Physico-chemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of yogurt as affected by various ingredients.

l-Glutamine, quercetin, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, licorice root, maitake mushrooms, and zinc orotate have been reported to help treat leaky gut. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of these functional ingredients on the physico-chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of yogurt. The milk from same source was equally divided into 9 pails and the 8 ingredients were randomly assigned to the 8 pails. The control had no ingredient. Milk was fermented to yogurt. The pH, titratable acidity, syneresis, viscosity, color (L*, a*, b*, C*, and h*), Streptococcus thermophilus counts, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus counts of yogurts were determined on d 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, whereas coliform counts, yeast and mold counts, and rheological characteristics were determined on d 1 and 42. The sensory study was performed on d 3 and particle size of the functional ingredients (powder form) was also determined. When compared with control, the incorporation of slippery elm bark into yogurts led to less syneresis. l-Glutamine increased pH and n' values (relaxation exponent derived from G') and lowered titratable acidity values. N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine incorporation resulted in higher n' and lower titratable acidity values, whereas maitake mushroom led to lower n' values. Incorporating quercetin increased the growth of L. bulgaricus. Adding maitake mushrooms increased the growth of S. thermophilus but lowered apparent viscosity values, whereas quercetin decreased its S. thermophilus counts. Quercetin decreased L* and a* values but increased b* values, and maitake mushroom increased a* values. Thixotropic behavior increased with the addition of licorice root and quercetin. Adding slippery elm bark, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, licorice root, maitake mushrooms, and zinc orotate into yogurt did not affect the sensory properties, whereas yogurts with quercetin had the lowest sensory scores. Overall, most of these ingredients did not cause major changes to yogurt properties.

Impact of municipal solid waste landfill leachate on biogas production rate.

Landfills/open dump sites are the final disposal facilities for municipal solid waste (MSW). These sites undergo continuous process of biochemical reactions and anaerobic degradation, which make them prone to generation of landfill gas (LFG) and leachate. Worldwide, the quantitative and qualitative assessment for leachate treatment and management has been a growing concern. The present study investigated the physico-chemical characteristics and heavy metal parameters for fresh, 3-month, 6-month and 3-year old landfill leachate samples. The total dissolved solids (13280 mg/l), alkalinity (13000 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (42000 mg/l) and total organic carbon (16500 mg/l) was found to be maximum in 3-year old leachate sample. While, the 3 and 6-month old leachate samples had maximum heavy metal concentration. The attempt was also made to identify the key parameters responsible to enhance biogas production yield from different ages of MSW. The substrate combinations of MSW and 3-year old leachate samples was prepared at varying proportion. The study was performed in three cycles and the volume of leachate diffused in each cycle was kept constant. The control samples with no leachate diffusion was also prepared to compare the percentage increase in biogas production rate. It was found that the cumulative methane (CH4) production from fresh (358 ml/g) and 3-month old MSW (273 ml/g) was maximum, and the overall percentage increase was 43% and 32%. It was also conclusive that the excess leachate diffusion of >15 ml results in low calcination behaviour and CH4 production rate. The response surface methodology was used to correlate and validate independent input variables (volatile solids, C/N ratio and leachate concentration) responsible for maximum CH4 yield.

Bread preparation by partial replacement of wheat by germinated sorghum.

Published literature shows significant impact of sorghum type and flour on end-product quality, while demonstrating paucity in the studied varieties with respect to processing aspects (such as bread making) despite of enormous accessions available worldwide. Limited studies have reported usage of germinated flour for the above said purpose. The present study thus aimed at mitigating these gaps by utilizing results of sorghum (HJ-513) germination (Day 1-5) and flour derived from optimized condition (Day 3 as identified by partial least square analysis) to develop a composite functional bread (partial replacement of wheat). The germination process enhanced the total phenolics compounds (TPC, till day 3), water (14.01%) and oil absorption capacity (25.97%) while reducing the bulk density (760.99-644.69 kg/m3). This demonstrated increased potential of sorghum flour for development of bakery and confectionery products. The process also affected the pasting properties, total flavonoids compounds (TFC) and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) significantly (p < 0.05). The bread developed from partial replacement (10% and 20%) of refined wheat flour by sorghum was hard and darker than the control wheat bread. The bread developed at 20% was more dense and porous than the bread developed with 10% replacement. Specific volume of bread at 10% replacement was found higher than at 20% replacement. The study reports effective utilization of germinated sorghum flour for development of composite-functional bread without incorporation of any other additives/improvers. Future research however is warranted in the field to further increase the replacement of wheat flour by germinated sorghum flour to develop gluten free bread.

