Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 16, Issue 1, 2020

Background: Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) have gained considerable attention of food technologist and nutritionist for their nutraceutical properties. Oyster mushrooms are considered as functional foods due to their richness in functional food ingredients. In recent times, consumption of these mushrooms has increased considerably due to their numerous health benefits. These are potential sources of bioactive components, which are sufficient enough for prevention and treatment of various lifestyle diseases. There are about 200 different species in the genus Pleurotus and these are commonly referred to as “oyster mushrooms”. Objective: The study aimed to grasp a collective information on nutraceutical and processing aspects of highly perishable but nutritious oyster mushroom Results: Pleurotus ostreatus is the most commonly consumed species all over the world due to its superior flavor, taste and nutraceutical properties. It acts as a source of natural antioxidants which might be beneficial for human health in preventing or reducing oxidative damage. Nutritionally, these species are rich sources of proteins, dietary fibres, β-glucan, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C and minerals. They contain higher proportions of certain amino acids such as methionine, cystine and aspartic acid than other edible mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms have been reported to possess hypocholesterolemic, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-carcinogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-viral activities and act as natural resources of immunotherapy activities. The use of these mushrooms can overcome the deficiency of protein in the developing countries where there is unavailability or unacceptability of good quality proteins from animal sources because of religious restrictions. Conclusion: Because of the occurrence of abundant nutritional ingredients and other bioactive components in P. ostreatus, they have a great scope as a potential source for the development of functional or specialty foods for value addition of deficient foods so as to alleviate the nutritional deficiency diseases from society.

This review presents the industrial manufacture and applications of cheese for the delivery of probiotic microorganisms into the human gut. Initially, important benefits of probiotics and advantageous characteristics of cheese for the delivery of probiotic microorganisms into the human gut in comparison with the other fermented milk products are discussed. Fresh and ripened cheeses are also separately argued followed by discussing queries respecting the viability of probiotic bacteria into these cheeses. Since fresh cheese has been demonstrated as more suitable carriers for probiotic microorganisms, factories are recommended producing it in large quantities.

Buckwheat is a plant used for many purposes, such as consumed as a food and used in the treatment of diseases. It is a good source of many vitamins and minerals and has balanced nutritional value. Because of its nutrient content and many positive effects on human health, buckwheat has become a functional food, recently. Main effects of buckwheat on human health are its hypotensive, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. Thus, it is considered an alternative food component in dietary treatment for chronic and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and celiac disease. Also, its rich nutrient content supports daily diet and provides a better eating profile. As a result, buckwheat is accepted as a functional food, suggested to improve human health and is used in the treatment of diseases. The aim of this review is to explain some positive effects of buckwheat on human health.

Medicinal plants have been indispensable to human life as they are used in food, cosmetics, medicines, nutraceuticals, perfumery, beverages and many more sectors. The medicinal plant contains various important classes of phytochemicals and broadly they are categorized into either primary or secondary metabolite. A large number of modern medicines are mainly derived from plant and other natural sources. Medicinal properties of plants are mainly due to the presence of their secondary metabolite and good examples are salicylic acid, morphine, quinine, vincristin and vinblastine. In spite of the great discovery of allopathic medicine, plant pure phytoconstituents play an important role in the modern medicine. Various plant based medicine are available in the market and people are using it on the basis of the belief that it is safer compared to the allopathic medicine. Furthermore, based on these believes, people use most of the traditional medicines in their routine life for the treatment of numerous disorders and this is called self-medication. Quassia amara plant belongs to Simaroubaceae family which is one of the best examples of the self-medicated plant. Traditionally Quassia amara has antimalarial, stomachic, antianaemic, antibiotics, cytotoxic and antiamoebic activity. Its reproductive, insecticidal, larvicidal and vermifuge properties have been also reported in the literature. Quassinoids are the important phytoconstituents of this plant and are the main bitter principles of Quassia amara too. Quassin is a white crystalline substance and is widely used in Chinese herbal medicine for their bitter taste. The purpose of this review is to gain an understanding of the Quassin and Quassia amara and to present information and knowledge regarding this phytoconstituent. Medicinal uses, pharmacological importance and various bioanalytical methods of Quassin and Quassia amara have been presented in this review. The benefit of this review is to get better understanding and ideas of Quassin and Quassia amara research findings in various disciplines. Furthermore, there is a need to perform more scientific investigation to explore the other beneficial properties of Quassia amara and Quassin.

