Seed quality as a proxy of climate-ready orphan legumes: the need for a multidisciplinary and multi-actor vision.

In developing countries, orphan legumes stand at the forefront in the struggle against climate change. Their high nutrient value is crucial in malnutrition and chronic diseases prevention. However, as the 'orphan' definition suggests, their seed systems are still underestimated and seed production is scanty. Seed priming is an effective, sustainable strategy to boost seed quality in orphan legumes for which up-to-date guidelines are required to guarantee reliable and reproducible results. How far are we along this path? What do we expect from seed priming? This brings to other relevant questions. What is the socio-economic relevance of orphan legumes in the Mediterranean Basin? How to potentiate a broader cultivation in specific regions? The case study of the BENEFIT-Med (Boosting technologies of orphan legumes towards resilient farming systems) project, developed by multidisciplinary research networks, envisions a roadmap for producing new knowledge and innovative technologies to improve seed productivity through priming, with the long-term objective of promoting sustainability and food security for/in the climate-sensitive regions. This review highlights the existing drawbacks that must be overcome before orphan legumes could reach the state of 'climate-ready crops'. Only by the integration of knowledge in seed biology, technology and agronomy, the barrier existing between research bench and local agricultural fields may be overcome, generating high-impact technical innovations for orphan legumes. We intend to provide a powerful message to encourage future research in line with the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antitumoral Effects of Aqueous Ethanolic Extract from Phoenix dactylifera L. Parthenocarpic Dates.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, the anti-inflammatory, and the antitumoral activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract from Phoenix dactylifera L. parthenocarpic dates. The antioxidant activity was carried using DPPH radical scavenging activity. The result showed that parthenocarpic dates had strongly scavenging activity on DPPH reaching 94% with an IC50 value of 0.15 ± 0.011 mg/mL (p < 0.05). The anti-inflammatory potential was determined by the inhibitory effect of the aqueous ethanolic extract on phospholipase A2 activity as well as on carrageenan-induced paw oedema in mice. The in vitro study showed that the extract inhibited the phospholipase A2 activity with an IC50 value of 130 µg/mL and the in vivo study showed a significantly decrease in the paw oedema after 1 h compared to the control group. Finally, the antiproliferative activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract was assessed by MTT test against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. This extract was effective in inhibiting MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells growth with IC50 values of 8 and 18 mg/mL, respectively, after 72 h treatment. These results confirm the ethnopharmacological significance of Phoenix dactylifera L. parthenocarpic dates, which could add support for its pharmaceutical use.

Phytochemical Screening and Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, and Antioxidant Properties of Anthyllis henoniana (Coss.) Flowers Extracts in an Alloxan-Induced Rats Model of Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the biological activities of Anthyllis henoniana flowers extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antioxidant activity and the in vitro inhibitory effect of key digesting enzymes related to postprandial hyperglycemia were determined. Diabetic rats were orally and daily given the best extract from flowers of Anthyllis henoniana at a dose of acarbose for one month. RESULTS: Among the extracts, the ethyl acetate one displayed remarkable antioxidant activity including DPPH (IC50 = 2.34 mg/mL) and was more effective in inhibiting α-glucosidase (IC50 = 17 µg/mL) than α-amylase (IC50 = 920 µg /mL) activities. In vivo, the results proved that ethyl acetate extract at doses of 400 mg/kg bw decreased significantly the blood glucose level and lipid profile levels and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These protective impacts of Anthyllis henoniana ethyl acetate flowers extract were confirmed by histological results. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that Anthyllis henoniana flowers ethyl acetate extract is effective in inhibiting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress caused by diabetes.

Improving changes in physical, sensory and texture properties of cake supplemented with purified amylase from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds.

Three different concentrations of a purified maltogenic amylase (FSA) from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds were incorporated into the cake formulation. The addition of FSA at 0.003, 0.005 and 0.01 U/g of cake increased the loaf volume, the number of holes (gas cells), and water absorption. Textural study revealed an improvement of the cake quality, resulting in the decrease of hardness and the increase of cohesion. Environmental scanning electron microscopy was performed on different cakes to evaluate the influence of amylase activity on microstructure. The microstructure observation showed that the FSA had a beneficial effect on starch and crumb properties. The sensory evaluation supported this result and confirmed the beneficial effect of adding FSA on cake odor and crust color. In addition, relationships between physical parameters, instrumentally textural parameters, and sensory characteristics of cake treated with FSA might be used for constructing linear regression analysis models to predict overall acceptability. In fact, overall acceptability of treated cake with FSA at 0.01 U appeared to be the most remarkable one and could be a promising technology to improve the quality of cake.

Extraction optimization and in vitro and in vivo anti-postprandial hyperglycemia effects of inhibitor from Phoenix dactylifera L. parthenocarpic fruit.

