Beneficial Components Research Articles

Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Mahewu (a Southern African Fermented Food Product) Derived from White and Yellow Maize (Zea mays) with Different Inocula

Mahweu is an important indigenous beverage for many low-income and undernourished consumers in southern Africa. As a result, the nutritional and phytochemical profile of mahewu samples (obtained using optimized fermentation and boiling conditions from a previous study) as well as their related raw materials (white and yellow maize) were investigated. At these conditions, white and yellow maize mahewu (WM and YM) were prepared utilizing various inocula including sorghum malt, wheat, millet malt, or maize malt, and the pH, titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solid (TSS), and proximate analysis were determined. The mineral content, amino acid composition, and phenolic compound profile were also investigated using inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS), respectively. Fermentation was observed to have influenced the proximate composition of obtained mahewu samples compared to the raw flour with significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvement in protein from 8.59 to 9.7% (YM) and 8.78 to 9% (WM) as well as carbohydrate from 72.27 to 74.47% (YM) and 71.15 to 72.65% (WM). Sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, and zinc were the minerals detected in the mahewu samples, while potassium was the most abundant mineral, having values ranging from 3051.61 to 3283.38 mg/kg (YM) and 2882.11 to 3129.97 mg/kg (WM). Heavy metals detected in this study were all below the recommended tolerable levels by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Arginine and leucine with values ranging from 0.47 to 0.52 g/100 g (YM) and 0.48 to 0.53 g/100 g (WM) as well as 0.91 to 1.04 g/100 g (YM) and 0.95 to 1.01 g/100 g (WM), respectively, were the most abundant essential amino acids, whereas for non-essential amino acids, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine, and proline were observed to be abundant. Based on the different inocula, the derived mahewu samples prepared using either white or yellow maize have varying nutritional and health beneficial components and the choice of inocula might still be determined by consumer preference.

Application of Centrifugation and Soilless Filtration Technologies in the Beer Production Process and Empirical Research on Their Impact on Beer Quality

By delving into the centrifugation and diatomaceous earth-free filtration techniques in various crucial aspects of beer production, this study aims to quantify their impacts on beer quality and environmental sustainability. Firstly, the effectiveness of these techniques in enhancing beer clarity and stability is compared through experiments, with a detailed analysis of their precision and chemical mechanisms in removing suspended particles. Additionally, their advantages in regulating beer taste and retaining flavor compounds are explored through sensory evaluation and chemical composition analysis. Most importantly, the focus is on sustainability and environmental friendliness, revealing the advantages of diatomaceous earth-free filtration techniques in reducing environmental burdens and carbon footprints through a comparison of filter material usage, waste generation, and energy efficiency. The results provide essential scientific evidence for the brewing industry to support its transition towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly direction. Centrifugation and diatomaceous earth-free filtration are two important innovations in modern brewing industry, playing a critical role in improving beer quality and production efficiency. In traditional beer production, the removal of suspended solids and liquid separation are crucial steps, and centrifugation and diatomaceous earth-free filtration technologies provide brewers with more precise and controllable tools. Centrifugation, as an efficient solid-liquid separation device, has been widely applied in the beer production process. It separates suspended yeast, proteins, and impurities from the fermenting liquid through centrifugal force, significantly enhancing beer clarity and stability. Furthermore, centrifugation can be used to control yeast concentration, thus influencing the flavor characteristics of beer, offering brewers more options for process control. Meanwhile, diatomaceous earth-free filtration is a revolutionary process that eliminates the use of traditional filter aids like silica or bone char, opting for more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. This technology employs microfiltration membranes, nanomaterials, or other efficient filtration media to effectively remove suspended solids while retaining yeast and other beneficial components, thereby preserving beer’s texture and flavor characteristics.

Lycopene in Feed as Antioxidant and Immuno-Modulator Improves Broiler Chicken's Performance under Heat-Stress Conditions.

