Influence of spices on utilization of sorghum and chickpea protein

Influence of eight common Indian spices on the protein quality of sorghum and chickpea was studied. Spices used include red chillies (Capsicum annum), black pepper (piper nigrum), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum) cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), garlic (Allium sativum), asafoetida (Ferula foetida), dry ginger (Zingiber officinale) and ajowan (Carum copticum). Addition of spices did not affect protein digestibility (TD) of sorghum. The BV of all sorghum diets with spices was higher than that of control diet. However, it was significant only in case of diets combined with red chilli + coriander (11) mix, black pepper + cumin (11) mix, coriander and cumin. Addition of spices did not have any effect on TD or BV of chickpea diets.     

Nutritional evaluation of the supplementary value of low-cost and locally available foods to a poor rice or ragi diet: IV. Calcium utilisation of five ragi-based combinations

The biological availability of calcium from six ragi-based diets was studied in comparison with skim milk and calcium lactate diets. The rats on skim milk and calcium lactate diets had higher absorption values and retention values when compared with the other test diets.Of the six ragi diets tested, the basal diet with the highest cereal content also had the highest level of calcium (215 mg Ca/100 g). Diet 5 was the next best, containing 201.6 mg/100 g. Positive correlations were observed between the calcium content of the diet, and mg calcium absorbed (r=+0.80,P<0.05), mg calcium retained (r=+0.87,P<0.05) or percentage calcium retained (r=0.86,P<0.05). Among the five supplemented ragi-based diets, however, diet 5 was found to result in the highest calcium retention levels when fed to rats. This may have been due to its higher quality protein compared with the other diets. The components of this combination were, in addition to the basal ragi diet, sweet potato, field beans, sesame, drumstick leaves, ground-nut flour, and cotton-seed flour.     

Iron and phosphorus utilization in rats fed soaked and dehulled bambara groundnut supplemented with sorghum or crayfish

Thirty-six adult Wistar albino male rats (75–128 g) of age 8 weeks were used to study the effect of dehulled and soaked bambara groundnut combined with sorghum or crayfish on iron and phosphorus balances of rats fed for 10 days. Three out of the ten days were for adjustment and the rest for the balance period. Six diets were formulated and fed to the rats. The mixed protein diets provided 10% protein daily for the entire study period. Casein(CA) served as a reference protein. Rats fed the CA diet had significant decreases (p < 0.05) in food intake, maintenance body weight, phosphorus intake and phosphorus balance when compared with those of the test groups. As judged by iron nutriture, dehulled brown bambara groundnut (DBGB) appeared to be superior to the white variety. Soaking seriously affected iron utilization in brown variety. Dehulling produced significant increases (p < 0.05) in phosphorus balance in animals fed the white variety of bambara groundnut compared with the brown variety. On the other hand, soaking produced positive phosphorus balance in rats consuming the brown variety. Addition of crayfish produced a slight nonsignificant decrease (p > 0.05) in rodents eating the brown variety. These results suggested that varietal difference and treatment affected iron and phosphorus utilization in rats fed bambara groundnut in conjunction with sorghum and/or crayfish.     

Effect of coprophagy on bioavailability of iron from plant foods fed to anemic rats

Effects of coprophagy and coprophagy preventing device on iron bioavailability were evaluated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, rats were fed diets with FeSO₄, spinach, bran cereal or cornmeal as the iron source. The rats in each diet group were fitted with collars, sham-collars or not fitted with collars (control). In Experiment 2, rats were fed diets with FeSo₄ or green peas as the iron source and were fitted with collars, tail cups, sham-collars or not fitted with any device (control). Preventing coprophagy reduced hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) of rats fed bran cereal, green peas, spinach or cornmeal diets by 26 (P<.05), 24(P<.05), 22(P<.05) and 11% (not significant), respectively. Preventing coprophagy in rats fed FeSO₄ diet did not significantly reduce HRE. Sham-collaring reduced (P<.05) HRE of rats fed the FeSO₄ diet by 12 and 13% but did not significantly affect HRE in rats fed food iron sources. It was more convenient and effective to prevent coprophagy with collars than with tail cups. Differences in bioavailability between food and FeSO₄ iron due to coprophagy may be explained based on two gastrointestinal nonheme iron pools, complexed and highly soluble.     

