Ali Khoddami

Techniques for Analysis of Plant Phenolic Compounds

Phenolic compounds are well-known phytochemicals found in all plants. They consist of simple phenols, benzoic and cinnamic acid, coumarins, tannins, lignins, lignans and flavonoids. Substantial developments in research focused on the extraction, identification and quantification of phenolic compounds as medicinal and/or dietary molecules have occurred over the last 25 years. Organic solvent extraction is the main method used to extract phenolics. Chemical procedures are used to detect the presence of total phenolics, while spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques are utilized to identify and quantify individual phenolic compounds. This review addresses the application of different methodologies utilized in the analysis of phenolic compounds in plant-based products, including recent technical developments in the quantification of phenolics.

Comparison of Tamoxifen with Edible Seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii L.) Extract in Suppressing Breast Tumor

The tropical edible red seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii L.) is rich in nutrients and polyphenolic compounds that may suppress cancer through its antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. The study reports on rat mammary tumor suppression and tissue antioxidant status modulation by E. cottonii ethanol extract (ECE). The effect of orally administered ECE (100 mg/kg body-weight) was compared with that of tamoxifen (10 mg/kg body-weight). Rat was induced to develop mammary tumor with subcutaneous injection of LA-7 cells (6 × 106 cells/rat). The ECE was more effective than tamoxifen in suppressing tumor growth (27%), improving tissues (plasma, liver, and kidney) malondialdehyde concentrations, superoxide dismutase activity and erythrocyte glutathione concentrations (P < 0.05). Unlike tamoxifen, the ECE displayed little toxicity to the liver and kidneys. The ECE exhibited strong anticancer effect with enzyme modulating properties, suggesting its potential as a suppressing agent for mammary gland tumor.

Performance of broiler chickens offered nutritionally-equivalent diets based on two red grain sorghums with quantified kafirin concentrations as intact pellets or re-ground mash following steam-pelleting at 65 or 97°C conditioning temperatures

The Liverpool Plains is a fertile agricultural region in New South Wales, Australia. Two sorghums from the 2009 Liverpool Plains harvest, sorghums #3 and #5, were extensively characterised which included concentrations of kafirin and phenolic compounds plus rapid visco-analysis (RVA) starch pasting profiles. Diets based on these two sorghums were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic and were offered to male Ross 308 broiler chicks from 7 to 28 days post--hatch as either intact pellets or reground mash following steam-pelleting at conditioning temperatures of either 65 or 97°C. Thus the feeding study consisted of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial array of dietary treatments: two sorghum varieties, two feed forms and two conditioning temperatures. Each of the eight treatments was replicated six times with six birds per replicate cage. Assessed parameters included growth performance, nutrient utilisation, apparent starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates from the distal jejunum and distal ileum. Intact pellets supported higher (P < 0.001) feed intakes and weight gains by 9.83 and 9.08%, respectively, than reground mash diets. Feed conversion ratios of broilers offered diets steam-conditioned at 97°C were 2.46% inferior (P < 0.001) in comparison to 65°C diets and both apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and N-corrected AME (AMEn) were compromised. Broilers offered sorghum #3-based diets significantly (P < 0.001) outperformed their sorghum #5 counterparts in terms of weight gain by 3.75% (1,334 versus 1,223 g/bird), FCR by 4.81% (1.524 versus 1.601), AME by 1.06 MJ (13.61 versus 12.55 MJ/kg), ME:GE ratio (ME:GE) by 4.81% (0.806 versus 0.769) and AMEn by 1.03 MJ (12.38 versus 11.35 MJ/kg). The inferiority of sorghum #5 appeared to be associated with higher concentrations of kafirin (61.5 versus 50.7 g/kg) and conjugated phenolic acids, including ferulic acid (31.1 versus 25.6 µg/g). There were no significant differences in jejunal and ileal starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients between the two sorghums. However, starch to protein (N) disappearance rate ratios from the distal jejunum were significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with ME:GE and AME. The multiple linear regression equations indicated that energy utilisation was enhanced by coupling rapidly digestible protein with slowly digestible starch, which suggests that bilateral bioavailability of starch and protein is pivotal to efficient energy utilisation.