Lycopene is a type of carotenoid pigment widely distributed in various plants and fruits, with tomatoes, carrots, and guava being the most abundant sources. Due to its high content of beneficial active components, lycopene has been used in medicine, where it is employed as a dietary additive for cancer therapy, immune modulator, and feed additive to improve livestock productivity. Lycopene is a lipophilic substance that can act as either a prooxidant or a free radical scavenger and is particularly efficient in enhancing broiler performance. Furthermore, lycopene can alleviate heat stress by improving the activity of various antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), as well as increasing the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and nuclear muscle factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), while simultaneously reducing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and muscle Keap1 expression. In addition, lycopene can improve broiler fertility by enhancing sperm performance and reducing inflammation by modulating the levels of interleukin 1, 2, and 10 (IL-1, IL-2, and IL-10) in cases of infection. In cases of disease by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), lycopene can modulate interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1, claudin-1 (CLDN-1), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). Furthermore, under the lipopolysaccharide challenge, lycopene can increase the relative weights of immune organ indices such as the bursal, spleen, and thymus.

Effects of Purslane Supplementation on Blood Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Blood lipid profiles are known as one of the most important factors in health disorders such as obesity and diabetes, which mostly end in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Purslane, as an edible herbal plant has shown to have beneficial components for dyslipidemia treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of purslane supplementation on blood lipid profiles in the adult population. Methods: The terms Portulaca, Portulaca, Portulaca oleracea, and Purslane together with lipid profile ingredients including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were searched in the following databases until 30 October 2020: PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Direct, and SID. A meta-analysis was conducted with eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on 444 patients using the STATA software version 14. Results: Eight eligible studies on 444 patients were identified for the present study. The purslane supplementation caused significant reduction in TG (-18.55 mg/dL, 95% CI [-31.712, -5.388]), TC (-8.43 mg/dL; 95% CI [-14.99, -1.87]), and LDL-C (-6.45 mg/dL, 95% CI [-11.13, -1.77]); however, no significant effect was observed on HDL-C (1.28 mg/dL, 95% CI [-0.56, 2.93], P=0.170). Conclusion: Our results suggested that purslane supplementation could reduce TG, TC, and LDL-C. However, no significant effect was observed on HDL-C. Keywords: Portulaca, C

Enrichment of wheat bread with carob molasses source: Impact on bread quality and acceptability

Carob is one the most important plant sources of dietary fiber, which is essential for human health and must be consumed daily. Carob molasses (pekmez) obtained from carob fruit contains many beneficial components for health. Although the molasses pulp that comes out as waste in the production of molasses contains a large amount of fiber, it is not evaluated. In this study; purification, drying and grinding of the crude carob fiber (CCF) from raw molasses pulp was carried out. The obtained CCF flour was added to the bread. After baking bread, the effects of the addition of 1 to 5 % CCF flour on chemicals (moisture, ash and protein) and also textural (hardness, color) and sensory properties (acceptability, taste, softness, appearance) of the bread samples were investigated. The results showed that the addition of CCF up to 4 % into the bread dough had no significant effect compared with the control group on these properties. Therefore, a brad formulation can be developed which is a fibrous bakery product with reduced fat for health and which has better sensory appreciation.

Attributed network embedding with dual fusion strategies

ABSTRACT Attributed network embedding (ANE) maps nodes in a network into a low-dimensional space while preserving the intrinsic essence of node attribute and network topology. Incorporating node attribute and network topology with more deeply and more harmoniously is a critical and challenging issue in the ANE, because node attribute and network topology are two kinds of heterogeneous information. Existing approaches fuse two kinds of heterogeneous information at different stages: i.e. before, during or after the learning process. In fact, fusions at different stages have their own advantages and disadvantages. To maximise the profit of utilising the attributed and networked information in ANE, we propose an Attributed Network Embedding model with Dual Fusion strategies (abbr. ANEDF), which consists of both mutually beneficial components: early fusion component for capturing the latent complementarity and late fusion component for extracting the unique and distinctive information from node attribute and network topology. The two components are co-trained during the learning process, which promotes information interaction and captures the consensus of heterogeneous information. Extensive experiments with the tasks of node classification, node clustering, link prediction and visualisation on eight publicly available networks have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and rationality of the proposed model. The experimental results demonstrate that ANEDF obtains the best classification, clustering and link prediction performance on 6–7 of 8 datasets, respectively.