Cultivation of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.), a medicinal weed

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) is the most researched plant for the treatment of liver disease. Its therapeutic properties are due to the presence of silymarin, a mixture of three flavonolignans (silybin, silydianin and silycristin). The seeds contain the highest amount of silymarin, but the whole plant is used medicinally. Milk thistle is grown successfully on a range of soil types, from sandy soils to much heavier clay soils. Milk thistle is directly seeded in soils. Sowing occurs in autumn and spring, and row spacing is usually 40-75 cm, with 20-30 cm between plants in the row. Nutrient requirements of this crop are low to moderate since it is adapted to poor quality soils and many different growing conditions. A limiting factor in milk thistle production is weed interference. Pendimethalin and metribuzin herbicides are safe for weed control in milk thistle, both alone and in combination. Milk thistle is considered drought resistant and normal rainfall will often suffice. In a Mediterranean environment, under severe drought conditions, the crops should be irrigated during seed growth and filling. Moreover, a few varieties of milk thistle have been developed. The silymarin content most often ranges from 1.0% to 3.0% of achene dry matter but can exceed 8%. Efforts should be made to develop varieties with high silymarin content.     

Common Indian spices: Nutrient composition,consumption and contribution to dietary value

Nutrient composition of eight commonly consumed spices of South India was analysed. Spices analysed were red chillies (Capsicum annum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum), cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), garlic (Allium sativum), asafoetida (Ferula foetida), dry ginger (Zingiber officinale) and ajowan (Carum copticum). The nutrients analysed were proximate principles, minerals, starch, sugars, dietary fibre components, tannins, phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors and amino acids. Dry ginger, ajowan and asafoetida had high calcium (1.0–1.5%) and iron (54–62 mg/100 g) levels. The tannin content of spices was also high (0.9–1.3% DM). Dietary fibre ranged from 14–53%. Spices had appreciable amounts of essential amino acids like lysine and threonine. A survey revealed the average per capita consumption of spices to be 9.54 g and at that level, the nutrient contribution from spices ranged from 1.2 to 7.9% of an average adult Indian male's requirement for different nutrients.     

Effects of Soybean Fortification on Protein Quality of Tortilla-Based Diets Produced from Regular and Quality Protein Maize

The physiological development of laboratory rats fed with a typical indigenous tortilla diet was studied for two generations. The experiment compared casein control diet and five different types of diets: (1) a diet of tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM); (2) regular tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour containing vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, folic acid, and the microminerals iron and zinc (REDMF); (3) tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean meal (FEDMF); (4) tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour (EQPM); and (5) and, tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour fortified with 3% defatted soybean meal (FEQPM). The growth of rats fed FEDMF and FEQPM diets was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both generations than their counterparts fed EQPM, REDMF, or FM diet. Animals fed quality protein maize (QPM) tortilla had the highest protein digestibility, but the FEQPM and FEDMF diets had the highest biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and protein-digestibility-corrected EAA scores (PDCEAAS). The difference among treatments was more evident in the second-generation rats. The pregnancy rate, number of newborns/litter, litter weight, and newborn survival rate was also higher for rats fed FEDMF, EQPM, and FEQPM diets than their counterparts fed REDMF and FM.     

Biological evaluation of iron availability from pre-adolescent diets by using anaemic rats

The bioavailability of iron from habitually consumed diet by pre-adolescent children of low socio-economic group and the diet supplemented with additional 8 g of protein supplied by 34 g legumes (Green gram and Moth bean 1:1) or 195 ml of buffalo's milk to per day diet was studied in anaemic rats using haemoglobin regeneration method. The bioavailability of iron for haemoglobin regeneration relative to FeSO₄ was 69.5 percent from milk supplemented diet as compared to 47.5 percent from the diet normally consumed by pre-adolescent children of low socio-economic group while legume supplementation to the diet showed no improvement.     

