Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 10, Issue 3, 2014

Beer and wine are the most consumed ethanol-containing beverages worldwide and their impact on human health has been largely studied. A small-scale double-blind crossover trial was performed in order to evaluate the effects of simultaneous consumption of alcoholic/non-alcoholic beer and lettuce on plasma antioxidant status. 15 volunteers were divided into 4 groups and venous blood samples were collected at various delays from the ingestion of meal. The latter consisted of 500 ml beverage (alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic beer with added alcohol and water) and 100 g of fresh salad with 10 g of olive oil. Results showed that total antioxidant status was significantly different between the alcoholic and non- alcoholic intake. Most of the antioxidant molecules such as carotenoids, vitamin A, E, and C were not altered by meal consumption. Beer phenolic compounds are not the same in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer in terms of content, thus corresponding to different ingested doses and bioavailability. Lettuce phenolic compounds are bioavailable, even if the association between beer and lettuce did not imply a higher effect on antioxidant status. In conclusion, our results showed a plausible influence of the different production process on bioactive compounds content in beer and the influence of food matrix on their bioavailability.

Sugarcane draws heavily from soil and requires corresponding replenishment of nutrients. With the increasingly crop residue and farm waste, finding alternative uses for supplementing the soil has become more acute. Long-term use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to enhance the productivity of sugarcane results in deterioration of soil quality and the decline in productivity. It also contributes to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil and raising concern about crop production and potential impact on human health. Stubble decline, characterized by progressive reductions of yield in successive crops, is a major constraint on productivity and profitability of the sugarcane industry due to poor soil aeration, drainage, weed competition and Pythium root rot. To facilitate sugarcane cultivation on a sustainable basis, and at the same time obtain product more acceptable in international market, it is advisable to apply biofertilizers and promote organic farming. Application of different biofertilizers such as Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Trichoderma, Gliocladium sp. AM fungi (Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora albida) and Seaweeds (Caulerpa racemosa, Ulva lactuca, Sargassum wightii, Gelidiella acerosa and Gracilaria edulis), has shown significant improvement in sugarcane yield. Biofertilizers improve soil physical properties, such as porosity, aeration and water infiltration by forming and stabilizing soil aggregates. Composted organic materials have been utilized with varying success for suppression of root rot in sugarcane that would result in increased production and productivity. Studies have also indicated that it is feasible to make a comparable yield of sugarcane by meeting the nutrient demand entirely through organics. The farm produce will not contain traces of hazardous substances and will be accepted across the globe as a premium organic product.

The objective of the present study was to determine the inhibitory properties of the infusions and decoctions of four samples of Indian black tea (BT) and some of the tea flavonoids, gallic acid and caffeine, in vitro, against β- glucuronidase, lipase,α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These enzymes are related to liver disorders, obesity and diabetes. The phenolic constituents and caffeine content in the BT extracts were measured quantitatively by HPLC. It was noted that both infusion and decoction of BT had β-glucuronidase inhibitory property close to that of silymarin. Epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, and gallocatechin showed higher β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity than that of BT extracts and silymarin. BT extracts also inhibited the enzyme lipase. Thearubigin, theaflavin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin and gallocatechin showed significant lipase inhibitory properties that were superior to the drug orlistat. The tea extracts, flavonoids and gallic acid inhibited the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Theaflavin and catechin had α-amylase inhibitory activity better than that of acarbose. This in vitro study reveals that BT extract and the phenolic components may have potential benefit for controlling liver disorders, obesity and diabetes.