Effect of Lyophilization Process on Nutritional Value of Meat By-Products

The meat industry generates large amounts of by-products, and their mass represents approximately one-third of the live weight of animals. Most by-products are disposed of and not used for processing, although they meet hygiene requirements and are suitable for human consumption or for the processing of food supplements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lyophilization on the nutritional value and retention of functional ingredients in ovine and porcine by-products: liver, kidneys, hearts, and lungs. For this purpose, meat by-products of the third category were selected in X and Y slaughterhouses and divided into two parts: one part was freeze-dried at −80 °C for 72 h, and the other part was left raw. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and amino acid analysis was performed by AccQ Tag technology (Waters Corp., Milford, MA, USA) and HPLC. Our study shows that the lyophilization process did not significantly affect protein and fat content. The largest decrease in the amount of proteins was determined in samples of ovine kidneys, at 0.8%, while the difference in protein in ovine liver samples before and after lyophilization was 0.38%. The composition of essential amino acids did not change after lyophilization, except a decrease in Leu and Thr in porcine samples and Leu, Thr, and Met in ovine samples (p < 0.05). The lyophilization process did not significantly affect the polyunsaturated fatty acid content, including the amounts of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. The optimal ratio of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids was determined in samples of lyophilized ovine livers (2.65), and the largest ratio was found in samples of lyophilized porcine hearts (16.67). The study results show that, after lyophilization, meat by-products of the third category (according to Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009, Categorization, Article 10), especially ovine liver, can be used as a source of amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids for functional food processing. The process of lyophilization is also appropriate for preserving meat by-products without losing the nutritional value and beneficial components.

Stimulation of hair growth by Tianma Gouteng decoction: Identifying mechanisms based on chemical analysis, systems biology approach, and experimental evaluation.

Hair serves important physiological functions, including temperature regulation and scalp protection. However, excessive shedding not only impacts these functions but can also significantly affect mental health and quality of life. Tianma Gouteng decoction (TGD) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of various conditions, including hair loss. However, the associated mechanism underlying its anti-alopecia effect remains unknown. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate these mechanisms by employing systematic biology approaches, as well as in vitro and in vivo experimental validation. The chemical constituents of Tianma Gouteng decoction were identified using UHPLC-MS/MS, from which 39 potential bioactive components were screened, while an additional 131 putative Tianma Gouteng decoction beneficial components were extracted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database. We then applied a dual-dimensional network pharmacology approach to analyze the data, followed by validation studies combining molecular docking techniques with in vivo and in vitro experiments. From the 39 bioactive components, including quercetin, luteolin, fisetin, wogonin, oroxylin A, boldine, tetrahydroalstonine, and galangin A, 782 corresponding targets were identified. In particular, GSK3β and β-catenin exhibited strong binding activity with the bioactive compounds. Hence, construction of a bioactive component-target network revealed that the mechanism underlying the anti-alopecia mechanism of Tianma Gouteng decoction primarily involved the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, C57BL/6J mice exhibited measurable improvements in hair follicle regeneration following treatment with Tianma Gouteng decoction. Additionally, β-catenin and p-GSK3β levels were upregulated, while GSK3β was downregulated in Tianma Gouteng decoction-treated animals and dermal papilla cells compared to control group. These in vivo and in vitro outcomes validated the targets and pathways predicted in the network pharmacology analysis of Tianma Gouteng decoction. This study provides a systematic analysis approach to identify the underlying anti-alopecia mechanisms of Tianma Gouteng decoction, further providing theoretical support for clinical assessment of Tianma Gouteng decoction.

Exploring the Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antihemolytic Properties of Sauropus androgynus Dried Leaf Extracts for Ruminant Health and Production

Sauropus androgynus has become an essential plant in pharmaceutical formulations due to its beneficial antioxidant phytochemical components, participating in the antioxidant defense system and playing an important role in protecting human health. However, no research has been conducted on ruminant animals. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profiles and biological potential of S. androgynus leaf extracts for ruminant health. Methanolic and hexanoic extracts from each commercially and noncommercially cultivated site were prepared over the course of five consecutive months. By means of HPLC-DAD, vitamins (ascorbic acid), essential oils (eugenol), tannins (gallic acid), cinnamic acids (caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid and ferulic acid), and flavonoids (catechin, rutin, myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, and kaempferol) were detected. Variations in phytochemical composition were depending on solvent type but not on cultivation site or sample period. Methanolic extracts contained more phytochemicals than hexanoic extracts. Ascorbic acid and rutin were discovered to be the two most abundant phytochemicals in the methanolic extract of S. androgynus leaf, followed by essential oils, cinnamic acids, and tannins. In comparison to hexanoic extract, methanolic extract of S. androgynus demonstrated to be more efficient against oxidation scavenging: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC50 = 13.14 ± 0.055 (mg/mL)), nitric oxide (IC50 = 55.02 ± 1.338 (mg/mL)) and superoxide (IC50 = 25.31 ± 0.886 (mg/mL)), as well as α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 9.83 ± 0.032 (mg/mL)). Similarly, methanolic was found to be more protective than hexanoic against oxidative damage in ruminant erythrocytes, with IC50 values (mg/mL) for hemoglobin oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and hemolysis of 11.96 ± 0.011, 13.54 ± 0.012, and 5.940 ± 0.005, respectively. These findings suggested that the leaves of S. androgynus are a prospective source of phytochemical substances with health-promoting qualities for ruminant production.

