Curcumin Ameliorates Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced DNA Damages in Stomach Tissues of Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known carcinogen formed during the cooking process. Although BaP exposure has been implicated as one of the risk factors for lung cancer in animals and humans, there are only limited data on BaP-induced gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the protective effects of curcumin on BaP-induced DNA damage in rat stomach tissues. BaP (20 mg/kg/day) and curcumin (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) were administered daily to Sprague-Dawley rats by oral gavage over 30 days. Curcumin was pre-administered before BaP exposure. All rats were euthanized, and liver, kidney, and stomach tissues were removed at 24 h after the last treatment. We observed that aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and glucose levels were significantly reduced in rats treated with high dose co-administration of curcumin (200 mg/kg) compared to BaP alone. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and CYP1B1 were significantly increased in the liver of rats treated with BaP. However, co-administration of curcumin (200 mg/kg) with BaP markedly reduced CYP1A1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, plasma levels of BaP-diolepoxide (BPDE) and BaP metabolites were significantly reduced by co-administration of curcumin (200 mg/kg). Additionally, co-administration of curcumin (200 mg/kg) with BaP significantly reduced the formation of BPDE-I-DNA and 8-hydroxydeoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) adducts in the liver, kidney, and stomach tissues. The inhibition of these adduct formations were more prominent in the stomach tissues than in the liver. Overall, our observations suggest that curcumin might inhibit BaP-induced gastrointestinal tumorigenesis and shows promise as a chemopreventive agent.

Analysis of the Maillard reaction in human hair using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging and a focal-plane array detector.

The Maillard reaction has been well researched and used in the food industry and the fields of environmental science and organic chemistry. Here, we induced the Maillard reaction inside human hair and analyzed its effects by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with a focal-plane array (FTIR-FPA) detector. We used arginine (A), glycine (G), and D-xylose (X) to generate the Maillard reaction by dissolving them in purified water and heating it to 150 °C. This label-free process generated a complex compound (named AGX after its ingredients) with a monomer structure, which was determined by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and FTIR-FPA. This compound was stable in hair and substantially increased its tensile strength. To our knowledge, we are the first to report the formation of this monomer in human hair, and our study provides insights into a new method that could be used to improve the condition of damaged or aging hair.

Adverse health risk from prolonged consumption of formaldehyde-preserved carps in eastern region of Indian population.

Presence of formaldehyde as a preservative in commonly available fishes (Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Anabas testudineus and Clarias gariepinus) has become a serious health concern in the public health of eastern region of India. Formaldehyde content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed high formaldehyde content in frozen carp (19.66 and 23.3 mg/kg in Labeo rohita and Catla catla, respectively); however, the amount of formaldehyde was significantly reduced in boiled and fried fish (80 °C and 100 °C for 5 min) in mustard, coconut, and sesame oils. However, formaldehyde contents in non-carp fishes (Anabas testudineus and Clarias gariepinus) were almost negligible, compared to those in L. rohita and C. catla. In vivo toxicity studies showed a time-dependent increase in blood formaldehyde levels in rats after they were fed formaldehyde-contaminated fish (23.3 mg/kg) for 7 days. Histopathological analysis of the stomach of rats fed contaminated fish showed destruction and granulation of the protective mucus layer and detachment from the secretory layer. Taken together, our results indicated that continuous consumption of formaldehyde-contaminated carps commonly available in the eastern region of India may be associated with adverse health effects.

A novel volumetric method for quantitation of titanium dioxide in cosmetics.

Nowadays there are many sun-protection cosmetics incorporating organic or inorganic UV filters as active ingredients. Chemically stable inorganic sunscreen agents, usually metal oxides, are widely employed in high-SPF (sun protection factor) products. Titanium dioxide is one of the most frequently used inorganic UV filters. It has been used as a pigment for a long period of cosmetic history. With the development of micronization techniques, it has become possible to incorporate titanium dioxide in sunscreen formulations without the previous whitening effect, and hence its use in cosmetics has become an important research topic. However, there are very few works related to quantitation of titanium dioxide in sunscreen products. In this research, we analyzed the amounts of titanium dioxide in sunscreen cosmetics by adapting redox titration, reduction of Ti(IV) to Ti(III), and reoxidation to Ti(IV). After calcification of other organic ingredients of cosmetics, titanium dioxide is dissolved by hot sulfuric acid. The dissolved Ti(IV) is reduced to Ti(III) by adding metallic aluminum. The reduced Ti(III) is titrated against a standard oxidizing agent, Fe(III) (ammonium iron(III) sulfate), with potassium thiocyanate as an indicator. In order to test the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method, we analyzed the amounts of titanium dioxide in four types of sunscreen cosmetics, namely cream, make-up base, foundation, and powder, after adding known amounts of titanium dioxide (1 approximately 25 w/w%). The percentages of titanium dioxide recovered in the four types of formulations were in the range between 96% and 105%. We also analyzed seven commercial cosmetic products labeled with titanium dioxide as an ingredient and compared the results with those obtained from ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry), one of the most powerful atomic analysis techniques. The results showed that the titrated amounts were well in accord with the analyzed amounts of titanium dioxide by ICP-AES. Although instrument-based analytical methods, namely ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) and ICP-AES, are best for the analysis of titanium, it is difficult for small cosmetic companies to install such instruments because of their high cost. It was found that the volumetric method presented here gives quantitatively accurate and reliable results with routine lab-ware and chemicals.

Determination of N-nitrosodiethanolamine, NDELA in cosmetic ingredients and products by mixed mode solid phase extraction and UPLC-tandem mass spectrometry with porous graphitic carbon column through systemic sample pre-cleanup procedure.

A rapid, sensitive, accurate and specific ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA), a highly toxic contaminant in cosmetic raw materials and products was developed and validated. Systematized sample preparation steps were developed according to product types. Various SPE cartridges and columns were examined to establish the condition of SPE and chromatographic separation for NDELA. Sample cleanup steps consisting of solvent and liquid-liquid extraction tailored to the various sample matrix types were established prior to mixed mode SPE (Bond Elut AccuCAT). Chromatographic separation was achieved within 7 min on a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) column using a gradient elution with the mobile phase of 1mM ammonium acetate containing 0.1% acetic acid and methanol. NDELA was monitored using an electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode (m/z 134.9>103.7(quantifier) and 73.7(qualifier ion)) with d8-NDELA (m/z 143.1>111.0) as internal standard. The standard curves were linear over the concentration range of 1-100 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.99. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 10 and 20 µg/kg, respectively (0.5 and 1 ng/mL in standard solution). The intra- and inter-day precisions were estimated to be below 11.1% and accuracies were within the range of 90.8-115.8%. The validated method was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples including raw materials, skin care, make-up, shampoos and hair products.