Evaluating the human neurotoxicity and toxicological interactions impact of co-occurring regulated and emerging mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins can inflict harmful effects on diverse organs, and mounting evidence indicates their potential involvement in human neurodegenerative diseases. Given the common occurrence of these toxins in food, there is an increasing demand for a comprehensive assessment of their combined toxicity to enhance our understanding of their potential hazards. This research investigates mycotoxin exposure from widely consumed cereal-based products, including enniatin B (ENNB), sterigmatocystin (STG), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), cyclopiazonic acid (CPZ), citrinin (CIT), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Employing the median-effect equation based on Chou and Talalay's mass-action law, we assessed their cytotoxicity in human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Notably, ENNB displayed the highest neurotoxicity (IC50 = 3.72 µM), followed by OTA (9.10 µM) and STG (9.99 µM). The combination of OTA + STG exhibited the highest toxicity (IC50 = 3.77 µM), while CPZ + CIT showed the least detrimental effect. Approximately 70 % of tested binary combinations displayed synergistic or additive effects, except for ENNB + STG, ENNB + AFB1, and CPZ + CIT, which showed antagonistic interactions. Intriguingly, the senary combination displayed moderate antagonism at the lowest exposure and moderate synergism at higher doses. OTA exhibited predominantly synergistic interactions, comprising approximately 90 %, a noteworthy finding considering its prevalence in food. Conversely, ENNB interactions tended to be antagonistic. The most remarkable synergy occurred in the STG and CIT combination, enabling a 50-fold reduction in CIT dosage for an equivalent toxic effect. These findings highlight the biological relevance of robust synergistic interactions, emphasizing the need to assess human exposure hazards accurately, particularly considering frequent mycotoxin co-occurrence in environmental and food settings.

Investigating the individual and mixture cytotoxicity of co-occurring aflatoxin B1, enniatin B, and sterigmatocystin on gastric, intestinal, hepatic, and renal cellular models.

This study investigates the individual and combined effects of the mycotoxins, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Enniatin B (ENNB) and Sterigmatocystin (STG), on the cellular viability of gastric (NCI-N87), intestinal (Caco-2), hepatic (Hep-G2) and renal (Hek-293) cells, shedding light on synergistic or antagonistic effects using a constant ratio combination design proposed by Chou-Talalay. These toxins are prevalent in cereal-based foods, frequently consumed by children which raises concerns about their exposure to these mycotoxins. This population is particularly vulnerable to the effects of these toxins due to their underdeveloped organs and incompletely structured physiological processes. Results showed that ENB was the most toxic of the three mycotoxins across all cell lines, while STG and AFB1 showed lower toxicity. The combination of ENNB + STG was found to be the most potent in terms of binary mixtures. In regard to ternary combinations, Caco-2 cells are more sensitive to the tested mycotoxins, whereas NCI-N87 cells show lower levels of cell damage. Worrying dose reduction values (>10-fold) were found for ENNB in binary and ternary combinations at low exposure levels. These findings are significant for establishing initial reference values, which play a pivotal role in estimating reference doses that are subsequently incorporated into the broader risk assessment process.

Behavior of diclofenac from contaminated fish after cooking and in vitro digestion.

BACKGROUND: Seafood consumers are widely exposed to diclofenac due to the high contamination levels often present in aquatic organisms. It is a potential risk to public health due its endocrine disruptor properties. Limited information is available about diclofenac behavior after food digestion to enable a more realistic scenario of consumer exposure. This study aimed to evaluate cooking effects on diclofenac levels, and determine diclofenac bioaccessibility by an in vitro digestion assay, using commercial fish species (seabass and white mullet) as models. The production of the main metabolite 4'-hydroxydiclofenac was also investigated. Fish hamburgers were spiked at two levels (150 and 1000 ng g-1 ) and submitted to three culinary treatments (roasting, steaming and grilling). RESULTS: The loss of water seems to increase the diclofenac levels after cooking, except in seabass with higher levels. The high bioaccessibility of diclofenac (59.1-98.3%) observed in both fish species indicates that consumers' intestines are more susceptible to absorption, which can be worrisome depending on the level of contamination. Contamination levels did not affect the diclofenac bioaccessibility in both species. Seabass, the fattest species, exhibited a higher bioaccessibility of diclofenac compared to white mullet. Overall, cooking decreased diclofenac bioaccessibility by up to 40% in seabass and 25% in white mullet. The main metabolite 4'-hydroxydiclofenac was not detected after cooking or digestion. CONCLUSION: Thus, consumption of cooked fish, preferentially grilled seabass and steamed or baked white mullet are more advisable. This study highlights the importance to consider bioaccessibility and cooking in hazard characterization studies. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Ecotoxicological responses of juvenile Sparus aurata to BDE-99 and BPA exposure: A multi-biomarker approach integrating immune, endocrine and oxidative endpoints.

Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) and bisphenol A (BPA) are synthetic organic compounds present in several daily use products. Due to their physicochemical properties, they are ubiquitously present in aquatic ecosystems and considered highly persistent. Recent evidence has confirmed that both emerging compounds are toxic to humans and terrestrial mammals eliciting a wide range of detrimental effects at endocrine and immune levels. However, the ecotoxicological responses that they can trigger in vertebrate marine species have not yet been established. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the ecotoxicological responses of juvenile Sparus aurata upon chronic (28 days) dietary exposure to BDE-99 and BPA (alone and combined) following an integrated multi-biomarker approach that combined fitness indicators (Fulton's K and splenosomatic indexes) with endocrine [cortisol, 17ß-estradiol (E2), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) concentrations] and immune (peroxidase and antiprotease activities) endpoints in fish plasma, and oxidative stress [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and lipid peroxidation (LPO)] endpoints in the fish spleen. The mixture of BDE-99 and BPA yielded the highest IBR index value in both plasma and spleen biomarkers, therefore, suggesting that the effects of these compounds are more severe when they act together. Endocrine biomarkers were the most responsive in the three contaminated treatments. Fitness indicators were not affected by the individual nor the interactive effects of BDE-99 and BPA. These findings highlight the relevance of accounting for the interactive effects of emerging chemical contaminants and integrating responses associated with distinct biological pathways when investigating their impacts on marine life, as such a multi-biomarker approach provides a broader, more realistic and adequate perspective of challenges faced by fish in a contaminated environment.

Bisphenol A and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents: Data from the Generation XXI cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor widely used in food contact materials, has been linked to a worse health profile. This study intends to estimate the association between BPA exposure and cardiometabolic patterns at adolescence. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Portuguese population-based birth cohort Generation XXI at the age of 13 were used (n = 2386 providing 3-day food diaries and fasting blood samples). BPA exposure was measured in 24-h urine from a subsample (n = 206) and then predicted in all participants using a random forest method and considering dietary intake from diaries. Three cardiometabolic patterns were identified (normal, modified lipid profile and higher cardiometabolic risk) using a probabilistic Gaussian mixture model. Multinomial regression models were applied to associate BPA exposure (lower, medium, higher) and cardiometabolic patterns, adjusting for confounders. The median BPA exposure was 1532 ng/d, corresponding to 29.4 ng/kg/d. Adolescents higher exposed to BPA (compared to medium and lower levels) had higher BMI z-score (kg/m2) (0.68 vs. 0.39 and 0.52, respectively; p = 0.008), higher levels of body fat (kg) (16.3 vs. 13.8 and 14.6, respectively; p = 0.002), waist circumference (76.2 vs. 73.7 and 74.9, respectively; p = 0.026), insulinemia (ug/mL) (14.1 vs. 12.7 and 13.1, respectively; p = 0.039) and triglyceridemia (mg/dL) (72.7 vs. 66.1 and 66.5, respectively; p = 0.030). After adjustment, a significant association between higher BPA and a higher cardiometabolic risk pattern was observed (OR: 2.55; 95%CI: 1.41, 4.63). CONCLUSION: Higher BPA exposure was associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk pattern in adolescents, evidencing the role of food contaminants in health.

The Impact Of Thymectomy In Thymomatous And Nonthymomatous Myasthenia Gravis - The Experience Of A Tertiary Center.

