The health of the majority South Africa’s population is seriously threatened by hunger and micronutrient deficiency, with impaired immune response a real threat, which current SARSCoV-2 virus pandemic has highlighted. Traditional household food-processing techniques can, amongst other advantages, increase nutrient bioavailability in affordable staple foods hence provide way, part, to alleviate ...

A 3 year field study was conducted with field corn from 2005 to 2007 to test the hypothesis that microbial inoculants that increase plant growth and yield can enhance nutrient uptake, and thereby remove more nutrients, especially N, P, and K from the field as part of an integrated nutrient management system. The field trial evaluated microbial inoculants, which include a commercially available ...

Dissolved nutrient concentrations in natural waters may at times be controlled by interactions between particulate and solution phases. Effects of Zn [O-l PM total Zn(II)] and orthophosphate (8-12 PM total P) additions on growth indices for the chlorophyte Selenastrum capricornutum Printz were examined in a synthetic growth medium containing 50 mg liter-l colloidal titania. Over the Zn(H) conce...

The Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) reviewed and synthesized the published literature on four Key Questions: 1. What is the efficacy of multivitamin/mineral supplement use in the prevention of chronic disease for the general adult population? 2. What is the safety of multivitamin/mineral supplementation in the general population of adults and children? 3. What is t...

Using waste products is a promising and sustainable alternative to conventional non-renewable peat nutrient-rich renewable materials. Their are gaining importance for closing the loop in ornamental plant industry. Porous inorganic materials have recently become potential bulking agents (BA) sewage sludge (SS) owing their high porosity, surface area, passivation capacity, recycling potential, po...

Gene silencing with RNA interference (RNAi) technology may be capable of modifying internal structure at a molecular level. This structural modification could affect biofunctions in terms of biodegradation, biochemical metabolism, and bioactive compound availability. The objectives of this study were to (1) Detect gene silencing-induced changes in carbohydrate molecular structure in an alfalfa ...

To identify effective ways of increasing the yield crops grown in nutrient-poor calcareous soils, combined effects biochar addition and inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on wheat soil properties were investigated under rhizobox conditions. Measured included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter content (OM), availability P...

Curcumin, a bioactive component of turmeric, which is a commonly used spice and nutritional supplement, is isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae). In recent years, the potential pharmacological actions of Curcumin in inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and neurological disorders have been shown. However, the clinical application...

BACKGROUND Obesity surgery is acknowledged as a highly effective therapy for morbidly obese patients. Beneficial short-term effects on common comorbidities are practically undisputed, but a growing data pool from long-term follow-up reveals increasing evidence of potentially severe nutritional and pharmacological consequences. AIMS To assess the prevalence, causes and symptoms of complication...