Traditional usage of underutilized aquatic plants found in the Imphal valley of Manipur

The paper focuses on the traditional usage of aquatic plants found in the wetland areas of the Imphal valley of Manipur. From the survey, 30 aquatic plants have been collected use for the management of various health conditions. Most of the collected plants consume as daily food items, some used for specic remedial purposes in the treatment of certain types of ailments and diseases like cough, fever, ulcer, piles, diarrhea, jaundice, skin diseases, rheumatic pain, diabetes, hypertension, urinary troubles, body pain, respiratory problems, urinary problems, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Accordingly, different parts of the plant are used as a single item or by mixing with other ingredients in various forms of fresh or raw, culinary, or as a tonic or dry or powder form to treat the diseases. The aquatic plants also incorporate in the preparation of various traditional dishes. 70% of collected wetland plants are marketable provides a means of livelihood and source of income for the poor and needy people. Therefore, proper documentation and preservation of traditional knowledge are essential that may provide useful for future generations through research in pharmaceuticals and drug discovery.

PEMANFAATAN DANA ZAKAT PRODUKTIF DALAM TINJAUAN MAQASHID SYARIAH (Studi di Kelurahan Ganting Kecamatan Padang Panjang Timur)

Based on research that there are several mustahiq who divert productive zakat funds for daily food needs, for medical expenses, for education, to repair the kitchen and to pay installments for rented stalls. The reason for mustahiq to transfer productive zakat funds is because there is an urgent need and insufficient income for needs. Based on these reasons, the transfer of productive zakat funds is not contradictory and even in line with the theory of al-maqashid al-syariah. Because for the cost of daily food needs and medical expenses in order to maintain the soul which is classified as an element of daruriyyat (primary needs), the transfer of zakat funds for education costs in order to maintain the mind which is classified as an element of hajiyyat (secondary needs), the transfer of zakat funds to repair the kitchen and pay the daily shop installments which are part of the maintenance of assets belonging to the hajiyyat element (secondary need). While zakat is productive in order to maintain property. Hierarchically, preserving religion takes precedence over preserving the soul, preserving the soul takes precedence over maintaining reason, preserving reason takes precedence over nurturing offspring, preserving offspring takes precedence over preserving property.

TOXIC EFFECTS OF LARGE DOSE OF QUASSIN IN NORMAL AND DEPRIVED MICROFLORA RAT GROUPS

Eighteen rats were divided into three equal groups. The first group was closed orally with quassin, the second group was dosed with quassin after the gut flora were suppressed by difierent antibiotics, and the third group was served as a control. Food intake, water intake, and change in body weight were measured daily before dosing, during two weeks of dosing, and during one week after stopping dosing. Two eats from each group were killed at the end of each week, and stomach, liver, and kidney were collected for histopathologic examination. The results show a significant decline in daily food intake and daily change in body weight, and a significant increase in daily water intake in both dosed groups during the dosing period. Microscopic lesions were seen in the kidneys of both dosed rats group killed at the end of first and second week

Pola Perubahan Harga dan Marjin Pemasaran Bahan Pangan di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

Food products are the main concern for the government and people of Indonesia. Changes in food prices have significant effects on the welfare of the population. Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected community activities and the food agribusiness system. This study analyzes patterns of changes in prices and marketing margins of seven main food products in Indonesian food consumption i.e. rice, shallots, garlic, red chillies, cayenne pepper, cooking oil, and sugar, after the Covid-19 pandemic by presenting descriptive statistics of daily food prices data from the National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPSN). Based on empirical results, except for shallots and cooking oil, most food prices at various market levels have fallen during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the risk of food prices at various levels of the market has been increasing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the magnitude and variability of marketing margins along the marketing chain also have been increasing. These findings imply the urgency of Institutional policies that can increase market transparency and competition appears to be more effective in the long term at reducing the price shocks caused by Covid-19 at various levels of the market than price interventions.

