Carotenoid Content Research Articles

Impact of High-Dose Supplemental Paprika Extract Feeding on Egg Storage and Biochemical Parameters in Laying Hens.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of paprika extract supplementation on egg storage and blood biochemical parameters in 63-week-old Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Silky Fowl (SF) hens. The hens were divided into three groups: a control group with a basal diet and two groups receiving the basal diet with paprika extract. The trial lasted 28 days, with egg quality (yolk color and albumen pH) assessed after storing eggs at 25 °C for 21 days. A total of 144 eggs were used in 42 treatments (two breeds, three diets, and seven storage periods) with three eggs examined each (four eggs were used on day 0 and five eggs on day 21). Additionally, the yolk carotenoid content, yolk color, and pH of eggs stored at 4 °C and 25 °C were compared. Results showed that yolk color fan score (YCFS) decreased with storage, and SF had a higher albumen pH than RIR, with both breeds exhibiting an increase in pH over time. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and the HDL-C to total cholesterol ratio were significantly influenced by breed, diet, and their interaction. The HDL-C level in SF was affected linearly and quadratically by diet, while no such trend was observed in RIR. The study concluded that paprika extract affects egg quality and blood lipid profiles differently in different breeds, highlighting breed-specific responses to dietary supplementation.

Enhancement of carotenogenesis by Blakeslea trispora in a mixed culture with bacteria.

Among carotenoids, ꞵ-carotene has the highest biological activity and is found as an all-trans isomer in many biological systems. Blakeslea trispora is a microorganism that is of interest to industries for the commercial production of ꞵ-carotene. This study investigated the effect of different bacteria on carotenogenesis in B. trispora. The B. trispora bisexual mold was cultured in a production medium, and different bacterial cells were added to it after 24 h. Then, the culture conditions and the culture medium were optimized in the presence of the selected bacteria using the experimental design. The percentage of carotenoids obtained from the mixed culture was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that Kocuria rhizophila had the greatest effect on increasing the production of carotenoids in B. trispora. The highest content of carotenoids obtained during optimization was 770 ± 7.5 mg/L, a 6.8-fold increase compared to the control. HPLC analysis of carotenoids indicated the presence of two main peaks, ꞵ-carotene and γ-carotene, in which the primary carotenoid was ꞵ-carotene followed by γ-carotene with a lower content. Therefore, due to the importance of ꞵ-carotene in industry, the use of biostimulants is one of the appropriate strategies to increase the production of this pigment in industry.

Tomato Synaptotagmin F accelerates fruit ripening, shortens fruit shelf-life and increases susceptibility to Penicillium expansum

Synaptotagmins (SYTs), initially identified as calcium sensors for regulating synaptic vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis in mammalian neurons, play crucial role in biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the function of SYTs in fruit ripening is unclear. In this study, a tomato Synaptotagmins gene, SlSYTF, was found to accelerate tomato fruit ripening. SlSYTF encodes an endoplasmic reticulum localized protein whose transcription is continuously enhanced during fruit ripening. Overexpression SlSYTF in tomato resulted in accelerated ripening progress, increased carotenoid content as well as decreased the firmness of tomato fruit, whereas the mutant slsytf-c exhibited the opposite phenotype. Importantly, SlSYTF could increase ethylene production by activating the expression of ethylene synthesis genes and prompt cell wall degradation by increasing pectinase and cellulase activities. Nevertheless, the accelerated cell wall degradation and thinned cuticle due to SlSYTF results in reduced shelf life and pathogen resistance. Collectively, we revealed a new SYTs gene that plays a dual role in tomato fruit ripening and pathogen response. This finding may shed new light on the relationship between maturation and immunity.

