Levels Of Unsaturated Fatty Acids Research Articles

In vitro bioaccessibility of macular xanthophylls from commercial microalgal powders of Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

The bioaccessibility of the major carotenoids present in two commercial microalgal supplements in powder form was investigated through a standardized in vitro digestion method. The dried biomass of Arthrospira platensis contained β‐carotene (36.8 mg/100 g) and zeaxanthin (20.8 mg/100 g) as the main carotenoids as well as a high content of saturated fatty acids (61% of total fatty acids), whereas that of Chlorella pyrenoidosa was rich in lutein (37.8 mg/100 g) and had a high level of unsaturated fatty acids (65% of total fatty acids). In the case of the latter, lutein bioaccessibility was not statistically enhanced after the replacement of porcine bile extract with bovine bile extract in the in vitro digestion protocol and after the addition of coconut oil (17.8% as against to 19.2% and 19.2% vs. 18.5%, respectively). In contrast, the use of bovine bile extract along with co‐digestion with coconut oil significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of zeaxanthin from A. platensis, reaching the highest bioaccessibility of 42.8%.

Effect of magnesium fertilization on seed yield, seed quality, carbon assimilation and nutrient uptake of rapeseed plants

• Magnesium nutritional status of plants contributes greatly to seed yield, quality and germination in rapeseed plants. • Magnesium nutrition has positive effects on seed oil content and levels of unsaturated fatty acids. • Magnesium improves CO 2 assimilation and stomatal conductance of leaves and pods in field-grown rapeseed plants. • A good magnesium nutrition is required for improving nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is becoming an important mineral nutrient deficiency in intensive crop production systems due to large removal of Mg from soils as well as imbalanced nutrition with Mg. In this study, rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) plants were grown in six locations with various soil and growth conditions along the Yangtze River Basin which is one of the largest rapeseed-producing areas in the world. Six application rates of Mg ( i . e ., from 0 to 45 kg Mg ha −1 ) were used to study the responses of i) seed yield and yield components, ii) seed oil and fatty acids, iii) leaf and pod carbon assimilation, iv) nutrient uptake and v) germination of seeds harvested from plants with different Mg fertilization. Increasing Mg fertilization greatly increased seed yield of the rapeseed plants in all studied locations. The visual Mg deficiency symptoms were observed in all field locations without Mg applications. The number of pods per plant was the most strongly affected yield component by the Mg fertilization. The largest increases in seed yield by Mg were found in the locations where the soil extractable Mg and K concentrations were 28.1 mg kg −1 and 279.5 mg kg −1 , respectively. The carbon assimilation of the leaves and pods and the amount of oil and unsaturated fatty acids of the seeds were positively affected by Mg fertilization. Improving Mg nutritional status of plants also enhanced the total uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus, but not the potassium uptake. The germination capacity of the seeds from the plants with adequate Mg nutrition was better than the seeds from the plants without Mg application. This study conducted under field conditions with various soil and environmental conditions showed clearly that improving Mg nutritional status of plants significantly contributed to the seed yield, seed quality and seed vigour (germination) as well as increased uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in rapeseed plants.

Low-Energy Separation Technique on Purification of Unsaturated Fatty Acids of Palm Stearin using Methanol Crystallization Method

This paper discussed the development of a low-energy and cost-effective separation technique of saturated fatty acids (S FAs) from Malaysian Palm Stearin to purify the unsaturation level of its fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids (U FAs) pose great benefits in nutritional value and also can be utilized as a raw material in various food or non-food applications. A methanol crystallization separation method was introduced by manipulating the storage temperature as well as the mixture ratio of palm stearin fatty acids (PSFAs) and methanol as a solvent. The separated compounds were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton (1H-NMR), and carbon (13C-NMR) spectroscopy analysis techniques. The fatty acids composition for both U FAs and S FAs were determined through gas chromatography (GC)analysis technique. The highest separation yield was about 98% (wt.), using a mixture of PSFA:methanol; 1:9 (w/v) at the temperature of -20 °C. This method was successfully separated and purified the U FAs by increasing the unsaturation level of fatty acids about 172% as the final iodine value was about 98 compared to the initial value was at 36. The low-energy methanol crystallization separation method is a cheaper method compared to the conventional high-energy fractional distillation process and positively to be up scaled at industrial level.

