Efficacy of Corn and Rice Seed-borne Mycoflora in Controlling Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus

Food commodities such as cereals are subjected to spoilage and bio-deterioration during storage by mycotoxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus. Efforts are done to biologically control toxigenic A. flavus and subsequently prevent or at least minimize its aflatoxin production ability, without the need of using synthetic fungicides. Antifungal activity of corn and rice seed-borne mycoflora was tested against aflatoxigenic A. flavus in vitro, using bioassays such as dual culture technique; ability to produce volatile and non-volatile metabolites; ability to inhibit germination and reduce germ tube length of A. flavus conidia; in vivo reduction of aflatoxins level in corn seeds co-inoculated with the pathogen and antagonists. Penicillum crustosum, Aspergillus giganteus, Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus fumigatus isolates showed promising antifungal activities and varying efficiencies of reducing aflatoxins level; however, only A. fumigatus isolate was non-aflatoxigenic. It could be concluded that A. fumigatus could be used effectively as a biopreservative to increase shelf life of cereals during storage, but after testing its tendency to produce other mycotoxins or causing human Aspergillosis

Mineral and heavy metals content in tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) collected from the River Nile in Damietta governorate, Egypt and evaluation of health risk from tilapia consumption

This study was conducted to determine heavy metals and trace elements content in tilapia fish collected from three sources in Damietta governorate, Egypt and to evaluate the human health risk due to tilapia consumption. Tilapia samples were collected from two locations in the River Nile stream, tow fish farms and two sluiceways. Health risk assessment was evaluated based on the consumption habits of adult human. The results revealed that all samples vary in elements concentrations. The calculation of human health risk revealed that the consumption of tilapia in the three tested area does not pose any health risk except for Selenium. It could be concluded that consumption of such fish may be a risk for consumers who eat fish more than one time per week. Consequently, precautions should be taken and warning against eating tilapia fish caught from these regions should be announced.This study was conducted to determine heavy metals and trace elements content in tilapia fish collected from three sources in Damietta governorate, Egypt and to evaluate the human health risk due to tilapia consumption. Tilapia samples were collected from two locations in the River Nile stream, tow fish farms and two sluiceways. Health risk assessment was evaluated based on the consumption habits of adult human. The results revealed that all samples vary in elements concentrations. The calculation of human health risk revealed that the consumption of tilapia in the three tested area does not pose any health risk except for Selenium. It could be concluded that consumption of such fish may be a risk for consumers who eat fish more than one time per week. Consequently, precautions should be taken and warning against eating tilapia fish caught from these regions should be announced

Extrato de Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer neutraliza o stress oxidativo em ratos alimentados com dieta contaminada com multi-micotoxinas

The current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of Panax ginseng extract (PGE)against the toxicity and oxidative stress in rats fed aflatoxin (AFs) and/or fumonisin (FB)-contaminateddiet. Eighty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight experimental groups included thecontrol group, the group treated orally with PGE (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) and the groups fed AFs (1.4 mg/kg diet) and/or FB (20 mg/kg b.w.) contaminated diet alone or plus PGE for 11 weeks. Blood, liverand kidney tissue samples were collected at the end of treatment period for biochemical andhistological studies. The results indicated that PGE increased super oxide dismutase (SOD) levelin liver; however, the other parameters were comparable to controls. Animals fed AFs and/or FBcontaminateddiet showed a significant increase in serum biochemical parameters and oxidativestress markers accompanied with a significant decrease in antioxidant parameters levels and asevere histological changes in the liver tissue. These changes were more pronounced in the groupfed AFs plus FB. PGE succeeded to induce a significant improvement in all biochemical parametersand the histological picture towards the control although it did not normalize them. It could beconcluded that PGE is a promise candidate against the exposure to multi-mycotoxins in food.O presente estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos protetores do extrato de Panax ginseng(PGE) contra a toxicidade e estresse oxidativo em ratos alimentados com aflatoxinas (AFs) e/oudieta contaminada por fumonisina (FB). Oitenta fêmeas de ratos Sprague-Dawley foram divididasem oito grupos experimentais, incluindo o grupo controle, o grupo tratado com PGE oralmente (0,5mg/kg de peso corporal) e os grupos alimentados com as dietas contaminadas de AFs (1,4 dieta mg/kg) e/ou FB (20 mg/kg de peso corporal) isoladas ou com mais PGE durante 11 semanas. Amostrasde sangue, do fígado e do tecido do rim foram recolhidas no final do período de tratamentopara estudos bioquímicos e histológicos. Os resultados indicaram que a PGE aumenta o nível desuperóxido dismutase (SOD) no fígado, no entanto, os outros parâmetros foram comparáveis aosdo grupo controle. Animais alimentados com dieta contaminada por AF e/ou FB mostraram umaumento significativo nos parâmetros bioquímicos séricos e marcadores de estresse oxidativo,acompanhados de uma diminuição significativa nos níveis de antioxidantes e nos parâmetros dealterações histológicas graves no tecido do fígado. Essas alterações foram mais pronunciadas nogrupo alimentado com AFs mais FB. PGE obteve sucesso quanto à introdução de uma melhoriasignificativa em todos os parâmetros bioquímicos e histológicos com relação ao grupo controle,embora não os tenha normalizado. Pode-se concluir que a PGE é uma promissora candidatacontra a exposição às multimicotoxinas em alimentos

