Search results

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the antioxidant and type II diabetes related enzyme inhibition properties of phenolic extract from raw and traditionally processed Indian under‐utilized food legume grains, Bauhinia purpurea L. (purple camel's foot seeds).

The methanolic extract was prepared from the raw and traditionally processed seed samples and analyzed for total phenolic content. The antioxidant activity and type II diabetes related enzyme inhibition properties of methanolic extract and their relationship with phenolic content was demonstrated.

The methanolic extract of raw seed materials contained total free phenolic content of 14.45±1.62 g catechin equivalent/100 g extract DM. Encouraging levels of ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP, 1203 mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of ß‐carotene degradation (45.37 percent) and scavenging activity against DPPH (63.60 percent) and superoxide (42.14 percent) radicals were exhibited by the raw samples. Further, it also recorded 80.69 percent of α‐amylase and 63.74 percent of α‐glucosidase enzyme inhibition characteristics under in vitro starch digestion bioassay. Sprouting+oil‐frying caused an apparent increase on the total free phenolic content, antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity, while soaking+cooking as well as open‐pan roasting treatments show diminishing effects.

Identification of suitable processing technique offered a good strategy to improve the phenolic content and health relevant functionality of B. purpurea seeds, which could be envisaged as a dietary ingredient in the formulation of supplementary foods with therapeutic value to manage type II diabetic patients.

The objective of the study was to assess consumer exposure to warmed-over flavour, their eating habits with respect to pre-cooked stored meats, awareness of antioxidants and attitudes towards the use of natural antioxidants as preservatives in meat and meat products.

A total of 238 Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) design questionnaires were used to gather information from the University of Fort Hare community in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

The majority of the respondents had been exposed to warmed-over flavour before. More than half of the respondents did not know about antioxidants. Respondents were in support of the use of natural antioxidants in meat and meat products.

The study mainly captured consumer habits based on living arrangements. Age influence could not be extrapolated due to the nature of the population, which was being studied. The population was limited to the University community, which is mainly made up of not so widely spread age groups and more or less similar levels of education. As a result, the findings and conclusions may not be a true reflection of the general public consumers in terms of age, level of education and employment status.

This research presents an original insight into consumer habits concerning the purchasing and storage of pre-cooked meat and meat products. The study revealed that most consumers nowadays prefer ready-to-eat or pre-cooked meat and meat products due to convenience. The warmed-over flavour is common in pre-cooked meats. The findings suggests that the meat industry has to improve the shelf-life of pre-cooked foods such that warmed-over flavour development is delayed to fit into the current consumer habits. In recent years there has been a growing interest in the use of natural antioxidants to improve shelf-life of muscle foods. However, there is a dearth of information on consumer attitudes towards the use of natural antioxidants as preservatives. This study reveals that consumers are willing to try products formulated using natural antioxidants.

The purpose of the present study is to understand the role of auxin and cytokinin in stimulating the production of pigmented callus in Orthosiphon stamineus and to gain correlation between the callus colours with their antioxidant capacity and bioactive constituents.

In this study, plant tissue culture was used to induce production of callus of various colours from leaf explants of O. stamineus, via manipulation of plant hormones (0-2.0 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid [IAA] and Kinetin [Kin]). The coloured callus was subjected to solvent extraction and used for quantification of its carotenoid, chlorophyll, anthocyanin and phenolic contents. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity of the extracts was also evaluated, before and after four weeks of storage at −20°C.

The highest mean (per cent) explants that produced roots (93.33 ± 0.05 per cent) were observed when the cultures were supplemented with 2.0 mg L⁻¹ IAA. The colour of the callus changed with time, from green to cream to brown after two and four months of culture, respectively. Optimum production of green callus was achieved with addition of 2.0 mg L⁻¹ Kin plus 1.0-2.0 mg L⁻¹ IAA to the media, while cream callus in 0.5 mg L⁻¹ Kin plus 2.0 mg L⁻¹ IAA and brown callus in 0.5 mg L⁻¹ Kin plus 1.5 mg L⁻¹ IAA. Green callus was found to contain the highest amount of chlorophylls, carotenoid and anthocyanin, while cream callus contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds. The amount of pigments and secondary metabolites in the callus extracts decreased after four weeks of storage, except anthocyanin. The antioxidant potential of the extracts also increased after storage.

The major compounds identified in the methanolic extracts of O. stamineus-coloured callus are chlorophylls, carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Future research work should include improvements in the extraction and identification methods which may lead to detection of other compounds that could attribute to the antioxidant capacity, to complement the findings of the current study.

This analysis provides valuable information on the application of IAA and Kinetin (Kin) to manipulate the content of major pigments with medicinal benefits in O. stamineus by using the plant tissue culture system.

A comparative study on antioxidant capacity and bioactive constituents of pigmented callus from O. stamineus leaves is original. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt of comparative evaluation on antioxidant potential of O. stamineus-coloured callus produced using IAA and Kin.

