Zearalenone (ZEA) and its derivatives are mycotoxins with estrogenic effects on mammals. The biotransformation for ZEA in animals involves the formation of two major metabolites, α- and β-zearalenol (α-ZOL and β-ZOL), which are subsequently conjugated with glucuronic acid. The capability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from silage to eliminate ZEA and its derivatives α-ZOL and β-ZOL was investigated as, also, the mechanisms involved. Strains were grown on Yeast Extract-Peptone-Dextrose medium supplemented with the mycotoxins and their elimination from medium was quantified over time by HPLC-FL. A significant effect on the concentration of ZEA was observed, as all the tested strains were able to eliminate more than 90% of the mycotoxin from the culture medium in two days. The observed elimination was mainly due to ZEA biotransformation into β-ZOL (53%) and α-ZOL (8%) rather than to its adsorption to yeast cells walls. Further, the biotransformation of α-ZOL was not observed but a small amount of β-ZOL (6%) disappeared from culture medium. ZEA biotransformation by yeasts may not be regarded as a full detoxification process because both main end-products are still estrogenic. Nonetheless, it was observed that the biotransformation favors the formation of β-ZOL which is less estrogenic than ZEA and α-ZOL. This metabolic effect is only possible if active strains are used as feed additives and may play a role in the detoxification performance of products with viable S. cerevisiae cells.

RESUMO Na pesca de arrasto, são inúmeras as espécies de peixe capturadas acidentalmente, compostas, em sua maioria, de espécimes de pequeno tamanho e baixo valor comercial, os quais recebem o nome de rejeito de pesca. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de dois produtos, almôndega e quibe de peixe, tendo como matéria- prima espécies consideradas capturas acidentais na modalidade de pesca de arrasto realizada no litoral do Rio de Janeiro. A identificação taxonômica das espécies teve como resultado as espécies pargo (Pagrus pagrus), castanha (Umbrina sp.), olho-de-cão (Priacanthus arenatus), congro-negro (Conger sp.), congro-rosa (Genypterus brasiliensis) e peixe-sapo (Lophius gastrophysus). A matéria seca percentual na polpa foi de 31,20±1,30%, no quibe e na almôndega crus; os valores foram de 37,90±1,10 e 32,10±1,10, respectivamente. Nos produtos assados, os resultados foram 33,40±1,20 para o quibe e 34,20±1,00 para a almôndega. Os teores de cinzas na polpa foram 1,5% para o quibe e a almôndega crus; os valores de cinzas foram de 2,55±0,05 e 1,47±0,05, respectivamente. Para os produtos assados, os resultados foram 1,87±0,05 para o quibe e 1,92±0,05 para a almôndega. Os teores de lipídeos aferidos na polpa foram de 4,80±0,30%. Com relação ao quibe e à almôndega crus, o percentual de lipídeos foi de 4,20±0,80 e 4,20±0,60, respectivamente. Para os produtos assados, foi de 4,50±0,60 para o quibe e 4,40±0,60 para a almôndega. A proteína bruta apresentou, na polpa, um índice de 15,60±1,04%. Com relação ao quibe e à almôndega crus, 17,80±2,16 e 14,90±2,12, respectivamente. Para os produtos assados, 15,10±2,10 em ambos. Os compostos nitrogenados solúveis, formadores do NNP, apresentaram valores de 285mg NNP/100g de polpa de pescado crua, 291mg NNP/100g no quibe cru e 294mg NNP/100g na almôndega crua. Os resultados da contagem total de psicrotróficos mantiveram-se abaixo de log 7,0UFC/g, para contagem padrão em placas de microrganismos aeróbicos. Não foi constatada a presença de coliformes fecais Salmonella e Staphylococcus aureus. Também não foram detectados níveis de histamina e compostos à base de enxofre nas amostras.

Aspergillus carbonarius is a saprobic filamentous fungus, food spoiling fungus and a producer of ochratoxin A (OTA) mycotoxin. In this study, the in vitro antifungal activity of neem oil (0.12% p/p of azadirachtin) was evaluated against the growth of six strains of A. carbonarius and the production of OTA. Four different concentrations of neem oil were tested in addition to three incubation times. Only the concentration of 0.3% of neem oil inhibited more than 95% of the strain’s growth (97.6% ± 0.5%), while the use of 0.5% and 1.0% of neem oil showed lower antifungal activity, 40.2% ± 3.1 and 64.7% ± 1.1, respectively. There was a complete inhibition of OTA production with 0.1% and 0.3% neem oil in the four strains isolated in the laboratory from grapes. The present study shows that neem essential oil can be further evaluated as an auxiliary method for the reduction of mycelial growth and OTA production.

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The nutritional quality and lipid stability of Arapaima gigas fillets were investigated. A total of 27.32 kg of A. gigas fillets were obtained and the proximate composition and fatty acid profile immediately determined. In addition, the lipid oxidation parameters were analyzed during 15 and 90 days at 4 °C and –20 °C, respectively. The A. gigas fillets presented high protein (> 15%) and low lipid (< 2%) contents with elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) contents (43.97%). The nutritional quality indices were the atherogenicity index (0.35), thrombogenicity index (0.28) and the hypocholesterolemic acid/ hypercholesterolemic acid ratio (2.37). Overall, an increase followed by a decrease was observed in the peroxide index (PI) and malondialdehyde content (MDA) results at both storage temperatures ( p < 0.05). The lipid profile exhibited great nutritional quality, however new conservation methods should be investigated for this matrix due to increased lipid oxidation during refrigerated and frozen storage.