Protein extracted from Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves: Bio-evaluation and characterization as suitable plant-based meat-protein alternative.

This study aimed to isolate and characterize moringa leaf protein (MLP) via HPLC and evaluate its consumption's effects through rat model. Four groups of Albino Wistar rats (n = 25 each) along with a control group (n = 25) were acclimatized. The isolated MLP was added to the basal diet (casein; control) in various percentages (25, 50, 75, 100%) for a 21-day experimental period. On three intervals (1st, 11th, 21st days), blood samples were collected and subjected for hematological and biochemical examination (Renal Function Test (RFT), Liver Function Test (LFT)). MLP contained a variety of essential and non-essential amino acids in substantial amounts. The Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) of 50% MLP-treated group was the highest (1.72) among MLP treatments. Increases in feed intake and weight were observed in treated rats compared to the control. The hematological profile of the rats revealed increases in Hemoglobin (Hb) (7.9-14.0%), White Blood Cell (WBC) (35.9-51.5%), Red Blood Cell (RBC) (17.1-22.2%), Hematocrit (HCT) (13.1-22.9%), and platelets levels (36.5-40.6%) from day 1. Protein isolates decreased liver parameters but resulted in non-significant changes in liver and kidney functions in rats. Further investigation is needed to determine the safe daily intake of MLP.

Probing the physicochemical characteristics of carrot sauce during storage.

Globally, the prevalence of vit-A deficiency disorders i.e., xerophthalmia and nyctalopia is increasing especially in teenagers due to lifestyle shifts and undernutrition. This research was designed to develop carrot-supplemented tomato sauce to overcome vit-A deficiency and its related disorders. The carrot sauce was formulated with the addition of 50, 60, and 70% carrot pulp in tomato paste. The prepared sauce samples were tested for physical and biochemical changes in beta carotene (BC), lycopene, viscosity, pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total plate count, and sensory parameters for 12 weeks. A non-significant effect of storage on BC, lycopene, and total soluble solids was observed. The total plate count, acidity, pH, and viscosity were influenced significantly. Sauce containing 60% of the carrot paste showed good sensory characteristics and 42.39 µg/g BC for the whole period of storage. It is concluded that carrot sauce can be used as tomato ketchup replacers to boost the overall quality of life by fighting against vit-A deficiency disorders.

Boosted spatial charge carrier separation of binary ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 heterojunction for visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity and antimicrobial performance.

A potential method for removing toxins from contaminated wastewater, especially organic pollutants, is photo-catalysis. Here, a simple technique for producing zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPS) with varying quantities of sulphur doped graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites (ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 NCs) has been described. Then, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM, EDX, XPS, photocurrent response, EIS, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the photo-catalytic activity of the produced nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs) was examined and evaluated. The photo-catalytic activity of ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 NCs was compared to a model pollutant dye, methylene blue, while degradation was evaluated spectrophotometrically (MB). Solar light has been used through irradiation as a source of lighting. The photocatalytic behaviour of the ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 NCs photocatalyst was superior to that of genuine ZnFe2O4 and S-g-C3N4, which was attributed to synergic effects at the ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 interconnection. Antimicrobial activity of ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under visible light was performed. In addition, these ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 NCs show a lot of promise as an antibacterial agent.

Multi-epitope chimeric vaccine designing and novel drug targets prioritization against multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

Biofilm synthesizing multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius bacteria has been recognized as the human infectious agent. It has been detected in the diseases of skin, ear, and postoperative infections. Its infections are becoming a major health problem due to its multi-drug resistance capabilities. However, no commercial vaccine for the treatment of its infections is currently available in the market. Here we employed the subtractive proteomics and reverse vaccinology approach to determine the potential novel drug and vaccine targets against S. pseudintermedius infections in humans. After screening the core-proteome of the 39 complete genomes of S. pseudintermedius, 2 metabolic pathways dependent and 34 independent proteins were determined as novel potential drug targets. Two proteins were found and used as potential candidates for designing the chimeric vaccine constructs. Depending on the properties such as antigenicity, toxicity and solubility, multi-epitope based vaccines constructs were designed. For immunogenicity enhancement, different specific sequences like linkers, PADRE sequences and molecular adjuvants were added. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation analyses were performed to evaluate the prioritized vaccine construct's interactions with human immune cells HLA and TLR4. Finally, the cloning and expression ability of the vaccine construct was determined in the bacterial cloning system and human body immune response was predicted through immune simulation analysis. In conclusion, this study proposed the potential drug and vaccine targets and also designed a chimera vaccine to be tested and validated against infectious S. pseudintermedius species.

Impediment effect of chemical agents (additives) on gluten development in cookie dough.

