Therapeutic and Anti-Thrombotic Properties of Some Naturally Fermented Soybean Foods of the Eastern Himalayas
Charles Adetunji
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)
Dear Editor
The script has improved a lot compared to its original submission. However, a few points are still needed to be addressed, as the point-to-point reply to my comments is not attached.
Please check the typos and English language throughout the script.
Author Response
Answers to Reviewers
Title: Therapeutic and Anti-Thrombotic Properties of Some Naturally Fermented Soybean Foods of the Eastern Himalayas
Reviewer # 1
The script has improved a lot compared to its original submission. However, a few points are still needed to be addressed, as the point-to-point reply to my comments is not attached.
Please check the typos and English language throughout the script.
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we checked and corrected the typos and English language throughout the script.
Reviewer 2 Report (Previous Reviewer 2)
Thanks
Author Response
Reviewer # 2
Answer: Thanks for acceptance
Reviewer 3 Report (New Reviewer)
fermentation-2145505
ABSTRACT
1. Please recast this sentence and please don’t start a sentence with ’’’Out of which’’ ‘’Out of which, 16 bacterial 20 isolates were able to digest the fibrin clot and were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequence’’
2. Please recast this sentence ‘’Our findings indicated 25 the several health beneficial properties as well as’’
3. I therefore suggest that the abstract should be rewritten in the following pattern to illuminate on key finding from this study.
a. Brief introduction
b. Aim and objectives
c. Key and most important results
d. Conclusion and contribution to knowledge.
Introduction
4. Please recast this sentence ‘’Non-starter naturally fermented soybean foods portray the distinct gastronomy of many ethnic 33 South East Asians and the Himalayan people’’
5. The authors needs to clearly states the aims and objective of this study very clearly. You need to start this in a new paragraph. You start like this ‘’Therefore, this study aims to’’
Results
6. I would like to encourage the author's to clarify the experimental design. A clear experimental design with the treatments and replicates clearly described is mandatory for the acceptance of the manuscript. The statistical analysis and corresponding results also need to be clearly presented. Please add the F values, the degrees of freedom and the precise p values obtained. The assumptions of ANOVA were tested? The software was manufactured in which year?
7. Please include the level of significant in the table 1. i.e include alphabet i.e 23 ± 2.3e
8. The author should try to better show the results of the statistical analysis, at least indicating the higher significant p-value obtained for each test (e.g. p ≤ 0.0…) throughout the result section.
9. Please improve the quality and the resolution of figures. Some of them are very hard to read/see-.Most especially figures
10. Please include the level of stastical analysis at the figure caption of each figures most especially figures
11. Please provide a more quantitative data rather more descriptive data.
12. Please include the level of significant in figures and also Please include the level of stastical analysis at the figure caption of each figures most especially the figures
13. Replace all the old references
14. Please provide the geographical location where the experiment was carried out i.e town (8°8′0″N, 4°16′0″E) i.e
Discussion section
1. The author need to relate the results obtained during this study with relevant discussion and compare the results obtained to previously results from other researchers
2. The manuscript is based on a very good concept methodologically executed but poorly written. The methods failed to align with the result with the discussion. Authors need to surrender this paper to serious editorial review by an English expert or language skilled colleague. This would illuminate the manuscript and makes it more comprehensive.
Author Response
Answers to Reviewers
Title: Therapeutic and Anti-Thrombotic Properties of Some Naturally Fermented Soybean Foods of the Eastern Himalayas
Reviewer # 1
The script has improved a lot compared to its original submission. However, a few points are still needed to be addressed, as the point-to-point reply to my comments is not attached.
Please check the typos and English language throughout the script.
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we checked and corrected the typos and English language throughout the script.
Reviewer # 2
Answer: Thanks for acceptance
Reviewer # 3
ABSTRACT
- Please recast this sentence and please don’t start a sentence with ’’’Out of which’’ ‘’Out of which, 16 bacterial 20 isolates were able to digest the fibrin clot and were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequence’’
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the sentences in the Revised manuscript.
