Das Brandungskonglomerat der Nordsee im Steinbruch Mammendorf (Sachsen-Anhalt)

Im Steinbruch Mammendorf in Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland, sind konglomeratische Transgressionssedimente der paläogenen Nordsee (Latdorfium) erschlossen, die bankige Sandsteinfolgen und Andesite des Karbons und Perms überlagern. Das Konglomerat besteht aus kantengerundeten bis gerundeten Gerölle aus Andesit, anderen Vulkaniten, Sand- und Schluffsteinen, die von verfestigten teils karbonatischen Zwischenfüllungen aus Sand und Fossilbruchstücken verbacken sind. Das Korngrößenspektrum erwies sich nach Messungen als breit gestreut.In the Mammendorf quarry in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, conglomeratic transgressional sediments of the Palaeogene North Sea (Latdorfian) are developed, overlying banked sandstone sequences and andesites of the Carboniferous and Permian. The conglomerate consists of edge-rounded to rounded boulders of andesite, other volcanic rocks, sandstones and siltstones cemented by a consolidated partly carbonate- bearing infill of sand and fossil fragments. The grain size spectrum proved to be broadly distributed according to measurement

Antinociceptive and gastroprotective actions of ethanolic extract from Pluchea sagittalis (Lam.) Cabrera

AbstractEthnopharmacological relevancePluchea sagittalis, an herbaceous plant widely distributed in South America, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive diseases and inflammation.Aim of the studyThis study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of the ethanolic extract (EE) of aerial parts from Pluchea sagittalis in rodents.Materials and methodsThe antinociceptive effects of EE was evaluated in mice after oral administration in chemical tests (acetic-acid, glutamate and formalin) or by biting behavior following intrathecal administration of cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in mice. Furthermore, rats were treated with EE and subsequently exposed to acute gastric lesions induced by 80% ethanol. Afterwards the gastric lesion extension and the mucus levels of gastric mucosa were measured.ResultsThe oral administration of EE showed a dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions and glutamate-induced pain in mice, with ID50 values of 624.0 (523.0–746.0)mg/kg and 368.0 (216.0–628.0)mg/kg, respectively. In the formalin test, the EE also produced significant inhibition of the inflammatory phase, with an ID50 value of 411.0 (183.0–721.0) mg/kg; however, it was ineffective in the neurogenic phase caused by formalin. In addition, oral treatment with EE caused a significant inhibition of biting behavior induced by i.t. injection of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The antinociception caused by the EE (300mg/kg, p.o.) was not reversed by naloxone (1mg/kg, i.p.) when assessed in the acetic acid writhing test. The EE (300–1000mg/kg, p.o.) did not affect the motor coordination of animals in an open-field model. Oral treatment with the EE protected rats against gastric lesions induced by ethanol, with an ID50 value of 55.0 (46.6–64.9)mg/kg, and increased the mucus levels of gastric mucosa to levels found in the non-lesioned group.ConclusionsThe mechanism by which the extract produced antinociception still remains unclear, but this effect seems to be primarily related to the modulation or inhibition of the action of pro-inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, these data support, at least in part, the ethnomedical use of Pluchea sagittalis

Aplicación de la pulpa de coco (Acrocomia aculeata) en el diseño de nuevos biocatalizadores

La extracción del aceite de la pulpa es un proceso que se realiza por prensado quedando restos que finalmente se desechan. El proyecto busca la aplicabilidad de la pulpa de coco en el diseño de nuevos biocatalizadores a escala de laboratorio.CONACYT - Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y TecnologíaPROCIENCI

Scientific opinion on flavouring group evaluation 415 (FGE.415): (E)-3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-N,N-diphenyl-2-propenamide

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of the substance (E)-3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-N,N-diphenyl-2-propenamide [FL-no: 16.135] as a new flavouring substance, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. The substance has not been reported to occur naturally and it is chemically synthesised. It is intended to be used as a flavouring substance in specific categories of food, but not intended to be used in beverages. The chronic dietary exposure to [FL-no: 16.135] estimated using the added portions exposure technique (APET), is calculated to be 780 mu g/person per day for a 60-kg adult and 480 mu g/person per day for a 15-kg 3-year-old child. [FL-no: 16.135] did not show genotoxic effects in bacterial mutagenicity and mammalian cell micronucleus assays in vitro. Developmental toxicity was not observed in a study in rats at the dose levels up to 1,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. The Panel derived a BMDL of 101 mg/kg bw per day from a 90-day toxicity study. Based on this BMDL, adequate margins of exposure of 7,800 and 3,200 could be calculated for adults and children, respectively. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for [FL-no: 16.135], when used as a flavouring substance at the estimated level of dietary exposure calculated using the APET approach, based on the intended uses and use levels as specified in Appendix B. The Panel further concluded that the combined exposure to [FL-no: 16.135] from its use as a food flavouring substance and from its presence in toothpaste is also not of safety concern. (C) 2022 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KgaA on behalf of the European Food Safety Authority

