Background: Majority of the post-harvest agri-residues from agricultural ACTIVITY in Punjab, India, is burnt in the field resulting in the loss of soil fertility and release of large amounts of air pollutants. In an effort to reutilize the SELENIUM-accumulated waste wheat and paddy STRAW from seleniferous region of Punjab, two varieties of edible mushrooms, PLEUROTUS sajor-kaju and VOLVARIELLA volvacea, were cultivated on Se-rich wheat and paddy STRAW, respectively.Results: Se concentration in Se-enriched P. sajor-kaju and V. volvacea (43.5±2.1 and 35.0±1.1 mg/g) was significantly higher than control (5.2±1.0 and 5.57±0.07 mg/ g), respectively. The ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY as depicted by total phenol content, total oxidant ACTIVITY, DPPH scavenging, metal chelation and lipid peroxidation inhibiting ACTIVITY of extracts from Se-fortified mushrooms were significantly higher (p<0.05 to p<0.001) than control mushrooms.Conclusion: The increased ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY is attributed to be induced by the accumulation of SELENIUM by these species of mushrooms, indicating the ANTIOXIDANT nature of SELENIUM in biological systems. Further, the present study also demonstrates the use of Se accumulated agricultural residues as substrates for producing Se-rich mushrooms as potential sources for Se supplementation/nutraceutical applications.

Purpose The research aimed to study the effects of size reduction and composting duration of empty fruit bunches (EFB) on STRAW mushroom production, and to examine the doses of fertilizers commonly used among farmers. Methods The experiment was done in two stages. The first stage was for identifying the optimum physical parameters of EFB, and the second stage focused on enhancing the performance of EFB chosen based on the findings of the first experiment. A randomized complete block design with 3 × 3 factorial arrangement in both stages of the study used the same approach. The first stage had three levels of aggregate sizes factor (S) and three levels of composting duration factor (C) of EFB. The second stage had three levels of NPK factor (N) and three levels of organic fertilizer factor (O). Results Whole stalk EFB had the highest productivity of 2458. 47 ± 1015. 23 g m− 2. The supplementation of fertilizers increased the EFB decomposition rate and productivity to 2950. 24 ± 208. 50 g m− 2, and nutritive values (particularly for protein content of 41. 00 ± 3. 79%). Averaged biological conversion efficiency (BCE) was also improved from 3. 61 ± 1. 22 to 6. 56 ± 0. 46%. Conclusions EFB did not need to be cut into smaller pieces, and should not be composted for more than 8 days, because there was a tendency to decrease yield. Supplemental fertilizers increased the decomposition rates of EFB as well as the yield and nutritive values of STRAW mushroom. BCE can potentially be improved by increasing the dosages of fertilizers.

Background: Hepatopathy induced from toxic chemicals and some drugs has harmful effects on the metabolism. Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) able to make liver damage in humans and animals. In the absence of some drugs that are able to protect the liver against damage, conventional medicine requires the use of herbal medicines that may have ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY in this field.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of PLEUROTUS Osteratus and PLEUROTUS Djamor herbal extracts on liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.Methods: In this study, 35 male rats were divided into seven groups, which the respective groups, carbon tetrachloride, fungal extracts and silymarin (The positive control group) were injected. To evaluate the effect of injected compounds, biochemical tests were carried out.Results: High levels of serum enzymes indicative of leakage and loss of hepatocyte membrane integrity followed by injection of carbon tetrachloride were observed. In the groups treated with extracts, the serum levels of certain enzymes decreased compared to the group treated with carbon tetrachloride. It is also possible to compare groups of receiving silymarin extract suggests that the protective effect of the extracts on hepatocytes, is comparable with silymarin.Conclusion: The results show that the extracts used in this study by maintain the structure and integrity of the hepatocytes membrane or repair damaged cells could decrease the serum levels of liver enzymes and liver protective effects following administration of carbon tetrachloride.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound power at 40 to 80 percent (equal to 232-464 W), extraction temperature (50 to 80 ° C) and extraction time (10 to 30 min) on the soluble polysaccharide extraction from the PLEUROTUS ostreatus. The response surface methodology using Box-Behnken design (with three variables, three levels and 5 replications at central point) was applied to optimize extraction conditions and evaluation of the effects of main factors and their interactions. ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY (scavenging ability of OH and DPPH) of extracted polysaccharide were also evaluated. Optimization of polysaccharide extraction yield using response surface methodology indicated that combination of the ultrasonic power of 58. 06 percent (~337 W), extraction temperature of 65. 15 ° C and extraction time of 21. 72 min resulted in maximum extraction yield (17. 71%). Among three independent variables, ultrasonic power had the highest and temperature had the lowest impact on the rate of extraction. The results from ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY evaluation showed that even though extracted polysaccharide had lower absorbance capacity of the free radicals in comparison with control samples (ascorbic acid and BHT), but it revealed an acceptable ANTIOXIDANT property.

