January 20th marks World Cheese Lovers Day. This annual celebration is a great opportunity to explore the unique diversity of domestic products. Scientists from the SUSU School of Medical Biology have developed a soft brined cheese containing the valuable bioactive component berberine. This antioxidant makes the dairy product an effective and tasty “remedy” against common diseases.
Berberine is a bioactive plant alkaloid found in barberry fruits and other plants. This component has antioxidant, neuroendocrine, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant effects. It is good for preventing gastrointestinal disorders, can reduce blood cholesterol levels, support liver function, and accelerate metabolism. Food products containing berberine become a flavourful means of preventing weakened immunity and inflammatory diseases.
“To ensure that cheese does not lose the valuable properties of the incorporated berberine during production, we use a new system for delivery of the bioactive substance into the product matrix, namely as part of our unique double emulsion,” said Ammar Kadi, lecturer at the SUSU Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology. “The emulsion obtained using ultrasonic treatment allows the antioxidant to be retained in an intact bioactive state, which ensures that the enriched cheese gains added health benefits, while the component itself is absorbed by the body to the maximum extent.”
The unique delicacy developed by the Chelyabinsk researchers is comparable in taste and texture to well-known soft brined cheeses such as feta and mozzarella. The shelf life (from one year to three years) is regulated by the researchers by changing the composition of the brine and the salt concentration.
In the university laboratory, the scientists obtained molecular models proving the safety and nutraceutical effectiveness of the antioxidant in cheese. At the same time, the technology of producing the functional cheese practically does not differ from the traditional one. The recipe and production technology of the dairy product have been patented.