Occurrence of mycotoxins and associated mycoflora in peanut cake product (kulikuli) marketed in Benin

The detection of spoilage fungi and mycotoxins contamination in peanut cake product, popularly called ‘‘kulikuli’’ was investigated in this study. Forty five major markets were sampled and peanut cake products were analyzed for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A contaminations, and associated mycoflora. Total coliform count ranged between 1.6 × 101 and 14.0 × 102 CFU g-1, while the fungal count was between 1.0 to 8.1 × 102 CFU g-1. Bacteria isolated from peanut cake product were Eschericha coli, Klebsiella spp. and Clostridium spp. The fungal isolates include Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., and Penicillium spp. being the dominant microflora in decreasing frequency of occurrence. High concentrations of aflatoxins were detected. They were between 25.54 to 455.22 μg/kg for AFB1, 33.94 to 491.20 μg/kg for AFB2, 0.41 to 100.33 μg/kg for AFG1 and 22.04 to 87.73 μg/kg for AFG2. Ochratoxin A concentrations ranged between 0.3 and 2 μg/kg. The coexistence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) in peanut was also established. The results show that peanut cake product sold in market was highly contaminated and therefore unacceptable for human nutrition.Key words: Peanut cake, fungi, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

Assessment of Knowledge and Consumption Patterns of Soybean, Moringa Oleifera, Aloe Vera and Other Agro-Resources: The Case of the Elderly and Pregnant/Nursing Women in Lome, Togo

Purpose: To assess how soybean products and other agro-resources are known and consumed by some vulnerable populations in Lome (Togo). Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from March to April 2015 among people aged 50 years and over attending two Pension Fund departments and pregnant and nursing women attending Bè Hospital in Lome. Data were collected using a pre-tested face-to-face questionnaire. Participants were surveyed about their knowledge and consumption habits of soybean, Moringa oleifera, Aloe vera products and other agro-resources. Results: A total of 847 respondents were included in the study with 426 pregnant/nursing women and 421 people aged 50 years and over. The majority of respondents were married (39.5%) and 45.3% of the elderly people were widowed. At least nine over ten respondents (96%) knew soybean products and 76.8% of them reported a lifetime consumption of soybean products. The available and most consumed agro-resources included tofu (82.7%), moringa leaves (87.2%) and soy flour (29.7%). The least consumed products were soymilk, soy yogurt and moringa juice. Respondents also reported using moringa tea and soap, as well as Aloe vera juice and toothpaste. Conclusion: Soybean products and other agricultural resources are well known and consumed by people living in Lome. Data on actual food intake is useful to public health professionals and food safety risk assessors. It is important to inform the public at large of the recognized benefits of some foods that will provide solutions to their health problems

Herbal remedies and their adverse effects in tem tribe traditional medicine in Togo

Abstract In Africa, up to 80% of the population relies on herbal concoctions for their primarily health care. In Togo, western Africa, Tem tribe is a population with old knowledge of medicinal plants, however, still very little is known about their medical practices. The present study was conducted to access for the apprehension of adverse effects of traditional remedies by Tem traditional healers (TH). Enquiry was performed by interviews with healers from August to October 2007 in Tchaoudjo prefecture (Togo). The study allowed us to interview 54 TH including 41(75.93%) males and 13(24.07%) females, who cited 102 recipes assumed to have adverse effects. The recipes were used alone to cure several diseases including haemorrhoids (22.55%), female sexual disorders and infertility (21.57%), gastrointestinal disorders (18.63%), and malaria (6.86%). A total of 34 plants belonging to 21 families were cited to be components of the recipes. Euphorbiaceae and Mimosaceae families were the most represented, however, Nauclea latifolia, Khaya senegalensis, Pseudocedrela kotschyi and Xeroderris stuhlmannii were the main components of recipes linked to adverse effects. A total of 20 adverse effects were linked to the administration of theses drugs, and among them; diarrhoea, abdominal pains, polyuria, general weakness and vomiting were the most frequently encountered. These findings were in accordance with several reports of the literature concerning medicinal plants, although they were based on empirical observations. Laboratory screenings are needed to access for the effectiveness as well as the possible toxic effects of the recipes

