ABSTRACT
Novel forms of fibrillated cellulose offer improved attributes for use in foods. Conventional cellulose and many of its derivatives are already widely used as food additives and are authorized as safe for use in foods in many countries. However, novel forms have not yet been thoroughly investigated using standardized testing methods. This study assesses the 90-day dietary toxicity of fibrillated cellulose, as compared to a conventional cellulose, Solka Floc. Sprague Dawley rats were fed 2 %, 3 %, or 4 % fibrillated cellulose for 90 consecutive days, and parallel Solka Floc groups were used as controls. Survival, clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmologic evaluations, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, post-mortem anatomic pathology, and histopathology were monitored and performed. No adverse observations were noted in relation to the administration of fibrillated cellulose. Under the conditions of this study and based on the toxicological endpoints evaluated, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for fibrillated cellulose was 2194.2 mg/kg/day (males) and 2666.6 mg/kg/day (females), corresponding to the highest dose tested (4 %) for male and female Sprague Dawley rats. These results demonstrate that fibrillated cellulose behaves similarly to conventional cellulose and raises no safety concerns when used as a food ingredient at these concentrations.
ABSTRACT
Lovastatin (LOV) is a drug used to treat hypercholesterolemia. Recent studies have identified its antioxidant effects and potential use in the treatment of some types of cancer. However, the low bioavailability related to its poor water solubility limits its use in solid oral dosage forms. Therefore, to improve the solubility of LOV three eutectic systems of LOV with the carboxylic acids benzoic (BEN), salicylic (SAL) and cinnamic (CIN) were obtained. Both binary phase and Tammann diagrams were constructed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data of mixtures prepared from 0.1 to 1.0 molar ratios. Binary mixtures and eutectics were prepared by liquid-assisted grinding. The eutectics were further characterized by DSC and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The LOV-BEN, LOV-SAL and LOV-CIN system formed a eutectic at an LOV mole fraction of 0.19, 0.60 and 0.14, respectively. The systems exhibited improvements in LOV solubility, becoming more soluble by five-fold in the LOV-SAL system and approximately four-fold in the other two systems. Considering that the solubility enhancements and the carboxylic acids used are generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the LOV eutectic systems are promising materials to be used in a solubility enhancement strategy for pharmaceutical product formulation.
ABSTRACT
Peanut grains are very susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus, A. nomius and A. parasiticus. The aflatoxin B1 is most frequently found in peanuts, posing a high toxicological risk due to its carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic properties. Alternative methods to fungicides can be used to protect grains. GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) substances can be an interesting option to avoid contamination, specially glycerol. In the present work, the ability of glycerol films to prevent aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus in peanuts was evaluated. Glycerol was established in two different ways: by immersion and aspersion. Aspersion was more efficient in reducing aflatoxin production (86.3%) than was the immersion process (66.9%) (P < 0.05). At the same time, a progressive reduction in A. parasiticus colony diameters was observed (from 38.6 ± 0.9 to 34.4 ± 1.7 mm) when the fungus was grown on GYEP medium supplemented with glycerol (0 to 5%). However, varying concentrations did not influence the production of spores, colonies, conidiophores or spore condition. Peanuts coated with 5% glycerol (by immersion or aspersion) had improved characteristics, with a cleaner and more shiny appearance, which can make the resulting product more acceptable to the population. In conclusion, the reduction of aflatoxin production in peanut grains with glycerol, particularly by aspersion, was satisfactory, and this GRAS substance shows promising potential to be used to prevent mycotoxin contamination in grains.(AU)
O amendoim é muito suscetível à contaminação por aflatoxinas, que são metabólitos tóxicos produzidos por Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus e A. nomius. A aflatoxina B1 é a mais frequentemente encontrada nos amendoins e apresenta risco toxicológico devido às suas propriedades carcinogênicas, teratogênicas e mutagênicas. Entre os métodos de prevenção da contaminação, o uso de substâncias GRAS (substâncias geralmente consideradas seguras) pode apresentar grande potencial de exploração, especialmente o glicerol. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada a capacidade de filmes de glicerol para o controle da produção de aflatoxinas em amendoins. O glicerol foi inoculado por imersão ou aspersão, sendo a aspersão mais eficiente na redução da produção de aflatoxina (86,3%) que a imersão (66,9%) (P < 0,05). Ao mesmo tempo, foi observada uma redução nos diâmetros das colônias de A. parasiticus (38,6 ± 0,9 para 34,4 ± 1,7 mm) quando cultivado em meio GYEP suplementado com glicerol (0 a 5%). Apesar disto, diferentes concentrações não influenciaram a produção ou morfologia dos esporos e conidióforos. Amendoins revestidos com 5% de glicerol apresentaram características interessantes, tais com: maior brilho e coloração mais intensa, o que pode tornar o produto mais atraente para o consumidor. Em conclusão, a redução da produção de aflatoxinas em amendoim pelo glicerol, principalmente por aspersão foi satisfatória. Sendo assim, esta substância apresenta um potencial promissor para utilização para a prevenção da contaminação do amendoim por aflatoxinas.(AU)
