Current progress in valorization of food processing waste and by-products for pectin extraction

Food processing waste and by-products such as peel of citrus fruit, melon, mango, pineapple, etc. and fruit pomace can be utilized for manufacturing of several high-value products. Valorization of these waste and by-products for extraction of pectin, can help offset growing environmental concerns, facilitate value-addition of by-products and their sustainable uses. Pectin has many applications in food industries such as gelling, thickening, stabilizing, and emulsifying agent, and as a dietary fibre. This review elaborates on various conventional and advanced, sustainable pectin extraction techniques, and paints a comparative picture between them considering extraction efficiency, quality, and functionality of the pectin. Conventional acid, alkali, and chelating agents-assisted extraction have been profusely used for pectin extraction, but advanced extraction technologies e.g., enzyme, microwave, supercritical water, ultrasonication, pulse electric field and high-pressure extraction are preferred due to less energy consumption, better quality product, higher yield, and minimal or no generation of harmful effluent.

Vitamin D in Patients of Chronic Liver Disease with Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequently encountered complication of chronic liver disease (CLD). The manifestation is thought to be due to alteration in absorption of nutrients with associated altered metabolism with deterioration in synthetic function of liver. Several factors are known to precipitate HE. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in development of HE. Although uncertain as a causative factor, studies have shown significant lower levels of 25OHD with worsening HE. This study was therefore undertaken with the aim to access the 25OHD levels in patients of CLD and the relationship with the degree of severity of HE.

MATERIAL

A cross-sectional hospital based observational study for a period of one year (1st June 2020 to 31st May 2021) was carried out with a total of 88 subjects of either sex above 12 years of age after application of inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria.

OBSERVATION

The results showed significant difference in serum albumin levels (p= 0.003) in patient groups of with and without overt HE. The mean levels of serum 25OHD was significantly lower in the overt HE group than the covert HE group (24.11 ± 6.46 ng/ml vs 11.72 ± 4.84 ng/ml, p< 0.001). The study showed the mean levels of serum 25OHD among patients with grade 1 HE is 24.11 ± 6.46 ng/ml, in patients with grade 2 HE is 13.61 ± 4.73 ng/ ml, followed by 8.41 ± 2.84 ng/ml and 8.00 ± 2.66 ng/ml in grade 3 and grade 4 HE respectively, p<0.001. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between serum 25OHD levels and HE (person's correlation coefficient r = -0.731, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Serum 25OHD levels were significantly lower in patients with overt HE. Serum levels of 25OHD showed a negative correlation with the degree of severity of HE.

Instant rice-based composite pasta requiring no cooking

The present study was undertaken to develop rice-based composite pasta with improved cooking/rehydrating and nutritional qualities. Pasta samples (T1-T10) having different proportions of rice flour (RF, 60-80%), wheat flour (WF, 40-12%), malted green gram flour (MGGF, 5 and 10%) and guar gum (GG, 1-3%) were prepared using a single screw extruder. Pasta made of 100% WF served as the control (T0). The cooked or rehydrated samples were evaluated for their cooking properties (optimum cooking time, cooking loss and swelling index), whiteness and yellowness indices, textural and organoleptic parameters. Substitution of WF by RF significantly reduced the cooking time, and improved the whiteness and swelling indices of the samples. However, reduction in WF increased the cooking loss, compromised textural and organoleptic attributes in samples with high RF content (80%); nevertheless, addition of GG and MGGF reduced these losses and improved the sensory qualities (p < 0.05). Irrespective of the composition of rice-based pasta, the optimal cooking time ranged within 2-4 min (unlike T0) and these samples could also be rehydrated in hot water within a short span of 5 min to attain textural qualities at par with their cooked counterparts and with sensorial scores well above the limit of acceptable range (≥5) (except T3 (80%RF + 20%WF)); nonetheless the cooked ones led to higher preference from the sensory panel. Adhesiveness of the rehydrated samples was lesser than their cooked counterparts, while vice versa was observed in case of their instrumental firmness/hardness. Among these, T7 (70%RF + 19%WF + 10%MGGF + 1%GG) and T9 (80%RF + 13%WF + 5%MGGF + 2%GG) exhibited high protein content (∼1.17-1.29 times higher than T0) and the most desired low in vitro starch digestibility and calorific values (∼1.16-1.25 fold reduction). Thus low-cost quick-cooking/rehydrating pasta can be successfully developed by adding suitable amount of MGGF and GG into rice-wheat composite flours.

Utilization of Euryale ferox Salisbury seed shell for removal of basic fuchsin dye from water: equilibrium and kinetics investigation

Euryale ferox Salisbury (E. ferox) is an environmentally and economically important wetland macrophyte.

Detection of thiazide-based diuretics in equine urine by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Thiazide-based diuretics are included in the list of banned drugs in the horse-racing industry. One effect of their misuse is increased urine flow, contributing to dilution of other doping agents. Their determination is essential in ensuring compliance to horse-racing regulation. This study evaluates the feasibility of using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interfaces to analyze thiazidic diuretics in equine urine samples. Existing LC and gas chromatography/MS methods are limited in their applicability to thiazide analysis. Sample preparation, analyte extraction, chromatographic separation, ion-source collision induced dissociation, solvent composition, ionization mode, and ion polarity are discussed. The practicality of LC/MS for this analysis is demonstrated with actual equine administration samples collected at specified time intervals. Detection limits were 270 ng/mL for chlorothiazide, 131 ng/mL for hydrochlorothiazide, and 384 ng/mL for trichlormethiazide.