Food Spice Research Articles

Identification of Quality of Complex Flavour Mixtures Used in Meat Industry

Multifunctional complex flavour mixtures, which simplify and speed up food production, are of great importance in the meat processing industry. The aim of the research was to identify the quality of complex food spice mixes prepared by a producer. It was found that the compositions of the grill spice mix met the regulations in terms of organoleptic, physical, and chemical parameters. The garlic mixture sample revealed the presence of edible salt, not declared by the manufacturer. Dietary fiber was present in all the mixes under study. Garlic 1:6 sample differed from the other complex additives by the increased content of Al, Li, Mg, P, Si, Sr, Te, as well as the presence of Mo, Ti, V, and W. The ‘grill spice mix’ had relatively high amounts of Ca, Cr, and Fe, but did not contain detectable amount of Si, declared by the manufacturer as part of E551. The composition of the grill spice mix stood out because of the high content of Mn, Na, and Zn, an aroma mixture – Cu. It should be noted that E627 and E631 flavor enhancers were found in an aroma mixture, whereas E450 stabilizer and emulsifier was found in a grill aroma mixture. According to a number of experts, these components pose a threat to the human body as they can cause intestinal and stomach disorders. In this regard, it is necessary to understand which food additives need to be excluded from a person’s diet, which are especially dangerous, and which are safe to consume from time to time in small quantities as part of meat products.

Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall. fruit essential oil: content, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cell line

BackgroundOne of the most important aromatic species of the Apiaceae family is Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall, which used as a spice and condiment in food. It is widely used in traditional Iranian medicine due to its anti-toxic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the essential oil of this plant in terms of content and ingredients, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity.MethodsThe fruit of H. persicum was collected in June 2019 from Maragheh region of Kashan, Iran. The essential oil was extracted by water distillation using Clevenger for 3 h. Identification analysis of H. persicum fruit essential oil (HPFEO) components was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Evaluation of the effect of the HPFEO on the growth and proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR-3) was performed using MTT colorimetric method. Its antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungal lethality concentration (MBC/MFC).ResultsThe results of analysis of the HPFEO by GC–MS showed that there were 35 compounds with 99.54% relative content. Hexyl butyrate (35.24%), octyl 2-methylbutyrate (11.65%), octyl isobutyrate (9.23%), and octyl acetate (8.42%) were the predominant compounds. Examination of cell survival showed that the viability of cells decreased depending on the concentration of the HPFEO in 24 h and had value of IC50 ~ 12.08 μg/ml against OVCAR-3 cell line. The strongest inhibitory activity of the HPFEO was against Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella paratyphi-A serotype (MIC < 62.50 μg/mL). Also, the strong inhibitory and lethal activity of this essential oil against Candida albicans (MIC and MBC 250 μg/mL was one degree weaker compared to nystatin (MIC = 125 μg/mL).ConclusionsThus, HPFEO, in addition to its traditional use, may have a strong and potential potential for the production of anti-proliferative and antimicrobial drugs.

Comprehensive Study of Components and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oil Extracted from Carum carvi L. Seeds.

Carum carvi L. belongs to the Apiaceae family and is widely used as a vegetable, food spice, preservative, and herbal medicine. This study investigated the impact of essential oil extracted from Carum carvi L. seeds (CEO) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its possible action mechanism. The dominant chemical components of CEO determined by GC-MS were carvone and limonene. It was observed that CEO had a considerable inhibitory effect against the growth of planktonic bacteria and biofilm in MRSA cells. Untargeted metabolomics based on GC-Q-TOF-MS was used to analyze the possible mechanism of the interaction of MRSA with CEO. It was determined that there were 63 different metabolites based on fold change values greater than 1.5 or less than 1.5, p < 0.05, VIP > 1, which demonstrated amino acid metabolism in MRSA was significantly affected by CEO. In conclusion, CEO has a potent antimicrobial property and has promising potential for use in food and drugs.

