Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Total Phenolic Content and <i>in Vitro</i>Antioxidant Activity of Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i>L.) Peels

Pomegranate peels were studied for the effect of gamma irradiation on microbial decontamination along with its effect on total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity. Gamma irradiation was applied at various dose levels (5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 25.0 kGy) on pomegranate peel powder. Both the values of total phenolic content and in vitro antioxi- dant activity were positively correlated and showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) for 10.0 kGy irradiated dose level immediately after irradiation and 60 days of post irradiation storage. At 5.0 kGy and above dose level, gamma irradia- tion has reduced microbial count of pomegranate peel powder to nil. Post irradiation storage studies also showed that, the irradiated peel powder was microbiologically safe even after 90 days of storage period.

Effect of Extrusion Process Parameters and Particle Size of Sorghum Flour on Expanded Snacks Prepared Using Different Varieties of Sorghum （Sorghum bicolour L.）

Sorghum is a staple food grain in many semi-arid and tropic areas of the world, because of its good adaptation to hard environments and its good yield of production. Among important biochemical components for sorghum processing are levels of starch and starch depolymerizing enzymes. Due to presence of high amount of starch （56%-73%）, sorghum could be the good candidate for manufacturing of expanded snacks. The effect of various extrusion process parameters on structural and functional properties of extruded snacks prepared using three selected varieties of sorghum including SPV 1411 （Parbhani moti） and SPV 1595 （Parbhani jyoti） （newly developed varieties） and M-35-1 （Maldandi） were investigated in this study. Sorghum flour of different particle size viz. 2, 0.84 and 0.49 mm, was subjected to different extrusion processing conditions： feed moisture content （16%-24%）, die temperature （110-150 ~C）, screw speed （150-270 rpm） and feed rate （50-120 g min^-1）. The feed moisture and die temperature （process variables） showed significant effect on the physical properties. This process parameter also increased dietary fibre with decrease in the content of tannins. Box-behnken design was successfully used to show a relationship between extrusion processing conditions and physical properties of extrudates. The extrudates obtained using SPV 141 l, a variety of sorghum, showed significant results in all attributes compared to SPV 1595 and M-35-1, at feed moisture 22%, die temperature 130℃ and screw speed 210 rpm with 90% overall acceptability.

Process Optimization and Characterization of Sorghum Based Extruded Product

Expanded snacks made up of corn, wheat and rice is very popular because of their texture. Sorghum is one of the important cereals, which is not so far studied well for extrusion processing. Due to presence of high amount of starch （56%-73%）： sorghum could be the good candidate for manufacturing of expanded snacks. The extruded products obtained using extrusion conditions such as feed moisture content （12%-16%）, die temperature （150-190℃）, screw speed （150-210 rpm） and feed rate （50-70 g min1） are further characterized by analyzing bulk density, expansion ratio, water absorption index （WAI）, water solubility index （WSI）, textural properties, color and sensory evaluation. Increase in feed moisture content resulted in extrudates with gradual increase in density, WAI and hardness and decrease in expansion, WSI, crispness and whiteness. Higher barrel temperature reduced the extrudate expansion, bulk density and hardness and increased the WSI and crispness of the extrudates. The most acceptable product is obtained using response surface methodology （RSM）.

Solid state fermentation of pomegranate seed for lovastatin production: a bioprocessing approach

This study reports lovastatin production by solid state fermentation using pomegranate seeds as a substrate. Six different fungal strains and several agro-industrial wastes were selected and screened. Various physico-chemical parameters were optimized to improve lovastatin. Moreover, chemical mutation was systematically employed to enhance lovastatin yield on selected strains. Productivity of 3 ± 0.06 mg lovastatin/gm dfm was obtained prior to optimization. One factor a time followed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) gave 4.2 ± 0.10 mg lovastatin/gm dfm yield in an optimized setup with pomegranate seed powder (5 gms), KH2PO4 (0.1% w/v), glucose (5% w/v), moisture (60% w/w), pH 5 in a 15 days fermentation cycle. The production was further increased to 6.5 ± 0.08 mg lovastatin/gm dfm through chemical mutation of the strain. This process is simple and reproducible for the production of lovastatin using pomegranate seed as an agro-industrial waste.

