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The effects of different preservation methods (fresh, boiled, fried and smoked) on the nutritional composition, mineral composition and vitamins in Trachurus trachurus were determined according to AOAC . All processing methods revealed significant difference (p<0.05) in the various nutritional, mineral and vitamin composition. Boiling had the highest moisture content (60.01%), frying had the highest ash content (2.45%). Fresh fish had the highest level of fibre (0.07%), protein (3.86%) and carbohydrate (9.70%). Among the methods of preservation, boiled fish had the highest protein (22.71%), carbohydrate (8.20%) and smoked fish had the highest fat of 20.35%. Comparing all the methods of preservation, the fish samples had variable quantity of the various nutritional components measured. It is therefore recommended that consumers should check the appropriate diet need and go for the method of preservation that provides the best nutrient as all the methods are recommended.

Milk is one of the most valuable and regularly consumed natural food which is rich in nutritional value. A study was carried out with raw liquid milk collected from Shahzadpur and pasteurized, packed in AHZ Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd, Gazipur, Bangladesh. One hundred and forty five pasteurized milk samples collected from August, 2011 to February 2012 were analyzed for the nutritional and chemical composition such as acidity, fat, solid non fat, protein, lactose, specific gravity; and microbiological characteristics. Platform tests (alcohol and clot-on-boiling) were found negative. From the study it was found that the nutrient composition of the pasteurized milk samples were within the standard limits with average specific gravity of milk was 1.029, fat 3.575%, protein 3.43% and lactose 5.02 %. Acidity% refers the quality of milk. The 7 months average highest acidity was 0.15% and the lowest acidity was 0.146%. Protein percentage was found to be 3.36% in August (Rainy season), 3.45% in winter and 3.42% in spring. All the samples had solid non fat (SNF) with standard limits of 8.17 to 8.38 percent. It was found that total bacterial count in milk varies with seasons. In rainy season, autumn season and winter the average total viable count was 1715, 1744.3 and 1481.6 cfu/ml respectively. From 145 pasteurized milk samples, 121 samples showed excellent quality and 24 samples showed good quality in methylene blue reductase test (MBRT). No coliform and Salmonella/Shigella were observed. SNF and protein percentage varied with season, been highest in winter while less in spring. The overall result found was ensuring good quality of pasteurized milk. All the nutritional composition and microbiological count complies with the BSTI standard.

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) is becoming a fruit that is used worldwide because it contains high nutritional and medicinal value. However, the trait evaluation of persimmon is still needed and is critical for marketing and breeding, especially in China. Here, we evaluated thirteen quality indicators (fruit weight, horizontal length, vertical length, firmness, titratable acid content, vitamin C content, flavonoid content, anthocyanin content, soluble sugar content, pectinase activity, soluble protein content, tannin content, and tannin cell size) in six Chinese pollination-constant, astringent (PCA) persimmon cultivars (‘Jinxi 3′, ‘Ganfang 1′, ‘Poyang 5′, ‘Poyang 6′, ‘Yifeng 1′, and ‘Yifeng 3′) and a Japanese pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) persimmon cultivar (‘Youhou’). The quality indicator data were normalized and subjected to variant analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that 10 of 13 indicators among the seven persimmon cultivars were significantly different, and the contribution rates of the first principal component reached 40.582%. The principal component comprehensive scores for ‘Poyang 5′ and ‘Ganfang 1′ ranked second and third, respectively, and were clustered with that of ‘Youhou.’ In addition, we also measured the expression levels of three stress resistance genes and three proanthocyanidin (PA, also called condensed tannins) pathway genes in these persimmon cultivars by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT—PCR). The qRT—PCR analysis of DkCBF and DkWRKY3/8 showed low resistance to cold in ‘Ganfang 1′ but stronger resistance to anthracnose. Moreover, the expression of the PA pathway genes demonstrated that the PA content in ‘Ganfang 1′ was at a moderate level in the seven varieties. Together, our study revealed relatively comprehensive profiles of persimmon quality evaluation and demonstrated that ‘Ganfang 1′ may have the potential to be used as a breeding parent for future persimmon breeding programs.

