Polyphenols of Laurel and Myrtle exhibit structural diversity, which affects bioavailability, metabolism, and bioactivity. The gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating the production, ...bioavailability and, thus the biological activities of phenolic metabolites, particularly after the intake of food containing high-molecular-weight polyphenols. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polyphenolic components of Laurel and Myrtle aqueous extract have beneficial effects on rat health. The growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), β-glucuronidase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase activity, pH value, body weight change and food efficacy ratio after intragastric treatment of rats with Laurel and Myrtle extract at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for two weeks were investigated. The endogenous populations of colonic probiotic bacteria (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria) were counted on selective media. According to the obtained data, Laurel extract in the applied dose of 50 and 100 and Myrtle extract (100 mg/kg) positively affects the rats health by increasing the number of colonies of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria compared to the control group, causes changes in glycolytic enzymatic activity and minor change in antioxidative tissue activity. In addition, high doses of Laurel increase food efficiency ratio, while Myrtle has the same effect at a lower dose.
Fumonisins are a group of closely related mycotoxins produced by Fusarium, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus species. Their occurrence is correlated with various factors during growth, processing ...and storage. Fumonisins occurrence data in the literature mainly include the B group of fumonisins (FB1 & FB2) in raw materials, showing high frequency of positive samples in a wide range of concentrations. In this study, a total of 933 grains (63.7%) and poultry feed (36.3%) samples, collected in the 16-year period (2006–2021), were analysed with commercial enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay for detection of three fumonisins (FB1, FB2 & FB3). All positive and suspect samples were confirmed with high-performance-liquid-chromatography method with fluorescence detection. Overall, we have determined high occurrence of FBs in grains and poultry feed in all tested years, while the lowest occurrence was determined in 2019, followed by 2009 and 2008. Although, contamination levels varied from year-to-year, majority of analyzed samples in all tested years were around 1 mg/kg, while the maximum values varied from 3 mg/kg to 22.23 mg/kg. This study highlights the importance of regular monitoring of raw materials and understanding of the fate of FBs in the food chain in order to avoid undesirable health effects in animals and accompanied economic losses.
Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic and medicinal plants, such as myrtle (
L.) and Laurel (
L.), are gaining popularity as a potential ingredient in functional foods and nutraceuticals. This study ...aims to investigate whether the essential oils (EOs) could be effective in weight control, antioxidative and antilipidemic status of rats by affecting microbiota and its enzymes activity and whether changes in intestinal enzyme activity affect the health of rats. The intragastric application of laurel and myrtle EOs to rats for two weeks affects weight loss, reduces glycolytic activity, lipid parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) and atherogenic indicators, leading to cardiovascular protection. Laurel EO can be an excellent candidate for the treatment of drug-induced obesity and related diseases, since it affects lipid metabolism in the liver and inhibits the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates into glucose in the digestive tract, leading to weight loss. In contrast, myrtle EO shows a better antioxidant capacity in most tissues, except kidneys, where it causes a pro-oxidative effect, compared to laurel EO. Myrtle EO increases the permeability and instability of the erythrocyte membrane, resulting in a loss of selectivity for the entry of toxic substances into the cell. On the other hand, myrtle EO leads to intestinal inflammation by reducing the number of probiotic bacteria and increasing
.
A survey on prevalence and number of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia (E.) coli (STEC) in animal feed was carried out over a period of nine years in the Republic of Croatia. A total of 1688 feed ...samples were collected from feed factories and poultry farms. Analysis included two standard procedures: sample enrichment and (a) immunomagnetic separation and plating on two selective media; or (b) plating on two selective media. Confirmation of STEC included morphological examination, biochemical tests, serotyping, and polymerase chain reaction. Morphological and biochemical characterization revealed 629 E. coli strains. Further serological screening method revealed 78 STEC and EPEC serotypes, while only 27 strains were confirmed as STEC with PCR. All positive samples (1.6%) originated from poultry farms and contained combination of virulence genes: eaeA, stx1, and/or stx2. Since the presence of stx (especially stx2) and eae are identified as risk factors for development of severe diseases in humans, results of this survey indicate that avian sources of STEC infections might be one of those “undefined sources” of human illnesses. Further research is necessary for evaluation of risks posed by contaminated feed, poultry, and environment.
