Nutritional Compounds Research Articles

Comparison of nutritional, bioactive potential and antioxidant properties of Saba senegalensis fruit pulps from five regions of Burkina Faso.

The fruit of Saba senegalensis plays an important role in household nutrition. It is an important source of sweet carbohydrates, minerals, vitamin C, provitamin A and has many biological properties. It is also of economical importance and employment for rural populations, through the processing of fruit. Unfortunately, the lack of exhaustive data on the composition and properties of the fruit and its derivatives limits processing and marketing. The species is widespread in different climatic zones. Therefore, its composition and biological properties may vary, offering a variety of processing products to meet the specific nutritional needs. This study aimed to characterize the bioactive potential and antioxidant properties of fruit pulps of S. senegalensis in order to increase its value-added processing. Pulp samples of fruits were sampled from five regions of Burkina Faso, namely the Cascades, Sud-Ouest, Boucle du Mouhoun, Nord and Centre-Sud regions. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids and steroids, anthocyanins and tannins. Quantitative analyses showed a significant variation in phenolics, tannins, lycopene, vitamin C, β-carotene and antioxidant activity among samples. However, this variation was not region-dependent. Indeed, some fruits from same region showed both the highest and lowest values for the assessed parameters. Fruits from regions of Centre-Sud and Sud-Ouest and displayed the highest and lowest levels of total phenolics (877.48 and 1142.33 mg GAE/100 g) and tannins (42.38 and 55.64 mg TAE/100 g), respectively. The high potential of S. senegalensis fruits pulp in nutritional and bioactive compounds, and antioxidant properties recorded in this study suggests that they can be used as a dietary supplement or in the formulation of energy foods and nutraceutical containing foods.

Anticancer Effects of Ethanolic Extracts of Macaranga Peltata Leaves on Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cell Lines: An In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT Cancer is a disease resulting from the disruption of cell cycle regulation, leading to the abnormal and unchecked proliferation of cells. Medicinal plants are rich in various bioactive phytochemicals or nutritional compounds. The aim is to determine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of ethanolic extracts of Macaranga peltata leaves on human oral cancer cell lines. The study setting was centre for Research on Molecular and Applied Sciences, Azeezia College of Dental Sciences and Research. The study design is a Comparative In Vitro study. Shade dried leaves of Macaranga peltata were subjected to Soxhlet extraction, and ethanolic extract was prepared. In vitro cytotoxic effects on human oral cancer cell lines were evaluated by (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazole-2yl)-2,5–diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) MTT assay, and genotoxic effect was evaluated by comet assay. Untreated cell lines were used as control, and 5-fluorouracil was used as positive control. All experiments were performed in triplicates, and results were represented as Mean+/- SE. One-way ANOVA and Dunnet test were performed to analyze data. ***P < 0.001 compared with the control group. The ethanolic extract of Macaranga peltata exhibited cytotoxicity against oral cancer cells (LC50: 40.193089 μg/ml). There was a concentration-dependent increase in cell death, and at 100 μg/ml, the extract was most effective, causing 50% inhibition of viability. The comet assay showed significant genotoxic effects compared with 5-fluorouracil and untreated oral cancer cell lines. The ethanolic extract of Macaranga peltata leaves was subjected to MTT assay and comet using KB cell lines. The study concludes that the extract gave promising result for the anticancer activity on the KB cell lines producing cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

NaCl elicitation enhances metabolite accumulation and stress resilience in Inula crithmoides L. shoot cultures: implications for its nutritional and medicinal value

This study explored the impact of sodium chloride (NaCl) elicitation on the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites and the oxidative stress responses of Inula crithmoides L. (golden samphire) in vitro shoot cultures. Elicitation involved applying different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM) for 4 weeks. This was followed by assessing its impact on plant growth, physiological parameters (pigments, hydrogen peroxide content, total soluble sugars and proteins, and proline), and secondary metabolism (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, shikimic acid, phenolics, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids) in the shoots. The extracts were also analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The NaCl elicitation did not affect shoot growth but increased physiological functions such as photosynthesis and oxidative stress management under moderate salinity levels. In addition, NaCl treatments increased the synthesis of soluble sugars and proteins, particularly proline, as well as bioactive phenolics such as gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and naringenin-7-O-glucoside. The NaCl elicitation in golden samphire shoot cultures offers a significant method for enhancing the production of important nutritional and bioactive compounds. This underscores the species’ potential for cultivation in saline environments and provides valuable prospects for its utilization in the health and nutrition sectors.

