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Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a herbal medicine with benefits in appetite control, body weight and biochemical parameters in overweight individuals. The objective of our work was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of gummy candy enriched with KGM on appetite, to evaluate anthropometric data, biochemical and oxidative stress markers in overweight individuals. Forty-two participants aged 18 to 45 years completed our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to consume for fourteen days, 2 candies per day, containing 250 mg of KGM or identical-looking placebo candy with 250 mg of flaxseed meal, shortly after breakfast and dinner. As a result, we observed that there was a reduction in waist circumference and in the intensity of hunger/satisfaction of the participants who consumed KGM for fourteen days, and we believe that a longer consumption time as well as an increase dose of KGM contribute to even more satisfactory body results.

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This study aimed to evaluate the sensory profile of gluten-free bread with Amorphophallus konjac (AK) flour in different concentrations. This experimental study is divided into three steps: preparation of the gluten-free bread formulations, sensory analysis, and statistical analysis. The addition of Konjac flour in a gluten-free bread formulation was tested in different proportions, 12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, and 50% of the flour content. The checking all-that-apply (CATA) was conducted with 110 panelists; among these, 43 were consumers of gluten-free bread. Sensory analysis was conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale for color, aroma, texture, flavor, appearance, and overall acceptability. The AK flour influenced the sensory characteristics of gluten-free bread. Bread with characteristics closer to those found in bread with gluten was the one with 12.5% of konjac flour for both the acceptability analysis as the attributes raised through a detailed CATA map. The control sample is located next to features like dry appearance, dry texture and grainy, dark color, and salty. Therefore, 12.5% AK gluten-free bread is closer to the characteristics of the control sample, such as light crust color, light crumb color, soft and moist texture, cohesion, and brightness. The bread with the highest percentage of overall consumer acceptance was 12.5% konjac with 93% and 96% acceptance among consumers and non-consumers of gluten-free bread, respectively.

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Biodegradable films are a promising strategy to reduce the environmental impact caused by conventional plastics commonly used in agriculture. This study focused on the production and characterization of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and alginate (ALG) based films enriched with sugarcane vinasse (VIN), a nutrient-rich wastewater generated in large volumes by the sugar-ethanol producing industries. ALG, KGM and ALG/KGM blended (50:50) films were produced by casting and treated with calcium ions (Ca2+) (ALG films) and a combination of Ca2+, alkali, and ethanol (KGM and ALG/KGM films). Vinasse addition tended to reduce transparency and water resistance of the films and had less effect on their mechanical properties. Crosslinking of ALG films resulted in enhanced mechanical properties and reduced moisture content, water solubility, swelling, water vapor permeability, and flexibility. KGM films were less impacted by crosslinking/deacetylation but showed improved water resistance while maintain a high degree of swelling (290% and 185% for KGM and KGM/VIN films respectively). Blended films exhibited characteristic properties of the two biopolymers and adequate compatibility indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and morphologies. Vinasse-added ALG/KGM films represent a novel nutrient-enriched, bio-based material for agricultural applications and could help to face the environmental challenges imposed by vinasse disposal.

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The international standards for top glucomannan flour require a minimum of 70% glucomannan. The glucomannan content of Amorphophallus oncophyllus flour was approximately 60%, with starch as the major impurity. Elimination of starch was expected to increase the purity of glucomannan. The purpose of this research was to study starch hydrolysis of the flour using α-amylase. Temperature (35.5-84.5oC), time (0.4-3.6 h) and pH (2.2-8.8) of hydrolysis were selected as independent variables. A central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM) was performed to obtain the optimum condition. This approach was a novelty of this enzymatic purification of A. oncophyllus. Glucomannan content, starch content, and solubility were chosen as the response variables. The models were reliable for predicting the responses (R2≥ 0.771). It was predicted that the highest glucomannan content (93.0%) obtained at the lowest starch content (1.14%), which hydrolysed at pH 6.17, 84.5oC and 3.6 h. Prior the verification of the optimum hydrolysed condition from the model, the glucomannan and starch content was 81.59% and 2.27%, respectively. After purification, the absorbance of the ß-1,4 glycosidic bond increased as a sign of higher glucomannan purity. A less rough surface and irregular shape of the grain morphology was observed after purification.

