Production of iron enriched Saccharomyces boulardii: impact of process variables.

About half of the 1.62 billion cases of anemia are because of poor diet and iron deficiency. Currently, the use of iron-enriched yeasts can be used as the most effective and possible way to prevent and treat anemia due to the ability of biotransformation of mineral compounds into the organic form. In this research, for the first time, Saccharomyces (S.) boulardii was used for iron enrichment with the aim that the probiotic properties of yeast provide a potential iron supplement besides improving the bioavailability of iron. Also, due to its higher resistance than other Saccharomyces strains against stresses, it can protect iron against processing temperatures and stomach acidic-enzymatic conditions. So, the effect of three important variables, including concentration of iron, molasses and KH2PO4 on the growth and biotransformation of yeast was investigated by the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The best conditions occurred in 3 g/l KH2PO4, 20 g/l molasses and 12 mg/l FeSO4 with the highest biotransformation 27 mg Fe/g dry cell weight (DCW) and 6 g/l biomass weight. Such yeast can improve fermented products, provide potential supplement, and restore the lost iron of bread, which is a useful iron source, even for vegetarians-vegans and play an important role in manage with anemia. It is recommended that in future researches, attention should be paid to increasing the iron enrichment of yeast through permeabilizing the membrane and overcoming the structural barrier of the cell wall.

Effects of adding green tea extract on the oxidative stability and shelf life of sunflower oil during storage.

This study aimed to compare different concentrations effect of green tea extract (GTE) (200, 400, and 800 ppm) with TBHQ (75 ppm) in extend the shelf-life of sunflower oil (SO) and to evaluate the protective effect of GTE on the oxidation of refined SO. The sample's peroxide value (PV), acidity value (AV), anisidine value (pAV), Totox value (TV), oxidative stability, and total phenol content (TPC) were analyzed at specific intervals during 12-month at 25 °C and 60-day at 60 °C. The optimum kinetic model corresponding to the first order for PV, TV, and pAV was obtained at 25, 35, and 45 °C. SO containing GTE (800 ppm) had a similar performance to TBHQ at 25 °C and 60 °C and possessed a longer shelf life than samples treated with TBHQ. Due to synthetic antioxidant's health risk and toxicity, GTE can be a good substitute for TBHQ in the edible oil industry.

Synergistic anticancer effects of crocin combined with deuterium-depleted water on HT-29 cells.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and the study of the role of nutrients in preventing or inhibiting the growth of this cancer is of interest to scientists. In this article, the synergistic effect of deuterium-depleted water(DDW) and crocin at specific concentrations on HT-29 cells was investigated. In this regard, HT-29 cells were grown in RPMI medium containing DDW, alone and in combination with crocin for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell viability, cell cycle changes and antioxidant enzymes status were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry and quantitative luminescence methods, respectively. The results of these analyses proved the cell growth inhibitory effect of deuterium alone and its synergistic effect in combination with crocin. The cell cycle analysis showed an increase in the number of cells in the G0 and G1 phases whereas there was a decrease in the number of cells in the S, G2 and M phases. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes also decreased compared to the control group that is a reason to increase Malonyl dialdehyde factor. The results suggested that a combination of DDW and crocin can open a new strategic approach in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Determination of the Phenolic Content in Iranian Trehala Manna and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Effects.

One of the most challenging issues in the food and pharmaceutical industries is finding effective and safe antioxidants from natural resources compared to their synthetic compounds, which have side effects. In this regard, Trehala manna was considered a great antioxidant source categorized as the major type of manna produced naturally and by the Echinops plant in response to insect activity. In this study, the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of the numerous Trehala manna in Echinops sp. have been investigated. Different methods of radical scavenging activity comprising 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) have been investigated to evaluate antioxidant activity. The phenolic contents were measured by Folin-Ciocalteu and standard phytochemical methods. Quantitative and qualitative amounts of phenolic content, including caffeic, ferulic, coumaric, syringic, and hydroxybenzoic acids, were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated the significant changes in the amounts of phenolics and the antioxidant properties in Trehala manna samples, based on the place of collection. Based on results, antioxidant capacity detected by DPPH and ABTS tests showed the IC50 values of 40-94 µg/mL and 28-72 µg/mL, respectively. Results of the FRAP test represented very strong ferric ion reducing activities (0.04-0.83 mmol Fe2+/g). Ferric ion reducing data were not markedly different from ABTS and DPPH ones. These samples also presented the highest phenolic content (1.32-2.28 mg GAE/100 g). Jahrom Trehala manna was the highest in both phenolic content and antioxidant value, while Sabzevar was the lowest. We found a significant relationship between the antioxidant values and total phenolic counts. It indicates that the phenolics contribute to the observed antioxidant activities of these samples.

