Effects of tannic acid and quebracho tannins on in vitro ruminal fermentation of wheat and corn grain

Current understanding of the effect of moderate amounts of tannins on the utilization of protein contained in forages indicates beneficial effects when fed to ruminants. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the effects of tannins on the ruminal hydrolysis of starch‐rich concentrates. Modulation of the hydrolysis of starch may reduce the occurrence of metabolic disorders, such as acidosis, in ruminants consuming high‐grain diets. The effects of commercial tannic acid (hydrolysable tannins) and quebracho tannins (condensed tannins) (50 g kg^?1 DM) on the in vitro fermentation of ground wheat and corn grains by mixed ruminal bacteria was examined. The architecture and chemical composition of wheat and corn endosperms might explain differences in fermentation rates, as well as in response to similar concentrations of tannins. Regardless of the source of tannin, microbial fermentation was inhibited in both grains, as demonstrated by a decline in gas production, DM disappearance, volatile fatty acids and ammonia production. However, these effects were more pronounced for wheat than corn grain, mostly during the initial stages of the incubation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that both sources of tannins inhibited the microbial hydrolysis of the endosperm protein matrix. Tannins did not prevent bacterial attachment to starch granules, but starch hydrolysis was slowed indirectly as a result of a tannin‐mediated reduction in the degradation of the surrounding protein matrix. Tannins are likely to be more effective at modulating the rate of starch digestion in grains that possess a readily degradable protein matrix. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ruminal degradation of tannin‐treated legume meals

The inefficiency of protein utilisation by ruminants fed protein concentrates (based on legume meals) causes serious economic loss and environmental damage owing to their rapid hydrolysis and deamination in the rumen. Thus efforts aimed at slowing the ruminal fermentation of such feeds are needed, and recent studies have observed potentially positive effects of tannins on ruminant nutrition under certain circumstances. Tannins are a complex group of naturally occurring plant polyphenols characterised by their ability to bind with proteins. This property of tannins is considered responsible for the decreased ruminal digestibility of forages both in vivo and in vitro. Under that perspective, commercial tannic acid was added at three proportions (10, 25 and 50 g kg^?1 on a dry matter basis) to four different legume meals (horse bean, kidney bean, soybean and pea), and the effect on in situ dry matter and crude protein ruminal disappearance was assessed. The results confirmed the dose‐dependent (although not persistent after 48 h) slowing of in situ digestibility, this effect being significant at the highest tannin treatment when compared with untreated samples. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that soybean seed endosperm cell walls were protected from digestion by the ruminal microbiota, while the digestion of starch granules was relatively unaffected by tannic acid. Electrophoresis of the protein fractions confirmed the lower digestibility of tannin‐treated seeds as well as the relative lack of alteration of the electrophoretic profile of individual proteins. Implications for the digestion of concentrates in ruminants are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of ruminal protein degradation of blood meal and feather meal on the intestinal amino acid supply to lactating cows

Four lactating cows fitted with ruminal cannulae and T-type cannulae in the proximal duodenum and terminal ileum were utilized to measure protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid flow to and absorption from the small intestine. Soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and a 50-50 combination of blood meal and feather meal provided 50% of the protein in diets that contained 50% grain mix, 40% corn silage, and 10% alfalfa pellets on a DM basis. Ruminal degradation of dietary CP was 53, 43, 32, and 37% for diets containing soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and the combination of meals. Cows fed the latter two diets also had lower ruminal NH3 concentrations and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis compared to those fed the soybean meal diet. Total tract N digestibility was lower for diets containing feather meal (63.4%) and a combination of meals (66.3%) than the soybean meal diet (78.5%). Total amino acid flow to the duodenum was 19.3 and 15.6% higher for cows fed the feather meal and combined meal diets, respectively, compared with the soybean meal diet. Total amino acid absorption from the small intestine was higher as well as absorption of individual amino acids for the combined meal diet compared with the soybean meal diet. Absorption of individual amino acids, expressed as a percentage entering the duodenum, was lowest for the feather meal diet. Results from this study show that feeding a combination of blood meal and feather meal instead of soybean meal can increase intestinal supply and absorption of amino acids in dairy cattle.     