Microbiota analysis for risk assessment of xenobiotics: toxicomicrobiomics, incorporating the gut microbiome in the risk assessment of xenobiotics and identifying beneficial components for One Health.

This work explores three areas of relevance to the gut microbiome in the context of One Health; the incorporation of the microbiome in food safety risk assessment of xenobiotics; the identification and application of beneficial microbial components to various areas under One Health, and specifically, in the context of antimicrobial resistance. We conclude that, although challenging, focusing on the microbiota resilience, function and active components, are critical for advancing the incorporation of the gut microbiome in the risk assessment of xenobiotics. Moreover, research technologies, such as toxicomicrobiomics, culturomics and genomics, especially in combination, have revealed that the human microbiota may be a promising source of beneficial taxa or other components, with the potential to metabolise and biodegrade xenobiotics. These may have possible applications in several health areas, including in animals or plants for detoxification or in the environment for bioremediation. This approach would be of particular interest for antimicrobials, with the potential to ameliorate antimicrobial resistance development. Finally, we propose that the concept of resistance to xenobiotics in the context of the gut microbiome may deserve further investigation in the pursuit of holistically elucidating their involvement in the balance between health and disease.

Preconception Care for People With Health Conditions: What Approaches Work, for Whom, and in What Circumstances? A Realist Review

Preconception care for people with chronic health conditions is recommended in view of the implications for them and their offspring during pregnancy and beyond. This realist review of published and grey literature explored factors that explain why people seek or receive appropriate preconception counseling and why they engage in recommended health behavior change prior to pregnancy. Fifty-two studies contributed to phase one synthesis, and 38 studies provided explanations in phase two. Ten program theories were developed, explored, and refined through iterative discussion and coding. Causal explanations of the ways in which components of preconception care contribute to effective access to care and prepregnancy behavior change were identified. Beneficial components included continuity of carer (promoting trust), a partnership approach (empowering people who feel valued), promoting an integrated approach across primary and secondary care, offering psychological counseling (recognizing the link between physical and psychosocial aspects of living with health conditions), considering sexual and reproductive health as part of routine care, and normalizing conversations about preconception care (to reduce the barrier created by social and cultural norms). These key aspects have been highlighted for consideration when planning, implementing, and improving preconception care services for people with health conditions.

Genic male and female sterility in vegetable crops.

Vegetable crops are greatly appreciated for their beneficial nutritional and health components. Hybrid seeds are widely used in vegetable crops for advantages such as high yield and improved resistance, which require the participation of male (stamen) and female (pistil) reproductive organs. Male- or female-sterile plants are commonly used for production of hybrid seeds or seedless fruits in vegetables. In this review we will focus on the types of genic male sterility and factors affecting female fertility, summarize typical gene function and research progress related to reproductive organ identity and sporophyte and gametophyte development in vegetable crops [mainly tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus)], and discuss the research trends and application perspectives of the sterile trait in vegetable breeding and hybrid production, in order to provide a reference for fertility-related germplasm innovation.

Narrative Review on the Effects of Oat and Sprouted Oat Components on Blood Pressure.

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cognitive decline. Elevations in blood pressure (BP) leading to HTN can be found in young adults with increased prevalence as people age. Oats are known to decrease CVD risk via an established effect of β-glucan on the attenuation of blood cholesterol. Many past studies on CVD and oats have also reported a decrease in BP; however, a thorough assessment of oats and BP has not been conducted. Moreover, oats deliver several beneficial dietary components with putative beneficial effects on BP or endothelial function, such as β-glucan, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), and phytochemicals such as avenanthramides. We conducted a comprehensive search for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical intervention studies on oats and BP and identified 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three meta-analyses that supported the role of oats in decreasing BP. Emerging data also suggest oat consumption may reduce the use of anti-hypertensive medications. The majority of these studies utilized whole oats or oat bran, which include a vast array of oat bioactives. Therefore, we also extensively reviewed the literature on these bioactives and their putative effect on BP-relevant mechanisms. The data suggest several oat components, such as GABA, as well as the delivery of high-quality plant protein and fermentable prebiotic fiber, may contribute to the anti-HTN effect of oats. In particular, GABA is enhanced in oat sprouts, which suggests this food may be particularly beneficial for healthy BP management.