Étude des mutations somatiques spontanées résistantes au 2-déoxygalactose

Des tests de fluctuation à la Luria et Delbrück ont été effectués pour déterminer la fréquence des variations spontanées des cellules somatiques de hamster chinois relatives à la résistance au 2-déoxygalactose. Ces études montrent que les taux de mutation des souches V6, Hpt13, Tyk6, DR2, sont de l'ordre de 1 à 3.5 x 10-(exposant 5) par cellule et par génération. Parmi les clones résistants, seize furent caractérisés en détails. Ils incorporent moins de 3H-D-Galactose que les souches parentales, leur activité spécifique galactokinase (E.G.2.7.1.6) est moindre que l'activité spécifique du type sauvage. L'analyse statistique de la distribution des clones résistants indique que la résistance au 2-déoxygalactose est un événement survenant spontanément et au hasard et qu'il n'est pas induit par l'agent sélectif

Étude des mutations somatiques spontanées résistantes au 2-déoxygalactose

Des tests de fluctuation à la Luria et Delbrück ont été effectués pour déterminer la fréquence des variations spontanées des cellules somatiques de hamster chinois relatives à la résistance au 2-déoxygalactose. Ces études montrent que les taux de mutation des souches V6, Hpt13, Tyk6, DR2, sont de l'ordre de 1 à 3.5 x 10-(exposant 5) par cellule et par génération. Parmi les clones résistants, seize furent caractérisés en détails. Ils incorporent moins de 3H-D-Galactose que les souches parentales, leur activité spécifique galactokinase (E.G.2.7.1.6) est moindre que l'activité spécifique du type sauvage. L'analyse statistique de la distribution des clones résistants indique que la résistance au 2-déoxygalactose est un événement survenant spontanément et au hasard et qu'il n'est pas induit par l'agent sélectif

Régulation des gènes eucaryotiques : études génétiques du métabolisme du galactose, des gènes galk et hpt dans les cellules somatiques d'hamster chinois

Nous décrivons dans une première partie de cette thèse, les caractéristiques biochimique et génétique de cinq mutants de cellules somatiques d'hamster chinois. Nos résultats montrent que quatre de ces cinq mutants: A13G9, 34A13G32, 2A13G14 et V6IG15 comparés aux cellules de type sauvage ont : 1) un faible taux respiratoire, 2) un cycle de Krebs altéré, 3) un taux réduite de production de CO2 à partir de substrats radiomarqués pyruvate-1-C14, pyruvate-2-C14, B-hydroxybutyrate-3-C14, glutamate-5-C14 et aspartate. Il n'ont pas une activité appréciable en NADH oxydase sensible à la roténone et sont mutés au niveau du complexe I de la chaîne d'oxydation phosphorylative. Par contre, le mutant P12GX1 a les mêmes propriétés que les cellules de type sauvage. Les études de complémentation entre ces mutants GAL- et des mutants représentant les sept groupes de complémentation de Scheffler indiquent que les souches A13G9, 34A13G32 et V6IG15 définissent deux nouveaux groupes de complémentation (VIII et IX), les mutants A13G9 et 34A13G32 définissent un cistron ; P12GX1 ne complémente pas le mutant CCL16-B9 du groupe IV et serait donc affecté au niveau du succinate déshydrogenase. Le mutant 2A13G14 est de type chevauchant et ne complémente pas les mutants des groupes II, VI et V79-G20. Notre deuxième étude a porté sur dix mutants de cellules somatiques d'hamster chinois résistants à 8 mg/ml de 2-déoxygalactose et dépourvus de toute activité galactokinasique (DgaR, galk d'allèle nul). L'analyse génétique et immunologique de ces mutants montre que l'allèle DgaR est récessif par rapport à l'allèle DgaS de type sauvage, et que les mutations galk définissent un seul cistron. De plus, nos résultats montrent l'existence des gènes de structure dans ces mutants dépourvus d'activité. En effet, tous les 10 mutants DgaR galk d'allèle nul testés contiennent du matériel immunologique antigalk (ie sont CRM+) et sont donc affectés dans le gène de structure de la galactokinase. Nous avons ensuite montré que les réversions des cellules déficientes pour l'enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransférase (HPRT), induite par l'adénovirus de type 2 résultent également des mutations dans le gène de structure de l'HPRT et que ces mutations sont de même type que celles induites par l'EMS. De plus, elles ne nécessitent pas l'intégration stable de l'ADN d'ad2

