Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Dried Calyx Ethanol Extract on Fat Absorption-Excretion, and Body Weight Implication in Rats

The effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs) calyx extract on fat absorption-excretion and body weight in rats, was investigated. Rats were fed with either a basal diet (SDC = Control diet) or the same diet supplemented with Hs extracts at 5%, 10% and 15% (SD5, SD10 and SD15). Only SD5 did not show significant increases in weight, food consumption and efficiency compared to SDC. The opposite occurred in SD15 group which showed a significant decrease for these three parameters. The SD10 responses were similar to SD15, with the exception of food consumption. In both SDC and SD5 groups, no body weight loss was observed; however, only in the latter group was there a significantly greater amount of fatty acids found in feces. A collateral effect emerging from the study is that components of Hs extract at the intermediate and greater concentrations used in this experiment could be considered possible antiobesity agents

Recovery of membrane permeability after filtration of sago starch suspension by tangential flow filtration

Sago starch is extracted from the stems of the sago palm, Metroxylon sagu, in Southeast Asia. A typical Sago starch processing mill in Malaysia generates approximately 20 tons of starch daily containing effluents that can be recovered and marketed to sustain a sm all-scale industry. Tangential flow filtration (TFF) using microfiltration membranes (MFM) has been demonstrated as an effective method for separating suspended solids in biological effluents. When TFF was applied to concentrate the starch from the sago starch suspensions (SSS), the membrane permeability and lifecycle were impacted due to frequent fouling. This study evaluated cleaning methods to recover the permeability and extend the life cycle of MFM following TFF application. Polysulfone membrane filter cassettes of pore size 0.45 μm and surface area 0.1 m2 were each used to separate starch in 100 L of SSS. Following separation, six chemical and physical cleaning methods were tested at laboratory-scale and the degree of cleaning was measured by normalized permeate flux (NPF) and normalized water permeability (NWP). The results showed that soaking the membranes in a 0.2 M NaOH solution (up to 91%, (p<0.05) within a minimum of 72 h, (p<0.05) was the best cleaning method. The procedure has been utilized to maintain and extend the life cycle of the MFM for streams containing starch suspensions

An evaluation of the hypolipidemic effect of an extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa leaves in hyperlipidemic Indians: a double blind, placebo controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hibiscus sabdariffa is used regularly in folk medicine to treat various conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial. Sixty subjects with serum LDL values in the range of 130-190 mg/dl and with no history of coronary heart disease were randomized into experimental and placebo groups. The experimental group received 1 gm of the extract for 90 days while the placebo received a similar amount of maltodextrin in addition to dietary and physical activity advice for the control of their blood lipids. Anthropometry, blood biochemistry, dietary and physical activity were assessed at baseline, day 45 and day 90.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>While body weight, serum LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased in both groups, there were no significant differences between the experimental and placebo group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It is likely that the observed effects were as a result of the patients following the standard dietary and physical activity advice. At a dose of 1 gm/day, hibiscus sabdariffa leaf extract did not appear to have a blood lipid lowering effect.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>REFCTRI2009000472</p

In vivo and in vitro sensitization of leukemic cells to adriamycin-induced apoptosis by pentoxifylline: Involvement of caspase cascades and I?B? phosphorylation

An osmotolerant low pH resistant wild type Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV-01 yeast was employed to obtain respiratory deficient (RD) strains in order to improve ethanol production. The respiratory deficient phenotype was induced by exposure to chemical agents such as ethidium bromide, rhodamine, and ethanol. Isolation with physical agents such as temperature and UV radiation (254 nm) exposures was evaluated. 104 strains were tested. Selection criterion was based on increasing ethanol yield. All RD strains had higher ethanol yields (from 0.41 to 0.50 gg-1, corresponding 82-98% theoretical yields) than the wild type yeast (0.40 gg-1). Temperature and ethanol mutant agents caused a reversible phenotype in every case. Screening showed that S. cerevisiae ITV-01 RD-B14 (lacking cytochrome c), obtained using bromide ethidium, had the highest alcoholic fermentation efficiency (95%) and 97% viability under the tested conditions (150 gL-1 glucose, pH 3.5). The respiratory deficient mutation is of interest as a tool for improving ethanol production. " 2011 Elsevier Ltd.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.renene.2011.06.019",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/42115","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79961111322&partnerID=40&md5=1c66036daa8f9a8c9e830045dfe8e2ca",,,,,,"1",,"Renewable Energy",,"19

Improvement in ethanol production using respiratory deficient phenotype of a wild type yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV-01

