In vitro approach for evaluation of carob by-products as source bioactive ingredients with potential to attenuate metabolic syndrome (MetS).

The potential bioactivities for alleviating Metabolic Syndrome associated risk factors were evaluated in carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit by-products, i.e. seed peel, germ and pod. Carob germ and seed peel showed higher phenolic content than pod (99.72, 80.24 and 47.06 µmol GAE g-1, respectively). Pod mostly contained gallic acid and gallotannins; seed peel and germ's showed as most abundant polyphenols quercetin and apigenin derivatives. Carob pod and seed peel revealed stronger antioxidant capacities compared to germ. The strongest antihypertensive activity was found in seed peel, followed by pod and germ. Anti-inflammatory activity showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced macrophages, although only pod was able of reducing pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α andPGD2). Finally, fat accumulation on mature adipocytes was reduced by carob seed peel and pod extracts. This work shows the potential use of pod carob by-products as food ingredients with special relevance of carob pod for attenuating metabolic syndrome.

Electrolyzed water as novel technology to improve hygiene of drinking water for dairy ewes.

Tap water alone (TW) or treated with 3% of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) were used in this experiment to study its effect on water quality, blood biochemical parameters and milk yield and composition. Each type of water was supplied to one group of 10 milking ewes for 25 days. Weekly water samples from troughs were taken. On days 1, 12 and 25, milk yield was measured, and milk and blood samples were taken. SAEW reduced (P < 0.05) bacterial counts (aerobic mesophilic, total coliform and streptococcus). Blood gases, biochemical parameters and milk yield and its composition were not affected (P > 0.05). SAEW can be used at 3% rate as a powerful and economic agent for sanitizing drinking water for dairy ewes with no effects on animal performance.

Application of response surface methodology to optimize pressurized liquid extraction of antioxidant compounds from sage (Salvia officinalis L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.).

The present study optimized pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) conditions using Dionex ASE® 200, USA to maximize the antioxidant activity [Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)] and total polyphenol content (TP) of the extracts from three spices of Lamiaceae family (sage, basil and thyme). Optimal conditions with regard to extraction temperature (66-129 °C) and solvent concentration (32-88% methanol) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). For all three spices, results showed that 129 °C was the optimum temperature with regard to antioxidant activity. Optimal methanol concentrations with respect to the antioxidant activity of sage and basil extracts were 58% and 60% respectively. Thyme showed a different trend with regard to methanol concentration and was optimally extracted at 33%. Antioxidant activity yields of the optimal PLE were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than solid/liquid extracts. Predicted models were highly significant (p < 0.05) for both total phenol (TP) and FRAP values in all the spices with high regression coefficients (R(2)) ranging from 0.651 to 0.999.