O trato gastrointestinal de humanos é rico em microrganismos que, podem tanto ser benéficos para a saúde do hospedeiro, prevenindo e/ ou tratando a intolerância à lactose, constipação intestinal, síndrome do intestino irritável, entre outras, quanto podem prejudicá-lo, afetando a aquisição de nutrientes e produção de mediadores inflamatórios. Estes distintos papéis da microbiota intestinal são tão marcantes que podem, inclusive, influenciar no desenvolvimento da obesidade em algumas pessoas, podendo levar até mesmo à Síndrome Metabólica. Probióticos e prebióticos podem conferir alterações nas propriedades da microbiota, afetando o crescimento bacteriano e seu metabolismo e, até mesmo, o uso de nutrientes. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do uso de leite fermentado simbiótico na obesidade e nos indicadores de Síndrome Metabólica, como circunferência de cintura, TGL, HDL-c, glicemia e pressão arterial, em pacientes com predisposição a esta doença, selecionados de acordo com os critérios de diagnóstico para síndrome metabólica. Para esta pesquisa foram desenhados quatro produtos, três deles inoculados com uma cultura comercial de probiótico - Bifidobacterium lactis (BL420), adicionados ou não de casca de maracujá em pó (prebiótico), sendo um deles preparado com uma emulsão de óleos vegetais, que apresenta efeito em prolongar a saciedade; e o quarto produto, fermentado apenas com a cultura clássica Streptococcus thermophilus. Avaliaram-se as propriedades tecnológicas dos produtos - físico-química, sensorial, microestrutura, microbiológica, e estudaram-se seus aspectos funcionais. Finalmente, os produtos foram testados em consumidores ao longo de um ensaio clínico durante 12 semanas, período no qual os voluntários tiveram que consumir 100 mL do produto, duas vezes ao dia, todos os dias. A avaliação dos voluntários foi feita antes do início do ensaio e também aos ao final dos 90 dias. / The gastrointestinal tract of humans is rich in microorganisms which can both be beneficial to host health, preventing and / or treating lactose intolerance, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, among others, as they can harm, affecting nutrient acquisition and the production of inflammatory mediators. These distinctive roles of intestinal microbiota are so striking that can even influence the development of obesity in some people and may even lead to metabolic syndrome. Probiotics and prebiotics can confer alterations in the microbiota properties, affecting the bacteria growth and their metabolism, and the use of nutrients. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of innovative symbiotic fermented milk in obesity and metabolic syndrome indicators such as waist circumference, TGL, HDL-C, blood glucose and blood pressure in patients with a predisposition to this disease, selected according to the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. For this, four fermented mik were designed, three of them inoculated with a commercial probiotic culture - Bifidobacterium lactis (BL420), added or not by passion fruit peel powder (prebiotic), one of them being prepared with an emulsion of vegetable oil, which has effect on prolonguing satiety; and the fourth product, fermented only with the classical culture Streptococcus thermophilus. Products´ technological properties were evaluated - physico chemical, sensory, microstructure, microbiology, and functional aspects were studied. Finally products were tested in consumers throughout a clinical trial during 12 weeks, period in which the volunteers had to consume 100 mL of the product twice a day, every day. The evaluation of the volunteers was done before the start of the test and also at the end of the 90 days.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Background: Early postnatal radiation exposure from environmental, diagnostic or therapeutic sources is potentially deleterious to the developing nervous system resulting in oxidative stress, structural damage, altered neurochemistry, DNA damage, inflammatory stresses as well as correlating cognitive impairment during adult life. Numerous studies in literature have investigated the radioprotective effects of medicinal plants and beverages. However, only a few studies have focused on the radioprotective effects of rooibos, an indigenous South African herbal tea, well known for its many acclaimed health benefits. Aims: This study was done to investigate the diverse radioprotective potential of fermented Rooibos herbal tea (FRHT) consumed ad libitum