Purification and characterisation of antioxidative peptides from unfractionated rice bran protein hydrolysates

Crude rice bran protein (CRBP) was prepared by alkaline extraction and then treated with 0.6 m HCl to remove phytic acid. The phytate‐free rice bran protein (PFRBP) was hydrolysed with proteases M, N, S, P and pepsin under optimal conditions. Hydrolysates obtained from various hydrolysis periods were subjected to analysis for their degree of hydrolysis (DH) and functional properties. The hydrolysates were fractionated by reversed‐phase column chromatography on Kaseigel ODS resin (120–140 μm) using a stepwise gradient of aqueous ethanol, and their activities were measured. The 40% ethanol fraction of protease P 4 h‐hydrolysate was separated by successive reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and the amino acid sequences of isolated antioxidative peptides were determined by a protein sequencer and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation‐time of flight mass spectrometry. Crude rice bran protein had higher antioxidative activity than PFRBP, due to the presence of phytic acid. Phytate contents of rice bran, CRBP and PFRBP were 2.5%, 1.42% and 0%, respectively. The activity of PFRBP increased upon protease digestion. Protease M hydrolysates showed the highest DH, but the lowest antioxidative activity. Hydrolysates with DH below 10% had higher antioxidative activity than those above 20%. This result indicates that the antioxidative activity of the hydrolysates is inherent to their characteristics amino acid sequences of peptides depending on the protease specificities.     

Effects of processing conditions and packaging material on the quality attributes of dry‐roasted peanuts

Five different processing conditions of raw shelled unblanched peanuts were investigated. The first two treatments involved soaking the peanuts in tap water for 10 and 30 min respectively, then mixing thoroughly with dry NaCl before roasting. Another two treatments involved soaking the peanuts in saturated brine solution for 10 and 30 min respectively before roasting. Unsalted roasted peanuts served as the control. Packaging and storage studies were carried out by packaging the differently treated dry‐roasted peanuts in four different packaging materials and storing them under three different relative humidities for 3 months at ambient temperature. Proximate composition, NaCl content, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid value were determined and sensory evaluation tests were carried out. Salting was found to improve the taste, flavour and overall acceptability of dry‐roasted peanuts but had no effect on shelf‐life. Peanuts treated in saturated brine solution for 30 min before roasting were the most preferred. The control packaging material, 18 µm transparent polyethylene, was found to be inadequate for protecting the quality attributes of dry‐roasted peanuts, with mould growth being observed on the 42nd day of storage at 80% relative humidity. However, acceptable results were obtained with 45 µm transparent polypropylene. The mean sensory scores and objective tests were found to be negatively correlated. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Accidental HIV exposure

This is a case presentation of an accidental contaminated needle stick injury from a patient known to be infected with both Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis B. The patient was managed with prophylactic hepatitis B immune globulin, hepatitis B vaccination and the HIV retroviral drug zidovudine (AZT). At one year after treatment the patient was not infected with HIV or hepatitis B, and there was adequate immunity generated after vaccination for hepatitis B.     

Functional properties of protein fractions obtained from commercial yellow field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed protein isolate

Commercial pea protein isolate was separated into water-soluble (WS), salt-soluble (SS), alkaline-soluble (AS) and ethanol-soluble (ES) fractions. AS fraction was the most abundant, constituting about 87% of the proteins in PPI followed by WS, SS and ES fractions in decreasing order. ES fraction consistently formed emulsions with a narrow range of smaller oil droplet sizes (0.6–19 μm) at pH 4.0, 7.0 or 9.0 compared to a wider range of sizes for emulsions stabilised by WS, SS and AS fractions. Emulsions formed with ES fraction were also the most stable (p < 0.05) over the 3 h test period at all the pH values used in this work. The WS fraction had significantly highest (p < 0.05) protein solubility and foaming capacity at all the pH values when compared to solubility of PPI, SS, and ES. Except for AS and ES fractions, foaming capacities of the protein fractions were higher at pH 9.0 than at pH 4.0 or 7.0.     