INTRODUCTION: Thymectomy remains a mainstay of treatment in Thymomatous (T) and Nonthymomatous (nT) Myasthenia Gravis (MG), with improved clinical outcomes and reduced need for medical treatment, however, there is little research regarding long-term follow-up. We aim to assess the impact of surgery on the long-term outcome of patients with MG at our center. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of MG patients submitted to thymectomy between 2007 and 2017 at the thoracic surgery department of CHUC. Clinical assessment was performed according to the MG Foundation of America (MGFA) Clinical Classification (cMGFA). The follow-up was categorized according to the MGFA Post-intervention Status (MGFA-PIS) and cMGFA. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, to a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients underwent extended thymectomy and 67.6% were female. Median age at diagnosis was 46.68±19.2 years. Most patients (83.8%) had anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and 81.1% had generalized forms of MG. Many patients (67.6%) had surgery less than 12 months after the clinical diagnosis. TMG was present in 19 (51.4%) patients. Compared to nTMG, these patients were older (54.06±17.9 vs 40.17±19.4 years) and most were men (52.9% vs 16.7%). We obtained a good outcome in most patients in the first (81.1%), second (86.1%), and fifth (84.8%) year of follow-up. There was a shift towards better prognosis categories in the good outcome group: 9.1% CSR, 3.0% PR, and 66,7% MM in the fifth year. Preoperative medical treatment did not influence the long-term follow-up outcome. A shorter time to surgery (< 12 months) correlated with better outcomes at year 5 (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Thymectomy led to a sustained clinical improvement in our cohort, allowing for a reduced need for medication. A shorter time to surgery seems to have a positive influence on long-term prognosis. We expect that an extended follow-up would improve our results.

Giant Intrathoracic Desmoid Tumor - a Case Report.

Desmoid tumors are soft tissue neoplasms arising from fascial and muscle-aponeurotic structure. These tumors are locally aggressive and have a high recurrence rate, even after complete resection. We present the case of a female with a giant intrathoracic desmoid tumor. She underwent complete surgical resection with no disease recurrence. Desmoid tumors' natural history is not well defined and is often enigmatic, making these tumors difficult to manage. Currently, for intrathoracic desmoid tumors, medical treatment is the recommended approach, nevertheless, surgery can be considered in selected patients.

Dynamics and effects of plastic contaminants' assimilation in gulls.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are persistent disrupters assimilated by organisms, yet little is known about their link to plastic ingestion and health effects. In an experiment, two groups of yellow-legged/lesser black-backed gulls (Larus michahellis/Larus fuscus) were fed plastics with BDE99 to assess leaching into brain, preen oil, liver and fat tissues and evaluate effects on health and stress parameters. Although most plastic was regurgitated, we observed a clear relation between plastic ingestion and chemical leaching. BDE99 exhibited higher levels in brain tissue of gulls from the plastic groups. Also, only values of cholinesterases measured in plasma were significantly reduced in the 'plastic' groups. Cholinesterase activity in the brain also tended to decrease, suggesting a negative effect in gulls' neurofunction. Results indicate that chemical leaching occurs, even when plastics stay in the stomach for a short period of time and showed that this can affect gulls' health.

Volatilome, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles of Coffee Leaf and Coffee Leaf-Toasted Maté Kombuchas.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage traditionally made from the leaves of Camelia sinensis. The market has drastically expanded recently, and the beverage has become more elaborated with new, healthy food materials and flavors. Pruning and harvesting during coffee production may generate tons of coffee leaves that are discarded although they contain substantial amounts of bioactive compounds, including those found in maté tea and coffee seeds. This study characterized the changes in volatilome, microbial, and sensory profiles of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf tea kombuchas between 3-9 days of fermentation. Acceptance was also evaluated by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 103). Kombuchas (K) were prepared using black tea kombucha starter (BTKS) (10%), sucrose (10%), a symbiotic culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY) (2.5%), and a pure coffee leaf infusion (CL) or a 50:50 blend with toasted maté infusion (CL-TM) at 2.5%. The RATA test was chosen for sensory profile characterization. One hundred volatile organic compounds were identified when all infusions and kombucha samples were considered. The potential impact compounds identified in CL K and CL-TM K were: methyl salicylate, benzaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, pentadecanal, phenylethyl-alcohol, cedrol, 3,5-octadien-2-one, ß-damascenone, α-ionone, ß-ionone, acetic acid, caproic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, isovaleric acid, linalool, (S)-dihydroactinidiolide, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl hexanoate, and geranyl acetone. Aroma and flavor descriptors with higher intensities in CL K included fruity, peach, sweet, and herbal, while CL-TM K included additional toasted mate notes. The highest mean acceptance score was given to CL-TM K and CL K on day 3 (6.6 and 6.4, respectively, on a nine-point scale). Arabica coffee leaf can be a co-product with similar fingerprinting to maté and black tea, which can be explored for the elaboration of potentially healthy fermented beverages in food industries.

Enzymatic hydrolysis allows an integral valorization of Nannochloropsis oceanica resulting in the production of bioactive peptide extracts and an eicosapentaenoic acid enriched fraction.

