Improving the Properties of Gelatin-Based Films by Incorporation of "Pitanga" Leaf Extract and Crystalline Nanocellulose.

Biopolymer-based films can be activated by the incorporation of active compounds into their matrix. Plant extracts are rich in phenolic compounds, which have antimicrobial and/or antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to produce gelatin-based active films and nanocomposite films incorporated with "pitanga" (Eugenia uniflora L.) leaf extract (PLE) and/or crystalline nanocellulose extracted from soybean straw (CN), and to study the physicochemical, functional, microstructural, thermal, UV/Vis light barrier, and antioxidant properties of these materials. PLE enhanced some film properties, such as tensile strength (from 30.2 MPa to 40.6 MPa), elastic modulus (from 9.3 MPa to 11.3 MPa), the UV/Vis light barrier, and antioxidant activity, in addition to affecting the microstructural, surface, and color properties. These improvements were even more significant in nanocomposites simultaneously containing PLE and CN (59.5 MPa for tensile strength and 15.1 MPa for elastic modulus), and these composites also had lower moisture content (12.2% compared to 13.5-14.4% for other treatments) and solubility in water (from 48.9% to 44.1%). These improvements may be the result of interactions that occur between PLE's polyphenols and gelatin, mainly in the presence of CN, probably due to the formation of a stable PLE-CN-gelatin complex. These results are relevant for the food packaging sector, as the activated nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced active, barrier, and mechanical properties due to the presence of PLE and CN, in addition to being entirely produced with sustainable components from natural and renewable sources.

Extraction methods and nutritional characterization of protein concentrates obtained from bean, chickpea, and corn discard grains.

Protein concentrates obtained from discarded grain flours of white chickpea Sinaloa (Cicer arietinum) (CC), "Azufrazin" bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (BC), and white corn (Zea mays) (MC), were characterized biochemically through bromatological analyses (protein, lipid, fiber, moisture, ashes, and nitrogen free extract), HPLC techniques (amino acids content), and spectrophotometry (anti-nutrients: phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, and saponins). The percentage of protein obtained from CC, BC, and MC was 71.23, 81.10, and 55.69%, respectively. Most peptides in the BC and CC flours had a molecular weight of <1.35 kDa, meanwhile, MC peptides were heavier (1.35 to 17 kDa). The amino acids (AA) profile of flours and protein concentrates were similar; however, all the protein concentrates showed an increased AA accumulation (300 to -400%) compared with their flours. The protein concentrates from BC registered the highest AA accumulation (77.4 g of AA/100 g of protein concentrates). Except for the phytic acid in CC and trypsin inhibitor in CC and MC, respectively, the rest of the protein concentrates exhibited higher amounts of the anti-nutrients compared with their flours; however, these levels do not exceed the reported toxicity for some animals, mainly when used in combination with other ingredients for feed formulations. It is concluded that CC and BC protein concentrates showed better nutritional characteristics than MC (level of protein, size of peptides, and AA profile). After biochemical characterization, protein concentrates derived from by-products have nutritional potential for the animal feed industry.

Evaluation of rehydrated corn grain silage with okara or soybean inclusion in the performance of lactating cows / Avaliação da silagem de grãos de milho reidratados com inclusão de okara ou soja no desempenho de vacas em lactação

This study aimed to evaluate dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, and feed efficiency of cows fed corn grain silages with okara or raw soybean inclusion. Six Holstein cows were distributed in a double Latin square and arranged in the following treatments: concentrate formulated based on corn grain silage with 30% okara inclusion; concentrate of corn grain silage with 20% raw soybean inclusion, and concentrate based on dry corn grains. Statistical analysis was performed using Bayesian inference. Diets formulated with silages reduced dry matter intake compared to the diet of concentrate based on dry grains. High digestibility of DM, OM, NFC, and EE was observed for diets with silage inclusion. Milk presented an increase in CLA for the diet of corn grain silage diet with soybean inclusion. Rehydrated grain corn silage with soybean or okara inclusion reduced dry matter intake and increased nutrient digestibility, maintaining the same milk production, which demonstrates the higher efficiency of these diets.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar a ingestão de matéria seca, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, produção e composição do leite e a eficiência alimentar de vacas alimentadas com silagens de grãos de milho com adição de okara ou de soja crua. Foram utilizadas 6 vacas da raça Holandesa, distribuídas em um duplo quadrado latino, nos seguintes tratamentos: concentrado formulado à base de silagem de grãos de milho com adição de 30% de okara; concentrado com silagem de grãos de milho com adição de 20% de soja crua e concentrado à base de grãos secos de milho. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de Inferência Bayesiana. As dietas formuladas com as silagens diminuíram o consumo de matéria seca em relação à dieta com concentrado à base de grãos secos. Foi verificada maior digestibilidade da MS, MO, CNF e EE para as dietas com a inclusão das silagens. Houve aumento do CLA no leite para a dieta com silagem de grãos de milho com adição de soja. A ensilagem de grãos de milho reidratados com adição de soja ou okara diminui o consumo de matéria seca, aumenta a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, mantendo a mesma produção de leite, o que demonstra superioridade na eficiência destas dietas.(AU)

