Physicochemical stability and sensory acceptance of a carbonated cashew beverage with fructooligosaccharide added

The objective of this research was to determine the shelf life of a carbonated cashew beverage with fructooligosaccharides added using two different processing methods: by using additives (potassium sorbate/sodium benzoate) without pasteurization and by using pasteurization at 90°C for 1 min with addition of preservatives. Physicochemical analyzes (pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids (°Brix), vitamin C, reducing sugars) and sensory evaluation (triangular test and acceptance test) were performed throughout 60 days of storage at 20°C. The results show a decrease in vitamin C content in both processing methods (p <0.05), while the other physicochemical parameters were similar and stable during the shelf life period. Hedonic scores between 5.0 (neither liked, nor disliked) and 6.0 (slightly liked) were obtained during the test period. The results suggest that it is possible to develop a potentially prebiotic cashew beverage that presents suitable physicochemical and sensory parameters.Keywords: Prebiotic beverages, stability, sensory analysisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 2986-298

MKP-1 mediates glucocorticoid-induced ERK1/2 dephosphorylation and reduction in pancreatic beta-cell proliferation in islets from early lactating mothers

Maternal pancreatic islets undergo a robust increase of mass and proliferation during pregnancy, which allows a compensation of gestational insulin resistance. Studies have described that this adaptation switches to a low proliferative status after the delivery. the mechanisms underlying this reversal are unknown, but the action of glucocorticoids (GCs) is believed to play an important role because GCs counteract the pregnancy-like effects of PRL on isolated pancreatic islets maintained in cell culture. Here, we demonstrate that ERK1/2 phosphorylation (phospho-ERK1/2) is increased in maternal rat islets isolated on the 19th day of pregnancy. Phospho-ERK1/2 status on the 3rd day after delivery (L3) rapidly turns to values lower than that found in virgin control rats (CTL). MKP-1, a protein phosphatase able to dephosphorylate ERK1/2, is increased in islets from L3 rats. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that binding of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to MKP-1 promoter is also increased in islets from L3 rats. in addition, dexamethasone (DEX) reduced phospho-ERK1/2 and increased MKP-1 expression in RINm5F and MIN-6 cells. Inhibition of transduction with cycloheximide and inhibition of phosphatases with orthovanadate efficiently blocked DEX-induced downregulation of phospho-ERK1/2. in addition, specific knockdown of MKP-1 with siRNA suppressed the downregulation of phosphoERK1/2 and the reduction of proliferation induced by DEX. Altogether, our results indicate that downregulation of phospho-ERK1/2 is associated with reduction in proliferation found in islets of early lactating mothers. This mechanism is probably mediated by GC-induced MKP-1 expression.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de PesquisaCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, BR-05508 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Fac Med Sci, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Moringa oleifera lectin and binding affinity to humic acids : application to water treatment

Humic acids, natural organic matter, constitute a problem in water treatment; they react with chlorine forming undesirable disinfection byproducts. The aim of this work was the purification of a saline soluble Moringa oleifera lectin (SSMoL) and characterization of its affinity to humic acids. SSMoL isolation included extraction of seed flour, saline fractionation and guar gel chromatography. Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of extract (E), fraction (0-60F) and SSMoL was assessed with rabbit erythrocytes. HA inhibitions were done with humic acid, carbohydrates, glycoproteins and halogenated organic compounds. Diffusion experiments with humic acid and lectin preparations were performed in agarose gel. Basic SSMoL showed two polypeptide bands with ß-mercapthoethanol treatment. SSMoL HA with humic acid decreased from 512-1 to 32-1. Similar results were obtained with E and 0-60F. SSMoL was partially inhibited by carbohydrates and glycoproteins; azocasein abolished SSMoL activity. SSMoL HA was not altered with trichloroacetic and dicholoroacetic acids, or chloroform. Precipitation bands were observed in diffusion gel. The present study foresees a future application of SSMoL in water treatment to remove humic acids

Preparação de lectinas de Moringa oleifera com atividade coagulante

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Proteome Regulation during Olea europaea Fruit Development

Widespread in the Mediterranean basin, Olea europaea trees are gaining worldwide popularity for the nutritional and cancer-protective properties of the oil, mechanically extracted from ripe fruits. Fruit development is a physiological process with remarkable impact on the modulation of the biosynthesis of compounds affecting the quality of the drupes as well as the final composition of the olive oil. Proteomics offers the possibility to dig deeper into the major changes during fruit development, including the important phase of ripening, and to classify temporal patterns of protein accumulation occurring during these complex physiological processes.In this work, we started monitoring the proteome variations associated with olive fruit development by using comparative proteomics coupled to mass spectrometry. Proteins extracted from drupes at three different developmental stages were separated on 2-DE and subjected to image analysis. 247 protein spots were revealed as differentially accumulated. Proteins were identified from a total of 121 spots and discussed in relation to olive drupe metabolic changes occurring during fruit development. In order to evaluate if changes observed at the protein level were consistent with changes of mRNAs, proteomic data produced in the present work were compared with transcriptomic data elaborated during previous studies.This study identifies a number of proteins responsible for quality traits of cv. Coratina, with particular regard to proteins associated to the metabolism of fatty acids, phenolic and aroma compounds. Proteins involved in fruit photosynthesis have been also identified and their pivotal contribution in oleogenesis has been discussed. To date, this study represents the first characterization of the olive fruit proteome during development, providing new insights into fruit metabolism and oil accumulation process