Influence of spices on protein utilisation of winged bean (Prophocarpus tetragonolobus) and horsegram (Dolichos biflorus)

The influence of a mixture of eleven spices commonly consumed in India on the utilisation of protein from boiled winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and horsegram (Dolichos biflorus) was studied at 10 and 20 percent level of protein intake in experimental rats. Spices used in the mixture include red chillies (Capsicum annum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), garlic (Allium sativum), ajowan (Carum copticum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), caraway seeds (Carum carui) and fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare). Addition of this spice mixture at 1.5% level of the diet decreased the TD of both legumes, significantly only in the case of horsegram. A significant increase was observed in the BV of both the legumes at both levels of protein tested.     

Determination of iron absorption by rat bioassay. Evaluation of methods of dosing59Fe on radioiron absorption from plant diets

We studied the potential of an animal model to predict nonheme iron absorption in humans and tested a feasible and easy technique of dosing⁵⁹Fe to evaluate bioavailability of dietary nonheme iron. Plant diets containing about 20 ppm or 75 ppm iron were the nonheme iron sources with ferrous sulfate (75 ppm) as a reference. Radioiron was administered by (a) gavaging in water, 1 h after a meal; (b) mixing with the meal; and (c) making a slurry with the meal and gavaging. No significant differences were found (P0.05) in⁵⁹Fe absorption among the three methods of administering radioiron. Absorption of⁵⁹Fe was similar to apparent iron absorption for all diets tested, whether the animals consumed the same diet as that of the test meal or a different diet. A high correlation (r=0.88) obtained between the apparent iron absorption and⁵⁹Fe iron absorption for different dosing techniques, indicates that extrinsic iron tag administered by any of these methods is valid to measure nonheme iron absorption. Apparent iron absorption values determined by rats fed 20 ppm or 75 ppm dietary iron from plant sources were similar to reported values for humans. It is concluded that the normal adult rat is an appropriate model to study iron bioavailability of human foods when iron status, maturity, iron intake relative to requirement, and method of measurement are similar to the human situation.     

The use of n-alkanes to estimate herbage intake and diet composition by dairy cows offered a perennial ryegrass/white clover mixture

The n-alkane technique for estimating herbage intake and diet selection in dairy cows fed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) herbages was evaluated. Pairs of animals were offered either 8, 10, 12 or 14 kg dry matter (DM) d^?1 of herbage alone or with 2 kg DM d^?1 of barley. Fresh herbage was cut daily from a perennial ryegrass/white clover sward and the appropriate amount was fed in four feeds during the day. Individual intakes and the white clover proportion of the diet were estimated during a 12-d period using the n-alkane technique. Animals were dosed twice daily with paper pellets containing dotriacontane (C₃₂-alkane). Faecal grab samples were collected after the morning and afternoon milking. Three least-squares optimization methods were compared in calculating the white clover proportion in the diet; then, total DM intake was calculated. The different least-squares optimization methods gave similar predictions of the white clover content of the forage consumed. No significant (P < 0.05) effects of sampling routine, concentrate (barley) fed or interactions between the two were detected with respect to the difference between calculated and actual intake, the difference as a proportion of the total intake and estimated white clover content of the diet. The difference between the calculated and actual intake ranged from 139 to 366 g DM d ^?1, which resulted in a proportional difference ranging from 0.004 to 0.02 depending on sampling routine. The actual white clover content of the herbage mixture fed was 0.42 ± 0.008, whereas the estimated white clover content ranged from 0.41 ± 0.006 to 0.43 ± 0.008. The results suggest that accurate herbage intake estimates can be achieved in dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover swards if representative samples from herbage consumed can be collected.     