Isolation and characterization of protein fractions from deoiled rice bran

Rice bran contains underutilised protein materials. Sequential extraction of rice bran protein (RBP) from defatted rice bran was conducted based on the differences in their solubility. Three extraction methods were investigated. Method 1 involved the isoelectric and acetone precipitation using water, 50 g kg⁻¹ NaCl, 0.02 mol L⁻¹ NaOH and 70% ethanol as extracting solvents for albumin (pH 4.1), globulin (pH 4.3), glutelin (pH 4.8) and prolamin, respectively. Method 2 adopted dialysis and sequential extraction was carried out with 20 g kg⁻¹ NaCl, 70% ethanol, 0.1 mol L⁻¹ acetic acid and 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH solution as extracting solvents. Method 3 combined dialysis, isoelectric and acetone precipitation for the extraction. Based on the yields and data obtained from sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, size-exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry, method 3 was chosen for the isolation and characterization of RBPs. Rice bran protein fraction (RBPF)—albumin, globulin, glutelin and prolamin were obtained in good yields. Denaturation temperature and enthalpy values of denaturation of RBPF vary. Highest phytate content was found in albumin and lowest in prolamin. The highest antioxidative and hemagglutinating activities were observed in albumin.     

Purification and characterization of antioxidative peptides derived from rice bran protein hydrolysates

Rice bran protein fraction (RBPF)—albumin, globulin, glutelin and prolamin were hydrolyzed with proteases M, N, P, S and pepsin under their optimal conditions for 24 h. Hydrolysates of various hydrolysis periods were collected and subjected to peptide mapping and the antioxidative activity measured by the 2,2-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic Acid (ABTS) method. Protease M hydrolysates showed high degree of hydrolysis (DH), but low antioxidative activity. On the contrary, pepsin hydrolysates showed low DH with high activity. Albumin and globulin hydrolysates had higher DH values, but lower values for glutelin and prolamin. The globulin hydrolysate (Opep2) from 2 h-pepsin hydrolysis was separated by using three consecutive purification steps with RP-HPLC. Nineteen antioxidative peptides were isolated and their amino acid sequences were determined by a gas-phase protein sequencer and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. These peptides were composed of 6–30 amino acid residues with molecular masses ranging from 670–3,611 Da. Tyr-Leu-Ala-Gly-Met-Asn had the highest antioxidative activity among them.     

Implications of spatial and temporal changes in concentration of pyruvate and glucose in onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs during controlled atmosphere storage

BACKGROUND: Pungency and perceived sweetness are important quality assurance parameters for onion producers; however, there is still a paucity of information describing the spatial changes within the bulb of some taste‐related compounds during storage. Accordingly, onion bulbs of cultivars (cvs.), SS1 (low pungency, low dry matter) and Renate (pungent, high dry matter) bulbs, were divided into 12 sections and both spatial and temporal variations of pyruvate and glucose were recorded during standard controlled atmosphere storage. RESULTS: Pyruvate within cv. SS1 bulbs reached 8.3 µmol g^?1 fresh weight (FW) from pre‐storage levels of less than 3.4 µmol g^?1 FW, whilst pyruvate changes in cv. Renate remained in the ‘pungent’ category, between 12 µmol g^?1 FW and 15 µmol g^?1 FW; thus having fewer implications for marketing and quality assurance. Glucose concentrations were significantly higher for both cvs. in the neck region as compared to basal tissue. Higher glucose levels were recorded in the core of the bulb than in outer scales of cv. Renate. The opposite was found for cv. SS1. There was an inverse correlation of ? 0.69 and ? 0.87 between glucose and pyruvate for cvs. SS1 and Renate, respectively. CONCLUSION: In order to measure overall bulb flavour, it is recommended that sampling procedures, particularly for routine pungency determination, be carried out on bulb quarters or wedges rather than equatorial sections. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Primary cerebral lymphoma in Zimbabwe: a report of three patients

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is steadily increasing. Immunosuppressed individuals are at particular risk. In AIDS patients a clinical diagnosis of PCNSL is made in 0.5 to 8.4%, and a post mortem diagnosis in up to 11% of cases. In spite of the extensive HIV epidemic in parts of Africa, a literature search revealed only one African report of this condition. The reasons for this apparent infrequency are not clear. Possibilities include under diagnosis or early demise of patients due to other AIDS related illnesses of earlier onset. Three patients with primary cerebral lymphoma from Zimbabwe are presented. All were young, with tumours of high grade showing typical features.     

A pyruvate dehydrogenase-based amperometric biosensor for assessing pungency in onions (Allium cepa L.)

A disposable prototype electrochemical biosensor was constructed using pyruvate dehydrogenase immobilised on mediated Meldolas Blue electrodes to determine pungency in onions (Allium cepa L.). The optimum operating potential was +50 mV vs. Ag/AgCl reference/counter electrode. The biosensor was able to differentiate between mild and pungent bulbs with pyruvate concentrations ranging between ≈4 and 8 mM in freshly extracted juices. Resolution was 0.5 mM and thus was comparable to the standard Schwimmer and Weston-based colorimetric assay currently employed by industry for determining pungency in macerated onion tissue.