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Frontiers in Nutrition 2023Climate changes are one of the biggest threats to food security. Sustainable agriculture, focused on eco-friendly practices for highly efficient food production, enables...
Climate changes are one of the biggest threats to food security. Sustainable agriculture, focused on eco-friendly practices for highly efficient food production, enables greater resilience and safety. This study experimented on intercropping and bio-fertilizer application as convenient ecological solutions for crop yield stability and quality. The experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2020 with soybean and common millet sown in three sowing patterns: alternating rows, alternating strips 1 (2 rows of soybean + 2 rows of millet), and alternating strips 2 (2 rows of soybean + 4 rows of millet), as well as sole crops (control), with or without a bio-fertilizer Coveron. Grain yield and nutrient grain yield response were calculated through land equivalent ratio (LER) and element-LER (E-LER), while quality was estimated based on the concentration of antioxidants (phytate phosphorus, total phenolic compounds, and yellow pigment) and elements in grains, including potential bio-availability of essential elements. Results revealed LER values to be >1 for all sowing patterns, with the highest one achieved in alternating strips 1 (1.38) together with a greater level of all antioxidants in millet grain. Intercropping significantly enhanced Fe and Mn accumulation in both crops and simultaneously decreased the concentration of potentially toxic elements (Al, Cr) in millet grain. Potential bio-availability of essential elements, expressed through the ratio between phytic acid and Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn revealed smaller values in intercropped soybean and millet with the bio-fertilizer. The bio-fertilizer also increased the concentration of some micro-elements in millet grain, classifying it as a highly dependent plant to microbial inoculation. Interaction of intercropping and bio-fertilizer was most pronounced for LER, E-LER, and accumulation of Fe and Mn in grains. These results highlighted the benefits of soybean-common millet intercropping, especially in combination with the bio-fertilizer, in light of enhanced land utilization and nutrient absorption, thus increasing the resilience of soybean and millet under dry land conditions and low-input systems toward stability and food security.
PubMed: 38094923
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1267928 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2023Male broiler chickens (384), Cobb 500, were housed in metabolic cages to assess the efficacy of phytase in diets with low and high phytate-phosphorus on the performance,...
Male broiler chickens (384), Cobb 500, were housed in metabolic cages to assess the efficacy of phytase in diets with low and high phytate-phosphorus on the performance, bone physical characteristics, tissue and serum mineral deposits. Birds were distributed in four treatments with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized block design. Experimental diets based on maize-soybean meal were T1 - diet low phytate-phosphorus; T2 - diet low phytate-phosphorus and phytase (500 FTU/kg); T3 - diet high phytate-phosphorus; T4 - diet high phytate-phosphorus and phytase (500 FTU/kg). Feed intake, body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were assessed. Two left tibias per experimental unit were analyzed for physical characteristics and mineral concentration; a section of skinless breast muscle and blood were collected to measure the concentration of calcium, phosphorus and sodium. Results showed interaction between bone stiffness and serum calcium. The inclusion of phytase in diets with low and high phytate-phosphorus did not alter performance, bone resistance and flexibility, mineral deposits in the tibia and breast muscle, but increased bone stiffness after 22 days of age. It also provided a higher serum calcium rate in broilers fed diets with low phytate-phosphorus up to 32 days of age.
Topics: Animals; Male; 6-Phytase; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Calcium; Chickens; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Minerals; Phosphorus; Phytic Acid
PubMed: 38088696
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320191162 -
Heliyon Dec 2023Unknown to many, the Philippines is host to a few remaining accessions of the underutilised and understudied cereal foxtail millet (L.) P. Beauv.). We collected...
