The objective of this work was to study the effect of osmotic drying, using different hypertonic solutions (sucrose and sodium chloride), on physicochemical characteristics of pansies (Viola Ö wittrockiana). The same treatments were applied to lettuce to compare the behavior of flowers with other vegetables. Pansies’ superhydrophobic surface structure, called papillae, increased the resistance to exchanges with hypertonic solutions. No weight loss was observed after most treatments (sucrose: between 2.2 and 6.8 %; NaCl: between -23.0 % and 1.5 %), aw maintained high values (> 0,94) and monomeric anthocyanins were preserved (fresh 0.10 and 0.19 mg Cy-3glu/g fresh matter for 20%/1 h in NaCl and 60%/1 h in sucrose). When applying more drastic conditions, as sodium chloride for more than 1 hour, undesirable textural and color changes were observed. For lettuce, all treatments caused osmotic dehydration, weight loss (ranged between -9.3 to -30.3 % for 80%/1 h in sucrose and 15%/1 h in NaCl) and a reduction in aw (< 0,97) and carotenoids, with sodium chloride causing more damage in visual appearance than sucrose. Therefore, immersion in osmotic solutions can be applied to lettuce but the desired effect was not achieved for pansies due to the morphological structure of the flowers’ epidermis.

Green tea Camellia sinensis contains polyphenol that has antidiabetic activity. Mangrove leaves also contain polyphenol which potentially gives these leave antidiabetic activity. The aim of this research was to determine the ability of herbal green tea extract from white mangrove (Avicennia marina) leaves to decrease blood glucose level of diabetic Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus). The method used was experimental and involved giving a herbal green tea extract from white mangrove leaves with concentration of 100, 200 and 300 mg/200g BW/day, and positive control, i.e. glybenclamide (0.09 mg/200 g BW/day), to diabetic rats injected with Streptozotocin (STZ) and Nicotinamide (NA). The rats were observed on day 0, 5, 10 and 15. The results showed that the herbal green tea extract from white mangrove leaves decreased the blood glucose level of diabetic rats. The effective extract dose that decreased the blood glucose level of diabetic rats was 300 mg/200 g BW, which is comparable to the effect produced by glybenclamide (antidiabetic medicine). This dose could decrease the blood glucose level of diabetic rats to reach a normal blood glucose level after 20 days.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Syrian Kaissy olive oil (SKOO) adulteration and long storage periods on the basic quality indices namely, peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV), and absorbance of UV (K232, K270, ∆K and R (K232/K270) values). This study revealed that the quality indexes, including AV, PV, K232, K270 and ∆K values, of all SKOO specimens increased with increasing storage time. It was revealed that the K232, K270 and ∆K values of SKOO specimens stored for 1 and 2 years remained under the limits, established by International Olive Council (IOC), of 2.5, 0.22 and 0.01 units, respectively. While in some cases, the K232, K270 and ∆K values exceeded their respective limits after 8, 9 and 10 years of storage. The index of R (K232/K270) decreased with time of storage.

The increase in relative level of education and the growing middle-class income earners in Nigeria have made packaged food items attractive to consumers. These foods provide handy, nutritious and convenient food for consumers; however, they also come with public health concerns. From a policy perspective, food labelling can gauge consumers’ response to the safety conditions of packaged food. However, understanding consumers’ awareness and the use of food label information has attracted little research attention in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigated consumers’ awareness of the use of food safety labels in Lagos state, Nigeria. We used primary data collected using pretested structured questionnaire from 220 food shoppers who bought pre-packaged foods. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Consumers’ awareness and use of food safety information was revealed using descriptive statistics; Ordinal Regression Analysis was used to examine the socioeconomic factors determining the frequency of reading food safety labels. We found evidence of the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on how consumers read food labels. The study therefore recommends that there should be continuous awareness campaigns on the importance of food labels in ensuring safety and food producers should make sure their food labels are legible.

The present work aimed to: i) find the suitable proportion, based on sensory evaluation, of microwave-convective hot air dried jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) pulp and seed kernel powder to be mixed for the preparation of jamun powder (JP); ii) generate and model the moisture sorption isotherm (MSI) of JP; and iii) estimate net isosteric heat of sorption (qst), spreading pressure (Φ), net integral enthalpy (Qin), and net integral entropy (Sin). To formulate JP, the proportion (w/w, db) comprising 2% kernel and 98% pulp powder was the most desirable. The Peleg model was the best fit to MSI of JP. The qst decreased following linear relationship from 11.02 kJ. mol−1 at 5% equilibrium moisture content (EMC) to 0.27 kJ. mol−1 at 30% EMC. The Φ increased with increase in water activity and decreased with increase in temperature from 25 oC to 35 oC, and the values of Φ at 45 oC were even higher than at 25 oC. Net integral enthalpy (Qin) initially decreased till 6% moisture content in JP and displayed an increasing trend with further increase in moisture content. On the contrary, Sin kept on decreasing continually with increasing moisture content. The moisture zone of 7-11% was considered safe for storage of JP within the temperature range of 45-25 oC.

In this study, the retention of vitamin C in fresh broccoli stored at different temperatures (i.e. chiller, room, cooking, and roasting or baking; 5-120oC) was investigated. The thermal stability of vitamin C in broccoli was analysed at 5, 20, 45, 60, 70, 80, 110, and 120oC. The vitamin C content was measured by the indophenol titration method. Vitamin C was affected negatively at all stored temperatures. The degradation of vitamin C was modelled by first-order reaction kinetics and the reaction rate constants were observed as 9.03Ö10−8 and 5.65Ö10−3 s −1 when stored at 5oC and 120oC, respectively. The activation energy was estimated as 74.2 kJ/mol within the temperature range used in this study. The lowest decay of vitamin C was observed during the chilling condition. The data on retention of vitamin C in broccoli could be used to determine their stability, when stored as raw, and when heated at different temperatures.

