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• The study was commenced to collect and revise data pertaining to the biological impacts of Adansonia digitata. • Our attention was directed towards scholarly articles released from 2015 to January 2024, as documented in the Scopus database. • There is little research conducted on Adansonia digitata plant despite its popular medicinal importance, so we shed light on this plant. Adansonia digitata L. is a highly esteemed and versatile tree native to Africa. It offers numerous benefits in terms of providing medication, food, clothing and serving as a vital source of natural remedies. The increasing demand for natural remedies as opposed to synthetic ones has prompted the exploration of several alternative natural products. The study reviewed research articles published from 2015 to January 2024 and indexed in the Scopus database to provide an up-to-date report on the species' scientific significance. Searches for research papers have been conducted via Elsevier, Springer, Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and Scopus using " A. digitata ," "chemical composition," "antioxidant," "antibacterial," "antidiabetic," "anticancer," and other pertinent terms. It has been scientifically demonstrated that this plant's fruits, leaves, bark, roots, and seeds all have medicinal potential. This research highlighted the significant potential of the A. digitata tree as a valuable reservoir of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which can be effectively harnessed for pharmacological purposes. Research undertaken in vitro and in vivo has provided evidence of this plant's helpful role in preventing and treating many ailments. The A. digitata tree exhibits significant potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent as well as an antidiabetic and hepatoprotective agent. A comprehensive evaluation of the compounds identified in the A. digitata tree will yield extremely interesting results. The mechanism of action and clinical assessment should further be determined to ascertain the plant traditional, in vitro, and in vivo animal-documented results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of lycopene from natural sources, mainly in all trans configurations, to cis configuration means a significant increase in bioavailability. However, the existing isomerization methods have problems with residual organic solvents, which limits the use of products. such as metal ion catalysis, electrocatalysis, and iodine-doped titanium dioxide (I–TiO 2) catalysis. In this paper, the effects of common plant extracts on lycopene isomerization and its stability were investigated. Among them, sulforaphane and allicin showed significant catalytic effects, with sulforaphane being the most effective. Therefore, Broccoli sprouts were selected as a food component to investigate the catalytic isomerization of lycopene. After the optimization of pretreatment, the final content of sulforaphane was 5.81 mg/g. The cis -proportion of lycopene was elevated from 5% in the blank group to more than 60% when the treated broccoli sprout paste was added to the tomato paste. Also, the bioavailability of lycopene increased significantly with the increase in cis proportion. Compared with other isomerization methods, the method studied in this paper does not require any organic reagents and only uses food-grade materials such as allicin, sulforaphane, and broccoli sprouts to catalyze the cis -trans isomerization of lycopene. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Germinated Mung Bean seeds offer significant low-temperature waste heat potential. • Isothermal calorimetry can determine the energy potential of sprouting seeds. • Heat generated by mung bean sprouts is 2.43±0.72 kJ/g seeds. • Total heat recovery from cultivated mung bean seeds is 4117 MJ per production cycle. • Heat generated by mung bean sprouts can be used to heat water for watering plants. Given the current challenges posed by climate change and depletion of conventional fuel resources, there is a need to focus on improving energy efficiency through the recovery of waste energy. One such potential source of low-temperature waste heat is the process of seed germination during food plant cultivation. In traditional production facilities, germinating plants generate low-temperature heat (20–40 °C), which is typically discharged into the environment. This paper presents a study on the heat recovery potential of germinating Mung bean seeds under laboratory and controlled cultivation conditions using an isothermal calorimeter and a process line, respectively. This study represents the first quantitative determination of the heat generated during the Mung bean sprout production cycle, and a comparison of the changes in emitted heat on both micro and macro scales. Additionally, the research includes the first determination of the amount of energy generated by Mung bean sprouts using microcalorimetric studies lasting up as long as 120 h. The paper determines the amount of heat generated and estimates the possible and actual heat recovery potential. The results show that the average amount of heat generated in the calorimetric studies is 2.43±0.72 kJ/g seeds , while under controlled cultivation conditions it is 2.29 kJ/g seed. These findings highlight the significant potential for recovering waste heat from germinating seeds, which can be harnessed to improve the energy efficiency of the food sprout production process. In addition, the calorimetric method is suitable for determining the energy potential of plants and facilitating the design of the most efficient crop cultivation techniques in terms of energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazelnuts were an important foodstuff for Early to Mid-Holocene (Mesolithic) hunter-gatherers all over North-western and Central Europe, mainly thanks to their high fat content, the fact that they are easy to collect and process and produce high areal yields. Based on an extensive and well-dated dataset of charred hazelnut shells, collected on Mesolithic camp-sites from the western Scheldt basin (W Belgium), in this paper the availability of this food resource is studied. Unlike other North(west) European regions, the decline in the exploitation and consumption of hazelnuts in the Scheldt basin appears to start early, from the mid-Boreal period onwards. The available high-resolution pollen and anthracological records indicate that this is presumably related to the rapid and substantial expansion of oak, creating a shady environment which was less favourable for hazel. This paper further examines the impact as well as the possible response of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to this drastic change in subsistence resources, which arose on top of other challenges during the Boreal, such as increased drought and forest fires, abrupt cooling around 9.3 ka and the possible influx of groups from the adjacent drowning North Sea basin. Human responses possibly ranged from increased mobility, over intensified exploitation of other edible plants to increased fish consumption. The paper ends with emphasizing the importance of high-resolution paleoecological studies on a local/regional level as well as the systematic fine-meshed recovery of plant remains, such as charred hazelnut shells, from archaeological sites. • Hazelnuts were an important food resource during the Mesolithic. • Hazelnut consumption in the Scheldt basin dropped drastically in the mid-Boreal. • This is earlier compared to other areas within NW Europe. • Hazel was outcompeted by the rapid expansion of oak. • Hazel decline might have led to a reduced fat intake and associated health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paddy field ecosystem and diversified plant food resources in the middle and late Liangzhu Culture were revealed at the Zhumucun site. Based on pollen and phytolith records, this paper presents local vegetation landscape of the site: (1) evergreen-deciduous broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus , Castanopsis , and Ulmus distributed on the nearby hills, (2) terrestrial herbs represented by Poaceae plants tend to expand on the plain, (3) aquatic plants such as Typha , Trapa , Myriophyllum and Euryale ferox grew in rivers and lakes, and (4) plants such as Phragmites australis , Echinochloa , Polygonum lapathifolium , Haloragidaceae, Rumex , Cyperus , Cyperaceae, and Polygonaceae were distributed in and around the wetland. Water activities tended to be intense, and the climate was generally warm and humid with short-term anomalously cold or wet fluctuations. This is in line with the characteristics of environmental changes revealed by regional natural accumulations. In this conditions, local rice ecosystem was recorded with diachronic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2014, Colorado implemented the world's first seed-to-sale recreational cannabis market under a commercial model. This paper aims to provide a thick descriptive account that gives insight into the issues and complexities of Colorado's pioneering and evolving attempt to regulate the use of pesticides on commercial cannabis plantations.Methods: The paper examines multiple data sets including: (i) Colorado State Government documents; (ii) recreational cannabis regulations; (iii) mass and niche media publications (n=175); (iv) face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders, including seniors, regulators and industry executives (n=8); and (v) field notes from relevant conferences and cultivation facility tours in Denver in October, 2016.Results: Two key issues are identified. First, a public safety threat has arisen relating to application of pesticides on cannabis with intensified toxicity in concentrated products of particular concern. Second, as a pioneering jurisdiction, Colorado faces a considerable knowledge gap. To expand collective learning on this issue, for which no regulatory template and little research exists, state regulators tapped industry and other stakeholder expertise while attempting to ensure public safety goals were achieved and regulatory capture by industry was limited.Conclusion: Four years since the recreational cannabis market in Colorado was legalised, the State continues to grapple with the pesticide issue as testing regulations and cultivation standards are yet to be finalised. While more work is needed, Colorado has made significant progress in developing regulations relating to this complex matter. As governments of countries such as Canada and US states, including California, contemplate changes to recreational cannabis laws, Colorado's experience can assist regulators in other jurisdictions considering policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal and edible homologs (MEHs) can be used in medicine and food. The National Health Commission announced that a total of 103 kinds of medicinal and edible homologous plants (MEHPs) would be available by were available in 2023. