Background: Azoxymethane (AOM) is a potent carcinogenic agent commonly used to induce colon cancer in rats; the cytotoxicity of AOM is considered to mediate oxidative stress. This study investigated the chemopreventive effect of three natural extracts [pomegranate peel extract (PomPE), papaya peel extract (PapPE) and seaweed extract (SE)] against AOM-induced oxidative stress and carcinogenesis in rat colon. Methods: Eighty Sprague–Dawley rats (aged 4 weeks) were randomly divided into 8 groups (10 rats/group). Control group was fed a basal diet; AOM-treated group was fed a basal diet and received AOM intraperitonial injections for two weeks at a dose of 15 mg/kg bodyweight, whereas the other six groups were received oral supplementation of PomPE, PapPE or SE, in the presence or absence of AOM injection. All animals were continuously fed ad-libitum until aged 16 weeks, then all rats were sacrificed and the colon tissues were examined microscopically for pathological changes and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) development, genotoxicity (induced micronuclei (MN) cells enumeration), and glutathione and lipid peroxidation. Results: Our results showed that AOM-induced ACF development and pathological changes in the colonic mucosal tissues, increased bone marrow MN cells and oxidative stress (glutathione depletion, lipid peroxidation) in rat colonic cells. The concomitant treatment of AOM with PomPE, PapPE or SE significantly ameliorated the cytotoxic effects of AOM. Conclusions: The results of this study provide in-vivo evidence that PomPE, PapPE and SE reduced the AOM-induced colon cancer in rats, through their potent anti-oxidant activities.

The feasibility of date seed ash, a low-cost agricultural by-product in Oman, for the removal of boron from aqueous solution was investigated. The aim of this study was to understand the mechanism that governs boron removal from seawater using date seed ash as an adsorbent in batch adsorption experiments. The effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, and temperature on boron removal were tested. A surface study of the date seed ash was investigated using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared. Thermogravimetric-analysis, specific area using Brunauer, Emmett and Teller method, and particle density were also obtained. The maximum removal efficiency of boron was around 47% at neutral pH. The application of date seed ash is a promising adsorbent for boron removal where it can be used as pretreatment before reverse osmosis desalination process. This will increase the stability of membranes, minimize the membrane scaling, and ultimately reduce the operating cost.

In this study, bacteria residing in the gut of the rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding on aflatoxin-contaminated corn kernels were isolated and evaluated for their ability to suppress Aspergillus flavus and to remove/degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Four morphologically distinct S. oryzae gut-associated bacterial isolates were isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis (RWGB1), Bacillus oceanisediminis (RWGB2), Bacillus firmus (RWGB3), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (RWGB4) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. These bacterial isolates inhibited A. flavus growth in the dual culture assay and induced morphological deformities in the fungal hyphae, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. All four bacterial isolates were capable of removing AFB1 from the nutrient broth medium. In addition, culture supernatants of these bacterial isolates degraded AFB1, and the degradation of toxin molecules was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial isolates, B. subtilis RWGB1, B. oceanisediminis RWGB2, and P. aeruginosa RWGB4, were capable of producing antifungal volatile organic compounds that inhibited A. flavus growth. These results suggest that the bacterial isolates from S. oryzae gut have the potential to bind and/or degrade AFB1. Further research on their application in the food and feed industries could enhance the safety of food and feed production.

The electromagnetic environment surrounding us has dramatically evolved over the past decade, with the proliferation of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies becoming commonplace in our daily lives. Mobile phones emit non-ionizing low-frequency electromagnetic waves (EW). To examine the effects of EW on living cells, this study aims to explore the impact of cell phone EW on the developing brain of chick embryos. The fertilized eggs were allowed to develop under exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted by cell mobile. A cell phone was placed inside the incubator with 20 eggs and was called from outside on a precise schedule. The same number of fertilized eggs were placed in another incubator without a mobile phone and served as the control. Embryos were sacrificed on days 10 and 15, and the cerebral cortex and cerebellum were removed and sent for electron microscopy. In the control group, cerebral neurons appeared healthy, with a large, centrally placed nucleus, visible oligodendrocytes, and a less dense extracellular matrix. In contrast, neurons from the exposed group were smaller, fewer in number, with unclear nuclear margins, signs of shrinkage, and apoptosis and a dense extracellular matrix. In the cerebellum, the exposed group revealed a reduced number of Purkinje neurons and noticeable mitochondrial swelling. The blood-brain barrier remained intact in the control group but was compromised in the exposed group. We conclude that electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones adversely affect the normal development of the brain in chick embryos.

Trichoderma species are commonly used as biocontrol agents to manage various soilborne fungal and oomycete pathogens affecting crop plants. Various organic and inorganic carriers for mass production of Trichoderma intended for field application have been documented in the literature. In this study, Trichoderma asperellum strain SQU7, isolated from Omani soil, was screened for antagonistic activity against Pythium aphanidermatum, the causal agent of damping-off disease in cucumber. In addition, the possibility of using common reed (Phragmites australis) for mass production of T. asperellum was explored and its efficacy in controlling P. aphanidermatum-induced damping-off in cucumber was evaluated under controlled glasshouse conditions. The findings showed that T. asperellum provided a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of P. aphanidermatum in the confrontation assay and caused morphological abnormalities in the pathogen’s hyphae as determined by means of scanning electron microscopy analysis. Trichoderma asperellum proliferated well on common reed, and significantly suppressed P. aphanidermatum damping-off incidence in cucumber seedlings grown in pots. This study presents an efficient and affordable approach for the large scale production of T. asperellum, which can be utilised to effectively control damping-off of cucumber in an environmentally sustainable way.