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Bioactive Compounds in Peanuts and Banana
Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry 08(02)
DOI:10.35248/2161-1009.19.8.382
Eijaz Ahmed Bhat
Centre de Biologie Structurale Montpellier,
Nasreena Sajjad
Ifrah Manzoor
Akhtar Rasool
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Abstract and Figures
Bioactive compounds like carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids and phenolic acids have been identified in number of fruits and vegetables. But due to their less bioavailability owing to insolubility, their application in food industry is still unsuccessful. In this review, bioactive compounds present in bananas and peanuts and their potential health benefits are discussed. Peanuts possess many important compounds like resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids and phytosterols which inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from diet. Moreover, it is also good source of Co-enzyme Q10 and contains all the 20 amino acids with highest content of arginine. Banana also contains various essential bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines and phytosterols. Most of the compounds have been reported as potent antioxidants and are compelling in securing the body against different oxidative stress related conditions. (PDF) Bioactive Compounds in Peanuts and Banana. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336920990_Bioactive_Compounds_in_Peanuts_and_Banana [accessed Nov 04 2019].
Bioactive compounds in Banana.
Bioactive compounds in Peanuts.
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OPEN ACCESS Freely available online
Biochem Anal Biochem, Vol. 8 Iss. 2 No: 382
Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry
Bhat EA1*, Sajjad N2, Manzoor I2, Rasool A3
1Life Science Institute and School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China; 2Department of Biochemistry,
University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India; 3Department of Environmental Sciences, Osmania University, Hyderabad,
Bioactive compounds like carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids and phenolic acids have been identified in number
of fruits and vegetables. But due to their less bioavailability owing to insolubility, their application in food industry
is still unsuccessful. In this review, bioactive compounds present in bananas and peanuts and their potential health
benefits are discussed. Peanuts possess many important compounds like resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids and
phytosterols which inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from diet. Moreover, it is also good source of Co-enzyme
Q10 and contains all the 20 amino acids with highest content of arginine. Banana also contains various essential
bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines and phytosterols. Most of the compounds
have been reported as potent antioxidants and are compelling in securing the body against different oxidative stress
related conditions.
Keywords: Bioactive compounds; Peanuts; Bananas; Carotenoids; Phytosterols; Flavonoids; Phenolic acids
Various bioactive components are present in different fruits,
vegetables and nuts. They have been reported beneficial for
human health. Furthermore, these compounds show different
pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial, and immunomodulatory activities [1]. In view of
customer contemplation and inclinations towards health friendly
foods, the advancement of new functional foods is a leading
trend in food industry. Numerous bioactive compounds have
been derived from natural sources and categorized in different
classes depending upon their structure like, phenolic compounds,
vitamins, carotenoids, alkaloids, and organosulfur compounds
[2,3]. They show various therapeutic effects. For example, allicin
isolated from garlic, curcumin isolated from turmeric, catechins
from polyphenols prevent our body from various diseases including
cancer, cardiovascular ailment, neuronal degenerative illnesses,
diabetes, and so forth [4,5]. In this review we examine the bioactive
compounds present in peanuts and bananas and their potential
health benefits.
PEANUT AS A FUNCTIONAL FOOD
Peanut is known as functional food. It consists of different
functional components such as coenzyme Q10 which secures the
heart amid absence of oxygen, for example at high altitudes and in
case of clogged veins. Research has shown different compounds in
peanuts and in their skin. They can possess various health benefits
beyond basic nutrition. Moreover, peanuts act as efficient source
of dietary fiber, and other essential nutrients that include few B
complex group of vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, for example,
iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium, and antioxidant minerals
(selenium, manganese and copper). It also contains antioxidant
compounds like flavonoids and resveratrol [6]. The antioxidant
activity of peanut is because of vitamin E, caffeic, coumaric acid,
flavonoids and stilbenes. These bioactive compounds possess
preventative properties [7].
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PEANUTS
Apart from the everyday nutrition peanut utilization prompts long
term health advantages. Peanuts have higher antioxidant property
as compared to other foods like red wine, green tea etc. [8].
It has been reported that boiling increases the concentration of
antioxidants in peanuts. Therefore, boiled peanuts contain higher
content of isoflavones [9]. The skin of peanuts contains potent
antioxidants. It has been demonstrated that peanuts taken with
skin intact increases their antioxidant potential. Furthermore,
roasting increase this limit too [7,9].
Correspondence to: Bhat EA, Life Science Institute and School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China, Tel: +86-
13588249814; E-mail: eijazbhat05 gmail.com
Received: March 06, 2019; Accepted: April 15, 2019; Published: April 22, 2019
Citation: Bhat EA, Sajjad N, Manzoor I, Rasool A (2019) Bioactive Compounds in Peanuts and Banana. Biochem Anal Biochem 8:382. doi:
10.35248/2161-1009.19.8.382.
Copyright: © 2019 Bhat EA, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Bhat EA, et al.
The utilization of simple and processed peanuts has appeared to be
helpful for human wellbeing, because of their attractive lipid profile,
that is rich in unsaturated fats. Peanut oil is naturally transfat-free,
cholesterol free, and low in saturated fats. It demonstrates many
effects owing to its high content of oleic acid.
Various examinations have uncovered that utilization of peanuts
or shelled nut oil is related with lessened cardiovascular sickness
(CVD) hazard and may enhance serum lipid profiles, diminish LDL
oxidation, and apply a cardio-defensive impact. Frequent intake
of peanuts and its products may lessen the danger of colorectal
tumor. A few people have hypersensitive responses to peanuts [10].
It has been investigated that peanut consumption lower the risk
factors of various heart diseases, diabetes etc. [11]. Mortality due
to cardiovascular diseases was decreased in people who consumed
peanut or peanut butter daily [11]. Hypertension is related
with higher risks of heart disease and stroke. Researchers have
discovered that the dietary options we have, can affect the blood
pressure. Peanuts and peanut butter contain monounsaturated
fatty acids, plant proteins, magnesium, potassium, fiber, arginine
and various bioactive components which help to lower the blood
pressure. Peanut flour is used in composite flours with non-wheat
cereals. It can improve the nutritional value of bread. Moreover,
peanut products like peanut bars are consumed worldwide in many
forms. Peanuts are good source of protein, fats, and fiber.
BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS IN PEANUTS
Flavonoids and phenolic acids
Flavonoids are present in peanut. They have been reported to
prevent heart diseases by different mechanisms. Peanut and
related products like peanut butter contain various kinds of
flavonoids [12]. Research showed that peanuts and their skin
contain functional compounds like phenolic acids. Various
studies reported that peanuts possess high content of polyphenolic
antioxidants, particularly in p-coumaric acid levels, which adds to
its antioxidant content by as much as 22% [13]. It is also shown
that roasted peanut skin possess higher antioxidant potential than
roasted whole peanut.
Arginine or L-arginine is an amino acid which is responsible for
healthy liver, skin, joints, and muscles. Arginine reinforces the
body's resistance framework, controls hormones and blood sugar
level and advances male fertility. Research has reported that
arginine may enhance circulation and treat impotency and heart
related disease. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. Despite the
fact that the body fabricates its own particular supply, sometimes
dietary supplementation might be required, for example, on
account of serious injuries or ailment. Arginine fortifies the
resistance framework of the body by expanding the T lymphocytes
(T cells) from the thymus gland. Various studies showed the role
of arginine in treatment of various diseases like AIDS, cancer,
and different infections. Furthermore, arginine is also involved in
detoxification of liver by inhibiting the effects of ammonia and
various other harmful substances in the body. Peanuts have the
highest content of arginine among nourishment [14].
Developing proof is demonstrating that phytosterols lower down
inflammation process and decrease the growth of different cancers
i.e. lung, stomach, ovarian, prostrate, colon and breast cancer [15].
Phytosterols also indicate the lowering of heart disease [16]. They
are group of natural compounds found in plant cell membranes. It
has been reported that it lower down the aggregate cholesterol up to
10% and LDL or "bad" cholesterol up to 14%. Various studies also
show that the reintroduction of plant foods giving phytosterols into
the modern eating routine can enhance serum lipid (cholesterol)
profiles and decrease the danger of cardiovascular infection [17].
The intake of fruits is important for well-being of humans. It cut
down the risk of various chronic diseases, such as heart ailments,
stroke, gastrointestinal disorders, certain types of cancers,
hypertension, age-related macular degeneration, skin conditions,
lowering of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and
improved immune function. Fruits contain excellent source of
dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals and various phytochemicals. They
possess potent antioxidant activity. Fruits form crucial part of daily
diet. Fruits are categorized into temperate fruits, sub-tropical fruits,
and tropical fruits. Banana comes under tropical fruits. Banana
is reported to be rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibres, certain
vitamins, and minerals.
