Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species.

This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.

Biochemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects of Three Fermented Plants Beverages on Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice.

Functional beverages play an essential role in our modern life and contribute to nutritional well-being. Current efforts to understand and develop functional beverages to promote health and wellness have been enhanced. The present study aimed to investigate the production of three fermented plants beverages (FPBs) from aromatic and medicinal plants and to evaluate the fermented product in terms of physio-biochemical composition, the aromatic compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vivo protective effects on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results showed that the fermented beverage NurtBio B had the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins; 242.3 ± 12.4 µg GAE/mL, 106.4 ± 7.3 µg RE/mL and 94.2 ± 5.1 µg CE/mL, respectively. The aromatic profiles of the fermented beverages showed thirty-one interesting volatile compounds detected by GC-MS headspace analyses such as benzaldehyde, Eucalyptol, Fenchone, 3-Octadecyne, Estragole, and Benzene propanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester. In addition, the fermentation process was significantly improved, indicating its great potential as a functional food with both strong antioxidant activity and good flavor. In vivo administration of CCl4 in mice induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by a significant rise in the levels of serum liver and kidney biomarkers. The protective effects of the FPBs showed that they significantly restored the majority of these biological parameters to normal levels, along with increase antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as an improvement of histopathological changes, suggesting their protective effects.

The effects of carbon nitrogen ratio and salinity on the treatment of swine digestion effluent simultaneously producing bioenergy by microalgae biofilm.

In order to remove high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and refractory sulfamethazine (SM2) from swine digestion effluent, different carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios and salinity were used to determine the effects of pollutants removal in the microalgae biofilm system. Microalgae biofilm treatment under optimal environmental conditions in synthetic swine digestion effluent were C/N ratio of 20 and salinity of 140 mM. In order to make the actual swine digestion effluent discharge up to the standard, three different two-cycle treatments (suspended microalgae, microalgae biofilm, microalgae biofilm under the optimal conditions) were studied. The results showed that after two-cycle treatment with microalgae biofilm under the optimal conditions, the actual swine digestion effluent levels of total nitrogen (TN), NH4+-N, total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), SM2 were 22.65, 9.32, 4.11, 367.28, and 0.99 mg L-1, respectively, which could satisfy the discharge standards for livestock and poultry wastewater in China. At the same time, first-order kinetic simulation equations suggested a degradation half-life of 4.85 d for SM2 under optimal conditions in microalgae biofilm, and microbial community analysis indicated that the dominant genus was Halomonas. Furthermore, 35.66% of lipid, 32.56% of protein and 18.44% of polysaccharides were harvested after two-cycle in microalgae biofilm treatment under optimal environmental conditions. These results indicated that the regulation of C/N and salinity in microalgae biofilm for the treatment of swine digestion effluent was a high-efficiency strategy to simultaneously achieve wastewater treatment and bioenergy production.

Characterization of the Difference between Day and Night Temperatures on the Growth, Photosynthesis, and Metabolite Accumulation of Tea Seedlings.

Currently, the effects of the differences between day and night temperatures (DIFs) on tea plant are poorly understood. In order to investigate the influence of DIFs on the growth, photosynthesis, and metabolite accumulation of tea plants, the plants were cultivated under 5 °C (25/20 °C, light/dark), 10 °C (25/15 °C, light/dark), and 15 °C (25/10 °C, light/dark). The results showed that the growth rate of the new shoots decreased with an increase in the DIFs. There was a downward trend in the photosynthesis among the treatments, as evidenced by the lowest net photosynthetic rate and total chlorophyll at a DIF of 15 °C. In addition, the DIFs significantly affected the primary and secondary metabolites. In particular, the 10 °C DIF treatment contained the lowest levels of soluble sugars, tea polyphenols, and catechins but was abundant in caffeine and amino acids, along with high expression levels of theanine synthetase (TS3) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT). Furthermore, the transcriptome data revealed that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, flavone/flavonol biosyntheses, flavonoid biosynthesis, etc. Therefore, we concluded that a DIF of 10 °C was suitable for the protected cultivation of tea plants in terms of the growth and the quality of a favorable flavor of tea, which provided a scientific basis for the protected cultivation of tea seedlings.

