Abstract

Kefir is a microbial complex capable of producing biofilms. This study aims to obtain biofilms associated with hydroethanolic extract of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (BEHEEo) as fixing method of recovery anthocyanins in kefir biofilm. Thus, BEHEEo formation kinetics was made at different concentrations of aqueous extract of E. oleracea, of kefir grains (KG) and of brown sugar (BS). Thereafter, macro and microelements of BEHEEo were determined; the rheological and structural characteristics were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and anthocyanins dosage in BEHEEo was obtained. The best concentration of BS to form BEHEEo was 40 g/l with 100 ml of EHEEo (12.62±0.16 g), as well as a release of the BEHEEo anthocyanins occurring after 5 min (4.3±0.6 mg/100 g) with maximum peak at 60 min (20.8±0.3). The concentration of calcium iron and magnesium was 0.089, 0.1740 and 0.1808 mg/kg, respectively, indicating the concentration of Zn2+ which was 0.533 mg/kg. The AFM analysis revealed differences in the peaks of roughness depending on the concentration of kefir grains, with presence of Lactobacillus and yeast. The concentration of anthocyanins in BEHEEo two years after the incorporation was 26 mg/100 g. Therefore, it is suggested that the BEHEEo incorporating EHEEo anthocyanins has potential for therapeutic applications in several pathologies necessary for antioxidative processes.

Key words: Biofilms, kefir, açaí, Euterpe oleracea Mart., anthocyanins, atomic force microscopy (AFM).