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Fertilizer phosphorus (P) is a finite resource, necessitating the development of innovative solutions for P fertilizer efficiency in agricultural systems. Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate) constitutes the majority of identified organic P in many soil types and is poorly available to plants. Incorporating phytase-producing biofertilizers into soil presents a viable and environmentally acceptable way of utilizing P from phytate, while reducing the need for mineral P application. A deeper understanding of the microbial ecology in relation to degradation of phytate under natural soil conditions is however needed to obtain successful biofertilizer candidates able to compete in complex soil environments. Here we present the development of a microcosm for studying microbial communities able to colonize and utilize Ca-phytate hotspots in solum. Our results provide evidence that the recruited microbial population mineralizes Ca-phytate. Furthermore, quantification of bacterial genes associated with organic P cycling in alkaline soils indicated that the phosphatases PhoX and PhoD may play a larger role in phytate mineralization in soil than previously recognized. Amplicon sequencing and BioLog® catabolism studies show that hotspots containing Ca-phytate, recruited a different set of microorganisms when compared to those containing an addition of C source alone, with the genus Streptomyces specifically enriched. We propose that Streptomyces represents an hitherto unexplored resource as P biofertilizer with competitive advantage for utilizing CaPhy in an inherently competitive soil environment. We further conclude that the use of our newly designed microcosm presents an innovative approach for isolating soil microorganisms with the potential to degrade precipitated phytate in solum.

A wide range of trendy food colourants and ready-to-eat foods containing pearlescent pigments providing glitter effects is currently on the market. These pearlescent pigments consist of mica (potassium aluminium silicate) platelets generally coated with titanium dioxide and/or iron oxides. All single components are approved food additives in the European Union (EU) (E 555, E 171 and E 172). However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has stated recently, that pearlescent pigments should be evaluated as new food additives. Food grade titanium dioxide was already shown to contain a considerable fraction of nanoparticles. Thus, the question about 'nano'-labelling of TiO2-containing pearlescent pigments according to the 'Novel Food' and 'Food Information to Consumers' regulations arose. In order to provide data for dealing with these issues, in this study four commercially available products of different food categories containing pearlescent pigments were characterised with focus on the structure, size and chemical composition of these pigments. The measurement methods used were flow particle image analysis (FPIA), static light scattering (SLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). After isolation from various food matrices, the glitter pigments could be easily identified and differentiated by fast FPIA screening from any remaining organic food matrix particles due to their typical platelet-like shape and transparency. The particle size distribution of the platelets was determined by means of SLS and found to be in the range of 8-167 µm. SEM was identified as the most suitable technique for the analysis of the nano-structured coating. For all constituent metal oxide particles (TiO2 and/or Fe2O3) a median minimum Feret diameter (Fmin) of 29.9-46.8 nm was obtained by quantitative SEM image analysis.

This study evaluated the effect of phytase treatment on the bioavailability of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and myo-inositol phosphate fractions in sorghum flour; and characterized its macronutrients and minerals. The proximate composition and mineral content indicated that, sorghum flour has a nutritional potential superior to wheat and maize. The results obtained in the solubility and dialysis assays indicated that, naturally occurring minerals (without phytase treatment) in sorghum flour, presented considerable bioaccessibility; reaching 32, 47 and 67% of dialyzable Fe, Zn, and Ca respectively. The use of phytase had a positive influence on the reduction of myo-inositol phosphates, mainly the IP6 fraction, present in sorghum flour samples, and an increase in the soluble percentage (Fe 52% for one sample, for Zn higher than 266%) and dialyzed minerals (Fe 7.8–150%; Zn 19.7 for one sample; and Ca 5–205%) for most samples. Therefore, the essential minerals naturally occurring in sorghum have an absorption potential; and the use of phytase reduced the IP6 fraction and improved the availability of the minerals evaluated.

Aquaponics are efficient systems that associate aquatic organisms’ production and plants by recirculating water and nutrients between aquaculture and hydroponic tanks. In this study, we have characterised the bacterial communities in the fresh water aquaponics system that can mineralise polysaccharides and phytate by producing carbohydrate degrading enzymes and phytases, by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and in vitro culture techniques. Around 20% of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified were previously reported to carry fibre-degrading enzymes putative genes, namely β-glucanase (1%), xylanase (5%) or cellulases (17%). Ten % of the OTUs were previously reported to carry putative genes of phytases with different catalytic mechanisms, namely β-propeller (6%), histidine acid phytases (3%) and protein tyrosine phytase (

In ruminants, high fermentation capacity is necessary to develop more efficient ruminant production systems. Greater level of production depends on the ability of the microbial ecosystem to convert organic matter into precursors of milk and meat. This has led to increased interest by animal nutritionists, biochemists and microbiologists in evaluating different strategies to manipulate the rumen biota to improve animal performance, production efficiency and animal health. One of such strategies is the use of natural feed additives such as single-celled fungi yeast. The main objectives of using yeasts as natural additives in ruminant diets include; (i) to prevent rumen microflora disorders, (ii) to improve and sustain higher production of milk and meat, (iii) to reduce rumen acidosis and bloat which adversely affect animal health and performance, (iv) to decrease the risk of ruminant-associated human pathogens and (v) to reduce the excretion of nitrogenous-based compounds, carbon dioxide and methane. Yeast, a natural feed additive, has the potential to enhance feed degradation by increasing the concentration of volatile fatty acids during fermentation processes. In addition, microbial growth in the rumen is enhanced in the presence of yeast leading to the delivery of a greater amount of microbial protein to the duodenum and high nitrogen retention. Single-celled fungi yeast has demonstrated its ability to increase fibre digestibility and lower faecal output of organic matter due to improved digestion of organic matter, which subsequently improves animal productivity. Yeast also has the ability to alter the fermentation process in the rumen in a way that reduces methane formation. Furthermore, yeast inclusion in ruminant diets has been reported to decrease toxins absorption such as mycotoxins and promote epithelial cell integrity. This review article provides information on the impact of single-celled fungi yeast as a feed supplement on ruminal microbiota and its function to improve the health and productive longevity of ruminants.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) seeds contain an endogenous neurotoxic non-proteinogenic amino acid, β-N-oxalyl- l -α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), a major limiting factor-for their human consumption. Furthermore, phytate (IP6), a well-known antinutrient is present in concentration capable of hindering bioavailability of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and other micronutrients from the seeds. Due to the reported capability of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) to reduce the content of certain antinutritional/toxic agents in seeds and grains, the impact of HHP on the reduction of β-ODAP and IP6 were investigated. The contents of β-ODAP of accessions from different regions in Ethiopia were found to be in the range of 51.94 to 806.52 mg/100 g. Accession (GF1- Alemu, AK) exhibiting the highest β-ODAP content was selected for HHP treatment in soaked and batter forms using Central Composite Face Centered Design of experiments. The best HHP conditions in respect to β-ODAP reduction were also applied to the accession (GP-240038) with the lowest β-ODAP-content, a genetically improved variety (Wassie) and a variety from Germany (GR). The HHP treatment at 600 MPa for 25 min of seeds soaked for 6 h and 12 h exhibited the maximum reduction of β-ODAP (232.11 mg/100 g) and IP6 (21.11 mg/100 g) respectively. The combined incremental effect of pressure and soaking time resulted in a more significant (p ≤ .001) reduction in both compounds than the interaction of pressure with holding time (p ≤ .05). A reduction of β-ODAP from 36.00 to 71.22% by soaked-HHP treatment was observed. β-ODAP reductions were always higher for soaked compared to batter grass pea seeds. IP6 contents after HHP treatment ranged from 33.65 mg/100 g to nill. It can be concluded that pressure, soaking and holding time as well as the grass pea seed accession/variety had great impact on molecular structure changes, enhancement of enzyme activity and reduction in β-ODAP and IP6 content.