Sargassum spp., a brown seaweed, is utilized as food in many parts of the world due to its nutritional and mineral composition. This study investigated the proximate and mineral composition of Sargassum spp. collected from Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. The samples Sargassum spp., a brown seaweed, is utilized as food in many parts of the world due to its nutritional and mineral composition. This study investigated the proximate and mineral composition of Sargassum spp. collected from Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. The samples were dried, ground, and sieved, then analyzed for proximate composition using standard methods and for mineral composition using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results revealed that the seaweed contained 69.9% carbohydrate, 8.08% protein, 6.79% lipid, 3.60% moisture, and 6.47% ash. Mineral analysis indicated high concentrations of sodium (228.38 ppm) and magnesium (115.02 ppm), moderate calcium (96.40 ± 0.511 ppm), and low levels of iron (14.5 ± 0.577 ppm) and zinc (5.13 ± 0.326 ppm). Compared to Sargassum spp. from other regions, significant variations were observed in nutritional and mineral composition, likely due to environmental and geographical differences. These results highlight the nutritional potential of Sargassum spp. from Badagry as a valuable resource for food and health applications. Additionally, the study underscores its potential for environmental sustainability, given its ability to contribute to the blue economy. Further research is recommended to explore its bioactive compounds and to assess its potential for industrial and pharmaceutical applications.

Samples of Garcinia cola and Aframomum melegueta were analyzed for their nutritional composition, minerals constituents and phytochemical composition.The result revealed presence of bioactive constituents comprising: Aframomum melegueta which has the highest protein and ash content of 7.18 % and 2.47% respectively.Garcinia cola, has the least content of all nutrients considered but highest in moisture.The plants are good sources of minerals such as Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, Sodium and Copper.Phytochemical analysis revealed are flavonoids (1.88 -6.10mg/100g), saponins (12.00 -1.23mg/100g), tannins (0.31-0.41 mg /100g), Alkaloids (0.40 -0.30/100) and phenols (0.1-0.09mg/100g).The presence of these phytochemicals supports the use of these plants as antimicrobial agent.These components are responsible for their antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities and supports the popular use of Garcinia cola and Aframomum melegueta in herbal medicine in Nigeria.

Background: Camel milk has been traditionally valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties across various cultures. Recent scientific inquiries have illuminated its potential in treating a range of health conditions, including diabetes, autism, allergies, liver and kidney functions, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. This has sparked a growing interest in integrating camel milk into health and dietary regimens as a natural therapeutic agent. Objective: The objective of this review is to systematically examine the therapeutic properties of camel milk, focusing on its application in treating specific diseases, its nutritional composition, and its implications for human healthcare. Methods: This review synthesized data from various studies that investigated the medicinal benefits of camel milk in treating diseases like diabetes, hepatitis C, autism, allergies, and tuberculosis. The methods involved a comprehensive literature search across several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to collect studies that reported on the therapeutic effects, nutritional composition, and health outcomes associated with camel milk consumption. Results: Findings indicate that camel milk contains unique molecules such as insulin-like proteins, amylase, lactoferrin, and specific enzymes beneficial for managing diabetes, hepatitis C, and allergies. Studies on autistic children showed improvements in antioxidant enzyme levels after camel milk consumption. In tuberculosis patients, camel milk consumption was associated with improved clinical symptoms and increased immunoglobulin levels. The nutritional analysis revealed camel milk's rich composition in essential fats, proteins, lactose, and minerals, highlighting its nutritional value. Conclusion: Camel milk presents a viable, natural therapeutic option for a variety of health conditions, offering significant benefits in nutritional and medicinal applications. Its integration into dietary practices and healthcare could enhance human health outcomes, particularly in areas where conventional medical resources are scarce or in populations seeking alternative treatments.

