Influence of the moisture at harvest and drying process of the grains on the level of carotenoids in maize (Zea mays)

The Changes in Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Herb under Storage and Different Drying Conditions: A Comparison with Other Species of Sage

Studies on herb chia (Salvia hispanica L.) are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess how different drying methods and periods of storage affect the bioactive properties of the herb Salvia hispanica and to compare it with other species of sage (Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia sclarea L.). In fresh herbs, directly after drying (freeze-drying, natural drying, and drying at 30, 40, and 50 °C), and after storage (3, 6, and 12 months), the following analyses were performed: content of total carotenoids and total polyphenols, polyphenol profile (including 25 compounds), and antioxidant activity. Additionally, the basic chemical compositions of the herbs were analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, the content of total carotenoids and the quantitative polyphenol profile in Salvia hispanica and Salvia sclarea were evaluated for the first time. The obtained results showed that the barely investigated herb Salvia hispanica is rich in polyphenolic compounds and shows high antioxidant activity. In all the tested species, rosmarinic acid was the most abundant polyphenolic compound. The use of different drying methods allowed us to determine that freeze-drying was the most effective for preserving polyphenols and carotenoids. Long-term storage up to 12 months resulted in a gradual reduction in antioxidant activity and in the content of polyphenols and carotenoids.

Differentiation of maize breeding samples by β-carotene content

Plant carotenoids are important micronutrients in the diet of humans and animals, since they act as precursors for the synthesis of vitamin A in animal cells. The most effective precursor to the vitamin A biosynthesis is β-carotene. Increasing the β-carotene content in maize grain as an important feed and food crop is an urgent task for plant selection. The purpose of this work was to differentiate maize breeding samples from the Dnipro breeding program by the β-carotene content in mature grain. Maize grain of 18 inbreds harvested in 2015 and 5 inbreds harvested in 2016 was researched. Determination of β-carotene content in matured dry grain was carried out after petroleum ether extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) in the mobile phase of methanol/acetonitrile. The β-carotene content in the grain of genotypes from the Dnipro breeding program was on average 1.020 mg/kg for inbreds grown in 2015, and 0.672 mg/kg for inbreds grown in 2016. These values correspond to the β-carotene content in the grain of the majority of genotypes from world breeding programs selected by methods of classical selection. The inbred DKV3262 with white grain had the smallest content of β-carotene (0.076 mg/kg), while the yellow-coloured line DKD9066 had the highest one (2.146 mg/kg). The variation in the grain β-carotene content in different years of maize cultivation was noted. Inbreds of flint and semident maize showed the general tendency to increase the β-carotene content in grain compared with dent ones. The distribution of the studied inbreds on germplasm types showed the significant variation of β-carotene content in grain and the incidence of relatively high values in all germplasms analyzed. Inbreds containing more than 1.5 mg of β-carotene per 1 kg of grain, DK239, DK206A, DK212, DKD9066 and DKE-1, are emphasized as promising for the selection to increase the content of valuable micronutrients.

COLORAÇÃO DE GEMA DE OVO DE POEDEIRAS COMERCIAIS RECEBENDO PIGMENTANTE COMERCIAL NA RAÇÃO

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar a pigmentação de gemas de ovos de poedeiras alimentadas com produto comercial (PC), à base de cantaxantina e óleo de sementes de urucum. Utilizaram-se 240 poedeiras comerciais com 55 semanas de idade, que receberam cinco diferentes rações: controle (RC) à base de milho e farelo de soja, RC com dois níveis (70 e 140 ppm) do PC e RC com dois níveis de mistura entre pigmentantes comerciais sintéticos Carophyll® Yellow e Red (20 + 10 ppm) e (15 + 30 ppm) e quatro repetições de 12 aves cada. Foram avaliados o desempenho e a cor das gemas, que foi avaliada utilizando o leque colorimétrico. Não houve efeito sobre o desempenho das poedeiras, exceto para a cor da gema, que apresentou interação dos pigmentantes nos diferentes períodos de avaliação. Aos sete dias de fornecimento, houve estabilização da pigmentação, com uso de 70 ppm do produto comercial, enquanto as gemas oriundas dos ovos das aves que receberam a inclusão de 140 ppm estabilizaram a cor aos 14 dias do fornecimento. O produto comercial à base de cantaxantina e óleo de sementes de urucum é eficiente na pigmentação da gema de ovos em rações à base de milho amarelo.