When carrier systems like solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are added to a protein rich food matrix adsorption of protein to the particles alters the surface properties of SLN which in turn can alter the properties of the whole system. Thus, the effect of the SLN composition on the protein adlayer (protein corona) is important to understand. The adsorption of β-lactoglobulin (βLG) to unloaded SLN and SLN loaded with ferulic acid or tocopherol was studied at pH 5.7 and particle:protein ratios of 2:1 to 10:1 (w/w) by centrifugation, AF4 and ultrafiltration (UF). Up to 10% of the βLG was strongly bound to SLN whereas 40–80% of the βLG formed a loose adlayer. The amount of bound βLG was increased by the presence of tocopherol and decreased by the presence of ferulic acid. The adsorbed protein layer thus depends on SLN characteristics governed by encapsulated compounds.

Ruminal fermentation produces greenhouse gases involved in global warming. Therefore, the effect of nutrient combinations on methane, carbon dioxide, and biogas production as well as ruminal fermentation kinetics was evaluated in in vitro studies. In total mixed rations, dietary corn grain was partially replaced by two levels of soybean hulls (a highly reusable residue), and a Moringa oleifera extract (a natural extract) at three concentration levels was added. Higher levels of both soybean hulls and M. oleifera extract delayed the initiation of methane production and resulted in a lower methane and carbon dioxide production. Thus, total biogas production was also lower. Replacement of corn grain by soybean hulls tended to lower methane production rates and asymptotic carbon dioxide production, and a delay in biogas and methane formation was observed. Asymptotic biogas and carbon dioxide production, however, were increased. The presence of M. oleifera extract tended to delay methane formation and to decrease methane production rate as well as asymptotic methane production. Higher M. oleifera extract levels decreased asymptotic biogas production with the control and the highest soybean hull levels. In the presence of M. oleifera extract, asymptotic carbon dioxide production was shown to be quadratically increased with the control and lowest soybean hull levels, but quadratically decreased with the highest soybean hull level. With the exception of fermentation pH, the interaction of substrate type and M. oleifera extract level was shown to have an effect on all fermentation parameters. Most fermentation parameters were shown to be higher when replacing corn grain by soybean hulls, including fermentation pH. Thus, the conclusion could be drawn that corn grain replacement by soybean hulls (an agricultural residue) in the presence of M. oleifera extract (a sparing leaf product) could ameliorate greenhouse gas emissions and improve digestion.

Cowpea and rice were evaluated for their suitability as an alternative to wheat in the production of ice cream baskets (ICB). The experiment was conducted according to a 23 full factorial design using water (WT; 10 or 15 mL), rice flour (RF; 15 or 20 g) and cowpea flour (CF; 15 or 20 g) as variables. The ICB consisted of 6.4–10% moisture, 10.1–11.9% protein, 75.2–78.4% carbohydrates, 2.2–3.7% lipids. The ash content was determined to be 1.2–1.5%, the energy content 368.7–382.0 for kcal and Aw 0.308–0.475. The ICB showed a bronze-orange color resulting from the presence of carotenoids (4.9–9.3 μg/g W) from the crude palm oil used. Texture and sensory analysis of the ice cream baskets revealed a crispy, brittle and hard nature. The highest acceptability (≥4) in the sensory evaluation was obtained for ice cream baskets produced with 20 g of rice flour, 20 g of cowpea flour and 15 g of water. Thus, the developed gluten-free ice cream baskets are an excellent alternative to wheat-based ones.

Edible solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) stabilized by a mixture of food grade emulsifiers (soy bean lecithin, Tween 20, sucrose stearate) were added to o/w emulsions previously stabilized by anionic SDS, non-ionic Tween 20 or cationic CTAB. The aim of the study was to understand the fate of both SLN and oil droplets in these mixtures focusing on the impact of the surfactant used to stabilize the emulsion. The presence of SLN in emulsions led to increased emulsion stability as reflected by droplet size measurements and accelerated creaming experiments. This could be attributed to an increase in the viscosity of the sample, but also to changed properties of the o/w interface. Zeta potential measurements revealed that the surfactant composition at the o/w interface had changed in SDS and CTAB stabilized but not in Tween 20 stabilized emulsions. SLN remained detectable in the continuous phase of each emulsion system over three weeks of storage but were not detected at the o/w interface of oil droplets. The particle size of the SLN remained unchanged whereas their zeta potential increased in SDS and CTAB stabilized emulsions to a similar magnitude (+/− 68 mV) but opposite signs. The melting temperature and melting enthalpy of SLN decreased in emulsions indicating that part of the lipid matrix was dissolved by oil from the emulsion. Accordingly, a time-dependent transfer of crystalline triglycerides originating from the SLN into the oil phase of separated model emulsion systems was verified.

The release and partitioning of encapsulated compounds from solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) to other matrix constituents was investigated in o/w emulsions stabilized by different surfactants (CTAB, SDS, Tween 20) by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) spectroscopy. CLSM images revealed that the encapsulated probe Coumarin 6 (C6) was located in the oil droplets after SLN were mixed with the different emulsions. The EPR spin probe TEMPOL‐benzoate (TB) showed different dynamics as a function of its specific solubilization sites in SLN. Four different populations of the spin probe could be separated giving the smallest population in the aqueous environment and the major population at the SLN interface. Two further populations were associated with differently crystalized lipid environments. This implies that both loosely structured regions with α- and β’-polymorphs and environments of β-polymorphs are present in SLN. In separated model emulsion systems, a prolonged release of TB from SLN was evident which predominately originated from the SLN interface. The released TB partitioned into the oil phase (25%) and into the o/w interface (30–45%), regardless of the presence or absence of additional surfactant micelles. Hence, these edible SLN may be used as delivery system for bioactive compounds in food emulsions with low impact of the surfactant used to stabilize the emulsion. The partial redistribution of the encapsulated compounds should be taken into account, but can also offer benefits when a prolonged release of lipophilic additives is desired.