The purpose of this paper is to carry out phytochemical investigations of different extracts of Eucalyptus globulus bark such as aqueous, methanolic and supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extract (SCFE) with ethyl acetate as entrainer. Three fractions (Eu 8, 9 and 10) containing steroidal δ‐lactone were isolated from SCF extract and the structure of Eu‐10 was earlier determined on the basis of NMR, HPLC‐MS, X‐Ray crystallography.

Column chromatography led to the isolation of flavonoids, tannins, steroids, etc. in different solvent systems. Isolated steroidal lactone (Eu‐8,9&10) of Withanolide series were tested for the presence of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and the results were expressed as gGAE/100 g (TPC), and gQE/100 g (TFC), respectively. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated based on their ability to scavenge free radicals generated from ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and H₂O₂ by spectrophotometric method.

The result of the present study showed that different extracts of E. globulus bark and the isolated fractions, exhibited different antioxidant activity. This was due to the fact that they contained different amounts of flavonoid and phenolic compounds as per their ability to solubilize these compounds; the high scavenging property of E. globulus may be attributed to hydroxyl groups existing in the phenolic compounds. All the samples exhibited different extent of antioxidant activity (AOA) and showed higher potency when compared with BHT in scavenging action of DPPH free radical. Comparative data analysis showed SCF extract to be better than methanolic and aqueous extracts, both in terms of yield and AOA, while Eu‐10 was the best amongst purified fractions.

The present research has serious implications on identification of natural antioxidants from E. globulus. Natural antioxidants with better structure‐activity relationship are under investigation. Isolation of withanolide from Eucalyptus bark has opened newer horizon for its use.

Collection of Eucalyptus bark from the forest (a forest waste) by women folk can be a source of revenue generation and thus has social implication as well. It is an important agro product.

The steroidal lactone (Eu‐10) showed highest radical scavenging effect even at IC50, thus the isolated lactone proved to be the best potential scavenger of free radicals amongst all crude extracts and the isolated fractions.

This study aims to investigate the effect of spray drying temperature and maltodextrin addition on the contents of phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and reducing power) of karonda powder.

Over the past few decades, the demands for application of natural colorants in food production have been attracting the attention of academic research and food industry. Anthocyanins, a red pigment commonly found on plants, show high potentials in the preparation of spray-dried pigment powder. This study, therefore, was conducted using full factorial design with two factors, namely, inlet temperature (150°C and 160°C) and soluble solid concentration (10, 15 and 20°Brix) with maltodextrin as carrier to produce pigment powder from karonda, an anthocyanin-rich fruit which is native to southeast Asia.

Increasing soluble solid content from 10 to 15°Brix resulted in a 42%–57% reduction in phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents. However, when increasing the amount of maltodextrin from 15 to 20°Brix, a lower reduction (approximately 11%–19%) was observed. In samples with the same °Brix, there was no significant variation in antioxidant contents and activities, especially at high maltodextrin ratios. In addition, the reducing power of samples dried at higher temperature (160°C) was higher than that of samples dried at lower temperature. Karonda spray-dried powder showed a good positive correlation (p < 0.01) between antioxidant contents and DPPH• activity.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, in this study, for the first time, the effect of spray drying conditions on the quality of karonda powder was investigated.

Interest in probiotic food products has constantly increased due to the awareness on importance of gut microbiome; an increasing demand has encouraged the development of other matrices such as cereals, vegetable and fruit juices to deliver probiotics. The purpose of this paper is to standardize and evaluate a ready to serve probiotic oats milk drink fermented with microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum to be further used as a therapeutic module.

Fermentation of oats milk extract with microencapsulated L.plantarum was subjected to various trials in making it favourable for consumption and tested for sensory characteristics, physicochemical parameters, nutrient content, viable colony count and shelf life.

Fermented oats milk drink with 3% inoculum of microencapsulated L.plantarum was able to achieve desirable level of 2.5 × 10⁸ and 2.3 × 10⁸ colony forming units (CFU)/mL for spice and strawberry flavoured drink, respectively. Antioxidant property significantly increased after fermentation showing inhibitory effect against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay (p = 0.05).

Analysis of all the parameters were conducted only with three samples; this was the potential limitation identified in this study as large sample size always be a better representative of the results.

Spice and strawberry flavoured nondairy oats milk drink facilitated to be a suitable carrier for microencapsulated L. plantarum with good sensory attributes, low fat, moderate calorie, high fiber content, antioxidant potential and a shelf life of two-week period at 4°C.

The developed ready to serve, spice and strawberry flavoured nondairy oats milk drink with compactly packed functional components inclusive of beneficial probiotic organisms, ß-glucan and antioxidants can be prescribed as a therapeutic food for many clinical conditions and would serve as a good probiotic option for vegans.

The study aims to describe the main classes of antioxidants existing in fruit, beverages, vegetables and herbs and the different extraction and application of antioxidants in food. Oxidative degradation of lipids, especially induced by reactive oxygen species, leads to quality deterioration of foods and cosmetics and could have harmful effects on health. A major challenge is to develop tools to assess the antioxidant capacity and real efficacy of these molecules. Recently, many review papers regarding antioxidants from different sources and different extraction and quantification procedures have been published. However, none of them has all the information regarding antioxidants (sources, extraction and application in food).

