Edible Parts Research Articles

The effect of plant protein high levels in feed on biometric and histopathological parameters of rainbow trout

Comparative studies of the effect of replacing animal protein in the structure of the diet with vegetable protein on biometric parameters and histopathological parameters of the liver of rainbow trout have been carried out on biological models of rainbow trout. Changes in trout carcass structure were revealed, indicating a change in live weight in the 1st control and 2nd experimental groups with a result of 3.7%, changes occurred in the 3rd group - 7.4%. Moreover, the changes in muscle mass in group 2 were expressed better than in the control group by 1.5%, similarly in group 3 – 12.8%. The weight gain of edible parts in group 2 was expressed better by 4.1% than in the control group, and in the experimental group 3 – 7.3%. The mass of in-edible parts in the study groups was also higher than in the control group. The yield of edible parts was higher in the 2 experimental group by 0.21%, in the experimental group 3 – 0.2%. When examining the liver tissue of the experimental group 3, some degenerative changes were revealed. Vacuolization of liver cells in the experimental group 3, which were fed a diet with vegetable protein high content in its structure, was significantly lower, and accordingly, in this group there were the smallest hepatocytes. Defects in cellular contacts in the liver, destruction, and proliferation of lymphohistiocyte cells into sinusoids were observed. Thus, a decrease of animal feed in the structure of predatory fish diets to the level of 25% leads to liver degeneration. This reactive adaptation of the liver to a new vegetable protein ingredient is of a short-term nature.

Efeitos do Fe e Zn no crescimento, bioforticação e qualidade de alface cultivado em hidroponia

ABSTRACT Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential elements for human health and their deficiencies cause reduced work capacity, physiological and immune system disorders, anemia and even death, being considered primary global public health problems. Agronomic biofortification aims to increase the concentration of these nutrients in the edible part of the plant and, consequently, increase human intake of these nutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fe and Zn concentrations on the growth, biofortification and quality of lettuce grown in hydroponics. Six treatments corresponding to the combinations of Zn (0.06 and 0.24 mg L-1) and Fe (2, 4 and 8 mg L-1) concentrations were evaluated. Increase of Zn in the nutrient solution positively influenced only leaf Zn contents at 18 days after transplanting the seedlings and ascorbic acid at harvest. On the other hand, the increase in Fe concentration positively influenced the contents of photosynthetic pigments, ascorbic acid and Fe; however, it negatively affected the leaf Zn content, leaf area and leaf dry mass of lettuce. Greater biofortification of lettuce for Fe was observed with the Fe concentration of 8 mg L-1 in the solution.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СЕЛЕНА НА МЯСНУЮ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ БРОЙЛЕРОВ

The research results have been given in the article on selenium containing preparation influence on broilers meat production. Determined that the preparation using in broiler rations (experimental group 1 — 0.7 mg of preparation per 1 kg of feed, experimental group 2 — 0.9 mg/kg and experimental group 3 — 1.1 mg/kg) promoted eviscerated carcass mass increasing by 2.52%; 5.46% (P<0.01) and 4.03% (P<0.05) respectively; carcass edible parts mass by 3.08%; 6.64% (P<0.01) and 5.02% (P<0.05); breast muscles mass by 3.20%; 6.77% (P<0.05) and 5.04% (P<0.05) in comparison with the control group. Meat quality has improved in broilers of experimental groups: dry matter content in breast muscles has increased by 0.12%; 0.24% (P<0.01) and 0.19% (P<0.05); protein content has increase by 0.25% (P<0.05); 0.44% (P<0.01) and 0.33% (P<0.05); fat content by 0.06%; 0.11% (P<0.05) and 0.13% (P<0.01). The best traits of meat yields and quality has been found in broilers that have received 0.9 mg of selenium containing preparation per 1 kg of feed.