The effect of iodine present in 1.0% table salt in combination with the use of starter cultures in sauerkraut fermentations were investigated in order to determine whether iodine interferes with lactic acid bacteria responsible for the fermentation. The effect of iodine was tested in fermentations performed using selected starter cultures or without starters (spontaneous fermentation). Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides used as starters at levels of ca. 1 × 107 cfu ml−1 led to a quick establishment of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as predominant microorganisms, reaching 1 × 109 cfu ml−1 after 24 h decreasing the pH to below 4.0. In contrast, LAB counts in control fermentations without starters increased slower from 1 × 105 cfu ml−1 to 1 × 109 cfu ml−1 and a pH reduction below 4.0 was achieved only after 3 days fermentation. A metagenomic investigation showed a more diverse bacterial community in fermentations without starters, consisting of enterobacteria and pseudomonads in the first days of fermentation, and of LAB such as lactococci in the later stages. In fermentations with starters, lactobacilli predominated. Leuconostocs also occurred, but at much lower sequence abundance than lactobacilli, and thus were not able to predominate. Determination of iodine in the fermentation with starter bacteria and with iodized salt showed that the fermentation did not affect iodine concentration. The use of iodized salt did not statistically significantly influence microbial populations in the fermentation. Thus, there is no basis for the popular held belief that the use of iodized salt inhibits the growth of the bacteria important for the sauerkraut fermentation. A statistically near significant effect (p = 0.06), however, was noted for the effect of iodine on yeasts and mould populations in the fermentations performed without starter cultures. As sauerkraut is usually produced without starters, this should be further investigated.

Background The study aims to investigate the limitation of a poultry digestive tract model developed by Menezes-Blackburn et al. [J Agric Food Chem 63: 6142-6149 (2015)] on the evaluation of the bioefficacy of phytases. Results It was confirmed that the in vitro model does not mimic the in vivo situation in the birds sufficiently well to identify the best phytase product under real conditions, or to draw conclusion on the effect of phytate concentration, phytate source or feed composition on the bioefficacy of phytase. Addition of calcium ion (Ca2+ ) up to a concentration of 10 g kg-1 to the feed substrate, for example, did not affect enzymatic phytate dephosphorylation in the in vitro model in contrast to the observation in poultry. Conclusion The in vitro approach was shown to be applicable as a complementary tool in the pre-selection of promising phytase candidates, resulting in a reduction in the number of feeding trials in the initial screening phase. © 2020 The Author. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Karakterisasi Biokimia Enzim Fitase Rekombinan (phyK) dari Klebsiella sp. ASR1 Yang Dienkapsulasi Dengan Alginat Enzim fitase melepas molekul fosfor pada atom C dari benzena Inositol fitat. Tetapi fitase memiliki kelemahan tidak mampu bertahan terhadap kondisi ekstrim dalam lambung nonruminansia. Solusi dalam penelitian ini yaitu fitase dienkapsulasi menggunakan alginat. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkarakterisasi fitase setelah dienkapsulasi menggunakan alginate. Hasil penelitian ini yaitu fitase yang dienkapsulasi memiliki aktivitas tertinggi pada pH 6,0, sedangkan fitase tanpa enkapsulasi pada pH 5,0. Suhu optimum untuk aktivitas tertinggi fitase yang dienkapsulasi yaitu 70oC, sedangkan fitase tanpa enkapsulasi 37oC. Untuk perlakuan penambahan ion logam, aktivitas tertinggi fitase yang dienkapsulasi terjadi dengan penambahan 0,1 mM Fe 2+ dan 1,0 mM Ca 2+ , sedangkan fitase tanpa enkapsulasi dengan penambahan 0,1 mM Fe 2+ . Berdasarkan hasil penelitian ini, fitase yang dienkapsulasi memiliki keunggulan lebih banyak dibandingkan dengan fitase tanpa enkapsulasi, karena mampu bertahan pada pH dan suhu tinggi, dan beberapa efek ion logam. Kata Kunci: alginat, asam fitat, enkapsulasi, fitase, fitase rekombinan ABSTRACT Phytase enzymes release phosphorus molecules on the C atom from benzene inositol phytate. But phytase has the disadvantage of being unable to withstand extreme conditions in the non-ruminant stomach. The solution in this research was phytase encapsulated using alginate. This study aims to characterize phytase after being encapsulated using alginate. The results of this study were the encapsulated phytase had the highest activity at pH 6.0, while the unencapsulated phytase at pH 5.0. The optimum temperature for the highest activity of the encapsulated phytase was 70oC, while the un encapsulated phytase 37oC. For treatment of metal ion addition, the highest activity of the encapsulated phytase occurred with the addition of 0.1 mM Fe 2+ and 1.0 mM Ca 2+ , while the unencapsulated phytase with the addition of 0.1 mM Fe 2+ . Based on the results of this study, the encapsulated phytase had more advantages compared to the unencapsulated phytase, as the former withstand high pH and temperature, and some metal ion effects.

The fermentation of vegetables is a traditional preservation method, that experiences a renaissance even in domestic households. Table salt is added to the fermentation batches to favor the growth of lactic acid bacteria usually. On an industrial scale, the fermentation brine is typically prepared with non-iodized table salt. In our study, we investigated the microbiota of cucumber fermentations using culture-dependent and -independent methods. We could show that the fermentation process of cucumbers and the involved microbiota is influenced by the concentration of table salt and not by the use of iodized table salt. Therefore, we conclude that the use of iodized table salt does not negatively affect the fermentation process. We could verify that iodine permeates the cucumbers by diffusion, leading to satisfactory iodine concentrations in the final food product. The industrial use of iodized table salt in food fermentations could contribute to maintain a constant iodine supply to the general public.

Consumer demands for healthier food have been growing over the last decades. Enriching conventional food with bioactive substances is one option to fulfill these demands. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are known as carrier systems for lipophilic bioactives. However, due to their large interface, they likely interact with the food matrix. We therefore studied how SLN affect the properties of cold set β-lactoglobulin (BLG) gels. BLG or Tween 20, typical excipients used for stabilizing SLN in suspensions, was applied to reduce or promote interactions between SLN and the protein matrix. Tween 20 stabilized SLN were incorporated before or after the heat treatment of the protein, BLG stabilized SLN were added after the heat treatment. Gels were analyzed regarding their mechanical properties, syneresis, and microstructure. All gels showed fine stranded network morphology. BLG stabilized SLN increased the Young's modulus of the gels with increasing particle content. They caused thick lamellae and ramifications within the gel. Their absence in the syneresis water confirmed that they acted as bound particles. Tween 20 stabilized SLN, incorporated before heat treatment, did not affect the Young's modulus. By contrast, Tween 20 stabilized SLN added after heat treatment decreased the Young's modulus and resulted in disrupted lamellae. Tween 20 stabilized SLN were washed out during syneresis to a certain extent. The results indicate the integration of BLG stabilized SLN in the network and their function as bound particles. SLN, stabilized by Tween 20, did not participate in the gel network and acted as unbound particles.

