Lemon Juice Research Articles

Design and characterization of polyurethane based electrospun systems modified with transition metals oxides for protective clothing applications

This paper reports the design and the fabrication of novel fiber membranes based on electrospun polyurethane (PU) fibers modified with copper and zinc oxide as potential systems for protective clothing. A one-step in-situ methodology is proposed to modify the PU systems. The modified PU membranes are widely characterized in terms of spectroscopic, morphological, thermal and barrier properties. Evaluation of surface charge and analysis of retention degree, obtained by testing four model systems (H2O, H2O/NaOH, lemon juice and sweat simulant), are even carried out. Then, to evaluate the protection against UV rays, weathering tests are accomplished while the carbonyl index gives a proof of the improved UV stability. The estimation of ultraviolet protection factor allowed to prove the total resistance to UV-A and UV-B rays. Finally, cytostatic effect against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria is evaluated. The reported results allow for stating that the designed materials show great potential as high-performance systems for protective clothing applications.

In vitro comparison of natural tooth-whitening remedies and professional tooth-whitening systems

BackgroundAn increasing number of patients are using natural homemade remedies such as strawberries, banana peels, coconut oil rinse, basil, lemon, activated charcoal, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and turmeric to obtain whiter teeth. However, studies on these natural whitening products are limited. AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of different homemade tooth-whitening agents in vitro. Materials and methodsNinety caries-free extracted anterior and premolar teeth were collected, cleaned, and sectioned at the roots. The teeth were mounted in epoxy resin (buccal surface) and stored in 0.2 % thymol solution, and were treated with one of the following six whitening agents: baking soda, activated charcoal, lemon juice, strawberries, Colgate Optic Whitening toothpaste, and Opalescence 20 % home-bleaching system. The enamel shade in each sample was measured four times using a spectrophotometer. Baseline measurements for ΔE and (L*, a*, b*) were obtained, and the second measurement was obtained after 5 days. The third reading was obtained on the 10th day, and the fourth reading was obtained at the 4th week to measure colour stability. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey tests were used for statistical analysis. ResultsΔE measurements showed a significant difference on the 10th day in all groups except the lemon group (P = 0.164), while all groups showed a statistically significant difference at the 4th week. The mean colour change differed remarkably between the first and fourth readings. The highest change was observed in the lemon group (44.0 ± 2.9), closely followed by the Opalescence 20 % and Colgate Optic Whitening toothpaste groups. The lowest change was observed with strawberries (38.2 ± 4.8). ΔE showed a significant difference in all groups except the turmeric group. ConclusionStatistically significant differences were obtained with baking soda, activated charcoal, strawberries, lemon juice, Colgate Optic Whitening toothpaste, and Opalescence 20%. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of these agents on surface roughness and colour stability.

Possibilities for Detection of Adulteration of Lemon Juices and Lemon-Based Beverages

Lemon juice and other lemon-based beverages are subject to economically motivated fraud, primarily inclu­ding a reduced fruit content closely related to excessive dilution with water, undeclared addition of sugars or synthetic citric acid, and substitution of lemons with cheaper fruit. Eight tested samples of 100% juices showed good agreement between the measured concentrations and the reference values for the following markers: formol number (range from 16.9 to 26.5 mL of 0.1M NaOH 100 mL–1), ash (2.5 to 3.9 g L–1), phosphorus (84 to 145 mg L–1), potassium (931 to 1720 mg L–1), magnesium (81 to 114 mg L–1), malic acid (1.8 to 6.0 g L–1), and ᴅ‑isocitric acid (277 to 560 mg L–1). The following markers were suggested as an evidence of adulteration, processing method, and recipe alteration after the subsequent analysis of the beverage concentrates: 1) Citric acid is a substance whose content can be increased by adding synthetic citric acid. 2) Calcium content was impacted by clarification or reconstitution in some beverage concentrate samples tested. 3) Increased content of glucose and fructose confirmed exogenous sugar addition. 4) Ascorbic acid levels below 150 mg L–1 indicated severe processing or long-term storage. The flavonoid profile, characterized mainly by the ratio of eriocitrin and hesperidin (average value 0.7), serves as an indicator of the addition of another citrus species. However, the finding for the Interdonato variety suggests that this ratio is quite variable and not entirely specific because lime juice exhibits a similar value.
 