Os padrões internacionais para a farinha de alta calidade de glucomanan requerem um mínimo de 70% de glucomanan. O conteúdo de glucomanano da farinha de Amorphophallus oncophyllus foi de aproximadamente 60%, com o amido como a maior impureza. Esperava-se que a eliminação do amido aumentasse a pureza do glucomanan. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar a hidrólise do amido da farinha usando α-amilase. A temperature (35,5-84,5oC), o tempo (0,4-3,6 h) e o pH (2,2-8,8) da hidrólise foram selecionados como variáveis independentes. Um desenho central composto pertencente á metodologia da superfície de resposta (MSR) foi realizado para obter a condição ótima. Esta abordagem foi uma novidade desta purificação enzimática de A. oncophyllus. O conteúdo de glucomanan, conteúdo de amido e solubilidade foram escolhidos como as respostas. Os modelos foram confiáveis para predizer as respostas (R2≥ 0,771). Os modelos indicaram que o maior conteúdo de glucomanan (93,0%) foram obtidos no menor conteúdo de amido (1,14%),que hidrolisou a um pH 6,17, 84,5ºC e 3,6 h. Antes da verificação da condição hidrolisada ótima do modelo, o conteúdo de glucomanan e amido foi de 81,59% e 2,27%, respectivamente. Após a purificação, a absorbância da ligação ß-1,4 glicosídica aumentou com um sinal de maior pureza de glucomanan. Uma superfície mais lisa e forma irregular da morfologia do grão foi observada após a purificação.

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Silk fibroin (SF) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) are promising materials in the biomedical field due to their low toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and low immune response. Beads of these natural polymers are interesting scaffolds for biomedical applications, but their fabrication is a challenge due to their low stability and the necessary adaptation of their chemical and mechanical properties to be successfully applied. In that sense, this study aimed to synthesize a blend of silk fibroin and konjac glucomannan (SF/KGM) in the form of porous beads obtained through dripping into liquid nitrogen, with a post-treatment using ethanol. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds promoted the integration of SF and KGM. Treated beads showed higher porous size, crystallinity, and stability than untreated beads. Characterization analyses by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XDR) evidenced that ethanol treatment allows a conformational transition from silk I to silk II in SF and an increase in the KGM deacetylation. Those chemical changes significantly enhanced the mechanical resistance of SF/KGM beads in comparison to pure SF and KGM beads. Moreover, samples showed cytocompatibility with HaCaT and BALB/c 3T3 cells.

RESUMO

ABSTRACT This experimental study was performed to investigate whether there is a protective effect of different doses of Glucomannan using against aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail, and pathological changes and relative organ weights were compared. In the experiment, 60 one-day old male Japanese quails were used as divided into six different groups. Experimental groups were designated as Control(C), aflatoxin(A), glucomannan(GM), 2-fold dose of glucomannan(2GM), aflatoxin+glucomannan(A+GM) and aflatoxin+2-fold dose of glucomannan(A+2GM). While control group quails fed the standard ration as ad libitum, other groups were fed with the administrations additionally to standard diet respectively; 2mg/kg of aflatoxin to group A, 1g/kg of glucomannan to group GM, 2g/kg of glucomannan to group 2GM, 2mg/kg of aflatoxin and 1g/kg glucomannan to group A+GM, 2mg/kg of aflatoxin and 2g/kg glucomannan to group A+2GM. All quails were euthanized at day 21 of the study and organs, (liver, spleen, kidney, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) were removed, weighed and subjected to routine histopathological procedures. Although any important macroscopic changes were not observed in the C, GM and 2GM groups, significant pathological changes were found in the groups of A, A+GM and A+2GM. In the A+GM group, the partial reduction in the severity of microscopic lesions were seen in liver, bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen, however a significant reduction in severity of lesions was noticed in A+2GM group. As a result of the study, 2g/kg of glucomannan has been found pathologically to be more effective than 1g/kg glucomannan in terms of the protection against aflatoxicosis by giving orally.

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ABSTRACT This experimental study was performed to investigate whether there is a protective effect of different doses of Glucomannan using against aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail, and pathological changes and relative organ weights were compared. In the experiment, 60 one-day old male Japanese quails were used as divided into six different groups. Experimental groups were designated as Control(C), aflatoxin(A), glucomannan(GM), 2-fold dose of glucomannan(2GM), aflatoxin+glucomannan(A+GM) and aflatoxin+2-fold dose of glucomannan(A+2GM). While control group quails fed the standard ration as ad libitum, other groups were fed with the administrations additionally to standard diet respectively; 2mg/kg of aflatoxin to group A, 1g/kg of glucomannan to group GM, 2g/kg of glucomannan to group 2GM, 2mg/kg of aflatoxin and 1g/kg glucomannan to group A+GM, 2mg/kg of aflatoxin and 2g/kg glucomannan to group A+2GM. All quails were euthanized at day 21 of the study and organs, (liver, spleen, kidney, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) were removed, weighed and subjected to routine histopathological procedures. Although any important macroscopic changes were not observed in the C, GM and 2GM groups, significant pathological changes were found in the groups of A, A+GM and A+2GM. In the A+GM group, the partial reduction in the severity of microscopic lesions were seen in liver, bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen, however a significant reduction in severity of lesions was noticed in A+2GM group. As a result of the study, 2g/kg of glucomannan has been found pathologically to be more effective than 1g/kg glucomannan in terms of the protection against aflatoxicosis by giving orally.(AU)