Chemical and biochemical characterization of Ipomoea aquatica: genoprotective potential and inhibitory mechanism of its phytochemicals against α-amylase and α-glucosidase.

Ipomea aquatica, also known as water spinach, is an aquatic non-conventional leafy vegetable and is considered a healthy and seasonal delicacy in ethnic food culture. The study revealed the presence of rich chemical and biochemical composition in I. aquatica and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the plant extracts demonstrated significant DNA damage prevention activity against UV/H2O2-induced oxidative damage. High-resolution mass spectrometric analysis by UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS resulted in the identification of over 65 different compounds and 36 important secondary metabolites. Most of the compounds identified represented polyphenolic compounds, viz. polyphenol glycosides and phenolic acids, followed by alkaloids and terpenoids. A UPLC-DAD method was developed and quantified for 10 different polyphenolic compounds. Out of all the metabolites examined, a significant number of compounds were reported to have various bioactive properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, hepatoprotection, and anti-depressant effects. The plant extracts were found to contain various compounds, including euphornin, lucidenic acid, and myricitin glycosides, which possess significant medicinal value. Metabolite analysis utilizing GC-MS revealed the presence of various fatty acids, amino acids, sugars, and organic acids. The analysis revealed the presence of essential unsaturated fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid as well as beneficial substances such as squalene., The evaluation of glycemic control activity was carried out by comprehending the inhibitory potential of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, outlining the kinetics of the inhibition process. The inhibitory activities were compared to those of acarbose and revealed stronger inhibition of α-glucosidase as compared to α-amylase. Furthermore, the mechanism of inhibition was determined using in silico analysis, which involved molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation of the identified IA phytochemicals complexed with the hydrolase enzymes. The study generates convincing evidence that dietary intake of I. aquatica provides a positive influence on glycemic control along with various health-protective and health-promoting benefits.

Enrichment and Distribution of Selenium in Pediococcus acidilactici MRS-7: Impact on Its Biochemical Composition, Microstructure, and Gastrointestinal Survival.

Lactic acid bacteria can convert selenium (Se) from inorganic to organic and elemental forms, but the distribution and existence form of organic Se in the bacteria are not clear after Se enrichment, and the effects of selenization on the growth and nutritional value of strains also need to be studied. In this study, Pediococcus acidilactici MRS-7 could absorb up to 67% of inorganic Se and convert most of it into organic Se; about 75% of organic Se was selenoprotein, 2.7% was Se-polysaccharide, and 4.6% was Se-nucleic acid. Additionally, Se-enriched treatment increased the levels of amino acids and essential elements in P. acidilactici MRS-7. Finally, after Se enrichment, Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) were found on the surface of P. acidilactici MRS-7, but they had no harmful effect on its morphology, and its survival during gastrointestinal digestion was not affected, indicating that SeP has potential probiotic value in the food industry.

Age-related alterations in the nutritional quality of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus).

The biochemical composition of the muscle in Arctic graylings at three age stages was evaluated and compared. For conventional biochemical composition, there was no significant difference in the crude protein content among the three age stages, but the crude fat content in the 1 year old was significantly lower than that of the others (P < 0.05). For amino acids composition, there was no significant difference in the content of essential amino acids and delicious amino acids among the three age stages, but the essential amino acid index of the 2 year old was the highest (72.205), indicating that its essential amino acid composition was more suitable for human needs. For fatty acids composition, the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (2.759 mg/g) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (3.422 mg/g) of the 3 year old was significantly higher than that of the others (P < 0.05), and it also had relatively lowest atherogenicity index (0.419) and thrombogenicity index (0.179) and the highest hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic fatty acid ratio (2.404), indicating that its fatty acid composition was healthier and more beneficial to the prevention of human cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For minerals composition, the contents of iron, zinc, and copper increased with age, while the contents of selenium and manganese decreased with age, with the highest selenium content in the 1 year old (1.522 mg/kg). The chromium, arsenic, lead, and cadmium contents were all lower than the Chinese national standard. In conclusion, the nutritional composition of Arctic graylings variated with age and consumers could select suitable Arctic graylings based on their nutritional needs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This work analyzed the nutritional components in the muscle of Arctic graylings at different ages, which can provide an effective reference for consumers when purchasing Arctic graylings.

