2g Kg-1 Research Articles

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil Using Bidens pilosa: Effect of Varying Concentrations of Sophorolipids.

The current study investigates the impact of biosurfactant (sophorolipids, SL) concentrations (0.1 to 1g kg-1) on the removal of cadmium (29mg kg-1) from soil using Bidens pilosa. The results showed that increasing concentrations of SL increased the plant biomass. The dry weight of plants was 0.87g, 0.77g, 0.65g, 0.85g, 0.91g, 0.92g, 1.06g in control, SL0 (No SL), SL1 (0.1g kg-1), SL2 (0.25g kg-1), SL3 (0.5g kg-1), SL4 (0.75g kg-1), and SL5 (1g kg-1), respectively. It was observed that root length was higher in SL augmented soil in comparison to treatments without SL. It was also found that, with increasing the SL concentration, total chlorophyll and proline concentrations increased as well. The SL2 treatment had the highest Cd accumulation (76.33µg pot-1) in the plant. Therefore, SL at 0.25g kg-1 was considered the most effective concentration for the phytoextraction of Cd from soil. Soil enzyme activities, i.e., alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and urease activity, increased with the increase in SL concentration. The results of this study concluded that SL promotes the removal of Cd from soil and supports plant growth as well as enzymatic activities in soil.

Reviving the Resilient: Exploring Pre-Dormancy Breaking Treatments for Acacia nilotica (L.)

Acacia nilotica plays an important ecological role in its native habitats and has great relevance for restoration as well as in terms of economic worth. Acacia nilotica species frequently exhibit seed dormancy, which makes planting and seed testing difficult. In the present work, we examined the degree of dormancy and the impact of various pre-treatments on the dormancy breaking of Acacia species. Several tests were carried out against this backdrop to standardize the mechanical scarification, seed priming, and coating techniques. The results showed that mechanical scarification of Acacia nilotica seeds with @6 min scarification improved the seed germination percentage and vigour index percentage by 117 and 184 percent over the control. Correspondingly, the application of the TNAU seed coating formulation on Acacia nilotica seeds at 2g kg-1 increased the germination percentage and vigour index percentage by 129 and 186 percent, respectively, over the control. Also, humid priming of Acacia seeds (12 h soaking in water + 2 days humid incubation) resulted in a gradual increase in the seed germination percentage and vigour index percentage by 181 and 263 percent over the control. The seeds were not harmed by any of these treatments, which all reduced hard seeds to zero and improved germination percentages.

Influence of Organic Nutrient Sources and Inorganic Fertility Levels on Nutrient Uptake of Aerobic Rice (Oryza sativa L.) during Kharif Season

A field study was taken up to evaluate the influence of organic sources of nutrients and inorganic fertility levels in aerobic rice during kharif 2017 and kharif 2018 at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatment comprised of M1: Neem leaf manure 6 t ha-1; M2: Vermicompost 2 t ha-1; M3: Goat manure 5 t ha-1; M4: Microbial consortia [seed treatment 4g kg-1 + soil application 4 kg ha-1]. The sub-plot treatments comprised of S1: Control; S2: 50 % RDF; S3: 75 % RDF; S4: 100 % RDF [Recommended Dose of Fertilizer 120:60:40 kg ha-1]. It was observed that, nutrient uptake by aerobic rice was significantly influenced with application of organic nutrient sources and inorganic nutrient levels. N, P and K uptakes by rice were higher with vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 or goat manure @ 5 t ha-1 among organic sources and 100% RDF among nutrient levels. Vermicompost recorded significantly highest nitrogen (55.76, 71.7, 91.6 and 103.5 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorus (9.04, 15.4, 18.0 and 20.5 kg ha-1) and potassium (39.7, 60.0, 76.3, 107.1 kg ha-1) uptake by rice crop at MT, PI, 50% FL and harvest and it was found at par with goat manure ( viz; nitrogen : 50.79, 66.1, 85.6 and 97.7 kg ha-1 ; phosphorus : 8.33, 14.11, 16.4 and 19.2 kg ha-1 and potassium : 38.2, 59.5, 75.2 and 84.0 kg ha-1 at MT, PI, 50% FL and harvest ) while the lowest nutrient uptake (viz; nitrogen: 37.86, 46.1, 60.9 and 77.3 kg ha-1, phosphorus: 5.74, 8.59, 11.4 and 12.6 kg ha-1 and potassium: 25.8, 41.3, 48.6 and 71.5 kg ha-1) was found with application neem leaf manure. Application of 100% RDF significantly increased N (63.58, 80.0, 99.1 and 123.1 kg ha-1), P (9.90, 17.1, 19.9 and 24.3 kg ha-1) and K (47.3, 70.8, 88.9 and 119.5 kg ha-1) and the lowest N (26.37, 32.5, 45.6 and 47.0 kg ha-1), P (4.11, 6.12, 7.7 & 7.8 kg ha-1) and K (19.3, 28.3, 34.7 and 56.7 kg ha-1) was recorded with control. Conjunctive use of 75% of RDF along with vermicompost (M2S3) or goat manure (M3S3) resulted in statistically on par nitrogen and phosphorus uptake with that of 100% RDF and the lowest nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were recorded with combination of either neem leaf manure or microbial consortia and no application of fertilizer (M1S1 and M4S1, respectively).

