Abstract Phenolic compounds (PC) have presented antioxidant potential as well as antimicrobial action against several bacteria. This study aimed to extract PC from grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.) pulp using solid phase extraction (SPE), then quantify the PC by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and to evaluate the antioxidant activity (AA) from PC by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods as well as its antimicrobial activity by plate diffusion assay (PDA) and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assays. Additionally, the centesimal composition of the fruit and its mineral content by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy were determined. The fruit is a good source of PC which presented a higher contribution on AA from pulp than NPHRC. Calcium was the trace element in highest concentration in the pulp, followed by iron. PC from grumixama inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes in the PDA. PC showed antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms tested in the MIC assay, in which S. aureus and B. cereus were the most sensitive. This study highlights the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. as natural agent in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the anti-quorum sensing activity of phenolic extracts from grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis), also known as Brazilian cherry, in concentrations that did not interfere with bacterial growth. The pulp phenolic compounds were extracted by using solid phage extraction in a mini-collumn C18 and quantified by spectrophotometry. The anti-quorum sensing activity was evaluated by testing the inhibition of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum and by evaluating the swarming motility in Aeromonas hydrophila and Serratia marcescens, both phenotypes regulated by quorum sensing. The phenolic extract strongly inhibited the production of violacein in C. violaceum, reducing its production in comparison with a control with no extract. No inhibition of growth was observed at the concentrations tested for quorum sensing inhibition. Confirming the quorum sensing inhibition phenotype, the extract was also able to inhibit swarming motility in S. marcescens and in A. hydrophila, although in the later the effect was marginal. Overall, these results indicate that phenolic extract from E. brasiliensis presents quorum sensing inhibitory activity most likely due to the presence of fruit phenolics which have been implicated as quorum sensing inhibitors in Gram negative bacteria.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o mercado consumidor de alimentos orgânicos em Belo Horizonte-MG, incluindo o perfil socioeconômico e o comportamento dos consumidores, sua percepção e seu conhecimento sobre alimentos orgânicos, além das principais motivações e limitações em relação ao consumo desses produtos. Uma pesquisa descritiva direta e estruturada (survey) foi realizada com 400 consumidores de alimentos orgânicos, por meio da aplicação de questionários semiestruturados. A maioria dos consumidores era do gênero feminino (76,0%), com idade superior a 30 anos (90,3%), em união estável (81,3%), graduados (81,5%) e com renda familiar elevada (acima de 12 S.M.⁄mês) (78,7%). A maioria definiu alimento orgânico como um alimento isento de resíduos de agrotóxicos (69,7%). Alimentos orgânicos foram mencionados conter maiores níveis de nutrientes do que os convencionais (82,0%), além de serem isentos de organismos geneticamente modificados (75,0%) e produtos químicos sintéticos (86,0%). A maioria mostrou preocupação em manter hábitos de vida saudáveis, sendo que 80,5% exercitavam-se regularmente e 49,2% já haviam feito alguma dieta ou recebido orientações nutricionais. Todos acreditavam nos benefícios à saúde advindos do consumo dos produtos orgânicos e quase a totalidade (98,8%) já havia percebido melhorias na saúde em decorrência desse consumo. Somente 16,3% consumiam outros alimentos orgânicos além de frutas e hortaliças. A preocupação com a saúde, assim como o maior conteúdo de nutrientes e o sabor mais pronunciado do que os alimentos convencionais, foram as maiores motivações para o consumo de frutas e hortaliças orgânicas. Grande parte dos consumidores apresentou conhecimento superficial sobre a temática, o que evidenciou a necessidade de maiores esclarecimentos sobre o assunto. Uma demanda reprimida por tais produtos pôde ser observada, pois, apesar do grande interesse por alimentos orgânicos, fatores como preço elevado e baixa qualidade limitaram o consumo destes produtos em Belo Horizonte.

