Fatty Acid Content Research Articles

Fumonisin B1 protects against long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced cell death in HepG2 cells – implications for cancer promotion

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a food-borne mycotoxin, is a cancer promoter in rodent liver and augments proliferation of initiated cells while inhibiting the growth of normal hepatocytes by disrupting lipid biosynthesis at various levels. HepG2 cancer cells exhibited resistance to FB1-induced toxic effects presumably due to their low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) even though FB1-typical lipid changes were observed, e.g. significantly increased phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), decreased sphingomyelin and cholesterol content, increased sphinganine (Sa) and sphinganine/sphingosine ratio, increased C18:1ω9, decreased C20:4ω6 content in PE and decreased C20:4ω6-PC/PE ratio. Increasing PUFA content of HepG2 cells with phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles containing C20:4ω6 (SAPC) or C22:6ω6 (SDPC) disrupted cell survival, cellular redox status and induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. A partially protective effect of FB1 was evident in PUFA-enriched HepG2 cells which may be related to the FB1-induced reduction in oxidative stress and the disruption of key cell membrane constituents indicative of a resistant lipid phenotype. Interactions between different ω-6 and ω-3 PUFA, membrane constituents including cholesterol, and the glycerophospho- and sphingolipids and FB1 in this cell model provide further support for the resistant lipid phenotype and its role in the complex cellular effects underlying the cancer promoting potential of the fumonisins.

Selection of a multi-species starter culture for mustard seed fermentation to enhance polyunsaturated fatty acids and improve gastrointestinal health markers

Selection of a multi-species starter culture for mustard seed fermentation to enhance polyunsaturated fatty acids and improve gastrointestinal health markers

Thiourea improves yield and quality traits of Brassica napus L. by upregulating the antioxidant defense system under high temperature stress

High temperature stress influences plant growth, seed yield, and fatty acid contents by causing oxidative damage. This study investigated the potential of thiourea (TU) to mitigate oxidative stress and restoring seed oil content and quality in canola. The study thoroughly examined three main factors: (i) growth conditions—control and high temperature stress (35 °C); (ii) TU supplementation (1000 mg/L)—including variations like having no TU, water application at the seedling stage, TU application at seedling stage (BBCH Scale-39), water spray at anthesis stage, and TU application at anthesis stage (BBCH Scale-60); (iii) and two canola genotypes, 45S42 and Hiola-401, were studied separately. High temperature stress reduced growth and tissue water content, as plant height and relative water contents were decreased by 26 and 36% in 45S42 and 27 and 42% Hiola-401, respectively, resulting in a substantial decrease in seed yield per plant by 36 and 38% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. Seed oil content and quality parameters were also negatively affected by high temperature stress as seed oil content was reduced by 32 and 35% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. High-temperature stress increased the plant stress indicators like malondialdehyde, H2O2 content, and electrolyte leakage; these indicators were increased in both canola genotypes as compared to control. Interestingly, TU supplementation restored plant performance, enhancing height, relative water content, foliar chlorophyll (SPAD value), and seed yield per plant by 21, 15, 30, and 28% in 45S42; 19, 13, 26, and 21% in Hiola-401, respectively, under high temperature stress as compared to control. In addition, seed quality, seed oil content, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid were improved by 16, 14, and 22% in 45S42, and 16, 11, and 23% in Hiola-401, as compared to control. The most significant improvements in canola seed yield per plant were observed when TU was applied at the anthesis stage. Additionally, the research highlighted that canola genotype 45S42 responded better to TU applications and exhibited greater resilience against high temperature stress compared to genotype Hiola-401. This interesting study revealed that TU supplementation, particularly at the anthesis stage, improved high temperature stress tolerance, seed oil content, and fatty acid profile in two canola genotypes.