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the third most common chronic metabolic disease that seriously threatens human health worldwide. Polysaccharides, the main component isolated from MEHPs, have significant antidiabetic effects with few side effects. Based on a literature search, this paper summarizes the preparation methods, structural characterization, and antidiabetic functions and mechanisms of MEHPs polysaccharides (MEHPPs). Specifically, MEHPPs mainly regulate PI3K/Akt, AMPK, cAMP/PKA, Nrf2/Keap1, NF-κB, MAPK and other signaling pathways to promote insulin secretion and release, improve glycolipid metabolism, inhibit the inflammatory response, decrease oxidative stress and regulate intestinal flora. Among them, 16 kinds of MEHPPs were found to have obvious anti-diabetic effects. This article reviews the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications by MEHPPs and provides a basis for the development of safe and effective MEHPP-derived health products and new drugs to prevent and treat diabetes. • Distinctive structure of MEHPPs biomacromolecules governs their properties. • MEHPPs have anti-diabetic effects significantly with few side effects. • The potential anti-diabetic mechanism of MEHPPs is elucidated. • Prospects and limitations of MEHPPs anti-diabetic are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Crataegus (hawthorn), a member of the Rosaceae family, encompasses several species with broad geographical distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Hawthorn is recognized as an edible medicinal plant with applications related to strengthening the digestive system, promoting blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis. This study critically summarized the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties to provide a theoretical basis for further studies on hawthorn and its applications in medicine and food. The available information on hawthorn was gathered from scientific databases (including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, online ethnobotanical databases, and ethnobotanical monographs, and considered data from 1952 to 2023). Information about traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety concerns of the collected data is comprehensively summarized in this paper. The literature review revealed that hawthorn includes more than 1000 species primarily distributed in the northern temperate zone. Traditional uses of hawthorn have lasted for millennia in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Within the past decade, 337 chemical compounds, including flavonoids, lignans, fatty acids and organic acids, monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, terpenoids and steroids, have been identified from hawthorn. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed numerous bioactivities, such as cardiovascular system influence, antitumor activity, hepatoprotective activity, antimicrobial properties, immunomodulatory functions, and anti-inflammatory activities. Additionally, evaluations have indicated that hawthorn lacks toxicity. Based on its traditional uses, chemical composition, and pharmacological studies, hawthorn has significant potential as a medicinal and edible plant with a diverse range of pharmacological activities. Traditional uses of the hawthorn include the treatment of indigestion, dysmenorrhea, and osteoporosis. However, modern pharmacological research primarily focuses on its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system effects, antitumor effects, and liver protection properties. Currently, there is a lack of correlative research involving its traditional uses and pharmacological activities. Moreover, phytochemical and pharmacological research has yet to focus on many types of hawthorn with traditional applications. Therefore, it is imperative to research the genus Crataegus extensively. [Display omitted] • Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety concerns of hawthorn. • The medicinal uses and edible value of hawthorn. • The application and medicinal value of hawthorn in ethnopharmacology. • The challenges and opportunities of hawthorn were envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bangladesh has a rich traditional plant-medicine use, drawing on Ayurveda and Unami medicine. How these practices translate into people׳s homes and lives vary. Furthermore, the overlap between food and medicine is blurred and context-specific. This paper explores the food–medicine interface as experienced by Bengali women in their homes, in the context of transnational and generational changes. Aim and objectives The aim is to explore the overlap of food and medicines in homes of Bengali women in Sylhet. The objectives are to explore the influences on medicinal plant practice and to scrutinise how catagories of food and medicine are decided. Material and methods The paper draws on in-depth ethnographic research conducted in Sylhet, North-east Bangladesh as part of a wider project looking at food and medicine use among Bengali women in both the UK and Bangladesh. Methods included participant observation, unstructured interviews and semi-structured interviews with a total of thirty women. Results The study indicates that the use of plants as food and medicine is common among Bengali women in Sylhet. What is consumed as a food and/or a medicine varies between individuals, generations and families. The use and perceptions of food–medicines is also dependent on multiple factors such as age, education and availability of both plants and biomedicine. Where a plant may fall on the food–medicine spectrum depends on a range of factors including its purpose, consistency and taste. Conclusions Previous academic research has concentrated on the nutritional and pharmacological properties of culturally constructed food–medicines ( Etkin and Ross, 1982; Owen and Johns, 2002, Pieroni and Quave, 2006 ). However, our findings indicate a contextualisation of the food-plant spectrum based on both local beliefs and wider structural factors, and thus not necessarily characteristics intrinsic to the products׳ pharmacological or nutritional properties. The implications of this research are of both academic relevance and practical importance to informing health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the current status of transforming stressed plants into healthy foods and the future trends in this emerging field. Herein, we describe the three major key elements to advance this field, including a better understanding of the mode of action of oxidative stress on nutraceutical biosynthesis under pre- and postharvest scenarios either converting plants into biofactories of nutraceuticals or creating 'functional fresh produce' while preserving quality. We discuss the need of designing healthy products based on stressed fresh produce and by-products and present a pragmatic strategy to enhance nutraceuticals in plants, and finally we propose designing appropriate studies with stressed plants targeting immunomodulatory properties to determine preventive and therapeutic effects against chronic diseases and the appropriate recommended dose. [Display omitted] • Stressed plants can be transformed into healthy foods. • Oxidative stress plays a key role in nutraceutical biosynthesis. • Fresh produce, by-products, and waste can be used as sources of nutraceuticals. • Immunomodulatory properties of stressed plant bioactives play a key role against chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common drug policy in source countries -forced eradication- has unintended consequences in multiple dimensions. Aerial spraying in particular, has social and environmental costs including, increased violence, deforestation, and adverse health outcomes. However, there is less evidence of the unintended consequences of illicit crop substitution programs, another widely used intervention. This paper illustrates an unintended effect of the largest crop substitution program in the world, namely increased violence against social leaders. Examining the recent Colombian illicit crop substitution program implemented in 2017, this paper estimates the effect on violence towards social leaders employing an event study econometric strategy. The program increased the rate of social leader killings by 481% and the probability of a killing by 122%. The findings reveal a greater effect on municipalities where leaders oppose the expansion of illicit crops, where organized crime does not hold consolidated power, and where there is a presence of illegal armed groups. This study contributes to the literature on antidrug policies by providing empirical evidence of unintended consequences for local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many wild and cultivated plants are rich in mineral elements and bioactive compounds and are consumed for health purposes. Studies have demonstrated the curative properties of many of these food plants. In this paper, we discuss the properties of several plants with potential health benefits that have previously received little attention. Aim of the study: This review provides an overview and critical discussion of food plants perceived by informants (emic view) as healthy or used as ‘food medicine’ in Italy. Pharmacological activity of these plants is explored, based upon published scientific research (etic view). Preparation methods, taste perception, toxicity and various potentialities of some food plants are also discussed. Materials and methods: The present review includes literature available from 1877 to 2012. The information was collected from books, scientific papers, and abstracts that reported any plants used as food medicine in Italy. The perceived health properties were analyzed in the framework of recent international phytochemical and phytopharmacological literature. Results: A total of 67 edible wild plants and 18 cultivated vegetables, distributed into 20 families, were reported by informants (in literature). Several plants were highly cited (e.g., Taraxacum officinale Webb., Crepis vesicaria L., Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L.). The most frequent health properties attributed to edible plants by the informants were: laxative (22 species), diuretic (15), digestive (11), galactagogue (8), antitussive (cough) (8), hypotensive (7), tonic (7), sedative (7), hypoglycemic (6). Conclusions: Some edible plants are promising for their potential health properties, such as Crepis vesicaria L., Sanguisorba minor Scop. and Sonchus oleraceus L. Several wild species were perceived by informants to maintain health but have never been studied from a phytochemical or pharmacological point of view: e.g., Asparagus albus L., Crepis leontodontoides All., Hyoseris radiata L. subsp. radiata, Phyteuma spicatum L. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since ancient times, the herbal plant, Plantago L. (Plantaginaceae) has been proposed to have medicinal and food benefits. Recent pharmacological and phytochemical studies have shown that polysaccharides derived from Plantago L. exert multiple medicinal and nutritional benefits, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic activities, antitumor, and gastrointestinal-protective effects. These health and pharmacological benefits are of great interest to the public, academia and biotechnology industries. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in the physiochemical, structural features and biological effects of polysaccharides derived from Plantago L. This comprehensive review also covers recent advances in the field and outlines future research and applications of these polysaccharides. • Plantago L. (Plantaginaceae) is a well-known Chinese edible and medicinal plant. • Plantago L. polysaccharide is one of abundant groups and bioactive components. • Isolation, structure and bioactivities of Plantago L. polysaccharide are highlighted. • The exact structure and structure-bioactivity relationship need to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Urban landscape planners are gradually seeking opportunities to integrate edible plants in urban open spaces. The new demands to enhance urban biodiversity, food production and raise environmental awareness is bringing into the forefront the need to rethink the conventional ways of planning and designing urban open spaces. The new wave of integrating edible plants in parks and other green spaces consist of emerging policies like the edible city policy or edible district policy. Those policies assess urban green spaces towards a new approach of multifunctional use and on how to enable such places to host a wide range of edible plants. There is, however, a limited understanding of how effective these policies are in supporting and enhancing the integration of edible plants into urban open spaces. In order to shed light on these challenges, this paper evaluates the "Edible District of Friedrichshain -Kreuzberg (Der Essbare Bezirk Friedrichshain -Kreuzberg) Policy" that has been implemented in Friedrichshain -Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. Based on the analysis of this policy and interviews with local stakeholders, this work explores the challenges of effective integration of edible plant into urban open spaces by means of planning and policy support. In addition, it provides an overview of the structure and role of the Edible District of Friedrichshain -Kreuzberg policy. We conclude that the concept of integrating edible plants provides a useful argument to promote and protect native edible plants and to rethink the design and use of urban open spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a disease that seriously and increasingly threatens human health and life, affecting various organs such as: breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate or stomach. Because of that it is so important to find appropriate chemopreventive agents that can prevent the development of cancer in humans. One of such methods may be a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, including sprouts, which have recently gained popularity due to their health-promoting properties and easy process of cultivation. The purpose of the following systematic review is to collect the results of all so far published studies on the chemopreventive potential of sprouts of various edible plants, in order to select the most promising species for further research. This paper focused on the impact of sprouts extracts on cancer cells in vitro , as determined by the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, growth and viability, or apoptosis stimulation, with special interest put on the results of the in vivo and human studies. The influence of different cultivation conditions and biofortification with selenium and probiotics on the activity of sprouts was assessed. Attempts were also made to indicate the main compounds responsible for sprouts' biological activity. Most of the results suggest that the sprouts may play a role in chemoprevention, as a part of the daily diet, with especially encouraging effects observed for broccoli sprouts. However, further research on cultivation conditions, safety profile, the impact of Se-enrichment or pharmacokinetic studies are necessary to assess the effectiveness of sprouts as chemopreventive agents in humans. [Display omitted] • Sprouts may play a role in chemoprevention, as a part of the daily diet. • Brassicaceae and Fabaceae sprouts are most extensively studied. • Sprouts from Brassicaceae family deserve special attention. • Broccoli sprouts showed chemopreventive activity in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of active constituents from food plants is an important area of research in pharmaceutical sciences. Aralia echinocaulis is a medicinal food plant that is mainly used to prevent or treat rheumatoid arthritis in China. This paper reported the isolation, purification and bioactivity of a polysaccharide (HSM-1-1) from A. echinocaulis. Its structural features were analyzed according to the molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The results indicated that HSM-1-1 was a new 4- O -methylglucuronoxylan mainly composed of xylan and 4- O -methyl glucuronic acid with the molecular weight of 1.6 × 104 Da. Furthermore, the antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of HSM-1-1 in vitro were investigated, and the results showed that HSM-1-1 had potent proliferation inhibition activity on colon cancer cell SW480 with an inhibition rate of 17.57 ± 1.03 % at a concentration of 600 μg/mL, as measured via MTS methods. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a polysaccharide structure obtained from A. echinocaulis and its bioactivities, and its potential as an adjuvant natural product with antitumor effects is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the proposition that all college students are able to learn to think in more systemic ways, and understand the value of systems modeling for assisting their thinking, I designed a course for freshmen with no more than basic algebra. In this course the students were exposed to basic systems concepts with a focus on system dynamics modeling (using Donella Meadows’ Thinking in Systems ) of a permaculture-based food production system. They were given a basic problem: How much land area would be needed to collect enough solar energy in food plant photosynthesis per year to feed a community of fifty vegetarians? They were told that the farm would be in the Seattle WA, USA area so they could find the average monthly insolation values. Several additional rate constants and conversion factors were provided so they could build a spreadsheet-based model to generate the number of calories needed. This paper provides anecdotal evidence that systems theory naïve students were able to successfully build a model (in teams) but also were able to apply systems thinking to aspects of their own lives as demonstrated in essays (individuals). Many students reported “seeing the world differently” as a result of the course, particularly seeing how different aspects of the world are connected through various relations. As a result of these successes the course was upgraded to be a little more advanced for upper division students. 2 Problem-Project-based Learning - PPBL, a pedagogy for active learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous and hygroscopic characteristics of plant-based food material make it complex in structure, and therefore water distribution in its different cellular environments is very complex. There are three different cellular environments, namely the intercellular environment, the intracellular environment, and the cell wall environment inside the food structure. According to the bonding strength, intracellular water is defined as loosely bound water, cell wall water is categorized as strongly bound water, and intercellular water is known as free water (FW). During food drying, optimization of the heat and mass transfer process is crucial for the energy efficiency of the process and the quality of the product. For optimizing heat and mass transfer during food processing, understanding these three types of waters (strongly bound, loosely bound, and free water) in plant-based food material is essential. However, there are few studies that investigate cellular level water distribution and transport. As there is no direct method for determining the cellular level water distributions, various indirect methods have been applied to investigate the cellular level water distribution, and there is, as yet, no consensus on the appropriate method for measuring cellular level water in plant-based food material. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive review on the available methods to investigate the cellular level water, the characteristics of water at different cellular levels and its transport mechanism during drying. The effect of bound water transport on quality of food product is also discussed. This review article presents a comparative study of different methods that can be applied to investigate cellular water such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dilatometry. The article closes with a discussion of current challenges to investigating cellular water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral food represents a niche market in the food service industry. The aroma, colour, shape and beauty of flowers often attract consumers to try floral food. In this paper, we test a model of predictors of attitudes towards the consumption of edible flowers by sampling 357 consumers in Taiwan. The results show that specific curiosity and aroma are the greatest influences on attitude towards the consumption of edible flowers. Specific curiosity partially mediates the relationship between aroma and attitude towards the consumption of edible flowers. We also find that health consciousness both directly and indirectly, via a healthy and caring lifestyle, affects attitude towards the consumption of edible flowers. Segmentation analysis shows that these direct and indirect effects on attitude towards the consumption of edible flowers are greater among the respondents who are more experienced with edible flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Physical field assisted extraction (PFAE) of pectin from plant source was reviewed. • Electromagnetic fields with microwave and radio frequency energy results in accelerated pectin extraction (PE). • Acoustic, electric, and mechanical fields also enhance PE through non-thermal effects. • Combination of PFAE contributes to boost pectin yields and physicochemical qualities. • Upscaling studies are needed for PE industrial applications through physical fields. Pectin is a naturally occurring hydrocolloid found in the cell wall and middle lamella of many plants and has numerous functional applications in food and other related industries. The type of extraction methods used in production has a strong influence on the structural or physicochemical properties of the resultant pectin and the potential application or market value of the produced pectin. Many conventional extraction methods are well-established and commercially well adopted. However, the increased demand for pectin due to limitations of the existing methods in terms of efficiency and influence on end product quality has been renewed in developing novel techniques or procedures that help to alleviate these problems. In this review paper, a series of strategies involving the application of physical fields, such as acoustic, electromagnetic, electric and mechanical one, are reviewed for potential opportunities to improve the yield and quality attributes of pectin extracted from plant food wastes and byproducts. The extraction mechanism, processing equipment, key operating parameters as well as advantages and disadvantages of each method are systematically reviewed, and findings and conclusions on the potential applications of each method are described. Moreover, the challenges and future directions of physical field assisted extraction (PFAE) of pectin are also discussed to facilitate a better understanding of the complex mechanism in PFAE and optimizing operational parameters. This review may also provide specific theoretical information and practical applications to improve the design and scale up PFAE of pectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The European market for cannabis derivatives is being transformed. The cultivation of cannabis within the EU and the shift of demand from hashish to domestic marihuana are key aspects of this transformation. Spain, formerly central to the trade of Moroccan hashish, is becoming a marihuana-producing country. The emergence of "import-substitution" has been researched in other EU countries, but thus far the Spanish case remains undocumented.Methods: This paper is based on analysis of data of 748 cannabis plantations seized by Spanish police in 2013. The sample comprises reports of seizures identified through a survey of online news and police reports. "Event-analysis" methods were applied to these sources.Results: The analysis offers a typology of plantations, a profile of participants and the different production systems, and a model of regional distribution. Half of the plantations were small (less than 42 plants) and half contained between 100 and 1000 plants, with an average size of 261 plants. About three-quarters of plants were cultivated indoors using stolen electricity. 86% of all plants seized were from large-scale plantations (more than 220 plants). Most plantations were located along the Mediterranean coast, where population and tourism are concentrated. Over three-quarters of those indicted by police were Spanish (85%). Among the foreign owners of big plantations, Dutch nationals predominated. The number of seized plants by province was directly associated with the number of grow shops (β=0.962, p<0.001).Conclusion: The rise of large-scale cannabis plantations in the Spanish Mediterranean coast is increasingly replacing import of Moroccan hashish. Indoor cultivation supported by grow shops, that provide the technology and know-how, seem to be the dominant form of organization in this emerging industry. Large-scale plantations may have met most of the demand for marihuana in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gynura bicolor is a perennial plant and native to China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Myanmar. • G. bicolor pigment showed potential use as a natural food colorant. • G. bicolor can be used as a functional food and source of therapeutic pharmaceuticals. • G. bicolor extracts exhibit antioxidant activities and anti-hyperglycemic effects. Functional food plants are nature's gift to human beings to help them battle against various ailments for thousands of years. With the global pursuit of improving the quality of life, there is an increasing demand for functional plants in the world's diet. There is a long history of using Gyruna bicolor not only as a vegetable but also as a medicinal herb in East and Southeast Asia. It has been found in G. bicolor that there is a broad spectrum of nutrients and plant bioactives. G. bicolor has been acknowledged by local people as a useful source of medicine for several therapeutic treatments. This paper provides a comprehensive review of G. bicolor from updated research literature. Botanical characteristics, cultivation information, traditional uses, phytochemistry, nutrient values, as well as biological activities are discussed. The storage, processes, proposals for product development, and toxic assessment of G. bicolor are also covered. It is expected that the paper will encourage further research thereby contributing to open avenues for scientific applications of G. bicolor as a valuable plant with multiple health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Technology-critical elements (TCEs) include most rare earth elements (REEs), the platinum group elements (PGEs), and Ga, Ge, In, Nb, Ta, Te, and Tl. Despite increasing recognition of their prolific release into the environment, their soil to plant transfer remains largely unknown. This paper provides an approximation of the potential for plant uptake by calculating bioconcentration factors (BCFs), defined as the concentration in edible vegetable tissues relative to that in cultivation soil. Here data were obtained from an indoor cultivation experiment growing lettuce, chard, and carrot on 22 different European urban soils. Values of BCFs were determined from concentrations of TCEs in vegetable samples after digestion with concentrated HNO 3 , and from concentrations in soil determined after 1) Aqua Regia digestion and, 2) diluted (0.1 M) HNO 3 leaching. For comparison, BCFs were also determined for 5 traditional metal contaminants (TMCs; As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn). The main conclusions of the study were that: 1) BCF values for the REEs were consistently low in the studied vegetables; 2) the BCFs for Ga and Nb were low as well; 3) the BCFs for Tl were high relative to the other measured TCEs and the traditional metal contaminants; and 4) mean BCF values for the investigated TCEs were generally highest in chard and lowest in carrot. These findings provide initial evidence that there are likely to be real and present soil–plant transfer of TCEs, especially in the case of Tl. Improvements in analytical methods and detection limits will allow this to be further investigated in a wider variety of edible plants so that a risk profile may be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Several states in the U.S. have legalized cannabis for recreational or medical uses. In this context, cannabis edibles have drawn considerable attention after adverse effects were reported. This paper investigates Twitter users' perceptions concerning edibles and evaluates the association edibles-related tweeting activity and local cannabis legislation.Methods: Tweets were collected between May 1 and July 31, 2015, using Twitter API and filtered through the eDrugTrends/Twitris platform. A random sample of geolocated tweets was manually coded to evaluate Twitter users' perceptions regarding edibles. Raw state proportions of Twitter users mentioning edibles were ajusted relative to the total number of Twitter users per state. Differences in adjusted proportions of Twitter users mentioning edibles between states with different cannabis legislation status were assesed via a permutation test.Results: We collected 100,182 tweets mentioning cannabis edibles with 26.9% (n=26,975) containing state-level geolocation. Adjusted percentages of geolocated Twitter users posting about edibles were significantly greater in states that allow recreational and/or medical use of cannabis. The differences were statistically significant. Overall, cannabis edibles were generally positively perceived among Twitter users despite some negative tweets expressing the unreliability of edible consumption linked to variability in effect intensity and duration.