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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on fish skin, gills and intestines bacterial microbiome. Whole gilthead seabream was packed aerobically or under modified atmospheres (60% CO2, 30% N2, 10% O2) and stored isothermally at 0 °C. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis was applied for the characterization of fish microbiome on fish skin, gills, and intestines initially (time of packaging, 1 day after harvesting) and after 10 days of isothermal storage at 0 °C. NGS results indicated statistically significant differences in families’ richness and diversity in the tested fish tissues between aerobic and MAP packaging during storage at 0 °C. The most persistent bacteria were Proteobacteria for both packaging types. For fish skin microbiota, the initially prevailing families were Comamonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Moraxellaceae while in the intestines Comamonadaceae, Anaplasmataceae, Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were the dominant bacteria. At the end of storage period, the fish microbiota was dominated by psychotropic and psychrophilic families (Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Psychromonadaceae, and Shewanellaceae), while families such as Comamonadaceae were persistent under MAP conditions. By 8 days of fish storage at 0 °C, ΜΑΡ samples exhibited higher sensory scorings than the respective aerobically stored fish, indicating better retention of fish freshness and fish quality attributes under MAP. Based on the results of the study, MAP modified significantly the microbiological status and extended the shelf life of fish. NGS was a powerful tool that provided a more complete assessment compared to a culture-based analysis.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Moringa olifera on the growth and gut health of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The feed having 30% crude protein was prepared as an experimental diet with 4%, 8% and 10% M. olifera leaf supplementation, respectively. The control diet was devoid of M. olifera leaves. The 10 weeks feeding trial was carried out on 60 fish in aquaria. Fish was fed @ 3% of body weight twice a day. Diet with the high level of inclusion of M. olifera leaves significantly increased the growth rate, Survival Rate (SR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) in all treatment groups compared to the control group. Similarly, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) gradually decreased and found highly-significant. To check the gut health of the Tilapia, random samples were selected and dissected. Nutrient agar was used as culture media to check the growth of bacteria. Pour Plate Method was used for viable colonies count by colony counter. Through staining method, the different bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were identify abundantly in the intestine of control diet fish but less number present in treatment diets groups. These results showed that M. olifera leaves up to 10% of dietary protein can be used for Nile tilapia for significant growth and healthy gut microbiota of fish. Resumo O estudo foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito da Moringa olifera no crescimento e saúde intestinal da tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). A ração com 30% de proteína bruta foi preparada como dieta experimental com 4%, 8% e 10% de suplementação de folhas de M. olifera, respectivamente. A dieta controle foi desprovida de folhas de M. olifera. O ensaio de alimentação de 10 semanas foi realizado em 60 peixes em aquários. O peixe pesava 3% do peso corporal duas vezes ao dia. A dieta com alto nível de inclusão de folhas de M. olifera aumentou significativamente a taxa de crescimento, taxa de sobrevivência (SR), taxa de crescimento de sobrevivência (SGR) e eficiência de conversão alimentar (FCE) em todos os grupos de tratamento em comparação com o grupo de controle. Da mesma forma, a taxa de conversão de alimentação (FCR) diminuiu gradualmente e foi considerada altamente significativa. Para verificar a saúde intestinal da tilápia, amostras aleatórias foram selecionadas e dissecadas. O ágar nutriente foi usado como meio de cultura para verificar o crescimento das bactérias. O método da placa de Verter foi usado para a contagem de colônias viáveis por contador de colônias. Através do método de coloração, diferentes como Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella e Pseudomonas aeruginosa foram identificados abundantemente no intestino de peixes da dieta controle, mas em menor número nos grupos de dieta de tratamento. Esses resultados mostraram que M. olifera deixa até 10% da proteína dietética e pode ser usado para tilápia do Nilo para um crescimento significativo e microbiota intestinal saudável de peixes.

Bacteria are considered as foremost bioremediating agents among microorganisms, encompassing simple biological mechanism to tolerate higher concentration of heavy metal and favoring conservative strategies to substitute the usage of chemicals. Relating this implication, the present study is designed to identify, screen and characterize bacteria from industrial site soil to tolerate multimetals. Almost 108 colonies were obtained at various concentrations (0.5–2.0 mM) of heavy metals (cadmium, nickel and lead) and were thrived in the reformed minimal media. Bacterial isolates that grown in the higher concentration of heavy metals (2.0 mM) were taken for further studies. Among ten bacterial colonies, one isolate was selected for each heavy metal and further screened for their multi metal tolerance. Isolate, C20 alone survived in heavy metal mixture fortified medium with high recovery rate and increased colony forming units. Molecular level characterization and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the isolate is identical to Bacillus thuringiensis. The study highlights that the multi metal tolerant B. thuringiensis could be used as an effective bioremediating agent to manage heavy metals particularly cadmium, nickel and lead in industrial area. Further, attributed to be a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, this organism can promote dual stratagems as a bio remediating agent and fertility enhancer in agricultural field due to its dual functions.

Dittrichia viscosa L., is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, and this study was performed to investigate the chemical composition of its extract, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Total phenol (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and tannins contents (TTC), were quantified using colorimetric methods in two extracts (EtOH and ACE). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH scavenging, phosphomolebdenum test (TAC) and ferric reducing power assay (FRAP). The antimicrobial activity was determined against six nosocomial pathogens: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, using disc diffusion method and microdilution assay. The ACE and EtOH extracts had similar TPC: 151.18 ± 1.57 and 127.09 ± 15,81 mg GAE/ g DW. TFC & TTC recorded were also closely matched. The chemical composition revealed the presence of 18 phytochemical compounds with a total of 99.91%, where trimethylsilyl-meso-inositol (20.54%) was the major compound, followed by 5(4H)-Thebenidinone (16.80%). Both extracts showed high radical scavenging activity with an IC50 equal to 12.54 ± 0.2 μg/mL for EtOH, and 7.84 ± 0.1 μg/mL for ACE in DPPH test. In the FRAP test, we recorded an EC50 of 6.37 ± 0,012 mg/mL for EtOH, and 6 ± 0.022 mg/mL for ACE. The ACE presented higher antioxidant capacity (253.52 ± 2.98 mg AAE/g) compared to EtOH (189.14 ± 4,86 mg AAE/g) in the TAC assay. The higher inhibition zone was observed on B. subtilus (13 ± 0.1 mm) for EtOH, and the ACE was more effective on S. enterica (13.3 ± 0.08 mm). All the microbial strains were sensitive for both extracts, with MICs ranging from 0.93 mg/mL to 15 mg/mL.

Nano-selenium (Se) has attracted growing attention due to its high bioavailability, low toxicity and its possible applications in the prevention of oxidative damage in animal tissues. Recent research works have conveyed that the use of nano-seleniumas food additive could have positive effects on the nutrition of aquatic animals.In this study, the intestinal bacterial communities associated with low and high concentrations of nano-selenium in the diet of Chinese tongue sole were characterized, through 16S rRNA V3–V4 sequencing.Samples were derived from fish fed with diet containing different nano-selenium level, 0 mg/kg for the control group, 1.6 mg/kg for low dose group, and 2.4 mg/kg for high dose group The intestinal microbial community structure showed a low overall diversity, among which the vibro genus occupied the most important position with more than 90% relative abundance in all three group. Significant differences in specie diversity occurred between the nano-selenium treated (both low dose [IL] and high dose [LH]) groups and the control group(IC). Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, and Streptophytes were the top three enriched genera after the treatment with nano-selenium compared to IC. Meantime, the weight gain rate of the LH group was 9% higher than control. The results revealed the effect of nano-selenium on microbial community structure of gut and growth performance of C.semilaevis, Future research exploring the interaction mechanism between micronutrients and the microbial communities would increase our understanding of the fish nutrition.

