Aflatoxins and food pathogens: impact of biologically active aflatoxins and their control strategies.

Globally disease outbreaks as a result of the consumption of contaminated food and feedstuffs are a regular primary problem. The foremost elements contributing to contamination are microorganisms, particularly fungi, which produce low-molecular weight secondary metabolites, with demonstrated toxic properties that are referred to as mycotoxins. Aflatoxins contaminate agricultural commodities and may cause sickness or fatality in humans and animals. Moreover, poor conditions of storage and a deficiency in regulatory measures in food quality control aggravate the main issue. For that reason, mycotoxin-related illness of nutrition represents a major health hazard for local populations. Government policies should make regulations aiming to avoid the entry of aflatoxins into food stuffs. For consumer safety, control and management strategies should be developed and implemented by regulatory authorities. There is the need for attention from farmers, scientists, government and collaborative minds throughout the country to ensure aflatoxin-free food. The present review is informative not only for health-conscious consumers, but also for relevant authorities with respect to paving the way for future research aiming to fill the existing gaps in our knowledge with regard to mycotoxins and food security. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of membrane stabilizing activity from honey. An in-vitro approach.

BACKGROUND: esent study was conducted to evaluate Manoflora (MF), Polyflora (PF), Polyflora forest (PFf), and Processed (Pro) honey varieties to compare the in-vitro anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous honey samples in dose dependent manner. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using membrane stabilization assay of RBCs at different aqueous honey concentrations. Material and method. The present investigation carried out for selected varieties of honey against erythrocytes exposed to both heat and hypotonic lyses and inhibition of membrane damage was compared to the standard drug acetylsalicylic acid. Results. Membrane damage was inhibited in both the model hemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro in a concentration dependent manner. Hypotonic solution inducing damage was inhibited by aqueous honey sample in ascending order ranged from 8.25% to 97.76% at 10 to 50 mg/ml and standard drug acetylsalicylic acid showing hemolysis protection 96.09% at 100 µg/ml concentration. In heat induced hemolysis model aqueous honey sample exhibited its protecting property during external stress condition in all samples ranged from 0.44% to 21.23% at 10 to 50 mg/ml and acetylsalicylic acid showed 39.38% at 100 µg/ml concentration. Among the variety PFf showed highest protecting nature for hypotonic solution induced lyses (97.76%) and heat induced hemolysis (21.23%) at 50 mg/ml respectively. Conclusion. With these investigations data conclude that the model exhibits marked anti-inflammatory effect. Future research is to be carried out to identify the molecules responsible in honey and its mechanism. METHODS: present study was conducted to evaluate Manoflora (MF), Polyflora (PF), Polyflora forest (PFf), and Processed (Pro) honey varieties to compare the in-vitro anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous honey samples in dose dependent manner. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using membrane stabilization assay of RBCs at different aqueous honey concentrations. Material and method. The present investigation carried out for selected varieties of honey against erythrocytes exposed to both heat and hypotonic lyses and inhibition of membrane damage was compared to the standard drug acetylsalicylic acid. RESULTS: Membrane damage was inhibited in both the model hemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro in a concentration dependent manner. Hypotonic solution inducing damage was inhibited by aqueous honey sample in ascending order ranged from 8.25% to 97.76% at 10 to 50 mg/ml and standard drug acetylsalicylic acid showing hemolysis protection 96.09% at 100 µg/ml concentration. In heat induced hemolysis model aqueous honey sample exhibited its protecting property during external stress condition in all samples ranged from 0.44% to 21.23% at 10 to 50 mg/ml and acetylsalicylic acid showed 39.38% at 100 µg/ml concentration. Among the variety PFf showed highest protecting nature for hypotonic solution induced lyses (97.76%) and heat induced hemolysis (21.23%) at 50 mg/ml respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With these investigations data conclude that the model exhibits marked anti-inflammatory effect. Future research is to be carried out to identify the molecules responsible in honey and its mechanism involved.

New-vista in finding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of crude protein extract from Sauropus androgynus leaf.

BACKGROUND: tudy describes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Sauropus androgynus leaf dialysed protein extract. Free radicals are implicated for many diseases including diabetes mellitus, arthritis, cancer, ageing etc. In the treatment of these diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained utmost importance. The main objective of the present study was to reveal the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentiality from S. androgynus leaf dialysed protein extract. METHODS: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of S. androgynus studied using different models viz. hydroxyl radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power assay, superoxide radical scavenging activity by alkaline DMSO and phosphomolybdenum antioxidant assays and in vitro antiinflammatory activity by inhibition of protein denaturation, membrane stabilisation test models carried out. RESULTS: Antioxidant activity was estimated in dose dependent manner showed hydroxyl radical (55.62%), DPPH (50%), reducing power (0.286 Abs), alkaline DMSO (72.51%) and phosphomolybdenum (0.198 Abs) activity high at 50 µg/ml concentration compared to standard curcumin (62.31%), curcumin (56.61%), tannic acid (0.54 Abs), curcumin (75.38%) and vitamin E (0.15 Abs) respectively. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity by hypotonic induced model showed maximum protection (74.17%) compared to standard Acetylsalcylic acid (86.88%) at 100 µg/ml concentration and also in protein denaturation model protected protein denaturation maximum (83.60%) compared to standard Diclofenac (86.82%) at 100 µg/ml concentration respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The antioxidant property usually studied related to the polyphenols and flavonoids present in the extract but present finding concluded that S. androgynus giving hint even potential proteins can also show responsible action effective against free radical mediated disease.