Green Synthesis of Antileishmanial and Antifungal Silver Nanoparticles Using Corn Cob Xylan as a Reducing and Stabilizing Agent.

Corn cob is an agricultural byproduct that produces an estimated waste burden in the thousands of tons annually, but it is also a good source of xylan, an important bioactive polysaccharide. Silver nanoparticles containing xylan (nanoxylan) were produced using an environmentally friendly synthesis method. To do this, we extracted xylan from corn cobs using an ultrasound technique, which was confirmed by both chemical and NMR analyses. This xylan contained xylose, glucose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 50:21:14:9:2.5:2.5, respectively. Nanoxylan synthesis was analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy at kmax = 469 nm and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), which confirmed the presence of both silver and xylan in the nanoxylan product. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the nanoxylan particles were ~102.0 nm in size and spherical in shape, respectively. DLS also demonstrated that nanoxylan was stable for 12 months and coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) showed that the nanoxylan particles were 19% silver. Nanoxylan reduced Leishmania amazonensis promastigote viability with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 25 µg/mL, while xylan alone showed no effective. Additionally, nanoxylan exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MIC = 7.5 µg/mL), C. parapsilosis (MIC = 7.5 µg/mL), and Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC = 7.5 µg/mL). Taken together, these data suggest that it is possible to synthesize silver nanoparticles using xylan and that these nanoxylan exert improved antileishmanial and antifungal activities when compared to the untreated polysaccharide or silver nitrate used for their synthesis. Thus, nanoxylan may represent a promising new class of antiparasitic agents for use in the treatment of these microorganisms.

The replacement of grass hay by cassava foliage hay or spineless cactus improves lamb performance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of Tifton 85 hay with cassava foliage hay and/or spineless cactus on the weight gain, body measurements, ingestive behaviour, and parasite infection of confined sheep. Thirty-five non-castrated male lambs with no defined breed were housed in individual pens for 90 days. Five treatments in a complete mixture were offered twice a day: Tifton hay (TH), cassava foliage hay (CFH), Tifton hay + cassava foliage hay (TH + CFH), Tifton hay + spineless cactus (TH + SC), and cassava foliage hay + spineless cactus (CFH + SC). The data were evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% probability. The dry matter and crude protein intake were higher in sheep fed CFH and CFH + SC than sheep fed TH. Animals fed TH + SC presented a higher average daily gain (0.215 g) than sheep fed TH (0.125 g). The addition of spineless cactus to the diet with Tifton hay increased the feed efficiency by approximately 100% but did not affect the faecal egg count/g. The use of cassava foliage hay and its association with spineless cactus is recommended for the replacement of Tifton 85 hay in the diet of confined sheep.

Evaluation of rehydrated corn grain silage with okara or soybean inclusion in the performance of lactating cows / Avaliação da silagem de grãos de milho reidratados com inclusão de okara ou soja no desempenho de vacas em lactação

This study aimed to evaluate dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, and feed efficiency of cows fed corn grain silages with okara or raw soybean inclusion. Six Holstein cows were distributed in a double Latin square and arranged in the following treatments: concentrate formulated based on corn grain silage with 30% okara inclusion; concentrate of corn grain silage with 20% raw soybean inclusion, and concentrate based on dry corn grains. Statistical analysis was performed using Bayesian inference. Diets formulated with silages reduced dry matter intake compared to the diet of concentrate based on dry grains. High digestibility of DM, OM, NFC, and EE was observed for diets with silage inclusion. Milk presented an increase in CLA for the diet of corn grain silage diet with soybean inclusion. Rehydrated grain corn silage with soybean or okara inclusion reduced dry matter intake and increased nutrient digestibility, maintaining the same milk production, which demonstrates the higher efficiency of these diets.

