Effect of Pleurotus ostreatus fermentation on cocoa pod husk composition: Influence of fermentation period and Mn2+ supplementation on the fermentation process

Cocoa pod husk (CPH) is a major agro-industrial residue in Ghana with a potential value as a low-cost unconventional feedstuff for livestock. However, its effective use is limited by poor nutrient composition, mainly due to its high lignocellulose or fibre and also low protein levels. White–rot fungi such as Pleurotus species are bio-catalytic systems for bioconversion processes such as the bioconversion of lignocellulose materials into value-added products including nutritious animal feed.Presence of metals such as manganese (II) ions is reported to enhance fungal enzyme activity in the bioconversion of industrial lignocellulosic residues. The current study investigated the viability of using and optimising a fermentation process involving edible oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) as biocatalyst to improve the nutritional status of CPH. Fermentation period and level of manganese (Mn2+) ion supplementation of CPH were the two major factors of the fermentation process evaluated and optimised in this study. Mn supplementation was critical in producing a positive bioconversion effect on CPH by P. ostreatus. Five (5) weeks of P. ostreatus solid-state fermentation of CPH amended with MnCl2 at 0.075% (w/w) concentration, was observed as an economic and optimum treatment to produce positive and significant (P < 0.05) changes in CPH composition, i.e. 36% increment in crude protein and total soluble carbohydrates; 17% reduction in crude fibre and lignin as well as 88% reduction in total tannins

Some blood indices in finisher broiler chickens fed cocoa pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.) fermented with Pleurotus ostreatus or treated with enzymes as ingredients in their diets

The dietary effects of pre-treated cocoa pod husk (CPH) on some blood indices of 21-day old COBB-500 finisher broiler chicks were evaluated in a 35-day experiment with a completely randomized design. The birds were allotted to seven treatments (diets) having 0-g kg-1, 100- g kg-1, 200-g kg-1 and 300-g kg-1 of either Pleurotus ostreatus fermented CPH (PF-CPH) or enzyme (Viscoyme®L+Pectinex®5XL) supplemented CPH (E-CPH). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 chicks per replicate. The haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), activities of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum levels of cholesterol (CH), uric acid, total protein, albumin and globulin were determined. Across dietary treatments Hb, PCV, CH, uric acid and AST activity level in blood of birds varied significantly (P &lt; 0.05). However, there was insignificant influence (P &gt; 0.05) of pre-treated CPH on all the other evaluated parameters among treatment groups. All blood indices measured were within acceptable or reference ranges. The study has revealed that incorporating either E-CPH or PF-CPH up to 30 per cent of broiler finisher diet had no adverse effect on the blood values of the broiler chickens. However, up to 20 per cent PF-CPH and 10 per cent E-CPH incorporation rates for broiler finisher diets, based on best results observed for growth and feed conversion, is recommende

Biomolecules extraction from coffee and cocoa by‐ and co‐products using deep eutectic solvents

BACKGROUND : Coffee pulp (CP), cocoa husk (CH), and pod husk (CPH) are the main agro‐residues from coffee and cocoa industries. They are sources of useful biomolecules, such as phenolic compounds, fibers, and alkaloids, among others. In this study, different compositions of deep eutectic solvents (DES) were investigated as a green and sustainable extraction media, with respect to their extraction capacity. The extraction yields were evaluated using heat stirring‐assisted extraction (HSE) or ultrasound‐probe assisted extraction (UPAE).RESULTS : The results showed an important effect of the DES composition. Choline chloride (ChCl) based‐DES were the most effective, specifically lactic acid:ChCl (2:1 mol ratio), and the extraction capacity of DES was higher with UPAE (3 min/constant duty cycle (200 W)), in comparison with HSE (1 h/30 min). Chlorogenic acid, caffeine, and theobromine were identified as the main bioactive compounds. Interestingly, under specific conditions, DES allowed the formation of a molecule, identified as furfural by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS), which could not be obtained using conventional extraction solvent (ethanol 70% v/v).CONCLUSION : DES showed a sustainability and high extraction capacity of biomolecules. In addition, their use as extraction solvents could lead to the formation and production of valuable building block molecules from plant biomas