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Background: The chemical composition of Handal (Citrullus colocynthis L.) seed oil cultivated in Jordan deserts was characterized, and its bioactivity was evaluated. Methods: The oil was extracted from the grinded seeds in 500 ml Soxhlet extractor for 24 hr using n‐hexane, and the recovered fatty acids were methylated with methanolic‐HCL. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition was analyzed using GC‐MS and GC‐FID. The anticancer activity associated with the oil was assessed against colon cancer cell lines (Caco‐2 and HCT‐116) and compared to its cytotoxicity on the human skin fibroblast. Multivariate analysis was used to determine relationship of the fatty acid composition with that of the anticancer activity. Results: The results demonstrated that fatty acid composition of Citrullus colocynthis seed oil chiefly contains Linoleic acid, denoted as C18:2n6 (75%), followed by Palmitic acid C16:0 (8%), Stearic acid C18:0 (5%), and Oleic acid C18:1n9 (9%). It is demonstrated as an excellent source of essential fatty acids omega‐6 (e.g., Linoleic acid), whereas omega‐3 (e.g., α‐Linolenic acid) and hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids are found at small level. Interestingly, the oil exhibited reasonable anticancer effects against colorectal cancer cell lines with IC50 values varying between 4 and 7 mg/ml. The correlation test revealed a relationship between the fatty acid composition and the effectiveness on treatments. Conclusions: Handal plant from Jordan appears to have very high level of Linoleic acid compared to other oils measured in different geographic locations and that there appears to be some anticancer activities associated with the fatty acid content of Handal seed oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assesses health risks associated with heavy metal Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni and Fe exposure to workplace residents activates in Aqaba Industrial Estate (AIE). The children's and adults' average daily intake (ADI), Quotation Index (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) were assessed. Non-carcinogenic health risk assessment for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni and Fe (HQ >1) indicated strong chances of adverse effects on children and adults living around the workplace area. The HI>1 analysis for heavy metals, which is considered a threat to children and adults, but the highest risk contributor is the inhalation pathway. Child and adult cancer risk followed the same decreasing order, Pb> Cr > Ni Children were found to have higher than permissible limits (10-6), which is considered a threat to children as they cause a variety of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified six-step sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate and determine the following trace metals: U4+, As5+, Cd2+, Cr+2, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and V5+in three different phosphate rocks from mines in Jordan. The mean values of uranium in the samples investigated were 98 ± 6 mgkg−1, 92 ± 3 mgkg−1, 215 ± 6 mgkg−1, and 159 ± 13 mgkg−1, respectively. The sequential extraction results obtained showed that most of the U4+in these samples was strongly bound with 87%, 93%, 97%, and 93% of the total content, respectively, remaining in the samples after the sequential extraction steps were performed. Hence, 13%–7% and 3%–7%, respectively, of the U4+is distributed in the most labile form, indicating that the majority of the U4+in these samples was highly incorporated within the apatite present in the samples. The aforementioned was in agreement with the XRD and SEM-EDX results obtained. The apparent mobility of U4+, As5+, Cd2+, Cr+2, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and V5+(using all six extraction steps) from the Al-Abied and Al-Hasa samples was as follows: As5+(30.17%)> Cu2+(6.55%)> Zn2+(4.34%)> Cd2+(3.84%) Cr+2(3.66%)> Pb2+(2.57%)> V5+(53%)> Ni2+(1.71%)> U4+(0.99%). The mobility of As5+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr+2, Ni2+, Pb2+, U4+, Zn2+, and V5+(using all six extraction steps) from Eshidiya samples was as follows: As5+(17.32%)> Cr+2(4.84%)> Zn2+(4.25%)> Pb2+(4.19%)> Cu2+(3.49%)> V5+(1.42%)> Cd2+(0.78) U4+(0.09%)> Ni2+(0%). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]