Polluted water from a storage dam (Villa Victoria, méxico) induces oxidative damage, AChE activity, embryotoxicity, and behavioral changes in Cyprinus carpio larvae.

The Villa Victoria dam is one of the most important storage reservoirs in Mexico since it distributes water to more than 20 million inhabitants in the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico City. In this dam, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an important food resource for the inhabitants, so the aim of this work was to evaluate the oxidative damage (lipoperoxidation, oxidized proteins, antioxidant enzymes activity and gene expression), AChE, embryotoxicity and behavioral changes in C. carpio embryos and larvae exposed to water from Villa Victoria dam for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The embryotoxicity was evaluated trough the General Morphology Score (GMS) and the teratogenic index. Behavioral changes in basal locomotor activity and thigmotaxis were evaluated in a DanioVision, Noldus ™. An increase in lipid and protein oxidation as well as modification of CAT, SOD and GPx enzymatic activity was observed during the exposure times. The GMS indicated a low development in the embryos, the teratogenic index was less than 1, however teratogenic effects as yolk edema, fin malformation, head malformation and scoliosis were observed. In parallel, an increase in AChE activity and gene expression was observed reflecting changes in distance traveled of the basal locomotor activity and thigmotaxis at the sampling points. In conclusion, pollutants in water from Villa Victoria dam caused oxidative damage, changes in SOD, CAT, GPx and AChE activity as well as embryotoxicity and modifications in the behavior of C. carpio larvae. This study demonstrates the need to implement restoration programs for this reservoir since, contamination in the Villa Victoria dam could eventually endanger aquatic life and human health.

Complex coacervation and freeze drying using whey protein concentrate, soy protein isolate and arabic gum to improve the oxidative stability of chia oil.

BACKGROUND: Chia oil (CO) is popular for being the richest vegetable source of α-linolenic acid (60-66%). However, this content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) limits the incorporation of bulk CO in food products due to its high probability of oxidation. This justifies the study of alternative wall materials for microencapsulation. No reports regarding the use of dairy protein/vegetable protein/polysaccharide blends as wall material for the microencapsulation of CO have been published. Therefore, this work analyzed the behavior of a whey protein concentrate (WPC)/soy protein isolate (SPI)/arabic gum (AG) blend as wall material. The complex coacervation (CC) process was studied: pH, 4.0; total solid content, 30% w/v; WPC/SPI/AG ratio, 8:1:1 w/w/w; stirring speed, 600 rpm; time, 30 min; room temperature. RESULTS: The oxidative stability index (OSI) of CO (3.25 ± 0.16 h) was significantly increased after microencapsulation (around four times higher). Furthermore, the well-known matrix-forming ability of AG and WPC helped increase the OSI of microencapsulated oils. Meanwhile, SPI contributed to the increase of the encapsulation efficiency due to its high viscosity. Enhanced properties were observed with CC: encapsulation efficiency (up to 79.88%), OSIs (from 11.25 to 12.52 h) and thermal stability of microcapsules given by the denaturation peak temperatures of WPC (from 77.12 to 86.00 °C). No significant differences were observed in the fatty acid composition of bulk and microencapsulated oils. CONCLUSION: Microcapsules developed from complex coacervates based on the ternary blend represent promising omega-3-rich carriers for being incorporated into functional foods.

Utilization of gallic acid-crosslinked soy proteins as wall material for chia oil microencapsulation.

BACKGROUND: Chia oil represents the vegetable source with the highest content of omega-3 fatty acids. However, the incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into food is limited due to their susceptibility toward oxidation. This investigation aimed to study the microencapsulation of chia oil (CO), using gallic acid (GA) crosslinked-soy protein isolate (SPI) as a wall material and its effect on its oxidative stability. RESULTS: Microcapsules presented a moisture content, water activity, and encapsulation efficiency of around 2.95-4.51% (wet basis); 0.17 and 59.76-71.65%, respectively. Rancimat tests showed that with higher GA content, the induction period increased up to 27.9 h. The storage test demonstrated that the microencapsulated oil with crosslinked wall material has lower values of hydroperoxides and higher induction times concerning the non-crosslinked oil. Finally, the fatty acid profile at this storage time indicated that microcapsules with GA did not have significant changes. In vitro digestion exhibited a reduction in the percentage of bioavailable oil for crosslinked microcapsules, but with no variations in its chemical quality, and an increase in the total polyphenols amount and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: The results obtained demonstrated that the microencapsulation of CO using SPI crosslinked with GA as wall material exerted a very important protective effect since a synergistic effect could be described between the microencapsulation effect and the antioxidant power of GA. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

In search of better snacks: ohmic-heating nixtamalized flour and amaranth addition increase the nutraceutical and nutritional potential of vegetable-enriched tortilla chips.