The Consumption of Food-Based Iodine in the Immediate Pre-Pregnancy Period in Madrid Is Insufficient. San Carlos and Pregnancy Cohort Study

A pre-gestational thyroid reserve of iodine is crucial to guarantee the increased demand for thyroid hormone production of early pregnancy. An iodine intake ≥150 µg/day is currently recommended. The objective of this study was to assess average pre-gestational food-based iodine consumption in pregnant women at their first prenatal visit (<12 gestational weeks), and its association with adverse materno-fetal events (history of miscarriages, early fetal losses, Gestational Diabetes, prematurity, caesarean sections, and new-borns large/small for gestational age). Between 2015–2017, 2523 normoglycemic women out of 3026 eligible had data in the modified Diabetes Nutrition and Complication Trial (DNCT) questionnaire permitting assessment of pre-gestational food-based iodine consumption, and were included in this study. Daily food-based iodine intake was 123 ± 48 µg, with 1922 (76.1%) not reaching 150 µg/day. Attaining this amount was associated with consuming 8 weekly servings of vegetables (3.84; 3.16–4.65), 1 of shellfish (8.72; 6.96–10.93) and/or 2 daily dairy products (6.43; 5.27–7.86). Women who reached a pre-gestational intake ≥150 µg had lower rates of hypothyroxinemia (104 (17.3%)/384 (21.4%); p = 0.026), a lower miscarriage rate, and a decrease in the composite of materno-fetal adverse events (0.81; 0.67–0.98). Reaching the recommended iodine pre-pregnancy intake with foods could benefit the progression of pregnancy.

Evaluation of Fermented Oat and Black Soldier Fly Larva as Food Ingredients in Senior Dog Diets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of fermented oat (FO) and black soldier fly larva (BSFL) as food ingredients for dogs. A total of 20 spayed female dogs were divided into four treatment groups, with 5 dogs per group. The four treatment groups consisted of a control group, a diet with 10% FO, one with 5% BSFL, and one with 10% FO and 5% BSFL, and each experimental food was fed for 12 weeks. The feeding of FO and/or BSFL did not affect the daily food intake, body weight, body condition score, fecal score, or skin condition of the dogs. In all the experimental groups, no significant differences in serum IgG, IL-10, or TNF-α levels were observed upon the feeding of FO and/or BSFL. Some hematological (white blood cell and basophils) and serum biochemical parameters (phosphorous, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase) showed significant differences with FO and/or BSFL feeding compared to the control group, but they were within the normal reference range. No adverse clinical signs related to these parameters being affected by FO and BSFL were observed. The feeding of BSFL for 12 weeks reduced the serum cholesterol level (p < 0.05) at the end of the experiment. Our findings suggest the suitability of FO and BSFL as food materials for dogs.

Dietary excess regulates absorption and surface of gut epithelium through intestinal PPARα

Intestinal surface changes in size and function, but what propels these alterations and what are their metabolic consequences is unknown. Here we report that the food amount is a positive determinant of the gut surface area contributing to an increased absorptive function, reversible by reducing daily food. While several upregulated intestinal energetic pathways are dispensable, the intestinal PPARα is instead necessary for the genetic and environment overeating–induced increase of the gut absorptive capacity. In presence of dietary lipids, intestinal PPARα knock-out or its pharmacological antagonism suppress intestinal crypt expansion and shorten villi in mice and in human intestinal biopsies, diminishing the postprandial triglyceride transport and nutrient uptake. Intestinal PPARα ablation limits systemic lipid absorption and restricts lipid droplet expansion and PLIN2 levels, critical for droplet formation. This improves the lipid metabolism, and reduces body adiposity and liver steatosis, suggesting an alternative target for treating obesity.

