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Pumpkin is rich in beta-carotene which is used for preventing vitamin A deficiency. About 50 of carotenoids are the "Provitamin A compounds" which are precursors of retinol. Retinol is the active form of vitamin A. It plays an important role in vision. Beta carotene is an important anti-oxidant which protects the damaging of body cells by high free radical content because of its radical scavenging activity. The purpose of this study was to quantify the beta carotene and vitamin A present in yellow and green pumpkins. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze beta carotene and vitamin A. Yellow pumpkin contained the highest values of both the β-carotene and vitamin A than green pumpkin. The results illustrated that green pumpkin (Curcurbita pepo) possess 20.3µg/g beta carotene; 52.6µg/g vitamin A and yellow pumpkin (Curcurbita maxima) contains 35.7µg/g beta carotene and 60.2 µg/g vitamin A in their pulp. It was concluded that there is a need to promote the use of locally available sources of carotene and retinol to overcome nutrition deficiency in the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin (OTA) is a potent carcinogen which may pose a tremendous threat to human health when found beyond permissible levels. This study aims at evaluating ochratoxin contamination in corn. The corn samples (n=80) were collected from 4 major districts (Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi) of Punjab Pakistan. The quantification of OTA in collected corn samples was carried out by High Performance Liquid Chromatographic technique. Different methods (physical, chemical and natural/biological) were used for the detoxification of contaminated corn. It was found that 59% of total 80 samples were contaminated with ochratoxin. Among contaminated samples, 26% samples were beyond permissible levels i.e. 5μg/kg OTA in corn samples as set by European Commission Regulation while 33% samples were found contaminated within permissible levels. However, 41% samples were not contaminated with OTA. Highest level 231.49+29.39μg/kg of OTA was found in corn sample of Faisalabad. The corn samples collected during summer season were found more contaminated than winter season. OTA contamination in corn seems to be a very serious issue in Punjab, Pakistan. Different environment-friendly, easy and cheap detoxification approaches were adopted to decontaminate OTA contaminated corn. Maximum detoxification of OTA in corn was found 48.17% by cooking, 64.25% by 0.5% hydrochloric acid and 52.38% by probiotic among physical, chemical and biological methods respectively. Proper handling, suitable storage conditions and proper management may be helpful to avoid ochratoxin contamination in corn and corn products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted to study the effects of moisture contents on the level of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in wheat flour samples collected from different areas of Lahore. Total 30 samples were collected from different locations and shops in Lahore-Pakistan, making sure that they have different levels of moisture contents. Thin layer chromatography technique was (TLC) selected to check the AFB1 contamination levels in wheat flour samples. The AFB1 was detected in 10 samples (33.33%), out of which 7 samples (23.33%) had AFB1 levels within permissible range, i.e. 2 µg/kg, while 3 samples (10%) contained AFB1 levels i.e. 2.67 µg/kg, 2.93 µg/kg, 3.01 µg/kg above permissible range. From the study it was concluded that the contaminated samples had greater moisture contents than that of non contaminated samples. Sample with 35% moisture content has 3.01 µg/kg AFB1 levels. The food stuff can be protected from AFB1 production by minimizing the moisture contents, the lesser the moisture content, the lesser will be the aflatoxin levels in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aims to extract edible yellow color from Marigold (Tagetes erecta) flower by using cheap and safe techniques and making it stable for long period of time in food products as well as in extracted form by using preservatives and antioxidants like citric acid and determining its usefulness by applying on food products. Natural edible color was extracted from T. erecta gave lemon yellow color shade which when applied on candies increased the attractiveness. The spectrophotometric analysis at 474nm of extracted color both in crude form and in candies was found to be stable at 4°C and showed decay in mean lutein concentration at higher temperatures i.e. 25°C and 45°C. The microbiological study of the extracted color and candies prepared in laboratory and dyed with T. erecta extract color showed that the color extracted from T.erecta itself do not promote microbial growth rather it has antibacterial activity. The lethal dose and toxicity determination of the color extracted from marigold showed that it is safe for consumption as no clinical symptoms were observed in rabbits after giving the maximum dose of 1000ml of color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals form a versatile group of high density elements that vary considerably in their biological roles and chemical properties. Although many heavy metals are essential trace elements yet they have long been recognized as environmental pollutants due their toxic effects. Increased industrialization, urbanization anthropogenic activities like mining, smelting and other agricultural activities have resulted in accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. Heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium, zinc, copper, mercury, arsenic and chromium are not easily degradable and tend to build up in soil. These heavy metals through various routes such as fish and plants make their way into the human body and are known to have serious detrimental effects on human health at elevated levels. The harmful effects of some important heavy metals on human health have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana stalk (BS) waste is used to remove Pb2+ from aqueous solution. Equilibrium data were analyzed with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models, which fit better in the former equation. The qmax (maximum metal uptake capacity) for Pb2+ adsorption was 105.14 mg/g of BS at pH 5.0, which followed pseudo-second order kinetics model. IR spectra confirmed the participation of hydroxyl, amino, and acidic functional moieties in the removal of Pb2+. The major mechanism involved in the biosorption of Pb2+ was ion-exchange as conformed by meq (milliequivalent) ratios of Pb2+ adsorbed and the amount of alkali (Na+, K+) and alkaline earth (Ca2+ and Mg2+) metals released. BS was used in five repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, recovering +99% of adsorbed Pb2+ with 0.5 M HCl as desorbent. The optimized batch experimental parameters were applied to treat large volumes of Pb2+-contaminated wastewater to obtain breakthrough curves in fixed bed columns. The effective removal of Pb2+ by BS, a low-cost and efficient biosorbent to sequester Pb2+, meets the criteria of internationally acceptable maximum discharge limits in wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was designed to evaluate the nutritional values of red skin potatoes collected from Gujranwala and Lahore regions of Pakistan. