Renoprotection of Selected Antioxidant-Rich Foods (Water Spinach and Red Grape) and Probiotics in Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Objectives: The current study investigated the curative effects of two selected antioxidant-rich foods (water spinach and red grape) and probiotics on the kidney exposed to nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin. Methods: A total of 30 Wistar Albino female rats equally divided into six groups were studied for seven days. Except for the normal control (NC) group, all groups received 80 mg/kg/day gentamicin (GEN) injection intra-peritoneally for seven days. NC and GEN groups received only regular diet. In the water spinach group (GEN + WS) and red grape (GEN + RG) groups, rats were provided with 20 g/rat/day of boiled water spinach and 5 mL/rat/day of red grape juice, respectively. The probiotic (GEN + P4) and (GEN + P8) groups received 4 × 109 and 8 × 109 viable bacteria, respectively. On the 8th day, all the rats were sacrificed to collect blood and kidney. Serum creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed. In addition, kidney histopathology was taken for final observation. Results: Both antioxidant-rich foods and probiotic (P4) significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the GEN-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and improved kidney function by lowering uremic toxin (serum creatinine, and uric acid) levels. Histopathological findings of kidney tissues of all groups were consistent with the biochemical findings. Conclusion: The current preclinical study suggests that the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods might be a promising fighting option against gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress. However, extensive studies and clinical monitoring are immediately required to determine the appropriate probiotic doses and mechanism of action for such effects.

Association Between Early-Stage Juveniles of Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys, Loricariidae) and Floating Hydrophytes: Behaviour Supports Species Dispersal?

The vertical distribution of early-stage juvenile sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys, Loricariidae), an invasive species, were investigated in littoral habitats and the center of channel with floating hydrophytes from the Red River system in Vietnam. Sailfin catfish were sampled from the upper water column with associated floating hydrophytes of the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and native water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) and the bottom using hand nets (2-mm mesh sizes). Significantly higher numbers of early-stage juveniles were associated with floating hydrophytes compared to bottom sampling. The association between early stages of sailfin catfishes and floating hydrophytes, especially the free-floating invasive water hyacinth, supports the potential mechanism in the dispersal of an invasive fish.

Potential Carbon Thickness on Ammonia Content in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Aquaponics System with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

The application of aquaponics aquaculture is needed to improve water quality, especially the addition of filtration materials which act as absorbent planting mediums for ammonia nitrogen content in toxic water. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of the carbon thickness on ammonia levels in Nile tilapia in aquaponics systems with Water spinach. The study used an experimental method with a completely randomized design consisting of four treatments and five replications. The main parameter was ammonia level. Supporting parameters in this study included initial and final growth of Water spinach, fish survival rate, specific growth rate, and water quality which included temperature measurement, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Each treatment consisted of variations of carbon thicknesses at P0 (control), P1 (5 cm), P2 (7 cm), and P3 (9 cm). The results revealed that ammonia levels were significantly different at P1, P2, and P3 in the third and fourth weeks. Ammonia levels during the study decreased from 0.3969 ppm to 0.1741 ppm. The reported value of 7.2 was for acidity degree, 29.3°C for the temperature, 5.94 ppm for dissolved oxygen, 8.42 cm for the growth of Water spinach, 0.44% for the specific growth rate, and 90% for the survival rate. Carbon thickness caused a decrease in ammonia levels in Nile tilapia with aquaponics systems through the medium of Water spinach.

Assessment of Potential Nitrite Safety Risk of Leafy Vegetables after Domestic Cooking

Improper cultivation can easily cause excessive nitrate accumulation in leafy vegetables, and the cooking processes used to prepare them can upset their nitrate/antioxidant balance, affecting their potential nitrite safety risk (PNSR). We investigated the impacts stir-frying, steaming, microwaving, and boiling on the nitrate, nitrite, and antioxidant capacity in water spinach and cabbage, and observed the impacts of storage duration on the PNSR. The antioxidant/in vivo nitrite ratio (A/N) was used to evaluate the nitrite risks in the cooked vegetables. Boiling achieved the highest A/N ratio (1.57) for water spinach, reducing the nitrate content by 25% without significantly affecting the antioxidant capacity. Stir-frying achieved the highest A/N ratio (6.55) for cabbage, increasing the antioxidant capacity by 140% without significantly affecting the nitrate content. Furthermore, it was found that the storage periods for boiled water spinach and stir-fried cabbage should not exceed 12 h and 24 h, respectively. Appropriate cooking methods and limited storage times are thus required for leafy vegetable to prevent adverse health effects.

