Characterization of Coffee Silver Skin as Potential Food-Safe Ingredient

By-products from the coffee industry are produced in large amounts each year. Among other wastes, coffee silver skin (CSS) is highly available and more stable due to its lower content of water. This research aimed to characterize coffee silver skin composition and evidence its potentiality for use as a food-safe ingredient in new formulations. Results showed an average total dietary fiber content of 50% but with a higher ratio for insoluble than soluble fiber. A high content of total phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, and caffeic acid was found and correlated with the high measured antioxidant capacity. Moreover, minerals (e.g., calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, iron, manganese) important for human wellbeing were found at a high level in CSS, while toxic minerals (e.g., nickel) were found at low levels. In conclusion, coffee silver skin could have an advantageous role for the recovery of valuable compounds and as a potential food-safe ingredient.

Comparative Study of the Biochemical Response Behavior of Some Highly Toxic Minerals on Selenosis in Rats

Many researchers have studied the metabolism of toxics including selenium (Se) in biological medium in rats and defined some correlations between selenium and other minerals as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and thallium (Tl). An investigation of the potential influences of As, Hg, Tl and Pb on Se metabolism, which can suggest new drugs to cope the poisonousness of Se. The current study also has looked into the potential use of As(III)/As(V) toxic in the treatment of essential mineral Se in the animals (as rats) based on sequestration of these toxic elements into biologically inert complexes, reflecting the enormous interest in this subject. The acute studies have been initially achieved by shaping the pulmonary and biliary excretions of the volatile Se in neonatal masculine Holtzman rats which were injected with selenite subcutaneously in the hind flank, then the volatile Se was trapped in 8N HNO3 and the radioselenate detected in a scintillation counter. The chronic cases were carried out with the nursing of rats with a purified diet of water-soluble vitamin mix, fat-soluble vitamin mix, saccharides, oil, and salts. One week after the basic diet, the rats taken Se have received diets containing 10 ppm of the element as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) or selenate (Na2SeO4) added in the salts. The calorimeter was used to analyze Se in the frozen tissue specimens. As, Hg, and Tl were repressed the volatized Se excreted from the lungs. As has assisted the biliary excretion of Se and inhibited the chronic selenosis. Tl has increased the retention of Se in the liver and kidney, but, had no chronic effect on the amount of Se deposited in all the studied tissues. Similarly, Hg has increased the retention of Se but in the spleen and carcass of rats indicating to the high Se concentration in blood. Hg and Tl have inhibited the Se in urine. No effects of the doses rich in As, Hg, and Tl on the Se excretion in fecal. Even though, we suggest As as a possible medication to chronic selenosis.

Comparative Study of the Biochemical Behavior of some Highly Toxic Minerals on Selenosis in Rats

Objective: An investigation of the potential influences of As, Hg, Tl and Pb on Se metabolism, which can suggest new drugs to cope the poisonousness of Se. Methods: Chronic cases were carried out with the nursing of rats with a purified diet of water-soluble vitamin mix, fat-soluble vitamin mix, saccharides, oil, and salts. One week after the basic diet, the rats taken Se have received diets containing 10 ppm of the element as sodium selenite or selenate added in the salts. Result: As, Hg, and Tl were repressed the volatized Se excreted from the lungs. As has assisted the biliary excretion of Se and inhibited the chronic selenosis. Tl has increased the retention of Se in the liver and kidney, but, had no chronic effect on the amount of Se deposited in all the studied tissues. Similarly, Hg has increased the retention of Se but in the spleen and carcass of rats indicating to the high Se concentration in blood. Hg and Tl have inhibited the Se in urine. Conclusion: No effects of the doses rich in As, Hg, and Tl on the Se excretion in fecal. Even though, we suggest As as a possible medication to chronic selenosis.

Selenium and other mineral concentrations in feed and sheep's blood in Kosovo

The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of Se and other minerals in sheep and the supplied feed. Four macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg, and S), 7 microminerals (Se, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, and Mo), and 2 toxic minerals (Cd and Pb) were analyzed in 69 feed and 292 sheep blood samples from 30 farms in different regions of Kosovo. The samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and mineral concentrations in whole blood were measured to assess their status in animals. Concentrations of the different minerals in feed were found in the following ranges: 1.9 to 9.5 g Ca/kg DM, 0.8 to 3.2 g P/kg DM, 0.8 to 3.2 g Mg/kg DM, 1.0 to 2.8 g S/kg DM, 6 to 82 µg Se/kg DM, 33 to 970 mg Fe/kg DM, 15 to 42 mg Zn/ kg DM, 2.6 to 7.5 mg Cu/kg DM, 26 to 250 mg Mn/kg DM, 0.04 to 0.88 mg Co/kg DM, 0.05 to 0.86 mg Mo/ kg DM, 0.07 to 2.02 mg Pb/kg DM, and 0.02 to 0.19 mg Cd/kg DM. Concentrations of the microminerals analyzed in whole blood were found in the following ranges: 15 to 360 µg Se/L, 190 to 500 mg Fe/L, 1.4 to 3.8 mg Zn/L, 0.3 to 2.6 mg Cu/L, 6 to 243 µg Mn/L, 0.1 to 19.6 µg Co/L, and 1.8 to 66.0 µg Pb/L. Among all minerals, the largest deficiency was found for Se both in feed and sheep blood, with 82% of feed samples and 83% blood samples being inadequate, and its supplementation is necessary. Selenium-supplemented sheep had significantly higher Se concentration in blood than non-supplemented sheep (P < 0.01). In addition, other macro- and microminerals in feed such as P, S, Cu, and Co were at inadequate concentrations at some of the farms, and supplementation may also be needed for these minerals.