Bioactive compounds in banana
Plant secondary metabolism constitutes bioactive compounds which
possess various therapeutic potential [18]. Banana has number of
bioactive compounds. It has higher antioxidant property owing to
the bioactive constituents like phenolics, carotenoids, flavonoids
and biogenic amines (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1: Bioactive compounds in Banana.
arteriosclerosis, age-related macular degeneration, certain types
of cancer, inflammation, genotoxicity, and alzheimer disease.
Pazmino-Duran et al. [27] have reported the use of anthocyanins
present in banana bracts (florets) as natural colorants. They
reported various anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-rutinoside and
3-rutinoside derivatives of delphinidin, pelargonidin, peonidin,
and malvidin. Apart from banana pulp, pseudo stem and fruit peel
of banana have been found to be the good sources of antioxidants.
Many studies reported greater content of polyphenols, flavonoids,
total dietary fibre, insoluble dietary fibre, lignin, hemicellulose,
cellulose in banana. Pereira and Maraschin [28] and Singh et al.
[29] have showed that banana contains many bioactive compounds,
for example, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, amines, vitamin
C, and vitamin E possessing high antioxidant activity [30,31].
There is an awesome assorted variety of valuable bioactive
compounds in bananas and peanuts. They contain various number
of essential bioactive compounds beneficial for human health.
Various studies have reported antioxidant activities of these
compounds. They can therefore, used in prevention of diseases.
Peanuts and banana cultivars contain huge number of these
bioactive compounds should further be investigated. There is
scope to commercialize peanut products owing to their beneficial
uses. Moreover, there is need to spread awareness that peanut
can prevent undesired supplementations. Bananas are grown
and consumed worldwide. It is consumed in both raw as well as
cooked form, because of their high nutritive and medicinal value.
There is need for further research to explore and utilize natural
antioxidants and dietary fiber present in banana peel for health
benefits. Various studies have reported high content of essential
bioactive compounds in banana peel than pulp which could be
utilized as functional food source against many chronic diseases.
This article does not contain any studies with human participants
or animals performed by any of the authors.
Phytosterols are prescribed by doctor to lower the cholesterol [19].
They tend to bind with cholesterol and decrease its assimilation.
Many studies have reported that banana possess various
phytosterols [20,21]. β-Sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol,
cycloeucalenol, cycloartenol, and 24-methylene cycloartenol were
reported in banana peels [22]. Akihisa et al. [23] did a detailed
investigation of sterol constituents of banana peels and reported
new sterol (24S)-14α, 24-dimethyl-9α, 19-cyclo-5α-cholest-25-en-3β-
ol by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The dichloromethane
extract of some fractions of Musa acuminate contains steryl
glucosides namely stigmasteryl 3-β-d-glucopyranoside, campesteryl
3-β-d-glucopyranoside and sitosteryl 3-β-d-glucopyranoside [20].
Villaverde et al. [21] identified phytosterols in banana cultivars.
They were cycloeucalenone, cycloeucalenone, cycloeucalenol,
cycloartenol, stigmasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol. These
constituents were present in unripe bananas. M. balbisiana
cultivars, such as 'Dwarf Red' and 'Silver', have higher amounts
of phytosterols than the M. acuminata. The main sterol present
in lipophilic extracts of peels is Cycloeucalenone. Vilela et al.
[24] studied chemical composition of the lipophilic extract of
ripe pulp of banana fruits of several Musa species using GC–MS
and identified phytosterol in the range of 11.1-28.0% of the total
amount of lipophilic components.
Carotenoids are beneficial to human health owing to their
physiological properties. They are involved in scavenging of free
radicals. They diminish the progression of diseases, especially
certain tumors and eye illnesses. They are synthesized via isoprenoid
biosynthetic pathway, with basic roles as antioxidants and accessory
pigments for light harvesting in plants [25]. Englberger, Aalbersberg,
et al. investigated raw and cooked samples of bananas, giant swamp
taro, breadfruit cultivars and reported that banana cultivars has
higher levels of carotenoids having β-carotene levels. Survey
reported that the varieties of banana have been reported to possess
higher levels of provitamin and total carotenoids. Consumption of
foods which is rich in carotenoids improves immunity and lower
the risk of diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems
The reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role
in progression of various diseases like arthritis, diabetes,
Figure 2: Bioactive compounds in Peanuts.
The datasets used in the current study are available from the
corresponding author by request.
The authors have no personal or financial conflicts of interest
associated with this work.
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... The defatted peanut meal is a low value agro-industrial residue derived from oil production and has some potential for valorization (Uddin et al., 2018). The meal contains ∼50% protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber and phenolic acids, resveratrol, flavonoids and phytosterols (Bhat et al., 2019). High phenolic content remains in the defatted residues and these by-products could be useful in food fortification (De Camargo et al., 2014) and could be novel ingredients for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals (Arya et al., 2016). ...
Comparative Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Whole Peanut Flour, Defatted Peanut Protein Meal, and Peanut Protein Concentrate
Nancy D. Asen
Abdulhafiz T. Badamasi
James T. Gborigo
Abraham T. Girgih
Defatted peanut meal is a low value agro-industrial residue from peanut oil production with potential use as a value addition food ingredient. In this study, peanuts were roasted at 100°C for 5 min, de-skinned and milled into whole peanut flour (WPF) from which the defatted meal (DPM) was prepared by acetone extraction and the peanut protein concentrate (PPC) obtained from the DPM using isoelectric pH precipitation. The protein content, amino acid profile, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and in vitro antioxidant properties of the peanut samples were then determined. Results showed that DPM had a TPC of 0.12 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than and twice the levels in WPF and PPC (0.06 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g). However, WPF had TFC of 0.21 ± 0.01 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than DPM (0.16 ± 0.03 μg QE/g) and PPC (0.11 ± 0.05 μg QE/g). However, PPC had superior amino acid profile in addition to stronger radical scavenging and metal chelation activities than WPF and DPM. The results suggest that PPC is a protein rich product that could be utilized as an ingredient in food product fortification to enhance nutritional quality and in the formulation of functional foods with antioxidant benefits.
... It is known that peanuts have compounds such as resveratrol, phenolic acid, flavonoids and phytosterols, which inhibit the absorption of dietary cholesterol. In addition, peanuts are a source of Co-enzyme Q10, contain all 20 amino acids, and are a source of antioxidants that act to protect against oxidative stress 17 . ...
Morphological, biochemical and histological effects of aqueous extracts of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) on swiss mice in different diets
ACTA CIR BRAS
Tharcia Kiara Beserra de Oliveira
Josivanda Palmeira Gomes
Paulo Roberto da Silva Júnior
Chirlaine Cristine Gonçalves
Purpose: To evaluate the morphological, biochemical, and histological effects of aqueous extracts of peanut (skinless and added to 1% skin) in Swiss mice submitted to a high-fat diet. Methods: Forty male Swiss mice were divided into four groups (n=10 per group): GI) normocaloric diet; GII) high-fat diet; GIII) high-fat diet + 0.5 mL of peanut extract; GIV) high-fat diet + 0.5 mL of peanut extract + 1% peanut skin. The animals were weighed weekly and euthanized after 12 weeks for histopathological and biochemical analyses. The study was approved by the Animal Use Ethics Committee. Results: The animals in the GIV group had higher body weight when compared to the other ones. Increase in total cholesterol in GIII, increase in blood glucose in groups GII, GIII and GIV, decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in groups GI and GIV and increase in serum concentration of C-reactive protein in GII were seen. The presence of vacuolar fat deposits was found in animal livers from GII. Conclusions: The extracts improved the plasma concentrations of animals that received a high-fat diet, including preventing morphological damage to liver tissue. These benefits were enhanced by the association of peanut shells with the extract.
... The average consumption of peanuts and its processed products was 2.4 g, with the proportion of the population consuming peanuts and its processed products at 11.2%. Peanuts are commonly used for vegetable oil production.The production generates byproducts in the form of peanut meal which contains several functional components such as protein, fiber, polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that could be added as functional ingredients to food [2]; [3]; [4]. Peanut meal commonly used by the people of West Java as a substrate in a solid state fermentation (SSF) technology that produces traditional food of black oncom [5]. ...
Physical Characteristics and Nutritional Contents of Peanut Flour and Black Oncom (Fermented Peanut Meal) Flour
Azizah Rohimah
Eny Palupi
Ekowati Handharyani
Bioactive Profile and Functional Food Applications of Banana in Food Sectors and Health: A Review
INT J FOOD PROP
Muhammad Faizan Afzal
Waseem Khalid
Sidra Akram
Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
This review explores the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of banana, as well as their prospective applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Banana is a widely consumed staple food in several countries and is popular for its pharmacological, nutritional, pharmacological, traditional, and bioactive profile. Banana is ranked as the fifth most cultivated agricultural crop in term ofthe global trademarket. It is is consumed in both raw andor processed form and many functional products. Banana comprises an immense amount of bioactive compounds including phytosterols, carotenoids, phenols, and biogenic amines which have a very effective role in health-promoting phenomena. Several bioactive compounds show antioxidant activities to reduce the disease risk. Banana has very effective pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic. Banana has unique health-promoting aspects as well as used in the development of many food products like bread, pasta, confectionaries, and gluten-free products.
