Environmental conditions affect the nutritive value and alkaloid profiles of Lupinus forage: Opportunities and threats for sustainable ruminant systems.

The identification of crops that simultaneously contribute to the global protein supply and mitigate the effects of climate change is an urgent matter. Lupins are well adapted to nutrient-poor or contaminated soils, tolerate various abiotic stresses, and present relevant traits for acting as ecosystem engineers. Lupins are best studied for their seeds, but their full foraging potential needs further evaluation. This study evaluated the effects of location and sowing date on forage production, proximate composition, and the detailed mineral and alkaloid profiles of three species of Lupinus (L. albus cv. Estoril, L. angustifolius cv. Tango, and L. luteus cv. Cardiga). Sowing date and location and their interaction with the plant species significantly affected the vast majority of measured parameters, emphasizing the effects of climate and soil conditions on these crops. The relatively high crude protein and in vitro digestibility support the potential of the lupin species studied as sustainable forage protein sources in diets for ruminant animals. The content of individual essential macro and trace elements was below the maximum tolerable levels for cattle and sheep. Lupanine, smipine, and sparteine were the most abundant quinolizidine alkaloids in L. albus cv. Estoril, lupanine, and sparteine in L. angustifolius cv. Tango, and lupinine, gramine, ammodendrine, and sparteine in L. luteus cv. Cardiga. Based on the maximum tolerable levels of total quinolizidine alkaloid intake, the dietary inclusion of forages of L. albus cv. Estoril and L. angustifolius cv. Tango does not pose a risk to the animals, but the high alkaloid content of L. luteus cv. Cardiga may compromise its utilization at high levels in the diet. Overall, the results reveal a high potential for lupins as protein forage sources well adapted to temperate regions and soils with lower fertility, with a relevant impact on livestock sustainability in a climate change era.

Agronomic, Nutritional Traits, and Alkaloids of Lupinus albus, Lupinus angustifolius and Lupinus luteus Genotypes: Effect of Sowing Dates and Locations.

Lupins (Lupinus spp.) are legumes with high relevance for the sustainability of agricultural systems as they improve the soil quality, namely, through the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and have good adaptability to different climates and soil conditions. Besides, they possess high nutritive value, especially due to the high protein content of the seeds. Nevertheless, the plants' productivity and metabolism can be influenced by the genotype, the edaphoclimatic conditions, and the sowing practices. In this work, the effect of edaphoclimatic conditions and sowing dates on the productivity, nutritional factors, and alkaloids of the seeds of L. albus cv. Estoril, L. angustifolius cv. Tango, and L. luteus cv. Cardiga was evaluated. High variability in the seeds and protein productions, nutritional traits, and alkaloid content related to the species was observed, along with a significant effect of the location. Lupinus albus cv. Estoril showed a good compromise between productivity and low alkaloid content, being an interesting genotype for food and feed use in the conditions of this trial.

Upcycling post-harvest biomass residues from native European Lupinus species: from straws and pod shells production to nutritive value and alkaloids content for ruminant animals.

The production of Lupinus seeds for food and feed is increasing worldwide, which results in large amounts of post-harvest biomass residues, considered of low value and left in the field to be burned or incorporated in the soil. To valorize these agricultural wastes, this work aimed to assess their potential as an alternative feed for ruminants. Thus, the production yield, nutritive value, and alkaloid content of straws and pod shells from three native European Lupinus species, L. albus 'Estoril' (white), L. angustifolius 'Tango' (narrow-leafed), and L. luteus 'Cardiga' (yellow), cultivated in two locations, were evaluated. The dry matter (DM) yield of straws and pod shells were the highest for L. albus 'Estoril' (4.10 t ha-1) and the lowest for L. angustifolius 'Tango' (1.78 t ha-1), suggesting a poor adaptation of narrow-leafed lupin to the particularly dry and warm agronomic year. Despite species-specific differences, lupin biomass residues presented higher crude protein (53.0-68.9 g kg-1 DM) and lignin (103-111 g kg-1 DM) content than cereal straws usually used in ruminant feeding, thus resulting in higher metabolizable energy (6.43-6.58 MJ kg-1 DM) content. In vitro digestibility was similar among lupin species (47.7-50.6%) and higher in pod shells (53.7%) than in straws (44.6%). Lupinus albus 'Estoril' and L. luteus 'Cardiga' presented considerable amounts of alkaloids in straws (23.9 and 119 mg kg-1 DM) and pod shells (20.5 and 298 mg kg-1 DM), while no alkaloids were detected in L. angustifolius 'Tango' biomass residues. Considering the combined production of straw and pod shells per lupin species, it is anticipated that lupin biomass residues produced per ha can fulfill 85% of the energy and nearly 50% of protein requirements of a flock of 4 to 9 dry and mid-pregnancy sheep with 50 kg body weight for one year. No negative effects on small (ovine) and large (bovine) ruminant species due to alkaloids are expected, even if biomass residues are consumed at up to 85% DM intake. The large production yield along with its nutritive value unveils the potential of lupin biomass residues valorization as alternative fodder for ruminants, promoting sustainability under a circular economy approach.