The aim of this study was to characterize the consumer market of organic foods in Belo Horizonte, M.G., including the socioeconomic profile and consumer's behavior, their perception and knowledge regarding organic food, and also the main motivations and limitations towards the consumption of these products. A direct descriptive and structured research (survey) was carried out with 400 consumers, by using semi-structured questionnaires. Most consumers were female (76.0%), aged over 30 years (90.3%), in a stable relationship (81.3%), degree holders (81.5%), with high household income (over 12 M.S.⁄month) (78.7%). The majority defined organic food as foods without pesticide residues (69.7%). Organic foods were mentioned to contain higher levels of nutrients than conventional foods (82.0%), no genetically modified organisms (75.0%) and no synthetic chemical products (86.0%). The majority was worried about healthy life habits, since 80.5% regularly exercised and 49.2% had already gone on a diet or followed nutritional orientation. All believed in health benefits from consumption of these foods and almost all (98.8%) had already noticed health improvements derived from consumption. Only 16.3% consumed organic food other than fruits and vegetables. Heath concern as well as the higher content of nutrients and more pronounced taste than conventional food were the major motivations for consumption of organic fruit and vegetables. A great part of consumers showed superficial knowledge regarding the issue, evidencing the need for better elucidation about the subject. A repressed demand for these products was observed, since, despite of high interest in organic foods, the high price and low quality limited the consumption of these products in Belo Horizonte.

O trabalho objetivou estudar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de KOH (1, 3 e 5%), tempo (1, 2 e 3 horas) e temperatura de extração (30, 50 e 70 °C) na reação de saponificação da bixina. O progresso da reação foi acompanhado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) e por colorimetria, e os dados obtidos foram avaliados por análise de regressão. Os teores de bixina e do sal da norbixina foram dependentes da concentração da base utilizada na extração, enquanto o tempo não apresentou efeito no andamento da reação de saponificação. A maior concentração de base propiciou a maior conversão de bixina em sal de norbixina, o que foi confirmado pela avaliação dos parâmetros colorimétricos. Os valores de L*, b*, C* e H* concordaram com o aumento da concentração do sal de norbixina no meio, ao passo que a redução da coordenada a* esteve associada à diminuição da bixina que estava sendo convertida em sal de norbixina. Estes resultados podem gerar modificações no atual processo de produção deste pigmento.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of KOH (1, 3 and 5%), time (1, 2, and 3 hours) and extraction temperature (30, 50 and 70°C) on the saponification reaction of bixin. The reaction progress was monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and by colorimetry, and the data were evaluated by regression analysis. Bixin and norbixin salt contents depended on NaOH concentration, while the extraction time did not present effect on the progress of saponification reaction. The best conversion of bixin to norbixin salt took place with the highest concentration of alkali, which was confirmed by colorimetric analysis. The increase of L*, b*, C*, and H* values were in agreement with the increase of norbixin salt content, whereas the reduction of a* was associated to the reduction of bixin content due to the conversion of bixin to norbixin salt. These results could contribute to modify the current production process of this pigment.

O produto preparado líquido aromatizado, comercialmente conhecido como "água aromatizada" e recém-lançado no mercado brasileiro, é vendido com o apelo de saúde e inovação. No entanto, por se tratar de um produto pouco familiar aos hábitos de consumo da população brasileira, as motivações para o seu consumo ainda são desconhecidas. Diante deste contexto, o presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o perfil dos consumidores da cidade mineira de Juiz de Fora quanto ao produto, por meio de uma pesquisa de mercado realizada em junho de 2007. Para o levantamento dos dados, utilizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva direta e estruturada (survey) com 303 consumidores, por meio da aplicação de questionários estruturados. A faixa etária predominante (40,3%) situou-se entre 20 e 30 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (65%), com elevada escolaridade e renda familiar entre 1 e 6 salários mínimos (52,8%). Dos indivíduos entrevistados, 37% disseram que consumiram o produto motivados principalmente pelo fator novidade. Destes, 20,5% confundiram o produto com refrigerantes de baixa gaseificação. A maioria dos respondentes demonstrou desconhecer o produto, fato que pode estar relacionado a falta de divulgação nos estabelecimentos comerciais e pelas empresas através da mídia local.

The flavored drink commercially known as "flavored water" and recently launched in the Brazilian market is sold with health and innovation appeal. However, since it is not very familiar product to the habits of consumption of the Brazilian population, the motivation for its consumption is still unknown. The present study evaluated the behavior patterns of 303 consumers of the city of Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil, towards the product through a market survey conducted in June 2007. A direct, descriptive, and structured survey was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The majority of the respondents (40.3%) were within the age group between 20 and 30 years old and were high educated females (65.0%) with family income between 1 and 6 minimum wages (52.8%). The results indicate that 37% of the interviewees stated product stated that the novelty aspect of the product motivated its consumption. Among the interviewers, 20.5% mistook the studied product with soft drinks with low gasification rate. Most of the interviewees did not know the product, which can be a result of a lack of popularity of the product in commercial establishments and in companies due to poor marketing.