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Original Research Article
Antioxidant Potential of Some Plant Foods Commonly Consumed in Cameroon
Mbong Angie Mary-Ann, Ntentie Françoise Raïssa, Djiokeng Paka Gislain, Dimodi Henriette Thérèse, Azantsa Boris Kingué, Youvop Janvier Aimé, Makamwe Inelle, Fotso Tiénou Huiny Miriam, Oben Julius Enyon
EAS J Nutr Food Sci; 2022, 4(2): 78-90
DOI:10.36349/easjnfs.2022.v04i03.001
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ABSTRACT
Plant foods contain antioxidants and their efficiency in the management of non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases has long been proven. Nonetheless, the antioxidant potential of plant foods is continuously being studied with the aim of valorizing those foods that are still not well known. As such, the aqueous filtrates of forty-eight (48) plant foods currently consumed in Cameroon were screened for antioxidant potential. Their polyphenol content, ability to scavenge the 2,2’azinobis (3ethylbenzo-tiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free radicals as well as their Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) were assessed. Seven of these plant foods which exhibited very high antioxidant capacity in their filtrates were selected and their aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts prepared for antioxidant evaluation using six methods notably, FRAP, polyphenol, scavenging of ABTS, 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-Picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) and Nitric oxide (NO) free radicals as well as metal chelating capacity. It was found that; Raphia farinifera (Raffia fruit), Spondias cytherea Sonner (Casmango) fruit, Manihot utilissima (Cassava leaf), Solanum scabrum (small leaf Garden huckle berry), Cola verticillata (Bamiléké Kola) and Colocasia esculenta (Taro leaf) portayed very high antioxidant potential. The evaluation of their antioxidant capacity showed that all seven selected foods could be considered for studies related to the management of age-related diseases, especially R. farinifera, Cola verticillata and S. scabrum.
ABSTRACT
Linum usitatissimum commercially known as Flax or flaxseed is mainly considered as an oilseed crop all over the globe belonging to the family Linaceae. Flax was valued in Ancient and Early Modern times as both food and medicine. Linseed has an important position in the Indian economy due to its wide industrial utility. In recent years, it emerged as a main key resource of phytochemicals in nutritional and functional aspects of human health. Moreover, due to other nutritional considerations than its oil content, make it a more favorable choice for food technologists and nutritionists to develop it as a functional food. Several studies divulge that these ingredients work well for nutritional advantage for human beings. Scientific evidence suggests and supports flaxseed consumption due to its quality proteins, soluble fibers, and a rich source of phenolic compounds. However, a large sector of the population all over the globe is still unaware of the health benefits supplementary to its consumption and its possible applications as useful food ingredients in food and food products. Flaxseed is mainly known for its high alpha-linolenic acid content, but it is also a rich source of lignan, compounds which are biologically active in the prevention of some chronic diseases. Flaxseed dietary fiber exhibits positive effects to reduce constipation, keep better bowel movement, and as a hypocholesterolemic agent. Over and above, numerous researchers reported that flaxseed incorporated food products can have good customer adequacy along with their nutritional welfares.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Twenty litres of milk was obtained from lactating Bunaji cows and clarified and then divided into fifteen parts of one litre such that each treatment had three replicates. Each part (1 L) was heated to a temperature of 50˚C with intermittent stirring. Thereafter, 20 g of coagulant (Calotropis procera) leaves juice was added and immediately, ascorbic acid was added at varying levels of 0 mg (T1), 50 mg (T2), 100 mg (T3), 150 mg (T4) and 200 mg (T5) and allowed to form curd. The whey was drained off to obtain the curd and refrigerated for fourteen (14) days. The cheeses obtained were investigated for proximate and microbial qualities at days 1, 7 and 14. Storage effect showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in carbohydrate and increase in moisture contents of the cheese. Treatment 1 had the highest moisture (35.52%) and ash (3.03%) values than cheeses enhanced with ascorbic acid. Treatment 4 was superior in fat (28.48%) and protein (22.73%) while carbohydrate concentration was at maximum (21.61%) in treatment 5. The highest Total viable bacteria count (TVBC), coliform count (TVCC), Lactobacillus count (TVLC), mold and yeast count (TVMYC) were quantified as 131.60 x 102, 63.10 x 102, 54.93 x 102 and 25.67 x 102 cfu respectively at day 14. Treatment influence showed significant (P<0.05) difference with treatment 3 having the highest TVBC (141.11x 102 cfu) and TVCC (67.94 x102 cfu) values respectively. Treatment and storage effects showed that T3 had the highest TVBC (147.33 x102 cfu) and TVCC (74.50 x102 cfu) at day 14. The TVMYC (26.83x102 cfu) was superior in T3 at day 1, while the TVLC was at its peak (61.67x 102 cfu) in T4 at day 14. Isolated bacteria were Micrococcus lactis, Lactobacillus spp, Bacillus subtilis, and the mold and yeast were Fusarium solani, Candida albican and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Conclusively, due to the higher concentration of carbohydrate in the refrigerated ascorbic acid enhanced cheese, it could serve as a source of energy for human, ......
