Mucua: Sensory analysis of the fruit of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) in natura

Augusta Tomás ¹ & Leandro Oliveira ²   

1 - Escola de Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde da Universidade Lusófona, Av. Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024, Lisboa, Portugal
2 - CBIOS - Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona, Av. Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal

corresponding author: leandro.oliveira@ulusofona.pt 

DOI: 10.19277/bbr.20.2.318

Abstract: The mucua is the fruit of the embondeiro or baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and originates from Africa. It has a high content of ascorbic acid and dietary fiber, along with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to test the acceptability of the mucua fruit in natura in a sample of Portuguese adults and test its intention to consume and availability to pay for this fruit. After providing the fruit, participants fulfilled a questionnaire for their socioeconomic characterization and tested their acceptability and willingness to pay for the fruit. The participants in this study (n=53) were 20 years old, primarily female (80.8%), Portuguese (73.1%), and students (86.6%). The tasters considered the following aspects of the mucua fruit pleasant or very pleasant: global appreciation (49.2%), color (71.2%), shape (53.8%), flavor (40.4%), aroma (48.5%) and texture (44.2%). Approximately 30% of tasters would be willing or very willing to consume this fruit regularly and pay 3 €/ kg (62.9%). The mucua had good acceptance by the tasters, and the color, the form, and the global appreciation, were the attributes with the best scores on the acceptability test. In addition, they were willing to consume it regularly if they were available at an economically affordable price.

Effects on expression of B lymphocyte transmembrane ligand genes after treatment with Rose extract 

Mark Christopher Arokiaraj ^1  ✉️ &  Eric Menesson ²

1 - Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalapet, Puducherry, India

2 - Tebubio,Le Perray en Yvelines, France

corresponding author: christomark@gmail.com 

DOI: 10.19277/bbr.20.2.317

Abstract: The goal was to evaluate the role of red rose extract (Pierre de Ronsard) on the human B lymphocytes gene CD20, CD30, CD40, and CCR5 expression. Red rose extract was prepared at the dilution of 0.0075% (v/v) and stored until use at -20°C. Cell treatment was performed at 37°C on human B cells. Cells were plated in 6 well plates at 1.5x106 cells per well and stored at -80°C and total RNA extracted. RTq-PCR was performed according to Genecopoeia. The cycle threshold method (ΔΔCt) was used for data analysis.  The comparative Ct method quantification (2^-ΔCt ) and fold change for CD20, CD30, CD40 and CCR5 were - 5.65E+01, 4.80E-01, N/A, 2.47E-01; and 0.954,0.377, N/A and 0.577, respectively. The amount of total RNA extracted from about 4.5x10⁶ cells was low and did not allow us to measure the RNA profile. With the exception of CD40, all other genes were expressed and well-measured in both B cell samples by qRT-PCR. The expression of CD30 and CCR5 genes were decreased in B lymphocytes in vitro with the rose extract treatment. More studies are needed to further study these effects and potential.

Looking for early indicators of vascular modification in young healthy tobacco smokers

Sérgio Fallone Andrade  & Luís Monteiro Rodrigues  

CBIOS - Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona, Av. Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal

corresponding author: sergio.andrade@ulusofona.pt

DOI: 10.19277/bbr.21.1.333

Abstract: Cigarette smoking is a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease but early indicators of damage specially in young smokers with no clinical evidence of impairment are lacking. Our study identifies adaptive responses in young smokers following a Reactive Hyperemia (RH) maneuver and compares those responses with an equivalent non-smoker group. The study respected all principles of good clinical practice, involved 42 healthy volunteers (21 smokers, 21 non-smokers), with similar anthropometric data, except for smoking habits. Smokers were mostly (17/21) mild, according with the calculated smoker index, started this regular consumption for 11.1±4.5 years ago. RH was obtained by applying a suprasystolic pressure to one of the participants' arms for 2 minutes. Perfusion was measured in the third finger on the ipsilateral side. Perfusion early recovery after occlusion was significantly faster in non-smokers (***p<0.0001 compared with non-smokers. These differences were attributed to smoking, suggesting that even in the absence of any clinical expression, the reflex adaptive responses evoked by RH in both groups are already different. These results justify further studies to better understand the early subclinical impacts of smoking on healthy individuals.