Preparation and characterization of sequilhos-type biscuits added with almond flour of Acrocomia intumescens.

Acrocomia intumescens ("macaúba") is a species that during processing generates a large amount of waste. The use of this residue for the production of flour for incorporation into food products is a way to minimize the cost and nutritionally enrich the final product. This work aimed to develop and analyze, in terms of physico-chemical and microbiological properties, cookies with macaúba almond cake residual flour. Sequilhos formulations were obtained using three different proportions of flour (2, 4 and 6%). The analysis of the flour allowed to find 4.29% of moisture, 1.13% of acidity, 5.33 of pH, 44.46% of carbohydrates, 28.74% of lipids, 20.06% of proteins and 2.45% of ash. In the analysis of the sequilhos formulations, the following values were found: moisture (5.03 to 8.13%), acidity (0.10 to 0.14%), pH (5.52 to 5.93), carbohydrates (67.17 to 73.37%), lipids (18.77 to 31.77%), proteins (0.85 to 1.92%), ash (0.83 to 0.94%) and total energy value (137.57 to 172,50 Kcal/100g). In microbiological analyzes it was highlighted that the sequilhos presented adequate sanitary conditions. The results indicate almond flour as an ingredient to be incorporated in the preparation of sequilhos, which in turn, presented satisfactory physico-chemical properties and microbiological results.

Multifunctional Modified Chitosan Biopolymers for Dual Applications in Biomedical and Industrial Field: Synthesis and Evaluation of Thermal, Chemical, Morphological, Structural, In Vitro Drug-Release Rate, Swelling and Metal Uptake Studies.

The hydrogel materials are getting attention from the research due to their multidimensional usage in various fields. Chitosan is one of the most important hydrogels used in this regard. In this paper multifunctional binary graft copolymeric matrices of chitosan with monomer AA and various comonomers AAm and AN were prepared by performing free radical graft copolymerization in the presence of an initiator KPS. The binary grafting can be done at five different molar concentrations of binary comonomers at already optimized concentration of AA, KPS and other reaction conditions such as time, temperature, solvent amount, etc. Various optimum reaction conditions were investigated and presented in this work; the backbone as well as binary grafts Ch-graft-poly (AA-cop-AAm) and Ch-graft-poly (AA-cop-AN) were characterized via various physio-chemical techniques of analysis such as SEM analysis, Xray diffraction (XRD), TGA/DTA and FTIR. In the batch experiments, the binary grafts were investigated for the percent swelling with respect to pH (pH of 2.2, 7.0, 7.4 and 9.4) and time (contact time 1 to 24 h). Uploading and controllable in vitro release of the drug DS (anti-inflammatory) was examined with reverence to gastrointestinal pH and time. The binary grafts showed significantly better-controlled drug diffusion than the unmodified backbone. The kinetic study revealed that the diffusion of the drug occurred by the non-Fickian way. In the case of separation technologies, experiments (batch tests) were executed for the toxic bivalent metal ions Fe (II) and Pb (II) sorption from the aqueous media with respect to the parameters such as interaction period, concentration of fed metal ions in solution, pH and temperature. The binary grafted matrices showed superior results compared to chitosan. The kinetics study revealed that the matrices show pseudo-second order adsorption. The graft copolymer Ch-graft-poly (AA-cop-AAm) provided superior results in sustainable drug release as well as metal ion uptake. The study explored the potential of chitosan-based materials in the industry as well in the biomedical field. The results proved these to be excellent materials with a lot of potential as adsorbents.

Impact of effluent of Pulp & Paper industry on the flora of river basin at Jaykaypur, Odisha, India and its ecological implications.

