Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2018

Background: Meat packaging once acted primarily as an inert barrier to protect its contents against contamination and this function has shifted. Discussion: Packaging now includes complementary functions that improve product quality, longevity and customer/retail appeal. The devices and methods applied to achieve these functions may be categorised as smart packaging, which includes intelligent packaging, devised to monitor and communicate packaged content status, and active packaging, to provide passive adjustment of inpack conditions from its interactions with the packaged meat. Conclusion: Smart packaging examples already available from recent patents include antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging coatings and inserts; sensors or indicators that identify spoilage and freshness; functional engineering customisations; improvements to packaging integrity; leak or tamper detectors; and, environmentally sustainable options. Together, these inventions respond to industry and customer demands for meat packaging and are therefore the focus of this review, in which we discuss their applications and limitations in meat packaging.

Background: Liver diseases are globally recognized as major medical problems. Several species of herbal medicine have been investigated for the management of liver-related diseases. Objective: In this context, Thymoquinone (TQ) as the main constituent of Nigella sativa has long been focused for the treatment of liver diseases in recent years. To suppressing liver diseases, it was reported that TQ exhibits hypolipidic effects, which prevented the fatty acid accumulation in the hepatocytes. The other activity of TQ, not only in the management of chronic liver diseases but also regarding the carcinogenesis, is its potent antioxidant effects, which affect several signaling pathways. Result: The effect of TQ on NF-Κβ is the hepatoprotective effect of this flavonoid. Recently, a few patents of TQ derivatives for protective effects have been developed. This article also discusses our findings with the patents for this agent. Conclusion: The present review purposed that although the experimental studies indicated the beneficial effects of TQ against liver diseases, more designed clinical trials in human are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of TQ.

Background: In this paper, we performed an analysis on how various materials based on starch nanoparticle affect different applications. The frequency of topics related to starch nanoparticles as well as their applications in different patent databases shows the importance of this material. Objective: Being environmentally friendly, these nanoparticles show promise as novel composite biomaterials and are used in industries related to nutrition, paper production and medicines among many others. Results: Our analysis showed that the prevailing synthesis for starch nanoparticles are methods based on acids, enzymes, ultrasonic treatment (alone with its combination with hydrolysis), highpressure homogenization, enzymatic hydrolysis and recrystallization and emulsion-crosslinking. Conclusion: With this review, we provide an update on starch nanoparticles patents and the review can be used by scientists in different fields including nanotechnology.

Background: Mushrooms (US6759049B2, CA2372185A1, DE60108325D1) can be contaminated by heavy metals as described in various patents. Objective: This study has determined the potential human health risk associated with the consumption of mushroom in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Sn, Cu, Ni, Al and Zn in both wild/cultivated mushroom and background soil/substrate were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Methods: Heavy metal pollution was calculated using Bio-Concentration Factor (BCF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) while human health risk assessment employed Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), Carcinogenic Risk (CR) and Total Cancer Risk (TCR). The mean concentration of metals in mushroom and soil/substrate ranged from 0.021 mg/kg - 29.16 mg/kg and 0.01 mg/kg - 56.11 mg/kg. When compared with standards by WHO, EU, SON, DPR, USEPA and NAFDAC, 100% violation was observed in Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn and partial violation by Pb in the mushroom sample although soil heavy metal concentrations were within safe limits. Results: There was bioconcentration and heavy metal enrichment as PLI ranged from 3.39 - 23.58. Estimated daily intakes were (0.00 - 0.47, 0.00 - 0.51 and 0.00 - 1.17) mg/kg/day and THQ were (0.01 - 0.46, 0.01 - 0.31 and 0.03 - 1.51) for adults, adolescents and children respectively. There was a violation of Permissible Tolerable Daily Intakes (PTDI) set by JECFA. Hazard indices were all >1, another indication of health concern. Conclusion: Nickel showed the highest carcinogenic risk with values of 4.83E-04 - 1.43E-01, 5.31E-04 - 1.00E-01 and 1.20E-03 - 2.29E-01 for adults, adolescents and children respectively. About 80% of TCR ranged from x10-1 - x10-3. Consumption of mushroom in Niger delta-Nigeria may pose significant health risk.

