This study was undertaken to estimate the antioxidant activity and total tannin content of Moringa olifera Lam. (Moringa) leaves and find a suitable extraction condition for maximum yield. Two types of solvent and three different extraction times and temperatures were experimented for extraction. Moringa leaves were oven-dried and powdered to determine the antioxidant activity in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH radical scavenging activity and total tannin content. The maximum TPC value noted in methanol extract, and it ranges from 6.46 ± 0.34 g to 3.91±0.19 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100g dry sample (DM). The FRAP values varied from 211.6 ± 3.75 to 344.13 ± 3.26 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100g DM and 166.67 ± 2.90 to 224.93 ± 1.94 mg AAE/100g DM, for methanol and ethanol extract, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 46.32 ± 1.07 to 58.09 ± 0.92% for methanol extract and 56.76 ± 1.48% to 69.72 ± 1.15% for ethanol extract. The total tannin content varied from 6.84 ± 0.05 to 10.22 ± 1.11 mg GAE/100 g dry sample and 6.77 ± 0.08 to 9.23 ± 0.51 mg GAE/ 100g DMfor methanol and ethanol extract, respectively. The highest antioxidant yield for methanol and ethanol extract of Moringa leaves differed for various conditions. Overall, Moringa leaves showed excellent antioxidant properties that can be commercially and domestically used.

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Industrial processing of the fruit juice is responsible for the changes in some quality attributes. Thermal treatment is a most applicable operation for any processing and it affects the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of the juice. This study was conducted to observe the changes in some physical properties and the bioactive compounds of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) juice during thermal treatment at 70°C, 80°C and 90°C for 10, 20, 30 and 40 min by a temperature-controlled water bath. During thermal treatment of the juice pH and browning index increased significantly (P≤ 0.05) with time and increasing temperature whereas the Cloud index of the juice decreased. No significant variation (P≥ 0.05) noticed in the case of total soluble solids. Color differences gradually increased in case of color parameter (0 to 7.83 ± 0.20) and negatively increased in case of (0 to -7.33± 1.00). Irregular results observed for  and maximum difference (3.01±0.08) noticed at 90°C for 40 min. The highest overall color change (∆E= 11.04±0.76) observed when the juice treated at 90°C for 40 min. In consideration of the bioactive compounds, maximum ascorbic acid estimated (24.17±0.70mg/100ml) in fresh juice and with rising temperature and time it decreased. β-carotene also decreased significantly during heat treatment. The Total Polyphenol Content (TPC) found in fresh juice as (540.08±16.64 mg GAE/100 ml) and it was not changed in a regular manner with temperature change. Flavonoid content increased significantly (P≤0.05) when the juice was heat-treated at 70°C and 80°C while no significant change observed at 90°C. Maximum DPPH scavenging activity found in fresh juice (60.19±1.39%) and decreased to (53.83±1.43%) when 90°C temperature was applied for 40 min. This study may help to find out the nutritional value of locally available star fruit and physicochemical changes of this fruit juice during thermal processing.

In Bangladesh, a low-quality repetitive diet characterized by starchy staple foods is typical, leading to disorders associated with micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among mothers and their children. The purpose of the study was to validate the link between women’s decision-making autonomy and higher dietary diversity score. Participants were ever married women aged 15–49 years old with comprehensive dietary information (n = 17,842), selected from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2014. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was obtained from a 24-h recall of dietary intake from nine food groups, categorized into lower DDS (DDS ≤ 4) and higher DDS (DDS ≥ 5). Descriptive analysis, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted using STATA version 15. Almost all women consumed starchy foods, flesh (83.86%), and fruits (67.30%). Using logistic regression, the odds of achieving dietary diversity score were higher among women who participated in household purchases (OR 2.40; 95% CI: 1.52–3.83; p = 0.022). Women who had higher and secondary education were 2.72 (95% CI: 1.49–3.02; p = 0.025) and 1.31 (95% CI: 0.58–2.18; p = 0.029) times more likely to achieve higher DDS than women having no education, as well as women in the richest quintile (OR 6.49; 95% CI: 4.12–8.5; p = 0.037) compared to women in the lowest quintile. This study highlighted the association of several socioeconomic conditions of ever married women and their dietary diversity score in Bangladesh. Therefore, promoting the women’s education status, improving the socioeconomic conditions, and prioritizing their decisions are recommended for the attainment of higher dietary diversity score.

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