Kinetics of chlorophyll degradation and color loss in heated broccoli juice

Chlorophylls and carotenoids of kiwifruit puree are affected similarly or less by microwave than by conventional heat processing and storage

The impact of microwave (1000 W - 340 s) and conventional heat (97 °C - 30s) pasteurisation and storage (4, 10, 22 °C for up to 63 d) on total and individual carotenoids and chlorophylls in kiwifruit puree was evaluated. Bioaccessibility of carotenoids, before and after pasteurisation and storage, was also studied. Microwaves and conventional heating led to marked changes in the chlorophyll (42-100% losses) and carotenoid (62-91% losses) content. First- and second-order kinetics appropriately explained the degradation of total carotenoids and chlorophylls over time, respectively. Pasteurised samples showed significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced stability of these pigments, with microwaves (k = 0.007-0.031100 g mg(-1) day(-1) at 4-22 °C) promoting chlorophyll stability to a greater extent than conventional heating (k = 0.0015-0.034100 g mg(-1) day(-1) at 4-22 °C). Bioaccessibility of carotenoids remained (p < 0.05) unaffected by processing and storage. These results highlighted that the pigment composition of microwaved kiwifruit was more similar to that of the fresh fruit and better preserved during storage.

The effect of heat treatment of thylakoids on their ability to inhibit in vitro lipase/co-lipase activity

Thylakoids has been shown to prolong lipolysis by the inhibition of lipase/co-lipase, which makes thylakoids suitable as a functional food ingredient with satiating properties. The components of thylakoids that provide its function as a lipolysis modulator are primarily photosystems I and II, which are structurally stabilised by chlorophyll. However, chlorophyll is known to be heat sensitive yet the enzymatic inhibiting capacity after heat treatment has not been previously studied. It was hypothesised that the retained function of thylakoids after heat treatment could be correlated to the degree of degradation. Heat treatment at either 60 °C, 75 °C or 90 °C for time interval ranging from 15 s to 120 min induced a color shift from bright green to olive brown which was attributed to degradation. The ability of heat-treated thylakoids to inhibit lipolysis in vitro was also reduced. A correlation between chlorophyll a degradation and the enzymatic inhibiting capacity could be established which opens possibilities to use a spectrophotometric method to quantify the ability of thylakoids to inhibit lipase/co-lipase in a more rapid and cost effective way to complement the pH-stat method used today. With the degradation pattern investigated, it is then possible to design a thermal treatment process to ensure a microbiological safe appetite-reducing product and at the same time minimize the loss of functionality.

Prediction of color changes using the time-temperature superposition principle in liquid formulations

This study reports the results of applying the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) to the prediction of color changes in liquid formulations. A sample solution consisting of L-tryptophan and glucose was used as the model liquid formulation for the Maillard reaction. After accelerated aging treatment at elevated temperatures, the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) LAB color parameters (a*, b*, L*, and E*ab) of the sample solution were measured using a spectrophotometer. The TTSP was then applied to a kinetic analysis of the color changes. The calculated values of the apparent activation energy of a*, b*, L*, and ΔE*ab were 105.2, 109.8, 91.6, and 103.7 kJ/mol, respectively. The predicted values of the color parameters at 40°C were calculated using Arrhenius plots for each of the color parameters. A comparison of the relationships between the experimental and predicted values of each color parameter revealed the coefficients of determination for a*, b*, L*, and ΔE*ab to be 0.961, 0.979, 0.960, and 0.979, respectively. All the R(2) values were sufficiently high, and these results suggested that the prediction was highly reliable. Kinetic analysis using the TTSP was successfully applied to calculating the apparent activation energy and to predicting the color changes at any temperature or duration.

Predicting the Quality of Pasteurized Vegetables Using Kinetic Models: A Review

A resurgence in interest examining thermal pasteurization technologies has been driven by demands for "cleaner" labeling and the need of organic and natural foods markets for suitable preventive measures to impede microbial growth and extend shelf life of minimally processed foods and ready-to-eat foods with a concomitant reduction in the use of chemical preservatives. This review describes the effects of thermal pasteurization on vegetable quality attributes including altering flavor and texture to improve consumer acceptability, stabilizing color, improving digestibility, palatability and retaining bioavailability of important nutrients, and bioactive compounds. Here, we provide kinetic parameters for inactivation of viral and bacterial pathogens and their surrogates and marker enzymes used to monitor process effectiveness in a variety of plant food items. Data on thermal processing protocols leading to higher retention and bioactivity are also presented. Thermal inactivation of foodborne viruses and pathogenic bacteria, specifically at lower pasteurization temperatures or via new technologies such as dielectric heating, can lead to greater retention of "fresh-like" properties.

Degradation of colour in beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.): a kinetics study

The kinetics of colour (measured as Hunter 'a/b' value) degradation in beetroot puree (Beta vulgaris L.) was studied over a temperature range of 50-120 °C (isothermal process), and also during normal open pan cooking, pressure-cooking and a newly developed and patented fuel-efficient 'EcoCooker' (non-isothermal heating process). The degradation of visual colour as measured as Hunter 'a/b' value was found to follow a first order kinetics, where the rate constant increased with an increase in the temperature. The temperature dependence of degradation was adequately modeled by Arrhenius equation. A mathematical model has been developed using the kinetic parameters obtained from the isothermal experiments to predict the losses of color in the non-isothermal heating/processing method based on the time-temperature data for each of the methods. The results obtained indicate a colour degradation of similar magnitude in all the three modes of cooking used in the study.

