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Morinda citrifolia, widely known as "noni", provides fruits of which it is a raw material not only for the preparation of foods, such as beverages, but is also used, for example, in the preparation of cosmetics. However, processing the fruit results in the generation of waste, in which the leaves represent the majority. Taking into account that noni leaves are proven to hold a high amount of bioactive compounds with phytotherapeutic properties, this study proposes the application of multi-stage block freeze concentration performed through the passive thaw method with the aid of the microwave-assisted technique to promote a greater speed and efficiency in the process of concentration of the bioactive components present in Morinda citrifolia L. leaves. The effect of the cryoconcentration steps on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the concentrated fractions and residual ice was evaluated in order to quantitatively verify presence and content of phenolics and total solids, viscosity, antioxidant activity, and bioavailability gastrointestinal in vitro. An increase in the phenolic and total solids values was observed at the end of the process, resulting in efficiency in the retention of phenolics above 90%. High-performance liquid chromatography assay detected catechin as bioactive compound of the largest amount in the final product. The use of the microwave-assisted concentration system allowed concentrated fractions with high biological, nutritional and phytotherapic value; indicating that the technique can contribute as a reference in the use of a sustainable technology in the generation of a promising product of high biological value, since the execution and elaboration of the microwave-assisted method allows for a lower energy consumption and waste production, in addition to providing less expensive and easy-to-operate tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cachaça is a distilled spirit made from sugarcane, exclusively produced in Brazil, and appreciated worldwide. This paper seeks to evaluate the sensory characteristics of 24 nonaged artisanal cachaça samples from Salinas (Minas Gerais, Brazil) through descriptive analysis, as well as chemometrically treat the obtained data based on principal components analysis (PCA) and Kohonen's neural network. The attributes (23) were divided between aroma (11) and flavor (12). PCA does not show good differentiation of nonaged cachaça samples. On the other hand, by using Kohonen's neural network it was possible to group samples according to their aroma and flavor characteristics in 9 and 10 distinct groups, respectively. A reduced number of descriptors could be used to describe the flavor of cachaça samples (alcohol, acidic, sweet, bitter, citric, tar, and burning), as significant correlations (R > 0.70, p <.05) exist among them with fruity, bagasse, fermented sugarcane juice, and astringent descriptors. This diminution on descriptors numbers could be able to reduce the workload of the judging panel with no losses to the sample' sensory characterization. The use of Kohonen's network chemometric treatment for treat sensory data showed to be a better alternative that PCA approach in this study. Practical applications: The growth in production and the appreciation of cachaça in the domestic and foreign markets have directed the production of the drink in Brazil with a focus on its quality and added value, seeking to obtain international recognition and increase exports. In this sense, the lexicon development and sensory characterization of samples from Salinas‐MG is very important to compare with commercial and artisanal samples from other regions in future studies. This work created a sensory profile for samples from this region, which despite its national and international popularity, does not exist yet. Finally, this is the first study that describes a lexicon development and sensory characterization of cachaças from Salinas‐MG and describes data with artificial neural networks, a potential approach for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 30 types of artisanal cheeses are known in Brazil; however, microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus spp., can contaminate raw milk cheeses through different sources, from milking to processing. Staphylococcal food poisoning results from the consumption of food in which coagulase-positive staphylococci, mostly Staphylococcus aureus , have developed and produced enterotoxins. In addition, an emerging public health concern is the increasing antimicrobial resistance of some Staphylococcus strains. Furthermore, the ability of Staphylococcus spp. in sharing antibiotic resistance-related genes with other bacteria increases this problem. In light of these observations, this review aims to discuss the presence of, enterotoxins of, and antibiotic-resistant of Staphylococcus spp. in Brazilian artisanal cheese produced with raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A LC-MS/MS method with microscale palytoxin oxidation was successfully validated. • High instrumental sensitivity and extract stability was achieved. • The quantitative method includes six palitoxin-like molecules in its scope. • In silico