This paper tries to take a different perspective on antioxidants for the new researcher involved in this field.

Antioxidants from fruit, vegetables and beverages play an important role in human health, for example, preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases and lowering the incidence of different diseases. A number of plant products act as scavengers of free radical species and so have been classified as antioxidants. Antioxidants are an important group of food additives that have the ability to protect against detrimental change of oxidizable nutrients and consequently they extend shelf-life of foods.

Most of the antioxidants present in foods are phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, but their efficacy in food for the prevention of oxidation or in the body for dealing with oxidative stress and its consequences depends on different factors.

This study collected the last finding in the field of sources and applications of natural antioxidants.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the scientific information of various qualities of bael fruit juice used in traditional system of medicine for variety of purposes. Utilization of bael fruit juice in day-to-day life has great nutritional, therapeutic, and commercial importance. Bael fruit contains nutrients like vitamins (riboflavin), minerals, trace elements, energy and phytochemicals, including flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants, that have been shown to have varied health benefits. In past few decades, bael has been extensively studied for its medicinal properties by advanced scientific techniques, and a variety of bioactive compounds like marmelosin, tannins, alkaloids, coumarins, steroids, rutacine, y-sitosterol, psoralin, xanthotoxin, scopolotein, aegelemine, aegeline, marmeline, fragrine, dictamine, cinnamide and different derivatives of cinnamide have been isolated from its fruit juice.

The medicinal value of bael fruit is very high when the harvests just begin to ripen. As a result, it has a high demand as alternative medicine for curing the diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, peptic ulcer, inflammation, diarrhea and dysentery, constipation, respiratory infection. Furthermore, the bael fruit juice has anticancer, cardio protective, antibacterial, antifungal, radio protective, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, wound healing properties. The ripe fruit juice is aromatic, has cooling and laxative effects, and arrests secretion or bleeding.

The unripe or half-ripe fruit juice is good for digestion, useful in preventing or curing scurvy, and it strengthens the stomach action. It helps in the healing of ulcerated intestinal surfaces and has appreciable activity against intestinal pathogenic organisms. The present review summarizes the scientific information of various qualities of bael fruit juice used in traditional system of medicine for a variety of purposes.

It is quite evident from this review that bael is an important medicinal herb and extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha and other medicinal systems. Bael fruit juice is an excellent source of water and natural sugar and is important principally for containing vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, pigments, energy, organic acids, dietary fiber and other food components, which are the key factors in the medicinal value of this plant. Moreover, mechanisms of action of a few bioactive compounds have been identified so far.

Literature has consistently reported that coloured plants are rich in dietary bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study aims to compare the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities in selected coloured plants (blue butterfly pea flower, roselle calyx, yellow bell pepper and purple sweet potato).

Total Phenolic Content (TPC) was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-dophenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays.

TPC was reported from 273.15 ± 19.57 µg GAE/g DW (blue butterfly pea flower extract) to 363.10 ± 7.94 µg GAE/g DW (roselle calyx extract). Antioxidant activities as determined by DPPH assay ranged from 17.26 ± 0.06% (purple sweet potato extract) to 83.38 ± 1.04% (yellow bell pepper extract); while for FRAP assay was 4.92 ± 0.18 mg Fe (II)/g DW (purple sweet potato extract) to 128.33 ± 11.59 mg Fe (II)/g DW (roselle calyx extract). On the other hand, TEAC values were in the range of 15.26 ± 2.83 µg Trolox/g DW (roselle calyx extract) to 364.27 ± 7.14 µg Trolox/g DW (blue butterfly pea flower extract). A significant moderate positive correlation was observed between TPC and DPPH (r = 0.562) as well as TPC and FRAP (r = 0.686).

This study was the first to compare the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities in coloured plants. Findings derived from this study can be extended to the formulation of natural food colourants and nutraceuticals.

The purpose of this review is to address the consumer’s preferences that have varied greatly in the past decade appraising the use of flavor and aroma compounds in the development of functional foods rather than consuming artificial additives. A growing interest in natural flavoring agents and preservatives have made the researchers to explore the other bio-functional properties of natural flavors beyond their ability to give a remarkable flavor to the food.

In this review, five major flavoring agents used significantly in food industries have been discussed for their bioactive profile and promising health benefits. Vanilla, coffee, cardamom, saffron and cinnamon, despite being appreciated as natural flavors, have got impressive health benefits due to functional ingredients, which are being used for the development of nutraceuticals.

Flavoring and coloring compounds of these products have shown positive results in the prevention of several diseases including carcinoma and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Such effects are attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, which possesses free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory antiviral and antimicrobial properties. These properties not only show a preventive mechanism against diseases but also makes the food product shelf-stable by imparting antimicrobial effects.

This paper highlights the opportunities to increase the use of such natural flavoring agents over synthetic aroma compounds to develop novel functional foods. Phenols, carotenoids and flavonoids are the major health-promoting components of these highly valued aroma ingredients.