A new analytical method was developed for determining formaldehyde (CH2O) in cheese by FTIR spectroscopy. Formaldehyde (CH2O) was also spiked at 0 to 100 mg/100g in freshly prepared cheese. Two sets, each of twenty-one (21) samples, were prepared using the same type of soft white cheese. FTIR spectra were recorded using Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory at room temperature, and the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression statistical method was used to derive calibration models for the set of samples in triplicates. The spectral region used for correlation and cross validation were set include the data from 1650 – 800 cm–1. As suggested by the correlation and variance spectra. The coefficient of determination (R2) of correlation was found to be 0.986 with average standard error of calibration (SEC) of 2.24 mg/100g, with. The calibration model was validated by using the “leave-one-out” cross-validation method, and the R2 of validation, the standard errors of prediction (Yang and Irudayaraj), and standard deviation (Angulo et al.) of the differences for repeatability and accuracy were computed and found to be 0.9662, 4.07 mg/100g and 4.61, respectively. The results support the premise that FTIR spectroscopy is an efficient, precise and rapid analytical technique for the determination of minor components such as formaldehyde / formalin in cheese samples.
Diseases such as diabetes mellitus and gout are among the chronic diseases affecting worldwide population. Investigation is required to find the alternative approaches to treat these chronic diseases, such as plant based medicine. In this study, lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus) was chosen and examined on the basis of their usage in traditional medicines throughout Southeast Asia. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents of the lemongrass essential oil which compromise 67.769% and 67.328% of the total oil respectively. Total phenolic content of the essential oil was analyzed by Folin Ciocalteau method and the results indicated that highest amount of phenolic content was obtained from essential oil extracted from lemongrasses stalk, with phenolic concentration of 2100.769 mg/l GAE. Anti oxidant activity was examined by DPPH scavenging test and the highest inhibition was obtained by essential oil extracted from lemongrass stalk (89.5%). β-glucosidase inhibition assay was carried out using an in-vitro model for anti diabetic test and lemongrass stalk essential oil showed highest degree of inhibitory activity (89.63%). Anti gout test was examined by xanthine oxidase inhibition (XOI) assay with the maximum percentage of xanthine oxidase inhibition of 81.34% obtained from lemongrass stalk essential oil.
Media components such as wheat flour, MgSO4 and particle size were screened by Placket Burman design (PBD) while the operating range was fixed by one-factor-at-a-time method (OFAT), primarily for the enrichment of cassava peels as animal feed. Optimization of the selected media components was carried out using Face–Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD) of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and the responses were measured in term of protein and lignin contents. Statistical analysis of the result showed that the quadratic term of wheat flour and the interaction between wheat flour and particle size were highly significant (P
Oleo gum resins are plant exudates commonly used in folk medicine for treating several disease
conditions. Anti-cariogenic properties of essential oil (E. oil) and crude extracts obtained from
Boswellia frereana (B. frereana), Boswellia carterii (B. carterii) and Commiphora myrrha
(C. myrrha) were investigated. Methanol and acetone extracts of the three plants inhibited
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus spp. growth. Hexane extracts showed
low anti-microbial activity. The average microbial inhibition was 14.6 mm for S. mutans and
13.8 mm for Lactobacillus spp. regardless of solvent type. B. frereana produced 8% E. oil
while B. carterii and C. myrrha gave 5% and 6%. B. frereana E. oil inhibited S. mutans and
Lactobacillus spp. more than B. carterii and C. myrrha E. oils.
This study aimed to evaluate antioxidant capacity of honey samples that were collected from Blue Nile State, Sudan by determining total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power assay (FRAP). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of sugars content. The results showed that the highest TPC was (85.7±1 mg GAE /100g Fw), the highest TFC was found to be (55.14
± 1.09 mg QE /100g Fw) using quercetin equivalent (QE) as standard and the inhibition value of (DPPH) was (52.93 ± 0.44%). The FRAP showed the highest value of (281 μM TE/100g Fw), also the results indicated that the honey contained fructose (38.6 ± 1.8 g/100g - 42.9 ± 1.3 gL100g Fw), and glucose (30.4 ± 0.75 - 31.7 ± 0.68 g/100g Dw). Protein content was found to be ranging between and 0.60% and 1.04%. In conclusion, the results showed that honey is a good source of antioxidants due to the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotene. Also, an excellent source of the simple reducing sugars.
This study aimed at investigating the presence of alkaloids and other chemical constituents in Datura stramonium (Saikaran, Jimson weed). All parts of the plant were dried, crushed and then underwent extraction by soxhlet and maceration methods. The solvents used in these methods were normal hexane (nonpolar) and ethanol (polar). Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and FTIR techniques were used to analyse the chemical components of jimson weed. The results showed the presence of hyoscine in all plant parts while atropine in the seeds only. The best separation was found to be when the solvent system was acetone: water: ammonia (90:07:03). Maceration method is the best and cost effective procedure for extraction.
The Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a large iconic tree indigenous to Africa where it is found in many countries. The Baobab tree has various uses, as it produces food and non-food products such as medicines, fuel, timber and fodder. This research is focused on the characterization of the Baobab fruit shells in terms of lignin (54.08%), cellulose (24.87%) and hemicellulose (21.05%) content, as well as proximate analysis such as ash content (5.17%), moisture content (6.48%), volatile matter (86.73%) and carbon content (1.22%). This assessment will play a vital role in exploring the benefits of utilizing baobab fruit shells in the production of activated carbon as well as set a foundation for future research.
The oil quality parameters of the seed oil of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) were evaluated using standard methods of analysis. The Iodine value, Peroxide value, Saponification value were 86 g/100g, 4.08 mEq/Kg, 188 mg/g, respectively, for seed oil. The oil content of the kernel was higher 23% compared to the hulls that contain 5.4% oil. The kernel oil contains substantial quantities of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which were found to be 4116, 2339 and 1629 mg/Kg, respectively. The fatty acid profile showed that oleic and linoleic were the major unsaturated fatty acids, whereas palmitic was the major saturated acid. The oil also, showed considerable amount of total phenolic content (TPC) and worthy antioxidant activity. Baobab oil has great nutritional and industrial potentials. It is therefore recommended that more and advanced research should be undertaken for this abundant source of natural nutritious oil.
Phoenix dactylifera L (Date palm) is one of the oldest known fruit crops in the world, and
the consumption of date fruits is no longer restricted to the Middle Eastern countries. Date
palm kernels are waste products of date fruit industry which are normally being discarded.
Based on their dietary fiber content; date palm kernels (DPK) have been proposed to be used
as fiber-based food supplement, caffeine free coffee alternative and animal feed ingredient.
Hence, utilization of such waste is highly desirable for the date industry. To accommodate these
benefits, and subsequent to some uses associated with DPK, this study sought to investigate the
biochemical and nutritional values of the Barhi date palm kernels (BDPK) grown in Iraq. The
results show that BDPK is an excellent source of dietary fiber (66.24 g/100g). Glutamic acid
was found to be the predominant amino acid, (0.674 g/100g), followed by Arginine and aspartic
acid (0.437 g/100g and 0.320 g/100g, respectively). Potassium was the most occurring mineral
in BDPK (2.39 g/kg), and the main sugars were sucrose and fructose (0.548 g/100g and 0.249
g/100g, respectively). Gas-liquid chromatography revealed that the main unsaturated fatty acid
(USFA) was oleic acid (40.927 mg/100g), while the main saturated fatty acid (SFA) were lauric
acid (20.270 mg/100g) and myristic acid (12.288 mg/100g). Furthermore, the BDPK depicted
considerable concentrations of vitamins, in which vitamin B5 (40.4 mg/100g) showed the
highest value. The results obtained indicate a strong potential for BDPK to be used in human
nutrition, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications and may provide an important economic
advantage through increasing the utilization of BDKP while also additive value will be added
to the residue.
Acacia polyacantha gum (APG) is a dried exudate which obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia polyacantha trees. APG is rich in soluble dietary fibers as well as organic compounds. In this study quantitation of the levels of total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant activities were conducted using ABTS and CUPRAC assays for APG extraction using pure solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone) and their aqueous mixtures at 50% and 100%. The antioxidant levels were evaluated by 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radical cation deculturization and cupric iron reducing capacity in the presence of neocuproine (CUPRAC) for the evaluation of reducing power, and (TPC) was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The solvent Methanol (50%) gave the best extraction ratio for APG presented by highest (TPC 60.78 mg GAE/100g of DW, CUPRAC 34.65 mg TE/100g DW, and, ABTS about 37.65 mg TE/100g DW respectively), followed by ethanol 50% extract. On the other hand, pure methanol showed the lowest TPC 5.33 mg GAE/100g of DW, ABTS 10.9 mg TE/100g DW, and CUPRAC 7.80 mg TE/100g DW, values respectively. Therefore, the variation in the antioxidant capacity of extracts was possibly due to the difference of polarity, immiscibility and the nature of the APG compounds extracted using various solvents. The higher content of antioxidant activity in APG shall be useful to human health if it is properly utilized.
The present study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of Ocimum basilicum collected from different regions of the world. The accession V1 is from Sudan, V2 from Iraq, V3 from Germany, V4 from Thailand, V5 from Russia and V6 from Maldives. The extracts from six basil accessions were analysed for their DPPH free radical scavenging activity and their total phenolic content (TPC). The results suggest that the highest antioxidant activity was found in V6 (from Maldives) and the lowest antioxidant activity was found in V4 (from Thailand). The highest amount of phenolic content was found in V6 (from Maldives) and the lowest phenolic content was found inV4 (from Thailand). This study shows that basil is a good source of free-radical scavenging compounds that have their traditional medicinal applications.