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Pineapple farming is among the fastest-growing agricultural sub-sectors in Homa Bay County, Kenya specifically Rangwe sub-county. However, limited attention has been given to the market access of this produce. Evidenced by vast quantities of pineapples harvested from the farms and stacked along main highways without targeting a specific market. This result to a small portion being sold and the rest deteriorating, consequently reducing returns for pineapple agripreneurs. Therefore, this paper sought to determine those factors that influences access to formal market by pineapple agripreneurs and as well as find out challenges of and opportunities for accessing formal markets by the Rangwe pineapple agripreneurs. The survey was undertaken in Rangwe Sub-county, and multisampling method was used to select a sample of 183 pineapple agripreneurs from the study area, primary data was collected using a semi-structured survey tool. Data was analyzed by descriptive analysis and Logistic regression model. Results indicated that pineapple agripreneurs were faced with numerous challenges in accessing pineapple market, also there existed several market access opportunities for pineapple agripreneurs. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed extension contacts, education level and price of pineapple as factors that were positively and statistically significant in influencing access to formal markets. While those that were statistically and negatively influencing access to formal market comprised of; age of household head, household size, and type of road. The study recommends; improvement of road infrastructure in pineapple producing areas so as to improve on their market access; development of policies that encourages capacity building of pineapple agripreneurs in Rangwe sub-county

The pulp and paper industry is primarily dependent on fibrous wood for pulp and paper production. However, this over-dependence on fibrous wood poses serious environmental challenges such as the diminishing of the fibrous wood stocks, deforestation, emission of greenhouse gases, and global warming. Therefore, to mitigate these environmental challenges associated with its utilization for paper and pulp production, other sustainable raw material sources can also be considered for the production of paper and pulp. There are enormous benefits associated with the utilization of non-wood fibres as an alternative and sustainable raw materials source for the production of paper and pulp. These benefits have in the recent past prompted millers in China, India, Brazil, and the USA to consider the utilization of non-wood fibres in paper and pulp production. In Kenya, the pulp and paper industry is very much dependent on fibrous wood for production and the industry is yet to fully embrace the utilization of nonwood fibres for paper and pulp production. Further, the dependence on fibrous wood has contributed significantly to the decline of paper pulp and paper production, deforestation, and rise in paper importations due to insufficient raw material supplies. The importation of paper and pulp products has further led to the collapse of the paper industry in Kenya. The sector stands a chance of revival and vibrancy through the utilization of the abundant agricultural residues and feedstocks lying in the agricultural fields across the country. Similar experiences elsewhere have proved that the abundance of agricultural waste can be utilized for the production of paper and pulp due to their excellent fibre content for specialty papers, and easy pulpability. The agricultural residues are therefore considered a quintessential alternative and sustainable source of raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. Moreover, their utilization will mitigate environmental impacts such as deforestation, climate change, and pollution .

Lignocellulosic biomass is the earth’s most abundant and renewable resource, and, lignin is its strongest component. The lignocellulosic biomass has a potential to produce bioethanol for both domestic and industrial use. The presence of lignin in the biomass, however, hinders the processing and production of bioethanol from the biomass. Hence, to enhance the chances of bioethanol production from the lignocellulosic biomass, lignin has to be pre-treated. The pre-treatment process efficiently separates the interlinked complex components. During the pre-treatment process, the strong lignin component that is highly resistant and a major barrier to solubilization is broken down by hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. Pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass is therefore, necessary to make it more susceptible to microorganisms, enzymes, and pathogens. The initial pre-treatment approaches include physical, physicochemical, and biological methods. The major drawback of this pre-treatment process is its cost implications, as it’s very costly. Studies suggest that even though it’s a costly affair, the pre-treatment methods, however, have a significant impact on the efficient production of ethanol from biomass. Situation Analysis: Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass has mostly been undertaken in Brazil, USA, China, and India. In Kenya, however, little research on bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass has been done and adopted. The present review paper seeks to outlay the benefits of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass, the composition of lignocellulosic biomass, its properties, different pre-treatment methods alongside advantages, and, disadvantages, and challenges encountered during bioethanol production. This review eventually will be of great assistance to researchers while developing bioethanol from different lignocellulosic biomass. Research, technology adaption/adaptation, and policy targeted at growing bioethanol industry, could enable Kenya to grow her bioethanol industry.

Pectin and especially modified citrus pectin possesses anticancer activity. Hence, the current study investigated anticancer activity of ultrasonic-modified sweet potato pectin (SPP) on HT-29 cells to assess its potential as a cancer therapeutic agent.The effect of ultrasonic treatment on SPP molecular weight, galacturonic acid content, degree of methoxylation, and neutral sugar was investigated. Moreover, the effect of sonicated variant on human HT-29 cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, cell cytotoxicity, and apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometer and caspase-3 activity was studied.Sonication led up to seven-fold decrease in molecular weight. The degree of methoxylation (DM) decreased more than two-fold. Moreover, the galacturonic acid (GalA) content increased up to 92%, arabinose and galactose content increased. The SSPP inhibited cell proliferation with the IC

