Sodium lactate and ascorbic acid as preservative for fish fillets

Many undesirable changes can occur in the fish fillet during storage in retail market, due to microbial growth and fish spoilage, affording to evident economic loss. The effects of L-ascorbic acid [L-AA] and sodium lactate [SL], either alone or in combination, on the microbiological and chemical quality of Boulti fillet during storage at 0°C, were investigated. The results showed that addition of L-AA [0.05%] and SL [2.0%] alone or in combination [L-AA [0.05g] in SL 2.0%] significantly delayed the proliferation of aerobic plate counts, psychrotrophic counts and Pseudomonas bacteria extending, the product shelf life up to l2days, versus 6 days for control during the storage, the pH increase slowed down when the fish samples subjected to the treatment with preservative agents. The effect of lowering the pH was particularly pronounced when a combination of L-AA and SL used. L-AA alone or in combination with SL can successfully reduce the microbial growth, extending the shelf life of fillet during storage at 0°C

Determination of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel concentrations in some beef offal

In this study, beef offal [liver, heart, tongue, pancreas and kidney] samples collected from different markets in Alexandria city in the period from March to April 2007 were analyzed for aluminum [Al]. cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], lead [Pb], and nickel [Ni]. Organs were found to vary in their metal contents. The highest concentrations of metals were as following, Ni [0.079 ppm] in the heart, Cd [0.41 ppm] and Pb [0.2 ppm] in the kidney, Al [2.252 ppm] in the tongue and Cr [0.154 ppm] in the pancreas. Significant correlations were found among the metals, as between Cr and Pb, between Cd and Ni in liver at [P

Teratogenic effects of thiabendazole on chicken embryos

The teratogenic effects of Thiabendazole fungicide were studying in chicken embryos, using five different concentrations, including the recommended field rate. Embryonated eggs were treated by immersion in aqueous dilutions of fungicide on the 6th day of incubation. Survival embryos were subjected to morphological, visceral, and skeletal examinations. Delayed ossification and extra-rib were observed as skeletal anomalies. Alkaline phosphatase activities of several tissues, i.e. the thigh bones, cervical and thigh muscles showed an inhibition correlated with fungicide concentrations

Selenium administration improves lipid profiles and hemodynamic parameters in immobilized rats

Immobilization stress is thought to increase pro-oxidants that may contribute to the development of lipid peroxidation, atherosclerosis and hypertension. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of oral administration of selenium [Se] on fasting serum lipids [triglycerides; TG, total cholesterol; TC, low-density lipoproteins; LDL, and Highdensity lipoproteins; HDL] and some hemodynamic [systolic blood pressure; SBP and vascular reactivity of aortic strips to norepinephrine; VRNE] and blood parameters [serum sodium; Na [+] and potassium; K [+]] in rats exposed to immobilization stress. Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study and divided into 5 equal groups [n = 8]; Normal nontreated group [NNT] served as control and given daily distilled water orally for 3 weeks [wks]; Normal Se-treated group [NST] given distilled water for 1 wk, then oral sodium selenite [Se; 1.5 mg/kg] daily for another 2 wks; Immobilized non-treated group [INT] given distilled water for 3 wks, and concomitantly immobilized [6 hs/d for 1 wk] during wk 2; Immobilized Se pre- and concomitant-treated group [ISPC] given Se for 2 wks and concomitantly immobilized during wk 2, then given daily distilled water during wk 3; Immobilized Se concomitant- and post-treated group [ISCP] daily given distilled water for 1 wk, then Se during the last 2 wks with concomitant immobilization during wk 2. INT group showed significant increase of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na [+] levels, but significant decrease of HDL and K [+] levels when compared to the corresponding parameters in NNT group. Se supplementation to normal rats did not change significantly any of the tested parameters. On the other hand, ISPC rats revealed significant lower levels of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na[+], but significant higher levels of HDL and K[+] when compared to the corresponding parameters in INT group. Moreover, ISCP rats revealed significant lower levels of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na[+], but significant higher levels of HDL and K[+] when compared to the corresponding parameters in INT and ISPC groups. From this study, it is concluded that selenium administration in cases of immobilization stress can improve the accompanied state of hyperlipidemia and hypertension specially if supplemented concomitantly and after the immobilization period

Level of aflatoxin residues in mugil cephalus and tilapia nilotica fishes from streams and aquaculture in Alexandria

Sixty random samples of Bori [Mugil cephalus] and boulti [Tilapia nilotica] were collected from four aquacultures and streams around Alexandria governorate for detection of aflatoxins residues in their edible parts. Cultured M. cephnlus showed high level of total aflatoxins [27.61, 13.49micro g/kg] than cultured T. nilotica [7.12 micro g/kg] or naturally live T nilotica in water stream [1.81 micro g/kg]. Aflatoxin B[1] was the predominant toxin among others [B2, G 1, and G2] in both species. Generally, aflatoxins residues were higher in cultured M. cephalus and its concentration in one farm reach to above the maximum allowable limits. Efforts should be directed towards decreasing the level of aflatoxins in fish feeds to avoid the hazard effect of aflatoxins on human health