Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture - Volume 10, Issue 1, 2019

Background: Edible mushrooms are an abundant source of carbohydrates, proteins, and multiple antioxidants and phytonutrients. This paper presents a general overview on the edible fungus describing the inventions made in the field of its cultivation, equipment and value-added products. Objective: To understand and review the innovations and nutraceutical benefits of mushrooms as well as to develop interest regarding the edible mushrooms. Methods: Information provided in this review is based on the available research investigations and patents. Result: Mushrooms are an edible source of a wide variety of antioxidants and phytonutrients with a number of nutraceutical properties including anti-tumor and anti-carcinogenic. Thus, several investigations are made for cultivation and improvement of the yield of mushrooms through improvisation of growth substrates and equipment used for mushroom processing. The mushroom has been processed into various products to increase its consumption, providing the health and nutritional benefit to mankind. Conclusion: This paper summarizes the cultivation practices of mushroom, its processing equipment, methods of preservation, value-added based products, and its nutraceutical properties. The review also highlights the various scientific feats achieved in terms of patents and research publications promoting mushroom as a wholesome food.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been widely used in traditional medicine, and as raw material for cosmetics, beverages, and health functional foods. However, some adverse effects of ginger have been reported. In addition, the hot and pungent taste of ginger leads to reduced consumption. To overcome these problems, methods for the production of fermented, steamed (or steamed-dried), aged, roasted and beopje ginger have been developed. This review provides an overview and summary of new ginger processing procedures, including methods to reduce the pungent flavor of ginger, extend shelf-life, increase the health-functional compound content, and improve safety. These attempts might improve the consumption of ginger as well as prospective applications of processed ginger for food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry, also as discussed in various patents.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors and is rising dramatically throughout the world. Recently, consideration to dietary acid-base load has been raised as a nutritional indicator that could have metabolic effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the associations of dietary acid load indices with glucose/insulin homeostasis and type 2 diabetes in a patent based review. Methods: Systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, from inception up to 10 January 2018. All human studies publications investigated the association of dietary acid load indices (PRAL or NEAP or Pro:K) and incidence of diabetes or glucose/insulin metabolism were included. Results: In all, 174 studies were included for the title and abstract screening. A total of 164 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, 10 articles (five crosssectional studies and five cohort studies) in accordance with our inclusion criteria were chosen for further evaluations that were published between 2008 and 2017. Conclusion: Although there are some evidence of an association between dietary acid load and type 2 diabetes, definitive declarations in this regard will be needed to intervention human studies modifying acid-base dietary intake.

Objectives: The present research was tailored to explore the prophylactic role of garlic extracts to mitigate some diet related malfunctions. The recent patents regarding antidiabetic agents (US 20140147528 A1) and garlic compositions (US 20110129580 A1) also helped in the study design. Methods: Bioevaluation trials were conducted on Sprague Dawley rats by feeding garlic extracts for a period of sixty days. Accordingly, three studies were carried out comprising of normal, hyperglycemic and hypercholesterolemic rats. Drink & feed intakes and weight gain were measured throughout the trial. After sixty days, collected sera from rats were analyzed for serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL & triglyceride levels and glucose & insulin concentrations. Finally, the data obtained were subjected to statistical modeling. Results: Results concerning the bioevaluation trials revealed that maximum 12.39% reduction was observed in serum cholesterol in Study III (hypercholesterolemic rats) on the provision of garlic supercritical extract (nutraceutical diet) followed by 10.24% decline in rats fed on solvent extract supplemented diet (functional diet). Regarding LDL, maximum decrease (17.02%) was recorded on the administration of diet having garlic supercritical extract to the hypercholesterolemic rats. While in Study II (hyperglycemic rats) maximum decrease of 11.03% in glucose level was recorded in rats fed on supercritical extract containing diet. In the same group maximum increase in insulin (7.95%) was recorded. Conclusions: From the current investigations, it can be concluded that garlic based designer foods possess the prophylactic perspectives to alleviate the risk of metabolic ailments. Thus, it can be used in the diet based therapeutic interventions as an adjuvant to pharmaceuticals.

Background: The use of nutritional supplementation of the brewer's wort can be an interesting option to increase cell viability and yeast fermentability. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of the variables wort concentration and nutritional supplementation with palm oil in the production of beer in high-density wort. Methods: The process effects were evaluated through the central composite rotational design of type 22 associated with the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The fermentations were carried out using the commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, lager type, at 15°C. Results: The mathematical models and RSM obtained were an efficienct strategy to determine the optimum fermentation point for the ethanol volumetric productivity (wort concentration of 20.90 °P and palm oil content of 0.19 % v/v) and for the apparent degree of fermentation (wort concentration of 16.90 °P and palm oil content of 0.22% v/v). There was a good correlation between the experimental values observed and predicted by the model, indicating that the fit of the model was satisfactory and it can be inferred that the increase of the wort concentration and the nutritional supplementation with the palm oil reached an ethanol volumetric productivity of 0.55 g/L.h and an apparent degree of fermentation of 50.20 %. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that our study demonstrates that nutritional supplementation with palm oil is an alternative and promising option for the breweries to increase productivity. There are recent patents also suggesting the advantages of using alternative nutritional supplements in beverage production.

