Evaluation of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Genotypes for Nutraceutical Value Based on Leaves Fatty Acids Composition

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a traditional vegetable grown and consumed in some Spanish regions. The objective of this study was to determine the variability and evolution of fatty acid composition in a borage germplasm collection formed by wild types, breeding lines, commercial varieties, and landraces. Fatty acids were analysed in petioles, the commonly edible part of the leaves, and the leaf blades, the by-product of the borage industry, in two growth stages: at the optimal harvest period (120 days after sowing) and at the end of the harvest period (150 days after sowing). The results showed that for each of the eight fatty acids identified, there were significant differences among the twelve borage genotypes depending on the developmental plant stage at sampling date and the part of the leaf analysed, the interaction effect also being statistically significant. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids identified were: linoleic acid (18:2 n6, LA), α-linolenic acid (18:3 n3, ALA), γ-linolenic acid (18:3 n6, GLA), and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3), account for approximately 70% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Blue-flowered genotypes differ from white-flowered genotypes by their high content of ALA and SDA, which can be exploited in borage breeding programs. Petioles from young plants present higher n6 fatty acids, while older plants produce a great amount of n3 fatty acids. Besides, the higher content of ALA in the leaf blades gives them a good dietary potential. All these fatty acids, with multiple health benefits, support the nutraceutical interest of borage leaves (both petioles and leaf blades) for human consumption, animal feeding, medicine, and pharmacy.

Lipid characterization of 14 macroalgal species from Madeira Archipelago: implications for animal and human nutrition

The lipid and fatty acid profiles of 14 marine macroalgal species from the Madeira Archipelago, including two green (Ulvales and Dasycladales), three red (Corallinales, Bonnemaisoniales, and Ceramiales) and nine brown (Fucales, Dictyotales, and Sphacelariales) species were characterised in order to determine their potential use for animal and human nutrition. The total lipid content of species analysed was generally low, varying from 0.2 to 5.2% of dry weight. All species presented an omega 6/omega 3 (n-6/n-3) ratio lower than 10, as recommended by the World Health Organization for proper human health. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid were exceptionally high in the green macroalga Ulva sp. Red macroalgae were rich in n-3 long-chain PUFA, particularly Asparagopsis taxiformis, which contained 6.6% of docosahexaenoic acid, and Halopithys incurva with 9.3% of eicosapentaenoic acid. Within Ochrophyta, Dictyota dichotoma is an interesting source of n-3 PUFA due to its high stearidonic acid proportion (8.0%). In addition, H. incurva contained a high proportion of both mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols. According to their lipid profiles, most macroalgae analysed might be considered of particular interest for their potential exploitation for human nutrition and livestock and aquaculture production.

Dietary Amylose/Amylopectin Ratio Modulates Cecal Microbiota and Metabolites in Weaned Goats

Increasing the ratio of amylose in the diet can increase the quantity of starch that flows to the large intestine for microbial fermentation. This leads to the alteration of microbiota and metabolite of the hindgut, where the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. The present study used a combination of 16S amplicon sequencing technology and metabolomics technique to reveal the effects of increasing ratios of amylose/amylopectin on cecal mucosa- and digesta-associated microbiota and their metabolites in young goats. Twenty-seven Xiangdong black female goats with average body weights (9.00 ± 1.12 kg) were used in this study. The goats were randomly allocated to one of the three diets containing starch with 0% amylose corn (T1), 50% high amylose corn (T2), and 100% high amylose corn (T3) for 35 days. Results showed that cecal valerate concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the T2 group than those in the T1 and T3 groups. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 were decreased (P < 0.05) in cecal tissue while IL-10 was increased (P < 0.05) in the T2 group when compared with T1 or T3 groups. At the phylum level, the proportion of mucosa-associated Spirochaetes was increased (P < 0.05), while Proteobacteria was deceased by feeding high amylose ratios (P < 0.05). The abundance of Verrucomicrobia was decreased (P < 0.05) in the T3 group compared with the T1 and T2 groups. The abundance of digesta-associated Firmicutes was increased (P < 0.05) while Verrucomicrobia and Tenericutes were deceased (P < 0.05) with the increment of amylose/amylopectin ratios. The LEfSe analysis showed that a diet with 50% high amylose enriched the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus in the digesta and Akkermansia in the mucosa compared with the T1 diet. The metabolomics results revealed that feeding a diet containing 50% high amylose decreased the concentration of fatty acyls-related metabolites, including dodecanedioic acid, heptadecanoic acid, and stearidonic acid ethyl ester compared with the T1 diet. The results suggested that a diet consisting of 50% high amylose could maintain a better cecal microbiota composition and host immune function.

Asperugo Procumbens: a Review of Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Asperugo procumbens is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the world, which is commonly used in the traditional medicine of the Middle East, while currently overlooked in European pharmacopoeias. The aim of the study is to present a comprehensive overview of A. procumbens in botany, traditional medicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology according to the up-to-date data. Scientific literature on the species was collected based on publicly available databases such as: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar as well as monographs and PhD theses. In traditional medicine the aerial part of A. procumbens is used for treatment of skin infections, herpes, liver and respiratory tract diseases, to strengthen the heart and the nervous system, and others. Contemporary studies on the pharmacological activity of A. procumbens revealed that it exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antidepressant, sedative-hypnotic, antibacterial, as well as chemopreventive and antihypertensive properties. Despite many proven medicinal properties, the species does not have a developed phytochemical profile and its chemical composition is very poorly understood. The species is known to contain tannins, flavonoids and phenolics. Only the content of fatty acids is recognised in detail. The species is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids – stearidonic acid (SDA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and omega-6 fatty acid – γ-linolenic acid (GLA). This article, based on the available literature, highlights the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of A. procumbens, which may provide a foundation for further pharmacological study as well as clinical application of the species. Keywords: Asperugo procumbens, German madwort, Boraginaceae, traditional uses

