Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a bread enriched with varying level of ginger powder. Ginger powder incorporated in white flour at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% level to get a bread enriched with antioxidants and good rheological and sensorial properties. Total phenolic content (TPC) was gradually decreased with increasing percentage of ginger powder and maximum inhibition of DPPH was recorded (47.23%) at 2% supplemented sample. Texture of supplemented bread samples was increased in terms of hardness, gumminess and chewiness as compared to control sample. Mineral contents increased in each sample with increasing percentage of ginger powder such as Na (451.69 mg/kg), Ca (127.32 mg/kg), K (427.61 mg/kg), Fe (15.19 mg/kg), Zn (7.04 mg/kg) and Cu (3.47 mg/kg) respectively. However, showed worst results regarding rheological properties with hard dough structure. Among studied samples, a range of 2-4% ginger powder presented high antioxidants with better rheological characteristics compared with control samples.

Abstract For the proper utilization of the fruits peel, investigation on their biological potential is needed. The present study was designed to determine the proximate composition and biological activities of the fruit peel extracts of three common fruits namely Citrullus lanatus, Punica protopunica and Pyrus pashia. The methanolic fruit peel extracts (FPEs) were analyzed for phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging capacity (FRSC), antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum. The fruit peels were found to be statistically different (p < 0.05) in ash, moisture, crude protein, crude fiber content. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in ascorbic acid and total phenolic content, and antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activates of the selected FPEs. Each of the FPE showed a concentration-dependent significant linear increase in FRSC. However, the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the FPEs against each of the selected bacterial and fungal strains was found to be a logarithmic function of the extract concentration. The FPE of P. pashia was found to be the best among the selected plants due to comparatively higher values of carbohydrate, crude fiber and ascorbic acid content, FRSC, antibacterial and antifungal activity.

The effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and antioxidant properties of phytochemical compounds in bean seeds was studied. Seed flour of three varieties of bean was extracted in a series of organic solvents with increasing polarity (n-hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone and water). Preliminary screening of phytochemicals showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, terpenoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and reducing compounds in all extracts. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results showed that extraction yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant properties were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the polarity of extracting solvents. The regression analysis of data showed polarity-dependent second order polynomial variations in the extraction yield, phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, reducing properties and free radical scavenging activity of each variety. Extraction in highly polar solvents resulted in high extract yield but low phenolic and flavonoid content as compared to non-polar ones. The polarity-dependent increase in total antioxidant activity and reducing properties indicates the extraction of strong antioxidant compounds in polar solvents. The study suggests the use of a combination of polar and nonpolar solvents to increase the extraction efficiency of phytochemicals with good antioxidant quality from the bean and other legume seeds.

ABSTRACT Influence of high-dose gamma radiation and particle size on antioxidant properties of maize (Zea mays L.) flour was studied using response surface methodology. A central composite design based on three levels of each of particle size, in terms of mesh number (40, 60 and 80 meshes), and gamma radiation dose (25, 50 and 75 kGy) was constructed. A statistically significant dose-dependent decrease (p<0.05) in antioxidant properties of gamma irradiated flour was observed. However, an increase in the mesh number (decrease in particle size of flour) resulted in an increase in antioxidant properties. The optimum level of radiation dose to achieve maximum value of responses was found to be 50 kGy for Trolox equivalent total antioxidant activity (TETAOA), 25 kGy for iron chelating ability (ICA), 25 kGy for reducing power (RP) and 75 kGy for linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC). However, the optimum level of mesh number to achieve desired levels of TETAOA, ICA, RP and LARC was found to be 80 meshes.

The Abutilon genus from the Malvaceae family is of medicinal importance, and members of this genus are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and other parts of the world. Abutilon pakistanicumJafri & Ali is mainly found in Pakistan. It has been used by different systems of traditional medicines to treat different diseases. Pakistamide C, a new sphingolipid, has been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of A. pakistanicum. Different spectroscopic techniques such as NMR (1H, 13C, COSY, NOESY, HSQC, HMBC) and Mass spectrometry (EI-MS, and FAB-MS experiments) were used to elucidate the structure of pakistamide C.

The contemporary investigation presents a fundamental study on the removal of Cd(II) by ripped Citrus Paradisi pulp waste (RCPW). The effects of various engineering parameters such as initial solution pH, biosorbent dose, agitation, contact time, initial concentration, temperature and different eluents were evaluated on the uptake of Cd(II) by RCPW. Optimum uptake of Cd(II) onto RCPW was observed at 6.5 pH, 0.05 g of biosorbent and 100 rpm. Pseudo second order kinetic model best described the process of Cd(II) uptake by RCPW. Results showed that the sequestration of cadmium on RCPW was in monolayer as described by Langmuir's Model. Increase in temperature negatively affected the biosorption capacity of Cd(II) on RCPW indicating exothermic nature of the phenomenon. 0.1N NaOH was found to be the best desorbent among HNO3, H2SO4, HCl and EDTA.

The biosorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from synthetic solution using dried untreated and pretreated Rosa gruss an teplitz waste biomass was evaluated in this study. The results showed that initial pH, biosorbent dose, sorbent particle size, initial metal concentration, time and temperature affected chromium uptake capacity of rose biomass. The effect of twenty different pretreatments including gaseous and other reagents on Cr(III) and Cr(VI) uptake capacity of Rosa gruss an teplitz waste biomass was comprehensively described. Uptake capacity of Rosa gruss an teplitz waste biomass was significantly affected after pretreatment. The metal uptake capacity of biomass was not only found related to nature of pretreatment but also found strongly related to oxidation state of chromium. The estimation of the correlation coefficients for Cr(VI) showed that the experimental data fit better to Freundlich model. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best correlation for Cr(III) onto the rose waste biomass. The biosorption phenomenon was dependent on the temperature with máximum adsorption at 30°C. Biosorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions on to biomass followed pseudo 2ntl order adsorption kinetic model. The results confirmed that rose waste biomass is a potential biomaterial to remove Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions with a high biosorption capacity 45.03 mg/g and 48.75 mg/g for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) respectively.