Effects of astaxanthin on plasma membrane function and fertility of boar sperm during cryopreservation

Mammalian sperm is highly susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the cryopreservation process. Astaxanthin (AST), a red pigment of the carotenoid family, is recognized as having a variety of beneficial biological activities and effects, including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to investigate whether the presence of AST protected boar sperm from ROS stress during cryopreservation. Boar sperm was diluted with a freezing medium supplemented with different concentrations of AST (0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 5 μM). The addition of AST, especially at a concentration of 2 μM, exerted positive effects on post-thaw sperm motility parameters. Meanwhile, sperm plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity of post-thaw sperm were significantly increased, while lipid peroxidation was inhibited in response to 2 μM AST treatment. Interestingly, compared to the control, supplementation with 2 μM AST increased unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) levels and decreased saturated fatty acids (SFAs) content in post-thaw sperm, leading to a decreased ratio of SFAs/UFAs in the AST group. In conclusion, the addition of AST to freezing extenders inhibited lipid peroxidation and regulated fatty acid composition of the sperm membrane, improved post-thaw sperm quality, and had no adverse effect on boar sperm in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity and potential for embryonic development. Our data provide a novel insight into understanding the mechanisms of AST concerning protecting boar sperm quality against ROS damage during cryopreservation.

Comparison of performance, fatty acid composition, enzymes and gene expression between overfed Xupu geese with large and small liver

The aim of our study was to compare overfeeding performance, fatty acid composition, enzymes activity and gene expression between overfed Xupu geese with large and small liver. A total of sixty 80 d male Xupu geese were overfed by the same feed intake under the same conditions. The liver weight exhibited normal distribution. Based on the weight of liver, samples were divided into large liver (LL) and small liver (SL) Xupu geese. After overfeeding for 28 d: compared with the SL-Xupu geese, liver weight and liver-to-body weight ratio increased (p < .05), while abdominal fat weight and feed-to-liver weight ratio decreased (p < .05); the level of palmitic acid and methyltetracosanoate acid decreased (p < .05), and the level of oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid increased (p < .05) in liver of LL-Xupu geese. Compared with the SL-Xupu geese, LL-Xupu geese had a higher plasma concentration of TG (triglyceride) (p < .05), and had a lower plasma concentration of VLDL-C (very low density lipoprotein cholesterol) (p < .05); and had a higher CHE (cholinesterase), LPS (lipase), LPL (lipoproteinlipase) activities (p < .05) in the liver. The mRNA expression of FABP4 (adipocyte fatty acid binding protein), SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase), FADS (fatty acid dehydrogenase), ELOVL1 (elongase of long-chain fatty acid 1), ACAT2 (acyl-Co A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2), and FASN (fatty acid synthase) (p < .05) were significantly upregulated in LL-Xupu geese than in SL-Xupu geese. The results showed that the level of unsaturated fatty acid in liver of LL-Xupu geese was higher than that of SL-Xupu geese, which may be closely related to enzymes and genes expression related to lipid metabolism. Highlights The content of unsaturated fatty acids in liver of LL-Xupu geese were significantly higher than in SL-Xupu geese. The mRNA expression of FABP4, SCD, FADS, ELOVL1, ACAT2, and FASN were significantly upregulated in LL-Xupu geese than in SL-Xupu geese. The level of unsaturated fatty acid in liver of LL-Xupu geese was higher than that of SL-Xupu geese, which may be closely related to enzymes and genes expression related to lipid metabolism.

Silage Additives Usage in Improving Fermentation Quality of Alfalfa Silage: A Review

Alfalfa is difficult to ensile due to its high protein content, low water-soluble carbohydrate level, low dry matter content, and high buffering capacity. Therefore, alfalfa has recently increased its efforts to make silage with additives. Silage additives have been used to enhancing the silage quality of alfalfa in recent years. This review covers research studies that have investigated the efficacy of silage additives on fermentation quality, the bacterial diversity of alfalfa silage using the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technique, the effects of microbial inoculant on these bacterial communities, silage's antioxidant enzymes, and unsaturated fatty acid levels. In recent studies, more clear information about bacterial communities in silage fermentation has begun to be obtained with the use of NGS technique. In studies using these techniques, it was reported that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) organic acid additions to alfalfa silage caused Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Sporolactobacillus species to increase relatively in silage environment, the ratio of unwanted species decreased and silage quality increased. Although the amount of alpha-tocopherol, and beta carotene decreased by half in pure silage compared to fresh alfalfa, it was observed that LAB inoculation increased the ratio of alpha tocopherol, beta carotene and also polyunsaturated fatty acids. Future silage additives are expected to determine effects fermentation quality, the bacterial community, the antioxidant enzymes, and unsaturated fatty acid levels.

