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1. Abstract Purpose of this thesis was to prove and determine antioxidant activity of flower extracts from black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) and compile summary of their content substances and effects. Sambuci flos is often used in natural therapy and food industry. The main content substances are flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, further are contained in flowers sterols, mucilage, essential oils, tannins. Flavonoids are the most significant, specifically rutin and kvercetin, because they can show antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Flowers are used mainly for their diuretic, diaforetic, expectorant, analgetic effects. Method DPPH (2,2-difenyl-1- pikrylhydrazyl) was used for determination antioxidant activity of methanolic flower extracts. Results of antioxidant activity were expressed as IC50 values (concentration of extract which causes 50% reduction of radical). The average observed IC50values were 0,79 mg/ml and 0,83 mg/ml. The individual IC50values have changed fluently during development of flowers, they range from 1,086 mg/ml and 0,701 mg/ml in both collections. Deviations can be caused by ongoing synthesis of the secondary metabolites.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Ronald L. Madl / Praveen Vadlani / Producers of whole wheat products are interested in marketing the health-promoting benefits of wheat antioxidants. However, they need a steady crop supply with consistent levels of antioxidants. The variable phenolic content in wheat crops is a problem. The objectives of this research were to 1) identify the factor (s) that contribute the most to the variability in phenolic content, 2) understand the mechanism (s) responsible for phenolic synthesis, and 3) artificially trigger that mechanism (s). Phenolics are hypothesized to be part of the defense response of hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L) to stress. The effect of insect feeding, pathogen infection, and heat stress on phenolics in grains from wheat plants cv. Karl 92 was evaluated. Bird-cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) feeding stress significantly explained the variation in phenolic content. Furthermore, the relative allocation of carbon resources to grain yield/phenolic content was influenced by the stage of the plant at which aphid feeding started to occur. Based on these findings, phenolics were hypothesized to be an active defense response acting through a mechanism known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR). In order to prove this hypothesis, several synthetic elicitors of SAR were tested for their effectiveness at inducing de novo phenolic synthesis in wheat foliage and in mature grains. Elicitors that acted through the salicylic- and jasmonic acid signaling pathways were effective at inducing phenolic synthesis by 49% and 177%, respectively, in the leaves 36 hours post spray application. They also elicited a phenolic response in mature grains of up to 21% induction. Enhancement of the levels of naturally occurring phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in wheat grains through SAR activation is a value addition strategy that can potentially increase the profitability of hard red winter wheat crops. It can also provide manufacturers of whole wheat with natural antioxidants that can potentially be used to substitute their synthetic counterparts in wheat based products.

Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Greg Aldrich / Novel ingredients fuel growth in the pet food market. Sorghum grain is a promising ingredient source. It grows in semi-arid regions and the pericarp is rich in phenolic compounds that are well-known antioxidants. The objectives were to determine the impact of milling sorghum on yield and composition of the various fractions, their impact on diet extrusion, and nutrient utilization when fed to dogs. Sorghum milling yields were 68.3% flour, 27.2% mill-feed, and 1.25% germ. Four nutritionally similar dog diets were extruded containing whole sorghum (WSD), sorghum flour (FLD), sorghum mill-feed (MFD), or a control diet (CON) with an equal proportion of corn, wheat and rice. The MFD had the highest (P < 0.05) bulk density and was 1.37-fold heavier than FLD. The FLD had a sectional expansion index (SEI) of 1.92 and 1.35-fold more than MFD and WSD. The FLD and MFD had the hardest kibbles (P < 0.05). Twelve Beagle dogs were fed the experimental diets in a 4 period replicated Latin square design with 9 d adaptation and 5 d total fecal collection (TFC). Fecal output was also estimated using acid insoluble ash (AIA), Cr₂O₃ and TiO₂. Plasma antioxidant activity was measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. Fecal scores were highest (P < 0.05) for MFD treatment and lowest for CON, with FLD and WSD similar to both extremes. Dogs fed the MFD had the largest quantity (P < 0.05) of feces excreted and FLD the least. Dogs fed the FLD had highest (P < 0.05) overall nutrient digestibility values; whereas, MFD had the lowest values. TiO₂ estimates of fecal output correlated best to all other markers. The MFD had more than 2-fold (P < 0.05) the antioxidant value by ORAC versus the other treatments (20,482 vs average 8,923 μM Trolox Equivalent/L). This study suggests that sorghum flour would benefit easy-to-digest foods and the sorghum mill-feed could benefit foods needing indigestible fiber and antioxidants. Titanium dioxide may be a better marker for fecal output than Cr₂O₃ or TFC. Future work should determine the optimal mill-feed level to provide health benefits without affecting nutrient digestibility.

