American Journal of Food and Nutrition

Comparative Evaluation of the Nutritional Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Sensory Properties of Beetroot Jam with the Conventional Fruit Jams

Paulina O. Adeniyi, Olanike O. Balogun, Gloria P. Taiwo — 2026-03-17

Rising health concerns and nutritional gaps have spurred interest in innovative food products like vegetable-based jams. This study evaluated beetroot jam's potential by comparing its nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, and sensory properties with conventional fruit jams (orange and pineapple) and a commercial strawberry jam. Jams were produced using standardized methods with beetroot, orange, and pineapple as primary ingredients, alongside sugar, pectin, and lemon juice. Analyses included vitamin content (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, and Folate), mineral content (magnesium, potassium, manganese, and iron), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and sensory evaluations. Analysis of Variance (Least Significant Difference and Duncan Multiple Range Test) was used to compare mean data at p<0.05). Beetroot jam outperformed others with the highest ascorbic acid (0.080 ± 0.009 g/100g), beta-carotene (718.947 ± 5.35 µg/g), Folate (11.513 ± 0.111 µg DFE), and mineral levels, significantly surpassing the commercial control (p < 0.05). The commercial strawberry jam exhibited the highest TAC (51.18 ± 0.17%), followed by pineapple (43.86 ± 0.16%) and beetroot jams (38.30 ± 0.15%), with beetroot still showing notable antioxidant activity. Sensory scores indicated orange jam was most preferred overall (8.15 ± 0.59), but beetroot jam (7.00 ± 1.17) was comparable to the commercial brand (6.90 ± 1.41) and significantly favored for texture (7.15 ± 1.60 vs. 6.35 ± 1.35). These findings highlight beetroot jam as a nutritionally superior alternative to conventional fruit jams, with acceptable sensory qualities, strongly justifying its promotion for commercial and household use to leverage its health benefits and vibrant appeal.

Assessment of Trace Metal Concentrations in Rice (Oryza sativaL.) Cultivated in Three Production Areas of the Hight-Sassandra Region, Côte d’Ivoire

2026-03-17

Plant-derived foods are critical sources of essential minerals, yet environmental contamination by trace elements (TEs) can result in their bioaccumulation, posing potential health risks. This study quantified Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, and Pb in rice from Daloa, Issia, and Vavoua, Haut-Sassandra region, Côte d’Ivoire, to assess compliance with international safety standards. Thirty samples (10 per locality) representing the varieties Wita 9, Bouaké Amélioré, and V10 were collected from local producers. Following acid digestion, trace elements concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Fe ranged from 10.21 to 36.80 mg/kg, Al from 7.76 to 29.02 mg/kg, Zn from 20.05 to 41.07 mg/kg, and Cu from 1.00 to 5.25 mg/kg. Co (0.91–2.05 mg/kg), Ni (0.01–0.30 mg/kg), and Pb (0.002–0.024 mg/kg) levels were low, whereas Cr concentrations (0.25–2.00 mg/kg) exceeded WHO thresholds in some samples. ANOVA (p < 0.05) revealed significant differences between localities. Overall, the rice studied poses no immediate health risk regarding most TEs and retains significant nutritional value. However, the cumulative nature of certain metals, particularly Cr, underscores the need for continuous monitoring and implementation of preventive strategies at the production level. These results highlight the importance of integrating nutritional quality assessment with rigorous food safety surveillance to ensure the production of safe, mineral-rich staple foods.

Modulatory Impact of Cleome droserifolia (Samwa) Aerial Extract on Oxidative Stress, Liver and Kidney Injury, and Inflammation in Experimental Diabetes

Yousif A. Elhassaneen, Basma A. El-khateeb, Mariem A. Elgendy — 2026-04-16

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that is typified by unremitting hyperglycemia and multisystem developmental complications. The current research assessed the protective activity of Cleome droserifolia ethanolic extract (CDE) on metabolic, oxidative, inflammatory, hepatic, renal and hematological derangements of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. There were significant decreases in the gain of body weight, feed intake, and the rat of feed efficiency in the diabetes induction, severe cases of hyperglycemia (211.83), insulin deficiency, leptin dysregulation, and liver and kidney disfunction. AST, ALT and ALP levels had increased by 46.52% and 40.06 and 35.65, respectively, with creatinine, urea nitrogen and uric acid also increasing by 31.77, 66.22 and 44.35. The evidence of oxidative stress was increased hepatic malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species by 42.96% and 52.78, and glutathione depletion as well as a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. The levels of inflammatory markers had significantly increased, and C-reactive protein increased almost five times, and TNF-A was increased 93 times and nitric oxide was increased 79 times. Hemoglobin, red and white blood cells, and platelets were found to have significant hematological depreciations. Four weeks of CDE oral delivery had dose-dependent positive effects regarding all parameters. The dose had a significant effect on reducing blood glucose by 58.86, body weight gain, which increased by 35.66, hepatic and renal biomarkers were normalized, antioxidant defenses were restored, MDA, ROS, CRP, TNF-α and NO had been lowered; hematological indices were corrected. Analysis of the correlation showed that oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, inflammation, and organ dysfunction had strong correlations. Altogether, CDE showed important antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and hematoprotective activity, and is likely to be considered a complementary drug in the treatment of diabetes, where experimentally there are no reported toxicity or mortality.