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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mycotoxins in cereal grain. Part VII. A simple method to assay mycotoxin potential of cereal grain and cereal products.

A simple test to assay mycotoxin potential of cereal grain and products was elaborated. In cereal grain samples during 1977 and 1981 formation of ochratoxin A, citrinin and zearalenone was observed respectively in 40%, 7% and 31% of cereals samples. Aflatoxin and sterigmatocystin were not formed in any sample of cereal grain. Citrinin and penicillic acid were found as mycotoxins accompanying ochratoxin A.

Aspergillus↗

Production and characterization of amphiploids of Aegilops kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis with Secale cereale, and of backcross hybrids of Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale amphiploids with 2x and 4x S. cereale.

Amphiploids (2n = 6x = 42) of Ae. kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis with self-compatible S. cereale were produced from F1 sterile hybrids (2n = 3x = 21) through colchicine treatment and callus tissue regeneration. The amphiploids resembled the F1 plants in overall morphology, but were larger in all respects and self-fertile. The spikelets consisted mostly of 3 well-developed florets. Selfed seeds were obtained from some colchicine-doubled sectors and callus regenerates. Most of the produced seeds were well developed. Backcrosses between amphiploids and rye (2x and 4x) resulted in obtaining (Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale amphiploid) x S. cereale hybrids via embryo culture. The BC1 plants (2n = 4x = 28 and 2n = 5x = 35, respectively) were phenotypically intermediate between the parents and vigorous in vegetative growth. Some seeds were obtained only from the 35-chromosome BC1 hybrids.

Agriculture↗

Application of cereals and cereal components in functional foods: a review.

The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and functional food ingredients due to consumers' demand for healthier foods. In this respect, probiotic dairy foods containing human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and prebiotic food formulations containing ingredients that cannot be digested by the human host in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can selectively stimulate the growth of one or a limited number of colonic bacteria have been recently introduced into the market. The aim of these products is to affect beneficially the gut microbial composition and activities. Cereals offer another alternative for the production of functional foods. The multiple beneficial effects of cereals can be exploited in different ways leading to the design of novel cereal foods or cereal ingredients that can target specific populations. Cereals can be used as fermentable substrates for the growth of probiotic microorganisms. The main parameters that have to be considered are the composition and processing of the cereal grains, the substrate formulation, the growth capability and productivity of the starter culture, the stability of the probiotic strain during storage, the organoleptic properties and the nutritional value of the final product. Additionally, cereals can be used as sources of nondigestible carbohydrates that besides promoting several beneficial physiological effects can also selectively stimulate the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria present in the colon and act as prebiotics. Cereals contain water-soluble fibre, such as beta-glucan and arabinoxylan, oilgosaccharides, such as galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant starch, which have been suggested to fulfil the prebiotic concept. Separation of specific fractions of fibre from different cereal varieties or cereal by-products, according to the knowledge of fibre distribution in cereal grains, could be achieved through processing technologies, such as milling, sieving, and debranning or pearling. Finally, cereal constituents, such as starch, can be used as encapsulation materials for probiotics in order to improve their stability during storage and enhance their viability during their passage through the adverse conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. It could be concluded that functional foods based on cereals is a challenging perspective, however, the development of new technologies of cereal processing that enhance their health potential and the acceptability of the food product are of primary importance.

Bacteria↗

Increased plasma homocyst(e)ine after withdrawal of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal from the diet: prevention by breakfast cereal providing 200 microg folic acid.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that cessation of habitual ingestion of breakfast cereals would be associated with elevated plasma homocyst(e)ine concentrations. We anticipated that those subjects who reported consuming breakfast cereals containing 100 to 400 ,microg of folic acid per serving before entering the study would achieve higher plasma homocyst(e)ine concentrations if, in addition to their regular diet, they began ingesting a daily serving of breakfast cereal that contained less than 10 microg of folic acid per serving. DESIGN: Seventy-nine subjects consumed a daily serving of breakfast cereal containing either < 10 microg or folic acid per serving (placebo) or breakfast cereal containing 200 microg of folic acid per serving (folic acid fortified). RESULTS: Cessation of intake of commercially available breakfast cereal was associated with homocyst(e)ine elevation. Breakfast cereal containing 200 microg folic acid per day was sufficient to maintain the homocyst(e)ine lowering effects of commercial cereals. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual consumption of commercially available fortified breakfast cereals, usually containing 100 to 400 microg folic acid per serving, had significant homocyst(e)ine lowering effects as shown by the homocyst(e)ine increase after cessation of habitual intake of commercial breakfast cereal. Substitution of breakfast cereal containing only 200 microg folic acid per day was sufficient to maintain the homocyst(e)inelowering effects of commercial cereals.

