Chitraporn Ngampeerapong. Functional properties for health in Thai foods using In Vitro model. Master's Degree(Food and Nutrition for Development). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Functional properties for health in Thai foods using In Vitro model
Abstract:
Thailand has undergone a nutrition and health transition during the past decade
due to a shift of eating pattern from the traditional practice to a more westernized one.
Thai foods are being replaced by diets containing a higher proportion of fats and
animal meats, less vegetables and fruits leading to a rising burden of diet-related noncommunicable
diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and
certain cancers. Epidemiological studies show that a balanced diet and a lot of fruits
and vegetables especially those with bioactive compounds can lower the risk of NCD.
Tradition Thai food is often referred to as health food due to its uniqueness in
combining various vegetables and herbs. Nevertheless, little scientific evidence is
available to support such a claim. This study was aimed to determine some functional
properties of common Thai dishes.
Sixteen Thai dishes of various categories were prepared three times (n = 3) for
determination of four functional properties using in vitro model. They were
thrombosis preventing activity, Fibrinolytic activity, Anti-hypertension activity
(Angiotensin I converting enzyme: ACE inhibitory activity) and antioxidant activity
(ORAC: Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity and FRAP: Ferric Reducing
Antioxidant Power). Results showed that all the Thai dishes had functional properties
with some dishes showing more potential than the others. Nham Prik Kung Sod and
Nham Prik Long Rua showed highest thrombosis preventing activity. They prolonged
thrombin time more than 999 seconds. Only one dish Nham Prik Kung Sod, had
fibrinolytic activity by hydrolyzed fibrin to clear zone of 317 mm2. Pad Kra Praw
Kung showed the most potentcy in anti-hypertension property with 123.7% ACE
inhibitory activity. Nham Prik Long Rua showed the highest antioxidant activity (49.1
+ 2.5 μmole TE/g) with ORAC, while Pad Kra Praw Kung showed the highest
antioxidant activity (6.0 + 1.4 μmole TE/g) when tested with FRAP. Of all Thai
dishes in this study, two dishes, Nham Prik Kung Sod and Pad Kra Praw Kung
showed 3 potential functional properties ranked in the top five and six dishes had 2
potential functional properties in the top five.
In conclusion, the result showed that all Thai dishes in this study had one or more
functional properties, so eating various Thai foods provides not only nutritional quality
but also functional properties for better health.