Inclusion of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) and pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) in dairy sheep diets

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed (CS) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seed (PS) are used in ruminant diets as energy sources. The current experiment studied the impact of dietary inclusion of CS and PS on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition of dairy sheep. Twelve primiparous Texel × Suffolk ewes [70 ± 5 days in milk (DIM); 0.320 ± 0.029 kg milk yield] were distributed in a 4 × 3 Latin square design and fed either a butter-based control diet [CON; 13 g/kg dry matter] or two diets with 61 g/kg DM of either CS or PS. Dietary inclusion of CS and PS did not alter live weight (p >0.1) and DM intake (p >0.1). However, compared to the CON, dietary inclusion of both CS and PS increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (p <0.001) and acid detergent lignin (p < 0.001). Milk production (p = 0.001), fat-corrected milk (p < 0.001), and feed efficiency (p < 0.001) were enhanced with PS, while the highest milk protein yield (p < 0.05) and lactose yield (p < 0.001) were for CS-fed ewes. Compared to the CON diet, the ingestion of either CS and/or PS decreased (p < 0.001) the C16:0 in milk. Moreover, both CS and PS tended to enhance the content of C18:3n6 (p > 0.05) and C18:3n3 (p > 0.05). Overall short-term feeding of CS and/or PS (up to 6.1% DM of diet) not only maintains the production performance and digestibility of nutrients but also positively modifies the milk FA composition.

Effects of Chia Seeds on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Fatty Acid Profile of Lamb Meat

The aim of this work was to supplement a diet with chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) based on the requirements of finishing lambs for meat, and to analyze biometric parameters and fatty acid profiles in meat. Eighteen male Rambouillet lambs with a bodyweight of 25 kg were used. Animals were kept in individual pens with water and feed provided ad libitum. Three finishing diets were designed with the inclusion of 0, 50 and 100 g dry matter chia seeds and divided among the animals (n = 6). The experimental period lasted 60 days. The weights of the individual lambs were recorded every 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were slaughtered and the weights of the hot carcasses and non-meat components were registered. In addition, an analysis of the fatty acid composition was carried out in the muscles (Longissimus thoracis). The total weight gain and average daily gain displayed significant differences (p < 0.05). Initial and final bodyweights, such as the dry matter intake, did not display differences. The fatty acid profile of the meat tended to decrease the SFA (stearic acid) and increase MUFA (oleic acid) (p < 0.0001) when chia seeds were added to the lamb diets. In conclusion, chia seed supplementation did not increase meat production or other biometric parameters; however, it modified the fatty acid profile in L. thoracis.

Inclusion of Cocoa Bean Shell in the Diet of Dairy Goats: Effects on Milk Production Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Profile

The use of agro-industrial by-products in animal nutrition is a promising strategy to reduce the food-feed competition, the diet cost at farm level and the environmental impact of animal-derived food production. In this study, the suitability of cocoa bean shell (CBS), a by-product of the cocoa industry, as a feed ingredient in the diet of dairy goats was evaluated, with a focus on the related implications on feed intake, milk yield, milk main constituents, and fatty acid (FA) profile of milk fat. Twenty-two Camosciata delle Alpi goats were divided into two balanced groups. All the goats were fed mixed hay ad libitum. The control group (CTRL; n = 11) also received 1.20 kg/head × day of a commercial concentrate, while in the experimental group (CBS; n = 11) 200 g of the CTRL concentrate were replaced by the same amount of pelleted CBS. The total dry matter intake of the goats was reduced by the dietary inclusion of CBS (P ≤ 0.01). The milk yield, as well as the milk fat, protein, and casein contents and yields were unaffected by the treatment. Milk from the CBS-fed goats showed decreased urea content when compared to the CTRL group (P ≤ 0.001). Milk from the CBS group of goats also showed increased concentrations of total branched-chain FA (both iso and anteiso forms; P ≤ 0.001) and total monounsaturated FA (P ≤ 0.05), as well as a decreased ∑ n6/∑ n3 FA ratio (P ≤ 0.05). De novo saturated FA, total polyunsaturated FA, total conjugated linoleic acids, and the majority of ruminal biohydrogenation intermediates remained unaffected by the dietary treatment. These results suggest that CBS can be strategically used as an alternative non-conventional raw material in diets intended for lactating goats, with no detrimental effects on their milk production performance. The use of CBS in goat nutrition may be hindered by the presence of theobromine, a toxic alkaloid. Special attention is needed by nutritionists to avoid exceeding the theobromine limits imposed by the current legislation. Detheobromination treatments are also suggested in literature to prevent toxic phenomena.

