Mixture Of Olive Oil Research Articles

Evaluation of the protective effect of Nigella sativa oil’s unsaponifiable fraction in carbon tetrachloride-kidney damage model

Background/Aim: Kidney diseases is a global public health problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the renoprotective effect of the total oil’s unsaponifiable fraction (UF) of a medicinal plant called Nigella sativa. Methods: The extraction of unsaponifiables from the total seed oil of the medicinal plant Nigella sativa was carried out according to the standardized methods of the European Pharmacopoeia (Edition 5.0). Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is known to induce kidney toxicity. Acute poisoning of Male albino rats with 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil (3 ml/Kg b.w. of rat by subcutaneous injection) induces considerable kidney pain. Results: Nigella sativa UF is found to be rich in tocopherols, its administration as a curative or preventive treatment to poisoned animals results in a very significant reduction in renal markers (CREA, URE). Histological study shows that kidneys are in better condition than those of intoxicated rats. Conclusion: Measurable biological evidence has been given to the use of such extract as effective substance against kidney diseases. Keywords: CCl4, Renoprotective activity, Nigella sativa, total oil, Unsaponifiable fraction

ClinOleic Impairs ROS Production and Phagocytosis in M1 Macrophages Without Affecting M1 Differentiation.

Lipid emulsions are the primary source of calories and fatty acids that are used to provide essential energy and nutrients to patients suffering from severe intestinal failure and critical illness. However, their use has been linked to adverse effects on patient outcomes, notably affecting immune defenses and inflammatory responses. ClinOleic is a lipid emulsion containing a mixture of olive oil and soybean oil (80:20). The effect of ClinOleic on the differentiation of M1 macrophages remains unclear. In this study, we isolated human monocytes and added ClinOleic to differentiation culture media to investigate whether it affects monocyte polarization into M1 macrophages and macrophage functions, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phagocytosis. ROS production was stimulated by live S. aureus and detected with L-012, a chemiluminescence emission agent. Phagocytic capacity was assayed using pHrodo™ Green S. aureus Bioparticles® Conjugate. We found that M1 cell morphology, surface markers (CD80 and CD86), and M1-associated cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) did not significantly change upon incubation with ClinOleic during M1 polarization. However, S. aureus-triggered ROS production was significantly lower in M1 macrophages differentiated with ClinOleic than in those not treated with ClinOleic. The inhibitory effect of ClinOleic on macrophage function also appeared in the phagocytosis assay. Taken together, these findings reveal that ClinOleic has a limited impact on the M1 differentiation phenotype but obviously reduces ROS production and phagocytosis.

Biological Activities of Virgin Coconut and Virgin Olive Oil Mixture against Oral Primary Colonizers: An In Vitro Study.

This study aimed to explore the potential synergistic interaction of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and virgin olive oil (VOO) mixture against Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacillus casei in a single and mixture species through the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), antiadherence, and antibiofilm activities. The broth microdilution technique was used to individually determine the MIC of both oils and an oil mixture (in the ratio of 1:1) in a 96-well microtiter plate. As for the MBC, the subcultured method was used. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (ΣFIC) was determined to identify the interaction types between both oils. The oil mixture at its MIC was then tested on its antibiofilm and antiadherence effect. The MIC of the oil mixture against the tested microbiota was 50-100%. The oil mixture was bactericidal at 100% concentration for all the mentioned microbes except S. mutans. The ΣFIC value was 2 to 4, indicating that the VCO and VOO acted additively against the microbiota. Meanwhile, the oil mixture at MIC (50% for S. sanguinis and L. casei; 100% for S. mutans and mixture species) exhibited antiadherence and antibiofilm activity toward the microbiota in mixture species. The oil mixture possesses antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antiadherence properties toward the tested microbiota, mainly at 50-100% concentration of oil mixture. There was no synergistic interaction found between VCO and VOO. Children and individuals with special care may benefit from using the oil mixture, primarily to regulate the biofilm formation and colonization of the bacteria. Furthermore, the oil mixture is natural and nontoxic compared to chemical-based oral healthcare products. How to cite this article: Ng YM, Sockalingam SNMP, Shafiei Z, et al. Biological Activities of Virgin Coconut and Virgin Olive Oil Mixture against Oral Primary Colonizers: An In Vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(3):260-266.

