Insights into the Research Trends on Bovine Colostrum: Beneficial Health Perspectives with Special Reference to Manufacturing of Functional Foods and Feed Supplements.

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the initial mammary secretion after parturition, which is nature's bountiful source consisting of nutritional and bioactive components present in a highly concentrated low-volume format. All mammalian newborns require colostrum to enhance physiological processes such as lifelong immunity, gastrointestinal development, and resistance to microbial infections. The genetic, environmental, and processing methods can all have an impact on the biochemical contents of BC and its supplements. BC and its derivatives have been intensively researched for their potential use in functional foods, medicines, and animal feed. Evidence from clinical studies suggests that BC products are well-tolerated, nontoxic, and safe for human ingestion. Functional foods, feed, and pharmaceutical formulations based on bovine colostrum are playing noteworthy roles in the development of innovative products for promoting health and the prevention of chronic illnesses. This systematic review sheds light on recent research on (a) the effects of processing techniques on BC components, (b) emerging techniques used in the isolation and identification of novel components, (c) BC-based functional foods for human consumption and animal feed supplements, and (d) the role of BC in current drug delivery, as well as future recommendations.

Acute effects of Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract on postprandial glycemia and insulin secretion on healthy volunteers.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Fraxinus excelsior L. (Family: Oleaceae) seeds are consumed as a food, condiment, and folk medicine. The seeds are traditionally used as a potent hypoglycemic agent, but no clinical evidence exists in as to this regard. We assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of the seed extract (FraxiPure, Naturex), containing 6.8% of nuzhenide and 5.8% of GI3 (w/w), on plasma glucose and insulin levels against glucose (50 g) induced postprandial glycemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preselected dose (1.0 g) was used in a double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo (wheat bran) controlled study on 16 healthy volunteers. Each treatment was given immediately after a fasting blood glucose sample (0 min). Postprandial plasma glucose levels were estimated at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min; and postprandial plasma insulin at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. RESULTS: The extract lowered the incremental postprandial plasma glucose concentration as compared to placebo at 45 min (P = 0.06) and 120 min (P = 0.07). It statistically (P = 0.02) reduced the glycemic area under the blood glucose curve. The seed, also, induced a significant (P = 0.002) secretion of insulin at 90 min after glucose administration. However, the insulinemic area under the blood insulin curve was not different than the placebo. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the hypoglycemic action of Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract. These promising results, thus, encourage conducting long-term clinical studies to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract in healthy and diabetic volunteers and also to explore the possible mechanism(s) of action.