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Lo Dico GM, Galvano F, Dugo G, D'ascenzi C, Macaluso A, Vella A, Giangrosso G, Cammilleri G, Ferrantelli V. Toxic metal levels in cocoa powder and chocolate by ICP-MS method after microwave-assisted digestion. Food Chem 2017; 245:1163-1168. [PMID: 29287336 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The Commission Regulation (EC) Regulation N. 488/2014, established the concentration limits for cadmium in specific products based on cocoa and chocolate products as from January 2019. Based on this information there is a need to determine ultratrace levels of elements that might be presents in cocoa and chocolate products. In this work, the concentrations of Arsenic, Antimony, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Selenium and Vanadium were evaluated in cocoa powder and chocolate by the validation of an ICP-MS method. Good selectivity/specificity, recovery, repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility, LOD, LOQ, range of linearity, standard measurement uncertainty parameters for method validation were achieved, in accordance with Commission Regulation. The cocoa powder revealed the maximum metal concentrations of 0.303 ± 0.035 mg/kg for cadmium, 1.228 ± 0.146 mg/kg for lead and 0.094 ± 0.013 mg/kg for arsenic. A significant difference was found between cocoa powder and chocolate samples (p < .05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Maria Lo Dico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Fabio Galvano
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Università Degli Studi di Catania, Città Universitaria - Via Santa Sofia, 64, Catania, Italy
| | - Giacomo Dugo
- Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry and Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, Università Degli Studi di Messina, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Carlo D'ascenzi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, viale delle Piagge, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Vella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giangrosso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetano Cammilleri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Ferrantelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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Frazzoli C, Mazzanti F, Achu MB, Pouokam GB, Fokou E. Elements of kitchen toxicology to exploit the value of traditional (African) recipes: The case of Egusi Okra meal in the diet of HIV+/AIDS subjects. Toxicol Rep 2017; 4:474-483. [PMID: 28959677 PMCID: PMC5615167 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Egusi Okra soup is a traditional African meal that is considered of high nutritional value and protective against weight loss. We introduce the concept of "kitchen toxicology" to analyse the recipe of the Egusi Okra soup and highlight possible mitigation measures for toxic and/or antinutritional effects in the wide spectrum of health and nutritional needs of HIV+/AIDS subjects. In particular, we focus on toxicants (environmental contaminants, process contaminants, substances leaching from food contact materials) dysregulating the immune status, as well as on interactions between nutrients, contaminants, and/or antinutrients which may lead to secondary/conditioned nutritional deficiencies or imbalances; in their turn, these can modulate the ability to cope with toxicants, and increase nutritional requirements. Recommendations are given for practices preserving the Egusi Okra soup from such risk factors, identifying points of particular attention during meal preparation, from purchase of raw ingredients through to food handling, cooking, storage, and consumption. The Egusi Okra soup is discussed in the context of a diet that is asked to mitigate complications (weight loss, opportunistic infections) and support antiretroviral therapy in African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. The paper discusses how nutritional interventions benefit of the integration of kitchen toxicology practices in everyday life. Toxicological risk assessment is crucial to understand the history and status of the person exposed to or affected by infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Frazzoli
- Dept. of Cardiovascular, Dysmetabolic and Aging-Associated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network1
| | - Francesca Mazzanti
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network1
| | - Mercy Bih Achu
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network1
- Laboratoire des Sciences Alimentaires et Métabolisme, Département de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Guy Bertrand Pouokam
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network1
- Laboratory of Food Safety, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Elie Fokou
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network1
- Laboratoire des Sciences Alimentaires et Métabolisme, Département de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Bondarenko OM, Ivask A, Kahru A, Vija H, Titma T, Visnapuu M, Joost U, Pudova K, Adamberg S, Visnapuu T, Alamäe T. Bacterial polysaccharide levan as stabilizing, non-toxic and functional coating material for microelement-nanoparticles. Carbohydr Polym 2015; 136:710-20. [PMID: 26572404 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.09.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Levan, fructose-composed biopolymer of bacterial origin, has potential in biotechnology due to its prebiotic and immunostimulatory properties. In this study levan synthesized by levansucrase from Pseudomonas syringae was thoroughly characterized and used as multifunctional biocompatible coating material for microelement-nanoparticles (NPs) of selenium, iron and cobalt. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), hydrodynamic size measurements (DLS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed the interaction of levan with NPs. Levan stabilized the dispersions of NPs, decreased their toxicity and had protective effect on human intestinal cells Caco-2. In addition, levan attached to cobalt NPs remained accessible as a substrate for the colon bacteria Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. We suggest that the combination of levan and nutritionally important microelements in the form of NPs serves as a first step towards a novel "2 in 1" approach for food supplements to provide safe and efficient delivery of microelements for humans and support beneficial gut microbiota with nutritional oligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesja M Bondarenko
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Angela Ivask
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Anne Kahru
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Heiki Vija
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Tiina Titma
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Meeri Visnapuu
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia; Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Urmas Joost
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Ksenia Pudova
- Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; Competence Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies, Akadeemia tee 15A, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Signe Adamberg
- Competence Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies, Akadeemia tee 15A, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Triinu Visnapuu
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Tiina Alamäe
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia.
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Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urological diseases in aging men. Because of its long latency, BPH is a good target for prevention. The aim of the study has been to review the various options of treatment, currently available, in the field of phytotherapy. Watchful waiting, pharmacological therapy, and surgery are also helpful, depending on the severity of the disease. Although drug therapy (alpha1-blockers, 5alpha-reductase inhibitors) and surgery (prostatectomy, transurethral resection, etc.) seem to be most effective for patients with moderate-severe BPH, herbal medicines (i.e., Serenoa repens, Pygeum africanum, Urtica dioica) are also commonly used in patients with mild-moderate symptoms. On the basis of preclinical studies several mechanisms of action have been postulated, including 5alpha-reductase inhibition, alpha-adrenergic antagonism, dihydrotestosterone and estrogen receptor inhibition. Randomized clinical trials indicate significant efficacy in improving urinary symptoms and mild adverse effects for some phytotherapeutic agents, while further clinical evidence is needed for others (e.g., Epilobium spp., Secale cereale, Roystonea regia). Healthcare professionals should be constantly informed about BPH phytotherapy, taking into account the risk/benefit profile of the use of medicinal plants in the management of BPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olta Allkanjari
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Vitalone
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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