Unknown to many, the Philippines is host to a few remaining accessions of the underutilised and understudied cereal foxtail millet (L.) P. Beauv.). We collected together accessions of this crop from different eco-geographical locations within the Philippines, along with a few accessions from Lanyu, Taiwan, to undertake a study of their nutritional value and genetic diversity. All accessions were field-grown in 2022, dry season (DS) at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) Experiment Station, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The accessions were tested for micronutrients, including Zn and Fe, nitrogen as a proxy for protein, β-carotene, phytic acid, and a number of phenolic compounds with known nutritional potential. Of the 20 accessions tested, the accessions Bayaras and GB61438 had the highest level of Zn (107.1 mg/kg) and Fe (70.52 mg/kg), respectively, higher than levels found in traditional rice varieties. For β-carotene the highest concentration was found in the accession Balles (∼10 μg/g). Twelve phenolic compounds were detected, with catechin, syringic acid, ferulic acid and kaempferol having the highest concentrations. To assess the genetic diversity, we sequenced a set of eight samples selected from among the accessions to a depth of at least 25-fold using whole-genome re-sequencing. Analysis of the population structure, using genome-wide, high-quality SNPs, showed modest diversity among the accessions, with two unadmixed groups. The accessions are monophyletic relative to their earliest common ancestor, with the very light brown accessions emerging earlier than the light brown and reddish-brown varieties. Analysis of zinc-regulated, iron-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP) transporters within the foxtail millet reference sequence, var. Yugu1 identified 17 putative ZIP transporters. Variant calling identified SNPs primarily within 3' and 5' regions, and introns, indicating variation between foxtail millet accessions within regulatory gene regions rather than in structural proteins. The local foxtail millet accessions, therefore, represent a potential alternative source of nutrients which may help in addressing malnutrition in the Philippines.
PubMed: 38076107
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22964 -
Biomaterials Research Dec 2023Magnesium oxychloride cement has good mechanical properties, but poor water resistance.
BACKGROUND
Magnesium oxychloride cement has good mechanical properties, but poor water resistance.
METHODS
Phytic acid, which can form chelate with Mg, was used to modify magnesium oxychloride cement, and the effects of phytic acid on the strength, in vitro degradation and biological activity of magnesium oxychloride cement were studied. Based on the preparation of phytic acid modified magnesium oxychloride cement with good water resistance and biological activity, osteoporosis treatment strontium ranelate was loaded on phytic acid- magnesium oxychloride cement, strontium ranelate/phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement was prepared.
RESULTS
It was found that the compressive strength of 1.25 wt% phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement after soaking in SBF for 28 d could reach 40.5 ± 2.0 MPa, 13.33% higher than that of the control group (when phytic acid was 0 wt%), and the mass loss rate of all ages was lower than that of the control group. The water resistance of magnesium oxychloride cement was effectively improved by phytic acid. After loading with strontium ranelate, the water resistance of 1.25 wt% phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement was improved. Cell experiments showed that strontium ranelate could effectively promote cell proliferation and improve the expression of osteoblast-related proteins. When strontium ranelate/phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement samples were implanted subcutaneously in rats for 4 w, no obvious inflammatory response was observed, and the material was tightly bound to the surrounding tissues. When bone cement was implanted into rat femur for 4 w, the bone cement was gradually wrapped and absorbed by new bone tissue, which grew from the outside to the inside, indicating that the bone cement containing strontium ranelate/phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement had excellent bone-forming ability.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the results indicated that strontium ranelate/phytic acid-magnesium oxychloride cement composite bone cement had a potential application prospect in clinical bone repair.
PubMed: 38072982
DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00474-8 -
IScience Nov 2023MXenes have been proven to be outstanding lossy phase of advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. However, their poor tolerance to oxygen and...
MXenes have been proven to be outstanding lossy phase of advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. However, their poor tolerance to oxygen and water results in fast degradation of the pristine two-dimensional (2D) nanostructure and fading of the functional performance. Herein, in this research, natural antioxidants (e.g., melatonin, tea polyphenols, and phytic acid) were employed to protect the TiCT MXene from its degradation in order to achieve a long-term stability of the EMI shielding performance. The results showed that the synthesized composites comprised of antioxidants and TiCT exhibited a decelerating degradation rate resulting in an improved EMI shielding effective (SE) stability. The antioxidation mechanism of the applied antioxidants is discussed with respect to the nanostructure evolution of the TiCT MXene. This work contributes to the basic foundations for the further development of advanced MXenes for stable applications in the EM field.
