Assessment of the use of Nigella sativa L seeds and seed oil on hypolipidemia, and other parameters in guinea pigs

Effects of Nigella sativa L. seeds and seed oil on gain in body weight, organs per body weight ratio, serum total lipid and total protein, the activities of serum transaminases [GOT and GPT], serum uric acid and urea were studied in six experiments using male guinea pigs fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol, 0.2% choline chloride and 10% corn oil. Feeding diets had a significant effect on serum total protein, albumin and globulin, while had no significant effect on the activities of serum transaminases [GOT and GPT], serum uric acid and urea of guinea pigs. Histopathological examination of the liver sections showed various stages of hepatoma including vacuolation, degeneration and diffuse areas of necrosis

stability of aflatoxins under various pressures, heat treatment and time of exposure

The relationship between heat treatment under various pressures and time of exposure on aflatoxins destruction was investigated. The toxins were produced by Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from wheat, corn, and rice on [YES] medium. The results revealed that, heat treatment under pressure reduced the level of AFB[1], whereas induce complete destruction in the level of AFB[2] during the applied time under investigations The effect of pressure cooking with excess water on the deterioration of aflatoxins in different substrates [such as broad beans, cow peas, macaroni, rice and wheat] was also studied. The results indicated that there is no complete destruction of aflatoxins, and in- turn did not eliminate the hazards of aflatoxins produced by A. parasitic us NRRL 2999on the substrates. The destruction of aflatoxins depended on its type and the substrates

Effect of gamma irradiation on aflatoxin production by aspergillus parasiticus

Exposure of aflatoxins produced by A. parasiticus grown on sterile raw peanuts to specific gamma irradiation doses induced reduction in aflatoxins with increasing gamma irradiation dose than did aflatoxin from non-irradiated sterile raw peanuts [control]. The reduction of aflatoxins ranged from 9.3 to 29.7%, 13.9 to 37.3%, 0.96 to 16.8% and 0.72 to 60.3% for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, when the culture was irradiated at 0.5 to KGY, respectively. On the other hand, non- sterile raw peanuts that was inoculated with conidia of the fungus and then incubated for 2 weeks at 30C following irradiation resulted in reduction in aflatoxins ranged from 18.2 to 89%, 26 to 96%, 35.4 to 85.2% and 17.3 to 76.4% for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, respectively. Irradiated raw peanuts culture following inoculation with conidia of the fungus and then incubated for 2 weeks at 30C resulted in reduction of toxin [s] production ranged from 4.9 to 28.4%, 16.8 to 54.7%, 1.71 to 18.6% and from 9.13 to 30.4% in AFB1 AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 when cultures irradiated at 0.5 to 5 KGY, respectively. Inoculation of either sterile or non-sterile raw peanuts cultures following irradiation resulted in completely degradation of aflatoxin [s] at higher doses between 2.5 to 5 KGy for sterile substrates and at 2.5 to 4 KGy for non-sterile raw peanuts