Modelling and simulation of lightweight hollow pins as a substitution for solid shear pins used for assembly joints in aerospace applications

Shear pins are generally used as a mechanical safeguard in assembly operations. They are considered sacrificial members which undergo early fracture to safeguard the other components in the assembly. Currently, solid shear pins are used and technically such pins add to the total weight of an assembly. Weight savings is one of the best contributions that can help the design of components to reduce weight and cost wise. In this regard, hollow shear pins can be a suitable alternative. However, there exists a minimum literature on the use of hollow shear pins in assemblies. The current work presents the theoretical and computational analysis of an industrially used solid shear pin that is modified as a hollow pin. Extensive modeling and simulation of the hollow pins are carried out to check the feasibility of replacing the solid shear pins with hollow shear pins. Due to the profound effect of the notch which changes stress concentration, it appears that weight savings using hollow notched pins possibly are not feasible while the hollow un-notched pins are beneficial. The industrial applicability of the hollow pins can be considered as beneficial components primarily towards functionality. In addition to the weight saving, they can also act as channels for passing wires and other similar entities of an assembly.

Nanoplatforms for Irinotecan Delivery Based on Mesoporous Silica Modified with a Natural Polysaccharide.

Natural compounds are an important source of beneficial components that could be used in cancer therapy along with well-known cytostatic agents to enhance the therapeutic effect while targeting tumoral tissues. Therefore, nanoplatforms containing mesoporous silica and a natural polysaccharide, ulvan, extracted from Ulva Lactuca seaweed, were developed for irinotecan. Either mesoporous silica-ulvan nanoplatforms or irinotecan-loaded materials were structurally and morphologically characterized. In vitro drug release experiments in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7.6 emphasized the complete recovery of irinotecan in 8 h. Slower kinetics were obtained for the nanoplatforms with a higher amount of natural polysaccharide. Ulvan extract proved to be biocompatible up to 2 mg/mL on fibroblasts L929 cell line. The irinotecan-loaded nanoplatforms exhibited better anticancer activity than that of the drug alone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), reducing their viability to 60% after 24 h. Moreover, the cell cycle analysis proved that the irinotecan loading onto developed nanoplatforms caused an increase in the cell number trapped at G0/G1 phase and influenced the development of the tumoral cells.

Association of eating habits and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio among Japanese female university students: A cross-sectional study.

Background & Aims: University students are prone to changes in their health status and lifestyle due to changes in their living environment and associated stress and anxiety. These changes may affect them in later life. This study utilized a cross-sectional study among Japanese female university students to examine dietary factors affecting their fecal microbiota. Methods: Sixty-eight healthy female university students were evaluated using an eating behavior assessment and diet history questionnaire. The 12-component Japanese diet index (JDI-12) was then calculated. A quantitative real-time PCR method was used to analyze the predominant bacterial species in the gut, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio) at the phylum level was calculated. The partial correlation between the fecal microbiota and eating behavior abnormality score was assessed, and dietary habits associated with the F/B ratio were analyzed. Results: A significant correlation was identified between F/B ratios and the eating behavior abnormality score (r = 0.26, FDR = 0.064). Additionally, multiple regression analysis identified a negative correlation trend between the F/B ratio and JDI-12 score (β = -0.22; p = 0.091), and exploratory analysis found a negative association between the F/B ratio and consumption of beef and pork, one of the less beneficial JDI-12 components (β = -0.33, FDR = 0.120). Conclusion: In healthy female university students, there was a positive correlation between eating behavior abnormality and the F/B ratio, indicating that adherence to the Japanese diet pattern may be associated with a lower F/B ratio.

The Utilization of Physiologically Active Molecular Components of Grape Seeds and Grape Marc.