Nannochloropsis oceanica is a microalga with relevant protein content, making it a potential source of bioactive peptides. Furthermore, it is also rich in fatty acids, with a special focus on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid mainly obtained from marine animal sources, with high importance for human health. N. oceanica has a rigid cell wall constraining protein extraction, thus hydrolyzing it may help increase its components' extractability. Therefore, a Box-Behnken experimental design was carried out to optimize the hydrolysis. The hydrolysate A showed 67% ± 0.7% of protein, antioxidant activity of 1166 ± 63.7 µmol TE g-1 of protein and an ACE inhibition with an IC50 of 379 µg protein mL-1 . The hydrolysate B showed 60% ± 1.8% of protein, antioxidant activity of 775 ± 13.0 µmol TE g-1 of protein and an ACE inhibition with an IC50 of 239 µg protein mL-1 . The by-product showed higher yields of total fatty acids when compared to "raw" microalgae, being 5.22% and 1%, respectively. The sustainable developed methodology led to the production of one fraction rich in bioactive peptides and another with interesting EPA content, both with value-added properties with potential to be commercialized as ingredients for different industrial applications, such as functional food, supplements, or cosmetic formulations.

Microplastics in marine mussels, biological effects and human risk of intake: A case study in a multi-stressor environment.

This study documented seasonal levels of microplastics (MPs) and biomarkers (condition index, neurotoxicity, energy, oxidative stress) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), and water physico-chemical parameters in the Douro estuary (NE Atlantic coast), and estimated the human risk of MP intake (HRI) through mussels. Mussel stress was determined through the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR). HRI was estimated from mussel MP concentrations and consumer habits. MPs were mainly micro-fibres (72 %) with varied chemical composition. Seasonal MP means (±SEM) in mussels ranged from 0.111 ± 0.044 (spring) to 0.312 ± 0.092 MPs/g (summer). Seasonal variations of mussel stress (IBR: 1.4 spring to 9.7 summer) and MP concentrations were not related. MeO-BDEs, PBDEs, temperature, salinity and other factors likely contributed to mussel stress variation. HRI ranged from 2438 to 2650 MPs/year. Compared to the literature, MP contamination in mussels is low, as well as the human risk of MP intake through their consumption.

Commercial beers: A source of phthalates and di-ethylhexyl adipate.

Beer is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. Different materials used along its production and packaging can result in human exposure to phthalates and adipates. The aim of this study was to assess simultaneously the levels of phthalates and di-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) in commercial beer samples (n = 66) with a method based on DLLME and detection with GC-MS/MS, and further evaluate human exposure. Six out of seven compounds studied were found in the beers analysed, with levels ranging from 1.77 to 205.40 µg/L. The most prevalent was DEHA at 205.40 µg/L, while dimethyl phthalate (DMP) was not present in any sample. Samples with 5-6 % alcohol, packed in aluminium cans and produced in an industrial environment presented the highest level of these contaminants. Despite low-risk exposure to phthalates and adipate with beer, it is important to remember the ubiquitous nature of these compounds, which can lead to cumulative exposure.

Methodological approaches for the assessment of bisphenol A exposure.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor used in food contact materials, by the application of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The main objective of this study is to compare the estimate of daily BPA exposure at 13 years of age and in the adult Portuguese population, using different methodological approaches, and assess the associations between this exposure and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional data of 13-years follow-up from a population-based birth cohort Generation XXI (GXXI) (n = 2804) and from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015-2016) (n = 3845, ≥18 years old) was used. Dietary information was collected through three food diaries for adolescents and two non-consecutive 24-hour-recalls for adults. To estimate the daily exposure to BPA, three methodological approaches were used. "Food groups attribution" merged the food consumption data with the concentration of BPA in food groups. "Regression tree model" and "random forest" combined food consumption information with urinary BPA, measured in a subsample of 24-hour urine (in adolescents n = 216, and in adults n = 82), both used to predict BPA exposure in the remaining sample. The fit-index of the methodologies was assessed through the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). Associations between BPA exposure and sociodemographic variables were tested by linear regression models, adjusted for sex, age groups (in adults) and educational level. Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.2 ng/kg body weight (bw), recently proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), was used for the risk characterization of BPA exposure. RESULTS: The "random forest" was found as the best methodology to estimate the daily BPA exposure (adolescents: RMSE = 0.989, MAE = 0.727, ρ = 0.168; adults: RMSE = 0.193, MAE = 0.147, ρ = 0.250). The median dietary BPA exposure, calculated by "food groups attribution", was 79.1 and 46.1 ng/kg bw/day for adolescents and adults, respectively, while "random forest" estimated a BPA exposure of 26.7 and 38.0 ng/kg bw/day. 99.9% of the Portuguese population presented a daily exposure above TDI. Male adolescents, females and higher educated adults, were those more exposed to BPA. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated daily BPA exposure strongly depends on the methodological approach. Food groups attribution may overestimate the exposure while the random forest appears to be a better methodological approach to estimate BPA exposure. Nevertheless, for all methods, the Portuguese population presented an unsafe BPA exposure by largely exceeding the safe levels proposed by EFSA.