Identification and thermal degradation kinetics of chlorophyll pigments and ascorbic acid from ditax nectar (Detarium senegalense J.F. Gmel)

Detarium senegalense J.F. Gmel (ditax) is a forest tree found in Senegal the fruits of which are characterized by an attractive green flesh with a high amount in ascorbic acid. It is generally consumed as a nectar in Senegal. In this study, the main pigments of ditax pulp were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD. Pheophytin a (128 mg/kg), which represents 58% of the total pigments, followed by hydroxypheophytin a' (33 mg/kg), chlorophyll b (24 mg/kg), and chlorophyll a (20 mg/kg) was the major pigment of ditax pulp. Lutein and β-carotene were present in lower amounts (4.6 and 3.6 mg/kg, respectively). The thermal degradation kinetics of pheophytin a, hydroxypheophytin a', and ascorbic acid were determined at temperatures ranging from 60 to 95 °C in ditax nectar. Pheophytin a was the most heat sensitive. Thermal processing induced the formation of degradation products such as pyropheophytin a and pyropheophytin b. The kinetics parameters have been calculated according to the models of Arrhenius, Eyring, and Ball. Following the Arrhenius relation, activation energies of pheophytin a, hydroxypheophytin a', and ascorbic acid were, respectively, 79, 74, and 46 kJ mol(-1). Losses calculated during isothermal treatments were close to experimental losses in pheophytin a, hydroxypheophytin a', and ascorbic acid. The Eyring model can then be used to predict chlorophyll pigments and vitamin C losses during pasteurization of the nectar (<10%).

Color loss in ethanolic solutions of chlorophyll a

The present study investigated the stability of green color in 1-60% ethanolic solutions of chlorophyll a. Kinetics studies were performed. The results show that the color loss follows first-order reaction kinetics, similar to that in aqueous systems, with a reaction rate constant between 0.013 and 13.575 day(-1) at 20 degrees C and an activation energy between 18.4 and 85.1 kJ mol(-1). The rate of color loss increases with the temperature and varies with the ethanol concentration. It reaches the maximum at 40% ethanol concentrations. The difference among the absorption spectra of the ethanolic solutions suggests that the interaction between water and ethanol molecules may be the major factor affecting the color stability of chlorophyll in the solutions. The bathochromic shift is most obvious around 40% ethanol concentration. We postulate that the formation of clusters of water-ethanol molecules is responsible for the increase in the rate of color loss.

Degradation kinetics of peroxidase enzyme, phenolic content, and physical and sensorial characteristics in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. Italica) during blanching

The effects of water blanching treatment on peroxidase inactivation, total phenolic content, color parameters [-a*/b* and hue (h degrees*)], texture (maximum shear force), and sensory attributes (color and texture, evaluated by a trained panel) of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. Italica) were studied at five temperatures (70, 75, 80, 85, and 90 degrees C). Experimental results showed that all studied broccoli quality parameters suffered significative changes due to blanching treatments. The vegetal total phenolic content showed a marked decline. Degradation on objective color and texture measurements and alterations in sensorial attributes were detected. Correlations between sensory and instrumental measurements have been found. Under the conditions 70 degrees C and 6.5 min or 90 degrees C and 0.4 min, 90% of the initial peroxidase activity was reduced. At these conditions, no significant alterations were detected by panelists, and a small amount of phenolic content was lost (ca. 16 and 10%, respectively). The peroxidase inactivation and phenolic content degradation were found to follow first-order reaction models. The zero-order reaction model showed a good fit to the broccoli color (-a*/b* and h degrees*), texture, and sensory parameters changes. The temperature effect was well-described by the Arrhenius law.

Formation of zinc-chlorophyll-derivative complexes in thermally processed green pears (Pyrus communis L.)

The formation of zinc-chlorophyll-derivative complexes was investigated in peels-on green D'Anjou pears when subjected to blanching in zinc ion solution (1300, 2600, and 0 ppm) at 94 degrees C for 6, 12, or 18 min and then canning at 94 degrees C for 20 min. The peels removed from the pears were freeze-dried and ground into powders in liquid nitrogen for pigment extraction using ethyl ether. The visual absorption of the extracts was measured using a spectrophotometer along with identification and quantification of chlorophyll derivatives using reverse-phase HPLC method. Furthermore, pears with or without the peels were blanched in 2600 ppm of zinc solution for 12 min following the canning process in 10 degree Brix syrup solution. Total antioxidant (TA) and total phenolic content (TPC) of the pear flesh and peels were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays. Thermal processing destroyed chlorophylls on pear peels, in which pheophytins were found to be the major degraded compounds while an insignificant amount of pyropheophytins was also formed. In zinc blanched peels, Zn pheophytins a was the dominant green compound, and its amount increased about 100% and 144.4% in peels blanched in 1300 ppm zinc solution for 6 and 12 min, respectively. When blanching peels in 2600 ppm zinc solution for 6 and 12 min, the pigment increased about 118% and 242%, respectively. Significant reductions in TA and TPC were found on the peels of zinc treated pears, but the overall TA and TPC of whole fruits were not significantly affected by the treatments.