Unconventional food plants in Brazil: Knowledge and consumption analysis

Unconventional Food Plants (UFP) refers to edible parts of exotic or native plants absent from people’s food habits and/or are produced and commercialized outside the traditional food systems. These species present great nutritional value and can also play an important role in social, financial, and environmental spheres. Despite that, UFP still do not occupy a proper space in diets, mainly due to the lack of knowledge. Therefore, this work aims to observe the knowledge, frequency, forms and motivations for the consumption of UFP among Brazilian participants. For this, an online survey was applied, obtaining 613 responses. Most participants are women (77.7%) aged between 20 and 29 years, from Bahia (38.6%), and with a higher education level (undergraduate). The survey revealed that the population understands UFP but rarely consumes it. Only a portion of the participants consumes UFP frequently or intensely. Curiosity was the primary motivation, with no consolidated family habits. However, curiosity is a possibility for the development of new products by the food industry, enabling the consumption of non-recurring forms and intensifying the nutritional and functional properties of these plants. In fact, among the other reasons observed for this intake by the population, vegetarianism and dietary diversification stand out. The most recurrent form of consumption is through preparations and, as noted, the degree of urbanization or distance from urban centers can influence the knowledge and consumption of these plants. Therefore, considering its nutritional and health characteristics, the consumption and appreciation of UFP should be encouraged in the face of data on hunger and malnutrition throughout the country, especially in less economically developed regions. Furthermore, the globalization of the food market has led to cultural food erosion, simplifying the diet of the population. Thus, these plants allow the recovery of traditional food, betting on local and easily accessible species, and the improvement of Food and Nutritional Security indices.

Impact of high-pressure shift freezing on physicochemical and functional properties of egg edible parts

Impact of high-pressure shift freezing on physicochemical and functional properties of egg edible parts

Effect of Boiling on Chemical Composition of Small Brown Snail (Cornu aspersum aspersum) Meat

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the changes occurring as a result of boiling (100°C, 1 h) small brown snail (Cornu aspersum aspersum) meat in relation to its proximate composition, calcium, phosphorus and cholesterol content, as well as the profile of fatty acids and nutritional quality indices of the lipids. This species of snail was selected for research because it is currently of the greatest economic importance among edible terrestrial snails. It was hypothesized that the cooking effect may be different for foot and visceral sac. Samples for the research were collected from 6 populations bred on experimental fields of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in balice (Poland). The foot and the visceral sac, the edible parts of the snail species under investigation, were analysed separately, raw and boiled in water. The results were then compared to analogous studies carried out by other authors on beef, pork and poultry. It was found that in the visceral sac of Cornu aspersum aspersum the shares of dry matter, crude protein, fat, ash, calcium and phosphorus were greater than those in the foot (P<0.05), both in the raw and boiled material, whereas the cholesterol content was higher in the foot (P<0.05). Generally, especially in the foot, the heat treatment elevated the levels of the afore-mentioned quantities, yet the increases were not always statistically significant. Boiling the snail meat caused moderate changes in the fatty acid composition. The profile of the fatty acids and the nutritional quality indices of the foot fat were more advantageous than those in the visceral sac. In both parts of the snail carcass, the polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) ratio substantially exceeded the minimum value of 0.45 recommended by the British Department of Health. However, the n-6/n-3 ratio was too high, exceeding the maximum recommended level of 4.0 twofold and as much as threefold in the case of the foot and the visceral sac, respectively. In the foot, due to boiling, an increase of the share of sfa and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was observed, while PUFA, n-6 and n-3 decreased. In the visceral sac, the changes were less pronounced with a slight decrease of the share of sfa and PUFA, and an increase of MUFA. Therefore, in the foot, boiling worsened the PUFA/SFA ratio, the nutritive value index (NVI = (C18:0 + C18:1) / C16:0) and dietary fatty acids having a desirable neutral and hypocholesterolemic effect in humans (DFA = Σ MUFA + Σ PUFA + C18:0), but in the visceral sac these indices practically did not change. On the whole, the trends of the changes in terms of chemical composition due to boiling found in the small brown snail meat are similar to those after heat treatment of meat from popular farm animals, but the ranges of the changes differ.

