Impact of Storage Temperature on Microbial Diversity and Probiotic Effect of Liquid Brewers’ Yeast

Using probiotics as animal feed additives instead of antibiotics is gaining momentum to avert adverse negative effects on human health. Liquid brewers yeast (LBY) is an industrial by-product containing probiotic microorganisms and is also used as a protein supplement for dairy animals. Nevertheless, value chain actors lack of appropriate handling practices compromises the by-products quality and safety. This study aimed to determine the effect of variation in temperature on microbial diversity and probiotic effects during the storage time of LBY sampled from distributors and farmers from Githunguri sub-county of Kenya. The samples were stored at 20C, 25C and 30C, then tested on 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. The studys parameters involved determining the pH levels, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), total coliform count (TCC), mould, and yeast in LBY. The rate (k) of the reaction kinetics model was used to extrapolate the expected probiotic shelf life. The LAB and yeast populations were reduced in a first-order reaction at all storage temperatures. The rate of reduction in the numbers of LAB reduced with an increase in temperature (k = 0.019 and 0.023) at 20C and 30C, respectively. Yeasts highest rate of growth reduction was 25C (k = 0.009) and least at 30C (k = 0.043). The minimum effective concentration for probiotics of 106 CFU/mL needed to observe the beneficial physiological impact on farm animals was achieved between 34.9 and 35.5 days at the tested storage temperatures. The study provides insight into the unexploited low-cost probiotic potential of LBY in dairy production. Conversely, handling practices and environmental microbial contamination along the value chain can compromise product quality and safety. There is a need to advocate its use in dairy for improved productivity and sensitize farmers to appropriate hygienic measures along the LBY value chain.

Dairy Farming Conditions and Utilization Levels of Liquid Brewers’ Yeast in Kenya

Dairy production plays an integral part in supporting smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. The desire to increase the number of dairy cattle is not feasible due to the reduced output of feed resources occasioned by climate change. Consequently, the need to increase productivity per cow is inevitable. Conventional protein supplements are costly;hence, the need to explore affordable nutrientdense alternative feed resources. Liquid brewers’ yeast (LBY), a by-product of the brewing industry, is a rich protein supplement in dairy production. This study aimed to assess the dairy farming conditions and utilization levels of LBY as a feed supplement in Githunguri Sub-county, Kiambu. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 457 dairy farmers in a cross-sectional survey. The findings revealed that most farmers (94.2%) fed their cattle on established forage/fodder and crop residues with supplementation. Even though 53.1% of the respondents were aware of the use of LBY, only 30.6% utilized it to supplement dairy cows, most of whom (96.0%) used it fresh without preservation. Membership in farmers’ organizations increased awareness of LBY (r = 0.732). Principal component analysis indicated that the benefits of using LBY outweigh the challenges involved with a loading matrix of 0.891 - 0.954 and 0.681 - 0.807, respectively. The low adoption and use levels of LBY as a source of protein supplements were due to low awareness. There is a need for concerted efforts by stakeholders in the industry to increase farmers’ knowledge base on the utilization and effectiveness of LBY in dairy production.

Recovery of Residual Brewer’s Yeast by Electroactivation

Yeasts resulting from the brewing process (RBY) are a valuable by-product, with an important content of minerals, vitamins and, especially, proteins. The purpose of the research was the electroactivation of RBY and the simultaneous obtaining of two products—protein concentrates and hydrolyzed protein from residual brewer’s yeast. Electroactivation is a non-residual process, without the use of chemical reagents and relatively inexpensive. The variation of the electroactivation conditions allowed the separation of 90% - 94% of the proteins in the form of protein concentrates. During the process, it is attested to increase the pH value and decrease the redox potential, which characterizes the multiple redox processes that take place in the cathode cell, including sedimentation at the isoelectric point. The presence of albumin in the protein fractions of RBY allows the formation of protein complexes with calcium, attributing a higher biological value to the obtained products.

