In vivo and in vitro digestible fractions in forage

Faeces and the residues from the in vitro digestion of 13 forages were sequentially extracted with acid-pepsin, ethyl alcohol, hot water and diethyl ether and the quantity of the extracts was adjusted to a protein-free basis and expressed per 100 g of original forage organic matter. Undigested material inin vivo and in vitro experiments were respectively, 3·37 and 1·88 g (±0·12) for ethyl alcohol extracts, 1·13 and 1·10 g (±0·05) for hot water extracts, 0·15 and 0·12 g(±0·02) for diethyl ether extracts and 1·44 (±0·22) and 0g for 0·1 N -HCI extracts. The difference between values for in vivo and in vitro experiments was considered to represent endogenous material present in faeces.     

Gross composition,amino acid,phytic acid and trace element contents of thirteen cowpea cultivars and their nutritional significance

Thirteen cultivars of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) were analysed for their proximate composition, amino acid, trace element and phytic acid contents. Crude protein values ranged from 206·8 to 283·8 g kg^?1 DM. The mean contents (g kg^?1) of other major nutrients were ether extract, 18·6; ash, 38·8; total dietary fibre, 121·8 and carbohydrates, 573·4. When compared with the provisional amino acid scoring pattern of FAO, all cultivars were low in methionine and high in lysine, isoleucine, leucine and phenylalanine plus tyrosine. Values for threonine and valine were variable compared with the pattern. The range of values for the chemical score was 0·61–0·74. Phytic acid values ranged from 5·10 to 10·27 g kg^?1, and the phytate: zinc molar ratios were all higher than that (15:1) above which zinc deficiency can be induced. Most of the trace elements showed wide variation in their occurrence among the cultivars. The values for zinc and iron showed less variation. The toxic elements mercury and selenium were present in varying amounts in more than half of the cultivars while tin was found in only one variety.     

Chemical compositions,extraction technology,and antioxidant activity of petroleum ether extract from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. leaves

Petroleum ether extract from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. leaves was optimized by response surface methodology, and the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: ratio of solvent to material (20.12 mL/g), extraction time (5.45 h), and Soxhlet extraction temperature (61.32°C). And the yield of petroleum ether extract collected in August, September, and October was (2.05 ± 0.02)%, (2.39 ± 0.01)%, and (2.32 ± 0.02)%, respectively. The September and October extracts exhibited a better antioxidant activity, which was proved by DPPH·scavenging ability (IC₅₀ value of 327.5 and 331.5 μg/mL), ABTS^·+ scavenging ability (IC₅₀ value of 170.1 and 182.1 μg/mL), and reducing power (0.31 and 0.28 mmol Fe²⁺/100 μg/mL). Meanwhile, the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the main antioxidant components contained 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid and 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester (Z,Z,Z) in three petroleum ether extracts. Therefore, petroleum ether extract from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. leaves can be a potential resource of natural antioxidants in pharmaceutical, medicine, food, and chemical industries.     

The effect of addition of mixtures of amino acids on the intake of grass silage by sheep and cattle

A mixture of 15 amino acids was either added to the basal silage diet (sheep and cattle) or infused intraruminally (cattle) to determine the role of amino acids in the control of silage intake. Neither dietary addition nor intraruminal infusion of the amino acid mixture in sheep or cattle had a significant effect on intake compared to the control (P > 0·05). However, in cattle, dietary addition of the amino acid mixture increased intake compared with intraruminal infusion of the amino acid mixture (P < 0·01). It was concluded that the amino acid content of the basal silage is not involved in the control of silage intake by sheep or cattle. © 1998 SCI     

Composition,toxic and antinutritional factors of newly developed cultivars of Brazilian soybean (Glycine max)

Five different recently released Brazilian soybean cultivars (Bays, BR-10, Rio Balsas, Serido and Tropical) were compared for their proximate analyses and presence of antinutritional or toxic factors. As expected, the seeds are rich in proteins, varying from 360·7 to 485·4 g kg⁻¹ flour, and they also have a high amount of fat (from 183·0 to 215·3 g kg⁻¹ flour). Crude extracts from seeds of Bays, BR-10, Serido and Tropical were highly toxic to mice within 1–12 h, depending on the administration route (intraperitoneal, intramuscular or subcutaneous) and dose used while Rio Balsas was not. These acute effects were very similar to those produced by the soytoxin, a neurotoxin that has been recently purified from the commercial soybean sold in Brazil. The amount of trypsin inhibited in the presence of crude extracts ranged from 28·5 to 62·5 g kg⁻¹ flour. Urease was also present and the seed lectin agglutinated preferentially rabbit erythrocytes. A heat treatment at 92°C for 1 min destroyed completely the toxic activity while the haemagglutinating and trypsin inhibitor activities were abolished within 5 min. At these conditions urease was still active. Due to its high protein content, lack of soytoxin, and low levels of trypsin inhibitor, lectin, and urease it is suggested that Rio Balsas could be an alternative for breeding programmes aimed to improve the nutritional quality of soybeans. ©1997 SCI     

