No evidence for interactions of dimethylfumarate (DMF) and its main metabolite monomethylfumarate (MMF) with human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug transporter.

Dimethylfumarate (DMF) has long been used as part of a fixed combination of fumaric acid esters (FAE) in some European countries and is now available as an oral monotherapy for psoriasis. The present investigation determined whether DMF and its main metabolite monomethylfumarate (MMF) interact with hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, and was performed as part of DMF's regulatory commitments. Although referred to in the available product labels/summary of product characteristics, the actual data have not yet been made publicly available.

Amelioration of Aflatoxicosis in Rats by Volclay NF-BC, Microfine Bentonite.

Addition of sequestering agents to feeds and foods has been proposed as a protective strategy against mycotoxins. To investigate the efficacy of Volclay, a bentonite clay, to protect against aflatoxicosis, rats were fed peanut butter (50% wt/wt)-based diets containing 1,500 ppb aflatoxin (AF), 1,500 ppb aflatoxin with 0.1% Volclay supplementation (AF-LD), or 1,500 ppb aflatoxin with 1% Volclay supplementation (AF-HD) for 8 weeks.

Use of a Biocompetitive Agent to Control Preharvest Aflatoxin in Drought Stressed Peanuts.

A three-year study was conducted to evaluate the use of a nonaflatoxin-producing strain of Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 13539) as a biocompetitive agent for the control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination of peanuts. The agent was added to the soil of the environmental control plot facility at the National Peanut Research Laboratory and tested by subjecting peanuts to optimal conditions for the development of aflatoxin contamination. Edible peanuts from the treated soil contained aflatoxin concentrations of 11, 1, and 40 ppb for crop years 1987, 1988, and 1989, respectively, compared to untreated peanuts with 531, 96, and 241 ppb, respectively.

Application of ELISA to Retail Survey of Aflatoxin B in Peanut Butter.

A simple procedure was devised for the routine screening of aflatoxin B (AFB) in peanut butter using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peanut butter samples (5 g) were artificially contaminated with AFB and extracted by blending with 25 ml of 55% methanol and 10 ml of hexane. The extract was filtered and aqueous filtrate analyzed by a direct competitive ELISA.