The JK Paper industry located at Rayagada discharges biologically untreated effluent more than the permissible limit prescribed by Pollution Control Board, Odisha in to the environment. The industry is seriously polluting the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial environment. No detailed intensive study was carried out by previous workers on this industry earlier. The present study aims at finding out the impact of effluent on the flora at the contaminated site. The chemically treated effluent (TE) contained significant amount of mercury and cadmium. The TE has high BOD, COD, dissolved solids and suspended solids when compared to normal river water at the site of discharge. The TE deteriorated the natural water bodies changing the physico-chemical properties of natural river water. After meeting the river water the TE was diluted after 1 km distance from the meeting point of the river. Crop plants collected from the contaminated site showed higher level of residual Hg and Cd and significant depletion in pigment was observed. Plants collected from both the sides of the treated effluent canal showed significant amount residue mercury and cadmium in the plant leaves. The plants exposed to the TE, showed variation in chlorophyll and Phaeophytin pigment content when compared to their respective control values in all terrestrial plants collected from the contaminated site. In some plant leaves little increment in the pigment level was noted but the values were not significant. The changes observed in the plant pigment might be due to heavy metal accumulation. The presence of residual Hg and Cd in crop plants and plant leaves grazed by grazing animals after absorption, accumulation and enrichment may lead to a possible biological magnification, warrants attention. Proper biological treatment, treatment of effluent by modern methods and removal of heavy metals from the effluent before discharge by the industry is suggested.

Evaluation of the surface water quality in the Kebir-Rhumel catchment area (northeast Algeria) using biotic indices and physico-chemical analyses.

Assessing the water quality of the Kebir-Rhumel watershed by the use of benthic macroinvertebrates and physico-chemical analysis is the aim of this work. Thirteen physicochemical parameters and macroinvertebrates fauna were collected monthly in 15 stations located along the catchment area in the two principal wadis: El Kebir and Rhumel. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to study the relationships between physico-chemical parameters and macroinvertebrates. Biotic indices Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP'), Global Biological Normalized Index (IBGN), EPT index (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), and %EPT/Chironomidae, based on benthic macroinvertebrates, have been applied in assessing the biological water quality. According to the results, a majority of the physicochemical parameters measured during the study period show spatial heterogeneity (Kruskal-Wallis, P value < 0.05), indicating that Rhumel wadi is more polluted compared with El Kebir wadi; the NO2-, NO3-, PO4-3, Cl-, and SM contents are very high consequences of human and industrial anthropogenic actions. Canonical correspondence analysis has shown that the environmental parameters measured during this study influence the dynamics of macroinvertebrates, and the polluo-resistant taxa (Chironomidae) predominate in sites very rich in organic matter with low oxygen conditions. Sensitive taxa have a vulnerability to pollution. The biotic indices used confirm the diagnosis of the physicochemical analysis demonstrating a very degraded quality at Rhumel wadi. The EPT index and %EPT/Chironomidae results are closer to the scores of the BMWP' index.

Dataset on the deposits of the semi-circular rampart around the former Viking settlement Hedeby and its vicinity.

Soils and sediments are able to preserve traces of human activity in the form of morphological, geochemical and geophysical properties of materials. Thanks to that the study of these materials may provide valuable information about the formation and functioning of archaeological sites. Materials transported for earthwork construction and their configuration preserve important information on the past landscape development, the anthropogenic transformation of the landscape as well as the process of the fortification formation. The UNESCO heritage site Hedeby was one of the most significant proto-towns in Northern Europe and an important trading center in the Viking Age. The town was surrounded by the semi-circular fortification rampart connected to the Danevirke, the Danish fortification system. Due to its dimensions (maximum height 10 m) and good preservation state, the semi-circular rampart is one of the most prominent features of the area. In this article the data on the physico-chemical analysis of the materials from the cores along a coring transect across the semi-circular rampart are presented. The following properties were determined: pH, weight percentage of gravel, charcoal, artefacts, and bones, loss on ignition, magnetic susceptibility, grain size distribution ≤2 mm, elemental concentrations. The data is valuable for geoarchaeological analysis of the landscape transformation and the earthwork construction at Hedeby including the reconstruction of the process and the techniques used in the Viking Age. Data on the buried soil found underneath the rampart deposits might provide insight into the surface soils characteristics prior to the rampart construction.