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) of Gujranwala and Lahore were found to contain moisture contents of 5.00 and 5.15%, respectively. Fat was 0.19% in S. tuberosum of Gujranwala whereas Lahore potatoes were found to contain fat 0.2%. Fibre content of S. tuberosum of Gujranwala was 16.47% while S. tuberosum of Lahore had 13.45% fibre. Protein contents of S. tuberosum of Gujranwala were 12.89% whereas for S. tuberosum of Lahore were 13.11%. The water extract showed significant free radical scavenging activities in DPPH radical scavenging antioxidant assay and antioxidant activity was increased in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest that potato (S. tuberosum) is not only a cheap source of very important nutritents but also has antioxidant activities which are helpful to maintain different physiological functions of body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was designed to evaluate the nutritional values of red skin potatoes collected from Gujranwala and Lahore regions of Pakistan. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) of Gujranwala and Lahore were found to contain moisture contents of 5.00 and 5.15%, respectively. Fat was 0.19% in S. tuberosum of Gujranwala whereas Lahore potatoes were found to contain fat 0.2%. Fibre content of S. tuberosum of Gujranwala was 16.47% while S. tuberosum of Lahore had 13.45% fibre. Protein contents of S. tuberosum of Gujranwala were 12.89% whereas for S. tuberosum of Lahore were 13.11%. The water extract showed significant free radical scavenging activities in DPPH radical scavenging antioxidant assay and antioxidant activity was increased in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest that potato (S. tuberosum) is not only a cheap source of very important nutritents but also has antioxidant activities which are helpful to maintain different physiological functions of body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the potential of mango peel waste (MPW) as an adsorbent material to remove Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ from constituted metal solutions and genuine electroplating industry wastewater. Heavy metal ions were noted to be efficiently removed from the constituted solution with the selectivity order of Cu2+ > Ni2+ > Zn2+. The adsorption process was pH-dependent, while the maximum adsorption was observed to occur at pH 5 to 6. Adsorption was fast as the equilibrium was established within 60 min. Maximum adsorption of the heavy metal ions at equilibrium was 46.09, 39.75, and 28.21 mg g for Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, respectively. Adsorption data of all the three metals fit well the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with 0.99 regression coefficient. Release of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and protons H+ from MPW, during the uptake of Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, and EDX analysis of MPW, before and after the metal sorption process, revealed that ion exchange was the main mechanism of sorption. FTIR analysis showed that carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups were involved in the sorption of Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+. MPW was also shown to be highly effective in removing metal ions from the genuine electroplating industry effluent samples as it removed all the three metal ions to the permissible levels of discharge legislated by environment protection agencies. This study indicates that MPW has the potential to effectively remove metal ions from industrial effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beet root (Beta vulgaris) is an excellent source of natural red colorant. In the present work red beet root dye was prepared in the powder form and then candies were prepared using this red beet root dye as food color. The stability studies of both, the prepared red beet dye and candies were performed at different storage conditions 4°C, 25°C, 45°C for eight weeks. Betanin content (%) was measured to evaluate the stability of color which showed the maximum retention of betanin content in red beet dye and candies stored at 4°C while lowest%age of betanin content was observed at 45°C showing that at higher temperatures the color is deteriorated. Stability in pH of red beet dye was also monitored at three different temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 45°C). Increase in pH was observed with increasing storage temperatures. Maximum stability of the color was observed at 4°C at most stable acidic pH and color degradation was observed with gradual increase in pH at 45°C. Microbiological analysis of candies and beet powder at 4°C and 25°C ensure that they are safe for consumption at both storage temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the concentration of six different metals (Cr, Cd, Pb. Cu, Ni, and Zn) was analyzed in seven species of fruits named i.e., Bergamot orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Jujube Fruit, Banana, and Chikoo. Samples were taken in July-Aug 2021, from two fruit farms located in District Okara, Pakistan. Metals were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer at the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Research, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. Statistical analysis showed that the metals have moderate to weak correlation among them indicating the same source of origin. Pearson correlation also supported this hypothesis. The concentration of Cu and Pb were exceeding the WHO/FAO permissible levels, indicating the need for risk assessment for these metals. The hazard quotient (HQ) of each metal, which ranges from 0.01 to 50.5, was evaluated which indicated that Pb (6.4) and Cu (50.5) had HQ>1, thus causing a serious impact on human health. Cancer risk assessment indicated that in the case of grapefruit every nine people from the population of 100 could be suffered from cancer by consuming this contaminated fruit. Soil and water resulted showed the excess level of copper and nickel in that due to excessive use of fungicide named copper sulfate and chlorpyrifos as an insecticide, respectively. The overall results showed that consumption of heavy metal polluted fruits pose serious cancer and non-cancer risk to the population consuming these fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]