Uncooked and cooked germinated seeds and germinated ripened beans of the mangrove wild legume Canavalia cathartica of Southwest coast of India were evaluated based on hot-extraction (Soxhlet) and cold-extraction (chloroformmethanol- water) methods to evaluate total lipids and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Cooked germinated seeds and ripened beans consist of more quantity of total lipids compared to uncooked germinated seeds and ripened beans. The quantity of palmitic, arachidic, palmitoleic and oleic acids surpassed the quantity in soybean, whereas the palmitic, oleic and linolenic acids in cold-extraction were comparable or higher than the wheat. Cooked germinated seeds and ripened beans on cold-extraction showed moderate to high quantity of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid with desired ratios of TUFA/TSFA, C14:0 + C15:0 + (C16:0÷C18:0) and ω-6/ω-3. Overall, cooked germinated ripened beans are superior in FAMEs and thus nutritionally and nutraceutically beneficial.

Nopal is by far the most important cactus worldwide. Since its pre-Hispanic use for food and cochineal dye production, domestication of this plant was one of the most important inheritances left by ancient Mexicans. Nowadays, nopal research is increasing mainly due to the many nutraceutical properties that have been attributed to this plant. Its potential use against type 2 diabetes is gaining importance which has been related to its high antioxidant and dietary fiber contents. Even more, the consumption of nopal cladodes and fruits has been associated with anticancer properties or cancer chemoprevention issues. Other nutraceutical properties also elucidated include antiulcer activity, antiallergenic potential and helping long-term memory. Moreover, new biotechnological tools are now been applied in nopal such as in vitro tissue culture techniques and genetic plant transformation. Important industrial enzymes have been isolated, purified and characterized from nopal. Finally, food industry applications for nopal are increasing because of its nutraceutical properties and its potential use as a functional ingredient in the production of bakery products, bars and tortillas, among other interesting new technological uses. Therefore, the aim of the present review is to summarize the information generated in the last years around this important plant.

In this study, changes of some physico-chemical properties of ice-stored Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) subjected to sequential minimal ozone treatment of 11 days were investigated. The physico-chemical properties studied included proximal composition (fat, protein, moisture, ash), water activity (aw), water retention index (WRI), pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), colour (L* a* b* and whiteness colour values), total carbohydrate (TC), total energy (TE), hardness and adhesiveness. The results indicated that the fat, protein, aw, WRI, pH, TBARS and colour of sequential minimal ozone-treated ice-stored shrimp were significantly affected with storage (P < 0.05). As TBARS of both groups of shrimp steadily increased throughout storage of 11 days, the TBARS of sequential minimal ozone-treated remained lower compared to control (P < 0.05). The colour (L*, a*, b* and whiteness) of sequential minimal ozone-treated showed significant differences compared to control (P < 0.05). However, differences in TC, TE, hardness and adhesiveness between sequential minimal ozone-treated and untreated ice-stored shrimp were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For the first time, the effect of sequential minimal ozone treatment on some physico-chemical properties of ice-stored Pacific white shrimp is hereby reported.

In the modern era, interest of consumers is being shifted towards the potential health benefits of food products. Aloe vera possesses medicinal properties which augur good health. It is one of the oldest known medicinal plant which is being used as health food and for cosmetic purposes throughout the world. Also, the health benefits of consuming fermented dairy products containing probiotic bacteria are numerous. Therefore, Aloe vera fortification was carried out for the production of probiotic yoghurt with nutritional and therapeutic properties. Aloe vera fortified probiotic yoghurt was characterized in terms of physico-chemical, textural and sensory properties. Textural properties of the Aloe vera fortified yoghurt were better as compared to the skim milk yoghurt in terms of consistency and syneresis and the sensory attributes (especially taste, appearance, texture) of the final product indicated that the product can be acceptable to consumers.

This study investigated the effect of a 12 months storage period on quality, biochemical, and chemical parameters of three extra virgin olive oils (mono-cultivars Ortice and Ravece, and Bonito, a mix of different cultivars). Based on their free acidity, peroxide index, and spectrophotometric indices, all three analyzed oils produced values within the range of classification as “extra virgin olive oil”. The content of total polyphenols, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol progressively decreased during their storage period in all varieties of oil, leading to deterioration in quality as a consequence of oxidative and hydrolytic degradations. The concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn decreased in the oils during the storage period, while it increased in the sediment that formed in the containers.