Ultrasound as pre-treatment for microwave drying of Myrtus communis fruits: Influence on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity

Background: Drying constitutes the most common method of food preservation that may degrade nutrients compounds in fruits due to high temperatures and long drying times. Myrtus communis is one of the important aromatic and medicinal species, owing to these reasons, the development of new methods of drying is essential for the preservation and valorization of myrtle fruits. Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound as a pre-treatment (USP) at 10 min to 90 min in microwave-drying (MD) on the dehydration of myrtle Myrtus communis fruits, on phytochemical content, and on antioxidant activity. Methods: ultrasound drying as pretreatment in microwave drying, extraction yield efficiency and antioxidant activity were measured using radical scavenging assay (DPPH•) and reducing power in addition the PCA analysis was investigated to detect the relationships between variables. Results: The ultrasound pretreatment reduced notably the microwave drying time. A pretreatment of 90 min provided the most rapid drying kinetics (6 min and 5.5 min for 500 w and 700 w respectively) compared to the microwave drying alone (18 min and 11 min for 500 w and 700 w respectively). A higher phytochemical content; 219.90 ± 0.69 mg GAE/g for total phenol content (TPC) was obtained compared to those from MD and conventional drying (CD); 193.79 ± 0.99 mg GAE/g and 148.16 ± 0.95 mg GAE/g for TPC respectively. Indeed, the antioxidant activity tests revealed that ultrasound pretreatment is one of the most efficient methods to preserve the quality and the hydrogen and/or electron-donating ability of antioxidants for neutralizing DPPH radicals (98.63 %) test and reducing ferric ions to ferrous ones. Effectively, the results of PCA analysis show a higher positive correlation between antioxidant activity and flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins contents. Conclusions: Ultrasound pretreatment is expected to be a potential alternative to preserve fruit quality during microwave drying because it can reduce drying time at ambient temperatures while preserving natural heat-sensitive nutritive components, flavor, and color

Development of a Physics Module Based on Augmented Reality Integrated with Al-Quran Verses on Electricity

Learning resources in the form of teaching materials that are interesting, innovative, communicative, contextual, and technology-based is a demand for public learning now. In line with the West Sumatra Regional Government program in integrating Al-Qur'an education in subjects in Senior High School, especially physics subjects, it is also something that must be included in the teaching materials. Even though there are many teaching materials and technology-based electronics that have been created, printed teaching materials remain the choice for the convenience of students in the study. Therefore, a physics module based on augmented reality integrated verses of the Qur'an on electricity is developed. The purpose of this study is to find out the validity and practicality of the module. This research is development research (R&D) using a 4D model (Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate). This research is up to develop stage (validity and practicality). The results of the study indicate that the teaching material in the form of integrated augmented reality-based modules of electricity is very valid.  This result is according to four experts in terms of the feasibility of content, presentation, language, and graphics. The average score for the module is 90.09%. This module then tested 18 students in grade XII and the physics teacher of Raudatul Jannah Islamic School to gain the practicality aspect.  The result was 85.48% (students) and 90.90% (teachers), which are very practical. In conclusion, the module was very valid criteria according to the expert and was very practical based on the questionnaire filled out by students and teachers

Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. plant treatment by ultrasounds and microwaves to improve antioxidants yield and quality: An overview

The purpose of this review is to compile the literature published about different aspects of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) use and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) applied on jujube worldwide and to compare the results on the antioxidant activity obtained for each extraction method. As a result of the increased consumers demand for natural products, as well as for those of agro-food, nutraceutical, cosmetic industries, and green extraction techniques are nowadays trending to be potential alternatives that can improve antioxidant yield and its quality from an economical and environmental point of view by reducing time, energy, and solvent consumption. Ultrasounds and microwaves are widely used methods in the extraction of active principles due to their cavitation and dipolar rotation effect, respectively. These two techniques provide efficiency of extraction while minimizing the time and preserving the quality of the food matrix, overcoming the disadvantages of conventional techniques characterized by their consumption of large quantities of solvents and providing a sparse quantity of extraction. Jujube, a shrub with a high antioxidant potential, which can be affected by various extraction conditions can be the target of UAE and MAE to increase the antioxidant extraction yield. Exploiting the beneficial properties such as the antioxidant activity can lead to an industrialization process, replacing therefor synthetic antioxidants with natural compounds. These can also help in the development of new nutraceuticals and can be used, for instance, in agro-food industries as preservatives

