Nutritional Components Research Articles

A Nondestructive Detection Method for the Muti-Quality Attributes of Oats Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

This study aimed to achieve a precise and non-destructive quantification of the amounts of total starch, protein, β-glucan, and fat in oats using near-infrared technology in conjunction with chemometrics methods. Eight preprocessing methods (SNV, MSC, Nor, DE, FD, SD, BC, SS) were employed to process the original spectra. Subsequently, the optimal PLS model was obtained by integrating feature wavelength selection algorithms (CARS, SPA, UVE, LAR). After SD-SPA, total starch reached its optimal state (Rp2 = 0.768, RMSEP = 2.057). Protein achieved the best result after MSC-CARS (Rp2 = 0.853, RMSEP = 1.142). β-glucan reached the optimal value after BC-SPA (Rp2 = 0.759, RMSEP = 0.315). Fat achieved the optimal state after SS-SPA (Rp2 = 0.903, RMSEP = 0.692). The research has shown the performance of the portable FT-NIR for a rapid and non-destructive quantification of nutritional components in oats, holding significant importance for quality control and quality assessment within the oat industry.

Diversity of Major Yield Traits and Nutritional Components Among Greenhouse Grown Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Breeding Lines, Landraces, and Cultivars of Different Origins.

This study analyzed the diversity of major yield traits and nutritional components across 122 chickpea breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces of different origins. All parameters showed significant variations, with a variance ranging from 4.61% in days to maturity (DM) to 43.04% in oleic acid. Six accessions, including CP021, CP022, CP026, CP037, CP066, and CP109, outperformed in yield traits and nutritional value. Origin significantly affected all phenotypic traits except total fatty acid contents, with Indian and Ukrainian accessions demonstrating contrasting performances. Most traits, except for the number of seeds per pod (SPP), palmitic acid, and total fatty acid contents, differed significantly among breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces. Breeding lines were the earliest to flower and to mature with average days to flowering (DF) of 50.23 days and DM of 101.50 days. They also had the highest average SPP, number of pods per plant (PPP), total seeds per plant (TSPP), total protein, crude fiber, dietary fiber, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid contents making them preferable for high yield and nutrition. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the chickpea accessions into seven clusters, showing significant variations in yield traits and nutritional components. Principal component and Pearson's correlation analyses indicated positive correlations between DM and DF, and between SPP, PPP, and TSPP. Nutritional components also displayed varying associations, with a notable negative correlation between oleic and linoleic acids, the two essential fatty acids. Overall, this study showed the diversity of key phenotypic traits in chickpea breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces of different origins. The significant effects of genotype and origin differences on these traits could be used as a basis for future metabolomics and genomics research.

Impact of deacidification processes on the quality and oxidative stability of walnut oil

In order to select an appropriate deacidification process and improve the quality of walnut oil, low-temperature cold-pressed crude walnut oil was used as raw material. Deacidified walnut oil was prepared using three deacidification processes: chemical deacidification (CD), adsorption deacidification (AD), and molecular distillation deacidification (MDD). The physicochemical properties, nutritional components, and in vitro antioxidant activities of the resulting deacidified walnut oils were comparatively analyzed. The results indicate that the fatty acid content in walnut oil exhibits fluctuating changes during the three different deacidification processes. The MDD shows a higher deacidification rate, reaching 94.06%, which is superior to the other two methods. Additionally, the AD retains more total phenols and tocopherols, with retention rates of 95.79% and 74.62%, respectively; whereas MDD is more effective at retaining phytosterols, achieving a retention rate of 98.09%. All these methods displayed positive impacts on the in vitro antioxidant capacity and oil stability of walnut oil, with ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) content and oxidative stability time were significantly reduced.whencompared to the untreated crude oil Among them, AD had the greatest impact on oxidative stability index (OSI) , with its decreasing from 2.06 h to 0.82 h. Overall, compared to CD or MDD, the AD has best application prospects in preserving nutritional components.

