Global public awareness about fish-based diet and its health/nutritional benefits is on the rise. Fish nutritional profile projects promising bioactive and other compounds with innumerable health benefits for human wellbeing. As various reported researches involving fish/marine-derived molecules reveal promising attributes, and as the position of fish-based nutrients as nutraceuticals continue to strengthen, health challenges still confront communities worldwide, from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity to hypertension. Thus, further understanding of fish-based nutrient impact as functional foods remains crucial given the diverse prevailing compositional/nutraceutical merits. In this review, therefore, we provide important information regarding bioactive compounds and therapeutics obtained from fish, specific to the context of their suitability in functional foods to enhance human health. This contribution is hereby constructed as follows: (a) fish nutraceutical/therapeutic components, (b) constituents of fish-based nutrients and their suitability in functional foods, (c) fish antioxidant/bioactive compounds to help alleviate health conditions, (d) common human ailments alleviated by fish-based nutrients, and (e) role of fish in mental health and immune system. As increased fish consumption should be encouraged, the potential of the quality proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and other compounds inherent in fish should steadily be harnessed.

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The mutagenic effects of 0.2% aqueous solution of colchicine on gross and micromophological features of seedlings of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. and Cucumeropsis mannii (Naud.) were investigated. Terminal buds of two-week old seedlings were assaulted with 0.2% colchicine by the cotton plug and micro syringe methods and performances were monitored until maturity. Colchicine-treated V. unguicu-lata seedlings were observed to grow slower, had malformed leaves, flowered late and produced less number of seeds per pod than the control. Mean values of features like stomatal indices on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces, terminal leaflet dimensions and trichome distribution between the treated and control were found to be significantly different. In contrast, treated seedlings of C. mannii flowered and fruited earlier than the case of control material. However, growth was also slowed down by the treatment while features like stomatal indices and trichome distribution were not significantly different. The results here have shown that apart from doubling of chromosomes, colchicine can also be used to induce other mutagenic changes which may be of agronomic utility.

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Aim: To ascertain the effects of boiling and fermentation on the physicochemical properties, fatty acid, mineral and vitamin composition of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) seeds. Study Design: Completely randomized design Place and Duration of Study: Rivers and Anambra states, Nigeria, between February and September, 2018. Methodology: Two portions of 200 grams of HS seeds each were subjected to boiling and fermentation. The three samples were designated HSR, HSB and HSF for raw, boiled and fermented HS seeds respectively. Standard methods were used in determining the physicochemical properties and micronutrient composition, while fatty acid constituents were identified using a gas chromatography. Results: The acid, free fatty acid, peroxidase values and specific gravity were significantly increased (p<0.05), while iodine value was significantly reduced (p<0.05) after boiling and fermentation. Saponification value showed a mixed trend, while refractive index was not significantly (p>0.05) altered. Lauric (5.51–33.79%), palmitic (27.23–30.87%) and myristic (12.69–35.00%) acids were the predominant saturated fatty acids in HSR, HSB and HSF samples respectively. Oleic, linoleic, alpha-linolenic and arachidonic acids were the unsaturated fatty acids present in the samples. Boiling increased oleic acid level, while fermentation caused a drastic reduction (>90%) in its amount. Linoleic acid level improved up to 43% after fermentation. Magnesium, iron and sodium amounts significantly (p<0.05) reduced after boiling and fermentation, while zinc, calcium and molybdenum levels were significantly (p<0.05) improved after boiling. Na/K ratios for all the samples were greater than 0.60, while Ca/Mg values ranged between 0.82 and 3.46, below the recommended value (1.0). Vitamins B1, B3, B12 and D were significantly reduced (p<0.05) after boiling and fermentation, while fermentation significantly increased (p<0.05) vitamins B2, A, E and K levels. Conclusion: HS seeds were shown to possess good physicochemical properties that can enhance its utility in the industry. Boiling and fermentation maximized the usefulness of HS seeds as quality nutritional plant.