Comparison of the Effects of Essential Oils from Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica on Selected Bacteria, Rumen Fermentation, and Methane Production—In Vitro Study

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Cannabis sativa L. and Cannabis indica Lam. on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, selected rumen microbial populations, and methane production. GC-MS analyses allowed us to identify 89 compounds in both EOs. It was found that E-β-caryophyllene predominated in C. sativa (18.4%) and C. indica (24.1%). An in vitro (Ankom) test was performed to analyse the control and monensin groups, as well as the 50 µL or 100 µL EOs. The samples for volatile fatty acids (VFAs), lactate, and microbiological analysis were taken before incubation and after 6 and 24 h. The application of EOs of C. indica resulted in an increase in the total VFAs of acetate and propionate after 6 h of incubation. The applied EOs had a greater impact on the reduction in methane production after 6 h, but no apparent effect was noted after 24 h. Lower concentrations of C. sativa and C. indica had a more pronounced effect on Lactobacillus spp. and Buryrivibrio spp. than monensin. The presented findings suggest that C. sativa and C. indica supplementation can modify ruminal fermentation, the concentrations of specific volatile fatty acids, and methane production.

Enhancing rainfed safflower yield, oil content, and fatty acid composition through intercropping with chickpea and stress-modifier biostimulants

This study investigated the impact of stress modifiers in intercropping systems on seed yield and yield components, physiological traits, and antioxidant activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rainfed (water deficit) conditions. The experimental design included three stress modulator levels [control, 1 mM salicylic acid (SA), and 10 mM selenium (Se)] and five planting patterns [intercropping one row of safflower and two rows of chickpeas (1S:2C), two rows of safflower and four rows of chickpeas (2S:4C), and three rows of safflower and five rows of chickpeas (3S:5C), and sole cropping of safflower (Ss) and chickpea (Cs)]. The results revealed that Ss treated with Se produced the highest safflower biological yield (4,905.50 kg ha−1) and seed yield (1,259.50 kg ha−1), while Cs produced the highest chickpea biological yield (2,799.67 kg ha−1) and seed yield (852.44 kg ha−1), followed by Cs treated with SA (2,419.25 kg ha−1 and 764.83 kg ha−1, respectively). Conversely, the 3S:5C intercropping ratio (IR) with Se application recorded the highest safflower oil content (32.08%), while Ss treated with Se produced the highest oil yield (358.62 kg ha−1). The 2S:4C configuration with Se application produced the highest unsaturated fatty acid (oleic and linoleic acids) concentrations in safflower, while 2S:4C and 3S:5C treated with Se produced the highest chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in safflower and chickpea. Furthermore, 1S:2C and 2S:4C treated with SA or Se produced the highest proline and total soluble sugars in safflower and chickpea. The SA and Se treatments in the intercropping systems increased catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities compared to the respective control plants (sole cropping) and enhanced oil contents, fatty acid composition, physiological traits, and antioxidant properties. These results underscore the potential of intercropping systems coupled with stress modulator treatments as a sustainable approach for safflower and chickpea cultivation under rainfed conditions.

Effects of a diet supplemented with polysaccharides from Pogostemon cablin on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity in Chongren Partridge chickens

In this study, the Pogostemon cablin polysaccharides (PCPs) were heteropolysaccharides with molecular weights of 63.17 kDa and 8.99 kDa, and their total carbohydrate content was 76.17 ± 0.23%, uronic acid content was 19.92 ± 0.42%, and protein content was 1.24 ± 0.07%. PCP is composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid, with a molar ratio of 0.196:0.249:0.451:0.104. In addition, we further investigated the effects of the diet supplemented with different doses of PCP on growth performance, meat quality, and anti-oxidant capacity in Chongren Partridge chickens. A total of 200 chickens were randomly allocated into 4 treatments, and fed with a basal diet of 0 (CON), 200 (LPCP), 400 (MPCP), and 800 (HPCP) mg/kg PCP for a 14-day prefeeding period and a formal experimental period of 56 days. Results showed that dietary PCP significantly increased final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and decreased feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) from days 1 to 56. Meanwhile, dietary PCP reduced yellowness (b∗) values and increased redness (a∗) values at 24 h in breast muscles (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LPCP and MPCP significantly increased the level of guanylic acid (GMP) (p < 0.05). MPCP increased the content of free amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, cysteine), total essential amino acid (EAA), total flavor amino acid (FAA), total AA, the content of fatty acids (c14:1, c16:1, and c22:2), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in the breast muscle when compared to CON (p < 0.05). In addition, MPCP significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the transcript abundances of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) in the breast muscles of the chickens (p < 0.05). In light of the aforementioned results, PCP at 400 mg/kg could be used as an effective additive because it not only promotes the growth performance of Chongren Partridge chickens but also shows a conducive role in meat quality, especially in meat flavor.