Steam-pelleting temperatures and grain variety of finely ground, sorghum-based broiler diets. 1. Influence on growth performance, relative gizzard weights, nutrient utilisation, starch and nitrogen digestibility

Sorghum-based diets were offered to male Ross 308 chicks from 7 to 28 days post-hatch as a 2 × 3 factorial array of treatments. The diets were based on either a white (Liberty) or red (Venture) sorghum that were finely ground through a 2.0-mm hammer-mill screen before incorporation into diets that were steam-pelleted at conditioning temperatures of 70°C, 80°C and 90°C. Protein solubilities and concentrations of disulfide bonds and free sulfydryl groups in sorghums and sorghum-based diets were determined. Concentrations of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in both sorghums were analysed and the presence or absence of a pigmented testa was detected. In vivo parameters assessed included growth performance, relative gizzard weights, nutrient utilisation and apparent starch and nitrogen (N) digestibility coefficients were determined at four small-intestinal sites. Increasing conditioning temperatures depressed dietary protein solubilities and induced changes in concentrations of disulfide bonds and free sulfydryl groups that were more pronounced in red sorghum-based diets. The red sorghum contained a higher concentration of phenolic compounds and had a higher antioxidant activity than did white sorghum. A pigmented testa was not present in both sorghums, which indicates that they do not contain condensed tannin. There was a significant interaction between sorghum type and conditioning temperature for weight gain; however, diets based on white or red sorghums did not generate any significant differences in weight gains, feed intakes or feed conversion ratios as main effects. It was anticipated that birds would perform better on white sorghum-based diets but the likelihood is that the fine 2.0-mm grind disadvantaged the softer-textured white sorghum. As main effects, red sorghum-based diets had significantly higher densities of N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy, a higher starch digestibility coefficient in the distal jejunum and higher N digestibility coefficients in the distal jejunum, proximal ileum and distal ileum than did white sorghum-based diets. Red sorghum-based diets generated significantly heavier relative gizzard weights, which appeared to enhance N digestibility coefficients relative to the white sorghum diets. Increasing conditioning temperatures linearly increased starch digestibility coefficients in the proximal jejunum and distal ileum and N digestibility coefficients in the proximal jejunum, distal jejunum and distal ileum to significant extents. Conditioning temperatures did not significantly influence gizzard weights or parameters of growth performance and nutrient utilisation. Several significant interactions between the main effects were observed, which suggests that the two sorghums responded somewhat differently to increasing conditioning temperatures.

Quality and fatty acid profile of the oil extracted from fish waste (head, intestine and liver) ( Euthynnus affinis )

Marine lipid contains long-chain n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated (PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (C22:6 n-3). Consumptions of these PUFAs have been perceived to be important in human nutrition, health and disease prevention. Tuna, the important industrial fish, discharged substantial amount of wastes. These wastes include the head, liver and intestine. Considerable amount of lipid can be extracted from these wastes. The yield and chemical quality of the oils were determined. All the extracted oils were less than 8%, of which the highest was in head (7.01%). Among different lipid sources (head, intestine and liver), the free fatty acid and peroxide value significantly increased (P < 0.05) from head to liver. The highest iodine value was found in head lipid. The predominant fatty acids in tuna wastes were palmitic (C16:0; 27.63 - 32.74%), stearic (C18:0; 8.82- 13.62%), oleic (C18:1c; 9.16- 11.95%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6; 14.18- 15.70%). Differential scanning calorimetery results for tuna waste lipid samples indicated that higher unsaturation in lipid sample showed lower cooling and melting temperature. The n-3 / n-6 ratio of the respective head, liver and intestine lipid samples showed value higher than 1. Due to n-3 fatty acid compound and n-3 / n-6 ratio, lipid from tuna head may be a valuable source for human consumption. Key words : n-3 Fatty acid, fish waste, fish lipid, n-3 / n-6 ratio, EPA, DHA.