Most of the countries grow wheat varieties according to the product specificity while others lack such a system of special purpose wheat production. Those countries face problems in quality of bakery products like cookies/biscuits and breads. Cookie manufacturers require low protein to prepare good quality cookies. In case of high protein wheat flour, one solution is to hinder the gluten development during dough formation. It can be achieved by using chemical additives like Sodium Stearoyl 2-Lactylate (SSL), L-Cysteine (CYS) and Lecithin (LEC). So, current study was designed to add these additives in dough to hinder gluten development. For this purpose, wheat flour of two local mills was procured and analyzed for chemical & rheological traits. Furthermore, flour was used to prepare cookies with the addition of chemical additives and these cookies were evaluated for textural hardness, physical parameters, and sensorial characteristics. Results showed that wheat flours have optimum values of chemical & farinographic attributes. Chemical additives significantly affect diameter, thickness, spread factor, hardness, flavor, taste, and texture of cookies. Conclusively, SSL can be added in mixed wheat flour @ 0.5-1% to get cookies of good quality.

A single-centre study of genetic mutations, audiology, echocardiogram and pulmonary function in Saudi children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

OBJECTIVES: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited connective tissue disorders, characterised by skeletal fragility. Patients with OI may also exhibit extra-skeletal features like blue or grey scleral colour, fragile skin, easy bruising, joint laxity, short stature, deafness, cardiac valve abnormalities and abnormal pulmonary function. The objective of this study is to describe genetic mutations, prevalence of hearing issues, cardiac complications and impaired pulmonary function in children with OI. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 23 Saudi children aged 6 months to 18 years who were diagnosed with OI. The revised Sillence classification (2,105) was used to classify the OI type. Whole exome sequencing was performed for genetic mutations. The hearing was assessed by either pure-tone audiometry and/or otoacoustic emission testing. Cardiac defects were screened by echocardiograms. Spirometry was performed to assess pulmonary function. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Based on the Sillence classification, 16 patients had OI type III, 6 had type IV and 1 had type I. Of the18 patients who had genetic sequencing, 66.6% had autosomal dominant and 33.3% had autosomal recessive mutations. Among children who had screening, hearing loss was diagnosed in 53% (9/17), congenital cardiac malformations in 26% (5/19) and restrictive lung disease in 70% (7/10). CONCLUSIONS: We found significant extra-skeletal features and a high yield of genetic mutations associated with OI. We suggest further studies to develop a screening protocol for extra-skeletal features in children with OI.

Nutritional characterization of the extrusion-processed micronutrient-fortified corn snacks enriched with protein and dietary fiber.

The current study focused on developing protein- and dietary fiber-enriched, micronutrient-fortified corn snacks using extrusion technology. Corn, soybean, and chickpea flour were used to develop micronutrient-fortified (Fe, Zn, I, and vitamin A, and C) extruded snacks, followed by an exploration of their nutritional traits. Soybean and chickpea were supplemented discretely (20-40/100 g) or in a combination of both (10:10, 15:15, and 20:20/100 g). According to the results, the relative proportion of the raw material composition was reflected in corn snacks' proximate composition and mineral and vitamin levels. Corn snacks with 40/100 g soy flour showed the best nutrient profile, with a maximum percent increase in protein (171.9%) and fiber (106%), as compared to the snacks developed using chickpea and/or mixed supplementation with soy and chickpea. Total dietary fiber (18.44 ± 0.34%), soluble dietary fiber (10.65 ± 0.13%), and insoluble dietary fiber (7.76 ± 0.38%) were also found to be highest in the soy-supplemented snacks (40/100 g). It was discovered that 100 g of corn snacks could provide 115-127% of the RDA for iron, 77-82% of the RDA for zinc, 90-100% of the RDA for vitamin A, and 45-50% of the RDA for vitamin C. The results for the effect of extrusion processing on amino acids showed a 2.55-45.1% reduction in essential amino acids, with cysteine and valine showing the greatest decrease and leucine and tryptophan remaining relatively stable during extrusion.

Effect of Fibre Surface Treatment and Nanofiller Addition on the Mechanical Properties of Flax/PLA Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Nanocomposite.

Natural fibre-based materials are gaining popularity in the composites industry, particularly for automotive structural and semi-structural applications, considering the growing interest and awareness towards sustainable product design. Surface treatment and nanofiller addition have become one of the most important aspects of improving natural fibre reinforced polymer composite performance. The novelty of this work is to examine the combined effect of fibre surface treatment with Alumina (Al2O3) and Magnesia (MgO) nanofillers on the mechanical (tensile, flexural, and impact) behaviour of biotex flax/PLA fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid nanocomposites. Al2O3 and MgO with a particle size of 50 nm were added in various weight proportions to the epoxy and flax/PLA fibre, and the composite laminates were formed using the vacuum bagging technique. The surface treatment of one set of fibres with a 5% NaOH solution was investigated for its effect on mechanical performance. The results indicate that the surface-treated reinforcement showed superior tensile, flexural, and impact properties compared to the untreated reinforcement. The addition of 3 wt. % nanofiller resulted in the best mechanical properties. SEM morphological images demonstrate various defects, including interfacial behaviour, fibre breakage, fibre pullout, voids, cracks, and agglomeration.