Effects of different drying methods on the nutritional components, microstructure, and metabolomic profile of Spirulina maxima

Spirulina maxima (S. maxima) is considered a potential solution to address the issue of human food security. In this study, three drying methods were employed: spray drying (SD), freeze drying (FD), and vacuum drying (VD), to process fresh S. maxima (FS). A comprehensive nutritional evaluation was conducted using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, along with an untargeted metabolomics study. The results indicated that after SD, FD, and VD treatments, the phycocyanin content decreased by 23 %, 9 %, and 80 %, respectively, compared to that of the FS. The polysaccharide content also significantly decreased by 36 %, 33 %, and 67 %, respectively. Comprehensive analysis showed that SD resulted in the least loss of nutritional indicators in S. maxima. Further metabolomics analysis revealed that prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to metabolic disruptions in 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Additionally, the levels of coproporphyrin I and coproporphyrin III increased which ultimately led to a decrease in chlorophyll and phycocyanin contents. Therefore, VD resulted in the poorest quality of S. maxima. This study provided a theoretical basis for the quality assessment of S. maxima in response to drying.

Insights into the chili phytochemicals, bioactive components, and antioxidant activity of instant premixes (green and red chilies) and their reconstitution products

Chili fruits are a potential source of phytochemicals and nutrients for food and reconstituted products. Due to its high nutritional and bioactive components, the current study focused on developing chili instant food products employing hot-air drying method. The effect of the hot-air drying method on physicochemical properties, microbiological quality, retention of bioactive components, phytochemicals, antioxidant properties, and sensory quality of green and red chilies reconstitution products were investigated. HPLC quantification unveiled that fresh red chili product had retained the highest capsaicin (2703.14 µg/g) and dihydrocapsaicin (1518 µg/g) content on the 0th day. Furthermore, UPLC-MS confirmed the presence of eleven phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, catechin, rutin, and quercetin. Among all, ferulic acid (382.91 µg/g) was the most abundant phenolic compound in fresh green chili products, followed by trans-cinnamic acid (73.19 µg/g) in green chili reconstituted and catechin (65.66 µg/g) in green and red chili reconstituted products. The chili products retained reasonable amounts of bioactive components and antioxidants during storage without microbial growth. The correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between capsaicinoids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant properties, which are linearly related in green chili products. This study offers manufacturers a cost-effective technology for producing high-quality chili-reconstituted products rich in essential nutrients and health benefits.Graphical

Metabolomic Diversity in Polygonatum kingianum Across Varieties and Growth Years.

Polygonatum rhizome is a traditional Chinese medicine of the same origin as food and medicine, and it has high economic value and social benefits. To screen the excellent germplasm resources of Polygonatum kingianum (P. kingianum) and clarify the nutritional and medicinal value of the rhizome of P. kingianum, we used widely targeted metabolomics to analyze the traits and metabolomics of rhizomes of different germplasms of P. kingianum from different growth years. The results showed that different germplasms and growth years of P. kingianum were rich in different nutritional and medicinal components. Among them, Polygonatum kingianum 'Linyun 1' rhizome (PWR) was richer in amino acids and derivatives, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, while Polygonatum kingianum rhizome (PRR) was richer in flavonoids, organic acids, and phenolic acids. Most of the differential compounds were mainly enriched in PRR when the growth year was one, and PWR had a greater variety and higher content of differential compounds in the third year, which also reflected the advantages of Polygonatum kingianum 'Linyun 1' (P. kingianum 'Linyun 1') as an excellent new variety of P. kingianum. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis showed that in P. kingianum with the same age and different germplasms, the significantly enriched metabolic pathway was more active in biosynthesis in PWR. In the same germplasm of P. kingianum from different years, the metabolites involved in PRR were mainly the highest in one-year-old P. kingianum (PR-1) or three-year-old P. kingianum (PR-3), and the metabolites involved in PWR were mainly the highest in three-year-old P. kingianum 'Linyun 1' (PW-3). The above results showed that the three-year-old PWR had more advantages based on chemical substances. Therefore, this study provided a new theoretical reference for the development of P. kingianum products and the breeding of new varieties.

A Recent Advance on Phytochemicals, Nutraceutical and Pharmacological Activities of Buckwheat.

Buckwheat, a member of the Fagopyrum genus in the Polygonaceae family, is an ancient pseudocereal with noteworthy nutraceutical properties that have been relatively less explored. This crop holds great promise for the future due to its gluten-free protein, wellbalanced amino acid profile, and the presence of bioactive flavonoids that promote good health. With its gluten-free nature and a combination of beneficial nutritional components, buckwheat shows significant potential for a variety of health benefits. The objective of the present review aims to explore various nutritional and pharmacological properties of buckwheat. With the help of various search engines such as, Pubmed, Google and Semantic Scholar, research and review papers were carefully investigated and summarized in a comprehensive review. A fascinating spectrum of nutritional and pharmacological activities of common buckwheat and Tartary buckwheat were explored such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neurological disorders, antiobesity, anticancer, cardiovascular agents and many more. This review provides a concise overview of the current understanding of the chemical composition of both common buckwheat and Tartary buckwheat and the captivating spectrum of pharmacological activity and also underscoring their immense potential for future advancements.

