Physiological and biochemical variations of naturally ripened mango (Mangifera Indica L.) with synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene.

To meet the increasing consumer demands for fruits, the implementation of artificial ripening techniques using synthetic chemicals has become increasingly commonplace among less ethical fruit production companies in today's global market. The objective of present work was to establish a difference in the physiological and biochemical and profiles of naturally ripened mangoes vs. those ripened by application of synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene. The application of calcium carbide at 10 g/kg mangoes resulted early ripening in 2 days, with a 3-day shelf life, as compared with 5 and 6 days, for mangoes ripened by ethylene and naturally, respectively. Higher levels of calcium carbide reduced moisture, fiber, protein and carbohydrates content and increased the ash content of mangoes, as compared to higher levels of ethylene, whereas in naturally ripened mangoes the content percentages were 80.21, 3.57, 3.05 6.27 and 4.74, respectively. Artificial ripening resulted in significant loss of ascorbic, citric and malic acid, as values were recorded 35.94, 2.12 and 0.63 mg/g, respectively, in mangoes ripened with 10 g/kg of calcium carbide. However, in naturally ripened mangoes the amounts of these acids were recorded significantly (p < 0.05) high as 52.29, 3.76 and 1.37 mg/g, respectively. There was an increase in total soluble solids (TSS) and reducing sugars, and a decrease in titratable acidity in calcium carbide (10 g/kg) treated mangoes. Elemental analyses revealed high levels of minerals in naturally ripened mangoes, with significant values of iron (0.45 mg/100 g), zinc (0.24 mg/100 g) and copper (0.17 mg/100 g). The organoleptic quality of the fruit decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as a result of the use of calcium carbide. Although use of artificial ripening techniques provides speedy ripening of mangoes, there are obvious limitations. Consequently, natural ripening should be promoted in order to have safer and more nutritious mangoes.

Synergistic effect of microwave heating and thermosonication on the physicochemical and nutritional quality of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend.

Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are highly popular due to its delicate and delightful flavor in the worldwide. However, the flavor of the melon juice was easily affected by thermal treatments and unpleasant cooking smell during production process. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) juice is a proven nutritious beverage with high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other beneficial nutrients. Due to its low sugar content, combined with sugarcane, muskmelon-sugarcane blend juice gives an appealing and exotic drink. The research was planned to evaluate the effect of thermo-sonication (20 kHz, 70% amplitude, 5, 10 and 15 min) and microwave (90 °C, 400 W, 120 sec) on physicochemical parameters including pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant capacity of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend, during storage of 90 days at refrigeration (4±1 °C). The statistical results showed that synergism of sonication and microwave treatments had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on pH, TSS, titratable acidity, TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity. T3 (15 min of sonication and 120 s of microwave) showed the maximum TSS (12.00±0.40 °B), pH (5.07±0.02), TPC (484.33±10.41 mg GAE/100 mL), TFC (261.73±11.32 mg CE/100 mL), and antioxidant activity (381.62±17.72 µg AAE/100 mL), as compared to untreated samples. Thermosonication for 15 min caused maximum retention of TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity of blend juice during 90 days of storage, whereas in untreated samples these parameters were found highly decreased during storage. Thus, sonication and microwave can be recommended as an alternative to both conventional pasteurization processes and chemical preservatives.

In Vivo Screening and Antidiabetic Potential of Polyphenol Extracts from Guava Pulp, Seeds and Leaves.

The present study investigates the antidiabetic potential of polyphenol extracts purified from guava pulp, seeds and leaves using an in vivo experiment on albino rats. The polyphenols from guava pulp, seeds and leaves were extracted using methanol solvent and the sonication method while being evaluated by total phenolic contents and radical scavenging activity assay. The proximate composition of powders revealed that ash, protein and total sugars were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in leaves and seeds, while vitamin C was highest in pulp. Total phenolic and antioxidant activities were highest in pulp followed by leaves and seeds. The findings of feed intake and body gain revealed that the supplementation of polyphenols, especially from pulp, significantly (p < 0.05) increased the feed intake, which resulted in increased body weight. Moreover, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased in groups fed with polyphenols from guava pulp compared to both (+ive and -ive) control groups. Furthermore, blood glucose and triglycerides were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in supplemented groups compared to the control group of diabetes mice, which resulted in the inhibition of α-amylase and glucose transport. Besides this, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet levels were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in pulp's extract followed by leaves and seeds compared to both control groups. Overall, the antidiabetic potential of different extracts was in the following order: pulp > leaves > seeds. The findings suggest the feasibility of adding 200-250 mg/kg.bw of polyphenol extracts of pulp as an alternative to diabetic drugs.

Neuropeptides Modulate Female Chemosensory Processing upon Mating in Drosophila.

A female's reproductive state influences her perception of odors and tastes along with her changed behavioral state and physiological needs. The mechanism that modulates chemosensory processing, however, remains largely elusive. Using Drosophila, we have identified a behavioral, neuronal, and genetic mechanism that adapts the senses of smell and taste, the major modalities for food quality perception, to the physiological needs of a gravid female. Pungent smelling polyamines, such as putrescine and spermidine, are essential for cell proliferation, reproduction, and embryonic development in all animals. A polyamine-rich diet increases reproductive success in many species, including flies. Using a combination of behavioral analysis and in vivo physiology, we show that polyamine attraction is modulated in gravid females through a G-protein coupled receptor, the sex peptide receptor (SPR), and its neuropeptide ligands, MIPs (myoinhibitory peptides), which act directly in the polyamine-detecting olfactory and taste neurons. This modulation is triggered by an increase of SPR expression in chemosensory neurons, which is sufficient to convert virgin to mated female olfactory choice behavior. Together, our data show that neuropeptide-mediated modulation of peripheral chemosensory neurons increases a gravid female's preference for important nutrients, thereby ensuring optimal conditions for her growing progeny.

MOLECULAR MODEL OF CYTOTOXIN-1 FROM NAJA MOSSAMBICA MOSSAMBICA VENOM IN COMPLEX WITH CHYMOTRYPSIN.

Snake venom is a myriad of biologically active proteins and peptides. Three finger toxins are highly conserved in their molecular structure, but interestingly possess diverse biological functions. During the course of evolution the introduction of subtle mutations in loop regions and slight variations in the three dimensional structure, has resulted in their functional versatility. Cytotoxin-1 (UniProt ID: P01467), isolated from Naja mossambica mossambica, showed the potential to inhibit chymotrypsin and the chymotryptic activity of the 20S proteasome. In the present work we describe a molecular model of cytotoxin-1 in complex with chymotrypsin, prepared by the online server ClusPro. Analysis of the molecular model shows that Cytotoxin-1 (P01467) binds to chymotrypsin through its loop I located near the N-terminus. The concave side of loop I of the toxin fits well in the substrate binding pocket of the protease. We propose Phe10 as the dedicated P1 site of the ligand. Being a potent inhibitor of the 20S proteasome, cytotoxin-1 (P01467) can serve as a potential antitumor agent. Already snake venom cytotoxins have been investigated for their ability as an anticancer agent. The molecular model of cytotoxin-1 in complex with chymotrypsin provides important information towards understanding the complex formation.