Honey and Nigella sativa against COVID-19 in Pakistan (HNS-COVID-PK): A multicenter placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Until now, no specific and effective treatment exists for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since honey and Nigella sativa (HNS) have established antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, we tested their efficacy for this disease in a multicenter, placebo-controlled, and randomized clinical trial at four medical care facilities in Pakistan. RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 adults showing moderate or severe disease were enrolled in the trial. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either honey (1g kg-1 day-1 ) and Nigella sativa seeds (80 mg kg-1 day-1 ) or a placebo for up to 13 days along with standard care. The outcomes included symptoms' alleviation, viral clearance, and 30-day mortality in the intention-to-treat population. Three hundred and thirteen patients, 210 with moderate and 103 with severe disease, underwent randomization from April 30 to July 29, 2020. Among the moderate cases, 107 were assigned to HNS, whereas 103 were assigned to the placebo group. Among the severe cases, 50 were given HNS, and 53 were given the placebo. HNS resulted in ~50% reduction in time taken to alleviate symptoms as compared to placebo (moderate cases: 4 vs. 7 days, Hazard Ratio [HR]: 6.11; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.23-8.84, p < 0.0001 and for severe cases: 6 vs. 13 days, HR: 4.04; 95% CI: 2.46-6.64; p < 0.0001). HNS also cleared the virus earlier than placebo in both moderate cases (6 vs. 10 days, HR: 5.53; 95% CI: 3.76-8.14, p < 0.0001) and severe cases (8.5 vs. 12 days, HR: 4.32; 95% CI: 2.62-7.13, p < 0.0001). HNS further led to a better clinical score on day 6 with normal activity resumption in 63.6% vs. 10.9% among moderate cases (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03-0.13, p < 0.0001) and hospital discharge in 50% versus 2.8% in severe cases (OR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01-0.09, p < 0.0001). In severe cases, the mortality rate was less than 1/4th in the HNS group than in placebo (4% vs. 18.87%, OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02-0.92, p=0.029). No HNS-related adverse effects were observed. HNS, compared with placebo, significantly improved symptoms, expedited viral load clearance, and reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients. This trial was registered on April 15, 2020 with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04347382.

Study on gel properties of lysozyme-free egg white before and after Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation.

Isolation of lysozyme from egg white (EW) using ion exchange resin adsorption method generates large quantities of lysozyme-free egg white (LFEW) with poor gelling property. To maximize the applications of LFEW, the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation on the gel properties of LFEW was investigated in this study. The fermentation efficiency of LFEW with lysozyme removed was significantly improved, and the sugar removal rate (2g kg-1 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, 37 °C, 7h) was more than 90%. Removal of lysozyme resulted in increased stability and surface hydrophobicity of EW. After Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation, the stability of EW decreased, and the average particle size and surface hydrophobicity increased. In addition, by comparing the gel properties of EW and LFEW before and after fermentation at different pH, it was found that the hardness, elasticity, and water holding capacity (WHC) of EW gel increased significantly. The removal of lysozyme effectively improved the WHC and springiness of the EW gel and promoted the formation of a denser network structure with smaller pores. After Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation treatment, LFEW gel hardness decreased, with loose and porous network structure, no browning occurred after autoclaving. This study provided the direction and theoretical basis for producing a fermented LFEW gel with pleasing texture and appearance. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

