Incidence and health risk assessment of hydrogen cyanide and multi-mycotoxins in Nigerian garri.

Garri is a granular, starchy food prepared by the fermentation of mashed cassava. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and mycotoxins are contaminants in certain foods at different points along the food value chain. The incidence and contamination levels of HCN and multi-mycotoxins in garri from five agroecological zones of Nigeria were determined using a spectrophotometric method and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS), respectively.

Assessment of dietary exposure and levels of mycotoxins in sorghum from Niger State of Nigeria.

This study reports levels of mycotoxins in sorghum from Niger State, Nigeria, and provides a comprehensive assessment of their potential health risks by combining mycotoxin levels and dietary exposure assessment. A total of 240 samples of red and white sorghum were collected from both stores and markets across four microclimatic zones. Fungal species were identified using a dilution plate method.

Mycotoxin levels and characterization of natural anti-fungal phytochemicals in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) from Nigeria's six agroecological zones.

This study reports levels of multiple mycotoxins across Nigeria's six agro-ecological zones and corresponding levels of natural anti-fungal phytochemicals present in pearl millet (PM). 220 representative composite samples of PM were collected for mycotoxin analysis using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), and 24 were randomly selected for determination of metabolites using gas chromatography-high resolution time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC-HRTOF-MS). In total, 15 mycotoxins were detected, all with levels below the European Union (EU) permissible limits and level of aflatoxins only up to 1.

Effect of partially purified sub-fractions of extract on carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats.

Background: This study was designed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of partially purified fractions from extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl) intoxicated rats.

Methods: The methanol extract of was subjected to solvent partitioning using n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water. Separation of fractions with proven antioxidant activity was achieved by chromatographic techniques.

Evaluation of haematological changes in Plasmodium-berghei-infected mice administered with aqueous extract of Phyllantus amarus.

This study was designed to evaluate the changes in some hematological parameters of P-berghei-infected mice treated with aqueous extract of Phyllantus amarus, a plant that is used traditionally to treat malaria patients in some Nigerian communities. The aqueous extract of the leaves at 200, 400 and 600 mg kg(-1) body weight/day dose levels were used to treat the test groups immediately after infection for the suppressive test and 72 hours post infection for the curative test while a standard antimalarial drug, Artesunate, at a dose of 50 mg kg(-1) body weight was administered on the positive control group. The negative control group was left untreated.

Natural multi-occurrence of mycotoxins in rice from Niger State, Nigeria.

Twenty-one rice samples from field (ten), store (six) and market (five) from the traditional rice-growing areas of Niger State, Nigeria were analysed for aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) and B(2) (FB(2)), and patulin (PAT) by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) respectively. T-2 toxin was determined using TLC only. AFs were detected in all samples, at total AF concentrations of 28-372 μg/kg.