Determination of cyanide in whole seeds and brans of linseed (Linum usitatissimum Linn) by molecular spectrophotometry

Abstract The addition of linseed (Linum usitatissimum Linn) in the diet, as a functional food, has increased over the years. However, it possesses cyanogenic glycosides. This study aimed to quantify and compare cyanide concentration in whole seed and bran of brown and golden types to establish a safe limit of intake. Three commercial labels, from brown and golden whole seed types (Ab, Ag, Bb, Bg, Cb and Cg), and six commercial labels of brown and golden bran (1b, 2g, 3g, 4b, 5g, and 6b), were selected, totalizing twelve samples. Total cyanide concentration was quantified by a colorimetric method employing alkaline picrate, after acid hydrolysis. The whole seed cyanide values were between 348.4 and 473.20 µg/g and the bran cyanide values were between 459.53 and 639.35 µg/g. The analyzed bran presented increased cyanide concentrations than the whole seeds with no differences between brown and golden types. Food able to produce cyanide less than 90 µg/kg body weight, daily, is considered secure for consumption. Considering this limit and analyzed samples, it is safe to eat approximately two tablespoons of seeds or one tablespoon of bran. These results point out the importance of cyanide amount daily intake information to be in linseed packaging, to ensure secure consumption

Simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and cyanide present in coke-oven effluent using immobilized Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas stutzeri

ABSTRACT Discharge of coke-oven wastewater to the environment may cause severe contamination to it and also threaten the flora and fauna, including human beings. Hence before dumping it is necessary to treat this dangerous effluent in order to minimize the damage to the environment. Conventional technologies have inherent drawbacks however, biological treatment is an advantageous alternative method. In the present study, bacteria were isolated from the soil collected from the sites contaminated by coke-oven effluent rich in phenol and cyanide. Nucleotides sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed the identity of the selected phenol and cyanide degrading isolates NAUN-16 and NAUN-1B as Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas stutzeri, respectively. These two isolates tolerated phenol up to 1800 mg L-1 and cyanide up to 340 mg L-1 concentrations. The isolates were immobilized on activated charcoal, saw dust and fly ash. The effluent was passed through the column packed with immobilized cells with a flow rate of 5 mL min-1. The isolates showed degradation of phenol up to 80.5% and cyanide up to 80.6% and also had the ability to reduce biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and lower the pH of effluent from alkaline to near neutral. The study suggests the utilization of such potential bacterial strains in treating industrial effluent containing phenol and cyanide, before being thrown in any ecosystem.

Farinha da casca do fruto de Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg (maracujá-amarelo): do potencial terapêutico aos efeitos adversos / Peel flour of the Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg (yellow passion fruit): From therapeutic potentials to side effects.

RESUMO O maracujá-amarelo (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg) é considerado um alimento funcional, visto que, além de funções nutricionais, desempenha ações em vias metabólicas específicas. A farinha da casca do maracujá-amarelo (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg) é rica em pectina. Esta fibra reduz a absorção de glicídios e lipídios, influenciando no metabolismo destes nutrientes. Portadores de patologias associadas às alterações no metabolismo glicêmico e lipidêmico têm utilizado este recurso de forma indiscriminada. Porém, substâncias designadas glicosídeos cianogênicos, presentes na casca do fruto são tóxicas ao organismo e prejudiciais à saúde. Ademais, o uso exacerbado de agrotóxicos na produção do maracujá é preocupante e a ingestão destes compostos também pode acarretar complicações à saúde. Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi sintetizar o conhecimento disponível referente aos efeitos terapêuticos e colaterais da suplementação com a farinha da casca do maracujá-amarelo (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg). Foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados indexadas SCIELO, LILACS e PUBMED, sem limitação quanto ao período de publicação. Os estudos inclusos no trabalho, de forma unânime, apresentam eficácia da suplementação com a farinha da casca do maracujá-amarelo. A trituração da casca do fruto, realizada no processo de obtenção da farinha, é incapaz de promover redução de glicosídeos cianogênicos e agrotóxicos, permitindo que os indivíduos submetidos à suplementação estejam susceptíveis aos efeitos tóxicos destes compostos. Dessa forma, o desenvolvimento de estudos que avaliem a toxicidade da suplementação por períodos crônicos é de suma importância. Referente ao uso de agrotóxicos, a produção da farinha com frutos orgânicos pode ser uma alternativa para atenuar a toxicidade, sendo necessária a elucidação desta hipótese através de estudos.

