scholarly journals Quality Assessment of Wild and Cultivated Green Tea from Different Regions of China

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3620
Author(s):  
Maciej Chowaniak ◽  
Marcin Niemiec ◽  
Zhu Zhiqiang ◽  
Naim Rashidov ◽  
Zofia Gródek-Szostak ◽  
...  

Natural products have always enjoyed great popularity among consumers. Wild tea is an interesting alternative to tea from intensive plantations. The term “wild tea” is applied to many different varieties of tea, the most desirable and valued of which are native or indigenous tea plants. Special pro-health properties of wild tea are attributed to the natural conditions in which it grows. However, there are no complex studies that describe quality and health indicators of wild tea. The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality of wild and cultivated green tea from different regions of China: Wuzhishan, Baisha, Kunlushan, and Pu’Er. The assessment was carried out by verifying the concentration of selected chemical components in tea and relating it to the health risks they may pose, as well as to the nutritional requirements of adults. Wild tea was characterized by higher micronutrient concentration. The analyzed teas can constitute a valuable source of Mn in the diet. A higher concentration of nitrates and oxalates in cultivated tea can be associated with fertilizer use. The analyzed cultivated tea was a better source of antioxidants with a higher concentration of caffeine. There were no indications of health risks for wild or cultivated teas.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qunfeng Zhang ◽  
Meiya Liu ◽  
Roland Mumm ◽  
Ric C H Vos ◽  
Jianyun Ruan

Abstract   It is well known that green tea made from fully developed leaves located at the base of young shoots is of lower quality than that made from the still developing leaves located on the top of the shoot. It has additionally been shown that plant shading can significantly improve green tea quality. Here, we aimed to get more insight into the effects of shading on the overall metabolome in different parts of the tea shoots. To do this, field-grown tea plants were shaded by coverage with either a straw layer or a black net, both blocking the daylight intensity for more than 90%. Both the first (i.e. still developing) leaf and the fourth (i.e. fully developed) leaf, as well as the stem of young shoots were harvested and subjected to complementary untargeted metabolomics approaches, using accurate mass LC-Orbitrap-Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) for profiling both semi-polar and lipid-soluble compounds and GC-TOF-MS for profiling polar compounds. In total, 1419 metabolites were detected. Shading resulted in a decreased ratio of polyphenols to amino acids (which improves the quality of green tea) and lower levels of galloylated catechins in the shoots. The positive effect of shading on the amino acid/catechin ratio was more pronounced in the fully developed (fourth) than in the developing (first) leaves. Furthermore, many metabolites, especially organic acids, carbohydrates and amino acids, showed differential or opposite responses to the shading treatments between the three shoot tissues investigated, suggesting a within-plant spatial regulation or transport/redistribution of carbon and nitrogen resources between the tissues of the growing young shoots. This work provides new insight into the spatial effects of shading on tea plants, which could further help to increase tea quality by improving cultivation measures for plant shading. Highlights


2018 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 146-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Quan Xu ◽  
Wei-Bin Ji ◽  
Peigen Yu ◽  
Jian-Xin Chen ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 698-720
Author(s):  
E.V. Lobkova ◽  
A.S. Petrichenko

Subject. This article studies the mechanism of State health regulation and methods of management of efficiency of regional healthcare institutions. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the territorial health system in the context of the urgent need to optimize budget expenditures and address public health problems, as well as develop directions to improve the effectiveness of the regional health system of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. Methods. For the study, we used the method of index numbers and calculation of dynamics indicators using official statistics data. Results. We have developed and now present a system of indicators of regional health efficiency assessment, focused mainly on public health indicators and quality of medical services. We also offer our own version of the Luenberger observer modification adapted to the objectives of the regional health system analysis. Conclusions and Relevance. The article concludes that it is necessary to optimize the regional health system using the parameters of medical and social efficiency of the system. The proposed approach to assessing the effectiveness of regional health system can be used as a mechanism to develop recommendations for the management of the network of medical and prophylactic institutions of the region.


Author(s):  
Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle ◽  
Kate Baernighausen ◽  
Sayeda Karim ◽  
Tauheed Syed Raihan ◽  
Samiya Selim ◽  
...  