Effects of salinity and temperature on growth performance, biochemical composition, and biosilification process of Cyclotella cryptica

Microalgae are valuable resources for producing high-value compounds, but large-scale cultivation in open raceway ponds (ORPs) faces challenges due to salinity and temperature fluctuations, which affect biomass yield and quality. Developing strains with high productivity and stable quality across varying salinity and temperature levels offers a promising approach to overcoming these challenges. Cyclotella cryptica, a marine diatom species, is known for its robustness under diverse salinity conditions, but its biochemical composition and frustule morphology in respond to salinity remains largely unknown. Moreover, the responses of C. cryptica to temperature fluctuations are largely unexplored, posing a barrier to its industrial application in ORPs. In this study, C. cryptica was cultivated under six salinity levels (19–34 ‰ at 3 ‰ intervals) and five temperature regimes (17–33 °C at 4 °C intervals) to investigate the effects of these environmental factors on growth performance, macronutrient composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, and carotenoid content. Additionally, we examined the biosilica content, frustule morphology, and the transcriptional levels of five frustule biogenesis related genes (CcSin1, CcSin2, and CcSAP1–3) to assess the impact of salinity and temperature on the biosilification process. Our findings revealed that salinity exerts minimal effects on growth, macronutrient composition, FA profile, and carotenoid content, whereas it induces significant variations in frustule morphology and biosilica deposition. In contrast, temperature markedly influences all evaluated parameters. These insights into the adaptive mechanisms of C. cryptica to salinity and temperature variations are crucial for optimizing the scale-up cultivation strategy of this species in ORPs.

Unveiling the impact of organically activated biochar on physiological, biochemical, and yield attributes of maize under varied field moisture conditions.

Water deficiency in semiarid regions is a limiting factor that affects crop quality and yield. In Punjab, Pakistan, a 27% decline in maize yield was detected over the past two decades just because of water scarcity. Currently, no studies have reported the effects of organically activated biochar (AB) on crop productivity under natural field conditions. For this purpose, a field experiment in a split-split-plot design was conducted with three amendment levels (0, 2, and 4 tonnes ac-1), and three maize hybrids (DK-9108, DK-6321, and Sarhaab) under 100%, 70%, and 50% irrigation water (IW) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The AB significantly improved the soil's physical and chemical properties, and maximum improvement was recorded in 4 tonnes ac-1 AB amendment in organic matter (16.6%), total organic carbon (17%), phosphorus (11.43%), and available potassium (29.27%). The 4 tonnes ac-1AB amendment in soil had a significant impact on total chlorophyll content (0.3-1-fold in DK-6321), carotenoid content (3.9-4.4-fold in Sarhaab), and relative water content (30% and 21% in Sarhaab) under 50% irrigation water (IW) of ETc at V14th and R3 stages, respectively. Moreover, a significant decline in stress markers (proline content and sugar content) was detected at both growth stages in all maize hybrids in AB amended soil. The analysis of plant metabolites indicated increased intensities of phenolics, alkyl esters, and carbohydrates by 2.5-7%, 17-80%, and 40-43% in DK-6321 under 50% IW in 2-4 tonnes ac-1 AB amended soil, respectively. The highest improvement in growth and yield attributes among maize hybrids was detected in the order DK-6321¿DK-9108¿Sarhaab in 2-4 tonnes ac-1AB amended soil under 70% and 50% IW of ETc, respectively. Hence, this research might help to develop an effective soil amendment to restore degraded soils and improve maize growth under arid climatic conditions.

The effect of several growth regulators and biostimulant on biochemical and physiological changes in acclimation of micropropagated Echinacea purpurea Moench. ‘Raspberry Truffle’

Micropropagation is currently one of the primary methods for plant propagation, known for its efficiency in producing disease-free and vigorous plants. However, the final stage of this—acclimatization, is critical due to the transfer from a controlled in vitro environment to an external one. To reduce mortality and alleviate acclimation stress, plant growth regulators (PGRs) or biostimulants can be employed. This study investigated the effects of exogenously sprayed PGRs: 0.001 mg L−1 abscisic acid (ABA), 0.001 mL L−1 brassinolide (BL), 0.001 mL L−1 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL), and 0.3 mL L−1 biostimulant Goteo on the physiological and biochemical responses of Echinacea purpurea ‘Raspberry Truffle’ plantlets during the acclimation process. The effects of treatments at various acclimation stages on chlorophyll (chl) and carotenoids content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), free amino acids, soluble proteins, total soluble sugar and reduced soluble sugars were tested in this research. The results confirmed changes in biochemical parameters, including an increase in chlorophyll and carotenoids in the acclimatization period where the highest level obtained by BL spraying. A decline in stomatal conductance was also observed, where ABA influenced the most on drop. It was also recorded the decrease in H2O2 and MDA concentration. CAT activity increased, especially with biostimulant treatment. We recorded an increase in total soluble proteins along acclimatization. Goteo affected the most on morphology parameters, ABA, BL and 24-epiBL increased acclimatization efficiency. Our studies indicate that potentially the most effective substances in the acclimatization of E. purpurea ‘Raspberry Truffle’ are brassinosteroids and ABA.

