PROCESSING SLIME FROM SNAIL (HELIX ASPERSA MAXIMA): A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE EFFECT ON MICROBIAL LOAD
RAQUEL TEIXEIRA 1, JOANA BARBOSA 1, HELENA ALBANO 1, CLĂUDIA MACIEL 1, JOANA SILVA 1, JORGE A. SARAIVA 2, SĂNIA M. CASTRO 1, 2, PAULA TEIXEIRA 1* 1. Universidade CatĂłlica Portuguesa, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, CBQF â Centro de Biotecnologia e QuĂmica Fina, Rua Arquiteto LobĂŁo Vital 172, 4202-401 Porto, Portugal
2. Universidade de Aveiro, Departamento de QuĂmica, LaboratĂłrio de QuĂmica OrgĂąnica e Produtos Naturais e Alimentos (QOPNA), Campus UniversitĂĄrio de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
*Corresponding author: pcteixeira@porto.ucp.pt
Slime from earth snails (Helix aspersa maxima) is a sub-product often used in the cosmetic industry. Due to its origin, a decontamination process ought to be considered. After exposure to UV radiation, no significant (P > 0.05) reduction of the initial microbial load of slime was observed, while treated at 60 °C, a decrease of 4.0 log CFUâmL-1 was obtained (when compared to non-treated slime). A similar reduction was attained for pressurized (500 MPa) slime. The sequential combination of temperature and pressure treatment had a similar effect (P > 0.05) on the microbial load when compared to 400 MPa (30 min), but the reduction was higher when compared to the less intense treatments (60 °C, 15 min; 400 MPa, 15 min). Overall, the results suggest that pressure (ïł 400 MPa) is a promising technology for processing snail slime, which can have positive effects on its microbial load, for further use in the cosmetic industry.
