Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn]: An Orphan Crop With a Potential to Alleviate the Calcium Deficiency in the Semi-arid Tropics of Asia and Africa

Finger millet plays a vital role in the food and nutritional security of many people in developing countries particularly in Asia and Africa. It is a staple food for poor people in many regions of Asian (India, China, Nepal, and Sri Lanka etc.) and African (South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria etc.) countries. Finger millet contains nutrient rich components such as dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals that include phenolic compounds with several potential health benefits. Calcium (Ca) is an important macronutrient for healthy life of plants, humans and animals. It plays an indispensable role in structure and signaling and its deficiency causes low bone density, osteoporosis, colon cancer etc. Finger millet grains contain exceptionally higher amount of Ca (>300 mg/100 g) when compared to other major cereals. Ca transporter and sensor family genes are involved in the uptake, transport and accumulation of Ca. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of Ca transporter and sensor family genes is important for growth, development and seed fortification in finger millet. Expression analysis of Ca transporter and sensor family genes has been carried out in various tissues of finger millet. Only a very little research work has been done to understand the Ca accumulation in the grains of finger millet. In this review, we discuss the nutritional importance and health benefits of finger millet. We discuss the studies on Ca sensor, accumulation and transport genes that help to improve the grains of finger millet with special reference to Ca. Improved Ca content in finger millet may help to alleviate the Ca deficiency throughout the world particularly in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa.

Download Full-text

Potential Functional Implications of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana) in Health and Disease

The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.21048/ijnd.2016.53.4.8405 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 475

Author(s):

A. D. Divate ◽

V. T. Atkari ◽

N. J. Thakor ◽

A. A. Sawant

Keyword(s):

Finger Millet ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Brown Rice ◽

High Energy ◽

Calcium Deficiency ◽

Eleusine Coracana ◽

Ash Content ◽

Potential Health ◽

High Fiber ◽

Beneficial Effects

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), also known as Nachani, Ragi or Nagli, is one of third most important millet (sorghum and pearl millet) grown in tropical semi-arid regions of the world primarily in India and Africa. The aim of the study is to review the potential health benefits of finger millet. Desk reviews were collected from Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli University, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, libraries and other web sources etc. Finger millet is rich in several nutrients as well as non-nutrients such as phenols. It has high energy, has less starch, high fiber (3.6 g/ 100 g, most of which is insoluble), has low glycemic index (55) and is gluten free. The protein content ranges from 5.6 to 12.70 % and it is low in lysine, tryptophan, threonine and the sulfur-containing amino acids. The energy of millet is greater than sorghum and nearly equal to that of brown rice because the lipid content is generally higher (1.3 to 2 %). Total ash content is higher in finger millet than in commonly consumed cereal grains. The ash content has been found to be nearly 1.7 to 4.13 % in finger millet. Calcium and iron content of finger millet ranged from 162 to 487 mg % and 3.61 mg/100 g to 5.42 mg % respectively. Calcium deficiency leading to bone and teeth disorder, iron deficiency leading to anemia can be overcome by introducing finger millet in our daily diet. They are also recognized for their health beneficial effects, such as anti-diabetic, anti-tumerogenic, atherosclerogenic effects, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Download Full-text

Bioactive components of two species of locally grown nuts: Their potential health benefits and implications for healthy living

Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease ◽

10.31989/bchd.v4i12.869 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (12) ◽

pp. 301

Author(s):

Ayomadewa Mercy Olatunya

Keyword(s):

