Use of propolis in foods and its protective properties

Propolis is a natural mixture of saliva, enzymes and plant secretions which collected by bees from various plants and used for protection of hives against external fac-tors. Biological activities and chemical composition of propolis may vary accor-ding to the plant sources, location and time, and it contains phenolic compo-unds, aromatic acids, essen-tial oils, minerals and vita-mins. Propolis has been used in traditional medicine for various therapeutic pur-poses, and it has a potential as a natural preservative in foods. Propolis may have various protective effects such as reducing microbial growth and oxidation, pre-venting fungus, rotting and weight loss, maintaining product stability and exten-ding shelf life in meat, po-ultry, fish, dairy, vegetables, fruits and fruit juices during storage. However, propolis's unique odor and taste may alter the sensory quality of foods and that may effect its use in the food industry ne-gatively.

JENIS TUMBUHAN SUMBER PAKAN LEBAH (Trigona sp.) DI DESA MIRRING POLEWALI MANDAR SULAWESI BARAT

The presence of feed and its availability is one of the keys to the successful management of Trigona sp. The presence and availability of feed can be seen from the diversity of feed-producing plants (pollen, nectar, resin). Mirring Village is one of the villages in Polewali Mandar which has the potential for Trigona sp. This study aims to identify and analyze the diversity of feed sources for Trigona sp. in Mirring Village. This research is quantitative research with purposive method. The results showed that there were 42 types of plant sources for bee Trigona sp. found in coastal areas as many as 3 species with INP 88.99 – 102.30 and H' 0.99, residential areas there are 30 species with INP 3.15 - 56.20 and H' 3.1, and in mountainous areas there are 18 type with IN 4.77 – 47.22 and H' 2.40. Based on the results for residential and mountainous areas, it is sufficient to provide a source of food, while the enrichment of plant species diversity as a source of food for Trigona sp bees is best carried out in coastal areas

Effects of Raw Material Source on the Properties of CMC Composite Films

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) can be derived from a variety of cellulosic materials and is widely used in petroleum mining, construction, paper making, and packaging. CMCs can be derived from many sources with the final properties reflecting the characteristics of the original lignocellulosic matrix as well as the subsequent separation steps that affect the degree of carboxy methyl substitution on the cellulose hydroxyls. While a large percentage of CMCs is derived from wood pulp, many other plant sources may produce more attractive properties for specific applications. The effects of five plant sources on the resulting properties of CMC and CMC/sodium alginate/glycerol composite films were studied. The degree of substitution and resulting tensile strength in leaf-derived CMC was from 0.87 to 0.89 and from 15.81 to 16.35 MPa, respectively, while the degree of substitution and resulting tensile strength in wooden materials-derived CMC were from 1.08 to 1.17 and from 26.08 to 28.97 MPa, respectively. Thus, the degree of substitution and resulting tensile strength tended to be 20% lower in leaf-derived CMCs compared to those prepared from wood or bamboo. Microstructures of bamboo cellulose, bamboo CMC powder, and bamboo leaf CMC composites’ films all differed from pine-derived material, but plant source had no noticeable effect on the X-ray diffraction characteristics, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, or pyrolysis properties of CMC or composites films. The results highlighted the potential for using plant source as a tool for varying CMC properties for specific applications.

Borneol: A Plant Sourced Terpene with a Variety of Promising Pharmacological Effects

Background: Borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene belonging to the class of camphene is sourced from Blumea balsamifera, Cinnamonum camphora (L.) Presl, Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertner, and the volatile oils extracted from various other plant sources. Chinese Traditional Medicine system documents almost 1000 years of clinical use of borneol as an adjuvant as well as an active in treating various diseases and disorders; mainly pertaining to the central nervous system. Objective: The review aims to provide the insights into the array of pharmacological activities elicited by borneol along with their underlying mechanisms. Methods: Apart from the promising permeation enhancing activity, the scientific database has established strong evidence of a variety of pharmacological effects for borneol. The current work involved critical evaluation of the published and patented literature revealing various pharmacodynamic activities of borneol alone and in combination with other actives. The mechanisms responsible for the same were also investigated. Results: A plethora of studies has revealed a promising antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial adhesion activity of borneol. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neuroprotective, and antiepileptic actions of borneol have been elucidated via a number of preclinical studies. Anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, and anticancer effects have also been explored for borneol. Conclusion: The array of pharmacological activities evaluated for borneol alone or in combination with other actives could be attributed to its specific molecular structure, excellent brain permeability, strong antioxidant property, and ability to modulate various inflammatory pathways and precursors. However, more extensive preclinical and mainly clinical studies are warranted before this bicyclic monoterpene can establish as an active pharmaceutical agent.