Purpose Oyster mushroom (PLEUROTUS ostreatus) is becoming more popular as an efficient biotechnological procedure for upcycling agricultural by-products into valuable human food. This study looked into the possibility of employing banana residue (BR) and sorghum stalks (SS) as localized feasible rice STRAW (RS) substitutes for cultivating P. ostreatus. This has the potential to improve the livelihoods of rural agricultural communities in Egypt, as well as those in other parts of the world. Method For two successive trials, three sole substrates (BR, SS, and RS) and six various combinations of SS and BR each with rice STRAW at 1: 1, 1: 2, and 2: 1 ratio were tested. Agronomic features, ANTIOXIDANT capacity, and crude protein contents of mushroom basidiocarps were measured. The chemical profile of the three raw and spent sole substrates was also studied. Results The sole BR substrate was superior to both RS and SS in terms of basidiocarps yield and both exterior (average cap weight, diameter, and thickness) and interior (crude protein and total ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, phenols and flavonoids contents) quality attributes. The yield of basidiocarps developed on the sole SS substrate was far lower than that of the other substrates. It is worth mentioning that, BR tended to contain high initial potassium, phosphorus, cellulose, and total carbohydrates concentration. Conclusion Sole BR could entirely substitute sole RS as a substrate for the production of PLEUROTUS ostreatus.

SELENIUM is an essential element for humans, therefore, adding it to plants is convenient for biofortification. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze experimentally the ability of sodium selenite to increase the concentration of Se and modify the ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY in tomato plants. We used plants of the Toro hybrid variety and applied three treatments: 0, 2 and 5 mg L-1 of SELENIUM as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) using an irrigation system. Three samplings 40, 80, and 120 days after transplantation and a quantification of the accumulation of SELENIUM and macronutrients in leaves, stems, and fruits were carried out. Plant height, stem diameter, firmness, and total solids of fruits and total dry matter were measured. The enzyme ACTIVITY of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase was quantified. The results indicated positive effects of Se on agronomic variables of the plants and fruit quality; however, fruit production showed no significant differences. Se had no effect on the concentration of the macro and micronutrients. The addition of 5 mg L-1 of Se resulted in significant increases in the concentration of SELENIUM on a dry basis, reaching 20.4 mg g-1 in leaves, 52.3 mg g-1 in stems, and 35.8 mg g-1 in fruits.The increase in enzyme ACTIVITY in the fruits was enhanced by the application of 5 mg L-1 of Se: There was up to 352.7% more catalase ACTIVITY, 312.2% more glutathione peroxidase ACTIVITY, and 200.8% more superoxide dismutase ACTIVITY compared with the control.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of biological treatment with PLEUROTUS florida fungi on chemical composition and rumen dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of wheat and barley STRAW. Wheat and barley STRAW were collected from Golestan province of Iran and after pasteurization mixed with fungi spawn (than 5% by weight). After 21 days samples were dried in oven (60oC) in order to stop fungi growth. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradation determined using nylon bag technique with two fistulated Dalagh rams and samples were incubated at zero to 96 hours in rumen. Fungi cultivation significantly decreased the amount of dry matter (DM), Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in wheat and barley STRAW (P<0.01). Ash and crude protein (CP) content significantly increased with processing by fungi in treatments (P<0.01). Ether extract (EE) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content did not differ by processing with fungi. The soluble fraction (a) and potential degradability (a+b) of dry matter (DM) increased (P<0.05) by processing with fungi in both STRAW. The insoluble but potentially degradable fraction (b) of dry matter (DM) degradability increased (P<0.05) by processing with fungi in wheat STRAW, but did not change in Barley STRAW. The and a + b fractions of organic matter (OM) degradability increased (P<0.01) by processing in both STRAW. The b fraction of organic matter (OM) degradability increased (P<0.01) by processing with fungi in wheat STRAW, but did not observed difference in Barley STRAW. Therefore, it has been concluded that the treating the wheat and barley STRAW with fungi improved the nutritive value in the present study.

In this study, the growth rate and saprophytic ability of urea-treated wheat STRAW were studied. In the first experiment the species of PLEUROTUS ostreatus (2021)and cross between PLEUROTUS ostreatus and PLEUROTUS sajorcaju (2030), PLEUROTUS hybrid Iranian (2041), PLEUROTUS of wild (2060), on urea treated wheat STRAW (0.0, 1.25, 2.5%) were cultivated. in the second experiment the effects of cultivation of fungi on chemical composition and digestibility of wheat STRAW, treated with3% urea were investigated. The best growth rate and favorite mycellium extension of fungi were seen in the 2060 and 2021 species respectively. Urea supplementation had significant negative effects (p<0.05) on growth rate and saprophytic ability of all species (except 2060 sp). Cultivation of fungi decreased the organic matter and cell wall contents of wheat STRAW among of cell wall contents (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) the highest reduction was seen in hemicelluloses content (p<0.05). The dry matter and organic matter digestibility of treated wheat STRAW increased (p<0.05) following fungies cultivation. The results of this study showed that with higher growth rate are more suitable and effective than the others.