Kefir is a fermented beverage that deserves special attention, since it has probiotic activity and unique sensory, nutritional, and therapeutic properties. Given that both kefir and soymilk are beneficial to human health, this study aimed to assess the physicochemical characteristics and acceptability of soymilk Kefir-based functional beverages (SKB) properly inoculated with lactobacilli strain after 16h of incubation at 37 °C. It was monitored lactobacilli cell viability, yeasts count, pH, titratable acidity, lipids, proteins, ash, total solid, carbohydrates, caloric values and acceptability of the products. Additionally was conducted a shelf-life study of SKB added of peach-flavor. The lactobacilli cell count ranged from 7.0 to 8.0 Log₁₀ CFUmL^-1 and pH values from 4.5 to 4.6. SKB samples with higher soymilk kefir percent presented higher lactobacilli cell count and lower lipid, ash, total solid, carbohydrate and caloric value. Results showed similar preferential rates for the SKB up to 30% of added soymilk kefir. The functional peach-flavored beverage presented appropriate pH value (4.3) and high viable cells count (7.0 Log₁₀ CFUmL^-1) up to the 28^th day of cold storage, showed high acceptability (94.5%) and positive purchase intention (83.4%) among consumers.

The effects of the drying process using the conventional oven and freeze-drying on the thermogravimetric profile, proximate composition, color parameters, individual bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity in the grape residue (skin) were evaluated. Twenty individual phenolic compounds were identified, where a variation in concentration was observed for flavonols, stilbenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, procyanidins, and particularly anthocyanins (malvidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside of 253.2–536.9 mg/kg) due to the drying process. Drying in a conventional oven caused a decrease of 23% of the total polyphenols. The skin of the BRS magna grape has a high concentration of total phenolic content of 489.5–148.3 mg.GAE/100 g, total anthocyanin content of 124.9–260.1 mg.CE/100 g, and total flavonoid content of 12.7–26.0 mg.QE/100 g. The results of free radical scavenging activity (1.26–4.91 μg/mL, as EC₅₀) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (82.93–184.10 μmol/g of skin as equivalent to Fe₂SO₄) indicate high antioxidant activity, independently of the drying process applied. It was concluded that, if the application is directed to anthocyanin compounds, the use of lyophilization is recommended. On the other hand, if the interest is in bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant activity, conventional oven-drying can be used.

Este trabalho avaliou os documentos de patentes depositados no Brasil que fazem referência aos termos probióticos, prebióticos e simbióticos. Os dados foram selecionados nas bases de dados do Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial e do European Patent Office. O ano de 2010 apresentou maior número de patentes depositadas. As indústrias de alimentos e farmacêuticas formam os setores de maior destaque, representando juntas 70% dos depósitos de patentes nesse ramo. Entre as patentes do setor alimentício, 77,55% dos depósitos foram efetuados por empresas, recebendo destaque a Nestlé S.A. A busca através dos termos relacionados revela que o Brasil tem um universo de 101 pedidos de proteção de patentes no Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial e que desse total apenas 22,45% foram oriundos de depositantes do próprio país, implicando na necessidade de ampliar o incentivo à proteção das propriedades industriais para geração de novos produtos.