An expert system for species discrimination and grade identification of fish maw

Fish maw, derived from dried swim bladders of fish, is valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, which has led to an increased market demand. However, price variability based on species and grades has results in unethical practices such as counterfeiting and mislabeling, highlighting the need for reliable quality authentication. To address this, an expert system using MATLAB software has been developed. This system employs nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology and pattern recognition methods to identify fish maw species and classify their grade. The study analyzed ten species across three grades of fish maw, identifying 43 nutritional components from NMR spectra, including sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, and vitamins. Univariate statistical analysis was integrated with multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS-DA) using SIMCA software, to develop models for species and grades identification. A four-dimensional volcano map was constructed to highlight characteristic components of various fish maws, resulting in an NMR database for common fish maws. The expert system’s accuracy was validated with new samples, achieving 92.6% for species identification and 90.0% for grade classification. This study provides a valuable tool for the quality evaluation of fish maw and a scientific basis for market regulation.

Effects of straw and roots removal on soil Cd availability and Cd accumulation in rice at different growth stages

It is argument on whether straw removal present a safer alternative compared to straw return or not where in paddy fields contaminated with cadmium (Cd). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of varying levels of straw and roots removal on Cd uptake and accumulation, as well as on the growth of rice, Cd availability of soil at different growth stages, and the safety and nutritional value of brown rice were subject to assessment as well. A field experiment was conducted wherein rice stubble and roots were returned into the paddy field, serving as the control group (CK). The findings revealed that the removal of straw resulted in a decline in the availability of Cd in soil and the accumulation and uptake of Cd by rice plant. At the maturation stage of rice, the soil available Cd content and brown rice Cd content was significantly reduced by 40.39% and 24.79% under the treatment where 100% of rice straw and roots were removed. Moreover, there was a significant decline of 66.54% and 76.35% in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and Cd concentrations respectively within soil pore water. This suggests that one crucial factor contributing to decreased Cd accumulation is the diminished complexation between DOC and Cd resulting from straw removal treatments. The removal of straw and roots had minimal impact on the nutritional components of brown rice, including essential amino acids. After the removal of straw and roots from the field, there was a reduction in hazard quotient (HQ) for rice consumers of varying genders and ages in the region by 17.71% to 24.95%, leading to a decrease in local ecological risk level from medium to slight. Therefore, the implementation of strategies such as removing straw could potentially lead to successful outcomes in reducing rice Cd uptake in paddy fields contaminated with this metallic element.

Soft plant root structure-media flow interactions: Exploring the adverse effect of lead contamination in North-Eastern Indian rice

We experimentally investigate the effect of lead (Pb2+) contamination on the roots of an Assamese rice line variety Lachit using a heavy metal analyzing fluidic tool. To demonstrate the adverse effects of lead contamination on rice seedlings in a controlled environment, we have performed a number of multidisciplinary experiments. Also, we develop a numerical model in this endeavor to predict the Michaelis–Menten kinetics parameters, which are used to depict the lead transport phenomenon following soft root structure-media flow interactions. We show that increased inlet lead concentration of the media solution leads to a reduction in root growth exponentially in the developed fluidic device. As supported by the Raman spectra analysis, the drastic metabolic changes are visible under lead contamination. Our results revel that, in comparison to the control condition, lead accumulation results in a decrease in the uptake of nitrogen and also, the metallic nutritional components (K+, Na+, and Ca2+). Under lead contamination, the average osmotic pressure difference at the root surface is seen to be less than in the control situation. The inferences drawn from the current research shed light on the detrimental effects of lead contamination on rice roots, which have the potential to significantly lower agricultural yields and threaten food security in areas where rice is the primary food source.