Safety of use of oat lecithin as a food additive

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to thank all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data for this scientific output.Publisher PD

Safety of use of Monk fruit extract as a food additive in different food categories

Acknowledgements: The FAF Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data for this scientific output.Publisher PD

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 501 (FGE.501) : Grill flavour concentrate (vegetable)

Acknowledgements: The FAF Panel wishes to thank the Working Groups on Flavourigs and on Genotoxicity of the former EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion, in particular Leon Brimer, Gerard Mulder, Mona-Lise Binderup, Francesca Marcon and Pasquale Mosesso. The Panel wishes to thank the hearing experts: Vibe Beltoft and Karin Nørby and EFSA staff: Fabiola Pizzo and Giorgia Vianello for the support provided to this scientific output.Publisher PD

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 73, Revision 5 (FGE.73Rev5) : consideration of alicyclic alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters evaluated by JECFA (59th, 63rd and 86th meeting) and structurally related to substances evaluated in FGE.12Rev5

Acknowledgments: The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) wishes to thank the hearing experts Vibe Beltoft, Karin Nørby and Giorgia Vianello for the support provided to this scientific output. Reproduction of the images listed below is prohibited and permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder: Figure A.2 is reproduced from the 82nd JECFA report, 2016 (http://www.fao.org/3/a-bl839e.pdf, p. 13). Permission may be sought from the copyright holder (i.e. FAO/WHO/JECFA) for the reproduction of the image, as indicated in the report. Figure A.2: © FAO/WHO/JECFAPublisher PD

Opinion on the re-evaluation of sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of its re-evaluation as food additive for uses in foods for all population groups

Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466) was re-evaluated in 2018 by the former EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS). As a follow-up to this assessment, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of E 466 for its uses as a food additive in food for infants below 16 weeks of age belonging to food categories (FC) 13.1.5.1 (Dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes and special formulae for infants) in line with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. In addition, the FAF Panel was requested to address the issues already identified during the re-evaluation of the food additive when used in food for the general population, including the safety assessment for FC 13.1.5.1 and 13.1.5.2 (Dietary foods for babies and young children for special medical purposes as defined in directive 1999/21/EC). The process involved the publication of a call for data. Based on the received data, the Panel concluded that the technical data provided by the interested business operator support an amendment of the specifications for sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466) laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. The interested business operators declared that E 466 is not used in food for infants below 16 weeks of age and in FC 13.1.5.1. Due to the lack of data, an assessment has not been performed for this FC and age group. The interested business operators did not provide biological and toxicological data to support the uses of E 466 in FC 13.1.5.2. Due to the almost unchanged database compared to the situation before the call for data, the FAF Panel confirmed the previous EFSA ANS Panel conclusion according to which the available data did not allow for an adequate assessment of the safety of use of sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466) in infants and young children consuming foods belonging to the FC 13.1.5.2. (c) 2022 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority

Re-evaluation of locust bean gum (E 410) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of its re-evaluation as a food additive for uses in foods for all population groups

Locust bean gum (E 410) was re-evaluated in 2017 by the former EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS). As a follow-up to that assessment, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of locust bean gum (E 410) for its uses as a food additive in food for infants below 16 weeks of age belonging to food category 13.1.5.1 (Dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes and special formulae for infants). In addition, the FAF Panel was requested to address the issues already identified during the re-evaluation of the food additive when used in food for the general population, including the safety assessment for FC 13.1.5.1 and 13.1.5.2 (Dietary foods for babies and young children for special medical purposes as defined in directive 1999/21/EC). The process involved the publication of a call for data. Based on the received data, the Panel concluded that the technical data provided by the interested business operators support an amendment of the specifications for locust bean gum (E 410) laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. The Panel identified a reference point of 1,400 mg/kg bw per day based on reduced blood zinc levels in a piglet study. It applied the margin of exposure (MoE) for the safety assessment of locust bean gum (E 410) when used as a food additive in FC 13.1.5.1 and 13.1.5.2. The Panel concluded that a MoE above 1 would not raise a safety concern. A MoE above 1 was obtained for some of the scenarios and exposure levels for infants. For toddlers (consumers only of food for special medical purposes), the MoE was above 1 for all exposure levels