The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research

Meghit Boumediene Khaled — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Table of Contents of Volume 8; Issue 18, 2024

Meghit Boumediene Khaled — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Table of Contents of Volume 1; Issue 2, 2017

Meghit Boumediene Khaled — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Table of Contents of Volume 1; Issue 1, 2017

Exploring the Antioxidant Potential and HPLC Profile of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seed Extracts

Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The growing concerns regarding the adverse effects of synthetic antioxidants, coupled with documented detrimental outcomes of adverse drug reactions, such as increased morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization, as highlighted by several studies, have emphasized the necessity of natural alternatives. Therefore, medicinal compounds derived from plants are increasingly advocated for the management of various diseases, due to their perceived minimal side effects and extensive health benefits.

Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds as a natural source of bioactive compounds by assessing their antioxidant activity employing various in vitro assays. Additionally, this study aimed to determine the total phenolic, falconoid, and tannin contents in both hydroethanolic (50% v/v) and hydromethanolic (50% v/v) extracts. Furthermore, phytochemical profiling of the fenugreek seed extract was performed utilizing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Materials and Methods: Following the extraction and quantification of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins from hydroethanolic and hydromethanolic extracts, antioxidant activity was assessed employing three in vitro assays: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay. Phenolic compounds were separated and identified using HPLC with Diode Array Detection (DAD). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that the hydroethanolic extract exhibited a higher total polyphenol content (50.5 mg GAE/g) compared to the hydromethanolic extract (47.33 mgGAE/g). However, the evaluation of the antioxidant activity demonstrated that the hydromethanolic extract displayed the highest reducing power, as evidenced by the DPPH (IC₅₀=314,53 mg/L), FRAP (21.49 mg AAE/g), and TAC (74.53 mg AAE/g) assays. Chromatographic characterization by HPLC identified six phytochemical compounds in the hydromethanolic extract of T. foenum graecum powder, which was obtained through maceration.

Conclusions: In conclusion, Trigonella foenum graecum seeds represent a promising natural resource possessing significant biological activity. Their potent antioxidant properties render them valuable candidates for incorporation in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations to promote health and reduce damage induced by oxidative stress.

Keywords: Trigonella foenum-graecum, Polyphenols, Antioxidant activity, Chromatography.

Effect of Sunlight Exposure and Packaging Materials on the Quality and Oxidative Stability of Commercial Vegetable Oils in Cameroon

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: In Cameroon, edible oils are commonly packaged in translucent 1L polyethylene bottles and opaque 5L, 10 L, and 20L polyethylene containers. The translucent packaging is often favored by customers due to product visibility, potentially influencing purchasing decisions. However, in local markets, these oils are frequently exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day for display purposes until sail. Such exposure can compromise oil quality and pose potential health risks to consumers.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of ambient and direct sunlight storage conditions, as well as different packaging materials, on the quality and oxidative stability of palm olein, palm oil, and soybean oil.

Methods: Palm oil, palm olein and soybean oil were selected for this study. Approximately 2.5 L of each oil was aliquoted into three portions: two 1.2 L portions for experimental storage and one 0.1 L portion to serve as an initial control. Each of the two 1.2 L experimental portions was further subdivided into nine 130 mL aliquots and transferred into three types of packaging: translucent polyethylene bottles (TPEB), non-translucent polyethylene bottles (NTPB), and brown dark glass bottles (BDGB). One set of nine packaged aliquots was stored in dark ambient conditions, while the other set was exposed to direct solar radiation for 8 hours daily over a 30-day period. Samples from both storage conditions were collected every 10 days for analysis of quality and stability parameters, including color, peroxide value, p-Anisidine value, TOTOX value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), acid values, and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy.

Results: Our findings indicate that sunlight significantly reduced the L* and b* color values of palm oil. Furthermore, exposure to sunlight markedly increased the peroxide, p-anisidine, TOTOX, and thiobarbituric acid values in all analyzed oil samples compared to those stored in dark ambient conditions. This increase was most pronounced in soybean oil, likely attributable to its higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Notably, the palm oil extraction process significantly elevated its initial acidity. FTIR spectra revealed minor differences, with soybean oil exhibiting the most significant alterations. Both BDGB and NTPB demonstrated superior protection of the tested oils' quality under sunlight exposure compared to TPEB.

Conclusions: Based on these findings, we recommend that edible oils sold in the market be packaged in NTPB or BDGB so as to effectively reduce the adverse effects of direct sunlight and limit photo-oxidative reactions. Furthermore, storing oils should under dark ambient conditions is crucial to prevent degradation caused by photo-oxidation.

Keywords: Palm oil, Soybean oil, Palm olein, Packaging material, Sunlight, Oxidation.