-
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Ruminant feed is a major problem for the livestock sector in West African developing countries causing animal nutritional diseases, reducing ruminant production, and .... (Review)
Review
Ruminant feed is a major problem for the livestock sector in West African developing countries causing animal nutritional diseases, reducing ruminant production, and . Alternative feeds, which include agro-industrial by-products, fodder trees, crop residues, insects, fodder legumes, algae, and pulses, constitute enormous feed resources for livestock in Africa. This study was conducted in accordance with the methodological recommendations of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). We conducted a literature search using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify documents related to alternative ruminant feeds using the following keywords: alternative feeds, ruminant products, environmental impacts, and West Africa. Those that met the inclusion criteria were included, resulting in 44 articles published between 2013 and 2023. These studies included 45 alternative feeds divided into six groups, including agro-industrial by-products (48.89%), followed by fodder trees (17.78%), crop residues (13.33%), insects (8.89%), fodder legumes (6.67%) and seaweeds (4.44%). Our results revealed that alternative feed resources and their effects on ruminant's performances and environment are poorly known in West Africa, which limits their inclusion in rations and sometimes leads to their misuse. Future research should focus on these aspects in order to make efficient use of these resources to improve ruminant milk and meat production.
PubMed: 38855410
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1352235 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024This review article aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the main determinants of consumers' acceptance of novel foods (new foods and ingredients) in the EU with... (Review)
Review
This review article aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the main determinants of consumers' acceptance of novel foods (new foods and ingredients) in the EU with emphasis on product's intrinsic properties (sensory characteristics) and individual factors (socio-demographics, perceptive, psychological) by adopting a systematic approach following the PRISMA methodology. Case studies on terrestrial (i.e., insects, cultured meat and other animal origin products, plant-based food including mushrooms, plant-based analogues, pulses, and cereals) and aquatic systems (i.e., algae and jellyfish) are included focusing on age-related and cross-national differences in consumer acceptance of novel foods and ingredients. General trends have emerged that are common to all the novel foods analysed, regardless of their aquatic or terrestrial origin. Aspects such as food neophobia, unfamiliarity, and poor knowledge of the product are important barriers to the consumption of novel foods, while healthiness and environmental sustainability perception are drivers of acceptance. Sensory properties are challenging for more familiar ingredients such as plant-based food (e.g., novel food made by pulses, mushrooms, cereals and pseudocereals). Results are discussed in terms of feasibility of introducing these products in the EU food systems highlighting strategies that can encourage the use of new ingredients or novel foods.
PubMed: 38790835
DOI: 10.3390/foods13101534 -
Heliyon May 2024Seaweeds are a valuable component of marine biodiversity that play multiple essential roles in Indonesia's coastal ecology and economy. This systematic review...
Seaweeds are a valuable component of marine biodiversity that play multiple essential roles in Indonesia's coastal ecology and economy. This systematic review (1993-2023) aimed to provide an updated overview of seaweed distribution, biodiversity, cultivation, and industry in Indonesia. The literature search derived from major databases, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and ResearchGate (RG), and Google Scholar (GS) retrieved 794 studies, after removing 80 duplicates, identified 646 studies passed title and abstract screening that satisfied all criteria: Indonesia, seaweed, seaweed biodiversity and composition, which consisted of 80 exclusion studies. Full text screening decided 194 studies were selected based on the specific inclusion criteria (at least two criteria passed: seaweed distribution site, species, cultivation, and habitat). After additional filtering, 137 studies were included for extraction and analysis. We found that Indonesia is rich in seaweed biodiversity, with at least 325 identified species consisting of 103 Chlorophyceae (green algae), 167 Rhodophyceae (red algae), and 55 Phaeophyceae (brown algae), respectively. Seaweed distribution and abundance in Indonesia are influenced by environmental factors, including nutrients, grazing, competition, physical tolerance, light intensity, and degree of water circulation. Seaweed species are predominantly found in mangrove forests and coral reefs on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the distribution and biodiversity of seaweeds in Indonesia, highlighting the ecological, economic, and cultivation of marine resources. In addition, we identify knowledge gaps and areas for further research, which can inform sustainable seaweed management and utilization in Indonesia. This review also emphasizes the significance of this marine resource to Indonesia's environment and economy.
PubMed: 38779002
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31073 -
Bioresources and Bioprocessing Sep 2023Ulva is one of the main green algae causing green tide disasters. Ulvan is the primarily component polysaccharide of the cell wall of Ulva and its complex structure and... (Review)
Review
Ulva is one of the main green algae causing green tide disasters. Ulvan is the primarily component polysaccharide of the cell wall of Ulva and its complex structure and monosaccharide composition resulted in various biological activities. However, the high-value and effective utilization of extracted ulvan have been obstructed by limitations ranging from large molecular weight and low solubility to poor bioavailability. Ulva oligosaccharide obtained by degrading ulvan can not only ideally retain the various biological activities of ulvan very well but also effectively solve the problems of low solubility and poor bioavailability. The preparation and biological activity studies of ulvan and Ulva oligosaccharides have become a hot spot in the field of marine biological resources development research. At present, the comprehensive reviews of ulvan and Ulva oligosaccharides are still scarce. What are overviewed in this paper are the chemical composition, structure, extraction, and purification of ulvan and Ulva oligosaccharides, where research progress on the biological activities of ulvan and Ulva oligosaccharides is summarized and prospected. A theoretical and practical basis has been provided for further research on ulvan and Ulva oligosaccharides, as well as the high-value development and effective utilization of marine algae resources.
