Buckwheat is a precious source of various bioactive compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, rutin, ... more Buckwheat is a precious source of various bioactive compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, rutin, and quercetin, etc. This research work was performed to harvest the nutraceutical potential of indigenous buckwheat varieties and their milling fractions (fine flour, coarse flour, bran flour, and husk). Common buckwheat (CBW) and Tartary buckwheat (TBW) were analyzed in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity. When compared to common buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat had a higher total phenolic content (2101.421 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (1233.990 mg QEQ/100 g), and DPPH scavenging activity (44.51%).In the same context, throughout comparisons among milling fractions, the highest TPC and TFC were observed in the husk part of Tartary buckwheat while the lowest was found in common buckwheat. During the comparison of different solvents and their concentrations, it was observed that Ethanol 70% extracted a greater quantity of phytochemicals as compared to the rest of the other solvents and concentrations. This study recognized variability among buckwheat varieties and milling fractions for nutraceutical potential and nutritional qualities that can be used in the treatment of different maladies and food products.`
Antioxidants play a vital role in food preservation. They ensure that food keeps its taste and co... more Antioxidants play a vital role in food preservation. They ensure that food keeps its taste and color and stays edible over a longer period. In this study, the oxidative stability of Frozen beef incorporated with Moringa oleifera leaves was evaluated. Antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and Phosphomolybdate assay. Whereas the effect of tested extract on frozen beef quality was monitored using Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) lipid oxidation assay and organoleptic evaluation. Our results indicated that methanol extract of Moringa oleifera is the most active extract with IC50 of 22.52 μg/mL against DPPH free radical and 32.47 μg/mL against phosphomolybdate ion. Methanol extract also showed a considerable inhibition of lipid per oxidation along with some positive organoleptic effect, which indicates the presence of compounds with preservative effect on frozen beef. The GC-MS analysis of this extract resulted in the identification of 41 compounds. These identified compounds should be further purified and tested individually in order to indicate agents that have potential to be used commercially as natural meat preservatives.
Bioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc as calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), ferrous sulfate (FeSO 4)... more Bioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc as calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), ferrous sulfate (FeSO 4) and zinc sulphate (ZnSO 4) @ 1,000, 40 and 20 mg kg −1 respectively from fortified bread of 72% extraction straight grade flour was assessed. Fortified bread diets were fed to 64 female Sprague-Dawley Albino rats for a period of 28 days. The retention of Ca, Fe and Zn was measured in plasma, femur and liver tissues of rats. The results showed that the feed intake and live body weight of the experimental animals increased significantly with the time period. The Ca levels in plasma and liver did not change significantly while in femur, Ca retention changed significantly with changing type of the fortificants. Similarly, the results for percent apparent absorption (AA) of Ca also remained unchanged (P<0.05). The Fe and Zn levels were significantly higher in the plasma, liver and femur of rats fed Fe and Zn fortified bread. Interaction of Ca, Fe and Zn resulted in their decreased bioavailability. However Ca, Fe and Zn absorption was higher in the rats fed triple fortified diet compared with those fed unfortified bread diet. This negative interaction did not appear to be great enough to discourage multiple fortification of flour to address minerals malnutrition in the vulnerable groups.
Protein-enriched cookies were prepared by supplementing gram flour into wheat flour at levels of ... more Protein-enriched cookies were prepared by supplementing gram flour into wheat flour at levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% and analysed for physicochemical properties. The protein quality of the cookies was assessed by feeding gram floursupplemented cookies to albino rats for 10 days. The supplementation resulted in a significant increase in protein, fat, crude fibre and ash contents of the cookies. The thickness and spread factor of cookies differ significantly while non-significant effect was observed in the width of the cookies. The protein efficiency ratio, net protein utilization, biological value and true digestibility differed significantly among diets containing cookies with gram flour fed to rats. Cookies with 30% substitution of straight grade flour and gram flour produced acceptable cookies as compared to control. The cookies containing 40–50% gram flour were best regarded as protein bioavailability for rats.
