ABSTRACT
Stevia rebaudiana has been used since hundreds of years as a natural sweetener, it is 300-450 times sweeter than sugar. The study aimed at incorporation of S. rebaudiana in traditional Indian desserts and test its sensory profile, storage properties, textural and color attributes. Carrot halwa (CH) and kesar peda (KP) were prepared with variations such as complete replacement of sugar in variation 1 (V1: CHV1 & KPV1) and 40% replacement of sugar in variation 2 (V2: CHV2 & KPV2) with stevia. Standard methods such as Quantitative Descriptive Analysis scores for sensory profile, fat oxidation for storage studies and surface morphology, texture profile and color analysis of samples were studied. Sensory profile revealed higher taste acceptability in CHV1 and KPV2. During storage, the maximum peroxide value was 5 mEq/kg in all products of refrigerated KP. Microstructural studies revealed changes in surface morphology wherein stevia incorporation increased ragged edges in CH and porosity in KP. Both products exhibited increased hardness, gumminess and chewiness during storage. There was no major change in the color profile of products. Overall, incorporation of stevia in Indian desserts can significantly reduce the use of sugar and can be relished by people who are health conscious.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan by abstinence from food and drink every day from dawn to sunset. Studies have reported contradictory results with respect to the changes in body weight and biochemical parameters. No study has been conducted on the association between fasting and body weight and biochemical parameters in the Indian setting on healthy Muslim subjects. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of fasting during Ramadan on biochemical parameters such as lipid profile, liver function test, renal function test, antioxidant status, random blood sugar, hemoglobin, body composition, and blood pressure in a sample of healthy individuals. METHODS: In this study, 52 healthy free-living participants (25 males, 27 females, 21-64 years) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed both follow-ups (before and after Ramadan) were studied. Participants were fasting 12 hours a day for at least 21 days, including menstruating women. It was a free-living study with no dietary restrictions. Anthropometry, lipid profile, liver and renal function tests were measured by standard methods. Body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance. RESULTS: Significant beneficial changes in albumin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were observed, while total cholesterol, random blood sugar, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes remained unchanged after Ramadan. Fasting did bring in some changes in body composition; among both men and women, mean weight loss ranged from 0.81 - 1.4 kg in majority of the subjects, which was due to loss in muscle mass. Moderate changes in intra- and extracellular water content was observed after fasting. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements were observed in HDL levels and liver function tests, which can be attributed to the loss of body weight. Improvement in liver function tests may be related to the changes in cytokines and alteration in sleep patterns. Ramadan-like fasting, along with the nutritional education prior to fasting, may be beneficial and effective in the spiritual and overall well-being.
ABSTRACT
Free radical-mediated oxidation is often linked to various degenerative diseases. Biological substrates with lipids as major components are susceptible to oxygen-derived lipid peroxidation due to their composition. Lipid peroxide products act as biomarkers in evaluating the antioxidant potential of various plants and functional foods. The study focused on evaluation of the antioxidant potential of two extracts (methanol and 80% methanol) of four medicinal plants, Andrographis paniculata, Costus speciosus, Canthium parviflorum, and Abrus precatorius, against Fenton reaction-mediated oxidation of three biological lipid substrates; cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and brain homogenate. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Also, the correlation between the polyphenol, flavonoid content, and the antioxidant activity in biological substrates was analyzed. Results indicated highest antioxidant potential by 80% methanol extract of Canthium parviflorum (97.55%), methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata (72.15%), and methanol extract of Canthium parviflorum (49.55%) in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and brain, respectively. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata in cholesterol (r = 0.816) and low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.948) and Costus speciosus in brain (r = 0.977, polyphenols, and r = 0.949, flavonoids) correlated well with the antioxidant activity. The findings prove the antioxidant potential of the selected medicinal plants against Fenton reaction in biological lipid substrates.
ABSTRACT
Oxidative stress is developed due to susceptibility of biological substrates to oxidation by generation of free radicals. In degenerative diseases, oxidative stress level can be reduced by antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. Primary objective of this work was to screen four medicinal plants, namely, Andrographis paniculata, Costus speciosus, Canthium parviflorum, and Abrus precatorius, for their antioxidant property using two biological substrates-RBC and microsomes. The antioxidative ability of three solvent extracts, methanol (100% and 80%) and aqueous leaf extracts, was studied at different concentrations by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method using Fenton's reagent to induce oxidation in the substrates. The polyphenol and flavonoid content were analyzed to relate with the observed antioxidant effect of the extracts. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and ß-carotene in the samples. In microsomes, 80% methanol extract of Canthium and Costus and, in RBC, 80% methanol extract of Costus showed highest inhibition of oxidation and correlated well with the polyphenol and flavonoid content. From the results it can be concluded that antioxidants from medicinal plants are capable of inhibiting oxidation in biological systems, suggesting scope for their use as nutraceuticals.