PubMed: 38026166
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107176 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2023Pea albumins are promising for their nutritional, biological, and techno-functional properties. However, this fraction is usually discarded in the industry due to its...
Pea albumins are promising for their nutritional, biological, and techno-functional properties. However, this fraction is usually discarded in the industry due to its low protein content compared to globulin fraction and the presence of some anti-nutritional compounds. In the present study, we used an alternative method of pea protein extraction based on alkaline solubilization/isoelectric precipitation in which the reduction of pH was achieved by lactic acid fermentation using specific starters instead of mineral acids. Hence, the main objective of this study was to examine the protein profile and the content of anti-nutritional and nutritional active compounds in pea albumin-rich fractions obtained by the isoelectric extraction method without (control) or with fermentation with different lactic acid bacteria (, and their co-culture). Different pea cultivars (Cartouche, Ascension, and Assas) were used here for their differences in protein profile. The results revealed a higher total nitrogen content in albumin-rich fraction for fermented samples and, in particular, for co-culture. The majority of total nitrogen was determined as non-protein (~50%), suggesting the degradation of proteins by LAB to small peptides and amino acids, which were solubilized in the soluble fraction (albumin) as confirmed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC-HPLC) analysis. Moreover, the higher antioxidant activity of fermented albumin samples was attributed to the production of small peptides during extraction. Lactic acid fermentation also resulted in a significant reduction of trypsin inhibitor activity, α-galactoside, and phytic acid content of this fraction compared to control.
PubMed: 38024383
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1284413 -
Food Technology and Biotechnology Sep 2023Teff [ (Zucc.) Trotter] is an underutilised cereal crop grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and...
RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Teff [ (Zucc.) Trotter] is an underutilised cereal crop grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. However, it also contains a high amount of phytic acid, which is an antinutrient and reduces the bioavailability of minerals and proteins. To improve the nutritional quality of teff, the phytic acid content should be reduced by an effective dephytinisation method.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
In this study, various dephytinisation methods (fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment) were used to dephytinise teff flour. Undephytinised and dephytinised teff flour was mixed into wheat flour (0-40 %) to improve the functional properties of cookies. Twenty different cookie formulations were prepared according to 4x5x2 factorial design. The physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory properties of the cookies were investigated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Among the dephytinisation methods, fermentation produced the most effective reduction in phytic acid mass fraction (181 mg/100 g), followed by phytase treatment (198 mg/100 g). The protein, fat, Fe and Zn content and antioxidant activity of cookies enriched with dephytinised teff flour were comparable to cookies fortified with undephytinised teff flour. Moreover, the dephytinised teff cookies had lower phytic acid mass fractions. The cookies containing 40 % teff flour had higher antioxidant activity and nutritional quality than the control wheat cookies. The use of dephytinised teff flour reduced the spread ratio and the and values of cookies compared to undephytinised flour. Cookies containing fermented and phytase-treated teff flour had a harder texture than cookies containing undephytinised flour. In addition, as the amount of teff flour increased, the spread ratio values of cookies gradually incrased while their hardness decreased. Overall acceptability scores of cookies containing 10-20 % teff flour were similar to the control.
NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the quality of cookies containing dephytinised teff flour. The data highlight the potential of dephytinised (especially autoclaved and phytase-treated) teff flour (up to 20 %) as a functional ingredient to enrich the mineral content and antioxidant capacity of foods. Furthermore, this study shows that fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment can be used to improve the nutritional quality of grains.
PubMed: 38022881
DOI: 10.17113/ftb.61.03.23.8145 -
Chemical Science Nov 2023Polyaniline (PANI), with merits of high electronic conductivity and capacity, is a promising material for zinc (Zn)-ion batteries. However, its redox window in Zn...