Zingiber officinale Roscoe Rhizome Extract Exerts Senomorphic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities on Human Endothelial Cells

Aging is related to a low-grade and sterile inflammation called inflammaging, recognized as the main risk factor for age-related disease (ARD) development. Inflammaging is fostered by the repeated activation of immune cells, as well as by the accumulation of senescent cells. Recently, a number of natural compounds have gained attention to be tested as anti-aging therapies, based on their anti-inflammatory activity and/or ability to reduce the pro-inflammatory secretome of senescent cells (senomorphyc activity). Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and senomorphic properties of an Asian-native Zingiber officinale Roscoe extract (ZOE), commonly consumed as a food spice and herbal medicine. We employed two models of primary endothelial cells (HUVECs), such as the replicative-senescence and LPS-induced response, to investigate the anti-inflammatory/senomorphic effect of ZOE, and one cellular model of neuroinflammation, i.e., immortalized murine microglial cells (BV2). First, we found that the ZOE treatment induced the inhibition of NF-kB activation in BV2 cells. Among the constituents of ZOE, we showed that the terpenoid-enriched fraction (ZTE) was the component able to counteract the phosphorylation of NF-kB(p65), while 6-gingerol (GIN) and 6-shogaol (SHO) did not produce any significant effect. Further, we observed that the treatment with 10 µg/mL of ZOE exerted anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-stimulated young (y)HUVEC and senomorphyc activity on replicative senescent (s)HUVEC, significantly reducing the expression levels of IL-1β, TNF -α, IL-8, MCP-1, and ICAM-1. Moreover, the ZTE treatment was able to significantly reduce the IL-8 levels secreted in the medium of both LPS-stimulated yHUVEC and sHUVEC. Overall, our data suggest a potential protective role of ZOE on neuroinflammation and endothelial inflammation/activation, thus suggesting its potential relevance in delaying/postponing ARD development and progression, characterized by endothelial dysfunction.

Enhancement of the Antibiofilm Activity of Nisin against Listeria monocytogenes Using Food Plant Extracts.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen exhibiting a high mortality rate. In addition to the robust tolerance to environmental stress, the ability of L. monocytogenes to develop biofilms increases the risk of contaminating food processing facilities and ultimately foods. This study aims to develop a synergistic approach to better control Listeria biofilms using nisin, the only bacteriocin approved as a food preservative, in combination with gallic-acid-rich food plant extracts. Biofilm assays in the presence of nisin and gallic acid or its derivatives revealed that gallic acid significantly decreased the level of biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes, whereas ethyl gallate, propyl gallate, and lauryl gallate enhanced biofilm production. As gallic acid is widely distributed in plants, we examined whether extracts from gallic-acid-rich food plants, such as clove, chestnut, oregano, and sage, may generate similar antibiofilm effects. Remarkably, sage extracts enhanced the antibiofilm activity of nisin against L. monocytogenes; however, the other tested extracts increased biofilm formation, particularly at high concentrations. Moreover, sage extracts and nisin combinations significantly reduced the biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes on stainless steel. Sage is a common food spice and has various beneficial health effects, including antioxidation and anti-cancer properties. The findings in this study demonstrate that sage extracts can be potentially combined with nisin to prevent biofilm production in L. monocytogenes.

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Multi-element fingerprinting approach for geographical authentication of Amomum tsaoko seed

The dried ripe fruit or seed of Amomun tsaoko is a crucial food additive, spice and materia medicai in eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly in China. The geographical origin is related to its overall quality of it and has a strong effect on its commercial value. In this study, an efficient absolute quantitative approach using sixty-nine elements was established for the A. tsaoko seed by ICP-MS. An elemental profile of A. tsaoko seed including fifty-eight elements was constructed, and the correlational pattern of elements was developed. The macro essential elements exhibited a narrow range, while the nonessential elements all presented broad range of mean, except Na, S and Cr. According to mass fractions of As, Cd, Hg and Pb, the A. tsaoko seeds were edible safe. And the lanthanide could not be an available marker for A. tsaoko seed by only itself. Meanwhile, the multi-elements fingerprinting including thirty-two elements (Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, W, Pb) and fifteen elements (B, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Sr, Mo, Ba) had been constructed for geographical authentication of A. tsaoko seed. The combination with thirty-two elements could also play a crucial part in the quality control, because there were three toxic elements As, Cd, Pb contained inside.

