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Essential oils have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, so it is considered one of the most suitable methods to maintain overall fruit quality, reduce decay and extend the shelf life of fruit during storage. Therefore, two experiments using fruits harvested from 14-year-old guava trees in a private farm located in Al-Busayli village, Rashied, Bohaira governorate, Egypt, during the 2021and 2022 seasons. The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of essential oils on the overall quality and extension of the shelf-life of winter guava fruit. The fruits were subjected to various treatments, including dipping in the following solutions (at 1000 ppm) for 5 minutes: control (distilled water), clove oil, eucalyptus oil, mustard oil, and jojoba oil. Subsequently, the coated fruits with essential oils were preserved in cold room with a temperature of 7±1°C and a relative humidity of 90 – 95 % for a duration of 24 days. The obtained data revealed that immersing in essential oils of winter guava fruits at concentration of 1000 ppm significantly reduced loss in weight of fruit, rot and respiration rate in addition its also improved fruit firmness. SSC%, acidity, SSC/acid ratio and ascorbic acid content compared to control treatment during cold storage. Moreover, the results show a significant reduction in loss of weight, decay, and respiration rate of guava fruits when Eucalyptus and clove oils were utilized. Furthermore, the applications of Eucalyptus and clove oils demonstrated effectiveness in keeping firmness, acidity, vitamin C content, SSC%, and SSC/acid ratio in guava fruits during the storage. In conclusion, Eucalyptus oil and cloves oil proved to be highly effective in reduce weight loss, decay, and respiration rates while concurrently maintaining the overall quality of winter guava fruits under cold storage conditions for a duration of 24 days, in comparison to the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wijam (Phytoplasma) disease of date palms is an economic threat to date palm output in Egypt. Disease symptoms were identified in various date palm-grown orchards. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze a total of ten samples from five different date palm cultivars. These samples came from both healthy and diseased trees. The findings of the nested PCR (nPCR) experiment revealed the presence of 16S rDNA phytoplasma in the trees that were infected. Furthermore, one date palm cultivar (Magdoul) showed no infection, while the other four (Khalas, Sukary, Barhi, and Zaghloul) exhibited varying degrees of infectivity. Chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll content were dramatically reduced due to biochemical alterations. Meanwhile, proline and carotenoid levels in infected plants increased while ascorbic acid and soluble sugar levels decreased. The activities of antioxidative enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, and oxidase were increased in phytoplasma-infected trees. A technique for in vitro organogenesis to propagate date palm cultivars was demonstrated. Isolated meristematic tip cultures were grown on MS media supplemented with 2,4-D 100 mg/L and 1.5 g/L charcoal for four to nine weeks, depending on the cultivar. For cvs. "Magdoul" and "Barhee," callus regeneration, shoot elongation, and multiplication were performed on MS media containing 1 mg/L NAA and 1.5 g/L activated charcoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder caused by many factors and related to serious complications. Diabetes mellitus includes oxidative stress and inflammation, in addition to hyperglycemia and resistance to insulin. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with vitamin C on blood glucose control and body mass index in type 2 diabetic patients of the family medicine outpatient clinic in Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. Material and methods. This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Sixty patients (n = 60) were distributed randomly into two groups: the intervention group (on 1 g of vitamin C orally for 12 weeks), and the control group (on a placebo for the same period). Only 55 patients completed the study (28 in the intervention group and 27 in the control group). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C%) and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at the beginning and after 12 weeks. Results. The HbA1C percentage significantly decreased in the intervention group, supplemented with vitamin C, after 12 weeks as compared to the placebo group. The body mass index did not change significantly after the intervention. The intervention group had 75% glycemic improvement, while only 33.3% of the subjects improved in the control group. Absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 42%, the number of patients in need of treatment (NNT) was 2.38, the relative risk (RR) was 0.37, and the relative risk reduction (RRR) was 62%. Conclusions. Patients with type 2 diabetes may benefit from adding vitamin C to their routine management to control blood glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and in Egypt the most common form of primary liver cancer. HCC represents the second most prevalent cancer among men in Egypt. The important risk factors for HCC include hepatitis C and B, alcoholic, schistosomiasis, aflatoxins (AFB), hypothirodism and cirrhosis. Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) is a well-known strong hepatocarcinogenic agent. It is known that DEN induces damage in enzymes involved in DNA repair and is normally used to induce liver cancer in experimental animal models as rats. Curcumin is a strong antiinflammatory agent and anti-cancer effects with strong therapeutic potential against a variety of cancers. Vitamin C is an important free radical scavenger in extracellular fluids, trapping radicals and protecting bio membranes from peroxide damage and tissue damage of the liver and in HCC cases. Objective: To evaluate the hematological parameters and some liver function tests in the early stage of HCC and the hepatoprotective role of curcumin and vitamin C.Materials and methods: This study was conducted on a patch of 90 adult mature healthy male albino rats (Rattus rattus) averaged weight (190 ± 10 g) were allowed to acclimatize in the laboratory and distributed into 9 groups 10 rats for each. Hematological parameters and some hepatic tests were measured and histopathology of the liver, for all groups at the end of the experiment. Results: The results showed that significant alterations in all hematological parameters and hepatic function tests when compared with its corresponding level in the control group, and when treated with curcumin and vitamin c the results showed improvement for some parameters when compared with DEN group. Conclusion: Antioxidants like curcumin and vitamin C administration improved the hematological parameters and liver function tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments of jojoba plants were carried out in Almaghara Research and Production Station followed to Desert Research Center, Agriculture Ministry, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, at 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, Respectively. Therefor to study the influence yield of five clones (S-L, S-610, S- 700, S-B and S-G) under foliar spray of salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and proline [(50:50:50(conc. 1); 100:100:100 (conc. 2) and 200:200:200 ppm (conic. 