Objetivou-se avaliar a ingestão de matéria seca, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, produção e composição do leite e a eficiência alimentar de vacas alimentadas com silagens de grãos de milho com adição de okara ou de soja crua. Foram utilizadas 6 vacas da raça Holandesa, distribuídas em um duplo quadrado latino, nos seguintes tratamentos: concentrado formulado à base de silagem de grãos de milho com adição de 30% de okara; concentrado com silagem de grãos de milho com adição de 20% de soja crua e concentrado à base de grãos secos de milho. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de Inferência Bayesiana. As dietas formuladas com as silagens diminuíram o consumo de matéria seca em relação à dieta com concentrado à base de grãos secos. Foi verificada maior digestibilidade da MS, MO, CNF e EE para as dietas com a inclusão das silagens. Houve aumento do CLA no leite para a dieta com silagem de grãos de milho com adição de soja. A ensilagem de grãos de milho reidratados com adição de soja ou okara diminui o consumo de matéria seca, aumenta a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, mantendo a mesma produção de leite, o que demonstra superioridade na eficiência destas dietas.

Cassava foliage in quail feeding

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of including cassava foliage hay in quail diets on the performance, carcass characteristics, and economic viability of rearing these animals in the period of 1 to 35 days of age. Four hundred 1-day-old unsexed quail were distributed into five treatments in a completely randomized design with eight replicates and 10 birds per experimental unit. Experimental treatments consisted of diets including 0.0, 0.5, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0% cassava foliage hay (CFH). Feed intake increased linearly (P < 0.05), while feed conversion worsened (P < 0.05) in the period of 1 to 21 days. During the phase of 22 to 35 days, the cassava by-product inclusion levels caused the feed intake and weight gain of the quails to decrease linearly (P < 0.05), but did not influence (P > 0.05) feed conversion. In the period of 1 to 35 days of age, the CFH inclusion levels had a linear effect (P < 0.05) on the performance variables, leading to an increase in feed intake and weight gain and worse feed conversion. An influence of the CFH levels was detected (P<0.05) on the absolute weights of back, liver, and gizzard and on the relative weights of breast, back, legs, heart, liver, and gizzard of the quail. Inclusion of 10% cassava foliage hay is recommended in the diet of meat quail aged 1 to 35 days.(AU)

Composição centesimal e perfil dos ácidos graxos de sementes de porongo / Proximate composition and fatty acid profile of seeds of bottle gourd

O fruto do porongueiro se destina à fabricação de cuias, utensílios e artesanatos. Em regiões produtoras comerciais de porongo, grande quantidade de frutos e, por conseguinte, de sementes são descartadas durante o processo de produção agrícola e industrialização. Nesse sentido, este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a composição centesimal e o perfil dos ácidos graxos presentes nas sementes de porongo com vistas ao seu uso como matéria prima e alimento. Amostras de sementes de plantas de porongo, semeadas em diferentes épocas de semeadura, foram coletadas em um experimento no município de Rondinha - RS, no ano de 2008. Após secagem das sementes, fez-se a separação e determinação da proporção entre cascas e amêndoas. As amêndoas foram submetidas à avaliação do teor de lipídios, cinzas, proteína bruta, fibra bruta e carboidratos. A composição dos ácidos graxos presentes nos lipídios foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa. As sementes apresentaram elevado teor de carboidratos (33,0%), lipídios (37,6%) e proteína (25,2%), sendo que os teores desses componentes não foram afetados pelas épocas de semeadura das plantas. Entretanto, nas plantas semeadas na época mais tardia do ano (terceira época-21/10), elas apresentaram ciclo mais curto (tempo entre semeadura e senescência das plantas, de 149 dias) e frutos cujas amêndoas das sementes apresentaram maior proporção relativa de ácidos graxos insaturados (79,5%). Os ácidos graxos predominantes em ordem decrescente foram ácido linoleico (C18:2, ômega-6), ácido palmítico (C16:0), ácido oleico (C18:1, ômega 9) e ácido esteárico (C18:0). Os resultados da composição centesimal e do perfil dos ácidos graxos sugerem que as sementes de porongo apresentam um potencial alimentício que necessita ser melhor estudado, com vistas à sua exploração.(AU)

