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Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) is a product resulting from the degradation of fish protein into simple peptides and amino acids through hydrolysis. This study aims to optimise the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of Pangasius sp. by-products to produce high-quality fish protein hydrolysate. Bromelain enzyme was used as the catalyst for hydrolysis. The degree of hydrolysis (DH), pH and antioxidant activity of FPH were used as response parameters. The optimisation was done using response surface methodology (RSM) by applying two factors (enzyme concentration and incubation time) with a 3-level Central Composite Design (CCD) model. The result showed that the bromelain concentration and incubation time gave significantly different effects (p<0.05) on the response parameters of Pangasius protein hydrolysate. Hydrolysis of Pangasius protein with 0.04% bromelain enzyme and incubation time of 2.8 hours resulted in DH, pH and DPPH antioxidant activity of 35.88%, 7.07 and 29.86%, respectively. The response value of Pangasius protein hydrolysate was within the range of the predicted value of hydrolysate. Therefore, the optimum conditions suggested by RSM can be used in the future production of Pangasius FPH. In addition, amino acid profiles of Pangasius protein hydrolysate showed high concentrations of Glycine, L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic Acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consuming plant sprouts as part of the daily human diet is slowly on the increase, and the health benefits are now of interest in several disciplines. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the chemical compositions of dried broccoli or dried green pea sprouts and the subsequent effects on the biological, biochemical and immunological parameters of male albino rats supplemented with acrylamide as a toxic material. Chemical constituents, mineral contents, total phenols and total flavonoid of tested vegetable sprouts were analyzed. Thirty male albino rats weighting 160± 5 g. were separated into 6 groups. The negative control group was first, and then the second group was given acrylamide 2.5 μg/kg/day. Groups (3, 4) and (5,6) were given treatment of the same toxic material and received 5 and 10 g dried broccoli and pea sprouts per 100 g basal diet, respectively. Feed intake, body weight gain, FER and some organs weights were calculated towards the conclusion of the investigation. Also, liver enzymes, lipids profile, serum glucose, kidney function, brain enzymes, oxidative activity and immunoglobulin were determined. Results showed that tested sprouts had high protein, fiber, vital minerals, total phenols and total flavonoid components. In addition, there were significant positive effects on the biochemical parameters that were tested, such as lipids profile, serum glucose, liver function, kidney functions, oxidative activity, brain enzyme and immunity responses, particularly at the 10% level, of tested sprouts and pea sprouts had high effect on tested parameters more than broccoli sprouts. In conclusion, pea and broccoli sprouts could potentially be used as protective agents against the toxic effect of acrylamide and the obtained results suggested that tested sprouts can be used as ideal candidates of natural antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate the impact of heat treatment on stingless bee honey obtained by Heterotrigona itama, a commercial stingless bee found in the southern region of Thailand. Three honey samples originating from three different forest types (mangrove forest, swamp forest, and mixed forest) were heated to 37 °C and 45 °C for 24 and 48 h and then analyzed for their physicochemical properties, total phenolic content, the flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity by radical scavenging activity on 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The results showed the raw honey from mixed forest had the highest radical scavenging activity with IC50 of 43.996±0.377 mg/ml. In addition, this honey sample also exhibited the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents with 89.916±0.358 mg GAE/100 g of honey and 58.093±0.294 mg QE/100 g of honey, respectively. After heat treatment, the honey samples showed little change in physicochemical properties when compared to raw honey samples. After incubation at 45 °C for 48 hours, the moisture content decreased 27.93±0.17 to 20.14±0.34 g/100 g. Interestingly, heat treatment at 37 °C and 45 °C did not affect the total phenolic, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities (p > 0.05) in the honey samples. While heat treatment aids in keeping the physicochemical and bioactive properties of dehydrated honey, it can be concluded that the proposed method can be employed as an alternate method for preserving honey from stingless bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunity is a major concept in human nutrition. Immuno compromised individuals are at risk for serious infection as COVID-19 which is directed the researchers to use the immuno modulatory plants for prophylaxis. This study was designed to assess the immune response of Wistar rats administrated Achillea fragrantissima (A. fragrantissima) extract versus Endoxan (immuno suppressive) and Echinaid (immune stimulating). Fifty rats were assigned into 5 groups:(1)control, (2) injected intraperitoneal (i/p) with Endoxan 90 mg/kg for three successive days, (3) injected with Endoxan as (2) and administrated with Echinaid 300 mg/kg/day. (4,5) injected with Endoxanas (2) and administrated with 300 and 500 mg/kg/day A. fragrantissima extract respectively. On day 17 all groups were challenged with two doses of sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) i/p, 2 weeks intervals. A high dose of A. fragrantissima extract achievedan increase in total antioxidant capacity significantly (P<0.05), superoxide dismutase, and a decrease in malondialdehyde. Catalase exerted a significant increase with a low dose of A. fragrantissima whereas a high dose had a mild effect. Echinaid and A. fragrantissima raised IgM for the first dose of SRBC and Igs and IgG for the second dose significantly (P<0.05). A. fragrantissima administration ameliorates cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4) and modulated IL-10 significantly (P<0.05). A high dose of A. fragrantissima extract exerted a significant reduction in splenic non-cellular viability% and the highest score of the microscopic immune reaction (immunostimulation++++). Splenic histopathology confirmed the present results. The current study highlights that a high dose of A. fragrantissima extract is preferred over a low dose to restore immune responses in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the hypocholesterolemic effect of analogue rice added with rice bran from three different rice varieties (white, red and black). The Sprague Dawley rats were fed ad libitum with six different chow formulas, i.e. standard diet equal to AIN-93G (C-), high-cholesterol diet (C+), high cholesterol diet plus analogue rice containing 15% coconut dregs flour (AR1), high cholesterol diet plus10% rice bran from Ciherang white rice (AR2), Cere red rice (AR3), and Campoireng black rice (AR4). The diet intervention was conducted for 28 days. The total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) of rat plasma as well as total fat of rat liver were analyzed. The results showed that rats fed with AR1, AR2, AR3 and AR4 exhibited significant decreases of TC, LDL-C, AI and liver fat, but increased of HDL-C in comparison to those of a high-cholesterol group (C+). This hypocholesterolemic effect is associated with the significant role of dietary fiber and/or γ-oryzanol. Among groups with diet containing rice bran, AR2 demonstrated the highest hypocholesterolemic effect followed by AR4 and AR3. The AR1 group also gave a significant hypochlolesterolemic effect (p<0.05) due to the role of the dietary fiber. As a conclusion, this study indicates that analogue rice added with rice bran and/or coconut dregs flour is a potential functional diet that is beneficial to lower the CHD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]