Dried or defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal has been shown an important ingredient in aquafeed, but little information is available about the effects of black soldier fly pulp (BSFP) on growth and health of fish. A 62-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary BSFP on growth performance, whole body composition, serum metabolites, antioxidant and immune response of Micropterus salmoides. Four isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated by adding BSFP (original substance) to the basal diet at the rate of 0% (BSFP0), 1% (BSFP1), 2% (BSFP2) and 4% (BSFP4), corresponding to inclusion of 0, 4.5, 9.0 and 18.0 g/kg DM in diets. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 35 fish per tank. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation. Blood samples were collected at the terminal trial to analyse serum metabolites, antioxidant and immune enzyme activities. Results indicated that fish fed BSFP2 had higher (P

This work reports for the first time the anticandidal activity of the dichloromethane (DCM) extract from the Algerian invasive red marine algae A. armata Harvey. In a preliminary assessment, the DCM extract was screened for its antifungal activity against two strains of Candida albicans, namely (IP 444) and (ATCC 10231). As a well-established approach, the anticandidal activity was expressed as zone of inhibition by agar well and disk diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also determined for the two fungal strains. Within this framework, the DCM extract of the red algae A. armata has a strong inhibition effect against the considered Candida albicans strains. In addition, Candida albicans IP444 (MIC = 0.58 mg/mL) was more sensitive to DCM algal extract when compared to Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (MIC = 2.34 mg/mL). GC–MS analysis suggested that brominated compounds and fatty acids are responsible for anticandidal activity of dichloromethane extract of A. armata. These preliminary results may constitute a future applied of lipophilic extract of the red algae A. armata as a promising source of natural compounds with antifungal properties.

Salmonella Enteritidis is amongst the most common causes of foodborne salmonellosis. Multi-drug resistant Salmonella strains has been associated with treatment failures. Plant-derived phytochemicals may be an alternative to antibiotics in combating these bacteria. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of curcumin, carvacrol and styrax liquidus on S. Enteritidis and S. Enteritidis PT4. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of these substances were detected at 1.5, 3, 7.5 and 24 h by broth microdilution method to evaluate their time-dependent antibacterial activities. The findings of the present study showed that MIC values of carvacrol, curcumin and styrax liquids for both S. Enteritidis and S. Enteritidis PT4 were 125.0 μg/mL, 132.5 μg/mL, 31.3 mg/mL for 24 h, respectively. Also, a time-dependent change was observed in the MIC values of curcumin. Carvacrol, curcumin and styrax liquidus can be used to provide antimicrobial effect on S. Enteritidis and S. Enteritidis PT4 in food applications, taking into account the MIC values and contact times.

This study determined if yellow mealworm larvae (YML) grown on deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated wheat would affect broiler chicken performance. The YML were reared on wheat with low (LDW; 630 μg/kg) or high (HDW; 30,730 μg/kg) DON concentrations. The DON concentrations in the dried insect meals were 0 or 17.5 μg/kg for YML grown on LDW and HDW, respectively. Seventy-five male Ross 708 broilers were randomly placed into 15 cages and reared on one of three diets from day 1-35 (five replications/treatment). On day 14, broiler numbers were reduced to four per cage. The diets consisted of a control containing no YML meal (CD) and two diets containing 5% YML meal produced on either LDW (LMD) or HDW (HMD). Feed intake and body weight (BW) were measured over the duration of the experiment to calculate feed to gain ratio (F:G). On day 35, all birds were slaughtered and dissected to collect weights of the breasts, thighs, drums, wings, abdominal fat pads, and organs. Crude protein retention was higher in birds fed the LMD and HMD treatments compared to CD (P=0.0091). Dry matter retention was higher in the HMD diet compared to the CD and LMD diets (P=0.0046). Feed intake was lower in birds fed HMD compared to CD and LMD (P=0.0031) although final BW was not reduced. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of YML did not affect the growth, meat yield or organ weights of the birds. The YML reared on DON-contaminated wheat (up to 30,730 ug/kg) and included in broiler diets at 5% could be an effective means of converting salvage wheat into a safe and sustainable source of protein.

In this study, ultrasonic-assisted root extracts (methanolic and aqueous) of 16 Crinum genotypes were investigated for their antioxidants, phytochemicals and alkaloids (lycorine and galanthamine). The maximum TPC was recorded in methanolic extract of CAF1 (10.871 ± 0.2 mg TAE/g DW) and the least in CA (5.291 ± 0.1 mg TAE/g DW). TFC ranged from 0.446 ± 0.03 (CA) to 1.051 ± 0.07 mg CE/g DW (CMOR) for methanolic extracts whereas for aqueous extracts the range was 0.258 ± 0.01 (CAF2) to 1.312 ± 0.05 mg CE/g DW (COME). TTC values were recorded higher from aqueous extracts whereas TAC was on the higher side in methanolic extracts. TTC was the highest in COME (6.960 ± 0.16 mg CE/g DW) and TAC in CMOR (2.510 ± 0.21 mg BE/g DW). The highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were noted in CMOR (1.886 ± 0.07 mg AAE/g DW) and CP (18.251 ± 1.32 mg TE/g DW), respectively. Similarly, the highest FRAP and PMA activities were found from methanolic extracts of CAF1 (6.751 ± 0.06 mg Fe(II)E/g DW) and CAF2 (6.093 ± 0.16 mg AAE/g DW). Water extract of CM (4.788 ± 0.03 mg EDTA/g DW) had the highest metal chelation potential. Maximum inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was noticed in the methanolic extracts of CV (43.51%) and CM (85.58%), respectively. Similarly, the maximum inhibition (95.99%) of acetylcholinesterase activity was noted in the methanolic extract of CA. RP-HPLC revealed that GA and COA were the most common phenolics in the roots. The alkaloid, lycorine was detected in all the genotypes and galanthamine in only 14 genotypes. The highest lycorine content was detected in CW (6.28 ± 0.54 mg/g DW) and the lowest in CXA (0.45 ± 0.01 mg/g DW). Galanthamine content ranged from 0.10 ± 0.00 μg/g DW (CP) to 348.98 ± 0.01 μg/g DW (CXA). Ultrasonic-assisted extraction can be one of the sustainable approaches for the enhanced recovery of phytochemicals from Crinum species. Present study inferred that Crinum is a magnificent source of antioxidants, natural inhibitors of α-glucosidase as well as anti-Alzheimer and anticancer drugs.

Aim and Objective: We investigated the inhibitory effects of fractions from Lycopus lucidus Turcz. leaves on genomic DNA oxidation, Nitric Oxide (NO) production, and Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Material and Methods: Oxidative damage of genomic DNA was detected after Fenton reaction with H2O2 using DNA electrophoresis. Western blotting was performed to compare the expression levels of MMP-2 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced HT-1080 cells. Lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells was measured using Griess reagent. Results: All fractions (n-Hexane, 85% aq. MeOH, n-BuOH, and water fractions) from the leaves of L. lucidus Turcz. significantly inhibited intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p Conclusion: Overall, these results indicated that L. lucidus Turcz. leaves can be exploited as plant based sources of antioxidants in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food industries.