The aim of this work was to substantiate the use of whey protein extract (WPE), a by-product of dairy industry, combined with different berry purees in the formulation of a whipped frozen dairy dessert (WFDD). After freezing, the swelling ability of WPE decreased significantly while at higher temperatures of the dispersion medium, the degree of swelling increased. A mixture containing 55±2 % WPE and 45±2 % milk presented a homogeneous consistency while the further processing did not improve the structure of the mixture. Final formulations of WFDD containing different berry purees (i.e. 10 % black¬currant puree, 25 % cherry puree, or 30 % strawberry puree) were proposed for which the nutritional facts were calculated. Recommended shelf life of the developed desserts at -18 °C is suggested to be 20 days. Regulatory requirements and recommendations for the production of WFDD in an industrial scale were also developed. Recommended shelf life of the developed desserts at -18 °C is suggested to be 20 days. In conclusion, a WFDD was developed using WPE as a by-product of dairy industry., Svrha ovog rada bila je ispitati mogućnost primjene kombinacije pirea bobičastog voća i ekstrakta proteina sirutke (WPE), inače nusproizvoda mljekarske industrije, u proizvodnji smrznutog mliječnog deserta (WFDD). Nakon smrzavanja, sposobnost bubrenja WPE značajno je pala, međutim pri višim temperaturama medija za raspršivanje sposobnost bubrenja ponovno je rasla. U pogledu konzistencije najboljom se pokazala mješavina koja se sastojala od 55±2 % WPE i 45±2 % mlijeka te daljnja prera¬da nije rezultirala poboljšanjem teksture mješavine. Za konačne recepture WFDD s različitim udjelima pirea bobičastog voća (10 % pirea crnog ribizla, 25 % pirea višnje ili 30 % pirea jagode) napravljeni su izračuni prehrambene vrijednosti. Preporučeni rok trajanja za proizvedene deserte iznosio je 20 dana na temperaturi čuvanja -18 °C. Osim toga, uspostavljeni su zahtjevi sukladno zakonskim propisima kao i odgovarajuće preporuke za proizvodnju WFDD u industrijskom mjerilu. Zaključno, razvoj proizvodnje WFDD uključuje primjenu nusprizvoda mljekarske industrije - WPE.

The potential to use abattoir’s rumen fluid as a source to produce a carbohydrate degrading enzymatic feed additive by using spray-drying technique was studied. Rumen contents were taken from the slaughterhouse and powdered by spray drying with different hydrocolloids including sodium alginate (RA), guar gum (RG), chitosan (RC) and maltodextrin (RM) in two ratios (0.5 and 1% (w/v)). Fresh (RF) and spray dried rumen fluid without hydrocolloid materials (RN) were considered as controls. Residual activities compared to those measured in the fresh rumen fluid ranged from 68.6 (RC0.5) to 92.5% (RM1) for carboxymethyl cellulase, from 53.4 (RC1) to 73.2% (RM1) for avicelase, from 59.8 (RA0.5) to 84.6% (FM1) for amylase, and from 63.7 (RG0.5) to 95.8% (RM1) for filter paperase. Spray drying in the absence of a hydrocolloid resulted in 81.3% residual activity of carboxymethyl cellulase, 63.3% of avicelase, 68.6% of amylase, and 73.0% of filter paperase. The addition of 1% (w/v) maltodextrin was shown to retain the highest enzyme activities after spray drying. In addition, a dry matter degrading test was carried out to show the ability of the enzyme preparations at two concentrations (1 or 2% solution in phosphate buffer) to digest a typical dairy cow diet. At 1%, RF resulted in highest dry matter digestibility (P

This study was carried out to establish Saccharomyces cerevisiae, xylanase, and their mixture as environmentally friendly feed additives that can reduce enteric biogas production. Rumen liquor was obtained from two rumen cannulated Holstein steers, two rumen cannulated Creole goats and two rumen cannulated Rambouillet sheep. The basal ration was supplemented (per g dry matter (DM)) with 2 mL xylanase, 4 mg S. cerevisiae or a mixture of both additives. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between inoculum source and additive type. Inclusion of additives resulted in higher (P = 0.045) asymptotic gas production (GP) with sheep inoculum. Furthermore, higher (P

The present study explored the effect of garlic and/or eucalypt oils on biogas production during in vitro ruminal fermentation of four agro industry byproducts. For this, 0-180 mg oil L-1 incubation medium was added and gas volumes were recorded from 2 to 48 h of incubation. Dry matter substrate degradability and neutral as well as acid detergent fibre were determined after 72 h.; Results: Gas production and nutrient degradability was oil type dependent. The oils enhanced (P

This study presents an experimental investigation of the effect of corn grain replacement with prickly pear cactus and M. oleifera leaf extract in ruminal diets. In the control diet, 40 and 70% of corn grain was substituted with prickly pear cactus, while the level of M. oleifera leaf extract was varied from 0 to 1.8 mL/g dry matter. A significant interaction between experimental diet and dosage of M. oleifera leaf extract was observed for methane, carbon dioxide, and total gas production. An increase in the composition of pear cactus in the diet resulted in a significant decrease in carbon dioxide, methane, as well as the total gas production. A decrease in lag time of gas production was also observed. The asymptotic methane production and the rate of methane production decrease in all the diets with the increase in M. oleifera leaf extract doses. Addition of M. oleifera leaf extract to the control diet resulted in a decline in carbon dioxide production, while the reverse was the case when M. oleifera leaf extract was added to pear cactus containing diet. Therefore, replacement of corn grain with pear cactus and the addition of M. oleifera leaf extract resulted in a decrease in the production of greenhouse gases. This is a promising formulation for ecofriendly livestock diet.

The effect of phytase supplementation with respect to a high sorghum grain diet on sheep voluntary feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, phosphorus (P) excretion and blood serum P concentration was evaluated.; Results: Phytase supplementation significantly decreased fecal P excretion (P = 0.003), resulting in a 26% decrease in relation to the phytase free diet. Dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal butyrate and serum P were not (P > 0.10) affected by the phytase level. Neutral detergent digestibility showed a tendency to increase linearly (P = 0.10) with increasing phytase levels. Ruminal pH was lower for phytase supplemented sheep, with a significant decrease (P = 0.007) at 9 h post feeding, whereas ruminal ammonia-N at 3 h post feeding was lower (P = 0.004) for the phytase treatment groups, resulting in a decreasing linear response (P = 0.001) with an increasing phytase dose. Duodenal pH was significantly reduced at 6 h post feeding. Propionate tended (P = 0.051) to be increased linearly as the phytase supplementation level increased.; Conclusion: Exogenous phytase supplementation of high sorghum grain diets significantly decreased fecal P excretion in Rambouillet rams. Phytase supplementation appears to affect neutral detergent fiber digestibility, duodenal and ruminal pH, ammonia and propionate. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background Consumption of protein-based food products has a key role in the improvement of human health. The crosslinking agent microbial transglutaminase (mTGase) is an effective and promising tool to modify animal proteins used in the food industry. Improvement in the gelation process, physicochemical and textural quality, and consumer's demand of protein-based food products could be attained by combining mTGase and some non-conventional food processing technologies. Scope and approach New perspectives and key areas for future research in the development of high-quality food proteins and protein-based products as a function of interaction effect of mTGase and some new processing techniques (e.g. high pressure processing (HPP), ultrasound, microwave (MW) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation) are reviewed. The effect of conventional thermal and emerging processing methods on the mTGase crosslinking activity and protein gel functionality are also compared. Key findings and conclusions The crosslinking density and functional properties of protein gels can be strongly promoted by the synergistic action of mTGase and innovative processing methods. Compared to the conventional heating, HPP with further increase of mTGase affinity to proteins can result in products with better physicochemical quality and more complex and firmer gel structure. The yield, water holding capacity, surface hydrophobicity, strength, and viscoelastic characteristics of mTGase-catalyzed protein gels can be significantly increased by ultrasonication treatments. mTGase-crosslinked hydrogels subjected to high-intensity ultrasonic pretreatment have potential to be used as delivery vehicles for a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds. The application of MW and UV light can substantially improve the surface, textural and structural features of gels generated by mTGase-technology.

