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Biomedical subjects

G A Lawrence

Publications and source records attributed to G A Lawrence.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Toxic effects of chlorinated cake flour in rats.

Four experiments were conducted using weanling Wistar rats to determine whether chlorinated cake flour or its constituents were toxic. Levels of 0.2 and 1.0% chlorine added to unbleached cake flour significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced growth rate by 20.7 and 85.2% and increased liver weight relative to body weight by 16.7 and 25.3%, respectively. Lipids extracted from flour chlorinated at the same levels had similar effects. Rat chow diets containing 0.2 and 0.6% chlorine in the form of chlorinated wheat gluten reduced growth rate and increased liver weight as a percentage of body weight. A rat chow diet containing 0.2% chlorine as chlorinated flour lipids increased absolute liver weight by 40%, kidney by 20%, and heart by 10% compared to pair-fed controls.

Amino Acids↗

Fermentation of wort containing added ochratoxin A and fumonisins B1 and B2.

Ochratoxin A (OA), fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) were added to wort at levels of 0.19, 0.95 and 0.95 micrograms/ml, respectively, and fermented for up to 8 days by three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Decreases of OA in the beer over this period were estimated from straight line slopes to be 2-13%. Losses of FB1 and FB2 were estimated to be 3-28% and 9-17% respectively. Some OA was taken up by the yeast, up to 21% in a detailed study with one strain. In contrast, uptake of fumonisins by yeast was negligible (< 1% FB1 and < 2% FB2). In control experiments, OA, FB1 and FB2 were found to be stable when added to yeast-free wort and kept for up to 8 days at 25 degrees C. In addition, spiking experiments with blank day 0-8 fermenting wort samples showed method recoveries averaging 87-91%. None of the mycotoxins was detected in control fermentations where they were not added to the wort.

Beer↗

Analysis of Ginkgo biloba for the presence of ginkgotoxin and ginkgotoxin 5'-glucoside.

Hot water extracts of Ginkgo biloba seeds were analyzed for the presence of ginkgotoxin (4'-O-methylpyridoxine) by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) using methanol-0.05M KH2PO4 (1 + 9, v/v) adjusted to pH 3 as mobile phase. Detection was by fluorescence (excitation 280 nm, emission 370 nm). A straight line calibration curve was obtained for the 10-100 ng injected. After addition of beta-glucosidase (37 degrees C/h), an earlier eluting peak disappeared and the ginkgotoxin peak increased. The identity of the ginkgotoxin was confirmed by LC/MS and LC/MS/MS. LC/MS/MS also confirmed the 5'-glucoside by comparison with the 3-glucoside. This is the first identification of a glucoside of ginkgotoxin in Ginkgo biloba. An unknown compound of MW 267 also observed in the Ginkgo biloba seed extract was shown not to be 3,5'-diacetylginkgotoxin by its different LC retention time. Extraction of ground Ginkgo biloba seeds with boiling water in a Soxhlet for 2 x 2 h yielded a total of 179 microg/g of free ginkgotoxin. The concentration in powder from Ginkgo biloba capsules was several times lower than this (17-64 microg/g) in 3 samples but higher in another (457 microg/g). Canned ginkgo seeds (white nuts) contained no detectable free ginkgotoxin but the glucoside was present. Different extraction times were studied: 0.5 h gave only 52 microg/g free ginkgotoxin in the ginkgo seeds. However, boiling an extract for 4 h showed about 15% loss of ginkgotoxin and its glucoside.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Liquid chromatographic determination of zearalenone and alpha- and beta-zearalenols in milk.

Previous research has demonstrated transmission of zearalenone and alpha- and beta-zearalenols into the milk of cows and other animals. Since human intake of zearalenone and its metabolites via milk is an unknown factor in risk assessment of zearalenone and because appropriate methodology for their determination in milk is not available, a rapid and sensitive analytical method has been developed. Essentially, the method includes extraction with basic acetonitrile, acidification, partition into methylene chloride on a hydrophilic matrix, cleanup on an aminopropyl solid phase extraction column, and reverse-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Recoveries from milk averaged 84% for zearalenone, 93% for alpha-zearalenol, and 90% for beta-zearalenol at spiking levels of 0.5 to 20 ng/mL. As little as 0.2 ng/mL of zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol and 2 ng/mL of beta-zearalenol can be detected in milk. These 3 compounds are stable in refrigerated milk for at least 2 weeks and in milk brought to boiling. Enzymes (beta-glucuronidase and aryl sulfatase) may be added to milk prior to extraction to hydrolyze any conjugates.

Animals↗

Liquid chromatographic determination and stability of the Fusarium mycotoxin moniliformin in cereal grains.

Moniliformin is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium subglutinans and other Fusarium species. A rapid, liquid chromatographic method for its determination in corn and wheat is described. Samples are extracted in acetonitrile-water (95 + 5); following defatting with n-hexane, an aliquot of the extract is evaporated and cleaned up on small C18 and neutral alumina columns successively. Reverse-phase liquid chromatography (LC) is conducted on a C18 column with 10 or 15% methanol or acetonitrile in aqueous ion-pair reagent as mobile phase, with detection by ultraviolet absorption at 229 and 254 nm. Average recoveries of moniliformin (potassium salt) added to ground corn and wheat at levels of 0.05-1.0 micrograms/g were 80% (n = 20) and 85% (n = 12), respectively, and the limit of detection was ca 0.01-0.18 micrograms/g, depending on LC conditions. Analysis of 24 samples of wheat, 4 samples of rye, and 12 samples of corn showed moniliformin in only 2 corn samples (0.06 and 0.2 micrograms/g). Moniliformin was also detected in a sample of artificially damaged (slashed) corn (0.2 micrograms/g) and selected kernels of corn that were field-inoculated with F. subglutinans and F. moniliforme (50 micrograms/g and 0.5 micrograms/g, respectively). In stability studies, moniliformin (potassium salt, 1 microgram/g) in ground corn and ground wheat heated at 50, 100, and 150 degrees C for 0.5-2 h decomposed moderately, e.g., 55% remained in corn after 0.5 h at 100 degrees C.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Preparation of deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) from field-inoculated corn.

A process was developed for production of gram quantities of deoxynivalenol (DON) from corn that had been inoculated in the field with Fusarium graminearum and was estimated to contain 400-500 mg DON/kg. Steps in the purification procedure included extraction with methanol-water (1 + 1), partition from an aqueous solution into ethyl acetate by using a hydrophilic matrix, defatting, Florisil column chromatography, methylene chloride-water partition, semipreparative liquid chromatography (LC), and crystallization from ethyl acetate. The average yield of crystalline DON produced by this method (or with minor variations) was 281 mg/kg.

Chromatography↗