 Citronová šťáva a další nápoje na bázi citronů podléhají ekonomicky motivovaným podvodům, mezi které primárně patří snížený obsah ovoce úzce spojený s nadměrným naředěním vodou, nedeklarovaným přídavkem cukrů nebo syntetické citronové kyseliny a záměnou citronů levnějším druhem ovoce. U 8 testovaných vzorků 100% šťáv byla potvrzena dobrá shoda naměřených koncentrací s referenčními hodnotami u těchto znaků: formolové číslo (rozsah 16,9 až 26,5 ml 0,1M NaOH 100 ml–1), popel (2,5 až 3,9 g l–1), fosfor (84 až 145 mg l–1), draslík (931 až 1720 mg l–1), hořčík (81 až 114 mg l–1), jablečná kyselina (1,8 až 6,0 g l–1) a ᴅ-isocitronová kyselina (277 až 560 mg l–1). Po následném proměření nápojových koncentrátů byly jako indikátory falšování, způsobu zpracování a úpravy receptury doporučeny tyto markery: 1) obsah citronové kyseliny, jejíž nálezy mohou být zvýšeny přídavkem citronové kyseliny syntetického původu, 2) obsah vápníku, který byl u řady testovaných vzorků ovlivněn čiřením nebo rekonstitucí koncentrátu, 3) zvýšená hodnota glukosy a fruktosy potvrzovala exogenní přídavek cukrů, 4) pokles askorbové kyseliny pod 150 mg l–1 vypovídal o nešetrném zpracování nebo dlouhodobém skladování. Profil flavonoidů charakterizovaný především poměrem eriocitrinu a hesperidinu (průměrná hodnota 0,7) slouží jako indikátor přídavku jiného citrusového druhu. Je však třeba brát v potaz, že je poměrně variabilní, což ukázal nález zjištěný pro odrůdu Interdonato a ne zcela specifický, protože obdobný poměr vykazuje i šťáva z limet.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Metabolite Profiling of Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck Juice Extract Evaluated for its Antimicrobial Activity Against Streptococcus mutans.

Purpose The present study aimed to determine the antimicrobial nature of Citrus limon juice extract against Streptococcus mutans and to identify its metabolic profile by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Materials and methods The cariogenic bacteria S. mutans were procured from Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC), Chandigarh, India, and revived on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar. The C. limon (L.) Osbeck fruits were authenticated from the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, India. The antibacterial property of lyophilized lemon juice extract (LJE) dissolved in methanol was evaluated against S. mutans (MTCC 497) by the agar well diffusion assay. GC-MS technique was employed to identify the volatile metabolite profile of the methanolic LJE sample. The metabolite masses of the respective compounds were identified using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Results The methanolic LJE sample concentration from 5 to 25 mg/ml did not demonstrate antimicrobial activity, while 30 to 100 mg/ml displayed antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Chlorohexidine (100 µg/ml) was used as the positive control, while methanol was used as the negative control. Significant antimicrobial metabolites were detected in the methanolic LJE sample by GC-MS analysis. Maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, 6-Oxa-bicyclo[3.1.0] hexan-3-one, and 3-methyl-2,5-Furandione were the key metabolites identified in the methanolic LJE sample. Conclusion The present study reports that C. limon is a potential candidate for the pharmaceutical industry as it possesses bioactive compounds demonstrating therapeutic properties. Further investigations are warranted to determine the individual and synergetic effects of identified metabolites in the methanolic LJE sample for its antimicrobial property. Special attention needs to be focussed on translational research for the development of anti-caries products from C. limon.

Preliminary evaluation of in vitro anti-urolithiasic effect of six Algerian plant products

The present paper reports on the preliminary evaluation of in vitro anti-urolithiasic effect (AULE) of six Algerian plant products: lemon (Citrus limon L.), orange (Citrus sinensis L.), grapefruit (Citrus grandis L.), lemon/grapefruit (1/1 ratio, v/v) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) juices, [and aqueous extract from hairy rupturewort (Herniaria hirsuta L.), the bi-distilled water being taken as reference. The AULE was evaluated, based on the ability of considered plant liquids to prevent the crystallization of calcium oxalate (CaOx) from the mixture of stock solutions of calcium chloride and sodium oxalate. For this, the juices and the aqueous extract to be analyzed were used as solvents to prepare the two stock solutions. The formation of CaOx was assessed by means of microscopic observation and presented in the form of images. A better AULE was observed for citrus juices, compared with bi-distilled water, tomato juice and hairy rupturewort extract. In the case of lemon juice, it was also found that the AULE is more effective when the juice acidity is adjusted to high pH values (6-7). Based on these results, citrus juices may be recommended for the prevention of urinary lithiogenesis. However, in-depth confirmatory studies are always desired, knowing that opinions are not unanimous on this issue.