Quality assessment of different commercial and local milk available in the local markets of selected area of Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the organoleptic, physico-chemical, and microbial quality as well as the presence of any adulterants in different commercial and local milk samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three brands of ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, three brands of pasteurized milk, and three raw milk samples were procured and analyzed for different quality tests. Consumer preference about the milk samples were studied by evaluating the organoleptic properties by a testing panel of 15 panelists. Physico-chemical, adulteration, and microbial analysis of the milk samples were performed by following different standard methods. RESULTS: Most of the organoleptic properties were varied significantly at p ≤ 0.05 for UHT and pasteurized milk samples, while raw milk samples were equally acceptable to the panelists in most cases. From physico-chemical analysis, it was found that raw milk contained the highest amount of moisture (90.68%), whereas UHT had the lowest (87.60%), and other components were ranged as 0.68%-0.78% ash, 3.20%-3.58% protein, 3.15%-3.56% fat, 4.35%-4.62% lactose, 0.14%-0.22% acidity, 6.17%-8.95% solid not fat, 9.32%-12.40% total solid, and 1.026%-1.034% specific gravity. All adulteration tests responded negatively for raw samples, whereas commercial milk samples showed positive response only on added sugar test. Total standard plate count and coliform count tests showed that there was no microorganism in a detectable range in commercial milk samples, though raw samples had a significant amount. CONCLUSION: Though there were some fluctuations in some parameters of the three milk categories, but this study concluded that the quality of UHT and pasteurized milk were excellent with respect to parameters studied.

PHYSICO chemical properties and toxicological effect of landfill groundwaters and leachates.

Waste landfills represent a global problem, which is more pronounced in developing countries because of the lack of resources to implement procedures that include separation and waste processing. The aim of this research was to analyze leachate and ground waters samples at the site, upstream and downstream from the landfill during different year seasons on a registered non-hazardous waste dump and to conduct physico-chemical and biological assays to determine potential risk for the ecosystem. Potential cytotoxic, prooxidative and mutagenic effects of leachates and water samples were evaluated on human laryngeal cell line (HEp2). Leachates collected at landfill site caused genotoxic effect and had a higher pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and elevated concentrations of phosphorus, chloride, nitrogen compounds and sulphate. Genotoxicity of the leachate was increased in samples collected in dry and warm period of the year. These results are in accordance to the physico-chemical analysis which revealed that during summer period, because of intense degradation process at high temperatures increased concentrations of different chemicals can be found in leachate. Groundwater collected downstream and upstream from landfill did not show statistically significant (geno)toxic effect, irrespective of the sampling season. Chemical analysis revealed that all compounds in groundwater were below permitted values. Purification process at landfill is effective and compounds that reach groundwater do not represent a toxicological threat.

Comprehensive characterization of natural cellulosic fiber from Coccinia grandis stem.

The anatomical, physico-chemical, mechanical, thermal and surface characteristics of Coccinia grandis fiber (CGF) were studied for a potential substitute to the harmful synthetic fibers. The anatomical analysis of Coccinia grandis stem reveals the presence of high strength xylem fibers. Polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of CGF shows a hierarchical cell structure composed of a primary and a secondary cell wall, cell lumen and the middle lamellae. The average cross-sectional area and density of the CGF were 0.0111 mm2 and 1.5175 ± 0.005 g/cm3 respectively. The x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared analyses of the fiber indicates the presence of cellulose Iß with a crystallinity index of 46.09%. The mean Young's modulus and tensile strength of the CGF were 124 GPa and 775 MPa respectively, which is sufficient enough for the reinforcement in polymer composites. The thermogravimetric analysis confirms the thermal stability of CGF up to 250 °C, which is well within the polymerization process temperature.

