Foodwaste (hereinafter, FW) is the most voluminous solid waste and its amount is growing rapidly all over the world. The turning of FW into biogas via anaerobic fermentation is widely recognized as ...an environmentally responsible and economically reasonable option. Based on the knowledge obtained from agricultural biogas stations, the current methods of FW fermentation management are based on balancing the ratio of total carbon and nitrogen. However, it was repeatedly and independently reported that the stability of this process is low, resulting in many concessions in terms of prolonged hydraulic retention time or reduced biogas yield. Hence, biochemical as well as economic performance of the process is balanced by mixing of FW with agricultural residues. FW samples of various origin were collected and biochemically analyzed. The data indicate that FW originating from homes and luxury restaurants tends to be lignocellulose-based, whereas the levels of crude fiber (25% up to 27%) are higher than those from agricultural feedstock (18%). In contrast, FW from school canteens and inexpensive restaurants tends to be starch-based with high levels of amyloids (21% up to 23%) and fat (5% up to 7%). A novel method better reflecting the bioavailability of carbon and nitrogen to anaerobic consortia is proposed. It is demonstrated that the previous optimization methods could somehow reflect the availability of nutrients in agricultural feedstock, as carbonaceous and nitrogen sources are relatively equally biodegradable. Nevertheless, the biodegradability of FW is considerably different, which is why higher amounts of proteins and lipids lead to increased levels of ammonia and sulfide, resulting in an inhibitory effect on the metabolism of anaerobic consortia. Optimizing the anaerobic fermentation of FW by the new method outperforms the previous technique and makes it possible to process FW more intensively, or, more precisely, with higher profitability and lower proportion of ballast agricultural feedstock.
The share of renewables is rising rapidly, especially in developed countries. Biogas production from purpose-grown phytomass is undergoing the fastest growth. The trend is linked to the production of ...vast amounts of fermentation residues. However, it has been repeatedly and independently reported that intensive or long-term application of fermentation residues into arable land changes soil structure, resulting in sharp degradation of its fertility. This is now compensated by more intense use of agrochemicals and additional agrotechnical operations such as biochar addition. However, the increased cost is beginning to threaten the economic sustainability of biogas production. Given the fact that the production of biogas from purpose-grown phytomass has become a strong pillar of the electricity grid, the threat to soil fertility may endanger its stability. The quality and quantity of soil organic matter (SOM) and in particular its stable organic fractions with ion-exchange properties (SOF) that determine soil fertility, or, more precisely, the transport of nutrients and their availability for plant growth, were investigated in detail. A novel, undemanding and quick method allowing the analysis and interpretation of SOM and its SOF was proposed and compared with conventional methods. It was confirmed that the adaptation of the new method enables farmers to better choose organic and mineral fertilizers and corresponding agronomic operations, so the soil can provide higher yields and an increased water retention capacity (up to 7%), which results in improved water retention during extreme rainfalls or droughts, altogether lowering the cost of purpose-grown phytomass, or, more precisely, improving the economy of biogas production.
Abbreviations: SOM: Soil organic matter; SOF: Stable organic fractions of SOM with ion-exchange properties; WRC: Water retention capacity; ARC: Air retention capacity; TOC: Total organic carbon; CEC: Cation exchange capacity; HA: Humic acids; FA: Fulvic acids; NHSOM: Non-humified soil organic matter; PSOM: Primary soil organic matter; C
ox
: Oxidizable carbon
The aim of the work was to obtain data and formulate knowledge about the behavioural manifestations of dairy cows in relation to the management system of feeding regime on the farm, where Holstein ...cows are bred. The observations took place on the 13 and 14 August, 2014, when the cows were observed for 24 hours continuously. The ethogram records were recorded after 1 minute and physical activity of cows, periods of rest, ruminating, eating, drinking, defecation, urination and comfort and social behaviour. Cows are herded for milking 3 times a day. It was found that within 24 hours dairy cows spend on average 10 hours by lying, 8 hours by ruminating, 20 minutes by drinking, 6 hours by eating, they defecate 14 times, urinate 6 times and walk about 430 meters. They are also scratching, licking each other and tail swiping (comfort behaviour) within 24 hours. The observations of the responses to serving food indicate that cows actively react to the passage of the food vehicle, not the passage of a piling-up tractor.
The health status of calves is very important for the future production of meat and dairy cattle. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the dynamics of selected hematologic and biochemical parameters ...in blood plasma of calves reared in different environmental conditions. Totally 120 blood samples of calves in age of 1 to 124 days were collected. The animals came from three different breeds with different ways of rearing. The total blood parameters tested in all observed groups were in the normal range. Dynamics of selected hematologic and biochemical parameters in blood plasma of calves in all groups were relatively similar. It is evident that the calves, while preserving the basic animal hygiene conditions of livestock, can cope with the effects of different technologies of rearing and environmental conditions.
