Classification tools for carotenoid content estimation in Manihot esculenta via metabolomics and machine learning

Cassava genotypes (Manihot esculenta Crantz) with high pro-vitamin A activity have been identified as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of deficiency of this vitamin. The color variability of cassava roots, which can vary from white to red, is related to the presence of several carotenoid pigments. The present study has shown how CIELAB color measurement on cassava roots tissue can be used as a non-destructive and very fast technique to quantify the levels of carotenoids in cassava root samples, avoiding the use of more expensive analytical techniques for compound quantification, such as UV-visible spectrophotometry and the HPLC. For this, we used machine learning techniques, associating the colorimetric data (CIELAB) with the data obtained by UV-vis and HPLC, to obtain models of prediction of carotenoids for this type of biomass. Best values of R2 (above 90%) were observed for the predictive variable TCC determined by UV-vis spectrophotometry. When we tested the machine learning models using the CIELAB values as inputs, for the total carotenoids contents quantified by HPLC, the Partial Least Squares (PLS), Support Vector Machines, and Elastic Net models presented the best values of R2 (above 40%) and Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE). For the carotenoid quantification by UV-vis spectrophotometry, R2 (around 60%) and RMSE values (around 6.5) are more satisfactory. Ridge regression and Elastic Network showed the best results. It can be concluded that the use colorimetric technique (CIELAB) associated with UV-vis/HPLC and statistical techniques of prognostic analysis through machine learning can predict the content of total carotenoids in these samples, with good precision and accuracy.CAPES -Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(407323/2013-9)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feeding dihydroquercetin in wheat-based diets to laying hens: impact on egg production and quality of fresh and stored eggs

1. This study assessed the impact of dietary dihydroquercetin (DHQ) in wheat-based diets on egg production, composition and quality when fed to laying hens. A total of 80 Hy-Line Brown hens were allocated to 20 enriched layer cages, over two tiers, in groups of four birds. 2. Two wheat-based diets were used in the study. A basal diet, meeting the nutrient requirement of the hens, containing 11.56 MJ/kg AME and 172 g/kg crude protein, was mixed and split in two parts. One part was fed as prepared to the control group of birds. The second diet was made by adding 1.5 g DHQ per kg basal diet and fed to the treatment group of birds. This level was relatively high and extended the data on levels normally fed. The diets were fed in a meal form and did not contain any coccidiostat, antimicrobial growth promoters or other similar additives. Each diet was fed to hens in 10 replicate cages for four weeks, from 22 to 26 weeks of age, following randomisation. 3. Subsequently, eggs were investigated to determine the impact of dietary DHQ on the quality variables of fresh and 28-day stored eggs. 4. Overall, feeding 1.5 g/kg dietary DHQ for four weeks did not affect (P>0.05) egg production or the quality of fresh and stored eggs. Any observed egg quality changes (P<0.05) confirmed the expected effects of egg storage

Feeding graded levels of dried Sea buckthorn (Hippophaes rhamnoides) berries to broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of graded levels (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg) of dry Sea buckthorn (SB) berries on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal histomorphology, bird antioxidant status and caecal short-chain fatty acid concentration when fed to female Ross 308 broiler chickens. In addition, expression of cytokine biomarker genes in the jejunum was evaluated. The five experimental diets were fed from 7 to 21 days age to 8 pens (two birds in each) following randomisation. Feeding SB did not influence bird growth performance (p > .05). There was a linear decrease in butyric, acetic and valeric acid concentrations in caecal digesta (p  .05). Feeding dry SB berries up to 12 g/kg of diet did not improve the zootechnical variables of healthy commercial-strain broilers in this study

Effect of rearing temperature on physiological measures and antioxidant status of broiler chickens fed stevia (Stevia rebaudiana B.) leaf meal and exogenous xylanase

Background The global climate is warming. Heat stress, as a result of high ambient temperatures, may negatively impact physiology and reduce growth performance of poultry. Stevia is a perennial shrub indigenous to South America where its phytochemical extracts have been used as a natural sweetener for hundreds of years. Its physiological effects, including antioxidant properties, on poultry are well known, however, the translation of these to improved growth performance is variable. Combining stevia with a commercial xylanase to enhance feed digestibility could therefore form a feeding strategy to partially mitigate the negative impact of rearing birds under high ambient temperatures. Purpose The study aimed to compare the growth performance, dietary energy and nutrient availability, oxidative status, gastrointestinal tract development, and caecal short chain fatty acid concentration; at two ambient rearing temperatures, when feeding diets containing stevia and exogenous xylanase, alone or in combination, to broiler chickens. Study design/Methods: Day-old chicks (n = 105) were reared in a single floor pen following breeder recommendations for the first 7 days, whereupon birds (n = 96) were randomly allocated to one of four experimental diets (negative control, stevia at 20 g/kg diet, xylanase at 100 FXU/kg diet, stevia at 20 g/kg diet + xylanase at 100 FXU/kg diet), in one of two environmental conditions (high ambient temperature at 32 ± 2 °C or regular rearing at breeder recommendations), in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Results Rearing birds at high ambient temperature reduced daily feed intake (p = 0.02). Birds fed stevia and reared at regular temperature had similar weight gain to birds reared in high ambient temperatures, although birds on the control diet housed at regular temperatures had the greatest weight gain (P < 0.05). Exogenous xylanase improved overall dietary metabolisable energy and improved nitrogen retention in the high ambient temperature group only (P < 0.05). Dietary stevia reduced caecal digesta butyric acid: acetic acid at regular temperature, but xylanase increased the butyric acid concentration at high ambient temperature (P < 0.05). Dietary stevia increased (P < 0.001) the hepatic carotenoid concentrations and xylanase improved (P < 0.05) hepatic vitamin E concentrations. Conclusions Rearing temperature is an important environmental factor in broiler production. Exogenous xylanase supplementation can increase feed efficiency and dietary metabolisable energy. Feeding xylanase or stevia improves hepatic antioxidant status in broilers by increasing hepatic vitamin E and carotenoids, respectively, suggesting that either may be effective in counteracting oxidative stress