BACKGROUND: Nixtamalized flour snacks such as tortilla chips are widely consumed across the world, but they are nutritionally poor and contribute to obesity and other non-communicable diseases. The production of healthy versions of such snacks, by incorporating vegetables and improving the quality of the flours used in their formulation, could help address these nutritional challenges. This study compared the fortification of baked tortilla chips with vegetable leaf powders (kale and wild amaranth at 0%, 4%, 8%, and 16% w/w) and using two types of nixtamalized flour: traditional (TNF) and with ohmic heating (OHF). RESULTS: Overall, the use of OHF increased 1.88 times the fibre in enriched and non-enriched snacks with respect to TNF, but the latter had 1.85 times more protein. Addition of 16% of vegetable powders increased protein (kale = 1.4-fold; amaranth = 1.3-fold) and dietary fibre (kale = 1.52-fold; amaranth = 1.7-fold). Amaranth enrichment improved total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of chips at least 1.2 and 1.63 times, respectively. OHF chips also had higher bound TPC than TNF ones, regardless of vegetable addition. Combinations of OHF with 16% amaranth produced chips 1.74-fold higher in antioxidant capacity than non-enriched ones, due to increased content of phenolics such as ferulic acid. CONCLUSION: This work showed that tortilla chips made using nixtamalized flour produced with assisted ohmic heating, alone or in combination with wild amaranth leaf powder, could be used in the production of healthy maize snacks to enhance their prospective antioxidant activity and nutritional value. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Alternative technologies for the production of popped sorghum: a comparative study.

Sorghum is the fifth most harvested crop worldwide, being the popped sorghum as one of the most common snacks in India and some Asian regions. Therefore, this study evaluated how the processing method influences the microstructure, volumetric and textural properties of popped sorghum microstructure, volumetric and textural properties. White sorghum "Paloma" variety (11% moisture) was assessed, which was popped using three processing methods: microwave, pan-frying, and hot salt-frying using three temperature levels. Volumetric and yield characteristics were evaluated for the popped kernels, as their microstructure and texture profile. The popped sorghum obtained through the hot salt-frying method had a microstructure composed of polygonal cells. Also, it showed the best volumetric characteristics (volume), good expansion index, and high process yield. Finally, the hot salt-frying method showed better textural features associated with the attributes of a satisfactory product for consumers.

Probiotic potential of GABA-producing lactobacilli isolated from Uruguayan artisanal cheese starter cultures.

AIMS: In this study, we sought to identify and characterize a collection of 101 lactobacilli strains isolated from natural whey starters used in Uruguayan artisan cheese production, based on their capacity to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and their probiotic potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: The probiotic potential was assessed using low pH and bile salt resistance assays; bacterial adhesion to intestinal mucus was also evaluated. Selected strains were then identified by 16S sequencing, and their GABA-producing potential was confirmed and quantified using a UHPLC-MS system. Twenty-five strains were identified and characterized as GABA-producing lactobacilli belonging to the phylogenetical groups Lactiplantibacillus (n = 19) and Lacticaseibacillus (n = 6). Fifteen strains of the Lactiplantibacillus group showed a significantly higher GABA production than the rest. They showed the predicted ability to survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract, according to the in vitro assays. CONCLUSIONS: A set of promising candidate strains was identified as potential probiotics with action on the gut-brain axis. Further studies are needed to assess their possible effects on behaviour using in vivo assay. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows the potential of strains isolated from local natural whey starters as probiotics and for biotechnological use in functional GABA-enriched foods formulation.

Integrated adsorption and biological removal of the emerging contaminants ibuprofen, naproxen, atrazine, diazinon, and carbaryl in a horizontal tubular bioreactor.

