Desenvolvimento de um produto em pó probiótico à base de juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius)

Abstract

This study aimed to obtain a product in probiotic powder to juçara base, whose palm is being threatened with extinction due to indiscriminate practice of palm heart extraction and, in this sense, add value to this fruit is a proposal in an attempt to preserve the species. Initially, juçara pulp added probiotic microorganism Bifidobacterium spp. lactis was subjected to drying by spray drying (spray drying), which promoted a microencapsulation. In this first step, differet types and combinations of carriers agents were evaluated, totalizing four formulations: maltodextrin, maltodextrin + inulin (1:1), maltodextrin + oligofructose (1:1) and maltodextrin + inulin + oligofructose (2:1:1). The samples produced with different formulations were characterized in relation to the viable cell count, phenolics, anthocyanins, ABTS + antiradical activity, density, porosity, particle size and hygroscopicity. The samples produced with maltodextrin + inulin (1: 1) showed the best results, being selected for further stability study. In this study, samples were also produced by freeze drying, in order to compare the processes. The powders produced by the two processes were stored at different temperatures (7 and 35 ° C) and evaluated periodically for 60 days. Results showed that the samples stored at 7ºC showed microorganism cell count higher than 107 CFU/g after 60 days of storage, being considered as probiotic products, whereas samples stored at 35ºC showed cell counts lower than 104 CFU/g after 30 days. The samples produced by freeze drying showed higher viable cell counts compared to those produced by spray drying, after 30 days of storage. Regarding the phenolic content and antirradical activity, the samples showed a very similar behavior to each other.