IntroduçãoDurante as últimas décadas, a demanda por novos alimentos nutricionalmente saudáveis e economicamente viáveis aumentou consideravelmente. Consequentemente, muita atenção tem sido dada à utilização de subprodutos vegetais, em sua maioria, não utilizados pela indústria de alimentos nem pela população. A utilização desses subprodutos agrega valor econômico à produção, além de contribuir para a formulação de novos produtos alimentícios e minimizar o desperdício.A abóbora Cucurbita maxima, popularmente conhecida como moranga, pertence à família Cucurbitaceae. É nativa das Américas e atualmente cultivada em grande escala no Brasil e em outras regiões tropicais. Somente no município de Ponte AltaSanta Catarina/Brasil, a safra de morangas colhidas no início de 2006 foi de 3600 t (ABH, 2008). Segundo Del-Vechio (2004), 3,32% do peso da moranga corresponde ao peso das sementes, portanto, considerando apenas esse município, houve um descarte de aproximadamente 119 toneladas de sementes. Analisando esses dados, é possível reconhecer como é grande o desperdício, em escala nacional e internacional, das sementes da moranga.Tais sementes são conhecidas principalmente pelo elevado teor proteico e de óleo. Em algumas regiões da África e do Brasil, por exemplo, são consumidas pela população carente como complemento alimentar. Na Grécia, são apreciadas em quantidades significativas, ao serem tostadas e salgadas (LAZOS; TSAKNIS; BANTE, 1995). Na Áustria, o óleo extraído da semente é aproveitado como tempero para saladas em função de seu aroma e gosto característicos (EL-ADAWY; TAHA, 2001b). AbstractThe objective of this paper was to verify the influence of the thermal processings on the nutrients and functional properties of the pumpkin seeds Cucurbita maxima. Seeds were, in four repetitions, submitted to the following processings: used in the raw form; cooked in boiling water for three times: 5, 10 and 15 minutes; and cooked in steam for 10 minutes. Thereafter were freeze-dried, grinded and stored at room temperature up to accomplishment of the analyses of centesimal composition, minerals and functional properties. There wasn't significant difference among the processings to the levels of crude protein, dietary fiber, ether extract, ashes, S, P, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, solubility of the nitrogen (on pH 4, 5 and 6), absorption of water and oil, foam volume and emulsion stability. The cooking in boiling water reduced content of K. All thermal processings reduced levels of Mn and Fe. Raw seeds showed biggest solubility of nitrogen on pH 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9. It has been concluded that the processings caused significant difference only in levels of K, Mn, Fe and solubility of nitrogen; and that the seeds presents potential to be, probably, incorporated in foods that request high tax of absorption of oil.

IntroduçãoInfelizmente, a fome e a desnutrição ainda são causas de doenças e morte de pessoas, principalmente em países subdesenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento. Uma das medidas adotadas para melhorar o estado nutricional de populações desnutridas inclui a utilização de subprodutos vegetais, ou seja, baseia-se no aproveitamento de partes da planta não consumidas e, portanto, desperdiçadas. Dentre esses subprodutos estão incluídas as sementes de abóbora, as quais possuem, principalmente, teores elevados de proteína e óleo.Entretanto, há questionamentos sobre as possíveis interferências negativas causadas pelos antinutrientes presentes nos alimentos. Tais compostos podem interferir na digestibilidade e absorção dos nutrientes ou serem tóxicos, dependendo da quantidade em que são consumidos.Os polifenóis são, em alguns casos, em especial os taninos, considerados antinutrientes devido à propriedade que apresentam em formar complexos principalmente com proteínas, podendo diminuir a digestibilidade proteica.O consumo de significativas doses de cianeto, advindas de alimentos ricos em glicosídeos cianogênicos e pobremente processados, pode resultar em intoxicações crônicas e agudas, causando anomalias tais como a doença de Konzo (YEN et al., AbstractVegetable subproducts have been used in diets with the purpose of improving the nutritional quality of undernourished populations. However, the antinutrients present in those foods can cause adverse health effects. Therefore, the contents of polyphenols, cyanide, saponins, trypsin inhibitor, hemaglutinin activity, and the percentage of the in vitro protein digestibility of raw and thermally treated pumpkin seeds were investigated with the objective of selecting the processing that results in major antinutrient reduction and greater protein digestibility. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima) were submitted to the following treatments, which were carried out in quadruplicate: used raw; boiled for 5, 10, and 15 minutes; and steamed for 10 minutes. Next, the seeds were freeze-dried, grinded, and stored at room temperature until the analyses were completed. There was no significant difference among the treatments as for the levels of polyphenols. The raw seeds showed the highest content of cyanide, smallest level of trypsin inhibitor, and smallest protein digestibility. The 10-minute boiling resulted in the lowest content of saponins and greatest protein digestibility. No Hemaglutinin activity was detected in the samples. It can be concluded that the 10-minute boiling was the treatment that produced better results. Keywords: Cucurbita maxima; pumpkin seed; processing; antinutrient; protein digestibility. ResumoSubprodutos vegetais têm sido utilizados na dieta com a finalidade de melhorar o estado nutricional de populações desnutridas. Entretanto, os antinutrientes presentes nesses alimentos podem acarretar efeitos indesejáveis. Portanto, os teores de polifenóis, cianeto, saponinas, inibidor de tripsina, atividade hemaglutinante e a porcentagem da digestibilidade proteica in vitro de sem...

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Goblet cells (GCs) and endocrine cells (ECs) play an important role in intestine physiology, and few studies currently exist for Amazonian fishes. This study aimed to quantify the distribution of GCs and ECs producing cholecystokinin‐8 and neuropeptide Y, assessed by mucin histochemistry and peptides immunohistochemistry, in the intestine of two Amazonian species with different feeding habits Tambaqui (Colossosoma macropomum) and hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus), an omnivore and carnivore, respectively. A systematic literature review correlating feeding habit and GC and EC distribution was also included to contribute to the comparative study. The results of this study provided novel information about the gut cells of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish. Both, GCs and ECs can be found sweeping the entire intestine of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish although the cells can be more concentrated in certain segments. The GCs and ECs in Tambaqui were more uniformly distributed in the midgut segments (T1, T2, and T3). Unlike, in hybrid catfish GCs were more concentrated in the hindgut (C4) and ECs mainly in the two midgut segments (C1 and C2) of hybrid catfish. Based on the comparison between Tambaqui, hybrid catfish, and other fishes in the literature review, we suggest that cell distribution can be partially explained by feeding habits, carnivorous vs. omnivorous.

The activity of three commercial microbial phytase (Aspergillus oryzae, A. niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisae) products used in broiler nutrition was determined at different pH (2.0 to 9.0) and temperature (20 to 90°C) values. Enzymatic activity was determined according to the reaction of the phytase with its substrate (sodium phytate), in four replicates, and was expressed in units of phytase activity (FTU). A. oryzae phytase exhibited optimal activity at pH 4.0 and 40°C, but its absolute activity was the lowest of the three phytases evaluated. A. niger phytase exhibited maximal activity close to pH 5.0 and 45 o C, whereas S. cerevisae phytase presented its highest activity at pH close to 4.5 and temperatures ranging between 50 and 60°C. It was concluded that A. niger and S. cerevisae phytase products exhibited the highest absolute activities in vitro at pH and temperature values (pH lower than 5.0 and 41 o C) corresponding to the ideal physiological conditions of broilers, which would theoretically allow high hydrolysis rate of the phytate contained in the feed.