Comparative study between marsh salt and salines salt from physical and chemical aspect

This study was conducted to evaluate the hygienic quality of the salt obtained from marshes [El-sayahat] and that from salines .The salt produced from saline was much better than that from marshes for the following reasons. March salt had inferior taste and colour quality compared with saline salt. The sodium chloride content in marsh salt reached up to 73%, while that from salines reached up to 97%. The iron content in march salt reached up to 2.270 ppm while that from salines reached up to 0.004 ppm. The copper content reached up to 1.385 ppm in salt produced from marsh while it was 0.292 ppm from salines. The cadmium content in marsh salt reached up to 0.135 ppm while it was 0.001ppm in salts from salines. The lead content in marsh salt reached up to 1.200 ppm while it was 0.001 in salt from salines. Sulfur pesticides residues in marshes salt ranged from 0.41 to 3.3 mg/kg. The authors recommended that mass media should educate the public about the deleterious effect of salt produced from marches on human health and legal actions have to be under taken against those who still produce salt from marshes

Turmeric may protect cells from oxidative stress by acrylamide in-vivo

Turmeric is a perennial herb; the rhizome is the portion of the plant that is used medicinally. It is the source of the spice turmeric with characteristic yellow color. Acrylamide is found in some foods that are cooked at high temperatures. It appears to be formed as a by product of the Maillard reaction. Maillard reaction is a type of non -enzymatic browning, which involves the reaction of simple sugars [carbonyl groups] and amino acids. Only the acrylamide monomer is toxic. Present work is focused on turmeric's antioxidant activity against acrylarnide toxicity. Rats were divided into three groups [7 rats/ group]. Group A served as negative control that was fed on standard diet [commercial diet] for 11 days. Group B was fed for 11 days on standard diet containing 0.34g acrylamide / kg diet as a positive control. Group C received standard diet with turmeric [0.5%] and same concentration 0.34g acrylamide/ kg diet for 11 days as a protective group. Results revealed that kidney, brain and lung tissues were disturbed when rats were fed on acrylamide diet. Turmeric had ameliorated the antioxidant status in these organs. It is concluded that turmeric as a natural antioxidant has protected from acrylamide toxicity