The effect of equine fecal inocula on the in vitro gas, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) production was elucidated in the present study. Fecal inocula were obtained from four Azteca horses (aged 5–8 years, 480 ± 20.1 kg). In vitro fermentation (up to 48 hours) was performed with substrate consisting of 50% (w/w) oat straw and 50% (w/w) of a commercial concentrate in the presence of a commercial Lactobacillus farciminis product (0–6 mg/g DM of substrate). Incorporation of L. farciminis resulted in increased levels of asymptotic gas (GP), CH4, and CO2 production (P .05; quadric, P > .05). Furthermore, a slight reduction in fermentation pH (linear, P = .029) and higher metabolizable energy values (P = .001) were obtained with L. farciminis supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. No significant impact of L. farciminis on dry matter degradability values was estimated (P > .05). In vitro gas, CH4, and CO2 production were increased (linear, P ≤ .001) in the presence of L. farciminis from 6 hours of incubation onward. In conclusion, addition of L. farciminis at a dose-dependent manner (2–6 mg/g DM of diet) was observed to be persuasive in terms of attaining amicable hindgut fermentation by improving fecal gas kinetics viz. gas, CH4, and CO2 production without any side effect.

Phytases are a diverse group of enzymes initiating the dephosphorylation of phytate. Phytate is considered as an anti-nutritional compound because of its capability to chelate nutrients such as Fe2+ , Zn2+ , Mg2+ , and Ca2+ . In this study, several bacterial isolates obtained from earthworm casts were evaluated for their phytate degrading capability. Enzymatic properties and the sequence of the corresponding phytase-encoding gene of the selected isolate were determined.; Results: The phytase exhibited its highest activity at pH 4.0 and was stable from pH 3 up to pH 9. The temperature optimum was determined to be 65 °C. The strongest inhibitors of enzymatic activity were identified as vanadate, Cu2+ , and Zn2+ . High-performance ion chromatography analysis of enzymatic phytate dephosphorylation revealed that the first dephosphorylation product was d/l-myo-inositol(1,2,3,4,5)pentakisphosphate.; Conclusion: Owing to its enzymatic properties, such as tolerance to tartrate and the presence of the consensus motifs PDTVY, GNHE, DLG, VLFH, and GHDH, this phytase could be classified as a purple acid phytase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a bacterial purple acid phytase. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) has been currently utilized to form new food structures and matrices with high physicochemical stability. Incorporation of this multi-functional enzyme into structural composition of milk protein-based products, such as cheese and ice cream, can not only be a successful strategy to improve their nutritional and technological characteristics through intramolecular cross-linking, but also to reduce the production cost by decreasing fat and stabilizer contents. The recent research developments and promising results of MTGase application in producing functional formulations of cheese and ice cream with higher quality characteristics are reviewed. New interesting insights and future perspectives are also presented. The addition of MTGase to cheese led to significant improvements in moisture, yield, texture, rheology and sensory properties, without changes in the chemical composition. Furthermore, pH value of ice cream is not affected by the MTGase treatment. Compared to untreated ice creams, application of MTGase significantly promotes consistency, fat destabilization, overrun and organoleptic acceptance, while a substantial reduction in firmness and melting rate of samples was observed. The addition of MTGase to cheese and ice cream-milk provides reinforcement to the protein matrix and can be considered as a novel additive for improving the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of final products.

Nanoemulsions are submicron sized systems utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries for the delivery of active ingredients. Compared to other emulsion-based systems (e.g. conventional emulsions), nanoemulsions have shown to be more stable to environmental and process stresses due to their large active surface area, but are also susceptible to destabilization, after prolonged storage at non-optimal temperatures, from some mechanisms (e.g. Ostwald ripening). Several studies have been conducted to improve the stability of nanoemulsions, such as adding carbohydrates to the formulation. This review briefly explores the potential application of pectin, an anionic polysaccharide, for the stabilization of nanoemulsion systems.

Preparing stable protein-based microcapsules containing functional fatty acids and oils for food applications has been a big challenge. However, recent advances with transglutaminase (TGase) enzyme as an effective protein cross-linker could provide workable solutions for the encapsulation of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids without compromising their targeted release and their biological and physicochemical characteristics. The recent and available literature related to the microencapsulation techniques, physical and oxidative properties, and core retention and release mechanisms of TGase-crosslinked microcapsules entrapping edible oils were reviewed. The effects of factors involved in microencapsulation processes, on the efficiency and quality of the produced innovative microcapsules were also discussed and highlighted. A brief focus has been finally addressed to new insights and additional knowledge on micro- and nanoencapsulation of lipophilic food-grade ingredients by TGase-induced gelation. Two dominant microencapsulation methods for fish, vegetable, and essential oils by TGase-crosslinking are complex coacervation and emulsion-based spray drying. The developed spherical particles (

Small plastic particles are found ubiquitously in marine and freshwater ecosystems and consequently, their inhabitants. When aquatic animals are consumed as seafood, human exposure to those plastic particles is possible. However, only a few studies, applying largely different analytical procedures, assessed microplastics content in the edible part of seafood. In this study, ten protocols for the extraction of microplastics from biota were chosen and tested for their suitability to digest the edible part of a broad range of seafood species. The following criteria were used for this assessment: 1) feasibility to filtrate the entire digested sample with one filter of approximately 1 μm pore size, 2) effect of reagents applied during the sample preparation on the polymer integrity as assessed by means of infrared and Raman spectroscopy as well as pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry, 3) total sample preparation time and the possibility to avoid the use of expensive reagents. The most suitable protocol was found to be an enzymatic-alkaline approach, consisting of a quick hydrolysis of proteins with pepsin for 2 h and a consecutive alkaline hydrolysis for 4 h, both at 37 °C for most of the tested seafood species. Digestion efficiency of the optimised protocol was tested with fish fillets and soft tissues of commercially relevant molluscs and crustacean species. Compared to most other protocols described in literature, an adequate digestion of the seafood matrix was achieved faster without being significantly more cost- or labour-intensive. Moreover, only negligible degradation of eleven commercially relevant polymers excluding polyacrylonitrile was observed. Polymer integrity was assessed by a change in particle weight or surface as well as spectroscopic and chromatographic data. The optimised sample preparation protocol aims to support future method standardisation efforts in order to assess the dietary uptake of microplastics in humans.

The production of phytase in a recombinant E.coli using the pBAD expression system was optimized using response surface methodology with full-factorial faced centered central composite design. The ampicilin and arabinose concentration in the cultivation media and the incubation temperature were optimized in order to maximize phytase production using 2 3 central composite experimental design. With this design the number of actual experiment performed could be reduced while allowing eludidation of possible interactions among these factors. The most significant parameter was shown to be the linear and quadratic effect of the incubation temperature. Optimal conditions for phytase production were determined to be 100 µg/ml ampicilin, 0.2 % arabinose and an incubation temperature of 37ºC. The production of phytase in the recombinant E. coli was scaled up to 100 ml and 1000 ml.

