Microbial profile of weaning foods, infant milk and drinking water in infant feeding bottles at pediatric hospital and nursery in Cairo

The microbiological profile of 280 weaning food, infant milk and drinking water samples in infant feeding bottles, belonging to infants up to 18 months approximately, brought to either the outpatient clinic of Abo El-Reash pediatrics hospital of Cairo University or a private nursery located in Cairo was assessed by collecting feeding samples prepared at home following interview with some mothers as much as possible. Bacterial contamination was found in all of 280 samples of weaning food, infant milk and drinking water with higher load in the samples collected from the pediatrics hospital more than those collected from the private nursery. Mean microbial counts of aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and yeast and mould in this study were similar to those reported in weaning food, infant milk and drinking water in other developing countries, and were over internationally recommended safe levels. Most of the samples had microbial load greater than the Egyptian government limited number. The incidence percentages of microbial counts were higher in the samples belonging to low income families more than those of moderate or high income families. Many factors like unsafe water, mishandling of feed or bottle, storage of food at ambient temperature for a long time, poor personal hygiene and domestic sanitation may have contributed for the gross contamination of the samples in this study, especially by enteropathogens. This calls for educating the human society on the relationship between contamination of weaning food, infant milk and drinking water and diarrhoeal diseases. The government and nongovernment organizations should play a role seriously to treatment the problem of children food contamination in view of the fact that WHO offers technical assistance in this field to any member government

Chemical and microbiological evaluation of camel milk in Egypt

Studies on camel milk concentration of chemical and trace elements or its microbiological view are limited especially here in Egypt, and warrants further investigation. Camel milk is gaining more popularity. Most camel milk is consumed fresh. To determine chemical and mineral composition; and microbiological quality of Egyptian camel milk, as well aflatoxin M[1] detection. One hundred and eight camel milk samples were obtained at random from camels all over the country. Protein, fat, carbohydrates, moisture, ash and lactose were determined. Minerals as calcium [Ca], iron [Fe], Zinc [Zn], sodium [Na], potassium [K], magnesium [Mg], copper [Cu], phosphorous [P] and manganese [Mn] were measured in the ash. Twenty-one samples of camel milk were investigated for their microbiological quality. Also 21 samples from lactating mothers were collected for their microbiological assay. Proximate analyses indicated that Egyptian camel milk contain 4.26% fat, 3.27% protein, 4.31% lactose, 12.95% total solids, 0.75% ash, and 87.05% water. Lactose is the main component of Egyptian camel milk. It comprises 92.37% of the carbohydrate. Proximate analyses indicated that mineral composition [mg/100 gm] of Egyptian camel milk was: 111.36 Ca; 81.17 P; 0.23 Fe; 0.51 Zn; 57.84 Na; 156.2 K; 6.70 Mg; 0.061; Cu; and 0.0127 Mn. Human milk was free from any microbes while some camel milk are contaminated and had bacterial load above the permitted level. Both human and camel milk are free of Aflatoxin M[1]. The major components of mature camel milk differs from those reported previously for camels' milk. Protein, ash [mineral] contents of camel milk are higher than human beings; energy yield and fat, moisture, and total solids are similar to human milk. Camel milk is low in carbohydrates or lactose content relevant to human milk. Mineral content of camel milk agree with some reports and disagree with others on comparing with other camels' milk. Mineral content of camel milk are higher than that of human milk. The increase range from approximately 2 folds for Mg or Cu to approximately 18 folds for Mn. On the other hand, disregard of sanitary practices will result in heavily contaminated milk that spoils rapidly. However, milking performed under hygienic conditions with strict attention to sanitary practices will result in a product with low bacterial load and good keeping quality. Camel milk could be used as supplements in infant feeding but can not replace mothers milk

Effect of cynara scolymus L. [Artichoke] and its extract on liver cirrhosis of male rats

Cynara scolynius L. [Artichoke] grows in Egypt and other countries. Its green leaves and head are edible parts and used as foods due to their high nutritive value and medical properties. To study the effect of Cynara scolymus L. [balady artichoke] and its extract on liver cirrhosis of male rats. Sixty-four male albino rats, Sprague Dawley strain, weighing [200 +/- 10g] were housed in well-aerated wire cages. Induction of cirrhosis was carried out on rats except negative control group by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride [CCI[4]] that is diluted by paraffin oil [1:1] in a dose of 2ml/kg of body weight of rat twice in the week during the experimental feeding period. The rats [64] were divided into 8 groups [8 rats each], the first 1[st] and 2[nd] groups as control positive and negative groups [each 8 rats], the second main group [48 rat] was divided into six subgroups as follow: the 1[st] and 2[nd] subgroup fed on basal diet supplemented with powdered artichoke leaves in a dose of 15% and 30% respectively; the 3[rd] and 4[th] subgroups fed on basal diet supplemented with powdered artichoke heads in a dose of 15% and 30% respectively; the 5[th] and 6[th] subgroups fed on basal diet supplemented with artichoke extract in a dose of 3% and 6% respectively. At the end of the experimental period [two months] rats were fasted over night before sacrificing, blood was collected, centrifuged; serum was stored at-20°C until analysis. Total protein, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], Creatinine, urea and uric acid were estimated in serum. The results revealed that induction of cirrhosis results in significant decrease in serum level of total protein and a significant increase in AST. ALT, urea, creatinine and uric acid. The inclusion of leaves, heads and extracts of artichoke in the diet of cirrhotic rats lead to significant decrease of the significant increased level of AST, ALT, urea. creatinine, sometimes it might reached the normal level but for uric acid it has no decreasing effect on it, it continue to rise [>3 times]. For protein it increased the already decreased level. Carbon tetrachloride has direct toxic effect, which is clear by the presence of severe biochemical abnormalities in liver and kidney function. The natural antioxidant from artichoke improves these abnormalities