F.A. Masoodi

Whole-Grain Cereal Bioactive Compounds and Their Health Benefits: A Review

Whole-grain cereals have received considerable attention in the last several decades due to the presence of unique blend of bioactive components like phytochemicals and antioxidants. However phytochemicals and antioxidants in whole-grains have not received as much attention as the phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables, although the increased consumption of whole-grains and whole-grain products has been associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and allcause mortality. These unique bioactive compounds in whole-grains are proposed to be responsible for the health benefits of whole-grain consumption. In this paper, various whole-grain bioactive compounds and the health benefits associated with their consumption are reviewed.

Effect of γ-irradiation on structure and nutraceutical potential of β-D-glucan from barley (Hordeum vulgare).

This paper reports the characterization and potential antioxidant activity of β-D-glucan isolated from barley treated with γ-rays. The β-D-glucan was irradiated with 0, 2, 4 and 8 kGy by gamma ray. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and quantitative estimation by Megazyme β-D-glucan assay kit. The average molecular weight of non-irradiated β-D-glucan was 177 kDa that decreased to 79 kDa at 8 kGy. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by five complementary assays including DPPH, lipid peroxidation, reducing power, metal chelating ability and oxidative DNA damage assays. Further, the antiproliferative potential of irradiated β-D-glucan was tested against three human cancer cell lines including Colo-205, T47D and MCF7 using MTT assay. Irradiated β-D-glucan exhibited dose dependent cancer cell growth inhibition. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that irradiation leads to the formation of low molecular weight β-D-glucan with enhanced antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.

β-Glucan as an encapsulating agent: Effect on probiotic survival in simulated gastrointestinal tract

Three strains of probiotics Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus plantarum were encapsulated in β-glucan matrix using emulsion technique. Further the encapsulated cells were studied for their tolerance in simulated gastrointestinal conditions and its storage stability. The average encapsulation efficiency of β-glucan-probiotic beads was found to be 74.01%. The surface morphology of β-glucan containing bacteria was studied using SEM. The noteworthy absorptions in the FT-IR spectra between 1300-900 cm(-1) and 2918-2925 cm(-1) corresponds to the presence of bacteria into the glucan matrix. Also, the thermal stability of β-glucan was evaluated using Differential Scanning Calorimeter. The efficiency of β-glucan in protecting the surviability of probiotic cells under simulated gastrointestinal conditions was studied. Results revealed significant (p<0.05) improvement to tolerance when the encapsulated cells were subjected to stresses like low pH, heat treatment, simulated intestinal conditions and storage.

Art and Science behind Modified Starch Edible Films and Coatings: A Review

Technological advances have led to increased constraints regarding food packaging, mainly due to environmental issues, consumer health concerns, and economic restrictions associated therewith. Hence, food scientists and technologists are now more focused on developing biopolymer packages. Starch satisfies all the principal aspects making it a promising raw material for edible coatings/films. Modified starch has grabbed much attention, both at the academic as well as at the industrial level, because these films exhibit dramatic improvement in filming properties without involving any significant increase in cost of production. Various methods, additives used, and recent advances in the field of starch film production are discussed in detail in this review, which also provides an overview of the available information along with recent advances in modified starch film packaging.

Characterization of rice starches extracted from Indian cultivars

Physicochemical, morphological and pasting properties of starches isolated from four rice cultivars grown in India were studied. The amylose content ranged between 4.7 and 30.2% of starch, highest in K332 starch and lowest in SR1 starch. Swelling power, water solubility and water absorption capacity of starches increased with increase in temperature from 50 to 90 °C at 10 °C intervals. Highest swelling and water absorption was found in SR1 and lowest in K332 starches but reverse was observed in case of solubility that was highest for K332 and lowest for SR1 starch. The microstructure of starch granules from different rice cultivars showed the presence of mainly polyhedral granules having average size in the range of 4.0–5.2 µm. K332 showed the presence of smallest granules, whereas SR1 starch showed the presence of largest granules. X-ray diffraction pattern of rice starch from different cultivars showed typical A-type crystallinity. Pasting properties of starches differed significantly. Pasting temperature was highest for K332 and lowest for SR1, while peak viscosity was highest for aromatic rice and lowest for K448 starches. Higher setback was observed in K332 and lowest in SR1.