The use of chitosan aerogels as an adsorbent for the regeneration of frying oil

One of the most commonly used food preparation methods is deep-fat frying. The improvement of the quality of used frying oil (UFO) is important because the reuse of frying oil could provide significant savings to the food industry. This study aimed to enhance the quality of used sunflower oil by using chitosan aerogels (CA), which can be considered as novel adsorbents with an increased surface area compared to chitosan powder. Aerogels are novel nanostructured materials with high porosity and large surface area. In this study, CA were produced by drying the 2% (w/v) chitosan gels using supercritical drying. In the study, 32 consecutive deep-fat frying were performed using potato slices in sunflower oil at 180 ± 5 °C. The effect of the adsorbent concentration (0.5, 1, and 2% (w/w)) and different adsorption temperatures (90, 135, and 180 °C) were studied by examining the UFO before and after the adsorption treatments. The physicochemical properties of the oil were analyzed by determining free fatty acid (FFA) content, total polar compounds (TPC), smoke point, p-anisidine value (p-AnV), and color (CIE L*, a*, b*). Moreover, the structural changes of aerogels after the adsorption process were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). CA could reduce the % FFA values from 0.44% to 0.18% due to the ionic interaction between CA and FFA. In addition, TPC value and the smoke point increased after the treatments. The p-AnV was compensated with CA, indicating that secondary oxidation products were adsorbed. Moreover, CA caused a darker color after the adsorption treatments. Additionally, compared with magnesium silicate, the same concentrations of CA were found more effective in improving all the quality parameters of oil except for the L* values.

Assessment of Moroccan Cannabis sativa Seed Oil: Chemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Toxicological, and Antinociceptive Effects.

Cannabis sativa L. is a plant known locally as "El kif" of the Cannabaceae family. This study aimed to conduct a chemical analysis of Cannabis sativa seed oil (CSSO) and assess its acute toxicity, antioxidant properties, and analgesic effects. The chemical analysis was performed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify its fatty acids (FAs) content. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging method and the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) method. Concurrently, acute toxicity, along with antinociceptive activity, was studied through three distinct animal models: writhing test, formalin test, and hot plate test. The results revealed that linoleic acid, oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and palmitic acid were the main components of CSSO. The LD50 of CSSO was greater than 5 g/kg, indicating low toxicity. Additionally, CSSO exhibited a significant content of flavonoids and total polyphenols, along with notable antioxidant activity with values. The results indicated a significant increase in thermal stimulus latency, a reduction in the number of writhes induced by acetic acid, and a decrease in licking time in both phases of the formalin test. In conclusion, this study suggests promising results for CSSO emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic agent.