Morus alba L. is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including bacterial infections and inflammation. As a rich source of phenolic compounds, the plant is an ...object of many phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
The aim of the study was to isolate and evaluate possible parallel antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic mulberry compounds.
Extensive chromatographic separation of mulberry root bark extract and in vitro biological screening of 26 constituents identified promising candidates for further pharmacological research. Selected compounds were screened for anti-infective and anti-inflammatory activities. Antiviral activity was determined by the plaque number reduction assay and by the titer reduction assay, antibacterial using broth microdilution method, and anti-inflammatory activity using COX Colorimetric inhibitor screening assay kit. One compound was evaluated in vivo in carrageenan-induced paw-edema in mice.
Five prenylated compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11, together with a simple phenolic ester 13, exhibited inhibitory activity against the replication of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), with IC50 values ranging from 0.64 to 1.93 μg/mL, and EC50 values 0.93 and 1.61 μg/mL. Molecular docking studies demonstrated the effects of the active compounds by targeting HSV-1 DNA polymerase and HSV-2 protease. In antibacterial assay, compounds 1, 4, 11, and 17 diminished the growth of all of the Gram-positive strains tested, with MIC values of 1–16 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory ability of several compounds to inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was tested in vitro, and compound 16 displayed greater activity than the indomethacin, positive control. Mulberrofuran B (11) showed anti-inflammatory activity in vivo against carrageenan-induced paw-edema in mice.
Experimental investigation showed promising antiviral, antibacterial, and/or anti-inflammatory activities of the phenolic mulberry constituents, often with multiple inhibitory effects that might be used as a potential source of new medicine.
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Morusin is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the root bark of Morus alba. Many studies have shown the ability of flavonoids to act as anti-inflammatory agents. The aim of this study was to ...evaluate the effect of morusin on experimentally colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid in Wistar rats and to compare it with sulfasalazine, a drug conventionally used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Morusin was administered by gavage at doses of 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day for five days. The colonic tissue was evaluated macroscopically, histologically, and by performing immunodetection and zymographic analysis to determine the levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), interleukin (IL)-1β, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9. The tissue damage scores were significantly reduced with increasing dose of morusin, however efficacy was not demonstrated at the highest dose. At the dose of 12.5 mg/kg, morusin exerted therapeutic effectivity similar to that of sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg). This was associated with significant reduction of TGF-β1 levels and MMP2 and MMP9 activities, and slight reduction of IL-1β. Our results suggest that morusin possesses therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Previously tested
-hexane extracts of the
showed promising bioactivity in vivo. Because triterpenes could account for this activity,
-hexane extracts were analyzed by HPLC to identify and quantify ...the triterpenes as the most abundant constituents. Other
and
species, potentially containing triterpenic aglycones, were included in the study. An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of triterpene aglycones was therefore developed for analysis of
and
species.
-Hexane extracts of root and aerial parts of
, ten other
species and two
species were studied to compare the content of triterpenes. HPLC was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of α-amyrin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, taraxasteryl acetate, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl. Limits of detection and quantification were determined for each compound. HPLC fingerprinting of
-hexane extracts of
and
species revealed relatively large amounts of triterpenes in a majority of investigated taxa. Lupeol, lupeol acetate, and taraxasteryl acetate were found in a majority of the species, except
. The presence of α-amyrin, 3β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one-acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one-acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl was detected in varying amounts. The triterpene content could correlate with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of
, which was previously observed and
species that have been determined to contain triterpenes in large amounts and have not yet been tested for their analgesic activity should be tested for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. The presented HPLC method can be used for analysis of triterpene aglycones, for example dedicated to chemosystematic studies of the Scorzonerinae.
This study was done to identify the content compounds of Achillea wilhelmsii (A. wilhelmsii) and to evaluate its hypoglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic activity and effect on inflammatory ...mediators. The extracts and fractions of A. wilhelmsii were thoroughly analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the total content of phenols and flavonoids was determined. The hypoglycemic activity was evaluated in vivo using alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The effect upon inflammatory mediators was evaluated in vitro using the human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). The anti-hypercholesterolemic activity was evaluated in vitro using the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase assay kit. The water extract (WE)-treated group showed the highest reduction in the fasting blood glucose levels (FBGL). The chloroform fraction (CF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) both showed a significant ability to reduce the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The EAF, however, also attenuated the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The CF showed the most significant 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) inhibition activity. The five main compounds in the CF were isolated and identified. Out of the five compounds in the CF, 1β,10β-epoxydesacetoxymatricarin (CP1) and leucodin (CP2) showed the highest anti-hypercholesterolemic potential. A molecular docking study provided corresponding results.
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