The prevalence of mycotoxins is often increased by the climatic conditions prevailing in tropical regions. Reports have revealed the contamination of mycotoxins in some types of vegetable oil. However, vegetable oil is one of the essential ingredients used in food preparation. Thus, this study determined the occurrence of multi-mycotoxins in six types of vegetable oils commercially available in Thailand to assess the consumer health risk. In total, 300 vegetable oil samples (olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and rice bran oil) collected from various markets in Thailand were analyzed for the presence of nine mycotoxins, namely, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), beauvericin (BEA), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), fumonisin B1 (FB1), and fumonisin B2 (FB2) using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS)-based procedure and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source. The incidences of mycotoxin contamination varied among the different types of oil samples. AFB1, AFB2, ZEA, FB1, and FB2 were most frequently found in contaminated samples. AFB2, BEA, ZEA, FB1, and FB2 contaminated olive oil samples, whereas AFB1, AFB2, AFG2, and OTA contaminated palm oil samples. AFB1, AFB2, and ZEA were found in soybean oils, whereas ZEA, FB1, and FB2 contaminated corn oil samples. AFB1 and AFG1 contaminated sunflower oil samples, whereas AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and OTA were detected in rice bran oil samples. However, the contamination levels of the analyzed mycotoxins were below the regulatory limits.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) have been considered a veterinary and public health threat that needs to be addressed, as they are known to cause serious infections, with limited therapeutic options. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the potential antibacterial activity of the leaf extract of Solanum torvum against MRS isolated from clinically healthy dogs. In total, seven mecA-positive Staphylococcus isolates tested in this study were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and all of them were classified as multidrug-resistant using disk diffusion tests. According to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the main phytochemical components found in the leaf extract were hexadecanoic acid and its ethyl ester and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints for the leaf extract against all tested isolates ranged from 2 to 16 mg/mL, while the MIC breakpoints for oxacillin were from 2 to 512 mg/L. Although varying effects were found, the positive effects of the leaf extract were most evident in combination with oxacillin. These results suggested that S. torvum leaf extract may complement classical antibiotics and may potentially drive the development of an effective therapeutic option for MRS.

The use of parabens in personal care products can result in their leakage into water bodies, especially in public swimming pools with insufficient water treatment. We found that ferrite-based nanomaterials could catalytically enhance ozone efficiency through the production of reactive oxygen species. Our objective was to develop a catalytic ozonation system using ternary nanocomposites that could minimize the ozone supply while ensuring the treated water was acceptable for disposal into the environment. A ternary CuFe₂O₄/CuO/Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite (CF) delivered excellent degradation performance in catalytic ozonation systems for butylparaben (BP). By calcining with melamine, we obtained the CF/g-C₃N₄ (CFM) nanocomposite, which had excellent magnetic separation properties with slightly lower degradation efficiency than CF, due to possible self-agglomeration that reduced its electron capture ability. The presence of other constituent ions in synthetic wastewater and actual discharge water resulted in varying degradation rates due to the formation of secondary active radicals. ¹O₂ and ^•O₂⁻ were the main dominant reactive species for BP degradation, which originated from the O₃ adsorption that occurs on the CF≡Cu^(I)–OH and CF≡Fe^(III)–OH surface, and from the reaction with ^•OH from indirect ozonation. Up to 50% of O₃-treated water resulted in >80% ELT3 cell viability, the presence of well-adhered cells, and no effect on the young tip of Ceratophyllum demersum L. Overall, our results demonstrated that both materials could be potential catalysts for ozonation because of their excellent degrading performance and, consequently, their non-toxic by-products.

Background and Aim: Apigenin (API) is an estrogenic compound found in many plants. Sertoli cells reside in the testis and are a key target of environmental toxicants. This study aimed to examine the cytotoxicity, especially oxidative stress of API in mouse Sertoli TM4 cells. Materials and Methods: Mouse Sertoli TM4 cells were treated with 50 and 100 μM API for 48 h. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, glutathione reductase (GR) activities, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated using various assays. Results: Treatment with API at both 50 and 100 μM decreased viability and GR activity but increased LDH activity, ROS production, and MDA levels in mouse Sertoli TM4 cells. Conclusion: Exposure to API induced oxidative stress in mouse Sertoli TM4 cells.

Background/Objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, in companion animals pose a growing public health concern due to the close interactions between pets and humans. This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial resistance patterns and the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from healthy dogs in Thailand, as well as the potential of algal extracts obtained through ethanol extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis as alternative antimicrobial agents against these drug-resistant organisms. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 43 E. coli isolates from healthy dogs. ESBL production was confirmed using standard phenotypic methods, and resistance genes were detected by PCR. The algal extracts were tested for antibacterial activity against MDR isolates. Results: Among the 43 E. coli isolates, 67.44% were classified as MDR, with high resistance rates observed for ampicillin (79.07%), tetracycline (65.12%), and ciprofloxacin (62.79%), highlighting significant antimicrobial resistance concerns. Of the MDR isolates, 31.03% (9/29) were confirmed as ESBL producers. Gene analysis revealed bla_TEM as the most prevalent gene (53.49%), followed by bla_CTX-M (9.30%), while bla_SHV was detected in a single isolate resistant only to ampicillin and was absent in all MDR strains. Ethanol extracts of Haematococcus pluvialis and Caulerpa lentillifera demonstrated inhibitory effects against MDR E. coli. Conclusions: MDR and ESBL-producing E. coli are prevalent in healthy dogs, posing a potential public health risk. Algal extracts from H. pluvialis and C. lentillifera show promise as alternative antimicrobials. Further research is necessary to optimize their efficacy and investigate their in vivo applications, including clinical and environmental settings.

Background and aim: Apigenin (API), a dietary flavone subclass of flavonoid found in herbs, fruits, and vegetables, exhibits various pharmacological effects. However, its role in triggering oxidative stress- induced apoptosis in uterine cells remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by apigenin in rat uterine leiomyoma ELT3 cells. Material and methods: ELT3 cells were treated with 50 and 100 µM API for 48 hours. We assessed oxidative stress markers (reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde), antioxidant defense (glutathione reductase activity), cell proliferation, and apoptotic gene expression (p53, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9) using relevant assays and real-time PCR. Results: API treatment decreased cell proliferation and glutathione reductase activity in ELT3 cells. This coincided with increased levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, indicating oxidative stress and cell damage. Furthermore, apigenin upregulated pro-apoptotic genes (p53, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9) and downregulated the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2, suggesting activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Conclusion: API induces apoptosis in rat uterine leiomyoma cells through a mechanism involving oxidative stress-mediated activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.