ABSTRACT
Trace metals are found naturally in soil. However, the increase in industrial and agricultural polluting activities has increased trace metal contamination and raised high concerns in the public health sector. The study was conducted on Origanum syriacum, one of the most consumed herbs in the Middle East, and was divided into three parts. (1) Pot experiment: to study the effect of Cd, Pb, or Ni levels in soil on their uptake by O. syriacum. (2) Field samples: collected from major agricultural regions in Lebanon to analyze Cd, Pb, and Ni concentrations in soil and leaves. (3) Sale outlets samples: to measure the levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in O. syriacum tissues in the market. Results showed that there was a positive correlation between levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in soil and those in O. syriacum tissues. None of the field samples contained Pb or Ni that exceeded the maximum allowable limits (MAL). Three samples collected from heavily poultry-manured soil contained Cd higher than the MAL. Samples collected from sale outlets did not exceed the MAL for Ni but two exceeded the MAL for Cd and one for Pb. Trace metal contamination is not a major concern in O. syriacum produced in Lebanon. Only one mixture sample from a sale outlet was higher in Pb than the MAL and three samples from heavily manured fields exceeded the MAL for Cd.
Subject(s)
Cadmium/pharmacokinetics , Lead/pharmacokinetics , Nickel/pharmacokinetics , Origanum/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/pharmacokinetics , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Food Contamination/analysis , Lebanon , Manure , Origanum/chemistry , Origanum/drug effects , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/drug effects , Plant Leaves/metabolismABSTRACT
This mini review targets the inclusion of recent selected citations, between the year 2006 and 2012, that implement the qRT-rtPCR technology in their experimental designs, targeting the uncovering of the mechanism of food allergy. In addition, this same technology was implemented in specific experimental designs, aiming at finding novel nutritional, herbal medicine, and tolerance interventions against food allergy. The approach of using qRT-rtPCR technology helped in studying the dynamics of transcription of cytokines and chemokines in intestinal dendritic cells of the experimental animals during the allergic reaction to food. The suppression of transcription of specific cytokines or chemokines by nutritional, herbal medicine, and tolerance interventions was instrumental in the search for finding novel remedies for this health condition, that was traditionally managed by avoidance of offending foods in the diet.
Subject(s)
Chemokines/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Food Hypersensitivity/therapy , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Animals , Chemokines/genetics , Cytokines/genetics , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Diet , Food Hypersensitivity/physiopathology , Humans , Immune Tolerance , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is to optimize quantitatively the amplification of specific sperm genes in reference genomically characterized Saanen goat and to evaluate the standardized protocols applicability on sperms of uncharacterized genome of rural goats reared under subtropical environment for inclusion in future selection programs. The optimization of the protocols in Saanen sperms included three production genes (growth hormone (GH) exons 2, 3, and 4, αS1-casein (CSN1S1), and α-lactalbumin) and two health genes (MHC class II DRB and prion (PrP)). The optimization was based on varying the primers concentrations and the inclusion of a PCR cosolvent (Triton X). The impact of the studied variables on statistically significant increase in the yield of amplicons was noticed in four out of five (80%) optimized protocols, namely in those related to GH, CSN1S1, α-lactalbumin, and PrP genes (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the yield of amplicons related to MHC class II DRB gene, regardless of the variables used (P > 0.05). The applicability of the optimized protocols of Saanen sperm genes on amplification of uncharacterized rural goat sperms revealed a 100% success in tested individuals for amplification of GH, CSN1S1, α-lactalbumin, and MHC class II DRB genes and a 75% success for the PrP gene. The significant success in applicability of the Saanen quantitatively optimized protocols to other uncharacterized genome of rural goats allows for their inclusion in future selection, targeting the sustainability of this farming system in a subtropical environment and the improvement of the farmers livelihood.
