scholarly journals Moroccan Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Fruits: Nutritional Value and Mineral Composition

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2263
Author(s):  
Zakaria Ait lhaj ◽  
Rahma Bchitou ◽  
Fatima Gaboun ◽  
Rabha Abdelwahd ◽  
Tarik Benabdelouahab ◽  
...  

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), grown throughout the Mediterranean, produces edible fruit; as it is easily bruised, the sweet, reddish fruit is used mostly to prepare jams, marmalades and alcoholic beverages. As the genus is paraphyletic, phytochemical analysis can assist in defining the fruit composition with the species Arbutus unedo L. (A. unedo). Here we report on the carbohydrate, total sugar, protein, fat, fiber, ash, and mineral content of wild fruit, harvested from 45 specimens from five locations. The dominant nutrients were carbohydrates (78.2–84.8 g/100 g), total sugars (52.1–67.2 g/100 g) and dietary fiber (11.0–20.1 g/100 g). Other important nutrients supplied by A. unedo fruit include P, K, and Fe. The fruit was observed to contain health-promoting components providing 42 and 36%, of recommended daily allowance (RDA) for fiber and zinc, respectively, as well as iron and manganese, at levels exceeding minimum RDA. The free-sugar profile revealed high glucose followed by fructose content with minor amounts of sucrose (14, 11, and 6 g/100 g, respectively). Significant differences both between regions and within individuals were observed for several traits. The richness of fruit nutrients in A. unedo confers nutritional value and as such, a promising alternative fruit source.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 5314
Author(s):  
Arleta Kruczek ◽  
Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz ◽  
Sabina Lachowicz ◽  
Jan Oszmiański ◽  
Ireneusz Ochmian

There is a growing interest among the public in fruit with a positive impact on human health. Two goji berry cultivars (‘No. 1’ and ‘New Big’) were propagated in vitro, grown in an orchard and then evaluated for macro- and microelements and harmful heavy metals (i.e., Pb, Ni, and Cd). The leaves and fruit were also assessed for nutritional value, polyphenols and the antimicrobial activity of the leaves. ‘New Big’ was characterized by a higher content of macro elements in the leaves (in vitro and orchard) and a higher content of microelements in the fruit. The harmful substances content was below the minimum value. Furthermore, neither the fruit nor the leaves contained cadmium. This study also indicated that leaves had a higher content of polyphenols compared to the fruit. The fruits were characterized by their health-promoting capacities, while the leaves were characterized by their antibacterial activity. Among the Gram-positive bacteria, the most sensitive strain was Bacillus subtilis, and among the Gram-negative bacteria, it was Proteus vulgaris. Taking into consideration the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for minerals, goji berries can be declared to be a source of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and P.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Safdar Abbas ◽  
Beenish Jehan Azhar ◽  
Shakeel Ahmad ◽  
Hafsa Muhammad ◽  
...  

Background: Phytonutrients in peach fruits have health promoting antioxidants against various chronic diseases. However, there is no extensive data to show the nutritional values of Local peach cultivars after post-harvest treatments. Objective: Mainly this study was objective to determine the effect of calcium carbide on nutritional value and quality of fruits of Pakistani peach cultivars. Methods: The peach fruits were collected from three different peach orchids of KPK and the fruits were divided into 4 groups while 5th group was collected from local fruit shop. Each experimental group was treated with different concentration of calcium carbide whereas control group was not treated. The peel and pulp samples were oven dried and ground to fine powder separately. The elemental compositions were determined using Particle Induced X-ray emission and Pelletron Tandem Accelerator. Result: Sixteen elements were identified in peach fruits and the elements were Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Se. In peel, concentration of some elements increased or decreased after treatment with CaC2 while in pulp the conc. of nearly all detected elements was increased in treated samples. We found significantly high amount of heavy metals traces including As, Se, Co, Si, and P in peach fruits treated with CaC2. Interestingly, the presence of trichomes in peach skin prevents the transfer of these heavy metals deep into the pulp which was also verified by the elemental profiling of nectarines. Conclusion: Conclusively, the artificial ripening with CaC2 changed the nutritional value of peach fruits that has higher health risks if consume with the peel. According to our best knowledge, this is the first report that highlights the effects of CaC2 which deteriorate the nutritional value of peach fruits in Pakistan.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1213
Author(s):  
Elena Martínez ◽  
Rita García-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Álvarez-Ortí ◽  
Adrián Rabadán ◽  
Arturo Pardo-Giménez ◽  
...  

