Effect of processing parameters on recovery of hot process virgin coconut oil and co-products utilization

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is growing in popularity as functional food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical oil. The high cost of VCO is due to its low recovery. In order to improve the recovery, the effect of milk expelling methods (manual and mechanical) and pre- treatments (slicing, pulverizing and blanching) on coconut milk and hot process VCO recovery with respect to fresh coconut kernel weight was studied. The blanching and pulverizing yielded more milk and VCO recovery in both manual and mechanical expelling methods. The recovery of coconut milk and VCO ranged from 34.0 to 51.6 per cent and 14.2 to 22.4 per cent respectively. Among the different treatment combinations, pulverized, blanched and double screw pressed coconut kernel yielded the highest milk and VCO recovery. The per cent recovery of two important co-products namely coconut milk residue and VCO cake ranged from 38.5 to 55.6 and 6.3 to 8.8 respectively. An attempt was made to recover the oil from 8 per cent dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake in commercial oil expeller. The oil recovery from milk residue and VCO cake flour was 41.2±1.1 per cent and 25.8±1.0 per cent respectively. The dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake flour was utilized in the preparation of extrudates and sweet snacks along with the broken rice, maize grits and pearl millet grits

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

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Not AvailableThe possible isoforms of superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1) and its stability against heat treatment at various temperatures (500 C to 1000 C) in the three year old seedlings of West Coast Tall (WCT) cultivar of coconut were investigated. To identify SOD activity, crude extract from coconut leaves were subjected to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by staining with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and riboflavin. From our study, we found out 14 isoforms for superoxide dismutases in coconut. Treatment with SOD inhibitors indicated the presence of five Cu/Zn-SOD, five Mn- SOD and two Fe-SODS. In this experiment, we also found the presence of two higher molecular weight SOD isoforms, which were resistant to both the SOD inhibition treatments (Cu/Zn-SOD, Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD, Fe-SOD inhibitors). These two SOD isoforms were unstable to heat treatment and completely lost their activity by 600 C. Under sequential heat treatments SOD specific activity was decreased linearly from 6.82 to 1.88 till 800 C and increased at 100 0C. This may be due to the activation of some new SOD isoforms at higher temperature. Studies on the effect of sequential heat on isoforms revealed that, out of 14 isoforms, ten isoforms lost their activity at 800 C and only 4 isoforms (two each for Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) were stable at 800 C, and at 1000 C only two existing isoforms of Cu/Zn-SOD were stable but two new isoforms of Cu/Zn-SODs were also reappeared.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableVirgin coconut oil (VCO) is growing in popularity as functional food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical oil. The high cost of VCO is due to its low recovery. In order to improve the recovery, the effect of milk expelling methods (manual and mechanical) and pretreatments (slicing, pulverizing and blanching) on coconut milk and hot process VCO recovery with respect to fresh coconut kernel weight was studied. The blanching and pulverizing yielded more milk and VCO recovery in both manual and mechanical expelling methods. The recovery of coconut milk and VCO ranged from 34.0 to 51.6 per cent and 14.2 to 22.4 per cent respectively. Among the different treatment combinations, pulverized, blanched and double screw pressed coconut kernel yielded the highest milk and VCO recovery. The per cent recovery of two important co-products namely coconut milk residue and VCO cake ranged from 38.5 to 55.6 and 6.3 to 8.8 respectively. An attempt was made to recover the oil from 8 per cent dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake in commercial oil expeller. The oil recovery from milk residue and VCO cake flour was 41.2±1.1 per cent and 25.8±1.0 per cent respectively. The dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake flour was utilized in the preparation of extrudates and sweet snacks along with the broken rice, maize grits and pearl millet grits.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCoconut oil and its health benefits have been challenged once again by an US-based professor who has labelled it as ‘a pure poison’. The pertinent question we ask is whether her observations are based on scientific facts. We would like to dispel any negative connotation and arrest the spread of mis-information about the oil of Kalpavriksha. Here we discuss and present scientific facts that support the health benefits of coconut oil.