Cold plasma: Unveiling its impact on hydration, rheology, nutritional, and anti-nutritional properties in food materials - An overview

Non-thermal technologies, primarily employed for microbial inactivation and quality preservation in foods, have seen a surge in interest, with non-thermal plasma garnering particular attention. Cold plasma exhibits promising outcomes, including enhanced germination, improved functional and rheological properties, and microorganism destruction. This has sparked increased exploration across various domains, notably in hydration and rheological properties for creating new products. This review underscores the manifold benefits of applying cold plasma to diverse food materials, such as cereal and millet flours, and gums. Notable improvements encompass enhanced functionality, modified color parameters, altered rheological properties, and reduced anti-nutritional factors. The review delves into mechanisms like starch granule fragmentation, elucidating how these processes enhance the physical and structural properties of food materials. While promising for high-quality food development, overcoming challenges in scaling up production and addressing legal issues is essential for the technology's commercialization.

A novel approach to increase calcium and fiber content in pasta using kadamb fruit (Neolamarckia cadamba) powder and study of functional and structural characteristics

Kadamb is a unique and underutilized fruit having rich nutritional profile. The utilization of kadamb fruit in value addition is very limited. In this study, pasta was made using kadamb fruit powder (KFP). The effect of fortification of KFP on the quality parameters (color, solid loss, percent expansion, hardness, bulk density, and overall acceptability) of pasta was studied. Pasta was prepared using semolina as the base ingredient, and various proportions of KFP (ranging from 0 to 20%) were added for fortification. Dietary fiber and calcium contents of dry pasta were increased from 5.21 ± 0.02 to 15.36 ± 0.02 and 17.57 ± 0.15 to 37.97 ± 0.03, respectively. As the proportion of KFP increased, the cooking time, hardness, and percent solid loss of the cooked pasta also increased. The highest values for overall acceptability, hardness, cooking solid loss, and bulk density were achieved with 10% KFP and 90% semolina were 7.93 ± 0.41, 19.92 ± 0.21 N, 6.30 ± 0.46%, and 331.67 ± 9.60 kg/m3 respectively. Percent expansion of the pasta was noted to be around 98.33 ± 6.5%. The optimal proportion of KFP was found to be 10% for achieving the best overall quality attributes. FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) analyses were conducted on the pasta, confirming the presence of functional groups and revealing structural changes due to fiber content of KFP. KFP can be used to create functional and nutritious food products, and further research could explore its application in other food formulations as well.

Sustainable environmental practices of tea waste-a comprehensive review

Tea, the major beverage worldwide, is one of the oldest commercial commodities traded from ancient times. Apart from many of its advantages, including health, socio-economic, climatic, and agro-ecological values, FAO has recognized that the tea value chain covering its growth in the field, processing and marketing, and finally, the hot cup at the user's hand needs to be made sustainable during all these stages. Tea generates a lot of waste in different forms in different stages of its growth and processing, and these wastes, if not managed properly, may cause environmental pollution. A planned utilization of these wastes as feedstocks for various processes can generate more income, create rural livelihood opportunities, help grow tea environmentally sustainable, avoid GHG emissions, and make a real contribution to SDGs. Thermochemical and biological conversion of tea wastes generates value-added products. This review provides an overview on the impacts of the tea wastes on the environment, tea waste valorization processes, and applications of value-added products. The application of value-added products for energy generation, wastewater treatment, soil conditioners, adsorbents, biofertilizers, food additives, dietary supplements, animal feed bioactive chemicals, dye, colourant, and phytochemicals has been reviewed. Further, the challenges in sustainable utilization of tea wastes and opportunities for commercial exploitation of value-added products from tea wastes have been reviewed.