METHOD VALIDATION AND CALCULATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUE ANALYSIS IN FRESH RED PEPPER

A multiple analysis method based on QuEChERS (fast, easy, inexpensive, effective, robust and safe) extraction method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC – MS/MS) was developed for 39 selected pesticides in fresh red pepper. This method has been validated according to the Sante guide published by the European Union Reference Laboratories (EURLs). The linearity study was conducted in the range of 1-80 µg/kg and in seven different concentrations. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves were (R2)&gt; 0.992. Quantification limits (LOQs) ranged from 4 to 19 μg kg-1. The recovery values were between 70.84% and 108.0%. The repeatability values (RSDr), which were between 0.99% and 17.5%in terms of in-laboratory reproducibility values (RSDWR), were determined to be between 0.98% and 19.57%. Repeatability and trueness parameters were used to calculate measurement uncertainty. The extended uncertainty values were calculated as 20.88% to 49.94%. The method was successfully used to analyze 22 fresh red pepper samples. Nine different pesticide residues were identified in 12 samples. The amount of carbendazim in a sample was found to be above the legal limits of the EU and Turkey. A residue of carbofuran, which is banned in Turkey, was found in one sample.

Nutritional value of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae processed by different methods.

Nutritional value of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) processed by three different methods of treatment was compared. The resulting products were the spray-dried BSFL (SPR), oven-dried BSFL 1 (OVN1) and oven-dried BSFL 2 (OVN2). Proximate chemical composition, and profiles of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, heavy metals, vitamins and nucleotides were analysed and compared. The tested BSFL meals were considered to have a good profile of essential amino acids (EAAs), with leucine, lysine, valine, and histidine being the dominant EAAs. Their content of saturated fatty acids exceeded that of the unsaturated fatty acids. Vitamins B1, B2, and C were also present in the samples. Minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese and copper were found to be in adequate amounts in almost all the samples. Heavy metals in the BSFL meals were mostly below 1g kg-1. Nucleotides such as inosine monophosphate and uridine monophosphate occurred in all the BSFL meals. Other nucleotides, including guanosine monophosphate, adenosine monophosphate, xanthosine monophosphate, and cytidine monophosphate were detected in either or both of SPR and OVN2. In general, the nutritional value of the BSFL meals tested in the present study was influenced by the method of processing.

Effect of phyto-components of Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum on the performance and biochemical indices in grower broiler chickens

The potentials of Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum on the performance and immunocompetence of grower broiler chickens was focused in this study. A total of one hundred and five (105) day old broiler chicks(Anak breed) were used in the study. Broiler starter diet was used to managed the birds until they attained five weeks of age. Thereafter, they were randomly allotted to seven treatments of 15 birds of three replicate each. To the treatments T1- T5: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g Kg-1 garlic-clove blend was supplemented, while 5g Kg-1 garlic alone (T6) and 2g Kg-1 clove alone (T7) were supplemented to the diets. Water, and supplemented feed were offered ad libitum. The duration of the experiment lasted to five weeks. Phytochemical analysis of the two spices revealed the presence of Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenols, terpenoids, anthraquinones and tannins, while, quantitative phytochemical screening showed high amount of Alkaloids (7.20 ± 0.05mg/100g), tannins (4.80 ± 0.03mg/100g), saponins (4.30 ± 0.02 mg/100g), flavonoids (2.18 ± 0.03), and anthraquinones (1.40 ± 0.03 mg/100g). The proximate analysis of Syzyginum aromaticum also revealed high amount of Carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) (52.2 ± 0.02), fibre (20.00 ± 0.1), fats (12.1 ± 0.45) and ash (5.2 ± 0.01). The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) in all the treatments was comparable to the control and better in T2, T5, T6 and T7. There was no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the serum Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and serum Glutamate Oxalate Transaminase (SGOT) between the treatments and the control group. The serum total protein and the serum albumin in the treated groups were not significantly different ((P≤ 0.05) while the serum globulin differ (P≤ 0.05) between the treatments and the control groups. The performance characteristics and serum biochemical indices displayed by the experimental birds clearly showed the potency of these spices in improving the immuno-competence of the experimental birds.

