Rafaat M. Elsanhoty

Impact of dietary oils and fats on lipid peroxidation in liver and blood of albino rats

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of different dietary fat and oils (differing in their degree of saturation and unsaturation) on lipid peroxidation in liver and blood of rats. METHODS The study was conducted on 50 albino rats that were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 animals. The groups were fed on dietary butter (Group I), margarine (Group II), olive oil (Group III), sunflower oil (Group IV) and corn oil (Group V) for 7 weeks. After 12 h of diet removal, livers were excised and blood was collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the supernatant of liver homogenate and in blood. Blood superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), serum vitamin E and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were also measured to determine the effects of fats and oils on lipid peroxidation. RESULTS The results indicated that no significant differences were observed in SOD activity, vitamin E and TAC levels between the five groups. However, there was significant decrease of GPx activity in groups IV and V when compared with other groups. The results indicated that feeding corn oil caused significant increases in liver and blood MDA levels as compared with other oils and fats. There were positive correlations between SOD and GPx, vitamin E and TAC as well as between GPx and TAC (r: 0.743; P<0.001) and between blood MDA and liver MDA (r: 0.897; P<0.001). The results showed also negative correlations between blood MDA on one hand and SOD, GPx, vitamin E and TAC on the other hand. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated that feeding oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increases lipid peroxidation significantly and may raise the susceptibility of tissues to free radical oxidative damage.

DNA extraction methods for detecting genetically modified foods: A comparative study

The work presented in this manuscript was achieved to compare six different methods for extracting DNA from raw maize and its derived products. The methods that gave higher yield and quality of DNA were chosen to detect the genetic modification in the samples collected from the Egyptian market. The different methods used were evaluated for extracting DNA from maize kernels (without treatment), maize flour (mechanical treatment), canned maize (sweet corn), frozen maize (sweet corn), maize starch, extruded maize, popcorn, corn flacks, maize snacks, and bread made from corn flour (mechanical and thermal treatments). The quality and quantity of the DNA extracted from the standards, containing known percentages of GMO material and from the different food products were evaluated. For qualitative detection of the GMO varieties in foods, the GMOScreen 35S/NOS test kit was used, to screen the genetic modification in the samples. The positive samples for the 35S promoter and/or the NOS terminator were identified by the standard methods adopted by EU. All of the used methods extracted yielded good DNA quality. However, we noted that the purest DNA extract were obtained using the DNA extraction kit (Roche) and this generally was the best method for extracting DNA from most of the maize-derived foods. We have noted that the yield of DNA extracted from maize-derived foods was generally lower in the processed products. The results indicated that 17 samples were positive for the presence of 35S promoter, while 34% from the samples were positive for the genetically modified maize line Bt-176.

The effect of germination on the phytase activity, phytate and total phosphorus contents of some Nigerian‐grown grain legumes

BACKGROUND Grain legumes are under-exploited as possible sources of phytase for the poultry industry. The current study was conducted to assess the effect of germination on phytase activities, phytate and total phosphorus content in samples of Nigerian-grown grain legumes. The legumes screened were African yambean (AYB, Sphenostylis stenocarpa), lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea). RESULTS Phytase activity was low in AYB, lima bean and pigeon pea but high in cowpea and groundnut. Phytate content ranged between 3.01 g kg(-1) and 8.95 g kg(-1) while total phosphorus content ranged between 2.63 g kg(-1) and 5.93 g kg(-1). The grain legumes with higher phytase activity recorded the lowest phytate and phosphorus content. During germination there was an initial 4-fold to 35-fold increase in phytase activity after 6-7 days of germination followed by a decrease until 10 days (P < 0.05). The increase in phytase activity during germination was accompanied by a significant reduction in phytate (P < 0.05) and a small but significant increase in total phosphorus. CONCLUSION The increase in phytase activity and the accompanying decrease in phytate content could have a positive implication for the nutrition of poultry and ruminants and for the environment.

