Pesticides and heavy metals levels in Egyptian leafy vegetables and some aromatic medicinal plants.

A total of 835 samples of leafy vegetables and some aromatic medicinal plants were collected from five different areas of Egypt during 1999. Ninety-seven per cent of the leafy vegetables were contaminated with heavy metals with 39% exceeding the maximum limits for each element. Cadmium was detected in 78 of 116 samples of leafy vegetable, although without any exceeding the maximum limits. However, lead was detected in 99 samples, of which 39 exceeded the maximum limits (0.3 mg kg(-1)) and 56 medicinal plant samples of 70 had lead levels above 0.5 mg kg(-1). Copper was detected in 69 medicinal plant samples, of which 58 samples contained levels higher than 10 mg kg(-1). However, cadmium was only found in 43% of samples with only two of 70 samples above the maximum limit. Seventy-three per cent of the samples of medicinal plants were contaminated with pesticide residues, of which 44% contained amounts that exceeded maximum residue limits. Malathion was the most frequently found pesticide residue, being detected in 203 of 391 (52%.) samples, followed by profenofos, which was detected in 131 of 391 (33%) samples.

Effect of fermentation conditions on the production of citric acid from cheese whey by Aspergillus niger.

The effect of pH value, methanol, and salt concentration on the production of citric acid from cheese whey by two strains of Aspergillus niger, i.e. CAIM 111 and CAIM 167, was investigated. Lactose concentration, utilized lactose, citric acid concentration, conversion coefficient of lactose to citric acid, and mycelial dry weight were measured during the fermentation process. The maximum citric acid concentration (1.06 and 0.82 g/l), and conversion coefficient (5.58 and 7.45%) were obtained at pH 3.5 after 9 days of fermentation for A. niger CAIM 111 and A. niger CAIM 167, respectively. The presence of 4% (v/v) methanol in the fermentation medium increased the amount of citric acid produced by A. niger CAIM 111 and A. niger CAIM 167 by 23% and 18%, respectively. Both strains showed a high ability to utilize lactose for the production of citric acid when grown in the presence of 10% (w/v) salt. The conversion coefficient of lactose to citric acid was 28.24% for A. niger CAIM 111 and 25.60% for A. niger CAIM 167 when the fermentation medium had a 10% (w/v) level of salt. The cumulative effect of fermentation medium pH (3.5), methanol concentration (4%, v/v) and salt concentration (10%, w/v) during the fermentation process of whey did not enhance the production of citric acid by A. niger CAIM 111, while it did increase the production of citric acid by A. niger CAIM 167 by about 4-fold.

Purification and properties of rennin-like enzyme from Aspergillus ochraceus.

An active milk-clotting enzyme was purified some 40-fold from culture supernatant of Aspergillus ochraceus. The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation, G-100 Sephadex gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography, using DEAE Cellulose column. The enzyme exhibited milk-clotting activity and proteolytic behaviour, an optimum at pH 6.0 and in the range of 7--8.5, respectively. The purified enzyme was actively proteolytic against casein, haemoglobin, and bovine serum albumin at pH 8. The milk-clotting activity was greatly enhanced by manganous ions and by increasing concentrations of calcium chloride. Copper, zinc, and ammonium ions were potent inhibitors of the milk-curdling activity of the purified enzyme. Significant inhibition was also noted with sodium chloride at concentrations of 3% or more. Under the specified reaction condition, maximum rate of proteolysis against casein was obtained at 0.4% substrate concentration, whereas the milk-clotting time was linear proportional to dry skim milk concentration in the range of 8 to 24%. The results are discussed in comparison with other microbial milk-clotting enzymes, and limitations of applicability are also presented.

Purification and Properties of Ribonuclease From Buffalo Milk Whey.

A procedure was developed for isolation and identification of ribonuclease from buffalo milk whey. Ribonuclease was precipitated with (NH4)2SO4 between 65 and 90% saturation. The precipitate was dissolved, dialyzed, and fractionated on DEAE-cellulose. Two ribonuclease-rich fractions were collected, i.e. ribonuclease A and B. Ribonuclease A had an optimum pH of 7 .0, and ribonuclease B had an optimum pH of 8.6. Both had an optimum temperature at 38 C. The ribonucleases in the purified state were unstable to heat and their activity decreased as the time of exposure increased. Both enzyme fractions were sensitive to inhibitors. NaCl and NaN3 were stimulatory for ribonuclease A, while ribonuclease B was stimulated only by NaCl.

Physiology and characterization of a fungal milk-clotting enzyme from Aspergillus flavus.

Aspergillus flavus produced extracellularly an active rennin-like enzyme when grown aerobically in whey media. The enzyme was detected at early stages of growth reaching a maximum after three to four days at 25 degrees. The activity was destroyed by heating to temperatures higher than 50 degrees, whereas the presence of skim milk during heating preserved the enzyme activity, at least, up to 70 degrees. Calcium chloride significantly stimulated the milk-clotting activity up to 1% final concentration. The clotting time was inversely proportional to protein concentration in the range 0.2-0.6 mg/ml and the enzyme exhibited marked stability when stored at 37 degrees at pH 6.