Possibilities of Using Medicinal Plant Extracts and Salt-Containing Raw Materials from the Aral Region for Cosmetic Purposes.

The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using medicinal plants in combination with salt-containing raw materials from the Aral Sea region for cosmetic purposes. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of salts occurring in this region were studied for pharmacological and cosmetic purposes. The salt-containing raw materials were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microflora of saline-containing raw materials and flora of the Zhaksy-Klych lake were studied. Fifty-six plant species were identified, of which 25% belong to the Asteraceae family, 32% were Poaceae, 22% were Amaranthaceae, and 21% were Tamaricaceae. Using the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography−mass spectrometry, the composition of volatile compounds in such plant species as Artemisia alba L., Achilleamillifolium L., Eleagus commutate Bernh. Ex Rydb., Psoraleadrupacea Bunge, Artemisia cipa O. Vegd., Thymus vulgaris L., Morus alba L., Salvia pratensis L., Glycyrhizaglabra L., Tanacetum vulgare L., Polygonumaviculare L., Alhagipseudoalhagi Gagnebin and Peganumharmala L., chosen on the basis of their herbal components for future cosmetic products, was determined. In total, 187 different volatile compounds were found in the endemic plant species Glycyrrhizaglabra L., of which the following were dominant: 1,7-octadiene-3-, 2,6-dimethyl- with a peak area of 4.71%; caryophyllenes; bicyclo[7.2.0]4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-, [1R-(1R*,4E,9S*)]­3.70%; bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane-2-1,7,7-trimethyl-,(1S)­3.46%; cyclohexanone, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyledene)-; 2-isopropyledene-5­2.97%; menthol; cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-; p-menthane-3-ol; menthol alcohol; and 2-isopropyl-5­2.08%. The remaining compounds were detected in amounts of less than 2.0%. Tests of seven cosmetic compositions developed on the basis of plant extracts and salt-containing raw materials revealed that three samples had a moisturizing effect. Launching the production of cosmetic products in the Aral region will not only reduce social tensions but also significantly improve the environmental situation in the region.

Biochemical composition, antimicrobial and antifungal activities assessment of the fermented medicinal plants extract using lactic acid bacteria.

To prevent foodborne diseases and extend shelf life, antimicrobial agents may be used in food to inhibit the growth of undesired microorganisms. The present study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the fermented medicinal plants extract using Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356. The fermentation kinetic parameters, biochemical composition and the volatile compounds of the fermented plant extract were assessed. The results showed that, the fermented plants extract exhibited high content in polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins (152.7 mg AGE/L; 93.6 mg RE/L; and 62.1 mg CE/L, respectively) comparing to non-fermented the extract. The GC-MS headspace analyses showed the presence of 24 interesting volatile compounds. The richness of the fermented plants extracts in polyphenols and bioactive compound, such as Eucalyptol, Camphene, α-Phellandrene, α-Terpinene, improves their biological activity. In addition, the fermented plants extract exhibited a high antimicrobial potential against pathogenic bacteria and fungi determined by different methods. The maximum inhibition showed in the fermented plants extract against Escherichia coli 25922/3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853 ATCC, Staphylococcus aureus 29213 ATCC, Enterococcus aerogenes 13048 ATCC, Phytophthora infestans P3 4/91 R + , P. infestans P4 20/01 R, P. infestans (GL-1). The obtained results support the hypothesis of using lactic fermentation as a functional ingredient to improve food preservation. The bioprocesses of fermentation technology enhance antimicrobial and antifungal activities which could be used in different industrial applications.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of Thymus capitatus, a Medicinal Plant Collected from Northern Morocco.