A Review on the Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Properties of Xanthones from Cratoxylum cochinchinense

Cratoxylum cochinchinenseis a perennial plant found in Southeast Asia, having di-verse terminologies in various Southeast Asian countries. It has been traditionally used as medicine, tea and food spice until today. Its phytochemical analysis reveals a rich array of bioactive compounds in different parts of the plant, specifically xan-thones, which are scientifically determined to be the most abundant secondary me-tabolites in C. cochinchinense. Xanthones do possess numerous beneficial properties and are actively researched to unlock its vast potential. It could be synthesized both biologically and synthetically, where the latter method is gaining much interest among researchers to improve its biological properties. Due to limited compiled re-sources on the biological benefits of xanthones from C. cochinchinense, this paper aims to review theircytotoxic properties specifically towards cancer cells, as well as their antimalarial and antibacterial effects in order to further support the medicinal use of this plan

Pelatihan Penyulingan Minyak Atsiri Berbahan Rempah Khas Nusantara

Herbs and Spices are the main wealth of Indonesia which has indeed been known throughout the world. Many countries even import these crops from Indonesia. Spices are a type of plant that has a strong taste and aroma and functions as a spice and flavor enhancer in food. In addition to being used in cooking, spices can also be used as medicines as well as raw materials for herbal medicine. Another form of utilization of these spices is the taking of essential oils found in these spices. This utilization is part of the development of diversification of natural products. The processing of spices into essential oils is one of the other uses with various benefits, as an essential oil, namely an antidote to diseases and other benefits for the health of the human body, and also as an exterminator of several pests and insects. Essential oil processing can be done simply by various groups of people. However, there are still many people who do not know how to properly process essential oils. This Student Service activity is a form of knowledge transfer by the implementing team from the Forest Products Chemistry and Renewable Energy Laboratory, Faculty of Forestry, Mulawarman University, regarding the processing of essential oils and the various properties or benefits of essential oils made from indonesian spices in the hope of increasing the skills of students or the younger generation in processing essential oils and motivating them to open essential oil-based business opportunities from natural ingredients.

Biochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Antiproliferative Effects of Different Processed Garlic Products.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a type of agricultural product that is widely used as a food spice, herb and traditional medicine. White garlic (WG) can be processed into several kinds of products, such as green garlic (GG), Laba garlic (LAG) and black garlic (BG), which have multiple health effects. In this study, GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), DPPH (1,1'-diphenyl-2-propionyl hydrazide) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) in vitro assays were used to compare the composition, antioxidant and antiproliferation effects of different processed garlic extracts. The relationship between the constituents and the bioactivities was analyzed using the principal components analysis (PCA) and heatmap analysis. BG showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.63 ± 0.02 mg/mL) in DPPH radical assays and the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.80 ± 0.01 mg/mL) by hydroxyl radical assay. Moreover, GC-MS results showed that 12 organosulfur compounds were detected in the extracts of four garlic products, and allyl methyl trisulfide showed a positive relation with the anticancer activity on SMMC-7721 cells (hepatocellular carcinoma cells). The results suggested that the processing of garlic had a significant influence on the constituents and antioxidant effects and that GG, LAG and BG might be better candidates for the related functional food products compared to WG.

Fortified anti-proliferative activity of niclosamide for breast cancer treatment: In-vitro and in-vivo assessment

