Abstract:Chemical composition of Gongronema latifolium leaves was determined using standard methods. Aqueous and methanol G. latifolium extracts were tested against thirteen pathogenic bacterial isolates. Crude protein, lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives obtained are: 27.2%, 6.07%, 11.6%, 10.8% and 44.3% dry matter respectively. Potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and cobalt contents are 332, 110, 115, 125 and 116 mg/kg respectively. Dominant essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine are 13.8%, 11.9% and 10.3% respectively of total amino acid. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are 50.2% and 39.4% of the oil respectively. Palmitic acid makes up 36% of the total fatty acid. Extracts show no activity against E. faecalis, Y. enterolytica, E. aerogenes, B. cereus and E. agglomerans. Methanol extracts were active against S. enteritidis, S. cholerasius ser typhimurium and P. aeruginosa (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 1 mg; zone of growth inhibition 7, 6.5 and 7 mm respectively). Aqueous extracts show activity against E. coli (MIC 5 mg) and P. aeruginosa (MIC 1 mg) while methanol extracts are active against P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes. G. latifolium has potential food and antibacterial uses.
The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro modulation of the renin-angiotensin system by polyphenolic extracts and fractions of two green leafy vegetables, Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Gongronema latifolium (GL), that are used for food and medicinal purposes. An 80% acetone extract of each leaf was fractionated on silicic acid-packed column to give two main fractions: acetone eluate (flow-through) and ethanol eluate (column-bound), that consist mostly of chlorophyllic and non-chlorophyllic fractions, respectively. Column fractionation resulted in polyphenolic fractions that displayed higher potency against angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and renin than the crude acetone extracts; generally, the chlorophyllic fraction was more active than the non-chlorophyllic fraction. ACE-inhibitory activity was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the chlorophyllic fraction of VA than GL, with IC(50) values of 0.207 and 0.413 mg/ml, respectively. Similarly, the chlorophyllic fraction of VA had significantly higher (p < 0.05) renin inhibition than GL, with IC(50) values of 0.172 and 0.513 mg/ml, respectively. Kinetics studies showed that the chlorophyllic fractions of VA and GL exhibited mostly mixed-type ACE and renin inhibitions. We concluded that the hydrophobic nature of the chlorophyllic fraction may have contributed to the increased interaction with enzyme protein and inhibition of activities of ACE and renin.
The effect of starter cultures Lactobacillus plantarum (A6), Lactobacillus fermentum (OgiE‐1) and natural inoculum (NI) on some physicochemical properties of cofermented maize–cowpea (CMCO) was investigated. Crude protein, lipid, ash, crude fiber, carbohydrate energy and utilizable energy because of protein contents of CMCO fermented with A6 (A6MC), OgiE‐1 (OGMC) and NI (NIMC) are 12.46–13.74%, 3.58–4.96%, 1.06–1.85%, 3.06–4.62% and 66.81–68.30%, 355.26–363.2 kcal/100 g and 7.43–9.14%, respectively. Mineral contents were significantly higher in A6MC and OGMC. [K/Na], [Ca/P] and [Ca/Mg] ratios range between 9.51 and 22.22, 0.02 and 0.12 and 0.16 and 1.02, respectively. Oligosaccharides reduced significantly in A6MC and OGMC. The pH values of A6MC, OGMC and NIMC range between 6.4 and 4.5, 6.4 and 5.5 and 6.4 and 5.2, respectively. Titratable acidity and total phenol increased, while phytates decrease. Viscosity increased with flour concentration up to 9% in OGMC, and A6MC increased in NIMC. A6MC gave the best overall results.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
This work adds to the existing database on the potential usefulness of starter cultures in the development of nutritionally balanced diets, particularly in developing economies. It also stimulates increased interest in the use of Lactobacillus plantarum A6 in new product development for addressing the prevailing food situation in many parts of the world. Findings from this work will further encourage basic and applied research on L. plantarum and other organisms with potential for use as starter cultures from different areas of the world.
PurposeTo investigate the potential food, feed and industrial values of some tropical underutilized medicinal plant materials.Design/methodology/approachDry‐milled plants, namely: Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina were subjected to chemical analysis to determine their proximate, mineral, elemental, fatty acid and amino acid compositions using standard procedures.FindingsResults show that the lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives, oxalate, phytate and tannin of the plants are within expected ranges. They however had unexpectedly high crude protein content: 27.20 and 21.69 per cent, respectively. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium and cobalt were the most abundant mineral elements. G. latifolium and V. amygdalina leaf oils are 50.22 and 24.54 per cent saturated; 39.38 and 65.45 per cent polyunsaturated, respectively. Palmitic and oleic acids were the major monounsaturated fatty acids. Degrees of unsaturation are 0.46 and 0.41, respectively. Major essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Proportions of essential to non‐essential amino acid are 43.37 and 49.84 per cent, respectively.Originality/valueThe nutritional composition of the plant materials suggests that they may find use in food/feed formulation operations and as industrial raw materials.
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