Application and sensory evaluation of a hydroalcoholic extract of nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) in a beverage from tropical fruits and vegetables

The nasturtium is diverse in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, and glucosinolates. Due to these attributes, it is important to apply them to novel foods, such as drinks. The objective of this study was to carry out a sensory evaluation for the viability of the addition of nasturtium extract to a beverage. Solvent extraction was performed at a solute-solvent ratio of 1:10 – 1:15 and ethanol purity of 45%, 70%, or 96%; antioxidant capacity was analyzed by the FRAP method and total phenolic compounds content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Additionally, three samples of the beverage that included nasturtium extract (extract content of 1000, 2500, or 5000 mg kg-1) were evaluated through a 5-point hedonic test and a preference test for the attributes of flavor, aroma, consistency, and the product as a whole. The samples with the highest solute-solvent ratio presented the highest antioxidant capacity, while the samples with ethanol purity of 45% and 70% obtained the highest content of total phenolic compounds. The sample with 1000 mg kg-1 of the extract was the best qualified in all the sensory attributes evaluated.