by pregnant rats on the adult offspring rats exposed to a once-off 6 Gy dose of gamma irradiation on postnatal day 3. Methods: Twenty-four (24) adult female rats were equally divided into four groups (6 per group) as control (NS), radiation (X), tea (RT) and their combination. On PND 30, offspring rats were subjected to neurobehavioural assessment for open field and novel object recognition parameters and later sacrificed, the brain tissues removed and processed for histological, immunohistochemical and neurochemical analyses, using standard techniques. Results: Pre-treatment with FRHT showed overall protection against radiation-induced distortions in offspring rats by significantly improving exploratory activity, the frequency of central square entry, rearing episodes, cumulative freezing time and memory retention as indicated by a relatively higher recognition index. FRHT was also found to significantly improve the antioxidant defence mechanisms in the offspring rats by reversing lowered FRAP levels, increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities and reducing lipid peroxidation. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses showed that morphological alterations were generally attenuated in the RTX group and the high number of caspase-3 and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells was significantly reduced, indicating protective effects against apoptosis and gliosis. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings tend to suggest that the potential radioprotective effects of FRHT are multimodal, possibly executed through the anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, anti-gliosis and other mechanisms, as observed in this study, and this is often attributed to the high polyphenol content in Rooibos tea.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-03-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:41:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 jardim_fbb_dr_arafcf.pdf: 509534 bytes, checksum: fc200b1470ba9de6e5425553da141715 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma bebida láctea sabor morango carbonatada e fermentada com bactérias probióticas. Foram elaboradas quatro formulações de bebida láctea: Controle (BL); Fermentada (BLF); Carbonatada (BLC) e Fermentada Carbonatada (BLFC). Nas amostras submetidas à carbonatação, utilizou-se um carbonatador para injeção do gás dióxido de carbono (CO2) dissolvido em água potável, resultando em um produto com a proporção de 2: 1 (volume de gás/ volume de bebida láctea) e nas amostras fermentadas, adotou-se o cultivo constituído das bactérias lácticas Lactobacillus acidophilus-LA-5®, Bifidobacterium BB-12® e Streptococcus thermophilus. As amostras foram caracterizadas quanto a parâmetros físico-químicos (composição química, índice de proteólise e teor de carbonatação), parâmetros microbiológicos (contagens de coliformes totais, E. coli, bolores e leveduras e viabilidade das bactérias lácticas) e aspectos sensoriais através de testes de aceitação e intenção de compra, ao longo de 28 dias de armazenamento refrigerado das bebidas lácteas. As formulações de bebidas fermentadas BLF e BLFC apresentaram diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) em relação às amostras não fermentadas BL e BLC nos parâmetros glicídeos redutores em lactose e em sacarose, pH e índice de proteólise, com menores médias absolutas e acidez com maiores médias em todos os tempos estudados. As bebidas fermentadas BLF e BLFC não apresentaram presença de microrganismos contaminantes. A amostra BLC apresentou presença de leveduras e coliformes totais, mas as contagens indicaram que estava própria para o consumo no tempo 28 dias. Entretanto, a amostra controle (BL) apresentou contagens... / The goal of this work was to develop a strawberry flavored dairy beverages carbonated and fermented with probiotic bacteria. Four formulas of dairy beverages were elaborated: Control (BL); Fermented (BLF); Carbonated (BLC) and Carbonated Fermented (BLFC). In samples submitted for carbonation, a carbonator was used for the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas injection dissolved in drinking water, resulting in a product with a ratio of 2:1 (volume of gas volume of dairy beverages) and the cultivation consisting of lactic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus-LA-5®, Bifidobacterium BB-12® and Streptococcus thermophilus was employed on the fermented samples. The samples were characterized by physical and chemical parameters (chemical