Microbial Biotechnologies to Produce Biodiesel and Biolubricants from Dairy Effluents

The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is crucial in addressing environmental challenges. Vegetable oils have been focused on as the main potential source for biodiesel and biolubricant production. However, due to their fatty acid (FA) composition they are characterized by low stability to oxidation and variable viscosity. Single-cell oils (SCOs) from oleaginous microorganisms are a possible alternative to vegetable oils: their composition is more suitable, and it can further be improved by controlling the fermentation’s physiological conditions. In the present study, the production of SCOs with targeted technological properties from Lipomyces starkeyi in fermentation under controlled temperatures was assessed. A dairy effluent (scotta) was used as the fermentation substrate to improve the economic sustainability of the process. Batch aerobic fermentations were carried out in a fermenter at two different temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C). The fermentation yields and SCO FA profiles were analyzed. The highest yields of biomass (9.76 g L−1) and microbial oil (1.83 g L−1) were obtained from fermentations carried out at 30 °C. Furthermore, a significantly lower content (46% vs. 55%) of unsaturated FAs and higher content (11% vs. 1.5%) of shorter-chain saturated FAs, with myristic acid almost matching stearic acid, were detected at 30 °C in comparison to 25 °C. Very low peroxide values were also found (0.14 meq O2 kg−1 at 30 °C and 0 meq O2 kg−1 at 25 °C). These results indicate that these SCOs were highly oxidation-resistant, and that a higher fermentation temperature improves their oxidative stability and tribophysical features. The biodiesels’ technological properties, calculated from the FA composition, were within the limits of both U.S. standards and E.U. regulations. Then, SCOs produced from L. starkeyi by fermentation of dairy effluents carried out under controlled temperature can be considered a suitable alternative to vegetable oils to produce biodiesel and biolubricants.

Effects of different stocking densities on growth, nutritional quality, stress and antioxidant response in Labeo rohita; cultured in in-pond raceway system.

A 171-day long experimental trial was undertaken to study intricate physiological response of rohu (Labeo rohita) under stress caused by high stocking density in In-pond raceways system (IPRS). Fingerlings of rohu (initial body weight: 250 ± 1.20 g) were cultured at three different stocking densities; low density (LD) (2.27 kg/m3), medium density (MD) (3.79 kg/m3) and high density (HD) (5.30 kg/m3) in raceways of IPRS production system. Each treatment was in triplicate. Fish growth exhibited a decline in HD treatment statistically as its average weight gain/fish/day was 4.21 g as compared to MD (4.82 g) and LD (4.74 g). Nutritional profile of rohu indicated by the content of crude protein, fatty acids, and profile of amino acids was up to the set dietary benchmarks. Survival rate of fish in all the treatment groups was greater than 99%. The elevated cortisol levels observed in the HD treatment in contrast to the other treatments suggested the presence of stress. The levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were also higher in HD as compared to other treatments. However, there were no difference in the level of MDA between the three treatments. Activity of amylase, protease was significantly different in treatment whereas the difference in lipase activity was found to be insignificant. It can be concluded that medium stocking density i.e. 3.79 kg/m3 outperformed the high density (5.30 kg/m3) in different aspects of this study. Nevertheless, additional research is imperative to ascertain whether any intermediate stocking density between medium (3.79 kg/m3) and high (5.30 kg/m3) such as 4 kg/m3, 4.5 kg/m3, or 5 kg/m3, could potentially serve as suitable options for rohu. It is also suggested that brood stock of rohu should be genetically improved to obtain stress resilient fingerlings which will perform better at high stocking density at large scale production level.

Effect of heating and germination on bioactive properties, phenolic compounds, fatty acid and mineral contents of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds

SummaryIn this study, the effect of roasting, boiling and germination processes on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, fatty acid and phenolic profiles and biogenic elements of quinoa seed and oils was assigned. The moisture amounts of boiled and germinated quinoa seeds were recorded to be significantly higher than the control. Also, the oil yield of quinoa seeds decreased compared with the control by roasting, boiling and germinating. The total phenolic and flavonoid quantities of quinoa seeds were assigned to be between 137.70 (germinated) and 315.00 (boiled) to 156.62 (boiled) and 402.38 mg/100 g (control), respectively. Antioxidant capacities of processed quinoa seeds were reported to be between 11.91 (germinated) and 14.43 mmol kg−1 (roasted). The highest total flavonoid and antioxidant capacities were recorded in the control group and roasted quinoa seeds. The highest decrease in total phenol amount of quinoa seeds was detected in germinated quinoa. Gallic acid and catechin values of quinoa seeds varied to be between 29.17 (boiled) and 38.00 mg/100 g (control) to 2.72 (germinated) and 137.26 mg/100 g (control), respectively. The rutin, ferulic acid and p‐coumaric acid contents of the processed (roasted, boiled and germinated) quinoa seeds gradually increased compared with the control. The highest palmitic, oleic, behenic and arachidonic acids were recorded in germinated quinoa oil, followed by the fatty acids of boiled, raw (control) and roasted quinoa seed oils in descending order. P and K amounts of quinoa were established to be between 2203.44 (roasted) and 3314.59 (control) to 4350.60 (boiled) and 6266.85 mg kg−1 (control), respectively.

Effects of temperature on the growth, total lipid content and fatty acid composition of Skeletonema dohrnii

The potential of diatoms as aquatic bait, attribute to their abundance in highly unsaturated fatty acids, has been extensively studied. Temperature plays a crucial role in the synthesis of these fatty acids. This study specifically investigated the impact of temperature on the growth, total lipid content, and fatty acid composition of Skeletonema dohrnii, a planktonic diatom commonly associated with red tides and water blooms in China. The aim is to evaluate its suitability as an aquatic bait and provide insights for large-scale factory farming. Results indicated that the highest biomass and maximum growth rate occurred at 28°C, with no significant deviation from the control group at 25°C. At 28°C and 15°C, there was a significant increase in the total lipid content and the total fatty acid content, with a more pronounced effect at 15°C. At 28°C, EPA and DHA content measured at 0.97 ± 0.01 mg.DW.L-1 and 0.264 ± 0.01 mg.DW.L-1 respectively, surpass those at 15°C due to lower biomass. Conversely, at 15°C, substantial synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, with EPA constituting up to 32.24 ± 0.24% of the total fatty acids, is observed. Modulating the temperature could optimize the utilization of S. dohrnii as an aquatic feed source. These findings underscore the potential of S. dohrnii as a high-quality aquafeed and lay the groundwork for its success in ocean warming scenarios.

Production and Optimization Study of Biodiesel Produced from Non-edible Seed Oil

The fuel demand is increasing globally. The conventional fuel is toxic and causes global warming and pollution. Therefore, biodiesel is being used as the alternative to petroleum fuel because it is non-toxic and can be renewable. Nowadays, non-edible feedstock is gaining more attention for the production of biodiesel because it can grow anywhere on land, have low cost, and doesn’t cause an imbalance in the food economy. This study deals with the biodiesel production and optimization of biodiesel from Ricinus communis oil using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as solid base catalyst. The free fatty acid content (22.14 % mg KOH/g) of castor oil calculated before transesterification indicated that the pretreatment of raw oil with acid was required for biodiesel synthesis. Therefore, the esterification process was used to reduce the free fatty acid content of castor oil from 22.14% to 0.84%. After that, the transesterification process was used for production of biodiesel using a catalyst (NaOH and KOH). The four different parameter reactions (i.e. Ratio (alcohol to oil), Time, Temperature, and catalyst amount) were used to optimize the yield of biodiesel production. Firstly, NaOH was used as the catalyst and different reactions were done by making changes in all parameters to get maximum yield. The same procedure was done to get maximum yield using KOH as the catalyst. The maximum yield obtained using NaOH and KOH was 94.6 % and 96.2% respectively. In the future, the properties of biodiesel on different parameters can be analyzed and also can be used as a diesel engine to check the working of the engine.

Effects of dietary fiber and biotic supplementation on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and the fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs.