Bioactive ingredients of legumes
Wenli Sun
M. Hesam Shahrajabian
Qi Cheng
Pulses make up a major share of the human diet in many regions of the world and play a significant role in human nutrition as a source of protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and folic acid. Grain pulses also contain certain biologically active components, including enzyme inhibitors, lectins, phytates, oligosaccharides, and phenolic compounds. Soybeans contain isoflavones, phytosterols, saponins, and other basic nutritive constituents, such as lipids, vitamins, minerals, oligosaccharides, and biological active peptides, that are of strong therapeutic values. Soy protein isolates and concentrates have been used to develop a range of food products, including beverages and meat alternatives, and they can be processed to function similarly to the traditional sources of protein from meat and dairy products. The most important health benefits of soybeans are bioactive components that help to protect heart health, help to ward off cancer, reduce the effects of menopause, promote bone health, improve metabolism, and decrease the risk of diabetes. The peanut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.) belongs to the Rosales family and is widely cultivated around the world as an important economic crop. Peanuts are considered an important source of oil, folate, antioxidants, protein, and essential fatty acids (linoleic acid) and rank fourth in oilseed crops in the world after soybeans, rapeseed, and cotton. Peanuts contain flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, and alkaloids, as shown by positive reactions to the respective test reagents. The numerous bioactive components in peanuts contribute to their antioxidant capacity. Cowpeas are legumes that are recognized as a good source of proteins in many countries, especially developing countries. They contain high levels of polyphenols, including phenolic acids derivatives, and flavanols glycosides. Some varieties also contain anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols. Cowpeas are valuable source of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins, and they also contain biologically active components, including phenols, phytic acid, saponin, oligosaccharides, and fiber. Trifolium is one of the most important genera of the Leguminosae family, in terms of both its agricultural value and the number of species. The genus Trifolium is found in temperate and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Plants from the genus Trifolium have been used in traditional medicine by many cultures. In Asian traditional medicinal practices, some Trifolium species are used for their expectorant, analgesic, and antiseptic properties and to treat rheumatic aches. The high concentrations of quercetin and soyasaponin make the seeds of some Trifolium species a potential source of health-promoting phytochemicals for use in human nutrition.
Natural Bioactives in Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Yih-Shou Hsieh
Shun-Fa Yang
Gautam Sethi
Dan-Ning Hu
Natural bioactives are generally referred to the compounds exclusive of essential nutrients that have specific biological activity to human. From several decades ago to now, cancer continues to be the leading lethal cause worldwide. Studies have shown that natural phytochemicals derived from certain plants have the capability to prevent carcinogenesis. In this special issue, we collected numerous studies which provide novel evidence to support the opinion. For instance, epigallocatechin gallate inhibits migration of human uveal melanoma cells; marine sponge Hyrtios sp. extract induces apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells with different p53 status; Andrographolide induces apoptosis of C6 glioma cells via the ERK-p53-caspase 7-PARP pathway; and osthole induces human colon cancer cell death and inhibits migratory activity. We also collected some review articles in this special issue. A paper evaluated the cancer therapeutic potential of cardiac glycosides. A paper proposed vitamin A as the potent anticancer agent on targeting cellular retinol binding proteins. Three other papers addressed the anticancer molecular mechanisms of betulin, Goniothalamin, and Zerumbone. In summary, it is therefore believed that the appropriate application of natural bioactives should be a supplementary and safe way that enhances the efficacy of cancer therapy. Yih-Shou Hsieh Shun-Fa Yang Gautam Sethi Dan-Ning Hu
Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health
Lien Ai Pham-Huy
Hua He
Chuong Pham-Huy
Free radicals and oxidants play a dual role as both toxic and beneficial compounds, since they can be either harmful or helpful to the body. They are produced either from normal cell metabolisms in situ or from external sources (pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, medication). When an overload of free radicals cannot gradually be destroyed, their accumulation in the body generates a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This process plays a major part in the development of chronic and degenerative illness such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, aging, cataract, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The human body has several mechanisms to counteract oxidative stress by producing antioxidants, which are either naturally produced in situ, or externally supplied through foods and/or supplements. This mini-review deals with the taxonomy, the mechanisms of formation and catabolism of the free radicals, it examines their beneficial and deleterious effects on cellular activities, it highlights the potential role of the antioxidants in preventing and repairing damages caused by oxidative stress, and it discusses the antioxidant supplementation in health maintenance.
Effect of shortening replacement with oleogels on the rheological and tomographic characteristics of aerated baked goods: Solid fat replacement with oleogels in muffins
J SCI FOOD AGR
Jeongtaek Lim
Sungmin Jeong
Jaehwan Lee
Suyong Lee
Background: A great deal of effort has been made to reduce the use of shortening due to a high level of saturated fats as well as the presence of trans fats. Grape seed oil high in unsaturated fats was structured with candelilla wax to form solid-like oleogels that were utilized as a shortening replacer in aerated baked goods, specifically muffins. Results: Muffin batters with greater amounts of oleogels exhibited lower viscosity, greater shear-thinning behavior, and less elastic nature. The shortening replacement with oleogels significantly increased the specific gravity of the batters, consequently affecting the muffin volume after baking. X-ray tomography demonstrated that lower fragmentation index (that is, a more connected solid structure) was observed in the oleogel-incorporated muffins that were correlated to more enclosed and isolated air cells. The stress relaxation test showed that the shortening replacement with oleogels produced the muffins with firmer and springier texture. Based on the fatty acid compositions, the ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids were significantly reduced from 2.81 to 0.41. Conclusion: Use of the oleogels as a shortening replacer at a ratio of 1:3 by weight was effective in producing muffins with comparable quality attributes to the control with shortening.
Bioactive compounds in banana and their associated health benefits – A review
FOOD CHEM
Balwinder Singh
Jatinder Pal Singh
Amritpal Kaur
Narpinder Singh
Banana is a very popular fruit in the world market and is consumed as staple food in many countries. It is grown worldwide and constitutes the fifth most important agricultural food crop in terms of world trade. It has been classified into the dessert or sweet bananas and the cooking bananas or plantains. It is either eaten raw or processed, and also as a functional ingredient in various food products. Banana contains several bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines and phytosterols, which are highly desirable in the diet as they exert many positive effects on human health and well-being. Many of these compounds have antioxidant activities and are effective in protecting the body against various oxidative stresses. In the past, bananas were effectively used in the treatment of various diseases, including reducing the risk of many chronic degenerative disorders. In the present review, historical background, cultivar classification, beneficial phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and health benefits of bananas are discussed.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate-induced free-radical production upon adipogenic differentiation in bovine bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells
CELL TISSUE RES
Jin Young Jeong
Mi Na Park
Eun Seok Cho
Hyun-Jeong Lee
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of catechin in green tea, has known effects on cancer, diabetes and obesity. We recently reported that the expression levels of various genes and proteins involved in adipogenesis decreases following EGCG treatment. We also assessed apoptosis in EGCG-exposed cells. Here, we explore the variability in free-radical production in bovine bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) treated with EGCG. Upon adipogenic differentiation, BMSCs were exposed to various EGCG concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, or 10 μM) for 2, 4, or 6 days. We found that EGCG reduced cell viability and arrested the cell cycle at the gap 2/mitosis phase and that EGCG potentially enhanced the production of free radicals, including reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Immunostaining revealed that the expression of genes encoding CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha and stearoyl-CoA desaturase were diminished by EGCG treatment. These findings suggest that EGCG alters free-radical production activity during adipogenic differentiation in BMSCs.
Influence of jambolan (Syzygium cumini) and xanthan gum incorporation on the physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of gluten-free eggless rice muffins
INT J FOOD SCI TECH
Khetan Shevkani
This study was undertaken to prepare antioxidant-rich gluten-free eggless muffins from rice flour blended with varying amounts of jambolan fruit pulp (JFP) and xanthan gum (XG). The batters were evaluated for fundamental rheology, while muffins were analysed for physicochemical (colour, volume, water activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content), texture and sensory properties. The incorporation of JFP and XG increased batter viscoelasticity (increased G′ and G″ while decreased tan δ). JFP incorporation increased greenness (lower a* value), cohesiveness, resilience, water activity (aw), total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH and ABTS inhibition of the muffins. Further, XG improved muffin quality characteristics (appearance, specific volume and resilience). Sensory analyses revealed that JFP incorporation improved the consumer acceptability of the muffins.
