Chemical properties of 11 date cultivars and their corresponding fiber extracts

Date palm fruit from 11 Tunisian cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were analyzed for their main chemical composition. Results showed that date fruits were rich in sugar (79.93 - 88.02 g/100 g dry matter), fiber(8.09 - 20.25 g/100 g dry matter) and ash (1.73 - 2.59 g/100 g dry matter). Mineral fraction was dominated by potassium and sugar fraction was dominated by reducing sugar (glucose, fructose) except for Deglet Nour, Kentichi and Bajo which are rich in sucrose. Date fiber concentrates (DFC) were extracted and analyzed for their proximate content (moisture, fiber, protein, lipid and ash) and some functional properties such as water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC). DFC presented high dietary fiber content (90.71 - 93.92 g/100g dry matter). Protein and lipid contents (dry matter basis) ranged between 3.66 and 6.06 g/100 g and between 0.35 and 1.08 g/100 g, respectively. DFC presentedhigh WHC (6.20 g water/g dry fiber) and high OHC (1.80 g oil/g dry fiber). Results showed that dates could be a valuable source of highly techno-functional fibers that could be used in food formulations

Influence of oven-drying temperature on physico-chemical and functional properties of date fibre concentrates

Agri-food by-products rich in dietary fibres may be used as feeds and health foods. Owing to its high fibre content, date flesh could be useful in human nutrition. It is interesting to study the influence of oven-drying temperatures of date fibre concentrates (DFC) on their physicochemical and functional properties for possible use as a potential fibre source in the enrichment of food. DFC from 11 Tunisian date cultivars were dried at different temperatures (40, 50 and 60 °C) and analysed regarding proximate composition (moisture, ash, protein and lipids), physicochemical (water activity (aw), pH) and functional properties (water holding capacity (WHC), swelling capacity (SC), oil holding capacity (OHC) and emulsifying capacity (EC)). DFC dried at different temperatures showed interesting functional characteristics such as hydration properties, high OHC (2.73–4.60 g oil/g dry fibre) and EC (5.93–12.87%) values. Although drying temperatures promoted little modifications affecting the physicochemical properties of DFC, significant decreases in WHC, SC and EC of DFC were noticed at the highest temperature (60 °C) for most of the date varieties. The observed influence of drying temperature on functional DFC properties calls for the use of low temperature in order to obtain DFC as suitable food ingredient

Effect of drying methods on physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of date fibre concentrates

peer reviewedEffects of different drying methods (freeze-, oven- and sun-drying) on physico-chemical properties of date fibre concentrates (DFC) from three potential Tunisian cultivars were investigated. DFC had high contents of dietary fibre (71.01–93.46% dry matter), with high proportions of insoluble dietary fibre. Freeze dried DFC had the highest values of swelling, water holding and oil holding capacities. This drying method gave also the lightest DFC colour. Kentichi fibre produced by freeze-drying had the highest viscosity and the lowest bulkier particles. The present work assessed polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of DFC using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The highest polyphenol content was found for freeze dried DFC, contrary to radical scavenging activity which was not affected by drying methods. Results suggest that freeze dried DFC had the highest potential to be used as a functional ingredient in food products

Physicochemical, Functional and Antioxidant Properties of the Major Protein Fractions Extracted from Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica L.) Seed Cake

peer reviewedAbstract: Proteins were extracted from a prickly pear seed cake using the Osborne extraction method. Physico-chemical, antioxidant and functional properties of the major protein fractions (albumin and glutelin) were studied. Glutelin fraction presented good amount of proteins (60.42% dry weight) with appreciable essential amino acids content (24.45% of total amino acids). The Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy spectra showed between ~ 1200 and 1700 cm−1, characteristically peaks of proteins, namely, amide I, II and III for both fractions. Antioxidant activities of protein fractions were assessed in vitro through different antioxidant tests. The protein fractions exhibited good DPPH and metal scavenging activities. However, they demonstrated moderate reductive ability. Protein fractions had a minimum equilibrium surface tension at the isoelectric pH. They were characterized by interesting techno-functional properties such as emulsifying and foaming capacities which were affected by pH values. They also displayed significant water holding (480% for albumin fraction at pH 7) and oil holding (420% for glutelin at pH 7) capacities. The found results suggested that albumin and glutelin extracted from prickly pear seed cake could have important applications in food formulations. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2020, Springer Nature B.V

Purification, structure and activity of three insect toxins from Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom.

International audienceOne contractive and two depressant toxins active on insect were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography from the venom of Buthus occitanus tunetanus (Bot). The two depressant toxins, BotIT4 and BotIT5, differ only at position 6 (Arg for Lys) and are equally toxic to insects (LD50 to Blatella germanica = 110 ng/100 mg body weight). They show a strong antigenic cross-reaction with a depressive toxin from Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus (LqqIT2). The two toxins are able to inhibit with high affinity (K0.5 between 2 and 3 nM) the specific binding of the radioiodinated excitatory insect toxin (125I-AaHIT) on its receptor site on Periplaneta americana synaptosomal membranes. These toxins depolarize the cockroach axon, irreversibly block the action potential, and slow down and very progressively block the transmembrane transient Na+ current. The contracturant toxin BotIT1 is highly toxic to B. germanica (LD50 = 60 ng/ 100 mg body weight) and barely toxic to mice (LD50 = 1 microgram/20 g body weight) when injected intracerebroventricularly. It does not compete with 125I-AaHIT for its receptor site on P. americana synaptosomal membranes. On cockroach axon, BotIT1 develops plateau potentials and slows down the inactivation mechanism of the Na+ channels. Thus, BotIT1 belongs to the group of alpha insect-selective toxins and shows a strong sequence identity (\textgreater 90%) with Lqh alpha IT and LqqIII, two insect alpha-toxins previously purified from the venom of L. q. hebraeus and L. q. quinquestriatus. respectively

Purification and Characterization of two novel hemiscorpius Lepturus Scorpion venom-Derived Phospolipases A(2) which inhibit angiogenesis un vitro

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