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Twitter data analysis is an important tool for epidemiological monitoring of emerging drug use practices and trends. Results tend to indicate greater tweeting activity about cannabis edibles in states where medical THC and/or recreational use are legal. Although the majority of tweets conveyed positive attitudes about cannabis edibles, analysis of experiences expressed in negative tweets confirms the potential adverse effects of edibles and calls for educating edibles-naïve users, improving edibles labeling, and testing their THC content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For more than 30 years, the main strategy to control illicit coca crops has been forced eradication. Despite the importance of social investment and persistent poverty in areas where illicit crops are grown, there is no empirical evidence of the effect of social expenditures on preventing and reducing the expansion of illicit crops.Methods: This paper analyses how social investment in conjunction with eradication affects new coca crops. The model is tested using a dataset consisting of annual data for 440 contiguous municipalities that had coca in any year between 2001 and 2010. The analysis includes the two main techniques used to control illicit crops, manual eradication and aerial spraying.Results: Aerial spraying is effective in deterring farmers from increasing the size of their new coca fields, but this effect is small. Social investment, in addition to generating social welfare, has a significant negative relationship with new coca crops, 0.09-hectare reduction in new coca crops per additional 50-cent spent in social investment (human capital and infrastructure) per inhabitant.Conclusion: Social investment emerges as a complementary and effective strategy to control illicit crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the 1960s and the 1970s, Morocco and Lebanon became major producers of hashish for export to markets in West and Central Europe, Africa and the Middle East. By using a comparative approach, this paper aims to evaluate changes in production in the traditional areas of cannabis cultivation in the Rif (Morocco) and the Beqaa (Lebanon) and to better understand the role that these countries play in current trends in the global cultivation and consumption of cannabis.Methods: The comparative approach takes in account the historical and institutionnal context, and the perception of cannabis in those two country. We rely on primary field research done in the Rif (from 2002) and in the Beqaa (from 1995) in the form of interviews and observations with farmers and intermediaries. Acreage and production estimates of hashish for both countries have been triangulated from different sources.Results: Maghreb and Middle East have a long history of consumption, production and marketing of cannabis. Over the past 12 centuries, migration, trade and different spiritual practices and trends have led to the expansion of cannabis markets. This long period is marked by stages and rifts caused by foreign interference, a worldwide prohibition of cannabis at the beginning of the 20th century and increased global demand in the 1960s and the 1970s. Morocco and Lebanon are among the most important producers of hashish to be exported for trade for the last fifty years. The global prohibition of cannabis and the global sustained demand have created opportunities for poor farmers in the Rif and the Beqaa regions to survive and get wealthy. It is difficult to understand the reasons why areas producing cannabis are steadily increasing. If the Rif and the Beqaa share some features (such are marginalized areas of production, repressive legislation, huge international demand, range of comparable tasks and Mediterranean climate suitable for growing cannabis, etc.) then a comparison between the two countries makes it more easy to notice differences in contexts, in local and international markets (Stability in Morocco, instability in Lebanon; traditional market in Morocco, absence of local market in Lebanon, etc.) In Morocco, the stability and specialized skills among Moroccan growers of hashish have enhanced a competitive economy with various production areas, products and qualities, but also prices and strategies due to competition between Moroccan and European producers. Moreover, Morocco produces cannabis for its significant local market.Conclusion: As shown by comparing Morocco and Lebanon, allows us to examine their perverse effects caused by a global prohibition. The criminalization of growers has only increased their marginalized situation. The enforced eradication of cannabis has limited the cultivation for a short time but not in any sustainable way (resumption of cannabis cultivation in a time of conflict in Lebanon; replacement of local variety by hybrids in Morocco). The cultural heritage of cannabis and its social functions should not be ignored. In the light of the new global changes in the cannabis cultivation (Import substitution, technical progress in developed countries, etc.), hashish producers in the south countries are likely to face uncertain future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting food trees within local parks and other public urban green areas is starting to gain in popularity as a strategy to enhance the sustainable development of cities. However, the financial opportunity that it could represent has barely been studied. This paper investigates the financial potential of the establishment of food trees in urban public green areas of Villa El Salvador, Peru, with the help of local inhabitants. Net present value (NPV), benefit-cost Ratio (BCR), and equivalent annual cash flow (EACF) were calculated to evaluate the financial performance of two designs of productive tree systems drawn to scale for two local public parks. Results provide evidence that the involvement of a small group of local producers in the maintenance and care of public green areas could be translated, for a municipality, into financial benefits. For the producers, the possibility to harvest edible products also led to financial benefits, but only if the time invested in the productive activities was not taken into account. Thus, the use of food trees in green public areas appears to be a financially valuable alternative for both a municipality and its local inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper speaks to the theme of the boundaries of food and medicine as constructed in the Greek and Roman worlds. It examines how physicians developed innovative ways of thinking about the body that did not attribute health and sickness to the intervention of gods. Ancient physicians and natural historians conceived of new potencies for substances and described their impact on the body׳s physiology between the late fifth century BC and the early third century AD. The legacy of these ideas and practices had great traction in the Mediterranean world and survived into Early Modern Times, and until the rise of new forms of science. Materials and methods This article analyses texts transmitted from the ancient world and considers how substances were attributed nutritional and medical potency. The texts relevant to this analysis include medical and philosophical treatises as well as cookery books. The article highlights discussions about the nature of food and drugs and the herbs thought to cross the boundaries between them. It interrogates different contexts within which foods were thought good or bad for the body, and the social and moral connotations attached to those perceptions. Conclusion Much of the analysis is devoted to understanding the flavours that were a key marker in the nutritional potencies attributed to foodstuffs. However there are clear and influential moral boundaries set by Plato in the discourse around food and pleasure. While every physician should be a chef, and many wrote cookery books that have been lost, a chef׳s talent was located in increasing pleasure, and therefore a less valuable skill. However the different literary genres show overlapping terminology and concerns, particularly with the quality of ingredients. Poor taste was not only a culinary concern. With regard to the setting of boundaries between foods and medicines, the transition between one category and another is frequently determined by the preparation and strengthening of a food׳s potency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Boophone disticha is the most common member of the South African Amaryllidaceae used extensively in traditional medicine of the various indigenous population groups, including the Sotho, Xhosa and Zulu as well as the San. This survey was carried out to identify and highlight areas relevant to the traditional usage of Boophone disticha. Pharmacological aspects were examined with the purpose of reconciling these with the traditional usage of the plant. In relation to phytochemical make-up, particular attention was paid on how its alkaloid constitution might corroborate the various biological effects manifested by the plant. Materials and methods: Information gathering involved the use of four different database platforms, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SciFinder® and Scopus. Arrangement and detailing of this information is as reflected in the various sections of the paper. Results: Sixteen categories were identified under which Boophone disticha finds use in traditional medicine. These were shown to include general usage purposes, such as ‘cultural and dietary’, ‘well-being’, ‘personal injury’, ‘divinatory purposes’, ‘psychoactive properties’ and ‘veterinary uses’. Furthermore, traditional usage was seen to involve six body systems, including functions pertaining to the circulatory, gastrointestinal, muscular, neurological, respiratory and urinary systems. The four remaining categories relate to use for inflammatory conditions, cancer, malaria and tuberculosis. Overall, three areas were discernible in which Boophone disticha finds most usage, which are (i) ailments pertaining to the CNS, (ii) wounds and infections, and (iii) inflammatory conditions. In addition, several aspects pertaining to the toxic properties of the plant are discussed, including genotoxicity, mutagenicity and neurotoxicity. Conclusion: The widespread ethnic usage of Boophone disticha has justified its standing as a flagship for the Amaryllidaceae and its relevance to South African traditional medicine. Furthermore, its promising pharmacological and phytochemical profiles have stimulated significant interest in the clinical realm, especially in the areas of cancer and motor neuron disease chemotherapy. These collective properties should prove useful in steering the progress of the plant towards a wider audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Butterbur (Petasites) is an ancient plant which has been used for medical and edible purposes with its spasmolytic agents. However, toxic alkaloid content of the plant limits its direct usage. The paper covers the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and butterbur themes in detail in order to display the outline of alkaloid-free plant extract production for medical and edible purposes. The toxic PAs and medicinal constituents of the plant are described with emphasis on analytics, physiological effects and published patent data on alkaloid free extract production. The analytics is based on several commonly used analytical