Poonam Singhal

Bamboo shoots: a novel source of nutrition and medicine.

Bamboos, a group of large woody grasses belonging to the family Poaceae and subfamily Bambusoideae, are much talked about for their contribution to the environment. However, the food potential of Bamboo shoot per se remains unexploited. Literature on the nutritional and medicinal potential of bamboo shoots is scarce. This paper therefore provides insight on bamboo shoot as a food resource. Various edible species and exotic food products (fermented shoots, pickle, etc.) and recipes of bamboo shoots (bamboo beer, bamboo cookies) are consumed worldwide. Change in nutritional composition of different species of bamboo shoots with processing has also been reviewed. Bamboo shoots possess high protein, moderate fiber, and less fat content. They are also endowed for having essential amino acids, selenium, a potent antioxidant, and potassium, a healthy heart mineral. Occurrence of taxiphyllin, a cyanogenic glycoside in raw shoots, and its side effect on human health calls for the demand to innovate processing ways using scientific input to eliminate the toxic compound without disturbing the nutrient reserve. Lastly, the paper also reviews the utilization of medicinal properties acquired by bamboo shoot. Using the traditional knowledge, pharmaceutical preparations of bamboo shoots like bamboo salt, bamboo vinegar, bamboo extracts for diabetes and cholesterol control, etc. are now gaining importance. Further investigation is required by the researchers to make novel nutraceutical products and benefit the society.

Prokaryotic Gene Finding Based on Physicochemical Characteristics of Codons Calculated from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

An ab initio model for gene prediction in prokaryotic genomes is proposed based on physicochemical characteristics of codons calculated from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The model requires a specification of three calculated quantities for each codon: the double-helical trinucleotide base pairing energy, the base pair stacking energy, and an index of the propensity of a codon for protein-nucleic acid interactions. The base pairing and stacking energies for each codon are obtained from recently reported MD simulations on all unique tetranucleotide steps, and the third parameter is assigned based on the conjugate rule previously proposed to account for the wobble hypothesis with respect to degeneracies in the genetic code. The third interaction propensity parameter values correlate well with ab initio MD calculated solvation energies and flexibility of codon sequences as well as codon usage in genes and amino acid composition frequencies in approximately 175,000 protein sequences in the Swissprot database. Assignment of these three parameters for each codon enables the calculation of the magnitude and orientation of a cumulative three-dimensional vector for a DNA sequence of any length in each of the six genomic reading frames. Analysis of 372 genomes comprising approximately 350,000 genes shows that the orientations of the gene and nongene vectors are well differentiated and make a clear distinction feasible between genic and nongenic sequences at a level equivalent to or better than currently available knowledge-based models trained on the basis of empirical data, presenting a strong support for the possibility of a unique and useful physicochemical characterization of DNA sequences from codons to genomes.

Antidiabetic potential of commonly consumed legumes: a review.

Over the last few decades, lifestyle changes have resulted in a drastic increase in the incidence of diabetes all over the world, especially in the developing countries. Oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin form the mainstay in controlling diabetes, but they have prominent side effects and fail to significantly alter the course of diabetic complications. Appropriate diet and exercise programs that form a part of lifestyle modifications have proven to be greatly effective in the management of this disease. Dietary therapy is showing a bright future in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Legumes, owing to their high nutritive value, are increasingly being used in dietetic formulations in the treatment and prevention of diabetes on account of their antidiabetic potential. Given this background, this paper reviews the glucose- and lipid-lowering action possessed by various commonly consumed legumes through several animal and human studies. It is concluded that the various legumes not only have varying degrees of antidiabetic potential but are also beneficial in decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular and renal disease.

Bamboo Shoot Preservation for Enhancing its Business Potential and Local Economy: A Review

Bamboo shoot as food has been used in traditional ways by the tribal community the world over. For enhancing its business potential, research on various aspects of bamboo shoot as food is being carried out in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Asian countries and several products are available in the market. Bamboo shoots are used as a delicacy in human food, are a good source of dietary fiber, low in fat and calories. The research studies included in this review paper focus on post-harvest preservation of bamboo shoot. In view of the seasonal availability of bamboo shoot, the post-harvest preservation system for handling cynogenic toxicity in raw shoot while keeping nutrients intact and enhancement of shelf life of the value added products assume great significance for the business potential of this natural product. A yardstick of assessing the “Shelf life-Quality Matrix” developed in this review paper would give a new perspective of quality control in case of preservation of bamboo shoot. Also, knowledge gaps identified in this paper would give impetus to new academic and R&D activities, in turn generating an innovative job profile in the food industry as well as rural entrepreneurship.