Effect of Fish Meal Replacement by Unconventional Meal in the Post-Larval Diet of Clarias Gariepinus in Benin (West Africa)

To reduce the pressure on aquatic resources due to the use of fishmeal in fish feed, the mastery and use of alternative sources of fishmeal in all stages of fish development are essential. Five diets including 4 experimental and one control diet were considered. Experimental diets of post-larvae were developed from unconventional ingredients in which fishmeal was completely replaced by a mixture of brewer’s yeast, chicken viscera and maggots. These foods were tested on Clarias gariepinus post-larvae with an initial average weight of 80 ± 1 mg. 1500 fish individuals were equally distributed in 15 concrete basins with a volume of 500 L forming five treatments in triplicate. Fish individuals were fed, manually at a ration rate of 20%, four times per day. The specific growth rates were 8.38%/day in imported food and 6.35%/day in the experimental food receiving 45.5% of protein from unconventional meal. Similar results were obtained with the feed consumption index. These encouraging results show that it is possible to partially or completely replace fishmeal in catfish feed and obtain an economically profitable production. The recovery of waste such as chicken viscera, brewer’s yeast and soybean meal in fish food formulation as tested in this study is a good contribution to environmental sanitation.

Acute Toxicity and Antipyretic Activities of a Methanolic Extract of Alchornea cordifolia Leaves

Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a very prized plant among traditional healers in Africa. Its leaves are used for its antipyretic properties in traditional areas. The aim of our study is to determine the acute toxicity and the antipyretic activity of a methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves. Acute toxicity was assessed by measuring mortality, changes in body weight, spontaneous movements, and normal rectal temperature in mice. Antipyretic activity was evaluated by brewer’s yeast-induced hyperpyrexia in rats according to Teotino method (1963). The antipyretic effect of methanolicextract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves was compared with paracetamol (100 mg/kg bw) orally. Groups of mice treated with doses of 6500;3250;1625 and 812.5mg/kg of the extract did not show any mortality, nor significant alteration of body weight, nor alteration of spontaneous movements. However, incomplete reversed dose-dependent hypothermic activity was observed with doses of 50.78;101.56;203.12;406.25;and 812.5 mg/kg p.o. of the extract, showing acute toxicity of this plant. In the antipyretic assay, the extract with doses of 50.78;101.56;203.12;406.25;and 812.5 mg/kg p.o. exhibited a significant dose-dependent antipyretic activity similar to paracetamol (100 mg/kg bw) in rats. Thus Alchornea cordifolia may inhibit prostaglandins-biosynthesis from hypothalamus. Our results support claims on its traditional uses in management of fever. However Alchornea cordifolia may affect hypothalamus not only during fever but also when body temperature is normal.

Stresses Imposed on Yeast During Brewing Fermentations and Their Effect on Cellular Activity

Brewer’s yeast strains are exposed to a spectrum of threats and“in-sults”thatcultures encounter during wort fermentation.Culture storage(including acid washing)andtheir propagation can also stress yeast systems.Stresses are a plethora of parameters that ayeast culture toler-ates during its propagation,stprage,and throughout and between wortfermentations.Stress can result in a number of effects on a yeast cul-ture.These includedecreases in yeast viability and vitality,depletion of intracellular glycogen,increases intrehalose,and excretion of intra-cellular proteinase A and other proteinases,with effects onbeer foam stability.Shear of cell wall components will also occur.In addition,modification ofa culture’s flocculation characteristics can result,to-gether with the formation of unfilterablemannan-protein beer hazes,Finally,increases in respiratory deficient(petite)and other yeastmu-tants have been reported.

Production of fermented tea petal decoction with insights into in vitrobiochemical tests,antioxidant assay and GC-MS analysis

This research work was designed to attempt and propose the first report on production and biochemical characterization of fermented tea flower petal decoction or simply tea petal wine.The tea petal decoction and brewer’s yeast or Saccharomyces cerevisiae were co-cultured for fermentation.Antioxidant activity and chromatographic separation of potential candidates were assessed.Primary investigations for qualitative characters on this fermented broth revealed the presence of steroids,tannin,flavonoids,phenol,cardiac glycosides,coumarin,caffeine etc.Our manufactured fermented broth showed high free radical scavenging activity after 2 months of aging.High DPPH scavenging activities were also observed in solvent fractions of acetone,ethanol and methanol.The antioxidant activity,alcohol percentage and other qualities were seen to be gradually increased during aging.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 44 compounds including many potential antioxidant molecules and other bioactive agents.Hopefully,presence of alcohol with medicinally active compounds and antioxidant activity will make it as acceptable as a good wine and tea flower as economically functional.