Optimization and characterization of chestnut shell pigment extract obtained microwave assisted extraction by response surface methodology

The objective of this study is to find optimum conditions to valorize chestnut shell bioactive compounds with coloring pigments through microwave-assisted extraction. With this aim, response surface methodology with central composite design was used. Microwave power (800 W), extraction time (12 min) and solvent concentration (NaOH: 0.115 mol/L) were determined as the optimum conditions to maximize the responses like color value, total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity. In the optimized extract (OE), characterization of brown melanin like pigments were assessed by Spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and major phenolics were identified as; gallic acid, ellagic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, and epicatechin as 0.53, 0.48, 0.46, 0.46, 0.14 mg/g dried weight (dw) by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, respectively. In terms of antibacterial activity, OE inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Consequently, chestnut shells were successfully processed into natural coloring agents that were possessing strong brown color properties as well as high bioactive potential.

A comparative study of electrical and conventional pre-treatments for quality assessment of hot air dried green bell pepper

In this study, the effect of pretreatments (hot water blanching, microwave blanching and ohmic heating) on drying kinetics and quality characteristics of green bell pepper dried at 60, 70 and 80 °C was investigated. Four mathematical models were fitted to experimental data and Logarithmic model was found to be the best for all the samples. Rehydration ability of only ohmic heating pretreated peppers was higher than untreated ones. Total polyphenol (TP) content and antioxidant capacity (AC) of dried peppers varied between 3.21-5.08 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry matter (DM) and 1037.57-2407.40 mmol AAE/100 g DM, respectively. The content of ascorbic acid (AA) in dried samples was in the range of 187.25-722.55 µg/g DM. The bioaccessibility of TP after in-vitro digestion varied from 79.44 to 97.73%. Losses of chlorophyll a and b were very high in all samples compared to fresh ones but the most in control samples.

Assessment of cactus pear leather (pestil) as a new snack food

In this study, selected nutritional and functional properties of cactus pear and cactus pear leather (pestil) processed with different dryers (oven type and pilot scale tray dryers) were evaluated. For this aim, the fruits collected from three different districts of Turkey were processed and the most suitable region and processing method were investigated. Processing with different dryers had significant (p < 0.05) impact on total acidity, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, color and hydroxymethylfurfural values of pestil samples and the best results including antioxidant capacity (66.91-70.25%) and total phenolics (1.79-2.01 g gallic acid equivalent per kg) were obtained with the tray dryer. On the other hand, mineral contents (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) of the products were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected from different dryers. Pestil obtained by tray drying gave the highest rate for the taste. According to the results, the fruits collected from the Aegean region of Turkey were more convenient for processing. Because there is a limited number of studies on this fruit, data provided in the present study may also contribute to further studies.

Effect of High Fructose Corn Sirup on Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Induced by Dimethyl Benzantracene (DMBA) in Rats

Increased risk of pancreatic cancer may be associated with consumption of sugar containing foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peach nectar containing high fructose corn sirup (HFCS) consumption in a pancreatic carcinogenesis rat model induced by 7,12-Dimethyl benzanthracene (DMBA). Fifty-day-old male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with peach nectar containing HFCS + chow, peach nectar containing sucrose + chow and only chow. After 8 mo, feeding period, each group was divided into two subgroups, in which the rats were implanted with DMBA and no DMBA (sham). Histologic specimens were evaluated according to the routine tissue processing protocol. The animals with ad libitum access to pn-HFCS, pn-sucrose and chow (only) showed significant differences in chow consumption and glucose level. Necropsy and histopathologic findings showed tumor formation in the entire group treated with DMBA. Excluding one rat in chow group, which was classified as poorly differentiated type, the others were classified as moderately differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study demonstrated that daily intake of HFCS did not increase body weight and there was no effect of peach nectar consumption on the development of PDAC induced by DMBA in rats.

Plasma ascorbic acid level and erythrocyte fragility in preeclampsia and eclampsia

An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the circulation is blamed to cause preeclampsia and eclampsia. In this study plasma ascorbic acid level was analysed in 13 eclamptic, 14 mild preeclamptic, 12 severe preeclamptic and 20 uncomplicated pregnancies to see whether there is any correlation with blood pressure, proteinuria, serum triglyceride level, erythrocyte fragility and leukocyte count. Plasma ascorbic acid level was normal and had no significant difference among the groups. Fasting serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group but it did not differ among the three study groups. Erythrocyte fragility was found to be increased in all three study groups. Blood leukocyte count was increased in the study groups, especially in the eclampsia group. However, plasma ascorbic acid level and erythrocyte fragility were found to have no significant correlation with blood pressure and proteinuria. It was concluded that though the ascorbic acid levels were normal in both the study and the control groups, erythrocyte fragility increased probably due to an elevation in peroxide and free radical levels in preeclampsia and eclampsia groups, but without any correlation with the severity of the clinical picture.