Viabilidade de culturas probióticas de Lactobacillus spp. e Bifidobacterium spp. em iogurte adicionado de polpa e farinha do albedo de maracujá (Passiflora edulis).

Abstract

The consumer interest in healthy foods has stimulated the development of the market for functional foods such as fermented milks with probiotics cultures. The use of probiotic microorganisms in the food processing, in order to improve the functional characteristics of the products, has increased considerably. The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability of lactic starter cultures (Streptococcus salivarius spp. thermophilus e Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus) and probiotic cultures (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium spp.) as well as physico-chemical and sensory yogurt added to passion fruit pulp and albedo flour. Six different types of yogurt were prepared, differing as to the addition of passion fruit pulp and albedo flour, and different combinations of cultures. The design of the experiment was completely randomized (DIC) with factorial arrangement (3x2), two treatments and three crop combinations, six types of products, and each product was prepared in three repetitions, totaling 18 experimental units to be evaluated in each storage period (1, 7, 14 and 21 days). Sensory acceptance tests were conducted with seventy-five tasters and the obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. The addition of passion fruit pulp and albedo flour interfered in the pH and acidity of the yogurt, but did not affect the viability of probiotic cultures. The antioxidant activity in yogurt added of albedo flour and pulp of passion fruit was lower compared with the passion fruit pulp. The viscosity and the syneresis index may have been influenced by addition of passion fruit pulp. The sensory evaluation of probiotic yogurt was well accepted by the tasters. The obtained results show the great potential for the production the results show great potential for the production of probiotic yogurt added with passion fruit pulp and albedo flour.