Comparative Analysis of Antioxidant Potency and Phenolic Compounds in Fruit Peel of Opuntia robusta, Opuntia dillenii, and Opuntia ficus-indica Using HPLC‐DAD Profiling

The edible part of the prickly pear fruit is most commonly consumed, while the peel is often discarded, leading to the loss of valuable bioactive components, such as phenolic compounds. This research aims to assess the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and quantities of phenolic and flavonoid contents of fruit peel of Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia robusta, and Opuntia dillenii. Ten phenolic compounds were identified, with isorhamnetin being the most abundant flavonoid measuring 7184.09 μg/g, while sinapic acid was identified as the major phenolic acid measuring 1806.36 μg/g. Opuntia robusta exhibited the highest total phenolic content, total flavonoids, and total phenolic acids measuring 5583.19 mg GAE 100 g−1, 21041.03 μg/g, and 3265.17 μg/g, respectively. Opuntia robusta and Opuntia dillenii demonstrated the higher antioxidant capacity in scavenging 2,2‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) compared to Opuntia ficus-indica, whereas Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia ficus-indica exhibited the highest concentration of antioxidants capable of reducing the Fe3+ complex of ferric ions (TPTZ)3+ to the ferrous complex Fe (TPTZ)2+. In contrast, the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays showed no significant difference between the examined species. Compared to the local species Opuntia ficus-indica, the two newly introduced Dactylopius opuntiae‐resistant species are richer in phenolic compounds and exhibit greater antioxidant activity.

Discontinuous Translocation of a Luciferase Protein beyond Graft Junction in Tobacco.

Transgrafting, a grafting technique that uses both genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants, is a novel plant breeding technology that can be used to improve the efficiency of crop cultivation without introducing foreign genes into the edible parts of non-GM plants. This technique can facilitate the acquisition of disease resistance and/or increased yield. However, the translocation of low-molecular-weight compounds, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and proteins through graft junctions raises a potential safety risk for food crops. Here, we used a transgenic tobacco plant expressing a firefly luciferase gene (LUC) to examine the translocation of the LUC protein beyond the graft junction in grafted plants. We observed the bi-directional translocation of LUC proteins in transgrafted tobacco plants, i.e., from the rootstock to scion and vice versa. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that transcripts of the LUC gene were undetectable in non-GM plant bodies, indicating that the LUC protein itself was translocated. Moreover, the movement of the LUC protein is an episodic (i.e., non-continuous) event, since non-GM samples showing high LUC activity were flanked by non-GM samples showing no apparent LUC activity. Translocation from the GM to non-GM part depends on the characteristics of GM plant bodies; here, the enhanced translocation of the LUC protein into the non-GM scion was observed when LUC-expressing rootstocks with hairy roots were used. Moreover, the quantity of translocated LUC protein was far below the level that is generally required to induce an allergenic response. Finally, since the LUC protein levels of plants used for transgrafting are moderate and the LUC protein itself is relatively unstable, further investigation is necessary regarding whether the newly expressed protein in GM plants is highly stable, easily translocated, and/or highly expressed.

Food waste as potential bioresources for extraction of carotenoid of nutraceutical importance: Current research and future challenges

Carotenoids are lipid soluble natural pigments found in various plants, animals, and microbes giving them their yellow, orange, or red hue. Carotenoids have been linked to a variety of health benefits as bioactive compound including antioxidant properties, reduced risk of certain cancers, improved ocular and cardiovascular health, and improved immune function and skin health to name a few. The global volume of wastage of edible part of food is accounts as 1.3 billion tons and a sizeable portion of this wastage have significant amount of carotenoid content which can be utilized for industrial purpose and economical values. However, most of these wastes are used as animal feed, composting and land filling. Although, chemical synthesis of carotenoids is possible, it has several disadvantages including complex extraction process, high cost, and low yield of final product and environmental impacts and safety concerns. The present review focuses on advances in extraction of carotenoid using non-thermal technologies, such as ultrasound assisted extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, and microwave assisted extraction, from various food wastes to utilize the waste. The green extraction of carotenoids from food waste materials is an area that has a lot of potential for future development. Using environmentally friendly extraction methods and utilizing food waste as a source of carotenoids, we can create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food production system.

