Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 2 (1), pp. 150-155, January, 2014. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Response surface method in the Synthesizing of nutrient broth with predetermined pH and water activities

Guzman Teru*, Alfonso Arisa and Sakuragi Rio

Laboratory of Food Biosystems and Environment, United Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 12 December, 2013

Abstract 

Polynomial models describing the individual and combined influences of solutes (sucrose and NaCl) and pH on the water activity (a_w) of nutrient broth systems (NBS) were established using Response Surface Methodology. For the sucrose-pH model, the linear, quadratic and interactive influences of sucrose concentration and pH significantly affected a_w; while only the linear and quadratic influences of NaCl and pH significantly affected a_w in NaCl-pH model. The resulting models were characterized with satisfactory goodness- of-fit and efficient predictive performance. The established models may be used in the estimation of NBS components to formulate growth media with desired physicochemical property combinations and may be applied when studying microbial behaviors such as in quantitative microbial ecology.

Key words: Microbial growth media, physicochemical properties, response surface methodology.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (12), pp. 144-149, December, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant activities and Chemical composition of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil from Tunisia

Ghrib Khaldi, Mohammed Samir and Vahid Bouguerra

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, University of Ez-Zitouna, P.O.Box: 108, Tunis, Tunisia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 November, 2013

Abstract

In this study, the essential oil of the aerial parts of Marrubium vulgare L. obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in order to determine their chemical composition. Thirty-four (34) components in the oil of M. vulgare were identified. The results demonstrated that the major components of the essential oil were -eudesmol (11.93%), - citronellol (9.90%), citronellyl formate (9.50%) and germacrene D (9.37%). Antioxidant effectiveness was examined by three different methods: The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, the -carotene bleaching test and the reducing power assay. The results showed that this oil can be considered an effective source of antioxidants of natural origin. This is the first report on chemical composition of M. vulgare essential oil cultivated in Tunisia and the original study on the antioxidant activity of M. vulgare essential oil.

Key words: Marrubium vulgare, essential oil, chemical composition, antioxidant activity.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (12), pp. 137-143, December, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Review

Categorization and diagnosing of food borne bacterial pathogens with special consideration to DNA based methods

Singh Jumi, Raj Vadewki and Vijay P.

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Tamil University, P O Box 1549, Thanjavur-10, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 05 November, 2013

Abstract 

Detection of food borne pathogen is of outmost importance in the food industries and related agencies. For the last few decades conventional methods were used to detect food borne pathogens based on phenotypic characters. At the advent of complementary base pairing and amplification of DNA, the diagnosis of food pathogen became rapid and target specific. RNA based methods such as NASBA and Real Time RT-PCR are even more sensitive as they reflect pathogen viability in food system. This review describes various DNA based methods that are used widely in detection of food pathogens. Recent rapid methods become more robust with the incorporation of PCR in assays. Simultaneously, the advances in nano-biotechnology have allowed miniature devices permitting development of portable hand held biosensor for the detection of food pathogens.

Key words: Food borne pathogens, molecular techniques, PCR, rapid identification techniques.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (11), pp. 131-136, November, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the antiradical and antioxidant actions of leaf, perilla seed and stalk take out

Moein Bozorgi and Keyvan Khukhan

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O.Box 79085, Tehran, Iran.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 29 October, 2013

Abstract 

The antioxidant properties of perilla seed, leaf and stalk extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals scavenging activities, reducing power and metal chelating ability. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of perilla leaf extract was 57.5%, a value which was higher than scavenging activity of other perilla extracts at 15.0 μg/ml. Based on superoxide radical scavenging effect, the perilla leaf extract was the most effective (64.2%) one followed by perilla seed extract (55.1%) and perilla stalk extract (20.1%) at 10.0 μg/ml. Reducing powers of perilla seed, leaf and stalk extracts were excellent. Chelating effects of perilla seed, leaf and stalk extracts were increased with the increasing concentration. The data shows that perilla leaf extract has effective antioxidant functions, especially in DPPH and superoxide radicals scavenging activities and reducing power. The results indicate that the 50% aqueous-methanol extracts of perilla leaf can be used as a new functional food and pharmaceutical agent.

Key words: Perilla, scavenging activity, reducing power, chelating effect, phenolics compound.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (11), pp. 125-130, November, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro protective effect and Over-production effects of its phenolics on CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity

Mohamed Bedor, Mostafa Rifat and Erfan Mattr

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 04 October 2013

Abstract 

This study illustrates the process of enhancing phenolics synthesis in Spirulina maxima grown in Zarrouk’s medium supplemented with sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) and/or phenylalanine (L-PA); attaining highest production were obtained in medium containing 3.77 gL^-1 NaNO₃ and 100 mgL ^-1 L-PA. HPLC profile showed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids predominantly with gallate, chlorogenate, cinnamate, pinostrobate and p-OH-benzoates. The protective action of Spirulina phenolic compounds (SPC) against CCl₄-induced in vitro, hepato-toxicity symptoms like microsomal lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical formation were studied. SPC exhibited antioxidant effects on DPPH radical scavenging with IC₅₀ values ranging from 23.22 to 35.62 µg.mL^-1 and inhibited CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation in hepato-microsoms model, in dose-depended manner. Their protective potential was comparable to that of standard phenolic antioxidants such as BHT, BHA and –tocopherol (IC50 values ranged from 13.22 to 23.62 µg.mL^-1).

Key words: Spirulina maxima, antioxidant activity, carbon tetrachloride, hepatoprotective effects.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (10), pp. 118-124, October, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Plant species inputs in homestead, to food safety and Maintenance in Ebonyi state – South eastern Nigeria.

Oladapo Austine,  Alalibo Emetomo and Egwuatu Madumere

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural And Applied Sciences, University of Ibadan, P.O.Box 29822, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 24 September, 2013

Abstract 

A three Agricultural Zone (Abakaliki, Afikpo and Ohoazzara) exploratory survey of useful plant species in three compound farms in 12 communities in Ebonyi State of Nigeria was conducted to develop a plant species inventory study so as to assess the contribution of plant species in homestead farm to food security and stability in the State. A total of 156 different plant species including 63 woody plant species (exploited, unexploited and endangered) which yield edible fruits, seeds or vegetables, 36 boundary and live fence plant species and 57 different arable and other field crops (legume, cereal, vegetable, spice, herb) were identified in the 12 communities. These communities were classified into three identifiable settlement patterns: nucleated, isolated and dispersed settlements; and the survey revealed that the three settlement patterns had average number of plant species of 79.8, 88.3 and 80.1 respectively. Fifteen (15) plant species of most considerable value have been seen in all the communities visited. Twelve (12) plant species were considered endangered, having been found only in three communities visited while many plant species not exploited were also observed in all the communities. Study therefore revealed that isolated and dispersed settlement patterns produced the highest plant species that are environmental friendly and conservative and as such should be improved for increase food security and stability.

Key words: Homestead farms, plant species, food security, sustainability.