Evaluating the Potential of Protected Cultivation for Off-Season Leafy Vegetable Production: Prospects for Crop Productivity and Nutritional Improvement

The effects of different protective structures on horticultural and nutritional yield of amaranth and water spinach were studied in three seasons of 2020–2021 in Taiwan. The number of people that can receive recommended dietary intake of iron and β-Carotene from vegetables grown under different production conditions was also estimated. The yield of white and red amaranths was consistently better (7.68–19.70 t/ha) under pink poly-net house in all the seasons, but the yield of water spinach was consistently better under white poly-net house (16.25–20.88 t/ha). Spider mite (fall &amp; spring) and aphid (winter) infestation was mostly observed on all crops under poly-net houses. Neoxanthin, lutein and β-carotene were almost two-fold higher in red amaranth harvested from poly-net houses than open field. Based on the RDI values, β-Carotene supply to both men and women (14+) was consistently higher in all crops produced under pink ploy-net houses in all seasons, except for white amaranth produced under white poly-net house during winter. Its supply to 64,788 more men and 83,298 more women was estimated for red amaranth harvested from pink poly-net house than other production conditions. α-carotene was 2–3 fold higher in amaranths and water spinach harvested from poly-net houses than open field. The iron content of the amaranths was lower in poly-net houses (234.50–574.04 g/ha) than open field (645.42–881.67 g/ha) in the fall, but its supply from pink poly-net house was comparable with open field in the winter. However, pink poly-net house was the highest iron supplier from water spinach (323.90 g/ha) in the winter, which was estimated to provide iron to 19,450–22,939 more men and women than other production conditions. Both poly-net houses were the sole supplier of iron through amaranths in the spring, with pink poly-net house supplying iron to 2,000–5,000 more men and women. Thus, protected cultivation not only leads to more marketable yields but also results in higher quantities of health promoting nutrients. Hence, pink poly-net house may be considered to produce more nutritious vegetables, especially during the off-season to bridge the gaps in the seasonal variations in vegetable consumption, besides providing better income opportunities to the smallholder farmers.

The Use of Phytoremediaton with an Up-flow System to Reduce Pollutants at Anaerobic Pond Outlets II Palm Oil Mill Effluent (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

<p>Palm oil plantations are one of the commodity crops that have an important role in the economy in Indonesia, namely as an export commodity that generates foreign exchange in addition to oil and gas. The increase in world demand for the palm oil commodity encourages the growth of the palm oil industry so that the estimate of liquid waste also increases. If the liquid waste is disposed of directly into the water without proper management, it will have a negative impact on the surrounding aquatic environment. This study aims to find the best phytoremedian in reducing the pollutants of WWTP II anaerobic ponds in the palm oil mill industry and to get the reduction. Research activities took place from July 2020 to September 2020 in the field and Analysis Laboratory of the Lampung State Polytechnic. This study uses an up-flow system with a stagnant condition and is carried out on a laboratory scale by testing using descriptive methods. The phytoremedian used in this study were water nails (<em>Azolla pinnata</em>) (A1), water spinach (<em>Ipomoea aquatica</em>) (A2), cattail (<em>Typha angustifolia</em>) (A3) and water bamboo (<em>Equisetum hyemale</em>) (A4). The results showed that the best phytoremedian in reducing the observation variable of palm oil mill effluent outlet anaerobic pond II was water spinach (<em>Ipomoea aquatica</em>). Phytoremedian <em>Ipomoea aquatica</em> at the end of the treatment was able to reduce the COD value with a decrease in percentage of 41.29%, increase the pH to 8.57, reduce the TSS value to 124 mg/L, the turbidity value to 21 mg/L, the total N value to 0.021 mg/L, the K value becomes 2.59 mg/L.</p>