OPTIMIZATION OF OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION PROCESS OF CARAMBOLA (Averrhoacarambola L.) FRUIT IN BINARY SOLUTION OF SALT AND SUCROSE

The present work investigated the mass transfer process during osmotic dehydration of carambola fruit slice using binary solution of salt and sugar. The dehydration performance was improved by optimizing the time and temperature of dehydration, salt concentration and fruit to syrup ratio. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to infer about the effects of these parameters on the rate of mass transfer such as water loss, solute gain, weight reduction and water activity of dehydrated carambola slice. A four factorial central composite rotatable design (CCD)adopting multiple regression technique was used to develop polynomial models of response variables and the adequacy of fit was ascertained by observing the correlation coefficients (R2 values). All the independent variables significantly affected the response parameters within the selected range. Adopting desirability function, the optimized values of process variables were, salt concentration 15g/100ml, temperature 45.08oC, time 240 min and fruit to syrup ratio 1:10. The validation of the optimised parameters confirms invariability between the predicted and experimental results.

Thermodynamics of sorption isotherms and storage stability of spray dried sweetened yoghurt powder

Sorption isotherm is a quantitative approach to predict the shelf life of dried foods. Adsorption isotherms of spray dried sweetened yoghurt powder (SYP) were determined by static gravimetric technique at 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C. The data obtained were fitted to eight different sorption models. A non-linear least square regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the model constants. The experimental sorption data were best fitted to four parameter Peleg model. The monolayer moisture contents found from GAB model were 4.88, 4.54, 3.86 and 3.52% at 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C, respectively. The maximum net isosteric heat of sorption and sorption entropy of SYP were 9.399 kJ/mol and 20.28 J/mol K, respectively. The Gibb's free energy change for sorption was in the range 3436.19-303.91 J/mol. The storage stability in terms of moisture content, thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acid, hydroxymethyl furfural values and starter counts of SYP packed in aluminium laminated polyethylene (ALPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) were studied along with their change kinetics. The relationship between the water vapour permeability of packaging materials and adsorbed moisture (determined from GAB equation) in powder was used to predict the shelf life and was predicted as 28 and 44.44 days in LDPE and ALPE pouches, respectively.

Effect of hydrocolloids on the physico-chemical and rheological properties of reconstituted sweetened yoghurt powder

BACKGROUND

The consistency of sweetened yoghurt (misti dahi) is a desired characteristic which is attributed to the casein protein network formation during fermentation. Unfortunately, this property is lost in reconstituted sweetened yoghurt (RSY) due to the irreversible nature of protein denaturation during spray drying. Therefore, this study aimed to increase the consistency of RSY using different hydrocolloids.

RESULTS

The effects addition of guar gum, pectin, κ-carrageenan and gelatin (0.1%w/v each) on the physico-chemical, microbial, rheological and sensory properties of RSY were investigated. RSY with 40% total solids demonstrated the rheological properties which are very similar to those of fresh sweetened yoghurt. RSY containing different hydrocolloids further increased the rheological properties. The dynamic rheological study revealed that the magnitude of storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), and loss tangent (tan δ) were significantly influenced by the addition of hydrocolloids and gelatin exhibited highest dynamic moduli in RSY. However, κ-carrageenan added RSY was preferred sensorially as the rheological properties were very close to gelatin added RSY. Addition of hydrocolloids significantly increased the starter bacteria count and pH and reduced water expulsion rate (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Addition of hydrocolloids can improve the rheological properties of reconstituted yoghurt. The study concluded that the addition of κ-carrageenan showed better results in terms of rheological and sensory properties of RSY. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Optimization of the extraction of phenolic compounds from Cyclosorus extensa with solvents of varying polarities

The leaves of Cyclosorus extensa are used in the preparation of rice beer in Assam, India. The optimal conditions of time and temperature of fermentation for extraction of bioactive compounds from the dried leaves were obtained using response surface methodology. The central composite rotatable design was used and 13 experimental runs based on two-factor-five-level design were generated and performed for each of the solvents. The independent variables were extraction time (12 and 48 h) and temperature (25 and 55°C). The responses studied were total polyphenol content, radical scavenging activity, antibacterial activity, and antifungal activity. The analysis of variance of the test data was performed and the sequential sum of squares, F-value, R², and adjusted R² were deduced. The predicted models for all the response variables were adequately fitted to the observed experimental data (p ≤ 0.001). The maximum extraction of bioactive compounds under the optimum conditions of extraction temperature and time for hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and distilled water were found to be 25°C for 29.43 h, 28.28°C for 41.27 h, 43.95°C for 29.61 h, and 55.00°C for 48.00 h, respectively. It was also observed that the solubility of the polyphenols was higher in methanol, followed by ethyl acetate, and the highest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was shown by the ethyl acetate extracts.