Mechanism of Guangdong Shenqu in regulating intestinal flora in mice with food stagnation and internal heat based on 16S rDNA sequencing

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Guangdong Shenqu (GSQ) on intestinal flora structure in mice with food stagnation through 16S rDNA sequencing. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to control, model, GSQ low-dose (GSQL), GSQ medium-dose (GSQM), GSQ high-dose (GSQH), and lacidophilin tablets (LAB) groups, with each group containing 10 mice. A food stagnation and internal heat mouse model was established through intragastric administration of a mixture of beeswax and olive oil (1:15). The control group was administered normal saline, and the model group was administered beeswax and olive oil to maintain a state. The GSQL (2 g/kg), GSQM (4 g/kg), GSQH (8 g/kg), and LAB groups (0.625 g/kg) were administered corresponding drugs for 5 d. After administration, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to assess gut microbiota in mouse fecal samples. ResultsThe model group exhibited significant intestinal flora changes. Following GSQ administration, the abundance and diversity index of the intestinal flora increased significantly, the number of bacterial species was regulated, and α and β diversity were improved. GSQ administration increased the abundance of probiotics, including Clostridia, Lachnospirales, and Lactobacillus, whereas the abundance of conditional pathogenic bacteria, such as Allobaculum, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Bacteroides decreased. Functional prediction analysis indicated that the pathogenesis of food stagnation and GSQ intervention were primarily associated with carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, among other metabolic pathways. ConclusionThe digestive mechanism of GSQ may be attributed to its role in restoring diversity and abundance within the intestinal flora, thereby improving the composition and structure of the intestinal flora in mice and subsequently influencing the regulation of metabolic pathways.

Detecting Olive Oil Fraud with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics: A Modern Safety Control Approach

Background: Olive oil is one of the most essential components of the Mediterranean diet, obtained by mechanical extraction from the Olea europaea tree. Based on organoleptic properties (odor and taste) and the amount of free fatty acids, it is divided into three categories: Olive oil, virgin olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil. Due to the expensive production procedure of extra virgin olive oil, it is prone to adulteration with low-quality olive oils and other vegetable oils. Objectives: The current study focused on determining the authenticity of olive oil using near-infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive method in conjunction with chemometrics. Methods: In this study, 100 samples of olive oils, comprising 34 domestic and 66 industrial olive oils, were purchased from the markets of Tehran and Roudbar. Common adulterants such as corn, canola, sunflower, and soybean oils were considered. Binary and ternary mixtures of olive oil with these vegetable oils were prepared and analyzed. Spectra were collected over the range of 12000 cm-1 to 4000 cm-1, and the data were preprocessed using SNV and Detrend before principal component analysis (PCA). Results: The results indicated that corn oil and canola oil were the dominant adulterants in the olive oil samples, likely due to their inexpensiveness and availability in Iran. Conclusions: Since multiple types of fraud were identified in the examined samples, it is recommended that future studies investigate other forms of fraud simultaneously. Additionally, the results demonstrated that principal component analysis could effectively categorize different samples with acceptable discrimination.

Production and Optimization of a Lipase-Producing Bacteria Enterobacter hormachei Isolated from an Oil-Contaminated Soil

Lipase enzymes possess a wide range of industrial applications. Thus, the capacity of lipase-producing bacteria to proliferate on tributyrin agar medium was used to screen for them among various sources. The lipase producing bacteria with highest zone of clearance on the screening media were preserved on the agar slants. The preserved slants were characterized by16SrRNA gene sequencing. The nucleotide sequence so obtained by the 16SrRNA gene sequence was then put through phylogenetic analysis and homology search using the NCBI’s BLAST program. The sequence of lipase producing bacteria showed maximum resemblance with Enterobacter hormaechei bacterial strain. These bacterial strains were produced by inoculating the culture in the inoculum media and allowing it to enrich over night. Subsequently, 3% of the inoculum from the inoculum media was added to the production media, which was then incubated for 48 hours in a rotary shaker. After production the media was centrifuged and supernatant was extracted and used further for optimization, Optimization of the physiochemical parameters of the bacterial strain like inoculum pH, incubation period, inoculum size was found using one factor at a time (OFAT) approach and medium parameters like different carbon source, nitrogen source, substrate, minerals, salts (11 factors) were screened using Plackett-Burman (PB) design which is a full factorial design. The Lipase activity was found by using a titrimetric method using olive oil and Arabic gum mixture as substrate mixture. The maximum lipase activity was found for inoculum pH of 5, 48 hours of incubation time, and 5% inoculum size. The results of the PB design showed the significant parameters to be glucose (carbon source), peptone (nitrogen source), KH2PO4 (salt), and NaCl (mineral). The organism of the soil sample containing bacterial strain showed maximum lipase activity of 70 U/ml and protein concentration of 4.3 μg/mL at the optimized conditions. After centrifuging the culture media that had been improved, the supernatant was collected and partially purified using dialysis and the ammonium sulfate precipitation procedure. Following precipitation, the supernatant’s activity was measured to be 74 U/mL. After being gathered, the pallet was dialyzed in a dialysis bag and added to a buffer. Both the protein content and the lipase activity were estimated. The protein concentration determined by Lowry’s technique was found to be 6.2 μg/mL, and the lipase activity was reported to be 85.22 U/mL.

