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.

O comportamento reológico de polpa de umê, com 6, 7, 8 e 9 °Brix, foi avaliado utilizando-se um viscosímetro rotacional nas temperaturas de 15 a 75 °C. Modelos reológicos de Herschel-Bulkley e Ostwald-Waele (Lei da Potência) foram ajustados para se obterem os parâmetros reológicos para a polpa de umê. A viscosidade da polpa de umê foi descrita como independente com o tempo e apresentou valores de 1,9 Pa.s a 15 °C e 1,1 Pa.s a 65 e 75 °C, para polpas com 9 °Brix. O produto apresentou comportamento não-newtoniano e o modelo reológico de Herschel-Bulkley descreveu o seu comportamento. A energia de ativação variou de 6,6 a 10,6 kJ.mol-1. O índice de consistência foi mais influenciado pelo teor de sólidos solúveis totais, comparado com a temperatura, com valores de 18,0 a 22,9 Pa.s n, para polpa com 9 °Brix, e de 8,3 a 12,2 Pa.s n, para polpa com 8 °Brix, para temperaturas entre 15 e 75 °C. Os modelos reológicos apresentaram elevado índice de correlação para os dados obtidos no presente trabalho.

The rheological behaviour of mume pulp at 6, 7, 8 and 9 °Brix was investigated using a rotational viscometer at temperatures ranging from 15 to 75 °C. The rheological models of Herschel-Bulkley and Ostwald-Waele (Power Law) were fitted to obtain the rheological parameters of the mume pulp. The product was described as time non-dependent and presented a viscosity of 1.9 Pa.s at 15 °C and 1.1°Pa.s at 65 and 75 °C for the 9 °Brix pulp. The pulp showed non-Newtonian behaviour and the Herschel-Bulkley model was used to describe this behaviour. The activation energy ranged from 6.6-10.6 kJ.mol-1 and the consistency index from 18.0-22.9 Pa.s n for the 9 °Brix pulp and 8.3-12.2 Pa.s n for the 8 °Brix pulp at temperatures varying from 15 to 75 °C. The models presented high correlation values for all the rheological data obtained in the present work.

A peroxidase e a polifenoloxidase estão relacionadas com o escurecimento de frutas, por isso o controle das atividades destas enzimas é de grande importância para a tecnologia de alimentos. Neste trabalho estudaram-se as atividades dessas enzimas nas uvas frescas das cultivares Benitaka e Rubi, bem como as suas termoestabilidades e as suas atividades enzimáticas residuais no suco e nas geléias (extra e light). Foi também avaliada a qualidade microbiológica dos produtos elaborados. As atividades da enzima POD, tanto da fração solúvel quanto da ionicamente ligada, foram semelhantes nas uvas das duas variedades, Benitaka e Rubi. A atividade da enzima polifenoloxidase foi maior na variedade Rubi. As operações de cocção e pasteurização foram mais eficientes para baixar as atividades enzimáticas residuais da POD e PPO quando aplicadas às geléias de uva, em comparação com o suco. Embora não foram suficientes para a total inativação enzimática, essas operações reduziram-nas consideravelmente, e foram eficientes para garantir seguridade microbiológica dos produtos, geléias e suco.

Peroxidase (POD) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) are oxidative enzymes related to the darkening process suffered by fruits. Thus, the control of the effects of these enzymes, in the preservation of fruit, in order to minimize the darkening process is considered of great importance for food processing technology. The present study investigated the effects of POD and PPO on fresh grapes from Benitaka and Rubi cultivars, as well as the thermal stability and the residual enzymatic activities in the processing of juice and jelly (extra and light). Moreover, the microbiological quality of the processed products was evaluated. It was observed that, the effect of the POD enzyme, from the soluble fraction, as well as from the ionically bound fraction, was similar in both varieties of grapes, Benitaka and Rubi. But the effect of the PPO enzyme was higher in the Rubi variety. Operations such as cooking and pasteurizing were the most efficient processes to reduce the residual enzymatic effect of POD and PPO in grape jelly, in comparison to the juice. Although such processes were not enough for total enzymatic inactivation, they permitted a considerable reduction, thus were efficient to guarantee the microbiological safety of the products, such as jelly and juice.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi recuperar e fracionar as proteínas do soro de leite por meio da técnica de coacervação, utilizando o polissacarídeo carboximetilcelulose sódica (CMC). O soro de leite foi obtido da fabricação industrial do queijo tipo frescal. Foram estudados concentrações do polímero (0,1% a 0,9% CMC p/v) e valores de pH, a fim de se obter uma precipitação seletiva das proteínas do soro de leite, sendo as condições otimizadas para produção em piloto. Mediante ajuste gradual, foi possível obter, no pH 3, uma precipitação das proteínas totais (PT/CMC); no pH 4, da beta-lactoglobulina (beta-Lg/CMC) e, no pH 3,2, a maior proporção de alfa-lactoalbumina (alfa-La/CMC). Os coacervados foram separados, por aplicação de força centrífuga, e caracterizados em relação à composição centesimal e perfil eletroforético. O maior rendimento foi verificado no fracionamento da beta-lactoglobulina, com 86% de recuperação dessa classe de proteínas do soro desnatado. O coacervado beta-lactoglobulina-CMC (beta-Lg/CMC) apresenta maior conteúdo protéico, provavelmente em conseqüência da proporção estabelecida entre os hidrocolóides coacervados. O coacervado composto pela alfa-La/CMC apresentou menor conteúdo protéico e porcentagem de recuperação dessas proteínas presentes no soro.

This work aimed to recover and fractionate milk whey proteins through the coacervation technique, using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) polysaccharide. Milk whey was obtained from the manufactured cheese type "frescal". Polymer concentration (0.1-0.9% CMC w/v) and pH values were studied in order to obtain a selective precipitation of whey proteins; conditions were optimized to pilot scale production. After pH gradual adjustment the precipitation of total proteins (PT/CMC) was achieved for pH 3; for pH 4 beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg/CMC) precipitation and for pH 3.2 the greatest proportion of alpha-lactoalbumin (alpha-La/CMC) precipitation. Coacervates were separated by centrifuge force, and characterized in relation to their composition and electrophoretic profile. The highest yield was obtained from fractionation of beta-Lg/CMC with precipitation of 86% of this whey protein type. Highest protein content was showed by beta-Lg/CMC, probably due to the proportion among hydrocolloids. The alpha-La/CMC showed minor protein content and yield recuperation of this whey protein fraction.