Analysis of Faroe spp. and Cyombopogon citratus extracts for their beverage potential vis-a-vis processed black coffee and black tea leaves (Published)
Faroe spp. and Cymbopogon citratus concoctions have continuously been used as beverages in absence of coffee or tea leaves in Kenya. This study aimed at characterizing their extracts for chemical similarities with processed black coffee and tea leaves. Wet chemistry and spectroscopic methods were used to evaluate these similarities. While the physical-chemical properties were closely related, the results indicated resemblance in functional groups, matching those of polyphenols. The Ultra-Violet (UV) spectra indicated abundance of dienes and xanthophyll pigments. Faroe spp. extracts had more antioxidants against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenger. Phytochemicals and amino acids screens of the samples closely matched those of black coffee and tea. The order of caffeine content was black coffee (398.990, black tea (169.110, Faroe spp. (116.640mg/L) and Cymbopogon citratus (38.760 The same series was observed for total alkaloids and flavonoid content. In conclusion, these extracts were found to have a lot of similarities with black tea and coffee.
Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus, Faroe spp., beverages, caffeine
Food Intake and Caffeine Determine Amyloid Beta Metabolism with Relevance to Mitophagy in Brain Aging and Chronic Disease (Published)
In the global world diabetes and mitochondrial disease is expected to cost the developing world in the next 30 years US $400 million. In diabetes an absent peripheral sink amyloid beta clearance pathway is now relevant to amyloid beta induced mitochondrial apoptosis. The quality of food consumed has raised major concerns with increased levels of plasma bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that induces amyloid beta aggregation and mitochondrial apoptosis with programmed cell death linked to non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and many organ diseases. The amount, nature and time of day of fat consumption in diabetes has become important with relevance to caffeine metabolism, brain toxic amyloid beta oligomer formation and neuron apoptosis. To prevent programmed cell death dietary fat and caffeine consumption need to be revised to allow rapid hepatic caffeine and amyloid beta metabolism with the prevention of global mitophagy associated with diabetes, NAFLD and neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: Diabetes, amyloid beta, caffeine, circadian rhythm, fat diet, mitochondria