Aumento do rendimento do extrato de pimenta (Capsicum frutescens L.): utilização de preparações enzimáticas comerciais

Abstract

Besides having beneficial compounds to human health, peppers are well appreciated for its pungency. Due to its high convenience, a very popular way of consumption of red peppers is in the form of sauces, which production techniques vary depending on the company. The aim of this work was to study the enzymatic maceration of tabasco pepper pulp (Capsicum frutescens L.) in order to increase the yield of its extract, allowing a new process for the preparation of the sauce. We evaluated the influence of the salt on the autochthonous fermentation; the enzymatic maceration of the pulp; the fermentation of the pulp previously macerated, and the yield of the extract from pulps treated and not treated with enzymes. According with each experiment, the analyzed parameters were: autochthonous microbiota, endogenous enzymes activity, color, consistency, carotenoids and capsacinoids concentrations. Finally, the sauces prepared with the extracts from both macerated and non-macerated pulps were sensorially analyzed. Adding salt to the pepper pulp reduced the population of heterofermentative lactic-acid bacteria, resulting in the absence of gas during the fermentation process. Enzymatic maceration in Erlenmeyer flasks under stirring, at times greater than 6 hours, resulted in changes of the pulp color and odor, and favored the growth of aerobic fungi. The conditions for the enzymatic maceration which resulted in greater reduction of pulp consistency were: capped glass vials, addition of 20% water (w/w pulp), 1000 L.gpulp-1 Pectinex AR and Celluclast at 50°C, without stirring. The enzymatic treatment prior to fermentation resulted in a darker red pulp, with phase separation and a higher extract yield. Sauces made from the not macerated (Sauce 1) and macerated (Sauce 2) pepper pulps showed similar acceptability for color and similar aroma and flavor characteristics, however Sauce 2 showed higher intensity of fruity aroma and lower burning sensation (p<0.05). Although the enzymatic maceration of the pepper pulp have promoted higher extract yield and good capsaicinoids recovery, the sauce made from this pulp was not the most accepted by the panelists, mostly because the general pepper consumers appreciate the burning sensation in pepper sauces, and the enzymatic maceration have caused a reduction in the perception of that attribute. However, it is noteworthy that the sauces were equally accepted in terms of flavor. Thus, this technology can be applied to increase the yield of pepper extract, with less waste, and produce pepper sauce with less burning sensation, in order to please consumers that dislike it in the traditional pepper sauces.