| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 498.54 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Plants are irreplaceable sources of food and bioactive phytochemicals. In this sense, this work has
been focused on valorisation and processing of traditional plant foods, including medicinal plants
(consumed in herbal beverages), leafy vegetables, and tomato farmers’ varieties, but also biowastes
(source of biomolecules), using non-conventional and emerging technologies [1]. The
preservation of dried medicinal plants (Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. and Malva neglecta Wallr.)
and fresh vegetables (Nasturtium officinale R. Br. and Rumex induratus Boiss. & Reut.) by using
gamma irradiation treatments [2–4] and/or inert gas-enriched modified atmospheres [4,6] was
investigated. The main goal was to ensure food safety and shelf-life extension without negatively
affect quality parameters, and therefore reduce food waste. Argon was a suitable choice for
preserving the overall postharvest quality of the selected vegetables during refrigerated storage.
The adequacy of post-packaging irradiation treatments for shelf-life extension was also
demonstrated. This extensive work also highlights the bioactive compounds of tomatoes as health
promoters [7] and described for the 1st time the chemical and nutritional composition of four
tomato farmers’ varieties in Northeastern Portugal homegardens [8,9]. The optimization of
microwave- and high pressure-assisted extraction processes for recovery of valuable
phytochemicals and production of antioxidant and nutrient-rich ingredients has been carried out
using response surface methodology. Relevant independent variables and optimal processing
condition for recovery of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants [10] and phenolic compounds [11]
from tomato wastes were determined. Green solvents have been used. The current research
focuses on the optimization of high pressure-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from N.
officinale and in the effects of the treatment on antioxidant and antitumor properties of this fast
growing cruciferous plant rich in glucosinolates. It is also intended to investigate the combined
effects of modified atmosphere packaging and antioxidant coatings in the preservation of plant
foods.