Dietary fibers and biotics have been shown to support gastrointestinal health in dogs, but are usually tested individually. There is value in testing fiber-biotic combinations that are commonly used commercially. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (ATTD) of diets supplemented with fibers or biotics and to evaluate their effects on the fecal characteristics, metabolites, microbiota, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations of dogs. Twelve healthy adult female beagle dogs (age= 6.2 ± 1.6 yr; body weight = 9.5 ± 1.1kg) were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design to test three treatments: 1) control diet based on rice, chicken meal, tapioca starch, and cellulose + a placebo treat (CT); 2) diet based on rice, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, and cellulose + a placebo treat (GB); 3) diet based on rice, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, and a functional fiber/prebiotic blend + a probiotic-containing treat (GBPP). In each 28-day period, a 22-day diet adaptation was followed by a 5-day fecal collection phase. Fasted blood samples were collected on day 28. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4, with P<0.05 being significant and P<0.10 being trends. ATTD of dry matter, organic matter, and energy were lower (P<0.001) and DM fecal output was higher (P<0.01) in dogs fed GBPP than CT or GB, whereas ATTD of crude protein was higher (P<0.001) in dogs fed CT and GBPP than GB. ATTD of fat was higher (P<0.001) and wet fecal output was lower (P<0.01) in dogs fed CT than GB or GBPP. Fecal DM% was higher (P<0.001) in dogs fed CT than GBPP or GB, and higher in dogs fed GBPP than GB. Fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations were higher (P<0.001) in dogs fed GB than CT or GBPP, and higher in dogs fed GB than GBPP. Fecal IgA concentrations were higher (P<0.01) in dogs fed GB than CT. Fecal microbiota populations were affected by diet, with alpha diversity being higher (P<0.01) in dogs fed GB than CT, and beta diversity shifting following dietary fiber and biotic supplementation. The relative abundance of 24 bacterial genera were altered in dogs fed GB or GBPP than CT. Serum triglyceride concentrations were lower in dogs fed GB than GBPP or CT. Our results demonstrate that legume-based dietary fibers, with or without prebiotics and probiotics, reduce ATTD, increase stool output, beneficially shift fecal metabolites and microbiota, and reduce blood lipids of adult dogs.

Cyclic Variations of Ovarian Development, Hormones and Sex Related Genes of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) During Different Growth Stages

This study aimed to investigate the reproductive biology of female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Mature female (n.80) rainbow trout from different reproductive phases were collected. Through a transmission electron microscope (TEM), it was feasible to examine the oocyte at several developmental stages, namely the perinucleolus stage, cortical alveoli stage, vitellogenic stage, mature stage, and postovulatory stage. Progesterone and estradiol levels were measured at their lowest during the immature and spent phases, while reaching their highest levels during the maturing and mature stages. The total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was greater in mature ovaries compared to immature and maturing ovaries. Gene transcripts related to the production of steroids, specifically star, cyp11a1, cyp17a1 and hsd3b were expressed at low levels during the immature stage and showed a significant rise during the mature stage. The ovarian gene expression patterns during oogenesis exhibited distinct dissimilarities. The fatty acid content, essential for the development of fish ovaries, and the sex steroid hormonal profile, which play a key role in regulating oogenesis, are particularly significant. These results will enhance our comprehension of the reproductive biology and sustainable management of rainbow trout in their natural environment.

Combining Ability, Heritability, and Heterosis for Seed Weight and Oil Content Traits of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.)

Hybridization is an important evolutionary force, and heterosis describes the phenomenon where hybrids exhibit superior traits compared to their parents. This study aimed to evaluate the one-hundred-seed weight and fatty acid content in F1 generations, investigating the effects of different parental crosses using a 9 × 3 incomplete diallel design (NCII). One of the challenges faced in this study was the complexity of accurately determining the influence of both genetic and environmental factors on trait inheritance. A total of 36 F1 crosses were analyzed for general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and heritability. The results showed that the level of each index in F1 is closely related to its parents. Significant differences in GCA and SCA were observed among parental traits in most crosses. The ratio of GCA to SCA ranged from 0 to 3, indicating the pivotal role of SCA over GCA in castor breeding efforts. High narrow-sense heritability was recorded in palmitic acid (30.98%), oleic acid (28.68%), and arachidonic acid (21.34%), suggesting that these traits are predominantly under the control of additive gene action, and hence these characters can be improved by selection. Additionally, heterosis exhibited diverse patterns across traits. Based on the evaluated combining ability, heritability, and heterosis, the inbred lines CSR181 and 20111149 were recommended for castor crossbreeding due to their potential to yield progeny with optimal oil-related traits. This research contributes valuable knowledge to the field of castor breeding, providing a foundation for developing superior castor cultivars.

