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Background::Tumors of the childhood are considered to be grave and devastating pathologies, with high mortality rates. Current therapeutic options like cytotoxic drugs and radiotherapy target both healthy and malignant cells, thus resulting in long-term neurological and intellectual sequelae and endocrinological disorders.Objectives::In this study, we focused on the anticancer potency of crocins, the main constituents of Crocus sativus L, stigmas. Crocins were first extracted using organic solvents from the dried stigmas and then were identified using the HPLC analysis.Materials and Methods::TE-671 cells were treated with the extract of crocins using a range of concentrations between 0.25-mg/ mL and 16 mg/mL. Viability of the cells was measured at 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h. In addition, we have examined the expression levels of the p53 gene using Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR.Results::Results showed that crocins exerted significant cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects in a concentration and time - dependent-manner on TE-671 cells. Furthermore, p53 manifested similar expression pattern as the anti-proliferative effect of crocin.Conclusion::Our data demonstrate that crocins could be a novel promising agent for the improvement of tumor treatment.

EU basic legislation for food and feed (Regulation EC No. 178/2002) dictates the need for risk assessment, especially in the case the analytical results of the applied official control (Regulation EC No. 882/2004) for a chemical risk are not prescribed by legal limits, but also in the case it is required to estimate the total exposure of the population to a chemical substance via food. The estimated total daily or weekly intakes of a specific substance are compared with the established tolerable weekly intakes (ΤWI) or with the reference values BMDL, in order to assess the risk from the chronic exposure of the population to this substance. In the present a short reference is done to the main risk assessment methodologies that are used at EU and EFSA level, which are based on the deterministic and more recently on the probabilistic model and on the need for coding/ standardisation / harmonisation at EU level of the necessary databases and of the models used for exposure assessment. Also a case study is described regarding the estimate of exposure of the Cypriot adolescent population to lead. Lead average dietary exposure ranges from 0,32 to 0,52 μg/kg b.w./day for mean consumers and 0,59 to 1,21 μg/kg b.w./day for high consumers. These exposure estimates are below or exceed (for high consumers) the BMDL10 intake value for nephrotoxicity (0,63 μg/kg b.w./day) and are below the BMDL01 intake values for cardiovascular effects (1,50 μg/kg b.w./day).

Several food contact materials, plastic, ceramic, metallic and non stick cookware, bottles, cups, plates, cans, jars, baby bottles, bags, membranes etc, locally produced and imported, have been monitored and controlled since 1992 in Cyprus. The control has been carried out according to the requirements of the relevant EU legislation and standards. The samples have been collected according to the relevant National Multiannual Control Plan, giving attention and priority to materials which are frequently used, may release toxic substances, are used for baby feeding and have been found non-compliant or notified by the EU RASFF system. The samples have been examined for identity of the material by FT-IR, overall and specific migration, correct labeling and corrosion resistance. Specific migration has been carried out for heavy metals Pb, Cd by ICP and ICP-MS techniques, for plasticizer additives (phthalates and DEHA) for monomers (Bisphenol A, BADGE, sterene, terephthalic acid, melamine, formaldehyde ) using aqueous, acidic, alcoholic and fatty foodstuff simulants by HPLC and GC-MS and other techniques. Most of the examined samples were within the relevant EU requirements. Some non compliant samples have been found: ceramic samples for migration of lead and or cadmium, plastic membranes (cling films) for migration of the plasticizer DEHA and incorrect labeling concerning the types of food for which they were intended, black nylon kitchen utensils for primary aromatic amines, plastic gaskets of metallic lid for DIDP ( di iso decyl phthalate) or DEHP, baby waters in plastic containers for DEHP, one baby feeding bottle for low resistance to boiling water, some non stick cookware, most of them imported from third countries.

For the risk assessment from the dietary intake of several toxic substances/contaminants there is a need for two data bases. One for the levels of contaminants in the several food groups/items which are consumed in a country or in a region and one for the food consumption data for the country or the region. The more representative and valid are the data for these two data bases, the most “accurate” will be the risk assessment for the examined substances. In Cyprus, for the first data base, the results of the multiyear monitoring and control of the levels of lead (Pb) cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and nitrates (NO3) were used. For the second data base, the data of the Statistical Service of Cyprus for the Household Budget Survey for foodstuffs (for the years 1997-99) were used. With the use of these data, was estimated that the mean dietary intake of Pb is about 67% of the PTWI for Pb (25μg/kg b.w./week) for Cd is about 66% of the PTWI of Cd (7μg/kg b.w./week) for Hg is about 38% of the PTWI of CH3-Hg (1,6μg/kg b.w./week, if we assume that all the Hg is transformed to CH3-Hg) and for NO3 is about 110% of the ADI for NO3 (3,7 mg/kg b.w./day). All the calculations were done for 70kg body weight (b.w.). The high intake of nitrates is due to the high consumption of vegetables which is a characteristic of Mediterranean diet (as the Cypriot diet is) as the vegetables are the major source of nitrates in the human intakes. From this point of view the ADI for NO3 may has to be reevaluated when nitrates are taken through vegetables, as they contain many beneficial to health ingredients (vitamins, antioxidants etc) which counteract the effect of NO3 (risk-benefit analysis). Finally a trial is done to identify and assess the several factors that contribute to the uncertainty of all the above calculations.