Background: Medicinal plants contain large amount of natural antioxidant compounds, which enable them to neutralize free radicals. Asteraceae family is an important source of phytochemical compounds. Objective: The objective of this research is to find out the antioxidant potential and radical scavenging from the leaf and flowers of five species (Artemisia absinthium L., Arctium lappa L., Silybum marianum L., Centaurea cyanus L. and Echinops ritro L.) of the Asteraceae family. This research includes recent patents (US20110179530A1) in plant biotechnology. Methods: The plant extract obtained by absolute extraction method was investigated for Total Phenolic Content (TPC), total Flavonoid Content (TFC), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), and Chain Breaking Activity (CBA). THIOBARBIOTURIC ACID (TBA), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), IC50, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O-) radical scavenging and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were also measured. Results: The results showed the highest values for the TPC, TBA, FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging related to A. absinthium. While, A. lappa extract showed the maximum content for TFC, TAC, CBA and O2 radical scavenging. In addition, our results indicated that E. ritro is a good source of NO2 and H2O2 radical scavenging activity (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that the flower is more successful than the leaf. Conclusion: Artemisia absinthium, A. lappa and E. ritro can be used as an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants and as a possible food supplement or in pharmaceutical industry.

Aims and Background: Aseptic processing is focused only fruit juices, but the processing of strengthful fruit, like fruit juice fortified with other beneficial herbs by tetrapack processing has not been attempted. The aim of the study to introduce a new form of orange juice with a good nutritional value. Materials and Methods: Orange-Mint leaves juice was formulated using different addition percentages of mint leaves extract. The juice was aseptically processed, packed in glass bottles under sterilized environment and sterilized at 70°C for 15min then storage at 5°C for 3 months. All of the properties of juice “physicochemical, nutritional values, microbiological and sensory” was determined. Results: The results showed that there was no difference in pH, total soluble solids, ash, and total acidity in all samples moreover, the orange juice with 15% of mint leaves extract recorded the best values of sensory evaluation, on the other hand, it was recorded lower values of vitamin C and total phenolic compound than fresh or pasteurized orange juice because of increasing in addition % of mint leaves extract to orange juice. The sensory properties of juice samples were not remarkable any changes during storage. The results indicated that the juice had a good acceptability up to 3 months of storage at 5°C. Conclusion: Now, the consumer is interested with nutritional and healthy foods, because functional foods reduce the health problems, as described in various patents. So, the Orange-Mint leaves blended juice will be a good option for the consumer.

Background: Commercially available herbal and medicinal plants-based products are susceptible to substitution or contamination with other unlabeled or undesired materials. This will reduce the quality of the product, and may lead to intoxication and allergy. Methods: DNA barcoding is a molecular technology that allows the identification of plant materials at the species level, by sequencing short stretches of standardized gene sequences from nuclear or organelle genome in an easy, rapid, accurate and cost-effective manner. The aim of this research is to apply DNA barcoding to investigate the authenticity of commercially available herbal and medicinal plant-based products within the UAE markets. A total of 30 samples were analyzed, covering six different herbal products (thyme, cardamom, anise, basil, turmeric, and ginger), obtained in fresh and dried forms. DNA was extracted and three barcode loci including (rbcL), (matK) and (ITS) were amplified, sequenced and analyzed by BLAST. Results: In terms of amplification efficiency, the results suggest that rbcL is the most suitable marker for species identification giving 75% of successful amplification, followed by ITS with 66.67%, whereas matK had the lowest with 18.52%. Adulteration was detected in two samples, ginger powder and dry thyme leave samples. The adulterants were from Triticum and Oryza genera. Conclusion: Clearly, the results from this report provide evidence that DNA barcoding technique is efficient in the recognition of commercial plant products. Thus, it can be considered as a fast, effective, and reliable method to detect adulteration in plant-based products in the UAE market.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using the computerized imaging Seed Analysis System (SAS) in the biometric and morphophysiological characterization of seeds and the initial growth of seedlings from peach rootstocks. Methods: The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates of 20 seeds. The variables analyzed were the seed humidity content, length and width of seeds measured by SAS technology and manual measurements, mean germination time, germination percentage, radicle length and width, taproot length, length of the aerial part and taproot/aerial part ratio. Results: The highest seed length, germination percentage (100%) and lower germination time (11.3), were obtained with the cv. Capdeboscq while, ‘Tsukuba 1’, 2' and 3' had intermediate seedlings length, varying from 1.55 to 1.65 cm with mean germination times between 14.5 and 18.0 days and average germination percentage of 96%. The computerized analysis of images is fast and efficient for biometric evaluations such as seed width and length, as well as initial growth of peach tree seedlings. The cvs Capdeboscq, Flordaguard and Tsukuba 2 presented greater radicle width, length and a mean taproot/aerial part ratio equal to 2, as well as higher number of adventitious roots, which indicated a strong positive correlation between radicle length, taproot length and initial seedling growth. Conclusion: The continuity of the research will certainly allow the development of reliable procedures for other species, besides allowing the identification of wider alternatives for the use of this system for the expansion of knowledge in the areas of physiology and evaluation of the physiological potential of seeds.