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L-asparaginase (E.C.3.5.1.1) hydrolyzes L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, which has been widely applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Microbes have advantages for L-asparaginase production, and there are several commercially available forms of L-asparaginase, all of which are derived from microbes. Generally, L-asparaginase has an optimum pH range of 5.0–9.0 and an optimum temperature of between 30 and 60 °C. However, the optimum temperature of L-asparaginase from hyperthermophilic archaea is considerable higher (between 85 and 100 °C). The native properties of the enzymes can be enhanced by using immobilization techniques. The stability and recyclability of immobilized enzymes makes them more suitable for food applications. This current work describes the classification, catalytic mechanism, production, purification, and immobilization of microbial L-asparaginase, focusing on its application as an effective reducer of acrylamide in fried potato products, bakery products, and coffee. This highlights the prospects of cost-effective L-asparaginase, thermostable L-asparaginase, and immobilized L-asparaginase as good candidates for food application in the future.

This study aimed to investigate the ability of chitin and heat-treated shrimp shells to bind aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in liquid matrix. Several concentrations of chitin or shrimp shells (grinded and ungrinded) were incubated in AFM1-contaminated phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at different incubation times. The stability of the formed adsorbent-AFM1 complex was also tested in milk at different incubation times and temperatures. The unbound AFM1 was quantified by HPLC. Thereby, the percentages of the initial bounded AFM1 varied between 14.29 and 94.74%. Interestingly, in milk, an increase in incubation time coupled with a decrease in temperature affected positively the amount of bounded AFM1 to chitin and negatively those bounded to ungrinded shells. Results also revealed a partial reversibility in the binding of AFM1 to these adsorbents. These findings provided strong evidence on ability of chitin or shrimp shells by-product to bind AFM1 in milk and in PBS.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been well documented to be involved in diverse aspects of biotic and abiotic stresses, especially detoxification processes. Whether they regulate plant development remains unclear. Here, we report on our isolation by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of a plant GST, AtGSTU17, from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and demonstrate that its expression is regulated by multiple photoreceptors, especially phytochrome A (phyA) under all light conditions. Further physiological studies indicated that AtGSTU17 participates in various aspects of seedling development, including hypocotyl elongation, anthocyanin accumulation, and far-red light-mediated inhibition of greening with a requirement of functional phyA. The loss-of-function mutant of AtGSTU17 (atgstu17) resulted in reduced biomass of seedlings and number of lateral roots in the presence of auxin, as well as insensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated inhibition of root elongation, with similarity to different phyA mutant alleles. Moreover, the root phenotype conferred by atgstu17 was reflected by histochemical β-glucuronidase staining of AtGSTU17 promoter activity with the addition of auxin or ABA. Further microarray analysis of wild-type Columbia and atgstu17 seedlings treated with far-red irradiation or ABA revealed that AtGSTU17 might modulate hypocotyl elongation by positively regulating some light-signaling components and negatively regulating a group of auxin-responsive genes and modulate root development by negatively controlling an auxin transport protein in the presence of ABA. Therefore, our data reveal that AtGSTU17 participates in light signaling and might modulate various aspects of Arabidopsis development by affecting glutathione pools via a coordinated regulation with phyA and phytohormones.

Large-scale cultivation of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux has been carried out on medicinal plant farms in western China for over 1000 years. After detoxification, the fleshy roots are officially used as aconite in herbal medicine.

The electrochemical degradation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen in tap water has been studied using electro-Fenton (EF) and anodic oxidation (AO) processes with platinium (Pt) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes and carbon felt cathode. Fast degradation of the parent drug molecule and its degradation intermediates leading to complete mineralization was achieved by BDD/carbon felt, Pt/carbon felt, and AO with BDD anode. The obtained results showed that oxidative degradation rate of ketoprofen and mineralization of its aqueous solution increased by increasing applied current. Degradation kinetics fitted well to a pseudo-first-order reaction. Absolute rate constant of the oxidation of ketoprofen by electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals was determined to be (2.8 ± 0.1) × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ by using competition kinetic method. Several reaction intermediates such as 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, pyrogallol, catechol, benzophenone, benzoic acid, and hydroquinone were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The formation, identification, and evolution of short-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids like formic, acetic, oxalic, glycolic, and glyoxylic acids were monitored with ion exclusion chromatography. Based on the identified aromatic/cyclic intermediates and carboxylic acids as end products before mineralization, a plausible mineralization pathway was proposed. The evolution of the toxicity during treatments was also monitored using Microtox method, showing a faster detoxification with higher applied current values.

ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were prepared by an electrospinning–electrospraying hybrid process in which ZnO nanoparticles were dispersed on the surface of Nylon 6 nanofibers without becoming completely embedded. The prepared ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were evaluated for their abilities to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth and to catalytically detoxify chemicals. Results showed that these ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats had excellent antibacterial efficiency (99.99%) against both the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus cereus bacteria. In addition, they exhibited good detoxifying efficiency (95%) against paraoxon, a simulant of highly toxic chemicals. ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were also deposited onto nylon/cotton woven fabrics and the nanofiber mats did not significantly affect the moisture vapor transmission rates and air permeability values of the fabrics. Therefore, ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats prepared by the electrospinning–electrospraying hybrid process are promising material candidates for protective applications.

