Determination of Benzo(α)pyrene in Infant Formula Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction

Background: Benzo(α)pyrene (BaP) is one of the most familiar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to evaluate food safety and quality and can be present in infant formulas An analytical method for the extraction and quantification of BaP in infant formula milk has been established by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. Methods: BaP was first extracted from matrices of infant formula milk via acetonitrile and then DLLME was used for further purification and preconcentration of target analyte. Results: Under the optimum extraction conditions, 150 µL of dichloromethane as extraction solvent, 3 mL acetonitrile as disperser and cleaner solvent and 1 mL volume sample, the accuracy of the method was between 89-97%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.12 and 0.35 ng/ml, respectively. There was a linear relation (R2=0.998) between chromatographic peak area and concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 15 ng/mL. Conclusion: The proposed method is applicable to the quantification of BaP in infant formula milk with acceptable accuracy and precision

Simultaneous Determination of TetracyclinesResidues in Bovine Milk Samples by Solid Phase Extraction and HPLC-FL Method

Introduction:Tetracyclines (TCs) are widely used in animal husbandry and their residues in milk may resultinharmful effects on human. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of TCs residues in various bovine milk samples from local markets of Ardabil, Iran. Methods:One hundred and fourteen pasteurized, sterilized and raw milk samples were collected from markets of Ardabil. Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline (TCs) residues extraction carried out by Solid Phase Extraction method. Determination of TCs residues were performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using Fluorescence detector.Results: The mean of total TCs residues in all samples (114 samples) was 97.6 ±16.9ng/g and that of pasteurized, sterilized and raw milk samples were 87.1 ± 17.7, 112.0 ± 57.3 and 154.0 ± 66.3ng/g respectively. Twenty five point four percent of the all samples, and24.4%, 30% and 28.6% of the pasteurized, sterilized and raw milk samples, respectively had higher TCs residues than the recommended maximum levels (100ng/g). Conclusion:This study indicates the presence of tetracycline residues more than allowed amount. Regulatory authorities should ensure proper withdrawal period before milking the animals and definite supervisions are necessary on application of these drugs

Facile and Accelerated Method for Detection of Adulteration in Commercially Available Lime Juice Products in Iranian Marke

Background: The present study was aimed to introduce a rapid, simple and cost-effective method to detect adulterated lime juice products commercially available in the Iranian market. Methods: Twelve different brands of marketed lime juice products were randomly purchased from the local stores in Tabriz, Iran. Fresh lime juice, as a control, was prepared by squeezing lime fruits using a plain hand juicer. Ehrlich’s reagent was used for a colorimetric analysis; solid phase extraction-thin layer chromatography (SPE-TLC) technique was utilized for fingerprinting of methanol/water fractions of samples on the silica gel plates at two wavelengths of 366 and 254 nm, before and after spraying aluminum chloride reagent; and attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) was used for further studies. Results: The obtained results from colorimetric analysis indicated appearance of orange-brown color indicating presence of limonoids in fresh lime juice and only five commercially available products. Regarding SPE-TLC fingerprinting, except for five products with identical or comparable TLC patterns to the fresh lime juice, other samples represented completely different TLC patterns, suggesting the presence of adulterants in these products. Therefore, the developed colorimetric and SPE-TLC techniques revealed some extents of adulteration in half of the studied products (58.3%). However, in the case of ATR-IR analysis, the obtained spectra were not illustrating enough to be applied for the detection of adulterated samples. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the described colorimetric method in combination with the developed SPE-TLC technique could be utilized for the preliminary screening of adulterated lime juice products

Effect of Ketotifen and Cyproheptadine on Appetite and Weight Changes in Mice: Change of appetite and weight by antihistamins