Groundwater and surface water bodies may have contaminants from urban, industrial, or agricultural wastewater, including emerging contaminants (ECs) or micropollutants (MPs). Frequently, they are not efficiently removed by microbial action due to their minimal concentration in water and the low microbiota affinity for complex compounds. This work developed a process allowing the adsorption of contaminants and their simultaneous biodegradation using horizontal tubular fixed-bed biofilm reactors (HTR). Each HTR has two zones: an equalizer-aerator of the incoming liquid flow and a fixed bed zone. This zone was packed with a mixed support material consisting of granular bio-activated carbon (Bio-GAC) and porous material that increases the bed permeability, thus decreasing the pressure drop. Five microbial communities were acclimated and immobilized in granular activated carbon (GAC) to obtain different specialized Bio-GAC particles able to remove the micropollutants ibuprofen, naproxen, atrazine, carbaryl, and diazinon. The Bio-GAC particles were transferred to HTRs continuously run in microaerophilia at several MPs loading rates. Under these conditions, the removal efficiencies of MPs, except atrazine and carbaryl, were around 100.

Peanut skin phenolics obtained by green solvent extraction: characterization and antioxidant activity in pure chia oil and chia oil in water (O/W) emulsion.

BACKGROUND: The peanut skin (PS) is considered as an industrial waste with undervalued applications. Although several studies report potent antioxidant capacities of PS phenolics, the effectiveness in highly unsaturated lipid systems has not yet been evaluated. The objectives of the present study were two-fold: (i) to characterize a PS phenolic extract (PSE) obtained by means of a green technology and (ii) to evaluate its antioxidant efficacy on pure chia oil and chia oil in water (O/W) acid emulsion. RESULTS: PSE was composed mainly of monomeric and condensed flavonoids (procyanidin and proanthocyanidin oligomers). PSE displayed strong antioxidant properties as measured by different reducing power and radical scavenging capacities [IC50  = 0.36 µg dry extract (DE) mL-1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power; IC50  = 4.96 µg DE mL-1 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)• ; IC50  = 6.01 µg DE mL-1 for 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)•+ ; IC50  = 2.62 µg DE mL-1 for HO• ]. It also showed high antioxidant efficacy when tested in pure chia oil under accelerated oxidation conditions (Rancimat, 100 °C). When added to the O/W emulsions maintained at 40 °C for 15 days, the PSE was more effective than a synthetic antioxidant (tert-butylhydroquinone) with respect to minimizing the formation and degradation of lipid hydroperoxides. CONCLUSIONS: The antioxidant efficacy of PSE was primarily attributed to the abundance of compounds with a high number of phenolic-OH groups. Because they were found to cover a relatively wide range of partition coefficients, the antioxidant properties could be also enhanced by effect of both interfacial and solubility phenomena. All of these features allow the potential use of PSE as a natural antioxidant in different types of foods, including acid emulsion systems. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Influence of the extraction conditions on chia oil quality and partially defatted flour antioxidant properties.

Partially defatted chia flour (PDCF) is a by-product of oil extraction from chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.). It may be used as an ingredient to improve food products, especially due to its antioxidant properties. In this work, we studied the best screw press extraction conditions that allow preserving the antioxidant properties of PDCF. A central composite design was applied to perform a response surface analysis in order to optimize the oil extraction. The variables considered for optimization were seed moisture content and pressing temperature. Besides the oil quality indicators, the study was focused on the assessment of PDCF properties, including total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity determined by chemical methods. Our results show that, within the range of screw press conditions evaluated, the chemical quality of the oil and the antioxidant properties of PDCF are both preserved. The best results (highest oil yield and stability) were obtained under a seed moisture content of 10.2% and a pressing temperature of 58.5 °C. In general, our results indicate that screw press methodology can be applied to process chia seeds, using a wide range of conditions, to concurrently produce good quality oil and a PDCF with beneficial properties.

Sensory and process optimization of a mango bagasse-based beverage with high fiber content and low glycemic index.

This research aimed to develop and optimize a mango bagasse (MB) powdered beverage with high fiber content and low glycemic index, acceptable by their potential consumers. The powdered beverage contained 40 g of mango bagasse (Manguifera indica L., var. Manila), xanthan gum (XG), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and silicon dioxide (SDO). The amount of MB remained constant and, 0.5.%, 1.0%, and 2.0% of CMC, XG and SDO were added according to a factorial design 33. The independent variables evaluated were relative viscosity, sedimentation index, solids (ºBx), and color. Statistical optimization was carried out, looking for low values of viscosity and sedimentation index, obtaining the formulation, 0.5% XG, 0.5% CMC, and 0.5% SDO. A preference test was performed with this formulation using a commercial powdered beverage as a reference, 60 consumers participated. Data showed a preference similar to that of the commercial powered beverage, moreover, the MB beverage had a content of 40.90% of total fiber, from which 15.03% was soluble fiber. The beverage had a low glycemic index (45.99) and its postprandial glycemic curve was stable for 120 min, indicating that the beverage shows potential as a functional food.

