Based on the availability of many nutrients, Moringa oleifera tree leaves have been widely employed as nutrients and nutraceuticals in recent years. The leaves contain a small amount of anti-nutritional factors and are abundant in innumerable bioactive compounds. Recently, in several in vivo and in vitro investigations, moringa leaves’ bioactive components and functionality are highlighted. Moringa leaves provide several health advantages, including anti-diabetic, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. The high content of phytochemicals, carotenoids, and glucosinolates is responsible for the majority of these activities as reported in the literature. Furthermore, there is growing interest in using moringa as a value-added ingredient in the development of functional foods. Despite substantial study into identifying and measuring these beneficial components from moringa leaves, bioaccessibility and bioavailability studies are lacking. This review emphasizes recent scientific evidence on the dietary and bioactive profiles of moringa leaves, bioavailability, health benefits, and applications in various food products. This study highlights new scientific data on the moringa leaves containing nutrient and bioactive profiles, bioavailability, health benefits, and uses in various food items. Moringa has been extensively used as a health-promoting food additive because of its potent protection against various diseases and the widespread presence of environmental toxins. More research is needed for utilization as well as to study medicinal effects and bioaccesibility of these leaves for development of various drugs and functional foods.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is an underutilized cereal and is considered as a rich source of protein, minerals, lipids, β-glucan and other phytochemicals. It has an immense scope for its application in preparation of various nutraceutical and functional foods. Oat flour was incorporated with wheat flour at different concentrations for preparation of breads and noodles. Breads were prepared by incorporation of oat flour (OF) in wheat flour (WF) at different levels (0, 10, 15, 20 and 25%). Overall acceptability of breads decreased with increase in level of oat flour. However, breads were moderately desirable up to 20% replacement of WF with OF and slightly desirable at 25% level of replacement. Significant decrease in loaf volume of oat incorporated bread (OIB) was observed with increase in level of incorporation of OF in WF. Oat incorporated noodles (OIN) were prepared by substitution of OF in WF at proportion of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%. These were moderately desirable only up to 30% replacement of wheat flour with oat flour and slightly desirable thereafter. There was significant (P≤0.05) increase in proteins, crude fibres, ash and fat content but significant decrease in carbohydrate content and calorific value of processed products was recorded with increased incorporation of OF in WF. Results of organoleptic evaluation concluded that bread and noodles were moderately desirable up to 20 and 30% replacement of wheat flour with oat flour, respectively. Therefore, oat can be successfully substituted with wheat flour upto a level of 20% for bread and 30% for noodle preparation thereby, enhancing the nutritional components such as crude protein, fibre, fat and ash content in prepared products.

The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China, has led to millions of infections and the death of approximately one million people. No targeted therapeutics are currently available, and only a few efficient treatment options are accessible. Many researchers are investigating active compounds from natural plant sources that may inhibit COVID-19 proliferation. Flavonoids are generally present in our diet, as well as traditional medicines and are effective against various diseases. Thus, here, we reviewed the potential of flavonoids against crucial proteins involved in the coronavirus infectious cycle. The fundamentals of coronaviruses, the structures of SARS-CoV-2, and the mechanism of its entry into the host’s body have also been discussed. In silico studies have been successfully employed to study the interaction of flavonoids against COVID-19 M^pro, spike protein PL^pro, and other interactive sites for its possible inhibition. Recent studies showed that many flavonoids such as hesperidin, amentoflavone, rutin, diosmin, apiin, and many other flavonoids have a higher affinity with M^pro and lower binding energy than currently used drugs such as hydroxylchloroquine, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and lopinavir. Thus, these compounds can be developed as specific therapeutic agents against COVID-19, but need further in vitro and in vivo studies to validate these compounds and pave the way for drug discovery.