Effects of dietary fermented peony seed dreg on the laying performance, albumen quality, antioxidant capacity, and n-3 PUFA-enriching property of laying hens.

Introduction: It is of great importance to seek agro-industrial byproducts that can serve as unconventional or alternative feedstuffs for poultry, especially those that are substitutive sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as this will contribute to alleviating feed shortage pressure and improving poultry performance and product quality. In this study, the effects of dietary fermented peony seed dreg (FPSD) on the production performance of hens and fatty acid composition of meat and egg yolk were evaluated. Methods: A total of 480 54-week-old Xinyang chickens were divided into 5 groups: control (basal diet); 5% peony seed dreg (PSD); and 5%, 7% and 9% FPSD, and each group consisted of 6 replicates with 16 birds per replicate. Production performances were recorded daily, and egg quality, serum parameters, antibody titers and fatty acid profile in the muscle and yolk were measured at 64 weeks of age. Results and discussion: Egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg albumen quality were improved (p < 0.05) by 5% and 7% FPSD groups compared to 5% PSD and the control diet. Immune status was not influenced by PSD, but antibody titres against H7N9 and ND were improved by FPSD diets during most of the experimental periods. Dietary 5% and 7% FPSD increased (p < 0.05) serum high density lipoprotein concentrations and glutathione peroxidase actives. Total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in meat and yolk increased gradually, while the total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio decreased gradually with increasing dietary FPSD levels. In conclusion, up to 7% dietary FPSD has the potential use to be utilized as a supplement in Xinyang laying hen diets to produce n-3 PUFA-enriched meat and eggs and positively affect production performance and health status.

Purification and identification of an antioxidative peptide from peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) seed dreg.

The present study demonstrated the hydrolysis of peony seed protein isolate (PSPI) by using alcalase and resulted in the generation of an anti-oxidative peptide. In brief, a model was used to illustrate the enzymolysis of PSPI with the determination of kinetic factors as per investigation information. The model proved suitable to explain the PSPI hydrolysis by alcalase. A novel anti-oxidative peptide was obtained successfully by ultrafiltration and a series of chromatography techniques. Subsequently, a purified fragment was identified with the amino acid sequence of SMRKPPG followed by its synthesis and evaluation of its anti-oxidative activities. After hydrolysis, the peony seed protein hydrolysate (PSPH) with the degree of hydrolysis of 18% displayed the most significant antioxidant action which was further used to isolate the anti-oxidative peptide.

Effects of different chemical modifications on the antibacterial activities of polysaccharides sequentially extracted from peony seed dreg.

The peony seed dreg polysaccharide (PSDPs) fractions and their modified derivatives were examined for their antibacterial potential. PSDPs along with their derivatives exhibited appreciable antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) as well as Gram-negative (E. coli and S. typhimurium) bacteria. Among the four polysaccharide fractions, HBSS possessed the greatest antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone of 13.6 mm against S. typhimurium, minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.12% against S. typhimurium and maximum bacterial growth inhibition. For the modified derivatives, the sulfated modified fraction (S-HBSS) exhibited the maximum antibacterial activity with inhibition zone of 15.4 mm and minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.08% against S. typhimurium, followed by carboxymethylated and phosphorylated derivatives. Out of the four tested bacteria, S. typhimurium was observed as the most sensitive strain which was inhibited most effectively by all the polysaccharide fractions. Overall, our findings clearly indicated that the selected polysaccharide fractions can be used as food ingredients with potential natural antibacterial prospective.

Effects of different chemical modifications on the antioxidant activities of polysaccharides sequentially extracted from peony seed dreg.