Omega−3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Emerging Plant and Microbial Sources, Oxidative Stability, Bioavailability, and Health Benefits—A Review

The omega−3 (n−3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid are well known to protect against numerous metabolic disorders. In view of the alarming increase in the incidence of chronic diseases, consumer interest and demand are rapidly increasing for natural dietary sources of n−3 PUFAs. Among the plant sources, seed oils from chia (Salvia hispanica), flax (Linum usitatissimum), and garden cress (Lepidium sativum) are now widely considered to increase α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the diet. Moreover, seed oil of Echium plantagineum, Buglossoides arvensis, and Ribes sp. are widely explored as a source of stearidonic acid (SDA), a more effective source than is ALA for increasing the EPA and DHA status in the body. Further, the oil from microalgae and thraustochytrids can also directly supply EPA and DHA. Thus, these microbial sources are currently used for the commercial production of vegan EPA and DHA. Considering the nutritional and commercial importance of n−3 PUFAs, this review critically discusses the nutritional aspects of commercially exploited sources of n−3 PUFAs from plants, microalgae, macroalgae, and thraustochytrids. Moreover, we discuss issues related to oxidative stability and bioavailability of n−3 PUFAs and future prospects in these areas.

Cross-Ecosystem Linkages: Transfer of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids From Streams to Riparian Spiders via Emergent Insects

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential resources unequally distributed throughout landscapes. Certain PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are common in aquatic but scarce in terrestrial ecosystems. In environments with low PUFA availability, meeting nutritional needs requires either adaptations in metabolism to PUFA-poor resources or selective foraging for PUFA-rich resources. Amphibiotic organisms that emerge from aquatic ecosystems represent important resources that can be exploited by predators in adjacent terrestrial habitats. Here, we traced PUFA transfer from streams to terrestrial ecosystems, considering benthic algae as the initial PUFA source, through emergent aquatic insects to riparian spiders. We combined carbon stable isotope and fatty acid analyses to follow food web linkages across the ecosystem boundary and investigated the influence of spider lifestyle (web building vs. ground dwelling), season, and ecosystem degradation on PUFA relations. Our data revealed that riparian spiders consumed considerable amounts of aquatic-derived resources. EPA represented on average 15 % of the total fatty acids in riparian spiders. Season had a strong influence on spider PUFA profiles, with highest EPA contents in spring. Isotope data revealed that web-building spiders contain more aquatic-derived carbon than ground dwelling spiders in spring, although both spider types had similarly high EPA levels. Comparing a natural with an anthropogenically degraded fluvial system revealed higher stearidonic acid (SDA) contents and Σω3/Σω6 ratios in spiders collected along the more natural river in spring but no difference in spider EPA content between systems. PUFA profiles of riparian spiders where distinct from other terrestrial organism and more closely resembled that of emergent aquatic insects (higher Σω3/Σω6 ratio). We show here that the extent to which riparian spiders draw on aquatic PUFA subsidies can vary seasonally and depends on the spider’s lifestyle, highlighting the complexity of aquatic-terrestrial linkages.

Kandungan Asam Palmitat Pada Bahan Baku dan Produk Hasil Sintesis Asam Lemak Analog Pada ASI: Literature Review

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui kandungan asam palmitat pada bahan baku dan produk hasil sintesis asam lemak analog pada ASI atau Analogue Fatty Acid in Breast Milk (AFABM). Penelitian yang dilakukan adalah penelitian yang bersifat deskriptif dengan jenis penelitian kepustakaan. Metode penelusuran menggunakan kata kunci metode PICO (Population, Intervention Comparison, Outcome). Dibandingkan minyak nabati yang lain, stearin sawit merupakan bahan sintesis AFABM yang memiliki kandungan asam palmitat relatif tinggi. Kandungan asam palmitat teresterifikasi pada posisi sn-2 tertinggi pada bahan baku sintesis AFABM adalah stearin sawit, sedangkan pada produk hasil sintesis adalah pada bahan baku minyak kedelei diperkaya palmitat dan Stearidonic Acid (SDA).

Bio-Guided Fractionation and Molecular Networking Reveal Fatty Acids to Be Principal Anti-Parasitic Compounds in Nordic Seaweeds

Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs has led to high levels of drug-resistance in pathogen populations and a need for novel sources of anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic compounds. Macroalgae (seaweed) are potentially a rich source of bioactive compounds, and several species have traditionally been used as vermifuges. Here, we investigated the anti-parasitic properties of four common cold-water Nordic seaweeds; Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta), Laminaria digitata, Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). Screening of organic extracts against helminths of swine (Ascaris suum) and sheep (Teladorsagia circumcincta) revealed that S. latissima and L. digitata had particularly high biological activity. A combination of molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation led to the isolation of six compounds from extracts of these two species identified in both fermented and non-fermented samples. The six isolated compounds were tentatively identified by using MS-FINDER as five fatty acids and one monoglyceride: Stearidonic acid (1), Eicosapentaenoic acid (2), Alpha-Linolenic acid (3), Docosahexaenoic acid (4), Arachidonic acid (5), and Monoacylglycerol (MG 20:5) (6). Individual compounds showed only modest activity against A. suum, but a clear synergistic effect was apparent when selected compounds were tested in combination. Collectively, our data reveal that fatty acids may have a previously unappreciated role as natural anti-parasitic compounds, which suggests that seaweed products may represent a viable option for control of intestinal helminth infections.