Hamadi Attia

Date seeds: chemical composition and characteristic profiles of the lipid fraction

The seeds of two date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars, Deglet Nour and Allig, from the Degach region—Tunisia, were analysed for their main chemical composition. Studies were also conducted on properties of oil extracted from date pits. The following values (on a dry-weight basis) were obtained for Deglet Nour and Allig cultivars, respectively: protein 5.56 and 5.17%, oil 10.19 and 12.67%, Ash 1.15 and 1.12% and total carbohydrate 83.1 and 81.0%. Gas–liquid chromatography revealed that the major unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (41.3–47.7%), while the main saturated fatty acid was lauric acid (17.8%) for the Deglet Nour cultivar and palmitic acid for the Allig cultivar (15.0%). Capric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic, stearic, linoleic and linolenic acids were also found. Thermal profiles of both date seed oils, determined by their DSC melting curves, revealed simple thermograms. Sensorial and physical profiles of Deglet Nour and Allig seed oil were based on studies of the CieLab (L∗, a∗, b∗) colour, oxidative stability, viscosity and microstructure. Results showed that date seed oil could be used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products.

Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation at the tissue level in patients with stable and active vitiligo

Background  The pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo have not been clarified completely. One of the major hypotheses in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is the oxidative stress hypothesis. The active and stable phases of vitiligo are defined as the progression or appearance of new lesions in the last 3 months and the absence of new lesions or progression in the last 6 months, respectively.

Structural, functional, and ACE inhibitory properties of water-soluble polysaccharides from chickpea flours

The present study aimed to characterize and investigate the functional and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activities of chickpea water-soluble polysaccharides (CPWSP). Physico-chemical characteristics were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Functional properties (water holding capacity: WHC, water solubility index: WSI, swelling capacity: SC, oil holding capacity: OHC, foaming, and emulsion properties) and ACE activities were also investigated using well-established procedures. The FT-IR spectra obtained for the CPWSP revealed two significant peaks, at about 3500 and 500 cm(-1), which corresponded to the carbohydrate region and were characteristic of polysaccharides. All spectra showed the presence of a broad absorption between 1500 and 670 cm(-1), which could be attributed to CH, CO, and OH bands in the polysaccharides. CPWSP had an XRD pattern that was typical for a semi-crystalline polymer with a major crystalline reflection at 19.6 °C. They also displayed important techno-functional properties (SWC, WSI, WHC, and OHC) that can be modulated according to temperature. The CPWSP were also noted to display good anti-hypertensive activities. Overall, the results indicate that CPWSP have attractive chemical, biological, and functional properties that make them potential promising candidates for application as alternative additives in various food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical preparations.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in infertile men: correlation with semen parameter

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress status and antioxidant enzyme activities in infertile mens semen and to determine their relationship with spermatozoa characteristics. Four groups of infertile men, normozoospermic (n=9), azoospermic (n=13), oligoasthenozoospermic (n=38), and asthenozoospermic (n=42), were tested for malonaldialdehyde (MDA) concentration and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in semen using spectrophotometric methods. We found that MDA levels in semen and SOD activity in seminal plasma (SP) were significantly higher in oligoasthenozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups compared with normozoospermic group. In contrast, the mean values of CAT activity were not significantly different in all groups. We found positive correlations between semen MDA concentration and SOD activity (P<0.01). MDA levels in sperm pellet and in SP were also positively correlated with mobility grade b (P<0.01), acrosome anomalies (P<0.01), and residual cytoplasmic droplets (P<0.05). In contrast, SOD activity in SP was negatively correlated with sperm concentration and normal morphology (P<0.05). Similarly, CAT activity in SP was negatively correlated with sperm and leukocyte concentrations (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that the evaluation of oxidative status and antioxidant defenses may be taken as an important tool for diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:99–104, 2009.

Effect of moderate spray drying conditions on functionality of dried egg white and whole egg.

Dried egg and egg-derived proteins have a range of applications in baking, dressings, and confectionery products. Egg powder was produced under high time-temperature scales (approximately 160 degrees C), which led to many changes in egg components, resulting in different functional properties of eggs after reconstitution. In this study, moderate operating conditions were selected to dry egg white and whole egg using a pilot-scale spray dryer. Functional properties changes were evaluated with an appropriate statistical technique. Major finding supports that spray drying of egg white at moderate conditions (air inlet temperature ranged from 110 to 125 degrees C) resulted in a product that enhanced considerably the water holding capacity of produced gels. Moreover, gel prepared with the dried samples was firmer than that of the fresh samples. Drying at a moderate scale allowed not only the increasing of the foaming capacity and the stability of foam but also an increase in their emulsifying capacity and stability of the emulsions.