Digestion in sheep of diets containing barley chemically treated to reduce its ruminal degradability

Nigerian processed cottonseed meal was substituted for 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % portions of dietary groundnut cake on an equi-protein basis. The diets were fed to 50 Large White and Large White × Landrace crossbed pigs from 13.9 kg average weight to 70 kg liveweight in a bi-replicate single-way classification trial. Average daily gain and average daily feed consumption were 0.51, 0.52, 0.53, 0.55 and 0.56 kg; and 1.67, 1.77, 1.85, 1.84 and 1.82 kg for the respective diets. Feed/gain ratios ranged from 3.25 to 3.49. No significant differences between diets were seen for either of these parameters. Neither the gross tissue nor the jointed carcass proportions were significantly affected by cottonseed meal substitutions. The mean fresh weights of the liver and lungs decreased with increasing levels of dietary cottonseed meal but the differences were not significant. None of the pigs showed symptoms of gossypol intoxication. The data suggest that some of the Nigerian-processed cottonseed meals can be combined in various proportions with groundnut cake to supply protein, or used singly, up to 20 %, in diets for weaner-grower pigs.     

Antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract against Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: The antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract (MOE) against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in a minced mutton system and the mechanisms of its antimicrobial activity were studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations. RESULTS: MOE inoculation effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus in minced mutton compared with that in control meat without MOE. The cell membrane of S. aureus treated with MOE showed structural disorganisation and cytoplasmic volume overflow. After 48 h of exposure to MOE, many S. aureus cells had completely collapsed. CONCLUSION: The antimicrobial mechanisms of MOE resulted mainly in cell membrane and wall damage, causing increased permeability of cell membranes or lysis of cell walls and loss of cellular constituents, impairment of structural components and changes in bacterial cell morphology. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Studies of the fracture surface of rice grains using environmental scanning electron microscopy

Raw and processed grains of rice (Oryza sativa) were examined using the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), which allows specimens to be imaged at high resolution with minimal preparation. Images were obtained for milled rice grains that were fractured along natural transverse fracture planes. The images showed two distinct features: a smooth surface, where the fracture plane is suggested to be between endosperm cells, and a rough, more disorganised surface, which is likely to correspond to the fracture plane passing through an endosperm cell. Individual starch granules exposed in the fractured surface ranged from 3 to 11 µm in diameter. The ESEM revealed morphological differences between grains of different varieties. Parboiled rice showed a glassy fracture surface in which features of endosperm cells and starch granules were clearly recognisable but smaller than those of uncooked rice grains. Rice grains that had been heated and puffed showed a complete loss of organisational structure. The ESEM was able to capture the effect of processing treatments on the organisational structure of the grains. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of pressure-shift freezing and conventional freezing on model food gels

Summary Gels of agar, starch, ovalbumin, gelatin and an industrial β-lactoglobulin protein isolate, were frozen conventionally in a −30 °C freezer and by pressure-shift freezing at 200 MPa at −15 °C. Thawing was carried out conventionally at 20 °C and by the application of a pressure of 200 MPa. The microscopic structure and mechanical properties of the thawed gels were compared with those of the initial gels. Microscopic examination showed that pressure-shift freezing produces smaller and more uniform ice crystal damage than conventional freezing at −30 °C. The results also suggest that the freeze-thaw behaviour of food gels can be categorized into two general types: (1) gels which have a reduced gel strength as a result of mechanical damage to the gel microstructure caused by ice crystal formation, and (2) gels which have an enhanced gel strength, as a result of molecular structural changes that take place in the frozen state. Agar and gelatin were found to be typical of type (1) gels, whereas starch, β-lactoglobulin protein isolate and ovalbumin were found to be typical of type (2) gels. In the case of starch, retrogradation during thawing was found to be the most important factor.     

Fermentation characteristics,aerobic stability and ruminal degradation of ensiled pea/wheat bi‐crop forages treated with two microbial inoculants,formic acid or quebracho tannins

This study evaluated the effects of two commonly used microbial inoculants (Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP)), formic acid (FA) and quebracho tannins (QT) on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in situ rumen degradation of pea/wheat bi‐crop forages. Precision‐chopped spring pea (Pisum sativum, var Magnus) and wheat (Triticum aestivum, var Axona) bi‐crops (3:1 pea/wheat ratio) harvested at a combined dry matter (DM) content of 301 g kg^?1 were used for the study. The bi‐crops were conserved without (Control) or with inoculants based on lactic acid bacteria (LB (10⁵ CFU g^?1 fresh weight (FW)) or LP (10⁶ CFU g^?1 FW)), QT (16 g kg^?1 FW) or FA (2.5 g kg^?1 FW) in laboratory silos of 1.5 kg capacity, with each treatment being replicated six times. The pH, chemical composition, aerobic stability and in situ rumen degradation of DM, nitrogen (N) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) after 112 days of ensilage were measured. The average pH at silo opening was 4.0, suggesting that the silages were well fermented. There were no significant effects of additive treatment on water‐soluble carbohydrate, total N, soluble N, ammonia N and NDF. Lactic acid and acetic acid were the main fermentation products. High concentrations of acetic acid were found in all the treatments, indicating a heterofermentative pathway. Although FA treatment gave the most aerobically stable silage, the Control and QT‐treated silages did not heat up by more than 1 °C until after 6 days of exposure to air. There were no effects of additives on DM degradation characteristics. However, the inoculants increased the rate of N and NDF degradation in the rumen, and both FA and QT reduced the effective and potential degradation of N. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