Comparative performance of broiler chickens offered nutritionally equivalent diets based on six diverse, 'tannin-free' sorghum varieties with quantified concentrations of phenolic compounds, kafirin, and phytate

Starch is the main source of energy in sorghum-based diets but starch/energy utilisation by broiler chickens offered these diets may be substandard. Both in vitro and in vivo data indicate that the digestibility of sorghum starch is inferior to that of other feed grains, especially maize. Three ‘starch-extrinsic’ factors in grain sorghum, namely ‘non-tannin’ phenolic compounds, kafirin and phytate may negatively influence starch/energy utilisation in sorghum-based broiler diets. To test this hypothesis, concentrations of polyphenols, free, bound and conjugated phenolic acids, kafirin and phytate were quantified in six diverse ‘tannin-free’ (Type I) grain sorghum varieties. These sorghums were incorporated into nutritionally equivalent diets at 620 g/kg and offered to male broiler chickens from 7 to 28 days post-hatch. Growth performance, nutrient utilisation (AME, ME : GE ratios, N retention, AMEn) and starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates in four small intestinal segments were determined. Numerous relationships that were either significant (P < 0.05), or approached significance (P < 0.10), were detected that indicated various ‘non-tannin’ phenolic compounds, kafirin and phytate in sorghums negatively influenced nutrient utilisation parameters in broiler chickens. ME : GE ratios are sensitive indicators of efficiency of energy utilisation and were most negatively influenced by flavan-4-ols (r = –0.919; P < 0.015), which are polyphenolic compounds. Moreover, flavan-4-ols in tandem with conjugated vanillic acid negatively influenced (r = –0.993; P < 0.005) ME : GE ratios on the basis of a valid multiple linear regression. Similarly, conjugated vanillic and bound ferulic acids in tandem negatively influenced AME (r = –0.990; P < 0.005). N retention was most negatively influenced by kafirin (r = –0.887; P < 0.025). Thus, it appears that both phenolic compounds and kafirin may have deleterious effects on nutrient utilisation of sorghum-based broiler diets and recommendations are made that should enhance the quality of sorghum as a feedstuff for chicken-meat production based on these findings.

Thermal and physicochemical properties of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) surimi gel as affected by microbial transglutaminase

Thermal and physicochemical properties of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) surimi gel incorporated with different levels of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) were investigated. Surimi samples mixed with various concentrations of MTGase were subjected to two-stages heating (at 45°C followed by 90°C) to prepare surimi gel. Samples formulated with 0.30 MTGase (units/g surimi) showed the highest breaking force and deformation, and lowest expressible water content among treatments. Highest storage modulus was found in the gels mixed with 0.30 MTGase (units/g surimi). Compared with control surimi gel, addition of microbial transglutaminase to levels 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 (units/g surimi) increased the enthalpy and maximum transition temperature of myosin. Results suggest that up to 0.30 MTGase (units/g surimi) could improve texture, colour, water-holding capacity, elasticity and thermal stability of red tilapia surimi gel.

The potential of rapid visco-analysis starch pasting profiles to gauge the quality of sorghum as a feed grain for chicken-meat production

Thirteen extensively characterised grain sorghum varieties were evaluated in a series of 7 broiler bioassays. The efficiency of energy utilisation of broiler chickens offered sorghum-based diets is problematic and the bulk of dietary energy is derived from sorghum starch. For this reason, rapid visco-analysis (RVA) starch pasting profiles were determined as they may have the potential to assess the quality of sorghum as a feed grain for chicken-meat production. In review, it was found that concentrations of kafirin and total phenolic compounds were negatively correlated with peak and holding RVA viscosities to significant extents across 13 sorghums. In a meta-analysis of 5 broiler bioassays it was found that peak, holding, breakdown and final RVA viscosities were positively correlated with ME:GE ratios and peak and breakdown RVA viscosities with apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) to significant extents. In a sixth study involving 10 sorghum-based diets peak, holding and breakdown RVA viscosities were positively correlated with ME:GE ratios and AMEn. Therefore, it emerged that RVA starch pasting profiles do hold promise as a relatively rapid means to assess sorghum quality as a feed grain for chicken-meat production. This potential appears to be linked to quantities of kafirin and total phenolic compounds present in sorghum and it would seem that both factors depress RVA starch viscosities in vitro and, in turn, also depress energy utilisation in birds offered sorghum-based diets. Given that other feed grains do not contain kafirin and possess considerably lower concentrations of phenolic compounds, their RVA starch pasting profiles may not be equally indicative.