Chia oil prevents chemical and immune-mediated inflammatory responses in mice: Evidence for the underlying mechanisms

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an herbaceous plant used as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) source that presents a range of beneficial effects on human health. Herein, it was used a chia oil containing over than 62% of α-linolenic acid (ALA), a compound widely related to anti-inflammatory actions. Chia oil effect was tested using paw edema and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, and ear edema induced by croton oil, histamine, and capsaicin. Croton oil was used in both preventive and therapeutic treatment schedules of chia oil while histamine and capsaicin were used only in preventive treatment schedule. Chia oil mechanism of action was investigated using nociception and paw edema response induced by intraplantar injection of acidified saline (ASIC activator), PGE₂ (prostaglandin pathway), cinnamaldehyde (TRPA1 activator), bradykinin (BK pathway), menthol (TRPM8 activator), and capsaicin (TRPV1 activator). Further, RT-PCR for inflammatory mediators (TRPA1, NF-κB, PPAR-γ, COX-2, IL-6, TNF, FPR2, FAAH, MAGL, and IL-12A) induced by carrageenan, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the cell viability were then accessed. Later, chia oil actions were evaluated in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis (MS) model. Chia oil showed anti-edematogenic and anti-hyperalgesic effects when administered 1 h before pro-inflammatory stimulus - particularly carrageenan and croton oil. Moreover, chia oil upregulated the mRNA levels of COX-2 and formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) while reduced IL-6 expression in the spinal cord of mice submitted to i.pl. injection of carrageenan. Interestingly, chia oil mediates antinociceptive effects in mice decreasing the nociceptive response induced by acidified saline, PGE₂, and cinnamaldehyde, but not by bradykinin, menthol, and capsaicin. On the EAE model, chia oil preventively administered attenuated EAE-induced motor deficits and mechanical hyperalgesia in mice, suggesting a valuable effect of chia oil supplementation in regulating inflammatory responses and some immune functions during immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMID). Nonetheless, additional reports will need to assess the effect of chia oil in well-controlled clinical trials performed in MS patients.

Valorisation of the green waste parts from turnip, radish and wild cardoon: Nutritional value, phenolic profile and bioactivity evaluation

The recovery of bio-wastes to obtain high added value compounds is of great interest for the pharmaceutical, medicinal and food industries. Therefore, the aerial parts of turnip (Brassica rapa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and leaf blade of wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori) were characterized regarding their nutritional composition, as also their content in soluble sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, and tocopherols. Furthermore, their hydroethanolic extracts and infusion preparations, were profiled regarding individual phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS and their antioxidant, antibacterial and hepatotoxic activities were evaluated. Regarding the nutritional content, wild cardoon revealed the best results, however it was radish and turnip that showed higher values for organic acids and phenolic compounds. The hydroethanolic extract and infusion preparation of wild cardoon stood out for its antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Overall, the hydroethanolic extracts seemed more effective (regarding antioxidant and antibacterial activity) than the infusions. Total phenolic acids proved to be strongly correlated with the antioxidant and antibacterial (against Morganella morganii) activities. This study showed that the discarded parts of these plants can be used as an important natural source of valuable nutrient content and new and safe bioactive compounds, beneficial for human health. Moreover, the extraction of those compounds from underused parts of turnip, radish and cardoon could be used to preserve foods, avoiding artificial additives and thus, contributing to the development of new natural ingredients.

Potential of chia oil to enrich goats' milk with omega-3 fatty acids in comparison to linseed oil under tropical climate

To study the potential of Chia oil to enrich goats' milk with omega-3 fatty acids in comparison to Linseed oil (LSO) under tropical climate, twelve lactating goats (Beetal) divided into 3 groups (on the basis of milk yield and parity) and were randomly assigned control diet or supplemented with Linseed oil (LSO) or Chia oil as additive at 1% of dry matter intake for 60 days. Dietary inclusion of Linseed or Chia oil didn't affect DM intake, apparent dry matter digestibility, pH or total volatile fatty acid production in dairy goats, however, acetate and butyrate in LSO group and ammonical-N in Chia group were higher than control. Similarly, no significant changes were detected for milk yield and milk composition, but values were numerically higher in LSO and Chia supplemented groups in comparison to control group. Inclusion of Linseed oil improved proportion of α-linolenic acid in milk fat. Moreover, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly improved in LSO group only. Poly unsaturated fatty acid content in milk varied from 3.09 g/100 g fat (control) to 3.86 g/100 g fat in LSO supplemented group but the differences were statistically non-significant. The proportions of omega 3 fatty acids was enhanced by 75.0 and 31.9% in LSO and Chia groups over control group that led to decrease in ratio of n-6/n-3 FA and desaturase index. It can be concluded that dietary inclusion of both oils improved the fatty acid profile of goat's milk, but Chia oil is not as effective as Linseed oil under tropical climate.

Alpha-linolenic acid-loaded oil/water microemulsion: Effects of phase behaviour simulation and environmental stress on phase stabilizing and anti-oxidation capacity

α-Linolenic acid (ALA)-loaded microemulsion (ME) was prepared from isoamyl acetate, polyoxyethylene ether 35 (EL-35), ethanol and water. The dynamic phase behaviour was simulated using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), which showed that spherical ME was formed at water/oil ratios of 1:9 and 9:1, while a lamellar structure with distinctive water-course and oil layer appeared at ratios of 3:7, 5:5, and 7:3. Phase stabilizing and anti-oxidation effect of environmental stresses on ALA-loaded microemulsion were investigated. Results showed that the ME region was large and had good environmental tolerance. Subsequently, the investigation of anti-oxidation stability revealed that more than 60% ALA of ALA-loaded ME could be protected from oxidation under environmental stresses. Furthermore, ALA-loaded ME was applied in aqueous-based foods. The transparency, precipitate, stratification and phase separation were used to evaluate influence of ME on product properties, confirming great feasibility and stability of ALA-loaded ME for practical applications.