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals as bisphenol A (BPA) during gestation and early postnatal life is known to disrupt normal developmental processes and alter the body’s endocrine system leading to deleterious effects in the developing central nervous system (CNS). BPA is an industrial synthetic chemical commonly used in the production of a range of polymers and consumer products, despite concerns about its safety. There is therefore the need to protect the developing CNS from potential damage through the administration of neuroprotective agents. Most medicinal plants are reported to possess significant protective potential against tissue damage through different mechanisms that prevent cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation, immunodeficiency, etc. In this study, the protective effects of fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) tea against the deleterious effects of BPA were investigated. Rooibos is a herbal beverage indigenous to South Africa with widely acclaimed health benefits often linked to the bioactivity of its polyphenolic compounds, especially aspalathin. The anti-allergic, cardiovascular, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of this herb have been previously reported hence, the present study aims to investigate if regular consumption of rooibos tea during pregnancy and lactation could protect the developing brain from the deleterious effects of BPA in a Wistar rat model. A total of 40 three-month old adult female pregnant dams, with an average weight of 250g, were divided into four groups (n=10). Group 1 control rats received 9% normal saline ad libitum; group 2 rats received 400μg/kg/day BPA only; group 3 rats received 20% fermented rooibos tea as well as 400μg/kg/day BPA, while group 4 rats received ad libitum 20% fermented rooibos tea only. Offspring rats were housed in the same cages as the dams and only separated after weaning on postnatal day (PND) 21. Neurobehavioural assessment using the open field test was done on postnatal day (PND) 42 after which the final body masses were taken before the rats were decapitated under deep anaesthesia, and the desired CNS parts carefully dissected out and processed for histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical studies. The results obtained showed that there was significant impairment of neurobehavioural activity, decreased cerebral and cerebellar antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced hippocampal CA1 length, significant loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and significant astrocyte activation demonstrated by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) activity in experimental rats exposed to BPA only. However, co-administration of rooibos tea significantly attenuated the BPA-induced distortions. Taken together, these findings suggest that rooibos could be a potent neuroprotective agent against BPA-induced structural, functional and biochemical alterations in the developing CNS.

Vinte e oito bovinos machos inteiros da raça Brangus foram utilizados para se determinar os efeitos da estabilidade oxidativa no músculo e no fígado, comparando a utilização de fonte orgânica e inorgânica de selênio e extrato de alecrim, com base na análise da concentração de selênio no fígado e no soro, na análise da atividade da enzima glutationa peroxidase, da enzima superóxido dismutase e da catalase no fígado, e na análise de TBARS (substâncias reativas ao ácido 2-tio-barbitúrico) no músculo. Os tratamentos foram: 1) Controle - sem suplementação de selênio ou de extrato de alecrim; 2) Se IN - 2 mg de selênio/kg de matéria seca na forma de selenito de sódio; 3) Se - 2 mg de selênio/kg de matéria seca, na forma de selênio-metionina; e 4) Alecrim - 1400 mg de extrato de alecrim/kg de matéria seca. O ganho de peso foi maior com a suplementação de selênio inorgânico (P<0,05) em relação ao tratamento controle, mas não apresentou diferença em relação aos outros tratamentos. A eficiência alimentar foi maior em todos os tratamentos quando comparados ao controle (P<0,05). A ingestão de matéria seca não foi alterada pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A concentração de selênio no fígado foi maior no tratamento selênio inorgânico (P<0,05) do que no tratamento controle, entretanto os tratamentos alecrim e selênio orgânico não apresentaram diferença entre si (P>0,05). A concentração de selênio no soro foi maior nos tratamentos selênio orgânico e inorgânico em relação ao controle por todo o período (P<0,05). O perfil de ácidos graxos na