Electric fields to support microalgae growth with a differentiated biochemical composition

Microalgae are a group of microorganisms well-known for their high metabolic plasticity and biomass with commercial interest for several industries. In the present work, the influence of in-situ electric field application (INEF) on the growth and biochemical composition of Pavlova gyrans was, for the first time, assessed. Electrical protocols were tested, namely by applying INEF in different growth stages, in varying treatment times and even by combining it with dark phase of cells' photoperiod. INEF did not promote a stimulatory effect on growth but influenced the biochemical composition of P. gyrans – maximum increases of 74.9 and 66.2 % in the chlorophyll a and carotenoid content and of 4.72, 18.7 and 5.41 % in the lipid, carbohydrate and protein content were observed in independent experiments. Hence, with this study, the potential of INEF application as a strategy to modulate growth and to promote biochemical composition alterations was proven. Industrial relevanceMicroalgae, with their unique ability to efficiently convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into biomass, offer a sustainable platform for the synthesis of diverse bioactive compounds. By subjecting microalgae to controlled electric stress conditions, their metabolic pathways can be redirected towards the production of specific target compounds. This strategy has the potential to enhance the yield of high-value molecules, including biofuels, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and pigments, whilst minimizing resource inputs. Additionally, metabolic stress responses in microalgae often trigger the accumulation of secondary metabolites with bioactive properties. Harnessing the metabolic plasticity of microalgae through controlled stress manipulation represents a cutting-edge strategy for sustainable and economically viable bioproduction systems that align with the goals of green chemistry and circular economy principles.

INFLUENCE OF MICROBIAL FERTILIZERS ON MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND VALUABLE ECONOMIC CHARACTER OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of Rhizobium 3 , Rhizobium 9 and PlantaStim microbial fertilizers on the morphological, physiological and valuable economic characters of chickpea (Сicer arietinum L.). All samples treated with microbial fertilizers showed positive results compared to the control variation. Efficiency of Rhizobium 3, among the microbial fertilizers, was higher. In the chickpea samples, treatment with Rhizobium 3 increased the total chlorophyll content by 14.91%, carotenoid content by 20%, plant biomass by 31.39%, grain number by 19.37%, productivity by 27.25%, total protein content by 25.29%, and amount of nodule by 2.07 times, compared to the control variation.

INFLUENCE OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LENTIL (LENS CULINARIS MEDIK) SAMPLES ON YIELD COMPONENTS AND CORRELATION ANALYSES OF SOME CHARACTERISTICS

The aim of the research is to study the correlation between crop capacity and physiological characteristics of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik). Determination of correlation between physiological characteristics and crop indicators, and assessment of their influence on grain yield give an opportunity to select genotypes with high crop capacity. According to the results of the analysis, strong positive correlation was detected among the valuable economic characters of lentil genotypes, i.e. between indexes such as number of grains per plant with grain weight per plant r=0.88*** and grain productivity per plant r=0.71***; between grain weight per plant and grain productivity in 1m2 plot r=0.79***; among chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’ and carotenoid content in leaves (r=0.92***, r=0.81*** respectively); between net photosynthetic productivity and biomass in 1m2 plot (r=**0.67;). Moreover, moderate positive correlation was detected among the indicators of grain number per plant (r=*0.54) and grain weight (r=**0.57) and grain productivity (r=*0.62). Among the lentil genotypes, K-72015 genotype, which has a good result based on the analysis of morphological-physiological and productivity characteristics, gives the opportunity to grow it as a new promising variety in the republic and obtain a higher yield.