Thymus capitatus is a Mediterranean endemic plant commonly known as "Zaïtra" in northern Morocco. As T. capitatus is widely used in traditional medicine and food, this present work aims to investigate the chemical compositions and biological activities of the T. capitatus leaves essential oil (TcLEO), acetonic (TcLAE), and methanolic extract (TcLME). The spectrophotometric determination demonstrated that T. capitatus is a natural source rich in phenolic contents (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) and that TcLME revealed the highest TPC and TFC than TcLAE and TcLEO. The LC-MS analysis of phenolic compounds showed that paraben acid was predominant in both TcLME and TcLAE, followed by cinnamic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. GC-MS analysis of the TcLEO revealed the presence of a total of 10 compounds, which were predominated by carvacrol. The antioxidant activity by ORAC was observed to be significantly higher in TcLEO and TcLAE than in TcLME. All samples used to assess DNA degradation effectively prevented DNA oxidation and, at the same time, had a prooxidant effect. The genotoxicity test showed that the T. capitatus were devoid of any mutagenic activity. Concerning antifungal activity, all samples were able to inhibit the growth of all microorganisms tested at low concentrations. TcLAE showed higher activity than TcLME, and in general, dermatophytes were more susceptible, being Microsporum canis the most sensitive one. Overall, the results obtained from this study confirm the wide uses of T. capitatus. Furthermore, the finding results suggest that the T. capitatus essential oil and extracts can be highly useful for pharmaceutical industries.

An overview of microalgae biomass as a sustainable aquaculture feed ingredient: food security and circular economy.

Sustainable management of natural resources is critical to food security. The shrimp feed and fishery sector is expanding rapidly, necessitating the development of alternative sustainable components. Several factors necessitate the exploration of a new source of environmentally friendly and nutrient-rich fish feed ingredients. Microalgal biomass has the potential to support the growth of fish and shrimp aquaculture for global food security in the bio-economy. Algal biorefineries must valorize the whole crop to develop a viable microalgae-based economy. Microalgae have the potential to replace fish meal and fish oil in aquaculture and ensure sustainability standards. Microalgae biomasses provide essential amino acids, valuable triglycerides such as lipids, vitamins, and pigments, making them suitable as nutritional supplements in livestock feed formulations. Fish and microalgae have similar nutritional profiles, and digestibility is a critical aspect of the aquafeed formulation. A highly digestible feed reduces production costs, feed waste, and the risk of eutrophication. Due to low input costs, low carbon footprint, wastewater treatment benefits, and carbon credits from industrial CO2 conversion, microalgae-based fish and shrimp feeds have the potential to provide significant economic benefits. However, several challenges must be addressed before microalgal biomass and bioproducts may be used as fish feeds, including heavy metal bioaccumulation, poor algal biomass digestion, and antinutrient effects. Knowledge of biochemical composition is limited and diverse, and information on nutritional value is scattered or contradictory. This review article presents alternative approaches that could be used in aquaculture to make microalgal biomass a viable alternative to fish meal.

Bioeffects of static magnetic fields on the growth and metabolites of C. pyrenoidosa and T. obliquus.

Microalgae is one of the most potential materials for biofuels and dietary supplements. However, the high cost of cultivation has always restrained its commercial application. Static magnetic fields (SMF), with the advantages of low operational cost and non-toxic secondary pollution, exhibits great potential in the promotion to the microalgal growth and metabolism. In this study, the dynamic patterns on the biomass and metabolites including pigment, protein, carbohydrate, lipid and fatty acids of C. pyrenoidosa and T. obliquus under 30 mT SMF for 15 days at 24 h·d-1 were explored. Results demonstrated that SMF triggered the growth of C. pyrenoidosa and T. obliquus by 32.8% and 31.5%, respectively. SMF significantly stimulated protein synthesis by 44.3%, whereas decreased carbohydrate by 19.7% and lipid by 23.4% in C. pyrenoidosa (p < 0.05), indicating that SMF was a promising approach for inducing intracellular carbon partition to the protein synthetic pathway. The carbohydrate content exhibited a significant lower by 43.7% in T. obliquus under SMF than that of the control (p < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed in either the protein or the lipid. SMF applied for the two microalgae had negative effects on the fatty acids (MUFAs, PUFAs, and TFAs). The results indicated that SMF could not only significantly accelerate the growth of the two microalgae, but also influence their metabolites.

