AAS DETECTION OF HEAVY METAL IN SHEEP CHEESE (THE BANAT AREA, ROMANIA)

. In this paper we present results of the measurement of some heavy metals in sheep cheese samples from three hill and alpine areas in the Banat area. We analysed, using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, the following heavy metals: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Cd. The concentration ranges in the cheese samples were: 7.22-8.85, 1.36-1.83, 17.39-23.17, 0.691-0.886, 0.020-0.102, 0.002-0.010, 0,214-0.225, 0.193-0.314 and 0.001-0.003 mg/kg for iron, manganese, zinc, cooper, cobalt, nickel, chromium, lead and cadmium, respectively. Analysing experimental data shows that the specific soil and climate factors in the area favour cheese assortments with normal heavy metal contents under the form of essential elements and of low concentrations of heavy metals potentially toxic or toxic much below admitted toxicity levels

Oxidative properties of Moringa oleifera kernel oil from different extraction methods during storage

BACKGROUND Moringa oleifera (MO) kernel oil is categorized as high‐oleic oil which resembles olive oil. However, different from olive, MO trees are largely available in most subtropical and tropical countries. Therefore, in these countries, the benefits of oleic acid can be obtained at a cheaper price through consumption of MO kernel oil. This study reports on the effect of different extraction methods on oxidative properties of MO kernel oil during storage for 140 days at 13 0C, 25 0C, and 37 0C. RESULTS All aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE)‐based methods generally resulted in oil with better oxidative properties and higher tocopherol retention than the use of solvent. Prior to AEE, boiling pre‐treatment deactivated the hydrolytic enzymes and preserved the oil quality. In contrast, high pressure processing (HPP) pre‐treatment accelerated hydrolytic reaction and resulted in higher free fatty acids after 140 days at all temperatures. No significant changes were detected in the oils' iodine values and fatty acid compositions. The tocopherol contents decreased significantly at both 13 0C and 25 0C after 60 days in the oil from SE method, and after 120 days in oils from AEE‐based methods. CONCLUSION These findings are significant in highlighting the extraction method resulting in crude MO kernel oil with greatest oxidative stability in the storage conditions tested. Subsequently, the suitable storage condition of the oil prior to refining can be determined. Further studies are recommended in determining the suitable refining processes and parameters for the MO kernel oil prior to application in variety food products

Effect of mineral-enriched diet and medicinal herbs on Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu uptake in chicken

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The goal of our study was to evaluate the effects of different medicinal herbs rich in polyphenol (Lemon balm, Sage, St. John's wort and Small-flowered Willowherb) used as dietary supplements on bioaccumulation of some essential metals (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) in different chicken meats (liver, legs and breast).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In different type of chicken meats (liver, legs and breast) from chickens fed with diets enriched in minerals and medicinal herbs, beneficial metals (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Fe is the predominant metal in liver and Zn is the predominant metal in legs and breast chicken meats. The addition of metal salts in the feed influences the accumulations of all metals in the liver, legs and breast chicken meat with specific difference to the type of metal and meat. The greatest influences were observed in legs meat for Fe and Mn. Under the influence of polyphenol-rich medicinal herbs, accumulation of metals in the liver, legs and breast chicken meat presents specific differences for each medicinal herb, to the control group that received a diet supplemented with metal salts only. Great influence on all metal accumulation factors was observed in diet enriched with sage, which had significantly positive effect for all type of chicken meats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Under the influence of medicinal herbs rich in different type of polyphenol, accumulation of metals in the liver, legs and breast chicken meat presents significant differences from the group that received a diet supplemented only with metal salts. Each medicinal herb from diet had a specific influence on the accumulation of metals and generally moderate or poor correlations were observed between total phenols and accumulation of metals. This may be due to antagonism between metal ions and presence of other chelating agents (amino acids and protein) from feeding diets which can act as competitor for complexation of metals and influence accumulation of metals in chicken meat.</p> <p><b>Graphical abstract</b></p

Agricultural Academy

Abstract POIANA, M. A., D. MOIGRADEAN and E. ALEXA, 2010. Influence of home-scale freezing and storage on antioxidant properties and color quality of different garden fruits. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of home freezing and storage at -18°C up to 10 months on the antioxidant properties and color indices of selected fruits species: strawberry (Fragaria ananassa), sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.). Samples were extracted and subjected to analyses for total phenolics content, total monomeric anthocyanins, vitamin C, antioxidant activity and color indices. The content of total phenolics was analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method, total anthocyanins were evaluated using pH-differential method, vitamin C content by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol method, antioxidant activity using FRAP assay and color indices of extracts by bisulphite bleaching method. Sour cherries contain the highest amounts of polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity among the investigated fruits species. The highest content of vitamin C was found in the fresh strawberries. After freezing, small losses were recorded for investigated bioactive compounds and color indices of fruits, because the home-freezing is a non destroyed preservation method. The storage up to 4 months did not significantly affect the bioactive compounds and color indices of investigated fruits. After a period of 10 months storage, phenolics content in frozen fruits decreased up to 28-47% of the initial value; the total anthocyanins is preserved in proportion of 80-91% of the initial value, the vitamin C content is kept at 62-76% of the initial value. By home-scale freezing and storage for 10 months, the smallest losses of antioxidant activity were recorded for sour cherries and the biggest for strawberries

