Toxic Metals (Pb and Cd) and Their Respective Antagonists (Ca and Zn) in Infant Formulas and Milk Marketed in Brasilia, Brazil

In non-ideal scenarios involving partial or non-breastfeeding, cow’s milk-based dairy products are mainstream in infant feeding. Therefore, it is important to study the concentrations of potentially neurotoxic contaminants (Pb and Cd) and their respective counteracting elements (Ca and Zn) in infant dairy products. Fifty-five brands of infant formulas and milk sold in Brasilia, Brazil were analyzed. The dairy products came from areas in the central-west (26%), southeast (29%) and south of Brazil (36%) extending as far as Argentina (7%) and the Netherlands (2%). For toxic Pb and Cd, median concentrations in powdered samples were 0.109 mg/kg and 0.033 mg/kg, respectively; in fluid samples median Pb concentration was 0.084 mg/kg, but median Cd concentration was below the limit of detection and overall values were below reference safety levels. However, 62% of these samples presented higher Pb concentration values than those established by FAO/WHO. Although the inverse correlation between Cd and Zn (Spearman r = −0.116; P = 0.590) was not statistically significant, the positive correlation between Ca and Pb was (Spearman r = 0.619; P < 0.0001). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between Pb and Cd. Furthermore, the study also revealed that provision of the essential trace element Zn in infant formulas can provide adequate amounts of the recommended daily requirements. Infant formulas and milk sold for consumption by infants and children can be an efficient tool to monitor neurotoxic metal risk exposure among young children

Cell wall composition and transcriptomics in stem tissues of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): Spotlight on a neglected fibre crop

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) produces silky cellulosic fibres, as well as bioactive molecules. To improve the knowledge on nettle and enhance its opportunities of exploitation, a draft transcriptome of the “clone 13” (a fibre clone) is here presented. The transcriptome of whole internodes sampled at the top and middle of the stem is then compared with the core and cortical tissues sampled at the bottom. Young internodes show an enrichment in genes involved in the biosynthesis of phytohormones (auxins and jasmonic acid) and secondary metabolites (flavonoids). The core of internodes collected at the bottom of the stem is enriched in genes partaking in different aspects of secondary cell wall formation (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin biosynthesis), while the cortical tissues reveal the presence of a C starvation signal probably due to the UDP‐glucose demand necessary for the thickening phase of bast fibres. Cell wall analysis indicates a difference in rhamnogalacturonan structure/composition of mature bast fibres, as evidenced by the higher levels of galactose measured, as well as the occurrence of more water‐soluble pectins in elongating internodes. The targeted quantification of phenolics shows that the middle internode and the cortical tissues at the bottom have higher contents than top internodes. Ultrastructural analyses reveal the presence of a gelatinous layer in bast fibres with a lamellar structure. The data presented will be an important resource and reference for future molecular studies on a neglected fibre cro

Catechins and methylxanthines in twenty-three black tea infusions by HPLC: Correlations with astringency

Simultaneous detection of flavanols [catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechingallat (ECG), epigallocatechingallate (EGCG)], gallic acid (GA), theogalline, methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline) were performed on 23 black tea infusions. A hypersil-ODS column (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm) with methanol: distilled water: formic acid (19.5:80.2:0.3, v:v:v) as a mobile phase was used for optimizing the RP-HPLC separation (R2=0.9997). Total flavanols varied from 1.423 to 12.051 mg 100 mg-1 whereas EGCG was the major catechin in all of the infusions (0.356-5.972 mg 100 mg -1) (p&lt;0.01). Caffeine levels were high (4.002-8.657 mg 100 mg -1) followed by theobromine and theophylline (p&lt;0.01). Black tea contained 0.134-1.392 mg/100 mg of GA, and 0.156-1.241 mg 100 mg-1 of its ester theogalline. An 8-member trained sensory panel judged black tea infusions for astringency. The correlations between the total catechins and astringency (y= 1.675+6.631 In X) (R 2=0.9551) were extremely high at the 95 percent confidence level (X=total catechin, y=astringency) and total interactions on astringency were obtained

Fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid profiles of infant formulas through direct transesterification of acyl lipids

Fatty acid (FA) values, including C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:l t, C18:l c, C18:2, C18:2 CLA, C20:0, C18:3 and C22:0, in sixteen infant formulas were determined through direct transesterification of acyl lipids with sodium methoxide by capillary gas chromatography. Total FA values ranged from 250.25-256.06 mg/g sample and the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (cis-9, trans-11 octadecadienoic acid) values were 1.41-2.02 mg/g sample (p&lt;0.01) in the infant formulas. The total saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid values were also obtained. The C18:3 (linolenic acid (n-3)) values were 0.63-0.88 mg/g sample, whereas the C18:2 (linoleic acid (n-6)) values ranged from 35.64-35.82 mg/g sample. FA standard mix including CLA had linear calibration curves through the origin (R2 = 0.9999). The precision of the analytical method was (using C13:0, methyl tridecanoate, as internal standard) within the 95% confidence limits and the mean recoveries determined for individual fatty acids in infant formulas varied from 99.8 to 100%