Utilization of β-carotene in functional food products is limited due to chemical instability, low... more Utilization of β-carotene in functional food products is limited due to chemical instability, lower water-solubility, and higher melting point. The present research was designed to formulate a nanoemulsion system for the effective delivery of β-carotene. β-Carotene was successfully incorporated into nanoemulsions using the ultrasonication method. During 60 days of storage, the droplet size of β-carotene-containing nanoemulsions varied from 112.36 to 133.9 nm at 4 °C and from 112.36 to 147.1 nm at 25 °C. The oxidation stability of olive oil was remarkably increased when incorporated into nanoemulsions. β-Carotene nanoemulsions remained stable under varying ionic strengths (50-400 mM), pH values (2-8), and freeze-thaw cycles (four). The values of turbidity and total color difference increased over time and at a higher temperature. Degradation of β-carotene was substantially slower in nanoemulsions, and the addition of antioxidants significantly increased the retention of β-carotene in nanoemulsions. These findings suggest that the ultrasonic homogenization method has potential for the preparation of β-carotene nanoemulsions with desirable properties. These nanoemulsions can be effectively used for the incorporation of β-carotene in the food and beverage industry.
In the present study, food grade mixed surfactant-based β-carotene nanoemulsions were prepared wi... more In the present study, food grade mixed surfactant-based β-carotene nanoemulsions were prepared without using any co-surfactant. Response surface methodology (RSM) along with central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the effect of independent variables (surfactant concentration, ultrasonic homogenization time and oil content) on response variables. RSM analysis results revealed that experimental results were best fitted into a quadratic polynomial model with regression coefficient values of more than 0.900 for all responses. Optimized preparation conditions for β-carotene nanoemulsions were 5.82% surfactant concentration, 4 min ultrasonic homogenization time and 6.50% oil content. The experimental values at optimized preparation conditions were 119.33 nm droplet size, 2.67p-Anisidine value and 85.63% β-carotene retention. This study will be helpful for the fortification of aqueous products with β-carotene.
This research evaluates the performance of various hot mix asphalt mixtures. Four HMA mixtures (t... more This research evaluates the performance of various hot mix asphalt mixtures. Four HMA mixtures (two controlled and two modified) for wearing course were evaluated within envelope of national highway authority (NHA's) class A and class B gradations using Superpave mix design method. Bakelite, an old plastic was added as modifier to the penetration grade 60/70 binder. This study investigated the rutting resistance by Hamburg Wheel tracker test at room temperature and stiffness by dynamic modulus test at various temperatures (25, 40 and 50˚C) and frequencies (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 25 Hz) using Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT). The test results indicated that with the addition of bakelite, the performance of mixtures improved significantly. The percentage reduction in rut depth at 6% optimum bakelite content was found to be 29% and 38% for class A mixtures and class B mixtures, respectively when compared to controlled mixtures. Likewise, the percentage increase in dynamic ...
International journal of injury control and safety promotion, Jan 9, 2015
Injuries and fatalities from road traffic crashes have emerged a major public health challenge in... more Injuries and fatalities from road traffic crashes have emerged a major public health challenge in Pakistan. Reliable estimates of road crash fatalities (RCF) of a country, is a vital element needed for identification and control of key risk factors, road-safety improvement efforts and prioritizing national health. Reliability of current annual RCF estimates for Pakistan becomes highly questionable due to serious underreporting. This study aimed to predict annual RCF for Pakistan using data from World Health Organization and International Road Federation sources. An ordinary least square (OLS) regression model that relates fatality rate with different explanatory variables was developed. RCF were predicted for Pakistan for year 2012 and 2013, and results were compared with national police reported estimates. Study results indicated that there is serious underreporting of RCF in Pakistan and immediate measures are needed to improve the existing road crash recording and reporting syste...
Wheat and Rice in Disease Prevention and Health, 2014
Abstract Mineral balance is of significant importance to achieve sound health in humans. Scarcity... more Abstract Mineral balance is of significant importance to achieve sound health in humans. Scarcity, overdose, or discrepancies of minerals have a negative effect on bodily fitness. However, the amount of a mineral consumed is not the most important factor in maintaining a balance; this, rather, is the amount that is bioavailable. Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious threat to more than 2 billion people worldwide, even though it is preventable to a large extent. Deficiencies of micronutrients such as calcium, iron, and zinc can cause various disorders – for example, osteoporosis, anemia, and development of a defective immune system, respectively. Wheat contains significant amounts of Ca, Fe, Zn, and other minerals. Wheat and wheat products can contribute significantly to the dietary intake of minerals, but the limiting factor is the presence of high amounts of phytic acid. In order to overcome malnutrition, it is necessary to find different ways to reduce the inhibitory effect of phytic acid on minerals.
SUMMARYA growing trend for nutraceutical and gluten-free cereal-based products highlights the nee... more SUMMARYA growing trend for nutraceutical and gluten-free cereal-based products highlights the need for development of new products. Buckwheat is one of the potential candidates for such products and the present paper reviews the functional and nutraceutical compounds present in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum). The vital functional substances in buckwheat are flavonoids, phytosterols, fagopyrins, fagopyritols, phenolic compounds, resistant starch, dietary fibre, lignans, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which make it a highly active biological pseudocereal. Cholesterol-lowering effects that lessen the problems of constipation and obesity are important health benefits that can be achieved through the functional substances of buckwheat.
