Prosopis juliflora: nutritional value, bioactive activity, and potential application in human nutrition.

Prosopis juliflora is a xerophytic, nitrogen-fixing plant distributed in arid and semi-arid regions. The fruits of this plant are pods, which have seeds inside, and both pods and seeds have high nutritional value and bioactive potential. Different derivatives can be obtained from the pods and seeds: flour, starch, syrup, protein concentrate, and gums.

Faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl) seed press cake flour: production, characterization and application for use in cookies.

Background: Food processing produces large volumes of waste that can be transformed into useful and relevant ingredients. The by-product of oil extraction from faveleira seeds is a potentially low-cost raw material that can be used for obtaining functional foods. This study aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl) seed press cake flour (FSPCF).

Tannic acid is a gastroprotective that regulates inflammation and oxidative stress.

This study investigated the gastroprotective effect of TA against gastric ulcer in mice, and its possible mechanisms of action. The effects were investigated in a model of ethanol and ethanol/HCl induced ulcers, and physical barrier test. Quantification of oxidative stress mediators and inflammatory cytokines in gastric tissue was performed.

Chemical and biological activities of faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl) seed oil for potential health applications.

Faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius) is an emerging Brazilian plant, with seeds rich in edible oil. This study investigates physicochemical properties, chemical composition, thermal and oxidative stability, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of faveleira seed oil. It was observed that the oil has low acidity, value of peroxide, chlorophyll, carotenoids, β-carotene and high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids.

Bioactive properties of faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius) seeds, oil and press cake obtained during oilseed processing.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature concerning the bioactive properties of faveleira products. This work focuses on the physicochemical evaluation of faveleira oil, as well as it investigates the bioactive properties of faveleira seeds, faveleira oil and the press cake obtained during the oilseed processing. The seeds were cold pressed and the following tests were performed: physicochemical characteristics (acidity, peroxide values, moisture and volatile matter, density and viscosity) and fatty acid profile of faveleira oil; total phenolic and flavonoid content of faveleira seed and press cake; antibacterial activity of seed, oil and press cake; and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide radical scavenging assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of seed, oil and press cake.

[Alpha-tocopherol level in serum and colostrum of breastfeeding women and association with maternal variables].

Purpose: To determine the nutritional status of vitamin E in breastfeeding women through the analysis of alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum and colostrum, to analyze its relation with maternal variables and to determine the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency in these women.

Methods: The study included 103 mothers who were classified according to maternal variables: age, nutritional status before pregnancy, gestational weight gain, parity and mode of delivery. Colostrum and serum samples were collected under fasting conditions in the immediate postpartum period.