No abstract

The aim of present investigation was to explore dietary and health benefits of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam (jackfruit). The nutritional profile of dried ripened jackfruit showed that it is a rich source of carbohydrates (13.08± 0.31%) as well as considerable amount of crude fiber (6.32±0.72 %), crude fat (5.63±0.18 %) and protein (1.48±0.11%) were found. The moisture value and ash content of ripened jackfruit pulp was 71.60±0.75% and 1.89±0.19%, respectively. Among the extracts of ripened jackfruit, in five different solvent systems, methanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic (239.87± 0.2 mg GAE/100g dry wt) and flavonoid content (109.94±2.16 mg QE /100g dry wt). Maximum ascorbic acid value (22.47±1.95 mg/100g of dry fruit) was observed in acetone extract of ripened jackfruit pulp. The antioxidant activity of extracts was assessed through DPPH radical scavenging assay. The acetone extract showed higher radical scavenging activity (89.31±0.78%) than remaining extracts. Results of present study enlighten that A. heterophyllus comprising significant nutritional value and high antioxidant potential may be utilized as functional food with towering therapeutic benefits.

A total of 50 Candida isolates were isolated and identified from clinical specimens and these were tested for resistance to various antifungal drugs. It was observed multi-drug resistance in all candida isolates by 84%, 62%, 60%, 76%, 46, 30%, and 22% against fluconazole, clotrimazole, Amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole and nystatin tested respectively. The isolates, which were found to be resistant to antifungal drugs were selected and subjected to antifungal testing against six ethanolic plants, extract namely Azadiracta indica, Allium sativum, Cordia dichotoma Ocimum sanctum, Syzygium cumini and Trigonella foenum grecum. All the plant extracts tested were found to effective against all MDR Candida isolates with inhibition zone ranging from 10- 18mm in diameter. Ethanolic extract of Allium sativum was observed most effective against the isolates among all the plants extracts tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all ethanolic plant extract was recorded ranging from 1.56-25mg/ml against MDR candida isolates. Phytochemical analysis of the alcoholic plant extracts revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavanoid, glycosoid, phenol; phenol, tannins, saponins in all the plants studied. The present study may be successful in identifying the plants with different antimicrobial activity. These plants containing various phytochemicals may be exploited in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by drug-resistant microorganisms.

A survey was conducted to evaluate aflatoxin contamination of commonly used food in Lahore, Pakistan. In this context, 1125 samples of various food commodities were collected from various areas of Lahore city. In corn-based products AFB1 was detected in 52% (range 2.0-1405.3 µg kg(-1)) and AFB2 in 25% (range 1.0-55.2 µg kg(-1)) of the samples. In super kernel basmati rice, 13.3% of the samples (range 1.1-32.9 µg kg(-1)) showed the presence of AFB1, 1.9% was contaminated with AFB2 (range 1.0-8.1 µg kg(-1)) and only one sample exhibited the presence of AFG1. As far as the status of basmati rice is concerned, 18.3% was contaminated with AFB1 (range 1.0-15.4 µg kg(-1)) and 2% was contaminated with AFG1. In 42.9% of parboiled rice (range 1.1-9.2 µg kg(-1)) and 36.4% of broken rice (range 2.1-25.3 µg kg(-1)), samples were contaminated with AFB1.

The consumption of citrus flavonoid, hesperidin may inhibit the bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hesperidin on the bioavailability of Ca, a probable reason to prevent bone loss. Citrus flavonoid (hesperidin) in combination with citric acid and ascorbic acid was scrutinized to estimate the bioavailability of micronutrients from chicken egg shells using in vitro method. Effect of citric acid, ascorbic acid and hesperidin on the bioavailability of minerals (Zn, Fe) and macro elements (Ca, Mg, P) was evaluated and the amounts required to get maximum bioavailability were concluded. The highest bioavailability of Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Zn was 89.25 ± 2.13, 92.28 ± 1.87, 40.32 ± 3.09, 32.81 ± 1.24 and 46.19 ± 0.83%, respectively after the addition of 3 g of citric acid, 100 mg of ascorbic acid and 4 mg of hesperidin per gram of chicken eggshell powder. Citric acid greatly affects the bioavailability of Ca, Mg, P, and Zn, whereas addition of ascorbic acid enhances the bioavailability of Fe, and hesperidin boosts the bioavailability (p < 0.05) of all micronutrients of the chicken eggshells.