Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

31 Jan 2024

UP Diliman

The Libingan ng mga Bayani is a social space where epitaphs signal social relationships and realities

In this paper, I looked at the epitaphs found on grave markers in Libingan ng mga Bayani. I investigated how...

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30 Jan 2024

UP Manila

Review explores how genetic and social factors contribute to the development of gender-based cancer differences among Asians

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Sex differences in cancer are evident in death rates and...

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29 Jan 2024

UP Los Baños

Researchers develop an ergonomic keyboard that eases typing in English, Tagalog and even Taglish

In the Philippines nowadays, English and Tagalog languages are alternately used for formal written communications;  in a school setting, English...

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26 Jan 2024

UP Diliman

Study introduces an easy physics experiment for students to do at home, providing learning opportunities with minimal teacher involvement

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge for laboratory classes to keep students engaged amidst the limitations of a fully remote...

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24 Jan 2024

UP Manila

People who are new patients or seeking clearance or referral for endocrine-related symptoms are more likely to opt for teleconsultation

Telemedicine employs the use of technology to increase access to health care. This is especially relevant in developing countries where...

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23 Jan 2024

UP Diliman

While Visayan women were depicted as “most civilized” in colonial photography, the photos still upheld a gender ideology promoting male superiority

Significant works have been published on American colonial photography in the Philippines, which primarily focus on the depiction of Filipinos...

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22 Jan 2024

UP Manila

To improve how we diagnose, prevent and treat allergies, it is crucial to better understand how different factors interact with each other

Allergies are overreactions of the body to harmless allergens and are one of the most chronic conditions worldwide. Atopy or...

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18 Jan 2024

UP Los Baños

A majority of world’s largest flowers teeter on the edge of extinction

The genus Rafflesia, which includes the world’s largest flowers, has aroused curiosity among scientists for centuries and features prominently in local...

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17 Jan 2024

UP Mindanao

Utilizing chitosan as an edible coating presents a promising solution for prolonging the shelf life of fresh produce

The development of diseases and decay in vegetables after harvest limits their shelf life and saleability. To control this, proper...

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16 Jan 2024

UP Diliman

An easy-to-build computer-based spellchecker designed to help foreign language learners in writing provides error-specific feedback with explanations and examples

In second language (L2) acquisition, writing is no longer perceived as a mere consequence of learning, but is now treated...

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15 Jan 2024

UP Manila, UP Open University

A novel method has the capability to precisely identify the author of unknown texts, particularly news articles

This study tackles the challenge of figuring out who wrote anonymous text, like online articles, in an age when there...

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11 Jan 2024

UP Manila

The main obstacles to a “good death” during the Covid-19 pandemic were strict limitations on comforting and communicating with patients

Dying is not a medical experience but also a social and psychological one. We would like to ease the suffering...

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Research

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the potential health benefits of saba banana peel (SBP). The study reveals that SBP, traditionally considered agricultural waste, possesses significant nutritional and health-promoting components. Laboratory analysis indicated a well-balanced composition, with notable levels of moisture, crude fat, crude protein, total ash, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extracts. These dietary components have been shown to provide the body with energy, help prevent disease and allow the body to function properly. Furthermore, the presence of antioxidant activity and essential nutrients such as vitamin C and bioactive compounds like phenols, flavonoids, and tannins further enhances the health-promoting potential of SBP.

The findings also suggest that SBP may have applications in special food formulations, particularly for individuals concerned with obesity and associated disorders. Notably, SBP exhibited significant pancreatic lipase inhibition, comparable to the effectiveness of the lipase inhibitor drug Orlistat, and cholesterol micellar solubility inhibition, approaching the efficacy of the cholesterol-lowering drug Cholestyramine. These results not only position SBP as a valuable source of bioactive compounds but also highlight its potential utilization in the development of functional food products and nutraceuticals, offering banana farmers and processors an opportunity for additional revenue while addressing health-related concerns. Overall, the paper contributes valuable insights into transforming agricultural by-products into functional and health-promoting resources.

The paper addresses a significant issue in the Philippines, where the banana industry is a major contributor to the economy. Despite being the second-largest fruit crop globally, banana cultivation generates a substantial amount of by-products and waste, particularly in the form of peels, which constitute 40% of the total weight of fresh bananas. Currently, banana peels are predominantly disposed of as solid waste incurring substantial costs and posing environmental concerns like greenhouse gas emissions and soil and water pollution. The paper’s exploration of the nutritional, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering properties of saba banana peels not only highlights the potential health benefits of an otherwise discarded agricultural by-product but also presents an opportunity to alleviate environmental and financial concerns associated with its disposal. By demonstrating that these peels contain valuable nutritional and functional properties and can be transformed into valuable raw materials with applications in food products, the study contributed to the efforts in promoting the development of sustainable practices for the banana industry. This has broader implications for small- to medium-scale processing units in the banana industry, potentially enhancing their overall economic viability and sustainability. In a country like the Philippines, where saba banana production plays a crucial role in the agricultural sector, the successful utilization of saba banana peels not only benefits the economy but also addresses environmental concerns associated with waste management.

Authors: Paul Alteo A. Bagabaldo (Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Liezl M. Atienza (Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Katherine Ann T. Castillo-Israel (Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Aimee Sheree A. Barrion (Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Antonio C. Laurena (Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños), and Maria Amelita C. Estacio (Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1054&context=pas