Background: Understanding patterns and drivers for natural health product (NHP) usage among immigrants is essential in the provision of appropriate health care; many studies have elucidated NHP utilization among immigrants; however, few have considered impacts of concurrent NHP and prescription medication usage. Objective: The study aims to determine new immigrant NHP usage patterns (including concurrent usage with prescription medications) and to discern economic impacts driving concurrent usage. Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered to local new immigrants during English Language Training classes. Results: Most participants understood the NHP definition and would take an NHP for the same disease or condition they would normally take a prescription medication for. Many participants agreed that NHPs are not safe however were unable to provide robust examples of unsafe NHP usage. With regard to purchases of medicines for short and long term illnesses, a high percentage of participants would purchase the prescription medication for a short term illness over the NHP; however this percentage decreases in the event of a long term illness, with more participants relying on NHPs to remedy their long term illness symptoms. Conclusion: Pharmacoeconomics tends to be a major driver for immigrant utilization of NHPs, and is a stronger influencer of use compared to ethnicity or parenteral usage of such products. This pharmacoeconomic correlation in the preference to use NHPs over prescription medications tends to be more observable for chronic and long term conditions (compared to short term illnesses).

Background: Hyperlipidemia is the major precursor of lipid-related diseases. Consumption of high fiber foods may decrease lipid profiles. The fiber content in tempeh gembus is three times higher than regular tempeh. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of tempeh gembus on lipid profiles in women with hyperlipidemia. Methods: This research used the quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent control group design. Subjects were 41 women with hyperlipidemia, classified into 3 groups: control group, treatment group 1 given 103 g/day tempeh gembus, and treatment group 2 given 206 g/day tempeh gembus for 14 days. All of the groups received nutrition education. Total cholesterol and HDL-C were determined by CHOD-PAP method, triglyceride determined by enzymatic GPO-PAP method after subjects had been fasting for approximately 10 hours. LDL-C was calculated by Friedewald equation. Results: These results showed that consumption of tempeh gembus 103 g/day and 206 g/day decreased LDL-C 27.9% and 30.9% as well as decreased total cholesterol 17.7% and 19.8% respectively. However, HDL-C increased 3.91% and 8.79% and triglyceride increased 2.3% and 3.1%. Tempeh gembus given 206 g/day was more effective to decrease total cholesterol and LDL-C than 103 g/day. Conclusion: Increasing tempeh gembus consumption in women with hyperlipidemia should be addressed to decrease LDL-C and total cholesterol.

Background: The Rotonda’s Red Eggplant belongs to the family of Solanum aethiopicum and it is cultivated in a specific area of Potenza (Basilicata, South of Italy) including villages of Rotonda, Viggianello, Castelluccio Superiore and Castelluccio Inferiore. The Red Eggplant cultivated in this area has gained the PDO, “Protected Designation of Origin”. Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the use of PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract as a possible nutraceutical supplement. The antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties were in vitro evaluated. Methods: The antioxidant activity was investigated by evaluating the scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals and by performing the Ammonium Molybdate and Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The hypoglycemic and antihypertensive activity was studied by evaluating the α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, respectively, inhibiting activity. In order to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity, the pancreatic lipase inhibiting property was determined and Oil Red O staining assay was performed. Finally, to evaluate the possible use of this extract as a minerals supplement, Selenium, Potassium and Chrome bioaccessibility was studied. Results: The obtained results underline the good antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and hypolipidemic in vitro properties of the PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract. Moreover, the obtained data show a higher minerals bioaccessibility and this higher value could be ascribable to the natural phytocomplex of PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant, which increases the minerals bioaccessibility if compare it with a control sample. Conclusion: The obtained results show that PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract, might be used as a possible nutraceutical supplement, along with traditional therapies, both for its biological properties and for its minerals bioaccessibility value.

Background: This paper provides an overview of mineral composition of the medicinal species Connarus perrottetii var. angustifolius and Mansoa alliacea collected in 2012, 2013 and 2014, using atomic absorption spectrometry as analytical technique. Methods: Statistical tests were performed aiming to identify the similarities and the differences between the different sampling years. Result: It was found a variation in the content of the elements for the three years of sampling, but with no uniform behavior. Conclusion: Connarus perrottetii var. angustifolius and Mansoa alliacea showed low concentrations of metals that may be toxic above specific concentrations (Cr, Ni, As, Pb, Cd and Hg). Accordingly, a regular consumption of these species cannot cause intoxication. On the other hand, we should consider the mineral contribution of other foods on the daily diet.

Background: All parts of the pomegranate (fruits, leaves, flowers, and roots) are traditionally used as a folk medicine due to its high antioxidant and phenolic property. The pomegranate fruit is known for its antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-arteriosclerotic properties. Objective: The current study aims to the effect of ultra-sonication and temperature (45°C) on freezedried pomegranate arils powder for extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and to study the antioxidant activity. Methods: The freeze-dried arils of pomegranate (Ganesh variety) were procured and subjected to ultra- sonication methods at 45ºC applied for 30 minutes by using methanol, ethanol, water, acetone and hexane solvent for obtaining the extract. The methanolic extract showed the highest phenolic (3036.725 ± 5.39 Gallic acid equivalents mg/100gm), flavonoid (15882.088 ± 0.64, quercetin mg/100g), antioxidant activity (96.1367±0.13%) and free reducing antioxidant power (FRAP assay-18.9033 ± 0.12, Tor. mg/100 ml) respectively, as compared to the extract obtained through other solvents. Results: The results obtained indicate that the freeze-drying method and ultrasonic extraction method is one of the effective and quick methods for quality extraction of phenolic and flavonoids compounds from fruits. Conclusion: The technology can further be explored for the development of nutraceutical and health supplements.

