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INTRODUCTION expressed the view that wild-growing food plants are an
affordable and practical source of nutrition to improve the
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi which are nutritional status of rural HIV-affected households. The
[19]
associated with certain disorders in animals and humans. present study was carried out to assess whether the aqueous
Contamination of grains by mycotoxins is a worldwide extracts of A. hybridus can protect rat hepatoma cells against
problem affecting staple crops such as corn (maize) and FB and AFB induced cytotoxicity and disruption of DNA
1
1
small grains (such as wheat), as well as tree nuts, peanuts, integrity.
sorghum, and others. Some mycotoxins are now linked with
[1]
the incidence of certain types of cancer, and it is this aspect METHODS
[2]
that has evoked global concern over feed and food safety.
Aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, Chemicals
fumonisins (FBs), tremorgenic toxins, and ergot alkaloids are FB and AFB (98% purity) and other standards were
1 1
[3]
the mycotoxins of greatest agro-economic importance and purchased from Sigma Chemicals Co (St. Louis, MO, USA).
are known to be hepatotoxic, genotoxic, immunosuppressive, The DNA extraction kit (DNeasy blood and tissue kit) was
nephrotoxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic. The Food and obtained from Qiagen (Hilden, Germany). The one hundred
[4]
Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has estimated base pair (bp) DNA ladder, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
that up to 25% of the world’s food crops are significantly master mix, and DNase/RNase free water were obtained from
contaminated with mycotoxins. However, in Africa, the Fermentas Inc., (Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA). Supertherm
[5]
presence of mycotoxins in food is often overlooked due to Taq polymerase was purchased from JM Holding (UK). Forty
the population’s ignorance, lack of regulatory mechanisms, primers were obtained from Operon Technologies (Alameda,
poor facilities for storing large volumes of food products, CA, USA). All solvents were of analytical grade and were
and the introduction of contaminated commodities into the purchased from Burdick and Jackson (Muskegon, MI, USA).
human food chain during chronic food shortage caused by
droughts, wars, and political and economic instability. [6] Plant materials
Stems and leaves of A. hybridus were collected from a
At present, the interactions between AFB and FB with residential garden in the city of Potchefstroom, North-West
1 1
regard to their toxic and carcinogenic properties were Province, South Africa. The plant material was freeze-dried
discussed in several reports. A synergistic effect between and pulverized and 1 g dry mass of the lyophilized plant
exposure to mycotoxins and some important diseases in powder was infused with 10 mL water for 24 h at room
Africa, such as malaria, kwashiorkor, liver cancer, and human temperature. After centrifugation, the supernatant was
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency freeze-dried and stored at 4 °C until used.
[7]
syndrome has been suggested. Concerns about mycotoxins
have increased during the last few decades because of their Determination of chemical composition of the extract
implications to human and animal health and productivity, Extraction of total phenolic contents in the plant was carried
as well as the economics of their management, and how out in triplicate, according to the modified method of van
[8]
[18]
[20]
they influence international trade. This has led to the der Walt et al. and Kähkönen et al. Total phenolic content
development of maximum tolerated limits for mycotoxins was expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and gallic
in various countries. The European Union has legislated acid equivalents were expressed in mg/100 g dm.
maximum permitted levels of 2 ng/g dry mass for AFB and
1
4 ng/g for total AFs (B , B , G , and G ) in various products. Total carotenoid content for the plant was extracted and
[9]
1 2 1 2
[21]
Considering the extremely potent carcinogenicity of AFs, analyzed in triplicate as described by Edwards et al. and
most developed nations regulate limits of AFs as small as modified by van der Walt et al. Total carotenoid content is
[18]
reasonably achievable. Several studies have shown that AFB presented as mean ± SD in mg/100 g dm.
1
and FB are cytotoxic, inhibiting the viability of different
1
cellular models, mostly liver and kidney cells. [10-16] Quantifi cation of beta-carotene
Beta-carotene was extracted according to the modified
[22]
The Amaranthus plant has been used extensively in the rural method described by Lakshiminarayana et al. and was
South Africa as a traditional food and is commonly known as quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled
morogo. Amaranthus species are good sources of β-carotene, to a photodiode array detector capable of ultraviolet-visible
polyphenols, Vitamin C, calcium, and iron. [17,18] Moreover, absorption spectrum according to the methods of de
a joint publication of the United Nations Development Ancos et al. The content was expressed as mean ± SD in
[23]
Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization, mg/100 g dm.
Hepatoma Research | Volume 1 | Issue 3 | October 15, 2015 137