ABSTRACT Estimates of planning-level treatment costs are vital inputs for preservation project bu... more ABSTRACT Estimates of planning-level treatment costs are vital inputs for preservation project budgeting, prioritization, and programming in highway asset management. However, with the paucity of analytical research on highway asset preservation costing, agencies have resorted to the use of average costs. However, average cost values fail to adequately accommodate the influence of cost factors such as project size and asset condition at the time of the preservation treatment. In addressing this issue, this paper explores the efficacy of different mathematical specifications, including the Cobb-Douglas form and a variety of other nonlinear forms, for developing treatment cost functions. The paper shows how flexible formulations could be used to specify the response variable in order to avoid unduly restricting the models and to yield cost estimates that are more reliable compared to average costs. The paper shows how to investigate the direction and strengths of scale economies and condition economies in highway asset preservation costs using mathematical forms that allow for determining the partial derivatives of treatment cost with respect to asset dimensions and pretreatment condition. The paper demonstrates its concepts by using data on flexible pavement preservation treatments at a midwestern state highway agency
Buckwheat is a precious source of various bioactive compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, rutin, ... more Buckwheat is a precious source of various bioactive compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, rutin, and quercetin, etc. This research work was performed to harvest the nutraceutical potential of indigenous buckwheat varieties and their milling fractions (fine flour, coarse flour, bran flour, and husk). Common buckwheat (CBW) and Tartary buckwheat (TBW) were analyzed in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity. When compared to common buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat had a higher total phenolic content (2101.421 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (1233.990 mg QEQ/100 g), and DPPH scavenging activity (44.51%).In the same context, throughout comparisons among milling fractions, the highest TPC and TFC were observed in the husk part of Tartary buckwheat while the lowest was found in common buckwheat. During the comparison of different solvents and their concentrations, it was observed that Ethanol 70% extracted a greater quantity of phytochemicals as compared to the rest of the other solvents and concentrations. This study recognized variability among buckwheat varieties and milling fractions for nutraceutical potential and nutritional qualities that can be used in the treatment of different maladies and food products.`
Antioxidants play a vital role in food preservation. They ensure that food keeps its taste and co... more Antioxidants play a vital role in food preservation. They ensure that food keeps its taste and color and stays edible over a longer period. In this study, the oxidative stability of Frozen beef incorporated with Moringa oleifera leaves was evaluated. Antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and Phosphomolybdate assay. Whereas the effect of tested extract on frozen beef quality was monitored using Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) lipid oxidation assay and organoleptic evaluation. Our results indicated that methanol extract of Moringa oleifera is the most active extract with IC50 of 22.52 μg/mL against DPPH free radical and 32.47 μg/mL against phosphomolybdate ion. Methanol extract also showed a considerable inhibition of lipid per oxidation along with some positive organoleptic effect, which indicates the presence of compounds with preservative effect on frozen beef. The GC-MS analysis of this extract resulted in the identification of 41 compounds. These identified compounds should be further purified and tested individually in order to indicate agents that have potential to be used commercially as natural meat preservatives.
Bioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc as calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), ferrous sulfate (FeSO 4)... more Bioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc as calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), ferrous sulfate (FeSO 4) and zinc sulphate (ZnSO 4) @ 1,000, 40 and 20 mg kg −1 respectively from fortified bread of 72% extraction straight grade flour was assessed. Fortified bread diets were fed to 64 female Sprague-Dawley Albino rats for a period of 28 days. The retention of Ca, Fe and Zn was measured in plasma, femur and liver tissues of rats. The results showed that the feed intake and live body weight of the experimental animals increased significantly with the time period. The Ca levels in plasma and liver did not change significantly while in femur, Ca retention changed significantly with changing type of the fortificants. Similarly, the results for percent apparent absorption (AA) of Ca also remained unchanged (P<0.05). The Fe and Zn levels were significantly higher in the plasma, liver and femur of rats fed Fe and Zn fortified bread. Interaction of Ca, Fe and Zn resulted in their decreased bioavailability. However Ca, Fe and Zn absorption was higher in the rats fed triple fortified diet compared with those fed unfortified bread diet. This negative interaction did not appear to be great enough to discourage multiple fortification of flour to address minerals malnutrition in the vulnerable groups.