#1957 Microbial and metabolomic remodeling by Sichuan dark tea-based formula improves obesity-induced renal lipid metabolism disorder in mice

Abstract Background and Aims The theory of medicine-food homology is long-standing and has been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine. The Sichuan dark tea-based medicated dietary formula (alternatively referred to as Qing, or clarity in Chinese) is previously used for its lipid-lowering properties in apoE mice. This study further investigated the renoprotective effects of Qing on diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice and explored the specific mechanisms involved. Method Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, a control group, a DIO group, and a Qing treatment group, or the Qing group, with 8 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given normal maintenance feed and purified water, and the other two groups were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the DIO model. After that, high-fat diet continued in the DIO group, while the Qing group was given Qing at the same time for 12 weeks, during which period the weight of the mice was monitored and recorded every week. The mice were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Serum samples were collected and the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin were measured to evaluate liver function. In addition, renal lipids were extracted to determine the levels of TG and TC in the kidney and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and oil red O stainings were performed to evaluate kidney pathological injury. Western blot was performed to determine the phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK)/AMPK ratio in the kidney tissue. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to determine the expression of proteins related to fatty acid oxidation and key proteins related to lipid synthesis. 16SrRNA and metabolomics were applied to analyze the gut microbiota in the intestinal contents and its metabolites. Results Compared with those of the control group, the levels of liver mass (P=0.0003), serum ALT(P &amp;lt; 0.0001), AST (P=0.0001), TC (P=0.0191) and TG (P=0.0101) in the model group were significantly increased. Qing treatment can effectively reduce liver mass (P=0.0316), and improve AST (P=0.0012), ALT (P=0.0027), TC (P=0.0200), TG (P=0.0499) levels of mice compared to those of the DIO group. Qing treatment inhibited the expression of lipid synthesis related genes (SREBP-1, FASN and SCD1) and promoted the expression of fatty acid oxidation related genes (CPT1A, PGC1α and PPARγ) in kidneys (Fig. 1). Obesity-triggered dysfunction of structure and composition of gut microbiota were improved by Qing (Fig. 2), where the content of short-chain fatty acids, especially isovaleric acid and propionic acid, were also restored (Fig. 3). Conclusion Our data suggested that Sichuan dark tea-based medicated dietary formula may improve renal lipid metabolism by regulating gut microbiota and the levels of intestinal short-chain fatty acids, thereby protecting obesity-related kidney injury. Isovaleric acid and propionic acid may be the metabolites key to its regulation of gut microbiota.

Prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression by polysaccharides from Apocynum venetum flowers via enhancing immune response, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating gut microbiota in mice

