Biochemical characterization of solid state fermented maize cob (Zea mays) using Rhizopus oligosporusand its application in poultry feed production

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical characterization of solid state fermented maize (Zea mays) cob and its use in poultry feed production.Method Solid state fermentation was carried out at room temperature for 72 hours using Rhizopus oligosporus inoculum with a well prepared phosphate buffer (50 mM , pH 6).Results Results showed a significant (p< 0.05) increase in glucose and decrease in sugars and soluble proteins concentration in the R. oligosporus fermented maize cob. At 10% inoculum, the highest concentrations of glucose, reduced sugars and soluble proteins were 1.15±0.21, 45.7±0.6 and 12.9±0.3 mg g-1, respectively. Similarly, the total phenol, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and amylase activity of maize cob increased significantly (p < 0.05) with fermentation. Broiler chickens fed with fermented maize cob of 10% inoculum had the same weight gain as the control (1.4±0.1kg). Fermentation did not induce a significant difference (p<0.05) in the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Conclusion The observed increase in proteins and sugars in the fermented products suggests their suitability as excellent components for animal feed production. Thus, the livestock feed formulation industries might benefit from the usage of fermented maize cob as a raw material in animal feeds as well as a protein fortifier

Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Musa paradisiaca Fruit Pulp and Peels on Haematological Indices and Liver Enzymes of Experimental Rats

Medicinal plants usage in traditional medicine has risen over the years. Musa paradisiaca has been reported that it possesses various therapeutic efficacies. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of parts of the ethanol fruit extracts of Musa paradisiaca on haematological indices and serum liver enzymes. Thirty Wistar rats were grouped into five groups of six animals each which were administered 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of Musa paradisiac fruit (MPF) pulp extract or peel extract. Haematological indices and liver enzymes were assayed for at the end of the 14-days experimental period. MPF pulp and MPF peel at 400 mg/kg showed a significant (P0.05) increase in haemoglobin concentration in the treated rats as compared to the control. There was also a non-significant (P>0.05) change in AST, ALT, and ALP level of the treated rats as compared to the control. Fruit pulp and peel of Musa paradisiaca improve erythrocytes count and haematocrit level, and they may not be associated with liver toxicity

Biochemical characterization of solid-state fermented cassava roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and its application in broiler feed formulation

DATA AVAILABILTY : The availability of experimental data would be subject to reasonable request.The biochemical parameters of solid-state fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and their application in broiler feed formulations were investigated. Fermentation occurred at room temperature for 72 h (pH 3—9). The samples utilized for five (5) broiler starter feeds were labeled: control, unfermented unpeeled cassava (UUC), unfermented peeled cassava (UPC), fermented unpeeled cassava (FUC), and fermented peeled cassava (FPC). Formulations were made by substituting fermented/non-fermented cassava roots at pH 7 for maize (w/w%). Fermentation-induced changes included increased soluble and total protein concentrations (69.3 and 334.5 mg/g) and (9.6 and 10.8%), respectively, in cultures prepared with peeled and unpeeled cassava at pH 7 compared to the control (p  0.05) for birds fed with fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava. Conversely, serum albumin and calcium levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) for birds fed with the control feed compared to birds fed with fermented feeds. The results imply that fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava roots could be a safe and nutritionally beneficial replacement for maize in broiler diet.https://link.springer.com/journal/112742023-12-29hj2023Consumer ScienceFood Scienc

Cadmium and arsenic induced toxicity through a controlled food chain on plasma lipid profile and endogenous metabolites of rats

The present study aims to investigate the effect of cadmium and arsenic  contaminated through a controlled food chain on the lipid profile and endogenous metabolites of rats. Fish (first trophic level) exposed to both metals [singly and in combination], using cadmium chloride [CdCl2] as the source of cadmium and arsenic trioxide [AS2O3] as the source of arsenic at a  concentration of 0.4mg metal/100ml of water for 1 month were used as the source of protein in compounding the diet to which the rats (second trophic level) were exposed to for a period of 1 and 3 months. Changes [significant at p&lt;0.05] were observed in the various plasma lipid profile assessed. Significant increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein [VLDL]-cholesterol were observed for all tissues for both period of exposure. However, there was  significant decrease in the level of HDL-cholesterol when compared to the control. For the endogenous metabolites, increases were recorded for urea, creatinine, glucose and albumin. The results of the present study provides evidence of tubular and glomerular dysfunction as well as alteration in lipid profile of experimental rats.Key words: Arsenic, cadmium, lipid profile, endogenous metabolite, plasma

Effect of a controlled food-chain mediated exposure to cadmium and arsenic on oxidative enzymes in the tissues of rats

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the effect of cadmium and arsenic through a controlled food chain on the activities of some oxidative enzymes (Sulphite oxidase SO, Aldehyde oxidase AO, Monoamine oxidase MO and Xanthine oxidase, XO) in the liver, kidney, testes, heart and brain of rats. Materials and methods: Fish (the first trophic level) were exposed to both metals (singly and in mixture) using cadmium chloride (CdCl2) as the source of cadmium and arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) as the source of arsenic at a concentration of 0.4 mg of metals/100 ml of water for 1 month and then sacrificed. The contaminated fish were then used as a source of protein in compounding the experimental diet to which the rats (the second trophic level) were exposed to for a period of 1 and 3 months. The Cd- and As-load in the feed and tissues of rats as well as the activities of the oxidative enzymes were subsequently analyzed in the various tissues after both period of exposure. Results: Metal analysis on the tissues of rats showed that the metals accumulated more in the liver than in other organs after the 1 month exposure but accumulated more in the kidney after the 3 months exposure. The activities of the oxidative enzymes in the liver were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in all test groups after the 1 and 3 months exposure. However, after the 1 month exposure, the kidney, testes and heart showed an initial increase in the activities of these enzymes which were decreased after the 3 months exposure. In the brain, the activities of these enzymes were increased in both duration of study. Conclusion: From the results obtained in the current study, it could be concluded that exposure to cadmium and arsenic through the food chain leads to accumulation of these metals in the tissues of experimental rats leading to the inhibition of oxidative enzymes, thus affecting several normal metabolic processes. Keywords: Cadmium, Arsenic, Oxidative enzymes, Kidney, Liver, Teste

Nutritional compositions and antioxidant properties of typical Urhobo Nigerian soups

In this study, the nutritional compositions and antioxidant properties of six typical Urhobo (Nigerian) soups; Amiedi (Elaeis guineensis extract), Palm oil (‘Oghwo-evwri’), Egusi (Citrullus lanatus)–Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus) soup (‘Emuigari-ishavwo’), Pepper (Iribo-erhare), Egusi-vegetable (‘Emuigarifo’), and Egusi-Pepper (‘Ovwovwo’) were investigated. The results show that the typical Urhobo soups were rich in protein and contained extremely low concentrations of reducing sugars. The highest concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (7.35 ± 0.25 mg/ml), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (1.19 ± 0.67 mg/ml), and triglycerides (6.67 ± 0.29 mg/ml) were observed in ‘Ovwovwo’, ‘Amiedi’ and ‘Emuigari ishavwo’, respectively. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay results showed that all the soup samples exhibit high antioxidant properties. Also, the highest radical scavenging effect was observed in Amiedi and Emuigari-ishavwo soups. The high amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the soups is a measure of their antioxidant capacities. The soups are not only nutritious but also health protective. Keywords: Typical Urhobo soups, Nutritional compositions, Phenols, Flavonoids, DPPH radical, Antioxidant activityNigerian Journal of Technological Research, 8(2), 201