Prevalence De L’anemie Et Des Anticorps Specifiques Anti-P. Falciparum Chez Les PVVIH Et Co-Infectees Par Le Plasmodium Falciparum Au Congo-Brazzaville

HIV and P. falciparum lead to diseases with overlapping endemic areas. Both diseases are leading cause of nearly 2 millions of deaths each year, which occur mostly in developing countries. People living with HIV are more susceptible to disease progressions. It is therefore important to further understand the biology of HIV and P. falciparum coinfection. The present study sets to characterize the coinfection with regard to malaria specific antibodies and to anemia. We found that antibody and hemoglobin levels as well as CD4 counts differ significantly according to parasite load and to treatment with anti retroviral. People undergoing treatment with antiretroviral, produced specific antimalarial IgG compared to their treatment naïve counterparts

In Vitro Antiplasmodial Properties Of Flacourtia Flavescens Willd. (Flacourtiaceae) And Rytigynia Canthioides (Benth.) Robyns (Rubiaceae)

Topical hemostatic agents are applied locally to areas of injured vascular endothelium to control local bleeding. Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) has gained approval in Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina as a topical haemostatic agent for external post-surgical and post-dental surgery bleeding. The safety of topical use of ABS has been demonstrated in numerous in vitro and in vivo animal models, as well as in a clinical Phase I trial in humans. ABS, besides its haemostatic activity, also has in vitro anti-infectious and anti-neoplastic effects. To assess potential detrimental effects of intravenous administration of ABS into intact systemic circulation in a rabbit experimental model, one milliliter of ABS was administered intravenously into the systemic circulation of twelve rabbits which were included in the study via the marginal ear vein. Animals were observed for 1 hr before euthanasia was performed by administering 40 mg of intracardiac suxamethonium chloride. In the event of death (cardiopulmonary arrest) before the end of the planned observation period of 60 minutes, time of death was recorded and histopathological examination of the liver and spleen was commenced. Ten rabbits were alive by the end of the planned observation period, without showing any clear signs of discomfort, whereas two animals died within five minutes after systemic administration of intravenous ABS. Postmortem histopathological examination of the livers and spleens of all animals’ revealed findings consistent with hepatic venous outflow obstruction. Systemic intravascular administration of ABS into intact vascular endothelium should never be performed in any setting. Further experimental and clinical studies on this liquid hemostatic agent should proceed by accepting ABS as purely a topical haemostatic agent, to be applied solely to areas of injured vascular endothelium

In Vitro Antiplasmodial Properties of Flacourtia Flavescens Willd. (Flacourtiaceae) and Rytigynia Canthioides (Benth.) Robyns (Rubiaceae)

The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro antimalarial activity of Flacourtia flavescens Willd. (Flacourtiaceae) and Rytigynia canthioides (Benth.) Robyns (Rubiaceae). These two plants are used in Benin folk medicine to treat malaria and fever. Antimalarial activity was assayed on fresh clinical isolates of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum using the in vitro semi-microtest. The results revealed that the IC50 varied from 1.55 to 22.36µg/ml. F. flavescens hydro methanol extract was more active than R. canthioides. The study demonstrated scientific rationale behind the traditional usage of these plants, however further bioactivity guided phytochemical analyses are necessary to identify the active principles