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Plants of the Allium genus produce sulphur compounds that give them a characteristic (alliaceous) flavour and mediate for their medicinal use. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Allium cepa red cv. and A. sativum in the context of three different drying processes were assessed using metabolomics. Bulbs were dried using either microwave, air drying, or freeze drying and further subjected to chemical analysis of their composition of volatile and non-volatile metabolites. Volatiles were collected using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with 42 identified volatiles including 30 sulphur compounds, four nitriles, three aromatics, and three esters. Profiling of the polar non-volatile metabolites via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution MS (UPLC/MS) annotated 51 metabolites including dipeptides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids. Major peaks in GC/MS or UPLC/MS contributing to the discrimination between A. sativum and A. cepa red cv. were assigned to sulphur compounds and flavonoids. Whereas sulphur conjugates amounted to the major forms in A. sativum, flavonoids predominated in the chemical composition of A. cepa red cv. With regard to drying impact on Allium metabolites, notable and clear separations among specimens were revealed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA scores plot of the UPLC/MS dataset showed closer metabolite composition of microwave dried specimens to freeze dried ones, and distant from air dried bulbs, observed in both A. cepa and A. sativum. Compared to GC/MS, the UPLC/MS derived PCA model was more consistent and better in assessing the impact of drying on Allium metabolism. A phthalate derivative was found exclusively in a commercial garlic preparation via GC/MS, of yet unknown origin. The freeze dried samples of both Allium species exhibited stronger antimicrobial activities compared to dried specimens with A. sativum being in general more active than A. cepa red cv.

Methane (CH4) emission from enteric fermentation of ruminant livestock is a source of greenhouse gases (GHG) and has become a significant concern for global warming. Enteric methane emission is also associated with poor feed efficiency. Therefore, research has focused on identifying dietary mitigation strategies to decrease CH4 emissions from ruminants. In recent years, plant-derived bioactive compounds have been investigated for their potential to reduce CH4 emissions from ruminant livestock. The organosulphur compounds of garlic have been observed to decrease CH4 emission and increase propionate concentration in anaerobic fermentations (in vitro) and in the rumen (in vivo). However, the mode of action of CH4 reduction is not completely clear, and the response in vivo is inconsistent. It might be affected by variations in the concentration and effect of individual substances in garlic. The composition of the diet that is being fed to the animal may also contribute to these differences. This review provides a summary of the effect of garlic and its bioactive compounds on CH4 emissions by ruminants. Additionally, this review aims to provide insight into garlic and its bioactive compounds in terms of enteric CH4 mitigation efficacy, consistency in afficacy, possible mode of action, and safety deriving data from both in vivo and in vitro studies.

This study focused on the development of a magnetic solid phase extraction (m-SPE) method using Au-Fe 3 O 4 as an adsorbent followed by GC-ToFMS analysis for the determination of organosulphur compounds (OSCs) in fuel samples. The m-SPE using Au-Fe 3 O 4 NPs was preferred because of the low toxicity of the adsorbent 1 , high separation efficiency using external magnet 2 and greater extraction selectivity between sulphur and Au atom 3 . The Au-Fe 3 O 4 NPs were characterized using XRD, UV–Vis, TEM, SEM and FTIR. This method was optimized using multivariate analysis based on a two-level full factorial and central composite designs. The conditions which produced optimum efficiency were found to be 150 mg mass of sorbent, 100 µL eluent volume, 50 min extraction time and 6,5 pH of the sample. These optimum conditions showed a relatively low limit of detection in the range of 0.02–0.199nµg/g and limit of quantification of 0.08–0.602 µg/g. Furthermore, a relative standard deviation of triplicates analysis was between 0.8 and 2.3% with good linearity of 0.9816–0.9961. The percentage recovery for thiophene, 3-methylthiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene ranged from 76 to 95% for the spiked samples. The optimized m-SPE method was then applied in real fuel oil samples. The concentration of thiophene, 3-methylthiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene in crude oil, gasoline, diesel and kerosene ranged from 0.43–1.94 µg/g, 0.78–1.63 µg/g, 0.95–4.31 µg/g to 1.55–2.09 µg/g, respectively. The m-SPE, followed by GC-ToFMS method, proved to be efficient, inexpensive and an alternative method for OSCs analysis in fuel oils.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) O,O-diethyl 0,3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2yl phosphorothioate is commonly used for pest and insect control in agricultural fields and surrounding freshwater reservoirs. A 96 h semi-static acute toxicity bioassay was carried out to determine the LC50 value and behavioral responses of commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos (Termifos) on the freshwater fish Clarias gariepinus. The LC50 values (with 95 % confidence limits) of different concentrations of CPF (Termifos) in C. gariepinus were found to be 1.66 (1.40-3.30), 1.30 (1.18-1.53), 1.03 (0.98-1.11) and 0.86 (0.73-0.99) mg/l for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure time, respectively, thus indicating that the pesticide is highly toxic to the fish. The values of safe level of the pesticide in C. gariepinus varied from 8.61 x 10-2-8.61 x 10-6 mg/l. Fish exposed to various concentrations of the pesticide showed uncoordinated behavior such as erratic and jerky swimming, attempt to jump out of water, frequent surfacing and gulping of air, decrease opercula movement and secretion of mucus on the body and gills followed by exhaustion and death. Our results indicate that commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos (Termifos) is highly toxic to C. gariepinus. The pesticide should thus be applied with caution in our environment especially near water bodies to avoid the possible risk associated with its use.