Effects of enzymatic hydrolysis on conformational and functional properties of chickpea protein isolate.

The impact of enzymatic hydrolysis by Alcalase on the conformational and functional properties of chickpea protein isolate (CPI) was investigated. The physicochemical, interfacial tension and surface characteristics of CPI and their hydrolysates (CPH) according to the degree of hydrolysis (DH) were also determined. These parameters were then related to the changes in the emulsification activity (EAI) and stability (ESI). The enzymatic hydrolysis was found to improve protein recovery and solubility, leading to a reduction in the molecular weight bands with a concomitant increase in the intensity and appearance of protein bands having apparent molecular mass below 20 kDa. The interfacial tension decreased from ∼ 66.5 mN m(-1) for CPI to ∼ 59.1 m Nm(-1) for CPH. A similar trend was observed for the surface charge which declined from -27.55 mV to -16.4 mV for the CPI and CPH, respectively. These changes were found to have a detrimental effect on the EAI and ESI values.

A Comparative Study of the Oxidative Profile in Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the oxidative profiles of three thyroid disorders: Graves’ disease (GD), Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Malondialdehyde levels (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were examined in the plasma of 52 patients (29 untreated HT, 16 untreated GD, and 7 PTC who underwent surgical therapy). Results were compared with those of 30 healthy controls and among the three groups of patients. The GD, HT, and PTC patients exhibited increased plasma MDA levels and SOD activities compared with the controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.001, respectively). CAT activities significantly increased only for the PTC and HT patients (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), whereas GPx activities significantly decreased only in the GD and PTC (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The comparison among the three groups of patients has shown increased MDA level and SOD activity for the PTC patients as compared to the GD patients (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with HT, PTC patients exhibited significant higher MDA level, SOD, and CAT activities and a significant lower GPx activity (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). No significant discrepancies were noted between the GD and HT patients. Our results have clearly shown an oxidative profile that is highly disturbed for the PTC patients as compared to those of autoimmune disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether or not the oxidative stress has a prognostic value in this pathology.

Phenolic profile, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of second grade date extract from Tunisian cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic profile of second grade date extracts and evaluate their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities with regard to some pathogenic microorganisms. Phenolic content was analyzed by HPLC. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the agar disk diffusion method, and in vitro cytotoxic activity was examined by cell proliferation assay. The results revealed that second grade dates presented three benzoic acids, five cinnamic acids and two flavonoids, with the predominance of ρ-coumaric acid (1998.80μg/100g). The antimicrobial activities showed that the date extracts were active against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria, showing marked activity against Escherichia coli with an inhibition zone of 25mm. Cytotoxicity assays showed that the date extracts were able to inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cell lines. The results confirmed that the date extracts were rich in biologically active compounds that are highly valued in the functional food and nutraceutical industries.

Effect of pH on the functional properties of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis protein isolate

In the present study, a protein isolate extracted from Arthrospira platensis by isoelectric precipitation was evaluated for its functional properties. The maximum nitrogen solubility was 59.6±0.7% (w/w) at pH 10. The A. platensis protein isolate (API) showed relatively high oil (252.7±0.3g oil/100g API) and water (428.8±15.4g of water/100g of API at pH 10) absorption capacities. The protein zeta potential, the emulsifying capacity, the emulsion ageing stability, the emulsion microstructure and the emulsion opacity as well as the foaming capacity and the foam stability were shown to be greatly affected by pH. Especially, emulsifying and foaming capacities were positively correlated to the protein solubility. Moreover, the API was able to form films when sorbitol (30% (w/w)) was used as plasticizer and to form gels when the API concentration exceeded 12% (w/w).

Physicochemical Characteristics of Date Sap Lagmi from Deglet Nour Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L.)

Physicochemical properties of sap from Deglet Nour date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were studied. Composition analysis revealed (on a dry-weight basis) a high content of carbohydrates (94.98 g/100 g of dry matter basis) mainly sucrose, 2.72 g/100g (dry matter basis) of proteins and 2.29 g/100 g (dry matter basis) of ash. Date palm sap also contains 7.64 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 ml of total polyphenol. Thus, date palm sap showed antioxidant activity with a percentage inhibition of the DPPH radical value of 47.64%. Surface and foaming properties were also performed by drop volume and bubbling method, respectively. Equilibrium surface tension of fresh sap was 63.51 mN/m. Freeze-drying method preserved surface activity. Native sap showed better foam power (1.03) and foam stability (1150 s) than solutions prepared from lyophilised sap (5–30 g /100g of solution). Results demonstrated that this natural juice could be regarded as functional food due to its high nutritional value, antioxidant activity, surface activity, and foam power.