Different LED light intensity and quality change perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) physiological and growth responses and water and energy consumption.

Light intensity and spectral composition highly affect plant physiology, growth, and development. According to growing conditions, each species and/or cultivar has an optimum light intensity to drive photosynthesis, and different light spectra trigger photosynthetic responses and regulate plant development differently. For the maintenance of natural sports pitches, namely professional football competitions, turf quality is a key condition. Due to the architecture of most football stadiums, the lawns receive low intensities of natural light, so supplementary artificial lighting above the turf is required. The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can have a higher cost-benefit ratio than traditional high-pressure sodium lamps. The continuous emission spectrum, combined with high spectral selectivity and adjustable optical power, can be used to optimize plant growth and development. Thus, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants, commonly used for lawns, were primarily grown at three different intensities (200, 300, and 400 µmol m-2 s-1) of cool white light. Despite the higher water and energy consumption, 400 µmol m-2 s-1 maximizes the plant's efficiency, with higher photosynthetic rates and foliar pigment concentration, and more foliar soluble sugars and aboveground biomass accumulation. Then, it was evaluated the perennial ryegrass (Double and Capri cultivars) response to different spectral compositions [100% cool white (W), 80% Red:20% Blue (R80:B20), 90% Red:10% Blue (R90:B10), and 65% Red:15% Green:20% Blue (R65:G15:B20)] at 400 µmol m-2 s-1. Both cultivars exhibited similar responses to light treatments. In general, W contributed to the better photosynthetic performance and R90:B10 to the worst one. Water consumption and aboveground biomass were equal in all light treatments. R80:B20 allows energy savings of 24.3% in relation to the W treatment, showing a good compromise between physiological performance and energy consumption.

Insights from the yield, protein production, and detailed alkaloid composition of white (Lupinus albus), narrow-leafed (Lupinus angustifolius), and yellow (Lupinus luteus) lupin cultivars in the Mediterranean region.

Introduction: Lupins and other legumes have been considered as alternative plant-based protein sources to soybeans for both humans and livestock. Furthermore, they can contribute to more sustainable agricultural systems. The productivity and chemical composition of legumes is highly variable between species, cultivars, and with the edaphoclimatic conditions. Methods: This work evaluated the adaptability of seven Lupinus cultivars in two different sowing locations, during two consecutive years, through the characterization of their seed, as a means of investigating their suitability to be used as a source of food and/or feed. Results and discussion: Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tango and Lupinus luteus cv. Acos were the most stable genotypes across the environments when considering the seed and protein production, while L. luteus cv. Alburquerque and L. luteus cv. Mister showed less variation in the total alkaloid content across the environments. The edaphoclimatic conditions affected seed and protein yields, as higher rainfall resulted in high productivity. The lower temperatures observed in the first year at both locations caused a reduction in the production of alkaloids in L. luteus cv. Acos and Cardiga. Due to the high alkaloid content of some of the studied cultivars their use as food or feed can pose some safety concerns. However, these cultivars can have high levels of resistance to herbivore and insect attacks, which can be of the utmost importance for the use of these crops for recovering poor or exhausted soils.

Effect of Total Replacement of Soya Bean Meal by Whole Lupine Seeds and of Gender on the Meat Quality and Fatty Acids Profile of Growing Rabbits.