Estimation of the composition ratio of two contents filled in an elastic thin tube through laser-diode-based photoacoustic measurements

Photoacoustic imaging is considered useful for evaluating the effects of treatment because it has a good resolution to capture minute vascular lesions and changes in the progression of atherosclerosis, which is difficult to detect with conventional imaging methods. In this study, the authors prepared a thin silicone tube filled with a mixture of red ink and olive oil as a model that mimics arteriosclerosis. The tube was embedded in a soft phantom. Photoacoustic measurements were performed using 405 nm and 520 nm laser diodes. As a result, the 405 nm laser produced a higher photoacoustic signal as the oil concentration in the mixture increased, whereas the 520 nm laser produced lower photoacoustic signals as the oil concentration increased. By focusing on the difference in the optical absorption at different wavelengths between the red ink and oil, it was shown that there was a possibility of estimating the oil concentration from the ratio of photoacoustic signals between different wavelengths.

Utilization of shea-nut cake for lipase production by thermophilic Bacillus valezensis EAC 9 isolated from hot compost and optimization of nutritional parameters

The use of oily waste as a cost-effective substrate for lipase production is gaining more importance. However, shea-nut cake (SNC) remains under-explored in this regard. Lipases of thermophilic origin such as hot compost bacteria, are of significant biotechnological and industrial importance due to favorable robust properties. This paper describes the isolation of potential lipase producing thermophilic bacteria from hot compost and improvement of its lipase through optimization of nutritional parameters. The bacteria were isolated on tributyrin agar plate and applied for the production of lipase on Olive oil, Shea-nut cake (SNC) and the mixture of olive oil and SNC. Using Plackett-Burman Design (PBD) for screening and Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for optimization studies, factors influencing lipase production on SNC substrate were identified. One (EAC 9) out of the 4 most potent isolates was identified as Bacillus velezensis EAC9 using 16S rRNA, and produced the highest lipase activity on mixture of olive oil and SNC (103.66 U/ml) than olive oil (65.22) and SNC (41.72 U/ml) alone. Optimization model validity was verified and revealed an optimum medium containing olive oil and Tween 80 at 1.0 % v/v, sucrose of 1.0 % w/v and (NH4)2SO4 of 0.1 % w/v led to maximum lipase production at 200 U/ml which was 4.79-fold increase from the unoptimized. The results indicate that SNC is a better prospective substrate for improving lipase production by thermophilic Bacillus valezensis EAC9, and that statistical methods may be used to deduce optimal parameters for effective lipase production.

Enhancement of weak signals by applying a suppression method to high-intense methyl and methylene signals of lipids in NMR spectroscopy.

Lipids play crucial roles in human biology, serving as energy stores, cell membranes, hormone production, and signaling molecules. Accordingly, their study under lipidomics has advanced the study of living organisms. 1-Dimensional (D) and 2D NMR methods, particularly 1D 1H and 2D 1H-1H Total Correlation Spectroscopy (TOCSY), are commonly used in lipidomics for quantification and structural identification. However, these NMR methods suffer from low sensitivity, especially in cases of low concentrated molecules such as protons attached to hydroxy, esters, aliphatic, or aromatic unsaturated carbons. Such molecules are common in complex mixtures such as dairy products and plant oils. On the other hand, lipids have highly populated fractions of methyl and methylene groups that result in intense peaks that overwhelm lower peaks and cause inhomogeneities in 2D TOCSY spectra. In this study, we applied a method of suppression to suppress these intense peaks of methyl and methylene groups to detect weaker peaks. The suppression method was investigated on samples of cheese, butter, a mixture of lipids, coconut oil, and olive oil. A significant improvement in peak sensitivity and visibility of cross-peaks was observed, leading to enhanced comparative quantification and structural identification of a greater number of lipids. Additionally, the enhanced sensitivity reduced the time required for the qualitative and comparative quantification of other lipid compounds and components. This, in turn, enables faster and more reliable structural identification and comparative quantification of a greater number of lipids. Additionally, it reduces the time required for the qualitative, and comparative quantification due to the enhancement of sensitivity.

