The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content (TPC) of Solanum melongena of different skin colours/patterns: purple with no lines (S1), light purple with lines (S2), dark purple with lines (S3), pink coloured (S4) and purple with green lines (S5). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using different analytical techniques: DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and ferric thiocyanate (FTC) test. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.0001) between the skin colour/pattern and antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content (TPC) and FRAP values of brinjal extracts varied from 48.67±0.27 to 61.11±0.26 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight and 4.19±0.11 to 7.46±0.26 mmol of FeS0 4 /g fresh weight, respectively. Brinjal with dark purple lines (S3) showed the highest antioxidant activity as quantified by FRAP and TPC while brinjal with light purple lines (S2) showed the least. Purple brinjal with no lines (S1) displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC 50 value of 3.51±0.62 mg/ml while S3 demonstrated the strongest total antioxidant activity as measured by ABTS assay with an inhibition of 40.45%. In the FTC assay, the percent inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation ranged from 15.11±1.31 to 26.74±2.85.

BackgroundLifestyle factors associated with hypertension (HT) in South Asian populations are relatively unknown. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prevalence rates of undiagnosed HT and factors associated with it in a cohort of males from the Central Province of Sri Lanka.MethodsThe study group consisted of 2462 males (mean age 31 years, range: 16–72 years) who underwent a routine medical examination at the National Transport Medical Institute, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Participants with previously diagnosed heart disease, diabetes, hypertension or other chronic illnesses were excluded from this study. Dietary and other lifestyle factors were studied using validated self-administered questionnaires. Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-off values for Asians were used to categorize the subjects according to weight status. The association of individual dietary and lifestyle patterns with HT was assessed by fitting into binary logistic regression models.ResultsThe mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) of the individuals were 125.9 mmHg and 80.5 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence rate of undiagnosed HT was 31.7%. Both SBP and DBP showed significant positive correlations with age, weight, BMI and waist circumference. After adjusting for potential confounders, HT was associated with older age (p = 0.001) and increased weight status (p < 0.001) with trends of association for level of education (p = 0.058). Level of income, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours, smoking, physical activity level, ethnic difference, consumption of fruits, fish, meat, dairy, sweets or fried snacks were not significantly associated with HT. Obese males were 92.1% [odds ratio: 1.9 (1.4–2.7)] more likely to be hypertensive compared to normal weight males.ConclusionsUndiagnosed HT is prevalent at an alarming rate among adult males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its association with age and BMI (weight status) highlights the importance of routine screening for HT as well as interventions targeted at reducing obesity to curb the rise of this modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Heendikwel were studied for their in vivo glycemic response. Proximate compositions and amylose content of rice were determined according to standard methods and available carbohydrate content was calculated using the difference method. The in vivo glycemic response of selected improved and traditional rice varieties was assessed by determining the glycemic index (GI) using ten healthy subjects. Further, the effect of parboiling of rice on glycemic response was also assessed. The crude protein content was higher in parboiled rice as compared to nonparboiled rice. According to the amylose content, rice varieties studied were classified as intermediate and high amylose rice. The amylose content of Bg 406 was the lowest (20.18% ±0.17) while Rathkaral showed the highest (29%±0.07). The Glycemic index of rice varieties studied ranged from 57±1 to 73± 2. The Wedaheenati variety exhibited the lowest GI while Bg 406 exhibited the highest GI value. Unparboiled Bg 406, LD 356 and parboiled Bg 406 were classified as high GI foods while the rest of the rice varieties studied were categorized as intermediate GI foods. Parboiled rice brought about a reduction in glycemic response in healthy subjects. The maximum reduction of 10% in glycemic index upon parboiling was observed with Bg 352. The traditional rice produced significantly lower (p<0.05) postprandial glycemic effect than did the improved rice. By their low post-prandial glycemic response they could be potentially useful in low GI diets.

BackgroundObesity has become a global epidemic. The prevalence of obesity has also increased in the South Asian region in the last decade. However, dietary and lifestyle factors associated with obesity in Sri Lankan adults are unclear. The objective of the current study was to investigate the association of dietary and lifestyle patterns with overweight and obesity in a cohort of males from the Central Province of Sri Lanka.MethodsA total of 2469 males aged between 16 and 72 years () were included in the study. The sample comprised individuals who presented for a routine medical examination at the National Transport Medical Institute, Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Body Mass Index (BMI) cutoff values for Asians were used to categorize the participants into four groups as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. The data on dietary and lifestyle patterns such as level of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours and other socio demographic data were obtained using validated self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to assess the associations of individual lifestyle patterns with overweight and obesity.ResultsThe mean BMI of the study group was 22.7 kg m−2 and prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 31.8 and 12.3%, respectively. Mean waist circumference of the participants was 78.6 cm with 17.1% of them being centrally obese. After adjusting for potential confounders, weight status was associated with older age (P < 0.0001), ethnicity (P = 0.0033) and higher income (P = 0.0006). While higher physical activity showed a trend for being associated with lower odds of being obese (odds ratio: 0.898 – confidence interval: 0.744–1.084), alcohol intake, consumption of fruits, level of education, sleeping hours, smoking, consumption of fish, meat, dairy, sweets or fried snacks were not significantly associated with the weight status.ConclusionThe high prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in working-age males is a threatening sign for Sri Lanka. Since the prevalence rate is higher in certain ethnic groups and higher-income groups, targeted interventions for these groups may be necessary.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of four selected underutilized fruits species: Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard (Palu), Salacia chinensis L. (Himbutu), Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken (Koan) and Eugenia uniflora (Cherry) grown in Sri Lanka. Antioxidative constituents were extracted into water and the antioxidant activity of fruit extracts was assessed using biochemical assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazine (DPPH) radical scavenging assay (n=3) and ferric reducing power assay (FRAP)(n=3). The total phenolic content was estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu's colorimetric assay and expressed as milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g of both fresh and dry weight of fruit. The fruit extracts tested exhibited a broad range of antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assays. The highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by Manilkara hexandra (Palu) in both assays performed. Furthermore, it was observed that the antioxidant activity as measured by the DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay strongly correlated (R 2 = 0.997) with total phenol content for extracts of all four underutilized fruit species tested. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of the fruits could be attributed to phenolic compounds present in the samples. This is the first time that antioxidant potential of some of the above fruits is reported.