PKM Introduksi Sediaan Konsentrat Hijauan Rawa Sebagai Sumber Protein Itik Alabio

Duck feed ingredients are currently still expensive and less affordable for breeders, it is necessary to have alternative quality feed ingredients originating from potential superior swamp plants. The activity aims to provide concentrate preparations from swamp forage as feed ingredients for ducks to reduce feed prices, improve ration quality and income (IOFC) for laying ducks. The activity partner is the Keraton duck group in the Martapura sub-district, Banjar Regency. The activity lasts months. The results of this activity are identification of superior forage originating from swamps that have the potential to be used as feed for laying ducks including Kayapu (Azolla pinnata, aquatic algae (Azolla microphylla, duckweed (Lemna minor), water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), taro leaves (Colocasia esculenta L.), genjer (Limnocharis flava), kiambang (Salvinia molesta ) and antanan (Centella asiatica (L.) Urban).There are only four forage concentrates that have a nutrient content of more than 20%, namely kayapu , aquatic algae (azolla microphylla), duckweed (Lemna minor) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk), until they are packaged as swamp forage concentrate products .Feeding trial application of alternative feed ingredients, 30% swamp forage concentrate in duck rations can improve the quality of the main duck ration protein (PK), which resulted in an increase in the number of egg production and the percentage of egg production from 67% to 69.3%, as well as a decrease in ration prices from the price before the activity is IDR 5,630/kg to IDR 4,035/kg after the activity. Feed conversion (FCR) was improved from FCR 6.0 improved to 4.6, egg yolk color increased from 8-9 to 10-11, and IOFC increased from Rp 5.8 million/month to Rp 6.3 million/month. The conclusion shows that the activity of making concentrate preparations is very helpful for farmers increase business profits. Keywords: egg production, forage concentrate, iofc, ration price, swamp forage Abstrak Bahan pakan itik saat ini masih mahal dan kurang terjangkau peternak, perlu alternatif bahan pakan yang berkualitas asal tanaman potensial unggulan rawa. Kegiatan bertujuan untuk menyediaan sediaan konsentrat asal hijauan rawa sebagai bahan pakan itik untuk menurunkan harga pakan, memperbaiki kualitas ransum dan pendapatan (IOFC) usaha itik petelur. Mitra kegiatan adalah kelompok itik Keraton di kecamatan martapura Kabupaten Banjar. Kegiatan berlangsung dua bulan. Hasil pelaksanaan kegiatan adalah Identifikasi hijauan unggulan asal rawa yang potensial sebagai pakan itik petelur ada sembilan meliputi kayapu (azolla pinnata, ganggang air (azolla microphylla, duckweed (Lemna minor), kangkung air (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk), eceng gondok (Eichhornia crassipes), daun talas (Colocasia esculenta L.), genjer (Limnocharis flava), kiambang (Salvinia molesta ) dan antanan (Centella asiatica (L.) Urban). Pembuatan konsentrat hijauan hanya ada empat hijauan rawa yang memiliki kadar nutrisi di atas 20% yaitu kayapu, ganggang air (azolla microphylla), duckweed (Lemna minor) dan kangkung air (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk), hingga dikemas sebagai produk konsentrat hijauan rawa. Feeding trial penerapan bahan pakan alternatif konsentrat hijauan rawa 30% dalam ransum itik mampu memperbaiki kualitas ransum itik utamanya protein (PK), yang berdampak pada peningkatan jumlah produksi telur dan prosentase produksi telur dari 67% menjadi 69,3%, serta penurunan harga ransum dari harga sebelum kegiatan sebesar Rp 5.630/kg menjadi Rp 4.035/kg setelah kegiatan. Konversi pakan (FCR) diperbaiki dari FCR 6,0 membaik menjadi 4,6, warna kuning telur meningkat dari 8-9 menjadi 10-11, dan IOFC naik dari Rp 5,8 juta/bln menjadi Rp 6,3 juta/bln. Kesimpulan menunjukkan kegiatan pembuatan sediaan konsentrat sangat membantu peternak meningkatkan keuntungan usaha itik petelur. Kata kunci: harga ransum, hijauan rawa, iofc, konsentrat hijauan, produksi telur