Antifungal efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles against phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of zearalenone production by Fusarium graminearum

Chitosan (COS) is a natural safe biopolymer that received great attention in agriculture, food, biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental industries because their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic natures. The aims of the current study were to synthesize and characterize chitosan nanoparticles (COS-NPs), to evaluate their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of zearalenone (ZEN) production by Fusarium graminearum. The results revealed that the deacetylation degree of COS was 86.9 0.44 %, the average of molar mass was 171.41 ± 0.29 g/mol, molecular weight was 244 ± 7 kDa and the concentration of free amino groups was 0.05 ± 0.019 mol L-1. COS-NPs showed the nanorod form with rough nature and particle size was around 180 nm. COS-NPs showed an excellent antifungal activity against Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Baeuvaria bassiana, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii in dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 800 ppm, it inhibits ZEN production by Fusarium graminearum. It could be concluded that COS-NPs are promise candidate as safe antifungal capable for the prevention of ZEN production.Chitosan (COS) is a natural safe biopolymer that received great attention in agriculture, food, biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental industries because their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic natures. The aims of the current study were to synthesize and characterize chitosan nanoparticles (COS-NPs), to evaluate their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of zearalenone (ZEN) production by Fusarium graminearum. The results revealed that the deacetylation degree of COS was 86.9 0.44 %, the average of molar mass was 171.41 ± 0.29 g/mol, molecular weight was 244 ± 7 kDa and the concentration of free amino groups was 0.05 ± 0.019 mol L-1. COS-NPs showed the nanorod form with rough nature and particle size was around 180 nm. COS-NPs showed an excellent antifungal activity against Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Baeuvaria bassiana, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii in dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 800 ppm, it inhibits ZEN production by Fusarium graminearum. It could be concluded that COS-NPs are promise candidate as safe antifungal capable for the prevention of ZEN production

Molecular identification of actinomycetes with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties

The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify the actinomycetes strains from the soil and marine sediments and to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Eight actinomycetes strains were isolated from soil and marine sediment samples collected from different areas in Egypt. Only three actinomycetes exhibited a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities. They were active in vitro against microbial pathogen viz: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum. These promising isolates were selected and identified using molecular identification technique and identified as Streptomyces spp. The crude extracts from the three Streptomyces exhibited potent antimicrobial activities against a set of microbial pathogens as well as antioxidant and anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). The crude extract of Streptomyces isolate D showed antitumor activity with lC50 0.85 µg/ mL. Forty compounds were identified from the two most promising ethyl acetate extracts of culture broth of Streptomyces sp. (D-EGY) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis. It could be concluded that the streptomycetes isolated from the Egyptian environment are promising candidates as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer.The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify the actinomycetes strains from the soil and marine sediments and to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Eight actinomycetes strains were isolated from soil and marine sediment samples collected from different areas in Egypt. Only three actinomycetes exhibited a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities. They were active in vitro against microbial pathogen viz: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum. These promising isolates were selected and identified using molecular identification technique and identified as Streptomyces spp. The crude extracts from the three Streptomyces exhibited potent antimicrobial activities against a set of microbial pathogens as well as antioxidant and anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). The crude extract of Streptomyces isolate D showed antitumor activity with lC50 0.85 µg/ mL. Forty compounds were identified from the two most promising ethyl acetate extracts of culture broth of Streptomyces sp. (D-EGY) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis. It could be concluded that the streptomycetes isolated from the Egyptian environment are promising candidates as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer

Isoflavones-Enriched Soy Protein Prevents CCL4-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

The burden of liver disease in Egypt is exceptionally high due to the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) resulting in rising rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the current study was to determine the isoflavones in soy and to evaluate the protective role of soy against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. Four experimental groups were treated for 8 weeks and included the control group, soy-supplemented diet (20% w/w) group, the group treated orally with CCl4 (100 mg/kg bw) twice a week, and the group fed soy-supplemented diet and treated with CCl4. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected for biochemical analyses and histological examination. The results indicated that protein content was 45.8% and the total isoflavones recorded 167.3 mg/100 g soy. Treatment with CCl4 resulted in a significant biochemical changes in serum liver tissue accompanied with severe oxidative stress and histological changes. Supplementation with soy succeeded to restore the elevation of liver enzymes activities and improved serum biochemical parameters. Moreover, soy supplementation improved the antioxidant enzymes, decreased lipid peroxidation, and improved the histological picture of the liver tissue. It could be concluded that soy-protein-enriched isoflavones may be a promising agent against liver diseases

Zinc loaded whey protein nanoparticles mitigate the oxidative stress and modulate antioxidative gene expression in testicular tissues in rats

This study aimed to utilize whey protein nanoparticles (WPNPs) and zinc (Zn) loaded WPNPs to protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced testicular damage in rats. Zn was loaded on WPNPs at three levels and Zn release was determined at different time intervals. Seventy male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups and treated orally for 4 weeks as follows: the control group, CCl4-treated group (0.5 ml/100 g b.w) twice a week, CCl4 plus WPNPs-treated group (300 mg/kg b.w), CCl4 plus Zn citrate-treated group (50 mg/kg b.w), and the groups treated with CCl4 plus the three Zn-WPNPs formulations. Blood and testicular tissue samples were collected for different assays. Animals treated with CCl4 showed a significant decrease in body weight and relative weight of the testis, testosterone level, antioxidant enzymes activity and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 and increased Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and mRNA expression of Keep1 and induced histological changes in the testis. WPNPs alone, Zn alone or Zn loaded WPNPs at the three levels protect against CCl4-induced testicular damage. These effects were more pronounced in the group received the fabrication with low Zn level. This study concluded that Zn-WPNPs could reduce the oxidative stress in the testicular tissue via different mechanisms mainly via the regulation of Nrf2-Keap1 antioxidative signaling pathway

Young Coconut Juice Reduces Some Histopathological Changes Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease through the Modulation of Estrogen Receptors in Orchidectomized Rat Brains

Propose. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of young coconut juice (YCJ) against the pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in orchidectomized (orx) rats. Methods and Results. Animals were divided into 7 groups including: baseline normal control group, sham control, orx rat group, orx rat group injected with 2.5 μg/kg b.w. estradiol benzoate (EB) 3 days a week for 10 weeks, and the orx rat groups treated orally with 10, 20, and 40 ml/kg b.w. of YCJ for 10 weeks. At the end of treatment period, animals were sacrificed and the brain of each rat was removed, fixed in 10% neutral formalin, and stained by specific antibodies against NF200, parvalbumin (PV), β-amyloid (Aβ), and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ). The results showed that the number of NF200- and PV-reactive neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex was significantly reduced in orx rats. However, it restored to normal in orx rats injected with EB or those administrated with YCJ in a dose-related manner. Neurons containing β-amyloid (Aβ), a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), were found to be increased in the orx rats; however; they were reduced by EB injection or YCJ administration. These results suggested the binding of the YCJ active ingredient(s) with estrogen receptors (ERs) in the brain as indicated by the detection of ERα and ERβ in neurons since a significant correlation was detected between NF200-/PV-reactive neurons vs ERα-/ERβ-reactive neurons.Conclusion. It could be concluded that YCJ is effective as EB in reducing AD pathology, probably by being selective estrogen receptor modulators