Phyllanthus amarus, a widely recognized medicinal plant, is known for its diverse therapeutic properties attributed to its nutritional composition and rich phytochemical profile. Hence, the objective of this paper is to determine the phytochemical, proximate, mineral and bioactive components present in the Phyllanthus amarus Leaves (Schum. and Thonn). The purpose of this study is to determine the proximate composition, mineral contents and bioactive compounds present in the Phyllanthus amarus. Methanol, ethanol, hot and cold extracts were used to evaluate the phytochemical composition. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponin, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids were present in all in plant extracts, while phlobatannin and Anthraquinone were absent in all the extracts. Carbohydrates had the highest concentration value of (54.43 ± 0.07), followed by crude fibre (16.8 ± 0.04), moisture (11.16 ±0.06), Protein (9.61± 0.51), ash (5.71±0.23) and fat (2.21 ± 0.13) with the lowest concentration value respectively. Mineral analysis confirmed the presence of essential elements such as calcium (1771.0 mg/kg), potassium (266.55mg/kg), iron (3.54mg/kg), sodium (20.45 mg/kg), copper (0.40 mg/kg), magnesium (832.00mg/kg) while lead and cadmium were absent. The antioxidant capacities of the different extracts such as cold, hot, ethanol and methanol of Phyllanthus amarus were assessed using DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl) radical, Total Phenol and ABTS scavenging ability. The results from this study provide valuable insights into the nutritional and medicinal value of Phyllanthus amarus and can guide further research on its potential applications in promoting human health.

Ora-pro-nobis (OPN) is an unconventional food plant with high nutritional value, and its nutritional composition can be altered according to cultivation. Cereal bars are a popular nutrient-poor foods, and OPN could be incorporated to improve the nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and sensory acceptability of cereal bars enriched with OPN flour (OpnF) from different forms of cultivation. OpnF was obtained by dehydrating and grinding OPN leaves collected in rural (ROpnF) and urban (UOpnF) municipalities. Two formulations of cereal bars, peanut flavor (Bpn) and mango flavor (Bmg), each with 10% OpnF, were prepared. The macronutrients and mineral composition, oxalate content, water activity, texture, color profile, and acceptability were evaluated. ROpnF had the highest protein, iron, and manganese content, whereas UOpnF had the highest ash and magnesium content. The oxalic acid/calcium ratio was 1.43 and did not imply calcium bioavailability. In addition to nutritional and protein values, Bpn and Bmg presented a good sensory acceptability index of > 77.5% with market potential. Bmg has the highest mineral content and is a source of iron, manganese, and magnesium. OpnF can be used in cereal bars and potentially improve nutritional attributes and used in other foods in a similar way.

Agroforestry practices improve soil health which in turn improves crop nutrient concentrations and quality. This study examined how the agroforestry tree Gliricidia sepium intercropped with soybean, groundnuts, or maize affects crop nutrient compositions. The study was conducted in five Zambian chiefdoms for three crop-growing seasons (2019–2022) on 13 farmer-led demonstration trial sites. Seven treatments were tested that included maize, soybean, and groundnut plots with and without Gliricidia interventions. Grain samples were analyzed for crop nutrient contents using standard laboratory methods. Results showed that the treatments significantly (P < 0.05) improved maize nutritional properties except for crude fiber, total carbohydrate, and metabolizable energy. G. sepium intercropping with maize and soybean decreased the antinutritional contents and displayed better functional qualities. All elemental mineral components (except potassium, calcium, and sodium) were higher in the Gliricidia + maize intercrop than in the control treatment. The Gliricidia+soybean intercrop had lower mean mineral concentrations than the control (soybean only) except for Mg, Cu, and Zn. The Giliricidia+groundnut intercrop significantly increased groundnut mineral components except for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Iron. It can be concluded that G. sepium intercropped with maize, soybean, and groundnuts significantly improved the crops’ nutritional quality.

