QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF PITA AND TANDOORI BREADS SUPPLEMENTED WITH THREE NOVEL FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS

Abstract: The interest for functional foods rich in dietary fibre (DF) and low in glycaemic response (GR) is steadily increasing. This is because DF could reduce GR of food products and protect and restrict diet-associated diseases which have become common in society. But DF rich products are not always high in quality and palatability. Therefore, more fibre-rich functional products need to be designed and developed with good quality, palatability and longer shelf life. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to develop both pita and Tandoori breads rich in DF with good quality, palatability and longer shelf life. So, a wide range of three different functional ingredients (FI) (inulin (IN) up to 8%, Guar gum (GG) up to 2% and waxy wheat flour (WWF) up to 15%) alone and in combination was selected, to investigate their influences on the cooking properties, bread quality, sensory characteristics, shelf life and GR. The results showed that the FI affected cooking properties differently. IN and WWF reduced almost all the viscosity parameters. In contrast, GG increased them. The data from dough assessment showed that none of the additives changed the quality and processability. Furthermore, the outcomes from the physical and instrumental assessments of the breads indicated that although there were some modifications in the bread quality, the FI did not change the quality of the breads drastically. The sensory evaluation results showed that the FI addition resulted in acceptable sensory attributes and palatability. The results also showed that some of the sensory attributes were significantly improved through adding the FI. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images clearly demonstrated the influence of the FI on the starch granules gelatinisation. It is very evident that the granules are less swollen when DFs are added. The in vivo trial results indicate that DFs incorporated into bread could change the digestibility of starch and lowered the GR in comparison to the controls. This could be attributed to a number of factors. Gelatinisation may influence the granule structure and degree of amylase and amylopectin readily solubilised. The gels formed by DFs could restrict the accessibility of α-amylase to the starch granules. A mechanism would be linked to viscous layers of soluble DFs becoming physical barriers which could limit the uptake of digested carbohydrate in the small intestine.Kurdistan Regional Government- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Researc

Investigation of edible oil quality in fast food restaurants in Erbil city

The study aimed to assess the quality of fried oil in Erbil City. Therefore, fried oils and fats from 10 fast-food restaurants in Erbil were randomly collected. Frying process as well as fried oils was submitted into evaluation, by determining some physicochemical characteristics namely p-Ansisidne value (pAV), lodine value (IV), Peroxide value (PV), Acid value (AV) and fatty acids profile using GC MS as well as Refractive index and viscosity. Results indicated that the majority of restaurants used sunflower oil most commonly as a frying medium, potato (French fries) among the fried foods, steel utensils and gas as a heating source. In addition, frying temperatures ranged from 150 to 217°C, and they replenished oil instead of changing it at the end of the working shift or day. The highest AV was in sample one 1.3 and lowest in sample five 0.3 (mg KOH/g). Also, highest PV, IV and pAV was   9.5(mEq/kg oil), 144(g/100g oil) and 65 the lowest was 0.3 (mEq/kg oil), 51 (g/100g oil) and 9 respectively. Regarding refractive index was between 1.40 to 1.47. The data also showed that the fresh fats and oils (controls) seem to be within the Iraqi guideline specification. High AV indicated that fried oil had exceeded the standard specification. Viscosity (cP) of discorded oil noticeably increased with increasing frying time. The results of GC-MS showed that the highest fatty acid percentage of palmetic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic 49.25, 3.85, 46.44 and 61.41, respectivel

The Opinion and Awareness of Citizens on the Commitment of Bakers, Butchers, and Food Sellers to Health Instructions and their Application during COVID-19 Outbreak

Many countries follow the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) by practicing physical gathering avoidance as one health measure to decrease COVID-19 the spread. The current study identifies the opinions and awareness of citizens about the commitments of workers (bakers, butchers, and food sellers) to health instructions and prevention. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in different premises in Kurdistan Region-Iraq from 20.9.2021 to 20.4.2022 using online platforms and printed forms. The study included socio-demographic characteristics, citizens' opinions, and commitment related-questions. A thousand copies were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the majority of citizens have positive opinions and awareness and agreed that workers (bakers, butchers, and food sellers) are committed to COVID-19 regulations. There was a significant correlation between the variables of opinions and awareness of the commitments of workers to the prevention of COVID-19. All professional workers have a good obligation to prevention from COVID-19 so that the population in the Erbil city has accepted those workers to deal with food and meat and with complete prevention from Covid-19. These perfect commitments of workers to prevention may help to break down the chain of COVID-19 infection which consequently reduces mortality and morbidity rate

Study of Microwave Technique in Hot Pepper Seed by Different Solvents with an Assessing Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties

Chili pepper seed (CPS) is rich in nutrients and phytochemical particularly oil which could possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. CPS was extracted with water and ethanol and assessed for anti-oxidants activity through assessing total tannin, total phenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin and antimicrobial properties through assessing inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration. Both yield extraction and total anthocyanin values of oil extracted with water were 38.4 and 40.075%, respectively, and are significantly (P < 0.01) higher than ethanolic extraction. On the other hand, total tannin, total phenol, and total flavonoid values were 0.0575, 1.80700, and 0.26350 μM, respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.01) higher with ethanol extraction. Ethanol had the greater free radical scavenging activity (IC 50 µg/ml) and more close standard butylated hydroxytoluene. Antimicrobial results indicated that water extracts were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes up to 24 mm inhibition zone, but it is dose dependent. CPS oil extracts could be used as source of antimicrobial and antioxidants compounds with the aid of microwave-assisted extraction. Ethanol has better yield and anthocyanin extraction and free radical, whereas water extraction has effective antimicrobial activity

Gastroprotective, Biochemical and Acute Toxicity Effects of Papaver decaisnei against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Papaver decaisnei (P. decaisnei) has been used as folkloric medicine for many health issues including gastric problems. The current study investigates the gastroprotective roles of P. decaisnei against ethanol-induced ulcers in rodents. Sprague Dawley rats (30) were separated into five groups: the normal group (G1) and the ulcer control group (G2) were orally administered 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); the reference group (G3) was administered 20 mg/kg of Omeprazole; two experimental groups were fed with 200 mg/kg (G4) and 400 mg/kg (G5) of the P. decaisnei extract (PDE), respectively. Next, the rats were given absolute ethanol and sacrificed for the analysis of the gastric mucosal injury through microscopic, enzymatic, histologic, and immunohistochemistry assays. The ulcer controls showed significant superficial hemorrhagic gastric mucosal lesions, with a decreased gastric wall mucus and edema production, whereas fewer were found for the reference and planttreated rats. Furthermore, the PDE pre-treated rats had a significantly reduced the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining intensity, produced the upregulation of the HSP70 protein, and the downregulation of the Bax protein expressions in the stomach epithelium. P. decaisnei displayed a significant role in the upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and PGE2), significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-a, IL-6, and upraised the IL-10 levels. Based on the positive impacts, the PDE can be proposed as the protective/treatment agent against gastric ulcers and stomach lesions

Ethnobotanical, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activity of Onosma (Boraginaceae): An Updated Review

The genus Onosma belongs to the Boraginaceae family and contains over 230 species. The present review sheds light on the ethnopharmacology, phytoconstituents, bioactivity, and toxicology of the Onosma species from previous investigations. Furthermore, the paper also highlights the unresolved issues for the future investigations. The review included previous studies of the genus Onosma available from Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, Science Direct, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science. Until now, more than 200 chemical compounds have been detected from the genus Onosma, including naphthoquinone (33), flavonoids (30), hydrocarbon (23), phenolic (22), ester (17), alkaloids (20), aromatics (12), carboxylic acid (11), fatty acids (9), terpenoids (10), while the most important ones are rosmarinic, ferulic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric acids, and apigenin. The Onosma species are reported as traditional medicine for wound healing, heart disease, and kidney disorders, while the pharmacological investigations revealed that the extracts and the phytochemicals of Onosma species have different therapeutic properties including antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial actions. The summarized knowledge in this review provides valuable ideas for the current and future drug discovery and a motivation for further investigation on the genus Onosma

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds accelerates wound healing in rats: Possible molecular mechanisms

Wound healing is a complex, intricate, and dynamic process that requires effective therapeutic management. The current study evaluates the wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds (CCS) in rats. Sprague Dawley (24) rats were distributed into four cages, wounds produced on the back of the neck, and received two daily topical treatments for 14 days: A, rats received normal saline; B, wounded rats treated with intrasite gel; C and D, rats received 0.2 mL of 250 and 500 mg/kg of CCS, respectively. After that, wound area and closure percentage were evaluated, and wound tissues were dissected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical examinations. Acute toxicity trials of methanolic extract of CCS showed the absence of any physiological changes or mortality in rats. CCS application caused a significant reduction in wound size and a statistically elevated percentage of wound contraction than those of vehicle rats. CCS treatment caused significant up-regulation of collagen fiber, fibroblasts, and fewer inflammatory cells (inflammation) in granulation tissues. TGF-β1 (angiogenetic factor) was significantly more expressed in CCS-treated rats in comparison to normal saline-treated rats; therefore, more fibroblasts transformed into myofibroblasts (angiogenesis). CCS-treated rats showed remarkable antioxidant potentials (higher SOD and CAT enzymes) and decreased MDA (lipid peroxidation) levels in their wound tissue homogenates. Hydroxyproline amino acid (collagen) was significantly up-regulated by CCS treatment, which is commonly related to faster wound closure area. The outcomes suggest CCS as a viable new source of pharmaceuticals for wound treatment