Lipids of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil

The genus Celastrus consists of about 100 species of shrubs, distributed over tropical Asia, China, Japan, Australia, and North America. Four species are confined to India, of which Celastrus paniculatus Willd. belongs to the family Celastraceae. Celastrus paniculatus, a plant known for centuries as the ‘‘Elixir of life’’, is a large woody, climbing shrub, height up to 10– 18 m, and is common all over the hilly parts of India. The fruits are yellow when matured, and the seeds are reddish brown, covered with a scarlet aril 1, 2 . The plant exhibits therapeutic values and is used as a treatment for cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, insomnia, rheumatism, gout, and dyspepsia 1–3 . According to Ayurveda, C. paniculatus may be employed as a stimulant, nerve tonic, rejuvenant, sedative, and diuretic 4 . The petroleum ether extract of seeds yields a dark brown oil known as Celastrus oil or Malkanguni oil. Early reports on the seed oil using paper chromatography stated that the oil contains mainly palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids 5 . The oil acts as a powerful stimulant used in the treatment of scabies, body and rheumatic pains, wound eczema, and beriberi 6 . Celastrus paniculatus seed oil has been reported to exert pharmacological actions such as analgesic 7 , antimalarial 8 and antispermatogenic 9 . Recently, C. paniculatus oil exhibited anxiolytic activity, and the oil was found to be safe 10 . Studies on C. paniculatus seed oil for its major and minor constituents are lacking. In this work, lipid classes, fatty acids, and fat-soluble bioactive components of C. paniculatus seed oil have been analyzed. In the present investigation C. paniculatus seeds were found to contain about 46% crude oil. The proportion of lipid classes and subclasses presented in C. paniculatus seed oil as well as Rf values of these subclasses are shown in Table 1. Among the TL present in the seeds, the level of NL was the highest (ca. 99% of TL), followed by GL (0.55% of TL) and PL (0.34% of TL). Subclasses of NL in the crude oil contain triacylglycerol (TAG), free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerol (DAG), esterified sterols (STE), and monoacylglycerol (MAG) in decreasing order. Significant amounts of TAG were found (ca. 97.1% of total NL), followed by FFA (ca. 1.08% of total NL), while DAG and STE were recovered in lower quantities. SG, ESG, and CER were the prevalent components of the total GL. Phosphorimetry of the TLC fractions (Table 1) revealed that the predominant PL subclasses were PC followed by PE, PI, and PS. About half of the total PL was in PC, and a quarter was in PE, while PI and PS were isolated in lower quantities.

Application of lactic acid bacteria in removing heavy metals and aflatoxin B1 from contaminated water

In this study selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantrium and Streptococcus thermophiles) and probiotic bacteria (Bifidobacterium angulatum) were tested for their ability in removing heavy metals (HM) including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) as well as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from contaminated water. The biosorption parameters (pH, bacterial concentration, contact time and temperature) of removal using individual as well as mixed LAB and probiotic bacteria were studied. Removal of HM and AFB1 depended on the strain, wherein the process was strongly pH-dependent with high removal ability at a pH close to neutral. The increase in bacterial concentration enhanced the removal of Cd, Pb and As. Also, increasing of contact time and temperature increased the ability of LAB to remove HM. The effect of contact time on Cd removal was slightly different when freshly cultured cells were used. The removal of Cd, Pb and As decreased with the increase in the initial metal concentration. The most effective HM removers were Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium angulatum. The system was found to be adequate for concentrations of HM under investigation. At the end of the operation, the concentration of HM reached the level allowed by the World Health Organization regulations.