To determine the effect of the replacement of a dietary vegetable oil with the silkworm oil on the rabbit meat quality, two experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil), and the control diet with total replacement of sunflower oil by silkworm oil (SWO). Rabbits received the control diet from 5 to 7 weeks of age, followed by the two experimental diets until slaughter at 10 weeks of age. Physical traits, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of the hind leg meat were considered. A seven-day shelf-life at retail display of the loin meat evaluated water holding capacity, pH, L*a*b* colour, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) attributed to time and to dietary treatment within time. Experimental diets did not modify any of the considered traits measured on the hind leg meat, with exception of the hind leg weight, heavier in the SWO group (P

A 56-day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of ambient salinity and alkalinity on fatty acids, free amino acids and related anabolic metabolisms of Nile tilapia. The fatty acid and free amino acid contents in the muscle of tilapia cultured in saline water (SW), alkaline water (AW), saline–alkaline water (SAW) and fresh water (FW) conditions were analyzed and compared. The mRNA levels and enzymatic activities of fatty acyl desaturase (FADS2), elongation of very long-chain fatty acids (ELOVL5), Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (δ-OAT), and proline dehydrogenase (PDH) were also determined. The contents of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in the AW and SAW groups than those in the SW group, and those of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were the highest in the SAW group. The contents of flavor amino acids in the SAW and AW groups were significantly higher than that in the SW group, and that of proline in the SW, AW, and SAW groups was 3.58-, 4.11-, and 4.15-times higher than that in the FW group. The mRNA levels and enzyme activities of FADS 2, ELOVL5, PDH and P5CS were found to differ among the different groups. The results suggested that ambient salinity and alkalinity could effectively improve flesh quality of tilapia by regulating lipid and proline metabolism pathways.

Essential oils are complex mixtures of volatile compounds, primarily composed of terpenes and abundant aromatic plants. For example, Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is an aromatic plant that produces a monoterpene-rich essential oil, and studies show that this essential oil has excellent antioxidant activity. Erythrocytes incubated under high sugar levels are constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species, which results in the oxidation of their membranes. Objective: The aim of this article is to investigate the antioxidant activity of lemongrass essential oil and its protective effect on erythrocytes exposed to high levels of glucose. Materials and Methods: The essential oil was obtained by steam dragging distillation; blood cell suspensions were incubated with glucose 5, 20, 50, and 100 mmol/L. The amount of TBARS produced was measured at 532 nm. In addition, the percentage of antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH free radical assay. Results: Lemongrass essential oil showed an increase in the antioxidant activity up to 240 mg/ml, while ascorbic acid used as positive control showed a dose-dependent increase in antioxidant activity starting at 1 mmol/L up to 18 mmol/L. However, such a lemongrass dose prevented peroxidation in erythrocytes incubated under a high glucose media, whereas ascorbic acid showed a protective effect only at a concentration of 1 mmol/L. Conclusion: Lemongrass essential oil has high antioxidant activity compared to standard antioxidant as ascorbic acid, and also acts as a protective agent against erythrocyte lipoperoxidation due to hyperglycemia in vitro.

Aloe vera L. is used largely in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agro-food industries. The in vitro technique was proposed as an alternative method for large-scale propagation and/or conservation breeding programmes in response to the increasing demand for Aloe vera. Unfortunately, a major problem in the application of plant tissue culture is the browning of cultured tissues and microbial contamination. This work investigates for the first time the efficacy of using Essential Oils (EOs) to control enzymatic browning and contamination of cultures from Aloe vera. Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L β-indole butyric acid (IBA) was used as a basic medium for A. vera for in vitro culture. The effect of the addition of charcoal (at 0.5 g/L), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils (at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2%) to the basic medium was assessed. While thyme Essential Oil (EO) inhibited explant growth, rosemary EO induced the highest explant survival percentage, the lowest browning diffusion and contamination percentage. Moreover, a second experiment was conducted to determine the optimal rosemary EO concentration (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1%). Explant survival percentage was 100% after four weeks of culture with rosemary EO concentrations of 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1% with no signs of browning. The lowest infection percentage (10%) was observed for media containing 0.075 and 0.1% of rosemary EO. The highest average number of leaves per explant was 3.71 with 0.1% rosemary EO and the greatest leaf length was 3.18 cm with 0.05%. The analytical techniques used to detect rosemary EO compounds were GC-FID (gas chromatography - flame ionization detection) and GC–MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The main constituents found were 1,8-cineole (53.92%), α-pinene (15.86%), β-pinene (10.79%), and camphor (7.99%). Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the rosemary EO was determined by the DPPH (Free radical-scavenging activity) (24.66 µg mL−1) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) (35.16 mmol Fe2+L − 1) tests. The chemical composition together with the antioxidant effect and the most widely recognized anti-infectious properties of the used rosemary EO could explain its role in the inhibition of both enzymatic browning and microbial growth in culture media. These results could be a scope for further screening of EOs to be used for the improvement of in vitro culture of A. vera and other industrial crops.

Introduction: Bacterial resistance to multiple drugs is increasing at an alarming rate in current era and nanotechnology is one of the effective and novel approaches to overcome drug resistance. Methods: Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has stronger antibacterial activity and is regarded as bio-safe nanomaterial. The aim of present study is to synthesize the ZnO NPs using Aloe vera leaves extract and to investigate the synergistic effects and antioxidant actions of bio-synthesized ZnO NPs against gram negative bacteria E.coli and K. pneumoniae. The synergistic effect of β-lactam antibiotics (meropenem and ciprofloxacin) was tested along with ZnO NPs by using Kirby’s disc diffusion assay. The antioxidant activity was investigated by α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Results: Results revealed that the antibacterial activity of the selected antibiotics was much enhanced by ZnO NPs than the antibiotics alone. The resistant antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) became sensitive when combined with ZnO NPs. The antioxidant activity reveals that biosynthesized ZnO NPs possess significantly higher (p Conclusion: The findings reveal that biosynthesized ZnO NPs have much more eco-friendly approach. It can act as a strong potentiator of β-lactam antibiotics and put forward the possibility to use them effectively in targeted drug delivery, pharmaceuticals and biomedical fields.

As a major group of insects, locusts frequently cause agricultural damage, however, they have high economic value due to their rich nutritional content. In this paper, we systematically summarise the research results on the species, distribution, and functional composition of locusts in China over the past three decades and analyse the differences in research results in relation to experimental methods, locust species, and the experimental dates. In addition, we also introduce the methods for obtaining mass locusts, and discuss the edible, medicinal and feed usage of locusts, and prospect the exploitation of locust resources in order to provide a reference for locust-related research.

Incorporating sustainable raw materials into food has been a challenge in two correlated stages. Firstly, on the design and development of a product. Secondly, on how consumers accept it. This study aimed to evaluate the level of sensory acceptance and the emotional response of the addition of cricket flour (CR) to dried mixtures of different granulometry and solubility of chucula, which is a traditional hot beverage in Colombia. In addition, this chucula was assessed on granulometric distribution, solubility, water activity, and colour characteristics. The characteristics of chucula elaborated from commercial cereal and legumes flours with the addition of CR (ChFCr) were significantly different (P

Due to its environmental conditions, its efforts towards sustainability and the current cricket rearing activities, the industrial production of edible cricket powder is seen as an economic opportunity for Costa Rica. The feasibility of such a project was explored through a two-stage qualitative research. First, the market needs, product and production requirements were investigated through semi-structured interviews to possible buyers and producers, a visit to an industrial cricket powder production plant and a desk study. During the second stage, the entopreneurial ecosystem in Costa Rica was explored through semi structured interviews to local experts and entopreneurs in order to evaluate the feasibility of complying with the requirements identified in the first stage. Results show that Mexico and the United States are the main potential markets for Costa Rica. The main buyers are food and pet food producers with an average demand of 0.5-2 tons of cricket powder per month. A validated protein content, a gluten-free product and a neutral aroma are key product requirements. For the production, it is required to have an enclosed facility, with temperature and humidity control and a proper food safety and quality management system in place. It is concluded that the current entopreneurial ecosystem in Costa Rica does not allow to meet the international market needs required for commercialising cricket powder. Challenges like the current low production capability, high price, the lack of technical experts and specific regulation on insect production must still be overcome. Though, the main opportunities that would allow such a production are the existent local knowledge on rearing insects, well-established academic, research, and export promotion institutions, governmental small and medium enterprises support programs and the local expertise on exporting butterflies. The creation of an association that defines a national strategy is seen as a necessary step to boost the sector.