Effect of Hydrothermal Reaction Temperature on Fluorescent Properties of Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesized from Lemon Juice for Adsorption Applications

Photoluminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized from lemon juice precursors via single-step, hydrothermal techniques under different temperatures to control the optical properties. The synthesized CQDs were characterized by PL, illuminated UV analyzer chamber, UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, Fourier-transformed infrared spectrophotometry, and zeta potential techniques. The results show that the synthesized CQDs had an excellent blue–green emission extending up to the infrared region with high quantum yield (Φ) in the range of 14%–41%. The effect of reaction temperature and the aging of CQDs on the emission spectra of CQDs are also investigated. Furthermore, the adsorption effect of the synthesized CQDs was evaluated on methylene blue (MB) dyes. The result indicated the synthesized CQDs have excellent adsorbent properties with a removal efficiency of 60%–82% and an extremely fast adsorption rate of 6 × 10−2 min−1 for MB dyes.

Study on the biochemical indicators of carrot varieties and their scientific and practical importance in the preparation of juice in industry

In this article, agrobiological characteristics of local and foreign carrot varieties, their chemical composition, the method and recipes of juice preparation, the importance of homogenized and non-homogenized methods in juice extraction, the determination of tannin in the raw materials using a 3% iron (III) chloride solution, and its industrial importance in the preparation of various juices, information on the determination of total carbohydrate and acid content of juice using refractometer and saccharometer and pH meter equipment is given. Also, scientific and practical results and conclusions on the technological scheme and technology of preparation of “Parkhezbop”, “Popular”, “For children” with addition of special ingredients (ginger, natural honey, lemon juice) are described.

Analysing Canonical Correlation of BBD-RSM Optimized Process Parameters for the Development of Spinach-Lemon-Tulsi Beverage

HIGHLIGHTS The process parameters was standardized for blanching time, L-ascorbic acid and lemon juice using BBD RSM. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) was done to see the effect of variables on the product quality. Physiochemical and antioxidant properties of all the runs were studied and presented in the paper. Numerical optimization of Beverage was carried out for recommendation to the end users.

The Effect of Pretreatment and Packaging Material on the quality of Stored Dried Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The study was conducted to determine effects of pretreatment and locally available packaging materials on the quality of dried and stored catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The freshly obtained catfish was cut into pieces measuring 20×5×6mm. The treatment group was pre-treated with lemon juice, while the control was prepared without pretreatment. Both the treatment and control were dried using hot air at 80 °C to constant weight. The dried sample was then stored using three packaging materials (aluminum foil, unbleached paper and low-density polyethylene bag) in triplicate and stored in iron basket in the laboratory for observation at 25 °C and 55 % relative humidity. Samples were then taken out from storage for further analysis after every week and finally concluded at six weeks. The analysis done was proximate composition, moisture content, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), bacterial and fungal count. The fresh sample had the following data: 72.49%, 19.72, 5.6, 1.04, 1.15 % for moisture content, protein, fat, crude fibre respectively. That of the pre-treated sample obtained was 72.80% moisture content, 17.01% protein content, 3.37% fat content,0.53% ash content and 1.16% crude fibre content. The moisture content for lemon treated dried cat fish ranged between 28-30% (wb). The result showed that the higher the moisture content, the lower the protein content, ash content and fibre. Therefore, as the moisture content decreased, the protein content, crude fibre, fat and oil content increased. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) of the fresh sample was higher than that of the lemon treated sample due to its chemical compositions with the mean value of 5.60% for the fresh sample and 2.80% for the lemon treated sample. Bacterial and fungal counts on the fresh samples were more than that of the treated samples. After drying, the only microorganisms that survived the heat were thermophilic microorganisms (Bacillus furinus, Pseudomonas aureginosa and Aspergillus terraus) and they weren’t significantly influenced during storage. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the most suitable packaging material was aluminum foil and the organic acid added to the fish also helped to prolong shelf life. This is because the aluminum foil preserved the quality of the fish hence the proximate compositions of the fish was better than the fish kept in polyethylene and the paper.