Parâmetros eletrocardiográficos, ecocardiográficos e de biomarcadores cardíacos em ovinos intoxicados experimentalmente por Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae)

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to identify and describe cardiac alterations in sheep experimentally poisoned with Palicourea marcgravii through analysis of serum cardiac biomarkers (serum troponin I and creatine kinase - CK-MB) and electro and echocardiographic assessments to contribute to a better understanding of the poisoning pathophysiology. P. marcgravii is the main plant within a group of 22 species that cause sudden death in Brazil; its toxic principle is sodium monofluoroacetate. Eight healthy crossbreed male sheep, aged between five and twelve months, weighing 14 to 27kg, were evaluated. The animals received 1g kg-1 of P. marcgravii plants orally. The sheep were evaluated before administering the plant (T0) through electro and echocardiography and blood collection to assess cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB and cTnI). Collections and analyses were repeated every four hours until the animal’s death. During the study, there was the presence of extravasation of serum troponin I carried out in a qualitative test, with positive values at time T4, and the serum CK-MB biomarker had a peak at T4 and slightly decreased at T8. The electro and echocardiographic examinations showed that the cause of death in these animals was due to acute heart failure characterized by arrhythmias, tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, drop in cardiac output, left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction by the progressive decrease in the LV ejection fraction (EF), decrease in LV fractional shortening (FS), and decrease in aortic flow velocity and aortic flow gradient. This study seems to be the first to evaluate cardiac alterations in sheep poisoned by P. marcgravii through cardiac biomarkers and electro and echocardiographic exams.

Digestive properties of half-fin anchovy hydrolysates/glucose Maillard reaction products and modulation effects on intestinal microbiota.

The consumption of dietary Maillard reaction products (MRPs) might lead to positive or negative effects on health. The digestibility of half-fin anchovy hydrolysates/glucose MRPs (HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs) was therefore determined. The intestinal microbiota modulation of HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs in mice was also evaluated after administration for 14 days (1g kg-1 •bodyweight). Different levels of digestibility of MRPs of fructosamine and advanced glycation products of Nε -carboxymethyllysine were detected in HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. An increased relative proportion of soluble fluorescent melanoidins (SFMs) was observed during gastric digestion as compared to that in the original HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs, followed by decreases in SFMs in intestinal digestion. After feeding with HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs for 14 days, increased goblet cells were observed in the ileum regions of female and male mice. High-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of fecal samples revealed that HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs administration increased the density of the phylum Bacteriodetes and reduced the density of the phylum Firmicutes in male mice. By comparison, a relatively higher density of members of the phylum Saccharibacteria was observed in female mice. A consistent increase in the abundance of Bacteroidales_S24-7_group_norank was found in female and male groups fed with HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs. Female and male mice treated with HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs also showed higher levels of propionic and butyric acids in feces than their corresponding controls. Half-fin anchovy hydrolysates/glucose MRPs can be partly hydrolyzed in the simulated gastrointestinal digestion system. Treatment with HAHp(9.0)-G MRPs induced sex-related differences in bacterial abundance and diversity in mice; however, the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory activity was predicted in both female and male mice. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

