Foeniculum vulgare Mill. as a natural ingredient to improve cottage cheese antioxidant properties

Food industry is focused on the development of novel functional foods containing health promoting natural ingredients. Natural antioxidants present important health benefits like the prevention of several diseases related to oxidative stress [1,2]. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) is a source of those compounds with proved antioxidant potential [3]. Herein, after evaluation of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and reducing power of fennel (provided by Américo Duarte Paixão Lda.) decoction, we propose its incorporation into cottage cheese (produced by Queijos Casa Matias Lda.). Three groups of cottage cheese samples were prepared: control; samples with fennel decoction (incorporated at EC25 value=0.35 mg/mL, previously determined by DPPH assay); and samples with fennel powder (incorporated at 1.75 mg/mL, considering the decoction yield=20%). The samples were submitted to an evaluation of DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power immediately after the incorporations, and after 7 and 14 days of storage, at 4 ºC. The incorporation of fennel improved the antioxidant activity of cottage cheese. Samples incorporated with plant powder revealed higher antioxidant properties than samples incorporated with decoction, either in 0 or 7 days of storage. After 14 days, cottage cheese incorporated with fennel decoction gave the highest DPPH scavenging activity (46.72±0.09 mg/mL). A decrease in the antioxidant potential of the cottage cheese with fennel was observed along the shelf life. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that the samples still display antioxidant properties. Studies regarding the effects of the incorporation of these natural ingredients on nutritional and chemical composition of cottage cheese are in course

Suitability of gamma irradiation for preserving fresh-cut watercress quality during cold storage

The suitability of gamma irradiation (1, 2 and 5kGy) for preserving quality parameters of fresh-cut watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) during storage at 4±1°C for 7d was investigated. The storage time decreased the protein content and the main carbohydrates, and increased the levels of malic and fumaric acids, sucrose and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA). The different irradiation doses did not caused any significant colour change. In general, the 2kGy dose favoured PUFA and was the most suitable to preserve the overall postharvest quality of fresh-cut watercress during cold storage. In turn, the 5kGy dose better preserved the antioxidant activity and total flavonoids and favoured MUFA, tocopherols and total phenolics, thus originating a final product with enhanced functional properties. Therefore, the suitability of gamma irradiation for preserving fresh-cut watercress quality during cold storage was demonstrated.