An osmotolerant low pH resistant wild type Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV-01 yeast was employed to obtain respiratory deficient (RD) strains in order to improve ethanol production. The respiratory deficient phenotype was induced by exposure to chemical agents such as ethidium bromide, rhodamine, and ethanol. Isolation with physical agents such as temperature and UV radiation (254 nm) exposures was evaluated. 104 strains were tested. Selection criterion was based on increasing ethanol yield. All RD strains had higher ethanol yields (from 0.41 to 0.50 gg-1, corresponding 82-98% theoretical yields) than the wild type yeast (0.40 gg-1). Temperature and ethanol mutant agents caused a reversible phenotype in every case. Screening showed that S. cerevisiae ITV-01 RD-B14 (lacking cytochrome c), obtained using bromide ethidium, had the highest alcoholic fermentation efficiency (95%) and 97% viability under the tested conditions (150 gL-1 glucose, pH 3.5). The respiratory deficient mutation is of interest as a tool for improving ethanol production. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd

Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor): An edible macrofungi with immense medicinal properties

Macrofungi, commonly known as mushrooms, are not only considered functional foods for supplying essential nutritional ingredients but also a good source of physiologically beneficial medicines. Trametes versicolor, referred to as turkey tail's Mushroom or Yun Zhi in China, is an edible mushroom that has extensive historical usage in conventional and traditional Chinese medicine. This mushroom contains an abundance of physiologically bioactive compounds, most notably β-glucan polysaccharides, which are responsible for antioxidant, neuroprotection, hypolipidemic effects, immune-modulating effects, and anticancer effects. Trametes versicolor has also been revealed to have wound healing, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antifibrotic, neurotrophic, and anti-inflammatory effects among other therapeutic efficacies. This review paper has overviewed the recent advances in the research and study on Trametes versicolor and discussed the potential health-promoting properties of this exotic macrofungi, with the recognition of bioactive and polysaccharide constituents responsible for these medicinal agents

<it>In vitro</it> inhibitory effects of plant-based foods and their combinations on intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plant-based foods have been used in traditional health systems to treat diabetes mellitus. The successful prevention of the onset of diabetes consists in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia by the inhibition of α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase activities, resulting in aggressive delay of carbohydrate digestion to absorbable monosaccharide. In this study, five plant-based foods were investigated for intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase. The combined inhibitory effects of plant-based foods were also evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of plant-based foods was performed in order to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The dried plants of <it>Hibiscus sabdariffa</it> (Roselle), <it>Chrysanthemum indicum</it> (chrysanthemum), <it>Morus alba</it> (mulberry), <it>Aegle marmelos</it> (bael), and <it>Clitoria ternatea</it> (butterfly pea) were extracted with distilled water and dried using spray drying process. The dried extracts were determined for the total phenolic and flavonoid content by using Folin-Ciocateu’s reagent and AlCl₃ assay, respectively. The dried extract of plant-based food was further quantified with respect to intestinal α-glucosidase (maltase and sucrase) inhibition and pancreatic α-amylase inhibition by glucose oxidase method and dinitrosalicylic (DNS) reagent, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phytochemical analysis revealed that the total phenolic content of the dried extracts were in the range of 230.3-460.0 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract. The dried extracts contained flavonoid in the range of 50.3-114.8 mg quercetin equivalent/g dried extract. It was noted that the IC₅₀ values of chrysanthemum, mulberry and butterfly pea extracts were 4.24±0.12 mg/ml, 0.59±0.06 mg/ml, and 3.15±0.19 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, the IC₅₀ values of chrysanthemum, mulberry and butterfly pea extracts against intestinal sucrase were 3.85±0.41 mg/ml, 0.94±0.11 mg/ml, and 4.41±0.15 mg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the IC₅₀ values of roselle and butterfly pea extracts against pancreatic α-amylase occurred at concentration of 3.52±0.15 mg/ml and 4.05±0.32 mg/ml, respectively. Combining roselle, chrysanthemum, and butterfly pea extracts with mulberry extract showed additive interaction on intestinal maltase inhibition. The results also demonstrated that the combination of chrysanthemum, mulberry, or bael extracts together with roselle extract produced synergistic inhibition, whereas roselle extract showed additive inhibition when combined with butterfly pea extract against pancreatic α-amylase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study presents data from five plant-based foods evaluating the intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase inhibitory activities and their additive and synergistic interactions. These results could be useful for developing functional foods by combination of plant-based foods for treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus.</p