Background Quail egg (QE) has been reported to possess an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity. We have demonstrated that whole QE was able to attenuate the allergic symptoms in food allergy-induced EoE murine model, but whether QE albumen or QE yolk plays a more important role still remains unclear. Objective In this current study, we investigated the suppressive role of QE in mast cell degranulation and cytokine production of the effect phase response. Method A passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) mouse model was used to confirm the anti-allergic effect of QE. Besides, HMC-1 cell model was used to study its suppressive role in more detail. In this in vitro study, we divided QE into three groups: whole QE, QE albumen, and QE yolk. The effect of QE treatment on mast cell degranulation and intracellular calcium influx was investigated. Moreover, the effect of QE allergy- related mediators, genes, and proteins were also assessed by ELISA, RT-PCR, and western blotting. Results and discussion Our data showed that the extent of mast cell degranulation-mediated ear vascular permeability in IgE-mediated PCA mice treated with whole QE (17 mg/kg) was decreased significantly up to 43.31 ± 0.42% reduction. HMC-1 cell-based immunological assay in vitro indicated that QE, particularly its albumen, acted as a 'mast cell stabilizer'. Under the concentration of 70 μg/mL, QE albumen effectively suppressed the releases of β-hexosaminidase, histamine, and tryptase, as well as Th2 and pro-inflammatory cytokine production; reached 30 up to 50% reduction. Besides, QE albumen was also able to significantly modulate the upregulation of IL-10 up to 58.30 ± 5.9%. Interestingly, our data indicated that QE yolk still had a significant inhibitory effect on modulating Th2 cytokines in its highest concentration (100 μg/mL), while QE albumen showed no inhibitory effect. Western blot analysis showed QE albumen effectively down-regulated the expressions of calcium-related protein (TRPC1, Orai1, STIM1, PLC-γ and IP3R), facilitated the reduction of PAR-2 and induced the reduction of phosphorylation of JNK, IKKα, p50 and p65 protein expressions. Conclusion As confirmed by PCA and HMC-1 cell-based immunology assay, QE albumen and QE yolk may work together through exerting anti-allergy activity and can be used as a potential anti-allergic nutrient in the future.

The present pharmacotherapy for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) fundamentally depend on inhaled corticosteroids. Despite the fact that oral intake of topical steroids can be successful in restricting EoE-related inflammation, there are concerns with respect to the long term utilization of steroids, especially in kids. In the current research, we assess the effect of quail egg, which is reportedly a known serine protease inhibitor, on symptomatology and immune responses in a peanut-sensitized mouse model of food allergy induced EoE. Daily oral treatment with quail egg attenuated mice symptomatology and immune response. Treatment with quail egg inhibited antigen-prompted increments in mouse tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and eosinophil in inflamed tissues like oesophagus, lung, and digestive system. Quail egg treatment resulted in decreased antibody specific IgE and IgG1 and a variety of inflammatory genes that were abnormally expressed in EoE. Other effects included increased IL-10, decreased PAR-2 activation and NF-kB p65 in inflamed tissues. Our results suggest that quail egg treatment may have therapeutic potential in attenuating the symptoms of food allergy induced EoE like disease through regulating PAR-2 downstream pathway by blocking the activation of the transcription factor NF-kB p65 activity.

The effect of ultrasound factors (time, power, and duty cycle) on sweet potato pectin molecular weight, neutral sugar composition, pectin structure, and antioxidant activity was investigated. Sweet potato pectin dispersions (0.0025, 0.005 and 0.01g/mL) in deionized water were sonolyzed for 5, 10 and 20min to assess effect of sonication time and pectin concentration on sonolysis. For further experiments 0.0025g/mL was sonicated under varying ultrasonic power and duty cycle levels, subsequently the molecular weight, galacturonic acid content, degree of methoxylation and antioxidant activity of sonicated pectin products were investigated. Results showed that ultrasound treatment reduced pectin molecular weight, while polydispersity did not show clear trend which characterized random pectin scission, increasing duty cycle from 20% to 80% resulted in approximately threefold reduction in pectin molecular weight, increased sonication power from 100W to 400W led to significant increase in galacturonic acid content from 72.0±1.2% in native pectin to between 85.0±3.2% and 92.0±2.7%, the degree of methoxylation significantly reduced from 12.0±3.0% to between 5.25% and 6.28%, sonication led to increase in galactose and decrease in rhamnose consistent with debranching of pectin. Moreover, sonication lead to increased antioxidant capacity, both 200W and 400W sonicated pectin having higher ORAC and FRAP values, with highest pectin concentration 4mg/mL in ORAC and 0.8mg/ml in FRAP giving substantially high antioxidant activity than native and 100W treated pectin. The ORAC value of 400W sonicated pectin increased five hold above the native pectin, while it's FRAP value was almost three fold higher than native pectin. However, ultrasound did not alter pectin primary structure as showed by FTIR and HPAEC results. The results indicated that ultrasound offers effective and green process for pectin transformation and creation of antioxidant potent pectin products.

This review is a survey on ultrasonic application in selected carbohydrate polymers based upon available research reports. It covers a brief discussion on the fundamentals of ultrasound technology, before delving on the effects of ultrasound on specific polymers; pectin, chitin, starch, carrageenan and guar gum, their modification products and possible applications in food, pharmaceutical, biomedical and packaging sectors. Sonication generally leads to depolymerization and side chain break within molecules resulting into oligosugars. Oligosugars are widely used as prebiotics and specific delivery systems; moreover, nano sized products of sonication can be applied in diverse fields. Presently, ultrasonic is finding application in wider sectors therefore better understanding of the complex physico-chemical changes and mechanism of the action of high-intensity ultrasound and its effect on techno-functional properties of compounds would immensely fortify the application of ultrasonic technology.