扫描电子显微镜原位观察可食用淀粉颗粒的超微形貌

通过扫描电子显微镜,对25种可食用淀粉颗粒的超微形貌进行原位观察,与经典工艺提纯的淀粉颗粒形貌对比,发现经典淀粉提纯工艺对淀粉颗粒的超微形貌几乎没有影响。另外,根据对各淀粉的生长环境的观察,发现生长空间对成熟谷物(小麦除外)淀粉颗粒形貌形成过程中有较大影响,而对豆类和根茎类食品原料没有影响。     

乳酸菌在不同食品包装材料生物膜形成特性

目的:研究乳酸菌在不同材料成膜情况。方法:用液体培养基在同一温度、时间,分别加入复合塑料包装材料(HDPE)、纸盒包装内层的复合铝膜、复合金属铝包装材料、玻璃4种不同包装材料上进行培养,6d后分别用分光光度计法和扫描电镜法检测成膜情况。结果:实验菌株乳酸菌有相对较弱的成膜能力:用分光光度法测得复合塑料包装材料(HDPE)上的菌膜吸光度相对较大,玻璃次之,复合金属铝包装材料数值最小;通过扫描电镜观察得出相似结果。结论:乳酸菌在复合塑料包装材料上成膜最好;在金属铝上成膜最差。     

The influence of inulin addition on the morphological and structural properties of durum wheat pasta

The effect of the addition of different concentration of inulin fibre to durum wheat pasta was evaluated in terms of structure, texture and morphological characteristics. Inulin fibre fraction was incorporated into pasta at 5%, 10% and 15% inclusion rates. Changes to pasta quality were observed with inulin fibre fraction addition by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy methods. Investigation of pasta microstructure indicate a lowering in crystallinity increasing the inulin content and characterisation of starch gelatinisation events indicated that a combination of changes to the starch–protein matrix and the high water-binding capacity of inulin alters the physico-chemical properties and then the digestibility of the pastas.     

Starch Characterisation of Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana Seeds

Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana are conifers that cover different areas of South America. Their seeds have been consumed from prehistoric times until today in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. In this work, the starch of Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana seeds were analysed by light and environmental scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. The starch granules of A. angustifolia and A. araucana were round or slightly oval, with a central hilum. Both starches gave X‐ray diffraction patterns compatible with the A‐type, with strong peaks at 15°, 17°, and 23°. The gelatinisation temperature of A. angustifolia starch (68.5°C) was higher than that of A. araucana (66.6°C), probably due to the higher amylose content of the former (22.4 % and 17.3 %, respectively). The thermograms of A. araucana starch presented a minor peak at about 71°C, which was attributed to the fact that the starch granules population of A. araucana was heterogeneous, with large and small granules, whereas A. angustifolia starch contained mainly large granules.     

Study on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starch from yam with different drying methods

Four methods were applied to dry yam slices, and then, starches were isolated from dried yam slices. Starch isolated from fresh yam was as the study control, and physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starches were studied. The results showed that the amylose content ranged from 12.62% to 28.25%, water‐binding capacity (WBC) from 111.67% to 262.88%, paste clarity from 2.1% to 6.23%, resistant starch (RS) from 66.60% to 88.49% and crystallinity from 11.27% to 25.52%. Compared with the control starch, hot air‐drying at 60 °C significantly decreased amylose content, paste clarity, RS and crystallinity, while increasing the WBC. Low levels of rapidly digestible starch and glucose and high RS levels were found in the starch from freeze‐drying yam. Digestibility of the starches was significantly correlated with amylose content, WBC, paste clarity and swelling power. The starch samples were divided into three groups by principal component analysis (PCA).     