Breast cancer represents one of the top lethal cancer types among the females worldwide. Several factors manipulate the clinical outcome of the treatment as the stage of the cancer upon detection, genetic and hormonal factors, drug resistance and metastasis. Accordingly, drug's repositioning, enhancing the bioavailability and encapsulation into nanoparticles (NPs) are among the predilected pathways for enhanced therapeutic outcome. Niclosamide (NIC) is an anthelmintic drug and has been repositioned as anticancer agent after revealing its anti-neoplastic activity. Piperine (PIP) was used as food spice until its anticancer activity was discovered. However, their hydrophobicity constrains their therapeutic efficiency. The cytotoxicity of both drugs in the free form was tested on MCF-7 cells, and the results indicated a NIC cytotoxicity enhancement by PIP. Then, NIC and PIP were encapsulated successfully into F127-NPs with entrapment efficiency of 97 % and 82 %, respectively. Particle size, zeta potential, TEM and FTIR confirmed the micellization process and drug encapsulation. The developed NIC-NPs and PIP-NPs exerted potent anticancer effect as compared to the free forms. Accordingly, the mixture; NIC-NPs/PIP-NPs was tested and its cytotoxicity exceeded the individually encapsulated drugs. Flowcytometry assessment was performed and demonstrated an induced cell death through the apoptotic stage. Additionally, in-vivo therapeutic efficiency of NIC-NPs/PIP-NPs was assessed through Ehrlich ascites tumor and the nanocombination therapy exerted superior additive anticancer effect when compared to NIC-NPs which is attributed to the PIP-NPs induced bioavailability. The study can be considered the first one investigating the PIP role in bioenhancing the anti-proliferative activity of NIC to combat breast cancer.

Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Activity of Cinnamomum Extract

Plant extract exhibited unique therapeutic characteristics due to their high content of chemical formulas with multiple medical effects. The plant extracts have shown a great advancement in controlling cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, as well as, it was used as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory agents. Cinnamomum has been used a medical herbs from ancient times along with its uses as spice in food. Cinnamomum oild and extract have shown a great perspective in many areas of human health. We have aimed to prepare an ethanolic extract from dry cinnamomum powder, and investigate its influence in vitro against four types of bacteria and one fungal strain, and again in vivo as wound healing agent in rats. The results have shown that cinnamomum extract in ethanol was exhibited good effect in growth inhibition of escherichia coli, klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Candida albicans. The greatest effect of cinnamomum extract was obtained against the Gram positive bacterial strains S. epidermidis and S. aureus. Furthermore, cinnamomum extract has shown to be a good wound healing agent, in which rats whom treated with cinnamomum extract have shown a faster healing compared to control rats starting from the day 7. These effects make cinnamomum to be very useful in the medical field generally, and in inflammation line specifically.

Antioxidant Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Prepared from Capsicum Annuum (Bell Pepper) Extract

Vegetables have reported to contain high content of wide verity of important phytochemicals that can be used in medical approach. Bell pepper are one of the most important vegetables that can be used as spice in foods, as well as it has a diversity of the phytochemical compounds. Carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, polyphenolic compounds and other metabolites were found in bell peppers of all colors. Red pepper is characterized by its high content of β-carotene. Our goal was to prepare an aqueous red pepper extract solution and use it to synthesize Ag NPs, then examine the antioxidant activity of the extract and the nanoparticle solutions. Ag NPs were prepared at room temperature by utilizing the aqueous red pepper extract solution as well as characterized by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and field emission scanning electron microscope. The characterization result has shown the presence of Ag NPs in particle average of approximately 58 nm. The antioxidant activity was determined by using a DPPH assay, where ascorbic acid has shown IC50 of 23.71 μg/mL which was lower than Ag NPs (IC50 = 43.72 μg/mL). The best antioxidant behavior was obtained from the red pepper extract solution (IC50 = 17.26 μg/mL). This may attributed to the high content of phytochemicals in the extract solution. Importantly, the use of red pepper extract solution in preparing AgNPs have shown to improve their antioxidant activity, which is considered as good additive to the medical features of Ag NPs.

