Syagrus coronata fixed oil prevents rotenone-induced movement disorders and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster.

One prominent aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the presence of elevated levels of free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Syagrus coronata (S. coronata), a palm tree, exhibits antioxidant activity attributed to its phytochemical composition, containing fatty acids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The aim of this investigation was to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of S. coronata fixed oil against rotenone-induced toxicity using Drosophila melanogaster. Young Drosophila specimens (3-4 d old) were exposed to a diet supplemented with rotenone (50 µM) for 7 d with and without the inclusion of S. coronata fixed oil (0.2 mg/g diet). Data demonstrated that rotenone exposure resulted in significant locomotor impairment and increased mortality rates in flies. Further, rotenone administration reduced total thiol levels but elevated lipid peroxidation, iron (Fe) levels, and nitric oxide (NO) levels while decreasing the reduced capacity of mitochondria. Concomitant administration of S. coronata exhibited a protective effect against rotenone, as evidenced by a return to control levels of Fe, NO, and total thiols, lowered lipid peroxidation levels, reversed locomotor impairment, and enhanced % cell viability. Molecular docking of the oil lipidic components with antioxidant enzymes showed strong binding affinity to superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) enzymes. Overall, treatment with S. coronata fixed oil was found to prevent rotenone-induced movement disorders and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster.

Effect of dietary inclusion of licuri cake on intake, feeding behavior, and performance of feedlot cull cows.

Licuri cake (LC) is an interesting alternative nutritional component for high-grain diets for ruminants due to its high protein (21.6% CP), fat (12.0% EE), and fiber (62.8% NDF) contents. We investigated the effect of increasing levels of LC inclusion on the intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, and carcass traits of cull cows fed high-grain diets. Forty Zebu cows with an initial weight of 318 ± 38.1 kg, at 105 months of age, were confined in collective stalls and fed (ad libitum) a diet containing 0, 50, 100, or 150 g/kg LC on a diet dry matter (DM) basis. Licuri cake inclusion induced quadratic responses (P < 0.05) in the intakes of DM (9.57 kg/day at 97.8 g/kg LC), crude protein (CP; 1.02 kg/day at 91.7 g/kg LC), and total digestible nutrients (6.68 kg/day at 75.2 g/kg LC). The digestibility of DM, CP, and non-fibrous carbohydrates decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake and rumination efficiencies increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of LC in the diet. The inclusion of LC did not influence (P > 0.05) on daily weight gain, hot carcass weight, or back fat thickness in the carcass. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of up to 150 g/kg LC in high-grain diets for feedlot cull cows.

Nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, and performance of feedlot goat kids fed high-concentrate diets containing licury cake (Syagrus coronata).

The current trial was carried out to evaluate the impacts of adding licury cake (Syagrus coronata) in high-concentrate diets for goat kids feedlot-finished on growth performance and metabolic parameters. Forty crossbred non-castrated Boer goat kids with approximately four months and similar initial live weights (20.15 ± 2.79 kg). The experimental design used in this study was a completely randomized, with four diets (0, 10, 20, and 30% of licury cake inclusion in a dry matter basis (DM)). Licury cake inclusion decreased nutrient intake and digestibility (P < 0.05). Times spent in feeding (P < 0.001) and rumination (P = 0.003) activities, number of events in feeding (P < 0.001) and idling (P = 0.015) increased, whereas a linear reduction occurred in feeding and rumination efficiencies of DM and neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.001). Nitrogen (N) intake, retained N (P < 0.001), triglycerides concentrations (P = 0.002), aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased with the licury cake inclusion (P < 0.05). Final body weight (P = 0.008), average daily gain (P = 0.001), and total weight gain (P = 0.001) decreased linearly when licury cake was included in diets. High-concentrate diets containing increasing levels of licury cake decrease intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients and performance when supplied for goat kids feedlot-finished. Therefore, the inclusion of the studied levels of licury cake in goat kids fed high-concentrate diets is not recommended for feedlot-finished systems.