Polyaniline (PANI), with merits of high electronic conductivity and capacity, is a promising material for zinc (Zn)-ion batteries. However, its redox window in Zn batteries is often limited, mainly due to the oxidative degradation at high potentials-in which imine groups can be attacked by water molecules. Here, we introduce phytic acid, a kind of supermolecule acid radical ion, as a dopant and electrolyte additive. Various / analyses and theoretical calculations prove that the steric hindrance effect can prevent electroactive sites from the attack by water molecules. Meanwhile, the redox reaction can be stabilized by an even distribution of electron cloud due to the conjugated structure of phenazine groups. Accordingly, the assembled Zn-PANI battery can allow stable and long-term charge-discharge reactions to occur at a potential as high as 2.0 V with a discharged plateau of 1.5 V, and it also shows high rate performance and stable long cycle life (75% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 10 A g).
PubMed: 38020381
DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04766k -
Journal, Genetic Engineering &... Nov 2023Phytase supplementation in rations can reduce their phytic acid composition in order to enhance their nutritional value. Aspergillus niger is a fungus that can encode...
BACKGROUND
Phytase supplementation in rations can reduce their phytic acid composition in order to enhance their nutritional value. Aspergillus niger is a fungus that can encode phytase. This study aims to determine the characteristics of its DNA sequences and amino acid composition that encode the phytase enzyme, as well as to determine the primer designs.
METHOD
This study used gene sequence data and protein-encoding phytase from Aspergillus niger that was collected manually from NCBI and PDB. The data was analyzed using SPDBV and then be aligned using the ClustalW Multiple Alignment features. The phylogenetic tree was built by Mega11 software. Primers were designed from selected candidate sequences that were analyzed. The designed primers were then simulated for PCR using FastPCR and SnapGene software.
RESULTS
There are 18 Aspergillus niger phytases in NCBI which is 14.87% of the total Aspergillus. There are 14 Aspergillus niger phytases that have identity above 95%. Aspergillus niger 110. M94550.1 is the closest strain to the PDB template. Candidate sources of phytase genes are Aspergillus niger 110.M94550.1, 48.2.BCMY01000003.1, and 92.JQ654450.1. The primer design has 2 possibilities of self-annealing and high melting temperature on the reverse primer. PCR simulation shows that the primer design can attach completely but still has the possibility of mispriming.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests promising results for the future development of phytase enzyme production from Aspergillus niger as a feed additive using genetic engineering to enhance the quality of livestock feed in Indonesia.
PubMed: 38008870
DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00600-y -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Phosphorus (P) is a major limiting factor for legume and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Although overall adaptations of legumes to P supplementation have been...
Phosphorus (P) is a major limiting factor for legume and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Although overall adaptations of legumes to P supplementation have been extensively studied in connection with inorganic P, little information is currently available regarding nodulation or SNF responses to organic P (Po) in hydroponics. We investigated the mineral and carbon metabolism of Po-induced nodules of two contrasting faba bean varieties grown hydroponically under inorganic P (Pi), viz., in P-deficient (2 µM KHPO -Pi), sufficient-P (200 µM KHPO, +Pi), and phytic acid (200 µM, Po) conditions, and were inoculated with bv. 3841 and grown for 30 days. The results consistently reveal similar growth and biomass partitioning patterns between +Pi and Po, with both varying substantially from -Pi. In comparison, +Pi and Po observed equivalent accumulations of overall elemental P concentrations, with both increasing by 114 and 119%, respectively, relative to -Pi. A principal component analysis on metabolites showed a clear separation of the -Pi treatment from the others, with +Pi and Po correlating closely together, highlighting the nonsignificant differences between them. Additionally, the δN abundance of shoots, roots, and nodules was not significantly different between treatments and varieties and exhibited negative δN signatures for all tissues. Our study provides a novel perspective on mineral and carbon metabolism and their regulation of the growth, functioning, and reprogramming of nodules upon phytate supply.
PubMed: 38005785
DOI: 10.3390/plants12223888