-se que a SP aumentou o teor de proteínas e antioxidante das formulações. Quando comparados a um produto comercial similar, os snacks continham de 15-48 % mais proteínas, e 320-380 % a mais de fibras alimentares. O aumento de SP, elevou em mais de 1000% a atividade antioxidante dos snacks. Nas condições testadas a densidade aparente foi diretamente proporcional à U, enquanto, dureza e crocância foram inversamente proporcionais. No entanto, as variáveis SP e U não interferiram nos índices de expansão, solubilidade em água, absorção de água e absorção de óleo. As maiores aceitações sensoriais, de 72 e 73%, ocorreram em condição de maior incorporação de SP. Assim, mostrou-se a possibilidade de elaboração de snacks sem glúten com valor nutricional superior aos similares comercializados, para consumidores atentos à dieta mais saudável, além de alternativa de aproveitamento de subprodutos.

Em face da crescente incidência de diabetes se faz necessário desenvolver alimentos práticos que contenham menos carboidratos disponíveis e/ou nutrientes que apresentem efeito positivo sobre a glicemia pós prandial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade do bagaço de malte (BSG) em diferentes proporções e granulometrias, e a adição de Spirulina platensis na elaboração de barras de cereais com maçã desidratada. Através da análise da composição proximal, propriedades físicas e sensoriais, verificou-se que a adição de BSG (1.44 e 1.09 mm) proporcionou aumento na concentração de fibras alimentares totais, proteínas e cinzas nas barras de cereais. O índice de aceitabilidade foi superior a 70% para as formulações que continham maior percentual de maçã desidratada. Na sequência, foram avaliadas a atividade antioxidante in vitro, a resposta glicêmica (RG), o índice glicêmico (IG) e carga glicêmica (CG) in vivo de barras de cereais com bagaço de malte e maçã desidratada (G), barras de cereais com S. platensis (SP) comparando com barra de cereal comercial (BC). A SP apresentou maior conteúdo de compostos fenólicos (124,28 ± 10,67 mg GAE/ 100 g), além de 22.47±0.39 g/ 100gde fibras alimentares que auxiliaram na redução da resposta glicêmica.

Popsicle-type edible ice cream is consumed worldwide for its sensory properties. However, its nutritional composition is limited to carbohydrates, sweeteners and synthetic flavors. In this work, the objective was to develop popsicles manufactured with different protein sources (rice protein, concentrated bovine milk whey protein and a mixture of both proteins) and added with an herbal lyophilized extract (LME) composed of white tea, fermented rooibos, and roasted yerba mate. Six formulations were produced and their proximate composition, physicochemical properties, sensory acceptability, total phenolic content, condensed tannins, and in vitro antioxidant activity determined. Popsicles added with LME showed a higher total phenolic content compared to the controls (without LME). The popsicles formulated with animal protein and LME showed the highest antioxidant activity as measured by the DPPH and FRAP assays. In relation to sensory analysis, the highest acceptance rates, 91 and 88%, were observed in formulations added with animal protein without and with LME, respectively. On the other hand, the vegan formulation added with LME had the lowest acceptance rate (69%). Overall, the addition of LME and concentrated bovine whey protein provides a viable option for the development of phenolic-rich protein-based popsicles.

Food companies should comply with the requirements of a zero‐waste concept to adapt to the circular economy requirements. In fruit companies, usually seeds are discarded without proper utilization and extraction of the bioactive compounds. Fruit seeds are sources of chemical compounds that can be extracted, studied, and applied in high value‐added products. Thus, in this work the experimental conditions for the water extraction of phenolic compounds from camu‐camu (Myrciaria dubia) seed coat were optimized using a central composite design and the desirability function. Total phenolic content (TPC), and condensed tannins (CT), DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP), Folin‐Ciocalteu reducing capacity (FCRC), and Cu²⁺chelating ability were assessed. Seed coat extracted for 51.1 min using a 1:34.1 solid:liquid ratio was the optimal condition to extract 6,242 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g of TPC and 695 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g of CT. The optimized extract displayed free‐radical scavenging activity, reducing properties and ability to chelate Cu²⁺, and inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the lyophilized water extract inhibited the in vitro activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and angiotensin converting enzyme and showed cytotoxic effects towards Caco‐2, A549, and HepG2 cancer cells, but no cytotoxicity towards IMR90 cells. Vescalagin, castalagin, and 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid were the major phenolic compounds identified in the optimized extract. In conclusion, the optimized camu‐camu seed coat water extract is a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antiproliferative effects. Practical Application Camu‐camu fruit pulp and seeds have been studied for their phenolic composition and bioactivity. However, seeds are usually discarded and represent an environmental problem in South American countries. We presented a methodological overview on the extraction optimization of the phenolic compounds from camu‐camu seed coat and studied the bioactivity of the optimized extract using chemical, enzymatic, and cell‐based experiments. Results can be used by camu‐camu processors to obtain a phenolic‐rich extract for industrial applications, without any further processing.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic composition of crude lyophilized extracts (CLE) and partially purified (PPE) extracts of C. ternatea blue petals as well as the anthocyanin stability against pH, temperature and light in the presence and absence of fructooligosaccharides. Twelve compounds were tentatively identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS in CLE and PPE extracts. In direct/reverse spectrophotometric titration, anthocyanins showed colour changes between pH 2.25 to 10.20, and colour reversibility, maintaining antioxidant activity against the DPPH radical. The aqueous extracts at pH 3.6 and 5.4 exhibited thermal stability with the presence and absence of fructooligosaccharides with activation energy higher than 99 kJ/mol. The addition of fructooligosaccharides in the extracts at pH 5.4 exposed to light provided a protective effect against anthocyanin photodegradation. The data show the technological potential of aqueous extract of C. ternatea blue petals as a natural colourant in a functional beverage model system.

