Projects / Programmes
Navadno volčje jabolko (Physalis alkekengi L.) kot surovina za izdelavo rastlinskega dodatka z zeaksantinom h krmilom kokoši nesnic (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.01 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Agricultural plants |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.05 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Other agricultural sciences |
Researchers (17)
Organisations (3)
Significance for science
Different plants had an immense importance in the development of human civilisation. They always have been the matter of intensive scientific investigations. In the project, the plant Physalis alkekengi was studied as a rich source of carotenoids zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin, which are deficitary in the modern human diet. Both carotenoids present in the berry and calix of these plant accumulated in the yolks of laying hens after addition of the ground plant material or preparations by its chemical processing, to the feeding. We investigated the relationship between the content of both carotenoids in the feeding and their content in the yolks. This was the first such study in the world concerning zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin. In the frame of the project we contributed to the development of analytical and preparative methods in chemistry, especially based on chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, a part of these results was already published in a journal with a relatively high impact factor. In different parts of the plant Physalis alkekengi L, which is a known medicinal plant especially in China, many other interesting secondary metabolites are present, needing further research important for the science.
Significance for the country
The main result of the project is a new functional food – a chicken egg containing natural zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin. These are two carotenoids which are important for the human health. The new functional food was obtained by addition of milled berries and husks from the ornamental plant Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi L.), or preparations of chemically modified plant material, to the chicken feed. A study on 30 chickens provided a correlation between the dose of aforementioned carotenoids in the chicken feed and their content in egg yolks, which is a helpful information for subsequent studies. The new use of P. alkekengi opens new possibilities in agriculture to produce a new alternative culture. A similar venture was already observed with Tagetes erecta, which is cultivated for the needs of related carotenoid lutein. The acquired knowledge could form the foundations for the formation of a company, which would specialize in zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin enriched egg production. The products could readily be launched on the Slovenian market (e.g. healthy food shops). We also analysed eggs from Slovenian market for carotenoids and we established that manufacturers of eggs from ecological breeding do not realize the importance of carotenoids in chicken feed and by that, they unintentionally wrong the consumers. Therefore, these results should be of interest in the field of regulation of quality assurance for eggs in Slovenia. We acquired knowledge on isolation of zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin from plant material, because both compounds have additional purpose of use in food and pharmaceutical industry. The development of food additives and food supplements requires only a fragment of a financial investment usually associated with the development and launch of a drug, which makes it absorbing also for Slovenia.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