Background: Recent patents reveal that vegetable ingredients have several applications in novel food formulations. Many so-called antinutritional components (e.g. tannins, saponins, lectins and protease inhibitors) have nutraceutical as well as pharmaceutical significance. Seeds of two wild legumes of the genus Canavalia inhabitants of the coastal sand dunes of Southwest India are known for a variety of bioactive principles (e.g. phenolics, tannins, canavanine, concanavalin and phytohemagglutinins). Objective: This study evaluates the impact of Electron Beam (EB) irradiation on the bioactive components of seeds of two coastal sand dune wild legumes Canavalia cathartica and C. maritima. Methods: The dry seeds of C. cathartica and C. maritima were EB irradiated with different doses (2.5, 5, 10 and 15 kGy) to follow changes in six bioactive principles (total phenolics, orthodihydric phenols, tannins, canavanine, trypsin inhibitors and phytohemagglutinins) in comparison to control seeds. One-way ANOVA was employed to follow the variation in bioactive components of seeds in control and different doses of irradiation. Results: Seeds of both legumes were devoid of orthodihydric phenols and trypsin inhibitors. In C. cathartica, the total phenolics showed significant dose-dependent increase up to 5 kGy and decreased thereafter. Tannin content was not altered up to 10 kGy followed by significant decrease at 15 kGy. There was no significant change in canavanine content and the phytohemagglutinin activity against human erythrocytes was not altered. Seeds of C. maritima did not show significant changes in total phenolics as well as tannin contents. The content of canavanine showed significant dose-dependent increase up to 5 kGy followed by significant decrease. There was no variation in phytohemagglutinin activity against erythrocytes A, B and O, while against AB, the activity decreased at 2.5 kGy and further decrease was constant at higher doses. Conclusion: The EB irradiation doses employed have selectively altered the bioactive principles of Canavalia seeds and such treatments may facilitate to maneuver desired medicinal, nutritional, functional and cooking properties. Besides selective changes in bioactive components the seeds have extended shelf life.

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), are considered a growing global disease, with about ten million people being affected worldwide. Maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity is crucial for preventing IBD onset and exacerbations. Some recent patents regarding oily formulations containing probiotics (WO2010122107A1 and WO2010103374A9) and the use of probiotics for gastrointestinal complaints (US20110110905A1 and US9057112B2) exist, or are pending application. Objective: In this work, we studied the effect of a fixed combination of registered Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains and herbal extracts in an in vitro inflammation experimental model. Methods: Caco-2 cell monolayer was exposed to INF-γ+TNF-α or to LPS; Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) and paracellular permeability were investigated. ZO-1 and occludin Tight Junctions (TJs) were also investigated by mean of immunofluorescence. Results: Pre-treatment with the fixed combination of probiotics and herbal extracts prevented the inflammation-induced TEER decrease, paracellular permeability increase and TJs translocation. Conclusions: In summary, the fixed combination of probiotics and herbal extracts investigated in this research was found to be an interesting candidate for targeting the re-establishment of intestinal barrier function in IBD conditions.

Background: Hawthorn (C. oxyacantha), a common edible plant, is widely used for the preparation of a different foodstuff and is also used in traditional medicine to treat heart problems and gastrointestinal ailments. Recently, a few patents of Crataegus preparation for protective effects (prevention of cardiovascular and hepatic diseases) have been developed. Objective: The current study aimed to explore the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of nbutanol extract of Crataegus oxyacantha leaves in acute liver damage induced by Doxorubicin (DOX). Methods: Crataegus oxyacantha (100 mg/kg body weight) or vitamin E as a standard antioxidant (100 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to female rats for 10 days, in the presence or absence of hepatotoxicity induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DOX (15 mg/kg on the 8th day). On day 11, blood and liver samples were analyzed for biomarker levels and histopathological changes. Liver homogenates were used for determination of oxidative stress parameters that include Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) level and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) activity. Results: Treatment with n-butanol extract of C. oxyacantha leaves significantly improved the altered liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirm the results of biochemical parameters. Conclusion: The obtained results support the traditional use of C. oxyacantha to cure gastrointestinal ailments and highlighted its possible use in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a source of natural antioxidant.