Antioxidant potential of methanolic extracts and powders of some Cameroonian spices during accelerated storage of soybean oil

The efficacy of methanolic extracts and powders of 12 spices (Pimpinella anisum, Scorodophleuszenkeii, Xy- lopiaparviflora, Eugenia caryophyllus, Fagara leprieurii, Fagara macrophylla, Monodora myristica, Olax subscorpioidea, Xylopiaaethiopica, Allium sativum, Zinziber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum) in stabilizing crude soyabean oil during accelerated storage was assessed. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols in all the spices except that of Allium sativum. Total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts varied significantly (p < 0.01) ranging from 1.34 to17.72 gGAE/100 gand 18.91% to 96.39% respectively. Extract of Zinziber officinale, Olax subscorpioidea, Fagaramacrophylla, Eugenia caryophyllus and Xylopia parviflora, which offered the highest TPC, exhibited superior antioxidant activity with regard to the DPPH. Furthermore, the antioxidant effectiveness of the extracts and powders was assessed using crude soyabean oil (CSO) as the oxidation substrate. CSO samples stabilized with extracts at a concentration of 500 ppm (w/w) and powders at a concentration of 1000 ppm were subjected to accelerated storage (65?C, oven heating, 24 days, 8 h heating cycle per day), and analyzed periodically for the extent of oxidative alterations following the measurement of iodine and peroxide value. CSO + BHT at 200 ppm served as standards besides the control. Results?reveal Zinziberofficinale, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Scorodophleuszenkerii, Monodora myristica, Xylopiaaethiopica, Allium sativum, Fagara leprieurii extracts and powders and the powder of Pimpinella anisum to be potent antioxidants for stabilization of crude soyabean oil.

Proximate Composition, Mineral and Vitamin Content of Some Wild Plants Used as Spices in Cameroon

The aim of this work was to contribute to our knowledge of the proximate composition, mineral and vitamin content of 20 edible wild plants used as spices in Cameroon. The plant species were collected from 3 different markets in the West Region of Cameroon and analysed for their content of crude proteins, and lipid, ash, moisture, available sugars, total phenols, carotenoids, minerals (Ca, Zn, K, Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu and Se), and vitamins (A, E and C) as well as for their pH and colour. Results revealed that all the plants were low in moisture (7.7 to 10.5 g/100 g) but high in ash content (7.7 to 10.5 g/100 g). Hua gabonii (bark) (1594.5 mg/100 g) was relative source of calcium, Echinops giganteus (206.4 mg/100 g) exhibited the highest level of iron and Scorodophleus zenkeri (310.0 μg/100 g) the highest level of selenium. Generally all the plants were found to contain low levels of Zn, Cu and Mg. Wide variations were observed for the pro- teins and available sugars among the samples. The lipid content of some of the plants were surprisingly relatively high as was the case with Monodora myristica (53.4 g/100 g), Xylopia aethiopica (33.7 g/100 g), Fagara leprieuri (32.1 g/100 g), and Aframomum daniellii (23.1 g/100 g). All the plants were rich in phenols, carotenoids, vitamin E and C. They are dark in colour and in solution they tended to provoke a fair acidification.

Lipid Oxidation of Catfish (<i>Arius maculatus</i>) after Cooking and Smoking by Different Methods Applied in Cameroon

The influence of different cooking and smoking methods (boiling, frying, frying + boiling, hot and cold smoking) on oxidation and fatty acid composition of catfish (Arius maculatus) commercialized on the Wouri river coast was evaluated including commonly used analytical indexes (peroxide and acid values)and physical analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The mean moisture, protein, ash and fat contents of raw fish were 75.88 ± 0.55;64.24 ± 0.14;10.98 ± 0.31 and 23.02 ± 0.88 respectively. All these treatments provoke the modification of the quality indexes. Lipid deterioration, thermolysis and lipid oxidation occurred throughout the treatment. Peroxide value decreased for all cooked and smoked catfish, while free fatty acids of smoked sample increased. The FTIR applied to evaluate lipid oxidation in extracted lipid clearly provided a better picture of the oxidation progress and led to a similar conclusion with chemical analysis. Boiled, bleaching hot and bleaching cold smoking were found to be the suitable treatment methods for catfish because they gave it a high nutritive value compared to other smoking methods.

Manufacturing of Composite Pasta by a Mixing Plan

The partial replacement of durum wheat semolina with local flours such as soybeans and yam reduces the dependence of durum wheat semolina for the production of pasta. The main objective of this study is to develop yam flour (A) from Dioscorea alata in the manufacture of pasta made with durum wheat semolina (B) and soy flour (C) (raw materials). The methodology adopted consists first of all in the characterization of yam, soybean and durum wheat semolina. An experimental design was developed to bring out the balanced mixing plan in well-defined proportions with ten (10) tests. Chemical and functional analyzes were carried out on the pastes obtained from these formulations. The functional properties allowed us to determine the optimal mixing plan using a mathematical model. The sensory properties of the optimal compound dough were estimated in comparison with the control doughs. The results on the chemical properties of raw materials A, B and C obtained on the water content vary from 10.29% to 12.29%;those of ashes vary from 0.91% to 5.74% and those of proteins vary from 3.24% to 20.17%. The results of the chemical and functional parameters of compound pasta gave very diverse values. We find that the water content, the ash content, the protein content and the acidity rate of the series of 10 tests are respectively from 6.60% to 14.97%, from 0.97% to 1.67%, from 7.15% to 12.10% and from 1.35% to 3.60%. Regarding the optimal cooking time for this series of 10 tests, it varies from 15 min to 20 min with a swelling index which is between 59.70% and 107.12%. Statistical tests (test F) from the different models indicate that the main regression effects are not significant with a p-value probability greater than 0.05. The models obtained were significant with a good value for the coefficient of determination R2. The sensory test approved that optimal compound pasta has good overall acceptability compared to 100% durum wheat pasta. The 20.40% yam flour mixture (102.020 g);55.19% of durum wheat semolina (275.982 g) and 24.39% of soy flour (121.998 g) has good potential in the preparation of compound pasta.