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Food sanitation hygiene is an effort to control the factors of food, people, places, and equipment that can or may cause disease or health problems. The purpose of this study was to find out a description of food sanitation at the night market food vendors at Larantuka city park, East Flores district. This research is quantitative descriptive. The population and samples in this study were selling carts, totaling 13 carts and food handlers, totaling 13 people. The research sample amounted to 13 people with the sampling criteria were people who directly handled food. Analysis of the data used in univariate analysis. The results showed that most traders did not meet the requirements for personal hygiene of food handlers (69.2%), some traders met the requirements in tableware (76.9%), some of the merchants met the requirements in clean water and food ingredients (53, 8%) and all food traders do not meet the requirements in hawker facilities (100%). It is recommended to night market traders to improve personal hygiene and food sanitation so that the quality of the food they manage is guaranteed.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Rhodanese, a cyanide detoxifying enzyme was extracted from the liver of Synodontis schall and its characteristics investigated. Crude enzyme preparation was prepared and the enzyme was assayed by measuring the activity of rhodanese in RU min-1 mg-1. The results revealed that rhodanese extracted from Synodontis schall liver had km values for Na2S2O3 and KCN were 12.23mM±1.36 and 8.45mM±1.05 respectively. The enzyme had higher affinity for KCN than Na2S2O3. Dithio oxiamide, 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium metabisulfite were not capable of replacing Na2S2O3 as sulfur donors. Na2S2O3 had the highest relative activity followed by ammonium sulphate. Synodontis schall liver rhodanese had optimum activity at pH 8.0 and 45ºC. Relative activities of cations tested showed that none had any significant effect on Synodontis schall liver rhodanese. Rhodanese present in the liver of Synodontis schall had properties similar to those from other sources.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to assess the effects of consumption of Lima beans, angole peas and cowpeas on nutritional and physiological characteristics in growing rats. To do this, twenty-four growing male rats in four batches of six were fed for 21 days, with four diets. For example, a control diet based on soy powder (SAI), a Lima bean powder diet (PLI), an Angole pea powder diet (PAI) and a commercially purchased cowpea powder (NEI) diet were put into experimentation. The protein level of these diets is set at 10 %. At the end of the experiment, the results reveal that rats fed Lima bean powder diets experienced a loss of body mass from the beginning to the end of the experiment, while those fed with the other three diets (SAI, PAI and NEI) caused growth in rats. This study shows that there is no significant difference (p>0.05) between the values of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and conjugated bilirubins of rats on the PLI, PAI and NEI diets compared to the control (SAI). Blood glucose levels in rats on the PAI and NEI diets are significantly higher (p≤0.05) than control rats (SAI). Similarly, the hemoglobin values of rats on PAI and NEI diets show no significant (p>0.05) difference compard to those of controls. These results imply that soybeans, cowpeas and Angole Peas may contribute to the fight against children malnutrition unlike Lima beans.
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Metal toxicity on food substances has been a major cause of diseases and conditions in many parts of the world including African countries. In Nigeria, vegetables, which are an integral part of dishes and delicacies, could be liable to heavy metal toxicity and consumption of such could have devastating health consequences. This study aimed to evaluate levels of some heavy metals in vegetables sources from major farming areas in Kano, Northern part of Nigeria. Samples of some commonly consumed vegetables and irrigation waters were obtained from 4 different farming locations in Kano. The samples including the irrigation waters were oven dried and subjected to digestion processes using acid methods. The solution obtained was used to determine levels of Pb, As, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu using spectrophotometry. The results showed elevated levels of Pb and Cd in water and vegetables from 2 farming sites compared to other location. The results were also higher than the acceptable limits by WHO/FAO. From these results, it was inferenced that vegetables from such areas have significant higher levels of some of these toxic heavy metals and should be point of concern for food monitoring authorities.