Mineral analysis of human diets by spectrometry methods

Evaluation of heavy metals, mycotoxins and mineral bioaccessibility through in vitro static digestion models of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and sole (Dover sole) side stream extracts obtained by Pressurized Liquid Extraction

The recovery of antioxidants and minerals as well as the content of contaminants of rainbow trout and sole side streams (head, skin and viscera) extracts obtained by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) were evaluated. Then, the effect of the gastrointestinal digestion was tested. No mycotoxins were detected in the extracts, while heavy metals contents (mg/kg) were up to 2.9 (As), 0.054 (Cd), 0.16 (Hg) and 0.073 (Pb), being below maximum legislated limits. A positive effect of PLE was found for the antioxidant capacity recovery, being the oxygen radical capacity of sole head and skin extracts significantly enhanced after digestion (∼3.8 times). PLE significantly increased Mg, Fe, Zn, Se and P (K_PLE > 1) contents of rainbow trout side streams, Zn (K_PLE5.97) and Fe (K_PLE 2.80) of head sole and Mg, Se and P of all samples. Moreover, Mg, Ca and Fe bioaccessibility was lower in all sole extracts compared to rainbow trout.

Response of Monarda citriodora L. plant to foliar spraying with extracts of moringa leaves and peels of the pomegranate

Introduction: Monarda citriodora L. plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is a medicinal and aromatic plant, an annual herb, one of important sources of thymol compound. This plant has various purposes such as medicinal properties, food industry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals industry, a  powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

Objective: There is an ongoing need to find safe, natural sources of plant nutrients. Moringa leaves and pomegranate peels extracts are being used as a secure source of natural nutrients, and natural growth regulators on the growth and productivity of plants. Applying these bio stimulants helps avoid the excessive use of industrial materials in agriculture. So, this experiment was carried out to determine the effect of both moringa leaves extract, and pomegranate peels extract as a bio regulator on the productivity of M. citriodora plant.

Methods: This experiment was carried out during two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) at the Experimental Station of Adlya Farm, Sekem Company, ElSharkia Governorate, Egypt, to study the influence of some natural extracts of moringa leaves and pomegranate peels on growth, yield as well as some chemical constituents of the dry herbs, such as total carbohydrate, total flavonoids compounds, total phenolic content, NPK content and essential oil contents and its components and determination of free radical scavenging activity of M. citriodora L. plant.

Results: Both extracts of moringa leaves and pomegranate peels positively affected growth, yield, and chemical constituents compared to untreated plants. Moringa leaves extract had more effect compared with pomegranate peels extract. The main essential oil constituents were thymol, p-cymene, and carvacrol compounds.

Conclusion: The application of bio-stimulants of moringa leaves extract (MLE) and pomegranate peels extract (PPE) positively affect the growth and production of M. citriodora plant.

Crepis vesicaria L. subsp. taraxacifolia Leaves: Nutritional Profile, Phenolic Composition and Biological Properties

Crepis vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia (Cv) of Asteraceae family is used as food and in traditional medicine. However there are no studies on its nutritional value, phenolic composition and biological activities. In the present work, a nutritional analysis of Cv leaves was performed and its phenolic content and biological properties evaluated. The nutritional profile was achieved by gas chromatography (GC). A 70% ethanolic extract was prepared and characterized by HLPC-PDA-ESI/MSn. The quantification of chicoric acid was determined by HPLC-PDA. Subsequently, it was evaluated its antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The anti-inflammatory activity and cellular viability was assessed in Raw 264.7 macrophages. On wet weight basis, carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrients (9.99%), followed by minerals (2.74%) (mainly K, Ca and Na), protein (1.04%) and lipids (0.69%), with a low energetic contribution (175.19 KJ/100 g). The Cv extract is constituted essentially by phenolic acids as caffeic, ferulic and quinic acid derivatives being the major phenolic constituent chicoric acid (130.5 mg/g extract). The extract exhibited antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays and inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by LPS (IC50 = 0.428 ± 0.007 mg/mL) without cytotoxicity at all concentrations tested. Conclusions: Given the nutritional and phenolic profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Cv could be a promising useful source of functional food ingredients.

Response of total phenols, flavonoids, minerals, and amino acids of four edible fern species to four shading treatments

Total phenols, flavonoids, minerals and amino acids content were investigated in leaves of four fern species grown under four shading treatments with different sunlight transmittance in 35% full sunlight (FS), 13% FS, 8% FS and 4% FS. The leaves of four fern species contain high levels of total phenols and flavonoids, abundant minerals and amino acids, and these all were strongly affected by transmittance. Total phenols and flavonoids content were significantly positively correlated with transmittance, while minerals and total amino acids content were significantly negatively correlated with transmittance, a finding that supports research into how higher light intensity can stimulate the synthesis of phenols and flavonoids, and proper shading can stimulate the accumulation of minerals and amino acids. Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro (MS) had the highest total phenols content, Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching (AM) showed the highest total amino acids, total essential amino acids content, Osmunda cinnamomea (L) var. asiatica Fernald (OCA) exhibited the highest total non-essential amino acids and flavonoids content. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var. latiusculum (Desy.) Underw. ex Heller (PAL) exhibited the highest minerals content. This research can provide a scientific basis for the cultivation and management of those four fern species.

The Role of Mineral and Trace Element Supplementation in Exercise and Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review

Minerals and trace elements (MTEs) are micronutrients involved in hundreds of biological processes. Deficiency in MTEs can negatively affect athletic performance. Approximately 50% of athletes have reported consuming some form of micronutrient supplement; however, there is limited data confirming their efficacy for improving performance. The aim of this study was to systematically review the role of MTEs in exercise and athletic performance. Six electronic databases and grey literature sources (MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL and SportDISCUS; Web of Science and clinicaltrials.gov) were searched, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: 17,433 articles were identified and 130 experiments from 128 studies were included. Retrieved articles included Iron (n = 29), Calcium (n = 11), Magnesium, (n = 22), Phosphate (n = 17), Zinc (n = 9), Sodium (n = 15), Boron (n = 4), Selenium (n = 5), Chromium (n = 12) and multi-mineral articles (n = 5). No relevant articles were identified for Copper, Manganese, Iodine, Nickel, Fluoride or Cobalt. Only Iron and Magnesium included articles of sufficient quality to be assigned as 'strong'. Currently, there is little evidence to support the use of MTE supplementation to improve physiological markers of athletic performance, with the possible exception of Iron (in particular, biological situations) and Magnesium as these currently have the strongest quality evidence. Regardless, some MTEs may possess the potential to improve athletic performance, but more high quality research is required before support for these MTEs can be given. PROSPERO preregistered (CRD42018090502).