We studied the effect of substituting partially, cocoa butter (CB) with Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil (SIO) on rheology, bioactive properties, and sensory preferences in potentially functional chocolate. For this 70% dark chocolates were prepared and the CB was substituted with 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% of SIO. Hardness and viscosity of the SIO-chocolates were significantly reduced compared to the control (5451 AE 658 g; 17.01 AE 0.94 Pa s, respectively). Total phenolic content remained constant while the antioxidant capacity increased up to IC 50 of 2.48 AE 0.10 as the content of SIO increased. The Casson yield stress and Casson plastic viscosity decreased as the amount of SIO increased. Chocolates with 4.5% SIO had a similar color, better glossiness, preferable snap attributes, and were more accepted (7.50 AE 0.08) compared to the control (p < 0.05), measured with a hedonic scale. Then, SIO can improve the bioactive properties of dark chocolates obtaining a potentially functional food with acceptable physicochemical characteristics. SIO can be considered as a new cocoa butter equivalent.
Growing porcine oocytes from early antral follicles can acquire meiotic and developmental competence under suitable culture conditions, but at lower rates compared to full-grown oocytes. We postulated that estradiol-17β (E2 ) supported the acquisition of meiotic and developmental competence as well as cumulus-expansion ability during growth culture. Growing oocytes from early antral follicles (1.2 to 1.5 mm in diameter) were grown in vitro for 5 days in a medium containing 0, 10(-7) , 10(-6) , 10(-5) or 10(-4) mol/L E2 ; after in vitro maturation, 35, 58, 47, 74 and 49% of oocytes matured to metaphase II, 25, 79, 77, 90 and 97% acquired cumulus-expansion ability, and 23, 54, 63, 89 and 64% were fully surrounded by cumulus cells, respectively. Following maturation, electro-stimulation was applied to the oocytes grown with 10(-5) mol/L E2 . After 6 days of culture, in vitro-grown oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage at a rate similar to that for full-grown oocytes (31% and 40%, respectively). Therefore, we suggest that the use of E2 during growth culture improves the meiotic and developmental competence of oocytes, cumulus-expansion ability, and cumulus cell attachment to the oocytes.
Bovine breeding began in Peru more than five centuries ago; since then, adaptation has started. Nowadays, Creole cattle are part of economic activities of Peruvian farmers, as they supply food and profits, among other things, for families in Andean region. Creole cattle have many strengths such as resistance to diseases, low nutrient requirements and easy adaptation to different levels of altitude and environmental conditions. However, even with all these attributes, they are not valued within production systems. Moreover, these valuable genetic resources are disappearing gradually in Perú. For this reason, this study aims to characterize the zoometry of Creole cows from the Southern Amazonas region of Peru. Biotype classification was performed by hierarchical cluster and multivariate factors analysis. Qualitative traits were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Duncan’s test (α = 0.05) was used to compare means among groups. Associations between qualitative traits were determined with Chi-square. We distinguished three biotypes of Creole cows with characteristics for meat and milk production. This information is helpful for future conservation programs for Creole cattle.
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