Fatty acid profile, silymarin content and production properties of milk thistle (

Drought stress has an adverse effect on crop production and food quality. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is an oil and medicinal crop known as an alternative oil crop with high level of unsaturated fatty acids, which makes it a favourable edible oil for use in food production. Silymarin (a mixture of flavonolignans) is the main active medicinal component. Biochemical diversity, changes induced by water deficit stress in secondary metabolites, and their relationships with production traits in native germplasm are poorly understood in milk thistle. Twenty-six ecotypes mainly collected from different regions of Iran were evaluated for oil, fatty acid profile, triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, silymarin and agro-morphological traits under non-stress and water stress conditions for 2 years. Water stress increased oil and silymarin content while decreasing fruit yield and related traits. The most abundant fatty acid averaged over all ecotypes under both moisture conditions was linoleic acid (L, 39%), followed by oleic acid (O, 36%), palmitic acid (P, 9%) and stearic acid (E, 6%). Among the 24 detected TAGs, the five major compositions were OOL, OLL + OOLn (linolenic), POL, OOO, LLL + OLLn and EOL. Superior ecotypes rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were identified and can be introduced as candidates for food, medicinal and industrial purposes. Associations among different attributes are discussed.

Protective effect and mechanism of docosahexaenoic acid on the cognitive function in female APP/PS1 mice.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been studied for many years owing to its protective effect on the decline in brain function. DHA intake reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and decreases amyloid deposition; however, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been completed elucidated. In this study, the effect of DHA on the cognitive function of amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 in wild-type mice and its related mechanism were investigated. Results from the Morris water maze test showed that DHA improved learning and memory function in mice. Moreover, DHA reduced neuronal damage in mice brains, as determined using Nissl staining. Unsaturated fatty acid levels in the brain of mice increased (p < 0.01) after DHA administration and saturated fatty acid levels decreased (p < 0.01). The deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles was significantly inhibited. The mechanism of action of DHA was attributed to the upregulation of the expression of β-secretase (BACE)2, which competed with BACE1 to cleave APP, thus decreasing the production of extracellular Aβ fragments (p < 0.01). The expression level of insulin-degrading enzyme was not significantly different. The expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors was further downregulated and the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and tau protein was inhibited (p < 0.01). These data indicated that DHA could protect cognitive function in mice by reducing Aβ plaque formation and decreasing tau phosphorylation levels.

Impact of both early-age acclimation and linseed dietary inclusion on fat deposition and fatty acids' meat traits in heat-stressed broiler chickens.

Objective:The purpose of this work was to investigate the combination of early-age acclimation and linseed dietary inclusion in enriching polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in broilers’ meat as a strategy to mitigate heat stress.Materials and Methods:A total of 400 broiler chicks were assigned to four experimental groups with four duplicates (25 animals each): C: control (basal diet), AC: early-age acclimated (basal diet), Cl: fed 5% ground linseed, and Acl: early-age acclimated and fed 5% ground linseed. The lipid and fatty acid contents of different parts (breast, thigh, liver, subcutaneous, and abdominal fat) of broilers were determined.Results:Low levels of lipids and unsaturated fatty acids have been found in the meat of acclimated broilers. Higher levels of linolenic acids were noted in Cl thigh meat compared to C (6% vs. 2.68%, respectively). The results showed that oleic and linoleic acids constitute a large part of the PUFAs of different meats. The most elevated levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were recorded in the breast meat of AcL animals. The highest content of omega-3 was recorded in the liver of AcL animals compared to that of C (14.98% vs. 7.8%, respectively). Conclusion:We suggest that the combination of treatments during hot conditions has led to the reversion of the environment-affected variables to accepted values, and yields better thermoresistance, PUFA-enriched meat, and safeguard animal health which conferred to birds’ better solutions to reduce fatigue and hypoxic activities, which induces a considerable consumption of oxygen.