​Economics Analysis of Tomato Hybrid Seeds Produced through Soilless Systems

Background: The agricultural sector is highly dependent on the availability and quality of seeds for a productive harvest. The global demand for food and water is expected to increase due to population outgrowth, urbanization and climate change. Soilless farming may change the face of agriculture by providing a more sustainable and productive alternative to traditional cultivation and is being largely exploited for vegetable cultivation. Methods: The experiment consisted of 12 treatments. Two parental lines (P1: TAG 1 and P2: TAG 2) were subjected to seed treatment (S1: Untreated and S2: Thiram @ 2g kg-1 and chlorpyrifos @ 3g kg-1) and twenty-eight days old seedlings were transplanted to soil (M1: Conventional) and soilless systems (M2: Hydroponics and M3: Aeroponics). Hybrid seeds were produced in all the system were analysed for the quality and economics of seed production in soilless system was worked out. Result: The results revealed that there was a significant increase in test weight (0.39 g), average seed length (0.52 cm) in the soilless system due to the continuous availability of nutrients at controlled condition. Although the cost incurred was comparatively higher in the soilless method, the gross return was 94.68 per cent higher under aeroponics and 79.22 per cent higher under hydroponics compared to the conventional method. The benefit to cost ratio was found higher in aeroponics (2.08) followed by hydroponics (1.97) and lower under the conventional method (1.87). It is inferred that soilless agriculture could be a promising tool for quality and healthy hybrid tomato seed production throughout the year within protected cultivation.

A Comparative study on Yield performance of Finger Millet Varieties under rainfed conditions in South Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha

A Comparative study on Yield performance of Finger Millet Varieties under rainfed conditions in South Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha

Research Article: Dietary administration of aqueous Zingiber officinale extract on growth performance, antioxidant activity and resistance of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei against Photobacterium damselae

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale extract (ZE) on growth performance, antioxidant activity and resistance of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) challenged with Photobacterium damselae bacteria. A total of 600 post larvae shrimps (initial weight, 1.06 ± 0.7 g) were randomly distributed into 12 fiberglass tanks representing four treatments at a rate of 50 shrimp in each tank. The control shrimp group (ZE0) was fed a ZE free basal diet. Other shrimp groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5 (ZE 0.5), 1.0 (ZE1) and 1.5 (ZE 1.5) g kg-1 diet. Diets were offered to shrimp at a feeding rate of 10% of live body weight for 8 weeks. After 8 week experimental trial 30 shrimp from each group was infected with LD70 bacteria P. damselae over 10 days to evaluated disease resistance of infected shrimp. Results revealed that growth performance (WG, SGR, FW and PER), the antioxidant activity (SOD, PO, GPx, CAT) and cumulative mortality percentage of the shrimp have significantly increased (p <0.05) in the ZE1 group compared with the other groups. Meanwhile, the lowest FCR and MDA value observed in shrimp fed ZE1 supplemented diet. It can be concluded that Z. officinale extract at 1g kg-1(ZE1) diet seems to be the most appropriate level for increasing growth performance antioxidant activity and disease resistance of L. vannamei

EFFECT OF STORAGE CONTAINERS AND SEED TREATMENTS ON SEED GERMINATION AND VIGOUR OF BLACK GRAM (VIGNA MUNGO (L.) HEPPER)

One of the most important basic needs for higher agricultural production is quality seed, characterized by high viability and vigour. Maintenance of seed viability and vigour from Harvest till the next growing season is of the utmost importance in a seed production programme. During seed storage, qualitative and quantitative losses of up to 20% have been reported in India. The poor seed quality may also be due to the poor storability which is very often being decided by the internal and external factors. In pulses, the major cause for seed deterioration during storage is bruchid damage. In this context, evolving an improved storage strategy to prolong the shelf life of seeds under ambient storage conditions with easily available cost-effective resources was carried out. The experiment was conducted at the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar. Freshly harvested seeds of black gram cv. ADT 3 were cleaned and graded using BSS, 8x8 wire mesh sieve. Then seeds were dried under sunlight to bring the moisture content to required level (8.5%). The seeds were treated with Thiram @ 2g kg-1, Neem oil @ 10ml kg-1 and Malathion dust @ 200 mg kg-1. Two hundred and fifty grams of seeds from all treatments along with control were packed in two containers viz. cloth bag and polythene bag (700 gauges) with three replication and stored in at ambient temperature (30o c – 35o c) and relative humidity of 52-80%. Seed samples were drawn from each replication at monthly interval for assessing the viability and vigour. Germination test was conducted in between paper method and seedlings were evaluated on seventh day for vigour index bruchid infestation. The untreated seeds recorded lower germination per cent and vigour index after seven months of storage. There was no bruchid damage on seeds treated with neem oil @ 10ml kg-1 and thiram @ 2g kg-1. It was concluded that the shelf life of black gram seeds could be increased by

