Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and immunity booster green foods: A mini review.

This review focused on the use of plant-based foods for enhancing the immunity of all aged groups against COVID-19. In humans, coronaviruses are included in the spectrum of viruses that cause the common cold and, recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS present a major threat to public health. The novel coronavirus has spread rapidly to multiple countries and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is usually caused a virus to which most probably the people with low immunity response are being affected. Plant-based foods increased the intestinal beneficial bacteria which are helpful and make up of 85% of the immune system. By the use of plenty of water, minerals like magnesium and Zinc, micronutrients, herbs, food rich in vitamins C, D and E, and better life style one can promote the health and can overcome this infection. Various studies investigated that a powerful antioxidant glutathione and a bioflavonoid quercetin may prevent various infections including COVID-19. In conclusion, the plant-based foods play a vital role to enhance the immunity of people to control of COVID-19.

Formulation and biochemical evaluation of designer diet enriched with botanicals for bone health.

The study designed to evaluate the role of sesame, fenugreek flax, and nuts seeds as best alternatives for therapeutic agents to improve bone mineral status. Effect of these plant seeds on proximate composition, antioxidant potential, mineral, fatty acid, and amino acid profile of supplements was studied. The sesame, fenugreek, and flaxseeds were incorporated with nuts at level of 35% to develop supplement. Improved contents of protein, fat, and NFE were recorded in range of 25.72-32.23, 18.92-23.15, and 34.25%-39.59%, correspondingly. The antioxidant potential of supplements is high (450.56 mg GAE/ 100g) prepared with fenugreek followed by flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Calcium as fundamental bone mineral found greater (525.15%-790.21%) in seed-based supplement. Enhanced contents of Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids ranged 17.32-41.78, 21.72-44.23, and 1.00%-47.12%, respectively. Nutritional enriched supplements may be best alternatives for improving bone health by lowering osteoclast and increasing osteoblast mechanism in bone development.

Pre-operative percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement does not increase post-operative complications or mortality in oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in patients with oesophageal cancer is controversial, owing to a perceived risk of tumour seeding at the PEG site, theoretical difficulty in formation of gastric conduit during oesophagectomy and a fear of increased post-operative complications, including anastomotic leak. We aimed to assess the impact of PEG tubes on nutritional status and post-operative complications in patients with oesophageal cancer who underwent PEG tube insertion prior to neo-adjuvant treatment. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 800 patients with oesophageal or gastro oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer, who underwent PEG insertion from June, 2010 to May, 2015. Out of these, 168 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analysed further. All of them were followed up for 3 years after treatment to assess overall survival. Thus, the follow up of the last patient included in the study was completed on May, 31, 2018. RESULTS: The average body mass index (BMI) of patients was maintained following PEG tube, during neo-adjuvant treatment (22.34±4.84 before PEG vs. 21.85±3.90 after PEG, P value: 0.1). Out of 168 patients, 33 (19.7%) developed a complication following PEG tube, with PEG site infection as the most common in 24 (14.2%). PEG-related mortality at 1 month was 0%. Ninety out of 168 patients (59%) underwent surgery after neo-adjuvant treatment. Three patients had tumour seeding at the PEG site and thus surgery could not be performed. Gastric conduit formation was possible in all 99 patients. Postoperative complications were seen in 17/99 (17%) patients, including surgical site infections in 7 (7.07%), anastomotic leak in 6 (6.06%) and anastomotic stricture in 4 (4.04%). Overall survival at 3 years was 87%. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative PEG tube in oesophageal cancer is safe and does not compromise the future anastomosis. Also, it helps in maintaining the nutritional status during neo-adjuvant treatment.

Selective deposition of dietary α-lipoic acid in mitochondrial fraction and its synergistic effect with α-tocoperhol acetate on broiler meat oxidative stability.

The use of bioactive antioxidants in feed of broiler to mitigate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological systems is one of promising nutritional strategies. The aim of present study was to alleviate ROS production in mitochondrial fraction (MF) of meat by supplemented dietary antioxidant in feed of broiler. For this purpose, mitochondria specific antioxidant: α-lipoic acid (25 mg, 75 mg and 150 mg) with or without combination of α-tocopherol acetate (200 mg) used in normal and palm olein oxidized oil (4%) supplemented feed. One hundred and eighty one day old broiler birds were randomly divided into six treatments and provided the mentioned feed from third week. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained statistically same in all groups while body weight decreased in supplemented groups accordingly at the end of study. The broiler meat MF antioxidant potential was significantly improved by feeding supplemented feed estimated as 1,1-di phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, 2,2-azinobis-(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS+) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The maximum antioxidant activity was depicted in group fed on 150 mg/kg α-lipoic acid (ALA) and 200 mg/kg α-tocopherol acetate (ATA) (T4) in both breast and leg MF. Moreover, TBARS were higher in leg as compared to breast MF. Although, oxidized oil containing feed reduced the growth, lipid stability and antioxidant potential of MF whilst these traits were improved by receiving feed containing ALA and ATA. ALA and ATA showed higher deposition in T4 group while least in group received oxidized oil containing feed (T5). Positive correlation exists between DPPH free radical scavenging activity and the ABTS + reducing activity. In conclusion, ALA and ATA supplementation in feed had positive effect on antioxidant status of MF that consequently diminished the oxidative stress in polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched meat.