Influence of the Oil Structuring System on Lipid Hydrolysis and Bioaccessibility of Healthy Fatty Acids and Curcumin.

Oleogels (OG) and gelled emulsions (GE) were elaborated with a mixture of olive and chia oils (80:20 ratio) without and with the incorporation of the health-related compound curcumin. These were studied to evaluate the influence of the oil structuring system on the lipid hydrolysis and bioaccessibility of three healthy fatty acids (FA) (palmitic, oleic, and α-linolenic acids) and of curcumin, compared to the oil mixture (bulk oil, BO). The oil structuring system influenced the firmness and texture, and the presence of curcumin significantly altered the color parameters. GE showed higher lipid digestibility, with a greater proportion of absorbable fraction (higher content of free FA and monoacylglycerides) than OG, which behaved similarly to BO. The presence of curcumin affected the degree of lipolysis, reducing lipid digestibility in OG and increasing it in GE. As for FA bioaccessibility, although GE presented higher percentages overall, curcumin significantly increased and decreased FA bioaccessibility in OG and GE, respectively. The oil structuring system also influenced the bioaccessibility of curcumin, which was higher in GE. Therefore, when selecting an oil structuring system, their physicochemical properties, the degree of lipid hydrolysis, and the bioaccessibility of both curcumin and the FA studied should all be considered.

Automatic liver segmentation and assessment of liver fibrosis using deep learning with MR T1-weighted images in rats

ObjectivesTo validate the performance of nnU-Net in segmentation and CNN in classification for liver fibrosis using T1-weighted images. Materials and methodsIn this prospective study, animal models of liver fibrosis were induced by injecting subcutaneously a mixture of Carbon tetrachloride and olive oil. A total of 99 male Wistar rats were successfully induced and underwent MR scanning with no contrast agent to get T1-weighted images. The regions of interest (ROIs) of the whole liver were delineated layer by layer along the liver edge by 3D Slicer. For segmentation task, all T1-weighted images were randomly divided into training and test cohorts in a ratio of 7:3. For classification, images containing the hepatic maximum diameter of every rat were selected and 80% images of no liver fibrosis (NLF), early liver fibrosis (ELF) and progressive liver fibrosis (PLF) stages were randomly selected for training, while the rest were used for testing. Liver segmentation was performed by the nnU-Net model. The convolutional neural network (CNN) was used for classification task of liver fibrosis stages. The Dice similarity coefficient was used to evaluate the segmentation performance of nnU-Net. Confusion matrix, ROC curve and accuracy were used to show the classification performance of CNN. ResultsA total of 2628 images were obtained from 99 Wistar rats by MR scanning. For liver segmentation by nnU-Net, the Dice similarity coefficient in the test set was 0.8477. The accuracies of CNN in staging NLF, ELF and PLF were 0.73, 0.89 and 0.84, respectively. The AUCs were 0.76, 0.88 and 0.79, respectively. ConclusionThe nnU-Net architecture is of high accuracy for liver segmentation and CNN for assessment of liver fibrosis with T1-weighted images.

Efficacy of Chitosan, Pectin and Xanthan as Cold Gelling Agents in Emulsion Gels Stabilized with Legume Proteins to Be Used as Pork Backfat Replacers in Beef Burgers.