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Pine seeds : Physico-Chemical characterization and anticancer activity

Les graines de pin (Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus pinea L., Pinus pinaster et Pinus canariensis) sont les quatre espèces les plus disponibles dans le bassin méditerranéen. Elles sont très utilisées par les populations Nord-africaines en médecine traditionnelle et en gastronomie où elles agrémentent les plats traditionnels (salades, riz, poissons …etc), car elles sont bien connues pour leur excellent goût salé. Cependant, la composition biochimique, les valeurs nutritionnelles, et les mécanismes d'actions cellulaires et moléculaires via lesquels ces graines exercent leurs effets thérapeutiques restent mal élucidés. Le but de notre travail est d'étudier les propriétés physico-chimiques des graines de quatre espèces de pin et la valeur nutritionnelle et pharmaceutique des fractions lipidiques des graines de Pinus halepensis Mill., en utilisant différentes techniques de séparation et d'analyse telles que (DRX, IRTF, CC, LC/MS, GC, GC/MS et RMN) et en examinant la voie principale impliquée dans le développement du cancer qui est l'angiogenèse via des essais biologiques in vitro sur la prolifération et la migration des cellules endothéliales sur Matrigel et in vivo sur une membrane chorioallantoïdienne (CAM) des œufs de poulet ainsi que leurs toxicités sur des cultures cellulaires (Myélome humain HL60, Adénocarcinome du coulon, humain HCT15, Cellules épithéliales A549 et cellules de mélanomes B16F1). Les résultats de la caractérisation physico-chimiques montrent que les quatre graines sont très riches en métabolites primaires (sucres, protéines, protéines de réserve) et secondaires (Phénols totaux et flavonoïdes) comme elles présentent une importante concentration en oligo-éléments (phosphore, potassium, magnésium, Zinc, fer, cuivre et manganèse). Leurs huiles essentielles sont riches en limonène. Les principaux acides gras insaturés pour les quatre espèces sont l'acide linoléique et l'acide oléique. Les propriétés chimiques et physiques de leurs huiles fixes sont dans la norme de qualité agroalimentaire. Les graines de Pinus halepensis Mill. sont les plus riches en lipides totaux qui atteignent un taux de 36% diversifiés chimiquement avec des lipides apolaires (Lipides neutres) et polaires (Quatre classes de glycolipides et six classes de phospholipides). Ces résultats sont de bons indicateurs de la qualité nutritionnelle des graines de pins et impliquent que les lipides neutres, les glycolipides et les phospholipides des graines de Pinus halepensis Mill. dépourvus de toxicité aux concentrations de 1, 10, 25, 50, 100 et 200µg/ml et ayant une activité cytotoxique à 500 et 1000µg/ml et anti-angiogénique in vitro à des concentrations de 100 et 500µg/ml et in vivo à des concentrations de 1mg /ml et 10 mg/ml peuvent être utilisés dans la prévention des maladies liées à l'angiogenèse et à la lutte contre le cancer.The pine (Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus pinea L., Pinus pinaster and Pinus canariensis) seeds are the four most available species in the Mediterranean basin. They are widely used by North African populations in traditional medicine and gastronomy where they adorn the traditional dishes (salads, rice, fish ... etc) because they are well known for their excellent taste salty. However, the biochemical composition, nutritional value, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action through which these seeds exert their therapeutic effects remain poorly understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the physicochemical properties of pine seed species and nutritional and pharmaceutical value of lipid fractions of Pinus halepensis Mill. Seeds using different separation and analysis techniques such as (XRD, FTIR, CC, LC/MS, GC, GC/MS and NMR) and examining the main pathway involved in the development of cancer which is angiogenesis through biological tests in vitro on the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells on Matrigel and in vivo on a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken eggs, thus that their toxicity on healthy cell cultures (human myeloma HL60, Adenocarcinoma of human coulon, HCT15, human epithelial cells, A549 and cells melanoma, B16F1). The results of the physico-chemical characterization showed that four seeds are rich in primary metabolites (sugars, proteins, protein reserves) and secondary (total phenolic and flavonoids) as they have a high concentration of trace elements (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese). Their essential oils are rich in limonene. The main unsaturated fatty acids of all species are linoleic acid and oleic acid. The chemical and physical properties of their fixed oils are the in standard food quality. Pinus halepensis Mill. seeds are the richest in total lipids which achieved a rate of 36% chemically diverse with non polar lipids (neutral lipids) and polar lipids (Four classes of glycolipids and six classes of phospholipids). These results are good indicators of the nutritional quality of pine seeds and imply that the neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids of Pinus halepensis Mill. seeds devoid of toxicity at the concentrations of 1, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200µg/ml and having cytotoxic activity at 500 and 1000µg/ml and anti-angiogenic effect in vitro at the concentrations of 100 and 500 µM and in vivo at the concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml may be useful in prevention of angiogenesis-related and the fight against cancer diseases