Cookies, which form the largest category of bakery snacks, are considered a good vehicle to introduce nutrients into the diet. In this study, to increase the nutritional value of traditional commercial cookies, wheat flour was substituted with defatted flours made from flax, sesame, chia, and poppy, which are byproducts of the oil extraction industry. The differences in the technological properties, nutritional composition, and consumer acceptance of the reformulated cookies were evaluated. The results show that the wheat cookies used as the control showed a more elastic behavior than the cookies elaborated with defatted seed flours, which showed a greater tendency to crumble. The use of defatted seed flours yielded cookies with a higher content of protein and fiber, and a lower content in carbohydrates than the wheat cookies. Consumer evaluations for the sesame and flax cookies were similar to those for the traditional wheat cookies, with positive assessments on all of the parameters evaluated. On the other hand, the cookies elaborated using chia and poppy flours received the least positive evaluations from consumers. Thus, the use of some defatted seed flours, mainly flax and sesame, is proposed as an interesting alternative to produce health-promoting cookies in order to cover the current demand for gluten-free products.


2012 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 92-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malek Mhamdi Takrouni ◽  
Imen Ben El Haj Ali ◽  
Chokri Messaoued ◽  
Mohamed Boussaid

2011 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Molina ◽  
M. Pardo-De-Santayana ◽  
L. Aceituno ◽  
R. Morales ◽  
J. Tardio

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaikh Adil ◽  
B.M. Mehta ◽  
Atanu H. Jana

Mare’s milk has long been considered to have special nutritive and therapeutic properties in Mongolia and southern states of the former Soviet Union. It is now gaining popularity in some parts in Europe also. Mares’ milk is characterized by their unique nutritional profile. Therefore, interest has increased in the use of mare’s milk for human nutrition in the past several years, especially in France and Germany. As compared to many other mammal species, mare’s milk is highly appreciated for similarity to human milk in terms of chemical composition allowing its use as a substitute for mother’s milk in infant feeding. Mare’s milk also has been used for the treatment of certain human pathologies such as hepatitis, chronic ulcer and tuberculosis. This review dwells on the chemical composition, nutritional value and various health-promoting properties of mare’s milk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Mohammed El Haouari ◽  
Najat Assem ◽  
Sushil Changan ◽  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
Sevgi Durna Daştan ◽  
...  

Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae) is an evergreen shrub widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, particularly through the Moroccan forests. It is an important medicinal plant of great scientific interest due to its nutritional, pharmacological, and chemical properties. The objective of this review is to provide insights into traditional medicinal uses and phytochemical and pharmacological properties of A. unedo from Morocco. In Morocco, the plant has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several pathological conditions. Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the plant, of which vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. Leaves and fruits of A. unedo contain the most significant number of phytochemicals among the species. Furthermore, researchers have demonstrated that A. unedo exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiaggregant, and antihypertensive activities due to the presence of many biochemical compounds with health-promoting properties. According to different toxicity tests, the use of A. unedo is devoid of any significant side effects and/or toxicity. Despite its nutraceutical and health-promoting properties, Moroccan A. unedo remains underexploited mainly, and most of its traditional uses have not yet undergone scientific evidence-based research; therefore, improved knowledge about the potential value of the plant would allow understanding of its biological activity based on its phytochemical compounds that may contribute to the species preservation and valorization.


Author(s):  
Nuri Gulesci ◽  
Guzide Yücebilgic ◽  
Ramazan Bilgin

In this review, it was emphasized that natural and organic foods have a rich structure in terms of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and vitamin content. Physalis peruviana L., products contain minerals, amino acids, withanolides, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids, thus representing good sources of these compounds. These compounds have protective, regulatory, and nutritional roles in metabolism. Physalis peruviana L. is a wild fruit that has been widely used for centuries, mainly in folk medicine. The fruit and juice of Physalis peruviana L., contain high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K1, and many other mineral substances. In addition, the ingredients in Physalis peruviana L., have antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic effects. The available evidence has demonstrated the nutritional value of different products of Physalis peruviana L., suggesting them to be potential candidates for use in the cosmetic industry, in the preparation of functional foods, and phytomedicine for the prevention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 4814-4820
Author(s):  
Houda Attjioui ◽  
Hamadoun Abba Touré ◽  
Amine Cheikh ◽  
Hafid Mefetah ◽  
Mustapha Draoui ◽  
...  

For thousands of years, truffles have been used as essential foods in different cultures around the world because of their rich nutritional value and their pleasant and characteristic smell. We have studied the effect of truffles (Tirmania Nivea and Tirmania Pinoyi) extracts on the antioxidant stress properties issued from the Moroccan desert. Antioxidant and anti-free radical activities were studied using three analytical methods: trapping capacity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, phosphomolybdate, and reducing ferric antioxidant capacity; in addition, phenol and flavonoid levels were measured. The results of the FRAP, DPPH and PPM tests of T. Nivea were respectively 4.112±0.217, 0.142±0.006, 2.235±0.110 mg/mL for methanols and 3.424±0.034, 0.137±0.025, 0.858±0.010 mg/mL for ethyl acetate extracts. The results of the tests of T. pinoyi were respectively 3.670±0.572, 0.102±0.004, 0.907±0.014 mg/mL for methanols and 3.404±0.096, 0.080±0.003, 0.693±0.057 mg/mL for ethyl acetate extracts. For this work, we propose a valorization of the Moroccan truffle in the prevention of oxidative stress.


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