Study on furundu, a traditional Sudanese fermented roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed: effect on in vitro protein digestibility, chemical composition, and functional properties of the total proteins

Furundu, a meat substitute, is traditionally prepared by cooking the karkade (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed and then fermenting it for 9 days. Physicochemical and functional properties of raw and cooked seed and of furundu ferments were analyzed. Furundu preparation resulted in significant changes in karkade seed major nutrients. Total polyphenols and phytic acid were also reduced. The increase in total acidity and fat acidity coupled with a decrease in pH indicates microbial hydrolysis of the major nutrients; proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. In vitro digestibility of the seed proteins reached the maximum value (82.7%) at the sixth day of fermentation, but thereafter it significantly decreased. The effect of furundu preparation on N solubility profiles and functional properties, such as emulsification and foaming properties and other related parameters, is investigated in water and in 1 M NaCl extracts from defatted flour samples. The results show that cooking followed by fermentation affects proteins solubility in water and 1 M NaCl. The foaming capacity (FC) from the flour of raw seed decreased as a result of cooking. Fermentation for 9 days significantly increased the FC of the cooked seed, restoring the inherent value. Foam from fermented samples collapsed more rapidly during a period of 120 min as compared to the foam from raw and cooked karkade seeds; stability in 1 M NaCl was lower as compared to those in water. In water, the emulsion stability (ES) from the fermented samples was significantly higher than that of the raw seed flour. Addition of 1 M NaCl significantly decreased the ES of the fermented samples.     

Influence of carrot psyllid (Trioza apicalis) feeding or exogenous limonene or methyl jasmonate treatment on composition of carrot (Daucus carota) leaf essential oil and headspace volatiles

The effect of carrot psyllid (Trioza apicalis F?rster) feeding and limonene and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments on the essential oil composition and headspace volatiles of carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus), cvs. Parano and Splendid, leaves was studied. Carrot psyllid feeding significantly increased the concentrations of sabinene, beta-pinene, and limonene, whereas limonene treatment increased the concentration of (Z)-beta-ocimene in the leaves of both cultivars. The limonene treatment significantly increased the concentration of total phenolics in the leaves of both cultivars, and MeJA treatment increased phenolic concentration in the leaves of Parano. Exogenous limonene spray did not decrease the number of carrot psyllid eggs laid either 2 or 24 h after treatment. The results suggest that carrot psyllid feeding induces changes in the endogenous monoterpene pool in the carrot leaves. Limonene and MeJA treatments affect some induced defenses of the carrot, but the exogenous limonene spray is not an effective oviposition deterrent against carrot psyllid.     

Radical scavenging activity of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), and niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) crude seed oils and oil fractions

Crude vegetable oils are usually oxidatively more stable than the corresponding refined oils. Tocopherols, phospholipids (PL), phytosterols, and phenols are the most important natural antioxidants in crude oils. Processing of vegetable oils, moreover, could induce the formation of antioxidants. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), and niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) crude seed oils were extracted with n-hexane and the oils were further fractionated into neutral lipids (NL), glycolipids (GL), and PL. Crude oils and their fractions were investigated for their radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward the stable galvinoxyl radical by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical by spectrophotometric method. Coriander seed oil and its fractions exhibited the strongest RSA compared to black cumin and niger seed oils. The data correlated well with the total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, unsaponifiables, and PL, as well as the initial peroxide values of crude oils. In overall ranking, RSA of oil fractions showed similar patterns wherein the PL exhibited greater activity to scavenge both free radicals followed by GL and NL, respectively. The positive relationship observed between the RSA of crude oils and their color intensity suggests the Maillard reaction products may have contributed to the RSA of seed oils and their polar fractions. The results demonstrate the importance of minor components in crude seed oils on their oxidative stability, which will reflect on their food value and shelf life. As part of the effort to assess the potential of these seed oils, the information is also of importance in processing and utilizing the crude oils and their byproducts.     

Carbonate accumulation and weathering of the granitic substratum of Tanecherfi Basin, northeastern Morocco

In the Tanecherfi Basin a granitic body is partly overlain by a calcrete, which only seems superimposed.Morphologically, the profiles consist of three horizons. The lowest one corresponds to a filling of carbonates into the weathered granitic rocks. Microscopically, the carbonates cut the primary minerals along open cracks and voids. In the second horizon, the increased carbonation results in calcite septa that gradually isolate rock cells inclosed in a micritic matrix forming a cortex. Gradually, the rock residues vanish and glaebules appear. The upper horizon is characterized by a micritic matrix associated with the disappearance of the nodules.These morphologic relations are confirmed by chemical data. The primary minerals are weathered: silica is locally released and precipitates partly around the glaebules; magnesium combines into the carbonate structure, but locally combines with the silica of the cortex of the glaebules. Aluminium seems to be totally removed.The granite-calcrete relationships indicate a weathering process rather to a simple superposition.     