Multimodal Metabolic Imaging Reveals Pigment Reduction and Lipid Accumulation in Metastatic Melanoma.

Objective and Impact Statement. Molecular signatures are needed for early diagnosis and improved treatment of metastatic melanoma. By high-resolution multimodal chemical imaging of human melanoma samples, we identify a metabolic reprogramming from pigmentation to lipid droplet (LD) accumulation in metastatic melanoma. Introduction. Metabolic plasticity promotes cancer survival and metastasis, which promises to serve as a prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target. However, identifying metabolic alterations has been challenged by difficulties in mapping localized metabolites with high spatial resolution. Methods. We developed a multimodal stimulated Raman scattering and pump-probe imaging platform. By time-domain measurement and phasor analysis, our platform allows simultaneous mapping of lipids and pigments at a subcellular level. Furthermore, we identify the sources of these metabolic signatures by tracking deuterium metabolites at a subcellular level. By validation with mass spectrometry, a specific fatty acid desaturase pathway was identified. Results. We identified metabolic reprogramming from a pigment-containing phenotype in low-grade melanoma to an LD-rich phenotype in metastatic melanoma. The LDs contain high levels of cholesteryl ester and unsaturated fatty acids. Elevated fatty acid uptake, but not de novo lipogenesis, contributes to the LD-rich phenotype. Monounsaturated sapienate, mediated by FADS2, is identified as an essential fatty acid that promotes cancer migration. Blocking such metabolic signatures effectively suppresses the migration capacity both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion. By multimodal spectroscopic imaging and lipidomic analysis, the current study reveals lipid accumulation, mediated by fatty acid uptake, as a metabolic signature that can be harnessed for early diagnosis and improved treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and drought stress on fatty acids profile of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses which influences plant growth and development; and limits plant production. Mycorrhiza-inoculated plants often have greater tolerance to drought stress than non-mycorrhizal plants. In the present study, the effect of drought stress together with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) was investigated on agro-physio-chemical characteristics and oil compositions of sesame. Irrigation level (normal irrigation, mild drought stress, and severe drought stress), and mycorrhizal inoculation (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and non-inoculated plants) were included as treatments. Combined analysis of variance over 2 years of data revealed that the impact of irrigation and AMF was significant on mycorrhizal root colonization, non-enzymatic antioxidants, leaf phosphorus content, free amino acids and total soluble protein contents, oil yield and compositions, and plant seed yield. Mean comparisons indicated that with increasing severity of drought stress, mycorrhizal root colonization, seed yield, total chlorophyll, total soluble protein, oil yield and percentage, leaf phosphorus, total flavonoid and unsaturated fatty acids diminished. However, the amount of free amino acids, phenol, anthocyanin, carotenoids, saturated fatty acids and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids rose significantly. Severe drought stress diminished the seed yield and unsaturated fatty acids levels by about 65 and 10 %, respectively, but it augmented free amino acids by about 65 %. Both AMF species inoculation treatments increased mycorrhizal root colonization, seed yield, oil yield and percentage, total soluble protein, leaf phosphorus, total chlorophyll, unsaturated fatty acids and all non-enzymatic antioxidants; however, they reduced saturated fatty acids and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids significantly. Thus, for improving quantitative and qualitative traits of sesame, regardless of the drought stress level, AMF inoculation is recommendable.

Effects of a Δ-9-fatty acid desaturase and a cyclopropane-fatty acid synthase from the novel psychrophile Pseudomonas sp. B14-6 on bacterial membrane properties.

Psychrophilic bacteria, living at low and mild temperatures, can contribute significantly to our understanding of microbial responses to temperature, markedly occurring in the bacterial membrane. Here, a newly isolated strain, Pseudomonas sp. B14-6, was found to dynamically change its unsaturated fatty acid and cyclic fatty acid content depending on temperature which was revealed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Genome sequencing yielded the sequences of the genes Δ-9-fatty acid desaturase (desA) and cyclopropane-fatty acid-acyl-phospholipid synthase (cfa). Overexpression of desA in Escherichia coli led to an increase in the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, resulting in decreased membrane hydrophobicity and increased fluidity. Cfa proteins from different species were all found to promote bacterial growth, despite their sequence diversity. In conclusion, PLFA analysis and genome sequencing unraveled the temperature-related behavior of Pseudomonas sp. B14-6 and the functions of two membrane-related enzymes. Our results shed new light on temperature-dependent microbial behaviors and might allow to predict the consequences of global warming on microbial communities.

