In Vitro Assays of Anti-diabetic and Anti-hypertensive Potential of Some Traditional Edible Plants of Qatar

Aizoon canariense, Cynomorium coccineum, Glossonema edule, and Malva parviflora, edible desert plants from Qatar, were selected to determine levels of phenolic bioactives and potential health benefits for managing early stages of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Aqueous extracts of C. cocineum, contained soluble phenolics and had relatively high levels of antioxidant activity associated with α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). G. edule and M. parviflora had moderate levels of anti-oxidant potential, soluble phenolics, and ACE inhibitory activity. The medicinal properties associated with C. coccineum suggest the plant may have potential as a diet-based solution for combating, preventing, and managing the early stage of type 2 diabetes when coupled with an overall healthy life style and pharmacological management strategies

Anti-diabetic and Anti-hypertensive Potential of Indigenous Edible plants of Qatar

Aizoon canariense, Cynomorium coccineum, Glossonema edule, and Malva parviflora, edible desert plants from Qatar, were selected to determine levels of phenolic bioactives and potential health benefits for managing early stages of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Aqueous extracts of C. cocineum, contained soluble phenolics and had relatively high levels of antioxidant activity associated with α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE). G. edule and M. parviflora had moderate levels of anti-oxidant potential, soluble phenolics, and ACE inhibitory activity. The medicinal properties associated with C. coccineum suggest the plant may have potential as a diet-based solution for combating, preventing, and managing the early stage of type 2 diabetes when coupled with an overall healthy life style and pharmacological management strategie

Corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles as a target for fermentation to improve bioactive functionality for animal feed and as a source for a novel microorganism with antibacterial activity

Plant-based bioenergy by-products such as corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are widely utilized as animal feed sources and feed ingredients due to their balanced nutritional profile and animal health protective functional qualities. Bioprocessing of this bioenergy by-product using beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-based fermentation strategy to improve animal-health targeted functional qualities has wider relevance for animal feed applications. In this study, liquid extracts of corn DDGS were fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus helveticus. The unfermented and fermented extracts were then analyzed (at 0, 24, 48 and 72-h) for their total soluble phenolic content (TSP), phenolic profile, antioxidant activity via ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity, and antimicrobial activity against the gut pathogen Helicobacter pylori using in vitro assay models. Statistical differences in antioxidant activity and phenolic content were observed among the unfermented and fermented extracts. The major phenolic compounds detected in corn DDGS were gallic, dihydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acid, and catechin. Antimicrobial activity against H. pylori was observed for the unfermented extracts and the antimicrobial activity was attributed to the growth of a corn DDGS-endemic culture. The culture was isolated, sequenced, and identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Results of this study indicated that processing strategies of by-products such as LAB- based fermentation of corn DDGS could affect its bioactive-linked functional qualities due to microbial interaction with the phytochemicals. Furthermore, plant by-products can serve as novel sources of beneficial microflora that have relevance in wider agriculture, food safety, and therapeutic applications

Diversity of the peruvian andean maize (zea mays L.) race Cabanita: Polyphenols, carotenoids, in vitro antioxidant capacity, and physical characteristics

The high diversity of the Peruvian Andean maize (Zea mays L.) represents a biological and genetic heritage relevant for food security, but few studies are targeted toward its characterization and consequent valorization and preservation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of the Peruvian Andean maize race Cabanita with respect to its bioactive profiles (free and bound phenolic and carotenoid composition), physical characteristics, and in vitro antioxidant properties. Maize landraces with variable kernel pigmentation were collected from two provinces (Caylloma and Castilla) within the Arequipa region (among ten Andean sites) and the phytochemical profile was evaluated by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD). All maize samples were important sources of phenolic compounds mainly soluble p-coumaric and ferulic acid derivatives whereas anthocyanins were only detected in maize with partially red pigmented kernels. Major phenolic compounds in the bound phenolic fractions were ferulic acid and its derivatives along with p-coumaric acid. Carotenoid compounds including xanthophylls such as lutein, lutein isomers, and zeaxanthin were only detected in orange and white-yellow pigmented maize and are reported for the first time in Peruvian landraces. The multivariate analysis using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed low variability of all data which may indicate a level of similarity among maize samples based on evaluated variables. However, maize grown in Caylloma province showed more homogeneous physical characteristics and higher yield, whereas higher phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity were observed in maize from Castilla. Samples CAY (yellow-pigmented kernel, Castilla) and COM (orange-pigmented kernel, Caylloma) had the highest total phenolic (246.7 mg/100 g dried weight basis, DW) and carotenoid (1.95 μg/g DW) contents among all samples. The variable Andean environmental conditions along with differences in farming practices may play a role and should be confirmed with further studies. Current results provide the metabolomic basis for future research using integrated omics platforms targeted toward the complete characterization of the ethnic-relevant maize race Cabanita