In Europe, the most appropriate strategy to replace soybean meal (SBM) in animal feed has been the development of diets containing locally produced protein sources. One of these sources is lupine (Lupinus spp.). The effect of the total substitution of SBM by white lupine (WL) and yellow lupine (YL) seeds in the diets of growing rabbits and of gender on meat quality and the fatty acids (FA) profile were evaluated. Sixty hybrid weaned rabbits (New Zealand × Californian) (20 rabbits per diet), were fed diets that contained 150 g/kg of SBM (SBMD) and WL (WLD) or YL (YLD) for 35 to 69 days. At the end of this period, 30 rabbits (10 rabbits per diet) were slaughtered to evaluate the carcass and meat characteristics and the FA profile of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. In general, the carcass and meat characteristics (pH and colour) were not affected (p > 0.05) by diet or gender. Further, there was no observed effect (p > 0.05) of gender on meat FA and on the calculated indexes related to human health. However, diet had an effect (p < 0.05) on the FA profile, FA categories, and calculated indexes related to human health. The meat from rabbits fed SBMD presented higher (p < 0.05) saturated FA (SFA; 44 vs. 39 g/100 g average on lupine diets) and lower (p < 0.05) polyunsaturated FA (PUFA; 24 vs. 28 g/100 g average on lupine diets). Our results showed that SBM may be completely replaced by WL or YL, improving the quality of LD muscle FA in terms of nutritional quality for humans.

Ammonia and greenhouse emissions from cow's excreta are affected by feeding system, stage of lactation and sampling time.

Decomposition of dairy cows' excreta on housing floor leads to ammonia and greenhouse gases production, yet factors affecting total emissions have not been fully disclosed. This work aimed to assess the impact of lactation stage, feeding system and sampling time on gaseous emission potential of cow's faeces and urine in laboratory chambers systems. Individual faeces and urine were collected from two groups of four cows, at peak and post peak lactation, from three commercial farms with distinct feeding systems: total mixed ration (TMR), total mixed ration plus concentrate at robot (TMR + robot), and total mixed ration plus concentrate in automatic feeders (TMR + AF). Samples were collected before a.m. (T8h), at middle day (T12h), and before p.m. (T17h) milking. In a laboratory chambers system, faeces and urine were mixed in a ratio of 1.7:1, and ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions were monitored during 48-h. Cumulative N-N2O emissions were the highest in TMR + robot system, post peak cows and sampling time T17h. An interaction between stage of lactation and sampling time was detected for N-NH3 and N-N2O (g/kg organic soluble N) emissions. Post peak cows also produced the highest cumulative N-NH3 emissions. Overall results contribute for the identification of specific on-farm strategies to reduce gaseous emissions from cows' excreta.

Environmental implications of stored cattle slurry treatment with sulphuric acid and biochar: A life cycle assessment approach.

With the increase of animal slurry produced from livestock production, the monitoring and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions represent a major issue. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to evaluate the long-term environmental effects of applied strategies and technologies on cattle slurry management for mitigation of environmental harmful gases. This study was carried on two main aims: first, the effect of the addition of sulphuric acid (SA), biochar (SBi) or A + Bi to liquid cattle-slurry (treated systems) on gas emissions during storage compared to the untreated system (S) was investigated in a laboratory-controlled experiment; second, the environmental implications of each treated or untreated system were assessed through a LCA approach according to ISO 14040/44. Five CML 2001 impact categories were used: eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), global warming potential (GWP), human toxicity potential (HTP) and Ozone Layer Depletion Potential (ODP). Comparisons were based on 1 ton fresh dairy cattle slurry. The environmental profile of untreated system showed lower efficiency in mitigation of total GHG and NH3 emissions (0.0312 and 0.0001 kg CO2-eq respectively), during storage period and greater impact on GWP and HTP categories. The electricity consumption in mechanical separation dominated the environmental impacts. From the three proposed treated systems, SA showed the highest efficiency on mitigation of gas emissions compared to the other treatments, reducing NH3, CH4 and CO2 emissions respectively in 61%, 98% and 15%, when compared to the SBi system. In all categories, acidified slurry also showed the lowest environmental impact relative to other treated systems and the benefit was more evident when the impacts were expressed per kilogram of nitrogen in the slurry. Therefore, LCA methodology was of great importance to assess the environmental implications of the treatments and acidification can be considered as an effective technique on the mitigation of environmental implications of livestock production and cattle-effluent valorization. Optimization and uniformity of performed studies are essential to validate new strategies to improve the sustainability of this sector in the management of animal wastewater.