- Please recast this sentence ‘’Our findings indicated 25 the several health beneficial properties as well as’’
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the sentences in the Revised manuscript.
- I therefore suggest that the abstract should be rewritten in the following pattern to illuminate on key finding from this study.
- Brief introduction
- Aim and objectives
- Key and most important results
- Conclusion and contribution to knowledge.
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the Abstract in the Revised manuscript.
Introduction
- Please recast this sentence ‘’Non-starter naturally fermented soybean foods portray the distinct gastronomy of many ethnic South East Asians and the Himalayan people’’
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the sentences in the Revised manuscript.
- The authors needs to clearly states the aims and objective of this study very clearly. You need to start this in a new paragraph. You start like this ‘’Therefore, this study aims to’’
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the Introduction section in the Revised manuscript.
Results
- I would like to encourage the author's to clarify the experimental design. A clear experimental design with the treatments and replicates clearly described is mandatory for the acceptance of the manuscript. The statistical analysis and corresponding results also need to be clearly presented. Please add the F values, the degrees of freedom and the precise p values obtained. The assumptions of ANOVA were tested? The software was manufactured in which year?
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we have mentioned in revised Manuscript Line 289-291 that all experiments were performed in triplicate sets with mean ± SD values. Data were analysed using PAST v4 (Paleontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis) software version 3.26
- Please include the level of significant in the table 1. i.e include alphabet i.e 23 ± 2.3e
Answer: We appreciate the suggestion of Reviewer, we actually did not do the significant analysis using ANOVA among the different products or the parameters. We simply analysed the contents in the products with triplicate sets of experiments. We request the Reviewer to reconsider it.
- The author should try to better show the results of the statistical analysis, at least indicating the higher significant p-value obtained for each test (e.g. p ≤ 0.0…) throughout the result section.
Answer: Answer: We appreciate the suggestion of Reviewer, we actually did not do the higher significant p-value obtained for each test (e.g. p ≤ 0.0…) among the different products or the parameters. We simply analysed the contents in the products with triplicate sets of experiments. We request the Reviewer to reconsider it.
- Please improve the quality and the resolution of figures. Some of them are very hard to read/see-.Most especially figures.
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we improved the quality and resolution of the Figures in the revised manuscript.
- Please include the level of stastical analysis at the figure caption of each figures most especially figures.
Answer: So, we did not do the statical analysis, hence we did nit mention in the Figure caption. We request the Reviewer to reconsider it.
- Please provide a more quantitative data rather more descriptive data.
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we tried to revise.
- Please include the level of significant in figures and also Please include the level of stastical analysis at the figure caption of each figures most especially the figures
Answer: So, we did not do the statical analysis, hence we did nit mention in the Figure caption. We request the Reviewer to reconsider it.
- Replace all the old references
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we replaced some the old references, however, some standard references in Methods are to be retained.
- Please provide the geographical location where the experiment was carried out i.e town (8°8′0″N, 4°16′0″E) i.e
Answer: We carried the dried samples in aseptically from different places as mentioned in Table 1 and transported to Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Sikkim University, Tadong, Gangtok (27.3106° N, 88.5976° E)
Discussion section
- The author need to relate the results obtained during this study with relevant discussion and compare the results obtained to previously results from other researchers
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we revised the Discussion section.
- The manuscript is based on a very good concept methodologically executed but poorly written. The methods failed to align with the result with the discussion. Authors need to surrender this paper to serious editorial review by an English expert or language skilled colleague. This would illuminate the manuscript and makes it more comprehensive
Answer: As suggested by the Reviewer, we checked and corrected the typos and English language throughout the script.
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The current study by Kharnaior et al. describes several beneficial properties as well as anti-thrombolytic activity of the Himalayan fermented soybean foods exhibited. The article could have been much more interesting but there are numerous flaws. Some of the points to consider are
The authors have unnecessarily cited a lot of references. Please take care it’s a research article, not a review. Please get rid of the irrelevant and extra references.
Line No. 34-36: What's the need to provide so many references? Please keep only the latest ones.
Line 36-37: What types of functionalities are the authors talking about? Please cite the corresponding examples.
