Characterisation of selected hazelnut cultivars: phenology; growing and yielding capacity; market quality and nutraceutical value
Abstract BACKGROUND: Sixteen hazelnut cultivars growing in the continental climate of Slovenia were analysed over 15 years for their phenology; growth habit; yield potential; susceptibility to hazelnut weevil and the pomological traits and phenolic content of their nuts in order to obtain a complex value of these cultivars for growers; the confectionary industry and consumers. […]
Animal studies of the functional consequences of suboptimal polyunsaturated fatty acid status during pregnancy; lactation and early post-natal life
Abstract: Scores of animal studies demonstrate that seed oils replete with linoleic acid and very low in linolenic acid fed as the exclusive source of fat through pregnancy and lactation result in visual; cognitive; and behavioural deficits in the offspring. Commodity peanut; sunflower; and safflower oils fed to mother rats; guinea pigs; rhesus monkeys; and […]
Micronutrient mineral and folate content of Australian and imported dried fruit products
A selection of Australian and imported fresh and dried fruit products; including sultanas; Sunmuscats; Carina currants; Zante currants; apricots; and prunes; were analyzed for selected minerals (Ca; Mg; Na; S; B; Al; Fe; Mn; Cu; Zn; Mo; and Se); folate and vitamin C; and the capacity of dried fruits for dietary provision of these micronutrients […]
Native Australian fruit polyphenols inhibit COX-2 and iNOS expression in LPS-activated murine macrophages
Purified polyphenolic-rich extracts from four native Australian fruits; Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus Endl.; Podocarpaceae); Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell; Combretaceae); Muntries (Kunzea pomifera F. Muell.; Myrtaceae) and Native Currant (Acrotriche depressa R.Br.; Epacridaceae); were screened for their ability to modulate anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-activated murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). The Kakadu Plum extract inhibited the expression […]
Isolation and identification of ochratoxin A-producing Aspergillus section Nigri strains from California raisins
Aims: To determine incidence and levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in California raisins; and to isolate and characterize OTA-producing fungi from Forty California raisin vineyard populations. Methods and Results: raisin clusters sampled from four California vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley were analyzed for OTA content using immunoaffinity and HPLC methods. OTA was detected in […]
Preliminary characterization of food tablets from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and spirulina (Spirulina sp.) powders.
Abstract: In this work; some physical properties (hardness; friability; disintegration time and erosion) of food tablets containing various food powders obtained from dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.); spirulina (Spirulina sp.) and oranges (juice and zest) were investigated. Also; experimental data related to the release kinetic of phycocyanin (antioxidant substance of spirulina) into different liquid mediums; correctly […]
Chromatographic techniques for the determination of alkyl-phenols; tocopherols and other minor polar compounds in raw and roasted cold pressed cashew nut oils
Anacardium occidentale belongs to the family Anacardiaceae and is principally grown in tropical America (Mexico; Peru; Brazil; etc.) and India. Cashew nuts contain low amounts of hydroxy alkyl phenols that come from an oily liquid present in their shell and that is known as cashew-nut shell liquid. This paper reports the alkyl phenols composition of […]
Identification of the 100 richest dietary sources of polyphenols: an application of the Phenol-Explorer database
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The diversity of the chemical structures of dietary polyphenols makes it difficult to estimate their total content in foods; and also to understand the role of polyphenols in health and the prevention of diseases. Global redox colorimetric assays have commonly been used to estimate the total polyphenol content in foods. However; these assays lack […]
Physicochemical changes in Mazafati date fruits incubated in hot acetic acid for accelerated ripening to prevent diseases and decay
A method was developed and optimized for the accelerated ripening of date fruits of cultivar ÂMazafati to prevent diseases and decay. The date fruits were incubated in hot acetic acid solution 0.5% at 40 + 1 °C for 72 h. During the process some physicochemical changes in the fruits were studied and were found to […]
Cultural and historical aspects of Mediterranean nuts with emphasis on their attributed healthy and nutritional properties
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nuts have been part of the human diet since prehistoric times. The aim of the present article is to describe the most important historical and cultural aspects of nut consumption throughout history. DATA SYNTHESIS: We discuss the following historical aspects of nuts originating in the Mediterranean: prehistory; the Egyptian civilization; their spread […]