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Apple pomace (AP) is a bio-waste product of apples that is co-produced as a by-product during apples' processing for making apple-based products, mainly apple juice, cider and vinegar. AP is a rich source of several bioactives that can be valorized as ingredients for developing novel functional foods, supplements and nutraceuticals. Within the present study, food-grade extracts from AP with different tannin contents were found to contain bioactive polar lipids (PLs), phenolics and carotenoids with strong anti-oxidant, antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties. The extract from the low-in-tannins AP showed stronger anti-inflammatory potency in human platelets against the potent thrombo-inflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF), while it also exhibited considerable anti-platelet effects against the standard platelet agonist, adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The infusion of 0.5–1.0 g of this bioactive AP extract as functional ingredients for whole-grain bread-making resulted in the production of novel bio-functional bread products with stronger anti-oxidant, antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory potency against both PAF and ADP in human platelets, compared to the standard non-infused control breads. Structural analysis by LCMS showed that the PL-bioactives from all these sources (AP and the bio-functional breads) are rich in bioactive unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), especially in the omega-9 oleic acid (OA; 18:1n9), the omega-3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA; 18:n3) and the omega-6 linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n6), which further supports their strong anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties. All food-grade extracted AP including that infused with AP-bioactives novel functional breads showed higher hydrophilic, lipophilic and total phenolic content, as well as total carotenoid content, and subsequently stronger antioxidant capacity. These results showed the potential of appropriately valorizing AP-extracts in developing novel bio-functional bakery products, as well as in other health-promoting applications. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to fully elucidate and/or validate the anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antioxidant potential of novel bio-functional products across the food and cosmetic sectors when infused with these AP bioactives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet function is closely linked to cardiovascular health. Functional foods such as yogurt and oily fish are enriched in bioactive polar lipids, which can reduce platelet activation and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. This pilot project investigated the effect of fermented ovine yogurt on platelet sensitivity in human plasma. Overall, in vitro studies established that yogurt lipid fractions inhibit platelet aggregation. Preliminary dietary intervention data indicate that yogurt intake may reduce platelet activation against the thrombin pathway, compared to the placebo. However, larger studies are required to robustly establish the effect of yogurt intake on platelet sensitivity, following this interim analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brinjal is a widely grown vegetables. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of farmyard manure (FYM), Zn and B application on fruit yield, their uptake and ascorbic acid contents of brinjal where two levels of FYM (no FYM and 5 Mg ha−1), four levels of Zn (no Zn, 5 kg Zn ha−1 as basal, 10 kg Zn ha−1 as basal and 5 kg Zn ha−1 as basal + foliar spray of Zn twice @ 0.5% ZnSO4.7 H2O) and three levels of B (no B, 1 and 2 kg B ha−1) were applied in a factorial controlled randomized design. Zn @ 10 kg ha−1 through basal and soil + foliar application enhanced the fruit yield over Zn @ 5 kg ha−1 and control. Foliar spraying of Zn and basal applied Zn enhanced the Zn uptake in fruits to 2.0–2.25 fold, while 2 kg B ha−1 application enhanced the uptake by B of two-fold irrespective of FYM application. A higher B use efficiency was recorded with 1 kg B ha−1 application than 2 kg B ha−1. Basal application of Zn and B, in addition to the foliar spray of Zn, is recommended to correct Zn and B deficiency in brinjal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of micronutrients namely zinc (Zn) and boron (B) with or without farmyard manure (FYM) on growth, yield and quality parameters viz. ascorbic acid and carotene content of tomato was evaluated. A field experiment was conducted with graded doses of Zn (soil and soil + foliar application) and B (soil application) application with or without FYM for the two consecutive years (2012 and 2013). Results revealed that application of Zn and B significantly enhanced fruit yield and different growth parameters as well as plant tissue concentration of Zn and B in tomato. The highest increase in fruit yield over control (27.6%) was observed with the conjoint application of Zn (soil + foliar), B (2.0 kg ha−1) and FYM. Soil application of Zn at higher doses (10 kg ha−1) as well as its application through both soil + foliar method has an edge over control or its application at comparatively lower doses in increasing the fruit yield of tomato. Results further revealed that combined application of Zn and B can significantly increase the important quality parameters viz. carotene and ascorbic acid content in tomato. Such increase in carotene content to the tune of 25 and 35% and ascorbic acid content to the tune of 7 and 30% over control were observed with soil + foliar application of Zn and 2 kg ha−1 B, respectively. Therefore, optimization of Zn and B doses can improve the yield and quality of tomato as well as helps in correcting the micronutrients malnutrition vis-à-vis nutritional disorders in humans by enriching the antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of alkaline hydrolysis of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)Fe(II) has been explored spectrophotometrically in the presence of cyclodextrins (CDs), quaternary amphiphile (CTAB), and their mixed systems. All kinetics run in pseudo-first order conditions with excess concentration of alkali at 298 K (± 0.1 K). The reaction rate accelerates in the presence of CTAB. However, in the presence of CDs, the observed rate constant decreases continuously and also the catalytic properties of amphiphile diminishes, indicating the inclusion of both tris(1,10-phenanthroline)Fe(II) and surfactant into the CD cavity in the hydrolysis reaction. The cavity size of γ-CD among all of the CDs favors the incorporation of both Fe(II) complex and CTAB, which significantly reduces the micellar surface catalysis of CTAB. The decreasing sequence of the rate in CTAB-CDs mixed systems is observed as γ-CD > β-CD > α-CD. All the experimental kinetic results have been well explained based on the pseudo-phase model (PP model) of micelles and CD-inhibited model of CD systems. The calculated theoretical rate constant values are well consistent with the experimental data. In the absence and presence of CTAB, the calculated values of equilibrium binding constant between Fe(phen)32+ and γ-CD ( K Fe (II) CD ) are 109.17 (±1.03) and 414.74 (±3.63) (L mol−1), respectively, which support the diminishing of the catalytic properties of CTAB in the presence of γ-CD in the hydrolysis reaction. The experimental results also corroborate that fact. Finally, the effect of temperature on the reaction rate has been observed and the thermodynamic activation parameters have been evaluated. The linear plot of standard activated enthalpy with standard activated entropy reveals an iso-kinetic relationship that confirms a common mechanism for the reaction in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]