The objective of the present study was to determine the shelf-life of minimally-processed fresh-cut apples treated with anti-browning agents under modified atmosphere packaging. Shelf-life is calculated by application of mathematical models with product quality attributes such as: pH; soluble solids content (SSC); CIELab color parameters; sensory evaluation; and microbial spoilage (Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Sulfite-Reducing Clostridium, Enterobacteriacae, Escherichia coli, Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), yeast, mold, Listeria monocytogenes). Golden Delicious and Cripps Pink apple cultivars were individually treated with one of several anti-browning treatments and packaged in a modified atmosphere (N2 = 90.5%; CO2 = 2.5%; O2 = 7%), and stored at 4 °C. The treatments were; 1) non-treated (control); 2) dipping in a mixture of ascorbic and citric acids for 3 min with and without ultrasound (40 kHz, 3 min) treatment; and 3) Ca-ascorbate with/without ultrasound (40 kHz, 3 min) treatment. Results revealed that Cripps Pink was the most suitable variety for minimally-processed fresh-cut product. All the investigated treatments were equally effective in improving the quality of the product compared to the control. Shelf-life predictive models were developed based on the following quality attributes: apple cultivar, anti-browning treatment, color parameters, sensory evaluation, pH, and SSC. Maximum growth rates for Enterobacteriacae and Aerobic mesophilic bacteria were 0.25 ± 0.02 log CFU/g/day and 0.46 ± 0.02 log CFU/g/day, respectively. In order to optimize fresh-cut production, these models can be useful tool for predicting the longest shelf-life time with monitoring microbial activity during production. All models are freely available on-line (“Anti-browning Apple Calculator – C.A.P.P.A.B.L.E.©”; apple.pbf.hr or 31.147.204.87).

It is of utmost importance, that reliable exposure data about the migration behavior of nanoparticles are collected in order to provide adequate information for the safety assessment of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) used in the food packaging sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate the migration behavior of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from model food packaging films with varying nanosilver content into three different food simulants (water, 10% ethanol and 3% acetic acid). The overall silver migration determined by classical inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis was dependent on the silver content of the films, the food simulant used and the contact time and temperature applied. Furthermore, single particle ICP-MS analysis was applied in order to detect and quantify migrated AgNPs selectively. As coexistent silver ions in the migration samples had an impedient effect (decreased signal-to-noise ratio), an optimized analytical approach was developed by online-coupling of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF 4 ) to single particle-ICP-MS. The enrichment of the nanoparticle fraction and simultaneous reduction of the ionic background via AF 4 resulted in a clearly improved ICP-MS detection sensitivity, which enabled a more refined identification and size characterization of the migrated silver species. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed independently the presence of AgNPs and silver/polymer heteroaggregates in the migration samples.

International audience; Edible seaweeds are a good source of antioxidants, dietary fibers, essential amino acids, vitamins, phytochemicals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and minerals. Many studies have evaluated the gelling, thickening and therapeutic properties of seaweeds when they are used individually. This review gives an overview on the nutritional, textural, sensorial, and health-related properties of food products enriched with seaweeds and seaweed extracts. The effect of seaweed incorporation on properties of meat, fish, bakery, and other food products were highlighted in depth. Moreover, the positive effects of foods enriched with seaweeds and seaweed extracts on different lifestyle diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes were also discussed. The results of the studies demonstrated that the addition of seaweeds, in powder or extract form, can improve the nutritional and textural properties of food products. Additionally, low-fat products with less calories and less saturated fatty acids can be prepared using seaweeds. Moreover, the addition of seaweeds also affected the health properties of food products. The results of these studies demonstrated that the health value, shelf-life and overall quality of foods can be improved through the addition of either seaweeds or seaweed extracts.

The aim of this study was to estimate bioaccessibility of Ca, Fe and Mg in residues of orange, lime, and their mixture, in order to evaluate the effects of cooking in water on mineral bioaccessibility and also to determine the composition of macronutrients and myo-inositol phosphate content. The citrus samples contained on average 9.53 g/100 g moisture, 6.09 g/100 g protein, 3.23 g/100 g ash, 3.15 g/100 g lipids, 34.26 g/100 g insoluble fiber, 27.88 g/100 g soluble fiber and 25.64 g/100 g carbohydrates. The percentage of soluble and dialyzable minerals ranged from 19.36 to 77.33% and from 5.59 to 69.06% for Fe, from 33.34 to 60.84% and 14.71 to − 26.13% for Ca, and from 29.95 to 94.20% and 34.42 to 62.51%, for Mg, respectively. It was verified that cooking influenced the minerals bioaccessibility and increased the dialyzable fraction of Fe and Mg, but decreased the fraction of Ca dialysate, except to orange. No myoinositol phosphate esters were detected. The Principal Component Analysis allowed the separation of different types of citrus residues, but did not discriminate the raw and cooked samples. This study pointed the potential of citrus residue to be used for human consumption and contribute to the necessary dietary minerals and macronutrients, with high content of soluble and insoluble fibers.

Beans, peas, and lentils are all types of pulses that are extensively used as foods around the world due to their beneficial effects on human health including their low glycaemic index, cholesterol lowering effects, ability to decrease the risk of heart diseases and their protective effects against some cancers. These health benefits are a result of their components such as bioactive proteins, dietary fibre, slowly digested starches, minerals and vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Among these bioactive compounds, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-proteinogenic amino acid with numerous reported health benefits (e.g. anti-diabetic and hypotensive effects, depression and anxiety reduction) is of particular interest. GABA is primarily synthesised in plant tissues by the decarboxylation of l-glutamic acid in the presence of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). It is widely reported that during various processes including enzymatic treatment, gaseous treatment (e.g. with carbon dioxide), and fermentation (with lactic acid bacteria), GABA content increases in the plant matrix. The objective of this review paper is to highlight the current state of knowledge on the occurrence of GABA in pulses with special focus on mechanisms by which GABA levels are increased and the analytical extraction and estimation methods for this bioactive phytochemical. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of iron compounds used in whole wheat flour (WWF) fortification, both on rheological properties of the dough and on bread technological quality. Furthermore, bioaccessibility of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) in the final breads was determined. Rheological properties (mainly dough development time, stability, mixing tolerance index, resistance to extension and ratio number) of the dough and the technological quality of bread (mainly oven spring and cut opening) were altered. However, producing roll breads fortified with different iron compounds was still possible. NaFeEDTA (ferric sodium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) proved to be the most effective iron compound in the fortification of WWF, since it presented the highest levels of solubility (44.80%) and dialysability (46.14%), followed by microencapsulated ferrous fumarate (FFm). On the other hand, the microencapsulated ferrous sulfate (FSm) and reduced iron presented the lowest solubility (5.40 and 18.30%, respectively) and dialysability (33.12 and 31.79%, respectively). Zn dialysis was positively influenced by NaFeEDTA, FSm, and ferrous fumarate. As for Ca, dialysis was positively influenced by FSm and negatively influenced by FFm. The data indicated that there is a competitive interaction for the absorption of these minerals in whole wheat roll breads, but all studied minerals can be considered bioaccessible.