Perspective Toward Complementary & Alternative Medicines in the Prevention of COVID-19 Infection.

Across the globe, people are seeking integrative and holistic measures to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the form of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) with or without conventional medicines. This study was done to know the extent of CAM use for COVID-19 prophylaxis and to know beliefs and attitudes of people related to CAM use in India. A pretested and prevalidated questionnaire was circulated on social media. Participants, who completed the online form and gave voluntary consent, were included. The questionnaire included demographic details and questions related to CAM use, preferences with reasons, preparations used, perceived role of CAM in prevention, immunity boosting and side effects, sources of information, etc. Out of 514 responses, 495 were analyzed. 47.07% of respondents were males and 52.93% were females. 66.9% were using CAM for COVID-19 prophylaxis. The association between age, gender, and profession with CAM use was statistically significant (P < 0.05). 41.1% reported CAM use in the past. 36.6% of CAM users were taking "Kadha" and 33% were using ayurvedic medicines. Other frequently used CAM preparations were chyavanprash, giloy, tulsi, ginger, pepper, cloves, honey, sudarshanghanvati, arsenic-30, lemon juice, cinnamon, steam inhalation, ashwagandha, swasarivati, coronil, and warm saline water gargles. 46.9% of the CAM users were on self-medication and 52.3% preferred CAM over allopathy. Complementary and alternative medicine utilization for COVID-19 prophylaxis is widespread and self-medication is prevalent. As no specific cure is available in conventional systems, people believe in traditional medicines more than conventional, yet confusion exists. There is a need of increasing awareness regarding side effects, drug-drug interactions, and self-medication.

PRE-TREATMENTS AND DRYING METHODS ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD MUSHROOMS (Suillus luteus) FROM APURIMAC-PERU

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of pre-treatments and drying methods on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of edible wild mushrooms, Suillus luteus, collected in the pine forests of the Apurimac region, Peru. Two immersion pre-treatments were used: 5% lemon juice and 6% vinegar. Mushroom caps were cut into 3-cm thick slices, immersed at a ratio of 1:5 (w-v), and subsequently dried by direct solar drying and indirect solar drying using a fitotoldo (shade cover). The proximate composition, rehydration, color, total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (DPPH capacity), and sensory evaluation were determined for each sample. The results showed significant differences (p 0.05) between the treatments. Higher rehydration rates were observed in the samples subjected to direct solar drying and fitotoldo drying without pre-treatment, as well as those treated with vinegar. Regarding color, luminosity (L ) significantly decreased in the dried samples compared to the fresh sample. In the proximate analysis, the untreated samples had protein, crude fiber, and ash contents of 23.67 g 100 g, 11.10 g 100 g, and 5.59 g 100 g, respectively. Free-nitrogen extract (FNE) content increased to 47.13 g 100 g as mushrooms lost water. TPC and antioxidant capacity decreased significantly in the dried samples, but the pre-treated samples with vinegar recorded higher values of 8.38 mg GAE g and 54.13 umol TE g, respectively. In the sensory evaluation, the samples pre-treated with vinegar had higher color, texture, and acceptability scores. Thus, the use of a fitotoldo without pre-treatment and with vinegar pre-treatment is the most efficient method for drying Suillus luteus mushrooms.

Transforming NiCo2O4 nanorods into nanoparticles using citrus lemon juice enhancing electrochemical properties for asymmetric supercapacitor and water oxidation.

