Abstract: Fusarium graminearum produces zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin that is widely found in
food and feed products and is toxic to humans and livestock. Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) inhibits
F. graminearum, and Oroxylin A appears to be a major antifungal compound in PSE. The aim of this
study is to quantify the Oroxylin A content in PSE using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and to investigate the
antagonistic activity of Oroxylin A against F. graminearum and its inhibitory effect on ZEA production.
The results indicate that Oroxylin A inhibits both fungal growth and ZEA production in a dosedependent
manner. Oroxylin A treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of zearalenone
biosynthesis protein 1 (ZEB1) and zearalenone biosynthesis protein 2 (ZEB2). The metabolomics
analysis of F. graminearum mycelia indicated that the level of ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) deceased
(p < 0.05) after Oroxylin A treatment (64–128 ng/mL). Moreover, as the Oroxylin A treatment content
increased from 64 to 128 ng/mL, the levels of cis-aconitate (p < 0.05) and fumarate (p < 0.01) were
upregulated successively. A correlation analysis further showed that the decreased R5P level was
positively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression, while the increased cis-aconitate and fumarate
levels were negatively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. These findings demonstrate the
potential of Oroxylin A as a natural agent to control toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxi

There is scarce information on the effects of feed storage period on poultry performance, which has not been investigated thus far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding broilers on feeds stored for different periods, with or without supplemental amino acids and vitamins. This study followed a factorial design (3 x 3), i.e. three dietary treatments and three feed storage periods. The three dietary treatments consisted of 1) a basal diet, 2) a basal diet including additional 5g methionine and 13 g lysine/kg, and 3) a basal diet including 3 g vitamin premix/kg. The 3 dietary treatments were tested with feeds stored for three different periods (Fresh, 4-months, and 6-months). A total of 450 one-day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the 9 treatments, each treatment contained 5 replicates of 10 chicks each (n= 50/group). The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results indicated that the final BWs of the birds received 4- or 6-months stored feed were greater than that of those fed fresh diets. The best total BWG was seen in the 4-month-stored feed group. There was no significant effect of storage period on total FC and FCR during period from 0 to 6 weeks of age, but the FCR tended to be better with the feed stored for 4 months. Haemoglobin was significantly higher in the birds fed fresh or 4-month stored feed. The percent of liver and spleen of the birds received 6-month-stored feed were the highest (P ˂ 0.01). Plasma content of albumin was higher in the birds received 4-or 6-month stored feed than the fresh diet. The use of additional amino acids increased the final BW and total BWG than those of the control and vitamin-supplemented treatments. The main effect of dietary treatments on percentages of immune organ weight was insignificant. The control (basal diet) recorded higher lymphocytes percentage, while T2 (BD + double level of amino acids) recorded higher eosinophil, heterophil and H/L ratio, whereas T3 (BD + double level of vitamins) recorded higher levels of haemoglobin, eosinophil, and monocytes. The main effect of dietary treatments on blood plasma proteins was insignificant. The tested treatments did not show a significant effect on broilers mortality. The detected values of AF1, AF2, AG1, and AG2 were very low in all 9 diets. In conclusion, enrichment of broiler feeds with higher levels of lysine and methionine (double level of NRC, 1994) together with antioxidants supplement could prolong their shelf-life to 6 months without any deleterious impact on productive performance of broiler chickens.