Thermal stability of natural pigments produced by Monascus purpureus in submerged fermentation.

The major aim of the current study was to assess thermal stability of red pigments produced by Monascus purpureus ATCC 16362/PTCC 5303 in submerged fermentation. Natural pigments were produced by Monascus purpureus using stirred tank bioreactor. Stability of Monascus purpureus pigments was assessed under various temperature (50.2-97.8°C), salt (0%-2.5%), and pH (4.3-7.7) values. Thermal degradation constant and half-life value of the red Monascus purpureus pigments were analyzed using response surface methodology followed by a first-order kinetic reaction. Results of this study showed that pH, temperature, and salt content could affect red color stability of Monascus purpureus. The pigment showed various stabilities in various thermal conditions (temperature, salt, and pH). At high temperatures, degradation constant of the red pigments increased with decreasing pH, revealing that the Monascus red pigment was destroyed at lower pH values and salt could affect stability of the red pigments at lower temperatures.

The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in muscle tissue of farmed Iranian rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), feed, and water samples collected from the west of Iran: a risk assessment study.

The pollution of the environment by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is one of the most important raised concerns. Therefore, the current investigation was devoted to measuring the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), elemental mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in muscle tissue of farmed rainbow trout (n = 30) as well as their feed (n = 15) and water (n = 15) samples collected from farms (Hamadan Province, Iran) by the aid of an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Also, the associated risk for human and biomagnification factor (BMF) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) for PTEs in the fish muscle through feed and water were calculated. The mean concentration of Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Fe, Zn, and Cu in rainbow trout muscle was reported as 0.056 ± 0.040 µg g-1 wet weight,

The effect of multiplex-PCR-assessed major pathogens causing subclinical mastitis on somatic cell profiles.

The major pathogens causing mastitis were evaluated by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) with self-designed primers in four quarters of the first, third, and fifth parities in industrial, semi-industrial, and traditional dairy cattle farms in Iran. With the incidence of infection in the quarters by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, the mean log somatic cell count (log SCC) increased from 5.06 to 5.77. The smallest changes occurred with Escherichia coli. Contagious pathogens, when compared with environmental pathogens, were more prevalent and common and created more profound quantitative and qualitative changes in SCC profiles. The second part of the study surveyed the diversity of contaminating pathogens and their effect on quantitative and qualitative profiles of somatic cells. M-PCR was used to determine the absence (M-PCR(-)) and presence of one (M-PCR(+1)), two (M-PCR(+2)), and three (M-PCR(+3)) major pathogens in raw milk samples. Quarter log SCC increased from 5.06 (for M-PCR(-1)) to 5.5 (for M-PCR(+1)), 5.7 (for M-PCR(+2)), and 6 (for M-PCR(+3)). Percent changes in polymorphonuclears (PMNs) were not significant between different quarters and parities but were significant between different farms in terms of pathogen diversity (P < 0.05). Therefore, by increasing the number of types of major pathogens involved in subclinical mastitis, SCC of udder quarters and the proportion of PMNs significantly increased, whereas the proportion of lymphocytes significantly decreased. This subject is very important in increasing the shelf life of dairy products, because PMNs are introduced to the enzymatic pools.

Method validation for aflatoxin M1 determination in yoghurt using immunoaffinity column clean-up prior to high-performance liquid chromatography.

Yoghurt is a popular dairy product in Iran because of its beneficial influence on human health and nutritional value. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the metabolite of potential carcinogen aflatoxin B1, which can contaminate milk through the feed and is not eliminated by common processing heat treatment. An analytical method using immunoaffinity column for extraction and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantification was developed for AFM1 in this study. An HPLC method with fluorimetric detection for the determination of AFM1 in yoghurt milk has been optimized and validated according to Commission Decision BS EN ISO 14501: 2007 by using the conventional validation approach. The procedure for determining selectivity, recovery, precision, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCß) of the method has been reported. The results of the validation process demonstrate the agreement of the method with the provisions of Commission Regulation 401: 2006:EC. A new HPLC method with fluorescence detection was developed to determine aflatoxin M1. The detection limit was 1 ng/kg for yoghurt. The calibration curve was linear from 0.1 to 3.0 µg l⁻¹ injected. The method includes a preliminary clean-up and the average recoveries determined on three different days at the concentration levels of 0.025, 0.050 and 0.075 µg kg⁻¹ were in the range of 72.57%-86.66% with RSD in the range of 2.56%-8.41%. The interday and interlevel mean recovery value, which has been used to correct routine analysis results, was 80%. The method is rapid, easily automatable and therefore useful for accurate and precise screening of aflatoxin M1 in yoghurt.