Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 11, Issue 2, 2015

A (3)2-factorial design was employed to optimize extraction of high ester pectin using two independent variables (extraction time and temperature) from mango fruit waste i.e. its peels. Citric acid solution (0.5 molar) was used to acidify water at pH 2. Using a new methodology waste management was done by extracting pectin from peels obtained from local juice shops. It was then characterized as pharmaceutical ex Read More

To investigate the beneficial effect of L-arginine and selenium along with hypocaloric diet on metabolic features, insulin resistance and hepatic function tests this study were conducted on women with central obesity. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken among 68 premenopausal women with central obesity. After 2 weeks of run-in period of an isocaloric diet, participants were randomly a Read More

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and prevention of acetylcholine degradation are of the most accepted therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. Aqueous extracts of seventeen Thai medicinal plants were used in traditional Thai medicine for preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. They were tested for cholinesterase inhibitory properties using the Ellman’s colorimetric met Read More

Most vitamins were discovered accidentally when researchers were attacking specific diseases and not studying foods or medicine. For example, the disease “Beriberi” was prevented by eating unpolished rice (Oryza sativa). This was concluded to be due to the presence of thiamin also known as thiamine in the rice husk, which was later named as vitamin B1. If the diet is devoid of vitamin C, a deficiency disease called scurvy d Read More

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is a well known medicinal plant, commonly used for its heart tonic properties. When it comes to herbal treatment of the heart ailments, Hawthorn is always at the peak of the herbalists' crop. Scientific researches have repeatedly verified this heart-friendly herb's reliability and non-toxicity. The cardiac tonic properties of Hawthorn are attributed to its phenolic and flavonoid contents distributed thro Read More

Background: Resurgence of rickets and recognition of excessive prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among all age groups in the western hemisphere have refocused attention on vitamin D nutrition. Objective: To examine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D [25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 30ng/mL] and characterize the determinants of 25(OH)D concentrations in 8- to 24-month-old healthy infants and toddlers living in Pitts Read More

This work aimed to develop a method for sodium determination in Brazilian light and nonlight powdered instant soups by flame photometry using the dry decomposition sample preparation. The analytical curve presented linear correlation coefficient (r) higher than 0.99. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.16 and 0.49 mg L-1 Na, respectively. The instrumental precision (n=10) was 3.0%. Recoveries of 97% were ob Read More

Varieties of non-wheat cereal crops grow in Bangladesh, studies on the formulation and uses of composite flour are inconsistent and uncommon. Even though the effect of several other functional foods on glycemic profile has been studied, little is known about the effect of composite flour on glycemic profile in type-2 diabetic patients. A total of 30 type-2 diabetic patients were recruited and randomized into control (13 patient Read More

Culinary herbs are the fresh or dried leaves of herbaceous plants that are used as a food flavouring. Many of these plants are further recognized for their beneficial health effects because, besides their nutritional value, they are rich in many phytochemical components with bioactive effects. The aim of the present work was to make a general overview of some of these herbs, including their gastronomic usage, chemical com Read More