In this study, the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity was determined in five selected vegetable microgreens (daikon, i.e., Japanese radish; Chinese red radish; pea; beetroot; and onion). Total phenolics and chlorophylls were analyzed spectrophotometrically in all investigated microgreens. In addition, the content of betalains was determined spectrophotometrically in beetroot microgreens. HPLC analysis was used to identify and quantify individual phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of microgreens was determined by DPPH, ABTS and reducing power assays. The highest content of total phenolics, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b was found in beetroot microgreens (639.85 mg GAE/100 g DW, 202.17 mg/100 g DW and 79.53 mg/100 g DW, respectively). In beetroot microgreens, the content of total betalains, betacyanins and betaxanthins was determined to be 57.27 mg/100 g DW, 43.58 mg BE/100 g DW and 13.68 mg VE/100 g DW, respectively. Among the investigated microgreens, beetroot microgreens showed the highest antioxidant activity, while pea microgreens exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity in all applied assays. The highest correlation was observed for the content of total phenolics and phenolic acids, as determined by HPLC analysis with antioxidant activity using all applied assays, indicating that these compounds were most important contributors to the antioxidant activity of the investigated vegetable microgreens.

Camelina has been used from ancient times, but recently has re-emerged as a valuable plant with the potential for successful replacement of conventional oilseed crops. The utilisation of camelina and its by-products in animal feed is a matter of scientific study due to their excellent nutritional potential. The present study aimed to investigate the nutritive value of two Serbian camelina seed genotypes (NS Zlatka and NS Slatka) as a potential alternative to commonly used oilseed crops in animal feeding. For that purpose proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile and tocopherols were analysed. The study also included the investigation of the content of anti-nutritive compounds that can adversely affect the nutritional value of feed. The results showed that camelina seeds had a high amount of proteins (around 28%), amino acids and gtocopherols. Camelina genotypes were characterized by unique fatty acids composition, with its oil consisting of approximately 57% polyunsaturated fatty acids, of which the highest proportions were a-linolenic acid (~37%) and linoleic acid (~17%). An optimal ratio of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (0.5) was also reported in this study. The concentration of anti-nutritional factors and heavy metals in camelina seeds was below the maximum set limit for feedstuff. To conclude, the investigated Serbian camelina genotypes can be used as a valuable source of proteins, essential fatty acids and tocopherols in animal nutrition and has a great potential to replace conventional oilseeds.

In this study, dry fractionation process was proposed in order to obtain protein-enriched sunflower meal fractions. The process includes two-stage grinding using a hammer mill and a roll mill, and fractionation of sunflower meal by sieving. Central composite design (CCD) with four variables on three levels within response surface methodology was applied in order to estimate the influence of grinding parameters (sieve openings diameter of the hammer mill: 2, 4, and 6 mm, roll gap: 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 mm, feed rate: 0.1, 0.175, and 0.25 kg/cm min, and roll speed: 400, 500, and 600 rpm) on responses (protein content, fraction yield and grinding energy consumption). Sieve openings diameter expressed the highest impact on fraction yield while roll gap expressed the most dominant influence on protein content in the fraction and grinding energy consumption. The highest protein content obtained was 48.06%_(dm) with fraction yield of 77.22%. A multi-response optimization procedure was performed and optimal values were: sieve openings diameter of 2 mm, roll gap of 0.25 mm, feed rate of 0.2 kg/cm min, and roll speed of 400 rpm, while predicted values for a desired range of responses were: protein content 45.5%_(dm), fraction yield 77.89%, and grinding energy consumption 8.31 Wh/kg.

Triazine derivatives are well-known commercially available compounds used for selective weed control in different crops, such as corn and sugarcane. Some of them are considered persistent organic compounds in the environment and it is important to improve the features of herbicide formulae, to estimate their physicochemical properties and to determine their retention behavior in modern analytical techniques that can be used in the determination of pesticides in environmental samples. The present study deals with a comprehensive analysis of the chromatographic behavior of a series of 6-chloro-1,3,5-triazines with alkyl and cycloalkyl substituents, among which some compounds possess herbicidal and fungicidal activity. The anisotropic lipophilicity of triazine derivatives was determined using reversed-phase ultra high performance liquid chromatography with octadecyl and phenyl columns and applying binary (methanol/water and acetonitrile/water) and ternary (methanol/acetonitrile/water) mobile phases under isocratic conditions. The retention data were analyzed using chemometric pattern recognition methods (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) and sum of ranking differences method. The obtained results are excellent indicators of the retention behavior and the lipophilicity of the analyzed series of triazines and can serve as an outstanding basis for the development of new chromatographic methods for the determination of triazines in environmental samples.

Three carp formulations with same starch content (approximately 230 g/kg) with the inclusion of different protein sources were formulated. Control feed contained fish meal and soybean meal as a main source of protein which were completely substituted by dried duckweed. All ingredients were finely ground at the hammer mill and then mixed in twin-shaft paddle mixer. The aim of this paper was to assess the rheological and thermo-mechanical properties of these mixtures in order to forecast their behavior during subsequent processing. The determination of rheological properties was performed by Mixolab where water absorption capacity was set at a constant value of 100%. The Mixolab curve profiles varied where formulation in which the fishmeal was completely replaced by the novel plant protein ingredient, duckweed flour, displayed greatest resistance to deformation, therefore the highest water holding capacity which was in accordance with results obtained by the method used for assessment of water absorption properties. Obtained results demonstrated that Mixolab has a good potential to be used as a tool for screening dry feed mixes when taking into account the amount of water and steam necessary for the successful conditioning management. Further investigation is required to enhance the applicability of these methods in establishing more effective parameters during the conditioning process.

Four iso-nitrogenous European catfish (Silurus glanis) diets (protein content approximately 400 g/kg) with the inclusion of 0, 100, 200, and 300 g/kg of corn DDGS were formulated and processed by twin-screw extruder. The aim was to assess the influence that DDGS has on extrusion processing and the physical quality properties of sinking feed. All ingredients of the diets were finely ground at the hammer mill, mixed and steam conditioned to a temperature of 95 °C and moisture content of approximately 250 g/kg prior to the extrusion. The conditioned mixtures were processed by a twin-screw extruder in order to produce sinking pellets. The DDGS inclusion in catfish diets decreased specific mechanical energy during extrusion, which significantly (p < 0.05) decreased radial expansion of the product when DDGS was included at levels of 200 and 300 g/kg. The inclusion of corn DDGS at levels of 100 and 200 g/kg resulted in pellets with significantly higher hardness and durability (p < 0.05) and without significant changes (p > 0.05) in water stability compared with the control feed. Corn DDGS proved not just as a relatively cheap protein source in aquafeed but also as a techno-functional ingredient that reduces the cost of feed production while giving extruded fish feed of increased ability to withstand mechanical stress during transport, storage, and pneumatic feeding.