Reproduction performance of sows inseminated with stress gene-free semen given probiotic- supplemented feed

This study generally aimed to assess the effect of supplementation with various levels of a novel product containing probiotic and yeast cells, a feed enzyme, short-chain oligosaccharides, and herbal extracts (Farmer Peck’s Performance Booster®) and the use of halothane free gene semen on two successive parities in sows in selected farms in Leyte. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatment used in T0 – (in-feed antibiotics, Og probiotic/kilogram feed and Al using semen from farm’s boar); T1 – (0 antibiotics, 2g probiotic/kilogram feed and Al with halothane free gene semen) and T2 – (0 antibiotics, 3g probiotic/kilogram feed and Al with halothane free gene semen). The study results showed that sow-litter performance of artificially inseminated sows using halothane free gene semen in two farrowing seasons was significantly higher in T1 and T2 groups than that of To group as affected by probiotic supplementation. Probiotic supplementation, both at 2g kg-1 (T1) and 3g kg-1 (T2) of feed is effective in improving both litter and sow performance. The cost of using halothane free gene semen for Al is less as compared to using semen from the farm’s boar, and the cost of using probiotic at two levels as feed additive is relatively lower than using antibiotics based on the pre-weaning mortality, litter size, and litter weight at weaning. The use of halothane free gene semen can now be widely used in the different piggery farms. Including the use of probiotic supplement for both the sows and piglets.

Modulation of the growth performance, meat composition, oxidative status, and immunity of broilers by dietary fulvic acids

This study investigated the effects of dietary fulvic acid (FA) supplementation on the growth performance, body composition, oxidative status, and immunity of broilers. A total of 720 broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely a control group and 3 treatment groups that received diets supplemented with 3 different levels of FAs (0.2, 0.6, and 1g kg-1). The diets supplemented with 0.6 or 1g kg-1 FAs increased the body weight gain. This treatment also increased the activities of digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, and protease), the meat protein content, the total polyunsaturated fatty acid content, the superoxide dismutase activity, the glutathione peroxidise activity, and the serum levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA but decreased the meat fat content and the malondialdehyde level compared with those in the control. However, high FA dose (> 0.6g kg-1) did not further increase the efficiency compared with moderate dose (0.6g kg-1). Results indicate that FAs might be a promising dietary supplement for broilers.

Effect of dietary inclusion of fermented sea mustard by-product on growth performance, blood profiles, and meat quality in broilers.

Sea mustards are traditionally consumed as human food in many Asian countries. However, owing to the large consumption of seaweed, there are a substantial number of by-products produced during processing. These by-products after fermentation can provide a good alternative nutrient source for broilers and serve as a recycled resource reducing the environmental pollution of the seaweed industry. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented sea mustard by-product (FSM) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microflora, blood profiles, relative organ weight, and meat quality in broilers. The treatments were: control (CON), basal diet; FSM, CON +2g kg-1 FSM. During days 1 to 35, with the supplementation of 2g kg-1 FSM, body weight gain (BWG) increased (P < 0.05), whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased (P < 0.05). On day 35, with the supplementation of 2g kg-1 FSM, excreta Lactobacillus counts increased (P < 0.05), and the excreta Escherichia coli counts decreased (P < 0.05). There were no significant effects (P > 0.05) on nutrient digestibility, blood profile, relative organ weight, and breast meat quality of broilers fed with FSM diets. Dietary supplementation of 2g kg-1 FSM can improve growth performance, and shifted excreta microflora by increasing the proliferation of Lactobacillus counts and by decreasing E. coli counts. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of dietary Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharide on the growth performance and immunity of juvenile broilers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharide (AMP) supplementation on the growth performance and immunity of juvenile broilers. High-performance liquid chromatography spectrum and sugar composition analysis indicated that AMP is a heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 11,078Da and consists of glucose, galactose, rhamnose, and arabinose. Four diets supplemented with four different levels of AMP (0, 0.5, 1, and 2g kg-1) were formulated and tested for their effects on the growth performance and immunity of juvenile broilers. After 6 wk of feeding, the juvenile broilers fed with AMP-containing diets exhibited higher body weight gains; the activities of digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, and protease), superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase; and serum IgG, IgM, and IgA levels; and lower malondialdehyde level than the control. However, excessive AMP dose (>1g kg-1) could not improve its efficiency further. Results indicate that dietary administration of AMP can improve the growth performance and immune responses of juvenile broilers.

