Characterization of Nanoformulations from Montmorillonite clay for the decontamination of zearalenonein cereals using X-ray Diffraction Technique

Montmorillonite clay due to its abundance and environmental friendliness has several industrial applications among which are the adsorption of mycotoxins in foods and feed. The mycotoxin; zearalenone (ZEA) is oestrogenic and has been implicated in hormonal and reproductive issues for both man and animals. Thus, nanoformulations from Montmorillonite clay and Cymbopogoncitratus (lemongrass) extracts were developed for the reduction of the toxin in millet. The various formulations include: Montmorillonite clay to which extract of Cymbopogoncitratus(lemon grass essential oil)has been incorporated (Mont-LGEO), Montmorillonite clay mixed with C. citratus(lemon grass)powder (Mont-LGP) and Montmorillonite clay washed with NaCl (Mont-Na). Pure Montmorillonite clay (Mont) and C. citratus (lemon grass) powder (LGP) served as the controls for the treatment. Each of these compositions were applied to millet samples at a concentration of 8 % and 12% and stored for 4 weeks. XRD patterns for compositions containing Montmorillonite clay revealed major peaks at 2-Theta value of 20.06° representing Montmorillonite and 26.56° and 68.53°representing quartz. The level of ZEA in all treated samples was quantified after 4 weeks using the Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrophotometer LC-MS/MS. All the compositions were effective in the decontamination of zearalenone. Furthermore, C. citratus powder was the most effective in the decontamination of zearalenone in the cereal after 4 weeks

Studies on FT-IR Spectroscopy of modified Montmorillonite clays applied for the removal of T-2 toxin in maiz

Montmorillonite clay has a wide range of industrial applications which include the removal of mycotoxins in foods and feed because of its low toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. T-2 toxin is produced mostly by fungal species of Fusarium. Other T-2 producing fungal species are Myrothecium and Stachybotrys. T-2 toxin poses several health hazards such as dystrophy in the brain, heart, kidney and liver as well as ulceration and necrosis of the digestive tract in man and animals. To reduce T-2 toxin in maize, montmorillonite clay modified with lemongrass essential oil (MMT-LGEO) and montmorillonite clay washed with NaCl (Na-MMT) were applied to maize at a concentration of 8% and 12% and kept under storage for one month at 30�C. Untreated maize samples and unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) served as controls. The FTIR spectra were recorded for the two treatments and unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) used for the removal of T-2 toxin in maize. The FTIR spectra of the two treatments and unmodified clay (MMT) showed the major functional groups as Si-O and -OH. All Montmorillonite clay has a wide range of industrial applications which include the removal of mycotoxins in foods and feed because of its low toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. T-2 toxin is produced mostly by fungal species of Fusarium. Other T-2 producing fungal species are Myrothecium and Stachybotrys. T-2 toxin poses several health hazards such as dystrophy in the brain, heart, kidney and liver as well as ulceration and necrosis of the digestive tract in man and animals. To reduce T-2 toxin in maize, montmorillonite clay modified with lemongrass essential oil (MMT-LGEO) and montmorillonite clay washed with NaCl (Na-MMT) were applied to maize at a concentration of 8% and 12% and kept under storage for one month at 30�C. Untreated maize samples and unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) served as controls. The FTIR spectra were recorded for the two treatments and unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) used for the removal of T-2 toxin in maize. The FTIR spectra of the two treatments and unmodified clay (MMT) showed the major functional groups as Si-O and -OH. All the treatments reduced the level of T-2 toxin in maize. However, sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and montmorillonite clay modified with lemongrass essential oil (MMT-LGEO) were more efficient than unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) in the removal of T-2 toxin in maizethe treatments reduced the level of T-2 toxin in maize. However, sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and montmorillonite clay modified with lemongrass essential oil (MMT-LGEO) were more efficient than unmodified montmorillonite clay (MMT) in the removal of T-2 toxin in maiz

Decontamination of T-2 Toxin in Maize by Modified Montmorillonite Clay

Montmorillonite clay has a wide range of applications, one of which includes the binding of mycotoxins in foods and feeds through adsorption. T-2 toxin, produced by some Fusarium,Myrothecium, and Stachybotrys species, causes dystrophy in the brain, heart, and kidney. Various formulations that include lemongrass essential oil-modified montmorillonite clay (LGEO-MMT), lemongrass powder (LGP), montmorillonite clay washed with 1mMNaCl (Na-MMT),montmorillonite clay (MMT), and lemongrass powder mixed with montmorillonite clay (LGP-MMT) were applied to maize at concentrations of 8% and 12% and stored for a period of onemonth at 30 �C. Unmodifiedmontmorillonite clay and LGP served as the negative controls alongside untreated maize. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the various treatments showed themajor functional groups as Si-O and -OH. All treatment formulationswere effective in the decontamination of T-2 toxin inmaize. Accordingly, itwas revealed that the inclusion ofNa-MMT in maize atMontmorillonite clay has a wide range of applications, one of which includes the binding of mycotoxins in foods and feeds through adsorption. T-2 toxin, produced by some Fusarium,Myrothecium, and Stachybotrys species, causes dystrophy in the brain, heart, and kidney. Various formulations that include lemongrass essential oil-modified montmorillonite clay (LGEO-MMT), lemongrass powder (LGP), montmorillonite clay washed with 1mMNaCl (Na-MMT),montmorillonite clay (MMT), and lemongrass powder mixed with montmorillonite clay (LGP-MMT) were applied to maize at concentrations of 8% and 12% and stored for a period of onemonth at 30 �C. Unmodifiedmontmorillonite clay and LGP served as the negative controls alongside untreated maize. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the various treatments showed themajor functional groups as Si-O and -OH. All treatment formulationswere effective in the decontamination of T-2 toxin inmaize. Accordingly, itwas revealed that the inclusion ofNa-MMT in maize at a concentration of 8% was most effective in decontaminating T-2 toxin by 66% in maize followed by LGP-MMT at 12% inclusion level recording a 56% decontamination of T-2 toxin in maize (p = 0.05). Montmorillonite clay can be effectivelymodified with plant extracts for the decontamination of T-2 toxin a concentration of 8% was most effective in decontaminating T-2 toxin by 66% in maize followed by LGP-MMT at 12% inclusion level recording a 56% decontamination of T-2 toxin in maize (p = 0.05). Montmorillonite clay can be effectivelymodified with plant extracts for the decontamination of T-2 toxi

