Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture最新文献

Background: For many years, Ganoderma was highly considered as biofactory for the production of different types of bioactive metabolites. Of these bioactive compounds, polysaccharides gained much attention based on their high biotherapeutic properties. Therefore, special attention has been paid during the last years for the production of mushrooms bioactive compounds in a closed cultivation system to shorten the cultivation time and increase the product yield.

Objectives: This work focuses on the development of a simple cultivation strategy for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production using Ganoderma lucidum and submerged cultivation system.

Methods: At first, the best medium supporting EPS production was chosen experimentally from the current published data. Second, like many EPS production processes, carbon and nitrogen concentrations were optimized to support the highest production of polysaccharides in the shake flask level. Furthermore, the process was scaled up in 16-L stirred tank bioreactor.

Results: The results clearly demonstrated that the best cultivation strategy was cultivation under controlled pH conditions (pH 5.5). Under this condition, the maximal volumetric and specific yield of EPS production were, 5.0 g/L and 0.42 g/g, respectively.

Conclusion: The current results clearly demonstrate the high potential use of submerged cultivation system as an alternative to conventional solid-state fermentation for EPS production by G. lucidum. Furthermore, the optimization of both carbon and nitrogen sources concentration and scaling up of the process showed a significant increase in both volumetric and specific EPS production.

Background: Diarrhea and malnutrition are major health problems in developing countries. Inflammation, high oxidative stress, poor nutritional status, and fatty liver were encountered during such diseases. Patents for diarrhea and malnutrition management (WO2007/130882A2, WO00/37106A1, WO2014/152420, and CA2987364A1) were published.

Objective: The objective was to introduce anti-diarrhea functional foods with a preventive effect on malnutrition.

Methods: Two processing techniques were applied for preparing functional foods (formula 1 ingredients were made into cookies followed by grinding; formula 2 ingredients were pre-cooked, dried, and mixed in powder form) that were evaluated in a rat model of diarrhea with malnutrition (DM). Formula 2 was also assessed when mixed with nucleotides. The ingredients were edible plants that possess an anti-diarrheal effect with high protein sources (legumes and casein).

Results: Induction of diarrhea with malnutrition, high oxidative stress, inflammation, accumulation of liver fat, and histopathological changes were demonstrated in DM control compared to normal control. The functional foods produced variable improvement in growth curves, food efficiency ratio, hemoglobin, hematocrit and plasma zinc, protein, albumin, globulin, lipase activity, and MDA. Formula 1 was superior in improving intestinal histopathology while formula 2 was more efficient in elevating plasma iron. Formula 2 with nucleotides was the best in improving growth curves, alkaline phosphatase, and reducing liver fat. Intestinal mucosa reduced glutathione and nitrite showed an efficient significant reduction on treatment with formula 2 with or without nucleotides. The formulas showed an anti-diarrheal effect by improving feces weight and moisture content.

Conclusion: Studied functional foods showed an anti-diarrheal effect and malnutrition improvement with different degrees.

Objectives: Plantain Pseudostem (PPS) wastes were biotransformed by applying Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) using excised snail digestive juice and yeast slurry, and their oil properties compared with oils from commercially sold poultry feeds (PF). Patents suggesting the inclusion of certain additives (US20090226558A1), spices (US5741508A), cysteamine (US4711897A), and dextrin (US6326051B1) in animal diets are regarded as expensive, thus, requiring cheaper and readily available sources of growth.

Methods: The analysis of their free radical scavenging potentials was carried by spectrophotometry, while fatty acids, volatile fatty acids, essentials oils, and phytosterols were determined by chromatography.

Results: After biotransformation, the melting point, specific gravity, acid, and peroxide values of the oils from SSF-PPS were significantly lower than those of PF, and showed elevations of C6:0- C18:1(trans-9) fatty acids, palmitic, stearic, γ-Linolenic, α-linolenic, behenic, and lignoceric acids. Camphene, β-phelandrene, eugenol, β-elemene, bicyclogermacrene, guaiol, tetradecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid levels decreased when PPS was biotransformed. Lactic (1575.75 mg/100g), acetic (1234.26 mg/100g), propionic (845.74 mg/100g), and n-butyric (68.56 mg/100g) acids were the predominant Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) in the SSF-PPS oils, which were higher than those found in the PF oil while PF oil contained higher campesterol, Stigmasterol, and 5-avesmasterol. The 2,2- azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, and nitric oxide radical scavenging potentials of PPS oil at high concentrations after biotransformation were equivalent to the standards and the PF oil.

Conclusion: This study has shown that biotransformation involving snail digestive juice and yeasts extensively improves the oil qualities of agricultural residues sufficient enough for poultry nutrition.

Objectives: The present research was tailored to explore the prophylactic role of garlic extracts to mitigate some diet related malfunctions. The recent patents regarding antidiabetic agents (US 20140147528 A1) and garlic compositions (US 20110129580 A1) also helped in the study design.

