International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC)
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Item The Effects of Thermal Treatment on Antioxidant Properties of Fruit Peels from Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cultivars Grown in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies - University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Panapitiya, P.D.S.N.H.; Weerasooriya, M.K.B.Pomegranate peel (PP), a primary by-product of the pomegranate juice producing industry, is reported to possess diverse range of bioactive compounds which are believed to bear anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In recent years, natural antioxidants are gaining more and more attention due to its possible medicinal and food applications and have preferred by consumers over synthesized antioxidants. Heat treatment is known as processing step for fruit peels to release variety of bound polyphenolics from tissues of peels by improving their bioavailability or modifying chemical structure to enhance absorption, and to intensify nutritional effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of heat treatment on antioxidant properties of pomegranate peel (PP) of Sri Lankan cultivars, named as Nayana, Kalpitiya red, and Nimali. Peel powder (2.00 g) heated at 160 °C in an oven for 2 hours and non-heated peel powder of each cultivar extracted with ethanol (70% v/v, 25.00 mL). Free radical scavenging activities of PP extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and expressed as IC50 value. Color changes of PP powder before and after thermal treatments were investigated. All the extracts exhibited significant dose dependent inhibition activity. Therefore, DPPH scavenging activity increased as the concentration of the sample was increased up to a certain concentration that was varied from cultivar to cultivar. According to the results, heat-treated PP powders of each cultivar showed significantly higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity compared to the non-treated PP powder of each cultivar. Antioxidant activities of PP increased due to the thermal treatment. IC50 values of the non-treated PPs of Nimali, Kalpitiya red and Nayana cultivars, were found to be 19.067 ± 0.291c, 21.067 ± 0.233b and 22.233 ± 0.145a μg/mL, respectively, while the IC50 values of heat-treated PP samples of cultivars were 11.100 ± 0.265c, 17.600 ± 0.115b and 20.400 ± 0.115a μg/mL. All the IC50 values of PP extracts were compared with that of Gallic acid (GA) as the standard compound and IC50 value of GA was 4.65 μg/mL. Hence, antioxidant activities of both heat-treated and non-treated PP extracts were lower than that of GA. The peel of Nimali exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging properties than the other cultivars, in which antioxidant properties were highly improved by heat treatment and also, its change in IC50 value (ΔIC50) before and after heat treatment, is significantly higher than other cultivars. It might be higher concentrations of polyphenolics released. Initial color of PP powder of each cultivar was converted from brownish yellow to dark brown during heat treatment. IC50 values were significantly different (p<0.05) among cultivars and temperature. According to the results, thermal treatment had no negative effects on the antioxidant capacities of the PP powder up to 160 °C. Therefore, bakery products (specifically cookies) can be considered as the most acceptable carriers of such pomegranate peel powder supplements. Furthermore, examined heat treatment can be used as an acceptable method to sterilize the PP powder. Considering the findings, thermal treatment might be a good alternative strategy for improving health benefits of PP, adding value to the PP, and could be helpful for development of potential dietary supplements. PP powder which possesses extremely high antioxidant properties, has a great potential to be used as a source of food additives in food products such as natural food preservatives (antioxidants) and a therapeutic agent.Item Evaluation of Nutritional Potential and Composition of Peel of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cultivars Grown in Sri Lanka(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Panapitiya, P.D.S.N.H.; Weerasooriya, M.K.B.Pomegranate peel is a valuable waste rich with diverse range of bioactive compounds, which possesses antioxidant, cardio preventive, antimutagenic, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Apart from that, peel is believed to contain a significant level of nutritive ingredients such as minerals, organic acids, fat, protein, dietary fiber and vitamins. If the nutrient contents are significantly high that will open up a new avenue to develop a value added food product with high therapeutic and nutritional value. Nutritional composition of fruit peel can be varied depending on the cultivar, geographical and climatic factors. Hence, the study was aimed on the nutritional composition of the pomegranate peel (PP) of three Sri Lankan cultivars, named as Nayana, Kalpitiya red and Nimali. Fresh peels were dried in shade for 3 days, powdered and used for the analysis. Moisture content was measured by leaving the peel powder in hot air oven at 105 °C until get a constant weight. Crude proteins, crude fibers, lipids and total ash were analyzed according to the methods outlined in AOAC (2000) and carbohydrates content was determined according to FAO (1982) by difference