Studies regarding the bioactivity of teas are mainly based on the phenolic composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of the herbal species used in their preparation. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity, cytotoxic/antiproliferative activity against cancer cells, the inhibitory activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin I-converting enzymes, as well as the inhibition of DNA-induced fission of the peroxyl radical, in relation to aqueous extracts of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (CS), Ilex paraguariensis (IP), Aspalathus linearis (AL) and an optimised extract (OT) containing the three herb species. A bivariate and multivariate statistical approach was employed to associate functional activities with individual phenolic composition. The CS and OT extracts showed the highest levels of hesperidin, quercetin-3-rutinoside, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and isoquercitrin. The CS and OT extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity, greater ability to inhibit α-amylase and proliferation of HCT8 cells, and greater ability to reduce Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The AL extract, which is the major source of quercetin-3-rutinoside, hesperidin and isoquercitrin, showed the highest ability to inhibit α-glucosidase, the inhibition of LDL oxidation and protection of human erythrocytes. The IP extract showed the highest inhibition of lipoperoxidation in brain homogenate of Wistar rats, antihypertensive activity, and A549 cell proliferation; chlorogenic acid was its major phenolic compound. In general, the in vitro functionality of each extract was dependent on its chemical composition and the OT extract presented the most varied phenolic composition, and biological activity similar to the CS sample. In conclusion, the mixture of CS, AL, and IP represents a chemical and functional-based strategy to develop functional teas.

This work aimed to characterize the phenolic composition and in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of lyophilized camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) seed extract (LCE), and to assess the effects of LCE on the antioxidant and sensory traits of yogurt. The LCE contained 46.3% (wt/wt) total phenolic content; the main compounds quantified were vescalagin, castalagin, gallic acid, procyanidin A2, and (-)-epicatechin. The LCE had antioxidant activity, as measured by different chemical assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity, total reducing capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and Cu2+ chelating capacity), and inhibited the cell proliferation of HepG2 cells (human hepatoma carcinoma; IC50 = 1,116 µg/mL) and Caco-2 cells (human colorectal adenocarcinoma epithelial cells; IC50 = 608.5 µg/mL). In addition, LCE inhibited the in vitro activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, and protected DNA from peroxyl radical-induced scission. When added to yogurts, different concentrations of LCE (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/100 g) increased the chemical antioxidant and reducing capacities. The camu-camu yogurt containing LCE at 0.25 g/100 g had an acceptance index of 84%, showing that camu-camu seed extract may be a potential ingredient for addition to yogurts.

The purpose of this study was to use a statistical approach to optimise the experimental conditions regarding the extraction of bioactive compounds, and to analyse the in vitro functional properties of crude lyophilized extracts (CLE) and partially purified (PPE) extracts of Clitoria ternatea petals. The results showed that the factors of temperature and time influenced the extraction of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and the physicochemical parameters. Simultaneous optimisation showed that the same levels of bioactive compounds were extracted when using temperatures from 11.7 to 68.3 °C and times from 8.47 to 51.12 min. Principal component analysis revealed the experimental conditions that provided the extraction producing the highest level of phenolic content (40 °C/30 min). The CLE showed antimicrobial activity; protective effect against hemolysis of erythrocytes; inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin-I-converting (ACE-I) enzymes; and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The CLE and PPE demonstrated oxygen radical absorption capacity; inhibition of DNA strand scission; inhibition of LDL cholesterol oxidation; intracellular antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (>100 μg/mL); and no cytotoxicity (IC50, GI50 and LC50 > 900 μg/mL) against A549, HCT8 and IMR90 cell lines.

Red chicory leaves are appreciated sensorially and their constituents contain bioactive properties. The objectives of this study were as follows: to use an experimental design to extract anthocyanins from red chicory in aqueous solution at pH 2.5; to determine the stability of the extracts in relation to temperature and pH; and to evaluate the antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxic effect of the lyophilized and purified extracts. The best extraction conditions for the bioactive compounds from red chicory were a temperature of 64.2 °C for 25 min; the anthocyanin content was 73.53 ± 0.13 mg per 100 g fresh weight basis sample. The EC50 (Half maximal effective concentration) value for the antioxidant activity assay in relation to DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) with optimized extract was 0.363, which corresponds to a concentration of 39.171 µmol/L of anthocyanins. The activation energy for the degradation reaction of the anthocyanins from the red chicory extract was 84.88 kJ/mol. The optimized extract, which was rich in anthocyanins, showed chemical and biological antioxidant activity (protection against erythrocyte hemolysis) and inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro. The Cichorium intybus L. extracts interfered on the levels of reactive oxygen species generation and the crude extract did not present procarcinogenic effect. Practical Application Red chicory is basically consumed as a part of traditional dishes worldwide. Here, we developed a process to extract and purify the anthocyanins from Cichorium intybus leaves and test the extracts in terms of the chemical composition, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative effects. The anthocyanin‐rich extract presented antioxidant activity in chemical and biological assays and low cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effects in relation to HepG2, HCT8, and Caco‐2 cell lines. Additionally, the red chicory extract protected human erythrocytes against hemolysis. This extract may be used as a natural colorant/antioxidant in foods.