carne não foi alterado pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A atividade da glutationa peroxidase foi maior no tratamento selênio inorgânico em relação ao controle (P<0,05). A atividade da superóxido dismutase foi menor no tratamento alecrim (P<0,05). Tanto a atividade da enzima catalase quanto a análise de TBARS não apresentaram diferença entre os tratamentos (P>0,05). / Twenty eight Brangus males were used to determine the oxidative stability of muscle and liver in order to compare organic and inorganic selenium source and rosemary extract based on the analysis of selenium concentration in the liver and in the serum, on the analysis of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the liver and also based on TBARS analysis (substances related to 2-thiobarbituric acid) in the muscle. Treatments were: 1) Control . without selenium or rosemary extract; 2) Se IN . 2 mg selenium/kg dry matter, as sodium selenite; 3) Se . 2 mg selenium/kg dry matter, as selenium-methionine and 4)Rosemary . 1400 mg rosemary extract/kg dry matter. Weight gain was greater when inorganic selenium was used (P<0.05) in comparison with control, however there was no difference regarding the other treatments. Feed efficiency was higher than control for all treatments (P<0.05). Dry matter intake was not affected by treatments (P<0.05). Selenium concentration in the liver was greater for inorganic selenium (P<0.05) than for control, in spite of that rosemary and organic selenium did not differ between themselves (P<0.05). Selenium concentration in the serum was higher for organic and inorganic selenium treatments than for control during all the period (P<0.05). Fatty acid profile in the meat was not affected by the treatments (P<0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity was greater for inorganic selenium treatment when compared to control (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity was lower for the rosemary treatment (P<0.05). Neither catalase activity nor TBARS analysis differ among treatments (P<0.05).

Thesis (MTech(Food and Nutrition))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Oxidative stress had been linked to the development of certain chronic diseases, but can be delayed or prevented by the consumption of dietary antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and beverages, such as, teas are the major dietary antioxidant contributors. The majority of South Africans do not consume adequate daily servings of fruits and vegetables, neither sufficient minimally processed grains nor wholegrains. One way to incorporate antioxidants in the South African diet is by adding antioxidant-rich foods or beverages to recipes as ingredients. The objective of this study was to determine the effect on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of substituting water with rooibos herbal tea in soup recipe formulations. Rooibos is a proudly South African beverage rich in antioxidants. Soup is a readily available and relatively inexpensive meal item regularly consumed during the winter months in South Africa. Three popularly consumed soups in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality namely chunky vegetable, butternut and chicken noodle were selected for the experimental study. The water in each of the soup recipe formulations (control) was substituted with fermented and unfermented / “green” rooibos (experimental recipe formulations). The study was of comparative nature as the results (i.e. the TAC as the factor investigated) of three different soup recipe formulations on fluid manipulations of each (with fermented and unfermented rooibos) was compared to the control soup recipe formulations of each (no fluid manipulation). The results (i.e. the TAC) of the three prepared control and experimental soup recipe formulations were also compared to that of the raw soup mixtures of each of the soup recipe formulations to determine the effect of thermal processing on each. The main variable identified in the preparation of the soup recipe formulations that may impact the TAC (the dependent variable) and needed to be controlled was the heat application. Other variables that may influence the results were the soup recipe formulation ingredients, the prepreparation of the raw ingredients, the standing time of ingredients before use and the equipment used. Before determination of the heat applications and the fixed time allocations of the soup recipe formulations to ensure recipe standardisation, the pre-preparation procedures of the raw recipe ingredients were also standardised.