composition, proteolysis index and carbonation proportion), microbiological parameters (total coliform counts, E. coli, yeasts and molds and viability of the lactic bacteria) and sensory aspects through acceptance testing and purchase intention, over the course of 28 days of refrigerated storage of the dairy beverages. The formulations of the BLF and BLFC fermented drink presented significant differences (p < 0,05) in relation to the non-fermented samples BL and BLC in glucides reducer of lactose and sucrose parameters, pH and proteolysis index, with lower absolute averages and acidity with higher averages at all studied times. The fermented beverages BLF and BLFC did not show any presence of contaminating microorganisms. The BLC sample showed the presence of yeasts and coliform counts, but the counts indicated that it was suitable for consumption in 28 days time. However, the sample... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

nÃo hà / A cachaÃa à a bebida mais consumida no Brasil. O Cearà ocupa um lugar privilegiado entre os grandes produtores de cachaÃa do Brasil (4o lugar dentre os produtores nacionais). Dessa forma, estudos inovadores de produÃÃo de cachaÃa sÃo de suma importÃncia. A principal matÃria-prima utilizada no Brasil para fermentaÃÃo alcoÃlica à a cana-de-aÃÃcar. A levedura Saccharomyces cerevisae à o microrganismo utilizado industrialmente nas destilarias. Entretanto, outros microrganismos sÃo tambÃm capazes de produzir etanol utilizando matÃrias-primas aÃucaradas como substrato. Neste trabalho, à apresentado o estudo da produÃÃo de aguardente de cana atravÃs da fermentaÃÃo alcoÃlica com grÃnulos de kefir, utilizando caldo de cana como substrato. Os grÃnulos de kefir sÃo constituÃdos de uma microflora variada, tendo como principais constituintes bactÃrias do gÃnero Lactobacillus e leveduras (Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, CÃndida e Pichia). Estes grÃnulos sÃo tradicionalmente utilizados para produÃÃo de leites fermentados de baixo teor alcoÃlico. A produÃÃo de bebidas alcoÃlicas destiladas atravÃs destes grÃnulos nunca foi estudada. AtravÃs de um planejamento fatorial, foi possÃvel verificar a influÃncia do teor de aÃÃcar e da massa de inÃculo no rendimento em etanol para fermentaÃÃes conduzidas com os grÃnulos de kefir e com o fermento de panificaÃÃo (Saccharomyces cerevisae). O fermentado obtido com o kefir resultou em maiores teores de aÃÃcar residual e menores teores de etanol quando comparado com a fermentaÃÃo com a levedura. O fermentado (vinho) foi destilado em alambique artesanal. A cachaÃa assim produzida apresentou aroma e sabor agradÃveis. As anÃlises quÃmicas demonstraram que a bebida atendeu aos requisitos legais com relaÃÃo à sua composiÃÃo. A bebida obtida utilizando-se a levedura Saccharomyces cerevisae serviu como referÃncia na anÃlise sensorial. Para saber se a cachaÃa satisfazia as expectativas dos consumidores, foram feitas anÃlises sensoriais de aceitaÃÃo e anÃlise descritiva quantitativa. / Sugar cane spirit is the most consumed alcoholic drink in Brazil. Cearà State is the 4th producer of sugar cane spirit in the country. In this way, studies regarding new alternatives to produce sugar cane spirits are very important for the local development. Sugar cane is the main raw material used in Brazil in alcoholic fermentation and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae is the microorganism used in industrial processes. However, other microorganisms are also able to produce ethanol using raw materials rich in sugars as substrate. In this work, the use of kefir granules in alcoholic fermentation using sugar cane as substrate is presented. Kefir granules are composed of several microorganisms entrapped in a polymeric matrix (kefiran). The main constituents of the granules are lactobacillus and yeasts (Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, CÃndida and Pichia). These granules are traditionally used to produce fermented milk with low alcohol content. The use of such granules to produced distilled alcoholic beverages was not studied yet. A factorial planning was carried out to verify the influence of sugar concentration and the initial inocula in the ethanol yield in fermentation carried out using kefir granules an commercial bakerâs yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae). The fermented broth obtained using kefir presented higher residual sugars and lower ethanol content when compared to the fermented broth obtained using bakerâs yeast. The fermented broth was distilled in a artisanal distilator (alambique). The sugar cane spirit obtained presented pleasant aroma and flavor. Physicochemical analyses of the distilled product attested their quality and conformity with the Brazilian regulations requirements considering its composition. The sugar cane spirit obtained using kefir granules was submitted to a sensory evaluation considering the product acceptance and sensory description. The spirit obtained using bakerâs yeast was used as reference in the sensory evaluation of the product.