Enhancing the organoleptic and functional properties of jujube by a quick aging process

An Acidic Polysaccharide with Anti-Inflammatory Effects from Blackened Jujube: Conformation and Rheological Properties

An acidic polysaccharide fraction (BJP-4) was isolated from blackened jujube, and its advanced structures and anti-inflammatory activity were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that BJP-4 exhibits both crystalline and amorphous portions. Atomic force microscopy data suggested that it contains a large number of spherical lumps. Circular dichroism and Congo red experiments revealed that it has no triple-helix conformation. In steady shear flow results, the BJP-4 solution was a pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluid with acid-base stability. BJP-4 (20 mg/mL) showed liquid-like properties (G″ > G′), while it performed weak gel-like behavior at a high concentration (40 mg/mL) (G′ > G″). The anti-inflammatory effects of BJP-4 were further evaluated through in vitro experiments. BJP-4 could down-regulate the over-secretion of inflammatory factors (NO, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2) in RAW264.7 cells due to LPS stimulation. Moreover, it demonstrated that BJP-4 restrained the NF-κB signal pathway by regulating TLR4 expression, reducing IκBα phosphorylation level and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. In summary, this present study contributes to the application of blackened jujube polysaccharides in the foods and medicine field.

Preparation, structural characterization and antioxidant activity of water-soluble polysaccharides and purified fractions from blackened jujube by an activity-oriented approach

This study aimed to investigate the structural features and antioxidant activity in vitro of crude blackened jujube polysaccharides (BJPs) and five purified polysaccharides based on the activity-oriented approach. The crude BJPs exhibited dose-dependent radical scavenging activity and total reducing capacity, and provided excellent protective effects against H₂O₂-damaged HUVECs via up-regulating mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulating intracellular reactive oxygen species. After fractionation by column chromatography, the five purified components differed in chemical composition, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition (type and relative proportion) and FTIR band (peak pattern or intensity, especially in the range of 1000.0-1200.0 cm^-1), as well as protective effects against H₂O₂-induced HUVECs. As the most abundant and potent antioxidant component, the backbone of BJP-3 was mainly composed of →4)-α-l-GalpA (1→, →5)-α-l-Araf (1→ residues with two terminals of T-α-l-Araf (1→ and T-β-d-Galp (1→. The above results compared the structural and bioactive properties of different blackened jujube polysaccharides and highlighted their potential as antioxidants for functional foods.

Content variations in compositions and volatile component in jujube fruits during the blacking process

Dried jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) was incubated at high temperature and humidity for 96 hr in blacking process and sampled every 12 hr. Results showed that the saccharose reduced from 195.6 to 3.1 g/kg rapidly in 24 hr. The total acid content was mild with 8.82 g/kg and increased to 23.45 g/kg by 177.21% with thermal processing for 96 hr. The contents of total polyphenols were enhanced during 0-48 hr processing, and the amount of the compound increased with treatment by 50.99%. The total reducing sugar increased 29.79% on 60 hr. cAMP was decreased with aging and ripening by 65.85%. 5-HMF was keep growing to 3.52 g/kg. The volatile component had great change in black jujube fruits compared to untreated jujubes, especially treated in 12 hr. The results indicated that backing pretreatment can facilitate the generation of functional food materials and support the development of this nutrition product.

Emerging CAM Ziziphus nummularia with in vivo sedative-hypnotic, antipyretic and analgesic attributes

Ziziphus nummularia from Rhamnaceae family is traditionally used for sedative-hypnotic, antipyretic and analgesic purposes; however, scientific validations are lacking. This in vivo study was undertaken to verify the above ameliorative properties of Z. nummularia root methanolic extract. Various fractions of the extract were assayed on Balb/c mice by open field, Brewer’s yeast-induced hyperthermia and acetic acid-induced writhing experiments. The significance of the outcomes was analyzed with statistical tests. Various fractions of the extract exhibited marked dose-dependent (p < 0.05) sedative-hypnotic and antipyretic activities. The biological efficacies were most pronounced between 50 and 100 mg/kg. Further, the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated by the extract. Chloroform fraction of the extract was most dominant followed by ethyl acetate. The demonstrated therapeutic attributes of Z. nummularia extract can be exploited to isolate pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

Inhibitory Effect of Heracleum persicum and Ziziphus jujuba on Activity of Alpha-Amylase

Postprandial hyperglycemia plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Inhibition of alpha-amylase was led to a delay in breaks down of starch and glycogen and prevented a rapid rise in blood sugar. Alpha-amylase was isolated by gel filtration chromatography Sephadex G-75 from bovine pancreas. Then, total methanolic extracts of plants were prepared and IC50 values of extracts on alpha-amylase were obtained and compared with acarbose IC50. The polyphenolic content of extracts and antioxidant capacity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu test and DPPH test, respectively. The specific activity of alpha-amylase was 48.2 U/mg. For inhibition of alpha-amylase, IC50 values of H. persicum, Z. jujuba, and acarbose were 307, 827, and 113 μg/ml, respectively. For inhibition of DPPH radical, IC50 values of extracts were 235 and 701 μg/ml. Total phenolic contents of methanol extracts were 73.8±3.2 and 44.2±1.8 μg tannic acid equivalent/mg extract. Acarbose causes gastrointestinal symptoms and liver toxicity, but H. persicum and Z. jujuba decrease these side effects and prevent gastrointestinal disorders. Due to the high polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of these plants and significant inhibitory effect of the plants on alpha-amylase, these plants can be proposed for treatment of diabetic patients.