ЛІПІДНИЙ ОБМІН В ОРГАНІЗМІ РИБ ЗА ДІЇ ЧИННИКІВ ОТОЧУЮЧОГО ВОДНОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА

Lipids are a heterogeneous group of chemical compounds that are found in all animal and plant organisms and combine based on common properties. The physiological role of lipids in fish is extremely important and diverse. They perform a number of functions, including energetical, structural, regulatory and others.&#x0D; The authors analyzed the data in the domestic and foreign literature on the structural and functional importance of lipids in fish. The role of lipids in the processes of adaptation of aquatic organisms to adverse factors of the aquatic environment (temperature, salinity, chemical pollution) by changing the ratio of certain classes of lipids, their fatty acid composition and spatial orientation of fatty acid "tails" in biological membranes. The regulatory role of lipids in the functioning of membrane enzymes is analyzed.&#x0D; The authors argue that to find the causes of reduced productivity of fish in a polluted aquatic environment, it is necessary to study bodily changes in lipid metabolism, which are one of the main structural and metabolic compounds, responsible for the formation of adaptive reactions.&#x0D; By adaptation to low temperatures the inclusion of polyene fatty acids in the membrane lipids increases and also increases desaturation. Caused by changes in the temperature of the adjustment in the composition of membrane lipids are aimed at maintaining the mobility of membranes. By adaptation to the temperature factor the level of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, the ratio of the main classes of phospholipids and cholesterol, asymmetry in the distribution of proteins and lipids in the cell membrane may change.&#x0D; The effects of hydrostatic pressure and salinity of water on lipid metabolism in fish are analyzed. It has been established that phase transitions are largely determined by the same properties of membrane lipids as with temperature change. First of all, it is the degree of saturation of fatty acids, the length of their chain, the position of the double bond and the number of hydrocarbon atoms (pair or not pair). It is shown that in the organs and tissues or fish, involved in the processes of osmoregulation, during adaptation to salt water the lipid content increases.&#x0D; Under the influence of toxic factors in different species of fish a general adaptation strategy is traced, which consists of increasing the content of those lipid fractions, that maintain the energy status of fish for excretion and neutralization of toxicants, reducing the permeability of biological cell membranes to limit the entry of toxicants into fish organism.

Untargeted Lipidomics Analysis of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: Lipid Composition Variation in Response to Alternative Cultivation Setups and to Gene Deletion.

Cyanobacteria play an important role in several ecological environments, and they are widely accepted to be the ancestors of chloroplasts in modern plants and green algae. Cyanobacteria have become attractive models for metabolic engineering, with the goal of exploring them as microbial cell factories. However, the study of cyanobacterial lipids’ composition and variation, and the assessment of the lipids’ functional and structural roles have been largely overlooked. Here, we aimed at expanding the cyanobacterial lipidomic analytical pipeline by using an untargeted lipidomics approach. Thus, the lipid composition variation of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was investigated in response to both alternative cultivation setups and gene deletion. This approach allowed for detecting differences in total lipid content, alterations in fatty-acid unsaturation level, and adjustments of specific lipid species among the identified lipid classes. The employed method also revealed that the cultivation setup tested in this work induced a deeper alteration of the cyanobacterial cell lipidome than the deletion of a gene that results in a dramatic increase in the release of lipid-rich outer membrane vesicles. This study further highlights how growth conditions must be carefully selected when cyanobacteria are to be engineered and/or scaled-up for lipid or fatty acids production.