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de leite em pó desnatado e de açúcar sobre a viabilidade de microrganismos probióticos e a qualidade do leite fermentado desnatado. Para isso, foram constituídos 8 tratamentos, a saber: 1. leite desnatado (LD) e padronizado com 0,2% de gordura (LD 0,2%G); 2. LD 0,2%G + 5% de leite em pó (Lp); 3. LD 0,2%G + 10% de Lp; 4. LD 0,2%G + 15% de Lp; 5. LD 0,2%G + 5% de Lp + 10% de açúcar (A); 6. LD 0,2%G + 10% de Lp + 10% de A; 7. LD 0,2%G + 15% de Lp + 10% de A; 8. LD 0,2%G + 10% de A. Foi preparada a cultura láctea mista DVS ABT-4 (Chr-Hansen) contendo Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis e Lactobacillus acidophilus, que foi aplicada em todos os tratamentos para a fermentação e produção do leite fermentado. O produto foi então envasado e armazenado a 5ºC para as análises subseqüentes. Os leites fermentados foram submetidos à avaliação físico-química, microbiológica e sensorial nos dias 1, 10 e 21 após a fabricação. Os resultados mostraram que todos os tratamentos permaneceram de acordo com a legislação brasileira no que diz respeito aos aspectos físico-químicos, além de os mesmos terem permanecido constantes durante os 21 dias de armazenamento, com exceção do pH, que diminuiu nos dias seguintes a fabricação em decorrência da pós-acidificaçao dos leites fermentados. Quanto às características microbiológicas, observou-se maiores contagens nos tratamentos com maior teor de leite em pó (tratamentos 3, 4, 6 e 7), principalmente para as bactérias probióticas, com diferença estatisticamente significativa entre todos os tratamentos. Entretanto, a adição de açúcar não interferiu nas contagens de probióticos dos leites fermentados. As contagens microbiológicas permaneceram constantes durante todos os 21 dias de armazenamento. O tratamento 6 (LD 0,2%G + 10% de Lp + 10% de A) foi o que obteve melhores notas na avaliação sensorial nos dias 1, 10 e 21 de armazenamento, indicando ser esta formulação a melhor dentre as estudadas para a aceitação do produto com maior viabilidade de bactérias probióticas. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of skimmed milk powder and sugar inclusion on the viability of probiotic microorganisms and on the quality of skimmed fermented milk. Eight different treatments were prepared: 1. Skimmed and standardized milk (SM) at 0,2% of fat (SM 0,2%F); 2. SM 0,2%F + 5% of milk powder (MP); 3. SM 0,2%F + 10% MP; 4.SM 0,2%F + 15% MP; 5. SM 0,2%F + 5% MP + 5% of sugar (S); 6. SM 0,2%F + 10% MP + 5% S; 7. SM 0,2%F + 15%MP + 10%S; 8. SM 0,2%F + 10%S. The mixed lactic culture DVS ABT-4 (Chr-Hansen) containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus was prepared and placed in all the treatments for the fermented milk fermentation and production. The product was bottled and stored at 5°C for the subsequent analyses. The fermented milks were submitted to physical-chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses on the 1st, 10th and 21st days after production. Results for the physic-chemical analyses showed that all the treatments comprised the requirements as adopted in Brazilian regulations. All the physical-chemical variables were constant during the 21 days of storage, except for the pH, which decreased during storage because of the fermented milks post-acidification. For the microbiological analyses, greater numbers, especially the probiotic bacteria, were obtained in treatments with higher milk powder content (treatments 3, 4, 6 and 7), with significant statistical differences among all the treatments. However, the sugar addition did not interfere with the recovery of probiotic bacteria in the fermented milks. The microbiological data were constant during the 21 days of storage. Results obtained in the sensory analyses showed that treatment 6 was the one with higher grades on days 1, 10 and 21 of storage, hence indicating that this composition is the best one among those studied for acceptability of the product with greater viability of probiotic bacteria.