Phytochemical Evaluation and Lethal Concentration of Aqueous Extract of Adansonia digitata Fruit Pulp in Clarias gariepinus

The study was aimed at assessing the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp (AEADFP) in Clarias gariepinus. Adansonia digitata fruit pulp was obtained at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U), Zaria, Nigeria. Proximate nutrient composition was determined according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemist. Maceration method was employed for Adansonia digitata fruit pulp extraction using distilled water, and thereafter, screened for phytochemical constituents. A total of 200 African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) weighing between 185 ± 5 g (27-36 cm) were used for determination of LC50 of AEADFP using standard procedure at the aquaculture animal house Unite of Department of Veterinary Pathology, A.B.U., Zaria. Twenty (20) fish were used for range finding test, while 180 fish for LC50 evaluation. The experimental fish were observed for clinical signs of toxicity and mortality. The result of proximate nutrient composition of Adansonia digitata fruit revealed the presence of carbohydrate, lipid, protein, ash, moisture, and crude fiber. Qualitative phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phenol, terpenoid, glycosides, saponins, anthraquinone, steroids, reducing sugar and alkaloids, while quantitative phytochemical assay showed that total Phenol and alkaloid had highest and lowest concentration, respectively. There was neither mortality nor any clinical sign of toxicity observed for the 96 hours post-administration to AEADFP up to 5000 mg/L. Conclusively, AEADFP had nutritional and bioactive compounds that are important in biological processes. The lethal concentration of AEADFP is above 5000 mg/L; hence, relatively safer for use in medicinal purposes.

Nutritive Compounds of Traditional Rainfed Rice (Oryza glaberrima) from Goh-Djiboua and Mountains Districts in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: The biochemical composition of rainfed rice (Oryza glaberrima) consumed in Côte d'Ivoire has not yet been revealed, whereas rice is of the main staple foods for many people. This work investigates the main biochemical traits of numerous traditional rainfed rice varieties from Ivorian environment, namely in Gôh-Djiboua and Mountains Districts, for better valorization.
 Study Design: Study performed on traditional rainfed rice varieties collected from 450 farmers in both regional Districts mentioned above. Shelled rice perceived per variety, conditioned, and total final 5.4 kg of resulted rice considered, 200g per variety, for due laboratory investigation.
 Place and Duration of Study: Sampling between January and June 2017, full analysis by 2018 in Laboratory of Food Sciences, Felix Houphouët- Boigny University.
 Methodology: All rice samples conveyed to laboratory, then 100g taken per variety, oven-dried at 50 °C/72 h, ground in metallic grinder, sealed into polyethylene bags, and kept into desiccator till analyses. Investigations consisted in triplicate evaluation of moisture, carbohydrates (total glucides, starch, soluble carbohydrates, reducing carbohydrates), fats, proteins, caloric energy, fibres, and ash by rice sample.
 Results: Great variability (P<.001) recorded between rive samples for biochemical traits assessed. Thus, the variety Jbröko represents the most important source of glucides (84.19±0.37g/ 100 g) and caloric energy (322.17±0.37kcal/ 100 g) compared to the other varieties. Oppositely, the variety Yoroukouiagnêzê recorded the highest proteins content (7.27±0.03 g/100g), whereas Abê provides more food fibres (6.67±0.14g/ 100g). Otherwise, the variety Danané belating is richer in free soluble sugars (4.63±0.08 g/100 g), while Azi red displayed more moisture content (10.96±0.1%) and Gbêklêazi is richer in lipids with content of 1.26±0.21g/ 100g. The top ash and starch contents were respectively recovered from varieties Zonhonkloumin black (1.38±0.02 g/100 g) and Abê (71.99±0.03g/ 100g).
 Conclusion: The studied rainfed rice record good nutritive traits above the widespread improved rice varieties. They remain significant caloric food resources thanks to considerable contents in glucides (varieties Abê, Akita, Jbröko, No-No-No, and Danané I), proteins, lipids, and significant amount of food fibre (varieties Boumabou, Glawlon, Dikouè, Loêgnini, and Danané fowl) and minerals. This nutritive composition could permit their quite usages for consumers and researchers, even though other investigations on the functional nutritional compounds should be performed.

