China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Potential of Pseudocereals in Celiac Disease
Published in Megh R. Goyal, Preeti Birwal, Durgesh Nandini Chauhan, Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants for Human Gastrointestinal Disorders, 2023
Caterina Anania, Francesca Olivero
The genus Amaranthus belongs to the Amaranthaceae family which consists of over 60 species of which Amaranthus hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, and A. caudatus are essential grain species.31 The cultivation of amaranth as a food crop began in ancient Mayan civilization. Throughout Central and South America, and in some parts of Africa and Asia, the amaranth plant has been cultivated as a minor crop for centuries. These crops are relatively fast-growing and are well-regarded for their resistance to hostile conditions resulting from moisture or low temperatures.35
Cooking for Diabetes Prevention
Published in Nicole M. Farmer, Andres Victor Ardisson Korat, Cooking for Health and Disease Prevention, 2022
Andres Victor Ardisson Korat, Grace Rivers
Amaranth is a yellow-brown seed with a characteristic nutty flavor. It is native to Mexico and Central America. One cup of cooked amaranth (250 g) contains 9 g protein and 5 g of fiber. Amaranth can be cooked for 20–25 minutes using 1 part of grain and 2–3 parts of water. Amaranth produces a dish with mild savory flavor that yields a creamy texture that resembles brown sugar. It may be served like rice, or it can be popped like popcorn and served as a snack.
Envisioning Utilization of Super Grains for Healthcare
Published in Megh R. Goyal, Preeti Birwal, Santosh K. Mishra, Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design, 2022
High dietary fiber content of 8%–20% is present in amaranth mainly constituted by pectic polysaccharides and xyloglucans. Soluble and insoluble dietary occupy 22% and 78%, respectively, with the former consisting arabinose, glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose rich polysaccharides and xyloglucans and the latter consisting mainly lignin and cellulose with arabinose, glucose, xylose, galactose, and galacturonic acid. Thus, amaranth seeds work as prebiotics and can be used to improve colon heath since such a constitution is similar to legumes, vegetable, and fruits [101].
Innovative strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis: a patent review (2014–2017)
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2018
Tulshidas S. Patil, Ashwini S. Deshpande
Ekaterina et al. [32,33] invented a treatment option to revert hepatotoxic adverse reactions induced by isoniazid. Researchers induced the liver toxicity in white mature male rats by administering a sixfold dose of isoniazid. Amaranth oil was extracted from germs and shells of amaranth seeds by cold pressing. The oil was administered to rats either in 200 mg dose thrice a day or 600 mg dose once a day. Administration of amaranth oil in liver toxicity-induced animals showed normalization of levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, and refurbishment of histology of liver at the end of 10 days of treatment. Researchers advised continuing the administration of amaranth oil during TB therapy at a 1-month time interval.
Acute toxic kidney injury
Published in Renal Failure, 2019
Nadezda Petejova, Arnost Martinek, Josef Zadrazil, Vladimir Teplan
Besides Chinese, Indian and African herbal medicine, the traditional herbal remedies of Persia show the deep historic relationship between religion, culture, plants and human health. The use of herbal medicines for treating renal conditions such as inflammation and urolithiasis and, some aspects of toxicology is described in the Hidayat in 1058 A.D. [46]. Over the centuries, the therapeutic approaches changed and many potential nephrotoxic, also renoprotective plants have been identified, e.g., Amaranthus spp., Artemisia absinthium, Rumex spp., Pennisetum spp., Portulaca oleracea and Cymbopogon spp. [47]. The published literature and scientific information on the nephrotoxic effects of Amaranthus sp. remain controversial. Some spp. are probably able to superimpose the toxic effects of plants producing oxalates which cause precipitation of calcium as calcium oxalate crystals in a number of tissues including the renal tubules and this can induce renal tubular necrosis. In one Australian report, a large number of animals (lambs) died after A. hybridus and A. retroflexus ingestion. The postmortem analysis showed bilaterally swollen kidneys with diffuse pale cortices strongly suggestive of acute toxic nephrosis [48]. The potentially valuable properties of Amaranthus greatly depend on its preparation before using. And in some countries in Africa (Uganda, Nigeria) and Iran (Persia), A. hybridus is used for its antioxidant and anticancer effects. It contains appreciable amounts of proteins, fat, fiber, carbohydrate and has calorific value, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and generally a few of toxicants [49–51]. Renoprotective effects have been observed for Cymbopogon citratus (Gramineae) known as lemongrass, in animal studies with rabbits and the aminoglycosides induced renal injury. Animals treated with C. citratus histologically exhibited intact parenchyma with no evidence of tubular necrosis or any significant abnormality in glomeruli [52].
Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) oil impact on the oxidative metabolism of neutrophils in the obese patients*
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2019
Dominika Kanikowska, Alina Kanikowska, Rafał Rutkowski, Małgorzata Włochal, Zofia Orzechowska, Aldona Juchacz, Agnieszka Zawada, Marian Grzymisławski, Magdalena Roszak, Maki Sato, Andrzej Bręborowicz, Janusz Witowski
Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) oil contains tocotrienols and squalene compounds (which are known to affect cholesterol synthesis in humans), while canola (Brassica napus L.) oil is rich in both α- and γ-tocopherol, which have antioxidative activities (Qureshi et al. 1996). Amaranth oil was found to lower cholesterol in hamsters and chickens (Qureshi et al. 1996; He et al. 2002) as well as in humans (Martirosyan et al. 2007). Canola oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including 61% oleic acid, 21% linoleic acid, and 11% α-linolenic acid (ALA), plant sterols and high concentrations of phytosterols (769 mg/100 mg canola oil); all of which have been shown to be cardioprotective substances (Gunstone 2011). A study by Gillingham et al. (2011) also showed a positive correlation between MUFAs and cardiovascular health through the regulation of plasma lipids and lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and insulin sensitivity. Phytosterols can reduce LDL cholesterol by reducing its absorption (Suhad et al. 2008) and have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties (Szymańska and Kruk 2007). Kim et al. (2006) showed that amaranth oil supplementation in diabetic rats could reduce oxidative stress that was due to the improved endogenous production of superoxide radicals, even though the mechanism underlying the protective action of amaranth oil against oxidation remains unknown. In a study by Anilakumar et al. (2006), consumption of amaranth leaves by rats reduced oxidative stress in their livers, an effect that was attributed to the positive effects of the carotenoids, chlorophyllin and polyphenolic compounds that were present in the leaves. Carotenoids are known to scavenge free radicals and other oxidants (Sies and Stahl 1995). The study by Pasko et al. (2011) confirmed that amaranth grains reduced oxidative stress. This effect was obtained due to the significant amount of the flavonoid rutin in amaranth grains, which contribute to antioxidant activity. In this respect, plant oils (amaranth and canola oils), as a rich source of highly unsaturated fats, could be a potential dietary option for individuals affected by obesity.