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Research Work ◽

Health Benefits ◽

The Body ◽

Bioactive Components ◽

Potential Health ◽

High Burden ◽

Cashew Nut ◽

Locally Grown

Background: Bioactive compounds are naturally occurring compounds in plants and animal products. They are known to have a variety of physiological functions in the body system such as: promoting general body development and prevention of the occurrence of some deadly diseases. The high burden of treatment of some deadly diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases has raised the need for scientists to generate empirical evidence on preventing these diseases using a dietary approach. Nuts have been identified as plants with potential to improve human health and prevent diseases when consumed adequately because of their rich constituents. This research work was conducted to evaluate and elucidate the bioactive components of locally grown nuts and their potential health benefits. Methods: The Phenolic compounds, phytosterols, tocopherols, and tocotrienols contents of the nuts were analyzed using standard methods. Results: Fourteen phenolic compounds were detected in the two nuts with cinnamic and gallic acids detected in appreciable amounts in groundnuts and caffeic acid in cashew nut. The total amount of tocopherols in cashew nut was 14.08 mg/100g and 37.95 mg/100g in groundnut and the total tocotrienol was 0.85 and 4.00 × 10-3 mg/100g for cashew nut and groundnut respectively. Both samples have high quantity of sistosterol (251.36mg/100g and 238.95 mg/ 100g for cashew nut and groundnut respectively) with cashew nut having significantly higher amount. Conclusion: The results showed that the nuts are rich in bioactive compounds and could be considered as natural sources of bioactive compounds that can be obtained from diets rich in these nuts to prevent the occurrence of certain deadly human diseases that are of high burden worldwide. Keywords: Phenolic Compounds, Tocopherols, Groundnuts, Cashew nuts

Download Full-text

The prominence of health in donor policy for water supply and sanitation: a review

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2004.0014 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 157-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rebecca Clark ◽

Stephen W. Gundry

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

International Development ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Poor People ◽

The European Union ◽

Potential Health ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene ◽

Improved Sanitation ◽

Water Supply And Sanitation

Improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene used in combination are effective at achieving better health for poor people in developing countries. However, donor policy has been dominated by interventions in water supply, at the expense of achieving the potential health benefits of improved sanitation and hygiene. Commitments recently made by the international community require greater emphasis on improved sanitation and hygiene and their impacts on health. This review assesses whether such a shift in emphasis is apparent in donor policy. It examines the prominence given to achieving better health in water supply and sanitation policies of three donors: the World Bank, the European Union and the Department for International Development of the British Government. It finds that health benefits are explicit and integral in recently updated policy documentation concerning water supply and sanitation. This has taken place in an environment focused on poverty reduction and demand-led, financially sustainable interventions. Mechanisms that have enabled donors to prioritise the health impacts in this environment are discussed, including adoption of an asset-based conceptualisation of poverty and a cross-sectoral approach.

Download Full-text

Nutritional Significance and Antioxidant-Mediated Antiaging Effects of Finger Millet: Molecular Insights and Prospects

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.684318 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Anil Kumar ◽

Madhu Rani ◽

Shalini Mani ◽

Pallavi Shah ◽

Dev Bukhsh Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Finger Millet ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Premature Death ◽

Natural Compounds ◽

Protein Glycation ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Potential Health ◽

High Fiber ◽

Damage Repair ◽

Calcium Iron

Aging is a multifaceted process that is associated with progressive, lethal, and unalterable changes like damage to different molecules (DNA, proteins, and lipids), cells, tissues, and organs. It is an inevitable process but can be delayed by both genetic and dietary interventions. Besides aging, premature death and age-associated diseases can be dealt with diet regulation and the use of compounds that inhibit the stress responsiveness or promote the damage repair signaling pathways. Natural compounds offer a repertoire of highly diverse structural scaffolds that can offer hopeful candidate chemical entities with antiaging potential. One such source of natural compounds is millets, which are minor cereals with an abundance of high fiber, methionine, calcium, iron, polyphenols, and secondary metabolites, responsible for numerous potential health benefits. The present review article elucidates the nature and significance of different phytochemicals derived from millets with a major focus on finger millet and highlights all the important studies supporting their health benefits with special emphasis on the antiaging effect of these compounds. The present article also proposes the possible mechanisms through which millets can play a significant role in the suppression of aging processes and aging-related diseases by influencing genetic repair, protein glycation, and stress-responsive pathways. We further discuss well-established natural compounds for their use as antiaging drugs and recommend raising awareness for designing novel formulations/combinations from them so that their maximum antiaging potential can be harnessed for the benefit of mankind.

Download Full-text

A Computer-based Clinical Information System

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1635501 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 26 (04) ◽

pp. 189-194

Author(s):

S. S. El-Gamal

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Hospital Information System ◽

Clinical Information System ◽

Research Work ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Hospital Staff ◽

Vital Role ◽

Daily Routine ◽

Specialized Hospital ◽

Computer Based

SummaryModern information technology offers new opportunities for the storage and manipulation of hospital information. A computer-based hospital information system, dedicated to urology and nephrology, was designed and developed in our center. It involves in principle the employment of a program that allows the analysis of non-restricted, non-codified texts for the retrieval and processing of clinical data and its operation by non-computer-specialized hospital staff.This Hospital Information System now plays a vital role in the efficient provision of a good quality service and is used in daily routine and research work in this hospital. This paper describes this specialized Hospital Information System.

