• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1038-1041
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• 2009

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by the aflatoxigenic fungi in suitable conditions. Saffron, Crocus sativus, is the most expensive spice in the world. Saffron is normally contaminated with soil and hand microflora during harvest and post-harvest operations. In this study, rapid assessment of aflatoxigenic fungi in saffron was accomplished using polymerase chain reaction. In total, 37 market samples were assayed in order to isolate aflatoxin-producing fungi. The 18.9% of the total samples were contaminated with aflatoxigenic fungi. Our results also show that most of the isolated fungi were saprophytes which are normally originated from soil during harvest and postharvest process.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to research the antimutagenic and antioxidative effects of water dropwort and small water dropwort by Ames test and by measuring malondialdehyde(MDA) production. Water dropwort and small water dropwort were extracted with methanol and then further fractionated to hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water, stepwise. The methanol extracts from both samples reduced the mutagenicities by aflatoxin $B_1(AFB_1)$ in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The production of MDA also decreased when the methanol extracts were added to the system. The hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions revealed higher antimutagenic activities against $AFB_1$ than the butanol and water fractions. Among the five fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest level of antioxidant activity. From the results of the experiment, water dropwort and small water dropwort seem to be good antimutagenic and antioxidative sources of food.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2005

Many of thyroid hormones disrupting chemicals induce effects via interaction with thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors and responsive elements intrinsic in target cells. We studied thyroid hormones disrupting effects of food additives and contaminants including BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, CPM, aflatoxin B1, cadmium chloride, genistein, TCDD, PCBs and TDBE in recombinant HeLa cells containing plasmid construct for thyroxin responsive elements. The limit of response of the recombinant cells to T3 and T4 was $1\times10^{-12}\;M$. BHA. genistein, cadmium and TBDE were interacted with thyroid receptors with dose-responsive pattern. In addition, BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and TBDE showed synergism while cadmium chloride antagonism for T3-induced activity. This study elucidates that recombinant HeLa cell is sensitive and high-throughput system for the detection of chemicals that induce thyroid hormonal disruption via thyroid hormone receptors and responsive elements. Also this study raised suspect of BHA. BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, TBDE, genisteine and cadmium chloride as thyroid hormonal system disruptors.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 1996

The extracts of aerial parts of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, A. argyi, A. capillaris, A. rubripes and A. laciniata were investigated on the antimutagenic effect againt aflatoxin $B_1$ $(AFB_1)$. The methanolic extracts of 5 Artemisia species reduced the mutagenicity of $AFB_1$. And also 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid isolated from A. princeps var. orientalis revealed the antimutagenic activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5955-5958
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• 2012

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide, continues to have high prevalence in many countries of Asia. The main challenge is the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis and aflatoxin, for example in China. HBV vaccination should be the major preventive tactic in Asian countries. The burden of HCC is low in Iran because most cases are due to HBV and this infection was less common. Although in Iran, a mass vaccination program started in 1993, its impact on decreasing the burden of HCC due to HBV can only be expected in future decades.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 1973

Thirtythree strains of the Aspergillus spp. isolated from foodstuffs were observed through some physiological characteristics for detection of identification key of Aspergillus spp. 1) Each strain of Aspergillus spp. had their specific characteristics and could be used for identification of species. 2) Excellent amylase-producing fungi were observed among the isolated strains of Aspergillus spp. 3) Amylase activities increased for one week incubation period. 4) In the tests of common characters of aflatoxin-producing fungi among the 33 strains of Aspergillus spp., for example, conidial size, presence of sclerotia, kojic acid, and pigment production, coloration of phenol, reduction of methylene blue, etc.

• The Microorganisms and Industry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 1990

In summary, the nature of the amino acid changes that impart oncogenicity in either the focus formation or tumorigenicity assay can be inferred by analysis of PCR-amplified DNA from tumor-derived NIH3T3 transformants and confirmed by analysis of primary liver tumors. Putative activating mutations in the c-K-ras genetic locus have been shown to involve a single-base modification of either G-C base pair at codon 12 leading to aspartate or cystein substitutions for glycine. The oncogenicity of an N-ras oncogene containing the N-ras C gene region may be related to an amino acid substitution of valine for glycine at codon 13.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1997

In order to determine the effectiveness of linoleic acid(LA) to inhibit carcinogens/mutagens-induced mu-tagenesis, Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and the SOS chromotest using E. Coli PQ37, were carried out. The inhibitory effect of LA(1%) on the Ames mutagenicity test were 98%, 78%and 69% mediated by aflatoxin B₁(AFB₁), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4-NQO), respectively. LA exhibited a strong antimutagenic activity aganist indirect mutagen, AFB₁whereas exhibited the same concentration of LA showed weaker inhibitory effects on direct mutagens of MNNG and 4-NQO than that AFB₁. LA also reduced the SOS responses induced by MNNG and 4-NQO significantly. This result showed a possibility that LA can be a protective agent in early step of cancinogenesis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 1996

Tyrosinase is an enzyme which catalyzes an enzymatic browning of some foods and in vivo synthesis of melanin. In order to produce natural and edible inhibitor of the enzyme which is expected to have whitening effect on melanogenesis, a microorganism was selected from fermented foods. It was named as NU-7, and cultured in mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Shiitake) media. Optimal media to produce tyrosinase inhibitor was formulated by varing nitrogen or carbon content. If glucose content was in a range of 3-20% and ammonium sulfate was in a range of 0-0.25%, production of inhibitor was independent of cell mass. Addition of ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source had little effect on inhibitor production. Production of inhibitor (Y) was proportionally related to shiitake content (X) with a regression equation of Y= -0.96X$^{2}$ + 13.07X + 14.43 (R = 0.96). These results indicate that shiitake and glucose are necessary for the production of tyrosinase inhibitor. In the analysis of mycotoxin in culture broth, aflatoxin was not detected, suggesting that it would be probably edible.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2007

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are the major catalysts involved in the biotransformation of various drugs, pollutants, carcinogens, and many endogenous compounds. Most of chemical carcinogens are not active by themselves but they require metabolic activation. P450 isozymes playa pivotal role in the metabolic activation. The activation of arylamines and heterocyclic arylamines (HAAs) involves critical N-hydroxylation, usually by P450. CYP1A2 plays an important role in these reactions. Broad exposure to many of these compounds might cause carcinogenicity in animals and humans. On the other hand, P450s can be also involved in the bioactivation of other chemicals including alcohols, aflatoxin B1, acetaminophen, and trichloroethylene, both in humans and in experimental animals. Understanding the P450 metabolic activation of many chemicals is necessary to develop rational strategies for prevention of their toxicities in human health. An important part is the issues of extrapolation between species in predicting risks and variation of P450 enzyme activities in humans.