A jabuticaba é uma fruta tropical, tipicamente brasileira, sendo originária da região centro-sul. Popularmente apreciada por suas características sensoriais in natura, é também utilizada em produtos como geleias, licores e bebidas fermentadas. Qualquer fruta que contenha níveis razoáveis de açúcar é possível de se produzir um bom vinho, com sabores característicos de cada fruta. Fermentado de fruta é a bebida com graduação alcoólica de quatro a quatorze por cento em volume, a vinte graus Celsius, obtida pela fermentação alcoólica do mosto de fruta sã, fresca e madura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de fabricar e irradiar vinhos de jabuticaba com radiação gama (Co60) para possível envelhecimento precoce. Para a fabricação do vinho as jabuticabas foram higienizadas com ácido Peracético PAC 200 e 24kg das frutas selecionadas foram prensadas ate o rompimento das bagas. O mosto obtido juntamente com as cascas e sementes foram colocados em balde fermentador devidamente higienizados. O mosto foi tratado com 2,4g de metabissulfito de sódio e após alguns minutos foi adicionado 250g de leveduras Saccharomyces cerevisiae do tipo Fleishmann e 2kg de açúcar para a correção dos sólidos solúveis. A fermentação ocorreu por 7 dias até que os sólidos solúveis estivessem próximos de zero. Depois o vinho foi filtrado e centrifugado para a retirada das leveduras e envasado em recipientes de vidro escuro sendo divididas em quatro tratamentos (controle e irradiados nas doses de 5; 10 e 15kGy) por período de armazenamento de 0, 60 e 120 dias após a irradiação, em triplicata. Realizou-se análises físico-químicas de sólidos solúveis totais (SST), pH, acidez total, acidez volátil, acidez fixa, teor alcóolico, teor de antocianinas, taninos e idade química e cinzas. Foi realizada análise para determinar o tipo de leveduras após a fermentação através da análise de PCR. Através dos resultados obtidos observa-se que para o teor alcoólico as três doses utilizadas diminuíram o teor alcoólico, mas que ao longo dos dias analisados todas as amostras se elevaram. A maioria dos padrões apresentaram-se dentro da legislação vigente, para quantificação de antocianina averiguou-se que quanto maior a dose aplicada maior a degradação das mesmas e também o mesmo se observa para o tempo analisado; para quantificação de taninos observou-se que o aumento da dose causa decaimento dos mesmos, e que ao longo do tempo a tendência dos mesmos é aumentar, seja irradiado ou não; para análise de idade química observou-se que aparentemente houve envelhecimento das amostras irradiadas, mas que o fator tempo é um grande interferente nos efeitos iniciais causados pela radiação e para análise de PCR nas leveduras chegou-se ao resultado que a levedura inicial utilizada possuía a mesma sequencia de DNA da levedura colhida após o processo fermentativo. Portanto conclui-se que pelo comportamento observado através das moléculas de pigmentação que polimerizam com a irradiação características de envelhecimento o \"vinho\" tinto de jabuticaba sofreu envelhecimento, que as melhores doses foram a de 5 e 10kGy considerando todas as análises realizadas e as características adquiridas e que o tempo de 120 dias garantem a estabilidade necessária para esta bebida e que os padrões físico-químicos estão dentro da legislação. / Brazilian grape tree is a tropical fruit, typically Brazilian, originating in the south-central region. Popularly appreciated for its sensory characteristics in natura, it is also used in products such as jellies, liqueurs and fermented beverages. Any fruit that contains reasonable levels of sugar is possible to produce a good wine, with flavors characteristic of each fruit. Fermented fruit is a beverage with alcohol content of four to fourteen percent by volume, at twenty degrees Celsius, obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of healthy, fresh and ripe fruit must. The aim of this work was to brew and irradiate Brazilian grape tree wine with gamma radiation (Co60) for possible precocious aging. For the manufacture of the wine were, the Brazilian grape tree were sanitized with Peracetic acid PAC 200 and 24kg of the selected fruits were pressed until the breakage of the berries. The must obtained together with the peels and seeds were placed in fermenter bucket. The must was treated with 2.4 g of sodium metabisulfite and after a few minutes 250g of yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, type Fleishmann, and 2kg of sugar were added to correct soluble solids. The fermentation occurred for 7 days until the soluble solids were close to zero. Then the wine was filtered and centrifuged to remove yeast and bottled in dark glass containers. The containers were divided into four treatment groups (control and irradiated at doses of 5, 10 and 15kGy) for a storage period of 0, 60 and 120 days after irradiation, in triplicate. Physicochemical analyzes were performed: total soluble solids (TSS), pH, total acidity, volatile acidity, fixed acidity, alcohol content, anthocyanin content, tannins, chemical age and ash. Analysis was performed to determine yeast type after fermentation by PCR analysis. From the results obtained, it can be observed that, for the alcoholic content, the three doses used decreased the alcohol content, but during the analyzed days all the samples increased. Most of the standards have been presented within the current legislation. For quantification of anthocyanin, it was found that the higher the dose applied the greater the degradation of the same and also the same is observed for the analyzed time. For anthocyanin quantification, it was found that the higher the dose applied the greater the degradation of the same and also the same is observed for the analyzed time. For tannins quantification, it was observed that the increase of the dose causes them to decay, and that over time the tendency of them is to increase, whether irradiated or not. For chemical age analysis, it was observed that there was aging of the irradiated samples, but that the time factor is a great interferent in the initial effects caused by the radiation. For PCR analysis in the yeasts it was found that the initial yeast used had the same yeast DNA sequence harvested after the fermentation process. Therefore, it was concluded that the behavior of the pigmentation molecules that polymerized with irradiation, characteristic of aged wines, the \"red wine\" of Brazilian grape tree was aged and considering all the analyzes performed and the characteristics acquired, that the best doses were 5 and 10kGy and that the time of 120 days guarantees the stability required for this drink and that physico-chemical standards are within the legislation.

