Recent Innovations in Non-dairy Prebiotics and Probiotics: Physiological Potential, Applications, and Characterization.

Non-dairy sources of prebiotics and probiotics impart various physiological functions in the prevention and management of chronic metabolic disorders, therefore nutraceuticals emerged as a potential industry. Extraction of prebiotics from non-dairy sources is economical and easily implemented. Waste products during food processing, including fruit peels and fruit skins, can be utilized as a promising source of prebiotics and considered "Generally Recognized As Safe" for human consumption. Prebiotics from non-dairy sources have a significant impact on gut microbiota and reduce the population of pathogenic bacteria. Similarly, next-generation probiotics could also be isolated from non-dairy sources. These sources have considerable potential and can give novel strains of probiotics, which can be the replacement for dairy sources. Such strains isolated from non-dairy sources have good probiotic properties and can be used as therapeutic. This review will elaborate on the potential non-dairy sources of prebiotics and probiotics, their characterization, and significant physiological potential.

Compositional profile of barley landlines grown in different regions of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The current investigation was performed to explore the nutritional and functional composition of four landlines of barley denoted as LB1 (Gilgit), LB2 (Nagar), LB3 (Skardu), and LB4 (Shigar) from different regions of Gilgit-Baltistan. The samples were examined for nutritional profile and antioxidant attributes. Total phenolic values and total flavonoid results were in the range of 1.2 to 3.1 mg/g and 0.41 to 0.55 mg/g, respectively. Nutritional profile as crude starch, fiber, protein, ash, and fat ranged from 56.3%-50.80%, 16.50%-11.73%, 16.20%-11.53%, 2.8%-2.1%, and 2.63%-1.63%, respectively. The mineral composition in terms of Mg (527-616 mg/kg) was higher in the landlines followed by Ca (312-368 mg/kg), Na (122.6-146.6 mg/kg), Fe (43.3-65.6 mg/kg), and Zn (22.5-26.6 mg/kg). It was concluded that the indigenous barley landlines had immense nutritional potential and functional attributes. Thus, it can be used for value-added food products and the development of cottage industry in the region.

Tissue specific metal characterization of selected fish species in Pakistan.

Concentration of various metals, i.e., zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and silver (Ag), was evaluated in five indigenous fish species (namely, silver carp, common carp, mahseer, thela fish, and rainbow trout), by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. It is proved from this study that, overall, mahseer and rainbow trout had high amount of zinc, whereas thela fish and silver carp had high concentration of copper, chromium, silver, nickel, and lead, while common carp had highest amount of iron contents. Furthermore, a tissue-specific discrimination among various fish species was observed, where higher metal concentrations were noticed in fish liver, with decreasing concentration in other organs like skin, gills, and finally the least contents in fish muscle. Multivariate data analysis showed not only a variation in heavy metals among the tissues but also discrimination among the selected fish species.

Optimization and partial characterization of bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus bulgaricus -TLBFT06 isolated from Dahi.

Lactobacillus bulgaricus is one of the predominant lactic acid bacteria of dahi, conferring technological and functional attributes. In the present study thirty dahi samples were investigated for bacteriocin producing L. bulgaricus. Fourteen different isolates were obtained and five were scrutinized for antibacterial activities against food born pathogens. Amongst, a strain TLB06FT was found to have a wide array of antibacterial activities against Gram positive and negative bacteria was selected for further characterization. Growth media optimization for this strain revealed maximum bacteriocin production on MRS media supplemented with glucose (2%), sodium chloride (1%), Tween-80 (0.5%) and yeast extract (1 %). In addition, optimization of growth conditions revealed maximum bacteriocin production at pH 5.5 and temperature of 30-37°C. Bacteriocin showed thermo stability at 90°C and remained highly active in the pH range of 3.5-7.5, inactive by protein catalyzing enzymes and showed no change in activity (800AumL(-1)) when treated with organic solvents and surfactants. The obtained bacteriocin was purified to 1600AU mL(-1) by ammonium sulfate precipitation (80%) by using dialyzing tubing. In the same way, a single peak was obtained by RP-HPLC having antibacterial activity of 6400AU mL(-1). Thus, wild strains of L. bulgaricus have great potential for the production new and novel type of bacteriocins.

Effect of leaf extracts of Taraxacum officinale on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats, in vivo study.

Taraxacum officinale L is a medicinal plant, which has enormous medicinal values against various types of liver disorders and it has traditionally been used for the treatment of liver problems by people from the South East Asia. Previously we have screened the crude methanolic extract of T. officinale against cytotoxicity induced by CCl4. Present study was designed to compare the protective effect of ethanolic and n-hexane extract of leaves in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver toxicity in rats. The extract (200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight) along with silymarin (100 mg/kg) a standard drug was administered to experimental animals. It was observed that ethanolic plant extract has significantly reduced the negative effect of CCl4 as compared to n-hexane extract and effect of extract was increased with increasing dose level. Although both leaf extracts decreased the concentration of TBARS, H2O2 and nitrite contents which enhance due to CCl4 toxicity but effect was higher in ethanolic extract. The results clearly indicated that Taraxacum officinale ethanolic leaves extract has better protective effect against CCl4 induced liver tissues toxicity. This claim was also supported by histopathological results obtained during this study and this might be due to presence of various polar phytochemicals that might be more prevent in this extract.