Insights into the nutritional prevention of macular degeneration based on a comparative topic modeling approach.

Topic modeling and text mining are subsets of natural language processing (NLP) with relevance for conducting meta-analysis (MA) and systematic review (SR). For evidence synthesis, the above NLP methods are conventionally used for topic-specific literature searches or extracting values from reports to automate essential phases of SR and MA. Instead, this work proposes a comparative topic modeling approach to analyze reports of contradictory results on the same general research question. Specifically, the objective is to identify topics exhibiting distinct associations with significant results for an outcome of interest by ranking them according to their proportional occurrence in (and consistency of distribution across) reports of significant effects. Macular degeneration (MD) is a disease that affects millions of people annually, causing vision loss. Augmenting evidence synthesis to provide insight into MD prevention is therefore of central interest in this article. The proposed method was tested on broad-scope studies addressing whether supplemental nutritional compounds significantly benefit macular degeneration. Six compounds were identified as having a particular association with reports of significant results for benefiting MD. Four of these were further supported in terms of effectiveness upon conducting a follow-up literature search for validation (omega-3 fatty acids, copper, zeaxanthin, and nitrates). The two not supported by the follow-up literature search (niacin and molybdenum) also had scores in the lowest range under the proposed scoring system. Results therefore suggest that the proposed method's score for a given topic may be a viable proxy for its degree of association with the outcome of interest, and can be helpful in the systematic search for potentially causal relationships. Further, the compounds identified by the proposed method were not simultaneously captured as salient topics by state-of-the-art topic models that leverage document and word embeddings (Top2Vec) and transformer models (BERTopic). These results underpin the proposed method's potential to add specificity in understanding effects from broad-scope reports, elucidate topics of interest for future research, and guide evidence synthesis in a scalable way. All of this is accomplished while yielding valuable and actionable insights into the prevention of MD.

Uses of Microorganisms in The Recovery of Oil and Gas

Microscopic organisms are the only single-celled organisms proposed for the advancement of techniques for Estimation of Oil Recovery (EOR) because they have numerous desirable properties, including a simple structure and an unsustainable growth rate when supplied with vital nutrients, resulting in the release of metabolic chemicals like Aerosols, acids, minimum lubricants, surfactants, and polymers. Clostridium acetobutylicum was isolated from intensive rice cultivation soil and has the ability to use polysaccharides such as starch and carboxylmethyl cellulose to produce biobutanol, while Desulfovibrio hydrocarbonoclasticus was isolated from marine sediment in Iraq and grows in anaerobic synthetic seawater medium with the addition of a trace element solution. These bacteria can also withstand difficult conditions High salinity, high pressure, and high temperature play roles and contribute to underground geological formations. An aqueous mixture of nutrients, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Desulfovibrio hydrocarbonoclasticus, and molasses with nutrient and bacterial spore injection into a reservoir. As a result, these microorganisms are capable of considerable catalytic reactions. production of a diverse spectrum of products (biosolvents, bioacids, biogases, and biosurfactants) from relatively simple nutritional compounds, multiply vigorously under favourable conditions, and have resulted in increased oil release from reservoir rock. The well began producing 70 days after the medication was started. 80 to 90 days after the injection began, relatively brief polyunsaturated fats, Carbon dioxide, and residues of ethanol, 1-butanol, and acetone were detected. Because of their highly resistant endospores, Clostridium are the most ideal of the several microbes used in MEOR (Microbial enhanced oil recovery). Desulfovibrio strains capable of producing biosurfactants in situ, which are beneficial to the MEOR process, are also valuable. Nutrients are often supplied as fermentable carbs to promote microbial metabolism.

Color and Nutritional Analysis of Ten Different Purple Sweet Potato Varieties Cultivated in China via Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis.