The impacts of hammer-mill screen size and grain particle size on the performance of broiler chickens offered diets based on two red sorghum varieties

ABSTRACT 1. The two red grain sorghums were extensively characterised. Kafirin, polyphenolic compounds, free, conjugated and bound phenolic acids, phytate concentrations and starch pasting profiles were determined. 2. The experiment consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial array of dietary treatments comprising two red sorghum varieties (Tiger and Block I) ground through 4 hammer-mill screen sizes (2.0, 3.2, 4.8 6.0 mm) prior to incorporation into nutritionally equivalent diets. Eight steam-pelleted dietary treatments were each offered to 7 replicates (6 male Ross 308 birds per cage) from 7 to 28 d post-hatch. 3. Effects of dietary treatments on growth performance, relative gizzard and pancreas weights, nutrient utilisation, apparent starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates from 4 small intestinal segments were determined. 4. The 2.0-mm hammer-mill screen generated an average geometric mean particle size of 794 μm and the 6.0-mm screen a mean particle size of 1405 μm. However, hammer-mill screen size did not influence weight gain or FCR. The 6.0-mm screen size generated significantly higher starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients in the distal jejunum and distal ileum than the 2.0-mm hammer-mill screen. 5. Tiger sorghum was superior to Block I sorghum, as significant advantages were observed for feed conversion ratios (3.25%), AME (0.37 MJ), ME:GE ratios (4.15%), AMEn (0.53 MJ), distal ileal starch digestibility coefficients (2.46%) and protein (N) digestibility coefficients in the distal jejunum (4.66%), proximal ileum (1.96%) and distal ileum (2.16%). The inferior Block I sorghum contained more kafirin (67.1 versus 51.3 g/kg), phytate (9.79 versus 8.40 g/kg), total phenolic compounds (4.68 versus 4.12 mg GAE/g), flavan-4-ols (7.98 versus 5.04 ABS/ml/g), total phenolic acids (554 versus 402 μg/g) and total ferulic acid (375 versus 281 μg/g) in comparison to Tiger sorghum.

Dietary starch to lipid ratios influence growth performance, nutrient utilisation and carcass traits in broiler chickens offered diets with different energy densities

Twelve experimental diets with three levels of energy densities (11.25, 12.38 and 13.50 MJ/kg) and fours levels of starch to lipid ratios (14:1, 12:1, 7:1, 4:1) were offered to 288 male Ross 308 broiler chickens. All the diets were formulated to contain consistent digestible lysine to metabolisable energy ratios (0.87 g digestible lysine/MJ AMEn) and ideal amino acid ratios. Growth performance was monitored from 7 to 27 days post-hatch and parameters of nutrient utilisation (AME, AMEn, AME:GE ratios, N retention) were determined from 24 to 26 days post-hatch. Apparent protein (N) and starch digestibility coefficients, carcass yield and composition were determined at 27 days post-hatch. There were no interactions between energy densities and starch to lipid ratios on growth performance and carcass weights (P > 0.05). Feed intake was reduced with increased energy densities (P < 0.001). Weight gain and FCR were improved with increased dietary energy densities (P < 0.0001). Starch to lipid ratios linearly increased weight gain (r = 0.448, P = 0.001) and feed intake (r = 0.509, P < 0.001) without influencing FCR (P > 0.75). Both nutrient densities and starch to lipid ratios significantly impacted on carcass weight and yield. Heavier carcass weights and higher yields were observed in broiler chickens offered diets with high nutrient density (P ≤ 0.001). Carcass weight (r = 0.441, P < 0.005) was positively correlated with starch to lipid ratios and this tended to be the case for carcass yield (r = 0.277, P = 0.057) too. However, there were interactions on lipid concentrations in carcass (P < 0.001) as broiler chickens offered diet containing the lowest nutrient density and the highest starch to lipid ratio had the highest lipid carcass concentration of 12.94%. In conclusion, protein and energy need to be considered in tandem in practical diet formulation, especially in diets containing high crystalline amino acid inclusions. The impact of lipid on feed intake and starch on carcass lipid concentrations should also be taken into consideration.