Jellyfish from Fisheries By-Catches as a Sustainable Source of High-Value Compounds with Biotechnological Applications.

The world's population growth and consequent increased demand for food, energy and materials together with the decrease of some natural resources have highlighted the compelling need to use sustainably existing resources and find alternative sources to satisfy the needs of growing and longer-aging populations. In this review, we explore the potential use of a specific fisheries by-catch, jellyfish, as a sustainable source of high-value compounds. Jellyfish are often caught up with fish into fishing gear and nets, then sorted and discarded. Conversely, we suggest that this by-catch may be used to obtain food, nutraceutical products, collagen, toxins and fluorescent compounds to be used for biomedical applications and mucus for biomaterials. These applications are based on studies which indicate the feasibility of using jellyfish for biotechnology. Because jellyfish exhibit seasonal fluctuations in abundance, jellyfish by-catches likely follow the same pattern. Therefore, this resource may not be constantly available throughout the year, so the exploitation of the variable abundances needs to be optimized. Despite the lack of data about jellyfish by-catches, the high value of their compounds and their wide range of applications suggest that jellyfish by-catches are a resource which is discarded at present, but needs to be re-evaluated for exploitation within the context of a circular economy in the era of zero waste.

Comparison of LPO-AOS Indices and Biochemical Composition of Animal Blood in Biogeochemical Provinces with Different Levels of Selenium.

The paper aims to compare parameters of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system, as well as blood biochemical composition in infertile cows from groups that differ in terms of selenium content in agrocoenosis. Forty-five black-motley and red-motley breeds in each region were selected for the experiment; the groups were formed on the basis of the pathology, 15 animals each. The level of microelements in the blood of animals from all groups in the selenium-deficient biogeochemical province is significantly reduced by 38.4-41.7% (P < 0.05). In these cows, the concentration of malondialdehyde increased significantly, by 1.5-2.1 times (P < 0.05), against the background of decrease in the activity of glutathione antioxidant defense: glutathione peroxidase by 9.4-32.1% (P < 0.05), glutathione reductase by 2.4-2.6 times (P < 0.05), also superoxide dismutase and catalase in some groups. In the groups of infertile animals with lowered selenium content in blood, the author found an increase in enzymes' activity (P < 0.05): alanine aminotransferase by 25.6-52.6%, aspartate aminotransferase by 17.8% in cysts and by 44.3% in ovarian hypofunction, gamma-glutamyltransferase by 18.3% in ovarian hypofunction. In addition, the calcium content in the blood of cows was reduced by 8.1-14.0% (P < 0.05) when selenium levels were lowered. In combination with elevated levels of urea and urea/creatinine ratio, the above may be evidence of pathological processes in muscle, liver, and kidney tissues. Thus, the author traced the dependence of the balance of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system on the microelement level, as well as the effect of low selenium provision of animals in biogeochemical provinces on the biochemical composition of their blood.

Physiological status of broiler chickens with diets supplemented with milk thistle extract.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In recent decades, the use of various feed supplements is the current trend in poultry farming, among which phytogenics serve as alternatives to feed antibiotics. This study aimed to examine the effect of feeding various doses of milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum) on the morphological and biochemical parameters of the blood in broiler chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were carried out in an industrial poultry farm on broiler chickens of the Hubbard ISA F15 cross for 40 days. One control group and five experimental groups of day-old chickens were formed. The number of birds in each group was 50. Broilers of all groups received complete feed, and the experimental groups received an additional milk thistle extract at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg of body weight. Milk thistle medicinal plant extract was obtained using water-ethanol extraction followed by low-temperature vacuum drying. For the assessment of blood analyses, samples were collected from the wing vein of six chickens per group. Using unified methods recommended by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, the content of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, total protein, protein fractions, triglycerides, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, and the concentration of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the blood serum were determined. RESULTS: It was found that the introduction of milk thistle extract into the diet of broiler chickens with the aforementioned doses increased the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells in the blood, as well as a decrease in the level of albumin and an increase in the content of γ-globulins in its serum. CONCLUSION: The authors assume that the introduction of milk thistle extract into a complete feed for broiler chickens increased the anabolic processes in their bodies, accompanied by increased use of proteins of the albumin fraction as the main material for organogenesis.

