Planting sterilized corn grains in soil, treated with the mold inhibitors Fix-a-tox (FAT) or Antitox Plus (AP) resulted, in cases, in dwarfed and malformed corn plants and in the development of deformed, bone-shaped and grain-free corn cobs. Moreover, treating corn grains with the mold inhibitors before storage for one month caused significant changes in some nutritional components of corn grains, i.e. proteins, aminoacids, crude fibers, moisture, fats, ash and carbohydrates. Insignificant differences in protein percetage were detected between control inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and those treated with butyl hydroxyanisole (BHA) antioxidant or FAT treatments, whereas ground clove significantly reduced protein content. In corn grains inoculated with Fusariumverticillioides, previous treatment with FAT resulted in significant reduction in the content of proline, aspartic acid, cysteine, valine, isoleucine and leucine, whereas treatment with BHA significantly reduced the content of threonine, serine, glutamic, glycine, alanine, phenylalanine and tyrosine. In Aspergillus flavus treatments, FAT significantly increased the content of methionine and threonine, whereas, aspartic acid showed 26 percentage decreases, compared to the control. Pronounced reductions in threonine, isoleucine and leucine were also detected in corn grains treated with BHA. Significant increases in fiber content were detected in inoculated corn grains treated with BHA, attaining 1.34 to 2.05-fold over that of control, respectively. Treatment with FAT and BHA led to pronounced reductions in moisture content in corn inoculated with both F. verticilloides and A. flavus trials. However, treatment with ground clove significantly increased the moisture content in A. flavus treatment. FAT treatment led to significant increase in ash and fat contents in both A. flavus and F. verticilloides treatments, whereas the other tested treatments of F. verticilloides significantly reduced ash content. Treatment with ground clove significantly reduced fat content in A. flavus treatment. All the tested materials significantly reduced carbohydrate content.

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Clove oil, clove extract and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) completely suppressed the growth of both Fusarium verticilloides and Aspergillus flavus isolates. Black cumin and thyme extracts were more suppressive on F. verticilloides than A. flavus. Antitox-Plus (AP) had no effect on the growth of both the pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test revealed that A. flavus was more sensitive to Fix-A-Tox (FAT) and AP than F. verticilloides. In the growth media, all the tested substances, completely suppressed the production of aflatoxins by A. flavus and significantly reduced fumonisins production by F. verticilloides, particularly clove oil and extract. Treatment of immature grains with the tested mould inhibitors prior to inoculation with A. flavus and F. verticilloides significantly reduced mycotoxins production at the end of the storage period; moreover, highest reduction rates were realised by BHA and FAT. Complete or highly significant suppression of aflatoxins in mature grains were obtained by all the tested herbal and synthetic mould inhibitors. Ground clove buds contained the highest carvacrol content, whereas thymol content was higher in thyme extract. Clove oil was rich in eugenol. Alpha-tocopherol content was higher in ground black cumin (BC), followed by BC oil. Unsaturated fatty acid content was higher in thyme extract and ground BC than saturated fatty acids. Linolenic acid was the most predominant fatty acid in BC oil and extract, whereas behenic and arachidic acids were detected only in BC oil. Stearic acid was the main fatty acid in clove oil and extract, whereas oleic acid was the prevailing fatty acid in thyme extract.

Leucaena leaves and rejected green banana fruits can be promising to cope with feed gaps in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions. The present study evaluated the feeding value and secondary active compounds of Leucaena leaves and rejected green banana fruits for ruminants using a semi-automated gas production (GP) system. Comparisons were made with the traditional feeds as alfalfa, and Dichanthium spp. grass hay. Analysis of HPLC was performed for the feed ingredients to characterize the main phenolic components. The in vitro evaluation was carried out for the experimental feed ingredients and diets. Four diets were formulated as the first diet consisted of alfalfa and grass hay at a ratio of 35:65 (AG), the second diet composed of alfalfa, grass hay, and green banana fruits at a ratio of 35:55:10 (AGB), third and fourth diets were prepared by replacing alfalfa in AG and AGB with Leucaena leaves to be LG and LGB, respectively. Leucaena leaves showed a high content of valuable phenolic components that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, and naringenin. Moreover, Leucaena leaves and diet had higher crude protein, total phenols, and total tannins than alfalfa, which was reflected on the chemical composition of diets, and recorded the lowest total accumulative GP at 24 hours leading to low CH4 and CO2 production. Banana fruits recorded the lowest ruminal pH, ammonia concentration, and degraded neutral detergent fiber, compared to other feed ingredients, while it had the highest GP and degraded organic matter. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use Leucaena leaves in animals’ diets with/without rejected green banana fruits as an alternative feed resource with potential environmental and animal health benefits.

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