Banana (Musa spp) from peel to pulp: Ethnopharmacology, source of bioactive compounds and its relevance for human health
J ETHNOPHARMACOL
Aline Pereira
Marcelo Maraschin
Banana is a fruit with nutritional properties, both also with acclaimed therapeutic uses, cultivated widely throughout the tropics as source of food and income for people. Banana peel is known by its local and traditional use to promote wound healing mainly from burns and to help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses, as depression. This review critically assessed the phytochemical properties and biological activities of Musa spp fruit pulp and peel. A survey on the literature on banana (Musa spp, Musaceae) covering its botanical classification and nomenclature, as well as the local and traditional use of its pulp and peel was performed. Besides, the current state of art on banana fruit pulp and peel as interesting complex matrices sources of high-value compounds from secondary metabolism was also approached. Dessert bananas and plantains are systematic classified into four sections, Eumusa, Rhodochlamys, Australimusa, and Callimusa, according to the number of chromosomes. The fruits differ only in their ploidy arrangement and a single scientific name can be given to all the edible bananas, i.e., Musa spp. The chemical composition of banana's peel and pulp comprise mostly carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and biogenic amines. The biological potential of those biomasses is directly related to their chemical composition, particularly as pro-vitamin A supplementation, as potential antioxidants attributed to their phenolic constituents, as well as in the treatment of Parkinson's disease considering their contents in l-dopa and dopamine. Banana's pulp and peel can be used as natural sources of antioxidants and pro-vitamin A due to their contents in carotenoids, phenolics, and amine compounds, for instance. For the development of a phytomedicine or even an allopathic medicine, e.g., banana fruit pulp and peel could be of interest as raw materials riches in beneficial bioactive compounds. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Lipophilic phytochemicals from banana fruits of several Musa species
Carla Vilela
Sonia Santos
Juan José Villaverde
Armando J. D. Silvestre
Sterols and triterpenes of banana peel
Furn F. Knapp
Harold J. Nicholas
The following sterols and triterpenes have been identified in banana peel: β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, cycloeucalenol, cycloartenol, and 24-methylene cycloartanol. 24-Methylene cycloartanol palmitate and an unidentified triterpene ketone were the major constituents. The ester represented approximately 30 per cent of the total extractable lipid.
(24 S )-14α,24-dimethyl-9β,19-cyclo-5α-cholest-25-en-3β-ol: A new sterol and other sterols in Musa sapientum
Toshihiro Akihisa
Naoto Shimizub
Toshitake Tamuraa
Taro Matsumotoa
The structure of a new sterol isolated fromMusa sapientum has been shown by chemical and spectroscopic methods to be (24S)-14α,24-dimethyl-9α,19-cyclo-5α-cholest-25-en-3β-ol. In addition, several known (24S)-24-methyl-Δ25-sterols, their 24-methylene isomers and other sterols (4,4-dimethyl-, 4α-methyl- and 4-demethyl-sterols) together with 3-oxo-4α-methylsteroids were isolated from the plant and identified. The biogenetic implication of these sterols and 3-oxosteroids is discussed.
Discover more about: Banana
Membrane transporter protein
Durdana Shah
To solubilize and structure determination by Cryo-em.
Bentham Brand Ambassador- Bentham Science publishers
Bentham Science Ambassador Program, a project of Bentham Science, is a liaison between the researchers and the publisher. This program will act as a bridge to spread research among the research com munity and will benefit the researchers. Through promoting Bentham Science content, the Bentham Science Ambassador encourages researchers to contribute to Bentham Science publications, and will in return be rewarded. The ambassadors will earn points for the tasks performed by them, which they could redeem through various offers & incentives by Bentham Science such as, Bentham Science eBooks, Open Access Journal, etc. This online portal will facilitate the ambassadors in performing the tasks. ... [more]
Nanovirus
Stefano Trapani
Patrick Bron
Green Synthesis of Nano materials
Mohammed Mahboob
Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry Bioactive Compounds in Peanuts and Banana
May 2019 · Analytical Biochemistry
Bioactive compounds like carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids and phenolic acids have been identified in number of fruits and vegetables. But due to their less bioavailability owing to insolubility, their application in food industry is still unsuccessful. In this review, bioactive compounds present in bananas and peanuts and their potential health benefits are discussed. Peanuts possess many ... [Show full abstract] important compounds like resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids and phytosterols which inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from diet. Moreover, it is also good source of Co-enzyme Q10 and contains all the 20 amino acids with highest content of arginine. Banana also contains various essential bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines and phytosterols. Most of the compounds have been reported as potent antioxidants and are compelling in securing the body against different oxidative stress related conditions (PDF) Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry Bioactive Compounds in Peanuts and Banana. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332877134_Biochemistry_Analytical_Biochemistry_Bioactive_Compounds_in_Peanuts_and_Banana [accessed May 06 2019].
Peanuts as functional food: A review
September 2015 · Journal of Food Science and Technology -Mysore-
Shalini Arya
Akshata Raosaheb Salve
Peanut is an important crop grown worldwide. Commercially it is used mainly for oil production but apart from oil, the by-products of peanut contains many other functional compounds like proteins, fibers, polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which can be added as a functional ingredient into many processed foods. Recently it has also revealed that peanuts are excellent source of ... [Show full abstract] compounds like resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids and phytosterols that block the absorption of cholesterol from diet. It is also a good source of Co-enzyme Q10 and contains all the 20 amino acids with highest amount of arginine. These bioactive compounds have been recognized for having disease preventive properties and are thought to promote longevity. The processing methods like roasting and boiling have shown increase in the concentration of these bioactive compounds. In the present paper an overview on peanut bioactive constituents and their health benefits are presented.
September 2016 · Food Chemistry
Banana is a very popular fruit in the world market and is consumed as staple food in many countries. It is grown worldwide and constitutes the fifth most important agricultural food crop in terms of world trade. It has been classified into the dessert or sweet bananas and the cooking bananas or plantains. It is either eaten raw or processed, and also as a functional ingredient in various food ... [Show full abstract] products. Banana contains several bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines and phytosterols, which are highly desirable in the diet as they exert many positive effects on human health and well-being. Many of these compounds have antioxidant activities and are effective in protecting the body against various oxidative stresses. In the past, bananas were effectively used in the treatment of various diseases, including reducing the risk of many chronic degenerative disorders. In the present review, historical background, cultivar classification, beneficial phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and health benefits of bananas are discussed.
Peanut as a Smart Food and their Nutrients Aspects in Planet: A Review
November 2020 · Agricultural Reviews
Velu Ethirajan Nethaji Mariappan
Keisar Lourdusamy
S. Swetha
Peanut is a legume crop that belongs to the family of Fabaceae, genus Arachis, and botanically named as Arachis hypogaea L. Peanuts are considered as a vital source of nutrients plays an important role in growth and energy gain of living organisms. They are rich in calories and contain many nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. All these ... [Show full abstract] biomolecules are essential for pumping vital nutrients into the human body for sustaining normal health. This paper presents an overview of the peanut composition in terms of the constituent biomolecules and their biological functions, also discusses about the relationship between consumption of peanuts and their effect on human metabolism and physiology. It highlights the usefulness of considering peanuts as an essential component in human diet considering its nutritional values.
Interested in research on Banana?
Join ResearchGate to discover and stay up-to-date with the latest research from leading experts in Banana and many other scientific topics.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Elon Musk Forgets Baby X Æ A-12's Name During Interview
Emily Puckering
Elon Musk recently forgot baby X Æ A-12's name in a brilliantly awkward interview.
Now the name doesn't seem like such a good idea, does it?
Who could forget the moment when Elon Musk and Grimes welcomed their baby into the world back in May?
Their unusual choice of a name got the entire world talking... but clearly not enough for Elon himself to remember it going by a recent interview!
Now, as most of you will know, Elon Musk isn't your most conventional guy...
And, being the founder, CEO, and Chief Engineering Designer of SpaceX and Tesla, he has an awful lot going for him.
He is certainly a man who knows what he's doing.
He is a seriously smart guy and quickly putting aside the Tesla Cybertruck disaster last year, his success is undeniable.
He has continuously bounced back from all of his professional disasters...
Meaning that it will certainly take a lot to drag this man down.
Now, putting aside his professional life...
It's time to talk about his personal life.
Since 2018, Elon has been in a relationship with Canadian musician, Grimes.
Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, went public with the billionaire at the Met Gala in 2018.
The pair have kept their relationship very private...
And on Grimes' Instagram page, which is certainly a rollercoaster experience when scrolling through it, there is no sign at all of the billionaire.
But, after a series of unusual Instagram posts back in January...
