Mixing Ratio Optimization of Silkworm, Mealworm, and White Grub Using Response Surface Methodology

Purpose: In this study, the optimal mixing ratio of total branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) content, total unsaturated fatty acid content, antioxidant activities, and enzyme activities of silkworm, mealworm, and white grub, which are alternative protein sources, was derived using response surface analysis.Method: Silkworm, mealworm, and white grub were the independent variables, and total BCAA content, total unsaturated fatty acid content, total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, ABTS radical scavenging activity, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and ACE inhibitory activity were used as the dependent variables to determine the optimal mixing ratio.Result: The optimal mixing ratio for total BCAA content, total unsaturated fatty acid content, antioxidant activities, and enzyme activities derived from the response surface analysis was silkworm (X1) 2.998 : mealworm (X2) 0.623 : white grub (X3) 1.983. At this ratio, the total BCAA content was 0.52 g, the total unsaturated fatty acid content was 0.44 g, the total polyphenol content was 67.02 mg TAE/g, the total flavonoid content was 35.58 mg QE/g, the ABTS radical scavenging activity was 95.61%, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was 37.79%, and the ACE inhibitory activity was 95.25%.Conclusion: It is expected that the optimal mixing ratio of silkworm, mealworms, and white grub derived in this study can be used to develop products for the management of various chronic diseases.

The biochemical content and antioxidant capacities of endemic Tanacetum densum (Lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. laxum, and Tanacetum densum (Lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. amani Heywood growing in Turkey

Medicinal plants have a significant role in preventing and curing several diseases, and Tanacetum L. is one of these plants. The aim of the present study is to determine the fatty acid, lipid-soluble vitamin, sterol, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani, to compare the effect of altitude on the biochemical content and to compare systematically by using fatty acids and phenolics. This study showed that palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) are major sources of saturated fatty acid and oleic acid (C18:1 n9), and linoleic acid (18:2 n6c) and a-linolenic acid (C18:3 n3) are the principal unsaturated fatty acids in the two endemic Tanacetum densum taxa. Also, this study found that the unsaturated fatty acid content (60.11±1.61%) of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum was higher than the unsaturated fatty acid content (44.13±1.28%) of Tanacetum densum subsp. amani. And also, the ω6/ω3 ratio of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum (1.74) and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani (1.60) was found to be similar. However, this study determined that the lipid soluble vitamin and sterol content of two endemic Tanacetum taxa are low except for stigmasterol. Present study showed that catechin is principal phenolic in the Tanacetum densum taxa. This study also found that Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani had the highest levels of catechin, vanillic acid, and caffeic acid content though the phenolic amounts, particularly catechin and quercetin, were dissimilar in the T. densum taxa. This study suggested that ecological conditions such as altitude may affect the biochemical content of two endemic Tanacetum densum taxa. Furthermore, the current study determined that two endemic Tanacetum L. taxa had potent radical scavenging capacities and found a correlation between total phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Comparison of Food Preference and Nutrients in Captive Stumptailed Macaques of Different Sexes

It is important that the food provided to animals should contain all the essential nutrients required for the growth and development of animals. This experiment was planned to generate the information to understand the food selection and nutrients available in the food of captive stump tailed macaques in the Zoo. The study aimed to assess spontaneous food preferences and its relation with nutrient availability in the food items by animals of the study group. The study was conducted at Aizawl Zoological Park where three individuals each of captive adult males, dry females and lactating females of stump tailed macaques were repeatedly presented (n=10) with all possible binary combinations of 7 types of food that are part of the monkey’s diet in captivity using 2-alternative choice test. Experiment for the choice of food item was performed at 900, 1200, and 1500 hour, across a day. The rank of preference for the food items across the day was uniform (p>0.05).Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlation between the food preference ranking and the unsaturated fatty acid content and vitamin K content of the food (p<0.05), in case of adult males. There is also a significant correlation between food preference and protein content and unsaturated fatty acid content in dry females. A significant correlation between food preference and the content of lipids and magnesium was found in lactating females.