Effect of multiple binge alcohol on diet-induced liver injury in a mouse model of obesity

Background:

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are highly prevalent liver diseases that may coexist and contribute significantly to liver disease-related mortality. Obesity is a common underlying risk factor for both disorders. There has been little research investigating the combined effects of high fat diet (HFD) and alcohol. Current mouse models of alcohol- or fat-rich diet alone do not lead to severe liver injury. There is a need to develop animal models recapitulating human settings of drinking and diet to study the mechanisms of liver injury progression.

Methods:

C57BL6 male mice were fed either chow or HFD ad libitum for 12 weeks. A sub-set of mice from each group were also given alcohol (2 g kg⁻¹ body weight) twice a week via intra-gastric lavage. Animals were monitored progressively for weight gain and blood and livers were harvested at termination. The extent of liver injury was examined by histopathology as well as by liver and serum biochemistry. The expression of lipid metabolism, inflammation and fibrogenesis-related molecules was examined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (Q-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining.

Results:

HFD significantly increased total body weight, triglyceride and cholesterol, whereas alcohol increased liver weight. Alcohol+HFD in combination produced maximum hepatic steatosis, increased micro- and macro-vesicular lipid droplets, increased de novo lipogenesis (steroid response-element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1)) and proliferation peroxisome activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and decreased fatty acid β-oxidation (Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1)). Alcohol+HFD treatment also increased the inflammation (CD45+, CD68+, F4/80+ cells; tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), F4/80 mRNAs) and fibrogenesis (vimentin+ activated stellate cells, collagen 1 (Col1) production, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and Col-1 mRNAs) in mice livers.

Conclusions:

We report a novel mouse model with more severe liver injury than either alcohol or HFD alone recapitulating the human setting of intermittent alcohol drinking and HFD.

Estimation of effective dose and lifetime attributable risk from multiple head CT scans in ventriculoperitoneal shunted children

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review is to determine the averaged effective dose and lifetime attributable risk factor from multiple head computed tomography (CT) dose data on children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS).

METHOD AND MATERIALS

A total of 422 paediatric head CT exams were found between October 2008 and January 2011 and retrospectively reviewed. The CT dose data was weighted with the latest IRCP 103 conversion factor to obtain the effective dose per study and the averaged effective dose was calculated. Estimates of the lifetime attributable risk were also calculated from the averaged effective dose using a conversion factor from the latest BEIR VII report.

RESULTS

Our study found the highest effective doses in neonates and the lowest effective doses were observed in the 10-18 years age group. We estimated a 0.007% potential increase risk in neonates and 0.001% potential increased risk in teenagers over the base risk.

CONCLUSION

Multiple head CTs in children equates to a slight potential increase risk in lifetime attributable risk over the baseline risk for cancer, slightly higher in neonates relative to teenagers. The potential risks versus clinical benefit must be assessed.

Effect of feed composition, moisture content and extrusion temperature on extrudate characteristics of yam-corn-rice based snack food

Blends of yam, rice and corn flour were processed in a twin-screw extruder. Effects of yam flour (10-40 %), feed moisture content (12-24 %) and extruder barrel temperature (100-140 °C) on the characteristics of the dried extrudates was investigated using a statistical technique response surface methodology (RSM). Radial expansion ratio differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with change in all the independent variables. Highest expansion (3.97) was found at lowest moisture content (12 %) and highest barrel temperature (140 °C). Increased yam flour level decreased the expansion ratio significantly. Water absorption index (WAI) increased significantly with increase of all variables. However, water solubility index (WSI) did not change with change in yam flour percent. Hardness of extrudates that varied from 3.86 to 6.94 N was positively correlated with yam flour level and feed moisture content, however it decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.001) with increase of barrel temperature. Yam percent of 15.75 with feed moisture and barrel temperature at 12.00 % and 140 °C respectively gave an optimized product of high desirability (> 0.90) with optimum responses of 3.29 expansion ratio, 5.64 g/g dry solid water absorption index, 30.39 % water solubility index and 3.86 N hardness. The predicted values registered non-significant (p < 0.10) differences from the experimental results. Further study would include the sensory properties enhancement of extruded snacks and little emphasis on the chemistry of interaction between different components.

