Monomyristin and Monopalmitin Derivatives: Synthesis and Evaluation as Potential Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents.

In the present work, monoacylglycerol derivatives, i.e., 1-monomyristin, 2-monomyristin, and 2-monopalmitin were successfully prepared from commercially available myristic acid and palmitic acid. The 1-monomyristin compound was prepared through a transesterification reaction between ethyl myristate and 1,2-O-isopropylidene glycerol, which was obtained from the protection of glycerol with acetone, then followed by deprotection using Amberlyst-15. On the other hand, 2-monoacylglycerol derivatives were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis of triglycerides in the presence of Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase enzymes. The synthesized products were analyzed using fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS or LC-MS), and proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H- and 13C-NMR) spectrometers. It was found that monomyristin showed high antibacterial and antifungal activities, while 2-monopalmitin did not show any activity at all. The 1-monomyristin compound showed higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and also higher antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to the positive control. Meanwhile, 2-monomyristin showed high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. The effect of the acyl position and carbon chains towards antibacterial and antifungal activities was discussed.

A limited survey of aflatoxin B1 contamination in Indonesian palm kernel cake and copra meal sampled from batches.

Samples from large (100-200 tons) batches of palm kernel cake (PKC, n = 20) and copra meal (CM, n = 13) were collected at production facilities of four Indonesian feed mill manufacturers and analysed for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by ELISA. Recoveries using spiked samples ranged from 86 to 113%, with relative standard deviations of <9% (PKC) and <6% (CM). All batches were positive for AFB1: in PKC, at levels of 5.8-93.1 µg/kg (mean 49 µg/kg), and in CM, at levels of 1.1-147 µg/kg (mean 38.1 µg/kg). AFB1 levels were, in most batches, below the maximum level (100 µg/kg) recommended by the National Standardisation Agency, Republic of Indonesia. However, about half of the batches exceeded both the European Union and USA regulations for AFB1 in animal feed. In conclusion, serious efforts are necessary to control production, storage and shipment of palm kernel cake and copra meal for feed purposes, and clearly not only for products intended for export but also to reduce AFB1 levels in domestic Indonesian feed.