Functional characterization of an novel acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 3-3 (CsDGAT3-3) gene from Camelina sativa

Diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) catalyze the final committed step of de novo biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) in plant seeds. This study was to functionally characterize DGAT3 genes in Camelina sativa, an important oil crops accumulating high levels of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in seeds. Three camelina DGAT3 genes (CsDGAT3-1, CsDGAT3-2 and CsDGAT3-3) were identified, and the encoded proteins were predicted to be cytosolic-soluble proteins present as a homodimer containing the 2Fe-2S domain. They had divergent expression patterns in various tissues, suggesting that they may function in tissue-specific manner with CsDGAT3-1 in roots, CsDGAT3-2 in flowers and young seedlings, and CsDGAT3-3 in developing seeds. Functional complementation assay in yeast demonstrated that CsDGAT3-3 restored TAG synthesis. TAG content and UFAs, particularly eicosenoic acid (EA, 20:1n-9) were largely increased by adding exogenous UFAs in the yeast medium. Further heterogeneously transient expression in N. benthamiana leaves and seed-specific expression in tobacco seeds indicated that CsDGAT3-3 significantly enhanced oil and UFA accumulation with much higher level of EA. Overall, CsDGAT3-3 exhibited a strong abilty catalyzing TAG synthesis and high substrate preference for UFAs, especially for 20:1n-9. The present data provide new insights for further understanding oil biosynthesis mechanism in camelina seeds, indicating that CsDGAT3-3 may have practical applications for increasing both oil yield and quality.

Fatty acid production of thraustochytrids from Saudi Arabian mangroves.

This is the first report of thraustochytrids from Saudi Arabia. A total of 108 isolates of thraustochytrid were cultured from Syhat mangroves, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia. Isolated thraustochytrids belonged to five genera: Aplanochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, Thraustochytrium and Ulkenia. Cultured thraustochytrids isolated from decaying leaves of Avicennia marina (77 isolates), sediment (15), seawater (10) and decaying thalli of Sargassum (6). Of the 108 isolates, three strains (SY25, SY38 and SY52) were selected based on their high biomass productivity and high percentages of PUFAs. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rDNA placed the three strains within the Aurantiochytrium clade with high statistical support. Species of Aurantiochytrium formed six separate clades, the two strains (SY38 and SY52) formed a separate clade that is a sister clade to the one that contains the type species A. limacinum, while SY25 grouped with Aurantiochytrium sp. TA4, that is also isolated from mangroves in Iran, Arabian Gulf. The strains (SY38 and SY52) shared the phylogenetic placement, their morphology and fatty acid profile. The strain SY25 have different shape of sporangia that divide to give zoospores directly, sporogenous cells are surrounded by thick gelatinous sheath and produce high levels of Linoleic and Oleic essential unsaturated fatty acids. The three studied strain produced high levels of Palmitic acid (ranged between 31.1 and 65.3 % of total fatty acids) that can be further optimized for biofuel production.

Oil characteristics and influence of heat processing on fatty acid profile of wild harvested termite (Macrotermes subhylanus) and long-horned grasshopper (Ruspolia differens)

The aim of this study was to assess the physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of oil from termite (Macrotermes subhylanus), green and brown long-horned grasshopper (Ruspolia differens). The insects were harvested in Siaya county of Western Kenya from the wild during swarming seasons. Physico-chemical characteristics of insects oil and the effect of two traditional heat processing methods (frying and solar drying) on the fatty acid profile were determined using standard methods. The insects oil was a clear, golden or light yellow colored liquid at room temperature, with a low solidification temperature (8–12 °C) for M. subhylanus and10–15 °C for R. differens. M. subhylanus showed an iodine value of 83.51 g iodine/100 g oil, peroxide value 0.19 mEq/Kg, saponification value 160.61 mg KOH/Kg and 38.77 mg/100 ml of total cholesterol. R. differens showed an iodine value of 86.97 g iodine/100 g oil, peroxide value 0.13–0.14 mEq/Kg, saponification value 229.67–234.40 mg KOH/Kg and 27.51–31.40 mg/100 ml of total cholesterol. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid in all the fresh insect samples (M. subylanus 52.1%, green R. differens 43.2%, brown R. differens 37.1%) while palmitic acid was the second most abundant fatty acid. Total unsaturated fatty acids were proportionately more than the total saturated fatty acids. The level of saturated fatty acids increased from fresh insect samples to heat processed samples (fried, fresh-dried and fried-dried), while the level of unsaturated fatty acids decreased with processing though insignificantly. The insects have high quality oil that maybe exploited in processing of nutritional food products and they may therefore be heat processed domestically without adversely affecting the quality of the oils.