Tapioca is a cassava-based food product made in the form of irregular lumps of partly gelatinized starch grits. Tapioca was enriched with varying proportions of soy-coconut flour (100, 80:10:10, 70:15:15, 60:20:20, 50:25:25) to produce tapioca soy-coconut. Proximate, mineral composition and sensory evaluation were determined by standard methods. The proximate composition of tapioca meals ranged in values of 7.67 to 10.67%; 1.03 to 30.09%, 0.24 to 9.80%, 1.26 to 4.71%, 1.08 to 9.14 % and 35.59 to 88.72% for moisture, crude protein, fat ,ash, crude fiber and carbohydrate respectively. There were increase in the values of tapioca as the level of soy-coconut flour substitution increased and significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) in values obtained for moisture, protein, fat, ash and crude fibre contents. The mineral content of all the samples shows an increase in the value. Fortification of tapioca with soybean and coconut flour significantly increased the nutritional and sensory quality. The sensory evaluation result in terms of overall acceptability shows that 80:10:10 was most preferred than the other fortified samples. Hence fortified tapioca is recommended as safe, nutritious and acceptable food product that can enhance food and nutrition, security among cassava consuming population. Keywords: soybean, cassava, tapioca, fortification, coconut DOI : 10.7176/FSQM/92-05 Publication date: December 31 st 2019

The camel is an animal adapted to life in the desert and plays a vital social and economic role. In Mauritania, people usually like camel meat more than any other kinds of meat. This preference is due to the high quality (rich in protein) and low price of camel meat compared with other meat in these areas. Dromedary meat, which is generally comparable to that of beef, presents undeniable dietary advantages due to its low cholesterol content, and its relative richness in fatty acids, vitamins, trace elements and calcium. In this work we studied the nutritional quality of camel meat in Mauritania, by determining the content of proteins, lipids, ash, moisture and essential trace elements (iron, copper and zinc). Meat samples were collected randomly from butcheries located in Nouakchott city between February and April 2020. Samples were dried and analyzed according to established method. The nutritional value of camel meat was found to be similar to that of beef in terms of protein and fat content. However, a significant moisture content exists in younger animals (72.992%), which decreases in older camels (71.284%). Meat is composed of a high protein content, almost 18.8% protein; a lipid content varying according to age, from 1.53 to 4.26% and an ash content, more or less equal for all ages (0.90 to 1.1%). Liver had the highest level of protein, and the highest level of lipid was detected in muscle. Ash content didn’t have an important variation between organs. Protein, lipid and ash contents had the following order: Protein&gt;lipid&gt;ash. Iron content ranged from 0.80 mg/100g to 6.02 mg/100g, while copper and zinc levels varied across organs. Copper levels show a significant correlation with age, particularly in the kidney and muscle. Copper and Zinc are more concentrated in Liver and muscle than kidney, however; Irons content is very important in kidney. Essential metals concentrations have the order: Iron&gt;Copper&gt;Zinc Key words: Camelus dromedarius meat, nutritional quality, protein content, iron, copper, zinc, Nouakchott, Mauritania

The current study was carried out to evaluate the comparative nutritional and mineral composition of Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globules, and Melia azedarach leaves, bark, and seed. The dried powder of these plant parts was analyzed for nutrition compositions such as moisture, ash, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrate, and energy using standard methods. Sodium, potassium, and calcium were analyzed using Flame Photometer. While Manganese, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Chromium, and Magnesium were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The proximate range in these plants are; moisture (4±0.2- 15.0±0%), ash (9±00-4±00%), Fats (17±00- 0.5±00%), Fiber (15±00-7±00%), Protein (8.73±00-2.0±00%), CHO (71.19±00-50±00%) and Energy Kcal/100g (379.5-285.5%). While the minerals composition (mg/Kg) range is; Sodium (1900±02-390±00), Potassium (2000±01-900±00), Manganese (36±01- 20±01), Zinc (120±02-1.5±01), Iron (120±00-9±00), Copper (3±00-0.1±00), Chromium (0.60±00-0.20±00), Magnesium (100±00-0.30±00), Calcium (2200±02-300±01), Phosphorus (1700±02-180±01). It can be inferred from the results of this study, that these plants' bark, seed, and leaves contain a significant number of nutrients and minerals that aid in their therapeutic capabilities and serve as good forage, therapeutic, and nutritional supplements for livestock. It can also aid its medicinal properties for human consumption.

