Bambara-wheat composite flour: rheological behavior of dough and functionality in bread

The rheological behavior and functional properties of doughs from bambara–wheat composite flour was investigated. Bambara–wheat composite flour was prepared by substituting wheat with 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of bambara flour. The rheological behavior of their dough was analyzed with Mixolab. Breads produced from the flour were analyzed for physical characteristics. Organoleptic analysis was carried out by 20 panelists. Mixolab analysis revealed, except for stability time, depreciating values for dough consistency (C1), protein weakening (C2), starch gelatinization (C3), amylase activity (C4), and retrogradation (C5) as the inclusion of bambara flour increased. Physical characteristics of the loaves revealed significant (P < 0.05) decreasing bread volume and increasing specific volume, respectively, as bambara inclusion increased. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference between wheat bread and the bambara–wheat composites in all the studied quality attributes. 15% bambara–wheat composite bread was the most accepted amongst the composite breads. Inclusion of bambara flour improved the protein behavior of the composite, but did not evidently show benefits in the baking characteristics.

Protective effect of some selected fruit blends on testicular toxicity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

The protective effect of a developed drink from blends of selected fruits on the sperm quality of alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated.

METHODS

Diabetes was intraperitoneally induced with alloxan; the formulated drink blend was orally administered 2.5 or 5 mL/day. Treatment lasted for 14 days and the rats were humanely sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The antioxidant status via assessment of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was carried out on the testis, while sperm cells were analyzed for sperm motility, counts and abnormality.

RESULTS

Induction of diabetes led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in GSH level, elevated SOD and CAT activities, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the sperm quality parameters studied. However, treatment with the formulated drink led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LPO, SOD and CAT activities as well as increase in GSH level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows an improvement in testicular antioxidant activities and sperm qualities by single and double doses of the formulation, suggesting its protective potential against testicular toxicity in diabetic rats.