Current Functional Foods - Online First
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Development of Biscuits Enriched with Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.): Acceptability Test and Its Effect on Blood Glucose Level
Authors: Ayuning Rica Putri, Rahmadaniar Dewi Astari and Setyaningrum RahmawatyAvailable online: 14 February 2025More LessIntroductionBiscuits are popular snacks consumed by all age groups throughout the world. However, they are generally rich in energy and high glycemic index. Regular consumption of biscuits is associated with an increased risk of obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Momordica charantia L., also known as bitter melon, has a hypoglycemic effect; adding it into biscuits may counter the glycemic index of biscuits, thereby keeping the blood glucose level of biscuits consumers normal.
ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to formulate bitter melon (BM) enriched biscuits and test their acceptability and effect on blood glucose levels (BGL).
MethodsThe study consisted of 3 stages, including BM biscuits formulation and production, an acceptability test via 30 trained panelists, followed by an experimental stage using pre- and post-test-controlled randomized group design on healthy Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) to test the effect of BM biscuits on BGL.
ResultsThe biscuits were made using 0.5% bitter melon flour and 99.5% wheat flour. The BM biscuits were graded as acceptable by 93.3% of the panelists, most of whom rated them with “rather like” for their color and taste. A significant decrease in the BGL was found in after 30 days of the BM biscuits intervention (mean±SD=-9.71±1.15 mg/dL, p=0.01) in healthy Wistar rats; conversely, a significant increase in the BGL was found in the control group.
ConclusionBiscuits enriched with bitter melon flour could be used as an alternative to low glycemic snacks without increasing blood glucose level of healthy Wistar rats.
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Diosgenin Unveiled: From Nutritional Insights to Nano Applications and Molecular Marvels
Authors: Manisha Thakur, Neeru Vasudeva and Sunil SharmaAvailable online: 28 January 2025More LessIntroductionDiosgenin (DSG) is a steroidal sapogenin identified in the Dioscorea tokoro Makino ex Miyabe, Trigonella foenum-graceum and Solanum virginianum plant and used as a natural source of steroidal hormones. It possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and several other pharmacological properties that make it a highly dependable drug for research purposes. The objective of this review is to provide a scientific rationale to researchers regarding the target-specific bio-potential of DSG as an ethnomedicine and to make it advantageous for drug designing and therapy modifications in the future.
MethodsRelevant literature was searched up to the current year by using online databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, Research Gate, and Science Direct by applying related search terms.
ResultsThis review first addressed the molecular action of DSG on NF-ĸB, TGF-β1/Smad, AMPK/ACC/CPT-1A and SERBP-1c/FAS, etc., that are pathologically involved in a variety of diseases for better understanding as limited clinical research has been conducted to date. Further, the review explored the diverse pharmacological applications of DSG like neuroprotective, anti-cancer and anti-microbial activity. At last, we discussed the Green nanotechnology that is widely adopted to improve DSG’s pharmacokinetic profile.
ConclusionOverall, the current review tries to update all the information about DSG's nutritional benefits, its application as nanomedicine, and diverse pharmacological actions based on various molecular targets for its commendable pre-clinical and clinical applications.
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Exploring Moisture Content in 50 Rough Rice through Micro Oven for Deeper Dietary Insights
Authors: Sneha Saha, Prasun Roychowdhury, Moumita Chatterjee, Syed Hushneara and Shibani LahiriAvailable online: 27 January 2025More LessIntroduction/ObjectiveRice, an ancient cereal grain and a dietary staple in India is globally cherished for its affordability, accessibility, and nutritional richness. It is a rich source of energy, containing essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, calcium, iron, and more. However, its moisture content significantly influences quality, taste, and safety, affecting shelf life and susceptibility to spoilage and microbial growth. Improper storage practices lead to substantial losses of milled rice worldwide.
MethodsTo address this issue, a study was conducted on 50 raw rice (uncooked) samples from India to determine their moisture levels using a microwave method with a 900 W power output for specific durations.
ResultsThe results revealed an overall moisture content of 7.12 ± 1.87%, ranging from 3.73% to 28.49%. Significant differences were observed across locations, rice varieties, and size with long-grain rice ranging from 4.90% to 11.02%, medium-grain from 3.73% to 8.63%, and short-grain from 4.17% to 28.49%. Long-grain had the highest average moisture content of 7.21 ± 1.85%, followed by short-grain rice at 7.80 ± 1.84%, and medium-grain at 6.03 ± 1.44%. Attap Rice stood out with higher moisture levels, highlighting the importance of careful storage practices. Parboiled rice tends to have higher moisture content than milled rice. Therefore, storing rice properly is crucial in terms of security for public health.
ConclusionMoisture data aid in optimizing harvesting, and drying practices, adjusting milling and packaging techniques, and calculating rice's nutritional intake accurately; and economically disadvantaged individuals should opt for rice with lower moisture content for higher carbohydrate content per unit. By employing these data for various rice types, food manufacturers can implement tailored storage conditions and processing techniques to ensure optimal product safety and consistency.
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Ricinus Communis: Unlocking the Potential of a Medicinal Powerhouse
Authors: Vrinda Goel, Vijay Kumar, Sakshi Bajaj, Kalpana Garg, Mohit Kamboj and Bhawna ChopraAvailable online: 23 January 2025More LessBackgroundThe Euphorbiaceae family comprises over 7,500 species and 300 genera, with the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, being one of the most valuable traditional and medicinal plants. Phytochemical assessments have shown that R. communis possesses a broad variety of chemical compounds with interesting pharmacological properties. This plant exhibits numerous beneficial properties, including effects against implantation failure, antifertility, antinociceptive, anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antiulcer, insecticidal, molluscicidal and larvicidal, bone regeneration, central analgesic, antihistaminic, antiasthmatic, cytotoxic, lipolytic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing activities.
