In this study, functional food ingredients have been developed from tomatoes. Specifically, this paper investigates the possibility of producing tomato powder with high solubility by decomposing (saccharification) the cellulose contained in tomatoes using three different microbial enzyme preparations. Additionally, the paper examines the differences in the concentration of sugar produced with and without shaking during saccharification. No effect of shaking on the production of glucose and reducing sugars was observed in either enzyme formulation. However, enzyme preparations A and B produced more glucose than C, with enzyme A producing up to 92.1 mg of glucose. Furthermore, for enzyme preparation C, up to 56.1 mg of reducing sugars other than glucose were produced. Regarding antioxidant activity, the DPPH radical scavenging activity was reduced by saccharification, while the inhibitory activity of liquid peroxidation increased up to 2.02-fold using enzyme preparations A and B. Considering the high solubility and maintenance of functionality, the usefulness of enzyme preparations A and B was suggested. Key words: Tomato, saccharification, cellulose, cellulase, glucose, reducing sugar, food ingredients, functional food.
The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in a population of type 2 diabetics and to study the relationship between serum homocysteine ??levels and sociodemographic, clinical and biological characteristics in this population. This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 type 2 diabetic patients. Each patient underwent a routine biological assessment and a total homocysteinemia measurement. The overall prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is 27% (95% confidence interval : 18.6 to 36.8). The mean serum homocysteine ??value is 10.7±3.7 μmol/l and it is higher in men (11.5 ± 3.7 μmol/l) than in women (10.4 ± 3.7 μmol/l) with a non-significant difference (p=0.901). We found a positive significant correlation between homocysteinemia and creatinine (p = 0.03) and a negative significant correlation between homocysteinemia and serum HDL cholesterolemia (p=0.01). Mean serum homocysteine ??levels is significantly higher in hypertensive diabetics subjects than in non-hypertensive patients (p=0.006). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is relatively high in type 2 diabetics. This marker should be determined as part of the biological monitoring of these patients. Key words: Hyperhomocysteinemia, risk factor, type 2 diabetes, Senegal.
Elaeis guineensis commonly known as the African palm oil, a monocotyledon widely used due to its nutritional and economic importance. The effect of deterioration of the harvested palm fruit on the physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition of palm oil was investigated. The palm fruit was processed after each period of deterioration (fresh, 7, 14 and 21 days after harvest) for oil production. AOAC Standard methods were used for the analysis. The result shows that the acid value (4.0±0.08, 4.94±0.33, 6.08±1.17 and 6.68±0.44) mg KOH/g, peroxide value (12.25±0.21, 14.53±0.78, 13.90±0.14, and 14.90±0.24) mg KOH/g, flash point (304.5±0.71, 300.5±2.12, 301.5±0.71 and 308.5±0.17°C) and boiling point (342±4.24, 339±1.41, 350±1.41 and 348±2.82°C) for fresh, 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively were above National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) permissible limits. The free fatty acid value, saponification value, iodine value and melting point were below NAFDAC permissible limits. The fatty acid components showed that C12 for day 7 was significantly high when compared with other groups. Also linolenic acid (18:3) composition was significantly different at day 21 when compared with the values for other days. The result reveals that some physiochemical properties of the oil (acid value, free fatty acid, refractive index, specific gravity, cloud point and boiling points) increased in days 14 and 21 oil. Thus, the quality of oil processed within seven days of harvest of the palm fruits was better. Key words: Elaeis guineensis, physicochemical, fatty acid composition, deterioration.
Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a public health problem which affects all human beings including darkskinned subjects.In children, it can cause disabilities associated with skeletal abnormalities such as rickets or stunted growth.VDD is also associated with a significant risk of extra-skeletal, infectious, auto-immune, neoplastic, and cardiovascular diseases.The concentration of 25 (OH) D is currently considered as the best VDD indicator.Whereas VDD has been well studied in Western countries and North America, very few studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of VDD in children aged between 0 to 59 months.This is a cross-sectional prospective study conducted from August 5, 2019, to November 30, 2020.A total of three hundred children were included in this study, two hundred of whom were malnourished and the rest with a normal P/T ratio.The variables studied were vitamin D, serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.Ferritin, haemoglobin, protein, albumin and prealbumin were also studied.The prevalence of VDD in the general population was 30%.No significant statistical difference in vitamin D concentration values was noticed between malnourished and nourished children with p = 0.388.Children over 24 months of age are 2.34 times more likely to be VDD than others.Given the prevalence of VDD in the study population, it would be necessary to integrate screening and supplementation into current medical practice.
Oils extracted from Blighia sapida fruits are usually consumed without any information on its chemical composition.However the bad quality of oil can be a source of toxicity.Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the physicochemical quality of the oil extracted from B. sapida from Togolese flora.To reach the goal of the study, mature and immature of B. sapida arils were used for oil extraction by the solvent method using hexane.The physicochemical parameters including density, acid value, saponification value, ester value, iodine value and impurity content were determined according to the French Association for Standardization (AFNOR) standards.The results of the extraction yields were 41.7% (immature arils) and 48.8% (mature arils).The mature arils oil had acid value of (7.013 mg of KOH/g), saponification (195.17mg of KOH/g), iodine (87 g I 2 /100 g) and ester (188.157mg of KOH/g) values were different for those of the immature arils' which were 30.86 mg of KOH/g (acid value), 191.68 mg of KOH/g (saponification value), 85 g I 2 /100 g (iodine value) and 160.82 mg of KOH/g (ester value).The densities were 0.916 g/cm 3 (mature) and 0.77 g/cm 3 (immature) while the impurity content was 3.4% (mature) and 16.1% (immature).The effect of heating the oils resulted in very high values of the physicochemical parameters.The results obtained deduce that this oil meets the Codex Alimentarius standard.