The chemical composition of nigerian onions (Allium cepa, linn)

Four Nigerian cultivars of Allium cepa were analysed for the proximate chemical composition, i.e. carbohydrate constituents, mineral make-up and the amino acid pattern to provide basic information on their nutritive value. Crude protein ranged from 6·4% in ‘Kano’ to 19·6% in ‘Oyo’, ether extract from 1·7% in ‘Kano’ to 35·2% in ‘Oyo’, nitrogen-free extract (nfe) from 18·2% in ‘Oyo’ to 85·6% in ‘Kano’. Sugars identified in 80% ethanolic extracts of samples were glucose, fructose, sucrose and an oligosaccharide containing a ketose portion. Total sugars figures ranged from 13.·2% in ‘Oyo’ to 71·8% in ‘Kano’; hemicellulose, from 8·5% in ‘Zaria’ to 13·2% in ‘Oyo’; cellulose from 10·9% in ‘Kano’ to 24·6% in ‘Oyo’. Paper chromatography of hemicellulose hydrolystates of samples revealed the presence of galactose, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose and ribose. Nitrogen-free extract overestimated available carbohydrates by 19·26% to 40·04%. The onions were rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium; ‘Oyo’ was higher in iron (8·1 mg/100 g) and the essential amino acids than other cultivars.     

Nitrogenous constituents in the urine of cattle,sheep and goats

Ten samples of urine from dairy cows, five from sheep and four from goats were analysed to assess the distribution of urinary nitrogen (N) among various chemical constituents in order to gain a better understanding of the reactions undergone by urinary N in soil. Total N in the cow urine ranged from 6.8 to 21.6 g N litre^?1, of which an average of 69% was present as urea, 7.3% as allantoin, 5.8% as hippuric acid, 3.7% as creatinine, 2.5% as creatine, 1.3% as uric acid, 0.5% as xanthine plus hypoxanthine, 1.3% as free amino acid N and 2.8% as ammonia. In the sheep urine, total N ranged from 3.0 to 13.7 g litre^?1 of which an average of 83 % was present as urea; creatine accounted for 5.3% of the N; hippuric acid and allantoin both accounted for 4.3%, while each of the other constituents amounted to less than 1% of the total N. The goat urine was similar to the sheep urine but with a lower ratio of creatine to creatinine and a somewhat higher proportion (2.0 %) of the total N as amino acid.     

Changes in Soya Bean Lipid Profiles during Kinema Production

The influence of processing on soya bean lipids during kinema production was studied. The crude lipid (CL), free fatty acid (FFA) and phytosterol contents of raw beans were 121 g, 6·9 g and 0·8 g kg⁻¹ dry matter, respectively. After soaking and cooking the moisture content of beans increased significantly from 121 to 749 g kg⁻¹, whilst the lipid contents were unchanged. During a 2 day fermentation at 37°C, the lipid contents increased significantly as indicated by capillary column gas chromatography (GC) analysis of petroleum ether extracts of lyophilised samples of unfermented and fermented beans. The fatty acids, palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2), linolenic (C18:3) and arachidic (C20:0) acids were identified. The major fatty acid present in all samples was the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid. All of the aforementioned fatty acids (except arachidic) were liberated during fermentation by microbial lipases, yielding approximately the same proportion of fatty acids found in unfermented beans. The unsaponifiable soya bean lipids identified by GC were campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol (ratio 1·2:1:3·4). Levels of these increased during fermentation by 50–61%, but remained in approximately the same proportions.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Polygonum cognatum Meissn extracts

