Rice Bran-Based Bioplastics: Effects of Biopolymer Fractions on Their Mechanical, Functional and Microstructural Properties

Rice bran is an underutilized by-product of rice production, containing proteins, lipids and carbohydrates (mainly starches). Proteins and starches have been previously used to produce rice bran-based bioplastics, providing a high-added-value by-product, while contributing to the development of biobased, biodegradable bioplastics. However, rice bran contains oil (18–22%), which can have a detrimental effect on bioplastic properties. Its extraction could be convenient, since rice bran oil is becoming increasingly attractive due to its variety of applications in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries. In this way, the aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the different components of rice bran on the final properties of the bioplastics. Rice bran refining was carried out by extracting the oil and fiber fractions, and the effects of these two procedures on the final properties were addressed with mechanical, functional and microstructural measures. Results revealed that defatted rice bran produced bioplastics with higher viscoelastic moduli and better tensile behavior while decreasing the water uptake capacity and the soluble matter loss of the samples. However, no significant improvements were observed for systems produced from fiber-free rice bran. The microstructures observed in the SEM micrographs matched the obtained results, supporting the conclusions drawn.

Evaluation of nutrient solution dose and harvest time on forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in hydroponic fodder system

This study aims to evaluate the effects of adding nutrient solutions and different harvest ages to the productivity and quality of sorghum forage hydroponically. The study was conducted experimentally using a 3x3 factorial randomized block design with 5 groups. Factor A dose of commercial nutrient solution (0, 3, and 5 ml/l). Factor B is the age of harvest (7, 10, and 13 days). The observed variables were plant productivity, nutrient, fiber fraction, and Hydrogen cianide (HCN) content. The results showed that there was a very significant interaction (P<0.01) between the nutrient solution factor and the age of harvest on the content of dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash, and nitrogen free extract (NFE), while the single factor of harvest age had a very significant effect (P<0.01) reducing the content of DM, CP, EE, and NFE. There was no interaction between the addition of nutrient solution and age of harvest to the content of fiber fractions. A single factor in nutrient solution significantly increased (P<0.01) content of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose, and lignin, but not hemicellulose. The conclusion is the addition of a nutrient solution to increase growth and fresh production, the content of CF, ash, ADF, NDF, cellulose, lignin and HCN, but a decrease in the content of DM, CP, EE, and NFE. The longer the harvest age will increase growth and fresh production, the content of CF, ash, ADF, cellulose, lignin and HCN, but reduce DM, CP, EE, and NFE.

Evaluation of thermo-mechanical and microbial-facilitated processing on the chemical composition of soybean meal

A laboratory experiment was conducted to examine the effects of microbial fermentation using Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae on the chemical composition of a commercial soybean meal (SBM). Five quadruplicate samples of SBM were subjected to four treatments with one batch serves as a control. The treatments were steam conditioning treatment (P1) where the other three groups were further fermented with B. subtilis (P2), A. oryzae (P3), and the combination of B. subtilis + A. oryzae (P4). The results showed that bacterial and fungal inoculation increased crude protein (CP) content when compared to control (p<0.05). In addition, fiber fractions including neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were concomitantly decreased with fermentation (p<0.05). In this study, no significant difference was observed on CP and NDF content with heating treatment (P1, p>0.05). However, this treatment decreased ADF content (p<0.05). Ether extract (EE), ash, non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), and total phosphorus contents were not affected by the treatments. To conclude, fermentation either with bacterial or fungal inoculants was effective to improve the chemical composition of SBM as indicated by increasing CP and decreasing fiber contents of SBM.

