Intake of Natural, Unprocessed Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.) Drink Significantly Favors Intestinal Beneficial Bacteria in a Short Period of Time

Effects of a Cyperus esculentus L. plant-based beverage on FVB/n female mice

This work evaluated the effects of the consumption of a plant-based beverage (Cyperus esculentus L., Adansonia digitata L., and thermal water) on the physiological parameters of mice over a 28-day period. Thirty-two female FVB/n mice (n = 8) were randomly assigned to one of four groups divided into two experimental protocols: Group 1 drank water and Group 2 drank a plant-based beverage for 24 h; in the second experimental protocol, Group 3 consumed water and Group 4 consumed plant-based beverage for a limited time (4 h). Two experimental protocols were conducted to assess whether the exposure time to the beverage affects the animals' physiological parameters, to determine if there is a possible daily limit for consumption of the product and to analyze their adverse effects. The mice consuming a beverage ingested a larger amount of drink and a smaller amount of food. Histologically there are no pathological changes in collected organs. The consumption of a plant-based beverage has been shown to have a positive effect on oxidative markers and can have a diuretic action. According to results, no behavioral changes or clinical signs of disease were observed throughout both experimental protocols, and no mortality was recorded.

Physicochemical properties of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L) polysaccharides and their interaction with proteins in beverages

This study aimed to extract tiger nut polysaccharides (TNPs) by the cellulase method which were graded using the DEAE-cellulose ion exchange method to obtain neutral (TNP-N) and acidic (TNP-A) polysaccharide classes. Analysis of the physical structures and monosaccharide compositions of TNP-A (3.458 KDa) and TNP-N (10.640 KDa) revealed lamellar and dense flocculent structures, with both primarily containing the monosaccharides glucose, galactose, and arabinose (Glc, Gal, and Ara). Single-factor and orthogonal tests were used to select three hydrocolloids, and the optimal ratio of the composite hydrocolloids was determined. Peanut protein drinks with a centrifugal sedimentation rate of 9.71% and a stability factor of 69.28% were obtained by adding 2.78% polysaccharide extract, 0.1% monoglyceride, and peanut pulp at a ratio of 1:15.5 g/mL. Polysaccharide protein drinks are more stable than commercially available protein drinks, with nutritional parameters either comparable to or better than those of the non-polysaccharide protein drinks.

Tiger Nut Milk's Antiviral Properties against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses: Effect of Concentration and Adding Sugar

The global COVID-19 pandemic has warned scientists of the requirement to look for new antimicrobial compounds to prevent infection by this type of viral pathogen. Natural compounds are becoming a promising avenue of research thanks to their renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic properties. In this work, tiger nut milk's (TNM) antiviral properties, with and without sugar, were studied against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The antiviral properties of TNM were evaluated at different concentrations. The antiviral tests showed that TNM is antiviral against the enveloped bacteriophage phi 6, which is commonly used as a surrogate for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although it did not have any antiviral effect against the non-enveloped bacteriophage MS2. We also found that adding sugar to this natural drink can improve its antiviral properties against enveloped viruses and render it antiviral against non-enveloped viruses like bacteriophage MS2. The antiviral activity of TNM depends on the TNM concentration. TNM is a natural bioproduct that could help to fight against viral infections and protect against a wide range of viral illnesses. These results confirm that the typical sweetened drink made from tiger nut extract and sugar (known as horchata in Spain) possesses broad-spectrum antiviral properties.

Microbiota and probiotics: chances and challenges - a symposium report

The 10th International Yakult Symposium was held in Milan, Italy, on 13-14 October 2022. Two keynote lectures covered the crewed journey to space and its implications for the human microbiome, and how current regulatory systems can be adapted and updated to ensure the safety of microorganisms used as probiotics or food processing ingredients. The remaining lectures were split into sections entitled "Chances" and "Challenges." The "Chances" section explored opportunities for the science of probiotics and fermented foods to contribute to diverse areas of health such as irritable bowel syndrome, major depression, Parkinson's disease, immune dysfunction, infant colic, intensive care, respiratory infections, and promoting healthy longevity. The "Challenges" section included selecting appropriate clinical trial participants and methodologies to minimise heterogeneity in responses, how to view probiotics in the context of One Health, adapting regulatory frameworks, and understanding how substances of bacterial origin can cross the blood-brain barrier. The symposium provided evidence from cutting-edge research that gut eubiosis is vital for human health and, like space, the microbiota deserves further exploration of its vast potential.