Evaluating phytochemical constituents and antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities of , , , and extracts.

Introduction: , , and are used against malaria in traditional medicine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To evaluate their potential in the treatment of this disease, the antiplasmodial property of these four plants was evaluated. All experiments were conducted on methanolic extracts performed on selected organ parts of these plants.

Proposals for Antimicrobial Testing Guidelines Applied on Ajowan and Spanish Lavender Essential Oils.

To fight the rising resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, a strategy followed by several researchers is to focus on natural compounds, such as essential oils, as a source of potent antibacterial compounds. These last decades, hundreds of original papers have been written about microbiological assays that prove the antibacterial activity of essential oils and their use in the medical field. But can we really compare all the data available in the literature when the raw material, the microbiological assays, and/or the strains are different from one article to another? This review will point out the differences and the inadequate practices found in published articles that tested 2 lesser-studied essential oils-Spanish lavender and the ajowan-by the broth dilution method against , a human pathogenic bacterium.

Rapid method for the confirmatory analysis of chrysoidine in aquaculture products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and fast method for the quantification of the illegal dye chrysoidine in aquaculture products with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) is presented. Muscle tissues were made alkaline with sodium hydroxide and extracted with ethyl acetate. After evaporation and subsequent defatting with n-hexane, extracts were directly injected onto the UPLC-column.

Validation of a method for the detection and confirmation of nitroimidazoles and the corresponding hydroxy metabolites in pig plasma by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Nitroimidazoles (Ronidazole, Dimetridazole, Metronidazole, Ipronidazole) and their hydroxy metabolites are banned substances with antibiotic and anticoccidial activity. They are suspected to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. Since nitroimidazoles showed an inhomogeneous distribution and a rapid degradation in incurred muscle samples, plasma is the preferred target matrix for residue analysis.

Determination of acrylamide levels in selected foods in Brazil.

Selected carbohydrate-rich foods available on the Brazilian market (111 samples representing 19 product categories) were analysed for acrylamide content using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. A limit of detection of 10 microg kg(-1), a limit of quantitation of 20 microg kg(-1) and mean recoveries ranging 100 to 115% were obtained during a laboratory validation procedure. The concentration of acrylamide in the samples ranged from <20 to 2528 microg kg(-1), with a considerable variation between individual foodstuffs within the same food product class.

Selection criteria for potato tubers to minimize acrylamide formation during frying.

A number of parameters linked to the selection of potato tubers were evaluated with regard to their potential to influence acrylamide formation in French fries. The formation of acrylamide, which is a potential human carcinogen, can be minimized for a big extent by the selection of an appropriate tuber. This study focused on the following selection criteria: variety as influenced by storage time and soil type, underwater weight, and tuber size.

Influence of fertilization on acrylamide formation during frying of potatoes harvested in 2003.

The quality of the potato has been found to vary, when grown under different agricultural and environmental conditions, such as the level of fertilization. Consequently these factors may influence the acrylamide formation during the preparation of French fries. These assumptions were studied on three varieties: Bintje, Ramos, and Saturna from the harvest of 2003.

Influence of storage practices on acrylamide formation during potato frying.

A number of parameters linked to storage of potatoes were evaluated with regard to their potential to influence the acrylamide formation in French fries. Acrylamide, which is a potential human carcinogen, is reported to be formed during the frying of potatoes as a result of the reactions between asparagine and reducing sugars. This study was conducted using three potato varieties (Bintje, Ramos, and Saturna) typically used in Belgium, The Netherlands, and the northern part of France for French fry and crisp production.