Download Full-text

Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Milk of Cow Grazing At Selected Areas, of Kaduna Metropolis

International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering ◽

10.23956/ijarcsse/v7i6/01617 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 341 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mahmud Mohammed Imam ◽

Zahra Muhammad ◽

Amina Zakari

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Cadmium Toxicity ◽

Research Work ◽

The Body ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Scientific Model ◽

Potential Health ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Lead And Cadmium ◽

Digestion Technique

In this research work the concentration of zinc, copper, lead, chromium, cadmium, and nickel in cow milk samples obtained from four different grazing areas (kakuri, kudendan, malali, kawo) of Kaduna metropolis. The samples were digested by wet digestion technique .The trace element were determined using bulk scientific model VPG 210 model Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).. The concentration of the determined heavy metal were The result revealed that Cr, Ni and Cd were not detected in milk samples from Kawo, Malali and Kudendan whereas lead (Pb) is detected in all samples and found to be above the stipulated limits of recommended dietary allowance (NRC,1989) given as 0.02mg/day. Cu and Zn are essential elements needed by the body for proper metabolism and as such their deficiency or excess is very dangerous for human health. However, they were found in all samples and are within the recommended limits while Cd (2.13 – 3.15 mg/kg) in milk samples from Kakuri was found to be above such limit (0.5mg/day). Cow milk samples analyzed for heavy metals in this research work pose a threat of lead and cadmium toxicity due to their exposure to direct sources of air, water and plants in these grazing areas, thereby, resulting to a potential health risk to the consumers.

Download Full-text

Segmentation In Medical Resonance images to extract the cancerous nodule for early diagnosis on cancer

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY ◽

10.24297/ijct.v3i2a.2816 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 253-255

Author(s):

Raman Brar

Keyword(s):

Human Lung ◽

Research Work ◽

Vital Role ◽

Watershed Algorithm ◽

Segmentation Method ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Segmentation Methods ◽

Segmentation Accuracy ◽

Background Segmentation ◽

Lung Mri

Image segmentation plays a vital role in several medical imaging programs by assisting the delineation of physiological structures along with other parts. The objective of this research work is to segmentize human lung MRI (Medical resonance Imaging) images for early detection of cancer.Watershed Transform Technique is implemented as the Segmentation method in this work. Some comparative experiments using both directly applied watershed algorithm and after marking foreground and computed background segmentation methods show the improved lung segmentation accuracy in some image cases.

Download Full-text

Ginger and Heart Health: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics

Current Molecular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/1874467213666201209105005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Sajad Fakhri ◽

Jayanta Kumar Patra ◽

Swagat Kumar Das ◽

Gitishree Das ◽

Mohammad Bagher Majnooni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Cardiovascular Complications ◽

National Database ◽

Heart Health ◽

Natural Entities ◽

Cardioprotective Effects

Background: As a major cause of morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are globally increasing. In spite of recent development in the management of cardiovascular complications, CVDs have remained a medical challenge. Numerous conventional drugs are used to play cardioprotective roles; however, they are associated with several side effects. Considering the rich phytochemistry and fewer side effects of herbal medicines, they have gained particular attention to develop novel herbal drugs with cardioprotective potentials. Amongst natural entities, ginger is an extensively used and well-known functional food and condiment, possessing plentiful bioactivities, like antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties in several disorders management. Objective: The current review deliberated phytochemical properties as well as the ginger/ginger constituents' biological activities and health benefits in several diseases, with particular attention to cardiovascular complications. Methods: A comprehensive research was conducted using multiple databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, national database (Irandoc and SID), and related articles in terms of the health benefits and cardioprotective effects of ginger/ginger constituents. These data were collected from inception until August 2019. Results: In recent years, several herbal medicines were used to develop new drugs with more potency and also minor side effects. Amongst natural entities, ginger is an extensively used traditional medicine in several diseases. The crude extract, along with related pungent active constituents, is mostly attributed to heart health. The cardioprotective effects of ginger are contributed to its cardiotonic, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemia, and anti-platelet effects. The signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of ginger regarding its cardioprotective effects are also clarified. Conclusion: This study revealed the biological activities, health benefits, and cardioprotective properties of ginger/ginger constituents along with related mechanisms of action, which gave new insights to show new avenue in the treatment of CVDs.

Download Full-text