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Genotoxicity of piperine
Information Section tightness and brief loss of consciousness. Skin prick tests and antibody aaalysis confirmed that ackee fruit was the allergenic agent (Lebo et aL, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1996, 98, 997).
Sesame seed alllergy A brief letter in the medical press suggests that there may be a high level of sensitization to sesame seeds among Australian children. The investigators, noting that the levels of this food item are increasing in the national diet, reported a 19% incidence of skin sensitization reactions among over 2700 allergic children who were patch tested with sesame seed extract; 60% of these reactors were below the age of 2 yr. Similar patch testing with extracts of peanut p~:oducedreactions in 40% of over 4000 allergic children (Sporik and Hill, British MedicalJournal 1996, 313, 1477).
Boric acid and developmental toxicity in rabbits Boric acid, an ingredient of many pharmaceutical, cosmetic and pesticide products, has previously been shown to induce reproductive and developmental toxicity in rodents. In a recently published study using rabbits, severe developmental toxicity (increased foetal mortality and malformations) was reported at 250 mg/kg body weight/day given by gavage on days 6--19 of pregnancy, a dose also producing mild maternal toxicity. The cardiovascular system was the target organ in the foetuses. No effects on the mothers or foetuses were found at 125 mg/kg body weight/day (Price et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1996, 34, 176).
Acute human toxicity from magnesium sulfate A 47-yr-old American woman, with normal renal function, suffered excessive magnesium accumulation (characterized by muscle weakness and altered mental status) requiring hospitalization, within 30 minutes of ingesting Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). She had taken 17.5 g (140 mEq of magnesium), equiLvalentto 3.5-7 times the average daily magnesium intake in aduks. The investigators noted ~ahatproblems of magnesium toxicity are extremely rare in individuals with normal renal function (Nordt et al., Clinical Toxicology 1996, 34, 735).
301
Copper and zlnc sulfate m acute human toxlclty An elderly woman who accidentally drank a preparation containing "3 g of both zinc and copper sulphate" suffered inflammation of the stomach and upper airways, cardiovascular failure and renal impairment, but went on to make a complete recovery. Blood zinc levels were found to be approximately 10 times higher than those of copper, suggesting that the zinc was preferentially absorbed (Hantson et aL, Clinical Toxicology 1996, 34, 725).
Genotoxiclty of piperine Piperine, a constituent of black pepper and some capsicums, has been reported to be inactive in a genotoxicity testing programme conducted by an Indian research team. In mice treated orally (at rather low doses), it did not induce chromosome damage (micronudei) in the bone marrow or affect the male germ cells (sperm abnormality and dominant lethal tests). Mutagenic potential was not detected in the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test) (Karekar et al., Arzneimittel- Forscbung 1996, 46, 972).
Protective effects of resveratrol Resveratrol, a component of grapes, mulberries and peanuts, has been proposed as a possible cancerpreventing agent in humans. In a series of in vitro studies, it has shown antioxidant and antimutagenic properties. Inhibition of cellular events associated with tumour initiation, promotion and progression has also been reported. Its application to the skin of mice inhibited the tumorigenic potential of a local carcinogen (lang et aL, Science 1997, 275, 218).
Zinc deficiency and behaviour Adolescent female Rhesus monkeys maintained for around 15-27 months on a diet moderately deficient in zinc (2 ~tggn/g diet) showed progressive decreases in daytime activity and vigilance, in comparison with control monkeys on a diet adequate in zinc (50 gg Zn/g diet). These effects became evident before the more obvious signs of zinc deficiency (growth retardation and reduced plasma zinc concentrations) were established. The US investigators suggest that in humans too, children may be most susceptible to the behavioural effects of zinc malnutrition before the onset of growth retardation (Gohbet a2., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1996, 64, 908).
Sesame seed alllergy A brief letter in the medical press suggests that there may be a high level of sensitization to sesame seeds among Australian children. The investigators, noting that the levels of this food item are increasing in the national diet, reported a 19% incidence of skin sensitization reactions among over 2700 allergic children who were patch tested with sesame seed extract; 60% of these reactors were below the age of 2 yr. Similar patch testing with extracts of peanut p~:oducedreactions in 40% of over 4000 allergic children (Sporik and Hill, British MedicalJournal 1996, 313, 1477).
Boric acid and developmental toxicity in rabbits Boric acid, an ingredient of many pharmaceutical, cosmetic and pesticide products, has previously been shown to induce reproductive and developmental toxicity in rodents. In a recently published study using rabbits, severe developmental toxicity (increased foetal mortality and malformations) was reported at 250 mg/kg body weight/day given by gavage on days 6--19 of pregnancy, a dose also producing mild maternal toxicity. The cardiovascular system was the target organ in the foetuses. No effects on the mothers or foetuses were found at 125 mg/kg body weight/day (Price et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1996, 34, 176).
Acute human toxicity from magnesium sulfate A 47-yr-old American woman, with normal renal function, suffered excessive magnesium accumulation (characterized by muscle weakness and altered mental status) requiring hospitalization, within 30 minutes of ingesting Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). She had taken 17.5 g (140 mEq of magnesium), equiLvalentto 3.5-7 times the average daily magnesium intake in aduks. The investigators noted ~ahatproblems of magnesium toxicity are extremely rare in individuals with normal renal function (Nordt et al., Clinical Toxicology 1996, 34, 735).
301
Copper and zlnc sulfate m acute human toxlclty An elderly woman who accidentally drank a preparation containing "3 g of both zinc and copper sulphate" suffered inflammation of the stomach and upper airways, cardiovascular failure and renal impairment, but went on to make a complete recovery. Blood zinc levels were found to be approximately 10 times higher than those of copper, suggesting that the zinc was preferentially absorbed (Hantson et aL, Clinical Toxicology 1996, 34, 725).
Genotoxiclty of piperine Piperine, a constituent of black pepper and some capsicums, has been reported to be inactive in a genotoxicity testing programme conducted by an Indian research team. In mice treated orally (at rather low doses), it did not induce chromosome damage (micronudei) in the bone marrow or affect the male germ cells (sperm abnormality and dominant lethal tests). Mutagenic potential was not detected in the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test) (Karekar et al., Arzneimittel- Forscbung 1996, 46, 972).
Protective effects of resveratrol Resveratrol, a component of grapes, mulberries and peanuts, has been proposed as a possible cancerpreventing agent in humans. In a series of in vitro studies, it has shown antioxidant and antimutagenic properties. Inhibition of cellular events associated with tumour initiation, promotion and progression has also been reported. Its application to the skin of mice inhibited the tumorigenic potential of a local carcinogen (lang et aL, Science 1997, 275, 218).
Zinc deficiency and behaviour Adolescent female Rhesus monkeys maintained for around 15-27 months on a diet moderately deficient in zinc (2 ~tggn/g diet) showed progressive decreases in daytime activity and vigilance, in comparison with control monkeys on a diet adequate in zinc (50 gg Zn/g diet). These effects became evident before the more obvious signs of zinc deficiency (growth retardation and reduced plasma zinc concentrations) were established. The US investigators suggest that in humans too, children may be most susceptible to the behavioural effects of zinc malnutrition before the onset of growth retardation (Gohbet a2., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1996, 64, 908).