Search

Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. is an African wild tree found in many countries across the continent. Its leaves, bark, root, and fruits are used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. However, no systematic bibliometric review on S. birrea have been performed so far. This study covered publications made in 1986–2022 and investigated such bibliometric indicators as knowledge dynamics, links and structure, relevant journals, productive organizations, renowned authors, authoring patterns, national and international collaboration levels, etc. The bibliometric data on a total of 369 publications were downloaded from Scopus database and analyzed using the MS-Excel and VOSViewer software. The Scopus publications on S. birrea showed a versatile range in the interdisciplinary areas of research, with agricultural and biological sciences predominating. The Republic of South Africa was responsible for the largest number of citations. All in all, 63 countries published research on S. birrea in the specified time period, and the share of African countries was 65.43% of the total global research. Co-authorship and international collaboration were registered for six clusters. A total of 1114 researchers and 160 institutions actively contributed to S. birrea studies, with 37 having a minimum of five publications. Mapping of knowledge structure using the keyword co-occurrence revealed the related research areas. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology took the lead in terms of average citation. The co-citation analysis revealed some remarkable dynamics in S. birrea research. This bibliometric study provides a complete insight into S. birrea research development and publication patterns over the last 36 years.

Camel meat contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for cardiovascular health and controlling cholesterol levels. This aims to evaluate the effect of partially replacing camel meat with chickpea flour (CPF), soybean flour (SBF), and skimmed milk powder (SMP) on the physicochemical and sensory evaluation properties of camel meat burgers. Ten burger formulations were prepared by partially replacing the minced meat with CPF, SBF, and SMP at percentages of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Proximate composition, pH, color, water holding capacity, cooking loss, and sensory evaluation were conducted. Significant increases (p 0.05) increases. However, the partial replacement of meat with the CPF, SBF, and SMP resulted in significant (p

Research on camel milk and urine (CMUR) has gained significant attention because of its nutritional and medicinal applications. The aim of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the CMUR from 1947 to 2023. Following PRISMA rules, the Scopus database was used to extract 1338 English-language studies, which were analyzed using Scopus Analytics, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer. The findings indicated that 7.78% of studies focused on camel urine within the CMUR domain. The analysis showed a steady increase in the number of publications over 77 years (R-squared = 0.8308). The CMUR encompasses a wide range of research disciplines, with particular emphasis on the agricultural and medical fields. Saudi Arabia is the top producer of CMUR, with the Journal of Camel Practice and Research being the most prolific source. King Saud University contributed 103 documents to the CMUR, making it the most prolific institution globally. The co-word analysis identified seven prominent research themes within the CMUR, which can be further categorized into four distinct clusters. Notably, ‘Probiotics’, ‘Anti-inflammatory’, and ‘Diabetes’ emerged as trending subjects. The analysis of the CMUR yielded significant insights into the present research trends, identified gaps in the existing knowledge, and provided valuable recommendations for future investigations.

With the increasing impacts of climate change, establishing more sustainable and robust plants such as desert dates (Balanites aegyptiaca) seems to be necessary. Known for its resilience in arid conditions, this tree has the potential to become a more important food source, particularly for its potential to yield edible oil. This study characterized Balanites kernel oil (BKO) as a promising oil source in arid regions, studying the influence of geographical origin and environmental factors. Moroccan and Sudanese BKO samples were analyzed and compared with Mauritanian BKO. In the fatty acid profile, unsaturated fatty acids constituted over 70% of the BKO profile, with a predominance of linoleic acid (Li), oleic acid (Ol), palmitic acid (Pa), and stearic acid (St). Consequently, the predominant triacylglycerols were PaLiLi, PaLiOl, LiLiOl, OlLiOl, and StLiOl. α-Tocopherol dominated the tocochromanol composition (324 to 607 mg/kg), followed by γ-tocopherol (120 to 226 mg/kg), constituting 90% of the total tocochromanols. The total phytosterol content in BKO ranged from 871 to 2218 mg/kg oil, with β-sitosterol dominating (58% to 74%). Principal Component Analysis revealed that the geographical origin significantly influences BKO composition, emphasizing environmental factors, particularly water deficit and/or temperatures. Notably, Moroccan BKO collected from an area characterized by high aridity and relatively low winter temperatures, showcased a unique profile in fatty acid, phytosterols, and tocochromanols. The valorization of BKO presents an opportunity for local agricultural development in arid regions and a role model for plant development and agricultural practices in other parts of the world.

