Determination of Bioethanol Production from Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Pomace

Abstract Fruit juice industry generates massive amount of lignocellulosic by-products annually which are excellent raw materials for bioethanol production. In the current study, bioethanol production from apricot (Prunus armeniaca) pomace by Kluyveromyces marxianus was investigated for the first time. Some key parameters for fermentation such as pretreatment methods, biomass and cellulase loading and time, were optimized. Kluyveromyces marxianus produced 30.09 g/L ethanol in the 20% washed apricot pomace and 120 FPU/g cellulose enzyme loading. The highest theoretical yield and Y P/S values were also observed as 94.7% and 0.50 g/g, respectively, when 15 FPU/g cellulose enzyme was used. These results depict that apricot pomace is a promising feedstock for bioethanol production.

Esculent coating of spider silk enhanced the preservation and shelf life of apricot / A cobertura escamada de seda de aranha aumentou a preservação e a vida útil do damasco

Abstract According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), roughly one-third of the total food produced is lost globally. The major cause of this wastage is the perishability of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, researchers have endeavored to develop an effective preservation technique. Our study explored the potential application of spider silk as an odourless and edible preservative coating for fruits. The spider silk was collected from spiders reared in the laboratory, following by degumming and dissolution to formulate the silk solution. For this study, apricots were selected as the model fruit. The apricots were dip coated with the formulated silk solution and allowed to dry. In order to enhance the beta sheet content of the silk coating, the fruits were exposed to water annealing for varying intervals of time under vacuum condition. The effect of silk coating and water annealing time period on preservation of fruits was then evaluated morphologically and gravimetrically. The results showed that the fruits, which were used as control, exhibited a greater degree of water loss and suffered from fungal attack. In contrast, the silk coated fruits showed less water loss and were protected from fungal attack. Therefore, the study provides compelling evidence regarding the application of spider silk as a preservative coating.

Resumo Segundo a Organização para Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO), cerca de um terço do total de alimentos produzidos é perdido globalmente. A principal causa deste desperdício é a perecibilidade das frutas e legumes. Portanto, os pesquisadores têm se esforçado para desenvolver uma técnica de preservação eficaz. Nosso estudo explorou a potencial aplicação de seda de aranha como um revestimento conservante inodoro e comestível para frutas. A seda da aranha foi coletada de aranhas criadas em laboratório, seguindo-se a degomagem e dissolução para formular a solução de seda. Para este estudo, os damascos foram selecionados como fruto modelo. Os damascos foram revestidos por imersão com a solução de seda formulada e deixados secar. A fim de aumentar o teor de folhas beta do revestimento de seda, os frutos foram expostos a recozimento de água durante vários intervalos de tempo sob condições de vácuo. O efeito do tempo de recobrimento de seda e recozimento de água na preservação de frutos foi então avaliado morfologicamente e gravimetricamente. Os resultados mostraram que os frutos, utilizados como controle, apresentaram maior grau de perda de água e sofreram ataque fúngico. Em contraste, os frutos revestidos de seda mostraram menos perda de água e foram protegidos contra ataques fúngicos. Portanto, o estudo fornece evidências convincentes sobre a aplicação de seda de aranha como um revestimento conservante.

Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome in Korean Pollinosis Patients: A Nationwide Survey

PURPOSE: Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy in pollinosis patients caused by raw fruits and vegetables and is the most common food allergy in adults. However, there has been no nationwide study on PFAS in Korea. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PFAS in Korea. METHODS: Twenty-two investigators participated in this study, in which patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma with pollen allergy were enrolled. The questionnaires included demographic characteristics, a list of fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. Pollen allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and/or measurement of the serum level of specific IgE. RESULTS: A total of 648 pollinosis patients were enrolled. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7% (n = 270). PFAS patients exhibited cutaneous (43.0%), respiratory (20.0%), cardiovascular (3.7%) or neurologic symptoms (4.8%) in addition to oropharyngeal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was noted in 8.9% of the PFAS patients. Seventy types of foods were linked to PFAS; e.g., peach (48.5%), apple (46.7%), kiwi (30.4%), peanut (17.4%), plum (16.3%), chestnut (14.8%), pineapple (13.7%), walnut (14.1%), Korean melon (12.6%), tomato (11.9%), melon (11.5%) and apricot (10.7%). Korean foods such as taro/taro stem (8.9%), ginseong (8.2%), perilla leaf (4.4%), bellflower root (4.4%), crown daisy (3.0%), deodeok (3.3%), kudzu root (3.0%) and lotus root (2.6%) were also linked to PFAS. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first nationwide study of PFAS in Korea. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7%, and 8.9% of the PFAS patients had anaphylaxis. These results will provide clinically useful information to physicians.

Food allergy knowledge, perception of food allergy labeling, and level of dietary practice: A comparison between children with and without food allergy experience

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of food allergies in Korean children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 10.9% in 1995 to 12.6% in 2012 according to nationwide population studies. Treatment for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic-related foods and epinephrine auto-injector (EPI) for accidental allergic reactions. This study compared knowledge and perception of food allergy labeling and dietary practices of students. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the fourth to sixth grade students from an elementary school in Yongin. A total of 437 response rate (95%) questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food allergy among respondents was 19.7%, and the most common food allergy-related symptoms were urticaria, followed by itching, vomiting and nausea. Food allergens, other than 12 statutory food allergens, included cheese, cucumber, kiwi, melon, clam, green tea, walnut, grape, apricot and pineapple. Children with and without food allergy experience had a similar level of knowledge on food allergies. Children with food allergy experience thought that food allergy-related labeling on school menus was not clear or informative. CONCLUSION: To understand food allergies and prevent allergic reactions to school foodservice among children, schools must provide more concrete and customized food allergy education.