Análise da qualidade da água do rio Jaguaribe, em um trecho situado no município de Jaguaribe, Ceará, Brasil / Analysis of the quality of Jaguaribe river water, in an area located in the city of Jaguaribe, Ceará, Brazil

A água constitui-se um recurso natural essencial aos seres vivos presente em todos os processos bioquímicos e fisiológicos, o que torna seu acesso indispensável às populações em geral. Diante disso, o presente estudo avaliou as características físico-químicas e microbiológicas da água proveniente do rio Jaguaribe, no trecho urbano do município de Jaguaribe, Ceará, Brasil, visando diagnosticar sua atual situação, e dispor de informações que contribuam para o monitoramento e garantia da sustentabilidade do recurso. A pesquisa foi realizada em um trecho do rio Jaguaribe, que percorre a zona urbana do município de Jaguaribe durante o período seco (Dezembro/2017) e chuvoso (Março/2018), sendo, portanto, dois pontos de coleta, um deles a montante e outro a jusante da cidade, nos bairros conhecidos como "Curralinho" e "Cruzeiro", respectivamente. Foram analisados os parâmetros físico-químicos de pH, temperatura, Condutividade Elétrica (CE) e cloreto e as variáveis microbiológicos tais como: Coliformes Totais, Fecais e Escherichia coli, todas as coletas foram realizadas em triplicatas. As variáveis físico-químicas apresentaram-se mais elevadas no período seco, porém seus resultados mostraram-se dentro dos valores médios verificados em outros trabalhos, salvo os da condutividade. Em relação aos parâmetros microbiológicos, não houve diferenças entre o período seco e chuvoso. Porém, em ambos foram encontrados, nos dois pontos de coleta, valores acima das médias estabelecidas pelo CONAMA. Diante dos resultados, constatamos que a contaminação do trecho não pode ser atribuída unicamente à cidade de Jaguaribe, comprovando que esta já chega à cidade com altos níveis de contaminação, principalmente por microrganismos (AU)

Water is an essential natural resource for living beings, present in all the biochemical and physiological processes, which makes its access indispensable to the populations in general. Therefore, the present study evaluated the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of water from Jaguaribe River in the urban area of the city of Jaguaribe, Ceará, Brazil, in order to diagnose its current situation, and to have information that contribute to the monitoring and the guarantee of resource sustainability. the research was carried out on a stretch of the Jaguaribe River, which runs through the urban area of the municipality of Jaguaribe during the drought (December / 2017) and rainy season (March / 2018) constituting, therefore, two collection points, one of them upstream and another downstream of the city, in the neighborhoods of "Curralinho" and "Cruzeiro", respectively. The physicochemical parameters of pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC) and chloride and microbiological variables such as: Total Coliforms, Fecal and Escherichia coli were analyzed, all collections were done in triplicates. The physical-chemical variables were higher during the drought season, but their results were within the mean values verified in other studies, except those of the conductivity. Regarding the microbiological parameters, there were no differences between the drought and rainy season. However, in both points of collection, values above the averages established by CONAMA were found. In view the results, we verified that the contamination the stretch can not attributed only to the city of Jaguaribe, proving that it already arrives to the city with high levels of contamination, mainly by microorganisms (AU)

Characterization of Eucalyptus, Chestnut and Heather Honeys from Portugal Using Multi-Parameter Analysis and Chemo-Calculus.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the quality and bio-functional properties of Portuguese honeys of different botanical and geographical origins. Quality parameter analyses included the determination of palynological (predominant, secondary, minor and isolated pollen percentage), physicochemical (°Brix, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, total dissolved solids, salinity, vitamin C content and specific weight) including colour-metrics (CIELAB, Pfund and colour intensity determinations), along with volatile compounds identification using solid phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Bio-activity parameter analysis included the determination of in vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl and Folin-Ciocalteu assays, respectively. Melissopalynological analysis showed that Portuguese honeys were classified as eucalyptus, chestnut and heather, recording significant variations (p < 0.05) among physicochemical, volatile and bio-activity parameter analyses according to both: botanical and geographical origin. Based on the multi-parameter analysis data Portuguese honeys could be characterized by a distinctive colour, a characteristic aroma, whereas conform to the European legislation relating to honey identity and quality. Specific attention should be given in the case of heather honey which showed the highest in vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. Parameters that were also highly correlated using bivariate statistics.

Physicochemical and catalytic properties of acylase I from aspergillus melleus immobilized on amino- and carbonyl-grafted stöber silica.

