Search Results (4)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of graded levels of red yeast rice residue (RYRR) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 144 pigs were randomly allocated into four dietary treatment groups, over a 75-day experimental period. The study comprised a control group and three dietary supplementation groups receiving RYRR. The control (CON) group was fed a two-phase diet tailored to the pigs’ body weight, while the RYRR groups were provided with the CON diet, where corn, soybean meal, puffed soybeans, and wheat shorts were substituted with 5%, 10%, and 20% of RYRR. Supplementation with 10% RYRR enhanced the apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, and crude fiber, while reducing the feed-to-gain ratio and serum triglyceride levels (p < 0.05). Microbiological analyses revealed that short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Anaerotignum and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-009) were biomarkers in pigs fed the RYRR supplementation diets (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that RYRR supplementation of the diet exerted beneficial effects on promoting nutrient digestibility as well as modulating the fecal microbiota of pigs, and the recommended proportion of RYRR added to the growing-finishing pigs’ diet is 10%. Full article

Red yeast rice dietary supplements have been proven to ameliorate hyperglycemia, but the mechanism was unclear. In this work, ankaflavin (AK) and monascin (MS), as typical pigments derived from red yeast rice, were found to exert noteworthy inhibitory ability against α-glucosidase, with an IC₅₀ of 126.5 ± 2.5 and 302.6 ± 2.5 μM, respectively, compared with acarbose (IC₅₀ = 341.3 ± 13.6 μM). They also exhibited mixed-type inhibition of α-glucosidase in vitro and caused fluorescence quenching through the static-quenching process. Molecular-docking studies indicated that AK and MS bind to amino acid residues outside the catalytic center, which induces structural changes in the enzyme, thus influencing its catalytic activity. The anti-glycation ability of Monascus-fermented products was evaluated, and they exhibited a high inhibition rate of 87.1% in fluorescent advanced glycation end-product formation at a concentration of 0.2 mg mL⁻¹, while aminoguanidine showed a rate of 75.7% at the same concentration. These results will be significant in broadening the application scope of Monascus pigments, especially AK and MS, in treating type 2 diabetes. Full article

Four wild “red” yeast strains (Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae FMCC Y70, R. toruloides NRRL Y-27013, R. toruloides NRRL Y-17902 and R. toruloides NRRL Y-6985) were cultured in shake flasks on industrial glycerol at an initial substrate (Gly₀) concentration ≈ 50 g/L under nitrogen limitation. Strains NRRL Y-27013, NRRL Y-17902 and NRRL Y-6985 presented appreciable dry cell weight (DCW) and lipid synthesis (DCW up to 18–19 g/L containing lipids in quantities ≈ 47%, w/w). Strains NRRL Y-27013 and NRRL Y-6985 were further tested in higher Gly₀ concentrations (≈90 g/L and ≈110 g/L) with the same initial nitrogen quantity as in the first (“screening”) experiment. Both strains, despite the high Gly₀ concentrations and C/N ratios (up to 120 moles/moles) imposed, presented significant DCW production (up to c. 29.0–29.5 g/L). Yeast biomass contained significant lipid (42–43%, w/w) and endopolysaccharide (up to 42%, w/w) quantities. Both lipids and endopolysaccharide quantities (in % w/w) noticeably increased as a response to the imposed nitrogen limitation. Lipids containing mainly oleic and palmitic acids constituted ideal candidates for biodiesel synthesis. Thereafter, the wastewaters derived from the lipid production process (lipid fermentation wastewaters—LFWs) were used as maceration waters in cultivations of edible and medicinal fungi, where novel (non-conventional) substrates were used in the performed cultures. CW (coffee residue + wheat straw), CB (coffee residue + beech wood shavings), OW (olive crop + wheat straw), OB (olive crop + beech wood shavings), RW (rice husk + wheat straw) and RB (rice husk + beech wood shavings) were soaked/sprayed with LFWs or tap water and utilized in the cultivation of Pleurotus, Ganoderma and Lentinula mushrooms. The impact of LFWs on the mycelial growth rate (mm/d) and biomass production was evaluated. The results show that regardless of the wetting method, the highest growth rates (6.2–6.6 mm/d) were noticed on RW and RB for Pleurotus eryngii and Ganoderma resinaceum, on OW, OB and RW for Ganoderma applanatum and on RW, OW and OB for Lentinula edodes. Nevertheless, high biomass production was obtained on substrates soaked with LFWs for Pleurotus ostreatus (RW: 443 mg/g d.w.), L. edodes (RB: 238 mg/g d.w.) and Ganoderma lucidum (RW: 450 mg/g d.w.). Overall, this study demonstrates the possibility of the industrial conversion of low-value agro-waste to mycelial mass and eventually to important food products. Full article

Three natural oils extracted from Mentha piperita, Pinus roxburghii, and Rosa spp. were assessed in order to determine their insecticidal activity against the adults of three stored product insects: the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.), the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica, Fabricius), and the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum, Herbst.). By Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, the main compounds in the n-hexane oil from Rosa spp. were determined to be methyl eugenol (52.17%), phenylethyl alcohol (29.92%), diphenyl ether (7.75%), and geraniol (5.72%); in the essential oil from M. piperita, they were menthone (20.18%), 1,8-cineole (15.48%), menthyl acetate (13.13%), caryophyllene (4.82%), β-pinene (4.37%), and D-limonene (2.81%); and from the foliage of P. roxburghii, they were longifolene (19.52%), caryophyllene (9.45%), Δ-3-carene (7.01%), α-terpineol (6.75%), and γ-elemene (3.88%). S. oryzae and R. dominica were reared using sterilized wheat grains, and T. castaneum was reared on wheat flour mixed with yeast (10:1, w/w), all under laboratory conditions (27 ± 1 °C and 65% ± 5% Relative humidity (R.H). Two toxicity bioassays were used, as well as contact using thin film residues and fumigation bioassays. The results indicated that M. piperita caused a high toxicity for S. oryzae compared to other insects. High significant variations were observed between the tested M. piperita doses against the stored insects, and this natural material could be used to control insects that infect the grains. Also, the data indicated that the Rosa spp. oil had a low-toxicity effect against these insects compared to other oils. We recommend using natural oils against the stored weevils and petals, rather than the chemical agent, so as to serve human health. Full article