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the assimilation of the prebiotics fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and Konjac glucomannan oligosaccharides (KGMO) by three human (H1, H2 and H3) and pig (P1, P2 and P3) faecal microbiotas in the presence of the potentially probiotic strain Lactobacillus amylovorus DSM 16698, using an in vitro batch fermentation model. Total bacteria and L. amylovorus populations were quantified using qPCR and biochemical features (pH, production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), lactate, ammonia, and carbohydrate assimilation) were determined. L. amylovorus did not have a competitive advantage under in vitro conditions, reflected by its reduced relative abundance during fermentation despite the carbohydrate sources added. Pig microbiota sustained more stable probiotic counts. Intermittently produced lactate was possibly assimilated by the microbiota and converted to other SCFA as the carbohydrates were assimilated, with H3 probably having a methanogenic metabolism with high lactate and acetate consumption except in the presence of FOS, which assimilation resulted in the highest total SCFA for this volunteer. Addition of FOS also resulted in lower pH and ammonia, which might have been used as nitrogen source by pig microbiota. KGMO needed longer fermentation periods to be completely assimilated by both human and porcine faecal microbiotas. Overall, our results reinforce the notion that care must be taken when generalising the effects claimed for a given probiotic or potentially probiotic strain, including the combination with different prebiotic substrates, since they may vary considerably among individuals, which is important when studying potentially pro- and prebiotic combinations for application as functional foods and feed ingredients.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a yeast glucomannan (YG) and sodium bentonite (SB) in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin for broilers fed a diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. In total, 300 7-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments, consisting of a diet with no aflatoxin (positive control), a diet naturally contaminated with 250 ppb aflatoxin (negative control), and eight aflatoxin-contaminated diets supplemented with different SB and YG and their combinations. Serum biochemical parameters and liver pathological changes were investigated when broilers were 42 days old. The birds fed the negative control diet presented lower uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and higher in AST and ALT activities compared with the positive control group. In addition, negative-control birds also showed significant histopathological changes (p 0.05), including slight to moderate hydropic degeneration and/or fatty changes (8 cases), bile-duct hyperplasia (7 cases), periportal fibrosis (5 cases), cells infiltration (4 cases), congestion (3 cases) as well gross pathological changes. The addition of YG and SB to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet partially alleviated the negative effects of aflatoxin. However, the supplementation 0.1% YG alone to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet significantly prevented the adverse effects of aflatoxin on serum biochemical parameters and pathological liver changes and was found to be more effective than other treatments.

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RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a yeast glucomannan (YG) and sodium bentonite (SB) in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin for broilers fed a diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. In total, 300 7-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments, consisting of a diet with no aflatoxin (positive control), a diet naturally contaminated with 250 ppb aflatoxin (negative control), and eight aflatoxin-contaminated diets supplemented with different SB and YG and their combinations. Serum biochemical parameters and liver pathological changes were investigated when broilers were 42 days old. The birds fed the negative control diet presented lower uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and higher in AST and ALT activities compared with the positive control group. In addition, negative-control birds also showed significant histopathological changes (p 0.05), including slight to moderate hydropic degeneration and/or fatty changes (8 cases), bile-duct hyperplasia (7 cases), periportal fibrosis (5 cases), cells infiltration (4 cases), congestion (3 cases) as well gross pathological changes. The addition of YG and SB to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet partially alleviated the negative effects of aflatoxin. However, the supplementation 0.1% YG alone to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet significantly prevented the adverse effects of aflatoxin on serum biochemical parameters and pathological liver changes and was found to be more effective than other treatments.(AU)

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RESUMO

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a yeast glucomannan (YG) and sodium bentonite (SB) in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin for broilers fed a diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. In total, 300 7-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments, consisting of a diet with no aflatoxin (positive control), a diet naturally contaminated with 250 ppb aflatoxin (negative control), and eight aflatoxin-contaminated diets supplemented with different SB and YG and their combinations. Serum biochemical parameters and liver pathological changes were investigated when broilers were 42 days old. The birds fed the negative control diet presented lower uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and higher in AST and ALT activities compared with the positive control group. In addition, negative-control birds also showed significant histopathological changes (p 0.05), including slight to moderate hydropic degeneration and/or fatty changes (8 cases), bile-duct hyperplasia (7 cases), periportal fibrosis (5 cases), cells infiltration (4 cases), congestion (3 cases) as well gross pathological changes. The addition of YG and SB to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet partially alleviated the negative effects of aflatoxin. However, the supplementation 0.1% YG alone to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet significantly prevented the adverse effects of aflatoxin on serum biochemical parameters and pathological liver changes and was found to be more effective than other treatments.