This study aimed to develop stable emulsion gels enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids, formulated with a mixture of olive (75%) and linseed (25%) oils, by incorporating two different stabilizers-pea and soy protein isolates-and three different cold gelling agents-chitosan, pectin and xanthan-to be used as pork backfat replacers in beef burgers. The color, pH, stability and textural properties of the emulsion gels were analyzed as affected by cold storage (4 °C, 7 days). Proximate composition, fatty acid content, technological and sensory properties were determined after burger processing. Meanwhile, color, pH, textural parameters and lipid oxidation were monitored in burgers at 0, 5 and 10 days of storage at 4 °C. A reduction of the fat content between 21.49% and 39.26% was achieved in the reformulated burgers as compared with the control, while the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio decreased from 5.11 to 0.62. The highest moisture and fat retention were found in reformulated burgers made with xanthan, both with pea and soy proteins; however, their textural properties were negatively affected. The reformulated burgers made with chitosan were rated highest for sensory attributes and overall acceptability, not significantly different from the controls.

Phytochemical and Bioactivity of Propolis Extracts Produced by Stingless Bee Heterotrigona itama from Two Cultivation Locations

Propolis produced by the stingless bee is one of the non-timber forest products that currently has great potential to be developed. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical present in propolis and to investigate the bioactivities of Heterotrigona itama propolis. Propolis samples were collected from cultivation locations in the Faculty of Forestry at Mulawarman University and cultivation locations at Mangkurawang Sub District at Kutai Kartanegara. Propolis was extracted with ethanol and methanol for a mixture of propolis and olive oil. Phytochemical analysis was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively. Antioxidant activity was performed using the radical scavenging assay against DPPH. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, and coumarins. The results showed that the highest antioxidant activity was found in propolis ethanol extract from Mangkurawang with an IC50 value of 112.53 μg/ml, followed by ethanol extract from Fahutan with an IC50 of 165.382 μg/ml. Furthermore, the ethanol extract from Mangkurawang showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, and Candida albicans. This present study displayed the potential uses of propolis as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.

Comparative analysis of the anti-depression effects of lorazepam, acupuncture, and curcumin utilizing the forced swimming test in experimental rats models

Introductionlorazepam is one of benzodiazepine medication that is usually used for its sedative and anxiolytic effect and has anti-depressant like effects. Turmeric is a plant that contain curcumin as main active compound that exert its antidepressant action inhibit monoamine oxidase and increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in brain. Aimthe present study investigate the depression effect of curcumin (natural selective serotonin inhibitors) in comparison with acupuncture and lorazepam. Method32 adult rats weighing (150 g−280 g) were divided equally into 8 groups each group contain 4 rats. The first 3 group of rats were treated with lorazepam, mixture of (curcumin, black pepper and olive oil) and pricked with insulin needle at point gb39, respectively, while second 4 groups of rats were received lorazepam and mixture, lorazepam and acupuncture, mixture and acupuncture, and lorazepam, mixture and acupuncture, separately, and the eighth group is control group don't receive any drugs. After 35 days, forced swimming test was made for all rats. ResultsLiver parameters: - GOT increased in all group, GPT increased in rat's group that received lorazepam, mixture group and lorazepam+ mixture group, This indicates the existence of problems previously with the liver of the rat used, and what remains is the high levels of GOT and GPT in the control group, while TSB is within the normal range for all groups. Kidney parameters:-blood urea levels increased in all groups and S. creatinine levels within normal range for all groups. Conclusionthe evaluation of natural SERMs in the forced swimming test showed promising antidepressant-like effects, comparable to lorazepam and acupuncture. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and determine optimal dosage and safety. Natural selective serotonin inhibitors hold potential as alternative or complementary treatments for depression.

The influence of ripening of semi-hard goat cheese in oil on its physicochemical composition and sensory properties

The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of ripening of semi-hard goat cheese in oil (mixture of Mljet's extra-virgin olive oil and refined sunflower oil; 50:50) on its physicochemical composition and sensory properties, as well as to determine the optimal time of immersion of the cheese in oil. Five batches of cheeses were produced, and the cheeses of the same batch were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the ripening method: (1) ripening in air (control group, treatment 1), (2) ripening in oil after 10 d of ripening in air (treatment 2), (3) ripening in oil after 20 d of ripening in air (treatment 3). Cheeses were sampled during ripening at d 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60, and physicochemical analyses were performed. Oil as a ripening medium for cheese prevented water loss from the cheese (groups 2 and 3), and the significantly lowest contents of dry matter, protein, fat, saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), oleic acid, and salt were found in group 2. Group 3 had the highest contents of fat, SFA, UFA, and oleic acid. Prolonged ripening of the cheese in air before immersion in oil resulted in greater water loss and the formation of such cheese structure that allowed oil to penetrate the cheese. Water retention and oil penetration into the cheese altered the physicochemical composition of the goat cheese, having a significantly positive effect on the sensory characteristics, particularly color, texture, and taste, allowing the cheese to be consumed even when goat milk is not produced due to seasonality.