Mango forest Soil Nutritional Components Analysis and Research in Dong District of Panzhihua City

Purpose: the pH value of soil determines soil properties and determines whether the activities of plants and microbes in the soil are active or not. A large number of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in soil can reflect a basic characteristic of soil and play a guiding role in further fertilization and soil improvement. Organic matter can reflect the amount of humus in the soil, whether the soil is fertile, the fertility of the soil, and the activities of microbes in the soil. So, this study will focus on exploring the soil pH value, N, P, K factors such as organic matter, because the subjects as the mango trees, and Panzhihua is a large amount of planting mango region, therefore, to appeal the influence of factors on the mango is very direct, hope that the result of the experiment can provide some basic data on mango cultivation, to help farmers to further understanding of the nature of soil and fertilization. Methods: chemical measuring methods were applied to determine the soil pH, organic matter and N, P, K values or concentrations. Results: the average available phosphorus in the whole experimental area is only 5.24, which belongs to a slightly lower level. Conclusions: The content of phosphorus in the soil of mango forest is very low, and the phosphorus element is very deficient. It is suggested to apply phosphorus fertilizer, irrigate mango trees and reduce the pH value to improve the situation of low phosphorus

Genetic analysis of maize crude fat content by multi-locus genome-wide association study

Crude fat is an important nutritional component of maize kernels. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying crude fat content in maize kernels remain elusive. Previous studies used single-model genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with limited population sizes, which can result in false positives of loci and hinder the identification of functional genes. Therefore, this study used a population consisting of 495 maize inbred lines, combined with 1.25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and implemented GWAS using six models to identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) controlling crude fat content and to mine key genes. The results revealed a wide variation in crude fat content (0.62–16.03%) and broad-sense heritability (96.23%). In total, 744 significant QTNs were detected, with 147 co-located across different models, environments, and methods. Based on the 147 co-located QTNs, candidate genes were searched at 50 kb up- and downstream intervals of each QTN. We finally screened eight candidate genes (GRMZM2G169089, GRMZM2G117935, GRMZM2G002075, GRMZM2G368838, GRMZM2G058496, GRMZM2G090669, GRMZM2G001241, and GRMZM2G333454) related to crude fat content that exhibited high expression levels during kernel development in maize inbred line B73. Notably, GRMZM2G169089, GRMZM2G117935, GRMZM2G002075, and GRMZM2G368838 are involved in the linoleic acid metabolic pathway, oil metabolism, kernel growth, and development in maize. Furthermore, co-expression network analysis revealed that the eight candidate genes exhibited strong correlations with 30 known genes. Proteins encoded by candidate genes interact with various other proteins and play an important role in oil content and oleic acid metabolism in maize kernels. The best haplotypes of candidate genes might increase crude fat content without decreasing maize yield. These results broaden the understanding of the genetic mechanism of crude fat content and facilitate marker-assisted selection for high-crude fat breeding programs for maize.

Assessment of proximate composition, mineral element profile and antioxidant properties of the edible oyster mushroom grown in Bangladesh

Mushrooms have been considered as a therapeutic and nutrient-rich foods in numerous countries for years due to their significant levels of nutritional components, vitamins and antioxidants. This study aimed to assess the nutrient content, mineral profile and antioxidant properties of eight different kinds of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.) cultivated in Bangladesh. The mushrooms were analyzed for their moisture content, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibers, ash, vitamin A, and vitamin C. The mineral profile included sodium, potassium, calcium, and iron, as well as heavy metals. Antioxidant activities were evaluated through various methods, including phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content, total antioxidant activity, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) scavenging capacity. The findings revealed that the mushrooms under investigation were high in carbohydrate (ranges between 45.25 and 63.22 g/100 g), protein (23.48–33.16 g/100 g) and dietary fiber (42.87–52.31 g/100 g). The total ash content was ranged from 7.28 to 9.41 g/100 g and vitamin C content was 0.020–0.416 mg/100 g. Interestingly, all of the mushrooms had a lower fat content (0.91–2.6%). The mineral profile indicated the presence of varying concentrations of essential elements. Hazardous heavy metals, such as Cd and Cr were not detected in the mushroom sample, while As and Pb were detected but lower than the tolerance levels. The oyster mushrooms exhibited high levels of phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents, as well as significant antioxidant capacity. A methanol extract of the oyster mushrooms exhibited scavenging activity against DPPH in a dose dependent manner with the highest capacity (75.4%) obtained at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml. Our result suggests that these studied oyster mushrooms could be a good source of nutrition and antioxidants, which could be used as functional foods.

