ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Citrus is an economically important fruit for Egypt, but its peel also is one of the major sources of agricultural waste. Due to its fermentation, this waste causes many economic and environmental problems. Therefore it is worthwhile to investigate ways to make use of this citrus waste generated by the juice industry. This study was aimed to explore the hypocholesterolemic, antidiabetic activities of four varieties of citrus peels agrowastes, to isolate the main flavonoids in the active fractions and to quantify them by HPLC method for nutraceutical purposes. All the tested samples of the agro-waste Citrus fruits peels showed significant decrease in cholesterol, triacylglyceride and glucose. The most decrease in cholesterol level was observed by mandarin peels aqueous homogenate and its hexane fraction (59.3% and 56.8%, respectively) reaching the same effect as the reference drug used (54.7%). Mostly, all samples decrease triacylglyceride (by 36%-80.6%) better than the reference drug used (by 35%), while, glucose was decreased (by 71.1%-82.8 and 68.6%-79.6%, respectively) mostly by the aqueous homogenates (except lime) and alcoholic extracts (except mandarin) of Citrus fruits peels better than the reference drug used (by 68.3%). All the isolated pectin, from the four cultivars, has significant effect on the three parameters. The comparative HPLC rapid quantification of nobiletin in the different by-product citrus varieties hexane fractions revealed that nobiletin is present in higher concentration in mandarin (10.14%) than the other species. Nobiletin and 4′,5,7,8-tetramethoxy flavone were isolated from mandarin peels hexane fraction by chromatographic fractionation. This is the first report of the comparative HPLC quantification of nobiletin and biological studies of different citrus peels species as agro-waste products. Based on these results, we suggest the possibility that Citrus fruits peels may be considered as an antidiabetic and hypocholesterolemic nutraceutical product.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the method of Fast Elimination of Malaria by Source Eradication (FEMSE) in Moheli island of Comoros. Methods Based on the FEMSE project, parasite positive cases were given a standard treatment course of ARTEQUICK (artemisinin plus piperaquine) plus primaquine: two tablets for adults at 0 hour and two tablets at 24 hours, a total of 4 tablets during one treatment course. One time of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) was for the children with parasite carrier rate less than 10%. Two times of MDA was for the children with parasite carrier rate more than 10%, and the interval between the two MDA was 42 days. Coverage rate for MDA and population carrier rate were observed. Results The number of people taking the first MDA of Artequick-Primaquine was 32,519 (the whole population registered at the same time being 37,243, 367 infants under 6 months old not involved), and the coverage rate for MDA was 88.2%. The population involved in the second MDA was 35,370 (the whole population registered at the same time being 37,112, 335 infants under 6 months old not involved), and the coverage rate for MDA was 96. 2%. Parasite carrier rate was 22.95% (281/ 1,224) before MDA, 1.41% (28/1, 987) two months after MDA and 0. 33% (8/2,458) four months after MDA, with a decrease of 98.56% . Conclusion The decrease of parasite carrier rate from 22. 95% to 0. 33% before and after MDA indicates that MDA of Artequick-Primaquine based on FEMSE can decrease the parasite carrier rate in a short time, without any obvious side effects. Further decrease of parasite carrier rate and incidence will be achieved if the measures for clearing malaria are fully implementated during the consolidation phase.