Abstract:

Tobacco is one of the sources that may introduce several heavy metals into the bodies of positive and negative smokers, leading to harmful effects on smokers’ bodies. Because a major number of Libyan populations are smoking different brands of cigarettes alongside raw tobacco leaves which may affect our citizens’ health, accordingly 10 cigarette brands comprising Bon International, Gold Mexico Original, Camel Yellow, D&G, Milano London, Milano, Oris Fliter. Karelia Ligts, Yes and Libyan brand named Ryadi, and another sample of raw tobacco leaves (LRT) planted locally were collected randomly from local shops distributed in Alassaba municipality with aims to determine the total concentration of Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) and calculate the health risk related to the presence of these metals in the most consumed tobacco. The obtained results showed that all collected tobacco samples contained various levels of Cd, Co, Cu Pb and Zn (mg/kg) ranged from 0.38 ± 0.07 to 0.84 ± 0.01, 0.33 ± 0.04 to 0.5 ± 0.07, 15.29 ± 0.88 to 18.75 ± 0.72, 0.42 ± 0.04 to 1.04 ± 0.11 and 14.33 ± 0.33 to 32.45 ± 2.09, respectively. The mean levels of Co, Cu and Zn were within the allowable levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO), whereas Pb and Cd levels were above the acceptable levels. The calculated harm quotient (HQ) of target metals were greater than 1 representing extreme health risk due to the presence of Cd, Cu Pb and Zn in studied tobacco, nevertheless, the HQ of Co were lower than 1 presenting minimal health risk to the smokers. In conclusion, there is a need to emphasize the regulation of the import and tread of tobacco and monitor the content of heavy metals in tobacco to reduce the health effects of these cigarette brands.    

Keywords: Cigarette brands, Heavy metals, Health risk, Smoking, Tobacco.

A B S T R A C T

The current study aimed to the production and partial purification of a cold-active lipase by some fungi isolated from the olive oil processing wastes in Al-Gabal Al-Gharby, Libya. 31 fungal species from 12 genera were isolated. F. solani was the most prevalent comprising 94% of total Fusarium and 28.7% of total fungi, 102 fungal isolates were tested for their lipolytic activity on lipase production agar medium at 10 and 20°C. The most active isolates were Alternaria (2 isolates), Fusarium, and Penicillium (1isolate for each one). Molecular identification of the most active four isolates was carried out by their sequencing (ITS). The four powerful fungal strains' production of cold-active lipase was maximized by optimizing some nutritional and environmental factors. F. solani AUMC 16063 was able to produce the maximum amount of lipase activity (46.66U/mL/min) with specific activity (202.8U/mg), utilizing ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source after 8 days of incubation at pH 3.0 and 15°C. However, at same condition after 6 days when yeast extract was employed as a nitrogen source, the generated cold-active lipase displayed the highest specific activity of (1550U/mg) and lipase activity (36.74U/ml/min). This is the first study in which the production, partial purification, maximized and characterization of a cold-active lipase enzyme by Fusarium solani.

Keywords: cold active enzymes, Lipase, Fusarium solani, lipolytic activity, specific activity.

The current study aimed to the production and partial purification of a cold-active lipase by som fungi isolated from the olive oil processing wastes in Al-Gabal Al-Gharby, Libya. 31 fungal species from 12 genera were isolated. F. solani was the most prevalent comprising 94% of total Fusarium and 28.7% of total fungi, 102 fungal isolates were tested for their lipolytic activity on lipase production agar medium at 10 and 20°C. The most active isolates were Alternaria (2 isolates), Fusarium, and Penicillium (1isolate for each one). Molecular identification of the most active four isolates was carried out by their sequencing (ITS). The four powerful fungal strains' production of cold-active lipase was maximized by optimizing some nutritional and environmental factors. F. solani AUMC 16063 was able to produce the maximum amount of lipase activity (46.66U/mL/min) with specific activity (202.8U/mg), utilizing ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source after 8 days of incubation at pH 3.0 and 15°C. However, at same condition after 6 days when yeast extract was employed as a nitrogen source, the generated cold-active lipase displayed the highest specific activity of (1550U/mg) and lipase activity (36.74U/ml/min). This is the first study in which the production, partial purification, maximized and characterization of a cold-active lipase enzyme by Fusarium solani. Keywords: cold active enzymes, Lipase, Fusarium solani, lipolytic activity, specific activity. 

Bread is a staple food for many nations globally. It is prepared by mixing wheat or barley flour with water and other additives. Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is the most used additive in bread industry, because of its efficiency to make the bread cost-effective and favourable to consume. However, KBrO3 is toxic to human and animals due to its ability to affect several body organs, e.g., liver, bones, blood, renal and hepatic, therefore KBrO3 is classified as a carcinogenic chemical and banned for using in the bread industries in most countries. Even though, this material is still in use as bread improver in several countries, nevertheless several oxidising agents was suggested to use as replacements instead of KBrO3 that doesn’t have harmful effects to the consumers. Many technologies have been developed and applied to evaluate the residues of KBrO3 in bakery products. This review paper explored the use of potassium bromate as a flour additive, and its effect on human, animal and environment, and the chemical methods to assess its remains in bread industries.