Soja je jedan od najkvalitetnijih izvora biljnih proteina u proizvodnji hrane za životinje. Preradom zrna soje dobivaju se proizvodi koji se koriste i za prehranu ljudi, a i kao sirovina u ...prehrambenoj, kemijskoj i farmaceutskoj industriji. Kvalitetan uzgoj soje ovisi o brojnim faktorima kao što su: odgovarajuće tlo, svjetlo, vlaga i izbor sorte; soja je i dobar izvor bjelančevina, ulja, ugljikohidrata, minerala (kalija, fosfora, sumpora, kalcija, željeza, magnezija, natrija i dr.), vitamina, esencijalnih i neesecijalnih aminokiselina. U sojinom zrnu prisutne su antinutritivne tvari (termolabilne i termostabilne) koje nisu probavljive i/ili negativno utječu na probavu i prouzroče sporiji rast životinja. Pravilnom tehnološkom obradom soje antinutritivne tvari se mogu potpuno i/ili djelomično inaktivirati. Laboratorijskim analizama moguće je utvrditi je li obrada pravilno provedena i jesu li vrijednosti antinutrijenata u odgovarajućem rasponu. Analizom uzoraka soje i proizvoda iz soje u Laboratoriju za analitiku stočne hrane, Podružnice Centar za peradarstvo, Hrvatskog veterinarskog instituta uočena su odstupanja u hranidbenom sastavu s obzirom na podrijetlo uzoraka koji nije uvijek naveden na dostavljenim uzorcima i/ili ne odgovara deklaraciji uzoraka (ako je dostupna), s obzirom na vrijednosti u tabelama kemijskog sastava i hranjive vrijednosti krmiva. Uzorcima su određeni osnovni kemijski parametri uključujući i mineralni sastav, vlaga, pepeo, sirova mast, sirova vlakna, sirove bjelančevine, šećer, topivost bjelančevina u 0,2 % - tnoj kalijevoj lužini, minerali (Ca, P, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, K), kloridi topivi u vodi, tripsin inhibitor i ureaza, primjenom standardnih analitičkih metoda. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio usporediti kvalitetu soje i proizvoda od soje (hranidbeni sastav) iz različitih izvora koji su dostupni u Republici Hrvatskoj i procijeniti njihovu potencijalnu primjenu u hranidbi životinja.
Soybean is one of the best sources of plantbased proteins for animal feed production. The products that remain after soybean processing are used as food for humans and as raw materials for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Soybean production depends upon a number of factors including adequate soil, light, moisture and selected variety. Soybean is a good source of protein, oils, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and essential and non-essential amino acids.Antinutritional substances (thermolabile and thermostable) are also present in soybean seeds.These are not digestible and/or have a negative effect on digestion and cause slower growth of animals. However, with appropriate technological processing, these substances can be partially and/or completely inactivated. Laboratory analysis can show whether processing has been adequately performed and whether the antinutrient values are within the appropriate range. Analysis of soybean seeds and soybean products in the Feed Analysis Laboratory, Poultry Centre, Croatian Veterinary Institute in Zagreb, Croatia showed certain variations in nutritional content. Variations were in respect to the origin of samples (data were not always provided with the sample) or were not in concordance with the declaration (if available) or with the data listed the table of chemical composition and nutritional values. Basic chemical parameters, including mineral content, were determined in all samples using standard analytical methods. Analysed parameters were moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fibre, crude protein, sugar, protein solubility in 0.2% potassium hydroxide, minerals (Ca, P, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, and K), chlorides soluble in water, trypsin inhibitor and urease. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of soybeans and soybean products (nutritional content) from different sources that are available in Republic of Croatia and to evaluate their potential for use as animal feed.
A survey on prevalence and number of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia (E.) coli (STEC) in animal feed was carried out over a period of nine years in the Republic of Croatia. A total of 1688 feed ...samples were collected from feed factories and poultry farms. Analysis included two standard procedures: sample enrichment and (a) immunomagnetic separation and plating on two selective media; or (b) plating on two selective media. Confirmation of STEC included morphological examination, biochemical tests, serotyping, and polymerase chain reaction. Morphological and biochemical characterization revealed 629 E. coli strains. Further serological screening method revealed 78 STEC and EPEC serotypes, while only 27 strains were confirmed as STEC with PCR. All positive samples (1.6%) originated from poultry farms and contained combination of virulence genes: eaeA, stx1, and/or stx2. Since the presence of stx (especially stx2) and eae are identified as risk factors for development of severe diseases in humans, results of this survey indicate that avian sources of STEC infections might be one of those "undefined sources" of human illnesses. Further research is necessary for evaluation of risks posed by contaminated feed, poultry, and environment.
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