Global Journal of Food Science & Human Nutrition

"Health-Contributing Properties of Moringa oleifera: A Comprehensive Review of Its Mechanisms of Action in Disease Prevention and Management"

Sawera Butt — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Moringa oleifera is a plant, which is full of nutrients and known for containing many bioactive components, has achieved a lot of scientific regard because of its many health-contributing properties. Moringa is a nutritional powerhouse that is feasible and rich in essential nutrients like proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Its antioxidant-rich profile, which consists of vitamin C and beta-carotene, provides powerful protection against free radicals and oxidative stress. In addition, its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties increase the likelihood that it can be used to cure infections and cancer. This extensive investigation looks at the bioactive potential, many industries which make use of it, and its utilization as functional food. It also considers the medicinal benefits of the bioactive compounds found in different parts of moringa plants. Research shows that moringa is functional in curing chronic diseases like inflammation, diabetes, and high cholesterol. This review also focuses on the encouraging capability of the addition of moringa to food products to enhance their nutritional value and increase their shelf life. This review offers important information about the bioactive properties of moringa, its mechanism of action within the body, health advantages, and directions for additional investigation.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, bioactive compounds, nutritional powerhouse, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, functional food, chronic diseases, medicinal properties.

A Review Report on Potential Role of Vitamin D in Management of Depression and anxiety

Hadiqa Shahzadi Hadiqa, Dr — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

ABSTRACT

Depression and anxiety incapacitated people of all ages, genders, and races. This could have been a result of vitamin D deficiency, which also affected schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder. Vitamin D, also known as cholecalciferol, a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell growth, neuromuscular and immunological function, calcium and phosphate balance, and several other processes. Clinical investigations had demonstrated a link between vitamin D supplementation and a decrease in the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Also, the research indicated that those who were depressed had lower vitamin D levels than those who were not, and those who had the lowest levels of vitamin D had the highest risk of both depression and anxiety. Nowadays, research on the role of vitamin D in depression received more attention, and it was obvious that further research was necessary to better understand the role of vitamin D in various aspects of depression and anxiety. According to our research, vitamin D had a positive effect on both anxiety and depression. Antioxidant properties of vitamin D enhanced the functions of brain tissue and were crucial for preventing mood disorders.

Growth and Yield response of chili Varieties to Foliar Spray of Zinc and Boron

Muhammad Azeem, Munaiza Baloch, Muhammad Saleem, Faiza Zahid Dosondi — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

In 2014, a field tests were supervised at the Horticulture Orchard, Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, to assess the impact of foliar applications of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) at various concentrations, in addition to the recommended NPK fertilizers, on three chili varieties: Nagina, Sanam, and Longi. The experiment followed a three-replicated Randomized Complete Block Design.

The findings indicated that the performance of chili crops was considerably influenced (P<0.05) by the foliar application of Zn and B fertilizers at different concentrations alongside NPK fertilizers. The treatment combining foliar Zn and B at 0.2% concentration with NPK fertilizers showed superior results, with plants reaching a height of 68.00 cm, flowering in 64.67 days, spreading to 64.33 cm, producing 15.33 branches per plant, 474.00 fruits per plant, with an average fruit length of 6.26 cm, fruit weight of 706.33 g per plant, and yielding 4243.90 kg/ha of fresh chili. The application of foliar boron alone at 0.2% concentration with NPK fertilizers ranked second, while foliar zinc alone at 0.2% concentration with NPK fertilizers ranked third in fruit yield performance. The control group (NPK without Zn and B) yielded the lowest results.Among the varieties, Sanam exhibited superior traits compared to the others, with a plant height of 63.75 cm, flowering in 63.50 days, spreading to 65.08 cm, producing 15.67 branches per plant, 485.67 fruits per plant, with an average fruit length of 7.21 cm, fruit weight of 736.33 g per plant, and yielding 4418.00 kg/ha of fresh chili. Nagina and Longi ranked second and third, respectively.The application of foliar zinc and boron at 0.2% concentration alongside the recommended NPK fertilizers led to early flowering, improved fruiting, and higher yields compared to crops without foliar zinc and boron. Additionally, the Sanam variety demonstrated superior fruit yields compared to Nagina and Longi. Therefore, for a profitable chili harvest, cultivating the Sanam variety alongside foliar applications of zinc and boron at 0.2% concentration, in addition to the recommended NPK fertilizers, is recommended.