Bhasmas are unique Ayurvedic organometallic preparations used for medicinal purpose. Quality of bhasma depends upon quality of starting materials, processing ingredients, meticulous trituration and heating cycle. In Ayurveda, Vanga bhasma is traditional Indian medicine which is an organometallic preparation treated with plant extract. It is especially used in the treatments of diseases related to gastrointestinal tract and genitor urinary system. However detailed characterization studies after synthesis are important which shows authenticity of product. The present study deals with the preparation of Vanga bhasma according to the procedure mentioned in the Ayurvedic literature. Synthesized bhasma was characterized by various analytical techniques and also compared with commercial sample. Different steps involved in synthesis of Vanga bhasma include shodhan (purification/detoxification), jaran (heating and stirring), bhavan (levigation) and maran (incineration). Bhasma was incinerated (maran process) by traditional method of heating as well as using muffle furnace. These two products obtained from Maran (incineration) and commercial sample were analyzed for quality control checks, on the parameters described in Ayurvedic texts as well as modern techniques such as TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, DLS and FTIR were done to find out the nature and form of the drug prepared. The in vitro gastric and gastrointestinal (pancreatic) bioaccessibility of Bhasma were also determined. The study reveals that the synthesized Bhasma was converted into its nontoxic oxide form and had a highly reduced particle size observed from SEM images. These studies reveal that Vanga Bhasma prepared by traditional method of heating (Sn1) has 50% nanoparticles (150–300 nm range) that prepared by using electric muffle furnace (Sn2) has 100% nanoparticles (50–100 nm range) while commercial samples (Sn3) has 50% nanoparticles (100–300 nm range). The study confirmed the formation of organometallic compound (SnO2) at the end of the manufacturing process. The percentage bioaccessibility for gastrointestinal digestion is more than the gastric digestion. Hence, it is concluded that Vanga Bhasma can be useful nanomedicine. •XRD studies reveal crystalline nature of Vanga Bhasma and formation of SnO2.•SEM studies reveals that Vanga Bhasma prepared by Muffle furnace heating are less than 50 nm.•TEM analysis of Vanga Bhasma also reveals that bhasma are polycrystalline in nature while commercial sample shows presence of rod like structures.•The HR-TEM shows that the inter planer distance in particle prepared by traditional method of heating is 0.373 nm while that of bhasma prepared by using the Furnace for heating shows 0.34 nm.•DLS studies reveal that Vanga Bhasma prepared by traditional method of heating has 50% nanoparticles (150–300 nm range) that prepared by using electric muffle furnace has 100% nanoparticles (50–100 nm range) while commercial sample has 50% nanoparticles (100–300 nm range).

The ability of a cyclodextrin-polyurethane polymer to remove ochratoxin A from aqueous solutions was examined by batch rebinding assays. The results from the aqueous binding studies were fit to two parameter models to gain insight into the interaction of ochratoxin A with the nanosponge material. The ochratoxin A sorption data fit well to the heterogeneous Freundlich isotherm model. The polymer was less effective at binding ochratoxin A in high pH buffer (9.5) under conditions where ochratoxin A exists predominantly in the dianionic state. Batch rebinding assays in red wine indicate the polymer is able to remove significant levels of ochratoxin A from spiked solutions between 1–10 μg·L−1. These results suggest cyclodextrin nanosponge materials are suitable to reduce levels of ochratoxin A from spiked aqueous solutions and red wine samples.

The series of events that led to the discovery of aflatoxin as a potent carcinogen, its biosynthesis, mechanism of action, structure-function relationship provide interesting insight into the economical and technological factors involved in the development of an effective control measure for the toxin. Scientists all over the world are making continuous efforts to explore a generalized process of detoxification, which can bring down the toxin content in heterogeneous commodities to a threshold level. In this article biological control methods with special emphasis on in vivo and in vitro enzymatic detoxification of aflatoxin have been reviewed. Future areas of research involving large-scale enzymatic detoxification and modified atmosphere storage are also discussed. Referee: Dr. F. S. Chu, 16458 Denhave Court, Chino Hills, CA 91709

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that if ingested can cause a variety of adverse effects on both humans and animals, ranging from allergic responses to death. Therefore, exposure to mycotoxins should be minimized. A variety of physical, chemical, and biological methods have been developed for decontamination and/or detoxification of mycotoxins from contaminated foods and feeds. This overview details the latest developments in the biological control of both fungal infection and mycotoxin formation and describes the detoxification of many of the most important mycotoxins by microorganisms. This review also addresses the potential for use of microorganisms as mycotoxin binders in the gastrointestinal tract of both humans and animals, thereby reducing the potential deleterious effects of exposure to these toxins.