American Journal of Food Science and Technology

Plant-derived substances are becoming increasingly known for their antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) extract protects against oxidative stress using animal model. 12 albino rats were procured, grouped into four groups and allowed to acclimatize for one week. Diluted acetone was used to induce oxidative stress. The extract was prepared and administered orally. Groups 1 and 2 received 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg of the extract respectively while group 3 received only acetone and group 4 received sterile normal saline and served as control. After the administration of the extract for 7 days, 4mls of blood samples were collected from the rats through ocular puncture into EDTA blood containers. The samples were analysed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and White Blood cell count (WBC) using standard manual methods. From the results, there was significant (p<0.05) increase in haemoglobin concentration in the groups that received 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg of the extract when compared with control and acetone only groups. Though there was increase in PCV of the groups that received the extract, but it was not significant. From the findings of this study, the extract of Telfairia occidentalis may possibly improve haematological parameters and confer protection in oxidative stress conditions.

American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2013, 1(4), 67-69. DOI: 10.12691/ajfst-1-4-1
Pub. Date: December 02, 2013

Full-Text PDF

16718 Views5709 Downloads40 Likes

The Effect of Extrusion Conditions on the Physical and Functional Properties of Millet – Bambara Groundnut Based Fura

by K. B. Filli, I. Nkama and V. A. Jideani

Original Research

Studies were conducted on the Extrusion of fura from pearl millet and Bambara groundnut applying the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) consisting of 15 design points, using a single screw laboratory Brabendar extruder. The effects of three extrusion variables (feed composition – percentage Bambara groundnut to pearl millet, feed moisture content and screw speed) on some physical properties (bulk density, ‘BD’ expansion ratio, ‘ER’, mass flow rate, ‘MFR’, average residence time, ‘ART’ and specific mechanical energy, ‘SME’) and some functional properties (water absorption index, ‘WAI’, water solubility index, ‘WSI’ and viscosity); of fura extrudates were evaluated using response surface method (RSM). Models were developed and appropriate statistical analysis adopted to test the adequacy of the models. Linear, quadratic and interaction regression and coefficient terms and coefficients of determinants were computed to test the adequacy of the models and response surface plots were also produced from the equation and model. The linear, quadratic and interaction terms were significant (p<0.05) for ART and SME, however for MFR interaction term was not significant (p>0.05), however the linear and quadratic terms were significant (p<0.05). The error analysis showed that lack of fit was not significant (p<0.05) for ART. The regression models for data were significant (p<0.05) with satisfactory coefficients R² of 0.87, 0.87 and 0.92 for ART, MFR and SME respectively indicating a good fit. The coefficients of variation (CV) were less than <10%. Extrusion conditions affected the ER significantly (p<0.05) by linear and interaction terms. The BD was influenced by only the linear term (p<0.05). The R² were 0.82 and 0.84 for ER and BD respectively, suggesting good fit. Linear, quadratic and interaction terms affected WAI. However only linear and quadratic terms indicated influence on the WSI. The R²were 0.93 and 0.84 for WAI and WSI respectively. The samples shows that, linear, quadratic and interaction terms influenced viscosity significantly (p<0.05) with the linear term showing more effect and the R² was 0.88 for viscosity, The lysine content (result not shown) of extrudates tremendously increased as expected as a result of inclusion of Bambara groundnut. The essential amino acids (result not shown) were present in adequate levels if compared with the recommended values of FAO/WHO (1973).

American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2013, 1(4), 87-101. DOI: 10.12691/ajfst-1-4-5
Pub. Date: December 30, 2013

