The Value and Utilization of Spice Plants in Tropical Africa

Even though agricultural produce such as roots and tubers, cereals and legumes are the main economic crops in Africa, the potential of spices to contribute to local and international sources of income generation are either neglected or not fully exploited. Spices have been known for centuries; they are high-value commodities mainly recognized for their flavoring properties. This article examines the contribution of spices to well-being as functional foods, antioxidants, and medicine; their importance to food safety as antimicrobial and preservative agents; their common usage as flavoring; and industrial applications, as well as their potential to contribute to the economy of Africa.     

咸鸭蛋腌制过程相关指标变化规律及最佳配方的筛选研究

【目的】探究不同腌制条件对咸蛋品质的影响,选出最佳条件,为咸蛋的深加工提供一定的技术参考。 【方法】先用盐酸处理鸭蛋壳,使其蛋壳变薄。并采用分步式腌制方法,即前 11 d 用饱和食盐水腌制,后期用 低浓度的淡盐水腌制,使咸蛋含盐量降低,并添加白酒、香辛料。分别于腌制 11、15、19、23 d 测定蛋白含盐量、 蛋黄出油率、蛋黄指数和蛋黄色度等指标分析其变化规律,通过单因素试验及正交试验确定最佳腌制条件。【结 果】最佳腌制条件为：食盐的质量浓度为 10%、香辛料的质量分数为 0.6%,白酒的体积分数为 5%,盐酸的体 积分数为 0.5%。【结论】采用分步式腌制方法,在上述最佳腌制要件下,腌制 23 d 的咸蛋出油率高、蛋黄指数 大、蛋黄色度深,且具有较低的含盐量,咸蛋品质高。     

ICP-MS法分析香辛料粉中5种重金属含量及来源分析

采用微波消解前处理,电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定部分香辛料中铅、砷、镉、铬、汞含量。测定结果显示5中重金属在样本中均有检出,含量满足国家食品安全标准要求。5种重金属在不同使用部位的香辛料中含量差异较大,分析其来源主要来自于种植期间土壤的输入。以标准蒜粉作为质量控制物,验证了方法是准确度和精密度符合国家标准要求。由此说明该方法能够简单、快速、灵敏、准确测定香辛料中重金属元素。     

Toxicity studies in mice of common spices,Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark and Piper longum fruits

Acute (24 hours) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanolic extracts of common spices Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees bark and Piper longum L. fruits were carried out in mice. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/kg while the chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg/day. All external morphological, hematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to body weight and vital organ weights, were recorded. The extracts of both the plants caused no significant acute or chronic mortality compared to the control during this study. During chronic treatment there was no significant change in the pre- and post treatment body weight of the test animals while the weight gain in the control group was significant. C. zeylanicum treatment caused reduction in liver weight while P. longum caused a significant increase in the weight of the lungs and spleen of the treated animals compared to the control. Hematological studies revealed a significant fall in hemoglobin level of C. zeylanicum treated animals. Both of the extracts induced a significant increase in reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, sperm count and failed to illicit any spermatotoxic effect.