Objective: The lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic affects lifestyle patterns globally and impacts children and adolescents. This study aims to assess the effect of the lockdown on body weight, eating habits, and physical activity of Jordanian youth (children and adolescents). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 477 Jordanian children and adolescents aged 6-17 y. The study tool was a structured validated questionnaire. It comprised 4 parts, including a general description of the study purpose, sociodemographic and anthropometric data, physical activity data, and food intake pattern. Questions were reported before and during lockdown. Changes in outcomes over the 2 study time points were evaluated. Results: After the lockdown period, the mean body weight and body mass index for age Z-scores (BAZ) showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) compared with before the lockdown period. More than 50% of the subjects reported that they spent more than 3 h in front of the screen during the lockdown. The percent of subjects who watched TV for more than 3h was increased. Moreover, physical inactivity was increased significantly during the lockdown. All food groups consumption was significantly increased during the lockdown compared to before the lockdown. Conclusions: COVID-19 lockdown period was characterized by an increase in the use of screen-based devices, lower physical activity, uncontrolled food intake, and weight gain.

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Lycopene is one of the carotenoids, a fat-soluble pigment that has antioxidant properties. Lycopene was extracted from vine tomato wastes, characterized and then introduced to Jordanian traditional sheep ghee (Samen Baladi). The quality attributes in term of peroxide value PV, acidity (%FFA), refractive index (RI) and iodine value (IV) were analyzed according to reference methods. CIE C*.H*. L* colour is measured using Konika Minolta CR-400 Chroma Meter handheld. All parameters were analyzed after storage for one month at room temperature (RT) and at 4°C. Results showed that lycopene content in vine tomato wastes was 218.74 ppm, it has twice antioxidant power compared with that of ascorbic acid using DPPH scavenging method. The stability of lycopene was affected significantly after storage as its UV/ Vis spectral profile was changed dramatically. Comparing the Samen Baladi with lycopene, the PV, and FFA% were significantly p<0.05 lower than those of Samen Baladi without lycopene while the IV was significantly p<0.05 higher. Upon storage for one month, at RT and 4°C, there were no significant differences in colour during storage, but those with lycopene were significantly p<0.05 different than those without lycopene in term of C*.H*. L* colour scale indicating that those with lycopene were duller and darker and the hue shifted to red. We can conclude that lycopene may be a promised natural product to act as natural antioxidant but concerning the changes in colour, it may be a challenge in marketing as it negatively affects customer preference toward this sensory attribute.

Tannins are natural polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in the plant kingdom in the leaves, bark, fruits, and other parts. They have various biological functions in humans and animals and are used mainly in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The aim of this work was to isolate, extract, purify, and identify the tannins from the root bark of a common oak tree (Quercus aegilops L.) in Jordan and around the Mediterranean. The results showed that at least one form of ellagitannin (ellagic acid ester), quercitrin, afzelechin, valoneic acid, trigalloyl glucose, and catechin was identified in addition to two unidentified compounds. Results of this work can help in developing an ESI MS/MS search library for the constituents of the tannins of oak (Quercus aegilops L.) root bark.

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