Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in dried fruits from Morocco: Monitoring, regulatory aspects, and exposure assessment.

The present study aims to investigate the presence of Aflatoxins (AF) in 180 samples dried fruits and Ochratoxin A (OTA) in 210 samples dried fruits and grape juices collected in Morocco. Mycotoxins were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to fluorescence detection and immunoaffinity columns (IAC) cleanup. Contamination levels were compared with the maximum regulatory limits (MRL) recently adopted in the country, and mycotoxin exposure of adult consumers was assessed.

Comparative Study of Ochratoxin A Exposure through the Intake of Cereal Products in Two Climatic Moroccan Regions.

The present study aims to compare ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure through the intake of three cereal derivative products (bread, pasta and semolina) in two different Moroccan climatic regions (littoral and continental). OTA weekly intakes from cereal products were calculated using a deterministic approach for each region. Results showed a statistically significant difference ( < 0.

Exposure assessment to ochratoxin A through the intake of three cereal derivatives from the Moroccan market.

Previous studies reported the contamination of cereals products with OTA in Morocco. Given bread, pasta and semolina are staple consumed food in the country, this study aims to assess the OTA exposure levels for the adult consumers in the country through cereal derivatives intake, by using a deterministic model based on the crossover of consumption and contamination data of 457 cereals products samples. The study also set out to determine under what conditions the OTA contributions from these 3 cereal derivatives alone were enough to cause a real public health problem in the country.

Hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic activity of Ageratum conyzoides L. in rats.

The hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic properties of the aqueous extracts of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. were evaluated in normoglycemic and in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, in order to validate its use in folk medicine. Tested animals were given the aqueous extracts of the plant at the doses of 100, 200 and 300mg/kg.

Role of hypaphorine in the toxicity of Astragalus lusitanicus.

Hypaphorine, an alpha-N,N,N-trimethyltryptophan betaine, was isolated, for the first time, from Astragalus lusitanicus Lam. (Fabaceae), a plant highly toxic for lambs and goats. This alkaloid was characterized by NMR and MS analysis.