Structural Transformation and Creativity Induced by Biological Agents during Fermentation of Edible Nuts from Terminalia catappa.

Terminalia catappa L. (tropical almond) is a nutritious fruit found mainly in the tropics. This study is aimed to establish the naturally biotransformed molecules and identify the probiotic agents facilitating the fermentation. The aqueous extracts from both the unfermented and fermented T. catappa nuts were subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Syringol (6.03%), glutamine (1.71%), methyl laurate (1.79%), methyl palmitate (1.53%), palmitic acid (5.20%), palmitoleic acid (2.80%), and methyl oleate (2.97%) were detected in the unfermented nuts of the T. catappa. Additionally, two of these natural compounds (palmitic acid (4.19%) and palmitoleic acid (1.48%)) survived the fermentation process to emerge in the fermented seeds. The other natural compounds were biotransformed into 2,3-butanediol (1.81%), butyric acid (16.20%), propane-1,3-diol (19.66%), neoheptanol (2.89%), 2-piperidinone (6.63%), palmitoleic acid (1.18%), formamide, n-(p-hydroxyphenethyl)- (2.80%), and cis-vaccenic acid (1.69%) that newly emerged in the fermented seeds. The phytochemical compounds are likely carbon sources for the organisms facilitating the biotransformed molecules and product production. Four (4) potential probiotic bacteria strains, namely, Probt B1a, Probt B2a, Probt B4a, and Probt B4b, were isolated from the fermented nut. Enterococcus faecum, and Enterococcus faecalis were the organisms identified as driving the fermentation of the seeds. All strains were gram-positive, catalase-negative, and non-hemolytic, which suggests their harmless nature. N-(p-hydroxyphenethyl)-) was associated with fermentation for the first time, and neoheptanol was discovered as the main alcoholic molecule formed during the fermentation of the seeds. This fermentation is a handy tool for bio-transforming compounds in raw food sources into compounds with nutritious and therapeutic potentials.

Fermentation Enhanced Biotransformation of Compounds in the Kernel of Chrysophyllum albidum.

Chrysophyllum albidum Linn (African star apple) is a fruit with extensive nutritional and medicinal benefits. The fruit and kernel in the seed are both edible. Strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fermented seeds and assessed for probiotic characteristics. The extracts in both the unfermented and the fermented aqueous extracts from the kernels obtained from the seeds of C. albidum were subjected to analysis using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. This analysis identified the bioactive compounds present as possible substrate(s) for the associated organisms inducing the fermentation and the resultant biotransformed products formed. Three potential probiotic LAB strains identified as Lactococcus raffinolactis (ProbtA1), Lactococcus lactis (ProbtA2a), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (ProbtA2b) were isolated from the fermented C. albidum seeds. All strains were non hemolytic, which indicated their safety, Probt (A1, A2a, and A2b) grew in an acidic environment (pH 3.5) during the 48-h incubation time, and all three strains grew in 1% bile, and exhibited good hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation properties. Mucin binding proteins was not detected in any strain, and bile salt hydrolase was detected in all the strains. l-lactic acid (28.57%), norharman (5.07%), formyl 7E-hexadecenoate (1.73%), and indole (1.51%) were the four major constituents of the fermented kernel of the C. albidum, while 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (C1, 1.27%), 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one (C2, 2.90%), indole (C3, 1.31%), norharman (C4, 3.01%), and methyl petroselinate (C5, 4.33%) were the five major constituents of the unfermented kernels. The isolated LAB are safe for consumption. The fermenting process metabolized C1, C2, and C5, which are possible starter cultures for the growth of probiotics. Fermentation is an essential tool for bioengineering molecules in foods into safe and health beneficial products.

Exploring the State of Cancer Imaging Research in Africa.

INTRODUCTION: The growing cancer burden in Africa demands urgent action. Medical imaging is crucial for cancer diagnosis and management and is an essential enabler of precision medicine. To understand the readiness for quantitative imaging analysis to support cancer management in Africa, we analyzed the utilization patterns of imaging modalities for cancer research across the continent. METHODS: We retrieved articles by systematically searching PubMed, using a combination of search terms {"Neoplasm"} AND {"Radiology" or "Diagnostic imaging" or "Radiography" or "Interventional Radiology" or "Radiotherapy" or "Radiation Oncology"} AND {Africa∗ or 54 African countries}. Articles describing cancer diagnosis or management in humans with the utilization of imaging were included. Exclusion criteria were review articles, non-English articles, publications before 2000, noncancer diagnoses, and studies conducted outside Africa. RESULTS: The analysis of diagnostic imaging in Africa revealed a diverse utilization pattern across different cancer types and regions. The literature search identified 107 publications on cancer imaging in Africa. The studies were carried out in 19 African countries on 12 different cancer types with 6 imaging modalities identified. Most cancer imaging research studies used multiple imaging modalities. Ultrasound was the most used distinct imaging modality and MRI was the least frequently used. Most research studies originated from Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate substantial variability in the presence of imaging modalities, widespread utilization of ultrasonography, and limited availability of advanced imaging modalities for cancer research.

Early-life AFB1 exposure: DNA methylation and hormone alterations.

