Microbiological Quality of Cyperus esculentus L. Products Sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) products sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. The microbial load of tubers and tiger nut milk was determined using ISO 4833-1 (2003) standard (total mesophilic aerobic flora), NF ISO 7954 (1998) standard (yeasts and molds), and ISO 4832 (2006) standard (total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms). The results showed that tiger nut tubers had an average microbial load between 4.86 ± 7.03 × 106 UFC/g and 1.82 ± 2.30 × 107 UFC/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 4.34 ± 10.6 × 105 UFC/g to 3.52 ± 4.54 × 106 UFC/g for yeasts and molds, from 2.23 ± 2.25 × 105 UFC/g to 1.41 ± 2.16 × 105 UFC/g for total coliforms and from 1.83 ± 2.03 × 105 UFC/g to 7.0 ± 10.8 × 104 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. For tiger nut milk samples, the average microbial load varied from 3.48 ± 2.98 × 106 CFU/g to 2.80 ± 5.69 × 107 CFU/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 5.00 ± 7.21 × 104 CFU/g to 1.88 ± 3.31 × 105 CFU/g for yeasts and molds, from 4.58 ± 10.4 × 104 CFU/g to 6.31 ± 9.17 × 105 CFU/g for total coliforms and 7.00 ± 7.00 × 103 CFU/g to 2.87 ± 5.86 × 105 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. This study revealed that the tubers and tiger nut milk sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso had a high microbial load which could lead to the degradation of these products and food poisoning for consumers.

Neuroprotection of Cyperus esculentus L. orientin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced brain injury

Orientin is a flavonoid monomer.In recent years,its importance as a source of pharmacological active substance is growing rapidly due to its properties such as anti-myocardial ischemia,anti-apoptosis,anti-radiation,anti-tumor,and anti-aging.However,the neuroprotective effects of Orientin on stroke injury have not been comprehensively evaluated.The aim of the present study was thus to investigate the neuroprotective capacity and the potential mechanisms of Cyperus esculentus L.orientin(CLO)from Cyperus esculentus L.leaves against ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)injury using standard orientin as control.For in vitro studies,we treated HT22 cells with CoCl2 as an in vitro ischemic injury model.HT22 cells in the control group were treated with CoCl2.For in vivo studies,we used rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion,and animals that received sham surgery were used as controls.We found that CLO protected CoCl2-induced HT22 cells against ischemia/reperfusion injury by lowering lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species formation as well as decreasing protein oxidation.However,CLO did not reduce the release of lactate dehydrogenase nor increase the activity of superoxide dismutase.Results showed that CLO could decrease neurological deficit score,attenuate brain water content,and reduce cerebral infarct volume,leading to neuroprotection during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Our studies indicate that CLO flavonoids can be taken as a natural antioxidant and bacteriostastic substance in food and pharmaceutical industry.The molecular mechanisms of CLO could be at least partially attributed to the antioxidant properties and subsequently inhibiting activation of casepase-3.All experimental procedures and protocols were approved on May 16,2016 by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Xinjiang Medical University of China(approval No.IACUC20160516-57).