Quantitative analysis of ß-ODAP neurotoxin among different varieties of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) flour: A comparative study.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), a protein-rich pulse crop, is often overlooked due to its association with neurolathyrism and its neurotoxin, ß-ODAP. The study aims to compare the ß-ODAP content, chemical, and functional properties of four BARI varieties and two local varieties of grass pea seed flour. The findings presented that the ß-ODAP content of BARI varieties grass pea flour was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than local varieties, and the least amount of ß-ODAP was found in BARI-3 varieties (0.086 %), which is below the safe level (0.15 %) for consumption. The safe level of neurotoxin was also found in the BARI-1 variety (0.13 %), but local varieties grass pea flour of Pabna and Tangail showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) value of 0.39 and 0.49 % ß-ODAP content, respectively. There were no significant differences in protein content among BARI and local varieties, with the highest value of 26.58 % protein content found in the BARI-2 variety. In terms of functional properties, the BARI-5 variety had the highest water absorption capacity (2.92 ml/g) and oil absorption capacity (1.48 ml/g). The grass pea BARI variety, with its high oil absorption capacity and low ß-ODAP content, can be utilized in food formulations for bakery products, sausages, and functional ingredients.

Fortified edible oils in Bangladesh: A study on vitamin A fortification and physicochemical properties.

Food fortification has always been an effective and proven practice for eradicating various nutrient deficiencies in Bangladesh. This study investigated different quality parameters of three types (soybean, sunflower, and palm) of extensively consumed fortified edible oils in Bangladesh. Vitamin A analysis has shown that the vitamin A fortification level of most of the oil brands (73 %) did not comply with the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) standards (1.5-3.0 mg/100 g). Vitamin A contents of soybean, sunflower, and palm oil brands ranged from 0.13 to 2.06, 0.92-1.34, and 0.99-1.31 mg/100 g, respectively. Inter-brand values of vitamin A were also significantly different (p < 0.05). The majority of the samples were found to be within the acceptable ranges of Codex and BSTI, taking into account the significant chemical quality parameters for soybean, sunflower, and palm oil, such as acid value (0.31-0.93, 0.31-0.56, 0.39-0.81 mg KOH/g), free fatty acid (0.15-0.46, 0.15-0.28, 0.2-0.41 %), saponification (188.64-196.35, 186.53-188, 197.05-199.86 mg KOH/g), and peroxide values (0.06-2.9, 0.65-1.58, 1.35-1.75 meq O2/kg) respectively. All the brands' physical quality parameters (density, specific gravity, pH, viscosity, smoke point, color, and RI) complied with Codex standards. Various physical and chemical quality parameters were analyzed for significant correlations at 0.01 and 0.05 levels of significance. Remarkably, significant correlations were found between vitamin A and peroxide value (p < 0.01), iodine value and viscosity (p < 0.01), saponification value and viscosity (p < 0.01), pH and viscosity (p < 0.01), and saponification value and pH (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although the vitamin A status of most of the fortified edible oil brands was poor, the key quality indicators (except iodine value) of most of the oils were within the Codex and BSTI standard limits and were acceptable for human consumption.

Hypolipidemic effect and modulation of hepatic enzymes by different edible oils in obese Wistar rats.

The current study assessed the hypolipidemic effect and modulation of hepatic enzymes by different edible oils in obese Wistar rats. In order to conduct this study, 36 Wistar rats that were collected at 5 weeks of age and weighed an average of 70 g were split into two groups: 28 of them were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and 8 of them were fed a control diet. After 5 weeks of feeding, rats from the HFD (obese, n = 4) and the control diet group (n = 4) were sacrificed. Subsequently, the rest of obese rats (n = 24) were separated into six groups, including the continuing high-fat (CHF) diet group, rice bran oil (RBO) diet group, olive oil (OO) diet group, soybean oil (SO) diet group, cod liver oil (CLO) diet group, and sunflower oil (SFO) diet group, and the continuing control diet group (n = 4). Rats from each group were sacrificed following an additional 5 weeks, and all analytical tests were carried out. The results found that the interventions of RBO, CLO, and SFO in obese rats reduced their body weight non-significantly when compared with CHF. It was also observed that a non-significant reduction in weight of the heart, AAT, and EAT occurred by RBO, OO, SO, and CLO, while SFO reduced the AAT level significantly (p < 0.05). Besides, RBO, OO, SO, CLO, and SFO decreased IBAT and liver fat significantly compared to CHF. Similarly, the administration of RBO, OO, SO, and CLO reduced ALT significantly. RBO reduced GGT (p < 0.05) significantly, but other oils did not. The given oil has the efficiency to reduce TC, TAG, and LDL-C but increase HDL-C significantly. These findings suggest that different edible oils can ameliorate obesity, regulate lipid profiles, and modulate hepatic enzymes.