Urbanization and industrialization have led to heavy metals in aquatic environments. These metals are toxic, nondegradable, and persistent. Lead (Pb) is an immunotoxicant that can adversely affect animal health, even at low levels. Chitosan (CHI) is an eco-friendly compound with exceptional antibacterial and immunostimulant characteristics. This study investigated the effect of dietary CHI on the antioxidant defense system and innate immune responses of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against the cytotoxic effect of prolonged Pb exposure. The results indicated dietary CHI could nullify the toxicity of prolonged Pb exposure in fish by substantially activating the antioxidant defense system capacity and fish innate immune responses. In addition, CHI minimized the alterations in the histology of fish organs. The findings suggest that chitosan can be a commercial, eco-friendly immunostimulant and bioactive compound for mitigating the effects of heavy metal toxicity in aquaculture.

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has become one of the most economically important insects that can be a sustainable replacement for traditional feed for swine, poultry, and aquaculture. Despite its emerging importance, studies examining the nutritional requirement of BSF have been scarce. Here we used nutritional geometry approach to determine the separate and combined effects of dietary protein and carbohydrate content on multiple life-history traits and body composition linked to fitness in BSF. BSF larvae were reared on one of 32 chemically defined diets that varied in protein-to-carbohydrate ratio (P:C=1:16, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, or 8:1) and in protein plus carbohydrate concentration (P+C=60, 120, 180, or 240 g/l). Females developed more slowly into larger adults than males, but two sexes responded to dietary variation in protein and carbohydrate in a similar manner. The topography of the nutritional performance landscapes mapped for all measured traits differed significantly from one another, with the optimal P:C ratio being 1:1.71 for preadult survivorship, 1:1.56 – 1:1.11 for development time, 1:3.36 – 1:3.16 for body weight at adult emergence, and 1:1.83 – 1:1.40 for growth rate. Significant divergence in nutritional optima among these components of fitness indicates that the occurrence of fundamental life-history trade-off can be mediated by macronutrient intake. The index representing the preadult performance of BSF had a nonlinear relationship with dietary protein, with the peak centred at the intermediate P:C ratios of 1:1.43 – 1:1.37. The optimal P:C ratio was 1:2.12 – 1:1.70 for lean body weight and 1:14.14 – 1:10.82 for lipid content. Our results highlight the importance of the balanced composition of dietary protein and carbohydrate for optimising BSF performance and have implications for enhancing the mass production of this beneficial species.

The effects of four antibiotics (metronidazole (M) levofloxacin (L), sodium ampicillin (A), and streptomycin sulphate (S)) and their pair-wise combinations at three doses on the development and intestinal bacterial diversity of the black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae were studied. At a low dose M and L were able to inhibit larval growth. At a high dose, all antibiotics were shown to inhibit larval growth. However, the pair-wise combinational use of the antibiotics did not effectively enhance the inhibitory effect. The gut bacterial diversity of the normal control (NC) was significantly higher than the antibiotic-treated groups with 737 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the larval guts of NC, compared to 305 and 227 from ML and AS. The number of anaerobic bacteria in ML was significantly lower than in NC and AS, with the relative abundance of OTUs from larval guts of ML being only about 0.01, compared to 0.4 for NC and 0.15 for AS. These results indicated that antibiotics at the experimental concentration did not affect the palatability of food for insects, but they would affect the diversity of food and intestinal microorganisms of BSF larvae, and the inhibitory effect of antibiotics on growth and development of BSF larvae displayed in this study was a complex effect.

Insects are a new alternative for food and feed and a solution for circular economy. Among the most promising insects, black soldier fly, mainly in the larvae phase, is a solution specially for feed, and in particular in its dried form. The aim of this work was to study the water loss transfer during convective drying of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). The mass transfer model consisted of mass diffusion with two alternative boundary conditions (no external resistance and convection) and with/without shrinkage, applied with finite elements method, with a triangular mesh of 3,036 elements and a geometry reproducing the shape of the larvae. The moisture diffusion coefficient, estimated from the experimental data assuming an infinite slab, increased from 0.7002×10-10 m2/s at 60 °C to 2.792×10-10 m2/s at 90 °C, with an activation energy of 43.97 kJ/mol. The simulation predicted with detail the water content profile showing a quick water loss on the outer layers of the BSFL at the initial times. The evolution of the overall water content of BSFL during drying was better predicted for long times (when more than 80% of the moisture was removed) and at the highest temperature of 90 °C and showed that diffusion was the dominating mechanism, with small influence of the boundary conditions studied. Although shrinkage between 21 and 29% was considered, depending on the temperature, the inclusion of volume change in the model did not significantly improved the water content prediction.

This work screened out the optimal conditions for pretreatment of natural lignocellulose with inorganic salts and provided a simple, easy-to-operate, low-cost, clean and efficient pretreatment method for the efficient degradation of natural lignocellulose by strains. The results showed that the optimal pretreatment inorganic salt was FeCl2 with a concentration of 11%, pretreatment at 60°C for 48 h, and the solid-liquid ratio was 1:11 (g/mL). According to the characterization results, after pretreatment of FeCl2 solution, the smooth and dense structure of natural lignocellulose surface became rough and irregular, and surface fiber bundles showed spalling and fracture. Subsequently, the enzymes produced by solid-state fermentation of Aspergillus fumigatus were easier to enter the interior, which increased the contact area between materials and enzymes, and increased the amount of enzymatic loads, thereby improving the biodegradation effect.

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of Ginkgo biloba seeds powder by solid-state fermentation with Eurotium cristatum for developing high-value ginkgo seeds products. The optimum fermentation medium was consisted of 10 g of 40-mesh ginkgo seeds powder loaded in 100 mL Erlenmeyer flask with 50% (w/w) of water content, 4% (w/w) of MgSO4 and 5% (w/w) of KH2PO4 addition. The optimum fermentation conditions were pH 5.0, 2 × 108 CFU/g of inoculum size, 3 mL of sterilized water supplemented every two days during the four days of fermentation. Through fermentation, the spore number of E. cristatum was improved by about 36 times with the production of lovastatin reaching (54.10±0.16) µg/g. The antioxidant activity of fermented ginkgo seeds powder also got obvious enhancement, which could help eliminate excess free radicals produced by normal metabolism. The content of free amino acids increased by 82.32%. Except that the sugar was consumed in some degree, the other nutritional and functional components were well preserved while the content of detrimental ginkgolic acids was reduced by 44.97%. In addition, fermented ginkgo seeds powder possessed better digestibility and showed pleasant orange-like smelling. In conclusion, the quality of ginkgo seeds powder was remarkably improved through solid-state fermentation by using E. cristatum, which could be a promising way for functional applications of ginkgo seeds.

Riboflavin is an essential micronutrient for humans and must be obtained exogenously from foods or supplements. Numerous studies have suggested a major role of riboflavin in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. There are mainly three strategies for riboflavin synthesis, including total chemical synthesis, chemical semi-synthesis, and microbial fermentation, the latter being currently the most promising strategy. In recent years, flavinogenic microbes have attracted increasing attention. Fungi, including Eremothecium ashbyii and Ashbya gossypii, and bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and lactic acid bacteria, are ideal cell factories for riboflavin overproduction. Thus they are good candidates for enhancing the level of riboflavin in fermented foods or designing novel riboflavin bio-enriched foods with improved nutritional value and/or beneficial properties for human health. This review briefly describes the role of riboflavin in human health and the historical process of its industrial production, and then highlights riboflavin biosynthesis in bacteria and fungi, and finally summarizes the strategies for riboflavin overproduction based on both the optimization of fermentation conditions and the development of riboflavin-overproducing strains via chemical mutagenesis and metabolic engineering. Overall, this review provides an updated understanding of riboflavin biosynthesis and can promote the research and development of fermented food products rich in riboflavin.