Protein-enriched cookies were prepared by supplementing gram flour into wheat flour at levels of ... more Protein-enriched cookies were prepared by supplementing gram flour into wheat flour at levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% and analysed for physicochemical properties. The protein quality of the cookies was assessed by feeding gram floursupplemented cookies to albino rats for 10 days. The supplementation resulted in a significant increase in protein, fat, crude fibre and ash contents of the cookies. The thickness and spread factor of cookies differ significantly while non-significant effect was observed in the width of the cookies. The protein efficiency ratio, net protein utilization, biological value and true digestibility differed significantly among diets containing cookies with gram flour fed to rats. Cookies with 30% substitution of straight grade flour and gram flour produced acceptable cookies as compared to control. The cookies containing 40–50% gram flour were best regarded as protein bioavailability for rats.
Utilization of β-carotene in functional food products is limited due to chemical instability, low... more Utilization of β-carotene in functional food products is limited due to chemical instability, lower water-solubility, and higher melting point. The present research was designed to formulate a nanoemulsion system for the effective delivery of β-carotene. β-Carotene was successfully incorporated into nanoemulsions using the ultrasonication method. During 60 days of storage, the droplet size of β-carotene-containing nanoemulsions varied from 112.36 to 133.9 nm at 4 °C and from 112.36 to 147.1 nm at 25 °C. The oxidation stability of olive oil was remarkably increased when incorporated into nanoemulsions. β-Carotene nanoemulsions remained stable under varying ionic strengths (50-400 mM), pH values (2-8), and freeze-thaw cycles (four). The values of turbidity and total color difference increased over time and at a higher temperature. Degradation of β-carotene was substantially slower in nanoemulsions, and the addition of antioxidants significantly increased the retention of β-carotene in nanoemulsions. These findings suggest that the ultrasonic homogenization method has potential for the preparation of β-carotene nanoemulsions with desirable properties. These nanoemulsions can be effectively used for the incorporation of β-carotene in the food and beverage industry.
In the present study, food grade mixed surfactant-based β-carotene nanoemulsions were prepared wi... more In the present study, food grade mixed surfactant-based β-carotene nanoemulsions were prepared without using any co-surfactant. Response surface methodology (RSM) along with central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the effect of independent variables (surfactant concentration, ultrasonic homogenization time and oil content) on response variables. RSM analysis results revealed that experimental results were best fitted into a quadratic polynomial model with regression coefficient values of more than 0.900 for all responses. Optimized preparation conditions for β-carotene nanoemulsions were 5.82% surfactant concentration, 4 min ultrasonic homogenization time and 6.50% oil content. The experimental values at optimized preparation conditions were 119.33 nm droplet size, 2.67p-Anisidine value and 85.63% β-carotene retention. This study will be helpful for the fortification of aqueous products with β-carotene.
This research evaluates the performance of various hot mix asphalt mixtures. Four HMA mixtures (t... more This research evaluates the performance of various hot mix asphalt mixtures. Four HMA mixtures (two controlled and two modified) for wearing course were evaluated within envelope of national highway authority (NHA's) class A and class B gradations using Superpave mix design method. Bakelite, an old plastic was added as modifier to the penetration grade 60/70 binder. This study investigated the rutting resistance by Hamburg Wheel tracker test at room temperature and stiffness by dynamic modulus test at various temperatures (25, 40 and 50˚C) and frequencies (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 25 Hz) using Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT). The test results indicated that with the addition of bakelite, the performance of mixtures improved significantly. The percentage reduction in rut depth at 6% optimum bakelite content was found to be 29% and 38% for class A mixtures and class B mixtures, respectively when compared to controlled mixtures. Likewise, the percentage increase in dynamic ...
International journal of injury control and safety promotion, Jan 9, 2015
Injuries and fatalities from road traffic crashes have emerged a major public health challenge in... more Injuries and fatalities from road traffic crashes have emerged a major public health challenge in Pakistan. Reliable estimates of road crash fatalities (RCF) of a country, is a vital element needed for identification and control of key risk factors, road-safety improvement efforts and prioritizing national health. Reliability of current annual RCF estimates for Pakistan becomes highly questionable due to serious underreporting. This study aimed to predict annual RCF for Pakistan using data from World Health Organization and International Road Federation sources. An ordinary least square (OLS) regression model that relates fatality rate with different explanatory variables was developed. RCF were predicted for Pakistan for year 2012 and 2013, and results were compared with national police reported estimates. Study results indicated that there is serious underreporting of RCF in Pakistan and immediate measures are needed to improve the existing road crash recording and reporting syste...