First report on Basidiomycota fungi in sorghum and millet from Southwest Nigeria

Trametes species are mushroom fungi with several biotechnological applications. This includes decolourisation of wastewater from olive mill and elimination of endocrine-disrupting hormones.This study reports the presence of two Trametesspecies, namely Trametespolyzona and Trametesvillosa from the phylumBasidiomycota in sorghum and milletvended inSouthwest Nigeria. These fungal isolates were identified culturally and further identified through phylogenetic characterisation. Trametessp occurred in 10% of sorghum samples and 20% of millet samples. The two species were morphologically similar but distantly related phylogenetically. Most fungal species present in cereal crops belong to the division Ascomycota. However, two Trametesspecies belonging to division Basidiomycota are being reported for the first time in cereal crops.Trametessp can be harnessed for their health benefits such as the treatment of cancer and the reduction of viral activity in humans

Thermogravimetric Analysis of Modified Montmorillonite Clay for Mycotoxin Decontamination in Cereal Grains

-ermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to study the stability of nanoformulations used for the decontamination of mycotoxins. -e TGA patterns of the nanoformulations from montmorillonite clay and Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) extracts were assessed with temperature ranging from ambient (20°C) to 1000°C. -e various nanoformulations studied included unmodified montmorillonite clay (Mont), montmorillonite washed with sodium chloride (Mont-Na), montmorillonite mixed with lemongrass essential oil (Mont-LGEO), and montmorillonite mixed with an equal quantity of lemongrass powder (Mont- LGP). -ere was no significant difference in the median of the various nanoformulations within 4 weeks at p < 0.05 using the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test. For the TGA, the first degradation for montmorillonite clay and the nanoformulations occurred at a temperature between 80 and 101°C and was attributed to the loss of lattice water outside the coordination sphere with a range of 3.5–6.5% weight loss. -e second degradation occurred within the temperature of 338 to 344°C, and the third, at a temperature between 640 and 668°C for Mont and the formulations of Mont-Na, Mont-LGEO, and Mont-LGP. -ere were strong similarities in the degradation patterns of Mont and Mont-Na with the minimum difference being the relatively higher weight loss of the sodium-exchanged cation for Mont-Na at the third degradation step. Hence, the order of stability from the most resistant to the least resistant to degradation is as follows: Mont-LGEO ≥ Mont-Na ≥ Mont ≥ Mont-LGP

The effects of storage condition and preservatives on maize-based diets for broiler chickens

A study was conducted to assess the effects of varying storage temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions, and feed preservatives (a mixture of Mold-Zap (a fungal inhibitor) and Banox E (an antioxidant)) on performance, visceral organ weight, serum biochemistry and haematology of broiler chickens. Birds fed diets stored at low RH (50%) were heavier and had a better feed conversion efficiency (FCE) than those on diets stored at high RH (80%). Diet storage temperature had no significant effort on body weight of birds but FCE was improved when birds were maintained on diets stored at a low temperature (15°C). Feed intake was unaffected by the main factors but the interactive effect of temperature x preservative influenced intake. Liver weight was lowest in birds that consumed feeds stored at a low temperature and low RH. The presence of a detoxifier (MTB 100) in the diet reduced the heart weight of birds by 11%. Diets stored at the low temperature or RH significantly decreased the weight of the gizzard in birds. Inclusion of the preservative in the diets also reduced gizzard weight by 4%. Similarly, gizzard weight was reduced by about 6% due to the presence of the detoxifier in the diets stored at low temperature. Inclusion of the detoxifier in the diet reduced spleen weight and the inorganic phosphorus concentration in serum. Further studies are required to test a wider range of storage conditions as well as the potential of some of the additives used in the present trial

A comprehensive study to explore differences in mycotoxin patterns from agro-ecological regions through maize, peanut, and cassava products: a case study, Cameroon

A total of 420 samples were collected from agrarian households. Whereas 51% (215/420) of the samples were contaminated with one or more toxins, the contamination rates for maize, peanut, and cassava products were 74, 62, and 24%, respectively. The fumonisins (20-5412 mu g/kg), aflatoxin B-1 (6-645 mu g/kg), roquefortine C (1-181 mu g/kg), and deoxynivalenol (27-3842 mu g/kg) were the most prevalent contaminants in maize. For peanut samples, aflatoxin B-1 (6-125 mu g/kg) and ochratoxin A (0.3-12 mu g/kg) were the main contaminants, whereas aflatoxin B-1 (6-194 mu g/kg) and penicillic acid (25-184 mu g/kg) were detected in the cassava products. Exposures calculated through maize intake for fumonisin B-1 and aflatoxin B-1 were several-fold higher (2-5 for fumonisin B-1 and 10(4)-10(5) for aflatoxin B-1) than the health-based guidance values of 2 mu g/kg bw/day and 0.15 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The study design constitutes a good model that can be implemented in other sub-Saharan African countries