PubMed: 38647949
DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00690-z -
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Sep 2023Macro-algae products have been shown to ameliorate the metabolic disorders state. Thus, highlighting their function as supplementary therapeutic agents can be a novel... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Macro-algae products have been shown to ameliorate the metabolic disorders state. Thus, highlighting their function as supplementary therapeutic agents can be a novel strategy for clinical therapies. This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials aimed to summarize the effect of macro-algae consumption on serum lipid profile, glycaemic control and anthropometric factors.
METHODS
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive search was performed for relevant studies published up to May 2023. The Cochran's Q test and I-square (I ) tests were used to evaluate heterogeneity across the included studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird), and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the pooled effect size.
RESULTS
Out of 8602 papers in the initial screening, eight clinical trials with a total of 438 participants were included into this meta-analysis. The results indicated that macro-algae supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = -6.7 mg/dL; 95% CI: -12.59, -0.80; item = 0.026) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (WMD = -8.25 mg/dL; 95% CI: -15.38, -1.12; p-value = .023). There was an increase in level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (WMD = 0.48 mg/dL; 95% CI: -2.05, 3.01; p-value = .71) which was not statistically significant. Macro-algae supplementation reduced body mass index (BMI) (WMD = -0.28 kg/m ; 95% CI: -0.96, 0.41; p-value = .426), weight (WMD = -0.39 kg; 95% CI: -3.6, 2.83; p-value = .81), waist circumference (WC) (WMD = -0.52 cm; 95% CI: -2.71, 1.66; p-value = .64), fasting blood sugar (FBS) (WMD = -1.95 mg/dL; 95% CI: -5.19, 1.28; p-value = .24) and HbA1c (WMD = -0.02%; 95% CI: -0.14, 0.09; p-value = .66) in intervention group.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that macro-algae supplementation significantly decreased TC and LDL-c level. It can also increase HDL-c level and reduce anthropometric indices and glycaemic control factors.
Topics: Humans; Cholesterol, LDL; Glycemic Control; Cholesterol, HDL; Body Mass Index; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 37469128
DOI: 10.1002/edm2.439 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through...
In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through establishing the mechanistic links between environmental drivers, functional traits, and ecosystem functions. A research subfield where trait-based approaches have been frequently used but poorly synthesized is the ecology of seagrasses; marine angiosperms that colonized the ocean 100M YA and today make up productive yet threatened coastal ecosystems globally. Here, we compiled a comprehensive trait-based response-effect framework (TBF) which builds on previous concepts and ideas, including the use of traits for the study of community assembly processes, from dispersal and response to abiotic and biotic factors, to ecosystem function and service provision. We then apply this framework to the global seagrass literature, using a systematic review to identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities of the field. Seagrass trait research has mostly focused on the effect of environmental drivers on traits, i.e., "environmental filtering" (72%), whereas links between traits and functions are less common (26.9%). Despite the richness of trait-based data available, concepts related to TBFs are rare in the seagrass literature (15% of studies), including the relative importance of neutral and niche assembly processes, or the influence of trait dominance or complementarity in ecosystem function provision. These knowledge gaps indicate ample potential for further research, highlighting the need to understand the links between the unique traits of seagrasses and the ecosystem services they provide.
PubMed: 37021321
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1088643 -
The Science of the Total Environment May 2023Environmental DNA (eDNA) is the fastest growing biomonitoring tool fuelled by two key features: time efficiency and sensitivity. Technological advancements allow rapid... (Review)
Review
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is the fastest growing biomonitoring tool fuelled by two key features: time efficiency and sensitivity. Technological advancements allow rapid biodiversity detection at both species and community levels with increasing accuracy. Concurrently, there has been a global demand to standardise eDNA methods, but this is only possible with an in-depth overview of the technological advancements and a discussion of the pros and cons of available methods. We therefore conducted a systematic literature review of 407 peer-reviewed papers on aquatic eDNA published between 2012 and 2021. We observed a gradual increase in the annual number of publications from four (2012) to 28 (2018), followed by a rapid growth to 124 publications in 2021. This was mirrored by a tremendous diversification of methods in all aspects of the eDNA workflow. For example, in 2012 only freezing was applied to preserve filter samples, whereas we recorded 12 different preservation methods in the 2021 literature. Despite an ongoing standardisation debate in the eDNA community, the field is seemingly moving fast in the opposite direction and we discuss the reasons and implications. Moreover, by compiling the largest PCR-primer database to date, we provide information on 522 and 141 published species-specific and metabarcoding primers targeting a wide range of aquatic organisms. This works as a user-friendly 'distillation' of primer information that was hitherto scattered across hundreds of papers, but the list also reflects which taxa are commonly studied with eDNA technology in aquatic environments such as fish and amphibians, and reveals that groups such as corals, plankton and algae are under-studied. Efforts to improve sampling and extraction methods, primer specificity and reference databases are crucial to capture these ecologically important taxa in future eDNA biomonitoring surveys. In a rapidly diversifying field, this review synthetises aquatic eDNA procedures and can guide eDNA users towards best practice.