Ketotifen is a potent, safe and long acting antihistamine that is effective in treatment of asthma and its use is believed to causes weight gain and drowsiness.Cyproheptadine, an antihistamine, has anticholinergic and antiserotonergic effects, and causes increases of the appetite and weight gain. In this study the effects of different doses of ketotifen and/or cyproheptadine on the appetite and weight changes in mice is evaluated. Sixty four male mice were divided in 8 groups and received the following drug regimens for 45 days. Control group, normal saline (10 ml/kg, s.c.), three groups of cyproheptadine (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, s.c.), three groups of ketotifen (8, 16, 32 mg/kg, s.c.), and one group cyproheptadine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) combined with ketotifen (8 mg/kg, s.c.). Weight changes caused by above drug regimens were recorded every 2 days and average of food intake was recorded every day for 45 days. The results showed that the high dose of ketotifen (32 mg/kg, s.c.) increased weight, significantly, but its low dose (8 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased weight significantly. Cyproheptadine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) caused significant increase in weight gain and stimulated appetite, but its high dose of (20 mg/kg, s.c.), decreased the appetite and weight. Co-administration of cyproheptadine and ketotifen decreased the appetite, significantly. The results showed that different doses of cyproheptadine and ketotifen have different effects on the appetite and weight gain in mice, and possibly different mechanisms of action

Hypolipidemic Activity of a Natural Mineral Water Rich in Calcium, Magnesium, and Bicarbonate in Hyperlipidemic Adults

Purpose: This study compared the effects of a mineral water rich in calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and sulfate and a marketed mineral water with a composition similar to that of urban water on the lipid profile of dyslipidemic adults. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 32 adults received one liter of "rich mineral water" daily for one month, and 37 adults drank the same amount of normal mineral water for the same period. Changes in lipid profiles were compared separately in each studied group at the end of one month. Results: Results showed that mean cholesterol and low density lipoprotein LDL levels were significantly decreased in both studied groups after one month of drinking mineral water (P0.05). Conclusion: A one-month intake of mineral water rich in calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, and sulfate decreased cholesterol and LDL levels but not TG or HDL levels in dyslipidemic adults

Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Heracleum transcaucasicum and Heracleum anisactis roots essential oil

Introduction: In vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity and volatile compositions of two Heracleum species (Apiaceae) including Heracleum transcaucasicum and Heracleum anisactis roots Essential Oil (EO) were investigated.Methods: The volatile compositions of EOs were analyzed by GC/Mass spectroscopy. To detect the antioxidant activity of essential oils TLC-bioautography and DPPH radical scavenging assay by spectrophotometry was performed. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of two essential oils were studied and compared against four pathogenic bacteria by agar disc diffusion method and MIC values of the EOs were determined using the broth dilution method.Results: Myristicin was the dominant component in both EOs. It was identified as 96.87% and 95.15% of the essential oil composition of H. transcaucasicum and H. anisactis roots, respectively. The TLC-bioautography showed antioxidant spots in both EOs and IC50 of H. anisactis and H. transcaucasicum EO was found to be 54 µg × ml (-1) and 77 µg × ml (-1), respectively. Regarding the antimicrobial assay, H. anisactis EO exhibited weak to moderate antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria and also Escherichia coli, whereas the essential oil from H. transcaucasicum was inactive.Conclusion: Based on the results from this study, both tested EOs mainly consist of myristicin. Despite the presence of myristicin with known antibacterial property, the EO from H. transcacausicum showed no antibacterial activity. Thus it is supposed that the biological activity of plants is remarkably linked to the extracts’ chemical profile and intercomponents’ synergistic or antagonistic effect could play a crucial role in bioactivity of EOs and other plant extracts

Physicochemical analysis and nonisothermal kinetic study of sertraline–lactose binary mixtures

In the present study the physicochemical stability of sertraline with lactose was evaluated in drug-excipient binary mixtures. Different physicochemical methods such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry were applied to confirm the incompatibility. The final aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetic parameters using a fast and sensitive DSC method. Solid-state kinetic parameters were derived from nonisothermally stressed physical mixtures using different thermal models such as Friedman, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose. Overall, the instability of sertraline with lactose was successfully evaluated. Further confirmation was made by tracking the Maillard reaction product of sertraline and lactose by mass spectrometry. DSC scans provided important information about the stability of sertraline in solid-state condition and also revealed the related thermokinetic parameters in order to understand the nature of the chemical instability