Recently, the nanostructured nickel-cobalt bimetallic oxide (NiCo2O4) material with high electrochemical activity has received intensive attention. Beside this, the biomass assisted synthesis of NiCo2O4 is gaining popularity due to its advantageous features such as being low cost, simplicity, minimal use of toxic chemicals, and environment-friendly and ecofriendly nature. The electrochemical activity of spinel NiCo2O4 is associated with its mixed metal oxidation states. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the crystal quality, morphology and tunable surface chemistry of NiCo2O4 nanostructures. In this study, we have used citrus lemon juice consisting of a variety of chemical compounds having the properties of a stabilizing agent, capping agent and chelating agent. Moreover, the presence of several acidic chemical compounds in citrus lemon juice changed the pH of the growth solution and consequently we observed surface modified and structural changes that were found to be very effective for the development of energy conversion and energy storage systems. These naturally occurring compounds in citrus lemon juice played a dynamic role in transforming the nanorod morphology of NiCo2O4 into small and well-packed nanoparticles. Hence, the prepared NiCo2O4 nanostructures exhibited a new surface-oriented nanoparticle morphology, high concentration of defects on the surface (especially oxygen vacancies), sufficient ionic diffusion and reaction of electrolytic ions, enhanced electrical conductivity, and favorable reaction kinetics at the interface. The electrocatalytic properties of the NiCo2O4 nanostructures were studied in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a low overpotential of 250 mV for 10 mA cm-2, Tafel slope of 98 mV dec-1, and durability of 40 h. Moreover, an asymmetric supercapacitor was produced and the obtained results indicated a high specific capacitance of (Cs) of 1519.19 F g-1, and energy density of 33.08 W h kg-1 at 0.8 A g-1. The enhanced electrochemical performance could be attributed to the favorable structural changes, surface modification, and surface crystal facet exposure due to the use of citrus lemon juice. The proposed method of transformation of nanorod to nanoparticles could be used for the design of a new generation of efficient electrocatalyst materials for energy storage and conversion uses.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Lemon Juice in Improving Hemoglobin Level Among Adolescent Girls in Selected Schools of Jabalpur City

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Lemon Juice in Improving Hemoglobin Level Among Adolescent Girls in Selected Schools of Jabalpur City

Effect of supplementation of Rough Lemon juice, Amla juice and Aloe vera gel on physio-biochemical and hematological parameters of broiler chicken during summer season

Effect of supplementation of Rough Lemon juice, Amla juice and Aloe vera gel on physio-biochemical and hematological parameters of broiler chicken during summer season

The vase life of two rose cultivars and the effects of different floral preservatives

The research was carried out in the horticulture department's laboratory at the Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh during1st to 10th August, 2023. The major goal of this study was to use several preservation solutions to extend the vase life of two cut rose cultivars. In the postgraduate lab of the department of horticulture, the two-factor experiment was set up using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. There were two cultivars: V1=Lincoln (red color) and V2= Brighton (yellow color), and five preservativessolutions were used to keep these blooms fresh viz., T0= water (control), T1= lemon juice solution (5%), T2= CaCl2solution (0.05%), T3= aspirin solution (0.03%), and T4=sugar solution (5%). The rose flowers were collected at half blooming stage from the landscapingsection of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Studies showed that there was a substantial difference between rose varieties in the parameters under study. Lincoln performedthe highest total solution uptake(25.66ml) and maximum vase life (10 days) and gavelowestnumber of opened petals, number of dried petals, weight loss percent compared to Brighton. There was significant variation among the treatment effects in respect of number of opened petals, number of dried petals, weight loss (%), total solution uptake(ml) and vase life. With all the parameters, it was observed that treatment of sugar solution (5%) performance wasthebest among all the treatments. Lincoln gave the highest vase life when treated with 5% sugar solution

Optimization of blending ratios in asparagus-lemon juice using response surface methodology

In this study, the effects of degradation on ascorbic acid (AA) in asparagus-lemon juice with different blending ratios were investigated during storage. The R2 values of the first-order kinetic model for predicting AA loss were 0.8216-0.9990, indicating that the model described well the degradation of AA in asparagus-lemon juice with different blending ratios. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the blending ratio of asparagus-lemon juice during storage. The optimum blending ratios that selected by the RSM were: 23%, 26%, 27%, 28% and 29% of diluted asparagus juice blended with 85% of diluted lemon juice, and the desirability were 0.820. The RSM correlation coefficients (R2) between experimental and model predicted values ranged from 0.6394 to 0.9975. Therefore, RSM and the first-order model may be effective tools to optimize the blending ratio of blended juice and AA degradation in juices.