Wheat and Rice in Disease Prevention and Health, 2014
Abstract Mineral balance is of significant importance to achieve sound health in humans. Scarcity... more Abstract Mineral balance is of significant importance to achieve sound health in humans. Scarcity, overdose, or discrepancies of minerals have a negative effect on bodily fitness. However, the amount of a mineral consumed is not the most important factor in maintaining a balance; this, rather, is the amount that is bioavailable. Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious threat to more than 2 billion people worldwide, even though it is preventable to a large extent. Deficiencies of micronutrients such as calcium, iron, and zinc can cause various disorders – for example, osteoporosis, anemia, and development of a defective immune system, respectively. Wheat contains significant amounts of Ca, Fe, Zn, and other minerals. Wheat and wheat products can contribute significantly to the dietary intake of minerals, but the limiting factor is the presence of high amounts of phytic acid. In order to overcome malnutrition, it is necessary to find different ways to reduce the inhibitory effect of phytic acid on minerals.
SUMMARYA growing trend for nutraceutical and gluten-free cereal-based products highlights the nee... more SUMMARYA growing trend for nutraceutical and gluten-free cereal-based products highlights the need for development of new products. Buckwheat is one of the potential candidates for such products and the present paper reviews the functional and nutraceutical compounds present in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum). The vital functional substances in buckwheat are flavonoids, phytosterols, fagopyrins, fagopyritols, phenolic compounds, resistant starch, dietary fibre, lignans, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which make it a highly active biological pseudocereal. Cholesterol-lowering effects that lessen the problems of constipation and obesity are important health benefits that can be achieved through the functional substances of buckwheat.
ABSTRACT Estimates of planning-level treatment costs are vital inputs for preservation project bu... more ABSTRACT Estimates of planning-level treatment costs are vital inputs for preservation project budgeting, prioritization, and programming in highway asset management. However, with the paucity of analytical research on highway asset preservation costing, agencies have resorted to the use of average costs. However, average cost values fail to adequately accommodate the influence of cost factors such as project size and asset condition at the time of the preservation treatment. In addressing this issue, this paper explores the efficacy of different mathematical specifications, including the Cobb-Douglas form and a variety of other nonlinear forms, for developing treatment cost functions. The paper shows how flexible formulations could be used to specify the response variable in order to avoid unduly restricting the models and to yield cost estimates that are more reliable compared to average costs. The paper shows how to investigate the direction and strengths of scale economies and condition economies in highway asset preservation costs using mathematical forms that allow for determining the partial derivatives of treatment cost with respect to asset dimensions and pretreatment condition. The paper demonstrates its concepts by using data on flexible pavement preservation treatments at a midwestern state highway agency
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Papers by Dr Anwaar Ahmed
research work was performed to harvest the nutraceutical potential of indigenous buckwheat varieties and their milling fractions
(fine flour, coarse flour, bran flour, and husk). Common buckwheat (CBW) and Tartary buckwheat (TBW) were analyzed
in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity. When compared to
common buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat had a higher total phenolic content (2101.421 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content
(1233.990 mg QEQ/100 g), and DPPH scavenging activity (44.51%).In the same context, throughout comparisons among
milling fractions, the highest TPC and TFC were observed in the husk part of Tartary buckwheat while the lowest was found
in common buckwheat. During the comparison of different solvents and their concentrations, it was observed that Ethanol
70% extracted a greater quantity of phytochemicals as compared to the rest of the other solvents and concentrations. This study
recognized variability among buckwheat varieties and milling fractions for nutraceutical potential and nutritional qualities that
can be used in the treatment of different maladies and food products.`
research work was performed to harvest the nutraceutical potential of indigenous buckwheat varieties and their milling fractions
(fine flour, coarse flour, bran flour, and husk). Common buckwheat (CBW) and Tartary buckwheat (TBW) were analyzed
in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity. When compared to
common buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat had a higher total phenolic content (2101.421 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content
(1233.990 mg QEQ/100 g), and DPPH scavenging activity (44.51%).In the same context, throughout comparisons among
milling fractions, the highest TPC and TFC were observed in the husk part of Tartary buckwheat while the lowest was found
in common buckwheat. During the comparison of different solvents and their concentrations, it was observed that Ethanol
70% extracted a greater quantity of phytochemicals as compared to the rest of the other solvents and concentrations. This study
recognized variability among buckwheat varieties and milling fractions for nutraceutical potential and nutritional qualities that
can be used in the treatment of different maladies and food products.`