Line No. 45: What is ‘thrombi’?
The introduction section is very poorly written.
In-Line No. 47 the authors are talking about fibrinolytic enzymes as the possible treatment of CVDs and the authors directly jumped to the current study in the next line. The connectivity seems to be totally missing at this point. The authors should first mention the rate of prevalence of CVDs followed by their currently prevailing treatments. Alongside this, the authors should also mention the drawbacks and limitations of currently prevailing treatments by specifically highlighting the gaps in the currently available literature that pushed the authors towards carrying out the current study.
The flow of study and content in the introduction is totally missing. In the first paragraph, the authors start talking about the importance of fermented foods, then jumped to the motive of the current study, and started talking about fermented foods again in the last paragraph. It seems that it is very carelessly written. Please rewrite it in the light of comments mentioned above.
The authors should also decide it clear whether they want to keep this article centered on fermented foods or they want to project the use of fermented food as a tool to avoid CVDs as it can be easily adapted in day to day life.
The Materials and Methods are sometimes not described properly and with the current explanation of methodology, it seems that results are impossible to reproduce.
The Latitude and Longitude of different locations reported in the paper should be mentioned.
Spectrometric methods are not considered viable tools to analyze anti-inflammatory activity. To get a clear answer, authors should look for anti-inflammatory cytokines using q-PCR.
Correct the oC to ºC throughout the script.
Line 218: What is ‘dissolute’?
The antioxidant activity of kiema of Bhutan is maximum whereas its pH is the lowest among all. In the maximum antioxidant activity due to its acidic nature?
Table 1 and Table 3 are the main sets of data and the central idea of the whole paper. They are very poorly explained. Please explain the results properly.
The discussion section is very poorly written. The first paragraph is all about the introductory part and the authors have discussed the results of the entire paper in just one paragraph. Throughout the discussion, the authors have laid stress on one point. The points needing key discussion, for instance, the causality governing the presence of maximum antioxidant activity and other therapeutic aspects in different fermented foods are totally ignored. Why?
The discussion section should be completely rewritten.
Line No. 402: Italicize the names of all the bacteria
The conclusion of the paper is not in line with its title. In the title, the authors mention the Therapeutic and Anti-Thrombotic properties of fermented foods but the authors have ended the paper by highlighting different bacterial strains capable of producing fibrinolytic enzymes. This is a very poor way of ending.
Different fermented leads in different therapeutic properties, for instance, some have the highest antioxidant activity, some possess the highest fibrinolytic activity etc. So what according to the authors is the best-fermented product suitable for consumption?
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Editor,
The article deals with Therapeutic and Anti-Thrombotic Properties of Some Naturally Fermented Soybean Foods of the Eastern Himalayas. The topic is good. However, discussion sections should be improved. My questions are below;
Line 11-13: ….. their anti-thrombotic properties. Samples were also assessed for their 13 therapeutic properties…..
There is a redundant expression at the beginning of Abstract. Rewrite the sentence.
Line 94: ± ; Check the front and back of the unit for gaps and make consistent corrections throughout the manuscript
Line 114, 134,135,,,,: mL, μL : Check the spelling of the unit
Line 91, 137,,,,,,,: °C , % : Check the front and back of the unit for gaps and make consistent corrections throughout the manuscript
Lime 117, 124, 139: Provide information (company, city,,,) for spectrometer,, other experimental equipments throughout the manuscript
Please fill out the company name and other sources of all reagents: DPPH solution, 5-LOX, linoleic acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 2% aluminium trichloride (AlCl3), f p-nitrophenyl 133 butyrate (PNPB), α-amylase solution, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) ,,,,,
Fig. 3a : How many times did you conduct replicates?
The isolates (Bacillus subtilis, B. velezensis, B. halotolerans and B. 402 inaquosorum) mentioned by the author do not seem to be much different from others. It is important to clarify whether it is statistically significant.
In the material and method, the correlation between the methods is not well seen. Explain the correlation to the Discussion section
Reinforcement of the Dicussion section is required.