ObjectiveThe review aims to examine the pharmacological properties, phytochemical composition, and potential applications of Ricinus communis as a plant source. Given its diverse range of phytochemicals and pharmacological activities, R. communis may be a promising option for the discovery of innovative complementary medicines.
MethodsThis review will involve an extensive analysis of existing literature on Ricinus communis. Sources will include peer-reviewed journals, clinical studies, and traditional medicine texts. The focus will be on identifying the pharmacological properties, therapeutic potential, and safety profile of the plant, along with its phytochemical composition.
ResultThe pharmacological, therapeutic, and safety potential of Ricinus communis and its phytochemicals as herbal and complementary medicine for treating various illnesses and disorders require further investigation through advanced clinical and experimental research.
ConclusionThis review underscores the need for continued exploration of R. communis to unlock its full potential as a source of innovative medicinal therapies.
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Emerging Traditional and Pharmacological Health Benefits of Trachyspermum Ammi (Ajwain): Future Aspects
Authors: Uma Agarwal, Arzoo Pannu and Rajiv Kumar TonkAvailable online: 22 January 2025More LessTrachyspermum ammi, commonly known as Ajwain or Carom seeds, is a versatile medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family, widely utilized in traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. This review consolidates the phytochemical composition, traditional applications, and pharmacological activities of T. ammi alongside its potential in modern therapeutics. A systematic methodology was employed to gather data, focusing on peer-reviewed articles, ethnobotanical reports, and experimental studies published in renowned databases. Specific search terms such as “Trachyspermum ammi,” “Ajwain pharmacology,” and “phytochemical analysis” were used to extract relevant information. Selection criteria included recent advancements in phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic applications, ensuring a comprehensive synthesis of traditional knowledge and modern scientific evidence. Ajwain seeds, characterized by their bioactive components such as thymol and carvacrol, exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic effects. Emerging evidence highlights its role in combating neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Despite its established uses, further studies on the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical efficacy are essential. Advanced drug delivery systems, such as nanoencapsulation and lipid-based formulations, are discussed as strategies to enhance the stability and bioavailability of Ajwain's active compounds. This review emphasizes integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches to unlock Ajwain’s full therapeutic potential, addressing existing limitations and paving the way for its incorporation into evidence-based healthcare practices. Future directions include comprehensive clinical trials, standardization of extracts, and exploration of its role in gut microbiota modulation and integrative medicine.
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A Mechanism-Based Comparative Review on Functional Food with Phytomolecules and Marketed Formulation for Type II Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: D. Sureka, Y Sam Rosan, B Avinash, N.I Blessy Victa and V. E. Ida ChristiAvailable online: 27 December 2024More LessType II diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder characterized by pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. Administration of different classes of anti-diabetic drugs over the long term is essential to maintain normoglycemic levels in affected individuals. This study is focused on natural analogs as substitutes for the most marketed synthetic and semi-synthetic anti-diabetic drugs. This study aimed to review phytoconstituents with their mechanism of action, which are comparatively equivalent to that of the allopathic anti-diabetic marketed drugs, like biguanides, sulphonylurea, and thiazolidinediones. The methodology used for the review involved using the keywords collected from online sites, like PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. At present, different drugs are available for the treatment of diabetes and work with different mechanisms, like metformin induces the AMPK pathway in hepatocytes and muscle fibers with increased glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, whereas the phytoconstituents, like quercetin (flavonoid), mahanimbine, and koenidine (carbazole alkaloids) involve same mechanism as metformin. Sulfonylureas drugs bind to specific receptors in hepatocytes, resulting in glucose-independent insulin release. The phytomolecule amyrins (pentacyclic triterpenoid) and kaempferol (flavonoid) have similar effects as that of sulphonylureas. Thiazoglinediones target adipocytes and cause GLUT-4 translocation and up-regulation of PPAR and adiponectin gene expression. Phytoconstituents, like cyanidin-3-glucoside (anthocyanin) and protocatechuic acid (tannin), exhibit a similar mechanism of action to that of thiazolidinediones. In this review, it can be concluded that the selected compounds have the same antidiabetic activity as the synthetic drugs. In the future, a new polyherbal formulation can be developed with these selected molecules having the same mechanisms of action, with significant therapeutic value without side effects.
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Effect of Supplementation of Black Seeds (Nigella sativa) on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress: An Updated Narrative Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies
Available online: 27 December 2024More LessIncreased generation and accumulation of free radicals (reactive oxygen species) and a decrease in the activity of antioxidant systems can result in oxidative stress. In this study, we investigate the antioxidant properties of black seeds (Nigella sativa). To find pertinent papers, searches were conducted using reference lists, Web of Science, Medline/PMC/PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, among other web-based resources. Black seed (Nigella sativa) supplementation has been demonstrated in several preclinical and clinical studies to decrease lipid peroxidation and raise levels of antioxidant enzymes. There are several ways in which black seeds (Nigella sativa) can exhibit antioxidant activity: they can do this by reducing oxidative stress and free radical formation, scavenging superoxide and other reactive oxygen species, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, inhibiting nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), upregulating genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, lowering malondialdehyde levels, elevating total antioxidant capacity levels, and enhancing antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and many more. For individuals suffering from chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cancer, and many more, black seeds (Nigella sativa) may thus be used as an adjuvant therapy in addition to standard drugs.
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