Performance of growing lambs supplemented with ground licuri (Syagrus coronata).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary ground licuri on lamb performance. METHODS: Forty male lambs were used in a completely randomized design to test the effects of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg of ground licuri added to diets. The trial lasted for 75 days. Intake, digestibility, physically effective neutral detergent fiber, and chewing activity were estimated. Blood samples were taken on day 45 to determine the concentrations of glucose, urea, nonesterified fatty acids, and triglycerides. Average daily gain (ADG) were determined on the last day of the experimental trial. RESULTS: Licuri inclusion markedly increased dietary neutral detergent fiber and ether extract (EE) content, but it decreased dry matter (DM) intake. However, the intake and digestibility of EE linearly increased. The ADG decreased linearly (p<0.05) with licuri inclusion. Licuri had no effect (p>0.05) on the concentrations of blood metabolites; however, blood urea increased (p<0.05), while serum glucose decreased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The physically effective fiber of ground licuri is similar to Tyfton hay and licuri inclusion decreases lamb performance due to a decreased in DM intake.

Nutrient intake and ingestive behavior of feedlot steers fed with licuri cake.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different levels of licuri cake on the consumption of dry matter and nutrients and ingestive behavior of feedlot crossbred steers. Forty-four crossbred steers with an average age of 24 months and a mean live weight of 358.19 ± 41.57 kg were used in the study. The animals were aleatorically distributed in a completely randomized design made up of four treatments, with 11 animals used per treatment: the control treatment (without the inclusion of licuri cake in the diet) and treatment with the inclusion levels of 8.5, 17, and 25.5% of licuri cake, respectively, in the total dry matter of the diet. The inclusion of licuri cake influenced the intake of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, and non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein, each of them showing quadratic behavior. There was an effect of the tested diets on the time spent on food intake and number of idle periods, which presented a quadratic effect, with maximum and minimum values obtained for the inclusion levels of the licuri cake of 16.92% and 11.00%, respectively. There was no effect of the tested diets on the time spent on rumination and idleness. The feed efficiency of the dry matter, the duration of the feeding period, and the duration of the idleness period were influenced by the inclusion of the licuri tart in the diet, presenting a linear decreasing effect. There was an increasing linear effect for the number of feeding periods and the duration of rumination periods. Given the results obtained, it can be concluded that the licuri cake changes the consumption and behavioral parameters of feedlot steers, being recommended its use in up to 8.5% of inclusion in the total dry matter of the diet.

Inclusion of licuri meal in the diet of pasture dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of increasing levels of licuri meal as a substitute for soybean bran in the diet of pasture-based dairy cows and its effects on the intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production and composition. Eight crossbred Holstein/Zebu cows were used in two 4 × 4 Latin square plots. The diets contained increasing percentage of licuri meal (0.0, 4.16, 7.09, and 9.45%) in the total diet, replacing soybean bran. The inclusion of licuri meal in the diet affected total dry matter intake and dry matter intake in relation to body weight, which presented a quadratic effect. The same behavior was observed for the consumption of EE, CP, TDN, and NDFap. The NFC consumption showed a linear decrease with the addition of the by-product in the diet. There was no influence of the inclusion of the licuri meal on the digestibility of the DM, CP, NFC, and TDN, while the digestibility of the NDFap and EE presented increasing linear effect. There was a reduction of milk production and food efficiency with the inclusion of increasing levels of the meal. The fat content in milk showed a linear increasing effect. Ditto for cholesterol. It is recommended to include not more than 7.00% of licuri meal for lactating cows with an average production of 20 kg day-1.

Effect of replacing ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake on the performance, digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and ingestive behavior in lactating dairy cows.

