In recent years scientists have focused on the identification and the application of natural products for inactivation of mycotoxins. Essential oils with antimicrobial properties are probably the most promising method for the prevention of potentially toxigenic fungi. Thus the aim of this work is to characterise star anise (Illicium verum) and to assess its antioxidant and antifungal and antimycotoxigenic properties using different methods. Results revealed that the major components of star anise essential oil identified by GC/MS were trans-anethole (82.7%), carryophyllene (4.8%) and limonene (2.3%). Total phenolics of ethanol and methanol extracts recorded 112.4 and 96.3mgGAE/gDW respectively, whereas higher total flavonoid content was recorded for the ethanol extract than the methanol extract. Star anise essential oil showed lower antioxidant activity (55.6mg/mL) than the extracts using DPPH-scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays. Results revealed growth reduction of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Fusarium verticillioides by 83.2%, 72.8% and 65.11%, respectively when using 100ppm of the star anise essential oil, where a complete inhibition was achieved at 200ppm for A. flavus and A. parasiticus respectively. Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin B1 production were inhibited completely at 100 and 200ppm respectively. It could be concluded that star anise extracts could be considered an important substance that should be explored for the discovery and development of newer and safer food supplements as well as drug products

Heavy metals are considered a main public health hazards, they are known to accumulate in fruits, which are heavily consumed by humans because of their unique sweet taste and potential health benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the possible contamination levels of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in some selected fruits obtained from four Egyptian governorates and to compare the contamination levels with those of the recommended permissible limits. Results revealed that Pb and Cd were absent in all fruit samples, while Cr was only detected in grapes obtained from Cairo and Fayoum governorates and exceeded the maximum permissible limit (0.10 mg kg-1). Nickel and Cu were detected in all fruit samples. Nickel was reduced more than copper after washing process of grapes especially in samples obtained from Alexandria and Giza governorates. After peeling process, Cu was extremely reduced in orange samples obtained from the following governorates in descending order Cairo, Alexandria, El-Fayoum and Giza. Estimated daily intake of heavy metals in fruit samples were found to be higher than that of the tolerable daily intake, indicating potential risk to human health. Therefore, to decrease the risk to human health, fruits must be washed well before eating to decrease heavy metal concentrations.

Recently, the application of nanotechnology in food sector and the agriculture attract the attention compared to its biomedical application. The aims of the current study was to synthesize and characterize cobalt ferrites nanoparticles [(CoFe2O4) NPs] by combustion method employing glycine as fuels and to evaluate their antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria and fungi and anti cancer properties against MCF-7 breast cancer cells line. The results indicated that the particles size of the synthesized (CoFe2O4) NPs was 40 nm. These (CoFe2O4) NPs showed potential antibacterial properties against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) as well as the pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceus) in a dose dependent manner with maximum concentration of 1.8 mg/ml. (CoFe2O4) NPs also showed weak antiradical but have cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells line and succeeded to decrease the cell viability at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. It could be concluded that (CoFe2O4) NPs is a promise candidate as antimicrobial and anticancer agent for food sector and medical application.