Phoenix dactylifera L. plays an important role in social, economic, and ecological Tunisian sectors. Some date palms produce parthenocarpic fruit named Sish. The aqueous ethanolic extract from P. dactylifera parthenocarpic dates demonstrated a potent inhibition of the enzymes related to type II diabetes. In this work, extraction optimization of amylase inhibitors was carried out using Box-Behnken Design. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the 70% aqueous ethanol extract was performed to identify the active compounds. The physicochemical results by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis showed the presence of 13 phenolic compounds. The in vitro study showed that the extract exhibited a more specific inhibitor of α-glucosidase than α-amylase with an IC50 value of 0.6 and 2.5mg/mL, respectively. The in vivo study of this extract effect on the postprandial hyperglycemia activity showed a decrease in plasma glucose levels after 30min stronger than the Acarbose effect. These results confirmed the anti-postprandial hyperglycemia activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract from P. dactylifera parthenocarpic dates, which could lend support for its pharmaceutical use.

Extraction, partial purification and characterization of amylase from parthenocarpic date (Phoenix dactylifera): effect on cake quality.

BACKGROUND: Phoenix dactylifera L. plays an important role in social, economic and ecological Tunisian sectors. Some date palms produce parthenocarpic fruit named Sish. The objective of the present study was to extract biomolecules from parthenocarpic fruit by producing value-added products from the fruits. RESULTS: The extraction of amylolytic activity from parthenocarpic fruit (AmyPF) was optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD). Partial purification of about 250-fold with an activity yield of 47% was achieved. The amylase exhibited a specific activity of 80 U mg-1 protein. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 5 and 55 °C respectively. The enzyme was highly active over a wide range of pH (5-10), and significant stabilization was observed at 60 °C. The purified enzyme belongs to the exo type of amylases. Given the economic and industrial relevance of amylases used in the food industry, three different concentrations of AmyPF (0.007, 0.014 and 0.018 U g-1 ) were incorporated into a cake formulation, resulting in a decrease in density, moisture retention and water activity and an increase in hardness. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effect of AmyPF on the technological characteristics of cakes was confirmed by sensory evaluation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Optimization, Purification, and Starch Stain Wash Application of Two New α-Amylases Extracted from Leaves and Stems of Pergularia tomentosa.

A continuous research is attempted to fulfil the highest industrial demands of natural amylases presenting special properties. New α-amylases extracted from stems and leaves of Pergularia tomentosa, which is widespread and growing spontaneously in Tunisia, were studied by the means of their activities optimization and purification. Some similarities were recorded for the two identified enzymes: (i) the highest amylase activity showed a promoted thermal stability at 50°C; (ii) the starch substrate at 1% enhanced the enzyme activity; (iii) the two α-amylases seem to be calcium-independent; (iv) Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ag2+ were considered as important inhibitors of the enzyme activity. Following the increased gradient of elution on Mono Q-Sepharose column, an increase in the specific activity of 11.82-fold and 10.92-fold was recorded, respectively, for leaves and stems with the presence of different peaks on the purification profiles. Pergularia amylases activities were stable and compatible with the tested commercial detergents. The combination of plant amylase and detergent allowed us to enhance the wash performance with an increase of 35.24 and 42.56%, respectively, for stems and leaves amylases. Characterized amylases were reported to have a promoted potential for their implication notably in detergent industry as well as biotechnological sector.

Evaluation of anti-diabetic and anti-tumoral activities of bioactive compounds from Phoenix dactylifera L's leaf: In vitro and in vivo approach.

Among various chronic disorders, cancer and diabetes mellitus are the most common disorders. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroalcoholic extract of Phoenix dactylifera L. leaves (HEPdL) in animal models of type II diabetes in vitro/in vivo and in a human melanoma-derived cell line (IGR-39). A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was also performed to determine the amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in this plant. The physicochemical results by LC-MS/MS analysis of HEPdL showed the presence of 10 phenolic compounds. The in vitro study showed that the extract exhibited a more specific and potent inhibitor of α-glucosidase than α-amylase with an IC50 value of 20±1µg/mL and 30±0.8µg/mL, respectively. More importantly, the in vivo study of the postprandial hyperglycemia activity with (20mg/kg) of HEPdL showed a decrease in plasma glucose levels after 60min in resemblance to the glucor (acarbose) (50mg/kg) effect. The oral administration of HEPdL (20mg/kg) in alloxan-induced diabetic mices for 28days showed a more significant anti-diabetic activity than that of the drug (50mg/kg). Moreover, cytotoxicity effects of HEPdL in IGR-39 cancer cell lines were tested by MTT assay. This extract was effective in inhibiting cancer cells growth (IGR-39) at dose 35 and 75µg/mL. These results confirm ethnopharmacological significance of the plant and could be taken further for the development of an effective pharmaceutical drug against diabetes and cancer.