Topics: Animals; DNA, Environmental; Biological Monitoring; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; Environmental Monitoring; Biodiversity; Fishes
PubMed: 36801404
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162322 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2022, also known as spirulina, is currently one of the most well-known algae supplements, mainly due to its high content of bioactive compounds that may promote human...
UNLABELLED
, also known as spirulina, is currently one of the most well-known algae supplements, mainly due to its high content of bioactive compounds that may promote human health. Some authors have hypothesized that spirulina consumption could protect subjects from exercise-induced oxidative stress, accelerate recovery by reducing muscle damage, and stimulate the immune system. Based on this, the main goal of this review was to critically analyze the effects of spirulina on oxidative stress, immune system, inflammation and performance in athletes and people undergoing exercise interventions. Of the 981 articles found, 428 studies were considered eligible and 13 met the established criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most recently spirulina supplementation has demonstrated ergogenic potential during submaximal exercise, increasing oxygen uptake and improving exercise tolerance. Nevertheless, spirulina supplementation does not seem to enhance physical performance in power athletes. Considering that data supporting benefits to the immune system from spirulina supplementation is still lacking, overall evidence regarding the benefit of spirulina supplementation in healthy people engaged in physical exercise is scarce and not consistent. Currently, spirulina supplementation might be considered in athletes who do not meet the recommended dietary intake of antioxidants. Further high-quality research is needed to evaluate the effects of spirulina consumption on performance, the immune system and recovery in athletes and active people.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=262896], identifier [CRD42021262896].
PubMed: 36590230
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1048258 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... 2021Marine algae possess a plethora of secondary active metabolites which has many biomedical applications. Anti-bacterial activity against oral cariogenic bacteria is...
INTRODUCTION
Marine algae possess a plethora of secondary active metabolites which has many biomedical applications. Anti-bacterial activity against oral cariogenic bacteria is reported in literature, however there is no comprehensive review available. Hence, this review is attempted to collate all the evidence available regarding the marine algal extracts and its constituents against oral cariogenic bacteria.
METHODS
Electronic search was conducted in the Google scholar, the Pubmed database and various clinical trial registries. Included studies were clinical, in-vitro studies assessing DMFT, DMFS, minimum inhibitory concentration or colony forming unit counts.
RESULT
A total of 19 trials were obtained out of which only 7 were eligible for this review. Quality assessment was done by Higgins and Greens (2011) method. Results showed all the studies where they used crude algal extracts or its active constituents were showing anti-bacterial activity.
CONCLUSION
Thus, this review showed that marine algal extracts and other constituents are having anti-microbial properties, making them potential anti-microbial agents for oral hygiene maintenance without adverse effects of currently available chemical based oral care products.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oral Hygiene; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 35645082
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_243_20 -
Marine Drugs Apr 2022Fucoxanthin, belonging to the xanthophyll class of carotenoids, is a natural antioxidant pigment of marine algae, including brown macroalgae and diatoms. It represents... (Review)
Review
Fucoxanthin, belonging to the xanthophyll class of carotenoids, is a natural antioxidant pigment of marine algae, including brown macroalgae and diatoms. It represents 10% of the total carotenoids in nature. The plethora of scientific evidence supports the potential benefits of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical uses of fucoxanthin for boosting human health and disease management. Due to its unique chemical structure and action as a single compound with multi-targets of health effects, it has attracted mounting attention from the scientific community, resulting in an escalated number of scientific publications from January 2017 to February 2022. Fucoxanthin has remained the most popular option for anti-cancer and anti-tumor activity, followed by protection against inflammatory, oxidative stress-related, nervous system, obesity, hepatic, diabetic, kidney, cardiac, skin, respiratory and microbial diseases, in a variety of model systems. Despite much pharmacological evidence from in vitro and in vivo findings, fucoxanthin in clinical research is still not satisfactory, because only one clinical study on obesity management was reported in the last five years. Additionally, pharmacokinetics, safety, toxicity, functional stability, and clinical perspective of fucoxanthin are substantially addressed. Nevertheless, fucoxanthin and its derivatives are shown to be safe, non-toxic, and readily available upon administration. This review will provide pharmacological insights into fucoxanthin, underlying the diverse molecular mechanisms of health benefits. However, it requires more activity-oriented translational research in humans before it can be used as a multi-target drug.
Topics: Carotenoids; Humans; Neoplasms; Seaweed; Xanthophylls
PubMed: 35621930
DOI: 10.3390/md20050279