Use of Zebrafish Embryo Assay to Evaluate Toxicity and Safety of Bioreactor-Grown Exopolysaccharides and Endopolysaccharides from European Ganoderma applanatum Mycelium for Future Aquaculture Applications

Natural mycelial exopolysaccharide (EPS) and endopolysaccharide (ENS) extracted from bioreactor-cultivated European Ganoderma applanatum mushrooms are of potential high commercial value for both food and adjacent biopharmaceutical industries. In order to evaluate their potential toxicity for aquaculture application, both EPS (0.01–10 mg/mL) and ENS (0.01–10 mg/mL) extracts were tested for Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity (ZFET); early development effects on Zebrafish Embryos (ZE) were also analyzed between 24 and 120 h post-fertilization (HPF). Both EPS and ENS are considered non-toxic with LC₅₀ of 1.41 mg/mL and 0.87 mg/mL respectively. Both EPS and ENS did not delay hatching and teratogenic defect towards ZE with <1.0 mg/mL, respectively. No significant changes in the ZE heart rate were detected following treatment with the two compounds tested (EPS: 0.01–10 mg/mL: 176.44 ± 0.77 beats/min and ENS: 0.01–10 mg/mL: 148.44 ± 17.75 beats/min) compared to normal ZE (120–180 beats/min). These initial findings support future pre-clinical trials in adult fish models with view to safely using EPS and ENS as potential feed supplements for supplements for development of the aquaculture industry.     

Chemistry and Toxicology of Major Bioactive Substances in Inocybe Mushrooms

Mushroom poisoning has always been a threat to human health. There are a large number of reports about ingestion of poisonous mushrooms every year around the world. It attracts the attention of researchers, especially in the aspects of toxin composition, toxic mechanism and toxin application in poisonous mushroom. Inocybe is a large genus of mushrooms and contains toxic substances including muscarine, psilocybin, psilocin, aeruginascin, lectins and baeocystin. In order to prevent and remedy mushroom poisoning, it is significant to clarify the toxic effects and mechanisms of these bioactive substances. In this review article, we summarize the chemistry, most known toxic effects and mechanisms of major toxic substances in Inocybe mushrooms, especially muscarine, psilocybin and psilocin. Their available toxicity data (different species, different administration routes) published formerly are also summarized. In addition, the treatment and medical application of these toxic substances in Inocybe mushrooms are also discussed. We hope that this review will help understanding of the chemistry and toxicology of Inocybe mushrooms as well as the potential clinical application of its bioactive substances to benefit human beings.     

Urinary aflatoxin M1 in Port-au-Prince and a rural community in north-east Haiti

Aflatoxins (AFs) are hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxins that can contaminate grains and oil seeds in tropical and sub-tropical areas and have been detected in maize and peanut products of Haiti. The first objective was to assess human exposure to AFs among Haitians at an urban hospital (GHESKIO) and a rural health centre (HCBH). The second objective was to test the association between AF exposure and reported dietary intake of potentially contaminated foods, such as maize, peanut products and milk. Measurement of urinary AFM1 by HPLC revealed that among 367 participants 14% and 22% at GHESKIO and HCBH, respectively, had detectable AFM1. The maximum and median AFM1 concentrations for all detected samples were 700 pg AFM1 ml^–1 and 11.7 pg ml^–1, respectively. Detection of AFM1 was significantly associated with peanut consumption (p < 0.05). Controlling for diet and age group in a logit model, patients who reported peanut consumption the day of the survey and patients from HCBH had greater log odds of excreting detectable AFM1 (p < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively); females had lower log odds (p = 0.020). Recalled frequency of consuming non-dairy animal-sourced foods, an indicator of diet quality, approached significance (p = 0.056) as an inverse predictor of urinary AFM1 detection. The findings augur the need for interventions that will improve food safety in Haiti and limit exposure to AFs, particularly among rural communities.     

免疫婴儿乳粉的安全毒理学评定

以24株人肠道病原菌(包括病原性大肠杆菌12株、沙门氏菌8株、志贺氏菌3株、小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌1株)作为抗原,对乳牛进行系统免疫,免疫乳与非免疫乳乳中IgG含量无显著差异。系统免疫并不增加乳中IgG的含量,但IgG的抗体特异性大大增强,所得的免疫初乳中乳抗体对24种不同病原菌的凝集价为28～212,为普通初乳中乳抗体凝集价的32～256倍。以免疫初乳作为原料制备免疫初乳粉并添加到婴儿乳粉中制成免疫婴儿乳粉。婴儿免疫乳粉LD50>10g/kg;Ames试验及小鼠骨髓微核试验和小鼠精子畸变试验表明婴儿免疫乳粉无致畸变作用。大鼠30d喂养试验表明,婴儿免疫乳粉对大鼠生长无不良影响,大鼠血液指标正常,病理学检查未见任何病变。     

细胞技术在食品毒理学毒性快速细胞技术在食品毒理学毒性快速筛选方面的应用研究

对食品中外源化合物毒性的考察是一项繁重而艰巨的工作,传统食品毒理学方法效率低、耗资较大,不能满足实际工作的需要,因此,建立简单、快速、可靠的快速筛选替代模型,一直是国际上讨论的课题。近年来,应用细胞技术对食品中的外源性化合物的毒性进行筛选和安全评价进展迅速,现就细胞技术在食品毒理学毒性快速筛选方面的应用做一总结。     

透明质酸钙毒理学研究

目的研究透明质酸钙的毒理学特性。方法分别进行小鼠急性毒性实验和大鼠30 d喂养实验。结果样品对小鼠的急性毒性LD50大于5 g/kg;实验期内大鼠生长发育良好,血常规及血生化各项指标均在正常范围,病理组织学检查各脏器均未见有意义的病理改变。结论根据人体最大可能摄入量(100 mg/d)和急性毒性分级标准,透明质酸钙为无毒物质,对人体无毒害及副作用。     

Salivary Glands after Prolonged Aluminum Exposure: Proteomic Approach Underlying Biochemical and Morphological Impairments in Rats

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and its high extraction rate and industrial use make human exposure very common. As Al may be a human toxicant, it is important to investigate the effects of Al exposure, mainly at low doses and for prolonged periods, by simulating human exposure. This work aimed to study the effects of low-dose exposure to chloride aluminum (AlCl₃) on the oxidative biochemistry, proteomic profile, and morphology of the major salivary glands. Wistar male rats were exposed to 8.3 mg/kg/day of AlCl₃ via intragastric gavage for 60 days. Then, the parotid and submandibular glands were subjected to biochemical assays, proteomic evaluation, and histological analysis. Al caused oxidative imbalance in both salivary glands. Dysregulation of protein expression, mainly of those related to cytoarchitecture, energy metabolism and glandular function, was detected in both salivary glands. Al also promoted histological alterations, such as acinar atrophy and an increase in parenchymal tissue. Prolonged exposure to Al, even at low doses, was able to modulate molecular alterations associated with morphological impairments in the salivary glands of rats. From this perspective, prolonged Al exposure may be a risk to exposed populations and their oral health.