Pancreatic and intestinal enzyme activities in rats in response to balanced and unbalanced plant diets

To simulate the effects of nutritionally adequate and inadequate vegetariandiets, rats were fed, for 28 days, an isonitrogenous, isocaloric, amino acidunbalanced cereal diet (CD) deficient in lysine and tryptophan or abalanced cereal-legume diet (CLD). The impact of these diets on enzymesresponsible for digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were measured.Neither experimental diet significantly affected the animal's final weight orfeed consumption in comparison with controls fed a standard mixed dietfrom plant and animal sources. However, during the first three weeks, theweight gain of rats fed the CD was significantly lower (p<0.01;p<0.05) than that of the controls. CD fed rats also had a higher feedefficiency ratio (p<0.05), demonstrating increased feed consumptionper unit of body weight. They also had decreased pancreatic-amylase activity (p<0.05), serum phytolytic and zoolytic-amylase activity (p<0.05) and serum protein level(p<0.05) than the controls. Activity of pancreatic trypsin and intestinalenzymes (sucrase, maltase, aminopeptidase N) were the same as in thecontrols. In rats fed CLD, growth, food consumption, and enzyme activitiesdid not change, however serum protein and glucose levels were higher(p<0.025; p<0.005) than in the controls. It is hypothesized thatdecrease in -amylase activity was mostly related to the tryptophandeficiency in the CD because this enzyme contains the highest amount oftryptophan units among all tested enzymes.     

Effects of feeding clover silages on feed intake, milk production and digestion in dairy cows

Silages were made from pure crops of perennial ryegrass, red clover and white clover over 2 years. In all but one case the silage was stored as bales. A silage additive specially adapted for bales (Kofasil Ultra^TM) was used for all silages and they were all of good hygienic quality. The additive contained sodium nitrite, hexamethylene, tetraamine sodium bensoate and sodium propionate. The silages were offered ad libitum, either pure or mixed [grass/clover 0·50/0·50 on a dry‐matter (DM) basis] with a fixed amount (8 kg) of concentrate. Two experiments, one in each year, were performed with high‐yielding multiparous dairy cows in mid‐lactation, and both rumen‐cannulated and intact cows were used. The experiments were carried out using an incomplete changeover design with fifteen cows and five treatments each year. The cows consumed large quantities of these silages (12·7–16·3 kg DM per cow per day). The highest intakes were obtained when the red clover and the 0·50 red clover:0·50 perennial ryegrass silage diets were offered. However, there was a difference between years. In year 1, 0·50 red clover:0·50 perennial ryegrass and 0·50 white clover:0·50 perennial ryegrass silage diets showed the highest intakes while pure perennial ryegrass and white clover silage diets gave lower intakes. In year 2 the highest intake of silage was obtained when the diet containing silage from red clover from a second cut was offered, while the silage from red clover from a first cut gave the lowest intake. The voluntary intakes of silages from white clover and perennial ryegrass were intermediate. No cases of bloat or other digestive disturbances were observed. Milk yield was significantly lower for the perennial ryegrass silage diet compared with all other diets in year 1. In year 2 milk yield was highest for the white clover silage diets and lowest for the red clover silage diets from both cuts. In year 1 there were relatively small differences in milk composition while in year 2 milk fat content was significantly lower with white clover silage diet and milk protein content was significantly higher with the perennial ryegrass diet. The overall conclusion from these experiments was that cows were able to consume large quantities of pure legume silage without serious disturbance to their metabolism. Differences in measurements of rumen metabolism were found between diets and especially between years. Milk production differences appears to be coupled to both differences in rumen physical characteristics, such as passage rate and particle size as well as differences in volatile fatty acid production in the rumen.     