Increased risk of preneoplastic colonic lesions and colorectal carcinoma in acromegaly: multicenter case-control study.

PURPOSE: Current international guidelines recommend colonoscopy in patients with acromegaly at the time of diagnosis, even though the risk of developing colorectal neoplasm is still controversial. The main objective of this Argentine multicenter study was to analyze through screening colonoscopy the presence of advanced neoplastic lesions considered as precancerous, in patients with acromegaly compared to a control group. METHODS: This is a case-control retrospective study. Full length colonoscopy of 70 acromegalic patients and 128 control subjects were studied. Polyps were classified into non pre-cancerous lesions and advance neoplastic lesions which included advanced adenomas (preneoplastic) and colorectal carcinomas. RESULTS: Thirty three out of 70 acromegalic patients and 32 out of 128 subjects controls presented polyps in the colonoscopy [47.1% vs 25%, p = 0.002, OR 2.68]. Non precancerous polyps were found in 11 (15.7%) and 23 (17.9%) (p = 0.690), while advanced neoplastic lesions were found in 22 (31.4%) and 9 (7.0%) (p = 0,0001 - OR: 6.06) patients and controls respectively. Advanced adenomas and colorectal carcinomas were found in 18 (27.3%) and 9 (7.0%) (p = 0,0006-OR: 4,57), and 4 (5.7%) and 0 (0.0%) p = 0.0063) of patients and controls respectively. The presence of insulin resistance was the only statistically significant associated factor among acromegalic patients with and without colonic polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show an increased risk of preneoplastic colonic lesions and colorectal carcinoma in patients with chronic and sustained GH excess compared to a control group. This supports the recommendation to perform screening colonoscopy at diagnosis of acromegaly.

Survival and malformation rate in oocytes and larvae of Cyprinus carpio by exposure to an industrial effluent.

Pharmaceuticals are used for the prevention or treatment of diseases, and due to their manufacturing process they are continuously released to water bodies. One of the pharmacological groups detected in aquatic environments is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at trace concentrations. This study evaluated the survival and malformation rate in oocytes and larvae of Cyprinus carpio (C. carpio) after exposure to different proportions of an industrial effluent. Initially, the industrial effluent was sampled from an NSAID manufacturing plant located in the city of Toluca, State of Mexico, subsequently the physicochemical characterization and determination of the concentration of chemical compounds present were carried out. On the other hand, the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) and the effective concentration 50 (EC50) were calculated to determine the teratogenic index (TI), as well as the alterations to the embryonic development and the teratogenic effects on oocytes and larvae of C. carpio at the following proportions of the industrial effluent: 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.1%, following the Test Guideline 236, which describes a Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity test, the exposure times were 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-fertilization. The contaminants detected were NaClO (2.6 mg L-1) and NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen and paracetamol in the range of 1.09-2.68 mg L-1. In this study the LC50 was 0.275%, the EC50 0.133% and the TI 2.068. Several malformations were observed in all proportions of the industrial effluent evaluated, however the most severe such as spina bifida and paravertebral hemorrhage were observed at the highest effluent proportion. The industrial effluent evaluated in this study represents a risk for organisms that are in contact with it, since it contains chemical compounds that induce embryotoxic and teratogenic effects as observed in oocytes and larvae of C. carpio.

Value of bronchial reversibility to salbutamol, exhaled nitric oxide and responsiveness to methacholine to corroborate the diagnosis of asthma in children.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Functional and inflammatory measures have been recommended to corroborate asthma diagnosis in schoolchildren, but the evidence in this regard is conflicting. We aimed to determine, in real-life clinical situation, the value of spirometry, spirometric bronchial reversibility to salbutamol (BDR), bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (MCT) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), to corroborate the diagnosis of asthma in children on regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) referred from primary care. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-seven schoolchildren with mild-moderate persistent asthma, on treatment with regular ICS, participated in the study. Abnormal tests were defined as FENO ≥ 27 ppb, BDR (FEV1 ≥ 12%) and methacholine PC20 ≤ 4 mg/mL. RESULTS: The proportions of positive BDR, FENO and MCT, were 16.4%, 33.3%, and 87.0%, respectively. MCT was associated with FENO (p < 0.03) and BDR (p = 0.001); FENO was associated with BDR (p = 0.045), family history of asthma (p = 0.003) and use of asthma medication in the first two years of life (p = 0.004). BDR was significantly related with passive tobacco exposure (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Spirometry, BDR and BDR had a poor performance for corroborating diagnosis in our asthmatic children on ICS treatment; on the contrary, MCT was positive in most of them, which agrees with previous reports. Although asthma tests are useful to corroborate asthma when positive, clinical diagnosis remains the best current approach for asthma diagnosis, at least while better objective and feasible measurements at the daily practice are available. At present, these tests may have a better role for assessing the management and progression of the condition.