Pulsed Light Decontamination of Red Chilies (Capsicum annuum var. longum)

ABSTRACTThe impact of pulsed light treatment (PLT) on natural microbiota and inoculated microbes such as Salmonella Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, and Aspergillus flavus on red chilies was investigated. Sequential drying did not completely inactivate the aerobic mesophiles and yeast and mold count. Hence, PLT (0.53–2.59 J cm−2) was employed as a decontamination technology on red chilies. PLT resulted in 8 log reduction of inoculated microorganisms on chilies at 2.59 J cm−2. The microbial inactivation kinetics followed Weibull distribution (R2 > 0.97) with β value of 1.1, 1.2, and 1.5 for S. Typhimurium, B. cereus, and A. flavus, respectively. Changes in structure and composition of cell components were identified by SEM and FTIR analysis. After PLT, phenolics, antioxidants, flavonoids, and capsaicinoids were better retained but a significant change in ascorbic acid and carotenoid's content was observed. Hence, PL can be a potential technology for decontamination of fresh and dried chilies along with maximum retention of bioactives.

Enhancing carotenoid accumulation in Dunaliella bardawil by combined treatments with fulvic acid and optimized culture conditions

Natural carotenoids from microalgae have received more attention as an alternative source. In this study, fulvic acid (FA), a plant growth regulator, was used to enhance carotenoid accumulation in microalgae Dunaliella bardawil rich in lutein. However, the addition of FA promoted pigment synthesis but also exhibited an inhibitory effect on biomass. Therefore, the optimization of culture conditions was performed to further enhance carotenoid accumulation, including high light stress (10,000 lx) and the two-stage cultivation comprising 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and FA. Under both culture conditions, the growth inhibition caused by FA was alleviated, leading to a further increase in the contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids. HPLC analysis revealed that the production of lutein, α-carotene and β-carotene increased by 0.44-, 0.37- and 0.54-fold under the treatment of 400 mg/L FA with high light intensity and 0.91-, 1.15- 0.29-fold under the two-stage cultivation comprising 11 mM ACC and 500 mg/L FA. Furthermore, algal cells under FA treatment and the two-stage cultivation stained with Bodipy505/515 emitted stronger fluorescence under a laser confocal microscope, suggesting that lipid accumulation was increased. Additionally, the transcription levels of carotenogenic genes were also found to be up-regulated by qRT-PCR. These results indicated an enhancement in both the storage capacity and synthesis of carotenoids in D. bardawil. This study revealed the potential application of plant growth regulators in promoting carotenoid accumulation in D. bardawil which could be further improved by optimizing the culture conditions, providing a reference for efficient carotenoid production in microalgae.

Metabolite concentrations and the expression profiles of the corresponding metabolic pathway genes in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruits of contrasting colors.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) ranks fifth in importance among vegetable crops of the Solanaceae family, in part due to the high antioxidant properties and polyphenol content of the fruit. Along with the popular purple-fruited varieties of S. melongena, there are cultivars, the fruits of which are rich in phenolic compounds, but are white-colored due to the lack of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Determination of the amount of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, as well as carotenoids and sugars, is included in the assessment of the quality of eggplant fruits of commercial (technical) ripeness. In addition to antioxidant and taste properties, these metabolites are associated with fruit resistance to various stress factors. In this study, a comparative analysis of the content of anthocyanins, carotenoids and soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) in the peel and pulp of the fruit of both technical and biological ripeness was carried out in purple-fruited (cv. Vlas) and white-fruited (cv. Snezhny) eggplant accessions of domestic selection. The peel and pulp of biologically ripe fruits of the cvs Vlas and Snezhny were used for comparative transcriptomic analysis. The key genes of the flavonoid and carotenoid metabolism, sucrose hydrolysis, and soluble sugar transport were shown to be differentially expressed between fruit tissues, both within each cultivar and between them. It has been confirmed that the purple color of the peel of the cv. Vlas fruit is due to substantial amounts of anthocyanins. Flavonoid biosynthesis genes showed a significantly lower expression level in the ripe fruit of the cv. Vlas in comparison with the cv. Snezhny. However, in both cultivars, transcripts of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (DFR, ANS, UFGT) were not detected. Additionally, the purple fruit of the cv. Vlas accumulated more carotenoids and sucrose and less glucose and fructose than the white fruit of the cv. Snezhny. Biochemical data corresponded to the differential expression pattern of the key genes encoding the structural proteins of metabolism and transport of the compounds analyzed.