Four types of sequentially extracted peony seed dreg polysaccharides (PSDPs) fractions were modified through sulfation, phosphorylation and carboxymethylation and studied for their in vitro antioxidant characteristics. The modified derivatives showed decreased sugar and protein content, while uronic acid content was elevated as compared to native (un-modified) polysaccharides. Further, modified derivatives shared the similar maximum absorption peaks indicating their homogeneous nature. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of sulfated, carboxymethylated and phosphorylated derivatives showed that hydroxyl groups were converted to OS, COO and POH bonds, respectively. The sulfated polysaccharides (S-PSDPs) displayed the highest reducing ability [S-CASS (1.854)], DPPH radical scavenging ability [S-CASS (95.07%)] and ABTS radical scavenging activity [S-CASS (99.85%)]. The phosphorylated polysaccharides (P-PSDPs) exhibited maximum hydroxyl radical scavenging activity [P-DASS (92.61%)] and ferrous ion chelating ability (99.94% for all the fractions). The carboxymethylated polysaccharides (C-PSDPs) maintained moderately stable antioxidant ability. Overall, the four different PSDPs modified by the same chemical method also resulted into different chemical composition, characteristic absorption peaks and antioxidant attributes. We conclude that the different modifications of the polysaccharide fractions had their own potential significance as new antioxidants for food industry and human health.

Anti-Cancerous Potential of Polysaccharide Fractions Extracted from Peony Seed Dreg on Various Human Cancer Cell Lines Via Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis.

In this study, four homo/heterogenous polysaccharides (HBSS, CHSS, DASS, and CASS) extracted from peony seed dreg with respective molecular weights of 3467, 4677, 229, and 56 kDa were evaluated for anti-cancerous attributes in prostate cancer cells (Pc-3), colon cancer cells (HCT-116), human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), cervical cancer (Hela cells) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells as control. Among them, CASS and DASS extracted by alkali, consisted of 34.43% Gal, 26.39% Ara, 21.80% Glc and 35.77% Ara, 19.35% Gal, 17.77% Man, respectively. CASS fraction had the most significant inhibitory effects on all the cell lines used whereas HBSS had least effect. The CASS shown remarkable inhibition and cytotoxic effects in Hela cells followed by other cell lines as compared to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). CASS arrested cell cycle in G0/G1 phase except MCF-7 cells and increased apoptotic cells percentage varied in different treated cells. CASS down regulated the expression of Cyclin A/B1/D1/E1, CDK-1/2/4/6 and p15/16/21/27 excluding p53. The notable change in expression of proteins (Cytochrome C, Bax, Bcl-2, p-Caspase-3, -8, -9, and PARP) was observed followed by Apaf-1 and Survivin. These findings indicated that CASS has an anti-cancerous potential in the treatment of human cancers which make it a potent candidate in functional foods.

The rheological properties of polysaccharides sequentially extracted from peony seed dreg.

The peony seed dreg polysaccharides (PSDPs) were sequentially extracted using hot buffer (HBSS), chelating agent (CHSS), dilute alkaline (DASS) and concentrated alkaline (CASS). The rheological properties of PSDPs were investigated by steady-shear and oscillatory rheological measurements. The four PSDPs fractions in solution exhibited typical non-Newtonian and shear-thinning behavior. The viscosity of HBSS was higher than the rest. While the viscosity value of all PSDPs solution decreased at acid pH (4.0) and alkaline pH (10.0), in the presence of Ca(2+) and high temperature (90°C), it increased in the presence of Na(+) and following freezing. The modulus G' and G" of all PSDPs solution were increased with increasing oscillation frequency ranging between 0.01 and 100Hz at each concentration. In all four cases, the crossover of G' and G" values decreased gradually with increasing concentration of samples.

Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides sequentially extracted from peony seed dreg.

The sequential extraction of peony seed dreg polysaccharides (PSDP) with hot buffer (HBSS), chelating agent (CHSS), dilute alkaline (DASS) and concentrated alkaline (CASS) yielded four different polysaccharide fractions. Based on their absorptions at 3600-3200cm(-1) and 1200-800cm(-1), these fractions were confirmed to be polysaccharides. The properties of four PSDPs displayed some slight differences. The CASS showed the highest peak temperature and endothermic enthalpy. The emulsifying activity and emulsifying stability of four PSDPs exhibited a dose-dependent pattern; HBSS showed the highest emulsifying activity, and CHSS displayed the longest emulsifying stability. The four PSDPs also exhibited wide variations in their antioxidant activities. For example, i) CASS showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and ABTS radical scavenging activity; ii) HBSS exhibited the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and iii) CHSS displayed the higher ferrous ions chelating ability than others.