Abstract: In the poultry industry, there is an urgent need to evaluate and introduce natural, effective,
and safe alternatives for synthetic antibiotics, which have been banned in most countries. The present
study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE)
on the growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and metabolism of growing chickens. A total
of 400 seven-day-old female chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, each of which
consisted of five replicates and twenty birds each. The four experimental treatments were fed a basal
diet containing 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg PSE/kg (BC, PSE1, PSE2, and PSE3 groups), respectively.
The experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed that dietary supplementation with PSE had
no significant effects on the final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake
(ADFI), and the ratio of ADFI to ADG (F/G) (p > 0.05). Compared with the BC group, dietary
supplementation with 200–300 mg/kg PSE increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum of
chickens (p < 0.05). The PSE-treated groups significantly increased the mRNA expression of Occludin,
ZO-1, and Claudin-1 in the ileal mucosa of chickens (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant decrease in
ileal TNF- and IL-8 mRNA expression (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in IL-22 (p < 0.05) were
observed in the PSE2 treatment compared to the BC group. Additionally, three gut metabolites (i.e.,
citrate, isocitrate, and spermine) showed significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05) and
were involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the transfer of acetyl groups into mitochondria,
and spermidine and spermine biosynthesis, respectively. In conclusion, the findings obtained here
indicate that supplemental PSE can enhance the anti-inflammatory capacity and intestinal mucosal
barrier function of chickens.

The access of vinasse leachates to water bodies and groundwater exacerbates environmental problems, especially eutrophication. Therefore, a column experiment was performed to examine the effect of adding zeolite (ZL), bone char (BC), and wood chips biochar (WCB) in the presence of vinasse on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, leaching dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ammonium (NH4+) in calcareous sandy soil, as well as studying the kinetics of leaching dissolved organic carbon and ammonium. This column experiment contains four treatments: soil alone (CK), soil + zeolite (SZL), soil + bone char (SBC), and soil + wood chips biochar (SWCB). These amendments were applied to the soil at a level of 4%. Vinasse was added to all treatments at a level of 13 mL per column. The leached total cumulative DOC and total cumulative soluble ammonium amounts decreased significantly with applying ZL, BC, and WCB compared with the soil alone. The effectiveness of these amendments in lowering the total cumulative DOC leaching is in the order of SBC > SWCB > SZL >CK. However, the effectiveness of these amendments in decreasing the total cumulative NH4+ leaching is in the order of SZL > SWCB > SBC >CK. The rate constant (k) of DOC leaching decreased significantly with the application of bone char compared to soil alone treatment. In the presence of vinasse, the apparent half‑life of leached DOC from the soil was 8.1, 12.9, 36.7, and 15.5 days for soil CK, SZL, SBC, and SWCB treatments, respectively. Half‑life values of leached soluble ammonium from the soil in the presence of vinasse addition were 10.1, 39.5, 28.5, and 37.9 days for CK, SZL, SBC, and SWCB treatments, respectively. Amending soil with BC increased significantly the phosphorus availability, however, applying ZL and BC caused a significant increase in the available potassium in calcareous sandy soil compared to the control treatment. According to these results, it is recommended not to add vinasse alone to sandy soils, but it is preferred to be co‑applied with BC amendment at the level of 4% better than ZL and WCB. This would decrease leaching DOC and ammonium to the water table and groundwater as well as enhance nutrient retention in the soil, which in turn, plays a vital role in reducing the harmful effect of vinasse and improving soil fertility.
 

Pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) is a current environmental challenge all over the world. Therefore, this study was established to evaluate the impact of calotropis procera biochar (CPB) produced at various pyrolysis temperatures on carbon emission, ammonia volatilization, degradation of PHCs, and properties of artificial petroleum-contaminated soil. An incubation experiment was performed with CPB produced at 400 °C (CPB400) and 650 °C (CPB650). The artificial petroleum-contaminated soil was amended with biochar at doses of 1, 2.5, and 5% along with the unamended soil (control) and incubated for 78 days. The results demonstrate that the CO₂-C emission rate in petroleum-contaminated soil increases significantly with all biochar applications compared to the control treatment. Adding CPB400 into the soil, at all doses, decreased cumulative NH₃ emission significantly, in comparison with control and CPB650 treatments during all incubation periods. Total PHCs concentration in the soil reduced significantly with CPB400 application at 2.5% compared to the control treatment. CPB400 was more effective in declining total PHCs content in the soil than biochar produced at 650 °C. Available phosphorus and potassium in petroleum-contaminated soil increased significantly under biochar applications compared with the control treatment. Using Calotropis procera biochar produced by low-temperature pyrolysis as an amendment can play a vital role in the remediation of PHCs in polluted soils, it is also a promising way to improve the quality indicators of petroleum-contaminated soil.