Methods: Bioevaluation trials were conducted on Sprague Dawley rats by feeding garlic extracts for a period of sixty days. Accordingly, three studies were carried out comprising of normal, hyperglycemic and hypercholesterolemic rats. Drink & feed intakes and weight gain were measured throughout the trial. After sixty days, collected sera from rats were analyzed for serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL & triglyceride levels and glucose & insulin concentrations. Finally, the data obtained were subjected to statistical modeling.

Results: Results concerning the bioevaluation trials revealed that maximum 12.39% reduction was observed in serum cholesterol in Study III (hypercholesterolemic rats) on the provision of garlic supercritical extract (nutraceutical diet) followed by 10.24% decline in rats fed on solvent extract supplemented diet (functional diet). Regarding LDL, maximum decrease (17.02%) was recorded on the administration of diet having garlic supercritical extract to the hypercholesterolemic rats. While in Study II (hyperglycemic rats) maximum decrease of 11.03% in glucose level was recorded in rats fed on supercritical extract containing diet. In the same group maximum increase in insulin (7.95%) was recorded.

Conclusions: From the current investigations, it can be concluded that garlic based designer foods possess the prophylactic perspectives to alleviate the risk of metabolic ailments. Thus, it can be used in the diet based therapeutic interventions as an adjuvant to pharmaceuticals.

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), are considered a growing global disease, with about ten million people being affected worldwide. Maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity is crucial for preventing IBD onset and exacerbations. Some recent patents regarding oily formulations containing probiotics (WO2010122107A1 and WO2010103374A9) and the use of probiotics for gastrointestinal complaints (US20110110905A1 and US9057112B2) exist, or are pending application.

Objective: In this work, we studied the effect of a fixed combination of registered Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains and herbal extracts in an in vitro inflammation experimental model.

Methods: Caco-2 cell monolayer was exposed to INF-γ+TNF-α or to LPS; Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) and paracellular permeability were investigated. ZO-1 and occludin Tight Junctions (TJs) were also investigated by mean of immunofluorescence.

Results: Pre-treatment with the fixed combination of probiotics and herbal extracts prevented the inflammation-induced TEER decrease, paracellular permeability increase and TJs translocation.

Conclusions: In summary, the fixed combination of probiotics and herbal extracts investigated in this research was found to be an interesting candidate for targeting the re-establishment of intestinal barrier function in IBD conditions.

Background: Among stone fruit, the peach (Prunus persica (L) Batsch) is one of the most widely grown species in Brazil, in both area cultivated and in production.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of heavy and light seeds of four cultivars of Prunus persica for two storage periods, from tests of electrical conductivity, germination, and an analysis of initial plantlets growth.

Methods: The Electrical Conductivity test (EC) was conducted in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD), in a 4 x 2 x 5 factorial scheme with five replications. The germination test was carried out in CRD, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with eight replications. The physiological quality of the seeds was determined at zero and twelve month's storage. For the growth analysis, the experimental design was in CRD, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with four replications.

Results: Under the conditions of the present study, it was found that the tests of germination and electrical conductivity were complementary in evaluating physiological quality in seeds of Prunus persica rootstock, suggesting that independent of the weight of the seeds, in 'Capdeboscq', 'Aldrighi', 'Okinawa' and 'Okinawa Roxo', there is a loss of quality and viability when the seeds are stored for a period of 12 months.

Conclusion: Under the experimental conditions of the present study, it was concluded that storage for a period of 12 months in Recent patents is not rather recommendable for maintaining quality and viability in seeds of Prunus persica of the Capdeboscq, Aldrighi, Okinawa and Okinawa Roxo cultivars.

Background: Hawthorn (C. oxyacantha), a common edible plant, is widely used for the preparation of a different foodstuff and is also used in traditional medicine to treat heart problems and gastrointestinal ailments. Recently, a few patents of Crataegus preparation for protective effects (prevention of cardiovascular and hepatic diseases) have been developed.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of nbutanol extract of Crataegus oxyacantha leaves in acute liver damage induced by Doxorubicin (DOX).

Methods: Crataegus oxyacantha (100 mg/kg body weight) or vitamin E as a standard antioxidant (100 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to female rats for 10 days, in the presence or absence of hepatotoxicity induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DOX (15 mg/kg on the 8th day). On day 11, blood and liver samples were analyzed for biomarker levels and histopathological changes. Liver homogenates were used for determination of oxidative stress parameters that include Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) level and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) activity.

Results: Treatment with n-butanol extract of C. oxyacantha leaves significantly improved the altered liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirm the results of biochemical parameters.

Conclusion: The obtained results support the traditional use of C. oxyacantha to cure gastrointestinal ailments and highlighted its possible use in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a source of natural antioxidant.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been widely used in traditional medicine, and as raw material for cosmetics, beverages, and health functional foods. However, some adverse effects of ginger have been reported. In addition, the hot and pungent taste of ginger leads to reduced consumption. To overcome these problems, methods for the production of fermented, steamed (or steamed-dried), aged, roasted and beopje ginger have been developed. This review provides an overview and summary of new ginger processing procedures, including methods to reduce the pungent flavor of ginger, extend shelf-life, increase the health-functional compound content, and improve safety. These attempts might improve the consumption of ginger as well as prospective applications of processed ginger for food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry, also as discussed in various patents.