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 […]
Improving fruit quality; nutritional value and yield of Zaghloul dates by the application of organic and/or mineral fertilizers
A field study was carried out during the years 2007 and 2008 on 30-year old Zaghloul cultivar growing in clay soil. Mineral fertilization sources: N; ammonium nitrate or NPK; ammonium nitrate + calcium superphosphate + potassium sulphate; and organic sources: chicken manure (CM); cow dung (CD) and composted domestic refuse (CDR) were applied either alone […]
Determination of fatty acid composition of -irradiated hazelnuts; walnuts; almonds; and pistachios
Hazelnut; walnut; almonds and pistachio nuts were treated with 1; 3; 5; and 7 kGy of gamma irradiation. Oil content; free fatty acid; peroxide value and fatty acid composition of the nuts were investigated immediately after irradiation. The data obtained from the experiments indicated that gamma irradiation did not cause any significant change in the […]
Characteristics of some almond kernel and oils.
The proximate properties; the fatty acid and mineral contents of different almond kernel varieties were determined. The crude protein contents of kernels ranged between 12.7% (guara) and 16.3% (cristomorto). The oil yields from these kernels were established between 48.8% (cristomorto) and 55.7% (ferragnes). The acidity value of oils were found between 1.389 and 3.559%. In […]
Effect of increasing climatic water deficit on some leaf and stomatal parameters of wild and cultivated almonds under Mediterranean conditions.
The prevailing environmental conditions; temperature in particular; drive seasonal changes both in leaf development and stomatal characteristics. In order to ascertain the effect of increases in climatic water deficit on some leaf and stomatal parameters under field conditions; a study was carried out on two sets of leaves (spring and summer) on a large sample […]
Cytotoxicity of cashew flavonoids towards malignant cell lines.
The leaves of the Cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale L.) are used by the folk medicine in South America and West Africa. This plant is rich in flavonoids; which are polyphenolic compounds widespread in plants; and that have diverse physiological effects. In a sub-acute toxicity assay it was found that an ethanolic extract of Cashew leaves […]
Pecans Acutely Increase Plasma Postprandial Antioxidant Capacity and Catechins and Decrease LDL Oxidation in Humans.
Bioactive constituents of pecan nuts such as -tocopherol and flavan-3-ol monomers show antioxidant properties in vitro; but bioavailability in humans is not known. We examined postprandial changes in plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and in concentrations of tocopherols; catechins; oxidized LDL; and malondialdehyde (MDA) in response to pecan test meals. Sixteen healthy men and […]