Dear Dear

Dear Dear Reuben Gelley Newman (bio) 1. The dog-eared copy of Autobiography of Redseemed like something archival to him,smudged with the fingerprints of who knows how many boysand perhaps some charcoal and semen,so of course he lingered in the library with the Hershey’s Kissesleft over from Valentine’s Day and the vague reminiscesof the potatoes he parboiled and roasted for dinnerwith a smattering of cumin and paprika,all doused in maple syrup and some mundanebrand of Argentinian olive oil,a few carrots thrown in for luck, roasted to the point of burning,because burning is what every boy wants,especially when they are aloneand it is winter. 2. He is cooking meatfor the first time. Initiallythere is nothing much to it:tossing the boneless thighsinto the pot to braise,then waiting until the fleshabsorbs the memoriesof kale striving in someindustrial farm underacres of mechanized sunlight.Next time he will dig his hands [End Page 77] into the chicken, marinate itin lemon juice and olive oilwith spices, or lay wings to crackleon a sheet pan. He was nevera vegetarian but nowhe eats meat like a man.After all, he has grown.He has grown up. 3. His brain marinates marvelouslyin the winter air, as if there isa bubble of thought brimming with glimmersof ice haloing him.He decides to live against desire.He decides to make a snow angeland freeze for hours in the absenceof desire. Then he goes to his job at the library where he retrievesbook after book from the stackswith dry titles he can’t remember. Exceptsomebody asks for Coraline. 4. Living against desire is a joke.Or so he thinks, one afternoon,when deer prints garnishthe fresh snow as he goes outto do the laundry. Havingmasturbated. Having showered.Having not done the laundryfor two weeks. He still thinks of himselfas a boy even though by all rights and purposeshe is a man. If the poem is a diary,he is a princess. If the poem [End Page 78] is an elegy, he is a monk. If the poem is a mask,he is a goddamn faggot and he does his nailsin brilliant purple before plucking a penfrom perfectly coiffed hair. 5. As a kid he dressed up. Or played dress-up.Played at being that princess. Cinderella was his favorite.The purple silk skirt, tattered hem, his grandmother made him.Fucking nostalgia. The prerogative of queers.The past is mythic. You’re on the yellow brick road,following breadcrumbs to Troy. 6. He is alone. It is winter. He walks through the forestin old sneakers after the thaw, having failedto realize the slush is still married to the ground.His shoes get soaked, drunk on the earlyarrival of spring. False, assuredly.Yet fifty-degree weather does a happy fairy make.The yellow birches continue peeling poemscomprised of their skin. The beech woods loiter,bemused in youthful arrogance. A reticentvolcano lurks beyond the next hilltop.A dragon lives inside it. A deer flashesthrough the maples and the fairy burnswith desire. He can’t wait for roast venisonat the dragon’s Sunday brunch.He supposes he has a crush.Will the dragon eat him for breakfast?Will the dragon make love to him at night?So many exciting possibilities! [End Page 79] 7. He climbs to the top of Vesuvius, sifts through pumice stone.He is with his Latin class. It is his junior year of high school.Spring. He has so much left to learn about love. 8. The chicken stew grows bones.A ghost chicken rises from burntsplatters between the stovetop spirals.When he cuts off its head, it goes runningamok in the griddle garden. Invisible blood.Two heads grow back. He takes the chicken asa present to the dragon. Here, he says, a two-headedghost chicken. Isn’t that exciting? (More exciting thanroast venison!) Cluck, cluck, goes the chicken. Meh,I’ve seen better...

Investigation of the Diuretic Potential of Diosmetin, a Flavonoid from Citrus lemon in Sprague-Dawley Rat Model

Diosmetin is a flavonoid present in citrus fruit like lemon. Interestingly, lemon juice has been reported for its diuretic activity. The present study aimed to investigate diosmetin's diuretic activity in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats after acute and prolonged administration of different doses. The volume of urine, Na+ and K+ levels, and pH had been estimated with the help of urine samples collected after 6 hrs of normal saline-loaded rats. In the acute diuretic study, a potent and significant response (p&lt;0.001) was observed at the dose of 50 mg/kg in comparison to 20 and 40 mg/kg. The values of the diuretic index for the test groups (20, 40, and 50 mg/kg) were observed to be 1.11, 1.15, and 1.56, respectively. The value of Lipschitz showed that, at the dose of 50 mg/kg, the diuretic activity of diosmetin was 57% in comparison with furosemide (100%). In prolonged diuretic study, diosmetin (50 mg/kg) caused significant diuresis and natriuresis. The diuretic action of diosmetin was significantly decreased with atropine pretreatment, indicating the involvement of muscarinic receptors, while no significant change was observed in the response of diosmetin with pretreatment of L-NAME and indomethacin, excluding the involvement of endothelium related mediators (NO and PGI2). Moreover, the hematological analysis indicated that diosmetin at 50 mg/kg exhibited mild changes in blood-related parameters. In addition, histopathological examination indicated no significant pathological changes. However, compared to the control, mild inflammation was observed in diosmetin and furosemide-treated rats. We concluded that diosmetin increased the volume of urine and urine electrolytes (Na+ and K+) concentration in a dose-dependent manner in the acute diuretic study, while a significant response was also observed in the prolonged diuretic model. Therefore, diosmetin may be considered a potential diuretic candidate for further studies.