Optimizing aquasoya protein: Insights of various pre-treatments for enhancing the upcycling potential from small black bean by-product

To minimize resource waste and promote recycling, it is essential to recover nutritional components from by-products. This study aimed to optimize of Aquasoya protein (AS-P) recovery from small black bean by-products, focusing on the effects of pH adjustments, sonication, and fractionation on protein yield, solubility, and structural integrity. Alkaline treatment at pH 8.5 significantly enhanced AS-P recovery yield (77.60 %) and protein concentration (421.16 μg/mL), attributed to the increased solubility and effective removal of non-protein components. Sonication for 10 min exhibited the highest protein solubility (88.69 %) post-fractionation, indicating reduced protein aggregation. Fractionation was crucial in minimizing browning reactions and enhancing protein purity by eliminating oligosaccharides and impurities. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed distinct protein bands from alkaline treatment, while sonication resulted in lipoxygenase (LOX) protein degradation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) emphasized that fractionation notably enhances the stability and quality of AS-P, making it as a viable ingredient for food applications.

QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND USE OF POLLEN: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Pollen is a natural product collected by bees and is rich in nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It has been increasingly sought after by the natural food market for its benefits to human health. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on pollen, addressing: nutritional components, production and processing, quality analysis and applications in the food industry. The research methodology included the selection of sources, exploratory and selective reading, and recording of information. A systematic literature review was carried out in databases such as Scielo, Periódicos Capes, SB/UFCG, BDTD/USP, RI/UFS, BD/IPB, TEDE/UFMA published in the last 10 years (2012 to 2022). Forty-six national articles and 1 international article available online in full text were used. Information was obtained ranging from pollen collection to its applications in the food industry, which include the production of functional foods such as cereal bars, energy drinks and dietary supplements. The work also highlights the importance of pollen quality, including collection in areas free of pesticides and adequate storage. It also highlights the positive impacts generated by beekeeping and meliponiculture, reaching the three axes of sustainability: ecological, economic and social.

Intake, digestibility, and behavior of horses fed açaí kernel (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) as a substitute of Mombaça grass (Megathyrsus maximus).

In this study, we analyzed the effects of including açaí kernel, in the experimental diets fed to horses on the intake and digestibility of their nutrient and the resultant effects on the behavior of horses. The experiments were conducted in Federal Rural University of Amazonia. Five mares with no defined breeds, were allocated to five treatments (the replacement of Mombaça grass (Megathyrsus maximus) with crushed açaí kernel at 0, 18.75, 37.50, 56.25, and 75% levels of dry matter), in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The animals were housed in covered stalls with concrete floors, equipped with individual troughs and drinkers, and fed 80% roughage and 20% concentrate. The inclusion of açaí kernel altered the intake and digestibility of a few nutritional components and the feeding behavior of mares. Increasing levels of the substitution of Mombaça grass with crushed açaí kernel in the experimental diets increased the nutrient intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, and non-fibrous carbohydrates (P < 0.05) while reducing the time spent on feeding by the animals. Crushed açaí kernel can, therefore, be included as a substitute for Mombaça grass at up to 37.5% in equine diets.

Standardization of Recipes and Storage Behaviour of Value-Added Products from Knol-Khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.)

Knol-khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.) is one of the most important cruciferous vegetable crops which belongs to the family Brassicaceae. Knol-khol is a fast growing, cool season vegetable cultivated primarily for its enlarged stem called ‘knob’ which is rich in nutritional components, especially vitamin A, C, minerals and is also a good source of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and sodium. To exploit its high nutritional as well as antioxidant properties and also to ensure its year around availability, it needs value addition. Therefore, in the current investigation, value added products viz., nectar and squash were prepared from Knol-khol. Four recipes of prepared nectar and squash were subjected to physico-chemical and sensory evaluation soon after preparation and at 90 days of storage. During the storage, a slight increase in pH, TSS and total sugars, a considerable rise in reducing sugars, but a slight decrease in acidity and also a considerable decrease in non-reducing sugars and ascorbic acid was recorded in various treatments of nectar and squash. The treatments K2N2 (15% pulp, 15˚B), and K1T2 (25% pulp, 45˚B TSS) among different recipes of nectar and squash respectively were found to be the best on the basis of their physico-chemical and organoleptic evaluation. These findings suggest that specific compositional parameters significantly influence the quality and acceptability of fruit-based beverages during storage.