Citrus peel extract protects against diesel exhaust particle-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like lung lesions and oxidative stress.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide and characterized by emphysema, small airway remodeling and mucus hypersecretion. Citrus peels have been widely used as food spices and in traditional Chinese medicine for chronic lung disease. Given that citrus peels are known for containing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, we hypothesize that citrus peel intake can suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response to air pollution exposure, thereby alleviating COPD-like pathologies. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of citrus peel extract, namely Guang Chenpi (GC), in preventing the development of COPD induced by diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) and its potential mechanism. DEP-induced COPD-like lung pathologies, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress with or without GC treatment were examined in vivo and in vitro. Our in vivo study showed that GC was effective in decreasing inflammatory cell counts and inflammatory mediator (IL-17A and TNF-α) concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Pretreatment with GC extract also significantly decreased oxidative stress in the serum and lung tissue of DEP-induced COPD rats. Furthermore, GC pretreatment effectively reduced goblet cell hyperplasia (PAS positive cells) and fibrosis of the small airways, decreased macrophage infiltration as well as carbon loading in the peripheral lungs, and facilitated the resolution of emphysema and small airway remodeling in DEP-induced COPD rats. An in vitro free radical scavenging assay revealed robust antioxidant potential of GC in scavenging DPPH free radicals. Moreover, GC demonstrated potent capacities in reducing ROS production and enhancing SOD activity in BEAS-2B cells stimulated by DEPs. GC treatment significantly attenuated the increased level of IL-8 and MUC5AC from DEP-treated BEAS-2B cells. Mechanistically, GC treatment upregulated the protein level of Nrf-2 and could function via MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways by suppressing the phosphorylation of p38, JNK and p65. Citrus peel extract is effective in decreasing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses of the peripheral lungs to DEP exposure. These protective effects further contributed to the resolution of COPD-like pathologies.

Natural foods resources and dietary ingredients for the amelioration of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gastric-persistent pathogen that can cause peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This pathogen is commonly treated with antibiotic-based triple or quadruple therapy. However, antibiotic therapy could result in the bacterial resistance, imbalance of gut microbiota, and damage to the liver and kidneys, etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Interestingly, natural food resources, like vegetables, fruits, spices, and edible herbs, have potent inhibitory effects on H. pylori. In this review, we systematically summarized these foods with supporting evidence from both animal and clinical studies. The results have indicated that natural foods may possess temporary inhibition effect on H. pylori rather than durable eradication, and may help to reduce H. pylori colonization, enhance the effect of antibiotics and modulate the host's immune response.

Neuroprotective Effects of Black Pepper and Its Bioactive Compounds in Age-Related Neurological Disorders.

Age-related neurological disorders (ANDs), including neurodegenerative diseases, are multifactorial disorders whose risk increases with age. The main pathological hallmarks of ANDs include behavioral changes, excessive oxidative stress, progressive functional declines, impaired mitochondrial function, protein misfolding, neuroinflammation, and neuronal cell death. Recently, efforts have been made to overcome ANDs because of their increased age-dependent prevalence. Black pepper, the fruit of Piper nigrum L. in the family Piperaceae, is an important food spice that has long been used in traditional medicine to treat various human diseases. Consumption of black pepper and black pepper-enriched products is associated with numerous health benefits due to its antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. This review shows that black pepper's major bioactive neuroprotective compounds, such as piperine, effectively prevent AND symptoms and pathological conditions by modulating cell survival signaling and death. Relevant molecular mechanisms are also discussed. In addition, we highlight how recently developed novel nanodelivery systems are vital for improving the efficacy, solubility, bioavailability, and neuroprotective properties of black pepper (and thus piperine) in different experimental AND models, including clinical trials. This extensive review shows that black pepper and its active ingredients have therapeutic potential for ANDs.

Antimicrobial Potential of Syzygium aromaticium (CLOVE) Extracts on Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Uropathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Bauchi, Nigeria

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common pathogenic inflammatory, distressing, and occasionally life-threatening condition that affects people of all ages and gender, mostly propelled by the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Cloves are used as spices in food and flavouring agent in drinks it is also used traditionally as a treatment for urinary infections.&#x0D; Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial potentials of Clove extracts on multidrug-resistant (MDR) Uropathogenic bacteria.&#x0D; Design: This is a Clinical and laboratory-based study of patient with cases of UTI&#x0D; Place and Duration of study: This study was conducted in the Microbiology laboratory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, Nigeria, from January to December, 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: Two hundred and fourty five (245) clean catch midstream urine samples were collected from patients with suspected cases of urinary tract infection attending GOPD ATBU TH. Bacteria were isolated using standard techniques and antibiotic resistant pattern was tested by Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method. Bioactive components of clove was extracted using diethyl ether, ethanolic and water as solvents. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was also carried out.&#x0D; Results: Out of the samples analysed, 168 (68.6%) showed significant bacteriuria. UTI was more prevalent in women within the active age group 21-30. The isolates resistant to seven and above commonly used antibiotics are selected from each specie to test for efficacy. The extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, sterols and Triterpenes. In vitro antimicrobial activity of diethyl ether, ethanolic and aqueous extract of cloves at different concentration of: 200mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml, 12.5mg/ml&#x0D; and 6.25mg/ml were tested against multidrug resistant isolates. S. aureus and Klebsiella spp are the most sensitive to all clove extracts while E. coli and P. aeruginosa are less sensitive. All Three extracts showed a broad spectrum of activities at higher concentrations (200mg/ml) while no or less activity at the lower concentration of the extracts. Diethyl ether extract exerts higher activity than ethanolic and aqueous extract as revealed by the mean diameter of zone of inhibitions, MIC and, MBC values. The MIC values of the extracts were lower than their MBC values suggesting that the extracts inhibited the growth of MDR isolates while being bactericidal at higher concentrations.&#x0D; Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli are among the commonest uropathogens clinically encountered in this area and most of the species are resistant to commonly administered antibiotics. Clove extracts had great antimicrobial potential against these bacteria, therefore it can be used in the treatment of UTIs. However, it is necessary to determine its toxicity, pharmacokinetic properties and side effects.

