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Analysis of nutrients to develop new or update food composition database is costly and time consuming. An alternate approach is to add the data on nutrients from existing literature using guidelines set by International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS). The currently available database for food composition in Pakistan is fairly old (2001) and thus, needs to be updated. In the present study mineral content of various foods from Pakistan was collected from existing literature and scrutinized against a set of criteria for inclusion in updated food composition database of Pakistan. Data for 37 food items with eight minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper) fits under the criteria therefore is included in updated database for foods of Pakistan. Additionally, chromium, cobalt, cadmium, lead, nickel and manganese were also updated for 16 food items. Further, selected mineral content (iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium) was compared with food composition Table of Pakistan (published in 2001). Comparison results showed that mineral content for most of the foods vary among two databases. The present study demonstrates feasibility of updating food composition databases thorough scientific reports on food products of a particular country.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the breed influence on milk fatty acid (FA) composition, particularly on the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from two different indigenous breeds of goats (Pateri and Kamori; n = 30 for each breed) and ewes (Kachi and Kooka; n = 25 for each) from Sindh, Pakistan. All animals were managed together and received the same diet. Statistical significant differences ( P cis -9, trans -11 CLA concentration from Kamori goats and Kooka ewes were [17–28%] higher when compared to Pateri goats and Kachi ewes, with mean values of 0.48 g/100 g for goat breeds and 0.82 g/100 g for ewes. The greatest differences ( P P > 0.05) among goat and ewe breads, ranging from 2.45 to 3.60 for goats and 2.48 to 3.27 g/100 g for ewes. The present study reveals that the breed has a pronounced effect on FA composition of goat and ewes milk fat, and in the future genetic selection plans along with improved nutrition program of goats and ewes may result in optimum levels of various fatty acids in milk.

This study evaluates the milk fatty acid (FA) composition and cholesterol content in two main dairy breeds of Pakistani cows, i.e., Red Sindhi and White Thari ( n = 2 4 for each breed). The cows were housed together and received the same diet. The results show a significant variation ( P 0.0 5 ) in the various FA content of the two breeds. The White Thari cows produce a higher amount ( P 0.0 5 ) of saturated fatty acids (SFA) content (60.58 g/100 g) than the Red Sindhi cows (55.53 g/100). The sum of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was lower in Thari breed as compared to Sindhi breed cows (26.81 vs. 30.06 g/100 g and 4.85 vs. 4.96 g/100 g). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content was found to be higher ( P 0.0 5 ) in Sindhi breed (1.30 g/100 g) than in Thari breed cows (1.09 g/100 g). The difference of the mean cholesterol content between the two breeds was not significant ( P > 0.0 5 ), and was found to be in the range of 10.20–19.68 mg/dl. The present study indicates that the breed of the cow has a pronounced effect on FA composition of milk, and breeding programs could be used to alter the FA composition to a profile, which would be more beneficial for human health.

Antioxidant activity (AA) of methanolic extracts from Moringa oleifera leaves, as function of seasons and agroclimatic locations, was investigated. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ascorbic acid (AAcid) content , reducing power, AA in linoleic acid system and scavenging power of superoxide anion radical were taken as parameters for evaluation of AA. Significant differences were observed in the AA of the extracts from different locations and seasons. Generally, samples from Mardaan exhibited highest AA followed by Balakot, Chakwal, Jamshoro, and Nawabshah. Overall antioxidant efficacy was greater in December or March depending upon location, and least in June. Antioxidant potential of M. oleifera leaves from Pakistan was quite comparable or higher than literature values for M. oleifera from other countries and some other potent antioxidants. This work shows that season and agroclimatic locations have profound effect on the AA of M. oleifera leaves.