ABSTRACT The yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg) is considered a functional food, because, in addition to nutritional functions, it performs actions in specific metabolic pathways. The yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg) is rich in pectin. This fiber reduces the absorption of carbohydrates and lipids, influencing the metabolism of these nutrients. Individuals affected by pathologies associated with alterations in the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates have used this resource indiscriminately, however, substances called cyanogenic glycosides, present in the fruit peel, are toxic to the body and harmful to health. In addition, the overuse of pesticides in passion fruit production is becoming worrisome and the ingestion of these compounds can also cause negative health implications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize the available knowledge regarding the therapeutic effects and side effects of supplementation with the yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg). A literature review was conducted from the indexed databases SCIELO, LILACS and PUBMED, without limitation to the publication period. The studies included in the work, unanimously, have effectiveness of supplementation with yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg). The crushing of the fruit peel, performed in the process of obtaining flour, is unable to promote a reduction of cyanogenic glycosides and pesticides, causing individuals undergoing supplementation to be susceptible to the toxic effects of these compounds. Thus, this study’s development to evaluate the toxicity of supplementation for chronic periods is very important. With reference to the use of pesticides, flour production with organic fruits can be an alternative to attenuate toxicity and it is necessary to elucidate this hypothesis through this study.

Nutrient enrichment of cassava peels using a mixed culture of Saccharomyces cerevisae and Lactobacillus spp solid media fermentation techniques

Cassava pulp was fermented with pure strains of Saccharomyces cerevisae and two bacteria namely Lactobacillus delbruckii and Lactobacillus coryneformis for 3 days. The squeezed liquid from the fermented pulp was used to ferment cassava peels for 7 days. Analysis of the dried fermented peels revealed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the protein content of the cassava peels fermented with squeezed liquid from the inoculated cassava pulp (21.5%) when compared with the unfermented cassava peel (8.2%). Moreover, the treatment equally brought about a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the cyanide (6.2 mg/kg) and phytate content (789.7 mg/100g) when compared with the unfermented cassava peels, which had 44.6 mg/kg cyanide and 1043.6 mg/100g phytate. The fermented cassava peels could be a good protein source in livestock feeds.

Evaluating the seasonal changes of some water quality parameters of the Buyuk Melen River Basin (Duzce, Turkey).

In this study, some heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Zn, Fe, Cr, Cu), suspended sediment, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), cyanide, phenol, fecal coliform and total coliform water parameters were determined in the streams (Kucuk Melen, Asarsuyu, Ugursuyu, Buyuk Melen and Aksu) of Buyuk Melen Watershed that provides drinking water to Istanbul in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Measurements of water quality parameters were done monthly in eleven separate stations (4 in Kucuk Melen Stream, 1 in Asarsuyu Stream, 1 in Ugur Stream, 1 in Aksu Stream and 4 in Buyuk Melen Stream) from August 2001 to August 2002. The seasonal changes in water quality parameters were evaluated statistically. The results, the parameters, COD, BOD, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cr, Cu, cyanide, fecal coliform, total coliform and suspended sediment showed significant differences among seasons and streams (ANOVA; P <0.05). According to Turkish Standarts (TS) 266, European Union (EU) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, the maximum values of each parameter in streams within the Buyuk Melen watershed are recorded and evaluated in this study.

Effect of co-administration of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) rich diet and alcohol in rats.

The effects of co-administration of a cassava rich diet and alcohol in rats were investigated. The animals were divided into four groups (1) Control, (2) Alcohol, (3) Cassava and (4) Alcohol + Cassava. Consumption of alcohol along with cassava reduced the alcohol induced toxicity which was evidenced by the lower activities of GOT, GPT, GGT, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver and serum of co-administered group. The pyruvate content in the blood increased while the lactate content, lactate/pyruvate ratio and the activity of LDH decreased in the blood due to co-administration. The blood cyanide content, serum thiocyanate content and the activities of rhodanase and beta-glucuronidase increased on co-administration. The histopathological studies also revealed that co-administration reduced the alcohol induced toxicity.

