Co-Occurrence of Mycotoxins and Its Detoxification Strategies

The contamination of foods and feeds by mycotoxins is significant problem worldwide that pose serious health hazardous effects in humans and animals. Risk arises from the fact that fungal species grow naturally in food and are difficult to eliminate. The presence of multiple mycotoxins (co-occurrence) in food products increases day by day and their natural co-occurrence is an increasing health concern due to the exposure of multiple fungal growth, which might exert greater toxicity than exposure of single mycotoxins. The presence of mycotoxins in food and feed are associated with health and reproductive issues, lower performance, and higher medical costs. Survey on co-occurrence of mycotoxins indicated that over 50% contaminated samples contained more than one mycotoxins and Asia faces a heightened risk of mycotoxins overall. There is a lack of information regarding co-occurrence of mycotoxins in food and animal feed. Face to this situation, the current chapter will be very informative to explore the incidence of multiple mycotoxins, their co-occurrence and the detoxification of mycotoxins using different techniques

Chromatographic Techniques for Estimation of Aflatoxins in Food Commodities

Aflatoxins, produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus, have been documented as one of the major food contaminants throughout the world. Because of their toxic nature, these food contaminants have acknowledged considerable attention in recent years. Among the different types of Aflatoxins, the most prevalent and predominant Aflatoxins are AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, AFM1, AFM2 which are considered the more lethal as compared to others. Several analytical and immunological methods are available for testing and estimating aflatoxins in different food commodities. However, chromatographic techniques have been considered superior regarding the estimation of aflatoxins both qualitatively and quantitatively. Chromatographic techniques have numerous applications for the separation and identification of chemical and biological compounds in food industry. It has grown to be the most popular and versatile of all analytical techniques in laboratories used for the analysis of multiple components in different matrices. For preliminary qualitative detection of Aflatoxins, Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is considered the best analytical technique which is being used broadly in food industry. However, liquid chromatographic techniques including High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography-mass Spectrometry (LC–MS) are the best analytical techniques developed so far for the quantification of Aflatoxins in food commodities

Bioequivalence Study of Deferiprone In Healthy Pakistani Volunteers

The study was conducted to evaluate the bioequivalence of deferiprone 500 mg with innovator drug in Pakistani men. Twenty four healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Each volunteer take two tablets of generic and innovator deferiprone with two-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at predetermined time intervals. Plasma deferiprone levels were analyzed using validated HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters computed non-compartmentally after logarithmic transformation of data. The mean relative bioavailability was 104 %. The mean Cmax , AUC0–t , AUC0–∞ for generic drug were 14.41, 40.49, and 42.84 μg.h/mL and for innovator were 12.68, 38.63, and 40.75 μg.h/mL, respectively. Mean ratio (generic/innovator) of AUC0–t at 90 % CI was 0.9737-1.1150 and for Cmax was 0.99876- 1.2425. Hence, the mean ratio of 90 % confidence interval of AUC0–t and Cmax lie within the acceptable limit of (0.80-1.25) for bioequivalence. Therefore, it was concluded that Ferinil and Ferriprox was proved to be bioequivalent in healthy Pakistani men.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Bioequivalence Study of Deferiprone In Healthy Pakistani Volunteers

The study was conducted to evaluate the bioequivalence of deferiprone 500 mg with innovator drug in Pakistani men. Twenty four healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Each volunteer take two tablets of generic and innovator deferiprone with two-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at predetermined time intervals. Plasma deferiprone levels were analyzed using validated HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters computed non-compartmentally after logarithmic transformation of data. The mean relative bioavailability was 104 %. The mean Cmax , AUC0–t , AUC0–∞ for generic drug were 14.41, 40.49, and 42.84 μg.h/mL and for innovator were 12.68, 38.63, and 40.75 μg.h/mL, respectively. Mean ratio (generic/innovator) of AUC0–t at 90 % CI was 0.9737-1.1150 and for Cmax was 0.99876- 1.2425. Hence, the mean ratio of 90 % confidence interval of AUC0–t and Cmax lie within the acceptable limit of (0.80-1.25) for bioequivalence. Therefore, it was concluded that Ferinil and Ferriprox was proved to be bioequivalent in healthy Pakistani men.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Bioequivalence Study of Deferiprone In Healthy Pakistani Volunteers

The study was conducted to evaluate the bioequivalence of deferiprone 500 mg with innovator drug in Pakistani men. Twenty four healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Each volunteer take two tablets of generic and innovator deferiprone with two-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at predetermined time intervals. Plasma deferiprone levels were analyzed using validated HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters computed non-compartmentally after logarithmic transformation of data. The mean relative bioavailability was 104 %. The mean Cmax , AUC0–t , AUC0–∞ for generic drug were 14.41, 40.49, and 42.84 μg.h/mL and for innovator were 12.68, 38.63, and 40.75 μg.h/mL, respectively. Mean ratio (generic/innovator) of AUC0–t at 90 % CI was 0.9737-1.1150 and for Cmax was 0.99876- 1.2425. Hence, the mean ratio of 90 % confidence interval of AUC0–t and Cmax lie within the acceptable limit of (0.80-1.25) for bioequivalence. Therefore, it was concluded that Ferinil and Ferriprox was proved to be bioequivalent in healthy Pakistani men.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Molecular characterization of ochratoxin a producing indigenous Aspergillus strains from poultry feed in Pakistan

