Search Results (11)

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, meat quality, and cecum microbiota of Ningdu yellow chickens. A total of 300 78-day-old Ningdu yellow chickens with similar initial body weights were randomly distributed into five treatments consisting of six replicates of 10 birds. The control group (M0) was fed a basal diet, and the experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with 0.5% (M0.5), 1% (M1), 2% (M2), and 4% (M4) of MOLP, respectively. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with 2% MOLP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the feed to gain (F/G) and showed a quadratic (p < 0.05) decrease with the level of MOLP. Dietary supplementation with 1~4% MOLP resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Furthermore, both serum T-SOD and T-AOC exhibited linear and quadratic increases (p < 0.01) in response to the supplementation with MOLP in the diets. Dietary supplementation with 1~4% MOLP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum uric acid (UA) level. Additionally, 4% MOLP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and showed linear and quadratic effects. The activity of lipase in the duodenum showed a linear decreasing trend (p < 0.05) with the level of MOLP, while the activities of α-amylase (both in duodenum and jejunum) showed a linear and quadratic increasing trend (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a linear decrease response in abdominal fat (p < 0.05) to MOLP supplementation levels in the diets. In terms of meat quality, dietary supplementation with 4% MOLP significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the L*45 min and L*24 h values of the breast muscle, and drip loss had a linear decreasing trend (p < 0.05). In terms of cecum microbiota, dietary supplementation with 1~4% MOLP significantly increased the Bacteroidota abundance but decreased the Firmicutes abundance (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary supplementation with MOLP improved the growth performance and meat quality of Ningdu yellow chickens through improving the antioxidant function, intestinal digestive enzyme activity, and the cecal microbial structure. The optimum level of MOLP in the diet of Nindu yellow chicken is recommended to be 2.59%. Full article

This study investigated the potential of decolourised Moringa oleifera leaf powder (D-MOLP) in cookies to meet consumer demand for healthier food options, addressing the issue of low acceptability due to its green colour. D-MOLP and its non-decolourised counterpart (ND-MOLP) were incorporated into wheat flour to produce cookies. The results showed that neither decolourisation nor addition level (2.5 or 7.5%) significantly affected water activity or flour functionality, though slight differences in cookie colour were observed. The Moringa-enriched cookies exhibited an improved spread ratio as well as higher protein, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro protein digestibility compared to control cookies. The detected phenolic acids included chlorogenic, ferulic, and fumaric acids, with the D-MOLP cookies showing superior nutritional properties, likely due to nutrient concentration and reduced antinutrients. Notably, glutamic acid was the major amino acid in all the cookies, but only lysine significantly increased across the cookie types. This suggests D-MOLP could be a promising alternative for food enrichment. Future research should address the consumer acceptability, volatile components, and shelf-life of D-MOLP-enriched cookies. Full article

Enhancing the nutritional value of commonly consumed, cost-effective staple foods, such as bread and biscuits, by fortifying them with Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and its phenolic-rich extract holds substantial potential for addressing malnutrition. This study evaluated the phenolic extract from MOLP obtained through Soxhlet extraction, focusing on its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic properties. The resulting extract exhibited a total phenolic content (TPC) of 138.2 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g. The ABTS and DPPH assays presented IC₅₀ values of 115.2 mg/L and 544.0 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, the extract displayed notable α-amylase inhibition and no cytotoxicity towards human fibroblasts. The primary phenolic compounds identified were catechin, epicatechin, and caffeic acid. Subsequently, MOLP and its extract were incorporated into bread and biscuits, replacing 5% of wheat flour, resulting in fortified functional foods. The fortified products exhibited improved TPC and antioxidant activity compared to the non-fortified foods. Furthermore, they displayed the ability to inhibit microbial growth, leading to an extended shelf life. Sensory analysis indicated that the products incorporated with the extract were preferred over those with MOLP. These results have demonstrated the viability of using MOLP and its phenolic-rich extract as an environmentally sustainable strategy for enhancing the quality of cereal-based products. Full article

Currently, the lack of protein source feed has become a pressing issue. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) has good potential for the development of protein-derived feeds due to its good protein quality and abundance, but little is known about its effects on broiler growth performance and cecal microbiota. In this study, the chickens were fed different rates of MOLP (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%) instead of the rape seed cake, and the effects of different levels of MOLP on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cecal microbiota of the broilers were evaluated at two different growth stages (day 28 and day 56). In terms of growth performance, the best results were obtained at the 3% MOLP level in the early stages (p < 0.05). In terms of carcass characteristics, in the early stage, the level of 5% MOLP had the best effect; in the later stage, 5% MOLP also had the best effect. In terms of cecal microbial changes, the alpha diversity analysis revealed that 5% MOLP enhanced the richness and diversity of broiler intestinal flora. At the phylum level, the addition of 5% MOLP adjusted the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes to a level close to that of the A1 group on day 28, while 5% MOLP significantly reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (p < 0.05) compared to the A2 group on day 56, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes was still higher in the D2 group than in the A2 group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, MOLP addition consistently and significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides (p < 0.05), except for 3% on day 28 and 1% on day 56. For Oscillospira, increasing MOLP levels in the pre- and post-period resulted in a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Oscillospira (p < 0.05). In conclusion, MOLP helps to enhance growth performance and carcass characteristics and improve the cecal microbial structure of broilers. The recommended rate of MOLP addition for broilers is 5% in both the early and late stages. Full article

Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) is a rich source of antioxidants, protein, minerals, vitamins, and various phytochemicals and has been used to combat malnutrition in many countries. However, despite its many benefits, MOLP has low a solubility in water, necessitating the development of ways to address this issue. To improve the solubility of MOLP, solid-dispersed Moringa oleifera leaf powders (SDMOLPs) have been developed through freeze-drying, melting, microwave irradiation, and solvent evaporation methods using polyethylene glycols (PEG4000 and PEG6000) (1:1) as hydrophilic carriers. The solid dispersions were evaluated for their proximate composition using standard analytical procedures. Elemental composition was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Water absorption capacity (WAC) and water-solubility were further evaluated as functional properties. Proximate composition revealed that MOLP and SDMOLPs were rich in protein, energy, carbohydrate, ash, and fat contents. MOLP solid dispersions are a major source of minerals (Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn), and can be used to alleviate many mineral deficiencies. All solid dispersions had significantly higher (p < 0.05) solubilities (ranging from 54 to 64%) and WAC (ranging from 468.86 to 686.37%), relative to that of pure MOLP. The increased solubility of SDMOLPs may be attributed to the hydrogen bonds and intermolecular interactions between MOLP and the hydrophilic carriers. The results indicate that the solid dispersion technique can be successfully employed to improve the solubility of MOLP. And the solid-dispersed MOLPs with enhanced functional properties may be useful as functional ingredients in foods and beverages, dietary supplements, or nutraceutical formulations. Full article

The effect of pre-treating Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) with different levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, hematology, and meat quality parameters of Jumbo quail was evaluated. Two-week-old quail chicks (n = 432; 239.6 ± 6.48 g live-weight) were randomly allocated to six diets formulated by incorporating (10% w/w) untreated MOLP (PEG0) or MOLP pre-treated with PEG at 2.5% (PEG25), 5% (PEG50), 7.5% (PEG75), and 10% (PEG100) (w/w) into a standard grower diet (CON). Overall feed intake linearly increased with PEG levels. At week 4, significant quadratic trends were recorded for weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) but, at week 5, FCE linearly declined as PEG levels increased. Hemoglobin, phosphorus, and albumin showed quadratic trends, while calcium and chroma (1 h post-mortem) linearly declined in response to PEG levels. Diet PEG50 promoted a higher shear force value (2.41) than diets PEG0 and PEG25. The PEG50 diet promoted a similar (p > 0.05) shear force as diet CON. Based on the quadratic response for weight gain, the optimal PEG pre-treatment level was calculated to be 5.9%. It was concluded that MOLP condensed tannins negatively affect growth performance and should be ameliorated to enhance the utility of this nutraceutical source for Jumbo quail. Full article

High fiber levels (165 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM) in Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) could limit its utilization as a nutraceutical source in Jumbo quail diets. Pre-treating MOLP with exogenous fibrolytic multi-enzymes could reduce the nutrient-encapsulating effect of non-starch polysaccharides and subsequently increase nutrient and bioactive compound utilization. Thus, this study investigated the effect of pre-treating dietary MOLP with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme mixture on some physiological parameters and meat quality characteristics in Jumbo quail. A total of 396 Jumbo quail were randomly distributed to 6 experimental diets, with 6 replicate pens each and 11 birds per replicate. The experimental diets were: CON = a standard grower diet (156.5 g NDF /kg) without MOLP; ENZ0 = CON + 10% MOLP; and CON + MOLP pre-treated with 0.25% (ENZ25), 0.50% (ENZ50), 0.75% (ENZ75) and 1% (ENZ100) fibrolytic enzymes. There were no significant linear or quadratic effects on growth performance parameters and carcass characteristics in response to incremental levels of fibrolytic enzymes. However, neutrophils linearly increased, while breast meat lightness and 24 h hue angle linearly declined with enzyme levels. Quadratic effects were observed on gizzard weights and 1 h hue angle in response to enzyme levels. All the hemato-biochemical values fell within the normal ranges for healthy quail. It was concluded that the maximum fibrolytic multi-enzyme application rate of 1% may not have been adequate to enhance feed utilization and positively affect weight gain in Jumbo quail, thus higher levels may need to be investigated further. Full article

Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) has been identified as the most important functional ingredient owing to its rich nutritional profile and healthy effects. The solubility and functional properties of this ingredient can be enhanced through solid dispersion technology. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) 4000 and 6000 as hydrophilic carriers and solid dispersion techniques (freeze-drying, melting, solvent evaporation, and microwave irradiation) on the crystallinity and thermal stability of solid-dispersed Moringa oleifera leaf powders (SDMOLPs). SDMOLPs were dully characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The PXRD results revealed that the solid dispersions were partially amorphous with strong diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 19° and 23°. The calorimetric and thermogravimetric curves showed that PEGs conferred greater stability on the dispersions. The FTIR studyrevealed the existence of strong intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions between MOLP and PEG functional groups. MOLP solid dispersions may be useful in functional foods and beverages and nutraceutical formulations. Full article

The encapsulation of bioactive-rich plant extracts is an effective method of preventing their damage or loss of activity during processing and storage. Here, the techno-functional properties of microcapsules developed from Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) extract (core) with maltodextrin (MD), gum Arabic (GA), and a combination (MDGA) (coatings) were assessed. The bulk and tap density were 0.177, 0.325 and 0.297 g/mL and 0.13, 0.295 and 0.259 g/mL for GA, MD and MDGA microcapsules, respectively. Flowability properties of microcapsules indicated an intermediate flow except for GA which had a poor flow. The moisture content of the microcapsules ranged from 1.47% to 1.77% with no significant differences (p > 0.05) observed. All the microcapsules had high water solubility (86.35% for GA to 98.74% for MD and 90.51% for MDGA). Thermogravimetric analyses revealed that encapsulation enhanced the thermal stability of the core material. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the microcapsules and extracts have an amorphous nature, which was validated by the surface morphology analysis that showed amorphous, irregular, and flake-like attributes except for MDGA microcapsules which had slightly spherical and agglomerated surfaces. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectra of the microcapsules showed the presence of C-O and O-H aromatic rings as well as amine groups. New spectra were observed at 1177, 1382 and 1411 cm⁻¹ for MDGA, MD and GA, respectively, after encapsulation, which connotes a slight modification in the chemical structural pattern after encapsulation. Storage stability tests (28 days at 4, 25 and 40 °C) showed that the microcapsules were most stable at 4 °C and the stability differs significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with coating material type and temperature with MDGA showing better storage stability than others. Altogether, the attributes of the MDGA microcapsules were comparatively better than either MD or GA alone. The present data, therefore, demonstrate an effective encapsulation process for MoLP extract that can serve as fortificants in processed food products where MoLP may be used. Full article

Fortifying popular, relatively affordable, but nutrient-limited staple foods, such as bread, with Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP), could contribute significantly to addressing under nutrition, especially protein and mineral deficiencies, which are particularly prevalent among a large proportion of populations in sub-Saharan African countries. The current study aimed to determine the effect of MOLP on the physical quality, nutritional composition and consumer acceptability of white and brown breads. The texture, colour and nutritional composition of white and brown bread samples substituted with 5% and 10% (w/w) MOLPs were analysed using standard methods and compared with the control (0% MOLP). A consumer panel evaluated the acceptability of the bread samples using a nine-point hedonic scale. Bread samples became darker as the concentration of MOLP was increased, whilst nutrient levels increased. The overall consumer acceptability of the bread samples decreased with increasing concentrations of MOLP. However, brown bread samples were significantly more acceptable compared with corresponding white bread samples (p < 0.05). Under the experiment conditions of the current study, it seems that the bread containing 5% MOLP can be used to contribute significantly to addressing malnutrition, with respect to protein deficiency. Full article

Fresh pasta was formulated by replacing wheat semolina with 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/100 g (w/w) of Moringa oleifera L. leaf powder (MOLP). The samples (i.e., M0, M5, M10, and M15 as a function of the substitution level) were cooked by boiling. The changes in the phenolic bioaccessibility and the in vitro starch digestibility were considered. On the cooked-to-optimum samples, by means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight (UHPLC-QTOF) mass spectrometry, 152 polyphenols were putatively annotated with the greatest content recorded for M15 pasta, being 2.19 mg/g dry matter (p < 0.05). Multivariate statistics showed that stigmastanol ferulate (VIP score = 1.22) followed by isomeric forms of kaempferol (VIP scores = 1.19) and other phenolic acids (i.e., schottenol/sitosterol ferulate and 24-methylcholestanol ferulate) were the most affected compounds through the in vitro static digestion process. The inclusion of different levels of MOLP in the recipe increased the slowly digestible starch fractions and decreased the rapidly digestible starch fractions and the starch hydrolysis index of the cooked-to-optimum samples. The present results showed that MOLP could be considered a promising ingredient in fresh pasta formulation. Full article