A challenge study to validate a 5 log10 CFU/g reduction of non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in dry fermented sausage (DFS) was performed. A 4.49 ± 0.474 log10 CFU/g was achieved over two trials. The results indicated that the process was not effective in reducing the pathogen to the level required of most pathogens by the USDA. Lactobacillus salivarius L28 (L28) was screened in vitro for the ability to inhibit STEC utilizing the paper disk diffusion method. This strain is a known bacteriocin producer. The results revealed that L28 would be a good candidate for use as a protective culture as large zones of inhibition were noted against the STEC. No zones of inhibition were noted against the commercial starter culture; therefore, it would not adversely impact the quality of the DFS. The supplementary L28 strain was added to a commercial starter culture to provide an additional hurdle in the protection against STEC. The sausage trial showed the additional strain did not offer a significant difference in reduction of the pathogen (p > 0.05). Further study will be required before L28 could be considered for use as a bioprotective culture.

Today approximately 10 % of fermented milk products stick to the packaging material inner surface, and therefore it is not possible to pour all of the dairy product from the package. This is both an economical and environmental issue. The product loss is expensive for consumer and makes recycling of package less effective. As they do not yet exist the development of packaging materials to which fermented milk products stick less, it would make it possible to both save money and protect our environment. The aim of this work was to provide knowledge and understanding of the important factors involved in the phenomenon when fermented milk products adhere to the inner surface of a packaging material. Studies were done on materials having different surface properties, such as polarity and relative oxidation. They were incubated in fermented milk and other dairy products varying in fat concentration and protein type up to 168 h. The systems were investigated gravimetrically, with Fourier Transform Infra Red/Attenuated Total Reflectance Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Contact Angle measurements. Fermented milk contains amphiphilic components and therefore can interact both with polar and non-polar surfaces, such that the relative oxidation of the surface does not contribute to the adhesion. The adhesion of fermented milk is an equilibrium reaction, which depend on the fat concentration before equilibrium as well as the protein concentration after equilibrium. The adhesion seems to follows the Vroman effect, with smaller molecules associating faster and thereby adhering to the surface initially, but are displaced by larger molecules that associates slower as times passes.

