Health concerns associated to tropane alkaloids in maize food products in Serbia

Following the implementation of the European regulation limiting the presence of tropane alkaloids in certain foods, a survey was conducted in Serbia on 103 maize products (grits, polenta and semolina) to determine atropine and scopolamine content using liquid chromatography with tandem-mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS). The probability of exceeding the Acute Reference Dose (ARfD; 0.016 μg/kg bw/day) of the sum of atropine and scopolamine by consuming these products was tested. Overall, across age categories - children, younger and older adolescents, and adults, the group ARfD was exceeded by 21.4%, 17.5%, 11.7% and 11.7% of the samples, with maximum exposure reaching as much as 19-, 13-, 9- and 9-fold the group ARfD, respectively. Nevertheless, polenta could be the most favorable dietary option (17.9% of positive samples, 7.7% resulting in excessive exposure in children, reaching a maximum of 1.4-fold the group ARfD). According to the reported findings, adverse health effects of tropane alkaloids cannot be ruled out. The Margin of Exposure, founded on a clinically significant acute effects dose established by FAO/WHO, ranged from 1194 to 2381 (mean) and from 28 to 56 (95th percentile) across age categories. These estimates should certainly draw the attention of food authorities and nutritionist, particularly in the case of highly sensitive populations with contraindications and high consumers of corn products, such as coeliac patients

Occurrence and distribution of the cyclodiene-type organochlorine pesticides in soils of Vojvodina Province, Serbia

Aldrin, endrin and dieldrin are highly toxic and persistent cyclodiene-type organochlorine pesticides. Although these compounds have been banned over the last few decades in many countries, they can still be found in the environment, especially in the agricultural soil. In order to determine the residue levels of cyclodiene-type organochlorine pesticides in soils of Vojvodina Province, and to obtain detailed information on their spatial distribution, 1370 soil samples under different land uses were collected from Vojvodina Province and analyzed for the presence of aldrin, dieldrin and endrin. The residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides residues of those pesticides were detected in the soils of Vojvodina in measureable concentrations and dieldrin was the most dominant compound in the soil. However, the concentrations of analysed cyclodiene-type organochlorine pesticides in the most soil samples from Vojvodina province were lower than Dutch target values for soil quality. Soil organic matter and clay content were found to be positively associated with aldrin content while clay content was found to be negatively associated with endrin

Dietary phenolics and antioxidant capacity of selected legumes seeds from the central Balkans

The aim of this study was to select Vicia genotypes with higher polyphenol contents and increased antioxidant activity, and to compare them with soybean, the most widespread and utilized legume species grown in the region. The examined legumes showed similar contents of total polyphenolics and tannins in between specimen, but differed greatly in their flavonoids and proanthocynidins levels. The content of total polyphenols ranged from 1.6 to 6.09 catechin/g dry seeds, and tannins from 0.26 to 2.98 mg of catechin/g dry seeds. The flavonoids levels in Vicia species were much higher compared with soybean, while the content of proanthocyanidins ranged from 1.5 (in soybean) to 62.3 mg of leucoanthocyanidin/g dry seeds (in vetches). The gallic and trans-cinnamic acids were identified as major monomeric phenolic compounds, and quercetin among flavonoids was found in all specimens. Catechin was detected in faba bean and vetches but not in the soybean. The values of the DPPH-test varied in a range between 21.1 and 89.6% of neutralized radicals, which correlated with the total polyphenolics and tannin contents. The faba bean specimens showed favourable traits - high total polyphenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents, low total tannin content, and high DPPH-radical scavenging ability

Repellent efficacy of azadirachtin on Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari, Ixodidae)

The repellent efficacy testing, as well as the search for the most efficient and economically most justified preventive measures, emerge from the fact that in the last few years a zoogeographic expansion of certain tick species has been observed, in addition to an increased frequency of previously registered and emergent tick-borne diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the repellent efficacy of different azadirachtin essential oil concentrations as a function of time on Ixodes ricinus ticks. Azadirachtin essential oil had more than 50% repellent efficacy on I. ricinus three minutes after the application, and it decreased with time when all tested concentrations were concerned. Eight hours after repellent administration, concentrations of 50% and 75% have had repellent effects of 50%, while pure essential oil (100%) showed a repellency of 63.33%. In order for people to spend more relaxed and free time in nature, it is necessary to apply protective measures against ticks and one of the recommended ways is to use the substances that could be applied to the skin or clothes, and which have a repellent effect, such as azadirachtin essential oil