3)] on jojoba plants at four and fourteen years old from planting. The experiment was conducted as split plot design, were varieties order in the main plots and treatments in sub plots, uisg three replicates. Results showed that the foliar application of salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and proline led to increase of all growth characters, yield characters and some chemical contents in leaves and seeds on all of clones. Clones S-700 recoded the highest values for all traits studied followed by clones S-B, while, studied traits, clones S-L recorded the lowest values. Foliar spray application with salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and proline had the highest data with all clones with aged fourteen years compear aged four years. All characters increased with increase in salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and proline on varieties, especially clone S-700. Jojoba plants appearance response to plant nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus is one of the foodborne pathogens that is incriminated in several outbreaks worldwide. The objectives of the current study were first to determine the prevalence of B. cereus -contaminated milk and dairy products retailed in Egypt. Secondly, the antimicrobial resistance profiling and virulence-associated genes of the recovered B. cereus isolates were assessed. Finally, natural and eco-friendly natural additives such as d -tryptophan and l -ascorbic acid were used for controlling the viability of Bacillus cereus spores. A total of 200 samples including market raw milk, Ultra-Heat Treated (UHT) milk, Kariesh cheese, soft white cheese (Damietta), and rice pudding, 50 of each were examined. The results of our study indicated that 31% of the examined dairy samples were contaminated with B. cereus. Surprisingly, 90% of the isolates showed multidrug-resistance against ampicillin, amoxicillin, oxacillin, and streptomycin. The molecular characterization revealed that 15 isolates harbored both hemolytic and non-hemolytic enterotoxin genes. Co-treatment of B. cereus spores-contaminated rice pudding with d -tryptophan at a concentration of 40 mM and l -ascorbic acid at a concentration of 3% revealed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the spore growth. Therefore, d -tryptophan and l -ascorbic acid are considered promising eco-friendly food preservatives with anti- B. cereus effects in the dairy industry. • Bacillus cereus could be isolated from Egyptian dairy products. • B. cereus isolates had multidrug resistance profiling. • B. cereus isolates had the ability to produce enterotoxins. • Ascorbic acid, and d -tryptophan had anti- Bacillus cereus effect. • The tested additives might act as promising tools against B. cereus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The beneficial effects of the polyphenol (PP) rich fruits and Lactic acid bacteria fermented foods had been reported as cost-effective strategies for health promotion. Randomized controlled trial was designed to test the hypothesis that daily intake of polyphenol rich pomegranate juice (PGJ) or/ and lactic acid bacteria fermented sobya (FS) improved selected biomarkers of relevance to heath status.Methods: The design of the human trial consisted of 35 healthy adults, who were distributed to 5 equal groups; The first group served as control and received no supplements; the second group received fresh apricot fruits (200 g); the third (PGJ) (250 g), the fourth a mixture of PGJ (150 g) and FS (140 g) and the fifth group received (FS) (170 g). The supplements were served daily between 5 - 6 pm for 21 days. Blood and urine samples were collected at days zero and 22 of the dietary intervention. The supplements were analyzed chemically for (PP) contents and total antioxidative activities and microbiologically for selected bacteria and yeast counts. The blood samples were assayed for plasma antioxidative activities and for erythrocytic glutathione transferase activity (E-GST). Urine samples were analyzed for the excretions of total PP, antioxidative activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).Statistical Analysis: Two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted and included the main effects of treatment, time and treatment x time interaction.Results: Daily intake of (PGJ) for 3 weeks significantly increased the plasma and urinary anti-oxidative activities and reduced the urinary excretion of (TBARS). Daily intake of (FS) for 3 weeks increased only (E-GST) activity. Daily intake of a mixture of PGJ and (FS) was also effective.Conclusions: The daily intakes of PGJ and/ or (FS) affected positively selected biomarkers of relevance to health status. These functional foods have potential implication for use as bio-therapeutic foods.Trial Registration: The study was approved by the research ethical committee of the Ministry of Health & population, Egypt. The trial registration - the unique identifying number. (REC) decision No 12-2013-9, which complied with the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines (2004). The protocol was fully explained to all subjects and written informed consent was obtained before their participation in the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is paucity on the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin C on cytokines production in lambs with respiratory diseases. Therefore, the current study examined the influence of vitamin C on the production of different pro-inflammatory cytokines in lambs naturally infected by pneumonic pasteurellosis. In lambs naturally infected with pneumonic pasteurellosis, the association between measured proinflammatory cytokines and clinical sum score demonstrated a positive correlation with interleukin-6 and interferon gamma. The findings show that vitamin C has a selective effect on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera of lambs with pneumonic pasteurellosis when used in combination with tulathromycin, and confirming the therapeutic effectiveness of tulathromycin in clinical recovery of lambs with pneumonic pasteurellosis. In this study, we have investigated the impact of vitamin C on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1 β (IL-1 β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 12p40 (IL-12p40), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) in lambs naturally infected by pneumonic pasteurellosis. Of 37 lambs, 18 lambs were identified to have pneumonic pasteurellosis and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Single subcutaneous dose of tulathromycine alone (2.5 mg kg−1) or tulathromycine combined with vitamin C (3 gm kg−1) were administrated to the diseased lambs. The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were returned to the normal levels in pneumonic lambs treated with the combination therapy. The obtained results indicate the selective influences of vitamin C on pro-inflammatory cytokines production in sera of lambs with pneumonic pasteurellosis and highlights the value of vitamin C as a potential anti-inflammatory drug and ideal immunomodulatory agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]