Purple sweet potato (PSP) has abundant nutritional compounds, which are valuable constituents of the human diet, but its development and utilization are still in the primary processing phase. This study examined the differences in nutritional characteristics of 10 PSP varieties. A variety of nutritional components were evaluated and comprehensively compared using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The PSP had 60.9-70.1% moisture. The dried PSP had abundant starch (43.9~67.2%) and dietary fiber (9.40~16.5%), moderate levels of protein (3.19~8.75%) and reducing sugar (1.44~4.01%), and low amounts of crude fat (0.51~1.01%). The anthocyanin profile varied significantly between the different varieties. A correlation analysis showed that a higher content of anthocyanins resulted in a darker color. The PCA and CA suggested that varieties XS, ZL, and JS18 are desirable for developing the diabetic patient's diet. JS1 had the highest anthocyanin, protein, and dietary fiber contents and the lowest starch, implying that it could be used as a source of natural colorants or functional foods. Varieties FX, GS, ES13, and EN are suitable for producing various starch-based food products, such as noodles, cookies, and pastries. This study provides a reference for the practical use and rational processing of PSP resources.

Nutritional Characterization of Chilean Landraces of Common Bean

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the primary grain legume cultivated worldwide for direct human consumption due to the high nutritional value of its seeds and pods. The high protein content of common beans highlights it as the most promising source of plant-based protein for the food industry. Additionally, landraces of common bean have great variability in nutritional traits, which is necessary to increase the nutritional quality of elite varieties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to nutritionally characterize 23 Chilean landraces and 5 commercial varieties of common bean to identify genotypes with high nutritional value that are promising for the food industry and for genetic improvement programs. The landrace Phv23 (‘Palo’) was the most outstanding with high concentrations of minerals such as P (7.53 g/kg), K (19.8 g/kg), Mg (2.43 g/kg), Zn (52.67 mg/kg), and Cu 13.67 mg/kg); essential amino acids (364.8 mg/g protein); and total proteins (30.35 g/100 g seed). Additionally, the landraces Phv9 (‘Cimarrón’), Phv17 (‘Juanita’), Phv3 (‘Araucano’), Phv8 (‘Cabrita/Señorita’), and Phv4 (‘Arroz’) had a high protein content. The landrace Phv24 (’Peumo’) stood out for its phenolic compounds (TPC = 218.1 mg GA/100 g seed) and antioxidant activity (ORAC = 22,167.9 μmol eq trolox/100 g extract), but it has moderate to low mineral and protein concentrations. In general, the concentration of nutritional compounds in some Chilean landraces was significantly different from the commercial varieties, highlighting their high nutritional value and their potential use for the food industry and for genetic improvement purposes.

Valorization of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed coats: Optimization of polyphenols’ extraction using Ired-Irrad® and assessment of their biological activities

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed coat (SSC) is a by-product generated during the production of sesame paste, known as tahini. Research has demonstrated that this by-product is abundant in valuable nutritional compounds. Various extraction methods are employed to enhance the value of industrial waste by recovering its bioactive compounds. The study aims to optimize the extraction of polyphenols utilizing an infrared technique Ired-Irrad® (IR), in comparison to the water bath (WB) extraction. To optimize the extraction of polyphenols from SSC using both the IR and WB extraction methods, the study utilized Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Under optimal conditions, IR extraction resulted in an improved polyphenol yield, which was 20% higher than that obtained using WB extraction. Similarly, the antiradical activity, quantified as mg of Trolox equivalent per milliliter, increased from 0.58 mg TE/mL in the WB extract to 0.68 mg TE/mL in the IR extract. The phytochemical profile of the IR and WB extracts was examined through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The major polyphenols identified in both extracts were the flavonoids rutin (3.87 mg/L in IR, 1.72 mg/L in WB) and catechin (3.05 mg/L in IR, 1.32 mg/L in WB). The IR extract revealed the highest yield of polyphenols among the majority of compounds, compared to WB. The lyophilized SSC extracts obtained through both the IR and WB methods demonstrated the most effective antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, with a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) value exceeding 100 mg/mL. However, minor antibacterial effects were detected against the Gram-negative strains, Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7, for extracts obtained with both the IR and WB methods.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Moringa Oleifera Lam Leaf Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Microglia

