Showing papers in "Food Quality and Safety in 2018"

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: traditional uses, chemical constituents, and nutraceutical effects

Abstract: Although the seeds of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) are widely used as a spice for their distinctive aroma, they are also commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The literature presents ample evidence for the biomedical activities of cumin, which have generally been ascribed to its bioactive constituents such as terpenes, phenols, and flavonoids. Those health effects of cumin seeds that are experimentally validated are discussed in this review. Black seeds (Nigella sativa), which are totally unrelated to C. cyminum, have nevertheless taken the name ‘Black cumin’ and used in traditional systems of medicine for many disorders. Numerous preclinical and clinical trials have investigated its efficacy using the seed oil, essential oil, and its main constituent thymoquinone (TQ). These investigations support its use either independently or as an adjunct along with conventional drugs in respiratory problems, allergic rhinitis, dyspepsia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory diseases, and different types of human cancer. Multiple studies made in the last decades validate its health beneficial effects particularly in diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, respiratory disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Nigella sativa seeds also possess immune stimulatory, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective activities. TQ is the most abundant constituent of volatile oil of N. sativa seeds, and most of the medicinal properties of N. sativa are attributed mainly to TQ. All the available evidence suggests that TQ should be developed as a novel drug in clinical trials.

Detection of the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil by near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometric techniques

Abstract: University of Guelph, School of Engineering. University of Guelph, Agriculture and Food Laboratory

Role of nutritional factors in pathogenesis of cancer

Abstract: Diet and nutrition are crucial factors throughout the complete life course in the promotion and upholding of good health. It has always been accepted that our defencelessness to infection and disease was influenced by diet and environmental as well as genetic factors. Nutrition is coming to the front position as a principle modifiable determinant of chronic disease, with scientific confirmation with time more supporting the view that alterations in diet have strong effects, equally positive as well as negative, on health throughout life. For the most part notably, nutritional adjustments may not only influence present health but also determine whether or not an individual will develop chronic non-communicable diseases like cancer. Diet is a blend of protective, mutagenic, and carcinogenic agents; the majority of them are metabolized by the enzymes of biotransformation process. Genetic polymorphisms that alter protein expression or else the function of these enzymes can change the risk of developing cancer. The scientific community has identified numerous naturally occurring materials in plant food with the power to resolve possible carcinogens. A few of these nutrients and natural phytochemicals look for toxins and usher them from the body before they can cause cell damage that may lead to cancer. Others give the impression to make it easier for the body to make repairs at the cellular level. At a standstill, others may help bring to an end cancer cells from reproducing. Even after a cell begins to experience damage that can lead to cancer, what you eat and drink, and how you live can still help short-circuit the cancer process. It is thought that a diet containing defensive micronutrients as well as carcinogens and mutagens may adapt the risk of cancer development, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals.

Fraud investigation in commercial coffee by chromatography.

Abstract: Coffee is currently the second largest commodity on the world market today, and there is great concern about the quality of the beans exported from producer countries to Europe and USA. Practices such as using blends of different species and adding low-cost raw materials, such as chicory, corn, and soybean, impair the sensory and functional characteristics of the drink made from roasted and ground coffee beans. There is a need to adopt more efficient analytical methods than the microscopy technique currently used. The first chromatographic method used to determine fraud was reported in 1958. This method used paper chromatography to differentiate between coffee and chicory based on the free reducing sugars. As of the 1980s, different methods involving high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were developed in order to demonstrate geographic authenticity, distinction between species, occurrence of adulteration, and the presence of defective beans by determining the monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, tocopherols, fatty acids, volatiles, diterpenes, sterols, and phenolic substances, among others. As far as the authors know, there are no papers published in the literature that have compiled such an extensive set of information about these chromatographic methods as here. Over the last 2 years, there has been a trend to develop analytical methods for ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to confirm fraud in coffee, due to high sensitivity and selectivity.

Red cabbage washing with acidic electrolysed water: effects on microbial quality and physicochemical properties

Abstract: The effects of acidic electrolysed water (AEW) as ‘green’ technology on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of fresh-cut red cabbages were studied. Fresh-cut red cabbages and artificially inoculated red cabbages with Salmonella typhimurium DT104 were washed with distilled water (DW) and different available chlorine concentrations (ACC) of AEW for different times. AEW treatments significantly reduced the populations of native aerobic bacteria, molds, and yeasts, and artificially inoculated S. typhimurium DT104 compared with the DW-treated and untreated red cabbage samples. The effectiveness of AEW treatments was greatly enhanced with increasing ACC and treatment times. S. typhimurium DT104 were not detected in the washing water that were collected after the red cabbages treated by AEW. The surface colour, pH, and total phenolic contents did not significantly change when the red cabbages were washed with DW and AEW containing 100 mg/L available chlorine for 3 min. The anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities of red cabbage were significantly reduced by 18.5 per cent for cyanidin, 22.1 per cent for pelargonidin, and 11.2 per cent for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, however, the impacts on the nutritional benefits of red cabbage were considered as limited and acceptable. The optimal process condition of AEW for washing red cabbage was 100 mg/L ACC for 3 min. In these conditions, most of the native microflora were inactivated, and artificially inoculated S. typhimurium DT104 on the red cabbage were reduced by 40.2 per cent [3.67 log CFU/g (log10 colony-forming units per gram)] and with minimal losses of nutrients and antioxidant activity, as well as no requirement of decontamination treatment on the washing water after AEW treatment.