Whole grain phenolics and antioxidant activity of Triticum cultivars and wild accessions

The contents of soluble free phenolics (SP), PVPP-bound tannins (PVPP-P), flavonoids (TF) and proanthocyanidins (PA), as well as the DPPH-radical scavenging capability, of the whole grain of 17 different Triticum spp. accessions were analyzed. The contents of SP ranged from 976 to 2927 mu g CE g(-1), of PVPP-P from 335 to 1412 mu g CE g(-1) and of TF from 0.16 to 1.12 mu g RE g(-1) of dry whole grain. The presence of PA in the whole grains was not established. The values for DPPH-radical scavenging activity were rather moderate, under 40 % of neutralized radicals. A positive correlation between DPPH-activity and analyzed phenolics was recorded in twelve of the seventeen genotypes (r from 0.73 to 0.99). trans-Cinnamic acid was the major compound among acids and quercetin among flavonoids found in the wheat varieties. The data obtained should enable the selection of the accessions rich in biologically active compounds that could further be processed into functional food with possible health benefits associated with higher antioxidant properties

Development and Validation of Chronopotentiometric Method for Imidacloprid Determination in Pesticide Formulations and River Water Samples

A new electrochemical method for determination of imidacloprid using chronopotentiometry on thin film mercury and glassy carbon electrode was presented. The most important experimental parameters of chronopotentiometry were examined and optimized with respect to imidacloprid analytical signal. Imidacloprid provided well-defined reduction peak in Britton-Robinson buffer on thin film mercury electrode at -1.0V (versus Ag/AgCl (KCl, 3.5 mol/L)) and on glassy carbon electrode at -1.2V (versus Ag/AgCl (KCl, 3.5mol/L)). The reduction time was linearly proportional to concentrations from 0.8 to 30.0 mg/L on thin film mercury electrode and from 7.0 to 70.0mg/L on glassy carbon electrode. The detection limits were 0.17mg/L and 0.93mg/L for thin film mercury and glassy carbon electrode, respectively. The estimation of method precision as a function of repeatability and reproducibility showed relative standard deviations values lower than 3.73%. Recovery values from 97.3 to 98.1% confirmed the accuracy of the proposed method, while the constancy of the transition time with deliberated small changes in the experimental parameters indicated a very good robustness. A minor influence of possible interfering compounds proved good selectivity of the method. Developed method was applied for imidacloprid determination in commercial pesticide formulations and river water samples

Solid-phase extraction of neonicotinoids residue from water: comparison between extraction cartridges

The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/840 established the watch list of substances for Union-wide monitoring in the field of water policy pursuant to Directive 2008/105/EC and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/495. This Decision establishes additional substances and their maximum acceptable method detection limits including neonicotinoids (9-500 ng/L). During the pesticides extraction from water, the solid-phase extraction (SPE) column was used. Bakerbond spe™ SDB-1 SPE and Bond Elut Plexa were evaluated for the SPE of neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, thiacloprid and clothianidin) from water. The comparation of the results of these two types of columns, was performed by spiking water samples at two levels (0.05 and 0.1 μg/L) in three replicates. The Bakerbond™ column quantitatively adsorbed these pesticides, with the obtained recoveries: 36.9 % for imidacloprid, 43.2 % for thiacloprid, 119.3 % for clothianidin, 64.6 % for acetamiprid and 53.6 % for thiamethoxam. Using Bond Elut Plexa the obtained recoveries were 66.9 % for imidacloprid, 72.9% for thiacloprid, 103.4 % for clothianidin, 67.4 % for acetamiprid and 45.2% for thiamethoxam. Both colums have low recovery values for thiametoxam, while the highest values were obtained by Bond Elut Plexa for thiacloprid, imidacloprid and acetamiprid. Great recoveries were achieved for clothianidin using both SPE columns

Determination of atropine and scopolamine in popcorn by the LC-MS/MS

Tropane alkaloids are secondary metabolites produced mainly by the genera of the Solanaceae family - Hyoscyamus, Datura and Atropa. For determination and quantification of the atropine and scopolamine in 12 samples of popcorn the validated rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used. Out of the studied popcorn samples 41.67% were contaminated with atropine and scopolamine, while in 58.33% of the tested samples tropane alkaloids were not detected, or the present concentrations were below the limit of detection (˂1 µg/kg). Atropine was present in the range from 5.3 to 28 µg/kg, while scopolamine ranged from 2.1 to 6.3 µg/kg

Pogodnost različitih hibrida kukuruza za razviće Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)

Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), the Indian meal moth (IMM), is a major lepidopteran storage pest worldwide. IMM larvae can be found in high abundance in stored maize and cause huge losses in seed germination and seed viability. This work aimed to assess the susceptibility of six maize hybrids (NS 6140, NS 640, NS 1090, NS 444 - dent type, NS 620k - pop-corn type, Red-aleurone maize - maize with an altered aleuron color) to IMM attack and suitability for pest's development. Standard laboratory diet (SLD) was used as a positive control. Under laboratory conditions, the following IMM life history parameters were monitored: larval mortality, mean developmental duration (egg to adult), adult emergence, adult lifespan and female fecundity. Kernel susceptibility was determined based on the Susceptibility Index (SI). The highest mortality of IMM larvae was on NS 620k (35.25%) compared to the other maize hybrids (11.2-19.5%). The highest number of emerged adults was on Red-aleurone maize (17.5), and the lowest on NS 620k (4.0). The longest lifespan was recorded for moths reared on NS 6140 and NS 640 (8.5 and 8.7 days, respectively). The highest female fecundity was on SLD (115.8 eggs), on Red-aleurone maize (44.3 eggs), while females reared on NS 620k laid the lowest number of eggs (22.8 eggs). Moths reared on NS 620k had the shortest body sizes (0.9 cm), which indicated reduced moths fitness. SI showed that Redaleurone maize (SI=7.79) was the most susceptible to IMM attack, while NS 620k (SI=3.08) was the least susceptible.Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), bakrenasti moljac (BM), jedna je od značajnijih štetočina u skladištima širom sveta. BM larve se mogu naći u velikom broju u skladištenom kukuruzu, što uzrokuje ogromne gubitke u vidu smanjenja klijavosti i vitalnosti semena. Cilj rada je da se proceni pogodnost (podložnost) šest hibrida kukuruza (NS 6140, NS 640, NS 1090, NS 444 - tip zubana, NS 620k - tip kokičara, Crveni kukuruz - tip kukuruza sa izmenjenom, crvenom bojom aleurona) za razvoj BM. Standardna laboratorijska podloga (SLP) korišćena je kao kontrola. U laboratorijskim uslovima praćeni su sledeći parametri: smrtnost larvi, srednje vreme razvića (od jaja do leptira), eklozija leptira, dužina života leptira i fekunditet ženki. Osetljivost/podložnost zrna određena je na osnovu indeksa osetljivosti (SI). Najveća smrtnost BM larvi zabeležna je na NS 620k (35,25%), u poređenju sa drugim hibridima kukuruza (11,2-19,5%). Najveći broj eklodiranih leptira bio je na Crvenom kukuruzu (17,5), a najniži na NS 620k (4,0). Najduži životni vek zabeležen je kod leptira odgajanih na NS 6140 i NS 640 (8,5 dana, odnosno 8,7 dana). Najveći fekunditet su imale ženke odgajane na SLP (115,8 jaja), dok je među hibridima kukuruza najviši bio na Crvenom kukuruzu (44,3 jaja), a najmanji broj jaja položile su ženke sa NS 620k (22,8 jaja). Leptiri odgajani na NS 620k imali su u proseku najkraće dužine tela (0,9 cm), što ukazuje na smanjene telesne sposobnosti. Prema indeksu osetljivosti (SI), Crveni kukuruz (SI = 7.79) bio je najosetljiviji, odnosno najpogodniji za razvoj BM, dok je NS 620k (SI = 3.08) bio manje pogodan

Allelopathic effects and insecticidal activity of aqueous extracts of Satureja montana L.

Extensive use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides and other pesticides has negative effects on the environment and on human and animal health. Therefore, scientists are turning towards natural pesticides, such as active components of plant extracts. The effect of two concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 %) of a Satureja montana L. aqueous extract on the lipid peroxidation process, as well as on the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), pyrogallol peroxidase (PPX) and catalase (CAT) in the leaves and roots of pepper and black nightshade seedlings were examined 24, 72 and 120 h after treatment. The results showed that the higher concentration of S. montana aqueous extract induced lipid peroxidation in black nightshade roots. Furthermore, significant increases of pyrogallol and guaiacol peroxidase were detected in black nightshade leaves treated with 0.2 % of the S. montana aqueous extract. The second aim was to evaluate effectiveness of the aqueous extract as a contact toxicant against whitefly. It was observed that the 0.2% aqueous extract exhibited a toxic effect with 68.33 % mortality after 96 h