Effect of microwave drying and tempering on color attributes, fissure formation, and cooking characteristics of fortified rice kernels.

Fortified rice kernels (FRK) are a vitamin-mineral enriched extruded rice-shaped product blended with raw or parboiled rice in a 1:100 ratio to prepare fortified rice. In FRK manufacturing, drying is one of the essential steps that affect the quality of FRK. In the present study, the microwave technique was explored to dry FRK continuously at 180, 360, and 540 W and with the tempering (1, 2, and 3 min) at 180 W to evaluate the effects on the drying curves, color attributes, fissure formation, and cooking characteristics. Thin layer modeling suggested the Two-term exponential model (two parameters), diffusion model (three parameters), and Midilli Kucuk (four parameters) as the best models to predict moisture based on Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. The higher MWP (360 and 540 W) significantly lowered the L* and WI while increasing the a*, b*, and BI compared to 180 W, which was undesirable. Image processing showed fissures in all FRK samples; however, 1 min and 2 min tempering could somewhat restrict the fissure. The fissures caused higher solid losses and increased splitting of kernels during cooking. It can be concluded that the low MWP (< 180W) with appropriate tempering time can be used to dry FRK. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05871-4.

Effect of Marjoram Leaf Powder Addition on Nutritional, Rheological, Textural, Structural, and Sensorial Properties of Extruded Rice Noodles.

Food-to-food fortification is an emerging technique to enrich the micronutrients in foods. Pertaining to this technique, noodles could also be fortified with natural fortificants. In this study, marjoram leaf powder (MLP) at a level of 2-10% was used as a natural fortificant to produce fortified rice noodles (FRNs) through an extrusion process. The MLP addition caused a significant increase in the iron, calcium, protein, and fiber in the FRNs. The noodles had a lower whiteness index than unfortified noodles but had a similar water absorption index. The water solubility index increased significantly due to the higher water retention ability of MLP. A rheological study showed a minimal effect of fortification on the gelling strength of the FRNs at lower levels. The microstructural studies found incremental cracks, which facilitated a lower cooking time and hardness but had an insignificant effect on the cooked noodle texture. Fortification improved the total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and total flavonoid content. However, no significant changes in bonds were observed, but a reduction in the noodles' crystallinity could be seen. The sensory analysis of the noodles reflected a higher acceptability of the 2-4% MLP fortified samples compared to the others. Overall, the MLP addition improved the nutritional content, antioxidant activity, and the cooking time but slightly affected the rheological, textural, and color properties of the noodles.

Incorporation of Mycelium (Pleurotus eryngii) in Pea Protein Based Low Moisture Meat Analogue: Effect on Its Physicochemical, Rehydration and Structural Properties.

The protein content of a plant-based ingredient is generally lower than its animal food counterpart, and research into novel alternative protein is required that can provide similar protein content, texture and appearance as meat. This work investigates a mycelium-based low moisture meat analogue (LMMA) approach, by incorporating 0 to 40% w/w mycelium (MY) into pea protein isolate (PPI) via extrusion using a twin-screw extruder at 140 °C die temperature, 40 rpm screw speed, and 10 rpm feeder speed (0.53-0.54 kg/h). Physicochemical, rehydration, and structural properties of LMMA were assessed. The MY incorporation led to a significant change in color attributes due to Maillard reaction during extrusion. Water solubility index and water absorption capacity increased significantly with MY addition, owing to its porous structure. Oil absorption capacity increased due to increased hydrophobic interactions post-extrusion. Protein solubility decreased initially (upto 20% w/w MY), and increased afterwards, while the water holding capacity (WHC) and volumetric expansion ratio (VER) of LMMA enhanced with MY addition upto 30% w/w. Conversely, WHC and VER decreased for 40% w/w which was verified with the microstructure and FTIR analysis. Overall, MY (30% w/w) in PPI produced a fibrous and porous LMMA, showing future potential with an increasingly plant-based product market and decreasing carbon footprint of food production activities.

Investigation of natural food fortificants for improving various properties of fortified foods: A review.

Micronutrient malnutrition (MNM) is called "hidden hunger" due to its invisible vitamin-minerals deficiency symptoms in an individual. In most cases, the prime victim of MNM is children and women. Different strategies such as dietary diversification, supplementation, biofortification, and food fortification are used to fight MNM; however, each method has its own merits and demerits. Therefore, this review discusses an alternate approach, "food-to-food fortification (FtFF)," for combating MNM through enriching the daily diet with essential micronutrients. The main principle behind FtFF is the addition of one or more micronutrient-dense food/s in commonly consumable products. The review highlighted potential natural fortificants rich in iron, folate, zinc, protein, ß-carotene, calcium, potassium, and fiber previously used under FtFF. These fortificants are basil, moringa, marjoram, thyme, mint, garden cress, amaranth, fenugreek, and defatted coconut flour. Their effect on nutritional and other properties like antioxidants and antimicrobial, after consuming fortified food, are discussed in detail. At higher substitution levels, a significant impact on sensory and physiochemical properties was observed. Therefore, suitable formulation strategies like mixture design and linear programming were advised to be used before FtFF. A tabulated data on micro-and macronutrients content of fortificants are described for ease in formulation. The review also focused on the latest processing technology in FtFF used for fortifying foods like biscuits, pasta, bread, snack, flakes, porridge, ladoo, dhokla, and many more.

