Prune melanoidins protect against oxidative stress and endothelial cell death

The health-promoting effects of fruit and vegetable consumption are thought to be due to phytochemicals contained in fresh plant material. Whether processed plant foods provide the same benefits as unprocessed ones is an open question. Melanoidins from heat-processed plums (prunes) were isolated and their presence confirmed by hydroxymethylfurfural content and browning index. Oxidative-induced endothelial cell […]

Antigen-fixed leukocytes tolerize th2 responses in mouse models of allergy

Allergic diseases; including asthma and food allergies; are an increasing health concern. Immunotherapy is an effective therapeutic approach for many allergic diseases but requires long dose escalation periods and has a high risk of adverse reactions; particularly in food allergy. New methods to safely induce Ag-specific tolerance could improve the clinical approach to allergic disease. […]

Oxidative stress and anxiety-like symptoms related to withdrawal of passive cigarette smoke in mice: Beneficial effects of pecan nut shells extract; a by-product of the nut industry

The present study evaluated the role of pecan nut (Carya illinoensis) shells aqueous extract (AE) against oxidative damage induced by cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) and behavioral parameters of smoking withdrawal. Mice were passively exposed to cigarette smoke for 3 weeks (6; 10; and 14 cigarettes/day) and orally treated with AE (25g/L). CSE induced lipid peroxidation […]

Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of chocolate consumption with the risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. DATA SOURCES: Medline; Embase; Cochrane Library; PubMed; CINAHL; IPA; Web of Science; Scopus; Pascal; reference lists of relevant studies to October 2010; and email contact with authors. STUDY […]

Preparation of fatty acid methyl esters from hazelnut; high-oleic peanut and walnut oils and evaluation as biodiesel

Refined hazelnut; walnut and high-oleic peanut oils were converted into fatty acid methyl esters using catalytic sodium methoxide and evaluated as potential biodiesel fuels. These feedstocks were of interest due to their lipid production potentials (780–1780 L ha-1 yr-1) and suitability for marginal lands. Methyl oleate was the principal constituent identified in hazelnut (HME; 76.9%) […]

Metabolomics unveils urinary changes in subjects with metabolic syndrome following 12-week nuts consumption

Through an HPLC-q-ToF-MS-driven non-targeted metabolomics approach; we aimed to discriminate changes in the urinary metabolome of subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS); following 12 weeks of mixed nuts consumption (30g/day); compared to sex- and age-matched individuals given a control diet. The urinary metabolome corresponding to the nuts-enriched diet clearly clustered in a distinct group; and the […]

Use of date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) blanching water for reconstituting milk powder: yogurt manufacture

The processing of dates yields high volumes of blanching water. The use of such blanching water for reconstituting skim milk powder to produce low fat yogurt was studied. Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of two date cultivars (Medjoul and Confitera) blanching water were determined. Quality characteristics of yogurts (control; Medjoul and Confitera) were evaluated during […]