Plant growth strategies of Thymus vulgaris L. in response to population density

Thymus vulgaris L., known as common thyme, is a perennial subshrub native to the Mediterranean region. The use of the extracts and herb of thyme plants as antibacterial, antioxidant, natural food preservative and in cosmetic industry has increased the economic importance of this medicinal crop worldwide. Agricultural practices have an influence on growth and yield of thyme plants. Therefore, an experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of three intra-row spacing (15, 30 and 45 cm) and four harvesting times (vegetative, beginning of blooming, full blooming and fruit set) on plant growth and herbage biomass of thyme in 2007 in the research farm of Shoubak University College in the southern part of Jordan. The experiment was a split plot in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Apart from the experiment in 2007, measurements taken on the 15th of November in 2008 were treated as an independent experiment irrespective of harvesting stage. The effects of spacing were not significant for all the parameters measured in 2007. Intra-row spacing in 2008 had significant effects (P < 0.05) on plant height, canopy diameter, herbage fresh and dry weight and number of leaves on long shoots. Its effect on dry weight of shoots, fresh and dry weight of long shoots, number of long shoots, root depth, leaf area and specific leaf area was very significant (P < 0.01). Results of this study indicated that thyme plants grown using 15 cm planting space and harvested at the fruit set stage in 2007 had the highest fresh and dry weight of shoots. The highest dry weight of shoots, herbage fresh and dry weight was also obtained in 2008 in 15 cm spacing. Closer spacing resulted in significantly taller plants that exhibited higher shoot:root ratio and, therefore, plants grown using 15 cm intra-row spacing had a better use of light and accumulated more biomass compared to plants in wider spacing. The differentiation between long shoots and short shoots throughout plant development in 2007 suggests a specialization in carbon gain along different times in the growing season. Swings observed for shoot:root ratio, leaf area and specific leaf area were related to thyme growth. The decrease in specific leaf area between vegetative and full bloom stage indicated that leaves became thicker as part of an adaptive mechanism to the surrounding environment. Information obtained from growth parameters, leaf area and specific leaf area in particular, could be related to essential oil production in leaves of thyme plants.     

Effect of Quinoa Seeds (Chenopodium quinoa) in Diet on some Biochemical Parameters and Essential Elements in Blood of High Fructose-Fed Rats

The effect of Chenopodium quinoa seeds on lipid profile, glucose level, protein metabolism and selected essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) level was determined in high—fructose fed male Wistar rats. Fructose decreased significantly LDL [42%, p < 0.01] and activity of alkaline phosphatase [20%, p < 0.05], and increased triglycerides level [86%, p < 0.01]. The analysis of blood of rats fed quinoa indicated, that these seeds effectively reduced serum total cholesterol [26%, p < 0.05], LDL [57%, p < 0.008] and triglycerides [11%, p < 0.05] when compared to the control group. Quinoa seeds also significantly reduced the level of glucose [10%, p < 0.01] and plasma total protein level [16%, p < 0.001]. Fructose significantly decreased HDL [15%, p < 0.05] level in control group but when the quinoa seeds were added into the diet the decrease of HDL level was inhibited. Quinoa seeds did not prevent any adverse effect of increasing triglyceride level caused by fructose. It was shown in this study that quinoa seeds can reduce most of the adverse effects exerted by fructose on lipid profile and glucose level.     

Bioavailability to rats of iron from fortified grain amaranth

In this study, fortified and unfortified grain amaranth seed flour diets and a FeSO₄-fortified casein diet (used as a control) were evaluated for their iron (Fe) bioavailability. NaFeEDTA, ferrous fumarate, and FeSO₄-fortified grain amaranth were fed to growing Sprague-Dawley weaning male rats. Iron intake, hemoglobin iron (HbFe) gain, Fe availability, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum iron, non-haem liver iron and red bloodcell volume (RBV) were determined, and the values were compared with those of the FeSO₄-fortified casein diet control. Ferrous fumarate fortified diets gave consistently high values for all these parameters, compared with consistently low values for the amaranth diet without iron fortification.Relative biological values (RBVs) were 0.40, 1.55, 1.75, 1.67 and 1.00 for animals fed on an unfortified amaranth diet, and diets fortified with NaFeEDTA, ferrous fumarate, FeSO₄ and casein fortified with FeSO₄, respectively. Using FeSO₄-fortified casein as control, ferrous fumarate gave a superior RBVs (1.75 vs. 1.00). The RBVs, of the unfortified cereal diets were 40% that of the control, perhaps suggesting low iron absorption from the amaranth cereal. Based on the results of this study, amaranth cereal can be considered an ideal food vehicle for iron fortification. The iron fortification of choice is ferrous fumarate.     