Assessment of potato peel and agro-forestry biochars supplementation on in vitro ruminal fermentation.

BACKGROUND: The awareness of environmental and socio-economic impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector leverages the adoption of strategies to counteract it. Feed supplements can play an important role in the reduction of the main greenhouse gas produced by ruminants-methane (CH4). In this context, this study aims to assess the effect of two biochar sources and inclusion levels on rumen fermentation parameters in vitro. METHODS: Two sources of biochar (agro-forestry residues, AFB, and potato peel, PPB) were added at two levels (5 and 10%, dry matter (DM) basis) to two basal substrates (haylage and corn silage) and incubated 24-h with rumen inocula to assess the effects on CH4 production and main rumen fermentation parameters in vitro. RESULTS: AFB and PPB were obtained at different carbonization conditions resulting in different apparent surface areas, ash content, pH at the point of zero charge (pHpzc), and elemental analysis. Relative to control (0% biochar), biochar supplementation kept unaffected total gas production and yield (mL and mL/g DM, p = 0.140 and p = 0.240, respectively) and fermentation pH (p = 0.666), increased CH4production and yield (mL and mL/g DM, respectively, p = 0.001) and ammonia-N (NH3-N, p = 0.040), and decreased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) production (p < 0.001) and H2 generated and consumed (p ≤ 0.001). Biochar sources and inclusion levels had no negative effect on most of the fermentation parameters and efficiency. Acetic:propionic acid ratio (p = 0.048) and H2 consumed (p = 0.019) were lower with AFB inclusion when compared to PPB. Biochar inclusion at 10% reduced H2 consumed (p < 0.001) and tended to reduce total gas production (p = 0.055). Total VFA production (p = 0.019), acetic acid proportion (p = 0.011) and H2 generated (p = 0.048) were the lowest with AFB supplemented at 10%, no differences being observed among the other treatments. The basal substrate affected most fermentation parameters independently of biochar source and level used. DISCUSSION: Biochar supplementation increased NH3-N content, iso-butyric, iso-valeric and valeric acid proportions, and decreased VFA production suggesting a reduced energy supply for microbial growth, higher proteolysis and deamination of substrate N, and a decrease of NH3-N incorporation into microbial protein. No interaction was found between substrate and biochar source or level on any of the parameters measured. Although AFB and PPB had different textural and compositional characteristics, their effects on the rumen fermentation parameters were similar, the only observed effects being due to AFB included at 10%. Biochar supplementation promoted CH4 production regardless of the source and inclusion level, suggesting that there may be other effects beyond biomass and temperature of production of biochar, highlighting the need to consider other characteristics to better identify the mechanism by which biochar may influence CH4 production.

Effects of Different Processing Treatments on Almond (Prunus dulcis) Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activities, Fatty Acids, and Sensorial Characteristics.

Almond is one of the most commonly consumed nuts worldwide, with health benefits associated with availability of bioactive compounds and fatty acids. Almond is often eaten raw or after some processing steps. However, the latter can positively or negatively influence chemical and sensorial attributes of almonds. This work was carried out to assess the effects of two processing treatments, namely; roasting and blanching on (i) contents of bioactive compounds, (ii) contents of fatty acids (3) antioxidant activities (4), sensorial characteristics of four neglected Portuguese almond cultivars (Casanova, Molar, Pegarinhos and Refêgo) and two foreign cultivars (Ferragnès and Glorieta). Results showed that in general, levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities increased with roasting and decreased with blanching. Fatty acid profiles of raw kernels of all cultivars were generally identical although Refêgo exhibited a high content of α-linolenic acid. Following roasting and blanching, content of polyunsaturated fatty acids increased while saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and several health lipid indices decreased. Roasting positively affected perception of skin color and sweetness of Ferragnès and Glorieta as well as skin roughness of Molar and Pegarinhos. Blanching on the other hand led to positive changes in textural properties of Refêgo and Pegarinhos. This study reveals the nutritive benefits of consuming neglected almond cultivars in Portugal, and the novel data reported here could be of interest to growers, processing companies and consumers.