This study was conducted to find an alternative to synthetic fungicides currently used in the control of Rhizoctonia solani damping off in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The efficacy of seed presoaking in Vitex agnus-castus essential oils and foliar sprays with 50 ppm ZnO NPs in controlling the pathogen was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The minimum inhibitory concentration of V. agnus-castus essential oils (400 μl/L) caused a significant decrease in mycelial growth and the productivity of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) of R. solani in vitro test. And also, Polygalacturonase, polymethyl-galacturonase, endoglucanase and β-glucosidase retained only about of its relative enzyme activities 10.5, 14.9, 8.8, 0%, respectively. The combination between seed presoaking in Vitex agnus-castus essential oils and foliar spray with ZnO NPs was found to be more effectivethan each of them separately, in reduction of disease incidence and enhance the seed germination percentage from 62% in infected untreated plants to 87% in infected plants exposed to dual treatment. Our results revealed that the content of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and superoxide dismutase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid), total flavonoids, total phenolics, tannins, proline, glycine betaine, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and mineral composition (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and zinc) were significantly higher in the infected plants received the dual treatment as compared with the untreated infected plants. Moreover, CWDEs, H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation significantly decreased in infected plants received the dual treatment as compared with the untreated infected plants.

Chillies and chilli-based products are important spices on a global basis. The production, processing, transport and storage phases of chillies are prone to infection by Aspergillus Section Flavi and contamination with aflatoxins (AFs), especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) for which legislative limits exist in many countries. We have examined the effect of the interacting abiotic factors of water availability (water activity, aw; 0.995-0.850 aw) and temperature (15-37 °C) on (a) lag phases prior to growth, (b) growth, (c) AFB1 production and (d) contour maps of optimum and boundary conditions for colonisation and toxin production by three Aspergillus flavus strains on a 10% chilli-based medium. Additional studies with whole red chillies + A. flavus conidial inoculum on AFB1 contamination during storage for 10-20 days at 30 °C were also carried out. In vitro, the lag phases before growth were delayed by lower temperatures (15, 20 °C) and aw levels (0.928-0.901 aw). There was no statistical difference in growth between the three strains. Optimal growth was at 37 °C and 0.982 aw with no growth at 0.85 aw. Optimal temperature × aw conditions for AFB1 production were at 30 °C and 0.982 aw with no statistical difference in production between strains. No AFB1 was produced at 15-20 °C at 0.901 and 0.928 aw levels, respectively. In situ studies with A. flavus inoculated whole red chillies at 0.90 and 0.95 aw found that this species became the major component of the total fungal populations at 30 °C after 10-20 days storage. AFB1 contamination was above the European legislative limits (5 μg/kg) for spices at 0.90 aw after 20 days storage and at 0.95 aw after 10 and 20 days. This suggests that storage conditions of ≥0.90 aw, especially at ≥25-30 °C represents a significant risk of contamination with AFB1 at levels where rejection might occur, even after only 10-20 days storage.

The effects of different chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations on the anammox granular sludge with Bamboo Charcoal (BC) addition were evaluated in UASB reactor. The results showed that the average total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was reduced from 85.9% to 81.4% when COD concentration was increased from 50 to 150 mg/L. However, the TN removal efficiency of BC addition reactors was dramatically 3.1%–6.4% higher than that without BC under different COD concentrations. The average diameter of granular sludge was 0.13 mm higher than that without BC. The settling velocity was increased by elevated COD concentration, while the EPS and VSS/SS were increased with BC addition. The high-throughput Miseq sequencing analyses revealed that the bacterial diversity and richness were decreased under COD addition, and the Planctomycetes related to anammox bacteria were Candidatus Brocadia and Candidatus Kuenenia. The Metagenomic sequencing indicated that the abundance of denitrification related functional genes all increased with elevated COD, while the abundance of anammox related functional genes of decreased. The functional genes related to anammox was hydrazine synthase encoding genes (hzsA, hzsB and hzsB). The average relative abundance of hzs genes in the reactor with BC addition was higher than the control at COD concentrations of 50 mg/L and 150 mg/L. The functional genes of denitrification mediated by BC were higher than those without BC throughout the operation phase. It is interesting to note that BC addition greatly enriched the related functional genes of denitrification and anammox.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is of great importance due to its medicinal properties and industrial uses. However, as in most plants, physiological and biochemical changes occur in turmeric plants subjected to saline conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and antioxidant response of turmeric plants, and the yield and composition of turmeric essential oil under saline stress. The study was greenhouse-based, and 180 days old turmeric plants were treated with 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl solutions for 130 days. Plants grown under high NaCl concentrations showed significantly reduced shoot length and shoot and rhizome biomass accumulation. Large amounts of proline accumulated in the leaves at 150 mM NaCl. Lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde content increased with salinity in both leaves and rhizomes. Antioxidant enzymes showed greater activity in the leaves of plants exposed to high NaCl concentrations. Salinity altered the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil in the rhizomes. A total of 114 compounds were identified in the essential oil, with the main compounds from the sesquiterpenes class. Sesquiterpenes can constitute a secondary antioxidant system which can assist the primary antioxidant defense system to maintain the levels of hydrogen peroxide in cells at concentrations sub-lethal to turmeric plants. In addition, the presence of rhizomes has a mitigating effect on salt stress in this species due to the antioxidant activity of the essential oil present in the rhizomes.

The use of antibiotic feed additives in poultry feed is currently discouraged owing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other drawbacks. The benefits and importance of phytogenic feed additives as potential alternatives in poultry nutrition include stimulation of digestion, higher feed conversion rate, reduced incidence of disease and profitability. Evaluation of the mineral content and other properties of plant material generates useful information towards rationalizing the use of plants as alternatives to antibiotic feed additives. Concentrations of macro-and micro-minerals in Morinda lucida, Acalypha wilkesiana, Ficus exasperata and standard broiler feed were determined using ICP-MS, and ICP-OES. Levels of degradation of C and N over specific periods of time were evaluated by dry oxidation (Dumas). Radical scavenging activities were investigated using DPPH and ABTS assays while levels of phytochemical constituents were assessed using standard methods. Macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the plant powders were generally higher than those of standard broiler feed. With few exceptions it was observed that the levels of total C and N as well as the C/N ratio in plant powders and standard feed were proportional to storage time. Macronutrients were higher in F. exasperata and A. wilkesiana while micronutrients were higher in A. wilkesiana and M. lucida. The highest total N and C levels were observed in M. lucida while A. wilkesiana showed the highest C/N ratio. Remarkable radical scavenging activities were displayed by A. wilkesiana while the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were exhibited by aqueous and acetone extracts of F. exasperata respectively. High antioxidant activity was correlated with high total C and C/N ratio of the plant powders. In M. lucida leaf powder, fructose was the dominant sugar at 8,450 mg/kg DW followed by glucose and sucrose with a good amount of Se at 0.32 mg/kg DW. The contents of malic acid were the highest (20,500 mg/kg DW). Organic acids decrease intestinal Escherichia coli and Salmonella species in broilers. Cl− was the most predominant anion. Minerals and organic acids are essential antimicrobial and antioxidant constituents of poultry diets for the maintenance of gut flora health, and their body metabolic, enzymatic and antioxidant defence. This study highlights the nutrients content of the selected plants, providing motivation for further investigation of these species as poultry feed additives.