Intersections in Neuropsychiatric and Metabolic Disorders: Possible Role of TRPA1 Channels

Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are a huge burden to the patient, their family, and society. NPDs have been greatly associated with cardio-metabolic comorbidities such as obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus, dysglycaemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. Antipsychotics, which are frontline drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia and off-label use in other NPDs, also add to this burden by causing severe metabolic perturbations. Despite decades of research, the mechanism deciphering the link between neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders is still unclear. In recent years, transient receptor potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for modulators. TRPA1 agonists/antagonists have shown efficacy in both neuropsychiatric disorders and appetite regulation and thus provide a crucial link between both. TRPA1 channels are activated by compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, allicin and methyl syringate, which are present naturally in food items such as cinnamon, wasabi, mustard, garlic, etc. As these are present in many daily food items, it could also improve patient compliance and reduce the patients’ monetary burden. In this review, we have tried to present evidence of the possible involvement of TRPA1 channels in neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders and a possible hint towards using TRPA1 modulators to target appetite, lipid metabolism, glucose and insulin homeostasis and inflammation associated with NPDs.

Novel Healthy Eating Index to Examine Daily Food Guides Adherence and Frailty in Older Taiwanese

This study was conducted to investigate the adherence of Daily Food Guides (DFGs) among older Taiwanese, and the relationship of dietary quality and frailty. 154 functional independent older adults who were retirement home residents or community dwellers involved in congregate meal services were recruited. DFGs adherence was measured using a novel Taiwanese Healthy Index (T-HEI). Dietary quality was further assessed using Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Frailty was defined using modified Fried’s criteria. Of the total participants, 12.3% were considered non-frail individuals, while 77.3% were prefrail, and 10.4% were frail. Compared to non-frail participants, prefrail and frail individuals indicated significantly lower adherence to DFGs (ptrend = 0.025). Intake of dark or orange vegetables (ptrend = 0.010), whole grains (ptrend = 0.007), as well as nuts and seeds (ptrend = 0.029) by non-frail individuals were significantly higher than the levels by prefrail and frail individuals. Linear regression model adjusted for age, gender, and functional ability showed that T-HEI was inversely associated with frailty status (β = −0.16 ± 0, p = 0.047), but additional adjustment for nutritional status attenuated the association (β = −0.14 ± 0, p = 0.103). A similar relationship was observed for DASH but not MDS (DASH: β = −0.18 ± 0.01, p = 0.024; MDS: β = −0.06 ± 0.02, p = 0.465). After adjustment for confounders, the association was not observed. However, the distribution of whole grains component in both DASH and MDS was significantly higher in non-frail than prefrail and frail individuals, indicating the importance of whole grains intake in frailty prevention. In conclusion, higher adherence to DFGs and better dietary quality were associated with a lower prevalence of frailty. Higher nutrient-dense foods intake such as whole grains, dark or orange vegetables, nuts, and seeds mark a watershed in frailty prevention.

Isotopic investigation of skeletal remains at the Imdang tombs reveals high consumption of game birds and social stratification in ancient Korea

Understanding the development of early states on the Korean Peninsula is an important topic in Korean archaeology. However, it is not clear how social structure was organized by these early states and what natural resources were utilized from their surrounding environments. To investigate dietary adaptation and social status in ancient Korea, stable isotope ratios and radiocarbon dates were measured from humans and animals from the Imdang cemetery, Gyeongsan city, South Korea. The results indicate that the Imdang diet was mainly based on C3 plants and terrestrial animals. Animal remains in the graves were directly consumed as daily food items as well as for ritual offerings. MixSIAR modeling results revealed that the dietary sources for the humans were: game birds > C3 plants > terrestrial herbivores > marine fish > C4 plants. The finding that the game birds represented the highest contribution to the whole diet, indicates that game birds must have been intensively hunted. Furthermore, elites consumed more game birds than their retainers and they also consumed seafood as a privileged dietary item in the Imdang society. This study demonstrates that the Apdok was a stratified society having high variations in the consumption of food items available to an individual and provides new insights about the subsistence and social status of the early ancient Apdok state on the Korean Peninsula.