Volatile fingerprinting, sensory characterization, and consumer acceptance of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf teas.

Coffee leaves contain several bioactive compounds and have been traditionally consumed as a medicinal infusion in the East for centuries. Coffee production generates large amounts of leaves as by-products, which are often wasted in most producing countries because of the low acceptability in the West. Nevertheless, processing and blending coffee leaves may increase aroma and flavor complexity. This study evaluated the volatile and sensory profiles and consumer acceptance of coffee leaf teas compared to two among the most consumed teas (black and maté teas) in Rio de Janeiro. Infusions were made with one experimental and one commercial coffee leaf tea (CLT), two black teas (BT), and one toasted maté tea (TMT) for volatile (GC-MS/MS) and sensory profiles. As an attempt to improve coffee leaf tea acceptance, CLT were also blended (50%) with BT or TMT. Acceptance, Check All That Apply (CATA), and Projective Mapping sensory tests were performed with untrained assessors aged 18-49 (n = 100). Volatile data were standardized by centering and normalization. Sensory data were treated by ANOVA/Fisher test, PCA, and AHCMFA, considering differences at p < 0.05. Ninety-two volatile compounds distributed in 12 classes were identified in different samples. CLT, BT, and TMT infusions shared 19 compounds, including 9 potential impact compounds for aroma and flavor: α-ionone, ß-ionone, hexanal, nonanal, decanal, benzaldehyde, trans-linalool oxide, linalool, and dihydroactinidiolide. The most cited flavor attributes for CLT infusions were herbs/green leaf, woody and refreshing. For TMT and BT, herbs/green leaf, woody, burnt, and fermented were the most cited. These attributes agreed with the volatile profiles. CLT shared 22 compounds with TMT and 28 with BT. Considering pure infusions, TMT presented the highest mean acceptance scores (6.7), followed by Com. and Exp. CLT (6.1 and 5.8, on a 9-point-hedonic scale, respectively). Blending with TMT increased mean acceptance of Exp. CLT (6.4), while blending with BT, downgraded the mean acceptance of Com. CLT (5.3). In Projective Mapping, CLT was considered to have a higher sensory resemblance with TMT than BT. If produced adequately, CLT was shown to have good market potential to support sustainable coffee production and promote health.

Investigating the Impact of Dietary Fibers on Mycotoxin Bioaccessibility during In Vitro Biscuit Digestion and Metabolites Identification.

Mycotoxins contamination is a real concern worldwide due to their high prevalence in foods and high toxicity; therefore, strategies that reduce their gastrointestinal bioaccessibility and absorption are of major relevance. The use of dietary fibers as binders of four mycotoxins (zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2, and T-2 toxins) to reduce their bioaccessibility was investigated by in vitro digestion of biscuits enriched with fibers. K-carrageenan is a promising fiber to reduce the bioaccessibility of ZEA, obtaining values lower than 20%, while with pectin a higher reduction of DON, HT-2, and T-2 (50-88%) was achieved. Three metabolites of mycotoxins were detected, of which the most important was T-2-triol, which was detected at higher levels compared to T-2. This work has demonstrated the advantages of incorporating dietary fibers into a biscuit recipe to reduce the bioaccessibility of mycotoxins and to obtain healthier biscuits than when a conventional recipe is performed due to its high content of fiber.

Can plastic pollution contaminate loggerhead turtle nests? Evaluation of flame retardants (PBDEs) levels in the sand.

Plastic pollution is a global environmental issue affecting multiple ecosystems, namely sea turtle nesting grounds. We analysed the potential chemical contamination caused by plastic debris in loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nests, focusing on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, a class of flame retardants). For that, we conducted a field experiment in a turtle hatchery (Cabo Verde) by placing plastic fragments in the nests at two depths: surface and ~20 cm. We evaluated the nests' success and quantified the levels of PBDEs in the sand using GC-MS/MS. Our results suggest that plastics on the nests' surface can leak contaminants, infiltrating the sand up to 20 cm. Buried plastics showed no relevant leakage of chemicals. While hatching and emergence success was unaffected, we found a relationship between leucistic embryos and contamination levels. Our study highlights the threats of plastic accumulation on beaches, which can potentially leak chemicals and contaminate turtle nests.

