Toward a high yield recovery of antioxidants and purified hydroxytyrosol from olive mill wastewaters

We investigated to develop effective procedures to recover the potentially high-added-value phenolic compounds contained in the discontinuous three-phase olive processing wastewaters (OMW). Particular emphasis was made to extract and purify hydroxytyrosol, one of the major compounds occurring in OMW. Batch optimization experiments showed that ethyl acetate is the most efficient solvent for the recovery of phenolic monomers from OMW. The latter was used with an optimal pH equal to 2. Furthermore, the percentage of each monomer, and particularly hydroxytyrosol, in the extract was maximum for a solvent ratio and a theoretical extraction stage number equal to 2 and 3, respectively. High yield (85.46%) recovery of hydroxytyrosol was achieved from OMW using a three-staged continuous counter-current liquid-liquid extraction unit. Hydroxytyrosol (1.225 g) were extracted per liter of OMW. One gram of hydroxytyrosol per liter of OMW was then purified by means of a chromatographic system which could be adapted to a large scale production process.     

Jaguars, pumas, their prey base, and cattle ranching: ecological interpretations of a management problem

Jaguar and puma depredation on livestock may be influenced by (1) innate and learned behavior; (2) health and status of individual cats; (3) division of space and resources among jaguar and puma; (4) cattle husbandry practices; and (5) abundance and distribution of natural prey. Our study in Los Llanos of Venezuela aimed to establish how all these elements related to cattle being lost to cat depredation. Prey distribution was influenced by forest composition, topographical characteristics, and degree of habitat interspersion. The biomass of natural prey in the study area was adequate to support the resident large cats without a subsidy of livestock. Selective rather than opportunistic hunting by the cats reinforced that conclusion. Puma were responsible for more attacks on livestock than jaguar, frequently in maternity pastures in upland areas of relatively low prey availability. Management recommendations are discussed that may be relevant to other savanna/forest mosaics of South America.     

Relationship between splenic sequestration and thrombocytopenia in Trypanosoma evansi infection in rats

Trypanosoma evansi infections in domestic animals are characterized by anemia and thrombocytopenia. The cause of the platelets decrease is unknown, but researchers suggest that thrombocytopenia may result from damage of the bone marrow, reduced survival of platelets, auto-immune thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and splenic sequestration. Some of these causes have already been tested by our research group and found to be unrelated. Therefore, this study has the objective of testing the hypothesis that splenic sequestration might be responsible for thrombocytopenia in T. evansi-infected rats. A total of 28 rats assigned to four groups were used in the experiment. Group A rats were splenectomized and infected with T. evansi, group B rats were infected with T. evansi, group C rats were splenectomized, but not infected and group D rats were normal controls. Five days post-infection all rats were anesthetized and blood was collected in order to measure the number of circulating platelets, fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The spleens of groups B and D were weighed at necropsy. The infected animals (groups A and B) showed a significant reduction in platelets and increased PT and aPTT when compared to negative control groups (groups C and D). Animals from group A showed increased levels of fibrinogen. The mean weight of spleen differed between group B (2.62 g) and group D (0.55 g). It was concluded that there is no relationship between thrombocytopenia and splenic sequestration in infection by T. evansi.     

Unravelling the Dermatological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Carpomitra costata

The ever-increasing interest in keeping a young appearance and healthy skin has leveraged the skincare industry. This, coupled together with the increased concern regarding the safety of synthetic products, has boosted the demand for new and safer natural ingredients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dermatological potential of the brown seaweed Carpomitra costata. The antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of five C. costata fractions (F1–F5) were evaluated. The ethyl acetate fraction (F3) demonstrated the most promising results, with the best ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (EC₅₀ of 140.1 µg/mL) and the capacity to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production promoted by UVA and UVB radiation in 3T3 cells, revealing its antioxidant and photoprotective potential. This fraction also exhibited the highest anti-enzymatic capacity, inhibiting the activities of collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase (IC₅₀ of 7.2, 4.8 and 85.9 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, F3 showed anti-inflammatory potential, reducing TNF-α and IL-6 release induced by LPS treatment in RAW 264.7 cells. These bioactivities may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as phlorotannins, as demonstrated by NMR analysis. The results highlight the potential of C. costata as a source of bioactive ingredients for further dermatological applications.     