Moringa oleifera Lam has been used as a medicinal plant in many Asian countries including Thailand. The plant has a variety of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, hypolipidemic, anti-infection, anticancer, and antidiabetic. The leaves and young pods, which contain various nutritional compounds including proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins, are widely consumed. In this study, we investigated the effects of hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol crude extracts of M. oleifera Lam leaves on the viability of microglial cells and on the lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial activation. which is widely used as a model for neuroinflammation. Our findings suggested that all of the crude extracts at concentrations ranging from 10–9 to 10–5 g/mL did not significantly affect the viability of microglial cells and exhibited similar effects. Subsequently, we focused on ethanol extract for investigation of the molecular mechanism involving neuroinflammation. We found that the ethanol extract of M. oleifera Lam leaves at the concentrations of 10–9 to 10–5 g/mL significantly reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression and nitric oxide (NO) production, accompanied by the reduction of phospho-NF-κB and phospho-IκBα expressions. The results suggested that the ethanol extract of M. oleifera Lam leaves reduced NO production through reduction of iNOS protein expression following the inhibition of NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathways. Our study underscored the therapeutic potential of M. oleifera Lam leaves extract in neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation. HIGHLIGHTS The ethanol extract of M. oleifera Lam leaves dose-dependently reduced NO production in LPS-activated microglia The reduction in NO production correlated with the reduction in iNOS protein expression The extract inhibited the expression of NF-kB/I-kBα protein expression in a dose-dependent manner The ethanol extract of oleifera Lam leaves exhibited anti-inflammatory effect via the inhibition of NF-kB/I-kBα signaling pathway GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Wine lees as functional ingredient to produce biscuits fortified with polyphenols and dietary fibre

Wine lees, a by-product of winemaking process, still contains bioactive molecules (especially fibres and polyphenols) with potential functional properties. Considering the high frequency of consumption and high versatility of biscuits, the purpose of this work was to replace wheat flour with 10% (F10) and 20% (F20) of wine less flour (WLF) to produce biscuits with an improved nutritional profile. This study assessed the impact of substituting 10 and 20% of WLF on the physico-chemical, nutritional, textural, sensory, and volatile aroma compound characteristics. These results were compared with those of a control biscuit exclusively made with wheat flour (F0). The statistical comparison allowed for demonstrating how the fortified biscuits (F10 and F20) had significantly higher values of fibres, proteins, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and higher oxidative stability than the control (F0). Different flavonoids and anthocyanins were detected in F10 and F20, such as ellagic acid and malvidin-3-acetil glucoside with a concentration greater than 200 mg/kg. The increased fibres and polyphenols in the F20 led to a significant lowering in glycaemic index (pGI) and starch hydrolysis (HI). Based on simulated colonic fermentation, F20 also exhibited a slight prebiotic effect supported by the significant increase in lactic acid bacteria cell density compared to F0.

Effects of storage time and different sugar types on color characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of jaboticaba jellies

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage time and the use of different sugar types (crystal, refined, demerara, brown) on color characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of jaboticaba jellies. All analyses (microbiological, color, anthocyanins, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity by ABTS, DPPH, and β-carotene/linoleic acid systems) were performed for 120 days. The results were evaluated by means test and Pearson correlation. It was found that the sugars used in preparation and storage influenced the characteristics of jaboticaba jellies, and mold and yeast growth remained within the standards allowed by Brazilian legislation. All jellies were darkened during storage. Bioactive compound degradation was observed, and antioxidant capacity was reduced. Positive correlations were observed. Thus, demerara sugar, even though it does not provide bright colors in jellies, is the most beneficial for the production of jaboticaba jellies, due to the presence of nutritional compounds.

The effect of chickpeas metabolites on human diseases and the application of their valuable nutritional compounds suitable for human consumption

The effect of chickpeas metabolites on human diseases and the application of their valuable nutritional compounds suitable for human consumption

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): A Promising Source of Nutritional and Therapeutic Compounds.