Evaluation of Fruit Intake and its Relation to Body Mass Index of Adolescents

Diets high in fruits and vegetables are recommended to maintain health. However, accurate fruit intake evaluation is hard and high sugar content in most of the fruits suggest possible negative relationships with health indices. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the fruit intake status of adolescents and to examine the relationship between fruit intake and body mass index (BMI). For this, 400 middle and high school students were surveyed for their fruit eating attitude, preference, and intake level for fruit along with the evaluation of their relationship with anthropometric measures. As for fruit preference, the most frequent answer was 'like very much' (60.0%) and the preference of fruit was significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.01). The highest answer to the reason to like fruits was 'delicious' (67.0%). The highest proportion of subjects replied that the amount of fruit intake was similar in both school meals and at home (39.3%) and unlikable feeling of fruits was 'sour' (47.0%). The favorite fruit was the apple followed by oriental melon, grape, Korean cherry, cherry, tangerine/orange, hallabong, plum, mango, persimmon, peach, pear/kiwi, apricot, Japanese apricot, and fig in order. As for the number of serving sizes per person were 2.9 times/day for male students and 3.0 times/day for female students showing no significant difference. The frequency of eating fruits in the evening showed a significant positive correlation with body weight (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.01), respectively. In summary of these study findings, it was found that the fruit preference of adolescents was relatively high and their fruit intake level satisfied the recommended number of intake. The number of evening fruit intake had a significantly positive correlation with body weight and BMI. Further studies are required to examine the relationship between fruit intake and health indicators.

Segregation of apricot accessions on the basis of fruit quality attributes / Segregação de genótipos de damasco na base das características quantitativas do fruto

The objective of this study was to characterize the European apricot germplasm that was collected in Cacak and Smederevo region, Central Serbia. Fifteen physical, chemical and sensorial traits were investigated in this germplasm consisting 14 accessions during a two year period. High variations were recorded in fruit weight, soluble solids content, ripening index, index of sweetness and total mineral mater, whereas variations in stone weight, titratable acidity and total sugars were smaller. Most of the accessions had large fruits with weight ≥60 g; two accessions had a fruit weight ≥80 g. Generally, fruits had a good aroma, firm flesh, orange and yellow flesh and skin color, respectively, and sweet kernel taste. High correlations were found between some evaluated properties. The accessions were grouped into four clusters according to their potential. Using a principal component analysis, accessions were segregated into groups with similar physical, chemical and sensorial properties. These relationships may help in selection of a set of accessions with better fruit quality performances, which, in our study, were found in T-1, T-2, T-10, T-13 and T-14.

A study of consumers' perceptions and prediction of consumption patterns for generic health functional foods

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) revised the Health Functional Food Act in 2008 and extended the form of health functional foods to general food types. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate consumers' perceptions of the expanded form of health functional food and to predict consumption patterns. For this study, 1,006 male and female adults aged 19 years and older were selected nationwide by multi-stage stratified random sampling and were surveyed in 1:1 interviews. The questionnaire survey was conducted by Korea Gallup. The subjects consisted of 497 (49.4%) males and 509 (50.6%) females. About 57.9% of the subjects recognized the KFDA's permission procedures for health functional foods. Regarding the health functional foods that the subjects had consumed, red ginseng products were the highest (45.3%), followed by nutritional supplements (34.9%), ginseng products (27.9%), lactobacillus-containing products (21.0%), aloe products (20.3%), and Japanese apricot extract products (18.4%). Opinions on expanding the form of health functional foods to general food types scored 4.7 points on a 7-point scale, showing positive responses. In terms of the effects of medicine-type health functional foods versus generic health functional foods, the highest response was 'same effects if the same ingredients are contained' at a rate of 34.7%. For intake frequency by food type, the response of 'daily consistent intake' was 31.7% for capsules, tablets, and pills, and 21.7% for extracts. For general food types, 'daily consistent intake' was 44.5% for rice and 22.8% for beverages, which were higher rates than those for medicine types. From the above results, consumers had positive opinions of the expansion of health functional foods to generic forms but are not expected to maintain accurate intake frequencies or amounts. Thus, continuous promotion and education are needed for proper intake of generic health functional foods.

Consumption of Health Functional Foods by Elementary Schoolchildren in Korea

We surveyed 837 students attending elementary schoolchildren in Korea for health functional foods (HFF) consumption and significant variables for their HFF consumption including demographic characteristics, parental health concern on offsprings, food eating frequency of subjects and beliefs on potential efficacy of HFF by subjects. The consumption prevalence of HFF was 45.9%, and among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by apricot extract-fermented products > lactic acid bacteria containing products > EPA/DHA containing products > red ginseng products. HFF consumption was higher in subjects had parents of high education level (p < .05) and those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .01) in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents (p < .001) and consumption ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF (p < .01), and consumers had a more positive view concerning the potential efficacy of HFF than did nonconsumers (p < .001). Most consumers of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (42.5%), and they did not feel special effects through HFF consumption (47.7%). Most consumers of HFF got the information on HFF from family and relatives (24.8%), and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (53.9%). HFF consumers preferred multi-vitamins and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin . mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread consumption of HFF by elementary schoolchildren, the reasonable consumption of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being should be emphasized through nutrition education for them and their family.

Growth Inhibitory Effects of Various Herbal Extracts on Metronidazole Resistant Strain of Trichomonas vaginalis

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.

Growth Inhibitory Effects of Various Herbal Extracts on Metronidazole Resistant Strain of Trichomonas vaginalis

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.