Emerging concepts in the nutraceutical and functional properties of pectin—A Review

Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide found ubiquitously in terrestrial plants. It finds diverse food applications such as that of a gelling agent, stabilizer, and fat replacer. In the pharmaceutical arena, pectin exhibits a number of functions, from decreasing blood fat to combating various types of cancers. This review shows the shift of pectin from its conventional roles to its progressive applications. Insights into the advances in the production of pectin, the role it plays as a nutraceutical, possible prebiotic potential and a delivery vehicle for probiotics, and food applications are highlighted. Bioactive and functional properties of pectin are discussed and how the structural built up defines them, is emphasized. As a biopolymer, the applications of pectin in active packaging are also mentioned.

Physicochemical properties of native and γ-irradiated wild arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.) tuber starch.

Starch isolated from wild arrowhead tuber was treated by γ-irradiation at 0, 5, 10 and 15kGy doses. Arrowhead tubers yielded 40.33% starch and its chemical composition revealed moisture, protein, ash and fat were 8.34±0.09%, 0.26±0.04%, 0.58±0.02% and 0%, respectively. Physicochemical, morphological and pasting properties of native and irradiated tuber starches were investigated. The results showed that peak, trough, final, and setback viscosities were significantly (p≤0.05) reduced, whereas the breakdown viscosity increased following irradiation. Physicochemical properties differed significantly and showed strong dose dependent relationship. Solubility, water absorption capacity and transmittance increased, whereas swelling power, bulk density and syneresis decreased upon increase in irradiation of starch. Correlation studies showed that irradiation dose was positively correlated with water absorption capacity and solubility index while it correlated negatively with pasting properties, swelling index, syneresis, and freeze thaw stability.

Suitability of Different Food Grade Materials for the Encapsulation of Some Functional Foods Well Reported for Their Advantages and Susceptibility

Functional foods find a very important place in the modern era, where different types of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. are on a high. Irrespective of the abundance of bioactive components in different fruits and vegetables, their low solubility in aqueous solution, vulnerability to destruction in different environmental and gastrointestinal conditions and a low intestinal absorption becomes a concern. Because it is quite difficult to commercialize non food materials for the food encapsulation purposes due to their safety concerns in the human body, scientists in the recent times have come up with the idea of encapsulating the different bioactive components in different food grade materials that are able to safeguard these bioactive components against the different environmental and gastrointestinal conditions and ensure their safe and targeted delivery at their absorption sites. Different food grade encapsulation materials including various oligosaccharides, polysaccharides (starch, cyclodextrins, alginates, chitosan, gum arabic, and carboxymethyl cellulose) and proteins and their suitability for encapsulating various bioactive components like flavonoids (catechins, rutin, curcumin, hesperetin, and vanillin), nonflavonoids (resveratrol), carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein), and fatty acids (fish oil, flaxseed oil, and olive oil) of high medical and nutritional value are reviewed here.

Effect of chemical and thermal treatments on quality parameters and antioxidant activity of apple (pulp) grown in high Himalayan regions

Abstract Pulp from locally grown Apple variety was given different treatments (chemical and thermal) and its various quality parameters were studied during a storage period of 90 days. All the quality parameters viz. pH, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars, color and antioxidants activity were significantly affected by treatments employed as well as storage period. As a result of chemical and thermal treatments, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of samples decreased, while color and consumer acceptability significantly improved. Color and antioxidant activity were highly correlated and the type of preservation method used affected the correlation coefficient between color and antioxidant activity. Among different treatments, a combination of pasteurization and chemical preservation was found to be most effective in increasing the shelf life of apple pulp.

DNA scission inhibition, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of water chestnut (Trapa natans) extracted in different solvents

This investigation deals with the study of polyphenolic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of water chestnut extracted in different solvents. The antioxidant activities of the extract in different solvents were the maximum in methanol, followed by ethanol and aqueous solution and were found to be 39.8%, 34.1% and 32.6% from DPPH assay, and 45.64%, 35.08% and 30.52% from lipid peroxidation assay, respectively, whereas the reducing power inhibition assay showed the maximum antioxidant potential in the aqueous extract of the sample, followed by methanolic and ethanolic extracts. The polyphenolic content of the water chestnut was found to be more in methanol than in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The water chestnut extract also showed the antiproliferative potential when tested against the human colon cancer cell line (Colo-205), human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line (T47D), and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7). It also showed some protection from DNA damage induced by hydroxyl radicals in calf thymus DNA.