Aged↗

The influence of different cereal grains on iron absorption from infant cereal foods.

Iron absorption from various cereal grains was evaluated in the present study to identify possible preferences for the preparation of infant weaning foods. In six separate studies, four radioiron absorption tests were performed in each of 57 volunteer subjects by using a sequential double-isotopic method. Serum ferritin concentration was used to adjust for the effect of differences in the iron status of subjects participating in separate studies. Identical commercial processing and test meal composition were used to evaluate iron absorption from 50 g cooked cereal prepared from rice, wheat, maize, oats, millet, and sweet or bitter quinoa. In an initial evaluation of cereals fortified with 2.5 mg Fe as FeSO4, geometric mean absorption values were uniformly < 1% for all cereals and were not significantly different. In subsequent studies, percentage iron absorption was enhanced by either eliminating the fortifying iron or adding 50 mg ascorbic acid to the test meal. The effect was similar for most of the cereals tested with a composite mean increase in absorption of 37% when fortifying iron was removed and 270% when ascorbic acid was added. There was a strong inverse correlation between iron absorption and the phytate content of different cereals. Except for a modestly lower absorption of iron from quinoa and a remarkably higher absorption from one lot of maize, we conclude that the type of cereal grain has little influence on iron bioavailability of infant cereals. On the other hand, modification in the milling and processing methods for cereal grains that reduce their content of phytic acid is likely to improve iron availability significantly.

Absorption↗

[Cadmium and lead levels in milk, milk-cereal and cereal formulas for infants and children up to 3 years of age].

Cd and Pb contents were determined in milk formulae, milk-cereal formulae and cereal formulae produced by Okregowe Zakłady Koncentratów Spozywczych (OZKS) (Regional Food Concentrates Processing Plants) for infants and children up to 3 years of age. The major parts of the assortments were found to contain products whose cadmium and/or lead contents exceeded the admissible norms. These contents were as follows: in milk formulae: from less than 2 to 8 micrograms Cd/kg and from less than 20 to 180 micrograms Pb/kg; in milk-cereal formulae: from less than 2 to 20 micrograms Cd/kg and from less than 20 to 180 micrograms Pb/kg; in cereal formulae from less than 2 to 70 micrograms Cd/kg and from less than 20 to 400 micrograms Pb/kg. Contents of Cd and Pb were the highest in cereal formulae mainly in those produced of wheat flour and buckwheat-rice flour. Determinations of Cd and Pb contents in raw materials and in some cereal intermediate products revealed that the occurrence of excessively high Cd and Pb contents in the cereal-containing formulae was due to contamination of the cereal raw materials with these metals.

Animals↗

Microbiological assay-trienzyme procedure for total folates in cereals and cereal foods: collaborative study.

In 1996, U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations mandated the fortification of enriched cereal-grain products with folic acid, thereby emphasizing the need for validated methods for total folates in foods, particularly cereal products. The AOAC Official Methods (944.12, 960.46) currently used for the analysis of folate in foods for compliance purposes are microbiological methods. When the fortification regulations were finalized, no Official AOAC or Approved AACC methods for folate in cereal-grain products were in place. The AOAC Official Method (992.05) for folic acid in infant formula does not incorporate important improvements in the extraction procedure and was not considered suitable for the analysis of folates in foods in general. A microbiological assay protocol using a trienzyme extraction procedure was prepared and submitted for comments to 40 laboratories with recognized experience in folate analysis. On the basis of comments, the method was revised to have the conjugase (gamma-glutamyl-carboxy-peptidase) treatment follow a protease treatment, to include the use of cryoprotected inoculum, and to include the spectroscopic standardization of the standard and optional use of microtiter plates. Thirteen laboratories participated in a collaborative study of 10 required and 10 optional cereal-grain products, including flour, bread, cookies, baking mixes, and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. The majority of the participating laboratories performed the assay by the standard test tube method; others used the microtiter plate modification for endpoint quantitation with equal success. For the required products, the relative standard deviation between laboratories (RSD(R)) ranged from 7.4 to 21.6% for 8 fortified (or enriched) products compared with expected (Horwitz equation-based) values of 11-20%. RSD(R) values were higher (22.7-52.9%) for 2 unfortified cereal-grain products. For the optional products, the RSD(R) ranged from 1.8 to 11.2% for 8 fortified products. RSD(R) values were higher (27.9-28.7%) for 2 unfortified cereal-grain products. Based on the results of the collaborative study, the microbiological assay with trienzyme extraction is recommended for adoption as Official First Action.