Fucans from a Tunisian brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata: Structural characteristics and antioxidant activity

Sulfated polysaccharides from brown seaweeds are known to be a topic of numerous studies, due to their beneficial biological properties including antioxidant activity. Fucans were isolated from the brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata harvested in Tunisia. ATR-FTIR and (1)H-NMR spectroscopies demonstrated that C. barbata sulfated polysaccharides (CBSPs) consisted mainly of 3-linked-α-l-fucopyranosyl backbone, acetylated and mostly sulfated at C-4. Molar degrees of sulfation and acetylation of CBSPs were 0.79 and 0.27, respectively. Neutral sugars analysis determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that CBSPs were mainly composed of fucose (44.6%) and galactose (34.32%) with few amounts of other sugars such as glucose (7.55%), rhamnose (6.41%), xylose (4.21%) and mannose (2.91%). CBSPs were examined for in vitro antioxidant properties using various antioxidant assays. CBSPs exhibited important DPPH radical-scavenging activity (100% inhibition at a concentration of 1.5mg/ml) and considerable ferric reducing potential (24.62 mg ascorbic acid equivalents). Effective chelating activity and significant protection activity against hydroxyl radical induced DNA breakage were also recorded for CBSPs. However, in the linoleate-β-carotene system, CBSPs exerted moderate antioxidant activity (62% inhibition at a concentration of 1.5mg/ml). Therefore, CBSPs can be used as a potent natural antioxidant in food industry or in the pharmaceutical field

Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from a Jujube By-Product with Valuable Bioactivities

Jujube plant is a potential source of polyphenols with biological propreties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of ultrasound technique for extracting phenolic compounds (TPC) from seeds of Zizyphus lotus under optimization conditions based on response surface methodology. A maximum TPC, total flavonoids content (TFC), and total condensed tannins content (TTC) of 2383.10 ± 0.87 mg GAE/100g, 486.50 ± 0.38 mg QE/100g and 15,787.10 ± 0.10 mg CE/100g, respectively obtained under ethanol concentration 50.16%, sonication temperature 29.01 °C, sonication time 15.94 min and solvent-to-solid ratio 34.10:1 mL/g. The optimized extract was then evaluated for its antioxidant, antiacethylcholinesterase, antihypercholesterolemia, and antiproliferative activities. The results showed that ultrasound method is a green and safe method that can be used to effectively extract TPC from jujube seeds. The biological activity of Zizyphus extract exhibited a very good antioxidant against DPPH (EC50 = 0.39 µg/mL) and FRAP (1670.42 ± 6.5 mg/100 g). Additionally, it possesses acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.93 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and HMGR inhibition (45.41%) using 100 µg/mL. The extract significantly inhibits cell proliferation on the MCF-7 and HepG2 tumor cell lines with an IC50 values of <0.05 and 3 ± 0.55 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the ultrasound method can be considered a method for obtaining a significant anticancer activity with respect to the lines and therefore makes it possible to recover a maximum of phenolic compounds in less time with an AChE and HMGR inhibitory activity. Thus, it can be suggested that Zls extract is a promising fruit for the development of supplementary dietary due to its potential behaviour as nutraceutical

