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The retention of carotenoids was studied in the storage roots of ten sweet potato clones possessing different intensities of dark orange-flesh colour in four different processing methods-oven drying, boiling, sun drying and frying. The results indicated that the extent of retention varied with the method of processing. The highest retention was observed in oven drying (total carotenoids 90%-91% and β-carotene 89%-96%) followed by boiling (total carotenoids 85%-90% and β-carotene 84%-90%) and frying (total carotenoids 77%-85% and β-carotene 72%-86%). The lowest retention of total carotenoids (63%-73%) and β-carotene (63%-73%) was recorded in the sun drying method.

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The retention of carotenoids was studied in roots from yellow-fleshed, high carotene cassava clones in four different processing methods. The results indicated that the extent of retention varied with the method of processing. The highest retention was observed in oven drying (total carotenoids 54.70-84.01% and b-carotene 63.90-94.53%) followed by boiling (total carotenoids 47.87-83.79% and b-carotene 51.31-81.04%) and frying (total carotenoids 48.76-79.77% and b-carotene 44.11-83.87%). The lowest retention of total carotenoids (32.86-56.40%) and b-carotene (21.47-56.68%) was recorded in the sun drying method. The variation in the total carotenoids and b-carotene content depends on variety, processing method and initial carotene content of the fresh root.

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is a popular delicacy among the Chinese diaspora associated with various health claims. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of white-EBN acid hydrolysate on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and nitric oxide (NO) generation, while examining its cytotoxic effect on a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Processed commercial EBN and unprocessed raw EBN collected from different geographical zones and at different harvesting seasons were studied. The cytotoxic effect was determined by cell viability assessed by MTS assay, while NO production was determined by the Griess reaction and TNF-a concentration was measured using an ELISA kit. The results showed that both commercial and raw EBN inhibited TNF-a and NO generation, the highest inhibition 58% and 63%, respectively without significant cytotoxic effect was brought about by raw EBN from the South zone. The results suggest that EBN may possess anti-inflammatory properties that should be further studied.