Ginger breadfruit leaves wedang is a functional beverage made from breadfruit leaves that contains high antioxidant value, ginger and palm sugar. Moreover the adding healthy value function in ginger breadfruit leaves wedang product, also to utilizing the breadfruit leaves into functional beverage of ginger breadfruit leaves wedang in order to be accepted by the people. This research aims to know 4%, 5% and 6% breadfruit leaves addition influence to antioxidant content (gallic acid, quercetin and kaempferol) and organoleptic properties. This experiment research using Completely Random Design (CRD) with three kinds of treatment. The analyzed data using One Way ANOVA, if the treatments shows difference significant, then the analyzed data should be proceed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test with 5% confidence interval. The highest value of gallic acid antioxidant contect leads in 6% ginger breadfruit leaves wedang about 92,326 μg/ml. The highest value of quercetin antioxidant contect leads in 6% ginger breadfruit leaves wedang about 36,767 μg/ml. The highest value of kaempferol antioxidant contect leads in 6% ginger breadfruit leaves wedang about 25,921 μg/ml. The highest score of color hedonic is 3,97, and the highest score of taste hedonic is 3,67. The highest score of color hedonic quality is 3,11 with dark brown color criteria. The highest score of taste hedonic quality is 4,17 with a bit bittersweet taste criteria

The present study aimed to achieve a cost-effective production of endoxylanase by Streptomyces sp. SH5027 using banana pseudostem with the combination of conventional and statistical optimization and to determine the biochemical properties of the enzyme and its effect on bread making. Enzyme production increased from 7.25 U/mL to 50.21 U/mL as a result of the optimization studies. The enzyme was stable at 50-75 °C and also retained more than 50% of its activity at pH 5.0-9.0 for an hour at optimum temperature. The calculated Km value for the purified enzyme was 1.689 mg/mL.min, while the Vmax value was 23.17 µmol/min.mg. The specific volume of the bread increased 9.6%, 12.8%, and 16.8% when 200 U, 300 U, and 400 U endoxylanase was added to the flour per kg, respectively. This study is the first to be conducted on the statistical optimization of endoxylanase production using banana pseudostem.

Research on the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.) Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is steadily increasing, with a focus on its larvae and applications thereof. The egg stage of this species has received less research. This study describes the phases of embryo development for BSF eggs and the potential of delaying embryo development by using a chilling protocol. The study found that when chilling eggs for 24 hours at 10 °C and 80% relative humidity, the development is paused for a full day. This study presents a window of opportunity for embryo ages, approximately 38-58 hours post oviposition, where the hatch success is the least affected (>80% hatching when compared to control). Outside of this window, the hatch success decreases to 70% and lower. The description of embryo development can be used as a reference tool for quality control purposes. The effect of treatments on eggs can be determined by identifying key processes in development. Furthermore, the chilling of embryos and thus pausing of development can be applied in a production setting.

The main use of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) is currently as an animal feed ingredient. While the bacterial community of the larvae has been characterised repeatedly via sequencing, microbiological safety assessment based on culture-dependent techniques is still scarce. This study focused on the occurrence of the spore-forming foodborne pathogen Clostridium perfringens during rearing and consecutive processing of the larvae, based on observations in a single rearing facility. C. perfringens vegetative cells and spores were determined, in addition to total viable counts, total aerobic spore counts and intrinsic parameters including pH, water activity and moisture content. All samples were obtained from an industrial production plant. In a preliminary experiment, substrate ingredients and dried larvae were analysed, but the larvae were produced with a previous batch of the substrate mixture. A second, more detailed, experiment was performed where all samples were collected sequentially from the same production run (substrate ingredients, substrate mixture, starting larvae, harvested larvae, residue, dried larvae and stored dried larvae). In the two experiments, (presumptive) C. perfringens, as determined on tryptose sulphite cycloserine agar, was found at low numbers in the ingredients and in the second experiment it was also found in the substrate mixture. Over the two experiments, total C. perfringens counts (i.e. vegetative cells plus spores) ranged between 3.0±0.1 and

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) are known as an alternative feed for livestock, but their lack of polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) makes it less valuable. To overcome these problems, BSFL substrate (chicken feed) was fortified with squid liver oil (SLO) at five different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20%). The growth rate, feed conversion, and nutritional content of BSFL were evaluated at day 15 of rearing. Of the five concentrations, SLO 5% showed the highest growth increase (25.82-fold) among the other treatments (20.63-22.98-fold; P

Armoured crickets are an important food source in some parts of Zimbabwe. These insects are abundant in some regions but however, they are under utilised and not much is known about their nutritional value. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional profile of the armoured cricket (Acanthoplus discoidalis). Armoured crickets were collected from a structured sampling framework in Mbire district Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe. Removal of the head and thorax, degutting and boiling were done. A proximate analysis was carried out followed by mineral, amino acid and fatty acid profiling of the prepared insects. Analyses were done on a dry basis. A. discoidalis contained 69.2% protein, 16.8% fat, 8.6% ash, 1.2% carbohydrate, 4.2% chitin and 454.3 Kcal/100 g energy. A 100 g dry weight quantity of insect contains 11.48 mg iron which is enough to meet the required daily intake of 10.0-20 mg/day for an adult. The zinc (4.37 mg/100 g dry weight) and phosphorus (491.4 mg/100 g dry weight) content in A. discoidalis almost meets the reference nutrient intake for adults. Essential amino acids, leucine (60.7 mg/g protein) had the highest concentration followed by phenylalanine+tyrosine (59.3 mg/g protein), valine (48.4 mg/g protein), lysine (46.7 mg/g protein), threonine (37.4 mg/g protein), isoleucine (26.4 mg/g protein), methionine+cysteine (20.9 mg/g protein) and histidine (16.5 mg/g protein) the least concentration. In total, 9 saturated fatty acids were determined of which stearic acid and palmitic acid had the highest concentrations of 2,034.5 mg/100 g and 2,005.3 mg/100 g respectively. Four mono unsaturated fatty acids were determined of which oleic acid and palmitoleic acid had the highest concentrations of 361.4 mg/100 g and 305.2 mg/100 g respectively. Four poly-unsaturated fatty acids were determined of which eicosapentaenoic and α-linolenic acid had the highest concentrations of 1,598.0 mg/100 g and 185.6 mg/100 g respectively. A. discoidalis is good source of protein, the minerals iron, zinc and phosphorus, some essential amino acids and poly-unsaturated fatty acids.

The edible caterpillar Aegocera rectilinea Boisduval 1836, locally called Mikombidila, is collected from its wild habitat for consumption by people in the western region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its production by farming would represent a valuable source of animal protein for local populations. Working toward this end, the present study examined the life cycle of A. rectilinea, fed on Boerhavia diffusa L. leaves in an uncontrolled breeding room (26±2 °C, 77±6% relative humidity), starting with caterpillars previously harvested in Kinshasa, DRC. The fecundity of the females was 340.8 eggs on average, with an egg viability of 89.7%. Developmental phase durations of 19.8±1.6 and 12.5±1.9 days were observed for the larval and pupal stages, respectively. The mean total life-cycle duration, from egg to adult emergence, was 36.2±2.3 days, with a proportion of female of 0.785%. Adult longevity was 8.2±0.8 days for males and 8.0±2.0 days for females. The results of this study validate the interest for A. rectilinea rearing program to reduce food insecurity and protein deficiencies, particularly in western areas of the DRC.