Potential of Persimmon Dietary Fiber Obtained from Byproducts as Antioxidant, Prebiotic and Modulating Agent of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function

Appropriate nutrition targets decrease the risk of incidence of preventable diseases in addition to providing physiological benefits. Dietary fiber, despite being available and necessary in balanced nutrition, are consumed at below daily requirements. Food byproducts high in dietary fiber and free and bonded bioactive compounds are often discarded. Herein, persimmon byproducts are presented as an interesting source of fiber and bioactive compounds. The solvent extraction effects of dietary fiber from persimmon byproducts on its techno- and physio-functional properties, and on the Caco-2 cell model after being subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and probiotic bacterial fermentation, were evaluated. The total, soluble, and insoluble dietary fiber, total phenolic, carotenoid, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity were determined. After in vitro digestion, low quantities of bonded phenolic compounds were detected in all fiber fractions. Moreover, total phenolic and carotenoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity, decreased depending on the extraction solvent, whereas short chain fatty acids production increased. Covalently bonded compounds in persimmon fiber mainly consisted of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavanols. After probiotic bacterial fermentation, few phenolic compounds were determined in all fiber fractions. Results suggest that persimmon’s dietary fiber functional properties are dependent on the extraction process used, which may promote a strong probiotic response and modulate the epithelial barrier function.

The Effect of Lignin Composition on Ruminal Fiber Fractions Degradation from Different Roughage Sources in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is known for its unique utilization of low-quality fibrous feeds and outstanding digestion performance, highlighting its role as an animal model in studying fiber fractions degradation. Among roughage, lignin attracted wide attention in ruminant nutrition studies, which affects animal digestibility. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the functional relation between three lignin monomeric compositions of coniferyl alcohol (G), ρ-coumaryl alcohol (H) and sinapyl alcohol (S) and ruminal fiber degradation in water buffalo. Hence, three female water buffaloes (Nili-Ravi × Mediterranean, five years old, 480 ± 20 kg) were assigned for an in vivo study by utilizing the nylon-bag method, examining eight kinds of roughage. All the experimental roughage types were analyzed for the effective degradability (ED) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose (CEL) and hemicellulose (HC) fractions. Then, prediction models for the roughage fiber degradation were established based on the characteristics of lignin monomer content. The results showed that S, S/G and S/(G+S+H) were positively correlated with the ED of NDF, ADF, CEL and HC; H/S was negatively correlated. For the effective degradability of ADL (ADLD), S and S/(G+S+H) were positively correlated with it; H, H/G, H/S and H/(G+S+H) were negatively correlated. The model with the highest fitting degree was ADLD = 0.161 − 1.918 × H + 3.152 × S (R2 = 0.758, p < 0.01). These results indicated that the lignin monomer composition is closely related to the utilization rate of roughage fiber. S-type lignin monomer plays a vital role in the fiber degradation of roughage. The experiment found the effect of lignin monomer composition on the degradation of fiber fractions using buffalo as the experimental animal and constructed prediction models, providing a scientific basis for building a new technological method using lignin composition to evaluate buffalo roughage. Furthermore, the capacity of ADL degradation of buffalo was proved in this experiment. In order to further explore the ability of lignin degradation by the buffalo, the DNA of rumen microorganisms was extracted for sequencing. The top three composition of rumen microorganisms at the genus level were Prevotella_1, 226, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-011. Six strains with lignin degradation ability were screened from buffalo rumen contents. This experiment also revealed that the buffalos possess rumen microorganisms with lignin degradation potential.

Estimation of major nutrients in dry dog foods and their compliance with nutritional guidelines

The aim of this study was to estimate complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with a particular focus on the nutritional value with respect to current nutritional guidelines for dogs, dietary fiber fractions, the division into breed size. Dog foods were subjected to chemical analyzes to determine the content of basic nutrients and dietary fiber fractions. The material for the research consisted of 15 maintenance foods for adult dogs (five for large breed dogs, five for small breed dogs and five for all breeds dogs). All analyzed feeds met the European Pet Food Industry Federation recommended minimum recommended levels of protein and fat. Individual tested foods were characterized by different levels of dietary fiber fractions, such as acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose (CEL), hemicellulose (HCEL). The group of foods for small breed dogs was characterized by the lowest mean of ME (391.23 kcal per 100 g DM). A higher level of ME (393.99 kcal per 100 g DM) was observed in the group of foods for dogs of large breeds, and the highest (397.05 kcal per 100 g DM) – in the group of foods for dogs of all breeds.