This study aims to knowledge the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydro steam distillation of anise (Pimpinella Anisum) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds which analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Whereas the main components of anise essential oil (AEO) were Transe Anethole (91.75%), γ-Himachalene (2.28%) and Carvone (1.71%). While the main constituents of fennel essential oil (FEO) were Estragole (74.46%), Transe Anethole (10.38%), D-limonene (10.06%) and Fenchone (3.04%). The antimicrobial activities of AEO and FEO (inhibition zone in mm) were evaluated, the results indicated that, AEO and FEO showed inhibition zones against Bacillus cereus  (8 and 8 mm), Bacillus subtilis (10 and 10 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (13 and 13 mm), Escherichia coli (12 and 8 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 and 9 mm) and Salmonella typhimurium (10 and 9 mm), Aspergillus flavus (24 and 18 mm), Aspergillus niger (13 and 17 mm), Cladosporium sphaerospermm (14 and 14 mm), Mucor racemosus (18 and 15 mm), Penicillium chrysogenum (22 and 33 mm), Rhizopus arrhizus (26 and 24 mm), Candida albicans (18 and 28 mm), Debaryomyces hansenii (12 and 10 mm) and Pichia membranifaciens (26 and 12 mm) for AEO and FEO; respectively. It was concluded from this study that the essential oils extracted from fennel and anise show antimicrobial activity against many harmful microorganisms.

   This study was designed to evaluate the effect of adding the essential oils (EOs) extracted from marjoram, peppermint, anise and fennel compared with synthetic antioxidants (BHT and BHA) to sunflower oil (SFO) on the oxidative stability during heat treatments (180±5°C for 18 h). Results showed that the aromatic plants contained of phenolic substances (26.52 - 45.26 mg) can be used as natural antioxidants. Using of antioxidants (EOs and BHT, BHA) with SFO increased their oxidative stability compared with untreated SFO sample (control).Data demonstrated that the values of acid, peroxide, thiobarbituric acid (TBA value), conjugated diene and triene increased to the highest rates in SFO control (without antioxidant) compared to SFO + antioxidant, while the iodine value was significantly decreased in SFO control compared with SFO + antioxidant during heating. The data also showed that the thermal stability (Rancimat value) of SFO was enhanced by adding EOs. Generally the adding of EOs as natural antioxidants can definitely create a significant impact in the market as there is no adverse health effect on the usage of EOs as a natural compounds compare with synthetic antioxidant in food.

This study aimed to improve the color removal of talodora syrup by using sodium metabisulfite and ammonium persulphate, which have a very important effect in the bleaching process. The behavior of the materials used at different concentrations on Brix and the pH of the syrup was studied, as well as the color removal efficiency. Experiments were carried out at Hawamdia sugar refinery factory, Giza Governorate, in the General Administration for Quality and Control, during September and October 2022. The results showed that the rate of decolorization of the samples increased with the increase the concentration of the additives. The best color removal of the syrup is 60.4% when using Sodium metabisulfite at a concentration of 550 ppm on the processed syrup. While the best color removal of the syrup was 35.2% when ammonium persulphate at a concentration of 800 ppm was added to outlet syrup of talodora when compared to color of outlet syrup of talodora. On the other hand, it became clear that the removal color of the syrup when adding the material at the same concentration to the treated syrup was 70.2%, when compared to the color of the syrup inlet talodora. Through the results obtained, it was clear that ammonium persulfate was better than sodium meta sulfite of its effect on removing the color of syrup.

Two grapefruits juices from white and pink cultivars were studied to evaluate some physical properties, chemical, antioxidantive components, antioxidant activity, as well as, minerals and some vitamins.