Taraxacum officinale, commonly referred to as dandelion, is a selfgrowing plant/ weed in various parts of India and the rest of the world (particularly the northern hemisphere). The plant's chemical composition, including sesquiterpene lactones, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and many other compounds, contributes positively to the human body, promoting overall health. This review aims to shed light on the therapeutic potential of dandelion by summarizing its nutritional benefits, phytochemical constituents, and effectiveness in addressing health conditions like diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. It also provides insights into the applications of this plant beyond the food industry to gain researchers' attention to unravel the unexplored aspects of this therapeutic plant. It will further help in laying specific considerations, which are required to be taken into account before the development of functional foods incorporated with dandelion. Scope and approach: Being rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and other phytoconstituents, dandelion is a natural remedy for various ailments. Whether consumed raw or cooked, the plant's inclusion in the diet poses potential therapeutic effects on conditions such as diabetes, inflammation, liver disease, and tumors. It also aids in immune system modulation and fights infections by targeting microbes at their root. Researchers have developed various value-added food products by incorporating different parts of dandelion. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of dandelion, emphasizing its effectiveness against various health conditions. Insights into dosage, toxicity, and diverse applications further underscore its role as a versatile and promising natural remedy.

Breast milk preservation: thermal and non-thermal processes and their effect on microorganism inactivation and the content of bioactive and nutritional compounds.

Human Breast Milk (HBM) is widely acknowledged as the best nutritional source for neonates. Data indicates that, in 2019, 83.2% of infants in the United States received breast milk at birth, slightly reducing to 78.6% at 1 month. Despite these encouraging early figures, exclusive breastfeeding rates sharply declined, dropping to 24.9% by 6 months. This decline is particularly pronounced when direct breastfeeding is challenging, such as in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and for working mothers. Given this, it is vital to explore alternative breast milk preservation methods. Technologies like Holder Pasteurization (HoP), High-Temperature Short-Time Pasteurization (HTST), High-Pressure Processing (HPP), UV radiation (UV), and Electric Pulses (PEF) have been introduced to conserve HBM. This review aims to enhance the understanding of preservation techniques for HBM, supporting the practice of extended exclusive breastfeeding. It explicitly addresses microbial concerns, focusing on critical pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Cytomegalovirus, and explores how various preservation methods can mitigate these risks. Additionally, the review highlights the importance of retaining the functional elements of HBM, particularly its immunological components such as antibodies and enzymes like lysozyme and Bile Salt Stimulated Lipase (BSSL). The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of HBM treatment, critically assess existing practices, identify areas needing improvement, and advocate for extended exclusive breastfeeding due to its vital role in ensuring optimal nutrition and overall health in infants.

Exploring Nutrient Profiles, Phytochemical Composition, and the Antiproliferative Activity of Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma leucocontextum: A Comprehensive Comparative Study.

Ganoderma, often hailed as a holistic "health package", comprises an array of nutritional components and active compounds, contributing to its esteemed status in the realm of healthy foods. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was performed to elucidate the diverse nutritional profiles, bioactive components, and antiproliferative activities between two Ganoderma species: G. lucidum (GLU) and G. leucocontextum (GLE). The results showed that GLE possessed a higher level of nutritional constituents, except for dietary fiber. Fatty acid analysis revealed comparable profiles rich in unsaturated fatty acids for both species. The ethanol extract of GLU and GLE exhibited potent antioxidant capabilities and remarkable inhibition of tumor cell proliferation via apoptosis induction, with greater potency in GLE. The heightened triterpene levels in GLE potentially contribute to its augmented antitumoral effects. The exploration emphasized the significance of comprehending the varied chemical compositions of Ganoderma species, providing insights into their potential health benefits applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder: Investigation of performance, immune organs and humoural and cellular immune response in broilers.

Alternatives to antibiotics have been suggested by banning their use in the poultry industry. Garlic and mushroom are two important phytobiotic compounds in poultry nutrition. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing diets with garlic and mushroom powder (MP) on growth performance, humoural and cellular immunity, and white blood cell counts of broiler chickens. Five hundred and seventy-six 1-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to 8 treatments with 6 replications (12 birds per replication) based on a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 4×2 with 4 levels of garlic powder (GP; 0.00%, 0.50%, 1.00%, and 1.50%) and two levels of MP (0.00% and 1.00%). No significant effects of GP and MP on the growth performance and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity were observed (p>0.05). According to the regression equation, with increasing levels of GP in the diets, the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus increased (p<0.05). The effect of increasing levels of GP on the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) titre was greater in the absence of MP (p<0.05). With increasing levels of GP in the diets, the percentages of lymphocytes and heterophils to lymphocytes ratio increased and reduced, respectively (p<0.05). This experiment has revealed that increasing the level of GP improved the immune response of broilers without affecting performance. The effect of increasing the level of GP on the NDV titre was more significant in the absence of MP.