Automation↗

[Soluble, insoluble, and total dietary fiber in cereals, products derived from their processing and cereal-based commercial products].

In the following study, dietary fiber, insoluble (IDF), soluble (SDF) and total (TDF) were determined in cereals and by-products and in commercial cereals products which are found in the national market and promoted as a source of fiber. The Prosky's enzimatic-gravimetric method was used. Results were expressed as g/100g wet basis. Total dietary fiber in cereals and by-products showed a range from 1.18% (poshed rice) to 89.10% (corn bran). For the commercial cereal products, the TDF values varied from 3.73% (rice-sesame cookies) to 34.96% (Breakfast cereal named All Bran). The FDI values always were greater than the SDF values. Based on this fact, FDI values were compared with NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) values reported in the scientific literature and in the Venezuelan Food Composition Tables using a regression analysis. FDI values were always greater than NDF values and the correlation factor (r) was high and statistical significance to P < 0.05 for both food groups in study.

Biological Availability↗

A survey of cereals, cereal products, feedstuffs and porcine kidneys for ochratoxin A by radioimmunoassay.

A commercial kit for the radioimmunochemical determination of ochratoxin A has been validated for application to various foods and feedstuffs. Using this kit a survey was carried out for the occurrence of ochratoxin A in Czechoslovak cereals, cereal products, feedstuffs and pig kidneys. The results show that the most contaminated are feedstuffs and cereals, in 26.7% and 8.8% of the samples of which, respectively, the ochratoxin A level exceeded 20 micrograms/kg. None of the cereal products and 4.2% of the pig kidneys unfit for human consumption by visual examination possessed ochratoxin A concentration higher than 5 micrograms/kg. Of all the samples analysed, 57% contained no detectable toxin (less than 1 microgram/kg).

Animal Feed↗

High-fiber oat cereal compared with wheat cereal consumption favorably alters LDL-cholesterol subclass and particle numbers in middle-aged and older men.

BACKGROUND: No studies have examined whether increased consumption of oat cereal, rich in soluble fiber, favorably alters lipoprotein particle size and number. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of large servings of either oat or wheat cereal on plasma lipids, lipoprotein subclasses, lipoprotein particle diameters, and LDL particle number. DESIGN: Thirty-six overweight men aged 50-75 y were randomly assigned to consume daily for 12 wk either oat or wheat cereal providing 14 g dietary fiber/d. Before and after the intervention, plasma lipid and lipoprotein subclasses were measured with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and whole-body insulin sensitivity was estimated with the frequently sampled intravenous-glucose-tolerance test. RESULTS: Time-by-treatment interactions (P < 0.05) for LDL cholesterol (oat: -2.5%; wheat: 8.0%), small LDL cholesterol (oat: -17.3%; wheat: 60.4%), LDL particle number (oat: -5.0%; wheat: 14.2%), and LDL:HDL cholesterol (oat: -6.3%; wheat: 14.2%) were observed. Time-by-treatment interactions were nearly significant for total cholesterol (oat: -2.5%; wheat: 6.3%; P = 0.08), triacylglycerol (oat: -6.6%; wheat: 22.0%; P = 0.07), and VLDL triacylglycerol (oat: -7.6%; wheat: 2.7%; P = 0.08). No significant time-by-treatment interactions were observed for HDL cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol subclasses, or LDL, HDL, and VLDL particle diameters. Insulin sensitivity did not change significantly with either intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The oat compared with the wheat cereal produced lower concentrations of small, dense LDL cholesterol and LDL particle number without producing adverse changes in blood triacylglycerol or HDL-cholesterol concentrations. These beneficial alterations may contribute to the cardioprotective effect of oat fiber.

