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Natural and sustainable plant-based antioxidants and antimicrobials are highly desirable for improving food quality and safety. The present investigation assessed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of active components from Alkanna tinctoria L. (herb) roots, also known as Ratanjot root. Two methods were used to extract active components: microwave-assisted hot water (MAHW) and ethanolic extraction. MAHW extract yielded 6.29%, while the ethanol extract yielded 18.27%, suggesting superior Ratanjot root extract powder (RRP) solubility in ethanol over water. The ethanol extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than the MAHW extract. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed three major phenolic compounds: butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-; arnebin 7, and diisooctyl pthalate. The color attributes (L*, a*, b*, H°ab, C*ab) for the ethanolic and MAHW extracts revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in all the above parameters for both types of extracts, except for yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*ab) values. The ethanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 14 foodborne bacteria, with a significantly higher inhibitory effect against Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) than the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were both 25 mg/mL for the Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC and MBC concentrations varied for Gram-positive bacteria (0.049–0.098 mg/mL and 0.098–0.195 mg/mL) and the antimicrobial effect was bactericidal. The antimicrobial activities of RRP extract remained stable under broad temperature (37–100 °C) and pH (2–6) conditions, as well as during refrigerated storage for 30 days. Application of RRP at 1% (10 mg/g) and 2.5% (25 mg/g) levels in a cooked chicken meatball model system prevented lipid oxidation and improved sensory attributes and retarded microbial growth during refrigerated (4 °C) storage for 20 days. Furthermore, the RRP extract was non-toxic when tested with sheep erythrocytes and did not inhibit the growth of probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In conclusion, the study suggests that RRP possesses excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, thus making it suitable for food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to standardize the milk fat, stevia level, and optimize fortification of carrot pulp at 10, 20 or 30 % levels separately replacing the chakka for production of low-fat and low-sugar functional shrikhand, a fermented Indian dessert from cow milk. On the basis of sensory evaluation, it was determined that the most favorable shrikhand was prepared using milk with 1.5% fat and replacing 60% of the sugar with stevia. Additionally, the incorporation of carrot pulp at a 20% level was identified as the optimal choice. This carrot pulp-enriched shrikhand was further assessed for its physico-chemical attributes such as pH, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) value and water activity, microbiological quality (including total plate count, coliform, psychrophilic, yeast and mold counts), and sensory characteristics over a 9-day period, with evaluations at intervals of three days (0, 3, 6, and 9 days), and then it was compared with the control. Although the mean TBARS values showed an increasing trend, the values of carrot pulp treated shrikhand (0.497 mg manolaldehyde/kg) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than control (0.582 mg manolaldehyde/kg) samples during the 9 days storage period. Further, the sensory evaluation results of shrikhand with carrot pulp exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean scores for color, appearance, and overall acceptability. The microbiological quality parameters of both products (control and treated) remained within permissible limits, when stored under refrigerated conditions for up to 9 days. In conclusion, shrikhand with 20% carrot pulp is recommended due to its ability to add value to the product by enhancing its functional properties and overall acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A processing technology for reduced beany flavor full-fat soy paste (FFSP), after most heat treatment of soybeans at 100 degrees Celsius for 0, 5, 10and 15 minutes, is developed. The technology, which incorporates soy proteins as FFSP in comminuted meat products, is found to decrease specific soybean and bitter notes, the two most objectionable flavor characteristics of meat products containing soy additives.