Browsing by Author "Fernando, Ana"
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- Active Edible PackagingPublication . Barbosa, Cássia; Andrade, Mariana; Vilarinho, Fernanda; Fernando, Ana; Sanches-Silva, AnaDefinition: Active edible packaging is a food packaging made of comestible bioproducts and active compounds that interacts with the food. The bioproducts, usually biopolymers, must be recognized as safe and with characteristics to be consumed by humans—comestible—and not toxic and capable of carrying an active compound, like anti-browning agents, colorants, flavors, nutrients, antimicrobial and/or antioxidant compounds, in order to extend the product shelf-life, reduce contamination and maintain or even enhance the nutritional value.
- Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.): different multipurpose food industry applicationsPublication . Barbosa, Cássia; Andrade, Mariana; Vilarinho, Fernanda; Fernando, Ana; Sanches-Silva, AnaCynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae) is a multipurpose crop native to the Mediterranean area, commonly called cardoon. It comprises three botanical varieties: the globe artichoke (var. scolymus (L.) Fiori), the cultivated cardoon (var. altilis DC.), and the wild cardoon (var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori). Cardoon can develop in adverse climate conditions, low inputs, high temperature, severe drought, and infertile soils as a resistant species. Yet, it can persist for several years, re-sprouting annually. Cardoon can be used for different purposes due to its composition. For instance, the fleshy stems and the immature heads are used in Mediterranean cuisine. The flowers are used in the production of some cheeses as vegetal rennet. In traditional medicine cardoon is used due to its high content in cynarin and silymarin. Kidneys and liver malfunction, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, and cancer are some of the medicinal applications. On the other hand, cardoon’s by-products, leaves, stems and seeds, can be used to produce biomass for energy, biodiesel, seed oil, animal feed and paper pulp. Cardoon’s leaves bioactive properties (e.g.: antioxidant and antimicrobial activities) are due to its excellent polyphenol profile, rich in chlorogenic acid and flavonoids. As leaves represent, on average, about 60% of total cardoon waste, in the context of a circular economy it is essential to take advantage of its composition in bioactive compounds. Concerning the food industry, leaves, and leaves extracts bioactivity may represent an added value as a food additive, as an ingredient in developing a novel food, or in active food packaging to control lipid oxidation and microbial deterioration. Hence, this study aims to address the current food applications of cardoon’s leaves and their functional properties and explore new potential ones adding value to its properties.
- Novel Active Food Packaging Films Based on Whey Protein Incorporated with Seaweed Extract: Development, Characterization, and Application in Fresh Poultry MeatPublication . Andrade, Mariana; Barbosa, Cássia; Souza, Vitor; Coelhoso, Isabel; Reboleira, João; Bernardino, Susana; Ganhão, Rui; Mendes, Susana; Fernando, Ana; Vilarinho, Fernanda; Sanches-Silva, Ana; Ramos, FernandoAlgae and seaweeds are used in cookery since the beginnings of human civilization, par ticularly in several Asian cultures. Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites produced by aquatic and terrestrial plants for their natural defense against external stimuli, which possess pow erful antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can be very important for the food industry. The main objective of this study was to develop a whey protein concentrate active coating, incorporated with a Fucus vesiculosus extract in order to delay the lipid oxidation of chicken breasts. Ten hydroeth anolic extracts from F. vesiculosus were obtained and their antioxidant capacity was evaluated through two antioxidant activity assays: the DPPH radical scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching assay. The total content in phenolics compounds was also determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The chosen extract was the one obtained from the freeze-dried F. vesiculosus using 75% (v/v) ethanol as extraction solvent. The extract was successfully incorporated into a whey protein film and successfully strengthened the thickness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus. The active film also was able to inhibit the chicken breasts lipid oxidation for 25 days of storage.