Brazil nut is a typical oilseed from the Amazon region, of great economic and cultural importance. Due to its high nutritional value, it is interesting to be used as a matrix for new products’ development. Thus, the present study aimed to develop and characterize a drink based on Brazil nuts fermented by Lactobacillus casei and added with inulin. After formulated, the drink was pasteurized, fermented, maturated, and stored under refrigeration for 28 days. Physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyzes were performed before and after fermentation, at 7-day intervals. There was maintenance in the content of lipids and proteins and reduction in the concentrations of fibers, ash, total carbohydrates, and moisture. The fermented drink pH decreased significantly during storage, while the acidity and the soluble solids content increased from the 14th day. Regarding the color, there were significant changes in all parameters analyzed. In the fermented drink, the development of molds and yeasts, total and thermotolerant coliforms, and Salmonella were not verified, while the control drink deteriorated after 7 days. The probiotic L. casei had count ranging from 9.48 to 8.59 log CFU mL-1 during the 28 days. When exposed to in vitro gastrointestinal conditions, L. casei significantly reduced its concentration. However, it reached the enteric phase with counts greater than 6.00 log UFC mL-1. Sensorially, the drink reached intermediate scores (between 5.41 and 6.02). Therefore, the use of Brazil nuts proved to be viable for the development of a product free of animal-origin components, symbiotic, and of outstanding nutritional quality.

This study proposes the use of lyophilized powder of purple-fleshed sweet potato (LP) as a new multifunctional ingredient to improve the identity and quality parameters of stirred yogurts. The physical and chemical properties, color, monomeric anthocyanin content, lactic acid bacteria viability, water retention capacity, microstructure, and texture were evaluated for yogurts enriched with LP at the levels of 2% (YLP2), 4% (YLP4), and 6% (YPL6), stored for 30 days under refrigeration (4 °C). The results indicated that LP provided different intensities and shades of pink coloration to yogurt, in addition to increasing (p < 0.05) the water retention capacity and reducing the water activity. No post-acidification processes were observed during storage. YLP2, YLP4, and YLP6 showed higher stability regarding the number of viable lactic acid bacteria cells compared to the control sample (without enrichment) during storage. Interstitially, adding LP improved the microstructures of the yogurts, promoting more cross-linked networks, with greater uniformity and smaller empty zones, regardless of the level used; in addition, the yogurts (YLP4 and YLP6) were firmer and creamier. These findings demonstrate that LP can be used as a multifunctional ingredient to promote technological/functional improvements, being underscored as a promising natural colorant, stabilizer, emulsifier, and thickener for yogurts.

Purple-fleshed sweet potato is a tuber rich in anthocyanins, which are phenolic pigments that confer color and present bioactive capacity. Moreover, its incorporation into dairy products can bring technological and functional benefits. Thus, this article evaluated the impact of the addition of lyophilized purple-fleshed sweet potato powder- LP (0% - Control, 2%, and 4%) on the physical, chemical, and technological characteristics of Greek yogurt. LP showed in vitro antioxidant and bioactive capacity by DPPH (20.64 ± 1.61 μmol TE g^-1), FRAP (112.93 ± 4.38 μmol TE g^-1), total phenolic content (103.66 ± 3.35 mg GAE g^-1), and total anthocyanin content (51.10 ± 1.87 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside 100 g^-1). Additionally, the assays demonstrated that the LP has 16.82 ± 0.63% of resistant starch. The fortification of Greek yogurt with LP reduced the syneresis, indicating that LP increased the water retention capacity. LP also inhibited the post-acidification process, increasing apparent viscosity, hardness, and gumminess, and promoting a stable pink coloration throughout the storage (P < 0.05). At the 4% level, the yogurt was firmer and showed greater chewiness, which is highly desirable for Greek yogurt. Therefore, the results suggested that lyophilized purple-fleshed sweet potato powder is a potential multifunctional natural ingredient.

Coconut is a fruit grown in more than 80 countries owing to its outstanding nutritional and biological value and it is an important crop for the food industry” por “Coconut is a fruit grown in more than 80 countries and owing to its outstanding nutritional and biological value and it is an important crop for the food industry. Thus, developing new coconut-based products is attractive to explore the benefits provided by microorganisms and improve the nutritional and bioactive composition of coconut products, such as by preparing fermented beverages. This study developed and characterize a drink based on dry coconut with the prebiotic fructooligosaccharide fermented by the probiotic Lactobacillus casei. The drink was formulated, filtered, fermented, matured, and stored under refrigeration (4 °C) for 28 days; it was evaluated for its physical, chemical, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics. Compared to the standard non-fermented sample during storage, the fermented drink showed significant variations (P < 0.05) in instrumental color, acidity, and pH, while changes in soluble solids and stability index were observed after 7 days of storage. Regarding the chemical composition, all parameters varied significantly after fermentation. The total phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity increased significantly after fermentation. Significant reductions were observed (P < 0.05) in the viability of Lactobacillus casei after exposure to gastrointestinal tract conditions, with the following counts (in log CFU mL-1) after 0 and 28 days of storage: - initial: 9.23 ± 0.04 and 9.05 ± 0.12; after the gastric phase: 6.21 ± 0.09 and 5.90 ± 0.01; and after the intestinal phase: 4.59 ± 0.33 and 4.75 ± 0.23, respectively.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.; GB) is one of the most consumed pulses worldwide. Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been a strategy to improve the nutritional and technological quality of chickpea flours, in addition to reducing the levels of antinutritional factors. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of fermentation with Lacticaseibacillus casei or co-culture on water activity (Aw), color, antioxidant capacity, and techno-functional properties of chickpea flour. Chickpeas were fermented at 28 °C for 96 h with Lactobacillus Casei or co-culture, resulting in the samples GB_LC and GB_CC, respectively, dried at 50 °C, and ground to obtain the flours. Fermentation reduced (P < 0.05) the Wa and color parameters (L^*, a^*, and b^*) of the fermented flours (GB_CC and GB_LC). In terms of techno-functional properties, GB_CC flours showed lower emulsifying capacity (EC, 80%) and emulsion stability (ES, 82.50%). GB_LC and GB_CC flours showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in swelling power only at 25 °C and a reduction in water solubility index (WSI) at all studied temperatures. LAB fermentation reduced the antioxidant capacity of GB_LC e GB_CC flours determined by the DPPH method, while in the FRAP method, there was an increase for GB_CC and a reduction for GB_LC. For the total phenolic content (TPC), there was an increase of 231% for GB_CC flour and 164% for GB_LC flour. Thus, it was concluded that the fermentation with Lactobacillus Casei and co-culture affected the Wa, color, EC, ES, WSI, the antioxidant capacity by the DPPH and FRAP assays, and the TPC of the fermented flours.