Valorizacija ljušture invazivnih rakova iz reke Dunav (Faxonius limosus) - ekstrakcija i karakterizacija proteina

In order to deal with invasive crayfish (Faxonius limosus) impact on the native crayfish, as well as fish biodiversity in the Danube River, a possible solution would be to find and adopt mechanisms for its utilization for novel valuable product production. Apart from utilizing edible parts for novel food products, the shell waste can also be considered a source of valuable compounds. The complex structure of the shell mainly consists of three basic compounds: chitin, protein and minerals-mainly calcium carbonate. In this study, shell waste proteins were extracted using three extraction methods. The first method involved using naturally present enzymes (proteases and lipases) in crayfish wastes to recover proteins through an autolysis process. To accelerate the process, UV radiation was used. The remaining two extraction methods were alkaline extraction of proteins, wherein one method alkaline extraction was applied directly to the shell waste, and the other method, alkaline extraction followed an acidic demineralization step of the shell waste. The obtained protein concentrates were analysed for yield, crude protein content, DPPH radical scavenging ability, amino acid content, and structure. The results have shown that a similar percentage of protein content was obtained by all three methods: 67.20-68.03 %, but the extraction yield was considerably different. Alkaline deproteinization with or without the step of demineralization resulted in a 9.20-10.98 % yield, while UV radiation accelerated autolysis resulted in only a 3.41 % yield. Although protein extraction without using exogenous enzymes or chemicals is a very interesting approach, a drawback of this approach is the low process yield. FTIR spectroscopy revealed a secondary structure that was similar in all three concentrates, according to peak deconvolution, with the autolytic concentrate differing to a lesser extent, showing a slightly higher share of b-sheet structures. The DPPH assay revealed high antioxidant activity of the concentrates (72.00-88.06 %), probably originating from active peptides derived from proteins and residual carotenoids, mainly astaxanthin.

Biochar derived from tobacco waste significantly reduces the accumulations of cadmium and copper in edible parts of two vegetables: an in-situ field study.

Biochar, as a soil amendment, can be applied to remediate heavy metal (HM) contaminated farmland. However, there is little research on the effect of tobacco biochar (TB) derived from tobacco waste on HM controlling in edible parts of vegetables. In this study, the impact of two TB levels on the plant growth, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum, and on Cu and Cd bioavailability of rhizosphere soil was investigated through in-situ field experiments. The results showed that TB has rich oxygen containing functional groups, high porosity, high nitrogen adsorption capacity. The addition of 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 TB significantly increased the shoot biomass of chrysanthemum, but had no effect on the growth of lettuce. Two levels of TB significantly increased the pH value, but decreased the available Cu and Cd concentrations of rhizosphere soil, thereby reducing the Cu and Cd accumulations in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum. The findings provided effective evidences that TB derived from tobacco waste is an efficient strategy for controlling Cu and Cd accumulation in the edible parts of vegetables to ensureagri-product safety production in HM-polluted farmland.

Exogenous Application of Potassium and Zinc for the Growth, Yield and Agronomic Zinc Biofortification of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In agriculture, the application of micronutrient application takes place through soil application, foliar spraying, or added seed treatments. Potassium (K) application fulfills the deficiency of K in soil due to a continuous exhaustive cropping system. Zinc (Zn) bio-fortification of seed by priming is responsible for increasing the concentration of Zn in the edible part of a seed with the aim of remedying malnutrition. For this, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic research area, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Treatment included different rates of K (0, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha-1) and different rates of Zn (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%). Potassium was applied in fertigation while zinc was applied in foliar form. The experiment was designed in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) and was repeated three times. It resulted that different rate of potassium and zinc application showed a significant effect on plant growth and yield attributes. Plant growth and yield increased with increasing the rate of potassium and zinc application and decreased with the decreasing the rate of application of potassium and zinc application. The maximum values for plant growth and yield attributes were observed with K3 and Zn3 while the minimum values were recorded with the application of K0 and Zn0. Results regarding the nutrient uptakes showed that maximum values for zinc uptake were also recorded in seed and stem attributes. Maximum values for zinc uptake in seed and stem (37.2 and 14.5 mg/kg) were observed in the Zn3 treatment and the minimum values for zinc uptake (30.1 and 11 mg/kg) were recorded Zn0 treatment, respectively. It was concluded that 80 kg ha-1 application of potassium with 0.6 % foliar application of zinc significantly affects the growth and yield of wheat crops. Zinc foliar application can be helpful for zinc fortification.