Licuri (Syagrus coronate) cake is a biodiesel by-product used in ruminant feed as a beneficial energy source for supplementation in managed pastures. The objective was to evaluate the performance, digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, ingestive behavior and diet profitability of eight crossbred Holstein (3/4)×Gyr (5/8) multiparous cows (480±25 kg BW and 100 days milking) grazing and supplemented with licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate (0, 200, 400 and 600 g/kg in dry matter (DM)), distributed in an experimental duplicated 4×4 Latin square design. Licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal increased (P<0.01) the intake and digestibility of ether extract and decreased the non-fiber carbohydrates; however, there were no influences on the intakes of DM, CP, NDF and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were not influenced by licuri cake addition. There was a decrease trend on TDN digestibility (P=0.08). Licuri cake replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate did not affect the intake; fecal, urinary and mammary excretions; N balance; and triglycerides concentrations. However, the blood urea nitrogen (P=0.04) concentration decreased with the licuri cakes inclusion in cow supplementation. There was an increasing trend for serum creatinine (P=0.07). Licuri cake inclusion did not affect body condition score, production, yield, protein, lactose, total solids and solid non-fat contents of milk and Minas frescal cheese. There was a linear decrease in average daily weight gain (g/day). The milk fat concentration and cheese fat production (P<0.1) presented a linear increase with partial replacement of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cakes. The addition of licuri cake did not alter the time spent feeding, ruminating or idling. There was an increasing trend in NDF feeding efficiency (P=0.09). The replacing of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake up to 600 g/kg decreased the concentrate cost by US$0.45/cow per day. Licuri cake replacing corn and soybeans (400 g/kg) in concentrate promoted a profit of US$0.07/animal per day. Licuri cake is indicated to concentrate the supplementation of dairy cows with average productions of 10 kg/day at levels up to 400 g/kg in the concentrate supplement because it provides an additional profit of US$0.07/animal per day and increased milk and Minas frescal cheese fat without negative effects on productive parameters.

Effects of licury cake in young Nellore bull diets: salted sun-dried meat is preferred rather than fresh meat by consumers despite similar physicochemical characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Salted Sun-dried meat is a traditional process of meat salting that can improve quality and overall acceptance. The present study compared the physicochemical and sensory attributes of fresh and salted sun-dried meat from Nellore Zebu (Bos taurus indicus) bulls (n = 32) and evaluated diets containing different levels (0%, 7%, 14% and 21%) of licury cake in diets provided to Nellore finished in a feedlot. RESULTS: Salted sun-dried meat decreased moisture (P < 0.0001) and ether extract (P = 0.0002) contents but increased ash (P < 0.0001) and protein (P < 0.0001) contents compared to fresh meat. The addition of licury resulted in linear increases in moisture (P = 0.02) and quadratic effects on Warner-Bratzler shear force (P < 0.03) in fresh meat. Cooking weight loss (P < 0.0001) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (P = 0.03) were reduced by the manufacturing process of sun-dried meat. Sun-dried meat presented greater color index L* (P = 0.0032), a* (P < 0.0001) and c* (P < 0.0001) values but a lower index color b* (P < 0.0001) value compared to fresh meat. Salted sun-dried meat presented greater sensory characteristic scores compared to fresh meat (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Licury cake can be used in 21% of dry matter in diets to finish animals in feedlot without lessening the quality fresh meat or sundried meat. Salted sun-dried meat presented a greater overall acceptance. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antimicrobial activity of Syagrus coronata (Martius) Beccari

This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves, inflorescences, nut-shell, liquid and solid endosperm nuts of Syagrus coronata against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Screening was initially performed using the agar dilution method. The extracts regarded as bioactive underwent liquid-liquid partition for determination of their minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericide concentration (MIC and MBC) and those of their respective fractions against the microorganisms inhibited in preliminary tests. Antimicrobial activity was observed only in inflorescences. The corresponding aqueous extract was effective against B. cereus and the three strains of S. aureus, and the corresponding MIC and MCB values were lower than those of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the same extract. The methanol extract was effective against B. cereus, and the corresponding MIC and MBC values were higher than those of ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the same extract.