Project was carried out at the Stock-raising Department of the Faculty of Stock-raising Technology of the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy. For the research the fermented cheese “Liliputas” was taken from UAB “Belvederio sūrinė” and the research was carried out in the laboratory of sensual analysis of the Nutrition Institute of Kaunas University of Technology. Project supervisor – Assoc. Prof. K. Pauliukas. Objective of the project is to adopt the production technology of the fermented cheese “Liliputas”, research the biochemical changes during the course of technological process, and determine the nutrition value. Research was carried out with the fermented cheese “Liliputas”, produced by UAB “Belvederio sūrinė”, by choosing the milk of the cowshed season and the milk of the pasturable season. Changes in the chemical composition and sensual indicators were researched in the laboratory of sensual analysis of the Nutrition Institute of Kaunas University of Technology. The following indicators were researched: pH, humidity (percentage), total nitrogen content (percentage), total protein content (percentage), total soluble nitrogen content (percentage), total soluble protein content (percentage), soluble non-protein nitrogen (percentage), free volatile fatty acids (VFA) NOOH ml, sensual properties (straw-color strength, elasticity when bending, solidity in mouth, viscosity (N), resiliency (mm), etc.). Maximum variation is observed with the free fatty acids when the cheese... [to full text]

Fermentation is a process by which primary food products are modified biochemically by the action of microorganisms and/or their enzymes. Several societies have, over the years, intentionally carried it out to enhance the taste, aroma, shelf-life, texture, nutritional value and other properties of food. It is used in many parts (lithe world. However, there are regional differences in use and these depend on the availability of raw materials, consumption habits. and other socio-cultural factors. This study was aimed at (comparatively) assessing, local commercial and homemade amahewu with respect to nutritional value, hygiene and other health benefits to the commirn ity. Methods employed were Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) (mycotoxins), High Perliffmance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) (mycotoxins, sugars and amino acids), Dumas (proteins), SOxhlet (lipids) and intubation technique (metabolisable energy) to analyse maize meal and amahewu samples from various regions. The regions sampled included mal3heleni (South Coast) and kwaNgcolosi (North Coast) villages. Commercial amahewu was analysed with kind permission from Clover SA. Species from the following genera were isolated and identified from amahewu samples: Lactobacillus, Saccharonivccs, Lcuconostoc, Lactococcus, Panioca, Entcrobacter and kleb•iella. Saccharotnyces was detected in commercial samples only. Gram-negative strains were identified in most of manheleni village samples. No traceable amounts of aflatoxin BI (AFB1), fumonisin B 1 (FBI) and zearalenone (ZEA) were found in Clover SA samples. AFB I was detected in 40% of both maize meal and amahewu samples from maBheleni (range 0.55 — 0.84ng/g and 8.3x10 5 — 9.1x10-5ng/g respectively). From the same village, 100% of the maize meal and 80% of the amahewu samples were contaminated with FBI (range 4.1 47.2ng/g and 1.4 ---- 6.9ng/g respectively). ZEA was detected in all maize meal samples (range 0.9 — 4.3ng/g). None of the amahewu samples contained detectable levels of ZEA. All maize meal and amahewu samples from kwaNgcolosi were contaminated with AF13 1 (range 8.3 — 30.I ng/g and 0.04 - 0.102ng/g respectively). FB I was detected in 75% of both maize meal and amahewu samples from the same village (range 0.5 — 4.1ng/g and 0.04 0.56ng/g respectively). ZEA was also found in all maize meal samples and 75% of amahewu samples (range 3.7 — 16.4ng/g and 0.03 -- 0.06ng/g respectively). MaBheleni, Clover SA and kwaNgcolosi maize meal and amahewu samples contained vitamins B1, 13 2 and B6 with a range of 0.31+0.21 - 4.48±0.81 B 1 ; 0.15±0.14 - 1.67±0.33 B2 and 0.05±0.07 - 0.77±1.45 lig/g B6. Fat levels ranged from 0.28±0.40 to 4.54±0.05 percentage by weight. The levels of proteins varied from 4.02±0.02 to 8.40±0.04 percentage by weight. Starch concentrations ranged from 31.51.5.28 to 75.911.92g/100g. Maize meal samples contained glucose and maltose, while glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, M-triose, DP 4 and 5 and DP >15 were detected in amahewu. Apparent and true metabolisable energy for homemade and commercial Freeze-dried amahewu was 13.194 and 13.696MJ/kg (AME N ); and 13.605 and 14.106M.Ekv ( 1 MEN ), respectively. This study has shown that lactic acid maize fermentation reduce' the levels of AF13 1 , FB I and ZEA toxins in maize meal, inhibits the growth of most Gram-negative bacteria, and in some instances, fermentation did improve the nutritional value. Metabolisable energy analysis represents an important tool to assess whether or not compounds ingested are converted to sources of energy in the body and utilised. Amahewu fermentation yielded beneficial products (probiotics: reduced mycotoxins levels and reduced starch). In conclusion, natural lactic acid maize fermentation to produce amahewu will do more good than harm to the consumer, therefore, people need to be advised on how to safely store their maize and also to be encouraged to consume their stored maize in fermented form. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.