Macronutrient Intake in Adults Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome: Using the Health Examinee (HEXA) Cohort

Macronutrient intake is important in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to evaluate total energy and macronutrient intake of participants diagnosed with MetS at recruitment of the health examinees (HEXA) cohort, considering the plant and animal sources of each macronutrient. We included 130,423 participants aged 40–69 years for analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated to evaluate the intake of macronutrients stratified by gender. Energy and macronutrient intake were estimated by linking food frequency questionnaire data to the Korean food composition database, and were calculated separately for plant and animal foods. Low energy (men: OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98; women: OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99), and fat intake (men: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90–0.96; women: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83) were observed. Only postmenopausal women had lower intake of total energy (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97), whereas low fat intake was observed in all women (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83). For carbohydrate intake, the OR were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08–1.22) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.08–1.27) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. Protein intake was low (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95; and OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.94) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. High intake of plant carbohydrates in women (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12–1.20), and plant protein in both genders (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.13) were observed, but low intake of total energy, fat, and animal-source carbohydrates in both genders was also observed. Fat intake was low regardless of food source. In conclusion, high consumption of plant-source macronutrients, and low consumption of animal-source macronutrients was observed in Korean adults diagnosed with MetS. Attention should be directed to plant sources of carbohydrates and proteins when designing population interventions for metabolic syndrome reduction in Korea.

Recent Insights Into the Prognostic and Therapeutic Applications of Lysozymes

Lysozymes are naturally occurring enzymes present in a variety of biological organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and animal bodily secretions and tissues. It is also the main ingredient of many ethnomedicines. It is well known that lysozymes and lysozyme-like enzymes can be used as anti-bacterial agents by degrading bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan that leads to cell death, and can also inhibit fungi, yeasts, and viruses. In addition to its direct antimicrobial activity, lysozyme is also an important component of the innate immune system in most mammals. Increasing evidence has shown the immune-modulatory effects of lysozymes against infection and inflammation. More recently, studies have revealed the anti-cancer activities of lysozyme in multiple types of tumors, potentially through its immune-modulatory activities. In this review, we summarized the major functions and underlying mechanisms of lysozymes derived from animal and plant sources. We highlighted the therapeutic applications and recent advances of lysozymes in cancers, hypertension, and viral diseases, aiming toseeking alternative therapies for standard medical treatment bypassing side effects. We also evaluated the role of lysozyme as a promising cancer marker for prognosis to indicate the outcomes recurrence for patients.

The Use of Herbal Medicines for the Prevention of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

Glucocorticoids are drugs that are widely used to suppress inflammation and the activation of the immune system. However, the prolonged use or at high doses of glucocorticoid can result in adverse side effects including osteoporosis, bone loss, and an increased risk of fracture. A number of compounds derived from natural plant sources have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity by interacting with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), likely owing to their chemical similarity to glucocorticoids, or by regulating GR, without a concomitant risk of treatment-related side effects such as osteoporosis. Other herbal compounds can counteract the pathogenic processes underlying glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) by regulating homeostatic bone metabolic processes. Herein, we systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases to identify articles discussing such compounds published as of May 01, 2021. Compounds reported to exert anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid-like activity without inducing GIOP include escin, ginsenosides, and glycyrrhizic acid, while compounds reported to alleviate GIOP by improving osteoblast function or modulating steroid hormone synthesis include tanshinol and icariin.