Anti-mycotoxigenic and antifungal activity of ginger, turmeric, thyme and rosemary essential oils in deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) producing Fusarium graminearum.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimycotoxigenic effect of essential oils (EOs) obtained from four different aromatic plants on the production of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) by Fusarium graminearum. The EOs from ginger (GEO), turmeric (TEO), thyme (ThEO) and rosemary (REO) were obtained by hydrodistillation and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds found were mostly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) were 11.25, 364, 366 and 11,580 µg mL-1 for ThEO, GEO, REO and TEO, respectively. The results evidenced that the assessed EOs inhibited DON and partially ZEA production by F. graminearum. ThEO and GEO were the EOs with most potent antimycotoxigenic action for DON and ZEA, respectively. These EOs have shown promising results in vitro regarding inhibition of mycotoxin production and might be used in the future as substitutes for synthetic fungicides.

Metals in Brazilian family farming grapes and estimated daily intake.

The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of metals in peel, pulp, and seeds of grapes obtained from family farms in Brazil, compare them to the maximum threshold levels and to evaluate the risk by estimating the daily intake (EDI). Grape samples were collected from farms and levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were assessed via ICP-MS. The highest metal levels were found in grape peels, Cu at the highest concentration (107.6 mg kg-1). Cr, Cu, and Pb were found at concentrations which exceeded maximum threshold levels. The EDI of Cd, Cu and Pb through consumption of grapes for the assessed Brazilian population was 0.29, 1822 and 3.02 µg/kg bw/day, respectively. The EDI of Cu was above the Provisionary Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI). Thus, there are possible health risks due to the occurrence of Cu in Brazilian grapes.

Elemental plasma content and urinary excretion in vineyard farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides in southern Brazil.

This is a cross-sectional study with data and biological material collection from vineyard farmers in southern Brazil. An interview was carried out through a questionnaire developed according to the reference guide of the state government. Plasma and urine samples were screened for Aluminum, Chromium, Manganese, Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Cadmium, Antimony, Barium, Mercury, Lead and Uranium, with a technique for fast determination of these elemental contents in biological material utilizing dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis was used to identify associations between these elemental contents in biological samples and the information obtained from the interviews. The farmers showed some trace elements in plasma and urine at a higher concentration than unexposed populations from other studies. This study highlights recent findings of trace elements in biological material and their association with characteristics of pesticide use. In addition, it also contributes to the gap in the literature regarding trace elements content in plasma and urine of workers exposed to pesticides.