Quality Evaluation of Gruels from Malted Sorghum- Moringa oleifera Flour Blends

Aim: In this study, moringa seed flour was subjected to treatments (boiling and roasting) and used to fortify sorghum flour (Kunun Zaki flour). Study Design: The blend ratios of Kunun Zaki flour and Moringa seed flour were 100:0 (control), 95:5, 90:5, 85:15, and 80:20 which were subjected to standard methods for evaluation of physicochemical properties of the flours while flour samples were further processed into a gruel and subjected to sensory evaluation. Result: The results of the proximate analysis indicated an increase in moisture, protein, fat, ash, and fibre from 9.06 – 9.34, 11.12 – 13.09, 3.64 – 5.74, 2.95 – 3.32, 7.65 – 8.24% respectively and decreased in carbohydrate (65.53 – 60.62%). The pH increased (3.90 – 4.37) while the titratable acidity decreased (0.87 – 0.68). All the phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, phenols, cyanides, and phytates) increased as the moringa seed flour was added. T The addition of moringa seed flour increased vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and B6. It also led to an increase in sodium and composite flour

Food Derived Bioactive Peptides for Health Enhancement and Management of Some Chronic Diseases

The bioactive peptides produced by enzymatic hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis and fermentation approach have been identified and used widely in research. These methods are important in enhancement or prevention and management of chronic diseases that are ravaging the world such as type -2-diabetes, hypertension, oxidative stress, cancer, and obesity. Sources of bioactive peptides have been established ranging from plant to animal and marine foods that have pharmacological effects; however these effects are dependent on target cells and peptides structure and conformations.  Plants such as hemp and animal source such as milk among others validate the findings of In vitro and In-vivo studies and the efficiency of these bioactive peptides in the management of certain chronic diseases. This article reviews the literature on bioactive peptides with concern on food sources, production and bioactive peptides application in enhancement of health and management of hypertension, diabetes and oxidative stress.  Future research efforts on bioactive peptides should be directed towards elucidating specific sequenced bioactive peptides and their molecular mechanisms, through In-vivo and In-vitro studies for specific health condition in human using nutrigenomics and peptideomic approaches

Structural and Antihypertensive Properties of Enzymatic Hemp Seed Protein Hydrolysates

The aim of this work was to produce antihypertensive protein hydrolysates through different forms of enzymatic hydrolysis (2% pepsin, 4% pepsin, 1% alcalase, 2% alcalase, 2% papain, and 2% pepsin + pancreatin) of hemp seed proteins (HSP). The hemp seed protein hydrolysates (HPHs) were tested for in vitro inhibitions of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), two of the enzymes that regulate human blood pressure. The HPHs were then administered orally (200 mg/kg body weight) to spontaneously hypertensive rats and systolic blood pressure (SBP)-lowering effects measured over a 24 h period. Size exclusion chromatography mainly showed a 300–9560 Da peptide size range for the HPHs, while amino acid composition data had the 2% pepsin HPH with the highest cysteine content. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed higher fluorescence intensities for the peptides when compared to the unhydrolyzed hemp seed protein. Overall, the 1% alcalase HPH was the most effective (p < 0.05) SBP-reducing agent (−32.5 ± 0.7 mmHg after 4 h), while the pepsin HPHs produced longer-lasting effects (−23.0 ± 1.4 mmHg after 24 h). We conclude that an optimized combination of the fast-acting HPH (1% alcalase) with the longer-lasting HPHs (2% and 4% pepsin) could provide daily effective SBP reductions

Yam and Moringa oliefera Seed Blend in Lipid Profile Disorders, Kidney and Liver Toxicities, in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and very prevalent metabolic disease condition characterized by the abnormally high blood sugar level that eventually gives rise to diabetic complications affecting human and animals. Insulin deficiency increases free fatty acid influx and triglyceride levels into the blood, with reciprocal decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level. Numerous plants have in the past been screened for antidiabetic effects. Plants with medicinal property had served as anti-diabetic In this study; three yam varieties namely Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea cayennessis and Dioscorea rotundata sourced from Wuruku Market, Benue State Nigeria were evaluated for possible anti-diabetic effects. Methods: The collected Moringa seeds were processed into flour. Moringa oleifera seed 45 male albino rats assigned into 9 groups of 5 rats each were used for the study. Eight groups were induced with alloxan monohydrate and were confirmed to be diabetic after two days before treatment with Dioscorea alata control (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial feed, DA90%MRGA10% at (90%) +10% commercial feed, Dioscorea rotundata control (100%) at 90+10% commercial feed, DR90%MRGA10%, at (90%) +10% commercial feed, Dioscorea cayennesis control (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial. DC90%MRGA10% at (90%) +10%commercial feed, Moringa seed meal (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial feed, and 100% commercial feed. Both GRP8 (non-diabetic group) and GRP 9 (diabetic untreated group), were feed with rat Chow only. At the end of 28dys, the rats were sacrificed and the kidney, liver toxicities and lipid profile disorders were all investigated. Results: Result generated showed that diabetes caused liver, kidney toxicity and lipid disorder as evidence in the diabetic untreated groups (GRP9).Groups that received yam/moringa seed meal had significantly decreased (P<0.05) triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (Chol), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and VLDL and Serum Liver level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total protein, Albumin, Creatinine and Urea when compared with diabetic untreated group. Conclusion: A combination of Moringa seed flour and some yam species may be of value in the management of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications

A Novel Hemp Seed Meal Protein Hydrolysate Reduces Oxidative Stress Factors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

This report shows the antioxidant effects of a hemp seed meal protein hydrolysate (HMH) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Defatted hemp seed meal was hydrolyzed consecutively with pepsin and pancreatin to yield HMH, which was incorporated into rat feed as a source of antioxidant peptides. Young (8-week old) SHRs were divided into three groups (8 rats/group) and fed diets that contained 0.0%, 0.5% or 1.0% (w/w) HMH for eight weeks; half of the rats were sacrificed for blood collection. After a 4-week washout period, the remaining 20-week old SHRs were fed for an additional four weeks and sacrificed for blood collection. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total peroxides (TPx) levels were determined. Results showed that plasma TAC, CAT and SOD levels decreased in the older 20-week old SHRs when compared to the young SHRs. The presence of HMH in the diets led to significant (p < 0.05) increases in plasma SOD and CAT levels in both young and adult SHR groups; these increases were accompanied by decreases in TPx levels. The results suggest that HMH contained antioxidant peptides that reduced the rate of lipid peroxidation in SHRs with enhanced antioxidant enzyme levels and total antioxidant capacity