Evaluating the Physicochemical Properties of Some Kosovo’s and Imported Honey Samples

This study evaluated the physicochemical properties (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), proteins, insoluble solids, and ash) of 45 Kosovo’s and imported honey samples, using methods provided by national and international standards. The moisture values of all honey samples analyzed were below 20%. The free acidity was above 50.0 meq kg−1 in 14 out of 33 samples (42%) collected in Kosovo, while 2 out of 12 imported honey samples (16.7%) showed higher values than 50 meq kg−1. In this study, 7 out of 33 honey samples (21%) from Kosovo and one out of 12 honey samples from imports had soluble solids content below 80 °Brix. In terms of HMF, 5 out of 33 Kosovo honey samples (15%) and 4 out of 12 imported honey samples (33%) exceeded 40 mg/kg, which is the maximum content of HMF set in standards. The values of some physicochemical parameters (free acidity, HMF, and soluble solids) of local and imported honey samples are not within the quality limits set in legislation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the properties of fresh honey produced in Kosovo and the stability of honey during prolonged storage.

Caractéristiques Physicochimiques Récoltés des Miels de la Sous-Préfecture de Cechi (Dans le Département D’Agboville, Côte D’Ivoire)

La caractérisation des miels en développement d’un pays est nécessaire pour leur valorisation. Cette étude est une contribution à la connaissance de la qualité des miels des forêts de la Côte d’Ivoire. Des échantillons de miel de cinq localités de la Sous-Préfecture de Cechi (Agboville) ont été étudiés. Les paramètres physicochimiques des miels ont été analysés pour vérifier leur conformité aux normes du Codex alimentarius. Ces analyses ont donné les valeurs moyennes suivantes : le pH est 3,55±0,46; la conductivité électrique (σ) est 98,01±31 μS/cm, l’acidité libre est 19,50±4,47 mEq/Kg ; la densité relative est 1,42±0,07 ; la teneur en eau est de 20,2±3,11%, les cendres représentent 0,18±0,11% et la teneur en sucre totale est de 78,31±0,19%. La plupart de ces paramètres sont conformes au Codex alimentarius, à l’exception des teneurs en sucres qui dépasse la limite maximale accepté. Cela traduit que les miels analysés sont issus de nectar trop sucrés. The characterisation of a country's developing honeys is necessary for their valorisation. This study is a contribution of the knowledge of the Ivory Coast forests honeys quality. Honey samples from five localities of the Sub-Prefecture of Cechi (Agboville) were studied. The physicochemical parameters of the honeys were analyzed to verify their conformity to the standards of the Codex alimentarius. These analyses yielded the following average values: pH is 3.55±0.46; electrical conductivity (σ) is 98.01±31 μS/cm, free acidity is 19.50±4.47 mEq/Kg ; relative density is 1.42±0.07 ; water content is 20.2±3.11%, ash represents 0.18±0.11% and total sugar content is 78.31±0.19%. Most of these parameters are in conformity with the Codex Alimentarius, except for the sugar content which exceeds the maximum accepted limit. This means that the analyzed honeys are made from nectar with too much sugar.

From the Beehives: Identification and Comparison of Physicochemical Properties of Algerian Honey

In this study, the authors aimed at characterizing 11 Algerian kinds of honey taken from various geographical locations (beehives located at Djelfa (Medjbara and Dzaira), Laghouat, Aflou, Medea, Tiaret, Sidi bel-Abbes, Tiaret, Ain-Safra, Mostaganem, El Bayadh, and Ghardïa). The authors investigated the physicochemical parameters of these honey samples, including density, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, free acidity, and color. The physicochemical parameters obtained were found to be within acceptable ranges according to the international standards (Codex Alimentarius) for 9 out of 11 analyzed samples: density 1.38–1.50 g/cm3 (the same as kg/L, as commonly used for honey), water content 14.03–18.80%, electrical conductivity 0.38 × 10−1 − 6.41 × 10−1 mS/cm, ash content 0.06–0.48%, pH 3.50–4.50, free acidity 11–47 meq/kg, and color 1.1–9.2 Pfund index. Analysis of HMF content showed that only two honey samples have high values (117.7 and 90.0 meq/kg). Most samples of Algerian honey are of suitable quality according to international standards.

Antiulcerogenic effect of Methanolic Root Extract of Berberis lycium Linn by Pylorus ligation and Ethanol induced Ulceration

Background: Gastric ulcer is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders, which affects approximately 5-10% of people during their life. In recent years, abundant work has been carried out on herbal medicine to clarify their potential efficacy in gastric ulcer prevention or management. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antiulcer activity of the methanolic root extract of Berberis lycium in albino rats. Method: The methanolic root extract of Berberis lycium was prepared by hot extraction method. Anti-ulcer activity was evaluated and method employed was pylorus ligation and ethanol induced in albino rats. Preliminary methanolic extract of Berberis lycium was subjected to the acute oral toxicity study according to the OECD guideline no. 425. Animals were divided into four groups of six animals each. The animals of Group I served as normal control (vehicle) which received distilled water. Group II and III received 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of methanolic root extract, respectively. In pylorus ligation induced ulcer model, various parameters were studied viz. gastric volume, pH, total acidity, free acidity, and ulcer index. Ulcer index and percentage inhibition of ulceration was determined for ethanol induced ulcer model. Group IV received Ranitidine at 50 mg/kg was used as the standard drug. Pretreatment of methanol root extract of Berberis lycium showed significant (P˂0.05) decrease in the gastric volume, total acidity and free acidity. However, pH of the gastric juice was significantly increased only at higher dose 500 mg/kg. It showed also significant (P˂0.05) decrease in number of ulcers and ulcer score index in pylorus ligation and ethanol induced ulceration models. Results: The methanol root extract of Berberis lycium showed a significant reduction in the total acidity, free acidity and acid volume. The efficacy of plant extract at high dose was comparable with the standard drug Ranitidine. Conclusion: Our study results support the ethnomedical use of root of Berberis lycium. Keywords: Antiulcer activity, Berberis lycium, Pylorus ligation, Ranitidine, Ulcer Index.