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of mold that contaminate food and feedstuff. They are found in various food including grains, nuts, milk and eggs. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most poisonous and commonly found of the various types of aflatoxins. Exposures to AFB1 start early in life viz. in utero, during breastfeeding, and during weaning through the waning foods which are mainly grain based. Several studies have shown that early-life exposures to various contaminants may have various biological effects. In this chapter, we reviewed the effects of early-life AFB1 exposures on changes in hormone and DNA methylation. In utero AFB1 exposure results in alterations in steroid and growth hormones. Specifically, the exposure results in a reduction in testosterone levels later in life. The exposure also affects the methylation of various genes that are significant in growth, immune, inflammation, and signaling pathways.

Bisphenol A in Africa: A review of environmental and biological levels.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic ubiquitous environmental toxicant present in many industrial and consumer products. BPA is recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and its mechanisms of perturbation of the physiological process include interference with hormone pathways and epigenetic modifications. An increase in industrial productions and food packaging across Africa has resulted in increased utilization of BPA-containing products with a concomitant increase in environmental bioaccumulation and human exposure. In order to assess the extent of this bioaccumulation, we identified, collated, and summarized the levels of BPA that have been reported across Africa. To achieve this aim, we performed a systematic search of four indexing databases to identify articles and extracted the necessary data from the selected articles. Of the 42 publications we retrieved, 42% were on water samples, 22% on food, 20% on human biological fluids, 10% on sediments, soils, and sludge and 6% on consumer and personal care products (PCPs). The highest level of BPA reported in literature across Africa was 251 ng/mL, 384.8 ng/mL, 937.49 ng/g, 208.55 ng/mL, 3,590 µg/g, and 154,820 µg/g for water, wastewater, food, biological fluids, consumer and PCPs, and semisolids, respectively. This review presented a comparative perspective of these levels relative to regulatory limits and levels reported from other continents. Finally, this review highlighted critical needs for the regulation of BPA across Africa in order to stem its environmental and toxicological impact. We hope that this review will stimulate further research in understanding the impact of BPA on health outcomes and wellbeing across Africa.

Preadministration of Fermented Sorghum Diet Provides Protection against Hyperglycemia-Induced Oxidative Stress and Suppressed Glucose Utilization in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Sorghum bicolor grains are rich in phytochemicals known to considerably impact human health. Several health-promoting products such as flour, staple food, and beverages have been produced from sorghum grains. This study investigated the protective and modulatory effects of a sorghum diet on the genes of some antioxidant and glycolytic enzymes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The rats were randomly distributed into six groups: the control group received normal diet, while the other groups were pretreated with 12.5, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the sorghum diets daily for 8 weeks before the administration of a dose of alloxan (100 mg/kg BW), after which blood was collected and the liver was excised. The effects of the diets on blood glucose levels, liver dysfunction indices, and markers of oxidative stress were assessed spectrophotometrically, while the gene expressions of key glycolytic enzymes and enzymatic antioxidants were assayed using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. It was observed that the pretreatment of the experimental animals with the diets normalized the blood glucose before and after the administration of alloxan. The sorghum-treated groups also showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in liver dysfunction indices and markers of oxidative damage compared with the control. In addition, statistically the diets significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the relative expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, and hexokinase genes in the experimental animals compared with the control. Overall, this study showed that the preadministration of fermented sorghum diet significantly protected against hyperglycemia and suppressed glucose utilization via glycolysis in the liver of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Thus, the consumption of sorghum diet may protect against hyperglycemia and oxidative damage and may therefore serve as functional food for management of diabetic mellitus.

Production of a New Plant-Based Milk from Adenanthera pavonina Seed and Evaluation of Its Nutritional and Health Benefits.

A new plant milk was discovered from the seed of Adenanthera pavonina. The physicochemical and nutritional properties of the new pro-milk extract were assessed, and their biochemical effects were compared with those of soy bean extracts. Eleven groups of three albino rats each were used to assess the health benefits of the pro-milk. Groups were separately administered 3.1, 6.1, and 9.2 µl/g animal wt. pro-milk extract from A. pavonina seed, 6.1 µl/g animal wt. milk extract from soybean, and 6.1 µl/g animal wt. normal saline for 7 or 14 days. The "baseline" group consisted of those sacrificed on day 0. Among the physical properties considered, the pro-milk from A. pavonina had significantly higher (P < 0.05) hue color value and significantly lower (P < 0.05) L* than that from soy bean did. The pro-milk from A. pavonina had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) level of protein (36.14 ± 0.12%), Ca (440.99 ± 0.93 mg/l), Mg (96.69 ± 0.03 mg/l), K (190.41 ± 0.11 mg/l), Na (64.24 ± 0.24 mg/l), and Cu (0.55 ± 0.24 mg/l), and a significantly lower (P < 0.05) level of Mn (0.04 ± 0.01 mg/l) and vitamins A (undetectable), C (1.87 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), and E (0.12 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) compared to those of soy milk. The daily consumption of the pro-milk extract from A. pavonina for 14 days significantly reduced (P < 0.05) Ca2+-adenosine triphosphate synthase (Ca2+-ATPase) at low dose (3.1 µl/g animal wt.), but significantly increased (P < 0.05) Mg2+-ATPase at high dose (9.2 µl/g animal wt.). Daily administration of the A. pavonina extract for 14 days caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in acetylcholinesterase activity in the liver, intestine, heart, and kidney, suggesting that the pro-milk may facilitate ions transportation across the membrane. The pro-milk offers promising beneficial effects for patients with neurological diseases, as well as supporting general health owing to the high protein and mineral content. Vitamins fortification is recommended during production.