Abstract Background: Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a long-term disease caused by progressive kidney dysfunction due to many reasons leading to a significant rise in serum levels of creatinine and urea reaching the advanced stage where the patient goes for frequent hemodialysis. This study aims to discuss the evaluation of the efficacy of gum Arabic (GA) supplementation on the serum level of creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium in CRF patients. Methods: Four databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched for clinical trials assessment of gum Arabic intervention in CRF patients. Animal trials and experimental protocols were excluded. Screening of data and data extraction were done by two reviewers independently of each other. Meta-analysis was conducted on the selected studies using RevMan and the resulting description was summarized through the Forest plot tool on the efficacy of GA on 4 variables, creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium in CRF patients. Results: From 574 studies searched, only 4 studies were included in this systemic review and meta-analysis. Although one of the studies had proved the objectives of the review but it was removed from the meta-analysis due to the heterogeneity caused by its inclusion. Conclusion: The few studies included in the current review revealed significant efficacy of GA treatment on the serum level of creatinine, urea, and sodium, but not potassium.

Introduction. Monechma ciliatum L. seeds are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, oils and mineral contents. Researchers have focused on new production development but there is no available data on the impact of processing techniques on the quality of the seeds. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of boiling, roasting, and germination on the composition and nutritional value of Monechma ciliatum (black mahlab) seeds. Study objects and methods. We analyzed 7 kg of black mahlab seeds purchased from the local market. We applied standard methods used in boiling, roasting, and germination techniques. Proximate analyses were performed using the methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. Tocopherols and amino acids in processed seeds were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results and discussion. The results showed that the proximate compositions of untreated, boiled, roasted, and germinated mahlab seeds were affected by boiling, roasting, and germination techniques. Most of the nutritional values were enhanced by all the treatments. In particular, all the processing techniques increased the protein content. Boiling and roasting increased the fat content, while boiling and germination increased the fiber content. Tocopherols were higher only in the germinated samples. Amino acids were increased by all the techniques. Minerals were affected by all the techniques, except for Na, which was higher in the germinated sample. Conclusion. Boiling, roasting, and germination enhanced significantly the chemical composition of Monechma ciliatum seeds, which make them a value ingredient to develop new food products.

Abstract Gum Arabic (GA) is a gummy exudation from Acacia species, rich in soluble fibers. It is a dietary fiber used traditionally by the natives of many countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and India as therapeutic natural product for treating various diseases including kidney diseases, impotence, obesity, and epilepsy. Diabetes represent a global health problem causing many complications and health risk to people of different ages. The current study aimed at identifying the role of Gum Arabic in treating diseases especially diabetes. Many studies have been conducted on the role of Gum Arabic in experimentally induced diabetes as well as randomized clinical studies. This narrative review was written based on a database search in common libraries such as PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus. The libraries were searched for English articles published between 1995 and 2020 focusing on the role of Gum Arabic in different preclinical and clinical trials of early and advanced level of diabetes.

Abstract Background: The lacking healthcare system services in conflict areas and the emergence of infection with a pandemic of coronavirus disease may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis among the camp residents in the central Dafur region of Sudan. Adequate knowledge and practices are vital to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 among internally displaced persons in Sudan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used for the internally displaced persons in two camps of Zalingei town, central Darfur region, Sudan. Results: In total, 143 participants responded; 75 (52.4%) of them were female, while 68 (47.6%) were male; 49 (34.3%) were between the age of 50 and 60 years; 78 (54.5%) were formally uneducated; 126 (88.1%) did not have a chronic disease; and 56 (39.2%) knew about COVID-19 from their relatives and friends. The overall mean of participants' knowledge toward COVID-19 was 3.68 (SD ± 0.60(, denoting good with a rate of 73.6% and that of the practice was 2.65 (SD ± 1.08), denoting moderate with a rate of 53%. A positive correlation was seen between knowledge and practice (r = 0.700, p < 0.000). Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean score of knowledge and practice with age, education, and information sources (p < 0.0001). While graduates showed a higher knowledge (116.29, p = 0.000), secondary respondents showed a higher practice (115.04, p = 0.000) than others. Conclusion: This study suggests educational intervention and awareness programs for uneducated and older people.

Meat by-products such as bones, skin, horns, hooves, feet, skull, etc., are produced from slaughtered mammals. Innovative solutions are very important to achieving sustainability and obtaining the added value of meat by-products with the least impact on the environment. Gelatin, which is obtained from products high in collagen, such as dried skin and bones, is used in food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Chitosan is derived from chitin and is well recognized as an edible polymer. It is a natural product that is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Recently, chitosan has attracted researchers’ interests due to its biological activities, including antimicrobial, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. In this review, article, we highlighted the recent available information on the application of gelatin and chitosan as antioxidants, antimicrobials, food edible coating, enzyme immobilization, biologically active compound encapsulation, water treatment, and cancer diagnosis.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and acute toxicity of the methanol extract of two Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. varieties of dried seeds, Sweet gourd Water Jug (WJ) and bitter gourd Basket Ball (BB). The seed extracts were tested for their total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and scavenging activity to the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Both dried seed extracts were then tested for acute toxicity at doses 2 and 5 g kg-1 each. Sixty female and male rats were assigned into five groups per sex. Four groups were given low and high doses of each dried seed extract and the fifth group was given 10 % Tween 20 as a control. Kidneys and livers of all rats were assessed for biochemistry and histopathology. The seed extract of WJ revealed higher TPC, FRAP and DPPH activities compared to BB seeds, while TFC results were reversed. Toxicologically, no toxicity signs were recorded in animals. Biochemistry results were within the normal ranges with a slight increase in bilirubin and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and histology of kidneys and livers showed normal architecture. In conclusion, WJ and BB dried seed extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity suggesting promising therapeutic regimen against oxidative stress.