Aged↗

The role of cereal and fungal amylases in cereal flour hypersensitivity.

To investigate the role of cereal alpha and beta-amylase in bakers' asthma, we have compared the IgE response of 30 wheat-flour-allergic individuals to barley alpha and beta-amylases with that of fungal alpha-amylase using radioallergosorbent test (RAST), RAST inhibition assays and Western blotting. RAST analysis showed 29 of the 30 subjects with inhalant induced cereal allergy had positive IgE to cereal amylases, but only 16 were positive to fungal alpha-amylase. Regression analysis showed an association between specific IgE to wheat-flour and to barley alpha-amylase (r = 0.70) and barley beta-amylase (r = 0.92) but a poor association with fungal alpha-amylase (r = 0.34). RAST inhibition showed minimal crossreactivity between barley alpha or beta-amylase and barley and fungal alpha-amylase. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting showed that non-reduced barley alpha-amylase had a molecular weight of 54 kDa and barley beta-amylase a molecular weight of 64 kDa. Reduced fungal alpha-amylase had a molecular weight of 54 kDa. Cereal alpha and beta-amylase appear to be important allergens in patients with allergy to flour.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Oxidative responses of resistant and susceptible cereal leaves to symptomatic and nonsymptomatic cereal aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) feeding.

The impact of the leaf-chlorosis-eliciting Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), and the nonchlorosis-eliciting bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), feeding on D. noxia-susceptible and -resistant cereals was examined during the period (i.e., 3, 6, and 9 d after aphid infestation) that leaf chlorosis developed. After aphid number, leaf rolling and chlorosis ratings, and fresh leaf weight were recorded on each sampling date, total protein content, peroxidase, catalase, and polyphenol oxidase activities of each plant sample were determined spectrophotometrically. Although R. padi and D. noxia feeding caused significant increase of total protein content in comparison with the control cereal leaves, the difference in total protein content between R. padi and D. noxia-infested leaves was not significant. Although R. padi-feeding did not elicit any changes of peroxidase specific activity in any of the four cereals in comparison with the control leaves, D. noxia feeding elicited greater increases of peroxidase specific activity only on resistant 'Halt' wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and susceptible 'Morex' barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), but not on susceptible 'Arapahoe' and resistant 'Border' oat (Avena sativa L.). D. noxia-feeding elicited a ninefold increase in peroxidase specific activity on Morex barley and a threefold on Halt wheat 9 d after the initial infestation in comparison with control leaves. Furthermore, D. noxia feeding did not elicit any differential changes of catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities in comparison with either R. padi feeding or control leaves. The findings suggest that D. noxia feeding probably results in oxidative stress in plants. Moderate increase of peroxidase activity (approximately threefold) in resistant Halt compared with susceptible Arapahoe wheat might have contributed to its resistance to D. noxia, whereas the ninefold peroxidase activity increase may have possibly contributed to barley's susceptibility. Different enzymatic responses in wheat, barley, and oat to D. noxia and R. padi feeding indicate the cereals have different mechanisms of aphid resistance.

Animals↗

Rapid determination of ochratoxin A in cereals and cereal products by liquid chromatography.

A new method based on extraction with octylsilica (C8) followed by liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD) was studied to determine ochratoxin A (OTA) from cereals and cereal products. Optimization of different parameters, such as type and amount of solid phase, type and volume of eluent and amount of sample were carried out. Recovery of OTA from rice samples spiked at 10 ng/g level was of 86% with relative standard deviation of 5%. The limits of detection and quantification of the proposed method were 0.25 and 0.75 ng/g, respectively. Furthermore, LC-FLD after of OTA methylation and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with an electrospray interface were used for confirmation of OTA in all studied samples. The proposed method was applied to 62 samples of cereals and cereal products and the presence of OTA was found in seven samples.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Determination of fumigants in cereals and cereal products by capillary gas chromatography.

