Bioactivity and chemical composition of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) cultivars with and without pesticide treatment
Eleven blackcurrant cultivars grown with pesticide (PT) and without pesticide treatment (PF) were evaluated to compare the differences in plant growth and physical condition; total anthocyanin content; ascorbic acid content; total antioxidant capacity; effect on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and anticancer cell proliferation activities. Results showed that the yield and growth of PT blackcurrants were […]
In vitro fermented nuts exhibit chemopreventive effects in HT29 colon cancer cells
It is proven that nuts contain essential macro- and micronutrients; e.g. fatty acids; vitamins and dietary fibre (DF). Fermentation of DF by the gut microflora results in the formation of SCFA which are recognised for their chemopreventive potential; especially by influencing cell growth. However; little is known about cellular response to complex fermentation samples of […]
The effect of X-ray irradiation on Salmonella inactivation and sensory quality of almonds and walnuts as a function of water activity
The overall goal of this study was to develop a set of process design principles for low-energy X-ray irradiation of tree nuts . Almonds and walnuts were inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis PT30 and Salmonella Tennessee; and conditioned to four different water activities (0.23; 0.45; 0.64; and 0.84 aw). Thereafter; the inoculated/conditioned samples were irradiated to […]
A review on the role of phytosterols: new insights into cardiovascular risk
Phytosterols; which are structurally related to cholesterol; are found in all plant foods with highest concentration occurring in vegetable oils and nuts. Phytosterols are known to reduce serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level without changing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Daily consumption of phytosterols-enriched foods is widely used as a therapeutic option to lower plasma […]
Chemical and Structural Characterisation of Almond Oil Bodies and Bovine Milk Fat Globules
Lipids in almonds are present as oil bodies in the nut. These oil bodies are surrounded by a membrane of proteins and phospholipids and are a delivery vehicle of energy in the form of triglycerides; similarly to the more studied bovine milk fat globule membrane. Chemical; physical and microscopic analyses revealed major differences in the […]
Antioxidant capacity and sensory profiles of peanut skin infusions
The popularity of functional beverages such as tea and herbal infusions led to the search for alternative sources of raw materials that provide great taste and functionality to consumers. Peanut skins are a rich source of phenolic compounds and their utilization in beverage was attempted. Total phenolics (TP) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) were determined in […]
Dietary patterns and risk of Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan
Background: Nearly all epidemiologic studies examining the association between the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) and diet have focused on single foods and specific nutrients. However; epidemiologic evidence for the association of dietary pattern with PD; namely the measurement of overall diet by considering the cumulative effects of nutrients is extremely limited. We conducted a […]
Changes in the phenolic and lipophilic composition; in the enzyme inhibition and antiproliferative activity of Ficus carica L. cultivar Dottato fruits during maturation
Fruits of Ficus carica cultivar Dottato from Italy were examined to assess how the stage of ripeness influences their chemical composition; antioxidant activity; pancreatic lipase inhibition and antiproliferative properties on C32 melanoma cells. First harvested fruits (June) showed a major content in furanocoumarins and pyranocoumarins whereas the fruits collected in September showed the highest polyphenolic […]
Profiling of bioactive compounds in cultivars of Runner and Valencia peanut market-types using liquid chromatography/APCI mass spectrometry
Peanuts are classified into four market-types (Runners; Spanish; Virginia and Valencia) Studies on their phytochemical composition have focused mainly on market-types other than Valencia. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the phytochemical composition of cultivars of Valencia and Runner market-types. Extracts of twenty-five peanut cultivars of Runner and Valencia market-types were analyzed using […]
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in relation to acute coronary syndrome or stroke nonfatal events: a comparative analysis of a case/case-control study.
BACKGROUND: Although the role of Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease prevention has long been evaluated and understood; its association with the development of stroke has been rarely examined. The aim of the present work was to comparatively evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the development of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) […]