Effects of microwave treatment on the microstructure, germination characteristics, morphological characteristics and nutrient composition of maize

This study investigated the effects of microwave treatment on the microstructure and germination characteristics of maize seeds, as well as the morphological characteristics and nutritional composition of germinated maize. The results indicated that microwave could alter the microstructure of endosperm cells in maize seeds. Microwave enhanced the germination rate and shortened the average germination time. Besides, the sprout length (20.0 %), fresh weight of edible parts (14.0 %) and reducing sugar content (6.04 %) of germinated maize were significantly increased by microwaving of 200 W/20 s, compared with CK (10 d). In addition, the respiratory rate (41.5 %) and free amino acids content (19.5 %) of germinated maize were also significantly enhanced with microwave of 200 W/20 s, compared with CK (7 d). Microwave could significantly increase amylase activity, accelerate starch hydrolysis, and greatly decrease starch content. For soluble protein and fat content of germinated maize, there were no significant differences among the treatment groups. Correlation analysis showed that the sprout length and fresh weight of germinated maize were highly correlated with their nutritional components. Therefore, microwave can be an effective method to improve the nutritional value of germinated maize.

Sea buckthorn oil regulates primary myoblasts proliferation and differentiation in vitro.

Skeletal muscle is the main edible part of meat products, and its development directly affects the yield and palatability of meat. Sea buckthorn oil (SBO) contains plenty of bioactive substances and has been recognized as a potential functional food product. The study aimed to explore the effects and possible mechanisms of SBO on sheep primary myoblast proliferation and myogenic differentiation. The results implied that SBO exhibited a pro-proliferative effect on primary myoblasts, along with up-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) abundances. And, SBO promoted myotube formation by increasing the expression of myogenin. Meanwhile, we found that SBO inhibited the expression of miRNA-292a. Moreover, the regulatory effect of SBO on myogenic differentiation of myoblasts was attenuated by miRNA-292a mimics. Of note, SBO activated protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and augmented glucose uptake and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) content, which might be attributed to AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Additionally, the results were shown that SBO increased the abundance of antioxidative enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and catalase. In summary, these data suggested that SBO regulated the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of sheep primary myoblasts in vitro, which might potentiate the application of SBO in muscle growth.

The Functional and Rheological Properties the Mesocarp Layer of the Oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) grown in Karaman

The oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), also known as wild olive, is a small fruit with three parts: the outer peel or exocarp layer, the edible part or mesocarp layer, and the inner seed or endocarp layer. The mesocarp layer is rich in essential vitamins and has great potential for use in various food products. The flour made from the mesocarp layer has a moisture content of 8.99%, an ash content of 2.66%, a fat content of 0.55%, a protein content of 5.99%, a crude fiber content of 3.32%, and a total dietary fiber (TDF) content of 26.36%. The TDF content is divided into insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF), which are 21.35% and 5.01%, respectively. The flour has color values of L*: 75.14, a*: 2.86, b*: 23.87, and a water activity value of 0.314. The water solubility, water absorption, and oil absorption are 67.33%, 4.91 g water/g sample, and 2.26 g oil/g sample, respectively. Additionally, the mesocarp layer contains minerals such as Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Na. The mesocarp layer significantly affected the thermomechanical properties of wheat flour. As the substitution level of the mesocarp layer increased from 10 to 30%, the water absorption capacity, dough development time and stability time of the wheat dough significantly decreased. Specifically, the water absorption capacity dropped from 53.5% to 47%, dough development time reduced from 1.10 to 0.75 min, and stability time decreased from 8.90 to 2.25 min. Substituting a mesocarp layer in wheat flour can significantly improve product shelf-life due to slower retrogradation. The mesocarp layer is an functional ingredient in the food industry.