This study presents the proximate and mineral composition analysis of Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala leaves collected from two different agro-ecological zones namely Arbaminch Zuria and Konso in Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia. M. oleifera and M. stenopetala leaves were collected using random sampling method from four sampling sites namely Secha, Karat, Sikela, Gato. Before the samples were analyzed, parameters such as temperature, volume of reagents and time until complete digestion were systematically optimized. Analysis of variance was used to compare the proximate and elemental composition of leaf samples as well as mineral composition of soil. The results of this study revealed that, M. oleifera leaf samples from the Secha and Karat sampling sub-sites have shown the average moisture, ash, crude fiber, crude lipid and protein contents of 6.88&plusmn;0.82, 15.3&plusmn;1.02, 5.51&plusmn;0.08, 7.11&plusmn;0.52, 24.8&plusmn;1.80% and 6.60&plusmn;0.79, 15.6&plusmn;1.11, 6.13&plusmn;0.22, 7.35&plusmn;0.48, 24.3&plusmn;1.73%, respectively. The average moisture, ash, crude fiber, crude lipid and protein contents of 7.92&plusmn;0.85, 14.9&plusmn;0.93, 5.03&plusmn;0.12, 3.65&plusmn;0.11, 27.3&plusmn;2.10% and 7.73&plusmn;0.96, 14.1&plusmn;0.87, 5.87&plusmn;0.21, 4.29&plusmn;0.12, 30.2&plusmn;2.61% were determined for M. stenopetala leaf samples from the Sikela and Gato, respectively. The contents of the nutrients found in Moringa leaves have shown no significant differences from the two agro-ecological zones except some nutrients (ash, lipid, and protein). The K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu concentration determined from Moringa leaf samples from the two agro-ecological zones was ranged between 9570-14047, 1287-1298, 4273-4550, 18230-19026, 72.4-87.5, 21.3-57.6, 80.1-82.3 and 3.43-5.10 mg/Kg, respectively. The comparison of mean values of macro and micro nutrient of Moringa leaves and soils showed no significant difference between the two agro-ecological zones except some metals such as K, Zn and Cu. The present analysis revealed that Moringa leaves contained considerable amount of nutrients and hence used as food supplement for the community. &nbsp; Key words: Nutritional compositions, elemental composition, Moringa species, agro-ecological zones, proximate analysis.

Wild edible mushrooms serve as a garnish that can be taken as routine health food or as functional food. They are enriched with myriad nutrients and bioactive compounds that can be developed into food supplements, hence conferring anti-diabetic, cardiovascular and immune-modulating properties. In the present investigation, four wild edible mushroom species viz., Apioperdon pyriforme, Helvella elastica, Morchella conica and Rhizopogon luteolus collected from different locations of Jammu and Kashmir were examined for their nutritional composition. Among these, Morchella conica revealed maximum protein (24.5 g/100 g) and crude fibre (4.8%). While the dried sporocarps of Rhizopogon luteolus possessed maximum total phenolic content (12.30 mg/g), Other components including total ascorbic acid content (1.71 mg/g) and total flavonoid content (0.78 mg/g) were present in maximum proportion in fruit bodies of Rhizopogon luteolus and Helvella elastica, respectively. Furthermore, considering the fact that wild mushrooms have good bioaccumulation potential, these wild edible mushrooms were also assessed for their mineral contents such as Cu, Fe, Zn and Mg. Amongst these, Fe was found present in higher concentration ranging from 165.5–547 ppm followed by Zn (22.2–84 ppm) and Mg (22.4–55.5 ppm). Concentration of copper was found to be lowest in the investigated wild edible mushrooms (23.1–44.5 ppm). However, no copper was detected in Rhizopogon luteolus. The present study demonstrates that the investigated mushrooms are rich in nutrients and essential minerals specifying that they may be further used as functional elements in the composition of innovative food products.

Effect of oyster mushroom on nutritional composition, shelf life and organoleptic characteristics of enriched cookies