methods including liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and enzyme linked immunoassay analysis of PAs and N-oxides based on published literature data of butterbur. The analyses of major medicinal constituents of butterbur are given and the physiological effects of these compounds have been discussed to attract attention to the importance of alkaloid-free extract production. The concentration distributions of the medicinal constituents and toxic PAs in different parts of the plant and the outcomes of the published patent data provide comprehensive information for proper plant raw-material selection and production of alkaloid-free butterbur extracts. The review is intended to guide researchers interested in medical plant extracts by providing comprehensive data on the medical plant butterbur and its chemical constituents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper discusses activity concentrations of 210Po, 210Pb, 40K and 137Cs in edible wild berries and mushrooms collected from Øvre Dividalen national park, Northern Norway and derives committed effective ingestion doses to man based on high consumption rates of these wild foods. Edible wild berries and mushrooms accumulated similar levels of 210Pb, but mushrooms accumulated higher levels of 210Po and 40K than berries. There appears to be a clear difference in the ability of Leccinum spp. of fungi to accumulate 210Po and/or translocate 210Po to mushrooms compared to Russula spp. of fungi. Activity concentrations of 137Cs in edible wild berries and mushrooms from Øvre Dividalen national park reflected the lower levels of fallout of this radionuclide in Northern Norway compared to more central areas following the Chernobyl accident. For mushrooms, ingestion doses are dominated by 210Po, while for berries, 40K is typically the main contributor to dose. Based on high consumption rates, ingestion doses arising from the combination of 210Po, 210Pb and 40K were up to 0.05 mSv/a for berries and 0.50 mSv/a for mushrooms. Consumption of such wild foods may result in a significant contribution to total annual doses when consumed in large quantities, particularly when selecting mushrooms species that accumulate high activity concentrations of 210Po. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of study: This paper reports an ethobotanical survey of the traditional uses of medicinal and useful plants in an area of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, Campania, Southern Italy. Materials and methods: This study conducted between 2009 and 2011, gathered information on the medicinal plants traditionally used in Southern Italy (Campania Region). In all, we interviewed 70 key informants, whose age ranged between 50 and 85 years. This people belonged to families which had strong links with traditional activities of the area. Results: The research resulted to the identification of 192 plants belonging to 64 families. Among the species reported, 86 are used in human medicine, 15 in veterinary medicine, 69 as human foods, 18 as animal feed, 61 for domestic and 8 for agricultural uses. Conclusion: A survey of the available literature on Southern Italy ethnobotany reveals that some species have been never reported and about 10% of cited uses are new. Data obtained show that in the studied area the folk use of plants is alive and still derives from daily practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the state of knowledge on plant economy in the Northern French Alps from Middle Mesolithic to Middle Neolithic (about 10,500 to 6200cal. BP). The recent analysis of charcoal and seeds/fruits of a hunting camp of the Chartreuse massif provides new information on the way people managed their environment in a subalpine context. We focus here on a block shelter (l''Aulp du Seuil), located in an isolated valley, at 1720ma.s.l. Excavations carried out between 1993 and 2005 permitted the discovery of an archaeological sequence stretching from Middle Mesolithic to Historic times. Charcoal and seeds/fruits analyses were performed on layers dated from Mesolithic to Middle Neolithic. Botanical assemblages mainly recorded the local vegetation, dominated by Pinus (charcoal and needles). The charcoal and macroremain assemblages reflect the exploitation of a large territory, especially during the Middle Neolithic: inhabitants of the shelter gathered plants in a large zone, from the collinean level to the immediate surroundings of the site, the subalpine level. Finally, the results inform us about fuel management and diet. The high amount of pine used for fuel has most probably two causes: its abundance in the vegetation but also its easiness of use in a temporary occupation (important amounts of dead wood). Seasonal inhabitants of the shelter brought hazelnuts and cereals. The presence of these last clearly shows, during Neolithic, a connection between the shelter and a permanent village located at lower altitude. L''Aulp du Seuil could be used as a seasonal residential station during that period. This study shows the importance to integrate the analyses of ecofacts in such archaeological programs in order to better understand the socio-economic systems of prehistoric alpine communities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many regions of Latin America are widely reported for the occurrence of high arsenic (As) in groundwater and surface water due to a combination of geological processes and/or anthropogenic activities. In this paper, we review the available literature (both in English and Spanish languages) to delineate human As exposure pathways through the food chain. Numerous studies show that As accumulations in edible plants and crops are mainly associated with the presence of high As in soils and irrigation waters. However, factors such as As speciation, type and composition of soil, and plant species have a major control on the amount of As uptake. Areas of high As concentrations in surface water and groundwater show high As accumulations in plants, fish/shellfish, livestock meat, milk and cheese. Such elevated As concentrations in food may result in widespread health risks to local inhabitants, including health of indigenous populations and residents living close to mining industries. Some studies show that As can be transferred from the water to prepared meals, thereby magnifying the As content in the human diet. Arsenic speciation might also change during food preparation, especially during high temperature cooking, such as grilling and frying. Finally, the review of the available literature demonstrates the necessity of more rigorous studies in evaluating pathways of As exposure through the human food chain in Latin America. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Under conditions associated with fruit and vegetable processing, cell wall pectin can undergo numerous enzymatic and non-enzymatic conversion reactions, which are connected with and reflected in the structure-related quality characteristics of the final product (e.g., texture, viscosity, cloud stability). This paper reviews recent insights in the ways the major pectin conversions (including depolymerisation and demethoxylation) are affected by application of high pressure (100–1000 MPa), a process parameter of increasing industrial relevance. Pressure-induced effects including (i) reaction acceleration and deceleration, (ii) pectic enzyme stimulation, inhibition, inactivation and stabilisation and (iii) enzyme-inhibitor and enzyme-subunit dissociation are discussed. Their food-technological implications and (potential) applications with regard to structure-related quality attributes of plant-based foods are illustrated, clearly showing the relevance of high-pressure processing of food systems for unique functional properties beyond preservation (pasteurisation and sterilisation). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Estimates of maximum production capacity in food plants are required when planning, scheduling, debottlenecking or optimizing manufacturing efficiency. With the exception of very simple plants and process routings, analytical methods for calculating a plant''s capacity are, in general, lacking. In this paper, a novel algorithm is presented for calculating analytically the minimum cycle time and capacity of batch processes with equipment shared across overlapping process steps. The algorithm explores alternative configurations with respect to the use of shared equipment across batches and selects the one that minimizes the cycle time. The implementation of the algorithm is demonstrated with the use of a yoghurt production process whereby the same vessels are used both for the fermentation step as well as the storage of the final product before feeding the filling machines. The optimal cycle time of the yoghurt process is determined by the algorithm and the corresponding maximum capacity is calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins are among the most abundant polyphenols compounds in our diet and may play a key role in the prevention of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. These antioxidants are widely distributed in the plant kingdom both in food plants and in non-food plants. The biological activity of plant proanthocyanidins depends on their chemical structure and concentration. However, due to their structural diversity and complexity, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of proanthocyanidins is a difficult task. Mass spectrometry has enabled great advances in the characterization of plant proanthocyanidins. Among these techniques, MALDI-TOF MS has proved to be highly suited for the analysis of highly polydisperse and heterogeneous proanthocyanidins. The objective of the present paper was to assess the potential, limitations and future challenges of the analysis of plant proanthocyanidins by MALDI-TOF MS techniques. Firstly, the fundamental of this technique, including modes of operation, advantages and limitations, as well as quantitative and qualitative operations, have been summarized. Applications of MALDI-TOF analysis to plant proanthocyanidins reported in the last decade (1997–2008) have been extensively covered, including the sample preparation protocols and conditions used for proanthocyanidin analysis, as well as the main findings regarding the determination of the structural features of different plant proanthocyanidin types (procyanidins, propelargonidins, prodelphinidins, profisetinidins and prorobinetinidins). Finally, attempts in the