The antioxidant activities, reducing powers, 2,2‐diphenyl‐l‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activities, total phenolic compound contents and antimicrobial activities of ether, ethanol and hot water extracts of Polygonum cognatum Meissn were studied in vitro. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the water extract. However, there were no statistically significant differences among 15 µg ml^?1 extract‐containing samples in linoleic acid emulsion (0.02 M , pH 7.0) during 120 h of incubation (P > 0.05). The reducing power of the water extract was the highest, but its reducing power was markedly lower than that of ascorbic acid. The highest DPPH radical‐scavenging activity was found in the water extract, with 50% DPPH radical scavenging at a concentration of 100 µg ml^?1 dried water extract, while at the same concentration of dried ethanol extract the value was 12%. Surprisingly, no DPPH radical‐scavenging activity was observed in the ether extract. The concentrations of phenolic compounds found were 0.48, 0.50 and 0.01 µg ml^?1 gallic acid equivalent in 10 µg ml^?1 water, ethanol and ether extracts respectively. The ether and ethanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The water extract did not show antimicrobial activity against the studied micro‐organisms. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rapid separation of soft drinks ingredients using high performance liquid chromatography

A method is described which uses high performance liquid chromatography in the reverse phase mode to separate amaranth, quinoline yellow, quinine sulphate, sunset yellow, caffeine, aspartame, saccharin, vanillin, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and green S in 4 min in samples of soft drinks. The final separation was achieved using 17·5% acetonitrile, 12·5% methanol, 70% buffer (0·85% v/v sulphuric acid and 17·5% mm potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate in water with the pH adjusted to 1·8), with a flow rate of 1·35 ml/min through a 100 mm × 4·6 mm column containing 3 μm Spherisorb octylsilane. The octylsilane material is fully capped with monolayer coverage and a carbon loading of 6% w/w, pore diameter of 8 nm and a surface area of 220 m²/g. This material was used in preference to the more widely used octadecylsilane as it provides shorter analysis time and allows for the use of more polar eluting solvents. Detection was at 220 nm, 0·1 AUFSD with an injection of 5 μl samples using a rotary injection valve. The standard solution concentration was 100 mg litre⁻¹ for aspartame; 20 mg litre⁻¹ for quinine sulphate, caffeine, vanillin, sorbic acid and benzoic acid and 5 mg litre⁻¹ for amaranth, quinoline yellow, sunset yellow, green S, tartrazine, indigo carmine and carmoisine.     

Studies on the potential nutritive value of maize germ meal using colostomised laying hens

The potential nutritive value of a sample of maize germ meal to the poultry industry has been investigated. Using colostomised laying hens the classical metabolisable energy of the meal has been found to be 3·35 kcal/g. The digestibility coefficients of the crude protein (84·9%), organic matter (74·7%), ether extracts (86·0%) and carbohydrate (48·9%) have been determined.     

Randomized controlled study of the urinary excretion of biophenols following acute and chronic intake of olive leaf supplements

Olive leaf supplement was characterised by HPLC and administered to healthy young adults over 28 d (three tablets or equivalent liquid dose per day), or in a single bolus dose of three tablets (or liquid equivalent). Oleuropein was the major biophenol in the extracts. There are no data on the excretion of urinary end-products of the metabolism of the olive leaf biophenols. Following both chronic and acute ingestion neither oleuropein, nor its hydrolysis product, hydroxytyrosol, were detected in urine samples. However, glucuronic acid conjugates, derived from oleuropein aglycone were detected in all urine samples up to 6 h following acute ingestion. The data suggest that oleuropein is bioavailable, which is a necessary pre-condition for bioactivity.     

木贼醇提物不同萃取部位总酚酸、黄酮含量测定及抗氧化活性研究

目的:对木贼的乙醇提取物不同萃取部位进行总酚酸、黄酮含量测定及抗氧化活性比较,以探知木贼抗氧化活性物质基础。方法:木贼经70%乙醇超声提取浓缩后,采用有机溶剂萃取法依次得到石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇、水相4个部位萃取物;利用紫外-分光光度法比较各萃取部位总黄酮、酚酸含量差异;以抗坏血酸为阳性对照,比较不同萃取部位还原能力、羟自由基(·OH)、1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH·)、2,2'-联氮-双(3-乙基苯并噻唑-6-磺酸)二铵盐(ABTS+·)清除率的差异,评价各部位抗氧化能力强弱。结果:木贼各萃取物总黄酮含量在5.70~61.55 mg/g 范围内,总酚酸含量在4.07~19.10 mg/g 范围内,乙酸乙酯萃取物总黄酮与酚酸含量明显高于其他萃取物,其还原能力、羟自由基、DPPH·、ABTS+·清除率也明显高于正丁醇、石油醚和水相萃取物,乙酸乙酯萃取物对羟自由基、ABTS+·、DPPH·清除能力IC₅₀值分别为:(0.321±0.0026)、(0.213±0.0010)和(0.169±0.0014) mg/mL。结论:经各相溶剂萃取后木贼有效成分得到初步分离,乙酸乙酯相萃取部位总黄酮和酚酸相对含量及抗氧化活性明显强于总提物和其他萃取部位,且其抗氧化能力呈量效关系。实验发现木贼中黄酮和酚酸类成分与其抗氧化能力密切相关。     