The contents of major S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides (namely alliin, methiin and isoalliin) were determined in a set of 58 various garlic genotypes (22 flowering plant morphotypes, 14 semi bolting plants and 22 scape absent morphotype plants). The plants were cultivated in four successive years (2005-2008) and analysed immediately after harvest and subsequently after eight weeks of storage at 5 deg C. The total content of the three cysteine derivatives in fresh samples varied between 3.35 mg/g fresh weight and 12.77 mg/g fresh weight, with the mean of 7.50 mg/g fresh weight and the average relative proportions of alliin/methiin/isoalliin of 83/16/1. Upon 8-week storage, the average total amount of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides increased by 30% to 9.75 mg/g fresh weight, with the alliin/methiin/isoalliin ratio changing to 82/14/4. The data obtained were statistically evaluated using linear discrimination analysis to distinguish the differences between the years of harvest, between freshly harvested and stored samples, and between the individual morphotypes. While the year-to-year differences between the samples were statistically not very significant, the fresh and stored samples as well as the individual garlic morphotypes differed considerably. Our results indicate that the content of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides primarily depends on various genetic factors and post-harvest storage conditions, whereas the climatic conditions during the growth (e.g. temperature, irrigation) influence their level to a lesser extent.

The aquatic ecosystem as a greater part of the natural environment is faced with the threat of pesticide pollution. Pesticides enter the food chain and tend to accumulate in organisms at higher trophic level. The present investigation was undertaken to study the acute toxicity (LC50) of organophosphate pesticide (methyl parathion) and pyrethroid pesticide (fenvalerate) on Artemia (brine shrimp) and mysids (opossum shrimp). The value of LC50 when exposed to methyl parathion was 0.00011 ppm for mysids and 0.11 ppm for Artemia. Similarly the LC50 of fenvalerate was found to be 0.0004 ppm for mysids and 0.18 ppm for Artemia. Pesticides appear to the highly lethal at very low concentration. High sensitivity is alarming as it may have implications on natural resources. Therefore, assessment of toxicity of other groups of pesticides on various marine organisms is required.

Catalan spring onions, or “calcots”, are a very popular kind of vegetables obtained by special agronomic practices that avoid photosynthesis and subsequent metabolism by the Allium cepa plants. They have been considered for more than a century harmless for pets, as pleasant odour and sweet taste differ so largely from any other onion that can be ingested by children and adults in huge quantities, up to ~3% body weight, without problems being observed. However, the organosulphur chemicals responsible for oxidative damage to canine red blood cells found in this plant species seem to remain present, as two dogs were confirmed to be poisoned after eating left-over “calcots”. Both patients presented haemolytic anaemia with Heinz body formation, and eccentrocytosis. Veterinarians and owners should be aware of the dangers associated with this particular onion variety and type, as it is highly palatable to pets and no effective treatment is currently available.

Humans are exposed to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) from environmental sources. Exposure to EBDCs is chronic for workers in a variety of industries, where EBDCs are used for their properties as slimicides, vulcanization accelerators, antioxidants, and scavengers in waste-water treatment. EBDCs, and particularly the EBDC metabolite ethylenethiourea, have clearly defined, important toxic effects in various animal species, and there is reason to suspect they are carcinogenic in humans. In the absence of definitive information regarding human risk, further studies need to be done. In the interim, regular surveillance of workers with high levels of exposure to EBDCs, with specific attention to markers of thyroid and hepatic pathology, should be considered.