Effects of Soursop flowers(Annona muricata L.)extract on chemical changes of refined palm olein stored at frying temperature

In this study,the antioxidant activity of soursop flowers extract in delaying palm olein oxidation at frying temperature was assessed.The oil was supplemented with the extract at concentrations 200–1800 ppm,and stored in the oven at 180◦C for 6 days(4 h heating per day).Palm olein containing butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT)served as positive control while the same oil without antioxidant(Control)served as negative one,in order to monitor changes in oils.After each two heating days,oil samples were collected,and their chemical indexes were determined.Peroxide,para-anisidine,TOTOX,thiobarbituric acid and iodine values were the parameters evaluated.Additionally,the evolution of the fatty acid composition of each oil sample during the storage was assessed by gas-chromatography using a flame ionization detector(GC/FID).Generally,palm olein samples containing the natural extract have exhibited the lowest rate of oxidation,and were efficient in limiting the destruction of unsaturated fatty acids in oil at frying temperature.The order of effectiveness in inhibiting oil oxidation was the following:PO+AnM1800ppm>PO+AnM1400ppm>PO+AnM1000ppm>PO+An.M600ppm>PO+An.M200ppm>PO+BHT200ppm=Control.From these results,it can be concluded that soursop flowers are a potent sources of natural antioxidants for stabilization of palm olein.

Possible Synergistic Effect and Antioxidant Properties of Chitosan Nanoparticles and Quercetin against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induce Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study was conducted to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), to determine their properties and to evaluate the synergistic protective role of CNPs alone or in combination with quercetin (Q) against oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 12 groups (7 rats/group) and were maintained on their respective diet for 3 weeks as follow: control group, the group treated with CCl4 (100 mg/kg b.w twice a week);the groups received CNPs at low and high doses (140 and 280 mg/kg b.w);the group received Q (50 mg/kg b.w);the groups received CNPs at the low or high doses plus Q and the groups treated with CCl4 plus Q and/or CNPs at the two tested doses. Blood and liver samples were collected at the end of experiment period for biochemical and histological studies. The results indicated that chitosan showed deacetylation degree of 17.5% and 19.2% and the molar mass average of monomer was 168.35 g/mol and 169.1 g/mol by UV and IR methods respectively. The particle size of CNPs was around 100 nm with a rough surface. The in vivo results revealed that CCl4 induced biochemical and histological changes typical to those reported in the literature. Animals treated with CNPs at the two tested doses alone or in combination with Q were comparable to the control. CNPs alone or plus Q succeeded to induce significant improvements in the biochemical parameters and histological picture of the liver in rats treated with CCl4. This improvement was in dose-dependent manner for CNPs and was more pronounced in the group treated with the high dose plus Q. It could be concluded that both CNPs and Q could induce protection against hepatotoxicity. Consequently, CNPs was a promise candidate as drug delivery in liver diseases treatments.

Functionalized liposomes for targeted breast cancer drug delivery

Despite the exceptional progress in breast cancer pathogenesis,prognosis,diagnosis,and treatment strategies,it remains a prominent cause of female mortality worldwide.Additionally,although chemotherapies are effective,they are associated with critical limitations,most notably their lack of specificity resulting in systemic toxicity and the eventual development of multi-drug resistance(MDR)cancer cells.Liposomes have proven to be an invaluable drug delivery system but of the multitudes of liposomal systems developed every year only a few have been approved for clinical use,none of which employ active targeting.In this review,we summarize the most recent strategies in development for actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for surface,transmembrane and internal cell receptors,enzymes,direct cell targeting and dual-targeting of breast cancer and breast cancer-associated cells,e.g.,cancer stem cells,cells associated with the tumor microenvironment,etc.

Biofabrication of natural hydrogels for cardiac,neural,and bone Tissue engineering Applications

Natural hydrogels are one of the most promising biomaterials for tissue engineering applications,due to their biocompatibility,biodegradability,and extracellular matrix mimicking ability.To surpass the limitations of conventional fabrication techniques and to recapitulate the complex architecture of native tissue structure,natural hydrogels are being constructed using novel biofabrication strategies,such as textile techniques and three-dimensional bioprinting.These innovative techniques play an enormous role in the development of advanced scaffolds for various tissue engineering applications.The progress,advantages,and shortcomings of the emerging biofabrication techniques are highlighted in this review.Additionally,the novel applications of biofabricated natural hydrogels in cardiac,neural,and bone tissue engineering are discussed as well.