Propolis is a resinous beehive product containing functional compounds and differs based on geographical region. Physicochemical properties of each propolis effectuate their uses within modern applications. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity of propolis ethanol extracts (PEE) sourced from six geographical regions. Antioxidant potency was determined using four assays: DPPH, ABTS, reducing power, and malondialdehyde inhibition (MDA). The phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) was calculated as gallic acid and catechol equivalents, respectively. Antimicrobial properties of propolis against pathogens and toxigenic fungi were determined using agar well diffusion assay. The cytotoxicity effect was estimated against the human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell line using MTT assay. The results manifested propolis variations of samples, specifically for the chemical composition (p < 0.05). Omanis' propolis recorded by the highest moisture content, while the Egyptian propolis featured by high protein content. Brazilians' propolis was distinguished among samples by the highest ash content (p < 0.05). Propolis from Saudi, Omani, China, and Bulgaria represented by higher fiber content. Egyptians' propolis showed a promising antioxidant and antimicrobial potency, reflecting a high activity against food pathogen and toxigenic fungi. The IC50 values of propolis samples following 24 h exposure to the normal human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells did not show any cytotoxic effect. This study demonstrated the distinguishes between propolis sourced from different regions regarding their bioactive contents. The Egyptian's propolis can be recommended as a preservative additive that can be applied to solve numerous food safety issues.

To investigate the prospective importance of serum micro (mi)RNAs (miR-125b, miR-138b, miR-1269, miR-214-5p, miR-494, miR375 and miR-145) as early biomarkers for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two-hundred and fifty HCV4a patients, 224 HCV4a-HCC patients, and 84 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Expression levels of miR214-5p, miR-125b, miR-1269 and miR-375 were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of the selected miRNAs in serum was significantly lower in HCC patients than in the healthy controls, except for miR-1269 and miR-494. There was a significant difference between HCC and HCV patients, in particular for HCC and late stage fibrosis, rather than HCV patients and early fibrosis. It is obvious that miR-1269 was significantly upregulated in HCC cases compared to hepatic fibrosis cases. Each miRNA can show HCC progression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the tested panel of miRNAs (miR214-5p, miR-125b, miR-1269 and miR-375) represent accurate and specific indictors of HCC development. This study presents a panel of miRNAs with strong power as putative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCV-induced HCC. Moreover, miR-214-5p and miR-1269 could be considered as early biomarkers for tracking the progress of liver fibrosis to HCC.

Pomegranate, similar to other fruits, has juice-extraction by-products. Pomegranate seed oil (PGO) is a non-traditional oil with health benefits, rich in bioactive components. This study was aimed to assess PGO phytochemicals and their influence as bioactive components to reduce mycotoxin secretion. The encapsulation was applied in micro and nanoforms to protect the quality and enhance the efficacy of the oil. The PGO was extracted using ultrasound-assisted methods. Carotenoids, tocochromanols, sterols, phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity were determined. The fatty acid profile was analyzed by the GC-MS, while mycotoxin was determined utilizing the HPLC apparatus. The toxicity and protective action of oil were examined using the hepatocytes’ cell line. The resultant oil acts as oleoresin that is rich in bioactive molecules. Phenolics and antioxidant potency recorded higher values compared to traditional vegetable oils, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were 87.51%. The major fatty acid was conjugated punicic acid (81.29%), which has high biological effects. Application of the PGO on fungal media reduced aflatoxins secretion up to 63%, and zearalenone up to 78.5%. These results confirm the bio-functionality of oil to regulate the fungal secondary metabolites process. The PGO is a unique prospective non-traditional oil and has several functionalities in food, which achieve nutritional, antioxidant, and anti-mycotoxigenic activities.

The Aim: The aim of this study is to explore a new application for turning low value byproducts to value added bioactive components using a simple technique. Study Design: The large amounts of byproducts resulted had an environmentally harmful; the phenolic components were extracted using aqueous isopropanol from olive leaves and pomace. Place and Duration of Study: samples were analysed in laboratories of Fats and Oils Department, Toxicology and Food Contaminants; National Research Centre; and in Department of Food Technology, City of Scientific Research and Technological Application during season of 2016. Methodology: A novel extraction method was used to recover the remaining active components from olive processing wastes (OPW_S) either from pomace or leaves. The oil residues re-extracted from dried pomace using n-hexane; collected as pomace olive oil. Results: Although the OPW_S considered as a harmful environmental byproduct; OPWs extracts showed a highly contents of polyphenols along with antioxidant activity, the best results recorded in pomace olive extract (POE), it had a good character to reduce toxigenic fungal growth and mycotoxins. Antimicrobial property, MIC and MFC of polar and non-polar extracts were determined. Conclusions: It showed a better antimicrobial character in conformity with its total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activities. The olive pomace extract showed a high content of bioactive components. The extracts had anti-mycotic properties against 4 types of toxigenic fungi, and anti-mycotoxigenic characters that showed a high ability of the olive pomace extracts either on fungal inhibition or reducing aflatoxin ratio.

This study aimed to evaluate aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) level in milk powder and infant milk formulae, in addition to applying innovative methods for AFM₁ & AFB₁ detoxification. Fifty random samples of milk powder and infant formulae (25 of each) were collected from the Egyptian markets for assessing AFM₁ level using ELISA technique. Bioactive components comprising cell free supernatants (postbiotic), acid-dead cells (parabiotic) and the encapsulated-cells of Lactobacillus plantarum RM1 and Lactobacillus paracasei KC39 were evaluated for their antifungal activity against toxigenic mold strains and their impact on AFB₁ and AFM₁ reduction in reconstituted milk powder. AFM₁ concentration in unpacked milk powder was higher than that of packed samples and infant formulae, although these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). About 96.0, 29.4 and 25.0% of the tested infant formulae, unpacked, and packed milk powder were unacceptable in terms of the AFM₁ limit defined by Egyptian and European standards, while all samples were in accordance with the USA/FDA standard. All tested mycotoxigenic strains were sensitive to the different treatments of the probiotics with the highest sensitivity regarding Fusarium strain with L. paracasei KC39 compared to other genera. The degradation ratios of AFM₁ using the bioactives of the L. paracasei KC39 were higher than that of L. plantarum RM1 bioactives. Additionally, KC39 parabiotic manifested the best AFB₁ reduction (60.56%). In conclusion, the positive and highly significant relationship (P < 0.05) between these effective biocompounds mirrors their major detoxification role which gives a safe solution for AFs contamination issues in milk and milk products.