Orientador: Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso / Banca: Fernando Ferrari Putti / Banca: Cristiaini Kano / Banca: Elizabeth Orika Ono / Banca: Fernando Cesar Sala / Resumo: Em pimentão a floração e a frutificação são contínuas, o que faz com que a planta tenha frutos e sementes em diferentes estádios de maturação. Dessa forma, identificar o estádio em que as sementes alcançam a maturidade fisiológica é fundamental para a determinação do momento ideal de colheita dos frutos. Diante do exposto, objetivou-se com este trabalho estudar o efeito do estádio de maturação e do repouso pós-colheita dos frutos na qualidade fisiológica, na resposta bioquímica e na composição química de sementes de pimentão. O trabalho foi dividido em dois capítulos, em ambos o delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados, com oito tratamentos, resultantes de um fatorial 4x2, com quatro repetições. O primeiro fator foi constituído de quatro estádios de maturação (35, 50, 65 e 80 dias após a antese (DAA)) e o segundo, sem e com o repouso dos frutos pós-colheita, por 7 dias. Foram avaliados dois genótipos que apresentam padrão de qualidade visual de sementes diferentes, ou seja, sem (1730) e com (190-2) o escurecimento do tegumento das sementes. No primeiro capítulo as características avaliadas nas sementes foram a determinação do teor de água, massa de mil sementes, germinação, vigor (primeira contagem do teste de germinação e índice de velocidade de germinação), atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) e peroxidase (POD), a peroxidação lipídica (LIP) e o teor de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2). No segundo capítulo foram avaliados nas s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In sweet pepper the flowering and the fruiting are continuous, which causes that the plant has fruits and seeds in different stages of maturation. Thus, to identify the stage in which the seeds reach the physiological maturity is fundamental to determine the ideal moment to harvest the fruits. In view of this, the objective of this work was to study the effect of maturation stage and post-harvest rest of the fruits in physiological quality, biochemical response and chemical composition in pepper seeds. The work was divided in two chapters, in both the experimental design was randomized blocks, with eight treatments, resulting from a 4x2 factorial, with four replications. The first factor consisted of four maturation stages (35, 50, 65 and 80 days after anthesis (DAA)) and the second, without and with the post-harvest rest, for 7 days. Two genotypes with different seed quality standards were evaluated, that is, without (1730) and with (190- 2) darkening of seed integument. In the first chapter the characteristics evaluated in the seeds were the determination of the content of moisture, weight of a thousand seeds, germination, vigor (first germination test count and germination velocity index), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation (LIP) and hydrogen peroxide content (H2O2).In the second chapter were evaluated the dry mass of one thousand seeds, the macronutrient and protein contents in the seeds.The fruit harvest time indicated for seeds of genotype 1730 without and with the rest of the fruits is around 80 DAA and for the 190-2 genotype without the rest of the fruits it is at 72 DAA and with rest at 58 DAA. In these stages of maturation, the seeds present maximum germination and vigor. The post-harvest rest of the fruits provided higher physiological quality for the two genotypes, as well as a higher weight of one thousand seeds... / Doutor

No presente trabalho estudou-se por métodos analíticos (CCD e CLAE/UV) a atividade antioxidante dos flavonóides presentes na cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.), visando sua possível utilização como alimento funcional. As técnicas CLAE/UV e microfracionamento por CLAE permitiram o fracionamento e o isolamento dos flavonóides, os quais foram analisados por CCD utilizando reagentes específicos para detecção de substâncias antioxidantes. Os resultados obtidos permitiram identificar os flavonóides da cana-de-açúcar (folhas e garapa) com atividade antioxidante, através da comparação dos espectros de UV/DAD e tempo de retenção: orientina-O-ramnosídeo nas folhas e schaftosídeo, isoschaftosídeo, diosmina-8-C-glicosídeo, orientina e 4\',5\'-di-O-metil-luteolina-8-C-glicosídeo na garapa. Estes resultados justificam estudos nutricionais e/ou farmacológicos mais aprofundados a fim de classificar (ou não) a cana-de-açúcar como alimento funcional. / In the present study, analytical methods (TLC and HPLC/UV) were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the flavonoids of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) regarding to its possible use as a functional food. HPLC/UV and HPLC microfractionation techniques allowed fractionation and isolation of the flavonoids, which were evaluated by TLC using specific reagents to detect the antioxidant compounds. The results allowed to identify the flavonoids of sugar cane with antioxidant activity, based on comparison of UV-DAD spectra and retention time: orientin-O-rhamnoside in the leaves and schaftoside, isoschaftoside, diosmetin-8-C-glycoside, orientin and 4\'-5\'-dimethyl-luteolin-8-C-glycoside in the juice. Theses results justify more detailed nutricional and pharmacologic studies to classify (or not) sugar cane as a functional food.