Effect of Roasting Hass Avocado Kernels on Nutritional Value and Volatile Compounds

Because of the lack of commercial food applications of Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill) kernel, which are a useful agricultural waste and a good source of bioactive compounds, this study investigated the influence of roasting on the chemical composition, antinutritional factors, antioxidant activity, colour, and GC-MS profile in avocado kernels after roasting at 180 °C for 30 min. The nutritional data revealed a significant increase (p p < 0.05) was noticed in crude protein, total flavonoids, Fe, antinutrients, lightness, and yellowness/blueness after roasting. The 94 volatile compounds separated by GC-MS included 51 compounds from raw Hass kernels and 65 compounds from roasted kernels. The identified compounds constituted 96.21% and 93.25% in raw and roasted Hass kernels, respectively. The most compounds in the roasted Hass kernels were 3,7,11, trimethyl-8,10-dodecedienylacetate (6.28%), 2-methylbutan-1-ol (5.89%), 2-decanone, O-methyloxime (3.73%), 2-methyl-pyrazine (3.62%), and n-hexane (3.51%). Esters were the most common volatile compounds present in both raw and roasted Hass avocado kernels extract, we found 15 and 14 of these compounds (27.53 and 20.36%), respectively. This indicates that roasted Hass kernel flour is nutritionally and organoleptically suitable for food applications, including pastries and beverages, especially coffee drinks

Maximizing Leaves, Inflorescences, and Chemical Composition Production of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Trees under Calcareous Soil Conditions

One of the main issues limiting plant productivity is a lack of soil nutrient resources, especially in calcareous soil, which covers more than one third of the world’s land surface area. On the other hand, despite rising demand for all parts of the Moringa oleifera tree, several studies have focused on its leaf production as an herbaceous plant, rather than as a tree, and no extensive research has been carried out on leaf and inflorescence production in the mature tree. As a result, the influence of vermicompost and NPK (minerals and nanoparticles), as well as their combination, under calcareous soil conditions, was investigated in this study. The experiment was set up as a split plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. In both seasons considered in this study, it was discovered that increasing the quantity of vermicompost and employing NPK fertilization, as well as their combination treatments, greatly enhanced all parameters and yield of distinct Moringa oleifera tree parts. Furthermore, the combination treatment T21 yielded the highest mean values of growth, leaves, and chemical composition parameters, as well as the highest yield from the Moringa oleifera tree. In both seasons, the highest number of inflorescences per tree, as well as the yield of fresh and dry inflorescences, was measured using combination treatment T18. In both seasons, however, increasing the level of vermicompost, NPK, and their combination treatments significantly reduced the total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of dry Moringa oleifera leaves

Response of Growth, Yield, and Phytochemical Behavior of Jojoba Genotypes to Azolla filiculoides Plant Extract

A unique storage lipid wax found in jojoba seeds can be employed as a chemical feedstock. Alternative safe and natural sources of plant nutrients are constantly sought to preserve both human health and the environment. As a result, EAI1, EAI2, and EAI3 jojoba genotypes&rsquo; growth, yield, and phytochemical behavior in response to Azolla extract at concentrations of 0, 10, and 30% were studied. Maximum productivity was found with EAI1, followed by EAI3 then EAI2 across all Azolla extracts. In relation to the Azolla extract concentrations in the two seasons, the concentration of 30% delivered the most pronounced results across all the studied genotypes. During the two seasons, administration of a combined treatment of the EAI1 jojoba genotype with 30% Azolla extract produced the highest mean values of growth, flowering, and fruiting, as well as chemical composition parameters. This means that the treatment of EAI1 genotype with 30% Azolla filiculoides Lam. plant extract yielded the highest significant seed yield (3748 and 3839 kg ha&minus;1) and oil yield per hectare (1910 and 2002 L ha&minus;1). The combination treatment of the EAI1 jojoba genotype with 10% Azolla extract yielded the highest proportion of gadoleic fatty acid (49.83%)

Formation of resistant starch and cracker products from leftover rice in Saudi Arabia

Food leftovers are a worldwide concern and the Food and Agriculture Organization reported about 400 billion USD worth of food is wasted yearly. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, food waste is increasing; the loss is about 33.6% of the rice commodity only. To achieve sustainable development goals including zero hunger and sustainable consumption, the current investigation aimed to study the recycling possibilities of rice leftovers through the production of resistant starch (a nutraceutical active component). Proximate analysis, in vitro digestibility (rapidly, slowly, and resistant starches), and conformational techniques (SEM, FTIR, and DSC) were accomplished before and after treating heated or not samples with acetic, citric, and tartaric acids. Also, crackers were produced from rice starch and its sensory evaluations were completed. Results reported variations in starch content between the controls and acid treatments, but interestingly, amounts of protein, and fiber were not different. The highest production of resistant starch (more than 35%) was when treated with tartaric acid and heat treatment, followed by citric acid and heat treatment (32.5%), then acetic acid and heat treatment (28%). The FTIR pictograms revealed the acetylation of heat and acid-treated rice samples. The gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) decreased from 10.51 to 7.81 J/g for control and treated rice by acetic acid without heat. Surprisingly, the panelists reported no differences in the sensory evaluations of crackers produced from treated rice with a high content of resistant starch, which considered as functional food. These findings help achieve food sustainability through commercial-scale functional food production

Response of Moringa oleifera Seeds and Fixed Oil Production to Vermicompost and NPK Fertilizers under Calcareous Soil Conditions

A shortages of soil nutrients resources and a lack of accessibility to them especially in calcareous soil are considered some of the main factors that limit plant production. In particular, the cultivation of the Moringa oleifera trees in this type of soil is of special interest given the increasing demand for every part of this tree. Several studies have focused on the production of its leaves as an herbaceous plant and not as a tree, but there has not been extensive research on its pods, seeds, and fixed oil production. In this sense, in this study, we provide an assessment of the use of fertilizers, vermicompost and NPK (as traditional minerals and as nanoparticles), in order to improve pods, seeds, and fixed oil contents, as indicators of the quality of the production of the Moringa oleifera trees in calcareous soil conditions. In this experiment, it was observed that all parameters and the yield of pods, seeds, and fixed oil of the Moringa oleifera tree were significantly improved by increasing the level of vermicompost and using NPK fertilization and combination treatments in both seasons of the study. The combination treatments of 10 and 20 ton ha−1 vermicompost plus NPK control produced the highest percentage of oleic acid with insignificant differences between them

Enhancement of the Protective Activity of Vanillic Acid against Tetrachloro-Carbon (CCl4) Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats by the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs)

In the current study, the hepatoprotective activity of vanillic acid, silymarin, and vanillic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was tested in male rats for four weeks. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The 1st group was a negative control, the 2nd group was a positive control, the 3rd group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid, the 4th group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid&ndash;AgNPs, and the 5th group was treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin. The CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in the 2nd group was revealed by the liver function and all other biochemical tests. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 were elevated, whereas, total protein, antioxidant enzymes, and irisin were decreased compared to the negative control. The hepatic tissues were also injured as a result of the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with vanillic acid moderately protected the rats of the 3rd group, whereas treatment with vanillic AgNPs and silymarin in G4 and G5, respectively, greatly protected the rats against the CCl4 hepatotoxicity, approaching the normal biochemical levels and liver tissue appearance. The biochemical tests were confirmed by the histological investigations of liver tissue