Dietary intake assessment of pyrethroid residues from okra and eggplant grown in peri-urban areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

This study was designed to assess the gradual increase in the use of insecticides on vegetables and to familiarize the consumers regarding the insecticide residues. The purpose of this research work was to highlight the detrimental effects of pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin, and permethrin) compare with dietary intake assessment of eggplant and okra grown in peri-urban environment. In this manner, a total of 180 (n = 60 × 3) samples of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were procured from the peri-urban farming system of Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala to assess the pyrethroid residues along with their dietary intake assessment. The procured vegetables were quantified for pyrethroid residues by using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). Outcomes of this study revealed that for okra samples, the highest residues of bifenthrin (1.25 mg kg-1) were found in Gujranwala then Multan (1.5 mg kg-1) and Faisalabad (1.04 mg kg-1), whereas in eggplant, the highest residues were recorded for bifenthrin from Faisalabad (1.33 mg kg-1) and Gujranwala (0.78 mg kg-1). In Multan, the highest residues for cyfluthrin (1.18 mg kg-1) were reported in eggplant. Out of all analyzed samples for pyrethroid residues, 32% samples contained detectable residues and 6% samples exceeded their maximum residual limits (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU). Dietary intake assessment (mg kg-1 day-1) was calculated as per their maximum permissible intake (MPI) values, i.e., bifenthrin (1.28), cyfluthrin (1.28), cypermethrin (3.20), deltamethrin (0.64), fenvalerate (1.28), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.064), and permethrin (3.20) respectively. Conclusively, residues from the Multan region were greater than those from Gujranwala and Faisalabad showing excessive application of pyrethroids. Overall results revealed that although some samples exceeded MRLs in selected areas, their safe consumption limit was found.

Assessment of the Antimicrobial Potentiality and Functionality of Lactobacillus plantarum Strains Isolated from the Conventional Inner Mongolian Fermented Cheese Against Foodborne Pathogens.

Lactobacillus plantarum are amongst the diversified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species which are being utilized abundantly in the food industry. Numerous L. plantarum strains have been reported to produce several antimicrobial compounds. Diacetyl, hydrogen peroxide, organic acids, as well as bacteriocins can also be exemplified by a variable spectrum of actions. The current study was intended to conduct the screening and characterization of antimicrobial prospective of L.plantarum from traditional Inner Mongolian fermented hard cheese. Foodborne pathogens, Salmonellatyphimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcusaureus, were examined by using the Oxford cup technique and the mixed culture inhibition assays. The resulting analyses disclosed that L. plantarum KLDS1.0344 indicated broad antimicrobial spectrum against all selected pathogens as compared to other LAB used in this study. Additionally, the decrement of the pathogen population was observed up to 3.47 logs in mixed culture inhibition assays. L. plantarum KLDS 1.0344 acid production was recorded up to 71.8 ± 3.59 °D in mixed culture while antimicrobial particles released in cell free supernatants demonstrated bacteriocin-like characteristics showing substantial pH stability (2.0-6.0), proteolytic enzyme reduced the antibacterial activity (15.2 ± 0.6 mm-20.4 ± 0.8 mm), heat stability (20 min at 120 °C) against selected pathogens. Moreover, the spectrum range of antimicrobial peptides after the partial purification was decreased as compared to the crude bacteriocin-like compound. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed the molecular weight range of partially purified bacteriocin from 12 to 45 kDa. After analyzing the obtained data from the current experimentation showed that the capability of L. plantarum KLDS 1.0344 to oppose the pathogen growth in vitro relies on the occurrence of organic acids along with bacteriocin-like compounds proving L. plantarum KLDS 1.0344 as a potentially appropriate candidate as an alternative bio-control agent against foodborne pathogens.

Probing the Pharmacological Parameters, Molecular Docking and Quantum Computations of Plant Derived Compounds Exhibiting Strong Inhibitory Potential Against NS5 from Zika Virus

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV) is known for microcephaly and neurological disease in humans and the nonstructural proteins of ZIKV play a fundamental role in the viral replication. Among the seven nonstructural proteins, NS5 is the most conserved and largest protein. Two major functional domains of NS5 i.e. methyltransferase (MTase) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) are imperative for the virus life cycle and survival. The present study explicates the inhibitory action of phytochemicals from medicinal plants against NS5 from ZIKV, leading to the identification of potential inhibitors. The crystal structure of the protein is retrieved from RCSB protein data bank. A total of 2035 phytochemicals from 505 various medicinal plants are analysed for their pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics. Compounds having effective drug-likeness are docked against the protein and further analysed using density functional theory approach. Among the 2035 phytochemicals, 13 are selected as potential inhibitors against MTase having high binding affinities and 17 compounds are selected for RdRp. HOMO and LUMO energies are calculated for the docked compounds within and outside binding pockets of MTase and RdRp, adapting the B3LYP hybrid exchange-correlation functional with def2-SV(P) basis set. Physicochemical properties such as ionization energy, electronic chemical potential, electronegativity, electron affinity, molecular softness, molecular hardness and electrophilicity index have also been analysed for selected phytochemicals. Based upon the results, it is concluded that the selected phytochemicals are highly competent to impede the replication of the virus by inhibiting the ZIKV-NS5.