assessment of the molecular weight distribution of proanthocyanidins by MALDI-TOF are described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a common disease affecting several million individuals worldwide. Over the last century changes in human behavior and lifestyle have resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of diabetes world over. Though oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin is the mainstay of treatment of diabetes, they have prominent side effects and fail to significantly alter the course of diabetic complications. Lifestyle modifications including appropriate diet and exercise programs have been found to be greatly effective in the management of the disease. Diet therapy especially is showing a bright future in the therapy of diabetes mellitus. In this regard this paper reviews 27 common Indian plant food materials that have been reported to possess anti-diabetic properties. The food materials reviewed in relation to diabetes and its complications are: Cajanus cajan, Cicer arietinum, Phaseolus mungo, Phaseolus vulgaris, Aegle marmelose, Mangifera indica, Morus alba, Musa sapientum, Psidium guajava, Punica granatum, Syzigium cumini, Vitis vinifera, Allium cepa, Annona squamosa, Beta vulgaris, Cucurbita pepo, Ipomoea batatus, Momordica charantia, Allium sativum, Brassica juncea, Cuminum cyminum, Curcuma, Murraya koeingii and Trigonella foenum graecum. In addition to these food materials black tea, green tea and red wine have also been reviewed. All these plant food materials have been reported to have varying degree of hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activity. It is concluded that the various plant foods which which form an important part of our diet not only possess blood glucose lowering properties but are also beneficial in decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular and renal diseases through various mechanisms including free radicals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports the implementation of the “mean age of air” (MAA) concept into the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent through user-defined functions to assess ventilation efficiency inside forced-ventilation food plants. Two transient methods and a steady-state method based on the resolution of an additional scalar transport equation were implemented and compared with experimental and numerical data obtained by Bartak et al. [Bartak, M., Cermak, M., Clarke, J.A., Denev, J., Drkal, F., Lain, M., Macdonald, I.A., Majer, M., Stankov, P., 2001. Experimental and numerical study of local mean age of air. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bartak, M., Beausoleil-Morrison, I., Clarke, J.A., Denev, J., Drkal, F., Lain, M., Macdonald, I.A., Melikov, A., Popiolek, Z., Stankov, P., 2002. Integrating CFD and building simulation. Building and Environment, 37, 865–871] for a 45 m3 test room. As the steady-state method led to the best compromise between accuracy of results and computation time, this method was then used to characterize ventilation efficiency inside a pilot cheese ripening room and two modern sausage dryers of large height. In light of the results presented, local MAA is a better and a more sensitive parameter than mean air velocity for highlighting areas with inadequate ventilation, and thus for assessing ventilation efficiency in industrial food plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Worldwide 30 food plants deliver 95% of human daily intake of plant food calories and around 300 other plant species are delivering the last 5%. These some 300 food plants are likely to be considered traditional in Europe, while the nearly 7000 other plant species traditionally used in the human food supply in other parts of the world may be considered novel in Europe. Novel food regulation is already in force in the European Community, Australia/New Zealand and in Canada where the novel plant foods need to go through a premarket assessment procedure. This paper propose criteria and definitions to be used in determining novelty of a plant food and also propose a safety assessment approach for novel plant food with no or limited documented history of safe consumption. A 2-step management procedure is recommended for a smooth introduction of fruits and vegetables; first to establish the novelty and second to define and commit resources for the safety assessment. The procedure builds upon the use of a worldwide network of global, regional, local and ethnobotanical positive lists for food plants to guide the decision on novelty at the first step and to enable the safety assessment at the second step. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper discusses the application of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach, first to predict air velocities in an industrial batch-type carcass chiller, and second to designing low-cost technical solutions to improve ventilation homogeneity around the carcasses. Comparisons between calculations and measurements revealed close agreement in the qualitative prediction and some inaccuracies in the quantitative prediction of airflow velocities in both the current and the modified chiller configurations. Adding deflectors at the air-conditioning blower outlet and a plastic wall behind the last row led to a marked improvement in ventilation homogeneity within the plant by both reducing the standard deviation of airflow velocities onto each row and improving airflow velocity onto the last row. Compared with the experiments, CFD is therefore a low-cost option well suited to testing new technical solutions designed for improving the operation of food plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper illustrates a real environmental concern and draws attention to the fact that natural processes can mobilize thallium (Tl), a highly toxic metal, which may enter the food chain as a “hidden health killer” with severe health impacts on local human population. Natural processes may be exacerbated by human activities such as mining and farming, and may cause enrichment of Tl in the environment. In geochemically anomalous areas with concentrated levels of Tl in the surface environment (bedrocks, waters, soils, and crops), such as the Lanmuchang area in southwestern Guizhou Province, China, it is essential to establish base-level values and to pay heed to the geological context of “natural contamination,” as high concentrations of Tl in bedrocks/ores (6–35,000 mg/kg) can lead to enrichment of Tl in the aquatic system (0.005–1100 μg/l in groundwaters and 0.07–31 μg/l in surface waters) and soil layers (1.5–124 mg/kg). In sensitive areas such as the Yanshang area of southwestern Guizhou, elevated natural levels of Tl from bedrocks may also cause higher concentrations of Tl in the surface environment, and thus more attention must be paid to geoenvironmental management of human activities if socio-economic catastrophes are to be avoided. Due to high uptake of Tl by crops, Tl can be transferred from soils to crops and remarkably concentrated in food crops. Concentrations of 1–500 mg/kg Tl based on dry weight (DW) were determined in many food crops growing on Tl-contaminated arable soils from the Lanmuchang area. The daily intake of 1.9 mg of Tl from consumed food crops was estimated for the local adult inhabitant of Lanmuchang. Thus, Tl is regarded as a latent health hazard with potential risk of toxicity in humans within areas of “natural” contamination by Tl. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sorghum is a versatile, gluten-free, whole grain, yet overall human consumption of sorghum is minimal. Whole grains, such as sorghum, substituted for refined grains can enhance the nutrition content of a dish. This research study was to determine the sensory perception and overall food preference of college-aged students when comparing sorghum to rice in a ready-made dish. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a campus foodservice setting at the University of North Florida. The participants (n = 596) were randomly recruited, using convenience sampling, to blindly taste test two food samples then complete an associated sensory and perception survey. The food samples consisted of recipes identically prepared, with the substitution of sorghum for rice. Paper and electronic sensory analysis (using hybrid hedonic scales) and food preference surveys were available after sampling. A majority of the participants (71.9%) were ages 18-20 years old, with 42.3% selecting their educational classification as a freshman. Participants rated their overall feeling about each dish as to how often they would consume it, the response yielded a significant difference in overall mean (3.66 vs. 3.42, P =.000), with preference given to rice over sorghum. In comparing the two grain based dishes, participants indicated they would eat this every now and then to every opportunity they had with rice (55.2%) to sorghum (48.4%). Yet in response to overall acceptance of sorghum to rice, there was no significant difference. This study provides feedback on the perception of college students on substituting a refined grain for whole grains in ready-made dishes. This preliminary study implies that acceptability for alternative grains is feasible in college-age populations and more research needs to be conducted on overall perception of alternative grains in ready-made dishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares coca with mainstream agrarian economies in Colombia. It shows that the country's legal and illicit sectors share several fundamental characteristics and processes. Due to its very illegality, coca is endowed with positive characteristics that are not easily found elsewhere: it is a productive - even in the absence of basic public goods -, familial, labor intensive, smallholder agriculture, relatively resistant to monoculture. Furthermore, different processes of social change have mitigated some of the typical problems of agrarian frontiers linked to global markets. In turn, its illegal status also imposes extreme costs over peasants and other social sectors. On the one hand, due to coca producers can escape from the "reproductive squeeze" and extreme pattern of land concentration that affect other peasants; on the other, coca becomes an unending source of risk and distress. This contradiction puts peasants in front of very tough tradeoffs, which in turn demand a careful reconsideration of what "alternative" development can mean in the Colombian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Orobanche consists of annual, biennial or perennial fleshy parasitic herb species, many of which are in use as traditional medicines and wild gathered foods since a long time. Recently, Orobanche spp. are increasingly accepted as edible medicines with nourishing properties. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of their ethnopharmacological background. Aim of the review : This review focuses on the advancements in botanical classification, and summary of traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Orobanche species, in order to check for scientific support of their traditional uses and the safe treatment of human ailments and diseases. In this review, the results of a systematic and comprehensive literature survey about Orobanche spp over the past 60 years (from 1960 to 2020) is presented. The selected literature includes periodicals, doctoral dissertations, master dissertations conference papers and various books. The literature was identified through search engine websites and a cross-checked with the Chinese pharmacopeia, classic Chinese and European herbals, regional medicinal monographs, and online ethnobotanical databases. The literature about the traditional uses revealed that Orobanche spp. were used as medicine and food in many regions of the world, but mainly in China and North America while in Europe they were primarily used as food items. Phenylpropanoid derivatives and alkaloids, were reported as their main bioactive compounds, showing antioxidant, immune system enhancing, androgenic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Orobanche spp. are increasingly being used for tonic purposes in China. Their ethnopharmacological background suggests potential usages as healthy foods and food supplements. They have the potential to be developed into herbal medicines for tonifying the kidney, against impotence and spermatorrhea, dermatological problems and wounds, as well as infantile diarrhoea. However, the pharmacological studies conducted with extracts derived from Orobanche spp. were not useful for rationally explaining the traditional uses. More investigations are required to provide a pharmacological basis for the traditional claims and the relationship between traditional uses, clinical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. Additionally, quality control should be emphasized to ensure the safe and effective use of Orobanche derived products. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First-ever study on the vermicompost derived from a xerophyte (prosopis). • Shows that prosopis loses its toxicity on being vermicomposted. • The resulting vermicast is seen to enhance germination success. • It also enhances fruit yield and quality as demonstrated with tomato and brinjal. • Establishes that vermicompost of the toxic xerophyte prosopis is a benign organic fertilizer. Prior to the work described in this paper, no report has existed on the use of any xerophyte is generating vermicompost. Now these authors have been able to develop a process with which the highly invasive xerophyte prosopis (Prosopis juliflora) can be vermicomposted. But does prosopis vermicompost (PVC) have any fertilizer value, given that prosopis has strong allelopathy and toxicity? To seek an answer, the authors have assessed the effect of the PVC on the germination and early growth of five common food plants: brinjal (Solanum melongena), chilly (Capsicum annuum) , cucumber (Cucumissativus), ladies finger (Abelmoschus esculentus), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Thereafter the tomato and the brinjal plants were grown to fruition to assess their yield and nutrient value. Whereas no germination of any seed occurred when the soil was fortified with prosopis leaves, there was 20–100% germination of seeds in different plant species when fertilized with equivalent quantities of PVC. The carbohydrate, potassium, and magnesium contents of prosopis fertilized brinjal and tomato fruits were significantly (p ≤ 0.5) higher than the levels of these nutrients present in the market produce. The prosopis vermicompost displayed pest-repellant attributes as well. The findings indicate that the millions of tonnes of prosopis leaves, which have no utility value and of which falling on earth is harmful to the soil, can be used to generate organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a study carried out to verify the applicability of the EN 1787 method, which uses the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) technique for the identification of irradiated plant-origin foods with health benefits. The method was tested on samples of herbal ingredients of Plant Food Supplements (PFSs), nuts and fresh blueberries. Untreated and irradiated samples of Camellia sinensis (leaves) Ginkgo biloba (leaves) , Glycine max (seeds) , Silybum marianum (fruits), Vaccinium myrtillus (fruits), almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts and fresh blueberries were analysed. The work includes an inter-laboratory blind test involving five Italian laboratories that perform routine analyses for the official control of irradiated food. A total of 180 untreated and irradiated samples of PFS ingredients, nuts and fresh blueberries were analysed. The analyses on the irradiated samples were replicated even a long time after irradiation (up to two years depending on the matrix) to test the reliability of the method throughout the shelf life of the products. The results were matrix-dependent: all the 5 kGy irradiated nuts and the 1 kGy-irradiated blueberries were correctly classified, whereas herbal ingredients showed complex ESR spectra with spurious signals which often prevented the correct classification of the sample. • EN 1787 detects 5 kGy irradiated nuts within two years from irradiation. • EN 1787 detects 1 kGy irradiated fresh blueberries within three weeks from irradiation. • Plant food supplement (PFS) ingredients generally show complex ESR spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a palynological study of the archeological layers from the Neanderthal site Abrigo 3 del Complejo del Humo, in southern Spain (Málaga), with the aim of reconstructing the environmental conditions in the vicinity of this hominin site. The Upper Pleistocene vegetation and its variability are described, revealing a high diversity of thermophilous plant taxa throughout the cold dry phases, together with a long-term persistence of woody taxa, including Mediterranean, mesophytes, xerothermics and conifers. With the pollen records of Maytenus senegalensis as an outstanding finding, this study demonstrates the co-existence of temperate, Mediterranean and Ibero-Maghrebian angiosperms on the southern coastal plains of the Iberian Pleistocene where Neanderthals survived for a long time. It is therefore clear that Neanderthals and early Upper Paleolithic modern humans lived in a litoral refugium, which was a propitious environment for maintaining a high biodiversity, including potentially edible plant species. Besides, this coastal refugium offers broad possibilities for hunting, and interpopulational relationships through coastal platforms. • A palynological study of the archeological layers from the Neanderthal site of Abrigo 3 del Complejo del Humo. • A high diversity of thermophilous plant taxa throughout the cold dry phases. • The co-existence of temperate, Mediterranean and Ibero-Maghrebian angiosperms in the southern of the Iberian Pleistocene. • Neanderthals and early Upper Paleolithic people lived in a litoral refugium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persicaria maculosa (Polygonaceae) has been used as edible and as medicinal plant since ancient times. As a result of multistep chromatographic purifications, chalcones [2′-hydroxy-3′,4′,6′-trimethoxychalcone (1), pashanone (2), pinostrobin chalcone (3)], flavanones [6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone (4), pinostrobin (5), onysilin (6), 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone (7)], flavonol [3- O -methylgalangin (8)], stilbene [persilben (9)], diarylheptanoids [1,7-diphenylhept-4-en-3-one (10), dihydroyashabushiketol (12), yashabushidiol B (13)] and 3-oxo-α-ionol-glucoside (11) were isolated from P. maculosa. The present paper reports for the first time the occurrence of diarylheptanoid-type constituents in the family Polygonaceae. Cytotoxicity of 1 – 5 , 7 and 9 – 11 on 4 T1 mouse triple negative breast cancer cells was assayed by MTT test. None of the tested compounds reduced the cell viability to less than 80% of the control. On non-tumorigenic D3 human brain endothelial cells the decrease of cell viability was observed in case of 1 and 2. Further impedance measurements on 4 T1 and D3 cells a concentration-dependent decrease in the cell index of both cell types was demonstrated for 1 , while 2 proved to be toxic only on endothelial cells. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modelling of transfer of radionuclides from soils to plants generally relies upon empirical soil-plant concentration ratios. Concentration ratios are often highly uncertain and are not available for many plant-radionuclide combinations. A number of papers published over the last 20 years have suggested that phylogenetic models could be used to make predictions of the radionuclide transfer to plants. Such a modelling approach would have the advantage that site factors (typically related to soils) are taken into account. For the first time we have compared predictions of Cs and Sr transfer to a range of crops grown on different soils. Predictions for both elements were generally acceptable (within an order of magnitude of observed data) but Sr concentrations were over predicted in fruits and tubers. This over prediction of Sr concentrations is likely to be because the phylogenetic models were fitted to data for green shoots. We conclude that phylogenetic models offer a number of advantages, but that they must be validated and, in future, parametrisation datasets need to include data on concentrations in edible plant parts and not just green shoots. • Assess the ability of phylogenetic models to predict Cs and Sr crop concentrations. • Models tested for a range of crops grown on soils with different characteristics. • Predicted concentrations tend to be reasonable compared to observed data. • Recommendation to parameterise and/or validate models using edible components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]