Efficient and simultaneous removal of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, and zearalenone from vegetable oil by use of a metal-organic framework absorbent.

Vegetable oils are usually cocontaminated with different mycotoxins, including aflatoxins and zearalenone, which cause significant food safety issues. Establishment of multitarget, high-efficiency, and low-cost adsorption methods are considered to be ideal solutions for mycotoxin removal in vegetable oils. In this study, we used metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were used for the simultaneous removal of aflatoxins and zearalenone from vegetable oils. The results showed that MOF-235 simultaneously removed, within 30 min, more than 96.1% of aflatoxins and 83.3% of zearalenone from oils, and oils treated with MOF-235 exhibited di minimis cytotoxicity. Thus, synthesized MOF-235 exhibited sufficient efficacy to remove the targeted residues, as well as safety and reusability, which could be applied as a novel potential adsorbent in the removal of multiple mycotoxins from contaminated vegetable oils.

Distribution and source identification of polychlorinated naphthalenes in bees, bee pollen, and wax from China.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are highly toxic and persistent organic pollutants that can cause adverse effects in the environment and on human health. PCNs have been detected in remote areas because of their long-range transportation. Bees and bee products are commonly used as biomonitors for various pollutants in the environment. However, information on PCNs in apiaries is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrences of PCNs in bees and bee products from apiaries located in different geographical regions of China, and to identify potential pollution sources and assess exposure risks to humans. Our results showed that the average Σ75PCNs concentrations in bees, pollen, and wax were 74.1, 96.3, and 141 pg/g dry weight, respectively. The homologue and congener profiles of PCNs in bees, pollen, and wax were similar, and di- and tri-chlorinated naphthalenes (>60%) were the predominant homologues. The concentrations and distributions of PCNs in bees, pollen, and wax varied among different geographical regions, but their occurrences were correlated with PCN metallurgical sources in China. The health risks of PCNs in pollen were evaluated, and both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PCNs exposure to humans through the diet were low.

Concentration and risk assessment of PCNs in green tea in different locations in China.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) were added to the Stockholm Convention list of persistent organic pollutants in 2015. PCNs are mainly unintentionally produced during industrial processes nowadays, and can be widely found in environmental media and foodstuffs. Dietary intake is the primary pathway for human exposure to PCNs. PCNs in different categories of foodstuffs have been reported. However, little information on PCN concentrations in green tea, a popular beverage worldwide is available. In this study, all 75 PCN congener concentrations and distributions in green tea samples (n = 102) from 11 regions in China were determined, and risk assessment of human exposure to PCNs through tea consumption was conducted. The PCN concentrations in all the green tea samples were 3.62-175 pg/g dry weight (mean 36.1 pg/g dry weight). Similar PCN homolog and congener profiles were found in green tea samples from different areas. The dominant PCN homologs in all of the green tea samples were di-CNs, tetra-CNs, and tri-CNs. No direct relationships were found between PCN emission sources and PCN concentrations in the green tea samples. The brewing technique could affect the PCN concentrations and homolog profiles in tea leaves. PCNs in green tea from China were found to pose little risk to humans.

Animal-Derived and Plant-Derived Protein Supplement Feeds Are Important Sources of Organophosphate Esters in the Food Supply.

Animal protein supplement feeds (APFs) are important raw feed materials for livestock. APFs might be susceptible to organophosphate esters (OPEs) but have not been paid attention yet. In the present study, animal-derived (meat meal, feather meal, and blood meal) and plant-derived APFs were all found to contain detectable levels of OPEs, with 16 target OPEs ranging from 12.6 ng/g dry weight (dw) to 301 ng/g dw. Meat meal contained the highest OPE level (mean: 117 ± 75.6 ng/g dw), followed by feather meal (54.6 ± 30.0 ng/g dw), plant-derived feed (41.9 ± 16.0 ng/g dw), and blood meal (28.0 ± 12.0 ng/g dw). Considering its widespread consumption, plant-derived APFs might be an important source of OPE exposure for livestock. Dust adhesion contributed to OPE contamination both in feather meal and plant-derived APFs. Congener patterns varied among the different APFs. Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate dominated in the plant-derived feed and blood meal, while tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and triphenyl phosphate were the major contributors in meat meal and feather meal, respectively. Tributyl phosphate and tri-iso-butyl phosphate were found to be statistically correlated in all APFs (p < 0.01), indicating their similar behavior and common sources. The protein-associated transport pathways of OPEs need to be studied separately for different protein matrices in the future.

[A study on the preventive effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the development of alcoholic fatty liver in rats and its possible mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To study the preventive effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on the development of alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) in rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a blank control group, with distilled water intragastric infusion (GI); an alcohol group, with alcohol GI; a 5% LBP plus alcohol GI group; and a 10% LBP plus alcohol GI group. Liver pathologic changes were studied together with the activity of serum ALT, AST, GGT, the activity of liver SOD, GSH-PX and the content of liver MDA, GSH, H2O2; CYP2E1 gene and protein expressions were also detected. RESULTS: At the end of ten weeks, the activity of serum AST [(132.3+/-25.7) U/L, (127.5+/-29.1)U/L] and GGT [(1.9+/-0.5)U/L, (1.8+/-0.7)U/L] of the two LBP groups were all significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [serum AST (245.7+/-32.1) and GGT (4.4+/-0.6)]. At the end of ten weeks, the content of liver MDA [(5.1+/-0.3) nmol/mg, (5.1+/-0.4) nmol/mg] and H2O2 [(135.4+/-23.5) mmol/g, (132.6+/-31.8) mmol/g] of the two LBP groups were significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [MDA (14.5+/-3.2) nmol/mgprot) and H2O2 (328.5+/-45.6)]. The activity of SOD [(206.7+/-13.2)U/L, (203.2+/-18.8)U/L], GSH-PX [(13.5+/-1.4)U/mg/min, (13.6+/-1.5)U/mg/min] and the content of GSH [(65.1+/-11.0)mg/g, (66.6+/-11.1) mg/g] of the two LBP groups were all significantly higher than those of the alcohol group [SOD (116.5+/-13.6)U/mg/min, GSH-PX (7.2+/-1.6)U/mg/min and the content of GSH (30.5+/-10.7)mg/g] (P less than 0.01). At the end of five weeks, levels of CYP2E1 gene and protein expression of the two LBP groups were 0.39+/-0.04, 0.40+/-0.06 and 3.49+/-0.36, 3.29+/-0.30 respectively. At the end of ten weeks, levels of CYP2E1 gene and protein expression of the two LBP groups were 0.41+/-0.05, 0.42+/-0.08 and 3.58+/-0.30, 3.36+/-0.37 respectively. They were all significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [the gene expression (5 week: 0.74+/-0.05, 10 week: 1.02+/-0.08) and the protein expression (5 week: 5.63+/-0.44, 10 week: 7.90+/-0.26)]. There were no typical alcoholic fatty liver pathologic changes observed in the two LBP groups. CONCLUSION: LBP can effectively prevent AFL. This may be due to its effects in inhibiting the hepatocyte CYP2E1 expression and prevention of lipid peroxidation.