Nutritional quality variation in dried Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) using hybrid-pump dryer under different heating treatment.

This study explored the potential of using hybrid pump dryer (HPD) to utilize overproduction in aquaculture of oysters, especially during winter. HPD-dried oysters maybe used as amendments for kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish, for possible nutrient source and flavor enhancer. Oysters were subjected to different heating treatments and evaluated for proximate composition, quality characteristics, and antioxidant activities. Lower lipid and higher glycogen content were observed in HPD-dried oysters processed than the samples dried with hot air (HAD). HPD-dried oysters also exhibited lesser browning activity, better surface color, and higher antioxidant activities. Ash, protein, and water activity were slightly affected by heating treatment. VBN and TBARS were found to be higher in HAD-dried oysters, indicating faster spoilage. Applying heat pattern in drying resulted to improved quality characteristics and antioxidant activities and slower degradation of dried oyster products compared to their single-temperature-drying counterparts, especially those dried at high temperatures.

Effect of pluronic block polymers and N-acetylcysteine culture media additives on growth rate and fatty acid composition of six marine microalgae species.

The efficiency of microalgal biomass production is a determining factor for the economic competitiveness of microalgae-based industries. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and pluronic block polymers are two compounds of interest as novel culture media constituents because of their respective protective properties against oxidative stress and shear-stress-induced cell damage. Here we quantify the effect of NAC and two pluronic (F127 and F68) culture media additives upon the culture productivity of six marine microalgal species of relevance to the aquaculture industry (four diatoms-Chaetoceros calcitrans, Chaetoceros muelleri, Skeletonema costatum, and Thalassiosira pseudonana; two haptophytes-Tisochrysis lutea and Pavlova salina). Algal culture performance in response to the addition of NAC and pluronic, singly or combined, is dosage- and species-dependent. Combined NAC and pluronic F127 algal culture media additives resulted in specific growth rate increases of 38%, 16%, and 24% for C. calcitrans, C. muelleri, and P. salina, respectively. Enhanced culture productivity for strains belonging to the genus Chaetoceros was paired with an ~27% increase in stationary-phase cell density. For some of the species examined, culture media enrichments with NAC and pluronic resulted in increased omega-3-fatty acid content of the algal biomass. Larval development (i.e., growth and survival) of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) was not changed when fed a mixture of microalgae grown in NAC- and F127-supplemented culture medium. Based upon these results, we propose that culture media enrichment with NAC and pluronic F127 is an effective and easily adopted approach to increase algal productivity and enhance the nutritional quality of marine microalgal strains commonly cultured for live-feed applications in aquaculture. KEY POINTS: • Single and combined NAC and pluronic F127 culture media supplementation significantly enhanced the productivity of Chaetoceros calcitrans and Chaetoceros muelleri cultures. • Culture media enrichments with NAC and F127 can increase omega-3-fatty acid content of algal biomass. • Microalgae grown in NAC- and pluronic F127-supplemented culture media are suitable for live-feed applications.

Insight into nitrogen and phosphorus coupling effects on mixotrophic Chlorella vulgaris growth under stably controlled nutrient conditions.

