Search

Aims The objective of this study was to determine the optimal pretreatment and fungal strain to reduce glucosinolates ( GLS), fibre and residual sugars while increasing the nutritional value of canola meal. Methods and Results Submerged incubation conditions were used to evaluate four pretreatment methods (extrusion, hot water cook, dilute acid and dilute alkali) and three fungal cultures ( Aureobasidium pullulans Y-2311-1, Fusarium venenatum NRRL-26139 and Trichoderma reesei NRRL-3653) in hexane-extracted ( HE) and cold-pressed ( CP) canola meal. Conclusions The combination of extrusion pretreatment followed by incubation with T. reesei resulted in the greatest overall improvement to HE canola meal, increasing protein to 51·5%, while reducing NDF, GLS and residual sugars to 18·6%, 17·2 μmol l−1 g−1 and 5% w/w, respectively. Extrusion pretreatment and incubation with F. venenatum performed the best with CP canola meal, resulting in 54·4% protein while reducing NDF, GLS and residual sugars to 11·6%, 6·7 μmol l−1 g−1 and 3·8% w/w respectively. Significance and Impact of the Study The work is significant in that it provides a method of reducing GLS (up to 98%) and neutral detergent fibre (up to 65%) while increasing the protein content (up to 45%) of canola meal. This novel pretreatment and submerged incubation process could be used to produce a canola product with higher nutritional value for livestock consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations that consume plant-based diets are generally found to have reduced colon cancer risk. We are investigating the components of soy that may influence colon cancer risk. Soy contains isoflavones, which have estrogenic activity, and saponins. Recent evidence suggests that estrogen plays a role in colon cancer risk; therefore, phytoestrogenic compounds may influence this relationship. The functional role of saponins has not been well described because of limited quantities of purified compounds. We obtained a purified fraction of soy group B saponins in both glycosylated and aglycone forms. Using the colon adenocarcinoma cell line CaCO-2 as a model, we examined the effects of the antiestrogen tamoxifen and various soy fractions on cell proliferation. Cells were cultured for 2-3 d in a complete medium containing the test compounds and proliferation was assessed by measurement of protein. We verified that cellular DNA and protein are highly correlated over the range of cell densities encountered. Tamoxifen at 1 mmol/L inhibited growth by 15%, suggesting that CaCO-2 cells are estrogen responsive. A commercial soy supplement (Novasoy, Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, IL), which contains both isoflavones and saponins, inhibited growth by 20%. The isoflavones genistein and daidzein at 150 mmol/L inhibited growth by 40 and 20%, respectively. Glycosylated soy saponins had a minimal effect, whereas the aglycones at 100 g/L inhibited growth by 50%. These results suggest that CaCO-2 cells may be estrogen responsive and that soy isoflavones and saponins inhibit the growth of CaCO-2 cells. Hence, both soy isoflavones and saponins may be potential anticarcinogens. [Supported by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the MU Center for Phytonutrient and Phytochemical Studies.]

Distillers dried grains (DDG) have potential to be a nutritionally important source of protein, oil and phenolic antioxidants. DDG was subjected to high-shear and jet-cooking, with or without alkaline pH adjustment and autoclaving. Soluble and insoluble fractions were analyzed for protein, oil and ash. Extracts were analyzed for phenolic acids and antioxidant activity. Protein contents were significantly elevated in the insoluble fractions after treatment and the oil content was drastically increased in the insoluble fraction after high-shear and jet-cooking without pH adjustment. Alkaline pH adjustment resulted in a soluble fraction that was highest in phenolic acids, but not antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the 50% ethanol extract from DDG that had been subjected to high-shear and jet-cooking. These results suggest that high-shear and jet-cooking may be useful processing treatments to increase the value of DDG by producing fractions high in protein, oil and extractable phenolic acids with high antioxidant activity. The DDG fractions and extracts described herein may be useful as food and nutraceutical ingredients, and, if used for these applications, will increase the value of DDG and ease economic burdens on ethanol producers, allowing them to compete in the bio-fuel marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The discovery of inexpensive, readily available bioflavonoids, and their degradation products that boost the reproductive potential of mass-reared predators is the overarching goal of this research. We tested the hypothesis that 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), an inexpensive degradation product of morin (a flavonol bioflavonoid), stimulates oviposition by the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer). We also tested the hypothesis that C. maculata females must touch or taste DHBA to stimulate oviposition. We setup bioassays in communal cages (housing 10 females) and solitary cages (housing 1 female). In communal cages, nearly all egg clutches were found in or near the chemical dish with DHBA only. Provisioning cages with a tissue substrate reduced oviposition in the chemical dish. Regardless of oviposition site, egg number per clutch did not increase in communal cages or solitary cages with DHBA only. Affixing DHBA to the base of the chemical dish, then covering it with a nylon screen, reduced oviposition. This study suggests that females must touch or taste DHBA to stimulate oviposition. The physiological mechanism involved in oviposition stimulation requires further study. DHBA could potentially serve as a weak oviposition stimulant for predatory ladybird beetles in some mass-rearing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were performed to identify chemical compounds present in wheat straw hydrolysate (WSH) that enhance acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) productivity. These compounds were identified as furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). Control experiment resulted in the production of 21.38gL-1 ABE with a productivity of 0.30gL-1 h-1. WSH contained 0.04-0.34gL-1 furfural and 0.12-0.88gL-1 HMF. Addition of furfural to the fermentation medium at a concentration of 0.50gL-1 resulted in a productivity of 0.88gL-1h-1 which is 293% of the productivity obtained in control experiments. Supplementation with 1.00 gL-1 HMF into the fermentation medium produced 25.27 gL"1 ABE with a productivity of 0.68gL-1h-1. A combination of furfural (0.50gL-1) and HMF (O.SOgL-1) also enhanced ABE production and productivity when added to the fermentation medium. Both furfural and HMF enhanced specific productivity (233-308%) of ABE. In brief, WSH contained an adequate concentration of furfural and HMF that enhanced ABE productivity, specific productivity, and product concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]