Investigation of phytotoxicity and defense responses in pepper exposed to molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles by multi‐omics and phenotypic analyses

AbstractMolybdenum disulfide nanoparticles (MoS2NPs) have attracted considerable attention in the fields of environmental protection and agricultural production. Understanding the potential crop risk (especially in edible parts) incurred by MoS2NPs and the corresponding plant defense against toxicity is a prerequisite for assessing human dietary safety and improving the safe‐by design of such NPs; however, relevant information remains largely unknown. This study examines the toxicity of MoS2NPs to edible vegetable crops of pepper and their corresponding defense mechanisms. Our findings revealed that exposure to MoS2NPs triggered the defense in pepper via reducing transpiration rates in leaves by 36.5%–54.8% and via increasing catalase activity, mineral elements, and gibberellic acid in fruit by 10.7%–32.4%, 0.2%–92.8%, and 28.0%–72.4%, respectively. The defensive response to MoS2NPs stress was also reflected in the elevated amino acid metabolism (e.g., arginine and proline metabolism in leaves, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism in fruits), and in the regulation of the oxidation–reduction process proteins in fruits (e.g., increased acyl‐coenzyme A oxidase and cytochrome P450, decreased NADH–ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain and cytokinin dehydrogenase). However, oxidative stress in pepper fruits (e.g., increased H2O2 and malondialdehyde, ultrastructural damage, reduced biomass) was still induced by MoS2NPs, suggesting an unbalance between defense systems and abiotic stress. This study provides valuable insights into the impacts of MoS2NPs on edible parts of crops and helps to assess their ecological risk.

Variations in phytic acid, phenolic, flavonoid, and mineral-bioavailabilities during pomelo fruit development and their relation to fertilization strategy

Pomelo fruit is naturally rich in health-promoting components. However, few studies have quantified phytic acid (PA), which is both an antioxidant compound and an antinutrient that limits mineral bioavailability. In this study, we analyzed the temporospatial changes in fruit PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid, estimated mineral bioavailabilities, and their response to fertilization strategies. Compared to pulp, pomelo peel contained higher PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid and most minerals concentrations (except for P) but lower estimated mineral bioavailabilities (Mg, Zn and Fe). The concentrations of PA, total flavonoid, and minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Zn) and Fe estimated bioavailability in pulp gradually decreased with ripening. Total phenolic concentrations and the estimated bioavailabilities of Ca, Mg and Zn in pulp decreased in the early fruit expansion stage but subsequently increased markedly until maturity. Reduced chemical fertilization while supplementing Mg simultaneously increased estimated mineral bioavailabilities in pulp through reduced PA as an antinutrient, and increased bioactives concentrations in peel through increased PA as an antioxidant together with total phenolic and total flavonoid. Overall, our results indicate that reducing NPK while supplementing Mg fertilization in pomelo orchards with acidic and Mg-deficient soil is the most beneficial approach for achieving biofortification of the edible pulp parts and integrated fruit quality enhancement.

Health Risk Assessment of Antibiotic Pollutants in Large Yellow Croakers from Zhejiang Aquaculture Sites.

Intensive aquaculture combatting the decline of large yellow croaker populations can trigger bacterial outbreaks, resulting in extensive antibiotic use. In this study, we screened 5 aquaculture sites in the coastal areas of Zhejiang and identified 17 antibiotics in large yellow croakers using UPLC-MS/MS. The distribution and occurrence of antibiotic pollutants were different in the different tissues of large yellow croakers, being primarily dominated by quinolones. Relatively higher average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were detected in the inedible parts, specifically the gills (37.29 μg/kg). Meanwhile, relatively high average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also found in the edible parts, particularly in the muscle (23.18 μg/kg). We observed that the residue levels detected in the swim bladder exceeded the prescribed limit for fish muscle, but there is currently no specific regulatory limit established for this particular tissue. Despite the HI values of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin being below 0.01, the health risks should not be disregarded. The findings of this research provide significant practical implications for assessing antibiotic contamination and enhancing the risk management of coastal regions.