Food nutrients as inherent sources of immunomodulation during COVID-19 pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - a novel coronavirus has rapid spread, and caused community infection around the globe. During the absence of a vaccine, people focused more on an immunity-boosting diet and needed clear knowledge about immunity-boosting foods. However, after the vaccination drive, the importance of food as a natural source of immunomodulation cannot be neglected. So, the purpose of this review was to describe the role of vital nutrient in boosting immune system of body apart from other factors like adequate sleep, exercise, and low stress levels. Macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, B-cells, and T-cells are the important components having important role in maintaining immunity of the human body. The first four-act as the initial mediators of innate host defense, and the latter two produce antibodies for pathogen destruction. The review investigated vital nutrients like vitamin-C, A, E and D, iron, zinc, folic acid, probiotics, and prebiotics affecting these immune components in some extent. Fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, seeds, nuts, cereals, millets, and superfoods like chlorella and spirulina are good sources of these nutrients. However, fortified foods, functional foods, encapsulated foods with bioactive compounds and plant-based foods have shown immense potential in boosting immunity against viral infections like COVID-19. Some clinical trials and retrospective cohort studies have shown reduction in the severity of COVID-19 patients with relation to plant-based diet, vitamin D and C doses, probiotic, and zinc salts application.

A multi writable thiophene-based selective and reversible chromogenic fluoride probe with dual -NH functionality.

A chromogenic fluoride probe bearing bis imine groups having dual -NH functionality (BSB) has been designed, synthesised and structurally characterized by its single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The BSB could visually and spectroscopically recognise F(-) with high selectivity over other anions by exhibiting intense chromogenic response (from colourless to red) for F(-) in acetonitrile solution. The UV-visible titration and (1)H NMR titration experiments indicated that the observed changes occur via a combined process including hydrogen bonding and deprotonation between the BSB and F(-). Moreover theoretical calculations at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level shed further light upon probe design strategy and the nature of interactions between BSB and F(-). The limit of detection and binding constant of BSB towards F(-) were found to be 6.9×10(-7)M and 1.42±0.069×10(8)M(-2) respectively. Finally, by using F(-)and H(+) as chemical inputs and the absorbance as output, a INHIBIT logic gate was constructed, which exhibits "Multi-write" ability without obvious degradation in its optical output.

EGFR targeting monoclonal antibody combines with an mTOR inhibitor and potentiates tumor inhibition by acting on complementary signaling hubs.

Nimotuzumab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) monoclonal antibody, has been used extensively in many solid tumors and confers significant survival advantage. The antibody has limited skin toxicity and is generally well tolerated. Similar to other anti-EGFR therapies, patients may relapse a few months after treatment. In this study we show for the first time, the use of Nimotuzumab along with Sirolimus has synergistic effect on tumor inhibition as compared with the drugs used individually, in Nimotuzumab responsive and nonresponsive cell lines. In vitro studies prove that while Sirolimus (25 nmol/L) affects the signal downstream to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Nimotuzumab (83 nmol/L) downregulates pTYR, pMAPK and pSTAT3 by 40%, 20% and 30%, respectively. The combination, targeting these two different signaling hubs, may be associated with the synergistic inhibition observed. In vivo, the use of half human therapeutic equivalent doses for both the drugs substantially reduces tumors established in nude as well as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice by EGFR overexpressing A-431 cells. The drug combination reduces cell proliferation and the expression of signal transduction molecules. Treated tumors are better differentiated as compared with those established in the control mice. Tumor microarray demonstrates that Nimotuzumab and the combination groups segregate independently to the Sirolimus and the control treatment. The combination uniquely downregulated 55% of the altered tumor genes, extending beyond the typical pathways associated with Nimotuzumab and Sirolimus downstream pathways inhibition. These results would suggest that this nontoxic drug combination improves therapeutic benefit even in patients with low-EGFR expression and severely immunocompromised because of their current medication.

Modeling analysis of GST (glutathione-S-transferases) from Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi.

GST (glutathione S-transferases) are a family of detoxification enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of reduced GSH (glutathione) to xenobiotic (endogenous electrophilic) compounds. GST from Wb (Wuchereria bancrofti) and Bm (Brugia malayi) are significantly different from human GST in sequence and structure. Thus, Wb-GST and Bm-GST are potential chemotherapeutic targets for anti-filarial treatment. Comparison of modeled Wb and Bm GST with human GST show structural difference between them. Analysis of the active site residues for the binding of electrophilic co-substrates provides insight towards the design of parasite specific GST inhibitors.

A secondary structural common core in the ribosomal ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer) of Culexspecies from diverse geographical locations.

In the present study, sequence and structural analysis of ITS2 region (the spacer segment between 5.8S and 28S rRNA of mature rRNA sequences) of 7 Culex species belonging to 5 different geographical locations was carried out. Alignment of the ITS2 sequence from the 7 species revealed 8 homologous domains. Four species namely C. vishnui, C. annulus, C. pipiens, C. quiquefasciatusshowed high sequence (98-100%) and RNA secondary structure similarity. The ITS2 similarity among different species is high despite their varying geographical locations. Several common features of secondary structure are shared among these species, with some of them supported by compensatory changes, suggesting the significant role by ITS2 as an RNA domain during ribosome biogenesis.