RESUMO

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a yeast glucomannan (YG) and sodium bentonite (SB) in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin for broilers fed a diet naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. In total, 300 7-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments, consisting of a diet with no aflatoxin (positive control), a diet naturally contaminated with 250 ppb aflatoxin (negative control), and eight aflatoxin-contaminated diets supplemented with different SB and YG and their combinations. Serum biochemical parameters and liver pathological changes were investigated when broilers were 42 days old. The birds fed the negative control diet presented lower uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and higher in AST and ALT activities compared with the positive control group. In addition, negative-control birds also showed significant histopathological changes (p 0.05), including slight to moderate hydropic degeneration and/or fatty changes (8 cases), bile-duct hyperplasia (7 cases), periportal fibrosis (5 cases), cells infiltration (4 cases), congestion (3 cases) as well gross pathological changes. The addition of YG and SB to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet partially alleviated the negative effects of aflatoxin. However, the supplementation 0.1% YG alone to the aflatoxin-contaminated diet significantly prevented the adverse effects of aflatoxin on serum biochemical parameters and pathological liver changes and was found to be more effective than other treatments.

RESUMO

As micotoxicoses são grandes causadoras de perdas produtivas em ruminantes, sendo aflatoxina (AFLA) e zearalenona (ZEA) as principais micotoxinas encontradas em alimentos conservados. Estas micotoxinas apresentam efeito sobre o metabolismo animal, através da ação anabólica de metabólitos da ZEA, bem como pelas lesões hepáticas causadas pela AFLA. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a influência do adsorvente glucomanano modificado sobre parâmetros metabólicos de ovelhas submetidas à dietas contendo AFLA e ZEA. Foram utilizadas 34 fêmeas divididas em 6 grupos (ZEA; ZEA+ADS; AFLA; AFLA+ADS; CONTROLE+ADS; CONTROLE), recebendo 1,0 mg/kg de ZEA, 1,5 mg/kg de AFLA e/ou 2kg/ton de adsorvente. A ZEA diminuiu os níveis séricos de glicose, em relação ao CONTROLE (p<0,05), porém, o adsorvente não influenciou os níveis de glicose, não havendo diferença entre os grupos ZEA e ZEA+ADS. A ZEA aumentou os níveis de AST e GGT em relação ao grupo CONTROLE (p<0,05), sendo que os níveis de AST foram superiores no grupo ZEA (p<0,05), quando comparado ao grupo ZEA+ADS. Ainda, a aflatoxina causou uma redução nos níveis de albumina, em relação aos valores fisiológicos de ovinos. Assim, a partir destes resultados pode-se concluir que a ZEA causou alterações metabólicas em ovinos, bem como o glucomanano modificado foi eficiente em reduzir a possível agressão hepática causada por esta micotoxina, demonstrada pela diminuição nos níveis de AST.(AU)

The micotoxicoses are causing great losses of production in ruminants, being aflatoxin (AFLA) and zearalenone (ZEA) the major mycotoxins found in foods preserved. These mycotoxins have effect on the metabolism animal through the anabolic action of metabolites of the ZEA, and the liver injury caused by AFLA. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the sorbent modified glucomannan on metabolic parameters of sheep submitted to diets containing AFLA and ZEA. Were used 34 females divided into 6 groups (ZEA; ZEA+ADS; AFLA; AFLA+ADS; CONTROL+ADS; CONTROL), receiving 1.0 mg/kg of ZEA, 1.5 mg/kg of AFLA and/or 2kg/ton of sorbent. The ZEA decreased serum levels of glucose, for the CONTROL (p <0.05), however, the sorbent not influence the levels of glucose, with no difference between groups ZEA and ZEA+ADS. The ZEA increased levels of AST and GGT compared to group CONTROL (p <0.05), whereas the levels of AST were higher in the group ZEA (p <0.05) when compared to the group ZEA+ADS. Still, the aflatoxin caused a reduction in the levels of albumin, for physiological values of sheep. Thus, from these results it was concluded that ZEA caused metabolic alterations in sheep, and the modified glucomannan was effective in reducing the possible liver aggression caused by this mycotoxin, shown by the decrease in the levels of AST.(AU)

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