This study was designed to analyze essential oils by GC-MS and to evaluate the chemical composition, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of aerial part of plant Seniso glaucus using two methods hydro distillation and organic solvent extraction. The essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS revealed the presence of 32 compounds most of them are sesquiterpene, the main component of essential oil were, Isolongifolene, 9-one (14.4%) Longiverbenone (13.5%), (+) 4-Carene (8.39 %), O-cymene, 4.64%, and thujone were 3.54%. Cytotoxic activity of essential oil was tested against four carcinoma cell lines (A549, McF7, HepG, and HCT-16) by using (3- (4, 5- dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT), the results indicate promising cytotoxic activity at the concentration (100, and50μg/ml) essential oil exhibit high cytotoxic activities against Hepg2 cell lines (83. 33 and 59.14 %) and good cytotoxicity against A549, McF-7 and HCT116 cell lines by (62.1 %, 74.40 %, and 76.60%respectively). The essential oil showed antioxidant activity with IC50 = 69.59±0.24μg/ml, using 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay the present study concluded the importance of plant Seniso glaucus as a natural antioxidant.

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical and biological quality of Gryllus assimilis flour, through the analysis of nutritional and biochemical parameters of tests on young rats (Rattus norvegicus – Fischer). The most deficient essential amino acid was methionine, with a chemical score of 56.40%. For the net protein ratio (NPR) and net protein utilisation (NPU) ratio, the diet containing unsupplemented cricket flour was not enough to reach the NPR and NPU levels of the control group and was insufficient to promote weight gain in the rats. The addition of methionine and wheat bran increased the digestibility of the cricket flour, which resulted in a significant improvement in the levels of cricket protein utilisation, increasing the rates mentioned above and promoting weight gain in the rats. Based on our results, we can state that considering the age of the study animals, cricket meal was a sufficient source of protein for maintenance of body weight, but not for weight gain. Based on biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, urea), the cricket meal did not compromise the general health of the study animals. We therefore conclude that the addition of other sources of methionine to cricket flour can be a fundamental strategy for better use of cricket proteins in the diet.

Insect production is generally a monoculture where insects are kept in an enclosed environment with a stable climate to maximise production. To maintain these conditions air treatment is necessary, which results in high operational costs. Combining insect rearing with hydroponic greenhouse cultivation (HGC) of fruit vegetables might offer an opportunity for cost reduction. Fruit vegetables generally require more elevated air temperature, while leaving enough space under the substrate supporting gutters to allow insect rearing. In this study the feasibility of combining both production systems was evaluated with mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and cucumber HGC serving as model species. The influence of the greenhouse climate was assessed by rearing mealworms simultaneous at two locations (a climate room and a cucumber HGC). Furthermore, pruning waste and aesthetically declined fruits could serve as a feed for insects. This was tested by comparing 4 different wet feeds (whole and mashed cucumber pruning, tomatoes and agar-agar). Larval growth was monitored and at harvest the mealworm yield was compared among treatments. Mealworm growth in the greenhouse was on average 8.1% slower than growth in a climate room even though the average ambient temperature in the greenhouse was lower and more variable (22.1±3.30 °C standard deviation compared to 27.0±0.34 °C). Moreover, the results showed that the tested HGC residues can be used as wet feed given that mashed cucumber pruning gave similar results as agar-agar (control) and tomatoes even outperformed the control significantly in terms of growth. ‘Entomoponics’ is introduced as the name for the combination of insect production and HGC of vegetables as a way to create added value in unused heated space inside a greenhouse and valorise greenhouse residues.

The demand for animal-based protein sources is increasing rapidly. The rearing of insects on bioproducts and their subsequent use as feedstock for animals has been receiving a lot of attention lately. Hermetia illucens, black soldier flies are highly investigated insects owing to their ability to reduce and transform different types of wastes, such as agricultural, household, municipal wastes, and human sludge. The nutritional composition and amino acid profile of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) raised on these organic wastes is similar to that of several feed constituents making it a suitable material for feed. However, the commercialisation of BSFL is limited due to prevailing unclear legislative requirements regarding their use as feed. In this paper, the legislative landscape involved in using BSFL as feed in different regions is addressed. European Union, Australia, Canada and USA specifically allow the trade and manufacture of BSFL as feed under specific conditions. Interestingly, most countries where entomophagy is a tradition, lack specific regulations concerning their use as feed and are currently drafting regulatory frameworks. Understanding the legislative layout is essential for harmonising the industrial upscaling of BSFL as animal feed.

Maize is consumed world-wide as staple food, livestock feed, and industrial raw material. However, it is susceptible to fungal attack and at risk of aflatoxin contamination under certain conditions. Such contamination is a serious threat to human and animal health. Ensuring that the maize used by food industry meets standards for aflatoxin levels requires significant investment across the supply chain. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) form a critical part of a broader, integrated strategy for reduction of aflatoxin contamination. We reviewed and summarised the GAP of maize that would be effective and practicable for aflatoxin control within high-risk regions for smallholder farmers. The suggested practicable GAP for smallholder farmers were: use of drought-tolerant varieties; timely harvesting before physiological maturity; sorting to remove damaged ears and those having poor husk covering; drying properly to 13% moisture content; storage in suitable conditions to keep the crop clean and under condition with minimally proper aeration, or ideally under hermetic conditions. This information is intended to provide guidance for maize growers that will help reduce aflatoxin in high-risk regions, with a specific focus on smallholder farmers. Following the proposed guidelines would contribute to the reduction of aflatoxin contamination during pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages of the maize value chain.

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome in human health. In general, fecal microbial samples are used to study the mechanisms of relevant diseases. In this context, it is worth mentioning that an optimized cryopreservation method is urgently needed to successfully perform clinical diagnosis, therapy, and scientific investigations of the gut microbiome without affecting its viability and biological activity. In this study, we aimed to test the relative cryopreservation efficiency of different nontoxic natural cryoprotectants using infant fecal and meconium samples. First, we selected two facultative and two obligate anaerobic bacteria as the experimental gut microbial strain to compare these cryoprotectants' toxicity and concentration-dependent bacteria viabilities after cryopreservation, then the viabilities and bacterial diversity of mixed facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria. Finally, we explored the effects of optimized cryoprotectants for meconium and infant feces after cryopreservation using 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. In addition, to better understand the effectiveness of these cryoprotectants, we used different freeze-thaw conditions mimicking real-life situations in the process of distribution. We found that the better choice for the infant fecal sample's cryopreservation was 100 mg/mL trehalose, whereas 200 mg/mL trehalose/betaine was the optimum choice for meconium cryopreservation. We hope that our results will shed light on the importance of natural cryoprotectants toward the long-term and stable viability of invaluable human gut microbial specimens.

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis, Agave fructans, and symbiotic of both encapsulated on growth performance, feed efficiency, blood parameters, and immune status in broiler chickens, and to compare these with diets including antibiotic growth promoters and without additives.Methods: A comparative experimental study was carried out with 135 male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Each trial was divided into 5 equal groups. Control group (CON) received a standard diet without growth promoter; GPA, a standard diet with colistin sulfate and zinc bacitracin (0.25 g/kg of feed); PRE, a standard diet with 1% Agave fructans; PRO, a standard diet with Bifidobacterium animalis (11.14±0.70 log CFU/g); SYM, a standard diet with B. animalis and Agave fructans.Results: A significant decrease in food consumption was found for the GPA, PRE, and SYM, compared to the CON group. The results show a better feed conversion index in PRE and GPA with respect to the CON group with the highest conversion index. Interestingly, the weight of the gastrointestinal tract shows a statistically significant difference between GPA and PRE groups. Moreover, the length of the gastrointestinal tract of the GPA group was less than the PRE group. In the total leukocyte count, there was a statistically significant increase in the GPA group compared to the CON, PRE, and PRO groups, and the heterophiles-lymphocytes index was lower in PRO. Regarding the cytokines, interleukin 10 (IL-10) decreased in PRO compared to CON and PRE, while IL-1β increased in the SYM group.Conclusion: Alternative treatments were shown to achieve similar productive results as growth-promoting antibiotics and showed improvement over diet without additives; however, they have immunomodulatory properties and improved the development of the gastrointestinal tract compared to the treatment of growth-promoting antibiotics.

