No abstract

Tomato seeds and skins acquired from the byproduct of a local tomato processing facility were studied for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of phytochemicals. The extracts were analyzed for lycopene, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and delta-tocopherol content using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection and compared to a chemically extracted control. SFEs were carried out using CO(2) at seven temperatures (32-86 degrees C) and six pressures (13.78-48.26 MPa). The effect of CO(2) flow rate and volume also was investigated. The results indicated that the percentage of lycopene extracted increased with elevated temperature and pressure until a maximum recovery of 38.8% was reached at 86 degrees C and 34.47 MPa, after which the amount of lycopene extracted decreased. Conditions for the optimum extraction of lycopene from 3 g of raw material were determined to be 86 degrees C, 34.47 MPa, and 500 mL of CO(2) at a flow rate of 2.5 mL/min. These conditions resulted in the extraction of 61.0% of the lycopene (7.19 microg lycopene/g).

No abstract

Document embargo until 01/05/2016Two cultures of anaerobic fungi were isolated from the forestomach of an Indian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Phylogenetic analysis using both the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large-subunit (LSU) regions of the rRNA locus demonstrated that these isolates were identical and formed a distinct clade within the anaerobic fungi (phylum Neocallimastigomycota). Morphological examination showed that these fungi formed monocentric thalli with filamentous rhizoids and uniflagellate zoospores, broadly similar to members of the genus Piromyces. However, distinctive morphological features were observed, notably the pinching of the cytoplasm in the sporangiophore and the formation of intercalary rhizoidal swellings. Since genetic analyses demonstrated this fungus was only distantly related to Piromyces spp. and closer to the polycentric Anaeromyces clade, we have assigned it to a new genus and species Oontomyces anksri gen. nov., sp. nov. Interrogation of the GenBank database identified several closely related ITS sequences, which were all environmental sequences obtained from camels, raising the possibility that this fungus may be specific to camelids.authorsversionPeer reviewe

No abstract

Milk is a complete food containing high-quality protein, the only source of lactose, and an excellent source of calcium. Thus, milk is prone to adulteration and to combat this menace, in India, the government appoints food safety officers who carry out chemical examination of milk and milk products. Formalin is the only legally permitted preservative for milk and milk products, in India, meant for analytical purposes. Scientific reports suggest that formalin interferes in maintaining the compositional profile; since accuracy in analysis of milk components is very important, these changes can be problematic. The other preservatives that have been described in the literature include mercuric chloride, potassium dichromate, hydrogen peroxide, bronopol, and azidiol Most of these preservatives are bactericidal but either involve a health hazard or environmental hazard or are unsuitable for long-term storage. Hence, there is a need to uncover combinations of antibacterial agents and bacteriostatic antibiotics for preserving milk and milk products until analyzed.

A simple, inexpensive and effective genomic DNA isolation procedure for Lactobacillus isolates from traditional Indian fermented milk (dahi) is described. A total of 269 Lactobacillus isolates from fermented milk collected from four places in North and west India were tested for lysis by an initial weakening of the Gram positive cell wall with Ampicillin followed by Lysozyme treatment. The average genomic DNA yield was *50 lg/ml log phase culture. Quality and repeatability of the method was found to be adequate for subsequent molecular applications. The quality of the genomic DNA isolated by this method was verified by restriction digestion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No inhibition was observed in subsequent PCR amplification and restriction digestion. The presented method is rapid, cheap and useful for routine DNA isolation from gram positive bacteria such as Lactobacillus.

The present investigation deals with analyzing the validity of GAB model for isotherms of different food products. The model was found satisfactory for different food products with different shapes of isotherms under widely varying conditions (temperature: 4–140C; moisture %D.B.: 2–71; activity: 0.059–0.99). The present study covered a wide range of food products from green vegetables, fruits, cereals and nuts to casein, pectin and protein. Food products with complex molecular struture and high sugar contents were also included. A non linear regression method was applied to evaluate the six parameters of the GAB model. The Guggenheim constant, factor for multilayer molecules and the monolayer moisture were assumed to follow an Arrhenius type relationship with temperature variation. The values of net isosteric heat ofsorption obtained by GAB model and Clausius Clapeyron equation were compatible. Monolayer moisture values for food products obtained by GAB model were in agreement with values reported in the literature.