Enhancement of ketocarotenoid production using the heterologous orange protein from Ipomoea batatas in indigenous microalga Ettlia sp.

Astaxanthin, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, is used in high-value industries such as those of cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and food products derived from microalgae. In this study, Ettlia sp. mutants were generated by expressing two types of heterologous orange proteins, IbOr and IbOr-R96H, in which the 96th arginine of IbOr was substituted with histidine derived from Ipomoea batatas to enhance astaxanthin production. The Ett-IbOr-R96H mutant showed a 2.4-fold increase in β-carotene content compared to the wildtype (4.59 mg g−1DCW), reaching 10.82 mg g−1 under high-light conditions via two-phase cultivation. Under the stress treatment combination of high-light intensity and nitrogen deprivation, total carotenoid content increased to 17.24 mg L−1 and 21.94 mg L−1 in Ett-IbOr and Ett-IbOr-R96H, respectively. The astaxanthin and canthaxanthin contents in Ett-IbOr-R96H was 4.89 mg L−1 and 0.47 mg L−1, respectively, which were 1.8- and 1.5-fold higher, respectively, than those in Ett-IbOr. Additionally, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) recovered in Ett-IbOr-R96H under dual-stress conditions compared to the wildtype while reactive oxygen species levels decreased throughout the cultivation period. Our findings suggest that the heterologous IbOr expression in Ettlia sp. may be an effective approach for enhancing the production of ketocarotenoids and improving stress resistance for industrial applications.

Comparison of nutritional, antinutritional, and phenolic compositions of Justicia wynaadensis (Nees) T.Anderson plant from Kodagu region of Karnataka harvested at different seasons

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants have been utilized across different cultures as a source of therapeutic compounds. The present study delves into assessing the medicinal properties of the Indigenous plant, Justicia wynaadensis endemic to the Western Ghats of India, especially Kodagu, Karnataka, where it is consumed during specific periods for its believed health benefits. METHODS: Analysis of nutrients, antinutrient profile, phenolic content, betalains, and antioxidant property was evaluated using AOAC and standardized methods. The present study seeks to elucidate the variation observed for different harvested seasons of J. wynaadensis for its comprehensive composition. RESULTS: The available carbohydrates ranged from 746 to 16.50 and 6.54 to 13.30 g/100 g in the leaf and stem parts of the plant, respectively. Total phenolic content varied from 0.82 to 1.21 g gallic acid equivalent/100 g, whereas, total flavonoid content varied from 0.41 to 1.07 g catechin equivalent/100 g. Total anthocyanin content and total carotenoid content varied from 8730 to 296 mg C3G/100 g and 3.23 to 23.02 mg/100 g, respectively. Betaxanthin and betacyanin contents were ranging between 0.436-0.986 and 19.13-40.41 μg/100 g. CONCLUSION: The comparison was done for pre-consumption (Season 1, July), consumption (Season 2, August), and post-consumption (Season 3, September) periods and was found for the variation in the nutritional and phenolic compositions between different seasons. The result showed significant quantities of antioxidants during the consumption phase in both the leaves and stem part and maximum phenolic content and minimum antinutrient content in the stem part of the plant. The study validates the traditional practice of consuming the medicinal plant J. wynaadensis by the people of Kodagu district during the August month of the year.

Screening the carotenoid in vitro bioaccessibility of purple corn breakfast cereal consumed with milk and plant-based milk