Sperm Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in the Retuertas Endangered Horse

In order to determine whether the high level of inbreeding of the Retuertas endangered Horses may increase the vulnerability to oxidative stress of the sperm, the susceptibility to lipid peroxidation (LPO) of sperm membranes was evaluated in cooled extended ejaculates. Extended ejaculates (INRA 96) from four Retuertas horses and nine ejaculates from pure Spanish horses were received within 24 hours of collection at our laboratory. An aliquot was analyzed and served as time 0 control. The rest of the ejaculates were split into two additional aliquots: the first aliquot served as an incubation control and the second aliquot received an oxidative insult (Fe₂SO₄). Membrane LPO, motility parameters, membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated. The oxidative insult induced a significant increase in the percentage of sperm with LPO in the Retuertas horses (P < .05). Total and progressive motility were not affected by the oxidative insult in both groups. However, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average velocity (VAP), straightness index (STR), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) were significantly affected by the treatment (P < .05) in the Retuertas horse population. The membrane integrity of sperm in this group was also affected: the percentage of sperm with intact membranes decreased (57.31% ± 7.76% vs. 47.52% ± 8.28%); and the percentage of necrotic sperm increased (33.27% ± 7.83% vs. 44.85% ± 9.16%) (P < .05). Finally, the oxidative insult increased the population with low mitochondrial membrane potential in these wild horses. We concluded that the high level of inbreeding of this particular breed apparently leads to a higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation.     

Contribution of microbial phytases to the improvement of plant growth and nutrition: A review

Phytases belong to the class of phosphohydrolases that begin the step-wise hydrolysis of phosphates from phytates. Phytates are a derivative of myo-inositol, which is the primary storage form of organic phosphorus in plant cells. Phytase has been used globally to diminish phosphorus pollution and to enhance nutrition in monogastrics. In this review, the classification, sources, and diversity of microbial phytases, and their practical applications, as well as supplementation of the soil with transgenic and wild types of microbial strains, which can release phytase to enhance phosphorus availability for plant uptake and reduce the need for fertilizers, are discussed. The overexpressed microbial phytases in transgenic plants enhance the growth capacity of co-cultivated plants and can therefore be employed in agricultural and biotechnological practices, such as intercropping. The introduction of phytases into the soil for improved plant growth and enhanced crop yield can be accomplished without extra cost. A diverse group of photoautotrophic microalgae can synthesize phytase and will likely be useful in many human food and animal industries.     

Variability of piglet birth weights: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of litter size and supplementation of functional amino acids on the piglet birth weight variability through of a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and SciELO are the main used databases and were searched in January 2019 by using the following keywords and their combinations: within-litter birth, weight variability, piglets, litter size, sow, amino acids, gestation, uniformity, CV and/or SD. Of the 64 pre-selected articles, only articles presenting the coefficients of variation and/or standard deviations according to the litter size and different levels of amino acid supplementation in the sow diets during gestation were selected. The average birth weights of total and live piglets were 43% lower in litters from sows with high prolificacy than those from sows with low prolificacy. The weight variability was affected by high prolificacy sows, with increases of 4.04% and 4.54% in the coefficients of variation of total and born alive piglets respectively (p = .074; p = .009). The standard deviation increased by 180 g in born alive piglets to high prolificacy sows. The coefficients of variation of total and live piglets born from high prolificacy sows showed an increase of 4.04% and 4.54% respectively (p = .07; p < .05). There was a tendency for reduced weight variability with amino acids supplementation when considering the standard deviation of total born (p = .072). However, reproductive performance was not significantly influenced (p > .05). In conclusion, the average litter weight and the number of piglets born influence weight variability. Amino acids supplementation may reduce the birth weight variability between piglets. However, this effect depends on the amino acid used, the levels of supplementation and on other factors not completely addressed in this study. Thus, more research is necessary to fully elucidate this topic.     

Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Different Soil Tillage Systems to Long‐Term Swine Slurry Application

Swine slurry is a common agricultural fertilizer in many countries. However, its long‐term use in large amounts can cause excess nutrient accumulation, alter soil compounds, and potentially influence critical microbial populations such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which have important roles in plant nutrition and soil sustainability. This work determined if arbuscular mycorrhizal status, external mycelium, and glomalin‐related soil protein content were affected by long‐term swine slurry application to different soil tillage systems. The experiment was conducted on a clayey oxisol, in southern Brazil. Swine slurry (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 m³ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) was applied for 15 years to conventional tillage and no tillage soil prior to the summer (soybean or maize) and winter (wheat or oats) crop seasons. Swine slurry decreased mycorrhizal root colonization, spore number, and total external mycelium. Swine slurry increased active external mycelium and both easily extractable and total glomalin‐related soil protein. No‐tillage soil had more glomalin‐related soil protein than conventional tillage soil. The most significant response variables were root colonization, easily extractable glomalin‐related soil protein, and total external arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelia. Long‐term application of swine slurry in this environment, even at high rates, did not adversely affect crop yield but did influence arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi and their products in the soil environment. Benefits of swine slurry application for crop nutrition must be weighed against potential adverse consequences for the size, activity, and benefits of the mycorrhizal community to subsequent annual crops. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.