Acylase I from Aspergillus melleus was immobilized on supports consisting of unmodified and modified silica. Modification was performed using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and glutaraldehyde (GA). The effectiveness of immobilization was investigated using the standard Bradford method in addition to a number of physicochemical techniques, including spectroscopic methods (FTIR, 29 Si and 13 C CP MAS NMR), porous structure and elemental analysis, and zeta potential measurement. A determination of catalytic activity was made based on the deacetylation reaction of N-acetyl-l-methionine. Furthermore, the effect of pH and temperature on the catalytic activity of the free and immobilized enzyme, as well as the reusability of the silica-bound aminoacylase, were determined. The immobilized systems demonstrated a high degree of catalytic activity. The best catalytic parameters were those of aminoacylase immobilized on silica modified with APTES (apparent activity 3937 U/g, relative activity 61.6%). © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:767-777, 2018.

Physico-chemical and microbiological quality assessment of ice blocks sold in selected wet markets in Manila, Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> The study aimed to determine the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of ice blocks sold in selected wet markets located in the city of Manila.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> Twenty-eight samples were collected from three markets. Microbiological quality was analyzed in terms of the presence or absence of coliforms with E. coli as indicator organism. Physico-chemical quality was determined by measuring turbidity, apparent color, pH, iron, and residual chlorine. Measurements obtained were compared with the 2007 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Results showed that all samples tested positive for coliforms while 25 out of the 28 samples were positive for E. coli. Mean turbidity was 2.74 ± 3.68 NTU; for both apparent color and iron tests, all samples complied with the PNSDW standard limit set; mean pH was 6.15 ± 0.64; and mean residual chlorine was 0.06 ± 0.02 mg/L. Average values of apparent color and iron comply with the PNSDW standards. Six out of 28 samples had turbidity values exceeding the standards. All samples were found to have residual chlorine levels below the standards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Ice in markets do not comply with key 2007 PNSDW standards and findings warrant strict compliance of ice quality from manufacturers to the point of distribution to protect consumer health.</p>

Determination of the post mortem interval in skeletal remains by the comparative use of different physico-chemical methods: Are they reliable as an alternative to 14C?

The determination of the post-mortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains is a challenging aspect in the forensic field. Previous studies focused their attention on different macroscopic and morphological aspects but a thorough and complete evaluation of the potential of chemical and physical analyses in this field of research has not been performed. In addition to luminol test and Oxford histology index (OHI) reported in a recent paper, widely spread and accessible methods based on physical aspect and chemical characteristics of skeletal remains have been investigated as potential alternatives to dating by determination of 14C. The investigation was performed on a total of 24 archeological and forensic bone samples with known PMI, with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the feasibility of such alternative methods was discussed. Some results such as carbonates/phosphates ratio from FT-IR, the amounts of organic and inorganic matter by EDX, crystallite sizes with XRPD, and surface morphology obtained by SEM, showed significant trends along with PMI. Though, from a chemical point of view cut-off values and gold-standard methods still present challenges, and rather different techniques together can provide useful information toward the assessment of the PMI of skeletal remains. It is however clear that in a hypothetical flowchart those methods may be placed practically at the same level and a choice should always consider the evaluation of results by each technique, execution times and a costs/benefits relationship.

Antioxidant activity and physico-chemical parameters for the differentiation of honey using a potentiometric electronic tongue.

BACKGROUND: This work evaluates the capacity of a potentiometric electronic tongue to differentiate between types of honey (orange blossom, rosemary, thyme, sunflower, winter savory and honeydew honey) according to their antioxidant level. The classical procedures used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of honey are inappropriate for in situ monitoring on reception of batches of raw honey in the packaging industry. They are also destructive, time-consuming and very tedious, requiring highly expert analysts and specialised equipment. RESULTS: The electronic tongue system made with Ag, Ni, Co, Cu and Au was able to not only differentiate between types of honey but also to predict their total antioxidant capacity. The discrimination ability of the system was proved by means of a fuzzy ARTMAP type ANN, with 100% classification success. A prediction multiple linear regression model showed that the best correlation coefficient was for antioxidant activity (0.9666), then for electrical conductivity (0.8959) and to a lesser extent for aw , moisture and colour. CONCLUSION: The proposed measurement system could be a quick, easy option for the honey packaging sector to provide continuous in-line information about a characteristic as important as the antioxidant level. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Physicochemical and elemental studies of Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb. for standardization as herbal drug