Evaluation of Anti-Ulcer Activity of Garcinia cambogia in Experimentally Induced Ulcer in Rats

Peptic ulcer is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that world faces at present. Garcinia cambogia is one of the folk plants used by the people to treat various ailments to attain health benefits. Every part of the plant has various activities which can eradicate maximum health issues. The present study is aimed to investigate the gastro-protective and anti-ulcerogenic activity of ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia. The ethanolic extract was tested orally in doses of 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg which was obtained from the acute oral toxicity studies on gastric ulcerations experimentally induced by pylorus ligation and ethanol in rats. Comparison of the drug effect is done with the effect of standard drugs, omeprazole (30 mg/kg) and sucralfate (100 mg/kg). The parameters like gastric pH, gastric acid volume, total acidity, free acidity and ulcer index are assessed.The ethanolic extract showed an activity in a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg with a reduction in the gastric volume, total acidity, free acidity, ulcer index and raise in the gastric pH when compared to that of ulcer control group. A gastro-protective and anti-ulcerogenic activity is shown by the extract of Garcinia cambogia both in ethanol induced ulcer model and pylorus ligated ulcer model.At the concluding point, extract of Garcinia cambogia was found to possess a very good gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic property. The results of the study revealed the further uses of the leaves of this plant in the treatment of ulcers in the stomach.

Evaluation of Olive Oil Quality Grade Using a Portable Battery-Operated Sensor System

Olive oil quality is normally assessed by chemical analysis as well as sensory analysis to detect the presence of organoleptic defects. Two of the most important parameters that define the quality of olive oil are the free acidity and the peroxide index. These chemical parameters are usually determinated by manual titration procedures that must be carried out in a laboratory by trained personnel. In this paper, a portable sensor system to evaluate the quality grade of olive oil is presented. The system is battery operated and characterized by small dimensions, a light weight and quick measurement response. The working principle is based on the measurement of the electrical conductance of an emulsion between a hydro-alcoholic solution and the olive oil sample. Tests have been carried out on a set of 17 olive oil samples. The results have shown how for fresh olive oil samples, the olive oil’s free acidity can be estimated from the electrical conductance of the emulsion. In the case of oxidized olive oil, the measured electrical conductance is also the function of the oxidation level, and a conductance threshold can be set to discriminate between extra virgin olive oils and lower-quality grade oils. The proposed system can be a low-cost alternative to standard laboratory analysis to evaluate the quality grade of olive oil.

“Sfogliatella Riccia Napoletana”: Realization of a Lard-Free and Palm Oil-Free Pastry

“Sfogliatella riccia napoletana” is a typical pastry from Naples (Italy), traditionally produced using lard. In the bakery industry, palm oil is widely used to replace lard in order to obtain products without cholesterol, but it is currently under discussion, which is mostly related to the sustainability of its cultivation. Therefore, in this work, lard was replaced with palm oil-free vegetable blends composed of sunflower oil, shea butter, and coconut oil in different percentages. Traditional pastries produced with lard and pastries produced with palm oil were used as controls. Moisture, aw, free acidity, peroxide value, fatty acids, total polar compounds, and global acceptability were determined in the obtained pastries. The results indicated that the use of a vegetable oil blend composed of 40% sunflower oil, 40% shea butter, and 20% coconut oil minimized the formation of oxidized compounds (peroxides and total polar compounds) during cooking and produced a product with a moisture content very similar to that of the traditional pastry that was appreciated by consumers.

Laundry Soap Production from the Respective Tallows of Goat, Sheep and Cow: Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties for the Best

Tallow mainly consists of triglycerides, whose major constituents are derived from stearic, palmitic and oleic acids, and its usage reduces production cost of soap, adds lather stability and hardness to soap. Laundry soaps were produced with variation on amount of tallow (sourced from cow, sheep and goat) and labelled as A, B, C, D and E formulations. The respective tallows were characterized in terms of saponification value and acid value and determined to be 192.14 and 2.24mg KOH/g (cow tallow); 200.56 and 2.38mgKOH/g (sheep tallow) and 197.75 and 1.96 mgKOH/g (goat tallow). The physicochemical properties of soap which determine its area of usage and cleansing properties were determined. The properties considered in this work were hardness, moisture content, foam capacity, pH, free acidity content, and total fatty matter. The hardness, moisture content, foam capacity, pH, free acidity content and total fatty matter of the produced soaps were determined and ranged between mild-deep penetration level; 11-21%; 1-9cm; 8-10.5; 0.16-0.82% and 40-86% respectively. From the comparative analysis, soap made from sheep tallow has the lowest penetration level (with formulations B and E), lowest free acidity content of 0.16% (with formulation A), highest total fatty matter of 86% (using formulation E), highest foam height of 9cm (with formulation A), lowest moisture content of 11% (with formulation A) and mild alkalinity of 8 (with formulations A, B and E). These results showed that the soaps produced from sheep tallow are the best in terms of hardness, lather and skin friendliness, due to its high degree of longer carbon chain lengths of fatty acids. These values satisfy the standard limit set for good quality laundry soap by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemical Analysis, respectively.