Effect of buffered acidulant systems on the survival of some food poisoning bacteria in medium acid media

The use of buffered food acidulant systems in medium acid media with pH higher than the minimum pH for growth of pathogenic bacteria in unbuffered acidulant systems has been studied. The buffered aqueous phase of the media contained 1% acetic acid, 1% other acidulant (lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid or citric acid), 0·05% sorbic acid, 0·05% benzoic acid and 3·5% salt, and was buffered to pH 4·8 with sodium hydroxyde. The buffered food acidulant systems showed a bactericidal activity on Salmonella blockley, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and a bacteriostatic activity on Streptococcus faecalis.     

Processing and consumer acceptance of fruit leather from the unfertilised floral parts of jackfruit

A fruit leather was developed from the unfertilised floral parts of jackfruit. The characteristics of the leather were as follows: moisture 12·26%, fat 0·26%, protein 2·85%, crude fibre 6·27%, ash 0·87%, pH 4·8, titratable acidity 0·0005 meq NaOH g⁻¹, vitamin C 0·023 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g, caloric value 440 kcal per 100 g and water activity 0·6. The colour was bright yellow. Microbial count of the leather was low throughout the storage period. The fruit leather was most stable when packaged in laminated aluminium foil (LAF) during storage. Sensory evaluation showed that samples were acceptable by the panelists. A market survey showed that the fruit leather was slightly better accepted by the consumer at large than laboratory sensory panelists, especially by male respondents and from ethnic Indians. However, more work is needed to further improve the new fruit leather. © 1997 SCI.     

3种功能食品原料提取物毒性研究及安全性评价

目的 研究3种功能食品原料(红景天、五味子和蜂花粉)醇/醇水提取物毒性并评价其安全性。方法 利用小鼠急性毒性实验、遗传毒性实验(小鼠骨髓细胞微核实验、雄性小鼠精子畸形实验)和大鼠30 d喂养实验对3种提取物的毒性进行考察。结果 小鼠对红景天、五味子和蜂花粉提取物的最大耐受量都大于20 g/(kg?bw);3种提取物在遗传毒性实验均呈阴性反应;给予大鼠5.0 g/(kg?bw)红景天、五味子、蜂花粉提取物(分别相当于成人日推荐量250倍、250倍、500倍)连续灌胃30 d,大鼠生长正常,无中毒症状、异常症状和死亡,各试食组动物体重、进食量、饲料利用率、血常规指标、常见血液生化指标、脏器重量以及病理组织学等指标与阴性对照组比较,无毒性反应。结论 红景天、五味子、蜂花粉提取物属无毒物质,无遗传毒性和长期毒性。本研究为以红景天、五味子和蜂花粉提取物为原料的功能食品开发和应用提供了一定的安全性依据。     

龙安柚花毒理学安全性评价

目的 评估龙安柚花的食用安全性。方法 按现行食品安全国家标准进行急性经口毒性试验、细菌回复突变（Ames）试验、哺乳动物红细胞微核试验、体外哺乳类细胞染色体畸变试验、90 d经口毒性试验和致畸试验,并进行统计分析。结果 在本试验条件下,在SD大鼠和KM小鼠摄入龙安柚花后均未表现出急性经口毒效应,急性经口半数致死量（lethal dose 50, LD50）大于10 g/(kg·BW),该花属实际无毒级;龙安柚花未引起TA97a、TA98、TA100、TA102、TA1535菌种发生回复突变;哺乳动物红细胞微核试验与体外哺乳类细胞染色体畸变试验结果均为阴性;90 d经口毒性试验中,与对照组相比,各剂量组各性别动物的体重、摄食量、食物利用率、血液学、血生化和组织病理学检查均未见毒效应,龙安柚花未观察到有害作用剂量（no observed adverse effect level, NOAEL）为8 g/(kg·BW);未观察到致畸作用。结论 龙安柚花属实际无毒级,本试验条件下龙安柚花无急性毒性、遗传毒性、致畸性和亚慢性毒性。     

Aflatoxins and their Metabolites in the Tissues,Faeces and Urine from Lambs Feeding on an Aflatoxin-Contaminated Diet

