Sundus Tewfik

Would it Still be Possible to Identify Irradiated Lipid-containing Foods Towards the End of their Shelf-life?

The current British and European Standard (BS EN1785: 2003) for the identification of gamma irradiated foods is based on the isolation and detection of a group of lipid derived 2-alkylcyclobutanone compounds that are formed following irradiation. The 2-alkylcyclobutanones (2-dodecylcyclobutanone {DCB}, and 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone {TCB}) have been validated as radiolytic markers in the routine chemical identification of irradiated foods. This study was carried out with the view to answering a key question in relation to the fate of irradiated foods post irradiation and during storage; would it still be possible to correctly identify foods as having being irradiated towards the end of their shelf-life? Chemical detection method was employed to closely follow and plot the loss of each of these radiolytic markers throughout shelf-life. Significant levels of DCB and TCB were detected in all irradiated beef samples, which have been stored over 12-month period. Despite the considerable drop in the levels of both markers with time, it was still possible to detect both markers and therefore confirm that the stored samples had in fact been previously irradiated. These reported findings confer additional traceability choice to the global market of irradiated foods that may consequently, raise confidences among concerned parties.

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Impact of a Nutrition-Sensitive Intervention on Adult Women With Cancer Cachexia Undergoing Palliative Care in India.

Purpose. Advanced cancer patients with disease progression develop cachexia. Nevertheless, cancer patients at nutritional risk have shown improved body weight and quality of life with oral nutritional supplements. Method. This was a randomized controlled trial in adult female cancer patients (n = 63) attending palliative clinics, with symptoms of cachexia. Eligible patients were randomly distributed into control (n = 33) and intervention (n = 30) groups. Both groups were provided with nutritional and physical activity counseling, but the intervention group received an additional 100 g of Improved Atta (IAtta) for 6 months daily consumption. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of IAtta (with counseling) in enhancing the health status of cachexic patients. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, physical activity level and quality of life parameters were assessed at baseline, after 3 months, and at the end of 6 months. Results. Patients in the control group (n = 15) had significantly decreased body weight (P = .003), mid–upper-arm circumference (P = .002), and body fat (P = .002) by the end of intervention. A trend of body weight gain in the intervention group (n = 17; P = .08) and significant increase of body fat (P = .002) was observed; moreover, patients reported a significant improvement in fatigue (P = .002) and appetite scores (P = .006) under quality-of-life domains at the end of intervention. Conclusions. Embedding a nutrition-sensitive intervention ( IAtta ) within Indian palliative care therapy may improve quality of life and stabilize body weight in cancer cachexia patients.

Nutraceuticals, functional foods and botanical dietary supplements; promote wellbeing and underpin public health

With growing consumers concern on well-being there is vast public interest in health. This interest has created market demand on foods for specified health use; nutraceuticals and botanical supplements. The increase sales trend of these food categories reflects growing levels of health consciousness throughout communities. Regulatory organisations are considering ways to show scientific basis to support and validate claims for functional ingredients or foods containing them. Fortunately, credible scientific research suggests there are many clinically demonstrated and potential health benefits from these food ingredients. As such foods proliferate there is a need to collect comprehensive data and make this database systematically available to doctors, herbalists, nutritionists and health professionals.

Working protocol for isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from aqueous extract of medicinal plants

Considerable efforts have been directed towards the isolation and identification of compounds from medicinal plants, which are most likely to be responsible for the reported bioactivities. This article aimed to illustrate rationale steps involved to characterise chemical constituents and biological activities of aqueous extract of Medicinal Plant Materials (MPM). The elected, sequenced, optimised analytical techniques and bioassays have successfully unfolded potential bioactive ingredients in roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum. These chemical ingredients are responsible for the effects exerted by such medicinal plant. This presented working protocol proved to be valid and suitable for a wider range of medicinal plants research investigation.