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is nephrocarcinogenic and immunosuppressive toxin and OTA producing molds contaminate the food crops. Isolation and identification of ochratoxin producing fungi was carried out from poultry feed samples (n=120) followed by preliminary confirmation through macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Purified fungal isolates identified as Aspergillus 1842(91.68%) followed by Penicillium 91 (4.53%), Mucor 52 (2.58), Alternaria 7 (0.35%), Cladosporium 6 (0.29%), Fusarium 4 (0.199%) and unidentified (07). OTA production was confirmed through thin layer chromatography (TLC) followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Only 41 isolates (2.22%) out of 1842 Aspergillus isolates were able to produce toxin. At genetic level, characterization was performed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species specific gene primers. From 41 isolates 27, 9 and 5 were characterized as Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus ochraceus, respectively. Physical and chemical factors were optimized for OTA production. Under the effect of 37 °C temperature and 7.5 pH of Sabouraud dextrose broth (SDB) medium, higher toxin (969.45±.03 μg/mL) production was observed from ASPO-6 isolate. ASPO-4 isolate produce higher toxin amount in SDB medium with supplementation of maize 5%, wheat 1% and rice 3%. OTA stability was determined by adjusting standard concentration of 100 μg/mL in organic solvents (chloroform, acetonitrile and methanol) and organic solids. Least percentage log reduction in OTA concentration and stability of OTA was observed in opaque vials with chloroform and sucrose and transparent vials with sucrose after 6 months. OTA can be used as indigenous standard for identification of OTA from field samples

Effect of Maturity on Phenolics (Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids) Profile of Strawberry Cultivars and Mulberry Species from Pakistan

In this study, we investigated how the extent of ripeness affects the yield of extract, total phenolics, total flavonoids, individual flavonols and phenolic acids in strawberry and mulberry cultivars from Pakistan. In strawberry, the yield of extract (%), total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) ranged from 8.5–53.3%, 491–1884 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g DW and 83–327 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g DW, respectively. For the different species of mulberry the yield of extract (%), total phenolics and total flavonoids of 6.9–54.0%, 201–2287 mg GAE/100 g DW and 110–1021 mg CE/100 g DW, respectively, varied significantly as fruit maturity progressed. The amounts of individual flavonols and phenolic acid in selected berry fruits were analyzed by RP-HPLC. Among the flavonols, the content of myricetin was found to be high in Morus alba (88 mg/100 g DW), the amount of quercetin as high in Morus laevigata (145 mg/100 g DW) while kaempferol was highest in the Korona strawberry (98 mg/100 g DW) at fully ripened stage. Of the six phenolic acids detected, p-hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acid were the major compounds in the strawberry. M. laevigata and M. nigra contained p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid while M. macroura and M. alba contained p-hydroxy-benzoic acid and chlorogenic acid as the major phenolic acids. Overall, a trend to an increase in the percentage of extraction yield, TPC, TFC, flavonols and phenolic acids was observed as maturity progressed from un-ripened to fully-ripened stages

Population structure of the mullets <i>Liza subviridis, L. carinata </i>and <i>Valamugil cunnesius </i>(Family Mugilidae) from Sandspit backwaters <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">along Karachi coast (northern Arabian Sea)</span>

312-319Among the three species, adults and some juveniles of Liza subviridis and L. carinata exhibited fair abundance and Valamugil cunnesius showed low catches. The important aspect of the study was V. cunnesius occurred only during the monsoon months (May to September). Monthly analysis of the data shows that one of the three species remained abundant in each sampling month in view of the fact that V. cunnesius formed dominating component in three hauls made in July 1992 as compared to L. subviridis and L. carinata. Such assemblage of the species collected may be due to the environmental and biological factors prevailing in the area. The stages of maturity and oocytes in the gonads indicated that spawning seems to be continuous. Spawning of L. subviridis and L. carinata starts earlier in the month of January and extends to March; while V. cunnesius spawns in July and August.</span

Body Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Carps under the Influence of Rice Polish and Pond Fertilization

The experiment was conducted in two earthen ponds to investigate the body composition, and fatty acid profile of carps along with growth performance by using rice polish as fish feed with urea and ammonium nitrate fertilization of pond. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mori (Cirrhinus mrigala) were stocked in the ratio of 1:2:1 respectively with total number of 40 fishes in each pond. Pond 1 was treated with urea and rice polish while pond 2 was treated with ammonium nitrate and rice polish at the rate of 0.3g Nitrogen/100g of wet body weight of fish daily. There was found highly significant difference between species and ponds in terms of growth. Highest growth in terms of gain in body weight was shown by H. molitrix in both ponds i.e. 399.0g in pond 1 and 299.9g in pond 2. Net fish production of pond 1 remained as 1311.3 kg/ha/year and pond 2 was 1104.2 kg/ha/year. Pond 1 showed 1.5 times greater fish production than pond 2. Proximate analysis of the fish meat showed that there was no significant difference in body composition of three species in both the ponds. Highest protein contents (18.04 %) were found in the meat of C. mrigala in P1 and lowest protein contents (17.16 %) were in the meat of H. molitrix in P2. There was also non-significant difference between three species in terms of fatty acid profile. The overall contents of fatty acids were highest in L. rohita as compared to other two species. Saturated fatty acids were highest in L. rohita whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were highest in C. mrigala