Impact of mass transport on microstructure of Granny Smith apple parenchyma during osmotic dehydration

The chemical components of foods are organized in microscopic structures that can modify mass transfer. The study of material penetration in foods can be made using X‐ray microanalysis. In order to study the microstructural behaviour when fruit was osmotically dehydrated, a glucose molecule modified with chloral (1,2‐O‐2′,2′,2′‐trichloroethylidene‐α‐D ‐glucofuranose) was used as an osmotic standard with chlorine detectable by energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. Parenchyma of Granny Smith apple is a simple tissue, so it was chosen as reference. The results show that both the apoplastic and symplastic routes played an active role in mass transfer. The osmotic agent penetrated both the symplast and apoplast well into the depths of the fruit, although greater deterioration of cells was observed near the surface. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

扫描电镜法分析常见可食用淀粉颗粒的超微形貌

运用扫描电镜对多种常见可食用淀粉颗粒的超微形貌进行观察,按照淀粉颗粒形貌差别,将考察的所有种类淀粉颗粒分为：块茎形、棒形、球形、扁平形、复粒结构、棱角圆滑和棱角尖锐多面体形及肾形等类别,对每一类及每一种淀粉颗粒超微形貌的特征都分别进行分析和总结,并归纳淀粉颗粒超微形貌特征规律。在本研究成果的基础上初步形成可食用淀粉颗粒超微形貌电镜照片集锦,为从淀粉颗粒超微形貌特征上加强国内淀粉产品的质量监管提供可靠参考。     

Histological Contribution of Collagen Architecture to Beef Toughness

ABSTRACT:  The relationship between shear-force value and collagen architecture of connective tissue of the  longissimus thoracis  (LT) muscle of Japanese Black ( n  = 10) and Brown (Kumamoto) ( n  = 5) steers (body weight: 688.4 ± 8.6 kg as average and standard error) was investigated. There were negative correlations between the shear-force value and lipid content ( n  = 15,  R ²= 0.3709,  P  < 0.01) and protein content and lipid content ( n  = 15,  R ²= 0.6748,  P  < 0.01). Shear-force value and collagen content ( n  = 15,  R ²= 0.4344,  P  < 0.01) were positively correlated. In scanning electron microscopic photographs of the macerated preparation, the perimysium of the high-lipid LT muscle was broken down compared with the low-lipid LT muscle. The endomysium in all LT muscle fibers showed similar architecture. The fine surface cover of reticular collagen fibers around an adipocyte was observed in the high-lipid LT muscle perimysium. These results suggested that the shear-force value of the LT muscle was related to change in collagen architecture and of the perimysium in particular.     

Effect of peeling and unpeeling on yield,chemical structure,morphology and pasting properties of starch extracted from three diverse potato cultivars of Pakistan

The current study investigates the comparison and quality characteristics of starches isolated from potatoes using different processing methods from three commercial varieties: Lady Rosetta, Asterix and Challenger, for the first time in Pakistan. The analysis of variance revealed that starch yield significantly (P < 0.05) depended on total solids, peeling (12.7%, 12.0% and 12.0%) and unpeeling (15.0%, 14.0% and 14.0%) of potatoes compared to potato varieties for Lady Rosetta, Challenger and Asterix, respectively. Moreover, pasting properties, protein content, redness and yellowness were increased in those starches isolated without peeling while carbohydrates and lightness were increased in peeled potato starches. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that protein (1200–1400 cm⁻¹) was present in starch extracted without peeling. Besides, scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed oval-shaped starch granules with no impurities in peeled potato starch. The findings suggest the suitability of peeling process for obtaining a high-quality pure starch.     

几种淀粉的相对分子质量分布、微晶结构及形貌的研究

以小麦、马铃薯、甘薯、玉米、芋头为原料提取淀粉。采用碘兰值法、凝胶色谱、X衍射和扫描电镜,研究淀粉组成及淀粉级分的特性、淀粉的晶体特性和微观形态,为淀粉类食品的深加工提供理论基础。研究表明,芋头淀粉的碘兰值最小,其他4种淀粉碘兰值相差不大。玉米淀粉为高直链淀粉,小麦淀粉的3个级分较明显。马铃薯淀粉表现为B型X衍射图谱的特征,甘薯淀粉表现为C型X衍射图谱的特征,而小麦淀粉、玉米淀粉和芋头淀粉表现为A型X衍射图谱的特征,马铃薯淀粉的结晶度最小,玉米淀粉的结晶度最大、微晶尺寸最小,甘薯淀粉的微晶尺寸最大。