Twenty-four lambs were intoxicated with 2·5 mg of aflatoxin (AF) kg^-1 in their feed for 21 days. Twelve lambs were slaughtered at day 21 and the remaining animals had an 8 day clearance period. Aflatoxins and their metabolites were detected in liver, kidneys, faeces and urine using TLC and fluorescence densitometry. During the intoxication period, the samples gave a wide range of concentrations, the lower extreme being in the liver and the kidney (0·03 μg kg^-1 of AFG₁) and the higher extreme in faeces (61·82 μg kg^-1 of AFM₁) and urine (27·84 μg litre^-1 of AFM₁). The average value of AFB₁ (1·94±0·9 μg kg^-1) was higher than AFM₁ (0·35±0·17 μg kg^-1) in the liver. In the kidney AFM₁ (5·45±4·01 μg kg^-1) was higher than AFB₁ (1·29±0·84 μg kg^-1). There were higher concentrations of AFM₁ (27·2±16·1 μg kg^-1, 7·37±6·53 μg litre^-1, respectively, of average level) in faeces and urine, than of AFB₁ (17·25±8·1 and 1·78±1·57 μg litre^-1, respectively). AFB_2a appeared in the kidney (0·05±0·03 μg kg^-1) and urine (0·35±0·25 μg litre^-1). The clearance time of AFB₁ from the faeces was less than or equal to 8 days and in all samples aflatoxin residues were still detected on the 8th day of the clearance period although in low quantities. These results suggest that aflatoxin transfer to and elimination by the liver and the renal tissue is small and that the danger to humans consuming lamb meat is also small. The examination of the faeces and urine could be useful as markers to detect lambs consuming a contaminated diet. © 1997 SCI.     

Assessment of lectin activity in a toxic and a non-toxic variety of Jatropha curcas using latex agglutination and haemagglutination methods and inactivation of lectin by heat treatments

Lectin activity in a toxic (Cape Verde) and non-toxic (Mexico) variety of Jatropha curcas seed meal was investigated using latex agglutination and haemagglutination assays. Lectin activity expressed as reciprocal of the minimum quantity (in mg) of Jatropha meal per ml of the assay mixture which produced agglutination with the latex beads was 2·88 ± 0·57 and 1·71 ± 0·00 (mean ± SD, n = 3) for the toxic and the non-toxic varieties, respectively, which did not differ significantly (P > 0·05), while with the haemagglutination assay these values were 102 and 51, respectively, and differed significantly (P < 0·05). The lectins were inactivated by heating and moist heat was more effective than dry heat. The results suggest that lectins may not be responsible for short term toxicity caused by consumption of raw Jatropha meal. © 1998 SCI.     

Effects of Silage Fermentation and Post-ruminal Casein Supplementation in Lactating Dairy Cows: 1—Diet Digestion and Milk Production

Two silages were prepared from the first-cut sward of timothy-meadow fescue and wilted to a dry matter (DM) content of 300 g kg^-1. One was ensiled with the addition of a formic-acid-based additive (4 litres formic acid (FA) per tonne) and the other with the addition of a bacterial inoculant (LAB) at a rate of 5×10⁶ colony forming units g^-1. Both silages were well preserved, but the extent of fermentation was greater in LAB-silage than in FA-silage as indicated by a lower concentration of water soluble carbohydrates (68 vs 177 g kg^-1 DM) and a higher concentration of lactic acid (147 vs 32 g kg^-1 DM). Four Ayrshire cows were used in a 4×4 Latin square experiment with 21-day periods to study the effects of silage fermentation and postruminal casein supplementation on silage intake, nutrient supply and milk production. The four treatments were FA-silage without casein (FA-0), LAB-silage without casein (LAB-0), FA-silage with casein (FA-C) and LAB-silage with casein (LAB-C). Both silages were given ad libitum with 8 kg day^-1 of barley without or with 400 g day^-1 of casein infused into the duodenum. Organic matter digestibility was lower (0·723 vs 0·753; P<0·01) for FA-silage than for LAB-silage. Cows offered FA-silage had a higher molar proportion of acetate and a lower proportion of propionate in ruminal fluid than cows offered LAB-silage. Microbial protein synthesis estimated from the output of purine derivatives in urine was greater (288 vs 260 g N day^-1; P<0·05) for cows given FA-silage compared with LAB-silage. Feeding LAB-treated silage tended (P<0·10) to decrease silage DM intake compared with FA-treated silage (10·61 vs 11·77 kg DM day^-1). Silage composition did not affect significantly milk yield or milk composition. Casein infusion increased milk yield (25·1 vs 27·1 kg day^-1; P<0·05), milk protein content (32·4 vs 33·8 g kg^-1; P<0·05) and protein yield (808 vs 905 g day^-1; P<0·01). The responses were similar for both silages. © 1997 SCI.