Consumption of plant-based beverages (PBB) is a growing trend; and have been used as viable substitutes for dairy based products. To date, no study has comparatively analyzed mineral composition and effect of in vitro digestion on the bioaccessibility of different PBB. The aim of this research was to investigate the content of essential minerals (calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn)) and to estimate the effect of in vitro digestion in plant-based beverages, and their antioxidant bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity). Moreover, the presence of antinutritional factors, such as myo-inositol phosphates fractions, were evaluated. Samples of PBB (rice, cashew nut, almond, peanut, coconut, oat, soy, blended or not with another ingredients, fortified with minerals or naturally present) and milk for comparison were evaluated. TPC ranged from 0.2 mg GAEq/L for coconut to 12.4 mg GAEq/L for rice and, the antioxidant capacity (DPPH) ranged from 3.1 to 306.5 µmol TE/L for samples containing peanut and oat, respectively. Only a few samples presented myo-inositol phosphates fractions in their composition, mostly IP5 and IP6, especially cashew nut beverages. Mineral content showed a wide range for Ca, ranging from 10 to 1697.33 mg/L for rice and coconut, respectively. The Mg content ranged from 6.29 to 251.23–268.43 mg/L for rice and cashew nut beverages, respectively. Fe content ranged from 0.76 mg/L to 12.89 mg/L for the samples of rice. Zinc content ranged from 0.57 mg/L to 8.13 mg/L for samples of oat and soy, respectively. Significant variation was observed for Ca (8.2–306.6 mg/L) and Mg (1.9–107.4 mg/L) dialyzed between the beverages, with lower concentrations of Fe (1.0 mg/L) and Zn (0.5 mg/L) in dialyzed fractions. This study provides at least 975 analytically determined laboratory results, providing important information for characterization and comparison of different plant-based beverages.

Isolation and identification of temperature tolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria (TTPSB) and their use as microbial fertilizers was the main goal of the study. In this study, TTPSB were isolated from soil samples treated for 16 h at 55 °C. Their phosphate solubilizing activity was either evaluated in solid media by forming a clear zone (halo) or in liquid media by quantification of the soluble phosphate in the growth medium. Five colonies (RPS4, RPS6, RPS7, RPS8 and RPS9) were identified to be able to form a halo and two of the isolates (RPS9 and RPS7) tolerated a temperature of 55 °C. With tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as the sole P-source, the phosphate solubilizing capacity of RPS9 and RPS7 was determined to be 563.8 and 324.1 mg P L−1 in liquid Sperber medium, respectively. Both bacterial isolates were identified as Pantoea agglomerans by molecular and biochemical characterization. To be used as a microbial fertilizer a carrier system for the temperature tolerant bacteria consisting of rock phosphate, sulfur and bagasse was used. It could be established that the bacterial cell counts of the microbial fertilizers were acceptable for application after storage for 4 months at 28 °C. In a greenhouse experiment using pot cultures, inoculation of maize (S.C.704) with the microbial fertilizers in an autoclaved soil resulted in a significant effect on total fresh and dry weight of the plant root and shoot as well as on the P content of the root and shoot. The effects observed with RPS9 as a component of the microbial fertilizer on plant growth and P nutrition was comparable with the addition of 50% of recommended triple superphosphate (TSP) dose. Using temperature tolerant bacteria in microbial fertilizers will overcome limitations in production and storage of the microbial fertilizers and contribute to a environmentally-friendly agriculture. The temperature tolerant P. agglomerans strain RPS9 was shown to be effective as part of a microbial fertilizer in supporting the growth and P uptake in maize.

Environmental impact of livestock production has received a considerable public scrutiny because of the adverse effects of nutrient run-offs, primarily N and P, from agricultural land harboring intensive energy livestock operations. Hence, this study was designed to determine the efficacy of dietary phytase supplementation on fermentation of a sorghum grain–based total mixed ration (TMR) using a ruminal in vitro digestion approach. Phytase was supplemented at three doses: 0 (control), 540 (P540), and 720 (P720) g/t dry matter, equivalent to 0, 2.7 × 106, and 3.6 × 106 CFU/t DM, respectively. Compared to P720 and the control, gas production was higher for P540 after 12 h (P = 0.02) and 24 h (P = 0.03) of fermentation suggesting a higher microbial activity in response to phytase supplementation at lower phytase levels. Correspondingly, dry matter degradability was found to have improved in P540 and P720 compared to the control by 13 and 11% after 24 h of incubation (P = 0.05). For ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), a tendency towards lower values was only observed for P540 at 24 h of fermentation (P = 0.07), while minimal treatment effects were observed at other fermentation times. The concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were higher (P

International audience; Thermal treatment is one of the main unit operations applied to improve the microbiological quality of food products. It utilizes the lethal effects of heat against thermosensitive microorganisms, both pathogens and spoilage organisms; however, at the same time it induces degradation of the organoleptic and nutritional properties of foods due to non-enzymatic Maillard reactions. These reactions occur between amino compounds and reducing sugars, and are intensified with the increase of temperature. Some research studies have investigated the potential use of emerging technologies such as pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating and high hydrostatic pressure to reduce the occurrence of non-enzymatic browning in foods during processing. Despite of the numerous advantages of emerging technologies over conventional ones, their impact on Maillard reactions is complex and not well understood with both positive and negative impacts. This chapter reviews the impact of emerging technologies on Maillard reactions in foods.

SummaryPhytase is applied in animal feed based on its standard activity measured at pH 5.5, however the relative activity at pH 3 (e.g. stomach pH, the main site for the breakdown of phytate) varies among the commercial phytases, ranging from 56% (an E coli phytase) to 235% (Buttiauxella phytase). These diverse sources of phytases have varying capability for degrading phytate and, correspondingly, different P, digestible amino acid and metabolisable energy matrix values. In addition, the matrix values recommended by different phytase suppliers are not comparable, as different methodologies have been used to determine them. Phosphorus (P) and other matrix values can be determined by direct measurement of digestible P (dP) improvements by the addition of phytase above a negative control in large numbers of in vivo studies using increasing phytase doses. Alternatively, matrix values can be assessed by indirect measurement, using inorganic P (usually mono- or dicalcium sources) as a reference, typically based on tibia or metacarpal ash as a response parameter to estimate available P equivalence, either at a single or different phytase doses. When using the indirect measurement, the available P equivalence with increasing phytase doses may be calculated based on a log linear model. Although both methods are acceptable methodologies, direct measurement may under-estimate and indirect measurement may over-estimate matrix values, and a large number of in vivo studies give the best estimates of matrix values. Phytase efficacy can be influenced by phytase source, dose level, dietary composition (Ca level and Ca: P ratio). Phytase end users are encouraged to be aware of the methods used by suppliers to determine matrix values, before applying them in their feed formulations.

Industrial chokeberry pomace is very rich in polyphenols. The main focus here lies on the possible relationship between the particle size of chokeberry milled pomace and an enhanced absorption and transport of polyphenols by Caco-2 cells. Wet milling was used to produce materials with particle size distributions in the micrometre and in the sub-micrometre to nanometre ranges starting from chokeberry pomace. Milled materials with about 50% of the particles with a mean size (x50,3) of 223 ± 13 µm (coarse milling) and about 90% of the particles with x50,3 of 160 ± 40 nm (fine milling, sonication) were obtained. None of the milled materials exhibited cytotoxic effects within the tested concentration-ranges. The polyphenol absorption and the transport efficiencies from the fine and the coarse milled materials were similar. Thus, no effect of the particle size upon cellular uptake and transport could be established, but agglomeration of particle during incubation cannot be excluded as the cause. Furthermore, based on polyphenol stability we postulate that direct milling may be applied to valorise the processing by-product from commercial fruit juice production.