Algerian Workers' Exposure to Mycotoxins-A Biomonitoring Study.

Mycotoxins, produced by fungi as secondary metabolites, have the potential to induce both short-term and long-term toxic consequences in animals and humans. The present study aimed to determine multi-mycotoxin levels in Algerian workers using urine as the target. A method based on a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction procedure followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was optimized and validated for the determination of eleven mycotoxins in 96 urine samples. Different sorbents were tested to be used in the dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) cleanup step of QuEChERS. The final method was fit-for-purpose and showed good analytical performance in terms of specificity, linearity, and precision. All samples contained at least two mycotoxins, and toxin-2 (T-2) was the most common, being found in 92.7% of the samples, followed by zearalenone (ZEN) in 90.6% of positive samples, and ochratoxin A (OTA) in 86.4%. T-2 levels ranged from 0.3 µg/L to 36.3 µg/L, while OTA ranged from 0.3 µg/L to 3.5 µg/L, and ZEN ranged from 7.6 µg/L to 126.8 µg/L. This was the first mycotoxin biomonitoring study carried out in the Algerian population. The findings highlight the need for accurate data for better risk assessment and for the development of better regulation to manage mycotoxin contamination in this country.

Volatile, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Coffee Cascara Kombuchas.

Given the substantial world coffee production, tons of coffee fruit cascara rich in bioactive compounds are discarded annually. Using this by-product to produce potentially healthy and acceptable foods is a sustainable practice that aggregates value to coffee production and may help improve people's lives. This study aimed to elaborate kombuchas from coffee cascara tea, evaluate their microbial profile, and monitor the changes in the volatile profile during fermentation, together with sensory attributes and acceptance by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 113). Arabica coffee cascaras from Brazil and Nicaragua were used to make infusions, to which black tea kombucha, a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), and sucrose were added. Fermentation of plain black tea kombucha was also monitored for comparison. The volatile profile was analyzed after 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of fermentation via headspace solid phase microextraction GC-MS. A total of 81 compounds were identified considering all beverages, 59 in coffee cascara kombuchas and 59 in the black tea kombucha, with 37 common compounds for both. An increase mainly in acids and esters occurred during fermentation. Despite the similarity to black tea kombucha, some aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and ketones in coffee cascara kombucha were not identified in black tea kombucha. Potential impact compounds in CC were linalool, decanal, nonanal, octanal, dodecanal, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ß-damascenone, γ-nonalactone, linalool oxide, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetone, phenylacetaldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid, octanoic acid, isovaleric acid, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and limonene. The mean acceptance scores for cascara kombuchas varied between 5.7 ± 0.53 and 7.4 ± 0.53 on a nine-point hedonic scale, with coffee cascara from three-day Nicaragua kombucha showing the highest score, associated with sweetness and berry, honey, woody, and herbal aromas and flavors. The present results indicate that coffee cascara is a promising by-product for elaboration of fermented beverages, exhibiting exotic and singular fingerprinting that can be explored for applications in the food industry.

Astaxanthin impact on brain: health potential and market perspective.

Nowadays, there is an emergent interest in new trend-driven biomolecules to improve health and wellbeing, which has become an interesting and promising field, considering their high value and biological potential. Astaxanthin is one of these promising biomolecules, with impressive high market growth, especially in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This biomolecule, obtained from natural sources (i.e., microalgae), has been reported in the literature to have several beneficial health effects due to its biological properties. These benefits seem to be mainly associated with Astaxanthin's high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may act on several brain issues, thus attenuating symptoms. In this sense, several studies have demonstrated the impact of astaxanthin on a wide range of diseases, namely on brain disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, depression, brain stroke and autism). Therefore, this review highlights its application in mental health and illness. Furthermore, a S.W.O.T. analysis was performed to display an approach from the market/commercial perspective. However, to bring the molecule to the market, there is still a need for more studies to increase deep knowledge regarding the real impact and mechanisms in the human brain.HIGHLIGHTSAstaxanthin has been mainly extracted from the algae Haematococcus pluvialisAstaxanthin, bioactive molecule with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesAstaxanthin has an important protective effect on brain disordersAstaxanthin is highly marketable, mainly for food and pharmaceutical industries.