Therapeutic Effect of Cereal Grains: A Review

Over the last few decades, life style changes have resulted in drastic increase in the incidence of diabetes all over the world, especially in the developing countries. Oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin form the main stay in controlling diabetes but they have prominent side effects and fail to significantly alter the course of diabetic complications. Appropriate diet and exercise programs that form a part of lifestyle modifications have proven to be greatly effective in the management of this disease. Dietary therapy is showing a bright future in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Cereal grains which form the staple diet for humans in most of the countries are increasingly being used to treat diabetes and other associated disorders in view of their anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potential. Given this background, this paper reviews the possible mechanisms of lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels possessed by various commonly consumed cereal grains. It is concluded that cereal grains are not only the potential sources of energy but also possess the therapeutic role in preventing metabolic disorders and decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Agrowaste Materials as Composites for Biomedical Engineering

Presently steel and plastic are widely used in the manufacture of various products such as doors, false ceilings, toys, boxes for agricultural use, rims, and mobile panels. However, it is evident that both these materials are neither economical nor eco-friendly, and their presence poses serious impacts for the user and the environment. Efforts are underway for research and development in agro-waste fibers, which have shown immense potential as alternative to conventional man-made materials. Agro-waste fibers such as bagasse, rice husk, coconut, banana, and sisal fibers hold significant potential as “Natural Green Composite” due to their high strength, environment-friendly nature, low cost, availability, and G. Kaushik (*) · A. Chel MGM’s Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, Mahatma Gandhi Mission, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India P. Singhal Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, India

Food Processing for Increasing Consumption: The Case of Legumes

Abstract Food is a basic necessity of life. However, over the past few decades food quality and safety issues have caused serious concern among consumers on account of their direct association with human health. Unsafe food poses serious risk to the health of consumers, particularly in the developing countries where food contamination is high on account of indiscriminate use of food contaminants and food protectants. The presence of harmful antinutrients and pesticide residues in legumes limits the bioavailability of the essential nutrients. Organic farming and other approaches are effective in dealing with pesticide contamination, but it would take significant time for them to be adopted worldwide. Therefore, a simple, as well as effective solution in the transitional phase is offered by domestic processing techniques. Domestic food processing methods, such as washing, cooking, milling, parboiling, and storage, may provide a simple and effective solution in this context. The nature of the processing operation (viz., physical, chemical, or thermal) plays an important role in this; usually, the processes that utilize the higher temperatures have greater effects on dissipation of antinutrients and pesticide residues. It is concluded that a combination of processing techniques renders food grains safe for human consumption.

Cyanogenic Toxicity and Human Health

Cyanogenic glycosides are naturally occurring compounds and are classified as secondary plant metabolites have been produced by many plant species. Hydrogen cyanide remains a product of enzymatic hydrolysis and thus a matter of concern when consumed fresh or raw. Bamboo shoot is one such species which liberates cyanide upon hydrolysis of Taxiphyllin. Literature on the toxicity aspect of bamboo shoots is scattered and very few studies report its significance, determination of toxic levels and ways to eliminate the toxic content to make it safe for consumption. With this background, this paper tries to reflect light on the safety aspect of bamboo shoots which cannot be neglected when we say bamboo shoots are nutritious vegetables. Therefore compiled and comprehensive information has been provided on the cyanogenic content in different species of bamboo shoots, fate of metabolism of Taxiphyllin and its degradation, health implications of cyanide poisoning and ways to eliminate it from shoots.

Pesticide residue dissipation upon storage in chickpea legume

Over the years, contamination of food commodities with harmful pesticide residues has led to serious concern due to health hazards and environmental implications. In this background, effect of pesticide residue dissipation on chickpea legume under simulated storage conditions was investigated. The dissipation pattern of chlorpyrifos and its metabolites under storage conditions for five months showed that the chlorpyrifos residues were four and five times (at the recommended and double recommended doses, respectively) above the MRL, highlighting the concern regarding safety of such stored grains for human consumption.