IntroductionEmerging proof suggests that Apocynum venetum flowers polysaccharide (AVFP) has immunomodulatory effects in vitro. However, the action mechanism of AVFA is still unclear in vivo. The purpose of this study is to probe into the potential mechanism of AVFA in immunosuppressed mice by investigating organ index, cytokine levels, anti-oxidative stress capacity, transcriptomics, and gut microbiota.MethodsImmunocompromised mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) were divided into six groups. The enzyme-labeled method, hematoxylin and eosin, transcriptomics, and high-throughput sequencing were used to detect the regulatory effects of AVFP on immunocompromised mice and the function of AVFP on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and biochemical indexes.ResultsThe experimental results illustrated that AVFP has protective effects against CTX-induced immunosuppression in mice by prominently increasing the organ index and levels of anti-inflammatory factors in serum in addition to enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the liver. Meanwhile, it could also signally decrease the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum, the activity of transaminase in serum, and the content of free radicals in the liver, and alleviate the spleen tissue damage induced by CTX. Transcriptomics results discovered that AVFP could play a role in immune regulation by participating in the NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the immune-related genes Bcl3, Hp, Lbp, Cebpd, Gstp2, and Lcn2. Gut microbiota results illustrated that AVFP could increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, reduce the abundance of harmful bacteria, and regulate the metabolic function of intestinal microorganisms while dramatically improving the content of SCFAs, modulating immune responses, and improving the host metabolism. The Spearman analysis further evaluated the association between intestinal microbiota and immune-related indicators.ConclusionThese findings demonstrated that AVFP could enhance the immune effects of the immunosuppressed mice and improve the body’s ability to resist oxidative stress.

Measuring the impact of dietary supplementation with citrus or cucumber extract on chicken gut microbiota using 16s rRNA gene sequencing.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplements, citrus (CTS) and cucumber (CMB), on the jejunum and cecum microbiota of 14- and 28-days old broiler chickens to evaluate their impact on the gut health and assess their role as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (ABGPs). 16SrRNA gene sequencing revealed the overall bacterial microbiota composition was significantly affected by the gut site (p?<?0.001) but not by either of the dietary supplements, CTS and CMB, at both 14 and 28 days of age. However, as a result of Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSE), CTS dietary supplements significantly increased the counts of Lactobacillus (p?<?0.01) and decreased the counts of Enterococcus (p?<?0.01) and Clostridium (p?<?0.05) in the jejunum, whereas the counts of Blautia were increased (p?<?0.01) and Enterococcus were decreased (p?<?0.05) in the cecum at both ages. Only minor CMB effects were identified in the cecum and non in the jejunum. The use of CTS dietary supplements has been shown to be associated to the reduction of potentially pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus and Clostridium) and to the growth of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Blautia) which are known to have positive effects on chicken health in terms of nutrients absorption, stimulation and production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Therefore, this study suggests that the use of a CTS supplemented diet could promote gut health while no clear advantages have been identified with the use of CMB as a dietary supplement.

Efeito de um aditivo fúngico multiespécie no perfil de fermentação ruminal, de-gradabilidade e cinética de produção de gases

Two experiments evaluated the effect of a multispecies fungal complex (BP, BIOPREMIX MX®, Ruminal Fermentation Tech, Uruguay). In Experiment 1 (E1), the impact of adding BP to a total mixed ration (TMR) on ruminal fermentation profile and TMR in situ degradation kinetics was assessed. In Experiment 2 (E2), the effect of adding BP to various substrates on in vitro fermentability was examined. In E1, 4 Holstein cows with rumen cannulas were randomly assigned to Control (TMR with forage:concentrate ratio 75:25) or Control + 120 g/cow/d of BP (BP) and received ad libitum TMR for 30 days. Samples of TMR were ruminally incubated to estimate in situ degradation kinetic. Ruminal pH, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations were measured just before feeding, 4 h and 8 h post feeding. In E2, a factorial arrangement included two BP levels (0 -Control or 6.5 g BP per kg dry matter incubated-WBP) and 8 substrates. In vitro gas production kinetics (GPk), dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), methanogenic potential (CH4), partitioning factor (PF), VFA, and microbial crude protein (MCP) were estimated. The BP increased proportion of propionate (P ≤ 0.05) and reduced ketogenic:glucogenic ratio and Lag phase of NDF (P ≤ 0.05). WBP tended to increase IVDMD, and substrate affected GPk, IVDMD, CH4, PF, VFA and MCP (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, BP improved ruminal metabolism favoring a more glucogenic profile, a shortening Lag phase in NDF degradation, and increasing IVDMD.