In this study, the effect of processing methods on the nutritional quality and functional properties of cashew (Anacardium occidentale Linn) kernels were investigated. The kernels were soaked, autoclaved, roasted or germinated at varying time duration; raw kernel served as control. The samples were analysed for chemical, mineral bioavailability and functional properties. Data was subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated by the Duncan multiple range test. The result of chemical composition analyses revealed that raw cashew kernels contained 3.55±0.08% moisture, 21.3±0.05% protein, 45.0±0.15% fat, 2.53±0.02% fibre, 1.59±0.02% ash, 26.1±0.01% carbohydrate, 521.75 Kcal/g energy, 2210.09±0.02mg/kg calcium, 1712.54±0.03mg/kg magnesium, 60.04±0.01 mg/kg iron and 36.74±0.02mg/kg zinc. Tannin, phytate and oxalate concentrations in the raw cashew kernel were 10.14±0.03 mg/kg, 99.30±0.02mg/kg and 11.03±0.03mg/kg respectively. Increased fat, ash and fibre levels were noted for treated samples compared to raw kernels. Mineral concentrations were increased significantly by various treatments compared to raw kernel; however, germination resulted in the highest increase of mineral content. A reduction trend was observed in phytate, oxalate and tannin concentrations in the treated samples with respect to increased processing time. Consequently, various treatments influenced the bioavailability of mineral elements. Treated samples exhibited significant differences in loose and packed bulk densities, water and oil absorption capacities when compared to raw kernels. Germination shows potential to generate not only much needed nutrients in cashew for human development, but also improved bioavailability of nutrients and functionality compared to other processing methods. This approach can used in Community Nutrition and Emergency Feeding Programmes, in developing countries, where the consequence of anti-nutritional factors may worsen the incidence of malnutrition and disease.

The present investigation was designed to characterize the phenolic profile of Lima beans (Phaseolus Lunatus) and also to evaluate the antioxidant indices: total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and amino acid composition at different stages of simulated gastrointestinal digestion (oral, gastric, intestinal). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-DAD) analysis revealed the presence of some phenolic compounds (gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol and apigenin), with a reduced amount (mg/g) after cooking: gallic acid (raw: 1.96 ± 0.02; cooked: 1.82 ± 0.01); catechin (raw: 0.83 ± 0.01; cooked: 0.73 ± 0.01); rutin (raw: 2.61 ± 0.03; cooked:1.74 ± 0.03); quercitrin (raw: 5.73 ± 0.01; cooked: 5.68 ± 0.01); apigenin (raw: 2.09 ± 0.01; cooked: 1.79 ± 0.02), with exception of quercetin (raw: 2.11 ± 0.02; cooked: 5.73 ± 0.02) and caffeic acid (raw: 2.08±0.04; cooked 2.95 ± 0.04). The results of the antioxidant indices of in vitro enzyme digested lima beans revealed higher values for cooked Lima beans compared to the raw counterpart, with a stepwise increase at the different stages of in vitro digestion, with the exception of ferric reducing antioxidant power; TPC (oral digestion: 65.44 ± 0.96; gastric digestion:134.87 ± 0.46; intestinal digestion: 517.72 ± 4.70; mg/g tannic acid equivalent), TFC (oral digestion: 199.30 ± 6.43; gastric digestion: 1065.97± 1.22; intestinal digestion: 3691.87 ± 4.2; mg/g quercetin equivalent), DPPH (oral digestion: 85800.00 ± 305.50; gastric digestion: 99066.66 ± 115.47; intestinal digestion: 211354.20 ± 360.84; µmol TE/g sample). The results also revealed a progressive increase in the antioxidant indices and amino acid composition (mg/kg) for both raw and processed lima beans at various stages of the in vitro digestion, with the intestinal phase of simulated digestion ranking higher. This implied that the Lima beans contained some essential amino acids and antioxidant molecules that would be readily available after passing through the gastrointestinal tract and could therefore be explored as functional food in the management of free radical mediated diseases.

In this study, seventeen (17) composite blends of broken rice fractions and full-fat soybean, formulated using response surface methodology and central composite design within a range of barrel temperatures (100-140oC), initial feed moisture content (15-25%) and soybean composition (8-24%), were extruded with a twin-screw extruder and the expansion and color indices were optimized. The results indicated a significant (p<0.05) effect of extrusion conditions on the responses. Fitted predictive models had coefficients of 88.9%, 95.7%, 97.3%, 95.4% and 95.2%, respectively, for expansion index, bulk density, lightness, redness and yellowness. The p-value and lack-of-fit tests of the models could well explain the observed variability and therefore could be used to establish production setting for the twin-screw extruder. The optimum extrusion conditions were found to be 130 oC (barrel temperature), 20% (feed moisture level) and 23% feed soybean composition and optimum responses in terms of bulk density, expansion index, lightness, redness and yellowness chroma indices were 0.21 g cm−3 , 128.9%, 17.1, 3.13 and 24.5, respectively. This indicates that optimum conditions can be established in twinscrew extrusion cooking of broken rice fractions and full-fat soybean composite blends that can result in product of low bulk and maximum expansion with a satisfactory light yellow product color that can be used to produce products that valorize broken rice and reduce qualitative postharvest loss.