Feeding dihydroquercetin and vitamin E to broiler chickens reared at standard and high ambient temperatures

The use of natural antioxidants, in particular polyphenols such as dihydroquercetin (DHQ), in animal nutrition has recently increased in popularity. This may partly be due to the risk of increased incidences of heat stress associated with raising livestock in warmer ambient temperatures, facilitated by global warming, reducing antioxidant capacity. The current research demonstrates the effect of dietary DHQ, vitaminEand standard or high ambient temperatures on growth performance, energy and nutrient metabolism, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal villus morphometry and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. Each of the four experimental diets was fed to 16 pens of five birds, which were allocated to four rooms (four pens in each room). The temperature in two rooms was maintained at aconstant 35°C (high temperature; HT), and the temperature in the other two rooms was gradually reduced from 27°C at 7 dof age to 22°C at 20 dof age (standard temperature; ST). Rearing birds at HT reduced feed intake, weight gain, weight of small intestine, total GIT, liver, spleen, heart, villus height, villus surface area and lowered blood glutationperoxidase (GSH-Px). Dietary DHQ increased blood GSH-Px and total antioxidant status, increased heart weight and reduced caecal size. When fed separately, DHQ and vitamin E improved hepatic vitamin E concentration. Feeding vitamin Eincreased spleen and liver weights. When fed together, DHQ and vitamin Ereduced villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus surface area. Temperature and antioxidants did not affect energy and nutrient metabolism. There were no effects of dietary antioxidants on growth performance of broiler chickens and there were no mortalities. At present, it is unclear if feeding antioxidants (in particular DHQ) at different levels, using different dietary formulations, and rearing birds under arange of environmental conditions may be effective at enhancing production performance and bird health in hot ambient climates

A comprehensive review on carotenoids in foods and feeds: status quo, applications, patents, and research needs

Carotenoids are isoprenoids widely distributed in foods that have been always part of the diet of humans. Unlike the other so-called food bioactives, some carotenoids can be converted into retinoids exhibiting vitamin A activity, which is essential for humans. Furthermore, they are much more versatile as they are relevant in foods not only as sources of vitamin A, but also as natural pigments, antioxidants, and health-promoting compounds. Lately, they are also attracting interest in the context of nutricosmetics, as they have been shown to provide cosmetic benefits when ingested in appropriate amounts. In this work, resulting from the collaborative work of participants of the COST Action European network to advance carotenoid research and applications in agro-food and health (EUROCAROTEN, www.eurocaroten.eu, https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA15136/#tabs|Name:overview) research on carotenoids in foods and feeds is thoroughly reviewed covering aspects such as analysis, carotenoid food sources, carotenoid databases, effect of processing and storage conditions, new trends in carotenoid extraction, daily intakes, use as human, and feed additives are addressed. Furthermore, classical and recent patents regarding the obtaining and formulation of carotenoids for several purposes are pinpointed and briefly discussed. Lastly, emerging research lines as well as research needs are highlighted.This article is based upon work from COST Action (European network to advance carotenoid research and applications in agro-food and health, EUROCAROTEN, CA15136, www.eurocaroten.eu, https://www. cost.eu/actions/CA15136/#tabsjName:overview) supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, http://www.cost. eu/).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feeding dry stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana) or xylanase improves the hepatic antioxidative status of broiler chickens

Four diets, formulated with and without stevia and with and without exogenous xylanase, following a 2 × 2 factorial design, were prepared. Each diet was fed ad libitum to birds in eight pens (three birds in each pen) in a randomised block design. It was found that birds fed xylanase grew faster, used the feed more efficiently and had an increased concentration of hepatic α-tocopherol and vitamin E concentrations (P 0.05), but increased hepatic CoQ10 (P = 0.05), lutein, zeaxanthin and total carotenoids (P 0.05) for any of the studied variables. The results showed that alone, dietary stevia and dietary xylanase can improve the antioxidative status of birds through enhancing dietary antioxidant availability

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) improves carotenoid content in eggs when fed to laying hens

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a shrub with leaves that have a high concentration of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Egg yolks are a bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The consumption of these carotenoids has been linked with improved human health. To investigate the impact of dried stevia leaves at 0%, 1% and 3% on the quality variables, the chemical composition and antioxidant content of eggs, the experiment involved 90 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, housed in 30 enriched layer cages, in groups of three from 22 to 26 weeks of age. The impact on the internal qualities of stored eggs was also examined. Yolks from hens fed stevia had an enriched color compared with the controls. At the end of the experiment, the whole egg, without shell, of birds fed 2% stevia had a higher total carotenoid content (p 0.05) with storage time among the egg quality variables. Consuming eggs from hens fed stevia may increase carotenoids in human diet