prediction provided solubility information about the main analytes. • Palytoxin ions were detected and confirmed in Haff disease-related samples. Haff disease typically develops after eating contaminated marine or freshwater species, especially fish. Despite still having an unknown etiology, recent reports have suggested its possible correlation with palytoxins. Therefore, the present work aimed to optimize and perform a validation of a sensitive method using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the analysis of palytoxin and some of its analogs, with the main purpose of investigating their presence in marine and freshwater food samples associated with Haff disease in Brazil. The method optimization was performed using a central composite rotatable design and fish samples fortified with the palytoxin standard. Then, the optimized method was validated for different food matrices, including freshwater and marine fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. The sample preparation involved a solid–liquid extraction using methanol and water, solid-phase extraction using Strata-X cartridges, and on-column palytoxin oxidation. The detection of the main oxidized fragments (amino and amide aldehydes) was achieved by LC-MS/MS with electrospray ionization in positive mode, using a C18 column, as well as acetonitrile and water as mobile phases, both acidified with 0.1 % of formic acid. After optimization and validation, the etiological investigation involved the analysis of 16 Brazilian Haff disease-related food samples (in natura and leftover meals) from 2022. The method was demonstrated to be appropriate for quantitative analysis of freshwater and marine species. So far, it has proven to be one of the most sensitive methods related to palytoxin detection (LOD 10 μg/kg), being able to work in a range that includes the provisional ingestion limit (30 μg/kg). Regarding the Haff disease-related samples analysis, there is a strong indication of palytoxin contamination since the amino aldehyde (common fragment for all palytoxins) was detected in 15 of the 16 samples. Selected results were confirmed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The chemical composition of both fresh and aged sugarcane spirits was reviewed. • The contaminants found in sugarcane spirits are potentially harmful to humans. • Chemometrics and artificial intelligence were useful in interpreting results. • Computer vision enables verification of fraud, adulteration, or non-compliance. • It is necessary to intensify the quality assessment of these products. Sugarcane spirits (cachaça) is one of the most traditional drinks in Brazil, being the third most consumed distilled beverage in the world. Chemically, a sugarcane spirit is considered a complex product and, among the production steps, the type of distillation directly influences the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of the product. However, some substances considered undesirable may be present in sugarcane spirits which can pose a risk to human health or decrease the sensory quality of the drink. Sugarcane spirit producers face major challenges, mainly related to the adoption of good production practices, which reflect the loss of quality and lack of standardization of the drink. The use of different instrumental analytical techniques used to identify and quantify the chemical compounds in sugarcane spirit was discussed in this study. Modern chemometric and artificial intelligence tools for data processing were reported, as well as the use of computer vision as a promising strategy in the identification of fraud, adulteration and non-compliance with legislation. Innovative methods are a trend in determining the quality of beverages, considering that most of them are characterized by being simple, fast, relatively low cost, efficient and environmentally correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocaine (COC) and benzoylecgonine (BE), the main COC metabolite, have been detected in aquatic ecosystems. Studies focusing on wild fish are, however, very limited, and no reports concerning elasmobranchs are available. This study investigated COC and BE levels in Brazilian Sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) (n = 13) using LC-MS/MS. All samples (13/13) tested positive for COC, with 92 % (12/13) testing positive for BE. COC concentrations (23.0 μg kg -1 ) were over 3-fold higher than BE (7.0 μg kg -1 ). COC levels were about three-fold significantly higher in muscle (33.8 ± 33.4 g kg -1 ) compared to liver (12.2 ± 14.2 μg kg -1 ). Females presented higher COC concentrations in muscle (40.2 ± 35.8 μg kg -1 ) compared to males (12.4 ± 5.9 μg kg -1 ). Several positive statistical correlations were noted between COC and BE (rho = 0.84) in females, indicating systemic COC transport and metabolization, as well as between BE and weight (rho = 0.62), and between COC and the Condition Factor (rho = 0.73). A strong correlation was noted between BE and COC in the muscle of non-pregnant females (rho = 1.00). This study represents the first COC and BE report in free-ranging sharks, and the findings point to the potential impacts of the presence of illicit drugs in environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)