Utilization of Banana Blossom Sheaths with Different Skin Colors as Raw Materials for Healthy Pasteurized Banana Blossom Juice Production

Kankanit Jongrattanavit, Pattrathip Rodsamran, Panyapathk Pinkaew — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This research aimed to investigate the physical properties and chemical compositions of banana blossom sheaths, as well as the physicochemical and microbial properties of their juices. Banana blossom sheaths come in two varieties: the light-yellow inner (inner) and the pink-red outer (outer). Chemical analyses of both outer and inner sheaths, including moisture, protein, lipid, ash, total carbohydrate and crude fiber, revealed ranges of 90.83–93.41%, 1.22–1.71%, 0.29–0.34%, 0.97–1.01%, 3.62–6.60% and 0.96–2.14%, respectively. The healthy pasteurized banana blossom juices (HPBJ) derived from both sources were rich in phenolic compounds (254±0.12 and 124±0.38 mg GAE/100 mL), total anthocyanin contents (0.19±0.23 and 15.0 ±0.35 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent (CGE)/100 mL) and exhibited antioxidant properties using the DPPH method (2,280.49±0.45 and 2,156.53±0.78 μmol of Trolox equivalents/100 mL), respectively. Microbial analysis of HPBJ, including total plate counts (TPC), yeast and mold, Escherichia coli, Coliform, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium perfringens, indicated levels within acceptable limits, confirming their safety for consumption.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sesbania javanica Miq. Flowers

Yaiprae Chatree, Shisanupong Anukanon, Saimai Chatree, Komgrit Saeng-ngoen — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Cholinergic signaling impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with a low level of acetylcholine as a result of acetylcholinesterase hydrolysis. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are found in numerous plants and phytoconstituents. This study aims to investigate the effect of Sesbania javanica Miq. flower extracts on anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and identify its potential compounds. The ethanolic extracts of Sesbania javanica Miq. flowers showed a relatively high percentage of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC₅₀ = 18.56±1.67 mg/mL). However, physostigmine (reference standard) shows the highest potency of acetylcholinesterase inhibition compared to the extracts, IC₅₀ < 0.005 mg/mL. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based analysis revealed that the ethanolic extract of the flower contained major phytochemicals including thiophene and 1-(5-Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl)ethylamine, which are predicted to penetrate across the blood-brain barrier. Thiophene was found to be the most abundant compound of the extract. The molecular docking demonstrated that the active phytochemical 1-(5-Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl)ethylamine forms hydrogen bonds with the active site of acetylcholinesterase, exhibiting the same orientation as physostigmine, thereby conferring anti-cholinesterase activity. Our findings suggest that the flower extract of Sesbania javanica Miq. (Fabaceae) may provide new phytochemicals for potential drug discovery as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase activity.

Journal of Food Health and Bioenvironmental Science

Utilization of Banana Blossom Sheaths with Different Skin Colors as Raw Materials for Healthy Pasteurized Banana Blossom Juice Production

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sesbania javanica Miq. Flowers