The effect of different pre-treatments on unformulated pulse-based milk analogs: physicochemical properties and consumer acceptance.

This is the first part of a study on developing pulse-based milk analogs using chickpea, faba bean, and cowpea as raw materials. The objectives of the present study were to determine the processing conditions for pulse-based milk analog production at laboratory-scale and to investigate the effects of some pre-treatments such as dry milling (control), soaking and wet milling, blanching, blanching and dehulling, vacuum, and germination on lipoxygenase (LOX) activity of the raw material and some physicochemical and sensory properties of the final products. Dry milling provided the lowest LOX activity and the highest yield while soaking and wet milling resulted in a substantial increase in LOX activity, lower product yield, and a final product with lower whiteness value, regardless of the pulse type. Germination caused a significant decrease in LOX activity in all pulse types, while milk analogs produced from germinated pulses received the lowest acceptability scores from consumers. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05836-7.

Stimulating effect of biogenic nanoparticles on the germination of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds.

Metal nanoparticles synthesized using various biosources are the subject of focus in many research areas thanks to their improved biological effects and increased bioavailability. Silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained by using low-cost, low-energy, environmentally friendly, non-toxic chemicals and easily accessible thyme leaves and lavender flowers. The effects of various concentrations of biosynthesized NPs on the germination and germination index of basil seeds were defined comparatively. Phytochemicals in lavender flower extract acted as reducing and capping agents in the biosynthesis of Ag-NPs, and phytochemicals in thyme leaves extract acted for the biosynthesis of ZnO-NPs ve Fe3O4-NPs. Relative root length was detected at 25 mg/L ZnO-NP, stem length at 50 mg/L ZnO-NP, and relative seed germination 100 mg/L Fe3O4-NP with the maximum value. However, germination percentage, germination index, germination vigor index and root length were found to be maximum compared to other NP applications at Ag-NPs at 200 mg/L. This research showed that the germination promoting effects of NPs, which may be essential microelements, are related to their size, surface area, morphology and concentration. Thus, it promoted early and rapid germination by breaking the NP's seed dormancy.

Effects of Acute Administration of Adipokinetic Hormone on Depression, Anxiety, Pain, Locomotion and Memory in Mice.

The neurosecretory cells in the corpus cardiacum of insects synthesize a set of hormones that are called adipokinetic, hypertrehalosemic or hyperprolinemic depending on the insect in question. They are the Adipokinetic Hormone/Red Pigment-Concentrating Hormone (AKH/RPCH) family of peptides. The present study investigated the effects of acute administration of Locusta Migratoria (Locmi-AKHII) and Anax Imperator (Anaim-AKH) on depression, anxiety, pain (analgesy), locomotion and memory in mice in forced swimming (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM), hot plate, locomotor activity and passive avoidance tests. Both Locmi-AKH-II (4 mg/kg) and Anaim-AKH (0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg) decreased immobility time (in sec, s) in the FST test. Anaim-AKH (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) increased the percentage of time spent in open arms/total time spent and the percentage of the number of open arm/total arm entries in the EPM test. Anaim-AKH (1 and 2 mg/kg) significantly increased latency (s) (initial time passed) for mice to lick their hind paws or jumping in the hot plate test. Anaim-AKH (4 mg/kg) significantly decreased the total distance (cm) moved, or the speed (cm/s) of movement of the animals in the locomotor activity test. Neither Locmi-AKH-II nor Anaim-AKH altered the retention latency (s) in the passive avoidance test. Both Locmi-AKH-II and Anaim-AKH exerted antidepressant effects, while only Anaim-AKH had anxiolytic and analgesic effects when administered acutely. Anaim-AKH diminished locomotion at higher doses while Locmi-AKH-II had no such effects. Neither Locmi-AKH-II nor Anaim-AKH disturbed learning and memory when acutely administered. Data of our studies suggest clinical potentials of AKH to be used in depression, anxiety and pain without disturbing memory.

Superior effects of quetiapine compared with aripiprazole and iloperidone on MK-801-induced olfactory memory impairment in female mice.

Cognitive dysfunction is commonly observed in schizophrenic patients and the administration of antipsychotic treatments results in different outcomes. Although the typical antipsychotic treatments, such as haloperidol, appear to be unable to improve cognition dysfunction, the atypical antipsychotic drugs (quetiapine, aripiprazole and iloperidone) exert a beneficial effect. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of atypical antipsychotics on olfactory memory in mice, utilizing the social transmission of food preference (STFP) tests to evaluate the effects of drugs on MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction. Female BALB/c mice were treated with quetiapine (5 and 10 mg/kg), aripiprazole (3 and 6 mg/kg), iloperidone (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) or MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) alone or concurrently prior to retention sessions of STFP tests. In the STFP tests, quetiapine (10 mg/kg; P<0.05), aripiprazole (3 and 6 mg/kg; P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), iloperidone (0.5 and 1 mg/kg; P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively) and MK-801 (P<0.001) significantly decreased cued/total food eaten (%). Quetiapine (5 mg/kg; P<0.05) significantly increased MK-801-induced decreases in cued/total food eaten (%), while aripiprazole and iloperidone demonstrated no significant effects. The results revealed that all of the drugs disturbed olfactory memory in the naive mice; however, only quetiapine reversed MK-801-induced memory impairment in the STFP test.

Effects of chronic administration of adipokinetic and hypertrehalosemic hormone on animal behavior, BDNF, and CREB expression in the hippocampus and neurogenesis in mice.

Neurosecretory cells in corpus cardiacum of insects synthesize a set of hormones that are called adipokinetic, hypertrehalosaemic or hyperprolinaemic, depending on insect in question. This study investigated effects of chronic administration of Anax imperator adipokinetic hormone (Ani-AKH), Libellula auripennis adipokinetic hormone (Lia-AKH), and Phormia-Terra hypertrehalosaemic hormone (Pht-HrTH) on depression, anxiety, analgesy, locomotion in forced swimming (FST), elevated plus-maze (EPM), hot plate, and locomotor activity tests. Ani-AKH (1 and 2 mg/kg), Lia-AKH (1 and 2 mg/kg), and Pht-HrTH (1 and 2 mg/kg) had antidepressant effects in forced swimming test. Lia-AKH (2 mg/kg) and Pht-HrTH (1 and 2 mg/kg) had anxiolytic effects when given chronically in elevated plus-maze test. Ani-AKH (1 and 2 mg/kg) and Pht-HrTH (2 mg/kg) had antinociceptive effects in hot plate test in male balb-c mice. Ani-AKH (2 mg/kg), Lia-AKH (1 and 2 mg/kg), and Pht-HrTH had locomotion-enhancing effects in locomotor activity test in male balb-c mice. Drug treatment significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) gene expression levels compared to control levels. Pht-HrTH and Ani-AKH groups had significantly increased numbers of BrdU-labeled cells, while neurodegeneration was lower in the Pht-HrTH group. Our study showed that AKH/RPCH family peptides may be used in treatment of psychiatric illness such as depression and anxiety, in treatment of pain and in diseases related to locomotion system. AKH/RPCH family peptides increase neurotrophic factors in brain and have potential proliferative and neuroprotective effects in hippocampal neurogenesis and neurodegeneration.