Differential effects of plant and animal fats on obesity-induced dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is closely associated with obesity through risk factors such as dyslipidemia and chronic low-grade inflammation, which may be affected by diet. Dietary fats have been extensively studied in relation to CVD risk, however these studies have not always yielded consistent results, most likely due to lack in control of experimental conditions and confounding factors. Here we studied the effects of different plant and animal fats on dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice were fed isocaloric energy-dense diets with translational macronutrient composition for 28 weeks. The diets were identical apart from the type of fat they contained: either (1) a mixture of olive and rapeseed oil, (2) sunflower oil, (3) pork fat, (4) beef fat, or (5) milk fat. The fatty acid composition of the diets was determined and effects on circulating lipid and inflammatory risk factors and atherosclerosis were examined, complemented by adipose tissue histology and liver transcriptomics. While visceral fat mass, adipocyte size, and adipose tissue inflammation were not differentially affected by the diets, atherosclerotic lesion load and severity was more pronounced with increasing dietary saturated fatty acid content and decreasing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and hence most pronounced with beef and milk fat. These differential effects were accompanied by increases in pro-atherogenic plasma lipids/lipoproteins (e.g., triglycerides, apolipoprotein B), activation of pro-atherogenic cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways in liver, and with circulating pro-atherogenic mediators of inflammation altogether providing a rationale for the differential effects of plant and animal fats.

Antifungal synergic activity of essential olive oil and alcoholic turmeric extracts against isolates from the dried grapes raisins

Fungi are responsible for a wide variety of harm to humans, including food spoilage and infections. Using chemicals to restrict fungal development or infections has negative repercussions, such as human health dangers from the chemical applications and rising antifungal-drug resistance, so this study aimed to use medicinal plants and their extracts as an alternative method to restrict fungal growth. Ten isolates of the genus Aspergillus were identified from the fruits of dried grapes (raisins) of all kinds (Iraqi black raisins, Iranian yellow raisins, and brown raisins) at the species level using three – differential media: Czapek Yeast Extract Agar( CYA), Malt Extract Agar( MEA), and 25% Glycerol nitrate agar (G25N) incubated in 5, 25 and 37 ºC. Aspergillus niger was the most common isolated species. The number of A. niger isolates reached seven from all types of dried grapes, while A. flavus recorded three isolates from black raisins and brown raisins. Aspergillus Flavus Parasiticus Agar (AFPA) was used to detect the ability of A. flavus isolates to produce aflatoxin at 25-30 ºC for one week. Alcoholic extract of turmeric showed a significant inhibitory effect on the colony diameter of both A. flavus and A. niger isolated from the fruit of Iraqi black raisins with an inhibition rate of 86.6% and 68.8 %, respectively, at 4 mg/ ml concentration. The mixture of turmeric and essential olive oil gave a distinct inhibitory effect, reaching a 100% inhibition rate from the lowest to highest concentration for both A. niger and A. flavus .