Setting up a diagram process for the elaboration of a new plant‐based beverage from Pinus halepensis seeds: Selection of unit operations and their conditions

International audienceAleppo pine seeds are a potential candidate for the production of nondairy milk due to their high protein (26%) and lipid (37%) content and their availability. For the first time, this study presents the implementation of a manufacturing scheme from seeds to final product, including pre-extraction, extraction, and post-extraction (physical and microbiological stabilization), using a 2(7-4) fractional factorial screening design. The seven factors were seed soaking time, grinding time, temperature and seed/water ratio during extraction, xanthan gum concentration, homogenization pressure, and pasteurization temperature. Beverage quality analysis consisted of measurements of chemical composition, color, stability, and rheological behavior. The results of experimental design showed that the dry matter as well as the lipid and protein contents increased significantly by increasing the ratio (grain/water) and the grinding time. On the other hand, the extraction temperature led to a better extraction of lipids but a lower extraction of proteins. Regarding stability, xanthan gum had a negative effect, while homogenization pressure and pasteurization temperature showed their effectiveness in decreasing the particle size and increasing the physical stability of the product

Phenolic content and antioxidant activities of Vitis vinifera L. leaf extracts obtained by conventional solvent and microwave-assisted extractions

Grapevine leaves are used in the cuisines in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean and in folk medicine. They contain a huge amount of phenolic constituents. To optimize the extraction of bioactive compounds present in grapevine leaves, two methods of extraction were compared: conventional solvent extraction (CSE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The optimal extraction conditions in term of total phenolic content (TPC) were determined using a Box–Behnken design (BBD) from leaves of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Le tizourine Bou Afraraet. Optimal extraction conditions for CSE was 29% concentration of ethanol (v/v), 30.96 min extraction time, and 72:1 liquid-to-solid ratio (mL:g), at 37.5 °C. For MAE it was 34% concentration of ethanol(v/v), 474 W microwave power, 47 s irradiation time and 40:1 liquid-to-solid ratio (mL:g). Both extracts obtained by optimized MAE and CSE processes were compared in terms of total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ORAC, PFRAP and ICA). The MAE extract exhibited highest phenolic content and antioxidant activities. Moreover, phenolic compounds from leaves of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Ahmar-Bou-Amar were extracted following MAE optimal conditions and compared to Le tizourine Bou Afraraet extract. In addition to TPC and antioxidant activities, phenolic constituents were determined using HPLC–DAD-IT-MS and UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. A total of sixteen phenolic compounds were identified and quantified including two phenolic acids, seven flavonols, three flavanols and four stilbenes. The obtained data revealed that the leaves of two native Algerian grapevines are rich in bioactive constituents, and can constitute by-products with added-value for food supplements

Reduction of antinutritional factors during Pinus halepensis seeds beverage processing, a focus on phytates and oxalates

The purpose of this study was to screen for the first time, Pinus halepensis seeds for their antinutritional factors (ANFs) and to reduce them through processing. Results of ANF screening showed that Aleppo pine seeds contained negligible amounts of tannins, saponins and alkaloids, and no amylase and trypsin inhibitory activities. However, they contained significant amounts of phytates and oxalates with values of 2.63 ± 0.21% and 1.07 ± 0.09% respectively. A dehulling operation to remove the adhering coat was implemented which contributed to a reduction of 25% of phytates and 46% of oxalates. Soaking seeds were studied and optimized using a Box Behnken experimental design, varying soaking time, temperature, and pH. The desirability study allowed the determination of optimal conditions of 10.6 h soaking time, 57.6 ◦C soaking temperature and 5.54 pH that decreased oxalate and phytate content by 72% and 61% respectively. Production of a plant-based beverage with these optimal process conditions markedly reduced the antinutrient content while maintaining expected dry matter, color, stability and pH