Current Issue : October - December Volume : 2010 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 8 Articles
β-fructans are plant carbohydrates that, because of the ß–(2 1) configuration of the fructosyl-fructose glycosidic linkages, resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract but are quantitatively fermented in the colon. In last few years they have received increasing interest because of their positive health benefits. So far, few studies are available reporting its presence in commonly consumed foods. The present research focused on analyzing β-fructan content for 26 raw and cooked Indian food samples, using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Β-fructan content was highest in garlic (12.7%), followed by onion (10.2%) and wheat (GW496 variety) (2.3%). Four percent increasing in β-fructan content was observed in ‘chappati’ prepared by roasting, followed by a loss of 17% in ‘puris’ during frying and a maximum loss of 47% in ‘steamed wheat porridge’. Vegetables and fruits like fenugreek leaves, spinach, cabbage, brinjal and apple showed occurrence of β-fructan in the range of 0.02 - 0.88 %. Minor amounts were detected in fenugreek seeds and rice. Β-fructan was not detected in various pulses and legumes namely green gram, red gram dhal, black gram, bengal gram and soyabean as well as in cereals like pearl millet, maize and oat bran. The results will allow for the quantification of β-fructan in the average daily diet of Indians. The data from this study will provide added information to the current database for β-fructan content of commonly consumed foods as well as its contribution to health in form of reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases....
Roots of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) were exposed to gamma irradiation at doses of 5 and 10 kGy in a Co 60 irradiator. Irradiated and unirradiated samples were stored at room temperature. Microbial load of root powder were evaluated at 0 and 6 months of storage. Results indicated that gamma irradiation reduced the total aerobic count and total fungal count in comparison to the non-irradiated sample. Further, the non-irradiated samples showed the presence of E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus. On irradiation there was a drastic reduction in E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Microbial load was found to be increased after 6 months of storage in the non-irradiated samples, where as there were no significant differences in the irradiated samples. Thus, gamma irradiation can be used as a suitable technique for microbial decontamination of phytopreparations and products of Ashwagandha and thus increase their shelf life and stability....
Urinary stone disease has afflicted humankind since antiquity and can persist, with serious medical consequences, throughout a patient’s lifetime. Medical management of urinary calculus disease is a challenge for modern science. Here an attempt was made to study the constituents present in MUSA AAB stem juice and MUSA AAB stem powder. MUSA AAB stem was subjected for extraction and constituents have been found out. Potassium nitrate and Magnesium nitrate are the major constituents present in MUSA AAB stem juice as well as MUSA AAB stem powder. Because of the presence of potassium nitrate an assumption was made from this study that it is having very effective anti renal calculi properties. The conformation was made by doing invitro evaluation studies. The present study aims to give data highlighting the present trends in research of medicinal plants accredited with antiurolithiatic activity. This may help investigators to identify and develop appropriate lead compounds or plant products beneficial in the management of urolithiasis....
Aerva lanata (AL) whole plant was extracted with petroleum ether. Petroleum ether extracts showed significant cytotoxic activity when tested for its effect on mitosis in Allium cepa root tips. The 3 days old Allium cepa roots showed inhibition of mitosis when treated with petroleum ether extract of AL in a concentration dependent manner. The present investigation revealed that the petroleum ether extract of AL significantly inhibited the mitosis in onion root tips....
Food is one of the essential of life. So, it should be pure, nutritious and free from any type of adulteration for proper maintenance of human health. Adulteration of food has ramification within society and cannot be ignored since interference with food stuffs may potentially lead to the production of food which is harmful to health. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of foods, dietary supplement, drugs, etc. The present review focus on analytical methods (microscopic analysis; HPLC, GC, GC-MS, FTIR, UV-visible spectrophotometer) and simple screening test used for the detection of food adulteration....
Allopathic drugs like insulin, sulphonylureas and biguanides have definitely helped in controlling blood sugar levels and improving the quality of life but none of them are successful in maintaining normal glucose levels and avoiding late stage complications of Diabetes. Natural medicines works better against the type-II diabetes, few of them are Momordica charantia, Quassia amara, Ceiba pentandra, Swertia chirata, Ficus bengalensis, Gymnema sylvestre, Pterocarpus marsupium and many more. This paper has included 35 such drugs (botanicals), which can be used for the treatment of Diabetes. Out of these herbs Turmeric along with Aloe Vera gel and many other combinations can be used during early stages of Diabetes for proper functioning of pancreas and liver and thus these can be considered as better alternate for treating diabetes and preventing its complications....
Inulins are prebiotics that, because of the ß–(2 1) configuration of the fructosyl-fructose glycosidic linkages, resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract but are quantitatively fermented in the colon and produce short chain fatty acids which exert beneficial health effects. Inulin incorporated bread and cookies were studied in terms of physico chemical, nutrient and organoleptic characteristics by substituting base material namely refined wheat flour in bread and fat in cookies at 5% , 10%, 15%, 20%, 22% and 25% levels. Organoleptic evaluation of the standard and inulin incorporated products was carried out by a panel of selected, trained judges. Sensory evaluation tools selected were numerical scoring test and multiple comparison test,. Physicochemical evaluation of bread showed decrease in water absorption, loaf weight and loaf volume with increasing level of inulin substitution. Results of physico chemical properties of cookies showed that there was increase in diameter, thickness and spread ratio of the cookies up to 15% substitution with inulin thereafter a decrease in these parameters was observed. Organoleptic evaluation of bread and cookies substituted with inulin were accepted amongst the panel members up to 20% level of substitution. Inulin could be used as fat replacer in cookies and as fibre enrichment up to 20 % in bread without statistically significant change in organoleptic attributes. Therefore it can be concluded that inulin can be substituted as dietary fibre in bread and as fat replacer in cookies....
Vinegar has been known since ancient times, for more than 10,000 years, and has been used for its typically acid flavour. It has been used since centuries not only for food but also for medicinal and ritual purpose. It is traditionally the product of the acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquors and it was wine that was the first alcoholic liquid used, thus the derivation of its name (from the French vinaigre �¼ sour wine). The medicinal use of vinegar was widespread during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, for both internal and topical use. It was in fact used as a digestive, a prophylactic against liver disorders, an anthelmintic, for sore throats, and to rub on the wrists against fever, but also against hair loss and tinea. Till date it is renounced for its hypoglycaemic activity. Extensive research is being carried out for its antitumor, anticancer effects....
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