AFLATOXIGENIC FUNGI AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION OF COCHLOSPERMUM TINCTORIUM ROOT POWDER USED AS SPICE IN SOUP PREPARATION

Cochlospermum tinctorium root powder (Kwata) is commonly used as spice in foods and for medicinal purposes in West African sub-region. This research evaluated the rate of contamination of C. tinctorium root powder with aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxins. Kwata samples obtained from different sellers in Sokoto market were analyzed for presence of fungi using standard mycological methods. Aflatoxins and their concentrations in the kwata were also evaluated using EnzymeLinked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The total aflatoxin concentrations of the different Kwata samples ranged from 125 to 580 ppb while aflatoxin B1 concentrations in the samples were found to be 35.5 ppb, 24.5 ppb, 32 ppb, 23.8 ppb and 45 ppb all of which are above the limits (20 ppb for adult food and 0 ppb for infant food) stipulated by regulatory bodies in Nigeria. The Aspergillus species isolated and their percentage occurrences in Kwata samples were Aspergillus niger (50% in sample A and above 25% in other samples), Aspergillus flavus (50% in sample A and 25% in other samples), Aspergillus fumigatus (33% in samples B and E and 20% in other samples). In conclusion, this study revealed high contamination of Kwata sold within Sokoto metropolis with Aspergilus species and aflatoxins, the cummulative effect of which may cause serious public health problems in populations that use this preparation in soup.

Antibacterial effect of ethanol extract of nutmeg against foodborne disease pathogens

Foodborne disease is a disease that occurs as a result of food contamination by microbes or harmful chemicals. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is widely used as a spice and flavor enhancer for food and beverages. In addition, it has traditionally been used to treat diarrhea and kidney disease. Several pharmacological studies have reported the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory activity of this plant. Antibacterial effectiveness test of nutmeg against several pathogens in this study was carried out using the disc diffusion method. The results of this study indicated that the ethanol extract of flesh of fruit (concentration of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) had antibacterial activity against all tested pathogenic bacteria. Different results were shown by the ethanol extract of seed and mace. All the ethanol extract concentrations of seed were not able to inhibit the growth of Shigella sp. and Clostridium sp., while the ethanol extract of mace in all concentrations was unable to inhibit the growth of Shigella sp. Various factors may affecting this extract and compound activity when used in complex biological systems such as in vivo and human studies. Future studies must also focus on aspects of pharmacokinetics and toxicological plant extracts and phytochemicals.

The bioactive amide alkaloids from the stems of Piper nigrum

Piper nigrum is an important aromatic plant, and its fruits (black and white pepper) are commonly used as food additives and spices. However, its stems were disposed as wastes. This research comprehensively investigated bioactive alkaloids of the stems, eight new dimeric amide alkaloids and eight known compounds were obtained. All obtained compounds showed excellent anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, the dimeric amide alkaloids enhanced the anticancer effect of paclitaxel against cervical cancer cells. These results demonstrate that the stems of P. nigrum could be the sustainable source of bioactive alkaloids for development and utilization in the food and health fields.