Vitamin A Fortified Edible Oils and Rice: The Knowledge Level and Consumption Rate among Different Place of Residences in Tangail District, Bangladesh.

A population based cross-sectional study was conducted in four residential areas of Tangail Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh aiming to explore the knowledge about vitamin A fortified edible oils and rice as well as the their consumption rate. A total of 400 participants were randomly selected. Data were collected through face to face interviews. Only 15.0% and 3.5% participants had knowledge about vitamin A fortified edible oils and rice respectively. Precisely vitamin A fortified edible oils knowledge level was found inferior in rural (11.7%) and slum (0%) than urban (48.3%) and semi-urban (40.0%) participants. Knowledge about vitamin A fortified rice was found higher in urban (78.6%) than rural (14.3%) and slum (0%) participants. Most of the participants received knowledge through advertisements (N=45 and N=12 for fortified oils and rice respectively). Maximum participants (62.3%) did not consume vitamin A fortified edible oils and consumption rate in rural (11.8%) and slum (10.2%) areas were poorer than urban (53.5%) and semi-urban (24.4%) areas. Consumption rate of vitamin A fortified rice was found nil in all the study areas. Lack of knowledge about vitamin A fortified rice and oils accounted solely for poor consumption. Knowledge level about vitamin A fortified edible oils and rice and consumption rate were found statistically significantly (p<0.05) with participant's place of residences, education level and monthly income. Finally, this study indicates that the overall knowledge level and consumption rate of vitamin A fortified edible oils and rice is poor especially in rural and slum populations in Tangail Sadar Upazila.

Alarming Situation of Spreading Enteric Viruses Through Sewage Water in Dhaka City: Molecular Epidemiological Evidences.

Global burden of acute viral gastroenteritis remains high, particularly in developing countries including Bangladesh. Sewage water (SW) is an important node to monitor enteric pathogens both in the environment and among the population. Analysis of SW in Dhaka city deems crucially important because a large number of urban-city dwellers live in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh, under a constant threat of precarious sewerage system. In this study, we collected raw SW from five locations of Dhaka city every month from June 2016 to May 2017. It was concentrated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and investigated for three major enteric viruses, rotavirus A (RVA), norovirus GII (NoV GII) and adenovirus (AdV) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of these SW samples collected from both hospitals and non-hospital areas yielded enteric viruses: 76% samples were positive for AdV, followed by 53% NoV GII and 38% RVA. Viral load was determined as much as 1 × 107 copies/ml for RVA and 3.5 × 103 copies/ml for NoV GII. Importantly, NoV GII and AdV that can affect people of all ages were predominated during monsoon also when SW overflows and spreads over a wide and crowded area. Genotypes G1, G2, G3, G8, and G9 for RVA, GII.4 for NoV, and type 41 for AdV were detected representing the current profile of circulating genotypes in the population. This study provides the first evidence of distribution of major diarrheal viruses in SW in Dhaka city which is alarming showing grave risk of impending outbreaks through exposure.

Potential Human Health Risks of Tannery Waste-contaminated Poultry Feed.