Protein,energy and mineral utilization in rats fed rice-legume diets

Protein, energy and mineral utilization were examined in growing rats fed cooked, dry legume seeds in combination with polished rice. The legumes tested included 3 varieties of common beans, black, white and brown (Phaseolus vulgaris), lentils (Lens esculenta) and peas (Pisum sativum). The rice:legume mixtures (1:1 N ratio) were the only dietary sources of protein, Zn, Fe and Cu. The rice:black bean mixture was also tested at a 4:1 N ratio. Nutrient utilization was studied by balance trials and mineral utilization was further assessed by tissue analyses. True protein digestibility (TD) and energy digestibility of the rice:legume (1:1) mixtures were high. Biological value (BV) varied only little but was lowest in the rice:lentil mixture. The rice:brown bean mixture had the lowest amount of utilizable protein (UP). The (1:1) rice:legume mixtures did not adversely affect Fe status, as measured by liver Fe content and blood hemoglobin and hematocrit, or Cu status, as measured by liver Cu content and plasma ceruloplasmin. However, femur zinc content indicated a sub-optimal Zn status. Increasing the dietary N from rice in combination with black beans resulted in a substantial improvement of BV, NPU and Zn status of the animals but had a negative effect on UP and Fe status of the rats.     

THE GROWTH OF BEEF CATTLE FED ON MAIZE SILAGE SUPPLEMENTED WITH DRIED LUCERNE, FISHMEAL OR UREA

Two experiments are reported in which 119 steers were fed ad lib. on maize silage, supplemented with different proportions of dried lucerne. In addition, the effect of including white fishmeal with the silage at levels up to 13% of the total diet was studied in one experiment. In another, the effect of adding urea to the silage (at 0.9% of the DM) was investigated. In hoth experiments the response in liveweight gain to increasing amounts of lucerne was curvilinear. The highest mean level of daily gain (1.5 kg/head per day) in the first experiment was achieved when the diet contained 62% lucerne or 13% fishmeal. In the second experiment the highest mean daily gain (1.1 kg/head per day) was achieved when the diet contained 71% lucerne. Daily liveweight gains were simOar for the cattle fed 25% of the diet as lucerne with sQage to which urea had heen added, and for those fed higher proportions of lucerne with untreated silage.     

Changes in seed growth,levels and distribution of flavonoids during tartary buckwheat seed development

We investigated the change in seed shape and weight as well as the accumulation and distribution of anthocyanins, melanin, and flavonoids during tartary buckwheat seed development. Pericarp dry weight increased slowly while the increase in flour dry weight was much greater. Increases in the dry weight of the embryo and endosperm were associated with change in seed shape. The highest anthocyanin content was observed in stage two while the highest melanin content occurred in stage five. There was a considerable decrease in total flavonoids, rutin, quercetin and kaempferol in mature seeds relative to seeds that were still developing. Additionally, there were significant correlations (correlation coefficient > .900, p < .05) among the changes in rutin, quercetin and kaempferol between flour and the pericarp. In mature seeds, 95% of the flavonoids were present in flour.     

人工老化处理对芝麻种子生理生化特性的影响

以郑芝4号黑芝麻种子为材料,研究了人工加速老化处理对种子发芽指标﹑丙二醛(MDA)含量﹑过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的影响。试验结果表明：随着种子老化加深,发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数﹑活力指数逐渐降低, 丙二醛含量逐渐升高。另外,老化种子内POD活性和SOD活性变化的总趋势是随老化时间延长而降低。由此认为芝麻种子人工老化及劣变的主要机制与抗氧化酶活性降低与和膜脂过氧化作用加剧有关。人工老化种子生活力出现快速下降的发芽势拐点是80%,其下降的趋势又与POD活性下降非常一致,POD可作为一个检测指标显示种子活力高低及丧失的特征。