Ethanol-soluble components in soybean meal influence the digestive physiology, hepatic and intestinal morphologies, and growth performance of the marine fish pompano (Trachinotus blochii)

This study aimed to examine the effects of ethanol-soluble components (Es) in soybean meal (SBM) on gut content transit, bile acid (BA) and pancreatic digestive enzyme secretions, nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), liver and intestinal morphologies, and growth performance of pompano (Trachinotus blochii). The SBM was extracted with aqueous ethanol, then the supernatant and residue were separated and dried to produce ethanol-extracted SBM (ESBM) and the Es. Four experimental diets were formulated with fish meal (FM), ESBM and SBM as main dietary protein sources. The diets were denoted as follows: FMD (FM diet), SBMD (SBM diet), ESBMD (ESBM diet) and ESBM + EsD (ESBM plus Es diet). Thirty-five fingerling pompano with an initial body weight (BW) of 18.3 g were allocated to each of 12 polyvinyl chloride tanks (1000-L holding capacity), resulting in triplicate tanks per dietary treatment. For 10 weeks, the fish were hand-fed the experimental diets to apparent satiation twice daily. The results showed that the final BW, weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly lower, while the feed conversion ratio was higher in the SBMD and ESBM + EsD groups than in the ESBMD and FMD groups (p < 0.05). Fish fed SBMD and ESBM + EsD showed accelerated gastric transit, slowed intestinal mobility, and lowered secretions of BAs and pancreatic digestive enzymes as compared to those fed ESBMD and FMD. Morphological abnormalities in mucosal folds of the posterior intestine, but not the liver, were clearly observed in the SBMD and ESBM + EsD groups. These results indicated that the Es in SBM inhibited the digestive system, leading to decreased nutrient digestibility and growth performance in pompano. The findings of the present study suggested that removal of the Es would effectively improve the nutritional quality of SBM and enhance growth performance of pompano fed a SBM-based diet.

Isolation of Penicillium citrinum from Roots of Clerodendron cyrtophyllum and Application in Biosynthesis of Aglycone Isoflavones from Soybean Waste Fermentation

Soybeans offer an abundant source of isoflavones, which confer useful bioactivities when existing in aglycone forms. The conversion of isoflavones into aglycones via fermentation of soybean products is often realized by β-glucosidase, an enzyme produced by fungi. In this study, a filamentous fungus, Clerodendron cyrtophyllum, was isolated from root of Clerodendron cyrtophyllum Turcz, which was able to produce the highest activity of β-glucosidase up to 33.72 U/mL at 144 h during fermentation on Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB). The obtained fungus was grown on isoflavones-rich soybean extract to produce genistein and daidzein, achieving the conversion rate of 98.7%. Genistein and daidzein were isolated and purified by column chromatography using hexane/acetone (29:1/1:1), reaching purities of over 90% of total isoflavones, as identified and determined by TLC, LC-MS/MS, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. These results imply that the isolated P. citrinum is a potential fungal strain for industrial-scale production of genistein and daidzein from isoflavones-containing soybean extracts. These products may serve as potential raw materials for manufacture of functional foods that are based on aglycones.

Response to an oral fat load and effects on lipid profile, glycemia and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after soybean extract consumption

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response in terms of lipid profile, glycemia and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after an oral fat load (OFL) with a non-dairy cheese cream containing fermented soybean extract soy, compared to a dairy cheese.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred twenty-four healthy subjects underwent an OFL performed using a mixture containing non-dairy cheese cream, containing 75% fermented soybean extract (Valsoia Lo spalmabile), or a dairy cheese cream.

RESULTS

During the OFL, total cholesterol and triglycerides at 6 h were lower with non-dairy cheese cream containing fermented soybean compared to dairy cheese cream. The value of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol recorded at 6 h with the active treatment was lower than the one recorded at the same time with the dairy cheese cream. A decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was recorded with the dairy cheese cream, but not with the active treatment; moreover, the HDL-C value recorded with the active treatment was higher than the one observed with the dairy cheese cream. There was an increase of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) at 3, 6, and 9 h compared to 0 h with the dairy cheese cream, but not with the active treatment. The hs-CRP value observed with the active treatment was lower than the one observed with the dairy cheese cream.

CONCLUSIONS

A non-dairy cheese cream, containing 75% fermented soybean extract, caused a minor increase of lipid profile and of hs-CRP during OFL compared to a dairy cheese cream in healthy subjects.