method. Caloric value of each cultivar was calculated by the percentage sum of carbohydrates and proteins multiplied by a factor of 4 (kcal/g) and total lipids multiplied by a factor of 9 (kcal/g). All the experiments were performed in triplicate. The results showed that the crude protein, lipid, carbohydrate contents and caloric values were ranged from 3.35 ± 0.29 to 4.73 ± 0.20%, from 0.67 ± 0.01 to 1.01 ± 0.02%, form 68.66 ± 0.17 to 70.33 ± 0.92% and from 297.13 to 304.59 kcal/100 g dry weight, respectively. The moisture, total ash and crude fiber contents were varied from 6.02 ± 0.01 to 6.82 ± 0.02, from 3.74 ± 0.04 to 4.55 ± 0.06% and from 13.60 ± 0.61 to 16.44 ± 0.29% respectively. The highest ash and carbohydrate contents were in the peel of Kalpitiya red whereas the highest crude fiber and fat contents were recorded in the peel of Nimali. The peel of Nayana cultivar had the highest protein content (4.75%), followed by the peels of Kalpitiya red and Nimali cultivars. According to the results, peels of all three cultivars, are rich with crude protein, crude fiber and total ash and carbohydrate contents and serve as a good source of energy. High amounts of total ash in peels indicate high values for mineral composition. According to the statistical analysis, all the parameters except carbohydrate content were significantly different (p<0.05) among the cultivars. All these findings revealed that the PP exhibits higher nutritional potential and can be used as good ingredients in formulation of food products with numerous health benefits. Moreover, utilization of these low cost wastes may provide considerable economic benefits to food processors.Item Production of Amylase by A. Niger Under Submerged Fermentation Using Pineapple Peel as The Substrate and Its Application in Baking Industry(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Pushpakumara, H.M.P.J.; Weerasooriya, M.K.B.Starch-degrading amylase was produced by A. niger under submerged condition utilizing pineapple peels as the substrate. Growth parameters were optimized by changing incubation period, pH of the culture media, level of carbon source (dried pineapple peel powder) and additional nitrogen source, in order to get maximum amylase production. Study revealed that the production of extracellular amylase increased with the culture growth and reached to maximum at day 7 in the cultures grown at pH 5.0. Studies with different levels of carbon source indicated that optimum level for carbon source for maximum amylase production was 18 gL-1. Effect of additional nitrogen source on amylase production was also monitored supplementing the growth media with different nitrogen sources such as peptone, gelatin and urea. The result indicates that using gelatin as additional nitrogen source increase the amylase production. Experiments were also carried out to monitor extracellular and intracellular amylase production and the results revealed that extracellular amylase production was found to be higher than that of intracellular. Yield of the enzyme was 8530 units/g of pine apple peel powder. To test suitability of the enzyme for improvement of the quality of bakery products bakery products were prepared by treating the wheat flour dough with different volumes of partially purified enzyme Results showed that Treating 7.7 mL (11.5 UmL-1) partially purified amylase with one kg of wheat flour dough provide better quality product with improved shiny appearance, color, crumb structure, taste and better anti-staling effect than the control.Item Effect of usage of mobile phone in trouser pocket on quality of semen parameters(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Munasinghe, D.A.L.; Weerasooriya, M.K.B.; Liyanage, J.A.; Wakkumbura, H.P.A cross sectional study was carried out in the fertility clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda hospital during the period of August 2014 to August 2015 to find out the effect of carrying mobile phone in trouser pocket on the quality of semen parameters. Mobile phone has become an essential instrument among the lives of modern society. It assists to globalize the world. The disadvantage is the emitting of harmful rays when it‘s in use or switch on mode. However this bad effect basically depends on the way of handling the item. In vitro studies in foreign countries have shown that mobile rays have a negative effect on sperm motility. However, local studies on subject are handful in amount. Thus the current study was set up to trace the effect of switch on mobile phones kept in trousers on semen parameters. Every male who visited the clinic for fertility issue was personally evaluated on consent to gather the behavioral data. The semen of each was also collected (after 3 days absent from ejaculation) and analyzed separately. Out of 81 subjects 51 were used to carry the phone in trouser pocket as a custody. However when comparing the average semen parameters of them such as volume, sperm count, sperm motility and morphology with the same of non-users, it was clear that though there was a slight reduction of mentioned parameters in the test group it was statically not significant (P>0.05). Thus according to the final result the usage of mobile phone in trouser has a less effect on the quality of semen parameters. However this could be due to non-continuous usage of switch on mobile phone in the particular site. More over its better to keep the phone out of the site of testis when concerning male fertility.