Edible Bird's Nest Historical
Edible-birdnest which is produced from the saliva of swiftlets is commonly found in the South East Asia region including Malaysia. It is considered as a great delicacy and effective medicine as well as beauty enhancer within the Chinese community throughout the world. The earliest history of recorded edible-birdnest trading can be traced back to the year 1589 (Yeap, 2002).
Admiral Cheng Ho sailed to South East Asia and brought back edible-birdnests from Indonesia as a gift toe the Ming Dynasty’s Emperor which opened up the trade of this valuable nest. Some researchers have even stated that the trade can be traced back 1000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907)
Goodness of Edible Bird's Nest
There are various types or rather brand and trade names of edible-birdnest products in the market. This is even more confusing when there are many manufacturers in the market where they prefer to name the bird’s nest according to their own interest. The current quality of the edible-birdnest is not verifiable and its quality claims is totally depend on the consumer very own personal validation, and rationale made by the manufacturers. In the current market, generally it is classified into nest cup and nest cake which differentiate by the appearance of the nest.
It will be more convincing and proper if the edible-birdnest is classified into 2 major groups based on the source where it is obtained: the house nest and the cave nest. After personal observation of edible-birdnest trade practices in Malaysia, the color of edible-birdnest is frequently used to grade the edible-birdnest. Red colored edible-birdnest, also known as red blood nest, was thought to be of higher quality thus generally being promoted and sold at a higher price. Sad to say, due to this reason, the white edible-birdnests are treated with red pigments which are either partially or wholly water-soluble so as to give the fake appearance of the red blood nest, hence, demand a higher price from consumers.
Edible-birdnest has been used for centuries whether as a tonic or a health food. However, its usage and benefits are mainly based on historical, anecdotal and observational reports. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), edible-birdnest is believe to offer good effect for treating consumptive diseases, curing tuberculosis, dry coughs, suppressing cough and phlegm-dyspnea (difficult breathing), alleviating asthma, hemoptysis (coughing blood), improving the voice, asthenia, stomach ulcer, relieving gastric troubles, and general weakness of bronchial ailments.
It is also traditionally used to nourish the kidneys, lungs heart and stomach to aid renal functions, raise libido, strengthen the immune system, promote growth, enhance the immune system, improve concentration, increase energy and metabolism, and regulate circulation (Hobbs, 2004; Kong et al., 1987; Chan 2006).
Consuming edible-birdnest regularly can give a person exuberant physical and mental strength as well as to restore one’s youthfulness. The tonic power of the edible-birdnests is believed to improve skin complexion and to slow the aging effect. Although edible-birdnest has been traditionally prescribed to cure certain diseases for many generations, the actual characteristics and properties of edible-birdnest has not been intensively studied.
Edible Bird's Nest Scientific Research Result
Let us reveal the truth of the edible-birdnest goodness through a more scientific explanation. The average crude protein content in the edible-birdnest has been reported by Su et al. (1998) at 53.26%, Marcone (2005) at 62-63% and Kathan and Weeks (1969) at 32.3%. Proteins are needed to build and repair body tissues and for the metabolic functions of our bodies. About 20% of the human body is made of protein (Parker, 2003).
It plays various tasks in living systems, depending on the amino acid content, structure and association with atoms and other molecules of biological origin (Brocklebank, 1987). Proteins are classified as simple proteins and conjugated proteins. Simple proteins consist exclusively of polypeptide chains with no additional chemical components attached to it or required for biological activity. Conjugated proteins contain one or more non polypeptide constituents known as prosthetic group apart from the polypeptide components. One of the most common prosthetic groups is carbohydrates (glycoproteins).
The major content of edible-birdnest consists of glycoprotein. Many studies have been conducted in an attempt to define the precise roles of oligosaccharides chains in the functionality of glycoprotein. Several glycoprotein functions have been identified but many are still under investigation. As ediblebirdnest consists of mucin types of glycoprotein (Marcone, 2005), it can serve as lubricant and protective agents (Murray, 2003).
