Heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils

This work was aimed at studying lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils (DMOs) during long-term storage. Samples were prepared by freeze-drying of emulsions containing sodium caseinate and lactose as encapsulating components. Evaluation of lipid oxidation was approached by quantitative analysis of nonvolatile lipid oxidation products and tocopherol. Lipid oxidation products were analyzed by separation of polar compounds by adsorption chromatography followed by HPSEC with refraction index detection for quantitation of oxidized triglyceride monomers, dimers, and oligomers. The analytical method applied enabled the detection of different oxidative patterns between the free and encapsulated oil fractions. The free oil fraction of DMOs showed a typical oxidative pattern for oils in continuous phase, which consisted of a clear induction period, in which hydroperoxides (oxidized triglyceride monomers) accumulated, before oxidation accelerated. The end of the induction period was marked by the total loss of tocopherol and the initiation of polymerization. On the contrary, the encapsulated oil showed a pattern characteristic of a mixture of oils with different oxidation status. Thus, high contents of advanced oxidation compounds (polymerization compounds) were detected when the antioxidant (tocopherol) was still present in high amounts. It is concluded that the encapsulated oil was comprised of oil globules with very different oxidation status. The results obtained in this study gave evidence of heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in a dispersed-lipid food system.     

Stability of copigmented anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in a grape juice model system

The stability of red grape anthocyanins (Vitis vinifera) was evaluated in a model juice system during normal (25 degrees C) and accelerated storage (35 degrees C) in the presence of ascorbic acid. Rosemary polyphenolic cofactors (0, 0.2, and 0.4% v/v) were evaluated as anthocyanin stabilizing agents. Cofactor addition resulted in concentration-dependent hyperchromic (up to 178%) and bathochromic (up to 23 nm) shifts, indicating a more intense red coloration of the models. Anthocyanin and ascorbic acid degradation followed first-order kinetics during storage. Results showed that copigmented treatments underwent a lower conversion of L-ascorbic acid into dehydroascorbic acid during storage when compared to the control, favorably impacting the vitamin retention of these models. Copigmentation did not affect anthocyanin degradation in the absence of ascorbic acid but in its presence aided to retain a higher anthocyanin content than the control. This study indicated that the addition of anthocyanin cofactors could be used to reduce the pigment and vitamin degradation while masking detrimental color changes in anthocyanin containing products.     

Influence of harvest date and crop yield on the fatty acid composition of virgin olive oils from cv. Picual

In this study was analyzed the effect of crop year and harvesting time on the fatty acid composition of cv. Picual virgin olive oil. The study was carried out during the fruit ripening period for three crop seasons. The mean fatty acid composition of Picual oils was determined. The oils contained palmitic acid (11.9%), oleic acid (79.3%), and linoleic acid (2.95%). The content of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids decreased during fruit ripening while oleic and linoleic acids increased. The amount of stearic and linolenic acids decreased. The amount of saturated acids, palmitic and stearic, and the polyunsaturated acids linoleic and linolenic was dependent on the time of harvest, whereas the amount of oleic acid varied with the crop year. The differences observed between crop years for both palmitic and linoleic acid may be explained by the differences in the temperature during oil biosynthesis and by the amount of summer rainfall for oleic acid content. A significant relationship was observed between the MUFA/PUFA ratio and the oxidative stability measured by the Rancimat method.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis>

Lupinus albus seeds contain conglutin gamma (Cγ) protein, which exerts a hypoglycemic effect and positively modifies proteins involved in glucose homeostasis. Cγ could potentially be used to manage patients with impaired glucose metabolism, but there remains a need to evaluate its effects on hepatic glucose production. The present study aimed to analyze G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions in two experimental animal models of impaired glucose metabolism. We also evaluated hepatic and renal tissue integrity following Cγ treatment. To generate an insulin resistance model, male Wistar rats were provided 30% sucrose solution ad libitum for 20 weeks. To generate a type 2 diabetes model (STZ), five-day-old rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Each animal model was randomized into three subgroups that received the following oral treatments daily for one week: 0.9% w/v NaCl (vehicle; IR-Ctrl and STZ-Ctrl); metformin 300 mg/kg (IR-Met and STZ-Met); and Cγ 150 mg/kg (IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ). Biochemical parameters were assessed pre- and post-treatment using colorimetric or enzymatic methods. We also performed histological analysis of hepatic and renal tissue. G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions were quantified using real-time PCR. No histological changes were observed in any group. Post-treatment G6pc gene expression was decreased in the IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ groups. Post-treatment Fbp1 and Pck1 gene expressions were reduced in the IR-Cγ group but increased in STZ-Cγ animals. Overall, these findings suggest that Cγ is involved in reducing hepatic glucose production, mainly through G6pc inhibition in impaired glucose metabolism disorders.     