Sanitizing Method Effects on Depending-Culture Microorganisms in <i>Tuber aestivium</i>

Tuber aestivum/uncinatum has been widely used as food, food additives, and traditional medicine. Truffles are extremely perishable with a short postharvest life quality requiring a special handling for marketing in order to delay its deterioration. This study aimed to assess the effects of different sanitizing methods on superficial Tuber aestivium quality ascocarp. The results showed that the best treatment was obtained by immersing the Truffle ascocarps in boiling water for 1 or 2 min where counts of total mesophilic microoraganisms (TMM) were respectively 81 and 7 CFU per g of dry Truffle ascocarps biomass, respectively. However, the highest TMM was obtained after rinsing Truffle ascocarps in 2% NaOH where recovery was 108 CFU per g of dry Truffle ascocarps biomass. Treatments applied to disinfect Truffle ascocarps were classified by increasing degree of efficiency as follows to reduce the microbial load expressed in CFU/g: Dipping in boiling water (2 min) 7 ± 3.41;dipping in boiling water (1 min) 81 ± 25.8, rinsing with alcohol 2.102 ± 13;rinsing with tap water 6.103 ± 36;rinsing with H2O2 6.104 ± 2;brushing 2.105 ± 28 and rinsing with NaOH 108 ± 15.

Development of a mixed fruit beverage and pulsed light treatment thereof to obtain a microbially safe and enzymatically stable product

A mixed fruit beverage was formulated according to D-optimal mixture design using apple ber juice(X_(1),45-59%v/v)-an underexplored fruit,carambola juice(X_(2),1-20%v/v),and black table grape juice(X3,35-40%v/v).The crisp overall acceptability(COA)from 16 semi-trained panelists and overall hedonic score(OSH)from consumers were estimated.The best formulation was apple ber:carambola:black table grape juices=59.0:3.5:37.5 v/v with COA and OSH values of 3.23(on a scale of 5)and 7.55(on a scale of 9),respectively.Further,the efficacy of pulsed light(PL)(18-30 W cm^(-2) for 33-167 s;total fluence 600-5000 J cm^(-2))and thermal treatments(90℃ for 1-5 min)were studied on various attributes of the mixed beverage.The beverages processed at 90℃ for 5 min(thermal treatment)and 5000 J cm^(-2)(PL treatment at 30 W cm^(-2) for 167 s)showed no microbial count with a complete enzyme inactivation.The thermally pasteurized sample(90℃/5 min)was more brown(browning index=70.15)than the PL pasteurized beverage(browning index=65.98).Interestingly,the PL pasteurized(5000 J cm^(-2))beverage showed 25%,27%,and 19% more vitamin C,antioxidants,and phenolic compounds,respectively,than the thermally pasteurized(90℃/5 min)beverage.The PL-treated beverage had a greater sensory appeal than the thermally treated beverage.PL-treatment can be an efficient non-thermal pasteurization treatment for ensuring complete microbial and enzymatic inactivation with maximal retention of nutritional and sensory attributes of the blended beverage.

Enzyme hydrolyzed bael fruit liquefaction and its kinetic study

The study aims to explore the mechanism and optimize the process of enzyme hydrolyzed bael fruit(Aegle marmelos)liquefaction using two different enzymes:pectinase and macerozyme r-10(enzyme mixture).A full factorial design was applied for the factors with 0.05–1.5%(w/w)enzyme concentration(EC),30–60℃ temperature,and incubation time of 30–240 min for pectinase and 60–360 min for macerozyme.Quadratic polynomial models were developed,showing R^(2)≥0.94.Multi-objective numeric optimization was followed to maximize the increase in yield,total reducing sugar(TRS),clarity,and minimizing EC,temperature and time.Enzyme-treated juice extracts were acceptable on the sensory scale with overall acceptability>5.Maximum pomace reduction of 58.8%and 78.9%along with rise in mono and disaccharides were observed after treating with pectinase(t=240 min)and macerozyme(t=360 min),respectively at identical 0.775%EC and 45℃ temperature.With the pectinase enzyme,an optimumΔyield of 32.4%was obtained at 0.82%EC,43℃ temperature in 169.4 min.Subsequently,with the macerozyme,an optimumΔyield of 39.6%was attained at 0.96%EC,45.6°C temperature in 245.9 min.Substrate degradation in bael fruit by enzymatic hydrolysis with pectinase(EC=0.01–1.50%,time=2.5–240 min)and macerozyme(EC:0.01–1.50%,time:5–360 min)was studied at their respective optimum temperatures.The modified Michaelis-Menten showed a good fit(R 2>0.98)with the non-linear curve fitting method.Macerozyme treatment showed slower enzyme activity with higher substrate degradation but lower nutrient content compared to the pectinase treatment.