NOPR Collection:

Spices and Therapeutics

2005-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Spices and Therapeutics Abstract: Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni leaves have been used as powerful sweetening agents (as stevioside). Physiological and pharmacological experiments have suggested that stevioside and its extracts promote effects on some physiological systems, such as cardiovascular and renal. In addition, stevioside and Stevia extracts are able to induce diuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis. The hypoglycaemic effect reported by some authors has been observed exclusively with total extracts and not with purified stevioside. In an experiment female rats and mice fed with a 5% aqueous extract displayed reduced fertility, an effect apparently not reversible following drug withdrawal. Page(s): 60-65

Vegetable

2005-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Vegetable Abstract: Food and Biotechnology scientists at Sweden studied the influence of packaging material and storage condition on the sensory quality of broccoli. Oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used as packaging materials. The LDPE contained an ethylene-absorbing sachet. The samples were stored for 1 week, either at a constant temperature of 10˚C or for 3 days at 4˚C, followed by 4 days at 10˚C. The atmospheres that were developed inside the different packaging materials during storage differed significantly. After storage, the broccoli was evaluated both raw and cooked using a triangle test and a quantitative descriptive analysis. The triangle test showed significant differences in the smell of broccoli stored in different packaging materials after cooking. No differences were detected in the raw broccoli. The quantitative descriptive analysis showed significant differences in the fresh smell and flavour, the chewing resistance, and the crispness, between samples after cooking. Overall, including all the sensory properties studied, broccoli packaged in LDPE (5% O₂, 7% CO₂) that contained an ethylene absorber was perceived to be the sample most similar to fresh broccoli. There were no differences in weight loss between broccoli stored in the different packaging materials [Jacobsson et al, Food Qual Prefer, 2004, 15(4), 301-310]. Page(s): 66-67

Tissue Culture

2005-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Tissue Culture Abstract: Luffa sponge, derived from dried fruits of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. (Sponge gourd, Hindi – Ghiya tori), could be a suitable matrix for tissue culture in aseptic liquid culture media. To test this, the response of aroid Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ Hort., an exquisite indoor-ornamental with its beautiful leaves and tangled aerial roots, was studied in vitro by Gangopadhyay and others. A study on in vitro root development in conventional agar-gelled media in comparison to liquid media with two alternative matrices like Luffa sponge and coir indicated the suitability of Luffa sponge over the others. The clonal uniformity of the micropropagated plant was thus substantiated through uniformity in RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) profiles. For commercial mass propagation where costeffectiveness is a major check point, the technique of RAPD being relatively cheaper than other molecular techniques, will definitely encourage scientists to adopt it worldwide for quality assurance of the tissue culture clones. The plants cultured in liquid medium with Luffa sponge as the matrix showed high rate of survival after transplantation, thus economizing the whole endeavour [Gangopadhyay et al, Curr Sci, 2004, 86(2), 315-319]. Page(s): 65-66

Insecticide/Fungicide/Bioherbicide

2005-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Insecticide/Fungicide/Bioherbicide Abstract: Natural Product Radiance - Jan. 2005The major insect pest of stored maize and grain products in the tropics is Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. The toxicity of coconut, groundnut and soybean oils applied at 1, 2, 5 and 10 ml/kg and Pirimiphos-methyl at 2.5, 5 and 10μl active ingredient in 2ml of water/kg of grain alone or in combination, to adults and immature stages of S. zeamais, the persistence of the treatments in maize grains and their effects on seed viability were evaluated by scientists in the laboratory at Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. All the treatments caused significant mortality compared to untreated controls. Low dosages of the oils and Pirimiphos-methyl when combined were highly toxic to adult S. zeamais. The mixtures completely inhibited the development of immature stages of the weevil. Only Pirimiphos-methyl and the mixtures retained some activity 60 days after application. Page(s): 59