In water environment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are biochemically dependent nutrients following the co-limitation concept for algae growth under mixotrophic mode. From a practical viewpoint, algae growth may not bring about significant change of the background nutrient concentration of an actual waterbody in contrast to a conventional batch system. In order to better understand the growth pattern of microalgae in aquatic environments, a series of experiments were conducted under stably controlled N-P levels for studying the N-P coupling effect on mixotrophic Chlorella vulgaris growth process, with attention paid to the physiological and biochemical characteristics. It was found that within the concentration range of N = 1-8 mg·L-1 and P = 0.1-1.0 mg·L-1, the variation of the N-P level slightly affected the specific growth rate, but significantly influenced nutrients uptake, biomass dry weight, chlorophyll contents of the grown C. vulgaris. The biochemical and elemental composition of the microalgae tended to be more sensitive to the N-P concentrations and ratios in the lower nutrient range (1-2 mg N·L-1, 0.1-0.4 mg P·L-1) in which the highest N and P conversion rates were gained as 90.18 ± 1.23% and 60.47 ± 1.59%, respectively. The P assimilation and conversion efficiencies were much affected by both N and P supplies, while the P supply showed little influence on N assimilation and conversion efficiencies. It was also noticed that the N level greatly affected the metabolic pathway involving nutrient assimilation, carbohydrate fixation and monosaccharide profile, resulting in conversion of the dominant fraction of protein at N ≤ 2 mg·L-1 into other biochemical compositions including lipids at N ≥ 3 mg·L-1. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition tended to differ with varied nutrient levels. These findings may deepen our understanding of algal growth in aquatic environment and provide perspective for eutrophication control.

A study of biochemical composition, antibacterial activity and mineral elements content for Lancea tibetica / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background@#Plants have played a significant role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life for thousands of years and have served humans as valuable components of seasonings, beverages, cosmetics, dyes and medicines. There are a number of medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine in the Mongolia to form “tan” prescriptions which are mostly consist of the mixture of individual medicinal plants and used by nomads during the long history for their health care as medicines. Lancea tibetica (Scrophulariaceae) is a traditional herbal medicinal plant in Mongolia, China and Tibetan. In Mongolian traditional medicine, L.tibetica different exclusive forms of preparations are effective for treatment of some disorders such as pulmonary, cough and heart disease. @*Aim@#This study aim was to define the biochemical some composition antibacterial activity and mineral elements content in air-dried samples Lancea tibetica of Mongolia. @*Material and Method@#The antibacterial activity and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was collected of the seed, aboveground part and root for the Lancea tibetica. From three different organs of plant Lancea tibetica was collected of the Tsenkher district Arkhangai province (2017.07.28) and Tunel district Khuvsgul province (2018.08.27) were evaluated by means of the Disk diffusion method against five bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis). We have taken extracts of plant 3 organs from organic solvent (7) ethyl acetate, hexane, n-butanol, methanol, chloroform, ethanol and distilled water for antibacterial activity. MIC of the extracts were defined and compared with each other. The macro-and microelements were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometer analysis (XRFA).@*@#@*Result@#We have taken a dried seed, aboveground part and root of Lancea tibetica in the investigation. In these three samples were determined biochemical composition of 11 components for quantitative analysis: moisture was 6.2±0.2%, ash 4.8%, protein content was 1.67±0.1%, raw oil 5.9±0.3%, reduction sugar 0.39±0.1%, vitamin Р 16.6±1.8 mg%, extractive substances 18.6±0.2%, tanning matter 0.05±0.02% and flavonoids 0.2±0.01% in seed. The same moisture was 6.7±0.4%, ash 9.7%, protein content 1.89±0.2%, raw oil 6.1±0.8%, reduction sugar 0.52±0.1%, vitamin С 3.52±2.2mg%, vitamin Р (rutin) 20.3±0.2mg%, carotene 12.8mg%, extractive substances 16.8±0.1%, tanning matter 0.08±0.01% and flavonoids 0.6±0.24% in aboveground part. Besides this, in root: the moisture was 6.1±0.3%, ash was 14.9%, protein content was 2.1±0.3%, raw oil was 2.9±0.2%, reduction sugar 0.62±0.02%, vitamin Р 17.8±0.05mg%, extractive substances 20.3±0.4%, tanning matter was 0.06±0.03%, flavonoid was 0.35±0.002%. Besides this, we revealed the saponin by method quality analysis in aerial part and root of Lancea tibetica. But not triterpenoid saponin in seed. The same not revealed alkaloid all the samples. </br> Eighteen extracts (5mg/disc) of three organs (seed, aerial parts and root) showed antibacterial activity diverse. The MIC in ethanol and butanol extracts of seed, aboveground part and root was more than others. </br> From thoroughly air-dried aboveground part samples of Lancea tibetica from Tsenkher district of Arkhangai province and Tunel district of Khuvsgul province. We determined the 43 mineral elements. 11 elements were defined by percentage, 10 elements were oxide forms (SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CaO, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O, MnO, P₂O₅) of them. Other elements were defined by mg/kg unit. The same heavy metallic, mobile elements (Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co) and rare earth elements (Ce, La, Nd, Pr, Sm) were determined.@*Conclusion@#In the result of this research work to determine the content of biologically active substances in Lancea tibetica. Plants produce a great variety of organic compounds that are not directly involved in primary metabolic processes of ground and development. Study of the biochemistry of plant natural products has many practical applications. Various detectable contents of useful or macronutrient and micronutrient oxide was found in the ash of aerial parts. Some macronutrient and micronutrient elements were detected by oxide forms.