Glucosinolates and Isothiocyanates from Moringa oleifera: Chemical and Biological Approaches.

Alternative therapies, such as phytotherapy, are considered to improve the health status of people with chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). In this regard, Moringa oleifera is currently being studied for its nutritional value and its total phenolic content. Besides phenolic compounds, the phytochemical composition is also of great interest. This composition is characterized by the presence of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. Isothiocyanates formed by the biotransformation of Moringa glucosinolates contain an additional sugar in their chemical structure, which provides stability to these bioactive compounds over other isothiocyanates found in other crops. Both glucosinolates and isothiocyanates have been described as beneficial for the prevention and improvement of some chronic diseases. The content of glucosinolates in Moringa tissues can be enhanced by certain harvesting methods which in turn alters their final yield after extraction. This review aims to highlight certain features of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates from M. oleifera, such as their chemical structure, functionality, and main extraction and harvesting methods. Some of their health-promoting effects will also be addressed.

Effects on bread and oil quality after functionalization with microencapsulated chia oil.

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids-rich oils suffer oxidation reactions that alter their chemical and organoleptic quality. Microencapsulation can be a powerful tool for protection against ambient conditions. In the present study, the addition of microencapsulated chia oil as an ingredient in bread preparations and its effect on the technological and chemical quality of breads was investigated. RESULTS: Microencapsulation of chia oil was carried out by freeze-drying with soy proteins as wall material and oil release was determined under in vitro gastric and intestinal conditions. Encapsulated oil-containing bread showed no differences in specific volume, average cell area, firmness and chewiness with respect to control bread. Unencapsulated oil-containing bread showed a marked increase in hydroperoxide values respect to control, whereas encapsulated oil-containing bread values were not affected by baking and bread storage. The fatty acid profiles showed a decrease of 13% and 16%, respectively, in α-linolenic acid in the encapsulated and unencapsulated oils with respect to bulk chia oil. Sensory analysis showed no significant differences between bread samples. CONCLUSION: The addition of encapsulated chia oil did not alter the technological quality of breads and prevented the formation of hydroperoxide radicals. A ration of encapsulated oil-containing bread contributes 60% of the recommended dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Geno- and cytotoxicity induced on Cyprinus carpio by aluminum, iron, mercury and mixture thereof.

Metals such as Al, Fe and Hg are used in diverse anthropogenic activities. Their presence in water bodies is due mainly to domestic, agricultural and industrial wastewater discharges and constitutes a hazard for the organisms inhabiting these environments. The present study aimed to evaluate geno- and cytotoxicity induced by Al, Fe, Hg and the mixture of these metals on blood of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. Specimens were exposed to the permissible limits in water for human use and consumption according to the pertinent official Mexican norm [official Mexican norm NOM-127-SSA1-1994] Al (0.2mgL-1), Fe (0.3mgL-1), Hg (0.001mgL-1) and their mixture for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96h. Biomarkers of genotoxicity (comet assay and micronucleus test) and cytotoxicity (caspase-3 activity and TUNEL assay) were evaluated. Significant increases relative to the control group (p<0.05) were observed in all biomarkers at all exposure times in all test systems; however, damage was greater when the metals were present as a mixture. Furthermore, correlations between metal concentrations and biomarkers of geno- and cytotoxicity were found only at certain exposure times. In conclusion, Al, Fe, Hg and the mixture of these metals induce geno- and cytotoxicity on blood of C. carpio.

Effect of amoxicillin exposure on brain, gill, liver, and kidney of common carp (Cyprinus carpio): The role of amoxicilloic acid.