The Influence of Xanthan Gum and Lemon Juice on the Quality of Tomato Sorbet

Sorbet is one of common frozen desserts. It is prepared with low concentration of fat and protein; thus, the use of stabilizer in sorbet formulation extremely dictates the final properties. This current work investigated the quality (hardness, total solids, °Brix, viscosity, overrun, melting rate, vitamin C, lycopene content, and organoleptic test) of tomato-based sorbet added with different levels of xanthan gum as the stabilizer and lemon juice as the taste improver. The results showed that increase in xanthan gum level up to 0.5% was able to improve the overrun, melting rate, and lycopene content, i.e. 35%, 0.84 g/min, and 1.66 mg/100 g, respectively. Meanwhile, the addition of lemon juice into sorbet formulation could increase the content of vitamin C. Furthermore, addition of lemon juice was effective in removing the unpleasant tomato taste in the sorbet, but it did not affect the hardness, total solids, °Brix, lycopene content, viscosity, overrun, and melting rate.

Public Knowledge of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Viral Infection in Saudi Arabia

PTB Reports,2022,8,3,123-128.DOI:10.5530/PTB.2022.8.16Published:December 2022Type:Research ArticleAuthors:Ghudair Tashan Alanazi, Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Murouj Almaghrabi, Ghadeer Alhazmi, Menwer Tashan Zaid Alanazi, Mohammad Almatrafi, and Ghaida Alzahrani Author(s) affiliations:Ghudair Tashan Alanazi, BSc. Pharm, Pharm.D, MSc. Clin Pharm, Diploma of Epid, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist, Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, MOH, Hafrbatin, SAUDI ARABIA. Dr. Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clin Pharm, BCPS, BCNSP, DiBA, CDE, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacists, TPN Clinical Pharmacist, Freelancer Business Planner, Content Editor, and Data Analyst, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Murouj Almaghrabi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Ghadeer Alhazmi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah,SAUDI ARABIA. Menwer Tashan Zaid Alanazi, BSc, MSc, Senior Specialist Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Toxicology. Poison Control and Medical Forensic Chemistry Center. MOH, Hafrbatin, Saudi Arabi Mohammad Almatrafi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Ghaida Alzahrani, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Abstract:Aim: This survey analysis investigated indevisuals’ knowledge of herbal medications to treat common respiratory viral infections. Methods: A self-administered, structured questionnaire was sent to the public online, including questions on the responders’ demographics and questions about different herbal medications and their use to treat viral respiratory infections. Data analysis was executed through the survey SPSS program. Results: Four hundred eighty-six individuals responded to this questionnaire; 89.92% of the responders were from the west area, and 56.49% were in the age group between 18 and 30. The most herbal medications used for respiratory viral infections was honey 364 (78.79%), and lemon juice 327 (71.24%), followed by Ginger 288 (64.43%) and Mint 292 (64.04%%) While the least herbal medicine used was Sambucus nigra 26 (6.09%) and Licorice 26 (6.68%). The most herbal medicine not known among responders was Sambucus nigra 147 (34.43%), Sugarcane 136 (31.48%), and Radish 135 (31.47%%). Herbal medicines usages were significantly higher among males, except for cloves and miswak; their use was significantly higher among females. Retired individuals (p value<0.001), high income (p-value<0.001), non-healthcare professionals (p-value=0.003), age group between 51 to 60 years old (p-value<0.001), married individuals (p-value<0.001) all had higher knowledge level about herbal medications use in viral respiratory infections. The survey’s reliability was tested by Mac 0.96, Cronbach 0.958, Gultman 2 0.961, and Gultman 6 0.973. Conclusion: The level of knowledge about herbal medicine use among individuals in Saudi Arabia is inadequate. Awareness of the general public about herbal medications should be improved. Keywords:Herbal medications, Knowledge, Respiratory infections, Saudi Arabia, ViralView:PDF (228.57 KB) PDF PDF Images Public Knowledge of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Viral Infection in Saudi Arabia