Objective To explore the leaves of Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb. as a source of safe and effective antibacterial herbal medicine. Methods The standardization was validated by stepwise physicochemical studies, element analysis, determination of ash values, fluorescence analysis, assessment of moisture content, extractive values in different solvent systems and extraction methods. Heavy metal contents, mineral and element contents were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and CHNS/O analyser, respectively. Results The methanol extract of the folklore medicinal plant having antibacterial efficacy contained flavonoids and phenolic OH groups. The ICP multi standard indicated the presence of three major compounds with molecular mass of 161 190 and 221 Da. Heavy metals viz. lead, mercury and copper content were 4.38 ppm, < 0.05 ppm and 24.70 ppm, respectively. Minerals content of calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron were 1 190.94 mg/100 g, 375.57 mg/100 g, 2 820 mg/100 g and 340.20 mg/100 g of plant sample, respectively. Elements like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur contents were 38.18%, 5.67%, 2.23% and 0.51%, respectively. Heavy metal profile of the tested plant was within the permissible limits of the regulatory authorities. Conclusions Hence the present physicochemical and elements studies reveals that the plant Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb. could be a potent source of herbal preparation as well as a safe and novel synthetic antibacterial drug.

Physicochemical and elemental studies of Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb.for standardization as herbal drug

Objective:To explore the leaves of Hydrocotylejavanica Thunb.as a source of safe and effective antibacterial herbal medicine.Methods:The standardization was validated by stepwise physicochemical studies,element analysis,determination of ash values,fluorescence analysis,assessment of moisture content,extractive values in different solvent systems and extraction methods.Heavy metal contents,mineral and element contents were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry,inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and CHNS/O analyser,respectively.Results:The methanol extract of the folklore medicinal plant having antibacterial efficacy contained flavonoids and phenolic OH groups.The ICP multi standard indicated the presence of three major compounds with molecular mass of 161 190 and 221 Da.Heavy metals viz.lead,mercury and copper content were 4.38 ppm,＜ 0.05 ppm and 24.70 ppm,respectively.Minerals content of calcium,phosphorus,potassium and iron were 1 190.94 mg/100 g,375.57 mg/100 g,2820 mg/100 g and 340.20 mg/100 g of plant sample,respectively.Elements like carbon,hydrogen,nitrogen and sulphur contents were 38.18％,5.67％,2.23％ and 0.51％,respectively.Heavy metal profile of the tested plant was within the permissible limits of the regulatory authorities.Conclusions:Hence the present physicochemical and elements studies reveals that the plant Hydrocotylejavanica Thunb.could be a potent source of herbal preparation as well as a safe and novel synthetic antibacterial drug.

Efficacy of various techniques on biochemical characteristics and bitterness of pummelo juice.

The consumer acceptability of pummelo juice is affected badly due to the presence of bitter principles in it. Therefore in order to avoid such bitterness development, the extracted juice from pummelo was subjected to five different treatments like juice diffused into syrup (70°Brix), lye peeling of segments in boiling NaOH for 2-3 min, increasing the pH of juice, hot water treatment (50 °C) prior to peeling for 20 min and without any treatment (control) for suppressing the development of bitterness in the juice. Based on bio-chemical analysis, diffusion of juice into syrup (70°Brix) showed better result as compared to other treatments. The maximum amount of TSS was found in juice diffused into syrup (i. e. 45, 30 and 15°Brix) along with highest TSS/acid ratio (92.21, 49.87 and 17.53). Higher amount of acidity was observed in pH adjusted samples with 4.25, 4.50 and 4.75 respectively. However, control samples showed higher amount of ascorbic acid (73.97 mg/100 ml juice) content followed by pH adjusted samples. The highest organoleptic score for taste (8.00), colour (8.83), aroma (8.66), overall acceptability (7.88) and extent of debittering (7.50) were recorded in juice diffused into syrup 70°Brix and achieved final TSS of juice at 45, 30 and 15°Brix respectively. Moreover, the above treatment (juice diffused into syrup 70°Brix) showed promising low cost and easy to adopt technique of debittering in respect of extent of debittering and maintaining sensory quality during storage of pummel juice.