Phenolic and fatty acid profiles, α-tocopherol and sucrose contents, and antioxidant capacities of understudied Portuguese almond cultivars.

Almonds have recognized health benefits, which are largely attributed to their chemical composition, including fatty acids, phenolics, vitamin E, and sucrose. This study was carried with the aim of providing information on the levels of the aforementioned bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities in six understudied Portuguese cultivars (Amendoão, Bonita, Casanova, Molar, Pegarinhos-Moncorvo, Pegarinhos-Murça and Refêgo), in comparison with two foreign cultivars (Ferragnès and Glorieta). A cultivar effect was observed for all the parameters evaluated, with some Portuguese cultivars comparing well and even favorably with the foreign ones. A multivariate analysis of the data allowed a clear discrimination of cultivars and that statistical tool could be used for authenticity purposes, especially for cultivars included in the Protected Designation of Origin "Amêndoa Douro." PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Almonds are among the most consumed nuts worldwide, with a considerable number of cultivars recorded around the world, although research has been neglecting the local cultivars. This work studies the chemical composition of several understudied cultivars and compares them to two widespread commercial ones. The results not only provide new information about these neglected cultivars, but also provide data for stakeholders to select more interesting cultivars with particular characteristics/or rich in compounds of interest.

Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions following the application of clinoptilolite on the litter of a breeding hen house.

The husbandry of chicken for meat generates high levels of gases, being a serious problem for the health of birds and workers as well as for the environment. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of clinoptilolite as litter additive on the concentrations and emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) from a breeding hen house under Mediterranean climate conditions. Two similar breeding hen houses were selected, and one house was assigned as control whereas the other house was treated with clinoptilolite as a litter additive. Data were collected during the winter season, in two occasions, first between 26 November and 18 December 2017 and second from 1 to 20 February 2018. Results showed that the application of clinoptilolite on the litter of a breeding hen house reduces the NH3 and N2O losses in 28 and 34%, respectively, but appears to have no effect on CO2 losses. In addition, the in-house CH4 concentrations were below the detection limits.

Impact of different treatments on Escherichia coli during storage of cattle slurry.

There are different types of effluents from farming operations including untreated slurry (a mixture of manure, urine, split feed, and water), and treated slurry that normally is filtered to separate the solid fraction from the liquid fraction. With the amount of slurry applied on the soils as fertiliser every year, there are necessary to measure the leaching of microbial capable of transmitting infective agents that can be normally on slurry, because slurry can be a potential biohazard capable of transmitting infective agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and survival of Escherichia coli (E. coli) on liquid fraction of dairy slurry, with the addition of different treatments during storage, such as addition of Biochar, beneficial microorganisms, sulphuric acid and the combinations of them. All the applied treatments to slurry show statistically significant differences (P < 0.001), according to the different sampling dates. Results showed that there are conditions and treatments that benefit the survival probability of E. coli, the treatments that include the acidification of slurry have the highest averages of CFU/ml (243288.3 at 37 °C; 136584 at 44 °C). These results can contribute to the improvement of the quality of slurry applied on soils, beneficiating agriculture but also public health.