The fruit of bottlegourd are used for the manufacture of gourd, utensils and handicrafts. Seeds and fruits of bottlegourd are discarded during the manufacturing in producing regions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the composition and profile of fatty acids in the seeds of bottle gourd with a view to using the seeds as raw material and food. Seeds of bottle gourd, whose plants were seeded in different growing seasons, were collected in an experiment in the city of Rondinha - RS, in 2008. After drying, it was separated and the ratio of peel and seed kernels. The almonds were subjected to assessment of lipid content, ash, crude protein, crude fiber and carbohydrates. The fatty acid composition of lipids present in the almonds was determined by gas chromatography. The seeds had high carbohydrate content (33.0%), lipids (37.6%) and protein (25.2%), but were not affected by seeding date. However, plants seeded later (on October 27th ) had shorter cycle (time between seeding and senescence of plants, 149 days) and almond had a higher relative proportion of fatty unsaturated acids (79.5%). The predominant fatty acids in decreasing order were linoleic acid (C18: 2, omega-6), palmitic acid (C16: 0), oleic (C18: 1, omega-9) and stearic acid (C18: 0). The results of centesimal composition and profile of fatty acids suggest a nutritional potential that needs to be better studied with a view to exploiting the bottle gourd seeds.(AU)

Composição centesimal e perfil dos ácidos graxos de sementes de porongo / Proximate composition and fatty acid profile of seeds of bottle gourd

O fruto do porongueiro se destina à fabricação de cuias, utensílios e artesanatos. Em regiões produtoras comerciais de porongo, grande quantidade de frutos e, por conseguinte, de sementes são descartadas durante o processo de produção agrícola e industrialização. Nesse sentido, este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a composição centesimal e o perfil dos ácidos graxos presentes nas sementes de porongo com vistas ao seu uso como matéria prima e alimento. Amostras de sementes de plantas de porongo, semeadas em diferentes épocas de semeadura, foram coletadas em um experimento no município de Rondinha - RS, no ano de 2008. Após secagem das sementes, fez-se a separação e determinação da proporção entre cascas e amêndoas. As amêndoas foram submetidas à avaliação do teor de lipídios, cinzas, proteína bruta, fibra bruta e carboidratos. A composição dos ácidos graxos presentes nos lipídios foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa. As sementes apresentaram elevado teor de carboidratos (33,0%), lipídios (37,6%) e proteína (25,2%), sendo que os teores desses componentes não foram afetados pelas épocas de semeadura das plantas. Entretanto, nas plantas semeadas na época mais tardia do ano (terceira época-21/10), elas apresentaram ciclo mais curto (tempo entre semeadura e senescência das plantas, de 149 dias) e frutos cujas amêndoas das sementes apresentaram maior proporção relativa de ácidos graxos insaturados (79,5%). Os ácidos graxos predominantes em ordem decrescente foram ácido linoleico (C18:2, ômega-6), ácido palmítico (C16:0), ácido oleico (C18:1, ômega 9) e ácido esteárico (C18:0). Os resultados da composição centesimal e do perfil dos ácidos graxos sugerem que as sementes de porongo apresentam um potencial alimentício que necessita ser melhor estudado, com vistas à sua exploração.

The fruit of bottlegourd are used for the manufacture of gourd, utensils and handicrafts. Seeds and fruits of bottlegourd are discarded during the manufacturing in producing regions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the composition and profile of fatty acids in the seeds of bottle gourd with a view to using the seeds as raw material and food. Seeds of bottle gourd, whose plants were seeded in different growing seasons, were collected in an experiment in the city of Rondinha - RS, in 2008. After drying, it was separated and the ratio of peel and seed kernels. The almonds were subjected to assessment of lipid content, ash, crude protein, crude fiber and carbohydrates. The fatty acid composition of lipids present in the almonds was determined by gas chromatography. The seeds had high carbohydrate content (33.0%), lipids (37.6%) and protein (25.2%), but were not affected by seeding date. However, plants seeded later (on October 27th ) had shorter cycle (time between seeding and senescence of plants, 149 days) and almond had a higher relative proportion of fatty unsaturated acids (79.5%). The predominant fatty acids in decreasing order were linoleic acid (C18: 2, omega-6), palmitic acid (C16: 0), oleic (C18: 1, omega-9) and stearic acid (C18: 0). The results of centesimal composition and profile of fatty acids suggest a nutritional potential that needs to be better studied with a view to exploiting the bottle gourd seeds.