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Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical characteristics and antibacterial activity of Fontitrygon margarita liver oil against the bacteria responsible for food poisoning. Methods. Oils were extracted from F. margarita liver using two methods (exudation and cooking-pressing) and analyses by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Quality indexes were determined using standard methods and the fatty acid profile was carried out by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Antibacterial activities of these oils, their emulsion, and their interactions with common antibiotics were evaluated by the broth microdilution method. Results. Extraction yield was higher with cooking-pressing (16.90%) compared to exudation (14.49%). The quality indexes of both oils were conformed to Codex Alimentarius Standard. Thiobarbituric acid index was higher with exudation compared to cooking-pressing (3.20 ± 0.14 and 2.36 ± 0.14 μmol MDA/kg, respectively) while acid, iodine, peroxide, and anisidine values did not significantly vary with the extraction methods (2.15-2.30 mgKOH/g, 102.42-106.65 gI2/100 g, 3.34-3.57 meqO2/kg, and 2.85-3.32 respectively). FTIR analyses clearly show that the two spectra are similar (no differences in the frequency and absorbance of their bands). The fatty acid profile revealed that, regardless of the extraction methods, F. margarita oil is richer in monounsaturated (55.97-55.41%) followed by polyunsaturated (28.17-28.52%) and saturated fatty acids (15.86-16.07%). Moreover, these oils showed antibacterial activity on all the bacteria strains tested with MICs between 16 and 256 mg/ml. Regardless of the extraction methods, emulsions showed higher activity (6.25 ≤ MIC ≤25 mg/ml) compared to crude oils. Additionally, F. margarita liver oil potentiated the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, gentamicin, amoxicillin, and chloramphenicol. Conclusion. These results showed the effectiveness of Fontitrygon margarita liver oil against some bacteria responsible for food poisoning, thus demonstrating their antibacterial properties which could be due to their chemical composition.

This study was done to evaluate the effect of short exposure to sunlight and of heating on crude palm oil (CPO) quality particularly on its carotenoids content. Firstly, CPO was exposed to sunlight for 14 hrs. Then, samples were collected and kept at 4°C for analysis of carotenoids content, free fatty acid (FFA) and peroxide value (PV). Secondly, CPO was heated at 50°C, 120°C, 200°C or 400°C for 30 min, 60 min or 120 min and samples were cooled down and kept at 4°C until analysis of carotenoids content, FFA and PV. Finally, we studied the effect of heating of CPO in the food matrix (maize cake). Thus, maize cake was steamed on gas stove (100 ± 5°C) during exactly 1, 2, 3 or 4h and kept at 4°C until analysis of moisture and carotenoids contents. The results showed that short exposure to sunlight did not significantly affect carotenoids content, FFA and PV of CPO. However, heating accelerated the formation of peroxides and degradation of carotenoids. Destruction of carotenoids increased with both temperature and duration of exposure to heat. FFA did not significantly change during heating. Likewise, during heating of CPO in the food matrix, carotenoids content decreased significantly with cooking time. These results suggest that short exposure to sunlight does not have a significant effect on carotenoids content of CPO. But, its heating (directly or in the food matrix) results in significant degradation of carotenoids.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and functional properties of powder from 2 Cameroonians squash pulp species (Cucurbita moschata Yellow and Orange pulp, and Cucurbita pepo orange pulp) and squash pulp-base biscuit to promote the integration of squash in the diet to help fight against micronutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases Methodology: The squash were cleaned and the pulp was blanched in boiling water for 3 minutes and dried at 60 °C for 24 h. The dried pulp was then finely crushed and sieved to obtain the powder. The proximal composition, the levels of macronutrients, vitamin C, carotenoids and minerals were determined as well as the functional properties. The powder sample with the highest carotenoid content was substituted by wheat flour in the proportions 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for the biscuit formulation. Sensory properties (color, taste and overall acceptability) and total carotenoids content of the biscuit were then evaluated. Results: The nutrient contents per 100g of powder were 1.65g, 6.38-23.36 mg, 15.70-20.54 mg, 102.56-119.65 mg respectively for crude fibers, total carotenoids, vitamin C and potassium. Water absorption capacity (WAC), Water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC) varied from 7.50-8.25, 3.35-6.05 and 1.02-2.04 respectively. Values of swelling capacity (SC) and water solubility index (WSI) varied from 119-140 and 15-17.63, 314-348 and 22.33-24.9, 388-459 and 35.08-38.75 at room temperature, 65°C and 95°C respectively. Sensory analysis of the biscuits showed that the biscuit made with 10% of squash powder was the most appreciated and contained 2.29 mg/100g of total carotenoids. Conclusion: Regular consumption of these Cameroonians squash pulp powder or foods formulated with them could help to combat nutritional disease.

Oxidative stress is a state in which oxidants are produced in excess in the body’s tissues and cells, resulting in a biological imbalance amid the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) from redox reactions. In case of insufficient antioxidants to balance, the immune system triggers signaling cascades to mount inflammatory responses. Oxidative stress can have deleterious effects on major macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, hence, Oxidative stress and inflammation are among the multiple factors contributing to the etiology of several disorders such as diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) which were once referred to as dark matter have been found to function as key regulators of gene expression through different mechanisms. They have dynamic roles in the onset and development of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related diseases, therefore, are potential targets for the control of those diseases. One way of controlling those diseases is through the use of natural products, a rich source of antioxidants that have drawn attention with several studies showing their involvement in combating chronic diseases given their enormous gains, low side effects, and toxicity. In this review, we highlighted the natural products that have been reported to target ncRNAs as mediators of their biological effects on oxidative stress and several inflammation-associated disorders. Those natural products include Baicalein, Tanshinone IIA, Geniposide, Carvacrol/Thymol, Triptolide, Oleacein, Curcumin, Resveratrol, Solarmargine, Allicin, aqueous extract or pulp of Açai, Quercetin, and Genistein. We also draw attention to some other compounds including Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Canna genus rhizome, Fuzi-ganjiang herb pair, Aronia melanocarpa, Peppermint, and Gingerol that are effective against oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders, however, have no known effect on ncRNAs. Lastly, we touched on the many ncRNAs that were found to play a role in oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders but have not yet been investigated as targets of a natural product. Shedding more light into these two last points of shadow will be of great interest in the valorization of natural compounds in the control and therapy of oxidative stress- and inflammation-associated disorders.