Gaseous emissions and modification of slurry composition during storage and after field application: Effect of slurry additives and mechanical separation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of slurry treatment by additives (EU200® (EU200), Bio-buster® (BB), JASS® and sulphuric acid (H2SO4)) and mechanical separation on the physical-chemical characteristics, gaseous emissions (NH3, CH4, CO2 and N2O) during anaerobic storage at ∼20 °C (experiment 1) and NH3 losses after field application (experiment 2). The treatments studied in experiment 1 were: whole slurry (WS), WS+H2SO4 to a pH of 6.0, WS+EU200 and WS+BB. Treatments for experiment 2 were: WS, slurry liquid fraction (LF), composted solid fraction (CSF), LFs treated with BB (LFB), JASS® (LFJ), H2SO4 to a pH of 5.5 (LFA) and soil only (control). The results showed an inhibition of the degradation of organic materials (cellulose, hemicellulose, dry matter organic matter and total carbon) in the WS+H2SO4 relative to the WS. When compared to the WS, the WS+H2SO4 increased electrical conductivity, ammonium (NH4+) and sulphur (S) concentrations whilst reducing slurry pH after storage. The WS+H2SO4 reduced NH3 volatilization by 69% relative to the WS but had no effect on emissions of CH4, CO2 and N2O during storage. Biological additive treatments (WS+EU200 and WS+BB) had no impact on slurry characteristics and gaseous emissions relative to the WS during storage. After field application, the cumulative NH3 lost in the LF was almost 50% lower than the WS. The losses in the LFA were reduced by 92% relative to the LF. The LFB and LFJ had no impact on NH3 losses relative to the LF. A significant effect of treatment on NH4+ concentration was found at the top soil layer (0-5 cm) after NH3 measurements with higher concentrations in the LF treatments relative to the WS. Overall, the use of the above biological additives to decrease pollutant gases and to modify slurry characteristics are questionable. Reducing slurry dry matter through mechanical separation can mitigate NH3 losses after field application. Slurry acidification can increase the fertilizer value (NH4+ and S) of slurry whilst mitigating the environmental impacts through a decrease in NH3 losses during storage and after application.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Metabolomics: Osmoprotection as a Physiological Strategy for Drought Stress Resistance and Improved Yield.

Plants usually tolerate drought by producing organic solutes, which can either act as compatible osmolytes for maintaining turgor, or radical scavengers for protecting cellular functions. However, these two properties of organic solutes are often indistinguishable during stress progression. This study looked at individualizing properties of osmotic adjustment vs. osmoprotection in plants, using cowpea as the model species. Two cultivars were grown in well-watered soil, drought conditions, or drought followed by rewatering through fruit formation. Osmoadaptation was investigated in leaves and roots using photosynthetic traits, water homoeostasis, inorganic ions, and primary and secondary metabolites. Multifactorial analyses indicated allocation of high quantities of amino acids, sugars, and proanthocyanidins into roots, presumably linked to their role in growth and initial stress perception. Physiological and metabolic changes developed in parallel and drought/recovery responses showed a progressive acclimation of the cowpea plant to stress. Of the 88 metabolites studied, proline, galactinol, and a quercetin derivative responded the most to drought as highlighted by multivariate analyses, and their correlations with yield indicated beneficial effects. These metabolites accumulated differently in roots, but similarly in leaves, suggesting a more conservative strategy to cope with drought in the aerial parts. Changes in these compounds roughly reflected energy investment in protective mechanisms, although the ability of plants to adjust osmotically through inorganic ions uptake could not be discounted.

Effect of different rates of spent coffee grounds (SCG) on composting process, gaseous emissions and quality of end-product.

The use of spent coffee grounds (SCG) in composting for organic farming is a viable way of valorising these agro-industrial residues. In the present study, four treatments with different amounts of spent coffee grounds (SCG) were established, namely, C0 (Control), C10, C20 and C40, containing 0, 10, 20 and 40% of SCG (DM), respectively; and their effects on the composting process and the end-product quality characteristics were evaluated. The mixtures were completed with Acacia dealbata L. shoots and wheat straw. At different time intervals during composting, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were measured and selected physicochemical characteristics of the composts were evaluated. During the composting process, all treatments showed a substantial decrease in total phenolics and total tannins, and an important increase in gallic acid. Emissions of greenhouse gases were very low and no significant difference between the treatments was registered. The results indicated that SCG may be successfully composted in all proportions. However C40, was the treatment which combined better conditions of composting, lower GHG emissions and better quality of end product.

Factors influencing antioxidant compounds in rice.

Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that the additive/synergistic effects of several bioactive compounds are responsible for the health benefits of rice. Among the leading contenders are phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocotrienols, tocopherols, λ-oryzanol, and phytic acid, which all possess strong antioxidant activities in vitro. In this review, data related to health effects of rice antioxidants using cultured cells, rodents and humans models are first summarized. The evidence is strong that consumption of rice tocotrienols translates into improved health outcomes. Current research, however, does not strongly support the health-promoting effects of rice tocopherols and phenolic acids. The crucial limitations in studies using rice flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, λ-oryzanol and phytic acid appear to be the appropriateness of the substance tested (i.e., purity), and the scarcity of animal and human interventions. In a second part, rice antioxidants are reviewed with an emphasis on their composition and contents. Taking into account the bioavailability of these compounds, it is evident that a number of factors affect the antioxidant composition of rice, making it difficult to estimate dietary intake. Before harvest, factors including soil type, atmospheric CO2, chemical inputs, temperature, and degree of ripening are important. After harvest, rice is subjected to processing methods that include drying, parboiling, storage, irradiation, milling, stabilization, soaking, germination, fermentation, boiling, steaming, roasting, baking, and extrusion. Quantitative knowledge about the effects of these processes is summarized in this review. Surprisingly, a high level of agreement was found among study results, which could be useful in manipulating the growing and processing techniques of rice grains to facilitate efficient and safe consumption of antioxidant compounds.

Comparison of five agro-industrial waste-based composts as growing media for lettuce: Effect on yield, phenolic compounds and vitamin C.

Overall phenolic content in plants is on average higher in organic farming, including when renewable resources such as composts are used as soil amendments. In most cases, however, the composting process needs to be optimized to reach the desired outcome. Using composts obtained from chestnut, red and white grapes, olive and broccoli wastes, the relative antioxidative abilities of lettuces cultivated in greenhouse were examined. Results clearly coupled high phenolic levels with high yield in lettuce grown on the chestnut-based compost. A huge accumulation of phenolics was observed with the white grape-based compost, but this coincided with low yield. Three compounds were identified as discriminating factors between treated samples, namely quercetin 3-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, and cyanidin 3-O-(6″-malonyl)-ß-d-glucoside; these are also some of the compounds receiving health claims on lettuce consumption. On a negative note, all composts led to decreased vitamin C levels. Collectively, the data suggest that compost amendments can help add value to lettuce by increasing its antioxidant activity as compared to other organic resources.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), a renewed multipurpose crop for a more sustainable agri-food system: nutritional advantages and constraints.

The growing awareness of the relevance of food composition for human health has increased the interest of the inclusion of high proportions of fruits and vegetables in diets. To reach the objective of more balanced diets, an increased consumption of legumes, which constitutes a sustainable source of essential nutrients, particularly low-cost protein, is of special relevance. However, the consumption of legumes also entails some constraints that need to be addressed to avoid a deleterious impact on consumers' wellbeing and health. The value of legumes as a source of nutrients depends on a plethora of factors, including genetic characteristics, agro-climatic conditions, and postharvest management that modulate the dietary effect of edible seeds and vegetative material. Thus, more comprehensive information regarding composition, especially their nutritional and anti-nutritional compounds, digestibility, and alternative processing procedures is essential. These were the challenges to write this review, which focusses on the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, an emerging crop all over the world intended to provide a rational support for the development of valuable foods and feeds of increased commercial value. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rice antioxidants: phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid.

Epidemiological studies suggested that the low incidence of certain chronic diseases in rice-consuming regions of the world might be associated with the antioxidant compound contents of rice. The molecules with antioxidant activity contained in rice include phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid. This review provides information on the contents of these compounds in rice using a food composition database built from compiling data from 316 papers. The database provides access to information that would have otherwise remained hidden in the literature. For example, among the four types of rice ranked by color, black rice varieties emerged as those exhibiting the highest antioxidant activities, followed by purple, red, and brown rice varieties. Furthermore, insoluble compounds appear to constitute the major fraction of phenolic acids and proanthocyanidins in rice, but not of flavonoids and anthocyanins. It is clear that to maximize the intake of antioxidant compounds, rice should be preferentially consumed in the form of bran or as whole grain. With respect to breeding, japonica rice varieties were found to be richer in antioxidant compounds compared with indica rice varieties. Overall, rice grain fractions appear to be rich sources of antioxidant compounds. However, on a whole grain basis and with the exception of γ-oryzanol and anthocyanins, the contents of antioxidants in other cereals appear to be higher than those in rice.