Rumors began to circulate around Grimes being pregnant with Elon's child.
Eventually, the news that everyone was waiting for came shortly after.
She revealed to the media that she was, indeed, 7-months pregnant with Elon's child.
When she was asked about what kind of mother she will be...
Grimes said "music and raving" would play a big part in it. "The baby has already been exposed to a lot of techno in the womb," she said.
It was apparent that the couple had more ideas for their child...
Because Grimes announced that they planned on raising their child as gender-neutral.
More specifically...
When asked, "Will you have a boy or a girl?", Grimes replied, "They may decide their fate and identity."
She then went into more detail...
Talking on YouTube, Grimes added, "I don't want to say the gender of the baby… because I feel like their privacy should be protected. I don't think they can consent to being famous or being in public. And I don't want to gender them in case that's not how they feel in their life. I don't know, I just feel like it doesn't need to be known."
But, regardless, fans couldn't wait to see this baby.
@elonmusk @TeslaGong @PPathole @priscillabanana A pic of you holding the baby would break the internet ... please share one 🤞
— Viv 🐉 (@Viv 🐉)1588658609.0
And this Twitter user was completely right because Elon's photo shortly after the birth completely broke the internet...
Finally, the happy day arrived for the couple.
On May 4th, which is ironically Star Wars day, Grimes and Elon welcomed their baby into the world, with Elon sharing this adorable photo on Twitter in response to eager fans.
The little bundle of joy appeared to be in great health...
And when asked what the baby's name is, Elon replied with, "X Æ A-12 Musk."
We were hoping it was going to be a joke...
But it really wasn't. The baby was actually called "X Æ A-12 Musk."
Twitter trolls were having a field day with Musk's new child...
And the cruel memes just didn't seem to be stopping.
Grimes decided to explain her thoughts behind the name...
@mascdonna @MlSSANDREAG I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story 🪐 I hope he vibes with t… https://t.co/yH4oH4q9PY
— 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆 𝑳𝒖𝒏𝒆࿎ (@𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆 𝑳𝒖𝒏𝒆࿎)1588756642.0
"I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story... I hope he vibes with that. Ok, going back into the pain/beauty reverie for sum time just came on to add my thoughts - peace and love," she wrote back.
And it looks like she accidentally revealed the baby's gender...
@Grimezsz @mascdonna @MlSSANDREAG "He" what happened to raising the kid gender neutrally
— Niall 💛💜🖤 (@Niall 💛💜🖤)1588757232.0
By using the pronoun "he."
But, regardless of how wealthy and powerful Elon is, the couple hit a major legal hurdle.
California law prohibits Indo-Arabic numerals in names.
This meant that the pair couldn't actually name their baby "X Æ A-12"...
And this ultimately forced them to change their son's name.
Grimes took to Instagram to reveal her baby's new name to fans.
Introducing, Baby X Æ A-Xii. Yep, not really much of a difference (aka it's still, well, bizarre) - the couple simply substituted in the Roman numerals signifying "12."
And, now that name is now even more impossible to pronounce...
Grimes and Elon Musk changing their baby's name from X Æ A-12 to X Æ A - xxii 😩 https://t.co/OVZq1AA4j1
— Anshul ☠ (@Anshul ☠)1590461147.0
The couple have come up with a quirky little nickname for their baby.
Baby X Æ A-Xii is known as something much more conventional at home...
Baby X. In an interview with Bloomberg about her art, Grimes casually mentioned that she and Elon call their son "Baby X", which is surprisingly normal next to his full name.
But regardless of this shortened version...
It seems that even Elon himself is struggling with the bizarre name!
The billionaire recently visited Giga Berlin, a manufacturing plant for Tesla that is currently under construction in Germany...
And when he took part in a short interview on the site, he was asked about how little X Æ A-12 was doing.
When the reporter asked him, Elon looked confused and asked, "What"?
He then asked them to repeat the question before laughing and responding, "Oh, you mean my kid!"
"That sounds like a password," he then said.
"Yeah, he's great! I think next time I am going to bring him, maybe come back in a few months and bring him along."
You can watch the brilliantly awkward interaction here:
For more on Elon and his unique life, keep on scrolling to read about the time he claimed the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens...
Ashley Biden Responds To Melania Trump's 'Snub' of Her Mom Jill


From the dry mountain slopes of Spain, this fir is tolerant of most soil conditions except wet. Short stubby needles on an attractive tree. Slow, but tough shelter - almost indestructible on the Canterbury Plains. Evergreen. Cold hardy.


Consult and Design recently joined hundreds of other employers in pledging to pay a living wage to all our staff, see www.livingwage.org.uk/employers. This is a really positive move for our business, for our staff, for our clients and for society at large. I am encouraging all North East businesses to join us and other Living Wage employers such as PWC, Barclays, many Local Authorites and even some Universities. Below are my thoughts on what the living wage means for us.
Why are we a Living Wage employer?
Consult and Design is a knowledge-based business, investing heavily in the skills of our workforce. We know the value of bringing good people into the business, keeping them and developing them. When staff are treated well they put their whole selves into the job. By treating our staff well, we attract talented and creative people who are constantly finding new ways to improve what we do and the way do it.
Staff who feel valued and respected are more likely to go the extra mile to provide a good service to our clients and make sure that the work they produce is of the highest quality.
How have we changed the way we work to meet the living wage standard?
This has been relatively straight-forward for us as a knowledge based businesses, where investment in staff is the norm and retention of trained staff a priority. For businesses employing a large proportion of unskilled, minimum wage staff the culture change would probably need to be a bit more radical.
For us, a key reason for paying the living wage lies in the impact this has on the communities in which we live, work and do business.
At Consult and Design we work with a lot of voluntary sector organisations some of whom support disadvantaged children, families and communities. We see the impact that low pay and the associated job insecurity often has on health, child poverty and debt in communities. So, we wanted to make a statement about our principles, and 'put our money where our mouth is'.
So should government act and how?
These days, everyone would agree that it makes sense for governments to intervene to prevent business from polluting the environment because of the negative impact on communities and the cost to the public sector of cleaning up. In the same way, I think it makes sense for government to take account of the effect in communities of low pay and the cost of dealing with the social problems they cause further down the line.
At Consult and Design our experience of recruiting staff has meant investing heavily in their skills, putting in time to train staff and pay their wages while they learn. We have benefitted from subsidies to recruit young people, which have offset some of these costs and enabled us to create permanent well-paid jobs for the young people we recruit.
If we can recognise the benefit to the public purse of creating well paid jobs and training staff, then there ought to be a mechanism for supporting and rewarding this activity.
David Van der Velde, Managing Director of Web Development Company, Consult and Design International.


text:
A.i.A. Guide
Video Vortex: A Conversation with Shana Moulton
By Aimee Walleston
Aimee Walleston
More Stories by Aimee Walleston
The American artist Shana Moulton is best known for her "Whispering Pines" video series, wherein she plays a house coat-wearing alter ego, Cynthia. Cynthia is infirmed by psychic and physical illness, and bewitched by the "magical" healing properties of dream catchers and crystals. Forever looking for a cure, she explores the deeply American dissatisfaction of body and mind.
Moulton's aesthetic and conceptual sensibility includes the use of talismanic iconography, a gesture made famous by Kenneth Anger, whose use of symbolism ran in line with his fidelity to occult practices. Equally, in Moulton's work, one finds the irreverence and self-reflexivity of Mike Kelley, whose art has often explored humanity's devotion to ritual. Moulton's videos feature the artist engaging in over-the-top health and beauty regimes wherein extra-thick, goopy green facial masks, and exercise videos helmed by a spry Angela Landsbury, for instance, become metaphors for the absurdist ceremonies of daily self-care we engage in.
Moulton's videos owe much of their feeling of newness to the fact that they eschew art historical tropes in favor of under-explored narratives of American pop culture. They reveal the sentimental pathos around the culture of chronic illness and home health care; one is left to wonder how the aesthetics of American pain have become so deliberately twee. Moulton's videos are packed with mirth, and yet the issues she addresses are far from humorous. Her practice also ventures into the realm of performance: On May 10th, she'll stage a performance at Bluecoat Gallery in Liverpool, to celebrate the closing of her exhibition there; on April 2010, she'll present a weeklong program at the Kitchen in New York. Here, the artist talks about the relationship between performance, video art and avant-garde film in her work.
AIMEE WALLESTON: I am curious about how you developed your process and aesthetic sense. You use digital video: As a young artist, were you more inspired by experimental film, or was your inspiration more based in video?
