Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of wild Physalis spp. genotypes

The center of origin and domestication of Physalis spp. is Mexico, where 70 wild species and only two cultivated species are found. Fruits of wild husk tomato are collected by farmers for home consumption or for sale in local markets, where prices are higher than for the cultivated husk tomato. Despite their economic and nutritional importance, they have been little studied. The objective of this study was to determine phytochemical properties, nutritional value, total contents of phenol, anthocyanins and flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity of the fruits of five wild genotypes of Physalis spp (Quialana, Jalieza, Vigallo, Ejutla and Miahuatlán), collected in the corn harvest season in five localities of Oaxaca, Mexico. The genotypes Quialana and Miahuatlán had the best physical characteristics, but their antioxidant capacity was lower than that of the genotypes Jalieza, Vigallo and Ejutla, which did not exhibit physical characteristics that are attractive for consumers. Moreover, the high contents of phenols and flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant capacity of all the wild genotypes studied, showed that Physalis spp. is an option for more frequent inclusion in the population’s diet. However, because of food globalization issues, production, commercialization and consumption of these wild species is disappearing.

Hemp seeds, flaxseed and açaí berries: Health benefits and nutritional importance with emphasis on the lipid content

Background: Some plant seeds and berries have gained increased recognition due to their wide variety of bioactive compounds. Many of these foods are rich in lipids with high nutritional value, of which n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids stand out. However, knowledge of these foodstuffs’ chemical composition and biological activity and their value as a source of healthy lipids is far from being fully explored. Objective and Methods: The benefits of the intake of hemp seeds, flaxseed and açaí berries, considered functional foods, have been compiled in this review. Likewise, their general chemical composition will be described to evaluate their relevance in a healthy diet, highlighting their lipid components and nutritional lipid indices. Results and Conclusion: The fibres and essential fatty acids of hemp seeds and flaxseed and the antioxidant properties of açaí berries provide them protective roles against several chronic non-communicable diseases and represent significant beneficial effects that add value to these healthy natural products. More research is needed to deepen the knowledge on their lipids’ molecular composition and bioactivity.

Postharvest Storage Techniques and Quality Evaluation of Fruits and Vegetables for Reducing Food Loss

Fresh fruits and vegetables have always made an important contribution to the human diet. Fruits and vegetables provide a variety of colors, shapes, flavors, aromas, and textures, but their full nutritional importance has only been explored and recognized recently as a result of the rising public awareness of food quality and safety [...]

Phytic acid in legumes: a review of nutritional importance and hydrothermal processing effect on underutilised species

Phytic acid (IP6), also known as inositol hexakisphosphate, a naturally occurring component of legume seeds, is traditionally regarded as an antinutrient. This report was aimed to provide information on hydrothermal processing effects and nutritional importance of phytic acid in legumes. As a strong chelating agent, phytic acid has the ability to form complexes with protein and mineral elements (e.g. Ca, Fe, Zn and Mg) and thus makes the nutrients unavailable for absorption and utilisation. Reduction of IP6 using soaking and hydrothermal methods enhances the bioavailability of protein and mineral elements. Low level of phytic acid in diets have some health benefit effects and thus classification of phytic acid as an antinutrient needs to be reconsidered.

Population dynamic of Diclidophlebia irvingiae, Burckhardt et al. (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), psyllid pest of Irvingia gabonensis Baill (Irvingiaceae, Rutales) in Bamenda, North-West region of Cameroon

Diclidophlebia irvingiae is a sap-sucking insect of Irvingia gabonensis inducing important damage to its host plant which has medicinal and nutritional importance in Africa particularly in Cameroon. The aim of the survey was to study numerical variation of the pest during the year and impact of biotic and abiotic factors on numerical variation. The study was carried in Bamenda from March 2018 to March 2019 where larvae and adults of D. irvingiae were collected monthly. The study permitted us to record 3290 individuals 1341 males, 1396 females and 553 larvae. Population fluctuation of the pest during the year showed five periods of individual outbreak corresponding to the generation number of the pest. As most tropical and sub-tropical psyllid species D. irvingiae is a multivoltine species with five annual generations. The outbreak periods depend principally on the phenology of host plant. The statistical test showed that the numerical individual variation of D. irvingiae is not directly related to climatic factors because they do not show significant probability.Keywords: Impact, Biotic, Abiotic, Factors, Insect, Faunistic.

The Climate and Nutritional Impact of Beef in Different Dietary Patterns in Denmark

There is public focus on the environmental impact, and in particular, the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), related to our food consumption. The aim of the present study was to estimate the carbon footprint (CF), land use and nutritional impact of the different beef products ready to eat in different real-life dietary patterns. Beef products accounted for 513, 560, 409 and 1023 g CO2eq per day, respectively, in the four dietary patterns (Traditional, Fast-food, Green, and High-beef). The total CFs of these diets were 4.4, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.0 kg CO2eq per day (10 MJ), respectively. The Green diet had almost the same CF as the Traditional and the Fast-food diets despite having the lowest intake of beef as well as the lowest intake of red meat in total. A theoretical substitution of beef with other animal products or legumes in each of these three diets reduced the diets’ CF by 4–12% and land use by 5–14%. As regards nutrients, both positive and negative impacts of these substitutions were found but only a few of particular nutritional importance, indicating that replacing beef with a combination of other foods without a significant effect on the nutrient profile of the diet is a potential mitigation option.

Proximate Composition of Minor Millets from Cold Semi-Arid Regions

The nutritional importance of minor millets growing in geographically and environmentally isolated semi-arid regions remains largely unexplored, which has led to it being underutilized for diet diversification. In this study, the proximate composition of three species of minor millets, namely, Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea),Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and Foxtail millet(Setaria italica), grown in traditional millet cultivating regions (cold semi-arid) of the Himalayan range, have been analyzed. Two high altitude locations of contrasting cold temperatures in this region were selected for analysis. Dehradun which exhibits a temperature of 25-27℃, is located at 640 masl. (Meters Above Sea Level) in Uttarakhand West (UW), whereas, the second location, Pithoragarh which exhibits a temperature of 15-17℃ is located at 1514 masl. in Uttarakhand East (UE). The results of this study record a 30.75 percent increase in average protein content of Barnyard millet grains when the same seed stock was grown at the second region of lower temperature, i.e. Pithoragarh (15-17℃), as compared to Dehradun (15-17℃). A 42.66 percent increase in average fat content was also recorded for Barnyard millet grains when grown at Pithoragarh (15-17℃). The two other millet species, Finger millet and Foxtail millet, did not record significant differences in protein and fat contents, however, Foxtail millet displayed marginally increased levels of sodium and potassium. In contrast to the other components analyzed, Total Dietary Fiber (TDF) was found to decrease with growth at the comparatively colder location of Pithoragarh. A 36.71 percent decrease in TDF content was recorded for Barnyard millet, whereas, a 19.25 percent decrease was recorded for Finger millet. Foxtail millet displayed a marginal decrease of only 5.3 percent in TDF content with growth at Pithoragarh. Starch concentration and moisture content for all three species was also studied, but did not record any notable differences due to growth at the colder location of Pithoragarh. The results here indicate an important role of cold temperature and high altitude in regulating the proximate composition of minor millet grains. Studies which explore the proximate composition of millet cultivars in such geographically and environmentally distinct millet growing regions, may reveal new information regarding the nutritional importance of minor millets, and the ideal conditions of growth for maximum nutritional benefit.