Dietary medicinal plants enhance the chemical composition and quality of broiler chicken meat

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe use of nutritional strategies to improve the quality of meat is a relatively new approach that has emerged at the interface of animal science and food science. The effects of dietary medicinal plants (Allium sativum L., Piper nigrum L., and Capsicum annuum L.) addition to chicken nutrition on quality characteristics of breast and thigh with drumstick meat, as well as caloric value of chicken meat were investigated. Quality measurements included meat sensory (colour, smell, taste, softness, chewiness, juiciness and overall impression), physical (pH, colour-CIE L*a*b* and drip-loss) and chemical (moisture, protein, fat and ash content) characteristics. Herbs showed significant (P < 0.05) influence in altering most examined quality parameters of chicken meat, especially when adding red hot pepper. Caloric value of chicken meat was improved which makes garlic, black pepper and hot red pepper valuable natural feed additives in improvement of meat quality as well as a natural growth promoter. In conclusion, herbs had positive influence on chicken meat quality, however the knowledge of their mode of action is still limited and thus requires further investigation

Diallel analysis of grain number per spike in triticale

In this paper the inheritance of grain number per spike in hexaploid (6x) winter triticale was investigated. Studies were performed on primary spikes of parents, F1 and F2 progenies of a 5 x 5 complete diallel crossing with reciprocals. The results highlighted the prevalence of dominance and over-dominance in the expression of this trait at majority of combinations of F1 generation. Significant difference between direct and reciprocal crosses appeared in both generations and in generally with combinations of the most divergent parents. Analysis of variance for combining abilities demonstrated the existence of highly significant values for general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and effects of reciprocal crosses (REC). GCA and SCA variations demonstrated similar values, which were for about three times higher than variation caused by reciprocal effects. The best SCA were expressed in generally in combinations of good x average or good x poor GCA of parents

Diallel analysis of grain number per spike in triticale

In this paper the inheritance of grain number per spike in hexaploid (6x) winter triticale was investigated. Studies were performed on primary spikes of parents, F1 and F2 progenies of a 5 x 5 complete diallel crossing with reciprocals. The results highlighted the prevalence of dominance and over-dominance in the expression of this trait at majority of combinations of F1 generation. Significant difference between direct and reciprocal crosses appeared in both generations and in generally with combinations of the most divergent parents. Analysis of variance for combining abilities demonstrated the existence of highly significant values for general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and effects of reciprocal crosses (REC). GCA and SCA variations demonstrated similar values, which were for about three times higher than variation caused by reciprocal effects. The best SCA were expressed in generally in combinations of good x average or good x poor GCA of parents

Variability of blood serum biochemical parameters in Karakachan sheep

Karakachan sheep represents an endangered, indigenous sheep breed from Balkan Peninsula. There is relatively little information about the characteristics of this sheep breed in the veterinary scientific literature. The aim of this research was an examination of certain metabolic profile parameters of the Karakachan sheep blood serum, and variability of their concentrations in comparison to age and some other indigenous sheep breeds from Balkans. Examination was conducted on 14 clinically healthy sheep divided in two age groups. Blood samples were collected by puncture of v. jugularis and blood serum was separated after spontaneous coagulation. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and γ- glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined. In relation to age of Karakachan sheep, statistically significant difference between the calculated mean values of examined parameters was not observed. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean concentrations of the studied parameters in Karakachan sheep and other breeds in total protein (Tsigai, Dubrovnik and Dalmatian sheep), albumin (Dalmatian), calcium and inorganic phosphorus (Tsigai, Dubrovnik) and AST's (Dalmatian, Karakachan sheep from Bulgaria)

JSCS–3657 Original scientific paper

Preparation and studies on immobilized α-glucosidase from baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisia

Antihyperlipidemic potential of dietary supplementation with carnosine in high-fat diet-fed rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of carnosine and a commercial carnosine supplement on lipid status, liver and kidney function, and inflammation associated with dyslipidemia in rats with high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats, divided into control and experimental groups. Animals were kept in standard laboratory conditions and according to groups were treated with saline, carnosine, carnosine dietary supplement, simvastatin, and their combinations. All substances were prepared fresh every day and used by oral gavage. RESULTS: Treatment with a carnosine-based supplement significantly improved total and LDL cholesterol levels in serum, especially in the combination with simvastatin as a conventional drug in dyslipidemia treatment. The effect of carnosine on the metabolism of triglycerides was not as evident as in the case of cholesterol. Nevertheless, the values of the atherogenic index showed that the combinations of carnosine and carnosine supplement with simvastatin were the most effective in lowering this comprehensive lipid index. Dietary carnosine supplementation resulted also in anti-inflammatory effects, as demonstrated by immunohistochemical analyses. Besides, the good safety profile of carnosine in terms of its effect on liver and kidney functions was also confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of carnosine supplements in preventing and/or treatment of metabolic disorders requires further investigations into the mechanisms of action and potential interactions with conventional therapy

Immobilization of horseradish peroxidase onto kaolin

Kaolin showed as a very perspective carrier for the enzyme immobilization and it was used for the adsorption of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The effects of the enzyme concentration and pH on the immobilization efficiency were studied in the reaction with pyrogallol and anthraquinone dye C.I. Acid Violet 109 (AV 109). In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and analysis by Brunauer-EmmettTeller were performed for kaolin, thermally activated kaolin and the immobilized enzyme. It has been shown that 0.1 IU of HRP-kaolin decolorized 87 % of dye solution, under the optimal conditions (pH 5.0, temperature 24 degrees C, dye concentration 40 mg/L and 0.2 mM of H2O2) within 40 min. The immobilized HRP decolorization follows the Ping Pong Bi-Bi mechanism with dead-end inhibition by the dye. The biocatalyst retained 35 +/- 0.9 % of the initial activity after seven cycles of reuse in the decolorization reaction of AV 109 under optimal conditions in a batch reactor. The obtained kinetic parameters and reusability study confirmed improvement in performances of k-HRP compared to free, indicating that k-HRP has a great potential for environmental purposes