Remediation of amide pesticide-polluted soils by combined solarization and ozonation treatment

Agriculture has a close relationship with nature, but it can also be the source of negative and permanent environmental effects. The use of pesticides in modern agriculture is a common practice, but their side effects on the environment cannot be disregarded. In this study, we evaluated a combination of solarization and ozonation techniques for the elimination of six amide pesticides (boscalid, chlorantraniliprole, cyflufenamid, fluopyram, napropamide, and propyzamide) in soil. Initial experiments were performed with four different soils to assess the efficiency of this methodology at different soil temperatures and ozone dosages under laboratory conditions, and then a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted under controlled conditions during summer. Fifty days after the onset of the experiments, higher degradation percentages of amide pesticides were observed in ozonized soils than in other treated soils, particularly when ozone was applied at 10 cm soil depth. The results show that the utilization of ozonation, along with solarization, represents a valid method for degrading residues of the studied pesticides and suggest that this combined technology may be a promising tool for remediating pesticide-polluted soils.     

Body development, carcass, and meat quality of confined lambs fed increasing levels of whole rice meal

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of whole rice meal (WRM) inclusion in the concentrate upon body development, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs. Twenty-four castrated lambs with an average initial body weight of 17.90?±?2.72 kg were randomly blocked according to two genetic groups (Corriedale and Texel by Corriedale crossbreds). Three isocaloric (11.3 MJ/kg of metabolizable energy) and isonitrogenous (17 % crude protein) diets were offered to the animals for 74 days. Diets consisted of 40 % forage and 60 % concentrate diet, on a dry matter basis, with 0, 15, or 30 % of WRM inclusion into the concentrate. Body growth (after slaughter), carcass, and meat traits were evaluated on each animal. Results obtained indicated that genotype did not affect body growth, carcass, and meat traits except for yellowness. No significant interaction between diet and genotype were detected. Inclusion of up to 30 % WRM did not significantly (P?>?0.05) affect body growth, carcass, and meat traits, except for meat color. Meat luminosity progressively increased (36.32?+?0.055X) while redness (15.13???0.03X) decreased with the inclusion of WRM in the diet, but still remained within acceptable values. The study indicates that WRM may be included up to 30 % in the concentrate replacing corn without adverse effects upon body development, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs.     

Quantification of mucosa-adhered microbiota of lambs and calves by the use of culture methods and fluorescent in situ hybridization coupled with flow cytometry techniques

The intestinal mucosa-associated microbiota could play important biological roles due to its close proximity with the animal host, but knowledge on its composition is still limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbial communities tightly associated with different parts (rumen, duodenum and colon) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of healthy lambs and calves by using both cultural, and fluorescent in situ hybridization-flow cytometry (FCM-FISH) techniques. Lactic acid bacteria genera were one of the predominant bacteria detected in lambs and calves by both methodologies, possibly constituting an index of their healthy status. The levels of Lactobacillus were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the rumen and duodenum of lambs, and in the rumen of calves. The levels of Bifidobacterium were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the colon of both animal species and the rumen of lambs. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in counts of other microbial groups (yeast, Enterococcus, Propionibacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Enterobacteriaceae) at diverse GI sections depending on the animal species. In general, microbial counts follow the same trends regardless the applied technique. The most remarkable differences were found in detection levels of Bacteroides and Clostridium, which tended to be significantly higher (p<0.05) when analysed by FCM-FISH. This technique also allowed the detection of quantitatively important bacteria (sulphate-reducing bacteria, Atopobium and Coriobacterium), which are difficult to cultivate in selective medium. Therefore, FCM-FISH has been proven to be a sensitive high throughput approach that provides additional information to that obtained by traditional culture techniques about the complexity of the GI ecosystem of these animal species.     

Integration of Calneem® oil and parasitoids to control <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cadra cautella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Corcyra cephalonica</Emphasis> in stored grain cereals

The compatibility and protectant potential of Calneem® oil derived from the neem tree Azadirachta indica and two parasitoids, Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, for the control of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored rice and wheat, were evaluated in the laboratory. Calneem® oil (= neem oil) is a biopesticide produced, registered and marketed in Ghana by AQUA AGRIC Community Projects (AACP/Caldor Ghana Ltd., Tema). It contains 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. Fourth instar moth larvae were held in grain treated with neem oil only, grain treated with one of the parasitoids only, grain treated with a combination of neem and one of the parasitoids, and a control with untreated grain. Neem oil was applied at concentrations from 5,000 to 30,000 ppm. All samples were kept in growth cabinets maintained at 25°C and 65–70% r.h. Adult emergence was recorded after 4 weeks. Parasitoid or neem treatments alone reduced the emergence of C. cephalonica and C. cautella. In general, parasitoid releases were as effective as a combination of neem oil and parasitoids. At the lowest dose, 5,000 ppm, the combination of neem and parasitoid was more effective than the neem alone. The number of adults of H. hebetor and V. canescens that emerged in rice containing either parasitoids alone or in combination with neem oil was similar. This indicates minimal or no adverse effect of neem oil on the two parasitoids. It is thus possible to incorporate neem oil in a well-designed pest management program with parasitoids.