Concentration and exposure assessments of cadmium and lead in pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon, and jabooni seeds collected in Iran

Introduction â�� Heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are known to have high human toxicity. Their presence at various rates in oilseeds has gained more importance during the last few years in the absence of regulation in seeds. The consumption of seeds has been recently reported to increase in Iran, especially among adolescents and young people, so that heavy metal contamination in these seeds could become a great problem of public health. Materials and methods â�� This study investigated the Cd and Pb levels present in 168 seed samples (pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon and jabooni seeds) collected over the country, using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The data were used to estimate the weekly intake of Cd and Pb in Iranian consumers. Results and discussion â�� The highest concentrations of Pb and Cd were found in pumpkin shells and sunflower kernels, respectively. The concentrations of Pb and Cd detected in the seed samples averaged 77±28 I¼g kg-1 and 264±177 I¼g kg-1, respectively. The Pb content in 39 seed samples was exceeding the limit of 100 I¼g kg-1 established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The seeds with the highest Pb contamination were pumpkin seeds (67), followed by sunflower (30), watermelon (25), and jabooni seeds (15). None of the watermelon and jabooni seed samples were contaminated with Cd. The highest concentration (731 I¼g kg-1) and the highest number of samples (35) contaminated with Cd were recorded in the sunflower seeds. The differences in mean value of Pb and Cd among the seeds collected in various Iranian cities were not found statistically significant. Similarly, the mean intake of Pb and Cd estimated from the seed samples was much lower than the tolerable weekly intake (25.0 and 2.5 µg kg-1 week-1 for Pb and Cd, respectively) estimated by the JECFA. Conclusion â�� Although the mean dietary exposure of cadmium and lead was much lower than the reference doses, the high incidence of Pb and Cd in widely consumed oilseeds in Iran, and the toxic effects of Pb and Cd, indicate the necessity for regular surveillance to reduce intake of heavy metals by Iranian population. © ISHS 2018.

The effect of maternal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate on fetal cardiac development in mice.

Accumulating evidence has suggested a link between maternal di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) exposure and various developmental abnormalities. However, the evidence regarding the effect of maternal DEHP exposure on fetal cardiac development is scarce. The present study aimed to determine the effect of maternal DEHP exposure on fetal cardiac development in mice and explore the possible involved mechanism preliminarily. The C57BL mice were randomly divided into four groups: the vehicle group (corn oil, n = 10), 250mg kg-1 DEHP group (n = 15), 500mg kg-1 DEHP group (n = 20) and 1g kg-1 DEHP group (n = 20). Pregnant dams in different group received respective intervention by gavage once daily from embryonic day (E)6.5 to E14.5. Maternal weights were monitored every day and samples were collected at E15.5. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to examine fetal cardiac malformations. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were applied to detect peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α/PPARγ/Nkx2.5/Gata4/Tbx5/Mef2c/Chf1 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Maternal DEHP exposure significantly decreased maternal body weight, fetal weight and placental weight, and remarkably elevated fetal cardiac malformations rate. The phenotypes of cardiac anomalies mainly include septal defects, ventricular myocardium noncompaction and cardiac hypoplasia. Higher doses DEHP (500mg kg-1 and 1g kg-1 ) could significantly decreased fetal cardiac Gata4/Mef2c/Chf1 expression, while PPARγ expression was upregulated. Maternal exposure to higher doses of DEHP could result in fetal cardiac development malformations in mice and it might have resulted from the inhibition of cardiac GATA4/Mef2c/Chf1 expression via PPARγ activation.