SHANA MOULTON: I grew up in a small town on a solid diet of TV and video rentals; television has been my main touchstone. My first exposure to anything remotely experimental was Twin Peaks and that had a huge impact on me. And still does. In fact, someone just noted this connection in a negative review of my work and I had to agree with him. I started to make episodic videos after seeing pre-YouTube videos on zerotv.com, which had several serial video shows made by artists in Milwaukee, as well as the flash animations on the Paperrad website. I was never a big fan of Alex Bag and had only seen one of her videos, but recently saw some at a screening at Electronic Arts Intermix and was totally captivated and in stitches the entire time.
I don't feel connected to (not yet, at least) many aspects of film — the art of projection, the material quality of film, some of its history. I will probably always stick to video. I'm even reluctant to start using the new, more filmic aspect ratio for video and TV (my preference for the 4×3 ratio probably also has a nostalgic impulse). But in the past year I have become acquainted with parts of the experimental film community. I wouldn't say video art is replacing it, but experimental film certainly has to contend with it.
AW: You show your videos at film festivals as well as at art spaces. What feels different to you about those two settings?
SM: A seated, captive audience makes it easier to draw people into a narrative over a length of time. At several screenings and festivals I've been able to present three to five videos from my "Whispering Pines" series — around 40 minutes worth — and then appear on stage in front of a projection and perform live, in character, for 15 minutes. This, for me, has been a surprisingly effective format. The question and answer period following most of the screenings is another aspect that rarely happens in art venues. The first time I was asked to give a Q&A I almost refused. I had just performed and had poured Pepto Bismol all over myself; I was nervous about breaking that fourth wall and being put on the spot. But I went through with it and got useful feedback and found I was able to dispel some misconceptions of the work. I now enjoy that exchange.
Galleries are better for accessing the tactile or immersive qualities of my work-installations with props or specific carpeting or seating can enhance the experience of the videos, and although I've mostly made single channel pieces I've started making multi-channel installations and projecting onto objects. Right now I'm working on video installations for a show at the Migros Museum in August and Art in General this fall. Another reason I started to make video and performance is because I often want to go and physically interact with installation and sculpture, or see someone interacting with it.
AW: Do you enjoy the culture of film festivals? It's a different world than gallery culture.
SM: Since I've been attending film festivals in the past year, I've discovered work by people like Stephanie Barber, Michael Robinson and Ben Russell. They all have been involved in both experimental film and art venues and make both videos and films among other things. I first encountered their work in the experimental film world and it surprises me that I don't often hear people refer to their work in art circles. Or why people I've met in the experimental film world aren't aware of an artist like Keren Cytter, and why her work doesn't show at film festivals as much as is does in galleries and museums (although that maybe different outside of the US). Or why they aren't as aware of video artists like Michael Smith or Alex Bag. Maybe its pointless to try and figure out these divisions; one can't do everything and there is more and more overlap between them, anyway. But much of it is new to me and I know that I would really be missing out if I'd never seen works by all of the above. I was encouraged to see works by Maya Deren and Kenneth Anger in art school.
I attend the Light Industry screenings that Thomas Beard and Ed Halter put on in Sunset Park as often as possible-it's been a good way for me to learn more about historical and contemporary experimental film. They also program video art and other new medias and are trying to bring these worlds together.
AW: You're including performance more and more with your work-how linked is that with the videos you make? Does one require the other?
SM: I don't think one requires the other. That said, my ideal format is to show several videos from "Whispering Pines," and then appear live as the main protagonist in front of a video made specifically for the performance, and interacting with that projection. Thus far all of my videos have been performance based. Not all of the performances include video projections but in the past five years most have.
AW: Your work has a character-driven narrative, I would say. Is narrative important to you? Have you ever thought of doing something long-form – say, a digitally filmed, feature-length video?
SM: I am open to someday creating a feature-length film. I'm not dead-set on doing so though, one reason being that until now the only actor I've really worked with — except for a small handful of others including my Mom — is myself. Unless I become comfortable with other actors or characters, I will keep it short. However, I am working on an evening-long performance that will debut at the Kitchen; it will include other actors, at least in video form.
Bluecoat Gallery
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. What better time than this month to talk about how we can develop more supportive communities that will in turn help our children? When communities are supportive it creates a ripple effect of helpfulness and proactivity, and can ultimately lead to healthier and happier lives for everyone in the community. The Childwelfare.gov tip sheet in this month's blog provides tips about how a supportive community operates and how communities can work to achieve this level of supportiveness.
At SCYAP we wholeheartedly believe every child deserves to live with a loving family. Unfortunately, there are not enough foster families on a state or national scale to meet the need for the number of children who are in foster care to no fault of their own. For this reason, and for a number of reasons we did some research to provide a list of ten reasons why you should become a foster parent. Maybe one or more of these reasons have crossed your mind before, but you were unsure what step to take next. We are here to help you take that next step. You could be the home a child needs.


The width of TextFields and TextAreas in IE 6, 7 and 8 and Opera is often calculated wrong.
You'll notice that the width of the fields is almost always wrong and this can even cause the textarea to become invisible (in IE6) or shift down (in IE7).
Thanks for the report, I'll check it out.
Condor, with your code I was getting differing results, for example try that override and your sample in Opera or FF in quirks and strict mode. Is the || isStrict in the condition meant to be like that?
Seems to be the case, fixed in SVN.


text:
Get Real Post
We beg to differ.
Culture / Education / Lifestyle / Religion / Society
The whole point of sex is reproduction, not the pleasure that comes with it
January 26, 2015 - by benign0 - 45 Comments.
We need to clear up something in order for the 'debate' on the use of contraceptives to progress. In today's modern societies, sex has been made out to be the be-all-end-all recreational activity to the point that Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano pushed hard to enshrine a woman's "right" to "satisfying sex" in reproductive health legislation.
It's almost as if we are forgetting the original reason why sexual reproduction came to be to begin with. Sex is a (if not the most) powerful behavioural motivator not just in humans but in practically all animals that reproduce sexually. The drive to have sex is a costly behavioural trait. People and animals take immense risks to mate with their preferred partner. Deadly brawls among young males to impress the female of their species is a mating ritual seen across a variety of animals. Vast perilous distances are crossed for a momentary tryst with a lover. Great pains are taken to express heritable fitness — in the form of costly displays of physical and intellectual prowess not necessarily required for basic survival.
Why do we engage in all this risky and costly behaviour to mate? It is because individuals who manage to survive the often deadly battle to mate get to pass superior genes over to the next generation. Sex evolved to bring the sort of diversity asexual (cloning) propagation cannot bring about and with that openness to diversity comes the opportunity to ensure that the best-endowed genetically are given the best shot to sow their oats by making sexual consummation an intense competition amongst individuals.
It's not about you, me, or Juan, it is about the overall collective robustness (brought about by diversity and the propagation of the best genes) of the species' gene pool.
The drive to mate, being a high risk and often fatal motivator for many, is therefore deeply-ingrained in every sexually-reproducing animal. The pleasure we seek in sex, therefore, has that singular purpose in its design — to serve as a strong enough motivation to overcome our otherwise natural aversion to risk to life and limb that seeking out a mate often entails.
And so that is why sex is fun — and its urges difficult to ignore.
Sex is fun precisely because it is reproductive in nature.
That sex be fun for an organism that can think is important because that is essentially what will keep its mind focused on what is important in the bigger evolutionary scheme of things — propagating one's genetic code through subsequent generations.
The thing with modern society is that it changed our survival prospects. Living to sexual maturity is no longer a 50-50 (or even 10-90) proposition. The vast majority of us do and most of our live births survive infancy. The trouble is, modern society did not change millions of years of sexual evolution. We still possess the same powerful motivation to mate that our primitive ancestors relied on to keep their species just short of the brink of extinction.
In that sense, the Roman Catholic Church is right — the whole point of sex is procreation. The trouble is, modern culture has made the pleasure that comes with sex its main point. It isn't. The goal to reproduce is what pushed the evolution of powerful behavioural motivators both instinctive and cognitive — such as sexual pleasure. So, really, it is the other way around. The whole point to sex remains reproduction and the pleasure that comes with the act is just one of the means to ensure that people have sex — despite its cost to an individual's energy and resources and its risk to its life and wellbeing.
So is artificial contraception bad, then?
It is, perhaps, if you choose to strictly adhere to Catholic dogma. In that, everyone has a choice (in modern free societies at least) — to remain Catholic and live in sin, or to embrace choice and refer instead to one's own personal notions of good and bad.
But let's not frame the debate around one's entitlement to sexual pleasure. It's a nice to have at best, but not the whole point.
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45 Comments on "The whole point of sex is reproduction, not the pleasure that comes with it"
Robert Haighton says:
Benign0,
I had to read your blog a few times to make sure if what you typed was read correctly by me. And still I am not sure how to read your blog.
In a natural way, sex is the only way to procreate (make a woman pregnant).
Through other ways, like IVF, a woman can also get pregnant. Hence, sex is not the only exlusive way.