Jalin Herbal Mannex Liquid (JHML) is a polyherbal formulation from honey, Panax ginseng, Liriosma ovate, and Lepidium mehenil, intended for enhanced sexual performance and improve sperm count in men. JHML was studied via its effect on body weight, biochemical indices and histopathology of the testes. Twenty healthy Wistar rats of 120 -150 g weight were allotted into groups A and B., of ten rats each, group A (control), were given 2 mL/kg B.W of tap water, group B were dosed with 2 mL/kg B.W of JHML for four weeks with the animals allowed access to feed and water ad-libitum. Blood were obtained through heart perforation, kidney and testes were excised, washed with normal buffered saline. Results from the investigation indicated that JHML had androgenic properties with marked significant increase (p˂0.05) in body weight of rats administered with JHML. Significant increase (p˂0.05) was observed in LH, FSH, testosterone and with a concomitant significant decrease (p˂0.05) in PRL. The JHML caused non-significant decrease (p>0.05) on triglycerides and cholesterol but with positive significant effect (p ˂ 0.05) on LDL and HDL. No significant changes (p>0.05) on creatinine, urea, uric acid and serum electrolytes. Testicular sections of rats treated with JHML exhibited normal features, seminiferous epithelium and interstitial tissues with active spermatogene sis. The significant increase (p˂0.05) in testosterone, LH, FSH with a concomitant significant decrease (p˂0.05) in PRL may account for its sex invigorating potential, the non-significant changes observed in some biochemical indices of the rats showed that JHML is relatively safe at the studied dose.
High levels of hemoglobin F (HbF) could reduce the severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) by inhibiting hemoglobin S (HbS) polymerization.HbF expression is modulated by the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) located on the HBS1L-MYB intergenic region (HMIP) (rs28384513) and intron 2 of the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene (rs4671393, rs1427407).To assess the impact of QTLs of HbF on clinical and biological parameters associated with the severity of sickle cell disease in a Senegalese pediatric population, 301 children with SCD not treated with hydroxyurea were recruited.The numbers of hospitalizations and VOC were estimated over 2 years.HbF levels were determined by HPLC.Three QTLs of HbF were genotyped by High Resolution Melting (HRM), two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of BCL11A and one SNP of HMIP.Data analysis was performed using SPSS.The mean frequency of hospitalizations was 0.84 ± 1.29.The mean number of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) episodes was 2.73 ± 1.98.The mean Hb concentration was 7.76 ± 1.05 g/dl.The mean HbS was 82.28 ± 4.78% and the mean HbF was 9.49 ± 5.12%.BCL11A (rs1427407) was associated with fewer hospitalizations.Both BCL11A SNPs were associated with increased HbF levels.BCL11A SNPs were associated with increased HbF levels, decreased HbS levels, and decreased hospitalizations (rs1427407).However, no association was noted between these SNPs and the number of VOC episodes.Thus, HbF QTLs are not the only genetic factors modulating the clinical severity of sickle cell disease, which suggests the involvement of other genetic factors such as alpha-thalassemia.
Chronic non-communicable diseases are responsible for a large majority of deaths worldwide. These include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer. Inflammation has been reported to be involved in the initiation or progression of these conditions. Populations in developing or low to middle- income countries often rely on traditional medicine using locally available herbs and plants for their medical care. This study examined the anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extracts of twelve medicinal plants used in Nigeria. The antioxidant activity was estimated using the total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and ferric reducing ability (FRAP) assays. The abilities to inhibit nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NfkB), a key regulator of the inflammatory response, and to activate nuclear factorE2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates cellular antioxidant defense systems, were determined using in vitro cell based assays. Extracts of Erythrina senegalensis (leaves), Sclerocarya birrea (bark), Boswellia dalzielli (leaves and bark), Pseudrocedrila kotschyi (bark), Sterculia setigera (stem bark), and Sarcocephalus esculentus (bark) contained the highest levels of antioxidant activity. Extracts that showed the greatest inhibition of NfkB were S. esculentus (bark), 91.8%; E. senegalensis (leaves), 81.4%; S. birrea (stem bark), 77.5%; and S. setigera (stem bark), 75.5%. B. dalzielli (leaves) and Xylopia aethiopica (leaves) gave 7.4 and 7.7 fold activation of Nrf2, respectively. These were comparable to activation by sulphorophane. Key words: NfkB inhibition, Nrf2 activation, antioxidant activity, inflammation, medicinal plants, Nigeria.
The antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of solid state fermented cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) using Rhizopus oligosporus were investigated.Solid state fermentation was carried out for 72 h at room temperature under acidic and basic conditions.Total phenolic content was significantly (p<0.05)higher in fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava at pH 7 and 5 when compared with unfermented.Similarly, the total flavonoid contents of fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava at pH 4 and 7 were significantly (p<0.05)higher than in unfermented.Allium cepa assay was used to assess the antigenotoxic effects of unfermented and fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava.The fermented extracts did not induce chromosomal type aberrations in the treated cells.The present study thus showed that R. oligosporus has the ability to breakdown cassava and considerably increase the antioxidant properties in peeled and unpeeled fermented cassava, which may serve as natural antioxidants in industrial broiler chickens.