Determination of Some Selected Heavy Metals in Wheat and Pepper Samples Collected from Gaziantep (Türkiye)

It is very important for the environment and human health to determine the level of accumulation of pollutants in the soil and in the edible parts of plants, especially as a result of the intensive use of chemicals in agricultural activities. For this reason, this study was carried out to determine the heavy metal levels (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and Co) of wheat grain, red pepper and samples of soil from Nurdağı and Islahiye districts where intensive agricultural activities are carried out in Gaziantep (Türkiye). Sampling of agricultural products and their cultivated soils was made at harvest time. The Cd and Pb levels of red pepper and the Cd, Pb and Cr levels of the soil collected from Nurdağı were generally higher than those of FAO/WHO limits. Lead content of wheat grain collected from Nurdağı and Cd and Pb contents of soil samples were also higher than the permissible limits. On the other hand, Cd levels of red pepper and soil samples from Islahiye were higher than those of the FAO/WHO limits. In addition, it was determined that Pb and Cr levels of wheat and Cd and Pb levels of soil samples from Islahiye were generally above permissible limits. On the other hand, in the samples collected from Nurdağı, the highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values were calculated for Cd, Cu and Zn in red pepper and for Cu, Zn and Pb in wheat grains. Considering the samples collected from Islahiye, the highest BAF values were calculated in Zn, Cr and Pb for red pepper, and Zn, Cd and Cu for wheat grains. As a result, the concentrations of some heavy metals such as Cd, Pb and Cr were found to be higher than the recommended limits. It was concluded that the reason for this is the intense application of agricultural activities, especially pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, in both districts.

In vitro ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern: nutritional insights about some agricultural crop mesocarps (peel) in ruminant nutrition

Different agricultural crop wastes (ACW) such as mesocarps (peel) are annually produced after consuming their edible parts in the world without any scientific information about their nutritional potential. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern and nutritional potential of some crop mesocarps (peel) including different species of melons (Watermelon, Galia melon, Rockmelon, Til sabz, and Til atashi) as well as cucumber and eggplant using common and standard laboratory methods. The amount of crude protein (CP) varied from 7.19 to 19.1% of dry matter (DM) for Til sabz and cucumber mesocarps, respectively. The highest (34.1% of DM) and lowest (15.4%) content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were related to eggplant and Til sabz peels, respectively (p < 0.05). The content of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) varied from 38.7% for eggplant peel to 66.6% for Til sabz. All mesocarps had a low DM percentage (4.88% of DM for cucumber to 8.45 for eggplant). Rockmelon peel had the highest amount of calcium (5.25 g/kg DM) and magnesium (5.75 g/kg DM) compared with the other mesocarps (p < 0.05). The highest amounts of potassium (33.4 g/kg of DM), sodium (7.15 g/kg of DM), and zinc (21 mg/kg of DM) were observed in the peels of watermelon, Til atashi, and cucumber, respectively (p < 0.05). The potential of ruminal-microbial gas production also differed from 55.6 ml/200 mg of DM for eggplant to 63.1 ml for Til sabz peel. Except for cucumber (8.75 MJ/kg of DM) and eggplant (8.71 MJ), other mesocarps (different melon species) had almost similar metabolizable energy (ME, 9.06–9.50 MJ/kg of DM). Among the studied mesocarps, the lowest ruminal-microbial DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility was also observed in eggplant and cucumber (p < 0.05). Gallia melon had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (267 mEq×10− 3, p < 0.05). According to our findings, the mesocarps of melons showed a higher nutritional value than the cucumber and eggplant. In general, Til sabz exhibited a notable favorite and superior nutritional characteristic compared with the other mesocarps.