The proximate composition, mineral contents and fatty acid composition of different parts (peel, pulp and seeds) of seven tropical fruits were evaluated. Beyond that, this study aims to evaluate the effect of drying processing on peels. Pulp and peel showed highest moisture values (65.7-93.3%), while the seed ranged from 5.8 to 67.2%. The drying processing of peels decreased moisture values (2.3-18.7%). Furthermore, drying processing did not affect ash contents, total crude protein, lipids and fiber values and fatty acid composition for avocado, pineapple, banana, papaya, passion fruit, watermelon and melon. A wide range of mineral contents was noted in different parts of fruit and calcium and potassium were found in larger quantities (25.4 to 4808 mg per 100 g). The fruits exhibited essential fatty acids as omega-6 and omega-3 with the largest contents observed in the peels and seeds (31.4 to 1970 mg per 100 g).

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Phenolics present in the free, esterified, glycosylated and insoluble-bound forms of araticum pulp, peel and seed were for the first time characterized and quantified using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, condensed tannins and antioxidant activities from araticum fruit followed the order peel > pulp > seed. Overall, insoluble-bound and esterified phenolics were the dominant forms of phenolics from araticum fruit parts and the highest contributors to their antioxidant activities. Extracts were found to contain contrasting levels of phenolics that were specific to each fruit part. From 10 phenolics quantified in araticum fruit, catechin and epicatechin were the major ones from pulp and peel, whereas seed displayed caffeic acid, catechin and epicatechin as its main phenolics. Araticum fruit was found to provide a good source of phenolics, and the full exploitation of this fruit may find applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) oil was obtained via subcritical n-propane fluid extraction (SubFE) under different temperatures and pressures with an average yield of 28% and its composition, purity and oxidative stability were compared to oils obtained via conventional solvent extraction methods (SEMs). When the oxidative stability was measured by differential scanning calorimetry, the oil was found to be up to 5 times more resistant to lipid oxidation as compared to the SEM oils. Direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis showed characteristic and similar TAG profiles for SubFE and SEMs oils but higher purity for the SubFE oil. The flaxseed oil content of β-tocopherol, campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol were quantified via GC-MS. SubFE showed to be a promising alternative to conventional SEM since SubFE provides an oil with higher purity and higher oxidation stability and with comparable levels of biologically active components.

Soluble carbohydrates, volatile and phenolic compounds from calabura fruit as well as its antioxidant activity were assessed. The low amount of fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) and similar amount of glucose and fructose allow us to classify the calabura berry as low-FODMAPs. The terpenes β-Farnesene and dendrolasin identified by SPME-GC-MS were the major volatile components. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revelled gallic acid (5325 μg/g dw) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (171 μg/g dw) as the main phenolic compounds, followed by gentisic acid, gallocatechin, caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid. In addition, gallic acid was found mainly in esterified (2883 μg/g dw) and insoluble-bound (2272 μg/g dw) forms. Free and glycosylated forms showed however the highest antioxidant activity due to occurrence of flavonoids (0.28-27 μg/g dw) in these fractions, such as catechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, naringenin, and quercetin. These findings clearly suggest that calabura is a berry with low energy value and attractive colour and flavour that may contribute to the intake of several bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. Furthermore, this berry have great potential for use in the food industry and as functional food.

ContentsThe fatty acid composition of the sperm membrane is an important factor involved in the overall sperm quality, including motility. However, in the canine species, the exact composition of the plasma membrane is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the plasma membrane lipid composition of motile sperm cells and to compare it with asthenospermic samples, as an attempt to determine possible involvements of membrane lipids in dog sperm cell motility. The sperm-rich fraction of ten mature dogs was collected, and samples were subjected to density gradient centrifugation by Percoll ® , in order to separate motile and asthenospermic samples.Processed semen samples were evaluated for sperm motility, plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity and susceptibility to oxidative stress. Lipid plasma membrane composition was identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS).The motile sperm samples presented the following phospholipids in a high frequency in the plasma membrane: phosphatidylcholine 38:4 (composed of stearic and arachidonic fatty acids), phosphatidylcholine 36:1 (stearic and oleic fatty acids), phosphatidylethanolamine 34:4 (myristic and arachidonic fatty acids), glycerophosphatidic acid 36:4 (palmitic and arachidonic fatty acids), phosphatidylcholine 40:4 plasmanyl and phosphatidylcholine 40:5 plasmenyl. Furthermore, no lipid markers were found in the asthenospermic samples. Results also indicate that differences on plasma membrane composition between motile and asthenospermic samples are crucial factors for determining sperm motility, sperm functionality and susceptibility to oxidative stress. In conclusion, plasma membrane lipid composition varies considerable between motile and asthenospermic samples. Therefore, lipid markers of sperm motility can be considered, such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine plasmanyl, phosphatidylcholine plasmenyl and phosphatidic acid.

RESUMOEspinhaços de tilápias (Oreochromis niloticus) são partes do peixe de composição desconhecida. A composição lipídica dos espinhaços não é citada na literatura, bem como a estabilidade da farinha do espinhaço durante o armazenamento. Nesse sentido, realizou se estudo de processamento dos espinhaços envolvendo etapas de cocção, trituração, secagem, peneiramento e armazenamento da farinha. A farinha ficou armazenada sob refrigeração por um período de 90 dias, sendo sua qualidade monitorada por meio da composição em ácidos graxos, índice de acidez e análises microbiológicas. Os resultados da composição centesimal foram de 14,2% (umidade), 40,8% (proteína), 18,3% (resíduo mineral fixo) e 25,3% de lipídios totais. Nos lipídios totais foi identificado um total de 24 ácidos graxos, com predominância dos ácidos graxos (porcentagem média) de 27.4% (ácido palmítico, 16:0), 35,15% (ácido oléico, 18:1n-9) e 11,82% (ácido linoléico, 18:2n-6) e, em menor proporção: 0,88% (ácido alfa-linolênico, 18:3n-3), 0,08% (ácido eicosapentaenóico, 20:5n-3) e 0,59 (ácido docosahexaenóico, 22:6n-3). Durante os 90 dias de armazenamento, foram observadas algumas alterações no índice de acidez e composição de alguns ácidos graxos, no entanto, para 60 dias de armazenamento, não foram observadas alterações na composição de nenhum ácido graxo, do índice de acidez e nas análises microbiológicas.Termos para indexação: Tilápia, farinha, espinhaço, ácidos graxos, armazenamento. ABSTRACTThe composition of the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fishbone is unknown. Lipid composition fishbone is not cited in the literature, and neither is the stability of the flour of the fishbone during storage. We studied the processing of fishbone cooking, grinding, drying, sieving and the storage of the flour. The flour was stored in a refrigerator for a period of 90 days, and its quality was monitored through fatty acid composition, acid index and microbiology control. The results of the proximate composition were of 14.2% (moisture), 40.8% (protein), 18.3% (ash), and 25.3% total lipids. In the total lipids identified 24 fatty acids were identified, with predominance of the fatty acids (medium percentage) of 27.4% (palmitic acid, 16:0), 35.15% (oleic acmid, 18:1n-9) and 11.82% (linoleic acid , 18:2n-6) and, in smaller proportion: 0.88% (alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3n-3), 0.08% (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3) and 0.59 (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3). During the 90 days of storage some alterations were observed in the acid index and composition of some fatty acids, however, for 60 days of storage no alterations were observed in the fatty acids composition, acid index, and microbiology control.