The demand for drinking water is increasing daily due to the rising world population, alongside the leakage of water, overuse of groundwater, and occurrence of several pollution issues that led to reducing the quality of groundwater. Consequently, in most countries purifying water technologies have been used to obtain drinkable water. Nationally, Libyans use the purified water extensively in their daily needs. Accordingly, to ensure that our citizen utilize harmless water, the quality of the used water and the efficiency of purification units was assessed by analyzing several physical and chemical characteristics of purified water and raw water supplied to the purification units from some local wells and man-made river (MMR) using recommended standard methods. The study results showed that the quality of purified water is excellent, and the purification process reduced the pH, electro conductivity and the concentration of studied chemical properties significantly to values less than the optimum levels (OL) suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Libyan standards (LS) for drinking water. As a conclusion, the studied purified water may use in the daily needs of human with continuously analytical monitoring.

Abstract: This study aims to analyzing demographic data of patients, isolate and identify Candida species, which causes vaginal infections, and a study of its prevalence among pregnant women in Sorman city, Libya.210 specimens collected from patients admitted to the Maternity Care Center in the combined clinic. carried immediately to the Microbiology Laboratory in the National Cancer Institute, Subrata, Libya for direct microscopy, culturing, and characterization. Each participant was given an interview questionnaire and asked about their age, educational level, employment position, and history of recurrent vaginal yeast infection. Chronic diseases were also listed on the data collecting form. Identification of Candida species using Chrome agar: A total of 100 isolates have been recovered in this study, of which 72isolates were obtained as pure cultures on Chrome agar medium. According to their color on Chrome agar, these 72 colonies were categorized to 5 main species namely Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Genotypic identification of Candida species in this investigation was validated by the ITS tree. Eight strains from this investigation were found in the Candida albicans clade, which had a high bootstrap value of 99 percent ML/99 percent MP. These were therefore identified as Candida albicans., Within the Candida glabrata clade, three isolates were grouped together, demonstrating a strong support value of 99% ML/99%MP. These strains were recognized as belonging to the C. glabrata species, while one isolate was recognized as belonging to the C. tropicalis species, with a high support value of 99% ML/99%MP.

 Keywords: VVC infections, candidemia patients, genotypic identification, and Candida albicans

Abstract: The current study was aimed for isolation, identification and preservation of mycobiota associated with the olive oil processing wastes (Fatura) collected from different cities in Al-Gabal Al-Gharby, Libya, screening the cold-active lipolytic activity of the isolated fungi and selection of the highest cold-active lipase producers. 31 fungal species belong to 12 genera were isolated from these samples with total CFUs of 29560. Fusarium was the most common genus at total CFUs of 9020 and comprising 30.51% from all fungi, followed by Aspergillus, that recorded 25.44% from all fungi. Penicillium was ranked third, nine different species were present. A total of 100% of samples were found to have CFUs of 5140 and 17.4% of all fungi. On lipase production agar medium at two temperatures, 10 and 20°C, 102 fungal isolates from 31 species were tested for their lipolytic activity. The majority of fungi could produce lipase activity at 20°C, where 98 out of 102 isolates the highest lipase producers was higher at 10°C (25) than at 20°C (16). The most active isolates were Alternaria, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Molecular identification of the most active four isolates was carried out by sequencing their internal transcribed spacer region (ITS).

 Keyword: Olive oil, cold active enzymes, Lipase, fungi, lipolytic activity, Fatura.

 Food poisoning caused by bacterial agents is a worldwide problem, usually accompanied by unpleasant symptoms and may be sever leading to death. Natural compounds from marine algae namely flavonoids may play a role in the remedy of this condition. Aim: This research aims to assess the potency of flavonoids extracted from Enteromorpha intestinalis and Caulerpa prolifera as antibacterial agents. Methods: E. intestinalis was collected from Western Libyan Coast and C. prolifera was collected from Farwa Island. The antimicrobial activity and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of algal flavonoid containing extracts was performed in vitro against some positive and negative Gram bacteria. Results: Crude extract containing flavonoids from E. intestinalis were more effective than C. prolifera extract against Staphylococcus aureus with antimicrobial essay (25-28+1 and 14.5-37.5+0.5-1.5), MIC (50 and 50-250 µg/mL), MBC (75 and 75-250 µg/mL). In Bacillus cereus, the antimicrobial assay (19-24.5+0.5-1.5: 24+1), MIC (50-250 + 100 µg/mL) and MBC (250 and 125 µg/mL). On the other hand, flavonoids containing extract from C. prolifera were more effective than E. intestinalis against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 EHEC O157 (25-28+1: 14-18.5+0.5-1.5), MIC (100-250:100-500 µg/mL) and MBC (150-250 and 250-500 µg/mL). Salmonella enterica qualitatively combat by flavonoid from E. intestinalis (13.5-14+0.5-1: 10.5-13.5+0.5-1.5), MIC (100-250: 250 µg/mL) and MBC (100-250: 250 µg/mL). Flavonoids from C. prolifera (4 strains: 2 strains) were effective against S. enterica. Crude flavonoids from both algae were not effective against Bacillus pumilus. Conclusion: Data from this study could conclude that flavonoid extracts from E. intestinalis and C. prolifera could be used against foodborne bacterial agents