Complex post-transcriptional regulation of EGF-receptor expression by EGF and TGF-alpha in human prostate cancer cells

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the development and progression of prostate cancer and its overexpression is associated with decreased survival. With progression, prostate cancer cells switch from epidermal growth factor (EGF) to transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) synthesis, which contributes to autocrine growth and unrestrained proliferation. To define the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of EGFR expression by EGF and TGF-alpha we studied three human prostate cancer cell lines, androgen-responsive (LNCaP) and -unresponsive (DU145 and PC3). Here we show that TGF-alpha stabilized EGFR mRNA two- to threefold in all three cell lines, whilst EGF stabilized EGFR mRNA approximately twofold in LNCaP and DU145 cells, but not in PC3 cells. Both ligands increased EGFR transcription in LNCaP and DU145 cells, with less effect in PC3 cells. In all three cell lines EGF reduced total EGFR protein levels more than TGF-alpha, but this was associated with a greater increase in de novo protein synthesis with EGF compared to TGF-alpha. Only EGF, however, shortened EGFR protein stability (half-life decreased from 5 h to 120 min), resulting in rapid disappearance of newly synthesized EGFR protein. Both ligands increased total LNCaP and DU145 cell numbers. These studies demonstrate that the EGF- and TGF-alpha-induced upregulation of EGFR mRNA and protein in human prostate cancer cell lines is complex and occurs at multiple, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Taken together, these data provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms by which TGF-alpha would preferentially maintain an autocrine loop in human prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, this work suggests that in human prostate cancer cells ligand-specific differential intracellular trafficking of the EGFR plays a major role in regulating its expression.

CfT-I: an LTR-retrotransposon in Cladosporium fulvum, a fungal pathogen of tomato

A retrotransposon from the fungal tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Fulvia fulva) has been isolated and characterised. It is 6968 bp in length and bounded by identical long terminal repeats of 427 bp; 5 bp target-site duplications were found. Putative first- and second-strand primer binding sites were identified. Three long open reading frames (ORFs) are predicted from the sequence. The first has homology to retroviral gag genes. The second includes sequences homologous to protease, reverse transcriptase, RNAse H and integrase, in that order. Sequence comparisons of the predicted ORFs indicate that this element is closely related to the gypsy class of LTR retrotransposons. Races of the pathogen exhibit polymorphisms in their complement of at least 25 copies of the sequence. Virus-like particles which co-sediment with reverse transcriptase activity were observed in homogenates of the fungus. This is the first report of an LTR retrotransposon in a filamentous fungus.

Altered lipid profile in liver amoebiasis and its emendation with metronidazole treatment

Liver amoebic abscess was produced by introducing 16,000 trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica directly into the livers of growing hamsters. A group of the infected animals received orally 64 mg metronidazole/kg body weight for 5 days from the day of the infection. The treated group was autopsied 7 or 14 days after the treatment. Histologically, liquefaction of large parenchymal areas and biochemically, elevation in cholesterol, triglycerides, bile acids and decrease in phospholipids were observed in infected livers. The infected hamsters exhibited hyperlipidemia and hypocholesterolemia. With metronidazole treatment all the values tended to shift towards control levels. The magnitude of the shift was determined by the post-treatment period.

1,2-Propanediol-2-Phosphate in Ascaris lumbricoides

No phosphagen is present in the body-wall muscle of Ascaris lumbricoides. A stable phosphorus compound, which on the basis of its chemical reactions seems to be 1,2-proepanediol-2-phosphate, constitutes more than half of the acid-soluble phosphorus compounds.