Aquaculture biological waste as culture medium to cultivation of Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Reinsch) Korshikov / Resíduos biológicos de aquicultura como meio de cultura para o cultivo de Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Reinsch) Korshikov

Abstract Current study investigated the effectiveness of different macrophytes as culture media for Ankistrodesmus gracilis in laboratory conditions. Significant difference (p < 0.05) was reported in cell density with regard to conventional culture medium (CHU12) and macrophytes culture media. Mean cell density in NPK, Eichhornia crassipes and E. azurea media was higher (p < 0.05) than in conventional culture medium. Chlorophyll-a was higher than 1 g.L-1, except in CHU12 (0.7 ± 0.4 g.L-1) and T. domingensis (0.8 ± 0.3 g.L-1) media. Nitrate decreased sharply as from the 7th-day of the experiment. Ammonium and total phosphorus were highest in culture media and ranged between 0.4 g.L-1 (P. cordata medium) and 1.7 g.L-1 (CHU12 medium) for ammonium, and between 0.8 g.L-1 (CHU12 medium) and 1.9 g.L-1 (T. domingensis medium) for total phosphorus. Results revealed inorganic fertilizer and macrophytes combined with vitamins may be effective as culture media and strongly supports the growth of Ankistrodesmus gracilis, since cell density and biochemical composition are similar to or higher than conventional culture medium (CHU12). Macrophyte is a tool for aquaculture since biological wastes may be used with nutrients to improve the cultivation of microalgae.

Resumo O presente estudo investigou a eficácia na utilização de diferentes macrófitas como meio de cultura para Ankistrodesmus gracilis em condições laboratoriais. Foi observada diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre a densidade celular em relação aos meios de cultura convencional (CHU12) e de macrófitas. Os meios de cultura com Eichhornia crassipes, E. azurea e NPK apresentaram densidade celular maiores (p < 0,05) que o meio de cultura convencional. Os teores de clorofila-a foram superiores a 1 g.L-1, exceto nos meios de cultura CHU12 (0.7 ± 0.4 g.L-1) e de T. domingensis (0.7 ± 0.3 g.L-1). O nitrato diminuiu acentuadamente a partir do 7º dia de experimento. Dentre os nutrientes, amônia e o fósforo total foram os mais elevados nos meios de cultura, variando entre 0.4 g.L-1 (meio de P. cordata) a 1,7 g.L-1 (meio CHU12) para amônia e, entre 0.8 g.L-1 (meio CHU12) e 1,9 gL-1 (meio de T. domingensis) para o fósforo total. Os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que o uso de fertilizantes inorgânicos e macrófitas, combinados com vitaminas, pode ser eficaz como meio de cultura no crescimento de Ankistrodesmus gracilis, uma vez que a densidade celular e a composição bioquímica foram semelhantes ou superiores ao meio de cultura convencional (CHU12). As macrófitas são ferramentas a serem adotadas na aquicultura, desde que os resíduos biológicos podem ser usados como nutrientes para melhorar o cultivo de microalgas.