Search results for " vegetable"
showing 10 items of 146 documents
COLLARD GREEN (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. ACEPHALA) CULTIVATION IN SICILY
2013
Collard greens (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) are a group of plants cultivated for its thick, slightly bitter, edible leaves. As other Brassicaceae, have a good nutritional value as they are a good sources of vitamin C and soluble fiber, and contain various compounds with potent anticancer properties. In order to enhance collard cultivation in Sicily, different planting dates were tested. The research was carried out during 2009-2010 in the experimental field of SAgA Department – University of Palermo. Plants of a Sicilian local cultivar, with high vigor, good emission of side shoots, large and moderately curly leaves and long and strong petiole, were planted in three different periods: …
Comparing the effects of thermal and non-thermal technologies on pomegranate juice quality: A review.
2019
The consumption of pomegranate juice (PJ) has increased substantially since scientific literature reported its therapeutic benefits that are attributable to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic, and anti- inflammatory properties. The growing consumer demands for fresh and high-quality food products have led to the interest in non- thermal technologies for preservation of fruit juices. Although thermal pasteurization is the most widely used preservation technology, it has adverse effects on the nutritional and sensory quality of juices. Conversely, non- thermal technologies are suitable alternatives for preservation and without negative effects on the quality. However, there is limi…
Green tea extract assisted low-temperature pasteurization to inactivate enteric viruses in juices.
2020
The current popularity of minimally processed foods is an opportunity for natural antimicrobial agents to be combined with mild heat treatments to act synergistically in reducing viral foodborne pathogens. Viral inactivation by heat-treatments (at 25, 40, 50 and 63 °C for 30 min) combined with aged green tea extract (aged-GTE) was initially evaluated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) against murine norovirus (MNV-1) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) by cell culture, and against human norovirus by in situ capture RT-qPCR. The combination of aged-GTE and heat treatment at 50 °C for 30 min exerted strong antiviral activity, reducing by more than 5 log MNV-1 infectivity in PBS. Heating at 40 °C for …
Analytical tools used for the identification and quantification of pectin extracted from plant food matrices, wastes and by-products: A review
2018
Pectin is the methylated ester of polygalacturonic acid and has a wide range of applications. It can be used in food and animal feed as well as in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Pectin is traditionally used as a gelling agent in fruit-based products, as a stabilizer in some fruit juices and milk drinks and fruit filling for bakery and confectionary products, but their potential applications differ according to their chemical composition. Therefore, at this stage of development, it is of a great importance to find fast, reliable methods to not only identify and quantify pectin, but also to determine its chemical structure and composition when it is extracted from plant matrices, waste…
Effect of nitrogen fertilizer level on quality and shelf-life of fresh cut Swiss chard
2018
Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla L.) is a leafy vegetable highly appreciated in some areas for its nutritional properties and year round supply. Its production area is not commercially important, but this minor vegetable offers an interesting enlargement of the current vegetable assortment by using its stalks and leaves. Swiss chard is a very nutritive demanding species. The content of mineral elements, total quality and yield are influenced by the amount, frequency and method of fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high or low levels of nitrogen fertilization on the quality and shelf-life of minimally processed Swiss chard. Plants grown with a high (18…
Liberation and Micellarization of Carotenoids from Different Smoothies after Thermal and Ultrasound Treatments.
2019
The consumption of a varied diet rich in fruit and vegetables helps prevent and treat certain chronic diseases. The development of smoothies based on derivatives from fruit and vegetables rich in bioactive compounds can help increase the consumption of these foods, and therefore, contribute to the prevention of various health problems. However, during the processing of the fruit and vegetable smoothies, these properties may change. The elaboration of smoothies is based on fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids: Carrot juice-papaya-mango (smoothie A) and carrot juice-pumpkin-mango (smoothie B). The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the application of different thermal t…
Antioxidant activity and phenolic composition in Pomegranate (Punica granatum, L.) genotypes from south Italy by UHPLC/Orbitrap-MS approach
2018
Background: Pomegranate fruits are a rich source of polyphenols with numerous health-promoting effects. Pomegranate juices of five genotypes (‘Mollar’, ‘Kingdom’, ‘Dente di Cavallo’, and two old populations ‘Francofonte’ and ‘Santa Tecla’) were evaluated regarding anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic contents using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)–Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS). Moreover, total antioxidant activity (TAA) was evaluated using a 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assay. Results: Twenty-three phenolic compounds were identified. Cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside and pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside were the most representa…
Effects of 1 y of free school fruit on intake of fruits, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks: 14 y later
2018
Background There are not many studies evaluating the long-term effects of fruit and vegetable interventions. Objective We examined the effects of 1 y of free fruit in elementary school on long-term consumption of fruit, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks, according to sex and educational attainment, 14 y after the intervention period. Design In 2001, the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort, Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM), included 1950 children (mean age: 11.8 y) attending 38 randomly drawn elementary schools from 2 counties in Norway. In the following 10 mo, 9 schools served as intervention schools by participating in the Norwegian School Fruit Program for free, whereas 2…
Gazpacho consumption is associated with lower blood pressure and reduced hypertension in a high cardiovascular risk cohort. Cross-sectional study of …
2013
[Background and aim]: Hypertension is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death and disability in both developed and developing countries, affecting one-quarter of the world's adult population. Our aim was to evaluate whether the consumption of gazpacho, a Mediterranean vegetable-based cold soup rich in phytochemicals, is associated with lower blood pressure (BP) and/or reduced prevalence of hypertension in individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
Dietary assessment methods in surveillance systems targeted to adolescents: A review of the literature
2019
Abstract Aims The present paper aims to identify ongoing multinational surveillance systems (SURSYSs) assessing diet and nutrition targeted to adolescents, including European surveys involving multiple countries and similar initiatives conducted in non-European countries with developed economies, and to describe the dietary assessment methods used. Data synthesis A total of 13 SURSYSs conducted in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were identified. Dietary assessment methods commonly used include 24-h recalls (24H-Rs) and questionnaires or interviews. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are used in combination with 24H-Rs in six SURSYSs: only FFQs are used in four SURSYSs; 24H-…