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, dominate global mortality, besides compromising the quality of life. Unhealthy habits like sedentary lifestyles and poor diets escalate NCD risks. Conversely, the consumption of phenolic compounds and carotenoids has shown promise in reducing NCD risks. The food industry responds by adapting products to meet demands for healthier options rich in bioactive compounds. For instance, breakfast cereals made from purple and yellow corn offer carotenoids and anthocyanins and form a nutrient-balanced meal when consumed with milk or alternatives. However, bioactive compounds in food do not guarantee absorption, necessitating bioaccessibility studies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility of the major carotenoids in two breakfast cereals, one made with 100 % yellow corn and the other with 50 % purple corn, co-digested with whole milk, semi-skimmed milk, skimmed milk, and almond “milk”. The bioaccessibility of lutein in the breakfast cereals was evaluated using the INFOGEST 2.0 in vitro digestion method. Results showed that lutein bioaccessibility ranged from 9 % to 29 %. The bioaccessibility was lower than that observed in other food matrices, such as spinach and maize products. High fiber, low carotenoid contents, and anthocyanin presence negatively influenced the carotenoid bioaccessibility. Interestingly, the varying lipid content of milk showed no impact on lutein bioaccessibility under the examined conditions. In conclusion, the effects of lipids in a low range (0–7 %) are not significant (p > 0.05) compared to other matrix components. When developing new products with health and nutritional benefits, it is important to consider that while fiber can reduce the bioaccessibility of carotenoids, it remains crucial for gut health.

Acetone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl) oxime alleviates the toxic effects of cadmium in maize seedlings by increasing the phenolic substance content and antioxidant system activity

The absorption of cadmium by plants largely depends on cadmium contamination in the soil. The development of phytomining and phytoremediation methods to clean cadmium-contaminated ecosystems is an urgent issue that needs to be solved. Therefore, the role of exogenous O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime (ANSO) to maize seedlings under cadmium stress was tested. The results showed that when ANSO+cadmium application was compared to cadmium, the cadmium content increased by 7.8 times, while the abscisic acid content decreased. Under cadmium stress, ANSO application did not change the relative water content, but increased the chlorophyll content. While carotenoid content increased with cadmium application, it increased further with ANSO+cadmium application. As a result of the positive effects of ANSO application on the antioxidant system under cadmium stress, hydrogen peroxide content, lipid peroxidation and proline content decreased. ANSO application under cadmium stress increased the phenolic substance content. This study shows that exogenous ANSO makes significant contributions to the protection of maize seedlings despite being under cadmium stress. It also provides important references to the fact that despite stress, the cadmium chelation mechanisms of seedlings continue to work actively to accumulate cadmium in tissues, and it has deep implications for the remediation of cadmium-polluted soils.

How does finishing duration on lucerne pasture influence the muscle and fat spectro-colorimetric properties and dorsal fat firmness in lambs?

There are a number of differences in the meat and carcass quality traits between pasture-raised and concentrate-raised lambs that may further be used to trace back the diet, but the extent to which these differences are modulated by pasture-finishing duration is unknown. In this study, we investigated the changes in longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle and fat spectrocolorimetric properties, and dorsal fat firmness, in lambs switched from a stall-fed concentrate-based diet to grazing on lucerne for various durations (0, 21, 42, 63 days) pre-slaughter. Stall-fed lambs from the different treatment groups were managed in a single group and lucerne pasture-finished lambs from the different treatment groups also co-grazed in a single group. The level of concentrate fed to stall-fed lambs was adjusted to maintain a similar mean pattern of growth between lucerne pasture-fed and stall-fed lambs. The trial used a total of 141 lambs over two successive years. Dorsal fat was firmer in lambs finished on lucerne pasture, even for the shortest finishing duration (21 days), the difference being of commercial importance. Dorsal fat colour and carotenoid content showed changes at 21 days on lucerne pasture but did not change further for longer lucerne pasture-finishing durations. In contrast, perirenal fat lightness, yellowness, chroma and carotenoid content showed changes at 21 days on lucerne pasture and increased consistently with lucerne pasture-finishing duration. Although these changes in fat spectrocolorimetric properties were not, or barely, visible to the naked eye, they could be of interest for authenticating the duration of lucerne pasture-finishing. Muscle redness increased consistently with the duration of lucerne pasture-finishing, the change becoming significant from 42 days on lucerne pasture and being visible to the naked eye. We observed a consistent decrease of muscle hue angle and perirenal fat redness and a consistent increase in perirenal fat hue angle with lucerne pasture-finishing duration, but these changes only became significant from 63 days on lucerne pasture. The pattern of change in the lamb carcass and meat quality traits measured according to lucerne pasture-finishing duration therefore varied between the tissues and quality traits.