Amoxicillin (AMX) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics around the world due to its broad-spectrum activity against different bacterial strains as well as its use as a growth promoter in animal husbandry. Although residues of this antibacterial agent have been found in water bodies in diverse countries, there is not enough information on its potential toxicity to aquatic organisms such as the common carp Cyprinus carpio. This study aimed to evaluate AMX-induced oxidative stress in brain, gill, liver and kidney of C. carpio. Carp were exposed to three different concentrations of AMX (10 ng/L, 10 µg/L, 10 mg/L) for 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, and the following biomarkers were evaluated: lipid peroxidation (LPX), hydroperoxide content (HPC), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Amoxicillin and its main degradation product amoxicilloic acid (AMA) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection and UV detection (HPLC-EC-UV). Significant increases in LPX, HPC, and PCC (P < 0.05) were found in all study organs, particularly kidney, as well as significant changes in antioxidant enzymes activity. Amoxicilloic acid in water is concluded to induce oxidative stress in C. carpio, this damage being highest in kidney. The biomarkers used are effective for the assessment of the environmental impact of this agent on aquatic species. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1102-1120, 2017.

Cyto-genotoxicity and oxidative stress in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to a mixture of ibuprofen and diclofenac.

Thirty million people worldwide consume each day nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a heterogeneous group of pharmaceuticals used for its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies report high NSAID concentrations in wastewater treatment plant effluents, in surface, ground, and drinking water, and in sediments. NSAIDs are also known to induce toxicity on aquatic organisms. However, toxicity in natural ecosystems is not usually the result of exposure to a single substance but to a mixture of toxic agents, yet only a few studies have evaluated the toxicity of mixtures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity induced by diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBP), and their mixture on a species of commercial interest, the common carp Cyprinus carpio. The median lethal concentration of IBP and DCF was determined, and oxidative stress was evaluated using the following biomarkers: lipid peroxidation and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Cyto-genotoxicity was evaluated by micronucleus test, comet assay, and the specific activity of caspase-3. Results show that DCF, IBP, and a mixture of these pharmaceuticals induced free radical production, oxidative stress and cyto-genotoxicity in tissues of C. carpio. However, a greater effect was elicited by the mixture than by either pharmaceutical alone in some biomarkers evaluated, particularly in gill. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1637-1650, 2017.

Wheat germ stabilization by infrared radiation.

Wheat germ has an important enzymatic activity, being lipases the enzymes which cause the highest impact in the reduction of shelf life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of infrared radiation on wheat germ stabilization in an attempt to extend the shelf life. The effects of treatment time, gap (sample distance to IR emitters) and infrared radiation intensity on wheat germ were analyzed through response surface methodology. Final moisture content, final temperature, color of germ and germ oil quality parameters: free fatty acid content changes and total tocopherol content were the responses evaluated using a Box-Behnken design. A combination of an infrared radiation intensity of 4800 W/m2, a 3 min treatment and 0.2 m emitter-sample distance were the best processing condition to stabilize the wheat germ without significantly reduction of the tocopherol content. A confirmatory experiment was conducted with these optimal conditions, and the heat-treated and raw germ samples were stored for 90 days at room temperature in three layer packages to protect them against light and oxygen. The oil quality parameters indicated that the raw germ had a shelf-life of about 15 days, with the heat-treated wheat germ maintaining its quality for at least 90 days under these stored conditions.

Oxidative stress induced in Hyalella azteca by an effluent from a NSAID-manufacturing plant in Mexico.

Production in the pharmaceutical industry has increased and along with it, the amount of wastewater of various characteristics and contaminant concentrations. The main chemicals in these effluents are solvents, detergents, disinfectants-such as sodium hypochlorite (NaClO)-and pharmaceutical products, all of which are potentially ecotoxic. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress induced in the amphipod Hyalella azteca by the effluent from a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-manufacturing plant. The median lethal concentration (72 h-LC50) was determined and H. azteca were exposed to the lowest observed adverse effect level (0.0732 %) for 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, and biomarkers of oxidative stress were evaluated [hydroperoxide content (HPC), lipid peroxidation (LPX), protein carbonyl content (PCC), and the activity of the superoxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)]. Statistically significant increases with respect to the control group (P < 0.05) were observed in HPC, LPX and PCC in H. azteca at all exposure times. Antioxidant enzymes activity SOD, CAT and GPx activity also increased significantly (P < 0.05) with respect to the control group. In conclusion, the industrial effluent analyzed in the present study contains NSAIDs and NaClO, and induces oxidative stress in H. azteca.