BACKGROUND: For over a decade, solid tannery waste has been converted into protein concentrate and used as a feed ingredient because of its cheap availability. However, as chromium sulfate is commonly used in the tanning process, the chromium (Cr) content of tanned skin-cut wastes (SCW) may enter the edible parts of poultry through feed. Therefore, there is a chance that Cr and other heavy metals may be present in the edible portion of poultry and consequently transfer to humans upon poultry consumption. OBJECTIVES: In this study, skin-cut wastes (SCW)-based poultry feed and the edible parts of chicken fed with this feed were analyzed to understand the potential health risks of their use as poultry feed. METHODS: In the present study, the presence of heavy metal content in SCW, poultry feed, and edible portions of different kinds of chicken was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer methods and the associated health risk estimation was calculated by comparing the target hazard quotient (THQ) value and reference daily intake value. RESULTS: The results revealed the presence of Cr content ranging from 0.12-3.11 mg/kg and lead (Pb) content ranging from 8.06-22.0 mg/kg in SCW. In addition, Cr and Pb were present in the range of 0.27-0.98 mg/kg and 10.27-10.36 mg/kg, respectively, in poultry feed. However, no cadmium (Cd) was found in SCW, but the presence of Cd ranged from 0.03-0.05 mg/kg in feed. When contaminated poultry feed was fed to live poultry, the presence of Cr, Pb and Cd was observed in the edible portions (i. e. skin, liver, gizzard, and meat). Irrespective of the edible parts and chicken type, Cr values ranged from 0.1-2.440 mg/kg; Pb values ranged from 0.257-1.750 mg/kg; and Cd values ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 0.037 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated daily intake value, THQ, along with the aggregate hazard index value, indicated a potential risk to consumers through consumption of contaminated chicken. Therefore, the study results clearly demonstrate heavy metals accumulation in chicken due to feeding SCW-based feed. The contaminated chicken further transfers these heavy metals to humans through ingestion. Hence, there is a potential human health risk through consumption of contaminated chicken meat.

Clausenolide-1-methyl ether from Clausena heptaphylla W&A / Clausenolido-1-metil éter de Clausena heptaphylla W & A

From the stem bark of Clausena heptaphylla, the limonoid clausenolide-1-methyl ether (1) was isolated. The structure of the compound was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic studies, including 2D NMR and MS measurements and by comparison with spectroscopic and physical data from the literature. This is the first report of occurrence of clausenolide-1-methyl ether (1) in Clausena heptaphylla.

El limonoíde clausenolido-1-metil eter (1) fue aislado de corteza de Clausena heptaphylla. La estructura del compuesto fue determinada por metodos espectroscópicos, incluyendo 2D RMN, espectrometría de masas (EM) y comparación de los datos espectroscópicos y constantes físicas con los publicados en la literatura. Este es el primer informe del aislamiento de clausenolido-1-metil eter (1) de Clausena heptaphylla.

A new 7-oxygenated coumarin from Clausena suffruticosa.

A new coumarin, 7-[(2'E,6'E)-7'-carboxy-5'(zeta)-hydroxy-3'-methylocta-2',6'-dienyloxy]-coumarin, was isolated from the leaf of Clausena suffruticosa. Its structure was established by means of spectroscopic data analyses, including mass spectrometry and both 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

The role of Rho GTPases in the regulation of the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and cell movement.

The rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton has been shown to play a critical role in the development of transformation and malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Rho family GTPases regulate the arrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. By wound-healing assay, we have found that NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells move towards the wound- gaps by extending filopodial and lamellipdial structures at the leading edge of the moving cells. We have inactivated the function of Rho GTPases of v-Ras transformed NIH 3T3 cells by overexpressing Rho GTPase-activating (RhoGAP) domain of RhoGAP of p190. We have observed that inactivation of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases by overexpressing RHG causes inhibition of: (i) polymerization of actin to form filaments, (ii) formation of lamellipodia, filopodia and stress fibres, (iii) cell motility, (iv) cell spreading and (v) cell-to-cell adhesions. These results further strengthen the current knowledge on the role of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases in the regulation of the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton. Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that RhoGAP domain of RhoGAP could be used to study the molecular mechanism of Ras-mediated signalling in growth, differentiation and carcinogenesis.