Kualitas Hijauan Rumput Gajah (Pennisetum purpureum) Berbeda Tipe Pertumbuhan: Review Kuantitatif

Study on the data of forage quality was conducted to determine the quality of napier grass forage with different growth and morfological type. In Indonesia, there are two types of napier grass, namely the tall and short type. The data used in this study were of proximate and van soest analysis of tall-type napier grass forage Pennisetum purpureum Schum and short-type napier grass, cultivar Mott dwarf, which were obtained from the Bekasi Feed Quality and Certification Center and data obtained from journals. The results of the study showed that dry matter content of short-type napier grass was higher than those of tall-type napier grass (23% vs 20%), while fiber fractions such as crude fiber, NDF and ADF of short-type napier grass were lower than those of tall-type napier grass 32% vs 29%, 70% vs 65%, 43% vs 39%, respectively. It is therefore relative forage quality (RFQ) of short-type napier grass was higher than those of tall-type napier grass (68 vs 57). It is concluded that related to dry matter and fiber fraction value, the quality of short-type napier grass (cv. Mott) is better than those of tall-type napier grass. Key words: cultivar Mott, Pennisetum purpureum, relative forage quality (RFQ), short-type napier grass, tall-type napier grass

Variations in chemical nutrients and mineral concentrations of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes Mart. Solms- Labauch)

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate changes in chemical nutrients and mineral concentrations of water hyacinth as influenced by the season of harvest, habitat and morphological parts of the plants. Proximate composition (DM, CP, CF, EE and ash), fiber fractions (NDF, ADF and ADL) and concentrations of minerals (Ca, P, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb) in water hyacinth harvested from canal, lagoon, river and dam at the early and late period of wet and dry seasons were determined. Results showed that CP, EE and ash contents of water hyacinth harvested from the different water bodies differ (P < 0.05). Dry matter and CP values ranged from 7.68 to 7.96 and 10.32 to 10.40 g/100g DM in water hyacinth from river and dam respectively. Effects of the season on the chemical nutrient composition of water hyacinth were not significant (P> 0.05) except for DM that was highest (8.22) in the late dry season. Water hyacinth harvested from the different water bodies contains relatively high levels of minerals that vary (P<0.05) with the season of harvest. The high CP and mineral concentrations of water hyacinth suggests that the plant can be used as fodder for ruminant livestock production.

Ruminal degradability of mixtures of Panicum maximum and four forage legume hays in N 'dama steer

This study was conducted to evaluate rumen degradability of Panicum maximum (Panicum) and Lablab purpureus (lablab). Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo). Centrosema pubescens (centro) and Aeschynomene histrix (histrix) harvested from the paddock consisting of grass and herbaceous legumes. Mixtures of P marimum (l. 8g) and each of these legumes (l.2g) were weighed together and incubated in a cannulated steer. Rumen degradability of the Panicum and legume mixtures were studied at 0, 6, 12. 24. 48 and 72 hours using the equation P=a+b (I-e-ct). Average dry matter (DM) and crude protein of the herbaceous legumes were 37.83% DM and 19.86% CP. respectively The soluble fraction. a ofthe DM degradation ranged from 23.34 to 31 rumen degradable fraction, b ranged from 39 46 to 44.43% DM. disappearance rate of substrates C was highest in lablab (12.4%h-1) and stylo (10.2%h-1) Protein degradation characteristics varied significantly (P< 0.05) among the treatments Hlgher b Potential degradability PD and Effective degradability ED. fractions were observed in the sole legumes and grass legumes combinations than the sole grass. This study revealed that hay consisting of grass and legume mixtures was better degraded in terms of DM.CP and fiber fractions in the rumen compared to sole grass hay and this could translate to enhance performance of livestock when fed these mixtures.