Triterpenoid saponins from the shells of Argania spinosa seeds

Two new oleanene saponins were isolated from the MeOH extract of the shell of Argania spinosa.They possess protobassic acid and 16alpha-protobassic acid as aglycons. The disaccharide moiety linked to C-3 of the aglycon is made up of two glucose units; the pentasaccharide moiety linked to C-28 is made up of arabinose, xylose, and three rhamnose units. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including (1)H-(1)H (DQF-COSY, 1D TOCSY, and 2D HOHAHA) and (1)H-(13)C (HSQC and HMBC) spectroscopy along with mass spectrometry.     

Hedysarum phylogeny mediated by RFLP analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA – RFLP and Hedysarum phylogeny

The RFLP technique has been employed to investigate phylogenetic relationships between species of the Hedysarum genus. Homologous DNA probes were used to generate patterns from a set of the Mediterranean group. The degree of band sharing was used to estimate genetic distances between species and to draw phylogenetic trees. These are in good agreement with phylogeny based on morphological and isozyme markers, but contain novel insights. The results are discussed in the context of current work in molecular biosystematics in Hedysarum complex. Attempts made in this approach to access the extent of variability at the DNA level occurring with the domestication process have been investigated. With the availability of the tested probes, it has been assumed that the genetic structure is not affected by the domestication process.     

Genetic polymorphism of plastid DNA in Tunisian date-palm germplasm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) detected with PCR-RFLP

Fifteen plastid fragments were amplified from a set of Tunisian date-palm accessions by PCR with consensus primers and analysed by RFLP. Polymorphic DNA bands were obtained as reliable molecular markers to estimate genetic distances among the accessions and to examine their phylogenetic relationships. The ctDNA PCR-RFLP method permitted the identification of two haplotypes that differ in the presence or absence of the HinfI restriction site. Phenetic groups composed of cultivars clustered together but does not constitute monophyletic groups. This typology agrees with the haplotypes' organization and provides a common genetic background within the implied varieties.     

Chemical composition, iron bioavailability, and antioxidant activity of Kappaphycus alvarezzi (Doty)

Kappaphycus alvarezzi, an edible seaweed from the west coast of India, was analyzed for its chemical composition. It was found that K. alvarezzi is rich in protein (16.24% w/w) and contains a high amount of fiber (29.40% w/w) and carbohydrates (27.4% w/w). K. alvarezzi showed vitamin A activity of 865 mug retinal equivalents/100 g of sample. It contained a higher quantity of unsaturated fatty acids (44.50% of the total), in which relative percentage of oleic acid was 11%, cis-heptadecanoic acid 13.50%, and linoleic acid 2.3% and 37.0% of saturated fatty acids (mainly heptadecanoic acid). K. alvarezziwas also found to be good source of minerals, viz 0.16% of calcium, 0.033% of iron, and 0.016% of zinc, which are essential for various vital biological activities. Bioavailability of iron by in vitro methods showed a higher efficiency in intestinal conditions than in stomach conditions. Ascorbic acid influenced higher bioavailability of iron. Successive extracts of n-hexane, acetone, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and direct extractables of chloroform/methanol (1:1 and 2:1) were screened for antioxidant activity using a beta-carotene linoleic acid model system (B-CLAMS), DPPH (alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl) model system and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The chloroform/methanol (2:1) extract has shown 82.5% scavenging activity at 1000 ppm. Acetone fraction extracts at the 1000 ppm level showed 63.31% antioxidant activity in beta-carotene linoleic acid system. The acetone extract showed 46.04% scavenging activity at 1000 ppm concentration. In the case of hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, all the extracts showed better activity at the concentrations of 25 and 50 ppm, where at the 50 ppm level ethyl acetate extract showed 76.0%, acetone 75.12%, and hexane 71.15% activity, respectively. Results of this study suggest the utility of K. alvarezzi (Eucheuma) for various nutritional products, including antioxidant for use as health food or nutraceutical supplement.     

Comparative study on phenolic content and antioxidant activity during maturation of the olive cultivar Chemlali from Tunisia

For the first time the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds of the Olea europaea L. cv. Chemlali olive were carried out to examine their profile during maturation. The phenolic composition was studied by using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography during all steps of fruit development. Oleuropein is the abundant phenolic compound in Chemlali olive, and its concentration increases during maturation. An indirect relationship between oleuropein content in olive fruit and hydroxytyrosol was observed. Weak changes in the amounts of the other phenolic monomers and flavonoids were also observed. The total phenolic content varied from 6 to 16 g/kg expressed as pyrogallol equivalents. Its highest level was found at the last maturation period. The antioxidant capacity of olive extracts was evaluated by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The IC(50) values of the olive extract ranged from 3.2 to 1.5 microg/mL. There was a correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of samples. The antioxidant activity increased with maturation. This could be attributed to the increase of the tolal phenol level with fruit development.     

A Multivariate Data Analysis of the Clam Ruditapes Decussatus as Sentinel Organism of the Bizerta Lagoon (Tunisia)

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - From May 1998 to May 1999, the clams Ruditapes decussatus were collected each month at three stations of the Bizerta lagoon. This paper represents a synthesis...