Potential cocoa butter substitute derived from mango seed kernel.

The present finding provides a new cocoa butter substitute in confectionary, which is derived from mango by-product (mango seed kernel). The study involves physicochemical characterization and the use of GCMS, FTIR, SEM, TGA, and NMR to prove that mango seed kernel derived fat is a good substitute for cocoa butter. Its texture, organoleptic properties and rancidity were also investigated. Its properties were similar to cocoa butter, with respect to palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids, and it had the ability to substitute 80 per cent of dark chocolate preparation for chocolate substitute. This recently developed cocoa substitute has the potential to address the global problem of cocoa butter scarcity, which is being exacerbated by rising population and improving economies.

Therapeutic Potential of Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements in the Prevention of Viral Diseases: A Review.

Nowadays, despite enormous scientific advances, viral diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity worldwide, and their potential to spread is escalating, eventually turning into pandemics. Nutrition can play a major role in supporting the immune system of the body and for the optimal functioning of the cells of the immune system. A healthy diet encompassing vitamins, multi-nutrient supplements, functional foods, nutraceuticals, and probiotics can play a pivotal role in combating several viral invasions in addition to strengthening the immune system. This review provides comprehensive information on diet-based scientific recommendations, evidence, and worldwide case studies in light of the current pandemic and also with a particular focus on virus-induced respiratory tract infections. After reviewing the immune potential of nutraceuticals based on the lab studies and on human studies, it was concluded that bioactive compounds such as nutraceuticals, vitamins, and functional foods (honey, berries, etc.) with proven antiviral efficacy, in addition to pharmaceutical medication or alone as dietary supplements, can prove instrumental in treating a range of virus-induced infections in addition to strengthening the immune system. Milk proteins and peptides can also act as adjuvants for the design of more potent novel antiviral drugs.

Process scale-up of an efficient acid-catalyzed steam pretreatment of rice straw for xylitol production by C. Tropicalis MTCC 6192.

The present study focuses on operational parameters for the efficient acid catalyzed rice straw pretreatment process for xylitol production. 75.77 % xylose yield was attained when the 24 h presoaked rice straw (≤10 mm or ≤ 15 mm) in 1.5 % (v/v) H2SO4 was pretreated in the same reactor at 121 °C for 30 min. Neutralization with barium hydroxide produced insoluble salt and noticeably reduced HMF and furfurals. Xylitol yield of 0.6 g/g of xylose, was achieved by fermenting rice straw hydrolysate medium with C. tropicalis MTCC 6192. This two-step process of production of xylitol from xylose rich hydrolysate is much simpler and produced minimal inhibitors including organic acids such as acetic acid. This process is modified for upscaling at optimized parameters and will simultaneously minimize the pollution problem caused by rice straw and is also promising for commercial scale.