This study describes two methods for the quantitative determination of the residual fumigants ethylene dichloride (EDC), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), trichloroethylene (TCE), ethylene dibromide (EDB) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in cereals (especially wheat) and other foodstuffs. In the first method, a micro steam distillation- solvent extraction apparatus is used, while the second method is based on a headspace technique. For the quantitative determination of carbon tetrachloride in cereals, the multiple headspace technique is not retained because it is too time-consuming. The analysis of the different fumigants is performed by electron-capture gas chromatography, using a fused silica capillary column, CP sil 8 CB. With the steam distillation-solvent extraction method, recoveries from 95.9% to 100.5% are obtained for the fumigants, added at two different levels. The standard deviation varies between 1.1% and 6%. Using the simple headspace technique, recoveries from 73.5% to 85.1% with a standard deviation of between 1.7% and 6.6% have been reached for the fumigants in cereals fortified at two different levels. The absolute detection limits for the five fumigants EDC, CCl4, TCE, EDB and PCE, in both methods, are 30, 0.25, 1.1, and 0.5 pg, respectively.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Cereal-induced anaphylaxis in an adult after eating a baby cereal formula.

Ingestion of infant cereal formula as a cause of anaphylaxis has been exclusively described in children. We report the case of a man who experienced an anaphylactic reaction after eating his son's cereal formula. We believe that cereals constitute a rising problem and a hidden allergen that can cause severe reactions. Although these reactions are not fully understood, they may possibly be a life-long event.

Adult↗

Alkylresorcinols in cereals and cereal products.

The alkylresorcinol (AR) content of 8 commonly consumed cereals, 125 Triticum cultivars, milling fractions of wheat and rye, bread, and other cereal products was analyzed. ARs were found in wheat (489-1429 microgram/g), rye (720-761 microgram/g), triticale (439-647 microgram/g), and barley (42-51 microgram/g), but not in rice, oats, maize, sorghum, or millet. One durum wheat variety was found to have an exceptionally low level of ARs (54 microgram/g) compared to other durum wheat varieties (589-751 microgram/g) and Triticumspecies analyzed. The AR content of milling fractions closely followed the ash content and could be used as a marker of the presence of bran in flour. Using hot 1-propanol extraction, all ARs could be extracted from bread, contrary to previous studies which suggested that ARs were destroyed during baking. Cereal products varied greatly in AR content, with those containing wheat bran or whole rye having the highest content.

Alkylation↗

On ochratoxin A and fungal flora in Polish cereals from conventional and ecological farms - Part 1: occurrence of ochratoxin A and fungi in cereals in 1997.

Over 200 samples of Polish cereal grain from the 1997 harvest obtained from conventional and ecological farms were tested for the presence of ochratoxin A as well as for contamination by microscopic fungi. Ochratoxin A contamination of rye from ecological farms was over six times more frequent than that from conventional cultivation. The ochratoxin A content in wheat and barley samples from ecological farms was also higher. No wheat sample from conventional farms contained the mycotoxin. In the group of ecological farms, there were differences in the percentage of cereal samples containing ochratoxin A. The ochratoxin A levels ranged from 0.2 to 57 microg kg(-1). The mean concentration of ochratoxin A in investigated cereal grain was 5.7 microg kg(-1). From samples containing detectable amounts of ochratoxin A, fungi producing ochratoxin A under laboratory conditions were isolated. They were classified as belonging to the species Penicillium cyclopium, P. viridicatum, P. chrysogenum and also Aspergillus alliaceus, A. versicolor, A. glaucus and A. flavus. Penicillium strains - producers of ochratoxin A - were isolated from 93% of the samples; in 7% of samples, only Aspergillus strains producing this mycotoxin were noted. Rye samples mainly from one farm with an ecological type of cultivation and from one conventional farm were contaminated with both Aspergillus and Penicillium mycotoxigenic strains.

Aspergillus↗

Production and morphology of the hybrids Aegilops kotschyi x Secale cereale and Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale.

Hybrids between Aegilops kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis with Secale cereale were synthesized. Five Ae. kotschyi and four Ae. biuncialis accessions, as well as one inbred and four self-compatible forms of Secale cereale were used for crossing. The hybrids were produced directly from cultured embryos or through embryo callus culture. Sixty hybrids, 11 involving Ae. kotschyi and 49 Ae. biuncialis, had a stable somatic chromosome number 2n = 3x = 21. The plants showed good vegetative vigour and tillering capacity. Morphologically the hybrids were intermediate between their parents and completely sterile. In vitro propagation of Ae. kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale hybrids revealed that their capacity for callus production and plantlet regeneration - varies.

Body Constitution↗