Lithothamnium calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug seaweed adsorbs aflatoxin B1 in vitro and improves broiler chicken's performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption capacity of the seaweed Lithothamnium calcareum in vitro and to prevent aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. In vitro adsorption assays were performed at a single AFB1 concentration (1 µg/mL) and four seaweed concentrations (0.50, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/mL) at pH 3 and pH 6. The maximum adsorption was obtained at the lowest seaweed content (0.62 and 0.78 µg/mg). Male broiler chickens (256) were housed in metallic cages. Experimental diets were T1 (control), 18 µg/kg AFB1; T2, 18 µg/kg AFB1 and 0.2% L. calcareum (2.0 kg/ton); T3, 1018 µg/kg AFB1; and T4, 1018 µg/kg AFB1 and 0.2% L. calcareum. Performance parameters (live weight, weight gain and feed conversion rate) improved when seaweed was applied. The aspartate-aminotransferase and alanine-aminotransferase levels tend to decrease in birds receiving only seaweed, also the uric acid levels reduced significantly (P Ë‚ 0.05), while birds receiving only AFB1 increased the biochemical parameter levels. The livers from animals fed with AFB1 showed histopathological alterations with disorganization of periportal hepatocytes, necrosis with multifocal coagulation and mild fat degeneration; the livers from T4 had normal appearance. Lithothamnium calcareum was able to prevent aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens and also improved their zootechnical performance.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective effect of peptides produced by hydrolysis of whey protein concentrate with trypsin.

Whey protein is one of the most relevant co-products manufactured by the dairy industry and it is a powerful environmental pollutant. Therefore, the enzymatic hydrolysis of whey protein concentrate (WPC 35) to produce antioxidant peptides is an innovative approach which can provide added value to whey. The WPC 35 hydrolysis with trypsin was carried out for 4.31 h at 41.1 °C with an enzyme/substrate ratio of 0.017. Under such hydrolysis conditions, the peptides produced have the highest radical scavenging activity and cytoprotector effect. The WPC hydrolysate and a permeate ≤3 kDa were characterized by SDS-page, RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. Furthermore, O2•- and HO• scavenging activity and the cytoprotective effect against a stress agent in epithelial cells of the rat ileum (IEC-18) were determined. In this study, strong antioxidant and cytoprotective peptides were obtained from a low-cost dairy industry product, which could improve consumers' health when used as functional ingredients.