Not too long ago, I read a news paper article about a new "trend" (not sure if that is the most appropriate word to use), about people being asexual http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexuality.
I am certain and sure that most people (at least those in the west) have sex more often for pleasure than for procreation purposes. I wonder why?
benign0 says:
Technology and knowledge to prevent pregnancy during sex is only about a couple thousand years old. But sexual reproduction and its behavioural drivers are hundreds of millions of years old. Putting it from that perspective, you can see that our attempts to make sex anything more than what it really is are merely cultural, not natural.
That evolvement stated precisely by you, sets us apart from animals.
This came about more during the 1960s sexual revolution in which the contraceptive pill was invented.
That invention gave women power and control over their own womb (thank god).
Are we really that different from animals?
Sex remains a pre-eminent behavioural driver in our society. It is the top driver of most social media activity and is behind the vast majority of discretionary purchasing decisions. So how different are we really from most other animals other than possessing a cerebral cortex that struggles (and often fails) to counteract the more ancient drives we share with other animal species on this planet?
ChinoF says:
Proof of this may be "The Sex Worship and Symbolism of Primitive Races" by Sanger Brown, a classic book in the field. Also, the latest craze with 50 Shades of Grey. And of course, why there are Wowowee Dancing Girls.
And also the old ad industry truism: Sex sells.
Freddie Tan says:
While I find the article interesting. I would suggest you read up on the role of sex in higher forms of primates like Bonobos and Chimpanzees. Sex it seems plays an integral part in Chimpanzee social structure. Sex for higher level primates seems to have gone beyond the purpose of procreation, and is equally meant for forming social bonds. One could argue that even in evolution, sex may have evolved another function in primate society, and I am inclined to think that the same is true for humans as well.
Indeed, but then what purpose did those social bonds ultimately serve? The answer lies in how social bonds within communities have been found to improve the ability of social groups to compete with other social groups; i.e. tribes that are more cohesive (perhaps because of stronger social bonds within it) tend to win more wars against tribes with looser or weaker collective strength.
So if sex happened to evolve to also contribute to strengthening social bonds which, in turn, conferred some sort of survival and competitive advantage to a community at a collective level, then so evolutionary pressures make these sexual drivers even more powerful.
Sea Bee says:
"For Homo sapiens, sex is primarily about establishing and maintaining relationships – relationships often characterized by love, or at least affection. Reproduction is a by-product of human sexual behavior not its primary purpose"
from the article: "What Rick Santorum Doesn't Know About Sex" Psychology Today, 2012 by Christopher Ryan, author of "Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sex-dawn/201201/what-rick-santorum-doesn-t-know-about-sex
I still prefer the belief that sex can be enjoyed for other purposes than reproduction. But certainly, the purpose of reproduction is obviously built in. Hard to miss.
Hayden Toro993ok says:
"And a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall Cleave to his Wife…the two shall be of one flesh. Whatever, has God put together; let no man put asunder…" from the Christian New Testament Bible…
I believe that sex is for: procreation, for fun/relaxation and for intimacy with your wife.
It is in "being" with her, that is the gist of it…we are not like those animals…we are human beings, above those animals…
If the hole point of sex is reproduction:
Why do animals perform a bewildering array of sexual activities that do not result in pregnancy?
Why is the clitoris located where it can be reached for self stimulation; rather than in the vaginal canal itself?
PS: If the hole point of sex is reproduction
– then why is there a clitoris after all?
– although the G-spot is inside the vagina.
– why do we have so many erogenous zones?
I'm not a doctor or anything, but I always heard that the clitoris is the undeveloped female penis, which starts to develop before the embryo is assigned a gender however many days/weeks into the pregnancy. Same reason men have 'pointless' nipples, it's in the basic template.
manangbok says:
I am a doctor. The statement "the clitoris is an undeveloped penis" is a male-chauvinistic thing to say.
What would you guys feel if I say that the penis is a redundant clitoris? That can more often fail than work? That needs Viagra when it grows older (clitorises have never resorted to drugs). The tubings of a penis is so convoluted one can get lost in the maze. I mean, the female urethra is more direct and is not hampered by corpora spongiosa and cavernosa.
Male and female genital tracts are homologous to each other. If you read up on embryology, you will find out that were it not for the vagaries of hormones and genetics expression, you could have been a phenotypical female even if you are an XY.
So females are not entitled to sexual pleasure. If I agree with that, men should not be entitled to erections either
I totally agree with you Manangok.
But what worries me is why you had to state your profession. Were you afraid you wouldnt be taken seriously?
Now what if, if you stated "I am a plumber" or what if, if you stated just simply nothing?
jameboy says:
I don't know about that but I think pleasure is the main point of sex and reproduction the consequence. It's like hunger. You don't eat because you want to defacate afterwards. You eat because you are hungry aside from eating being a pleasureable act. 🙂
That is precisely the argument I aim to debunk here.
Any behavioural or physical trait in any living organism that survived hundreds of millions of years of evolution has a purpose as far as propagating an individual's and a specie's genetic code. At the same time, any trait that consumes resources that does not contribute to that singular goal of our selfish genes in a way that compensates for that cost to resources tends to be selected out.
Sex and sexually-motivated behaviour, as I asserted in the above article, is a costly behavioural feature of all animal species. So, again, does pleasure trump procreation when it comes to evaluating the importance of sex in a species' existence?
What I am saying is sex is pleasure to ensure that a species continues to propagate its genetic code by engaging in a risky activity like sex.
Do I agree that procreation is the consequence of sex? Absolutely. But I think there was a disconnect when we correlate the purpose for sex to that of the consequence of sex. Not all who engage in sex has the intent to reproduce, at least in humans. In fact, the desire for pleasure is more dominant every time we think/engage in sex.
Procreation will never be trump by pleasure because unlike the latter procreation is not a choice. Ooops, did I say 'choice'? Well, that's where the contraceptives comes in. 🙂
To say the whole point of sex is reproduction is like saying the whole point of eating is to defecate. I agree because it's a natural process. But to insinuate that we engage in sex because of reproduction is short-cutting the process. I see the sequence of the process and not the summary. So, there's attraction and then the desire for pleasure towards accomplishing the goal to engage in sex and then the result. That's how I see it.
I don't know and I'm no expert. I just based my opinion on experience and observation. I think we're just seeing the issue on different pages. You see it as the means to propagate the species or the process that promotes the cycle of procreation which I agree with. On my part, I see it (reproduction) as the end result of the process. I'm just emphasizing that the whole point will not be possible if there is no initial idea to consumate the act that will end in reproduction.
Perhaps one should ask, why is reproduction and sexual pleasure found in the same activity? Why can't there be separate activities to find each? Is there a way around it?
I'm guessing as to what you meant but I cannot fathom why separation must be entertain. Reproduction is the end result of sex and pleasure is the idea that ignite such outcome. Both are part and parcel of a process. You cannot take one without rendering the other useless.
To engage in sex and not feel any pleasure about it will not make any sense. I don't see man wanting to engage in an activity that do not arouse his interest nor provoke the feeling of desire. Engaging in activity is anchored on the basic instinct that we find pleasure or satisfaction on it.
Sex without pleasure is like a car without wheels. 🙂
nimref says:
This is the first time I find myself disagreeing with you completely. Or at least, with your end point. The biological urges and the innate instinct for survival that have been wired into us humans have always led us to sex. The trouble is, unlike our fellow animals, we all started thinking. We all developed a flair (or folly) for reasoning. Our brains started to see and feel sex as this wonderful thing, as this activity that we liked doing again and again – and why can't we engage in it without te literal weight of babies popping out after nine months.
To frame your argument within the confines of Catholic dogma – taking it out of the realm of sexual pleasure and squarely characterizing it as a mechanical exercise in the propagation of the species – made me look to see if I was reading some right-wing traditionalist blog instead of one that "beg(s) to differ".
It's the kind of reasoning that restricts women to the baby-popping role we men have burdened them with for thousands of years. Your reasoning aims to "put women in their place".
jameboy and that Haughton guy are as confused as I am to what you really mean, even if you claim it is "the same argument I'm trying to debunk".
Sexual pleasure is the pay-off to doing something so risky, yes, like bungee-jumping or motorcyle-riding when you could clearly smash your skull in – but the point is, well, it is the point.
Artificial contraception gives men and women a controlled space by which to engage in this pleasurable activity. Our species took something that was meant for something else (survival of the species) and made it into something more. Not just giving us the means to live, but also one of the things that makes living worth it.
And what the f*** is wrong with that?
Quite. There's nothing wrong with that.
I make the assertion that procreation is the whole point of of sex, I don't do so referencing any kind of religious dogma or "morality" framework like "some right-wing traditionalist" as you say.