Potato waste, usually derived from storage and processing of potatoes, is an agricultural byproduct already used as a feed for ruminants. Its fermentation using rumen fluid, another waste product obtainable from slaughterhouses, is expected to valorize both products. Bioconversion of potato waste using rumen fluid was followed by measuring volatile fatty acids (VFAs), pH, and the extent of digestion of the potato waste as well as the nutrient composition of the solid residues after fermentation. Different ratios (1:2, 2:2, 3:2 and 4:2 w dry matter/v) of potato waste to rumen fluid were fermented in a DaisyII incubator for 12 or 24 h at 39 °C. Depending on the fermentation time and the dry mass of potato waste used for fermentation, a digestion rate between 31 and 78.8% of the potato waste (solid phase of the fermentation mixture) was obtained. Fermentation resulted also in an up to 2.5-fold increase in the concentration of VFAs in the liquid phase of the fermentation mixture. During fermentation, the pH value of the fermentation mixture dropped from 6.95 to about 4.0 (P

In this study, the evaluation of the performance of two thin-film UV-C reactors (annular and Taylor–Couette) and a coiled tube system is presented using actinometry and biodosimetry methods. The iodide/iodate actinometry method was found suitable for comparison of the efficiency of UV-C dose delivery of the UV-C continuous flow systems. Inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 in quarter-strength Ringer’s solution (absorption coefficient α254 nm ∼ 0 cm−1) at various flow conditions at Reynolds numbers in the range of 26 to 3000 showed a good correlation between the different reactor types. In high UV-C absorbing liquids, the inactivation efficiency increases due to the improved radial mixing. The inactivation performance of the Taylor–Couette system correlates to the annular reactor when no rotation force is applied. The residence time distributions showed the narrowest distribution with the coiled tube system at comparable flow rates. The results indicate that, despite the laminar flow conditions, the performance of the Taylor–Couette unit becomes equal to the turbulent flow conditions of the coiled tube reactor by rotation of the inner cylinder.

Background Negative pressure cavitation (NPC) extraction is a novel effective and eco-friendly technology. In this method, cavitation is generated by negative pressure and continuously introduced into the liquid-solid system to enhance the turbulence, collision and mass transfer between the extracting solvent and solid matrix. This technique was found to be efficient for improving the substrate and enzyme mixing, increasing the enzymatic hydrolysis of the plant cell wall components and improving the intracellular contents release into the extraction solvent. Scope and approach So far, several studies evaluated the feasibility of using this system alone or in combination with other extraction methods (e.g. enzyme, homogenization, microwave, ionic liquid solvents and deep eutectic solvents) for extraction of food active compounds (e.g. flavonoids, isoflavonoids, saponins, stilbenes, polyphenols and alkaloids) from plant materials. This review gives an overview of the principle of NPC method and its application alone or in combination with other extraction techniques for extraction of active compounds from plant materials. Key findings and conclusions The outcome of the studies using NPC demonstrated that this technique is a simpler procedure, requiring low cost, and provides high efficiency. It is eco-friendly, and possesses a remarkable potential application in the industrial production compared to other extraction techniques. Moreover, since this method is performed at room temperature, it can reduce or prevent the degradation of thermosensitive compounds.

Because green biosynthesis using microorganisms is advertised as a promising, eco-friendly and biocompatible approach for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), many studies were focused on the extracellular production of nanoparticles enabling an easy downstream processing. However, the influence of the culture media on extracellular AgNP synthesis was rarely investigated. In this study, the effect of various culture media and their components on the extracellular AgNP synthesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae UVHC5, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Pseudomonas jessinii UVKS19) was investigated. UV-Vis spectroscopy, DLS, SEM and EDX spectroscopy were used to verify the particles formed. Culture media, bacterial supernatants and the individual medium components were added to AgNO3 solutions. After 7 days of incubation the liquids contained particles of different shapes, sizes and composition. The formation of specific particle species mainly depended on the composition of the culture media (especially the Cl- content), in which the bacteria were inoculated. Samples incubated with bacterial supernatant of STI, NB, LB or MH showed AgCl particles of cubic or star-/flowerlike shapes coated with AgNPs. In contrast, silver nanoclusters were observed in the inoculants of bacterial supernatants grown in MRS or AgNPNB. However, small effects of bacterial metabolites on the formation of the particles could be observed and indicate an influence of the media alteration by bacterial growth on the particle formation. When the individual medium components were added to AgNO3, different absorbance spectra were obtained. Therefore, we conclude that the formation of Ag/AgCl nanoparticles results from the interaction of all medium components.

Pasteurization of eggs has adverse effects on nutrient composition and functionality of egg proteins. UV processing is an alternative technology with potentially fewer adverse effects as it is less intrusive. Egg white, whole egg and egg yolk vitamins (A, B2, B5, C and E), minerals (P, Cl, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn) and main secondary metabolites (lutein and zeaxanthin) were examined after exposure to UV in a coiled tube UV-C reactor at doses known to achieve microbiologically stable egg fractions. The studied nutrients were fairly stable to a treatment with UV-C light with the exception of retinol, vitamin C and carotenoids, which showed loses up to 80%, 66% and 61%, respectively. Moreover, the functional properties of ultraviolet-treated eggs were investigated. Results showed a positive impact on the foam ability and foam stability, and an increase on the emulsifying activity index above 20% versus pasteurized samples. Processing with UV can maintain most of the egg nutritive properties, and retain or even improve the technological properties of foaming and emulsification in eggs. Industrial relevance: This novel UV-C system can be applied successfully to the Food Industry. UV-C does not impair nutritional damage to egg-treated products, and even improve egg functional properties.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is commonly consumed in cooked, fermented, and roasted forms in Ethiopia. However, the impacts of household processing practices on its nutrients, antinutrients, and toxic compounds have not been adequately studied. Therefore, the effects of household processing and fermentation in the presence and absence of a phytase on the contents of β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), myo-inositol phosphates, crude protein, minerals and the in vitro bioaccessibility were investigated. Fermentation exhibited a significant decline in β-ODAP (13.0–62.0%) and phytate (7.3–90.5%) irrespective of the presence of phytase. Pressure and pan cooking after discarding the soaking water resulted in a 27.0 and 16.2% reduction in β-ODAP. A 30% reduction in phytate was observed during germination followed by roasting. In addition, germination resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in crude protein. Germination and germination followed by roasting resulted in the highest Fe bioaccessibilities (more than 25 fold higher compared to untreated samples) followed by pressure cooking and soaking. Processing also improved Zn bioaccessibilities by 50.0% (soaked seed without soaking water), 22.5% (soaked seed with soaking water), and 4.3% (germination). Thus, the processing technologies applied were capable of reducing the content of phytate (InsP6) and β-ODAP with a concomitant increase in mineral bioaccessibilities. Processing of grass peas could therefore contribute to their more widespread utilization.