Residual Cough and Asthma-like Symptoms Post-COVID-19 in Children.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide and is characterized by different presentations ranging from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. COVID-19 affects all age groups, including pediatric patients. We observed numerous children complaining of a cough post-COVID-19, even if it was trivial. The most reported persistent symptoms after recovery from COVID-19 were insomnia, coughing, fatigue, dyspnea, loss of taste and/or smell, and headache. To date, residual cough post-COVID-19 has been reported in pediatrics and adolescents. we conducted a retrospective study, with a self-administered questionnaire by the patient or caregiver, 12 months post-COVID-19-infection. A total of 94.8% of patients were Saudi citizens and were mainly from the southern region of Saudi Arabia (50.0%). Mothers (64.4%) submitted most of the results. The ages were as follows: 6-14 years (51.0%), 3-5 years (32.3%), and younger than 2 years of age (only 16.7%). Females accounted for 41.7% of those studied. Nearly half of the patients (48.5%) had had a previous COVID-19 infection in 2022, with only 2.1% infected in 2019. Only 27/194 (13.9%) patients required hospital admission, and 7 of them (4.2%) required intensive care treatment. A total of 179 (92.2%) patients still reported persistent symptoms 4 weeks post-COVID-19-infection. A cough was reported in 69.8% of patients, followed by cough and wheezing in 12.3%. The cough was described as dry in 78.0% and nocturnal in 54.1%, while 42.5% did not notice any diurnal variation. For those reporting residual cough, 39.3% found that it affected school attendance and daily activities, 31.1% reported associated chest pain, 51.9% associated it with wheezing, and 27.1% associated it with shortness of breath. For 54.4%, the residual cough lasted less than one month, while 31.4% reported a 1-2 month duration. Only 1.0% had a duration of cough of more than 3 months. For cough relief, 28.2% used bronchodilators, 19.9% used cough syrup, 16.6% used a combination of bronchodilators and steroid inhalers, and 1.7% used antibiotics. Surprisingly, 33% attempted herbal remedies for cough relief. Sesame oil was used the most (40.0%), followed by a mixture of olive oil and sesame oil (25.0%), and 21.7% used male frankincense. The majority (78.4%) sought medical advice for their post-infection cough, either from general pediatricians (39.5%) or via specialist pediatric pulmonology consultations (30.9%). A total of 11.0% with a residual cough reported having pets at home, while 27.2% reported secondhand smoke exposure in the household. Before infection with COVID-19, only 32.6% were diagnosed with asthma, while 68.2% reported a diagnosis of atopic skin. There was a high prevalence of residual cough post-COVID-19, extended for a minimum of two months, and the characteristics of the cough were very similar to those of asthmatic patients. There was still a high prevalence of using cough syrup and herbal remedies, especially olive oil, sesame oil, and male frankincense. A residual cough adversely affected school attendance in daily activities, and there was a high prevalence of other siblings in the family being affected. The study showed that a minority of patients were seen by the pulmonologist; luckily, long COVID was rare in our study, and so further studies are highly needed to confirm the association with asthma. More educational programs are highly needed regarding herbal remedies and cough syrup.

Formulation Of Solid Soap From Kerinci Arabica Coffee Beans

Background: Kerinci coffee that is grown in the traditional way and gets a coffee stamp that applies a sustainable process. The caffeine content in coffee is an antioxidant that can prevent premature aging of the skin, is able to remove dead skin cells, smooth the skin, provide nutrition to the skin, eliminate body odor, remove acne scars and provide protection against ultraviolet rays. This study aims to obtain a good solid soap formula from Kerinci Arabica Coffee.
 Methods: Solid soap is made by the cold process method using a mixture of fatty oils and sodium hydroxide as the basic ingredients. The fatty oil used is a mixture of olive oil and coconut oil (Formula I/FI) and a mixture of olive oil and VCO (Formula II/FII).
 Results: Both formulas show good results in the form of solid, coffee-scented, milk chocolate color (FI) dark milk chocolate FII, FI soap has hard texture and FII has soft. The results of the test for water content FI = 11.3% and FII = 10.45%, the conditions according to SNI are less than 15%. The pH of FI soap is 9 and FII is 10, the pH test for 4 weeks shows a stable curve.
 Conclusion: Kerinci arabica coffee can be formulated into solid soap and meets the requirements for water content and pH

Effects of Pork Backfat Replacement with Emulsion Gels Formulated with a Mixture of Olive, Chia and Algae Oils on the Quality Attributes of Pork Patties.

This paper reports on the development of new emulsion gels containing a mixture of olive, chia and algae oil emulsified with soy protein isolate and stabilized by two different cold gelling agents, gelatin (EGEL) and chitosan (ECHIT), and to evaluate their potential use as pork backfat replacers in cooked pork patties. Reformulated patties were produced by half and full pork backfat replacement and compared to normal fat patties and reduced fat content patties made by replacing half of the added fat with water. Color parameters, pH and thermal stability of the emulsion gels were determined at processing and after 10 days of refrigerated storage. Proximate composition, fatty acid profile, technological properties and sensory attributes were evaluated after patty processing, while color parameters, pH and lipid oxidation were monitored in patties during 15 days of refrigerated storage (4 °C). Reformulated patties showed significant improvements of the lipid profile (lower saturated fatty acid content and n-6/n-3 ratio and higher long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content) as compared to the controls. In terms of technological properties, chitosan was more effective than gelatin as a stabilizer of the emulsion gel. All reformulated patties showed a good evolution of lipid oxidation during storage and acceptable sensory attributes.