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of probiotic yogurt enriched with barley β-glucan in rats fed on a high-cholesterol diet

BACKGROUND: Barley, which is rich in -glucans, is known to exhibit hypocholesterolemic effect. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of yogurt containing barley -glucan (BBG) and probiotic bacteria in rats fed on a cholesterol-enriched diet. METHODS: The methodology was based on adding of 0.75% BBG to skim milk (SM) powder. Four treatments of yogurt were formulated, wherein the first treatment was produced from SM without the addition of BBG and fermented by yogurts starter (YS). The second treatment was produced from SM with the addition of 0.75% BBG, and fermented by YS. The third treatment was produced from SM without the addition of 0.75% BBG, and fermented by Bifidobacterium lactis plus Lactobacillus acidophilus. The fourth treatment was produced from SM with addition of 0.75% BBG, and fermented by Bifidobacterium lactis plus Lactobacillus acidophilus. All formulations were evaluated for their effect on plasma lipids, liver lipids, lipid peroxidation, and the fecal excretion of bile acids in rats. RESULTS: The results indicated that yogurt containing probiotic bacteria and BBG was more effective in lowering of plasma and liver cholesterol levels than other treatments. The fecal excretions of bile acids and lipid peroxidation were markedly promoted in yogurt formulated with BBG and probiotic bacteria compared with the positive control group. The results showed an inverse relationship between the fecal excretions of bile acids and the levels of total cholesterol in the plasma from rats fed on a high-cholesterol diet. ∗Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Agricultural Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt. Tel.: +2 055 2320282/055 2313940; Fax: +2 055 2287567/055 2345452; E-mail: hassanienmohamed@yahoo.com. ISSN 1973-798X/17/

Chapter 41 – Usage of Genetically Modified Foods: The Extent of Genetically Modified Rice, Maize, and Soy Consumption in Saudi Arabia

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Composition and rheological properties of flour and dough from genetically modified wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Hi-Line 111

Developments in genetic engineering technology have led to an increase in number of food products that contain genetically engineered crops in the global market. However, due to lack of scientific studies, the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the Saudi Arabian food market is currently ambiguous. Two hundred samples were collected from Al-Qassum, Riyadh, and Mahdina in 2009 and 2010 to detect genetically modified foods in samples from Saudi Arabian market. CMOScreen 35S and NOS test kits were used to detect GMOs in the samples. Qualitative and quantitative DNA-based methods were applied. The positive results obtained from GMOScreen 35S and NOS were identified using specific primers. All rice samples gave negative results for the presence of 35S and NOS terminator. About 26% of samples containing soybean were positive for 35S and NOS terminator and 44% of samples containing maize were positive for the presence of 35S and or NOS terminator. About 20% of samples were positive for maize Bt176, 8.8% positive for maize line Bt11, 8.8% positive for maize line T25, 5.9% positive for maize line Mon810, and 5.9% positive for StarLink maize. Twelve samples containing GM soy were shown to contain 10% of GM soy. Four samples containing GM maize were shown to contain >5% of GM maize Mon810. Four samples containing GM maize were shown to contain >1% of StarLink maize. Establishing strong regulations and certified laboratories to monitor GM foods or crops in the Saudi market is recommended.

Detoxification of aflatoxin M1 in yoghurt using probiotics and lactic acid bacteria

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the composition, nutritional, physical and rheological properties of wheat flour and dough from genetically modified wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Hi-Line 111 (GMW) compared to conventional wheat (non-GMW). Analyses were conducted to measure the proximate chemical composition with references to 18 components including total solid, protein, lipids, crude fiber, ash, carbohydrate, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. In addition, physical and rheological properties such as water absorption, arrival time, dough development time, stability value, dough weakening value, extensibility of dough, resistance to extension, and ratio of resistance/extensibility were evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant differences between GMW and non-GMW in terms of chemical composition. Results revealed the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids wherein there were no significant differences between GMW and its counterpart in the levels of fatty acids. In addition, there were no significant differences on the levels of amino acids. In addition, there were no significant differences between the GMW and non-GMW in the physical and rheological properties. From these results, it can be concluded that GMW Hi-Line 111 is confirmed to have nearly the composition and rheological properties as non-GMW.