Background: Moringa oleifera kernel oil consist of monounsaturated fatty acid with high percentage of oleic acid. The oil consist of phytochemicals, bioactive compounds and nutrients that have several application in health industries. However, the oil degrades on exposure to light, heat and oxygen overtime. In addition, rancidity cause the oil quality to defect and reduce the shelf-life. Therefore, microencapsulation techniques are uniquely applied to oil to preserve their native quality and prolong their shelf life. Objective: This study examines different polymer concentrations and injection flowrates of zein nanofiber from Moringa oleifera kernel oil using coaxial electrospinning method. Methods: A 40% w/v zein polymer was the optimal loading concentration and 0.7 mL/hour of zein polymer with 0.1 mL/hour of Moringa oleifera kernel oil was the optimal injection flowrates for electrospun nanofiber. Analysis of the Moringa oleifera kernel oil and polymer sample micromorphology, were investigated with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Result: result shows uniformly layered nanofiber. The nanofiber has no beads formation and the fiber strands are continuous with no entanglement. The polymer encapsulated the oil efficiently. Furthermore, thermal analysis through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed consistency in the nanofiber thermal behavior. Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis revealed the weight loss and thermal dissociation of the polymer structure. The electrospun nanofiber average diameter was 450 ± 24 nm and exhibited hydrophobicity. Conclusion: The co-axial electrospine technique was effective in fabricating electrospune nanofibers.

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world’s population. Particularly, negative symptoms are frequently resistant and are the main contributors to the disability on schizophrenia patients. Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation is the safe and affordable approach, which can significantly improve the outcome on the patients with residual symptoms. Objectives: We aimed to understand the difference of negative subscale of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Score on patients with schizophrenia who receive risperidone with the addition folic acid and Vitamin B12 and patients who receive only risperidone after 6 weeks. Methods: This study is a quasi experimental pre-test and post-test designs that are divided into two groups, they are group receiving risperidone with the addition of folic acid and vitamin B12 and the group receiving only risperidone. Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria and negative symptoms assessed by using negative subscale of PANSS Scores are observed. Statistical analysis is conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean score of negative-scale PANSS scores at the end of week 6 between the group receiving folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation and the group receiving only risperidone with p = 0.002; p <0.05. Conclusion: Folic acid and vitamin B12 Supplementation provide benefits to patients schizophrenia.

Objective: This study aimed to identify and quantify phenolic compounds in the grains of biofortified cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars before and after cooking. Methods: We analyzed two cultivars of genetically improved cowpeas, namely BRS Aracê and BRS Tumucumaque. Raw and cooked samples of the cultivars were analyzed (in triplicate). The concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and flavanols, as well as the antioxidant activity, were determined. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Grains of cultivar BRS Tumucumaque had higher concentrations of total phenolic compounds before (297.23 ± 4.24 (mean ± standard deviation) mg/100 g) and after (147.15 ± 6.94 mg/100 g) cooking, and higher concentrations of total flavonoids before (49.36 ± 2.02 mg/100 g) and after (23.97± 0.67 mg/100 g) cooking. Anthocyanins were not measured in the grains of either cultivars. There was a statistically significant reduction in the concentration of total flavanols after cooking, with the greater retention in BRS Aracê. Similarly, the antioxidant activity was significantly reduced after cooking, with greater reductions in BRS Tumucumaque than in BRS Aracê. Five phenolic acids were identified and quantified, including gallic, caffeic, and ferulic acids. Conclusion: We conclude that cooking affected the concentrations of phenolic compounds in the cultivars, as well as the antioxidant activity exhibited by these cultivars. The cultivars contained beneficial compounds that can contribute to disease prevention and health maintenance.

Background: Sulfites are widely used as preservatives in the foods and pharmaceutical agents. It has been demonstrated that sulfites can react with a variety of cellular components and cause toxicity. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of ingested sodium metabisulfite (SMB) on serum antioxidant status in rats. Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and treated groups. Treated groups received 10, 100, and 260 mg/kg body weight of SMB for 28 days. After 28 days, serum was assayed for measuring superoxide dismtase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) activities, glutathion (GSH) level and lipid peroxidation. Results: The results showed that the activities of GPx, GR, CAT and GSH levels were significantly decreased in 100 and 260 mg/kg SMB treated rats, while malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly increased in 260 mg/kg treated group when compared with the control group. Conclusion: It is concluded that SMB administration as dose-dependent is associated with decreased serum antioxidant enzyme activities and increased lipid peroxidation.