In short, I'm just saying: What else is sex for from a natural-scheme-of-things perspective other than a natural mechanism to propagate the species in a manner that contributes to the evolution of a robust gene pool made resilient by (1) the diversity sexual reproduction offers and (2) the opportunity for members within said pool to compete for dominance thereby creating a system that rewards DNA that produces superior individuals.
I'm all for contraception — because our circumstances as a species have changed over the last 10,000 years. But even if that has changed and we now focus on sex because of the pleasure it brings, doesn't change the whole point of sex from a the broader perspective of what makes a specie successful in the overall evolutionary scheme of things.
The confusion probably arises on your part because you have limited your concept of sexuality to a cultural frame. What I expound on in the above article refers to cultural notions of sex as but a subset of the bigger frame that highlights the real point.
What you said may be one part of the answer to Benign0's question above, "what makes us different from animals?" Yes, we think. But what part of thinking makes us really different from animals if we're only thinking "oh this is sex" then proceed to do it?
I propose that the concept of restraint is the missing link. We are not like animals because we can choose not to do sex even if our bodies draw us to. Some people do this because they know they can't afford the result of unchecked sexual intercourse (as in, the "traditional" type with genital insertion). So they refrain.
So some people can't refrain from sex because they can't restrain themselves? That would make them closer to animals than humans. So this is closer to the point that some church proponents and others promote, that instead of contraceptives, people should check themselves. Can't they refrain from "insertion?" Are people who will themselves to refrain from sex like that "stupid" (and some do use this word)?
My bad, let me add, it should be self-restraint, to be clearer on the concept.
If you think about it, drawing a line between higher consciousness and the sort of primitive brain functions we share with other species is not that clear cut an exercise.
When we go out to party the night away hoping to hook up with someone, for example, how much of that effort is motivated by our higher cognitive function and how much of it by the more basic instincts to mate that we share with other mammals?
Food for thought there…
The question of 'how much' is hard to quantify when we talk about behavior or social activity we share with other species. But framed in the question you raised, I think our desire to mate covers everything that can be said about motivation except that, unlike other species, our higher consciousness enables and provide us a control mechanism to affect whatever motivation we have.
d_forsaken says:
Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.
One liners without elaboration is like sex through masturbation. 🙂
I can't figure out what you're trying to say here benign0.
While you may be technically correct, what on earth does this have to do with the morality of contraception? If anything, it's an argument in favour: because sex is such a primal drive, and modern society has removed the risks involved, reproduction will run out of control if not constrained in some way.
The position of the CC has nothing to do with sin and everything to do with political control. A populace that's poor and stupid can be manipulated any which way you like.
Contraception is barely even mentioned in the Bible. The only instance I can think of is the specific case of Onan, IIRC, who was supposed to provide his brother with a child (this was somehow important, for some obscure reason). It's certainly never listed as a sin. That's just something the CC made up out whole cloth.
mack says:
You just pissed off the entire porn industry with your article.
Having sex, be it for the purpose of procreation or not, is as natural as eating drinking and crapping. Barring asexuals and the truly disciplined, humanity would go crazy deprived of it.
Gogs says:
All that matters is Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice.
Noynoy, Mar, Butch and Franklin.
They're all f***ing each other and f***ing with the entire country.
That's what this is really about.
Sick Amore says:
I think it's different with women (at least to me) since one, women are the ones carrying the "consequence" (when she got pregnant by "pleasurable" sex or have to carry someone else's child since there's also the case of sterility and same-sex union equals surrogate moms) and there's great pain there up to nine months (and as long as you're a parent) and two, women are the ones who would have to swallow contraceptives DAILY just so there will be no "accident" when this desire kicked in and one cannot refuse (or won't) the call of family planning\responsible parenting. To say that a production of baby is just a consequence sounds detached to reality because when you're planning to marry that perfect person and build a family, that baby is what will complete the union and is the extension of yourself, will carry your bloodline, will continue the cycle of creation or destruction or will continue to keep the world round. That sex more for pleasure put aside man's sense of responsibility and their inherent superiority to deal with the arrival of new creation. See, there's the whole universe for humankind but since every man's intelligence or discoveries is not prospering as fast or in the same pace as they are producing new life, the idea is to prevent or stall creation. However, I won't downplay the other purpose of sex as a means of gratification to one's self since man is naturally wired for love.
Also when you're taking contraceptives, women has to undergo pap smear and cervical (or other) cancer screening. Pleasure is never without pain 😉
Good exposition here. I would like to use this to explain my own point above. Wouldn't it be better to exercise self-restraint (and yes, this is talking to men as well as women), rather than keep on giving to one's animalistic and barbarian cravings for pleasure? Isn't that what makes us different from the animals (or at least acknowledges that we are human, given the faculties of thought and reasoning)?
@ChinoF,
Exactly those pleasureable moments sets us apart from being animals.
How much time do you need to have sex with your partner? Ten minutes, five minutes?
How often do you have sex with your partner to make her pregnant?
Now imagine this: one day your daughter comes to you and asks you: "Dad, can you still remember the day/moment you and mom conceived me?"
When your true answer is no, then you really are an animal.
Wait, Robert. I meant to say it wasn't the pleasurable moments that separate us from animals. Because I'm sure animals can feel pleasure, too. What for me separates us from animals is the willingness to deny ourselves pleasure when we know it isn't good for us. For example, avoiding having sex with your neighbor's wife. Because pleasure isn't the ultimate pursuit of human life or even sexual activity. It's really part of the framework for survival. And since we're intelligent, we should be beyond survival – thinking of pursuits other than sex. Beyond the threshold of the primitive.
@Sick Amore,
Any woman would like to do have the 2 procedures you mention. Have you ever witnessed a woman giving birth? Thats far more painfull and stressfull than those 2 you mention. The 2 you mention are a piece of cake (a walk in the park) compared to giving birth.
"…women are the ones who would have to swallow contraceptives DAILY just so there will be no "accident" when this desire kicked in."
Women have access to many more and other forms of contraception. And pls dont forget that men can use the condom.
"… because when you're planning to marry that perfect person and build a family, that baby is what will complete the union …"
Can we pls seperate marriage from building a family?
@ChinoF, Thanks. There's this passage in Ecclesiastes to support that "There is a time for everything… a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing (c.3 v.5)" so contrary to what most people think or to what some church leaders preach, only when one can support or could be responsible for his actions, that's the only time he/she can indulge with it. We're talking about the "real" point of sex here, right? If that's the point, then it entails the right view on freedom.
@Robert,
I've mentioned pregnancy in my first statement. Those two procedures are supplementary. Nothing is a walk in the park when alien trespasses in vagina are involved.
In the Philippines, contraceptives if not the natural family planning method is the most recommended scheme to prevent pregnancy and still please your partner. I'm not saying that you're using of condom is not appreciated.
I get your point. We can insert the idea of building a family in the long run of marriage, perhaps?
– "trespassing" a vagina is not a walk in the park? I really think you are doing something wrong. Is your partner wet (enough) when you trespass her?
– Which contraceptives are the most recommended in the Philippines? The contraceptive oral pill, I guess? But there are so much more to chose from. Pls take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_control
– No, not in the long run but just while not being married.
In a civilized country – like mine – any born child is a legal child and a legitimate child. And most children are born because 2 people love each other. Those 2 people dont need to be married per se to have a child.
There are also couples (married and unmarried) who willingly do not want kids.
And what about gay and lesbian couples?
In my civilized country, they both can marry but most likely will have no kids (or maybe by adoption).
Pls start to think "outside the box". Its 2015.
FRED MERTZ says:
Stop genital mutilation,i.e. Male & Female circumcision.It is all designed to limit sexual pleasure in that it reduces the time a male can hold off climax.A Jew-ish creation, it is nothing less than mutilation of the sex organs and must be stopped.
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Attempting to sign into a new server using a 2-factor authenticated github account. Successfully enter login name and password. Screen then moves to the next screen asking for the two-factor authentication password. Before I even have a chance to input the password the whole process errors and the screen immediately states connection to server failure.
I should be able to enter my two-factor password and login successfully.
This issue is not present on the 2.14.7 client.
I couldn't reproduce it with 2.15.1. @LostCatalyst, are you using multiple servers?
@tassoevan , yes. We have multiple servers. We are hosting RocketChat and MongoDB in OpenShift with minimum of 3 replicas each. We are also using Custom OAuth configuration to integrate with Keycloak which in turn integrates with GitHub.
I believe so too, I'm having the same issue.
I'm using Keycloak in combination with 2FA, when changing the Login Style from Redirect to Popup it works again. My Rocketchat is a single server setup running in docker.


2. I need the Hackintosh installation USB to startup the PC couse otherwise it wouldnt found anything bootable. To start the PC i need to select the 2. Option in the USB's Boot menu.
This is my first Hackintosh and my first try to use MacOS!