Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers were investigated for free radical scavenging properties against the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*)) by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and spectrophotometric methods. ESR measurements confirmed that both c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA directly reacted with and quenched DPPH radicals, whereas spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA differed in their kinetic and thermodynamic properties in reacting with DPPH radicals. t10,c12-CLA was shown to exhibit a greater initial velocity in CLA-DPPH radical reactions at levels of 2.5-80 mg/mL, and c9,t11-CLA scavenged more DPPH radicals at steady state. Similar dose and time relationships were observed for both isomers. In addition, a mixture of c9,t11- and t10,c12-CLA isomers demonstrated a greater initial velocity in quenching DPPH radicals than either isomer alone on the same concentration basis, suggesting that a synergistic effect between CLA isomers existed in their reactions with DPPH radicals. These results support the conclusion that individual CLA isomers differ in their biological actions and indicate that interaction(s) between isomers may contribute to their beneficial effects.

Dehydrated onions are commonly dried with convection heating, which is inefficient and costly. This study compared the drying and quality characteristics of onion dried with catalytic infrared (CIR) heating and forced air convection (FAC) heating. Sliced high‐solids onions were dehydrated under 9 conditions: CIR heating with and without air recirculation, and FAC each operated at 60, 70, and 80 °C. In general, CIR both with and without air recirculation had higher maximum drying rates, shorter drying times, and greater drying constants than FAC at moisture contents greater than 50% (d.b.). Dried onion quality, measured as pungency degradation, was similar for both the drying methods at 60 and 70 °C. The color analysis showed better product color (whiter and less yellow) at lower temperatures for CIR and higher temperatures for FAC. The browning could have been caused by the higher surface heat flux of the CIR heating and longer process times of FAC drying. Aerobic plate counts and coliform counts were not significantly different for either product from the CIR or FAC drying. However, samples dried by the CIR had significantly lower yeast and mold counts than those dried by the FAC. It is recommended that CIR be used in the early stages of onion drying.

No abstract