Marcone (2005) reported the carbohydrate content of the edible-birdnest to be 27.26%. According to Kathan and Weeks (1969), the carbohydrate component in edible-birdnest consists of 9% sialic acid, 7.2% galactosamine, 5.3% glucosamine, 16.9% galactose, and 0.7% fructose. Sialic acid is the major substitute of carbohydrate compound identified in edible-birdnest (Chan, 2006). Despite its role of acting as a “decoy” for invading pathogens, sialic acid is booming known as an agent necessaryfor mediating gaglioside distribution and structure in the brain. It was found that an exogenous source of sialic acid may contribute to neurological and intellectual advantages in infants. However, the nutritional and biological mechanisms of sialic acid in human body are still under investigation (Chan, 2006).
The finding shows that the edible-birdnest contains all eighteen types of amino acids as needed by human body. This includes the eight essential amino acids, namely, phenylalanine, valine, thronine, trpytophan, isoleucine, methionine, lysine and leucine as needed by human body.
Several researchers have reported aspartic acid and serine as the major amino acids present in edible-birdnest. They are natural water-soluble source of amino acid derived from edible-birdnest; the acids aid in skin healing. They are important in cell’s energy production, facilitate regulation of cell function and help to build up immune system by producing immuno-globulins and antibodies. Histidine and arginine, amino acids essential to the children were also obtainable from the edible-birdnest. Although arginine can be synthesized from cellular metabolites, it is usually considered essential to the diet of children for the maintenance of normal rates of growth.
Based on the amino acid content found, it can be concluded that edible-birdnest provides all theamino acids needed by human body for the growth and reparation of the issue. This may be a possible explanation as to why edible-birdnest soup has been always consumed not only by women but are feed to the children. Two essential amino acids, namely lysine and tryptophan, are not usually present in most plant proteins. Thus, vegetarians could obtain these two amino acids from ediblebirdnest.
Some scientists believe the minerals found in edible-birdnest were leached from the cave substrate where the nests were built. The presence of natural minerals in the cave nests and absence in farmed house edible-birdnest enables the former to withstand longer hours of cooking, the later disintegrated rapidly when cooked. Processed edible-birdnest contains reasonable amounts of calcium, iron, and riboflavin (Newman, 1995). Marcone (2005) also detected sodium (650 ppm), potassium(110 ppm), calcium (1298 ppm), magnesium (330 ppm), phosphorous (40 ppm) and iron (30 ppm) in the edible-birdnest.
It was found that sodium, magnesium and potassium and calcium are the major minerals content in edible-birdnest. These minerals are essential as they are spark plugs of life because they are required to activate thousands of enzyme reactions within the body. For example, sodium balances the electrolyte, body fluid volume; maintain the nerve impulse condition while magnesium maintains the alkaline balance and control of the neuromuscular activity.
Under certain extraction method, edible-birdnest extract gives a relatively high antioxidant capacity; it is not known exactly how the edible-birdnest extract works as the antioxidant agent. The antioxidant activities measured in the edible-birdnest extract may be due to the amino acids present in the edible-birdnest. Some of the proteins and amino acid detected in the edible-birdnest have known antioxidant activities. Cysteine, methionine, histidine, tryptophan and lysine are the amino acids that have been proven for their antioxidant activity. A plausible mechanism of antioxidant activity for edible-birdnest may be due to the hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups in the amino acids.
Active oxygen and related species play an important physiological role and at the same time may exert toxic effects as well. They may play a causative role in a variety of disease including heart disease, cancer and aging.
Kong et al. (1986) has shown that a partially purified glycoprotein extract from edible-birdnest has an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like activity and mitogenic effects. The protein is recognized to improve the immune functions for accelerating the cell development. In mammals, EGF stimulates the proliferation of various epidermal and epithelial tissues and in cell cultures where it stimulates thymidine and amino acid incorporation in human fibroblasts and initiates 3T3 fibroblast cell division. Ng et al. (1986) has demonstrated the capability of glycoprotein in promoting the cell growth. The edible-birdnest extract from Collocalia spp was found to contain the glycoprotein which could potentiate mitogenic response of human peripheral blood monocytes to stimulation with (Concanavalin A) Con A or Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA).
Edible-birdnest extract was also reported to have haemogglutination-inhibiting action against the influenza virus (Howe et al., 1961). A more current study carried out by Guo et al. (2006) suggests that edible-birdnest is a safe and valid natural source for the prevention of influenza viruses.
Disclamer: The above research had been done by other author, the author of this blogger shall not be liable for any plagiarism action as reader of this blog are well understood for the reproduce of this research as the purpose of sharing information. Author of this blogger have no intention or right to reproduce the research as the purpose profitability purpose .