AAS DETECTION OF HEAVY METAL IN SHEEP CHEESE (THE BANAT AREA, ROMANIA)

. In this paper we present results of the measurement of some heavy metals in sheep cheese samples from three hill and alpine areas in the Banat area. We analysed, using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, the following heavy metals: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Cd. The concentration ranges in the cheese samples were: 7.22-8.85, 1.36-1.83, 17.39-23.17, 0.691-0.886, 0.020-0.102, 0.002-0.010, 0,214-0.225, 0.193-0.314 and 0.001-0.003 mg/kg for iron, manganese, zinc, cooper, cobalt, nickel, chromium, lead and cadmium, respectively. Analysing experimental data shows that the specific soil and climate factors in the area favour cheese assortments with normal heavy metal contents under the form of essential elements and of low concentrations of heavy metals potentially toxic or toxic much below admitted toxicity levels.</jats:p

Enzymatic and mechanical extraction of virgin coconut oil

The effect of different processing methods namely enzymatic method using crude protease extract (CPE) from overripe pineapple, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods on the recovery yield of virgin coconut oil (VCO) is evaluated. The physicochemical properties of VCOs namely color, iodine value (IV), refractive index, saponification value, moisture content, free fatty acid, p-anisidine value, lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, melting and crystallization profile are compared. The total phenolic compounds and scavenging activity of the extracted VCOs are also examined. Results reveal that enzymatic approach exhibits the highest VCO yield (77.7% ± 0.38) at 50 °C for 2 h, followed by MAE (58.6%±0.07), control without enzyme (24.1%±0.19) and UAE (24.1%±0.12). The physicochemical properties of the VCOs extracted are found to conform to APCC standards established except IV. The antioxidant activity of VCO extracted with CPE shows no significant difference with MAE and UAE methods (p > 0.05). Lauric acid appears to be the most abundant fatty acid detected in all VCO samples. Similar exotherms and endotherms are observed in both melting and crystallization profiles with two distinct peaks exhibited. The TAG compositions of the extracted VCOs are mainly LaLaLa, LaLaM, CLaLa, CCLa, and LaMM (C = Capric acid; La = Lauric acid; M = Myristic acid)

Bioaccumulative and conchological assessment of heavy metal transfer in a soil-plant-snail food chain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) can pose serious threats to environmental health because they tend to bioaccumulate in terrestrial ecosystems. We investigated under field conditions the transfer of these heavy metals in a soil-plant-snail food chain in Banat area, Romania. The main goal of this paper was to assess the Roman snail (<it>Helix pomatia</it>) usefulness in environmental monitoring as bioindicator of heavy metal accumulation. Eight sampling sites, selected by different history of heavy metal (HM) exposure, were chosen to be sampled for soil, nettle leaves, and newly matured snails. This study also aimed to identify the putative effects of HM accumulation in the environment on phenotypic variability in selected shell features, which included shell height (SH), relative shell height (RSH), and whorl number (WN).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significantly higher amounts of HMs were accumulated in snail hepatopancreas and not in foot. Cu, Zn, and Cd have biomagnified in the snail body, particularly in the hepatopancreas. In contrast, Pb decreased when going up into the food chain. Zn, Cd, and Pb correlated highly with each other at all levels of the investigated food chain. Zn and Pb exhibited an effective soil–plant transfer, whereas in the snail body only foot Cu concentration was correlated with that in soil. There were significant differences among sampling sites for WN, SH, and RSH when compared with reference snails. WN was strongly correlated with Cd and Pb concentrations in nettle leaves but not with Cu and Zn. SH was independent of HM concentrations in soil, snail hepatopancreas, and foot. However, SH correlated negatively with nettle leaves concentrations for each HM except Cu. In contrast, RSH correlated significantly only with Pb concentration in hepatopancreas.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The snail hepatopancreas accumulates high amounts of HMs, and therefore, this organ can function as a reliable biomarker for tracking HM bioavailability in soil. Long-term exposure to HMs via contaminated food might influence the variability of shell traits in snail populations. Therefore, our results highlight the Roman snail (<it>Helix pomatia</it>) potential to be used in environmental monitoring studies as bioindicator of HM pollution.</p