Effect of low tannin sorghum based feeds on broiler meat nutritional quality

This study determined the meat quality characteristics of different parts of a broiler carcass obtained from chicken fed on diets formulated using either maize ( Zea mays ) or sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) as the source of energy. Six diets that differed on the sorghum/maize replacement levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) were fed to 120-day old broiler. The chicken meat was harvested after 8 weeks and meat from different parts of the carcasses were analysed for fatty acid profile, cholesterol, vitamins A and E content. Levels of 36.37%–80.32% of saturated fatty acids were detected in different cuts. The polyunsaturated fatty acids ranged at 12.36%–29.13% while the monounsaturated fatty acids accounted for 1.46%–4.84% for all the experimental diets. The highest levels of long chain unsaturated fatty acids (18.68%–22.87%) were detected in the thigh muscle meat of chicken fed on a 0% sorghum diet. Conversely, diet that had a 100% sorghum had undetectable level of unsaturated fatty acids. The highest cholesterol content of 30.61 mg/100g was detected in the thigh muscles of chicken with 100% sorghum inclusion. The vitamin E content in the thigh meat of chicken subjected to diets high on maize content were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) than those fed on high sorghum diets. Meat from chicken fed on high low tannin sorghum meals had significantly lower (P ≤ 0.01) cholesterol content of 8.63 to 3.44 mg/100g compared to 20.10 mg/100g from diets high on maize. The present study shows that partial substitution of maize with low tannin sorghum can improve the nutritional value of broiler meat. • Chicken fed on low tannin sorghum and maize diets as the key sources of energy and meat samples collected after 8 weeks of feeding. • Cholesterol deposits higher in high maize diets. • Deposition of Vitamin E and A not affected by diet in breast meat. • Deposition of Vitamin E affected by diet on thigh meat. • Cholesterol deposition in muscles affected by levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

The Potential of Nereis sp. (Polychaete) as Prawn Feed at the Coastal Farming of Jeruklegi, Cilacap

Nereis sp. (Polychaete) belongs to the Nereidae family that lives as benthic organisms in estuarine. The high level of amino acid and unsaturated fatty acid in Nereis sp. is potentially used as a nutrient in prawn feed. These compositions increase the quality of prawn gametes and larvae. However, there is still less information about the nutrient composition of Nereis sp. in the Jeruklegi area. Therefore, a study about nutrient composition (chemical composition) of Nereis sp. in this area was conducted to provide necessary information for the Nereis sp. culture in the future. This study used a survey method, and sampling was conducted in four stations with three replications at each three-sampling point in each station. The result showed no significant differences in protein and fat composition of Nereis sp. among stations. The protein contents ranging from 42.06 to 51.68%, and fat content range from 12.93 to 22%. The high content of both protein and lipid are reliable to fulfill the requirements in prawn farming. Therefore, Nereis sp. from Jeruklegi has a high potential to be utilized as a new food resource on prawn farming.

Impact of feeding mixture containing lupin meal on improvement of polyunsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk

The aim of the experiment was to determine how the content of lupin meal in the diet for commercial laying hens would affect the quality of fat in the egg yolk. A total of 210 Isa Brown laying hens was divided into three groups: the control group C (fed a mixture containing only soybean meal as a source of protein) and two experimental groups: EN 50% (fed a mixture containing 50% of soybean meal and 50% of white lupin seed meal, Zulika variety) and EN 100% (fed a mixture containing only white lupin seed meal as a source of protein). The results of the experiment using lupin seed meal in the feed mixture as a 50% and 100% replacement of extracted soybean meal confirmed the positive effect of lupin-based diets on egg yolk fat composition. Although the diets did not affect the fat content of the egg yolk, some other changes in the quality of the egg yolk were demonstrated during laying. These changes in egg yolk fat were characterized by a decrease (P ≤ 0.05) of saturated fatty acids (SFA), an increase (P ≤ 0.05) of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), but only in some of them (C17:1 – heptadecenoic acid; C20:1n9 – eicosenoic acid and C22:1n9 – erucic acid) and, what is important, by a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from the n-6 group (C18:2n6 – linoleic acid and C20:2n-6 – eicosadienoic acid) and n-3 group (C18:3n3 – α-linolenic acid; C20:5n3 – eicosapentaenoid acid and C22:5n3 – docosapentaenoic acid). From these results it is evident that using lupin meal in the feed mixtures for commercial laying hens increases the nutritional value and health benefit of the egg through the improvement of the levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.