Strawberry and raspberry seeds were chemically analyzed and added as dietary ingredients to investigate the physiological response of rats. In both cases the main component was dietary fiber and the main polyphenols were ellagitannins (ET). The strawberry ET were mainly constituted by monomers and a dimer, agrimoniin, whereas raspberry ET were mainly constituted by a dimer, sanguiin-H-6, and a trimer, lambertianin-C. The lower content and the less polymerized structure of strawberry ET resulted in a higher cecal metabolites concentration (mainly nasutin and urolithin-A) in comparison to rats fed diet containing raspberry seeds. Dietary raspberry seeds, a source of dietary fiber, despite being richer in polyphenol compounds, were better utilized in fermentation processes, resulting in enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids. As opposed to strawberry seeds, the treatment with raspberry seeds beneficially improved the atherogenic index of a diet, mainly due to reduced triacylglycerol concentration in the serum.

The separation of phenolic compounds by supercritical fluid extraction has been widely studied throughout the last two decades. This is evidenced by a number of publications and articles. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has become thus the effective method of separating the mentioned group of compounds. On the other hand, SFE is a beneficial approach in plant waste materials utilization and reduction of environmental burdens caused by the wastes. The aim of the study is to gather and systematize available information on the phenolic compounds separation that have been reported so far as well as to evaluate whether there is one optimal supercritical fluid extraction method for the phenolic compounds.

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The aim of the field trials was to determine the influence of supercritical algal extracts on the growth and development of winter wheat (variety Akteur). As a raw material for the supercritical fluid extraction, the biomass of microalga Spirulina plantensis, brown seaweed – Ascophyllum nodosum and Baltic green macroalgae was used. Forthial and Asahi SL constituted the reference products. It was found that the tested biostimulants did not influence statistically significantly the plant height, length of ear, and shank length. The ear number per m2 was the highest in the group where the Baltic macroalgae extract was applied in the dose 1.0 L/ha (statistically significant differences). Number of grains in ear (statistically significant differences) and shank length was the highest in the group treated with Spirulina at the dose 1.5 L/ha. In the group with Ascophyllum at the dose 1.0 L/ha, the highest length of ear was observed. The yield was comparable in all the experimental groups (lack of statistically significant differences). Among the tested supercritical extracts, the best results were obtained for Spirulina (1.5 L/ha). The mass of 1000 grains was the highest for extract from Baltic macroalgae and was 3.5% higher than for Asahi, 4.0% higher than for Forthial and 18.5% higher than for the control group (statistically significant differences). Future work is needed to fully characterize the chemical composition of the applied algal extracts. A special attention should be paid to the extracts obtained from Baltic algae because they are inexpensive source of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, which can be used in sustainable agriculture and horticulture.

The aim of this research was to screen plant growth biostimulant properties of supercritical CO 2 macroalgal extracts. To this end secondary metabolites were isolated from the biomass of marine macroalgae from the Baltic Sea (species of Polysiphonia, Ulva and Cladophora). Chemical characteristics of the algal extracts were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy for inorganic constituents and high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry for organic constituents. Inorganic (macro-and microelements) and organic (plant hormones: auxins and cytokinins; polyphenols) compounds were detected in the extract. Algal extracts were tested primarily on garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.; Brassicaceae) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; Poaceae). The extracts enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid content in plant shoots, as well as root thickness and above-ground biomass. The most effective method of application of the extract was by foliar feed on cress and seed maceration for wheat. Algal extracts obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were found to be a novel natural source of compounds, stimulating growth of cultivated plants. However, field trials will be required to show that the extracts can act as plant biopesticides and growth biostimulants.

Key message Liquid chromatography is the main method for assaying bioactive compounds in biomass. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity are measured with spectroscopy. Phenolics are the most important bioactive substances in short rotation coppice. Secondary metabolites of black locust, willow and poplar have many different activities. The richest source of bioactive compounds are flowers, bark and buds. Abstract The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.) may be the source of the biomass obtained from natural habitats as well as intentionally established plantations in the system of short rotation coppice. These species are promising candidates as an alternative source of bioactive compounds in researches for developing new bioproducts for multidirectional uses, including polymers, lubricants, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, as well as bioenergy and fuels. Various parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, woods, buds, catkins, whole tree material and bee products (honey, propolis) are a source of bioactive compounds. The characterization of these compounds, especially phenolic compounds (flavonoids, stilbenes, lignans, phenolic acids, tannins and phenolic glucosides), fatty acids, sterols, etc. may be determined by a variety of analytical (spectroscopy, chromatography) and extraction methods. This review contains 131 references and systematize all available data on the characterization of the bioactive compounds in the biomass of black locust, poplar and willow by analytical and extraction methods.

Strawberry (SB), black currant (BC), and raspberry seed (RB) residues were used in 3 experiments to study their effects on ruminal fermentation, methane concentration, and fatty acid (FA) proportions in the ruminal fluid and milk of dairy cows. Initially, a batch fermentation in vitro study (experiment 1) was performed to investigate the effects of the 3 berry residues on basic ruminal fermentation parameters. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, increased in the BC group compared with other treatments. Based on the preliminary in vitro results, 2 consecutive in vivo experiments were conducted using 4 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with rumen cannulas (experiment 2) and 30 lactating Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (experiment 3) in a replicated 2 × 2 crossover design. Cows in both experiments received a partial mixed ration (PMR) in 2 variants: (1) a control diet of PMR + 2 kg of concentrate (control);(2) PMR + 2 kg of BC seed residues (BC). The BC diet did not mitigate ruminal methane production. Ruminal fermentation (experiment 2) was not affected by the BC diet; however, the concentrations of C18:1 trans-11 and C18:2 cis-9,trans-11 increased significantly by 91 and 131%, respectively. Likewise, concentrations of total trans C18:1 and total monounsaturated FA in ruminal fluid were increased significantly by BC seed residues. In experiment 3, BC significantly increased milk fat C18:1 trans-11, C18:2 cis-9,trans-11, n-3, n-6, and polyunsaturated FA concentrations without affecting milk production performance. In conclusion, the amount (2 kg/d) of BC used in this study did not adversely affect ruminal fermentation or milk production and composition. However, using BC increased proportions of unsaturated FA and conjugated linoleic acid in milk. Although dietary BC did not exert a strong methane inhibition effect, it could represent an inexpensive alternative concentrate to improve beneficial FA in milk without negative effects on rumen fermentation and production parameters in dairy cows. Incorporation of berry seed residues in diets would be profitable economically and nutritionally for dairy cattle production. 1 PMR = partial mixed ration; EE = ether extract; aNDF = neutral detergent fiber determined with amylase. 2 Other FA include C12:0, C14:1, C16:1, C18:1 cis-11, C18:1 cis-15, and C20: 3n -6.

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