Nutritional interventions may highly contribute to the maintenance or restoration of human health. Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the oldest known beneficial nutritional components of the human diet. Their high polyphenol content has been proven to enhance human health beyond doubt in statistics-based public health studies, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The current review concentrates on presenting and classifying polyphenol bioactive molecules (resveratrol, quercetin, catechin/epicatechin, etc.) available in high quantities in Vitis vinifera grapes or their byproducts. The molecular pathways and cellular signaling cascades involved in the effects of these polyphenol molecules are also presented in this review, which summarizes currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on their biological activities mostly in easily accessible tabular form. New molecules for different therapeutic purposes can also be synthesized based on existing polyphenol compound classes available in high quantities in grape, wine, and grape marc. Therefore an overview of these molecular structures is provided. Novel possibilities as dendrimer nanobioconjugates are reviewed, too. Currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on polyphenol biological activities are presented in easily accessible tabular form. The scope of the review details the antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, vasoprotective, and neuroprotective roles of grape-origin flavonoids. The novelty of the study lies in the description of the processing of agricultural by-products (grape seeds and skins) of industrial relevance, and the detailed description of the molecular mechanisms of action. In addition, the review of the clinical therapeutic applications of polyphenols is unique as no summary study has yet been done.

Determination of Characteristic Volatile Component Fingerprint of Peucedanum Praeruptorum Dunn at Different Harvest Periods Based on HS-GC-IMS.

Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn (PPD) is a Chinese herbal medicine with medicinal value. Clinical studies have shown that PPD has protective effects against wind-heat, cough, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Therefore, cultivation of PPD is becoming more common. However, it has been difficult to determine the optimal harvest period for botanical Chinese medicines such as PPD. Odor characteristics are directly related to the chemical components contained in traditional Chinese medicines. In particular, for traditional Chinese medicines such as PPD that are rich in volatile components, higher quality usually means more beneficial volatile components. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in PPD volatile components across different harvest periods, and provide the basis for the identification of the ideal harvest period to ensure PPD quality. We measured the volatile components of PPD at different harvest periods using HS-GC-IMS to characterize its volatile component fingerprint at different harvest periods. We identified 80 volatile components in PPD across five harvest periods, and combined complex heatmap and PCA methods distinguish the characteristics of the different harvest periods, and used ion mobility spectrometry to determine the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which mainly included compounds such as olefins, esters, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones, and determined that the abundance of volatile components reached a peak in December. The fingerprint determination of characteristic volatile components based on HS-GC-IMS can distinguish PPD in different harvest periods. We used HS-GC-IMS to determine the characteristic fingerprint of volatile components from PPD across different harvest periods. This approach differs from past studies, which have determined the optimal harvest time of medicinal materials based on only the content of a single active ingredient.

New Insights into the Application of Lactic Acid Bacterial Strains in Fermentation

In recent years, lactic acid bacteria, widely used in food fermentation, have been recognized as beneficial components of the human microbiome in which they play an important role [...]

Edible Coating from Banana Peel Waste to Extend Tomato Shelf Life

Kepok banana has been widely used as processed food by the community. The utilization of climacteric fruit is still limited to the use of fruit flesh. The banana peel, which still contains beneficial components like pectin, will therefore be wasted. In this study, pectin from banana peels is processed into an edible coating which will be used as a coating that will be applied to tomatoes. This objective of the study was to determine the best pectin extraction temperature which ranged from 70°, 80°, to 90℃ and the effect of edible coating of pectin extracted from kepok banana peel on the shelf life of tomatoes. Observation of the shelf life of tomatoes was carried out by observing weight loss and vitamin C content in tomatoes. The pectin extraction process and physiological characteristics of tomatoes were studied quantitatively for this study, and the physical characteristics of tomatoes were studied qualitatively throughout the course of 21 days. Based on the results of research on pectin extraction, a temperature of 90°C was discovered to be the best temperature for pectin extraction compared to temperatures of 70° and 80°. At 90℃, the amount of pectin produced was about 2.98%. Based on observations of fruit weight loss and vitamin C content in tomatoes, research on the shelf life of tomatoes revealed that edible coatings had no significant effect on fruit weight loss or vitamin C content. The results of observations of tomatoes at a temperature of 27℃ showed that vitamin C content of tomatoes coated with edible coating decreased by 6.1%, while at a temperature of 10℃, vitamin C content of tomatoes with edible coatings increased by 1.8%.