This study aimed to determine the effect of dietary oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oil (EO) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal histomorphology, and intestinal microbiota of the Black Sea salmon juvenile (Salmo labrax). Fish were fed diets different levels of oregano EO such as 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg kg−1. For this purpose, a total of 675 fish were distributed randomly in triplicate into 5 experiment groups in 15 experiment tanks. Fish with average initial weights of 3.52±0.01 g were fed by hand at 3% of live weight for 90 days. At the end of the study, feeding with oregano EO supplementation did not significantly affect the growth performance of fish. Except for pepsin, there were no significant differences in the activity of digestive enzymes among the control and oregano EO groups. Besides, oregano EO at the doses of 50 or 400 mg kg−1 may have the potential to increase the surface area required for digestion by increasing intestinal villi length. Moreover, all doses of oregano EO showed antimicrobial properties by decreasing the count of lactic acid bacteria in the intestine. Supplementation with 100 and 200 mg kg−1 oregano EO in diets decreased the total coliform, Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria counts when compared to the control group. The results showed that oregano EO may positively affect digestion and absorption without adverse effects on the growth performance of Black Sea salmon juvenile.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of increasing supplementation of Yarrowia lipolytica (YL) up to 3.0% replacing 1.6% poultry fat and 0.9% blood plasma for growth performance, intestinal health and nutrient digestibility of diets fed to nursery pigs.Methods: Twenty-four pigs weaned at 24 d of age (initial body weight at 7.2±0.6 kg) were allotted to three dietary treatments (n = 8) based on the randomized complete block. The diets with supplementation of YL (0.0%, 1.5%, and 3.0%, replacing poultry fat and blood plasma up to 1.6% and 0.9%, respectively) were fed for 21 d. Feed intake and body weight were recorded at d 0, 10, and 21. Fecal score was recorded at every odd day from d 3 to 19. Pigs were euthanized on d 21 to collect proximal and distal jejunal mucosa to measure intestinal health markers including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8, immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G. Ileal digesta was collected for apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients in diets. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed of SAS.Results: Supplementation of YL (1.5% and 3.0%) replacing poultry fat and blood plasma did not affect growth performance, fecal score and intestinal health. Supplementation of YL at 1.5% did not affect nutrient digestibility, whereas supplementation of YL at 3.0% reduced AID of dry matter (40.2% to 55.0%), gross energy (44.0% to 57.5%), crude protein (52.1% to 66.1%), and ether extract (50.8% to 66.9%) compared to diets without supplementation.Conclusion: Yarrowia lipolytica can be supplemented at 1.5% in nursery diets, replacing 0.8% poultry fat and 0.45% blood plasma without affecting growth performance, intestinal health and nutrient digestibility. Supplementation of YL at 3.0% replacing 1.6% poultry fat and 0.9% blood plasma did not affect growth performance and intestinal health, whereas nutrient digestibility was reduced.

Herbal cosmetics are a valuable gift of nature and their demand is increasing in the world market. They have good activity with no side effects as compared to synthetic cosmetics. Herbal cosmetics are beauty products and because of natural ingredients, they possess desirable physiological activities. The present research work aimed to formulate and characterize cost-effective herbal nourishment cream containing Aloe vera gel and tomato powder. Four formulations i.e. F1, F2, F3, and F4 were prepared with varying concentrations of Aloe vera gel and tomato powder, while the composition of the cream base was kept the same. The oil phase of the cream base consisted of liquid paraffin (5.0 ml), stearic acid (4.8 g) and coconut oil (3.0 ml). The aqueous phase consisted of triethanolamine (1.5 ml), glycerin (5.0 ml), citric acid (0.4 g), methylparaben (0.1 g), water (q.s.) and key ingredients. The concentration of Aloe vera gel was 2.0 ml, 4.0 ml, 6.0 ml, 8.0 ml and the concentration of tomato powder was 0.2 g, 0.4 g, 0.6 g, 0.8 g in F1, F2, F3, and F4 respectively. The characterization of the formulated creams was carried out by standard methods, such as homogeneity test, smear type, irritancy test, pH test, spreadability test and acid value test. The stability test was carried out at different temperature conditions at 40 °C, below 5 °C and room temperature. All creams were homogeneous, non-irritant and easily removable. The pH of creams was in the range of 7.3–7.6 which is safe for human skin. Spreadability was in the range of 9–13. Acid values of the prepared creams were 5.6, 5.6, 6.4 and 7.2 respectively. Stability was examined by two parameters, homogeneity and pH change. The economical herbal creams prepared by using fewer chemicals are good for skin with moisturizing properties. The efficiency of creams can be improved by increasing the concentration of Aloe vera gel and tomato powder.

Background and purpose: Asparagus contains different bioactive and volatile components including pyrazines, sulphur-containing compounds, and polyphenols. Asparagus juice is a new low-calorie LAB-containing natural juice product, the usage of which is expanding. Pyrazines and sulphur-containing compounds are degraded by bacteria on one hand, but on the other hand, dietary polyphenols prevent human colorectal diseases as modulators of the composition and/or activity of gut microbiota. However, the utility of these asparagus compounds for reversal of age-associated microbial dysbiosis and the immunometabolic disorders that dysbiosis incites body inflammatory reactions was not much explored so far. Hence, using middle-aged mice, we conducted the current study to verify the effect of freshly squeezed domestic white asparagus juice on the biomarkers reflecting immuno-metabolic pathways linking age-related dysbiosis and metabolic events. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two conventional Harlan Laboratories C57BL/6 mice aged between 11-12 months were randomly divided into two groups (n=16). Mice in control group 1 received sterile tap water. Animals in group 2 had 60 days ad libitum free-choice access to sterile tap water supplemented with 5% (v/v) freshly squeezed domestic white asparagus juice. Clinical signs of general health, hydration, and inflammation were monitored daily. Caecal content samples were analysed by qPCR for microbial composition. Histology of relevant organs was carried out on day 60 after sacrificing the mice. Universal markers of metabolic- and liver function were determined in serum samples. Caecal SCFAs contents were measured using HPLC. Results: Overall, no significant differences in general health or clinical signs of inflammation between the two groups were observed. The liver to body weight ratio in asparagus juice-drank mice was lowered. The qPCR quantification showed that asparagus juice significantly decreased the caecal Clostridium coccoides group while causing an enhancement in Clostridium leptum, Firmicutes, and bifidobacterial groups as well as total caecal bacterial count. Asparagus juice significantly elevated the caecal contents of SCFAs. Enhanced SCFAs (acetate, butyrate, and propionate) in mice receiving asparagus juice, however, did coincide with altered lipid levels in plasma or changes in the abundance of relevant bacteria for acetate-, butyrate-, and propionate production. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study aiming at evaluating the effect of freshly squeezed German domestic white asparagus juice on universal markers of metabolic- and liver function in middle-aged mice and the role of gut microbiota in this regard. The effectiveness of asparagus juice to improve metabolism in middle-aged mice was associated with alterations in intestinal microbiota but maybe also due to uptake of higher amounts of SCFAs. Conclusion: Hence, the key signal pathways corresponding to improved immune-metabolic homeostasis will be an important research scheme in the future.