Background: Climate change influences patterns of human mobility and health outcomes. While much of the climate change and migration discourse is invested in quantitative predictions and debates about whether migration is adaptive or maladaptive, less attention has been paid to the voices of the people moving in the context of climate change with a focus on their health and wellbeing. This qualitative research aims to amplify the voices of migrants themselves to add nuance to dominant migration narratives and to shed light on the real-life challenges migrants face in meeting their health needs in the context of climate change. Methods: We conducted 58 semi-structured in-depth interviews with migrants purposefully selected for having moved from rural Bhola, southern Bangladesh to an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis under the philosophical underpinnings of phenomenology. Coding was conducted using NVivo Pro 12. Findings: We identified two overarching themes in the thematic analysis: Firstly, we identified the theme “A risk exchange: Exchanging climate change and health risks at origin and destination”. Rather than describing a “net positive” or “net negative” outcome in terms of migration in the context of climate change, migrants described an exchange of hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities at origin with those at destination, which challenged their capacity to adapt. This theme included several sub-themes—income and employment factors, changing food environment, shelter and water sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) conditions, and social capital. The second overarching theme was “A changing health and healthcare environment”. This theme also included several sub-themes—changing physical and mental health status and a changing healthcare environment encompassing quality of care and barriers to accessing healthcare. Migrants described physical and mental health concerns and connected these experiences with their new environment. These two overarching themes were prevalent across the dataset, although each participant experienced and expressed them uniquely. Conclusion: Migrants who move in the context of climate change face a range of diverse health risks at the origin, en route, and at the destination. Migrating individuals, households, and communities undertake a risk exchange when they decide to move, which has diverse positive and negative consequences for their health and wellbeing. Along with changing health determinants is a changing healthcare environment where migrants face different choices, barriers, and quality of care. A more migrant-centric perspective as described in this paper could strengthen migration, climate, and health governance. Policymakers, urban planners, city corporations, and health practitioners should integrate the risk exchange into practice and policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Ke Ren ◽  
Mengyang Hu ◽  
Xian He ◽  
Kaiyuan Gu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Weather change in high-altitude areas subjects mature tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to cold stress, which damages tobacco leaf yield and quality. A brupt diurnal temperature differences (the daily temperature dropping more than 20 °C) along with rainfall in tobacco-growing areas at an altitude above 2450 m, caused cold stress to field-grown tobacco. Results After the flue-cured tobacco suffered cold stress in the field, the surface color of tobacco leaves changed and obvious large browning areas were appeared, and the curing availability was extremely poor. Further research found the quality of fresh tobacco leaves, the content of key chemical components, and the production quality were greatly reduced by cold stress. We hypothesize that cold stress in high altitude environments destroyed the antioxidant enzyme system of mature flue-cured tobacco. Therefore, the quality of fresh tobacco leaves, the content of key chemical components, and the production quality were greatly reduced by cold stress. Conclusion This study confirmed that cold stress in high-altitude tobacco areas was the main reason for the browning of tobacco leaves during the tobacco curing process. This adverse environment seriously damaged the quality of tobacco leaves, but can be mitigated by pay attention to the weather forecast and pick tobacco leaves in advance.


Water Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Baguma ◽  
Jamal H. Hashim ◽  
Syed M. Aljunid ◽  
Michael Hauser ◽  
Helmut Jung ◽  
...  

Having access to a safe water supply is important to improve a person's quality of life. We examine the relationship between the influence of water availability on monthly household expenditures (the dependent variable) and independent variables such as household characteristics, tank size, usage instructions and post-construction guidance, including the management of water-related health risks. The sample consisted of 301 respondents who harvest rainwater in Uganda. A multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings show that post-construction guidance and tank size were significant variables. This study suggests the need for a follow-up to improve health after the installation of water supply equipment, i.e., to provide information about water risks, foster reading norms and facilitate the availability and affordability of information sources, e.g., subsidised newspapers and information support devices (computers). Additionally, this study shows the possibility of increased savings due to reduced expenditures on water from vendors and the management of water-related health risks caused by a water shortage, e.g., dehydration. Overall, the study reveals two possible ways to advance policy and health in developing countries: (1) ensuring sufficient post-construction guidance for all water resources; and (2) ensuring a sustainable supply of adequate safe water in households.


2021 ◽  
pp. 030802262110394
Author(s):  
Brightlin N Dhas ◽  
Petra Wagman ◽  
Firas A Marji ◽  
Carita Håkansson ◽  
Ricardo Carrasco

Introduction Occupational balance (OB) is related to many health indicators, including quality of life. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11) was developed to measure OB, and to date, no Arabic translations of the questionnaire exist. The aim of the study was to describe the translation process of OBQ11 to Arabic and to evaluate its content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and convergent validity. Methods OBQ11 was translated to Arabic (OBQ11-A) following standard guidelines. Content validity feedback was obtained from ten Arabic-speaking occupational therapists and in a cognitive debriefing with seven volunteers. In addition, OBQ11-A and the Family Quality of Life Survey-2006 were administered to 67 Arabic-speaking participants from a larger study about OB among parents. Results High level of agreement was found on the content of OBQ11-A from the occupational therapists. Cognitive debriefing interviews indicated that OBQ11-A was easy to understand. Cronbach’s alpha for the total OBQ11-A score was 0.864 indicating good internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis showed acceptable factor loadings for all items. The total scores showed positive statistically significant associations with Family Quality of Life Scores ( r = 0.561, p < 0.001). Conclusions OBQ11-A may prove useful for assessing OB in Arabic-speaking populations. Further research is needed to establish its reliability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
Shraddha A Bhoir ◽  
Sonit Kumari

In present study, the usability of chitosan and gelatin (1:1) films incorporated with green tea extract (GTE) to improve the shelf life of the chicken meat stored in chilled condition was evaluated. The extract of green tea was evaluated for its phenolic content, antioxidant activity and ferric ion chealating ability. The ChGel films possessed antimicrobial activity and inactivated approximately 3 log cfu/ ml of K. pneumoniae, S. typhi var. Weltevreden, S. typhi var. Oslo, Y. enterocolitica, E. feacalis, B. cereus, E. coli and S. aureus in 3 hours. Incorporation of GTE influenced the optical and mechanical properties of the films. Chicken samples without films were observed to be microbiologically safe for not more than 6 days, while ChGel and ChGel-GTE films improved the microbial safety of chicken samples till day 13. ChGel-GTE films also prevented lipid peroxidation in samples as evident by TBARS value (day 10: control: 1.14; ChGel-GTE: 0.21 mg MDA eq/kg). Protein oxidation during chilled storage of chicken was also prevented by ChGel-GTE by inhibiting protein carbonylation, loss of free thiols groups in protein and lowering the number of disulphde bonds. This study supports use of ChGel films with GTE for enhancing the safety of stored chicken meat not only by maintaining the microbial quality of the samples but also preventing oxidative changes which can hamper the functional, nutritional and sensorial properties.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document