A review of climate change impacts on migration patterns of marine vertebrates in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems

Climate change is impacting marine ecosystems throughout the circumpolar Arctic, altering seasonal habitats and the food bases for fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals. Arctic and Subarctic regions provide resources for resident species and for species that migrate to the north from more southerly regions. Changes in northerly latitudes thus impact endemic as well as non-endemic animals. Herein, we review what is known about climate-driven changes in the migration patterns of Arctic and Subarctic marine vertebrates, including: 1) Arctic residents with seasonal movements – those fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals that complete their entire life cycle within the Arctic but exhibit seasonal movements; 2) Breeding migrants – many seabirds enter the Arctic to breed and subsequently migrate south in the fall; and 3) Summer visitors for feeding – certain species of boreal fishes, seabirds and marine mammals arrive during the northern summer to feed on abundant prey though they breed elsewhere. Migratory movements are often driven by the timing and extent of sea ice, which defines suitable habitat for some animals and limits access to open water and prey for others. Longer open-water seasons, warmer ocean temperatures, and stronger winds have resulted in earlier production blooms in spring and often, extended open-ocean plankton blooms into late summer, resulting in altered prey types and distributions. A common thread among taxa is that shifts in distribution and timing of migrating animals indicate they are traveling farther north, or shifting longitudinally, and migrations are occurring over longer seasonal time frames. Species performing multiple lifetime migrations or long-distance migrants may need to adjust migration timing or routing iteratively to match changes in marine productivity. Altered animal distributions or phenology, and reduced sea ice, affects access to animals that are critical nutritional, economical, and cultural components of Indigenous people’s lives in the Arctic. Ongoing changes challenge the resilience and adaptability of Arctic people and ecosystems, and will require adaptive research and management approaches.

Comparison of nutritional value of the wild and cultivated spiny loaches at three growth stages.

Environmental pollution and overfishing of wild spiny loach have led to the increased demand for breeding the fish. However, the nutritional value between the wild and cultivated spiny loaches was unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional components among the wild and cultivated spiny loaches at different growth stages by analyzing and comparing the proximate compositions, fatty acids, amino acids and volatile compounds. Results showed that the cultivated ones had significantly higher energy and fat contents than the wild. Particularly, the cultivated second-age spiny loach contained the highest contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (4.83 ± 0.01%) and EPA + DHA (0.85 ± 0.02%). Besides, the total essential amino acid content of cultivated second-age spiny loach was 2201.28, exceeding that recommended in the FAO/WTO scoring pattern (2,190). And it had the highest flavor amino acid (6.24 ± 0.04 g/100 g), essential amino acid index value (71.82) and higher contents of volatile compounds. Overall, the cultivated spiny loach, especially that at the second growth stage, displayed the highest nutritional value. The findings of this study would help farmers to harvest the suitable breeding stage of spiny loaches from the perspective of nutritional value, which is beneficial to the sustainable fish farming.

Variations of Major Flavonoids, Nutritional Components, and Antioxidant Activities in Mung Beans (Vigna radiate L.) of Different Seed Weights.

This study examined the levels of major flavonoids, nutritional components, total secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities in 136 mung bean accessions and statistically analyzed the effect of seed weight difference on each. Vitexin and isovitexin were detected in all the mung bean accessions, with isovitexin being in a higher concentration regardless of seed weight difference. The contents of total protein and total starch were in the ranges of 22.01-28.96 and 32.62-49.03 g/100 g, respectively. Five fatty acids were detected by GC-FID analysis in all mung bean accessions, with linoleic acid being the most dominant (37.96-50.71 g/100 g). Total saponin content (TSC), total phenol content (TPC), DPPH• scavenging activity, ABTS•+ scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) showed more than five-fold differences. Analysis of variance supported by multivariate analysis demonstrated that seed weight difference had a significant effect on total starch, all individual fatty acids except for stearic acid and oleic acid, TSC, and all antioxidant activities except for ABTS•+ scavenging activity. On the other hand, vitexin, isovitexin, total protein, total phenol, and total fatty acid contents remained unaffected by seed weight difference. Overall, this study showed the diversity of key flavonoids, nutritional components, total secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities in mung bean genetic materials. Moreover, the study unveiled how seed weight affects the analyzed parameters in mung beans for the first time. These findings could maximize the use of mung beans in food industries and breeding programs as well as lead to more studies in metabolomics and genomics.