Linamarin- the toxic compound of cassava

Cassava is a widely grown root crop which accumulates two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. Linamarin accounts for more than 80 per cent of the cassava cyanogenic glucosides. It is a beta-glucoside of acetone cyanohydrin and ethyl-methyl-ketone-cyanohydrin. Linamarin beta-linkage can only be broken under high pressure, high temperature and use of mineral acids, while its enzymatic break occurs easily. Linamarase, an endogenous cassava enzyme, can break this beta-linkage. The enzymatic reaction occurs under optimum conditions at 25ºC, at pH 5.5 to 6.0. Linamarin is present in all parts of the cassava plant, being more concentrated on the root and leaves. If the enzyme and substrate are joined, a good detoxification can occur. All the cassava plant species are known to contain cyanide. Toxicity caused by free cyanide (CN-) has already been reported, while toxicity caused by glucoside has not. The lethal dose of CN- is 1 mg/kg of live weight; hence, cassava root classification into toxic and non-toxic depending on the amount of cyanide in the root. Should the cyanide content be high enough to exceed such a dose, the root is regarded as toxic. Values from 15 to 400 ppm (mg CN- of fresh weight) of hydrocyanic acid in cassava roots have been mentioned in the literature. However, more frequent values in the interval 30 to 150 ppm have been observed. Processed cassava food consumed in Brazil is safe in regard to cyanide toxicity.

Screening of various legumes for their cyanide content

Various types of legumes were collected from three different places. Five legumes from Egypt [Faba bean, Mung bean, Lentils, Soybean and Peanut]. Six legumes from U. S. A. [Kidney bean, Navy bean, Soybean, Faba bean, Black eye bean and Lentils] and three legume from India [Bengo gram, Red grain and Green gram]. In these fourteen types of legume, free and bound hydrocyanide were measured by using spectroquant 14800 Kits and total hydrocyanide was calculated. The results showed that the American Soybean was contained highest amount of free HCN than all other legumes while Red gram of Indian legumes gave the lowest amount of free hydrocyanide. However Green gram of Indian legumes was contained highest amount of bound hydrocyanide, the Black eye bean was contained lowest amount of bound hydrocyanide, in case of total cyanide the soybean, and pea-nut were contained highest amount of CN[-] and also Black eye bean was contained lowest amount of CN[-]

Variación del contenido de cianuro en Prunus brachybotrya en la segunda mitad de su desarrollo / Cyanide content variation in Punus brachybotrya at ists second stage development

El aguacatillo (Prunus brachybotrya) es una planta que perteneca al género de los Prunus y familia de las rosáceas. Puede contener ácido cianhídrico en las hojas, tallo y fruto; si es consumida por el ganado es letal. Se desarrolla y fructifica en laqs faldas de los volcanes Popocatepetl e Ixtaccihuatl. En el presente tranajo se analizó in vitro el contenido de cianuro del aguacatillo en hojas, tallo y fruto por la técnica de Steyn modificada. El muestreo se realizó de marzo a julio de 1989, con intervalos de 15 días entre una muestra y otra. En las primeras tres muestras, la concentración de cianuro aumentó en laqs tres partes de la planta (hoja, fruto y tallo). En la hoja, a partir de mayo, la concentración de cianuro empezó a disminuir. En julio, la concentración de cianuro en el fruto bajó a cero; en el tallo, bajó ligeramente. Las concentraciones fueron de 1.7 porciento en la hoja y fruto; en el último, declinó hasta cero al 5to mes durante la maduración, En el tallo tierno, la concentración due fe 0.25 porciento; durante el estudio, se mantuvo en este nivel. El aguacatillo se considera más peligroso en los meses de abril a mayo, ya que durante este periodo la concentración de cianuro es mayor. Así, la intoxicación se intensifica más que en los otros meses, aunque està presente todo el año.