Determination of aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A in breast milk in rural centers of Yazd, Iran: Exposure assessment and risk characterization.

Breast milk (BM) is considered as the best source of nutrition which could have prevention effects on various diseases in the first years of a child. Along with nutritive compounds, presence of contaminants such as mycotoxins in BM could be transmitted into neonate. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence, levels, and factors associated with the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ocratoxin a (OTA) in BM samples of nursing mothers in rural centers of Yazd, Iran. The presence and average AFM1 and OTA concentration in 72 BM samples was measured by competitive ELISA. The demographic and diet parameters of nursing mothers were collected by a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS 18 software. AFM1 and OTA were detected in 63 (87.5%) and 47 (65.2%) samples with the mean concentration levels of 19.46 ± 13.26ng/L (ranges from 5.1 to 53.9) and 200 ± 160ng/L (ranges from 100 to 2460), respectively. Of these, 32 samples (50.7%) for AFM1 and 23 samples (48.9%) for OTA had values exceeding the limit set by the European Union regulation for infant foods (25ng/L for AFM1 and 500ng/L for OTA). It was also found that the risk of AFM1 and OTA occurrence in BM increased significantly with the consumption of beans, bread, cereals, fruit juice and crackers, and cream, respectively. This study showed that the estimated daily intake for AFM1 and OTA by 1month of age infants was 2.7 and 28.5ng/kg bw/day, respectively, while, as the age of the infant increased, the values were lower and close to 0.9 and 9.9ng/kg bw/day for AFM1 and OTA in 12months of age infants, respectively. The high occurrence and noticeable levels of AFM1 and OTA detected in this study indicated that some infants receive undesirable exposures to AFM1 and OTA with breast milk. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers are advised to avoid certain foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding that are likely sources of mycotoxins.

Nutritional Value of Parsley Roots Depending on Nitrogen and Magnesium Fertilization

Parsley is an herb/vegetable rich in nutritional compounds such as carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, crude fiber, minerals (especially potassium), phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, and essential oils. Limited information is available in the literature on the quality of parsley roots depending on the cultivation technology used in the form of macronutrients and micronutrients, preparations to stimulate plant growth and development, as well as plant-protection products. A three-year study was undertaken to determine the effect of applying mineral fertilization with nitrogen, including magnesium on the nutritional value of parsley roots in terms of the content of ascorbic acid, total and reducing sugars, and minerals: (total N, K, Mg, Ca). The research material was the root of Petroselinum crispum ssp. tuberosum from an experiment where nitrogen was applied in soil at (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N ha−1) and magnesium at (0, 30 kg MgO ha−1). Nitrogen fertilization increased the nutritional value in terms of total and reducing sugars, as well as total N and Ca content. Applied magnesium fertilization caused a significant increase in the content of all tested nutrients. The most total sugars (127.7 g kg−1 f. m.), reducing sugars (16.8 g kg−1 f. m.), and total N (12.13 g kg−1 d. m.) were accumulated by roots from the object where nitrogen was applied at a maximum rate of 120 kg N ha−1, including magnesium. On the other hand, for the content of K (19.09 g kg−1 d. m.) in the roots, a dose of 80 N ha−1 was sufficient. For ascorbic acid (263.2 g kg−1 f. m.) and Ca (0.461 g kg−1 d. m.), a dose of 40 kg N ha−1 with a constant fertilization of 30 kg MgO ha−1 was sufficient. When applying high doses of nitrogen, lower doses of magnesium are recommended. This is sufficient due to the high nutritional value of parsley roots. Due to the worsening magnesium deficiency in soils in recent years, the use of this nutrient in the cultivation of root vegetables is as justified and timely as possible. Quality-assessment studies of root vegetables should be continued with higher amounts of magnesium fertilization. Different ways of applying magnesium in parsley cultivation should also be tested.