Full-Text PDF

32414 Views10856 Downloads33 Likes5 Citations

Domestication and Observation on Induced Breeding of Spiny Eel Mastacembelus armatus

by Mollah M.F.A., Ali M.R. and Taslima K

Original Research

Spiny Eel, Mastacembelus armatus categorized as endangered is a highly potential species in Bangladesh. Two different experiments were conducted on domestication and induced breeding of Spiny Eel, M. armatus at mini hatchery cum breeding complex under the Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University. For domestication, fish were reared under three different treatments (treatment I, II and III) each having three replications (R₁, R₂, R₃) in nine indoor cisterns (2.33 m × 1.34 m area each) for six months and fed with three different feeds namely commercial supplementary feed (Mega feed), trash fish and chicken viscera. Highest growth performance was observed upon statistical analysis in treatment II fed with trash compared with treatment I and III. Subsequently four induced breeding trials were conducted using carp pituitary gland (PG) extract. Male and female broods were induced to breed using different doses (35-100 mg.kg^-1 body weight of female and 5-10 mg.kg^-1 body weight of male) of PG extract. PG dose of 35 & 40 mg.kg^-1 body weight precipitated ovulation but successful fertilization (82.00 ± 2.21) was observed at the dose of 40 mg.kg^-1 body weight. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2013, 1(4), 82-86. DOI: 10.12691/ajfst-1-4-4
Pub. Date: December 24, 2013

Full-Text PDF

19403 Views6166 Downloads32 Likes1 Citations

Quality and Safety Aspects of Fresh and Frozen Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), Bangladesh

by A. K. M. Shafiul Azam, Md. Abul Mansur, Md. Asadujjaman, M. Rahman and M. G. Sarwer

Original Research

The study was conducted to evaluate the quality and safety assessment of fresh and frozen prawn of Bangladesh. Fish was assessed both fresh and frozen condition at-20°C in a deep freezer. The keeping quality of this sample during frozen storage (12 weeks) was evaluated by studying organoleptic, biochemical and bacteriological aspects. The initial protein, moisture, lipid and ash content of fresh prawn were 33.11%, 61.8%, 2.27 %, 2.13 %; On the 4^th week it were reduced to 28.25%, 67.38%, 1.87%, 1.81%; in the 8^th week the protein content were decreased to 25.41%, 70.52%, 1.52%, 1.43% and at the 12^th week finally the protein content showed 21.51%, 75.23% , 1.23%, 1.08% respectively. The initial TVB-N value of fresh prawn was 20.90 mg/100g, on the 4^th week it was increased to 23.65 mg/100g, in the 8^th week the TVB-N value increased to 26.32 mg/100g and at the 12^th week finally the TVB-N value showed 31.62 mg/100g respectively; and the microbial load of fresh prawn was 4.32×10⁵ cfu/g, on the 6^th week it was decreased to 6.73×10³ cfu/g, in the 12^th week finally the microbial load was slightly increased to 1.42×10⁴ cfu/g respectively. The chemical test mainly heavy metal concentration in the prawn observed that Cd, Cu, Mn, Zn and Pb were 0.017, 0.051, 6.935, 11.288 and 0.133 µg/g which was in consumable limit according to WHO.

American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2013, 1(4), 77-81. DOI: 10.12691/ajfst-1-4-3
Pub. Date: December 08, 2013

Full-Text PDF

21397 Views6386 Downloads37 Likes

Grinding Studies of Mango Ginger: Mathematical Modelling of Particle Size Distribution and Energy Consumption

by Thirupathihalli Pandurangappa Krishna Murthy and Balaraman Manohar

Original Research

Mango ginger was ground in hammer mill with three different classifying screens and pin mill to study the particle size distribution and energy consumption. The Rosin-Rammler Bennet (RRB) model fitted well the particle size distribution data over the entire range of the size distribution for grinding in both hammer mill and pin mill with high coefficient of determination (R²) and low values of residual sum square, root mean square error and Chi-square. Relationship between RRB model parameters with hammer mill screen size was obtained with high R². All the three classical models such as Rittinger’s, Kick’s and Bond’s law were found suitable to explain the energy consumption for grinding. Energy consumption increased exponentially with decrease in classifying screen size of hammer mill. The Work index for grinding increased with increase in size reduction ratios and were in the range of 0.075-0.58 kW/kg.

American Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2013, 1(4), 70-76. DOI: 10.12691/ajfst-1-4-2
Pub. Date: December 03, 2013

Full-Text PDF

25357 Views9051 Downloads33 Likes2 Citations