Twenty-eight-day oral toxicity study of lycopene from recombinant Escherichia coli in rats.

Lycopene produced by recombinant Escherichia coli was tested for subacute oral toxicity to determine its No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL). Doses of 0, 200, 500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight/day were administered daily by gavage to 10 rats/sex/group for 28 days. No statistically significant, dose-related effect on body weight gain, clinical signs or ophthalmoscopic parameters was observed in any treatment group.

Differential effects of foods traditionally regarded as 'heating' and 'cooling' on prostaglandin E(2) production by a macrophage cell line.

Some components of natural foods may enhance or inhibit prostaglandin formation and potentially affect the inflammation condition. A macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, was employed to examine the effects of foods traditionally regarded as 'heating' or 'cooling' on the production of PGE(2), a well-known proinflammatory mediator.