Ya-Ling Huang

Composition, characteristics, and in-vitro physiological effects of the water-soluble polysaccharides from Cassia seed

The popular beverage ingredients Cassia obtusifolia and Cassia tora were found to have considerable amounts of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPs) (58.5 and 55.9/100g of dried extract). The composition, characteristics, and in-vitro physiological effects of these polysaccharides and their possible health benefits were investigated. The major polysaccharide components in the WSP of C. obtusifolia were possibly pectic polysaccharides and hemicellulose, while C. tora WSP was mainly composed of arabinoglucan and pectic polysaccharides. These WSPs had inhibitory effects on the activities of α-amylase and pancreatic lipase, while they rendered an increase in protease activity. These WSPs also had the ability to bind bile acids and reduce the amount of cholesterol available for absorption. This suggested that these WSPs had potential application as herbal ingredients in beverages. Further investigations on their in-vivo hypocholesterolaemic effects and intestinal functions using animal-feeding experiments are under way.

The effect of extrusion processing on the physiochemical properties of extruded orange pomace.

Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) is considered the most effective fraction of dietary fibre (DF) for human health. In this study, extrusion technology was applied to enhance the SDF obtained from orange pomace, a byproduct of juice extraction containing a high level of DF. The pomace was processed in a single-screw extruder at various barrel temperatures (X1; 115-135 °C), feed moistures (X2; 10-18 g/100g), and screw speeds (X3; 230-350 rpm). Based on response surface methodology, the optimum extrusion conditions, which produced a maximum SDF value of 30.36%, were as follows: barrel temperature, 129 °C; feed moisture, 15%; and screw speed, 299 rpm. Compared with unextruded pomace, SDF fraction in extrudate had a higher level of uronic acid. Furthermore, the extrusion process improved the physicochemical properties of extrudate, increasing the water-holding capacity, swelling, water solubility index, and cation-exchange capacity and decreasing the oil-holding capacity.

Water-insoluble fiber-rich fraction from pineapple peel improves intestinal function in hamsters: evidence from cecal and fecal indicators

Pineapple peel, a byproduct of agricultural processing, contains high levels of water-insoluble fiber-rich fraction (WIFF) (~42%, wt/wt). Our previous work has demonstrated that cellulose, hemicellulose (xylan and xyloglucan), and pectic substances are the major polysaccharides of pineapple-peel WIFF. Based on its chemical composition and unique characteristics, we hypothesized that daily consumption of WIFF would improve intestinal function in hamsters. Male Golden Syrian hamsters were fed a diet supplemented with either 5% cellulose or various amounts of WIFF (2.5%, 5%, or 10%). Activities of fecal bacterial enzymes, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, and microbial number in the cecal content, and also biochemical indicators in the cecal and feces of hamsters, were evaluated in all groups. The supplementation of WIFF in a diet at a level of 2.5% significantly (P < .05) decreased the daily fecal ammonia output; shortened the gastrointestinal transit time; reduced the activities of β-D-glucosidase, β-D-glucuronidase, mucinase, and urease in feces; and also enhanced the total amounts of short-chain fatty acid in the cecal content and the growth of gut microflora such as Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp. These results indicate that WIFF could improve cecal ecosystem function of hamsters by reducing the toxic compounds excreted by intestinal microflora. Therefore, pineapple-peel WIFF could be a promising candidate for a functional ingredient beneficial to human intestinal function and health.

Effect of salt concentrations and drying methods on the quality and formation of histamine in dried milkfish (Chanos chanos)

The effects of salt concentrations (0-15.0%) and drying methods on the quality of dried milkfish were studied. The results showed that the levels of aerobic plate counts, total coliform, water activity, moisture contents, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) of the dried milkfish samples prepared with the same drying method decreased with increased salt concentrations. The samples prepared with the cold-air drying method had better quality in term of lower TVBN and TBA values than those of samples prepared with other drying methods. The histamine contents in all samples, except two, prepared with various salt concentrations by different drying methods were less than 1.9 mg/100 g. Two unsalted samples prepared with hot-air drying at 35 °C and sun drying methods were found to contain histamine at levels of 249.7 and 67.4 mg/100 g, respectively, which were higher than the potential hazard level of 50 mg/100 g.

Determination and Frying Loss of Histamine in Striped Marlin Fillets Implicated in a Foodborne Poisoning

An incident of foodborne poisoning causing illness in 67 victims due to ingestion of fried fish fillets occurred in June 2011, in southern Taiwan. Of the five suspected fish fillets, one fried sample contained 62.0 mg/100 g and one raw sample contained 89.6 mg/100 g histamine, levels which are greater than the potential hazard action level (50 mg/100 g) in most illness cases. Given the allergy-like symptoms of the victims and the high histamine content in the suspected fish samples, this foodborne poisoning was strongly suspected to be caused by histamine intoxication. Five histamine-producing bacterial strains capable of producing 59 to 562 ppm of histamine in Trypticase soy broth supplemented with 1.0% L-histidine were identified as Enterobacter aerogenes (two strains), Raoultella ornithinolytica (two strains), and Morganella morganii (one strain). The degradation loss of histamine in suspected raw fillets was 28% after they were fried at 170°C for 5 min.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory and hypocholesterolemic activities: Effects of protein hydrolysates prepared from Achatina fulica snail foot muscle

ABSTRACT The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and hypocholesterolemic effect of Achatina fulica snail foot muscle protein hydrolysates (SFMPH) and its hydrolysates were studied. The SFMPHs were prepared at a temperature of 121°C for 60 min. To obtain the enzymatic hydrolysates, the SFMPHs were further hydrolysed with three proteases (papain, trypsin, or alcalase). Among all the hydrolysates, alcalase hydrolysate showed the highest degree of hydrolysis and was dominated by a small molecular size fraction (189–686 Da). The SFMPH treated by alcalase was effective in disintegrating intact cholesterol micelles. Furthermore, alcalase hydrolysate with a hydrolysis time of 60 min showed a strong ACE inhibitory activity in vitro with an IC50 of 0.024 mg/mL. Therefore, alcalase hydrolysate may be a promising ingredient for the use in functional foods.

Degradation of Histamine by Lactobacillus plantarum Isolated from Miso Products

Histamine is a toxic chemical and is the causative agent of food poisoning. This foodborne toxin may be degraded by the oxidative deamination activity of certain microorganisms. In this study, we isolated four histamine-degrading Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria from miso products. Among them, L. plantarum D-103 exhibited 100% degradation of histamine in de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth containing 50 ppm of histamine after 24 h of incubation at 30°C. The optimal growth, histamine oxidase, and histamine-degrading activity of L. plantarum D-103 were observed in histamine MRS broth at pH 7.0, 3% NaCl, and 30°C. It also exhibited tolerance to broad ranges of pH (4 to 10) and salt concentrations (0 to 12%) in histamine MRS broth. Therefore, the histamine-degrading L. plantarum D-103 might be used as an additive culture to prevent histamine accumulation in miso products during fermentation.