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBackground: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative ailment having pathological hallmarks of plaques due to amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles in brain. These cerebral plaques and neurofibrillary tangles potentially affect the neuronal synaptic transmission and ultimately cause cognitive decline. In the absence of an effective treatment module for AD, alternative therapeutic strategies are being explored. Scope and approach: Given the fact that dysregulation of brain glucose metabolism is an early detectable trait of AD, coconut oil and its variants/derivatives have generated considerable interests as an invaluable therapeutic agent for AD. The role of coconut oil-derived medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which are rapidly metabolized into ketone bodies to serve as an alternate source of energy for the cerebral tissue is well recognized. Recently, evidences underlying the mode of action of coconut oil in alleviating the symptoms of AD have started emerging. In this review, a comprehensive snapshot of the recent developments and biochemical basis of coconut oil- induced amelioration of AD symptoms including its dietary role in suppression of neuro-inflammation, reversing the process of neurodegeneration, enhancement of cell survival pathways and inhibition of secretion of Aβ peptides are presented. Investigations in animal models and clinical trials in humans using coconut oil and its derivatives aimed at reversing the AD-induced cognitive decline are also discussed. To conclude the knowledge gaps in the treatment of AD using coconut oil and way forward are presented. Key findings and conclusion: Scientific evidences point toward the immense therapeutic value of coconut oil in the prevention or treatment of AD through its multi-pronged biochemical effects. Nevertheless, identification of bioactive components, besides MCFAs, responsible for the neuroprotective effects, clinical trials to fix the dosage and consolidation of information flow are warranted.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableVirgin coconut oil (VCO) is growing in popularity as functional food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical oil. The high cost of VCO is due to its low recovery. In order to improve the recovery, the effect of milk expelling methods (manual and mechanical) and pretreatments (slicing, pulverizing and blanching) on coconut milk and hot process VCO recovery with respect to fresh coconut kernel weight was studied. The blanching and pulverizing yielded more milk and VCO recovery in both manual and mechanical expelling methods. The recovery of coconut milk and VCO ranged from 34.0 to 51.6 per cent and 14.2 to 22.4 per cent respectively. Among the different treatment combinations, pulverized, blanched and double screw pressed coconut kernel yielded the highest milk and VCO recovery. The per cent recovery of two important co-products namely coconut milk residue and VCO cake ranged from 38.5 to 55.6 and 6.3 to 8.8 respectively. An attempt was made to recover the oil from 8 per cent dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake in commercial oil expeller. The oil recovery from milk residue and VCO cake flour was 41.2±1.1 per cent and 25.8±1.0 per cent respectively. The dried coconut milk residue and VCO cake flour was utilized in the preparation of extrudates and sweet snacks along with the broken rice, maize grits and pearl millet grits.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableStudy was conducted to determine the biochemical constituents in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) haustorium, a spongy tissue formed during coconut germination. Results indicated that 100g of dried coconut haustorium contained 1.05 ± 0.2% ash, 44.2 ± 4.6% soluble sugar, 24.5 ± 3.2% starch, 5.50 ± 0.3% protein, 1.99 ± 0.9% fat, 5.72 ± 0.4% soluble dietary fibre, 20.3 ± 1.9% insoluble dietary fibre, and 146 ± 14.3 mgphenolics. Mineral profiling showed that it contained 145 ± 8.6, 104 ± 9.6, 33.9 ± 8.2, 30.9 ± 1.9, 9.45 ± 2.1, 0.292 ± 0.1, 2.53 ± 0.2 and 1.20 ± 0.1 mg of K, Mg, Ca, P, Mn, Cu, Fe and Zn, respectively. Antioxidant activity assay indicated that 100g haustorium was equivalent to 1918 ± 173, 170 ± 20.4, 72.8 ± 14.7 and 860 ± 116 mg of Trolox as measured by CUPRAC, FRAP, DPPH and ABTS, respectively. Amino acid score indicated that methionine + cysteine (57.6%), phenylalanine + tyrosine (32.6%), leucine (45.7%) and isoleucine (68%) are found less in haustorium. Further studies needed in developing nutritionally balanced formulations using coconut haustorium, which will be useful for lactose intolerant children.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSuperoxide dismutases (SODs) are ubiquitous metallo-enzymes that constitute the first line of defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS). They constitute one of the major enzymatic components of detoxi?cation of superoxide radicals generated in biological system by catalyzing its dismutation to H2O2 and finally to H2O and O2 . Most plant species contain numerous SOD isoforms differing in their active site metal ions. In the present investigation, we have attempted to identify variability in superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) isoform pattern of 13 coconut genotypes comprising six talls, five dwarfs along with two reciprocal hybrids of WCT (Tall) with COD (Dwarf). Among the genotypes studied, a significant variation was observed in SOD enzyme activity as well as in SOD isoforms pattern. A total of eight to fourteen SOD isoforms were detected in different coconut cultivars. The variation was observed only in Mn-SOD isoforms while Fe-SOD (two) and Cu/Zn-SOD (five) isoforms were similar in all the analyzed cultivars. Mn-SOD isoforms varied from one to five in numbers. Among the tall cultivars, WCT, FMST and WCT X COD showed highest number (five) of Mn-SOD isoforms as well as highest enzymatic activity followed by LCT while TPT, PHOT and ADOT showed only single isoform for Mn-SOD. All dwarfs studied were found to have similar SOD isozyme profile for all SODs i.e. one Mn-SOD, five Cu/Zn-SOD and two Fe-SOD isoforms. It was also observed that Mn-SOD does not follow the Mendelian pattern of inheritance i.e. reciprocal crosses showed MnSOD isoform pattern similar to their mother palm. SOD activity and isoform pattern can be utilized as a biochemical marker for varietal identification and for abiotic stress/drought tolerance breeding.Not Availabl