The current study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of different processing techniques on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity and the gastroprotective potential of Chenopodium quinoa red seeds in acute gastric injury induced by absolute ethanol in rats. Seven groups of female Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to normal and absolute ethanol (absolute EtOH) groups, given distilled water, reference control omeprazole (OMP, 20 mg/kg), pressure-cooked quinoa seeds (QP, 200 mg/kg), first stage-germinated quinoa seeds (QG, 200 mg/kg), Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria-fermented quinoa seeds (QB, 200 mg/kg), and Rhizopus oligosporus fungus-fermented quinoa seeds (QF, 200 mg/kg). One hour after treatment, all groups were given absolute ethanol, except for the normal control rats. All animals were sacrificed after an additional hour, and the stomach tissues were examined for histopathology of hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Stomach homogenates were evaluated for oxidative stress parameters and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Gene expression was performed for gastric tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa of B cells (NF-kB). QB and QG recorded the highest DPPH scavengers compared to QF and QP. The gastroprotective potential of QB was comparable to that of OMP, followed by QF, then QG, and QP as confirmed by the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression assessments. In conclusion, differently processed red quinoa seeds revealed variable antioxidant capacity and gastroprotective potential, while the bacterial fermented seeds (QB) showed the highest potential compared to the other processing techniques. These results might offer promising new therapy in the treatment of acute gastric injury.

The essential oil of the bark of Cinnamomum altissimum Kosterm. obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by capillary GC and GC–MS. The oil was characterized by linalool (36.0%), methyl eugenol (12.8%), limonene (8.3%), α-terpineol (7.8%) and terpinen-4-ol (6.4%). The content of total phenolics in the extracts was determined spectrometrically according to the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure and calculated as gallic acid equivalents (GAE). A total phenolic compound was 50.41 ± 0.98 μg GAE/mg oil. The extract displayed antioxidant activities, with an IC50 value of 38.5 ± 4.72 μg/ml, using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and 345.2 ± 14.8 μM Fe (II)/g dry mass using ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay.

The combination of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS) of 100 honey samples collected from different countries were used to develop the calibration model for determination of single phenolic compound. In high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection analysis, 16 phenolic compounds were identified with p-hydroxybenzoic acid being the major compound detected in all honey samples. Thus, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was used for developing prediction models. Spectral data were modeled individually and using data fusion methodologies. The performance of the model based on RS spectra [ Rp2 = 0.9500, Root Mean Standard Error of Prediction (RMSEP) = 6.83] was higher than that based on the NIR spectra ( Rp2 = 0.8147, RMSEP = 13.80). The application of both low-level ( Rp2 = 0.9553, RMSEP = 6.59) and mid-level ( Rp2 = 0.9563, RMSEP = 7.95) data fusion together with Partial Least Squares (PLS) had effectively improved the prediction models of NIR but did not enhance prediction models based on RS technique. The results demonstrated that the NIR, RS, and data fusion approaches together with the PLS model could be used as alternative quantitative methods for determination of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in honey samples.

Over the past decades, various studies have highlighted the pure natural compound, α-mangostin as their main topic. The compound’s pre-clinical and pharmacological properties have been recognized and defined in these studies. α-Mangostin shows strong pharmacological effects in in vitro and in vivo model systems by targeting a number of vital cellular factors through various mechanisms of action. Despite its important molecular versatility, the α-mangostin still has limited clinical application. In order to optimize the conditions of this compound as a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent, for instance in diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes as well as inflammatory disorders, the recent tendency is to limit the range of its pharmacological properties. The present work reviews recent studies on the central and potential pharmacological principles as well as the preclinical applications of the α-mangostin.

The present research assessed the antioxidant activity against the synthetic 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and β-carotene–linoleic acid assay of the methanolic extracts of defatted rice bran from stabilized and unstabilized rice bran. The effects of the extracts (0.1 and 0.25% w/w) on the oxidative stability of refined-bleached rice bran oil were determined and compared with those of BHA (synthetic antioxidant). The study was carried out over a 168 hr period at 70°C and the progression of oxidation was measured by peroxide value, p-anisidine value, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The relative % of residual α-tocopherol and γ-oryzanol of the rice bran oil containing methanolic extracts of stabilized and unstabilized defatted rice bran during storage at 70°C were studied.