Supercritical CO2 as a green technology for carotenoids-rich virgin palm oil production: Process optimization, kinetics and thermodynamics modeling

The experimental conditions of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction of virgin palm oil (VPO) from oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) were optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Results showed that a maximum of 28.68% of VPO extraction was obtained at the optimal experimental conditions of scCO2 extraction: pressure of 31MPa, temperature of 340K, and extraction time of 80min. The second-order rate equation, Arrhenius equation and Eyring theory were employed to assess the kinetics behaviour, activation energy and thermodynamics behaviour of scCO2 extraction of VPO from oil palm mesocarp fiber. The lower activation energy value (12.17kJ/mol) of scCO2 for the extraction of VPO from OPMF indicates that the scCO2 extraction technology is less dependent on temperature during the extraction of VPO from OPMF. The physicochemical properties and fatty acids compositions analyses reveal that the scCO2 extracted VPO contains high carotenoids content (982μg/g), low free fatty acids content (0.31wt.%), higher oxidative stability and higher unsaturated fatty acids content.

Comparison of the anti-inflammatory effects of carotenoids-rich product from microalgal mass-cultured between natural seawater and magma seawater

Microalgae can be mass-produced in a short period of time and are rich in high value-added product such as carotenoids, thereby it is widely used in a variety industrial field. However, the production cost expensed a lot due to high price of culture ingredient, vitamins. Additionally, > 80% of synthetic carotenoids are used in industrial field, and their cost is also highly expensed. Therefore, in this study, a microalga, Tetraselmis sp. was mass-cultured using natural seawater (NS) and magma seawater (MS) as vitamins. As a result of comparing the general composition between the extracts cultured in two culture media, crude carbohydrate and crude lipid contents were 2.68% and 4.38% higher, respectively, while crude protein content was 4.1% lower in the MS culture media. The extraction yield was 8.6% higher in the MS than the NS culture media. Also, lutein and zeaxanthin were predominantly presented in the species and detected in the microalgal extract cultured in MS was 2- and 8-folds higher, respectively, than in NS. Consequently, the carotenoids-rich extracts cultured with two seawaters were exhibited prominent anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing nitric oxide (NO) overproduction and pro-inflammatory mediator such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression through MAPKSs and NF-κB pathway. Interestingly, extract of microalgal cultured in MS showed a more efficient anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggest that the value of MS in increasing the carotenoids contents with beneficial effects in mass cultivation of microalgae.

Co-application of silicon and biochar affected anatomical and biochemical properties of corn leaf (Zea mays L.) under soil nickel toxicity

Soil pollution with heavy metals is a threat to crop production. Practically, application of silicon (Si) with biochar can be a cost-effective approach to immobilize metals in contaminated soils. Investigation of the anatomical and biochemical changes of corn leaf is important for describing the mechanisms of Si and biochar soil application in alleviating the negative effects of nickel (Ni) toxicity. A factorial pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Si (0, 250 and 500 mg Si kg-1 soil) in combination with rice husk biochar (RHB) or sheep manure biochar (SMB) prepared at two pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 500 °C) on anatomical and biochemical properties of corn leaves in a Ni-polluted soil. The length, width, area and weight of third-leaf, and metaxylem and protoxylem of midrib improved by application of Si250 with RHB more than SMB. At Si250, RHB300 and RHB500 improved the stomatal area by 31.7 and 27.7% compared to control (without biochar), respectively. The leaf membrane stability index was increased by increasing Si application level and reached 69% in RHB300. In contrast to total chlorophyll, the highest carotenoid content, catalase and peroxidase was obtained by control (without Si and biochar) followed by SMB. At Si250, the highest relative water content (RWC) was observed in RHB300 by 34.8% increase. Also, RHB300 had the highest total dry matter, with increases of 82.2, 120.0 and 83.1% at Si0, Si250 and Si500, respectively. By increasing the Si level and biochar application, the shoot Ni decreased between 42.1 to 133.3%. Combined application of Si250 with RHB300 resulted in the highest dry matter through improving the leaf dimensions, metaxylem and protoxylem areas of midrib, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll, and RWC, while Ni uptake was reduced.